The Burning Truth-Harmony

Part 22~Blood Bending

"You're from the Southern Water Tribe?" Katara stared at Hama as she smiled.

"Just like you."

"How did you know?"

"I heard you talking around your campfire."

Sokka gave her a confused look. "But why didn't you tell us?"

"I want to surprise you. I brought all this food today so I could fix you a big Water Tribe dinner. Of course, I can't get all the ingredients I need here, but ocean kumquats are a lot like sea prunes if you stew them long enough."

Isu stuck out her tongue. "Great."

"I knew I felt a bond with you right away," Katara exclaimed as Sokka nodded.

"And I knew you were keeping a secret, so I guess we're both right." Sokka let out a pained sound as Katara hit him. "But I'm sorry we were sneaking around."

"Apology accepted. Now, let's get cooking." Hama smiled as she walked out.

~~~

The group sat around the table as Hama took her seat at the head of the table.

"What is with the Southern Tribe's obsession with meat," Isu grumbled as Hachi smiled softly.

"Well, it's harder to get vegetables and fruits in the snow-covered lands, so they have to rely on meat for their nutrients."

"I wasn't actually looking for an explanation."

"Who wants five flavour soup?" Hama smiled as the group raised their hands. Hama raised her hands, waterbending the soup into everyone's bowls. The group stared in shock, struggling to find the right response.

"You're a waterbender. I've never met another waterbender from our tribe," Katara cheered in delight.

"That's because the Fire Nation wiped them all out. I was the last one."

Katara clasped her hands together, a pitting expression on her face as Sokka spoke up. "So, how did you end up out here?"

"I was stolen from my home. It was over sixty years ago when the raids started. They came again and again, each time rounding up more of our waterbenders and taking them captive. We did our best to hold them off, but our numbers dwindled as the raids continued. Finally, I, too, was captured. I was led away in chains. The last waterbender of the Southern Water Tribe. They put us in terrible prisons here in the Fire Nation. I was the only one who managed to escape."

Zuko winced, a guilty look on his face as Sokka blinked in confusion. "How did you get away? And why did you stay in the Fire Nation."

"I'm sorry. It's too painful to talk about anymore."

"We completely understand. We lost our mother in a raid," Katara explained as Hama looked over her sympathetically.

"Oh, you poor things."

"I can't tell you what it means to meet you. It's an honour. You're a hero."

"I never thought I'd meet another Southern Waterbender. I'd like to teach you what I know so you can carry on the Southern Tradition when I'm gone."

"Yes! Yes, of course. To learn about my heritage, it would mean everything to me."

Katara bowed to Hama, who smiled warmly.

~~~

The next day, Katara began her training.

"Uncle, can I talk to you?" Zuko glanced at his uncle, who nodded. The two watched out the window, looking down at the grass. "Did you know?"