Balance | Old Version

Chapter 31 (Bato Of The Water Tribe)

Elua's POV.

Katara and I had been talking for a while, not about anything important, just small talk. We had decided to go find Aang and Sokka, who had been gone for a while now. We walk down a grassy hill until we find them, looking around in the bushes for something.
"Did someone lose something?" Katara asks in confusion.
"No, we found something," Aang tells us as Sokka picks up an arrow from the ground.

"It's burned," Sokka states as he walks over to a tree with burn marks on the trunk. "There was a battle. Water tribe warriors ambushed a group of firebenders," He says as he looks down at the ground and begins to walk downhill as he translates the signs left in the soil. "The firebenders fought back, but the warriors drove them down this hill," He says, pointing down the grassy hill as we run down the hill, and soon come to a beach.

"So then what happened?" Aang asks in curiosity.
"I don't know. The trail ends here," Sokka says dejectedly.
"Wait, look," I say as I point to an abandoned Water Tribe boat by the water.
"It's one of our boats!" Sokka says smiling as we run over to it.
"Is this...Dad's boat?" Katara asks in hope.
"No, but it's from his fleet," Sokka states happily. "Dad was here."

That Night.

We had set up camp on the beach beside the boat we found. Katara and Aang were asleep, but I couldn't seem to get to sleep. I look over to Sokka and see him looking at the fire, a thoughtful look on his face. I stand up, walk over and sit beside him.
"What are you thinking about?" I ask him, he looks over to me.
"My dad," Sokka states. "He went to fight in the war after our mom died," He explains, sadness lingering in his voice.

"I'm sorry," I say as I put a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"I wanted to go with him, I had packed all my stuff, painted my face, and everything. But, he told me that I had to stay and take care of the village, take care of Katara," He describes.
"I don't know what it's like to lose a parent, it must have been difficult," I say as I give him a sad smile, he nods sadly. "Hey, think of it this way," I begin to say. "If you had gone with him, Aang and I would still be stuck in that Iceberg," I say smiling at him, he smiles back.

"Well, you're okay," Sokka says teasingly, I let out a fake gasp of offense. "And I'm glad that I was there to...protect you from Zuko," He says with a playful smirk, I push his shoulder playfully.
"You did not protect me, I protected you," I say smiling, he pushes my shoulder as I did to his, making us laugh. Our laughter slowly stops and we look into each other's eyes, he had a look in his eye that confused me. A strange feeling washes over me and I almost frown.

We are snapped back to reality as we suddenly hear a noise behind us. Sokka and I stand up and take defensive stances.
"Who's there?" Sokka shouts as he grabs his boomerang and I take a bending stance. We look into the shadows of the beath, a man walks into the light.
"Sokka?" The man says in shock. He wears robes that are obviously Water Tribe.
"Bato?" Sokka says as he lowers his weapon, I take this as I sign he isn't a threat and stand down.

"Who the what now?" Aang asks as he and Katara wake up.
"Bato!" Katara says smiling as she and Sokka run over to the man and hug him.
"Sokka! Katara! It is so good to see you two!" The man, Bato, says as he hugs them back. "Oh, you've grown so much." He says smiling down at them.
"Hi, I'm Aang," Aang says as he bows to the man. "And this Elua," He says motion to me as I bow.
"Where's Dad?" Sokka asks Bato in excitement, ignoring Aang.
"Is he here?" Katara asks in hope.

"No, he and the other warriors should be in the eastern Earth Kingdom by now," Bato tells them. They look at him in sadness. "Brr! This is no place for a reunion. Let's get inside," He says as the wind picks up. Bato puts his arms around Katara and Sokka and they start to walk away, Bato motions for us to follow. We accept and follow them all the way to an abbey.
"After I was wounded, your father carried me to this abbey. The sisters have cared for me ever since," Bato tells us, well more so Sokka and Katara. "Superior, these are Hakoda's children. They've been traveling with the Avatar and Nadir. I found them by my boat." He says as a nun turns to us and smiles.

