#water tribe

[soncee]

Water tribe siblings !!!

[chaoticarchivist]

Something I genuinely wish was explored more in the ATLA universe/fandom is how Katara is the last waterbender of the Southern Tribe. Like, I understand why it's not spoken about as much as Aang being the last airbender, because he is simply the only airbender left. But Katara is the last link in her entire tribes history of bending.

Sure, the Northern Tribe might have benders, but they have such a different culture/identity around bending compared to the South. We see in Hama's flashbacks that the Southern Tribe had male and female benders at the helm, fighting equally, learning the same things, sharing the same tactics. They weren't left behind as strictly healers or defenseless women given a man's gift, they were strong.

And the thing that separates Katara and Aang's stories being the last benders of their nations is that Aang remembers what it means to be an Air Nomad. There are obviously blind spots because of how young he was, but Aang knows the customs and the culture and spiritual practices. He was able to pass those down to Tenzin and his grandchildren, he was able to start the process of rebuilding what was lost.

But Katara? She was even younger than Aang was when the Southern waterbenders were eradicated. There are Southern practices that are most definetly just... a fractured part of history because she never got to experience them. There are ways of hunting, of building, of navigating the waters, ways of healing, probably even spiritbending, that are simply lost to time.

And maybe her grandmother can clue her into it, memories from a nonbender living aside benders, but it's not the same. She didn't get to hear it from the waterbenders, she didn't get to learn from a Southern waterbender, she doesn't even know what to rebuild because it was never something she was versed in.

That's why The Puppet Master is such a heartbreaking episode. Because Hama could have been the Southern teacher Katara clearly wanted, she could have shown her more, but ended up passing on her legacy of Bloodbending. And on the inverse, I can't even fully call Hama a villain for wanting Katara to know how to bloodbend, because the ache of thinking you were the only one left for so long, the rage against a Nation known for destroying nations, would've driven anyone insane.

We know that Tenzin felt an intense pressure to keep rebuilding Air Nomad culture, but I'm so convinced that Kya probably felt something similar with Southern waterbending.

[ffunny-boness]

Katara, I love her water tribe jacket

[hahazed]

siblings siblings siblings

[buckyscake]

hiii guyyyss heres the finished wip from a few days ago!!! i loovee drawing katara and sokka they’re literally my babies

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[regal-thaumaturge]

One of my old drawings of many, I started this one of Young Katara on Jan 7 2022

[azuremart]

Part 1: My favorite headcanon is Kya spent way too much time with Uncle Zuko and it shows.

She was definitely taking notes from him. From the hairstyle to the facial expressions (and I’ve gathered plenty of screenshot proof). 😄

The new art of young Kya II from her solo comic, along with the leaked footage from the upcoming "The Legend of Aang" movie, has officially convinced me of one incredibly precious detail.

Have you noticed Kya’s hairstyle? Look closely at those loose side-bangs and the way her hair is framed. Now look at Uncle Zuko.

This is now my official headcanon: Zuko, our favorite dutiful 'girl dad', used to braid young Kya's hair when she was a kid because it was the only hairstyle he actually knew how to do by himself!

He probably just learned a simple, practical style that also happened to be traditional in the Fire Nation, and little Kya loved it so much that she decided to stick with it.

Young Kya to Elder Kya: Consistently pulls her hair back and leaves those long side-bangs. This is pure Zuko (or even young Azula) aesthetic. It is a very distinct fashion marker of the Fire Nation.

It’s so interesting how Kya completely avoids traditional Water Tribe hairstyles for some reason. Water Tribe hair is always all about intricate braids, elaborate twists, ponytails, and a bunch of authentic accessories like blue beads, ribbons or hair wraps.

This isn't a traditional Water Tribe style at all. It is uniquely Uncle Zuko's style. He was the closest family friend, and this detail basically screams that he was that "cool uncle" who spent a lot of time babysitting the kids.

Uncle Zuko hairstyle… and fighting style.

The facial expression identity between these two characters just amuses me so much😅:

I just can't stop comparing screenshots of these two. I have no idea how much time Zuko spent with this family for their daughter to completely pick up his facial expressions.

Either that, or I have a very serious question for Katara.😏

Part 2 - here

[avyc02]

Master Katara of the Southern Water Tribe~

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