*。☆。
★。＼｜／。★
˚ ₊ ♡ ❰  MIRACULUM ❱
*✧ ─── ❝ ❪ POINT OF NO RETURN ❫ ❞

⋆ 🌪. CHAPTER FIVE ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*
˚ ₊ ♡ 112 a.a ─── book one: water

"THE DAY WE HAVE FEARED FOR SO LONG HAS ARRIVED. THE FIRE NATION IS ON OUR DOORSTEPS." CHIEF ARNOOK SPOKE LOULDY TO ADRESS his tribe as they had gathered inside the walls of the palace, "It is with great sadness I call my family here before me, knowing well that some of these faces are about to vanish from our tribe. But they will never vanish from our hearts. Now as we approached the battle of our existence I call upon the great spirits! Spirit of the Ocean! Spirit of the Moon! Be with us!

As Arnook spoke, Uki could feel something stir inside her. A whisper, a push inside her heart as if her body had responded to a call.

Uki listened with a solemn heart as she sat next to her father, who was seated next to Pakku on the raised platform Arnook was speaking from. She felt sadness wash over her as she looked around at the members of her tribe, and the new friends she had made sitting in the back.

Aang stood out clearly with his orange and yellow garbs and light blue arrow tattoos, a clear contrast to the dark hues of blue and white traditional to the Water Tribe.

Uki exchanged nervous glances with Yue who sat on the other side of Master Pakku.

"I'm going to need volunteers for a dangerous mission." Arnook stated remorsefully, overlooking his people.

A moment of silence fell over the hall, as the members of her Tribe took in his words. Uki wondered what they thought about in this moment. Their fears? Their loved ones?

Uki eyes widened when Sokka stood up, no hesitation or fear on his face as he looked at Arnook. "Count me in!" He declared firmly.

"Sokka?" Katara gasped, frightened for her brother's safety, and when Uki looked at Yue again, she saw the fear mirrored on her face.

More people stood up as they followed Sokka's bravery and after a small moment of hesitation she went to stand up as well.

A hand latched onto her parka, and Uki glanced down at her father's stern face. "Uki."

"father." She replied stoically.

His stern expression faded, to reveal to worry hiding underneath.

Her face was contorted in one of determination and her ice coloured orbs shone. "This is all I ever wanted to do father. It's my destiny." Uki spoke firmly, "I will return to you, if the spirits wish for it. Otherwise I'll gladly go where they dwell."

A shadows casted over his eyes, the deep rooted seeds of their traditions still bloomed; "War is no place for girls, Uki." He berated and Uki's fists bawled by her side.

Ripping her arm free from his hold, Uki tilted her head away from her father. "I may be a girl, but not a weak one." She gritted out, "And I will fight for my home."

Uki did not look back as she turned toward Arnook as he spoke.

"I must warn you, many will not return."

Uki breathed out nervously,  "Come forward and receive my mark if you accept the task."

Uki was the first in line, seeing as she was the closest to Arnook. She bowed slightly, as Arnook placed three streaks of red on her forehead.

Bearing the mark of her Tribe, Uki stole a glance at her father, but his eyes had been firmly focused on the crowd below them. Her shoulders slouched slightly at his refusal and after another moment, waiting, hoping—Uki turned to look at Yue instead.

The white haired girl had tears gathered in her eyes.

Uki had to bite her lip to refrain it from trembling at the sight.

Slowly, Uki walked away and down the steps towards another hallway, looking over her shoulder once to see Sokka receive the mark, and Yue finally letting her tears escape.

They rolled freely down her cheeks, and Uki felt tears gathering in her own eyes. She quickly turned away, clenching her jaw to refrain herself from letting her tears fall.

Uki breathed out nervously as she stopped, just as Sokka appeared around the corner. His face was set in a hard scowl, clearly reminiscing a painful memory from the look of it.

"It must bring back memories for you." Uki whispered softly, gaining the boy's attention.

