Soonjei, along with Kam and Noa, was contracted by Malina and Maliq as part of a construction team they assembled for the reconstruction of the Southern Water Tribe shortly after the end of the Hundred Year War. Sometime during their work at the South Pole, Soonjei and the two other benders encountered Katara and Sokka, whom they warn to keep out of construction sites. The construction team subsequently attempted to remove the two siblings by force, but were subdued by Katara with her waterbending.