Wolf Moon ch 6

CHAPTER 6

"You would not believe the guy I met today," Katara fumed. Her sewing needle cut furiously through a blue parka she was repairing. It was the first time that Yué had seen sewing look violent.

Yué and Aunna exchanged an uncertain look. The southern princess didn't notice.

"He was such a jerk!" Katara huffed, blowing her hair strands to the side. "I went to meet Aang after his waterbending training. This guy comes over to me and he just looks like a jerk."

Yué lowered her sewing project, morbidly curious.

"I mean, I thought he was handsome until he opened his big mouth. But he was a jerk!"

'She is furious,' Yué noted, awed.

"Anyway, he came over to me and started sweet talking me and telling me to ditch Aang. He said he'd-" and here Katara dropped her sewing to make mocking finger quote motions as her voice turned mocking- "show me how a real warrior fights."

Aunna made a small sound of comprehension. She gave Yué a cringing look.

"Apparently bending is fine and all, but a real man could show me something much better." Katara let out a mocking laugh. “He was so cocky! But he’s never even left the North Pole. I’ve fought the Fire Nation.”

Yué blinked, confused. 'Why is Aunna looking at me like that?'

"I told him I doubted I'd be that impressed by him, because I am a bender and I've used it in real combat." Katara was bright red with fury by now. "And he said he's one of the best warriors in the village and I'm just a little girl, and I shouldn't say such ridiculous things! A little girl!" Katara fumed. "He can't be that much older than me."

Oh. There weren’t many people who would have had that conversation. An arrogant, flirtatious teenaged nonbender warrior… It was Hahn.

‘He’s still flirting with girls? It’s not like I want to marry him, but it feels so disrespectful.’

"He's 17," Yué said, feeling a lot less amused. "Three years older than you."

Katara shot her a curious and wary look. "Is he a friend of yours?" She ventured carefully. "I think his name was Hahn."

Aunna winced and looked down at what she was sewing.

Yué considered the question. "No," she said frankly. "He's not my friend." She glanced over at the door. No one was there, but her guards were somewhere on the other side. Feeling emboldened by the company, she whispered, "I don't like him either." Her chest thudded in misery. "I'll probably marry him."

"Have to marry him," Aunna said rebelliously. She gave a mutinous look at the closed door. "It's horrible that you have to accept that necklace."

Katara looked between the two of them and the door, mouth slightly open. “What?” she breathed out. She blinked rapidly. “What- you don’t have a choice?”

Aunna shook her head rapidly. “No,” she hissed. Her voice dropped down barely above a whisper. “His family is rich and important and the council thinks that he’ll be a good fit for the next chief. He’s popular and a good fighter but he’s not very independent minded, so they’ll be able to direct him.”

“And she has to marry him for that to happen?” Katara’s voice twisted in disgust. Yue’s face felt warm. “He’s so gross- oh, I can't believe what a creep he is.” Her jaw dropped in shock and she put a hand over her mouth. “He’s engaged and he was still talking to me like that?”

“Yes,” Aunna said, heated. “He has a reputation like that.” Her cheeks were pink with either cold or anger.

Katara went red with fury again.

Yué felt very small, but loved. She looked between the other girls with big eyes.

‘I wish I was more like them.’ She thought enviously. ‘I could never say those things.’

“We can’t let that happen,” Katara implored. She set her jaw, fiercely determined. “You can leave with us! Both of you, if you want.”

Yué smiled faintly. “I am touched,” she said. She put down her project and touched Katara’s hand. “I have thought about that.”

Katara brightened. “It’s perfect!”

Her smile faded when Yué shook her head. “It won’t work,” she said simply. “I-I want to protect my future, but not at that cost.” She curled her free hand up, wrapping the trailing thread around her index finger in a fidgeting motion. “You’d have to steal me away. My Father would never let me go. And if that happened, the relationship with both the Avatar and the Southern tribes would be too damaged.” She shook her head, trying to look more cheerful than she felt. ‘But I appreciate it. I really do.”

Katara was quiet for a moment, thinking it over. Yué could see her ruefully reaching the same conclusion about the consequences. The Avatar needed allies for the war, and the Southern Tribes definitely couldn’t afford to have another enemy. “I’m sorry.” She said, face fallen to be more miserable than Yué’s own. “We’ll keep thinking about it.” She made a thoughtful face. “Can I tell my brother?” she asked. Katara made a face. ‘Don’t tell him I said this, but his plans are usually really good. He might see something that we don’t.”

