18: [OPEN COMMENTLOG]

[withanokka]

[Sokka had been headed to Jim's room, mostly to drag him out so they could go do things, and collect Hiccup soon after-- he had started to wonder if, in Silver's absence, Jim forgot that there was life outside his apartment room, and had started to make a habit of dragging him out on a near-daily basis. Or, he'd tried to, anyway. Sometimes he

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[talkingfishbone]

[A few minutes later, a red-haired boy, the belt of his too-big shorts pulled comically tight, with his shirt over it no less, pushed the heavy doors to deck one open.]

DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaad? Dad?!

Dad, OH Dad?!

[He looks around, green eyes passing right over the other boy's head. Whoever he's looking for is obviously much taller than a nine-year-old.

Are you his dad, Sokka? Are you?]

[withanokka]

[Sokka's own shorts have become pants on him, ridiculously over-sized, and he startles at the sound of another voice--

He spins, finding someone shorter than him. He doesn't see other little boys very often!]

D'you lose someone, too?

[talkingfishbone]

[Hiccup blinks, going stiff as he stares back at Sokka. He doesn't look like anyone he knows. Not even a little bit.]

Is that paint?

[withanokka]

[Sokka sees that blink and raises you one.]

Wh--?!

[He clasps his hands to the sides of his face, feeling for paint.]

[commentlog]

[withanokka]

[Sokka turns, fists clenched. His face is screwed up into an angry pout.]

No, I don't. I'm looking for my sister, Dad told me to protect her.

[commentlog]

[withanokka]

[Sokka blinks. He's never been out of the Southern Water Tribe, but he's seen Fire Nation uniforms-- aaaand Zuko's outfit doesn't really.... look too much like those. So, he's not suspicious! It was fortunate 15-year-old Sokka had foud]

That's right! I'm the chief's son! I'm a wolf warrior!

[believeslegends]

[15-year-old Sokka had been right for the top deck because that's where 15-year-old Jim had been. Except when he turned to reach for that bread on the buffet, he was suddenly soooo much shorter than the table. And what was all this weird stuff on his plate. He should've been in his living room waiting for his dad to come home.

This wasn't right. Where was his mom? UM. But he hears someone calling out so maybe they know something. He starts making his way over between all the tables.]

Helloooo?

[withanokka]

[There's a very small kid moving towards him-- what? Just-- huh? He screws up his face and tries to look tall. He looks really young, and Sokka's big brother instincts have already kicked in-- protect the small! Defend the weak! That's the warrior's job, right?]

Hey, you lost, too?

[believeslegends]

[Five year old Jim is confused by this other boy. Whyyyyy was he wearing such warm clothes on such a hot day? Tourists are weird.

...Right, he's not home. He looks legitimately worried -- as worried as a five year old can.]

Mhm. I'm supposed to be at home. I think mom and dad will get mad if I'm not back soon. Where is this? Why're you wearing those clothes?

[withanokka]

[Sokka tugs at his parka's collar-- it does look like it's bothering him. But he keeps on with a brave face.]

Do you know how you got here? I don't. I've been looking for a way out, but I think we're on a boat.

[noturmother]

[She's certainly not on the top deck, or heading anywhere for it. But a kind passerby on the boat had heard the squeaky voice hollering her name, and, once spotted her a few decks below; passed one the message.

Now there was a very confused Katara trailing the stairs up to the upper deck. What on earth? Who had been calling her?]

[withanokka]

[Sokka is running back and forth along the deck, searching for another staircase to run down to continue his search when he sees someone from home-- they have to be from home, they look just like he does-- but he can't see them clearly enough to identify them.

He runs closer, waving his arms and then stops dead, eyes wide-- the terror comes first, the disbelief, second.]

M-mom?

[His voice cracks.]

[noturmother]

[For one, Katara is more than confused. Had there always been so many children on board? Certainly not that she could remember. What was going on? Some of them even looked.. Well. Oddly familiar. Was that normal? Was someone breeding?

But there's a voice, nearby, and it sounds so hauntingly familiar. She turns to see-- Sokka. Tiny. But it's Sokka and he's little and--]

Sokka?

[Oh god. Mom. He sees mom. Where? Katara whips her head around searching, searching. But.. There's no one there but her. So that would mean... She shakes her head.]

I-It's me; Katara.

[withanokka]

Kkh--

[He stumbles over his sister's name, unable to get out a whole syllable. He swallows hard and puts on his best Big Bad Wolf Warrior Face and takes a step away.]

Y-y--

B-but--

Y-you look like mom--

[He's not going to cry. He's not going to cry. He snuffles loudly and tenses, his fists clenching tight into fists, biting his lip.]

K-katara's my little sister! Don't lie!!