"Sokka, they're gone. There's nothing we can do but keep moving."

That morning had started in disarray, total confusion, shock, and pain. Toph and Sokka had woken up to an empty, destroyed temple. But that wasn't what had caused Sokka's heart to race. Katara and Aang were missing. All that was left, underneath broken slabs of marble, was the necklace Sokka and Katara's mother had given to Katara. It was now wrapped around Sokka's wrist. For once, Sokka was glad that Toph was blind. She couldn't see the tears building up in his eyes. He quickly wiped them away.

"We have to move! Who ever ki-who ever took them may still be here, waiting."

Sokka looked up at Toph. He suddenly felt the urge to protect her. He saw worry in her face, and wondered what she had almost said. Kidnapped? Surely not killed. Tears started to fall down Sokka's face, and he wiped them away before they feel to the ground, before Toph could sense them.

"You're right, lets go."

Toph could sense the fear and despair in Sokka's voice. She had to be strong for the both of them. She was about to walk over and comfort Sokka when they heard a light laughter from behind.

"You don't really think they're still alive, do you?"


Both Sokka and Toph turned around to see whose lips these words spilled from, but they already knew.

"Zuko!? You…you…what did you do to my sister?!"

Rage hit Sokka, who pulled out his sword.

"Nothing she didn't have coming to her. No one threatens me and gets away with it."

Toph almost laughed at this, but she knew how to hide her emotions and just smirked.

"She's gone, and you two are next."


Zuko stood tall, his arms crossed upon his chest, a mix of a smirk and a smile across his lips. A look Sokka was much to used to.


"AAH!" Sokka ran after Zuko, sword in hand, but Toph moved the earth before he could reach him. Panting, Sokka started at Toph, surprised. What was she doing? Was she in this with Zuko?


As if she read his mind, Toph answered the look on Sokka's face, even though she couldn't see it.

"I'm in this with you, and I want him dead too, but look."

Toph nudged her chin past Zuko. Azula and 30 or so firebenders stood behind him. 


"We can't win this battle, we have to MOVE!" Toph yelled.

Emotion began to overcome her.

"It's what Aang would do," she said, and a tear fell from her check. She quickly shook her head. "Lets go."


She and Sokka began to ran towards where they left Appa, but he wasn't there.
Azula showed up out of no where.

"Looking for this?" Her words came to their ears sharply. Appa was chained down beside her, trying to break free of the binds that held him.

"I'm surprised you two slept so deeply, you didn't hear us attack until it was too late."

She looked at Sokka, a smirk matching her brother's on her face.

"I'm also surprised your little blind friend there hasn't heard anything about her parents' death. It's a shame, it really is."


Nothing seemed to ever get to Toph, but there's a first for everything. Pain took over, and she fell to her knees.


"She's lying Toph, lets go!" Sokka tried to get to his friend, but he didn't move.


"No…she's not…" Sokka thought Toph was going to break down crying, but she stood instead, ready to fight. Just as she was about to strike, lightening exploded from Azula's fingertips.
The emotions that had taken over Toph must have stopped her from moving, just as Sokka's emotions took over his. He ran right in front of Toph, blocking the lightening that was intended to hit the little earthbender.


Toph starred at the floor that Sokka's limp body laid on.

"No…" She fell to her knees once again.

"NO!"
She grabbed Sokka and felt the earth give in under her. She broke enough of the earth floor free for her and Sokka to float on, but Toph knew escaping wouldn't be easy. The only way to go was down, into the abyss. Azula began to attack again, lightening missed Toph's face by inches. Toph knew what she had to do. She grabbed Sokka and held on as tight as she could, and jumped into the darkness.

Toph quickly moved any earth she could, and she and Sokka landed on the floating earth with a thud. As Toph's eyes adjusted to the dark, she realized that Sokka had just saved her life. Now it was her turn to save his.

Still floating, she felt for the earth wall that held the temple, and floated downward until she could no longer hear the voices of Azula and Zuko, laughing over triumph. When she felt that they were deep enough, Toph bended the earth walls to create an opening, a cave. She laid Sokka on the floor and put her ear to his chest. She heard nothing over her own thumping heart.

"Come on you idiot! LIVE! Don't leave me here, don't you DARE leave me here alone!" Toph's screams echoed along the cave walls, and she began to cry once more.

"Please…" she pleaded. She couldn't see Sokka's eyes open, and she was to busy banged her fists on the ground to hear him move.

"I never got to tell you…I never told you I love you…" Toph faced Sokka, still unaware of his breathing. She leaned in to kiss him goodbye, and suddenly felt his hand caress her cheek. Sokka pulled away.

"I love you too." He pulled Toph close to him, never wanting to let go, but after a minute, Toph pulled away. She cocked her head to one side, a smile on her face, and balled her small hand into a fist. The little earthbender hit Sokka hard in the chest.

"Ow! What was that for?" He smiled, knowing Toph's answer before she spoke.

"You scared me! Don't you ever do something like that again! You're all I have left."

Her last words were mumbled under her breath.

Sokka pulled her close once again.

"I won't, I promise."