Yué hesitated for a moment, feeling guilty. Didn’t Sokka like her? She didn’t want to use him.

“He won’t mind,” Katara said, reading the struggle off of Yué’s face. “In fact, helping you would make him really happy. He won’t like Hahn.” She made another face. “Trust me.”

Yué nodded slowly. “Alright,” she agreed. She blinked rapidly, trying to stay composed. “Th- thank you. For now, I am just avoiding Hahn. Once I accept his necklace, the engagement starts.”

Katara nodded in determination. “Got it.” She sat back in her chair and her blue eyes glinted. “I won’t let him talk to you. Not if I’m anywhere near.”

Aunna cleared her throat. “I can’t help with that,” she admitted shamefully. “I’d be in too much trouble.”

The grin they got from their Southern cousin was bright and the slightest bit frightening. “They already think I’m a country savage,” Katara said smugly. “They don’t even think I’m smart enough to do things like inconvenience Hahn on purpose.” She tilted her chin up as she repositioned her repair project. “Oh, there’s that council meeting tonight.” Katara smiled at Yué. “I get to argue my case for joining bending classes!”

Yué blinked twice. That phrasing. “You won’t be able to say anything,” she said delicately. “Just to confirm that  you know that rule.”

Katara reared back. “Because I’m not a council member?” she asked dubiously.

“Because you’re a girl,” Yué said. “I’m an advisor and even I usually can’t speak in meetings.”

There was a long pause, during which Katara clearly struggled not to say, “That’s stupid.” Her face said it loudly enough. After a moment she took a deep breath and painted on a more neutral expression. “Thank you for telling me.”

Privately, Yué agreed with the things that Katara was a little diplomatic to say.

When the Council Meeting summons came later that night, Yué had changed into a finer gown than she’d worn in the day. Aunna could not attend, so she held her head high and walked alone with her guards trailing behind her.

The room was full when she arrived. Yué glanced around, noting who was where. She went to sit near Master Pakku, and pretended she hadn’t seen Katara, Sokka, or Hahn. All of them tried to make eye contact with her.

‘Don’t engage.’ She kept her face blank and pleasant. ‘If you start, you’ll get sucked in. Be distant, professional.’

She had timed it so that there would be no time for anyone to come over and talk to her before the meeting began. She waited impassively, hands in her long sleeves, and listened to the meeting being opened. After a while, the topic was introduced. Katara stood on cue and bowed silently. Then she sat back down.

Pakku shot her a viciously suspicious look.

Katara held her head that little bit higher in response.

‘I’m very glad that I warned her that she can’t talk.’

“Our topic today regards this girl, and the fate of waterbending in the Southern Tribes,” Father began. His voice was low and steady, the kind of voice that commanded attention and respect. Yué found herself relaxing at the hypnotic familiarity and comfort. “As you may know, our Southern brethren have suffered greatly at the hands of the Fire Nation. This girl is the only waterbender left in the Southern Tribes.”

He paused to let the horror of that situation sink again. There was a spot of pink high on Katara’s cheeks as everyone looked at her.

“That is terrible,” Councilman Kahota said. He gave Katara a respectful nod. “However, we all know what she wants. This girl wishes to learn combat waterbending. Of course she’s welcome to study healing, but we simply cannot abandon our traditions.”

“Katara is studying healing,” the Chief said, firmly but in a mild tone. “She is aware of her duties. A perspective has been raised that I found compelling.” Father turned to face the rest of the tribe. “We know that the ways of the South have long been different,” he said. “The land there is harsh, and their women have been benders. It is not our way, but they have been our family.”

“Yes.” Pakku said tightly. “They have all sorts of queer notions down there. It brings to mind the savagery of the Fire Nation in sending off their women to play at war.”

Yué struggled to keep her expression clear. Pakku had always been kind to Yué. That was only because he thought that she was a good girl who knew her place. He was one of the staunchest conservatives on the council.

‘We don’t have to convince him. Katara doesn’t have to be trained by our best master. Master Taako might be open to it. He looked like he’s considering it.’

“If her brother was a bender, I would never suggest that we consider training her,” Father said sternly. “If there was an appropriate tribe member, I would ask that he be sent here for training. This I would offer, as a gift to our sister tribe. Would any of you disagree?” He cast his face about the room looking for disapproval and found none. “I have two arguments for you today. The first is that teaching her would not conflict with our traditions, because she is not and never will be a member of our tribe. She will have no place here and no influence on the behavior of our women. Yet we have all agreed we would train a member of a southern tribe, who is not and never will be of the North.”

