The Lunar Warrior [ATLA FF]

Book 1: Water | 59 | Jet IV

Sokka was in the town trying to convince them to leave. But no matter what he said, no one wanted to believe him. If anything, the fire nation soldiers there instead prepared to arrest him for interrogation. He couldn't blame them. He was some random kid, obviously not from around here, spouting what would sound like nonsense to anyone.

"I'm telling you the truth! They plan to blow the dam, and this village will be wiped off the map! You all have to evacuate as quickly as you can, we don't have much time!"

"Save it, kid. We're taking you in—"

"Let's trust him, Officer." Sokka turned to the voice, only to see the old man Jet and his guys mugged before. His gut twisted at the sight of the man's bandages and cane, but his eyes were fierce and kind. "This is the child I told you about."

"The one that kept those rogues from killing you?"

"He's the one." Walking past the once sneering and laughing crowd, the old man leveled his eyes with Sokka's, "Child, you're certain of this? Without a doubt?"

"Yes, sir." The warrior-in-training stopped his voice from shaking, "I don't know how much more time we have. But if you all don't leave now, all of you will die."

"Alright, then." With a solemn and grateful expression, he turned to his family. "Gather what you can in the travel sacks, quickly! Only essentials and keepsakes you can carry in your hand. Let's move!"

"Yes, Father." A young man responded, picking up who had to be his daughter.

"Okay, Grandpa!" The little girl, unaware of the danger they were in, answered enthusiastically.

They left without another word, leaving the crowd of naysayers shocked. That was, until a voice somewhere in that gathering yelled at them. It was a merchant that had come through with a seasonal batch of cabbages. "What are you waiting for?! Get a move on, death is coming!"

Sokka thought the man looked oddly familiar... Had they met before? He didn't muse on the matter long, as the crowd dispersed to their own homes, frantic to get their things to leave. The soldiers helped however they could, gathering heavy loads in travel carts they'd usually used to transport troops and supplies. Within the hour, everyone had their essentials, heading out of the town in a forlorn march for their lives.

Sokka tried to look for that man again, to thank him for his help. But no matter where he looked, he couldn't find him. Instead, lying suspiciously on the ground where he once was, was a talisman. Picking it up, he studied it, finding a familiar symbol: A swirl with three points, the sign of the Asrar.

He didn't know what to think aside from gratitude, resuming his aid of the villagers in their trek to higher ground. There was a hillside not too far from the village, but it was a steep slope that could protect them from the rushing waters. The bend of the slopes would turn the river in the opposite direction, connecting it to the true river just downhill.

All the while, Sokka worried about his family, Ayaan especially.

"Sokka, you need to get to the village to warn them," Ayaan ordered. "They have no idea what's about to happen to them. I need to get to Aang and Katara."

More than likely, they were there right now filling up that dam. If they found out, it would be right when they finished and no sooner. One trait about Katara, when she works, she does so with a single, focused mind. It was an admirable trait in any other circumstance except this one.

They knew this would hurt them. While Ayaan had wanted Katara to learn from this, he didn't want a town full of deaths on her conscience. If he could protect her from that, he would. With everything he had, he'd protect them. And to do that, Jet needed to be out of the picture. For trying to make his little siblings accomplices in a small-scale genocide, the blessed teen was irate.