"My father left when I was too young to join." Sokka admitted. "I tried to convince him to let me go with them, but he told me to protect the tribe instead."

"You must miss him."

"I do." Sokka stated sadly, "I couldn't protect my people when the Fire Nation came to take Aang. Maybe I can make a difference here."

Uki's heart swelt at his words ━his worry for her tribe. 

"I'm glad to have you by my side Sokka." Uki spoke earnestly, bringing back the boy from his memories. "Most of the men still think me less because I am a woman, my own father thinks I should stay as far away as I can. At least I'll have a friend by my side."

Sokka smiled warmly at her, "We're going to kick some Fire Nation ass." He promised her and Uki grinned.

"I like the sound of that." She nodded, turning to walk down the hall where Arnook soon would join them to give them their mission.

There was a tense silence between the duo as more Water Tribe members gathered inside the war room waiting for their chief. They were both sitting crossed legged on the ground shoulders touching and after a moment Uki turned her head to look back at Sokka. "How are you feeling?" She whispered, not wanting to have anyone else hear their private conversation. "After everything with Yue."

Sokka sighed, blue eyes down casted as he stewed in his thoughts, "I don't know." He replied honestly. "I never thought a princess like her would even notice a peasant boy like me."

Uki grimaced at the words he spoke and she grabbed his hands in her own. "You're not a peasant boy Sokka. From the short time I've known you, you shown to be a very brave kid. That's what Yue sees. She doesn't care about titles or status..."

Sokka smiled appreciatively at her but didn't say anything else.

"If she had a choice, she'd pick you anytime."

The words barely left her lips before Arnook came walking inside with a serious face and silence fell over the room. He let his eyes travel around the men (━ and Uki) for what could be the last time. A heavy and thick atmosphere surrounded them as he halted in the middle of the room.

"I want to thank all of you for the sacrifices you make for this tribe." Arnook started, voice strong and full of confidence. "Tomorrow the fate of our Tribe lays in the hands of the spirits. Tomorrow we face a Nation set to destroy us! Tomorrow we will protect our friends, our families, our culture!"

He spoke with passion, lighting the fire in the hearts of the people inside the room. "It will not be easy, and it will be very dangerous. We are the first line of defence and we must not let them pass."

"May the Ocean and Moon Spirits watch over you, and protect you from harm!"  Arnook bowed his head in respect. "Sleep well tonight, tomorrow will we will fight for our home."

Soft chatter echoed around the room as everyone went their own way.

Uki was pulling Sokka with her the two entering the frozen hallways in a comfortable silence until they entered the cold night air.

"I'll see you tomorrow." Sokka called out as he slowly descended the stairs to join Aang and Katara who were waiting for him.

Uki tried to ignore the ache in her heart when her parents were nowhere in sight.

*。☆。
★。＼｜／。★
𝘸𝘦'𝘳𝘦 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝙖𝙛𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙙 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯
𝘸𝘦 𝙬𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨
𝘣𝘦 𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘦 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩

─ robert jordan

THE WORLD WAS SILENT THAT MORNING, THE WAVES CRASHED GENTLY AGAINST THE WALL, BARELY MAKING A SOUND. UKI COULD ONLY FEEL HER HEARTBEAT ECHOING IN HER RIBCAGE AS SHE STOOD ON THE LARGE wall protecting the Northern Water Tribe from the rough sea. The three red streaks of warpaint were still marked on her skin as she stood with her tribe members. One hand holding a spear while the other hand rested on the waterskin attached to her hip.

Sokka was standing beside her, own spear in hand as he gazed at the horizon. The Avatar was also on the wall, sitting atop his skybison Appa, with Katara standing next to the large flying animal.

The air felt tense and Uki grew more nervous as time passed. The sun was slowly growing higher in the sky━ when suddenly a small dot appeared on the horizon. At first its shape was unrecognisable but as it grew closer, Uki recognise the silhouette as a battle ship━ a Fire Nation battleship to be precise.

