Carry On the Family Name: A Sukka Story

Chapter One: Summer Nights On Kyoshi

Atka's POV
Every summer, my family goes on a trip to our summer home on Kyoshi Island. With Dad being a member of the council, he gets generous vacation time during the council's recess. It is also a good time of year for Mom to get back to her old dojo.

Every night, we have a fire if the weather allows us to do so. Dad built a small fire, as usual, and Mom took us to the market to get treats for tonight.

After we finished dinner, Dad decided to tell the story of the Blade of Wing Fung.

Mom, Hakoda and I wore unimpressed, bored looks as Dad made dramatic gestures with his whole body behind the campfire. The only one that looked remotely scared was my ten year old sister, Niani, who was trying not to look scared as she leaned up against Mom.

"And then something truly terrifying happened," said Dad in a low voice, trying to create anticipation, crouching down so his face was illuminated by the fire.

"Did he drop dead of boredom?" I asked, completely monotone.

Dad shot me an annoyed look. "No!" he scolded, clearly offended.

Niani covered her ears and scrunched her Water Tribe blue eyes shut.

"I don't wanna know! I don't wanna know!" she whined tearfully.

"You heard her, Dad," said Hakoda, crossing his arms. "She doesn't want to know so can we stop now?"

"I agree with Hakoda," Mom said as she pulled Niani into her lap. Niani buried her face into her her chest, not even trying to look tough anymore. Mom soothingly stroked her dark hair as she began crying. "Shhh, it's okay, sweetie. Daddy stopped. The story isn't real. He just made it up."

"Yeah and I worked hard on it," Dad said, annoyed as he plopped down on the log next to Hakoda.

"We can tell," my brother and I said at the same time. We smiled at each other and reached over to high five.

Dad gave us an unimpressed look. Mom continued to try to calm Niani down, rubbing her back and shushing her. "You scared one of our children at least, Sokka. It just so happens to be the baby," she commented to Dad with a roll of her dark blue eyes.

"Then my job is done," Dad said proudly but he dropped the smug expression after Mom shot him a look.

"Oh!" Hakoda abruptly raised his hand. "Dad! Tell a happy story. How about when you, Mom and Aunt Toph took down those airships? I don't think 'Ani has heard that one before."

Dad smiled. He always seemed to be happy whenever we wanted to hear about his old adventures.

"That's jumping too far ahead, Koda," he said. "If Niani wants to hear the full story of that summer then I'm afraid we need to not only start at the beginning but have Uncle Aang, Aunt Katara, Aunt Toph, and Uncle Zuko present."

"Oh, I know which story you should tell!" I said, clasping my hands together excitedly. "How about the story of when you and Mom fell in love?"

Before Dad could even open his mouth to wholeheartedly agree, Hakoda beat him by responding with a loud "BLEEHHH!" while sticking his tongue out in disgust. Dad's smile quickly turned into a frown while I gave my brother a similar expression.

"Dad always makes those stories waaay too mushy!" Hakoda complained.

"Okay, how about this," said Mom patiently, trying to prevent Hakoda and me from fighting."We talk about how we met AND how your father helped bust me out of prison. A little romance and little action."

Niani perked her head up with a horrified expression up at Mom. "You went to jail, Mommy?" she asked in disbelief.

Mom nodded, stroking back her daughter's Water Tribe hair. "I did, sweetheart."