Chapter Text
Sokka opened his eyes; weak sunlight filtered through the hut. Today he would have to hunt for food for Katara and Gran-Gran and strengthen the fortifications on the Tribe’s border. If he had enough time he may be able to get in some practice with his club.
Today, he would carry out his duty as a man of the Southern Water Tribe. Sokka was going to prove himself as a brother, a grandson, a warrior, a Tribesman.
He scratched absentmindedly on his left wrist, pulling the sleeve of his fur tunic as far down as possible on his arm. He rose to greet the sun.
~~~
Something happened to Katara – when Sokka met up with her to go fishing later that morning, she seemed beside herself with excitement.
“Sokka, oh Sokka! You won’t believe what’s happened!”
Alerted by these words, Sokka was immediately ready to spring into action.
“What is it, are you hurt? Is it to do with the Fire Nation?!”
“What? No! Spirits Sokka, you’re too much on edge nowadays.”
Sokka rolled his eyes. “Gee, I wonder why. What is so important that it had to interrupt fishing?”
Katara huffed. “Sorry to disturb your fishing, Oh Magnanimous One. I only wanted to let you know about one of the most significant milestones to ever happen to me.”
Sokka blinked in incomprehension.
Katara sighed. She rolled up her sleeve on her left forearm.
Sokka gasped. In beautiful grey lines a very fluffy animal adorned her arm. An arrow dressed along its magnificent face.
Sokka stared into Katara’s eyes with wonder, her own were sparkling with tears.
He pulled her into a bone–crushing hug.
“Spirits, a Soul-mark? Sis, I’m so happy for you! Who do you think it is?”
Katara shook her head, beaming to the sky. “I have no idea. I don’t even know what this animal is supposed to be.” She gestured to her arm with the Mark.
Sokka frowned. He also had never seen the animal, neither in drawings, nor in real life.
But he only smiled at Katara. “That’s okay. You’ll meet whoever they are someday. Who are we to doubt what the Spirits have said? Now: let’s fish.”
Katara rolled her eyes, but there was a happy tug in her smile.
In their little canoe, it was only the two Water Tribe siblings amid the deep blue of the Southern Water Ocean. It really was an excellent place for Sokka to reflect (and brood) to his heart’s content.
He pulled down his left sleeve, wrapping it tightly around his hand.
“Sokka! You’re going to stretch the fabric, and I’ll have to mend it” Katara admonished.
Sokka sighed. Okay; maybe a tiny canoe with Katara is not really the best place to brood. Speaking of Katara...
Sokka was happy for her, really and truly. But, he was also maybe a little bit envious of her. Jealous even.
Because her Soul-mark, even though it was a totally foreign to the both of them, was something to be proud of, to be hopeful about.
Not like Sokka’s. Sokka’s Mark, which was pinched, bruised and scratched as if he were trying to pry it off. Sokka’s Mark which was a betrayal to his Tribe, his sister, Gran-Gran, his father.
Sokka’s Mark, which were golden lines twisting into a crownpiece of flames.
The Spirits were laughing at Sokka the day they matched him with a person of the Fire Nation.
~~~
On the deck of the ship, General Iroh was sipping his tea, whilst deliberating where to put his Pai Sho tile. When placing the Lotus tile on the board, the crewman who was versing him wailed in disappointment.
“That was a better game than last time, Riku. Keep going, and I’m sure you will beat me soon. Shall we bet a nice pot of Jasmine Tea on the next game?”
Riku only groaned in response.
“Uncle! Stop wasting time playing Pai Sho! It’s time for my training!” An angry boy of about sixteen advanced upon the General and the crewman.
Iroh took a sip of his tea. “I see you are as patient as you ever have been, my Nephew. Why don’t you have a cup of this nice, calming Jasmine tea to cool your nerves?”
“I don’t need any calming Jasmine tea!" The boy thundered.
Iroh straightened up. “What a shame. Well then, let us start with our breathing exercises.”
“What? No, I’m not wasting another day on breathing! Teach me the advanced forms!”
“No. Fire comes from the breath, not from the muscles, or the ‘advanced forms.’ To wield fire, first you must learn to control it, by mastering the chi in your body. Then we’ll proceed to the basic katas.” Iroh spoke mildly enough, but allowed no room for argument.
The boy glared at his Uncle. “...Fine. Lieutenant Jee? Clear the deck!”
Iroh smiled. “Very good, Prince Zuko. Today, I will teach you the Breath of Fire.”
~~~
Zuko stomped off to his bed, exhausted from the day’s work. He sat down, undoing the straps of his amour, carefully placing the pieces aside.
He was so tired.
But he couldn’t afford any respite and risk laziness. He needed to capture the Avatar, to regain his honour. He needed to prove that he wasn’t a failure, forever shadowed in the glorious fire of Azula, his sister. He needed to go home. He needed his father’s approval.
He needed his mother, her kind words and her soft touch.
Zuko shook his head out of this dark turn of thoughts. After some contemplation, he undid the wrappings on his left forearm.
He traced over the blue markings of a curiosly shaped object like the letter 'v,' painted across the pale expanse of his wrist.
Zuko sighed. He didn’t know why he was indulging himself with this – there was no way across the Four Nations that he would ever be with one of those Water Tribe peasants. Why had the Spirits forsaken him like this? Couldn’t anything in his life have come easy to him, was he to be denied of any good fortune?
Zuko exhaled sharply. Enough of this; he must be rested for the next day. Tomorrow, Uncle Iroh will teach him the advanced forms of firebending. For now, Zuko needed his sleep.
When Zuko slept, he dreamt of the ocean.