Uki's shoulders tensed at the sight and her eyes grew wide when something else appeared in the sky. She squinted her eyes as she tried to make out the shape, but it was such a bright thing, it blended perfectly in the sun.

It was only then, she realised what it was. A fireball. Hurdling at them with such velocity that the lined Water Tribe warriors barely had time to react as it collided with the wall, breaking their sacred symbol etched in the ice.

The impact send everyone backwards, screaming and shouting in pain and surprise. Uki barely had time to bend a wave of now to catch her and Sokka who had been plummeting down with her. An awful whirlwind of smoke and fire erupted around them as soot clung to her clothes and skin. It stung her eyes as she pushed herself up to look around to take in the damage.

A large hole had been created in the wall, multiple warriors scattered around them, howling in pain or struggling to get back on their feet. She noted Aang and Appa had disappeared but before she could take any action, a second ball of fire hit the wall.

She balanced herself, as the ground shook, with the help of her hands, before pushing herself back up in a standing position. "Sokka? Katara?" Uki called out, breathing out in relief when she made eye contact with Sokka who was also calling out for his sister.

Uki quickly wrapped her arms around the boy, happy to see him mostly unharmed.

They both turned back around shouting out for Katara who luckily seemed to be safe as she bended away the snow that had buried her.

"Come on Sokka," Uki pulled the Southern Water Tribe boy with her when she noticed the other warriors still standing follow after Chief Arnook. "We have to go." She quickly turned to Katara, "Stay safe alright?"

Katara nodded, a determined glint in her blue eyes. "You stay safe too."

"We will." Sokka promised before they entered the room Arnook had led them too.

"Men━ " Uki coughed. "━ and uhm woman. You'll be infiltrating the Fire Nation Navy.  That means you'll all need one of these uniforms."

Another tribe member, Hahn, entered the room, wearing said Fire Nation Uniform.

Uki breathed in nervously, but was startled when Sokka starting laughing out of the blue. Everyone looked at the boy indecorously.

"What is your problem?"

"Fire Nation uniforms don't look like that." Sokka answered easily.

"Of course they do." The boy replied, "There are real uniforms, captured from actual Fire Navy Soldiers."

"When?" He sarcastically asked, "Like a hundred years ago?"

Uki thought Sokka was really pushing it but when Arnook spoke up, she was pleasantly surprised at how close the boy's guess was.

"85."

Uki gaped at the chief while Sokka stepped forward. "The Fire Nation doesn't wear shoulder spikes anymore. The new uniforms are more streamlined."

"How do we know we can trust this guy?" Hahn got in Sokka's face, "Such bold talk for a new recruit."

Uki crossed her arms and rolled her eyes at the obnoxious boy, "Because he has actually seen real Fire Nation Soldiers." She vouched for the boy as she came to stand next to Sokka. "Unlike you."

"Sokka is from our sister tribe, Hahn. He is a capable warrior, and I value his input." Arnook stated firmly and Uki smirked smugly at Hahn. Yue deserved far better than this kid she thought bitterly.

"Now." Arnook turned back to everyone else. "Our first objective is to determine the identity of their commanding officer—"

"His name is Zhoa." Sokka intercepted, "Middle aged man, big sideburns, bigger temper."

Uki blinked as Sokka casually explained and described the man.

"Sokka, I want you to tell everything you know to Hahn━ he is leading this mission." He turned to Hahn, "Hahn, I want you to show Sokka your respect. I expect nothing less from my future son-in- law."

Uki winched when Arnook brought up the betrothal of Yue and Hahn and how crestfallen Sokka looked again.

"Princess Yue is marrying you?!" Sokka exclaimed in disbelief.

"Yeah, what of it?" Hahn snobbishly replied and Uki narrowed her eyes at the boy.

"Nothing." Sokka turned his back to the boy, "Congratulations."

