The Southern Raiders attacked the Southern Water Tribe several years before the Avatar was discovered in his iceberg; they were searching for a rumored last waterbender, who, unknown to them, was an eight-year-old girl, Katara. During said attack, their men created a diversion to attract the attention of the warriors, which allowed their commander, then Yon Rha, to interrogate Kya, the chief's wife, as to the waterbender's whereabouts. Kya lied and told him that she was the waterbender, protecting her daughter. The commander, unwilling to take her as a prisoner, killed her. This incident further deepened the Southern Water Tribe's hatred for the Fire Nation and prompted all of the warriors to leave the Tribe to help the Earth Kingdom win the War. It would also give Katara and Sokka the des