"Young Avatar and Nadir, it gives me great joy to be in your presence," The nun says as she bows to us. "Welcome to our abbey," She says kindly.
"Thank you! It's truly an honor to be here," Aang says as we bow to her.
"If there's anything-" I start to say but, I am cut off.
"What smells so good, Bato?" Sokka asks as he sniffs the air.
"The sister's craft ointments and perfumes," Bato informs him as he motions to barrels.
"Perfume? Maybe we could dump some on Appa? Because he stinks so much! Am I right?" Sokka jokes, no one says anything nor do they laugh.

"You have your father's wit," Bato tells him as we walk over to a building and he opens the door.
"Bato! It looks like home!" Katara says happily as we walk in and see many animal skins.
"Everything's here, even the pelts!" Sokka states as they explore the amenities of the room.
"Yeah, nothing's more comforting than dead animal skins," I mumble as I look around.
"No way! Stewed sea prunes?" Katara asks as she opens a pot with some kind of soup.
"Help yourself," Bato tells her.

"Dad could eat a whole barrel of these things," Sokka states as Katara hands Aang a bowl. I look at it over his shoulder, it doesn't look good. She hands me a bowl but, I shake my head no.
"Thanks, I'm okay," I tell her, she shrugs and takes the bowl.
"Bato, is it true you and Dad lassoed an arctic hippo?" Katara asks.
"It was your father's idea. He just dragged me along," Bato states. "Well, the hippo did the dragging," He says with a laugh.

"Hey, I ride animals too! One time there was this giant eel-" Aang starts to say but is interrupted.
"So, who was it that came up with the great blubber fiasco?" Sokka asks, Aang frowns.
"You knew about that?" Bato asks chuckling.
"Everyone does," Katara states.
"What's that story?" Aang asks in curiosity.
"It's a long one, Aang, some other time," Sokka tells him. Aang looks sad but, they don't notice.
"You and Dad had so many hilarious adventures," Katara says smiling.

"Not all of which were hilarious at the time, but everything's funny with hindsight," Bato states, he then looks behind me. "Aang, put that down, it's ceremonial and very fragile," He tells Aang, who has picked up an animal skin. Aang puts it back on the wall and walks off dejected while the others continue. He slides down the wall in the corner and sits down, I sigh as I walk over to him.
"Was it you or Dad that put an octopus on your head and convinced Gran-Gran you were a water spirit?" Sokka asks.

"Your dad wore the octopus, but I did the spooky voice," Bato says in a mischievous voice, they smile at him. "There's something I should tell you kids. I'm expecting a message from your father," He states, their eyes go wide.
"Really?" Katara asks hopefully.
"When?" Sokka asks in excitement.
"Any day now. Your father said he'd send a message when they found the rendezvous point," Bato states.

"If you wait here until the message arrives you can come with me and see your father again," He tells them, I look over to them with a sad smile.
"It's been over two years since we've seen Dad! That would be so incredible," Sokka says as he puts his hands to his head in excitement. "Katara?" He says beaming wide.
"I do really miss him. It would be great to see Dad," She says smiling. I look over to Aang who looks downhearted and lonely. He stands up and leaves the building, I get up and follow him. We walk in silence all the way down to the beach, we sit down in the sad and look out at the water.

"I can't believe they'd leave us," Aang says sadly.
"Perhaps, they won't," I say, though I think I was trying to convince myself.
"Yeah right, they have a chance to see they're Dad again!" Aang states.
"They haven't seen him for so long. I know it's hard, but if they do leave...we should be happy for them," I tell him as I take a deep breath and stand up. "I'm going to go find a place to meditate, do you want to come?" I ask as I look down at him.
"No, I'll stay here," He says sadly.

"Okay," I say as I walk away. I walk down the beath for a while, until I'm far away from the village. I sit down, I look out at the waves as the moon reflects in them. Aang had a point, Katara and Sokka hadn't seen their father in years, they didn't have to stay with us. They could go see their Dad, I should be happy for them. But, that doesn't mean I won't be sad to see them go. I close my eyes and take in a deep breath, I sit there and listen to the sound of the waves. I open my eyes and smile. If they leave us behind, I will smile for them and then, Aang and I will care on. I stand up and take one more deep breath of salty air and then start to make my way back towards the abbey.