Through His Eyes

Prologue

"Kingdom carved. At the end of the line, we made our own place."

― Franny Choi

The sun was hidden by grey skies as snow fell softly across the Southern Water Tribe. It was the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year, but also the day when waterbenders became their most powerful. This detail had almost long been forgotten, as a waterbender had not existed in the Southern Water Tribe for nearly 20 years. A Water Tribe man, almost 30 years of age, carried his one-year son through the blustery snowstorm. As he walked, his hypervigilance heightened. The father noticed every foot step in the snow, and watched every person closely who walked near them. The ravaging and destruction of his village had left him all watchful. He scanned the perimeter of the area before stopping. Arriving shortly at a hut made of ice, the father pulled his hood down to look upon his wife and his newborn child.

The woman of similar age was covered in sweat and fur blankets. A weary smile grew upon her face as she looked at her husband and her son. She swaddled her baby against her chest, making the baby stop crying. The rest of her family entered the hut as the baby cooed quietly.

The man, blue eyes filled with joy, quickly approached the bed where his exhausted wife was holding their baby. "Hakoda, you have to see her. She's so beautiful."

Hakoda nearly choked hearing these words, "She? Kya...We have a girl?!" He beamed as he laughed in happy disbelief, prompting his son to laugh as well. Hakoda kneeled next to his wife's bedside, leaning over to gaze upon his daughter. She had luminous sapphire eyes and a head full of chocolate brown hair. She was beautiful. Holding back tears, he cleared his throat to ask, "Any thoughts on a name?"

Kya whispered as she stroked their daughter's hair, "I was thinking...Katara."

Before Hakoda could answer, his son wiggled in his arms, beaming at his new sister, "Tara!"

Kya and Hakoda shared a smile before turning to face his son, "I take it you like the name, huh, Sokka? Well, I agree, I think it's a beautiful name for a beautiful girl." Sokka nodded before breaking free from his father's arms. The child, padded snuggly with a fur coat, ran to the bed to look at his new sister with widened eyes. Hakoda sat on the floor next to his son. Overwhelmed with emotion, Hakoda began to speak.

"Sokka, that's your little sister. The world is scary right now, which is why it's important to protect her. Even if you annoy one another, I want you to always remember what you mean to each other." Hakoda sighed as he realized Sokka was just staring at him blankly. He knew Sokka barely understood what he just said, and would not remember these words, but he hoped against all odds that his advice would somehow stick with his son. Every day the threat of the Fire Nation grew more apparent, making Hakoda worried about his young child and now his newborn. Hakoda knew he would do whatever it takes to protect his children, Kya, and his home.

14 Years Later

Several warriors huddled around Hakoda in a tent in the Earth Kingdom. The Chief of the Southern Water Tribe held a map of the Fire Nation in his hands. He was scanning the map for entry points and possible water routes for an attack. His attention was pulled away by the abrupt nudge in his ribcage by his old friend, Bato. A tad annoyed, Hakoda looked up but a sense of happiness washed away any negative feelings in that moment. Standing there, almost as tall as Hakoda, was his now 15 year-old son.

This joy Hakoda felt was tainted with feelings of guilt and remorse. The father had only wished to be able to protect his family and his home from the Fire Nation, but he had failed. His beloved wife murdered by the Fire Nation, his only children now fugitives that are wanted by Fire Lord Ozai, and his home in shambles, all because of his inability to lead and protect. Hakoda knew setting off on his mission to fight the Fire Nation was the right thing to do, to avenge his wife and many other Water Tribe fatalities, but he underestimated the toll it would take on his relationship with his children. They were now motherless, children soldiers fighting a war that was not ending anytime soon. He had hoped his children did not hate him, that they understood that this was all for them.

"Sokka," Hakoda said, smiling brightly.

"Hi, Dad," Sokka said in a quiet tone.

Hakoda and Sokka embrace for a few moments. Hakoda, full of pride and happiness that his son was alive, didn't want to let him go. But, against every paternal instinct in his body, Hakoda released Sokka. He pulled back but took a few seconds to admire his son, now a warrior, was here with him now. Hakoda didn't want this time to end, but knew the war would not stop, so he wouldn't either.

Still smiling proudly, Hakoda placed his hand on Sokka's shoulder, now almost near Hakoda's chest. A slight sunken feeling permeated Hakoda's stomach at the question he wanted to ask. He desperately wanted to know how his daughter was, but a small part of him didn't want to know in case it was bad news. Deciding to get it over with, he guided Sokka to outside the tent to grab some food. Hakoda asked, "So, how's Katara?"

Sokka smiled at his father, "Oh, she's good, besides trying to get on my nerves every second. She really wanted to come, but someone had to stay in Ba Sing Se with King Kuei. Aang would've stayed but he had to go on some magical field trip."

Hakoda's muscles tensed slightly at the mention of Aang. He had only heard stories of the Avatar and wasn't fond of his children travelling with someone he had never met. Hakoda instantly relaxed when he remembered that Sokka was very skeptical of everyone until proven otherwise. He probed further for more information on how they came to meet the Avatar. Sokka was overjoyed to describe how Katara's anger cracked the iceberg Aang was in, intertwining their fates together forever.

"And then the Fire Lord's son, Zuko, stole Mom's necklace. He's such a creepy jerk! Aang tried to make Katara feel better by making her a necklace, which was okay, but he used my fishing wire! Can you believe it? He ended up fighting Zuko and getting Mom's necklace back for her, but still, ruined my hopes of fishing that day," Sokka said in an annoyed tone.

Hakoda raised an eyebrow at this story. He was ready to chalk this interaction up to friendliness but Sokka continued to give more examples that made Hakoda wonder about this boy and his daughter. Sokka described Katara going out in the snowstorm to find Aang at the North Pole, Aang's Avatar State being triggered when Katara was in danger, and Katara being the only person to bring Aang out of the Avatar State. Hakoda had a sinking feeling in his gut as he heard Sokka tell these stories. That feeling you get when you sense something to be true, but you try to deny it. Sokka continued to talk of their adventures, but Hakoda's mind remained focused on this Avatar. Whatever his daughter and the Avatar's connection was, Hakoda could not put it into words, but he knew that they meant something to each other. All Hakoda could do in this moment was try to enjoy the time with son and put the thought of his daughter and the Avatar out of his mind.

The next day, Aang and his flying bison landed on the beach. Hakoda noticed the look of concern on Aang's face. Having not seen him before, Hakoda was not expecting the Avatar to appear so small. He knew that he was only 12, but for some reason his mind imagined a larger than life figure. Aang's accomplishments have already been spoken about far and wide, but Hakoda could not wrap his mind around this boy harnessing so much power. He became a little unnerved at thinking of what the Avatar would become in the future if he was already this powerful.

Hakoda said goodbye to his son, smiling as they flew away on the sky bison. Hakoda hoped to be reunited with his children soon, and maybe he would have a chance to get a sense of Katara and Aang's feelings for each other. Even though the circumstances for Aang arriving and taking Sokka were not happy, Hakoda remained in a state of calm. He grinned knowing that his children were safe and under the protection of the Avatar. Maybe this war would finally be over. Maybe their family and their home would at long last be at peace. Hakoda whispered to himself as he watched his son and Aang fly into the clouds, "Keep them safe, Avatar."