|
Post by Sokka on Dec 27, 2005 13:09:21 GMT -5
Though there were quite a few things weighing on the mind of the young man from the Southern Water Tribe, Sokka had temporarily blocked out everything but his training. In the Northern Water Tribe City, this was best. Though he'd never allow himself to forget Yue, he could temporarily put her out of his mind this way. And this meant that by the time he let his body lie down to rest for the night, he was so tired that even insomnia couldn't lay claim on tormenting him.
At the moment, he was focused on hand to hand combat. Shadow boxing, as a matter of fact. By trying to keep up with his own shadow while keeping his fighting form as well as he was able, Sokka was forcing himself to get faster. A sparring partner would have been ideal, but he really didn't want to involve anyone else in his training. Aside from that, the people most likely to help him were the last people in the world that he wanted to land a punch on.
(tag Katara and Aang, and anyone else who might be in the area)
|
|
|
Post by Katara on Dec 30, 2005 8:47:53 GMT -5
Wandering the streets of the Northern Water Tribe City, Katara came into the town square. For a moment it seemed empty and she was going to continue her morning walk, then she heard the familiar voice of her brother
Turning the corner she spotted Sokka training hard. Smiling she walked closer to greet him, but something stopped her. Stepping back, Katara frowned as she remembered past events of Sokka and how he lost Yue. Wanting to comfort her brother, Katara felt obligated to talk to him yet at the same time she wanted to respect his feelings and let him be alone for the time being
Unsure of what to do, the Southern Water Tribe girl stood erect and frozen parallel to the icy buildings next to her. She was at a loss for words...
|
|
|
Post by Aang on Jan 1, 2006 10:15:55 GMT -5
They hadn't spoke much since Yue had gone, Aang noticed. He was sitting atop a pillar of pressed snow, overlooking the town square. He had his glider stowed, the long wooden frame of it folded up and tucked under his arm, as though he, the Avatar, was some kind of sentinel.
Maybe he was. Maybe he felt as though he owed these people something. The invasion of the North Pole wasn't entirely his fault... was it?
He wanted to talk to Sokka and Katara, but for some reason he couldn't do it. It might simply be an issue of timing; all these things happened just a few days ago. Yue had gone, and Aang himself had embodied the Spirit of the Ocean and pushed back the Fire Nation's assault.
Each of them had their own issues to contend with. But Aang simply wanted someone to talk to. It made him feel like a little boy, this craving for attention.
But you are a little boy, one part of his mind seemed to say.
I shouldn't be, replied the other part of his mind, the part that was maturing much faster than he intended. I'm the Avatar.
Standing up from his pillar, he whirled his stowed glider about him and rode a cushion of air down to the ground to land softly beside Katara. She was observing Sokka intently, looking as though she wished to speak with her brother.
Tact failed Aang then; his childish instincts for attention took him over, and he spoke.
"Hi, Katara."
|
|
|
Post by Katara on Jan 1, 2006 11:53:27 GMT -5
Startled, Katara looked to where she heard the voice. It came from Aang... On impulse she frowned for a second, but that faded as her senses resurfaced. Smiling cheerfully, Katara answered back
"Oh Aang, it's you... Good morning..."
Her eyes moved to look at the snowy ground then her gaze diverted back to Sokka as he trained hard. Had he noticed them yet? It would be easier if he initiated conversation instead of them having to speak to him...
|
|
|
Post by Sokka on Jan 1, 2006 17:36:56 GMT -5
Beads of sweat trickled down Sokka's forehead as he got more thoroughly into his training. The cold of the north pole kept his body temperature balanced. The air was sharp to breathe, but it made his lungs stronger. His body needed to be stronger. He needed to be able to withstand harsh conditions and endure pain if he was ever to become a great warrior.
It was only when he heard Aang and Katara's voices that he looked up at the sun in the sky and realized how long he'd been training. His intense expression softened, and he turned to look at them.
"Hey guys, is it lunch time?" he asked, suddenly reminded of the effects hours of training had on a growing man's body.
|
|
|
Post by Katara on Jan 2, 2006 21:30:20 GMT -5
Smiling weakly at Aang, Katara was at a loss for words to say to the young boy. Luckily, Sokka decided to break the akward silence with a very Sokka like question
Hey guys, is it lunch time?