Yué was delighted to see consternation on a few faces already. Katara’s face had gone through several expressions during the speeches, from rage to embarrassment to hope. Sokka had been staring at Yué most of the time, holding his sister’s hand in encouragement. Hahn was sneering and exchanging meaningful glances with another boy.

“The second is that we should consider the value of this gift and that it would allow her to train the next generation of Southern waterbenders.” Chief Arnook’s tone was grave now indeed. “If there are to be more waterbenders born in the South, it will be from this girl. Her sons should know their heritage.” He let the gravity of those words sink in. “Let us begin our deliberations.”

The room erupted into lively debate with men waving their hands around and occasional pockets of shouting. Several people leapt to their feet to talk with others seated nearby. Yué stayed seated and impassive, looking around slowly to gauge opinions.

The debate was long and fierce. As predicted, Master Pakku would not be moved, but Master Taako was willing to take her on as a student if the council decided it was appropriate. Yué watched the flare of Pakku’s nostril and shrank into herself. She hoped that her Father did not credit her for the arguments. She didn’t want Master Pakku to look at her like that.

An hour dragged on, but neither side could win the debate. Chief Arnook banged the staff on the ice floor, making a loud thunk. Everyone quieted. “Thank you, everyone,” he said. He didn’t hide his amusement. “That was a lively debate. It seems that we will not come to a consensus tonight. Let us move on to the next topic. Sokka of the Southern Tribes has brought information about the Fire Nation for our consideration.” He nodded at the boy. Yué followed his gaze to see the angry shock on Katara’s face that her future was being shelved as a topic.

‘Don’t say anything,’ Yué entreated. ‘This was a very good result. I think that next time, it will go in your favor.’

Sokka took a step away from his sister.

Yué felt her heart drop.

“That’s it?” Katara exploded.

The assembly room went very quiet as everyone looked at her.

Yué cringed.

Katara was unbothered. She stared around the room fiercely, hands curled into fists. “I should be able to learn, because it’s my birthright,” she said fiercely. “I’m as good as any boy and I’d be happy to show you that I have already learned some.”

There was outcry demanding who had taught her.

“I taught myself,” Katara said stubbornly.

‘She’s lying,’ Yué thought instantly. ‘At least partly. I know that expression.’

The room was filled with scoffs and jeers. Above the din, Yué caught Hahn’s voice in particular. She didn’t hear what he said, but she saw the way that Sokka jerked and gave the older boy a fierce stare.

Her heart skipped a beat at that expression.

‘Stop it,’ Yué told herself firmly. ‘This is a terrible situation. And he isn’t defending my honor, he’s defending his sister.’

There was no recovering the meeting from there. People were on their feet again shouting and arguing, but the tone was different now.

“Princess Yué.”

She leaned in to hear Master Pakku. “Yes, Master?” Yué asked quietly.

“Would you collect the southern girl?” His lips curled into a sneer. “Please keep her out of trouble. We need to finish the meeting and she is proving to be a distraction.”

She hesitated.

‘Hahn is only two rows behind Katara and Sokka. I don’t want to go over there.’

But it was her duty. She was the most suitable person present to escort Katara out right now.

Yué nodded in acknowledgment and stood. She didn’t disagree with his assessment. She crossed the room to Katara and took the other girl by the arm. “Let’s go,” she said in Katara’s ear. The other girl shot her a fierce look and only barely subsided when Sokka put a soothing hand on her shoulder. “This isn’t productive,” Yué said, looking around the room with a little anxiety. It was hard to see very far in the sea of men, but Hahn would be nearby. She shrunk in on herself, feeling small and anxious.

“Okay.” Katara’s voice had softened. “You’re right. I’ll finish this another time. Good luck, Sokka.”

“Goodnight, Sokka,” Yué said politely.

He was looking between Katara and Yué thoughtfully. Then his gaze fastened on something behind Yué. “Go fast,” Sokka hissed, and then he pushed his way past.

Katara’s eyes widened and she started moving fast. “Let’s go, let’s move,” she said under her breath.

Oh, Yué realized, feeling warmed. They were keeping her away from Hahn. She clutched Katara a little tighter and disappeared into the crowd to make her escape.