The DragonBorn

Chapter 45

Later on that evening, as everyone sat down to eat a traditional Water Tribe meal, Zeraphina couldn't help but feel anxious whenever Hama would glance her way. Though she held a kind and gentle smile, Zeraphina could feel so many negative feelings behind it.

Hama set down a hot steaming bowl of soup at the front end of the table while everyone watched their empty bowls.

"I'd steer clear of the sea prunes." Aang whispered to Toph.

"I thought they were ocean kumquats." Toph recalled.

"Close enough."

"Who wants five-flavor soup?" Hama asked and everyone raised their hands. Hama stood up and waved her hands over the soup, bringing the hot liquid into the air and bending it into everyone's bowls. Katara was stunned both happy and amazed at the fact that the old woman was a waterbender just like her.

"You're a waterbender!" Katara exclaimed, "I've never met another waterbender from our tribe."

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

"So how did you end up out here?" Sokka asked.

"I was stolen from my home." Hama recounted the terrifying and sad story, "It was over sixty years ago when the raids started. The black snow fell and the fire rained from the ships that came to destroy us. 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."

Katara walked over to Hama and held the old woman by the shoulders, giving her comfort as they both shared the same kind of pain from loss at the hand of the Fire Nation.

"They put us in terrible prisons here in the Fire Nation. I was the only one who managed to escape."

"How did you get away? And why did you stay in the Fire Nation?" Sokka asked, but Hama seemed too distraught to continue her story.

"I'm sorry. It's too painful to talk about anymore." Hama said sadly, shaking her head to emphasize the feeling of her pain.

"We completely understand." Katara said, "We lost our mother in a raid."

"Oh, you poor things." Hama put her hand over Katara's.

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

Hama smiled at Katara, "I never though 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." Katara jumped at the chance to learn, "To learn about my heritage, it would mean everything to me."

Hama continued to smile at Katara as they ate and got ready for bed, but Zeraphina couldn't sleep peacefully at the thought of Katara being hurt by Hama. Or being hurt by Hama herself.

"I urge you to warn Katara about this woman. This Hama has so much dark negativity surrounding her." Zeraphina's dragon warned her.

"I know I should warn Katara, but the look on her face when Hama said that she would teach her. I want her to learn all that she can from Hama, but I still want to keep a close eye on that old woman. Tomorrow when they leave to train and learn, I'll stick to the shadows and stay out of sight."

"A clever strategy, Zeraphina. But do be careful. I believe Hama is already suspecting you being Fire Nation. Your hair may not be bright red, but you still carry the eyes of the Fire Nation. Be cautious."