Turning to her brother, Katara smiled cheerfully just to keep the mood positive. Anything to keep their minds out of a state of depression
"Sure! Let's go to one of the local lodgings! I'm sure they have some good dishes to try out! What do you think Aang?!"
Noticing that her tone towards the young avatar might have sounded rude, Katara wanted to show Aang that she didn't mean to offend or shrug him off. Hopefully nothing would upset their mood
|
|
|
Post by Sokka on Jan 4, 2006 19:52:11 GMT -5
Sokka gathered up the weapons he'd been planning on training with later. Though he trusted that nobody here would steal them, he didn't necessarily trust that someone wouldn't mistake his boomerang for theirs, or that they'd get some odd idea about where it ought to be put away for safekeeping. The northern water tribe lived in a massive city, and it'd probably take eons to find the perfect place for the safekeeping of a sister tribe's warrior's belongings.
As if on cue, his stomach roared fiercely. "At this point, I'll try just about anything," he said, with a ravenous grin. He planned on consuming as much food as they put in front of him...and seeing if he could get away with asking for seconds. Possibly even thirds. Judging by the position of the sun, Sokka had been training for quite a bit longer than he'd expected to train before moving on to weapons. Still, he could feel the effects of the training on his body's muscles. Food was a good excuse to take a break.
Though he knew they were welcome here, he felt it was probably time for them to get moving. Bending wasn't something that Sokka was knowledgable about, nor did he really care to be particularly knowledgable about. However, he'd been paying more attention to it since his sister had actually learned worthwhile techniques, and because of the necessity of Aang being able to master all of the elements. If he remembered correctly, earthbending was the next on the list after waterbending - which Katara could teach Aang during their travels.
The most likely teacher was that wacko king, King Bumi of Omashu. Sokka hoped that *this* time the mad king wouldn't have any tests for Aang that involved a threat to the southern water tribe siblings.
|
|
|
Post by Aang on Jan 7, 2006 18:37:15 GMT -5
Aang looked from Katara to Sokka and smiled. It was very like the young Water tribe boy to think with his stomach, and the opportunity to get things back to normal appealed to the Avatar greatly.
"Sure!" He put as much enthusiasm into his voice as he could muster. "I'm sure there's all kinds of..." Aang paused. "*meat* that you can try!" He grinned.
Maybe over dinner, they could actually talk. And then they could decide what to do. Aang wasn't certain if he was ready to leave the North Pole, despite the fact that he was already on borrowed time.
|
|
|
Post by Katara on Jan 9, 2006 18:31:10 GMT -5
Clapping her hands together and smiling, Katara looked from her brother then to Aang
"Then it's decided! We'll have lunch!"
Leading the way, Katara thought it would be best to talk while eating
|
|
|
Post by Sokka on Jan 12, 2006 10:42:26 GMT -5
Sokka was glad to see his sister and unofficially adopted little brother in good spirits (even if some of the cheer was a little forced for all of them, himself included). He walked in silence with them for a few minutes, headed towards somewhere that would have food to serve three hungry people. With any luck, there would be things that Aang could eat as well. Though Sokka didn't understand Aang's distaste for meat, he did feel bad for the young airbender when he was in a place where meat made up so much of the cuisine.
Sokka made several inquiries to find out what was being served in each of the small restaurant-like lodgings he checked in, until he found one place that had at least a couple of non-meat items that Aang could enjoy as well. Even if it was just bread and a hot vegetable soup, it was better than nothing.
After the three of them had placed their order, he decided that now was probably as good a time as any to bring up when they would be leaving. Nevermind the painful memories that Sokka had here, Aang needed to master earthbending. Katara knew enough techniques to help to train Aang in waterbending, and Master Pakku had set off towards the southern water tribes, with several others from the northern tribe. That in itself was a relief, knowing that the family they'd left behind would be in good hands soon.
"I hate to be the one to bring this up...but when are we leaving?" he asked Katara and Aang. "We can't stay here forever, and there's a lot to accomplish." Mostly, he was referring to Aang's need to learn earthbending, but he and Katara had their own progress to make, too.
|
|