𝑾𝑨𝑽𝑬𝑺 || 𝑨𝒂𝒏𝒈 (𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌 1) *Revamping

Bato of the Water Tribe*

After leaving Makapu Village, they spent the next day mostly travelling. The day after that, they let Appa get some rest and decided to stay in the forest for a little while.

It'd been a little while since Aang and Sokka left to look for something to eat. Wondering if something might have happened, Katara and Jade went looking for them. That led to them finding the boys searching through bushes and grass, which piqued Jade's curiosity since it didn't like food was their target anymore. "What are we looking for?"

"Did someone lose something?" Katara asked.

"No, we found something!"

Compared to Aang, who seemed more on the excited side, Sokka seemed more determined. More serious, too -- whatever he was looking to find, he must have really wanted to find it.

Peeking over his shoulder, Jade watched him pick up a small charred stick with a pointed metal tip. "Is that an arrow?"

"It was. It's burned." Sokka stood, turning to the tree trunk next to him. Looking closer, Jade could see scorching and scratch marks in the wood, "There was a battle. Water Tribe warriors ambushed a group of firebenders. The firebenders fought back, but the warriors drove them down this hill."

Jade could only blink in astonishment. "How can you tell all that?"

"It's all here." Was his response, which didn't really answer her question. But she figured it was all she'd get, since Sokka ran off down the hill. She and the others followed him down the dirt trail, over a patch of big rocks, and down finally to the beach. But he stopped at the shore, frowning out at the ocean.

Aang shrugged. "So, then what happened?"

His shoulders slumped slightly. "I don't know. The trail ends here."

"Wait, look!"

Pointing to their right, Katara had her eyes on something that escaped their notice at first. Following her gaze, Jade spotted a ship docked on the shore. It wasn't like any kind of ship she'd seen before; unlike the Fire Nation navy ships, it was made from wood. But it also had a different shape and look compared to that pirate's ship they stole and dropped down a waterfall a couple weeks ago.

Sokka lit up like Jade had never seen him before. "It's one of our boats!"

He and Katara ran to it, leaving Aang and Jade to follow. Both siblings were smiling as Sokka touched the front of the boat. "Is this dad's boat?"

"No, but it's from his fleet." Sokka grinned. "Dad was here."

~㊌~

Katara and Sokka's dad was the chief of the Southern Water Tribe. According to them, he left a little less over two years ago to fight in the war, leaving his son and daughter in the care of their grandmother. Given that their mother was taken from them during a Fire Nation raid a few years before, it wasn't exactly an easy time for the two of them.

One day, Katara told Jade that Sokka had been left as the village's only warrior -- and at just thirteen years old. That's how old Jade was now, and she couldn't imagine what kind of responsibility that must have put on his shoulders. It gave her a newfound respect for him.

Still, Jade could understand how much Katara and Sokka must have missed their dad. It couldn't be easy, knowing he was off fighting in the war. They probably worried about him constantly, and so Jade knew what it would have meant for them to be able to see him again. That's why she was all for camping on the beach next to the ship...Even if it was much colder down by the ocean. If it meant a chance that they could meet up with the warrior that the ship belonged to, Jade could brave a cold night or two.