Uki smiled sympathetically at Sokka when she caught his eye and approached the boy. "Don't mind him." She whispered in his ear, glaring at Hahn over her shoulder who just rolled his eyes.

She dragged him towards the others and pushed an axe in his arms to sharpen.

While they all talked aimlessly among themselves, trying to ease out their nerves, Sokka begrudgingly told Hahn everything he knew.

Uki was minding her own business, casually moving water around and healing minor wounds some of the warriors had sustained during the Fire Nation's initial attack when she noted how frustrated Sokka seemed to become.

Annoyance was written all over Sokka's face as he talked to Hahn and Uki clearly understood why as she tuned back into the conversation.

"Let me tell you Sokka, I've courted a lot of girls, but Yue is the finest and she comes with the most perks." Hahn boasted.

"Perks?" Sokka's nostrils flared as he glared at Hahn, "What does that mean?!"

"I mean, Yue is nice and everything, but the points I'll gain with the chief aren't bad either."

Uki growled as Hahn spoke about Yue, "Shut up you dunderhead! You don't deserve Yue!"

"Princess Yue is wasted on a self-absorbed weasel like you!" Sokka added furiously.

"Whoa, hang on━ " Hahn turned to face Sokka fully. "What do you care? You're just a simple rube from the Southern Tribe." Hahn insulted the boy and Uki grew more livid. "What would you know of the political complexities of our life? No offense."

"Sokka is worth ten of you Hahn!" Uki shouted, rage filling her veins as she flicked her wrist to create a water whip.

Hahn grunted as the whip made contact with his skin. "You shouldn't even be here Uki! Go hide with the other girls!"

Sokka screamed in fury, attacking Hahn as he continuously insulted him, his tribe and his new friend. The two rolled around the ground, punching and kicking at each other.

"You're just a jerk without a soul!" Sokka shouted, before mockingly adding, "no offence!"

"Get off of him you meat head!" Uki came barrelling to Hahn who had gained the upper hand. She swiftly bended the water closest to her and send a forceful stream against Hahn back, pushing the boy against the wall.

"That's enough!" All three tensed when Arnook's voice echoed around the walls.

"Sokka, Uki you are off the mission." He stated, no room for negotiating in his voice.

They both glared at Hahn who did not even get reprimanded and smugly looked at them.

"Alright fall in━ " Hahn's eyes landed on Uki in a mocking manner, "men."

Uki just muttered insults under her breath as Hahn and the other warriors left the room after bragging about taking down Zhoa in no time.

Both Sokka and Uki huffed, letting themselves fall to the ground to sit crossed leg and glaring at the floor. Sokka focused his anger in sharpening his boomerang while Uki kept freezing and unfreezing a small ball of water that hovered above her hand.

"Is something wrong, Sokka, Uki?" Arnook had returned.

"oh no." Sokka replied bitterly, "Hahn's out there on the top secret mission, while we're here sharpening my boomerang and playing around with magic water."

Uki raised her eyebrows at how Sokka described her waterbending.

"Everything is fine." Uki added monotonously as she stared at the chief in defiance.

"Listen to me." Arnook stepped in front of the duo. "I took you off of the mission for a selfish reason━ I have a special task in mind for the two of you."

That piqued their interest as the both stared up the chief in curiosity.

"What? You want me to scrub the barracks?" Sokka asked sarcastically.

"I want the two of you, to guard my daughter━ princess Yue."

Uki blinked, as Sokka responded for the both of them, "Oh sure!" He spoke far more enthusiastically. "That shouldn't be too hard."

"We will chief." Uki cut in instead, stepping in front of Arnook to bow before the man.

He smiled kindly at her, "You have always been a loyal and good friend to Yue. I trust her life in your hands Uki."

"I will not let you down Chief."

⋆⋅ ━━━━ ‧ ༻✩༺ ‧ ━━━━ ⋅⋆

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