Left Behind

Chapter 1: The Canoes

The War.

It made some people stronger and withered others away. It peeled away the mask they wore and revealed who they really were. Destroyed peace. Destroyed families. Destroyed visions.

The Fire Nation were ruthless – they wanted complete and utter obedience and victory. They would do anything to win the War; burn villages, kill helpless civilians, pit friend against friend, sister against brother.

But if they held on to friendships and hope, it strengthened bonds; so deep they would protect each other no matter the cost.

Rynn was strong. Because of the War. And because of who she willed to protect.

A boy.

A handsome, idiot boy: a boy named Sokka.

She had always really known him. In the Water Tribe to the South only thirty people resided. Even if they didn't share the same blood in their veins, they were family.

He had always been a brother to Rynn; they played together in the snow when they were younger, laughing, sometimes forgetting the War going on. Secluded, frivolous: just the way she loved it.

Then the pangs began. Irregular beats in her heart, pulsing like a seperate radar whenever he was near. Rynn knew his voice, she shuddered inwardly whenever he brushed her skin and even when dark storm clouds of despair rolled in to rain, she could smile when she saw his goofy eyes, listening to his terrible puns.

When their fathers, Hakoda and Daku left to fight in the War, it was the hardest time of their young lives. The day they finally sailed off loomed for weeks, like an ever present monsoon they couldn't avoid. On the moning of, Rynn visited Sokka's hut to find him gone. The paints were scattered on the floor, his spear and boomerang gone.

It only took seconds before Rynn was racing out of the village. She was panting when she raced over the mound, sweat lapping off her chin. Needles pinpricked her lungs, but she kept running, following the footprints that would lead her to love.

Before it was too late.

The Tribe was situated a few miles short of the Mo Ce Sea coast, where the warriors planned to depart. Rynn ran and ran and ran before she finally saw the canoes, already filled with supplies and men. There were only two figures left standing on the ice: a small boy she would recongnise anywhere, and Hakoda.

As she arrived, she saw Sokka collapse into his fathers arms. She stopped, waiting for them to move apart. She didn't dare interrupt their moment.

When Hokada pulled away from his son, he walked slowly toward the canoes. He whistled, and the boats began to move away from the shore. He raised a solemn arm in farewell.

“Sokka?” Rynn whispered.

The little boy turned, and Rynn saw long tear strains in his warriors mask. “I wanted to go with him,” he told her.

“I know,” Rynn said, spreading her arms wide.

She was almost knocked back from the force of the boy tackling her in a hug. She held him close, dearly. She had never held him that close before, and she felt his anguish and his pain.

They didn't know how long it had been when they started back toward the village. But Rynn did know that Sokka was laughing by the time they arrived back.

As she lay in bed that night, she felt accomplished. It didn't matter whether Sokka felt the same for her as she did for him. But she had made him happy again, and that was all that mattered.

Sorry that it's so short guys, but I hope you enjoyed it! Please comment and vote! Thanks for reading! ~Mel