Hi, guys.

As you may know, Tokka Week for 2011 is from August 1st thru August 7th, and this year I thought I'd take a whack at writing about the prompts; we'll see what happens. Prompt #1 for this year is Rumble.

So here goes. Hope you like it.

A Kiss Before Parting

Sokka stood at one side of the arena in his dark blue Water Tribe uniform and gray wolf's head helmet. Slung on his back were his sword, his warclub, and his boomerang. He gazed sternly at his opponent.

On the other side, Toph, clad in green and tan Earth Kingdom garb and wide conical helmet, rolled her head from side to side, cracking her neck. A corner of her lip turned up in a smirk.

In the middle, on the edge of the arena, were Aang and Katara.

"Now, how did they get into this again?" Aang asked.

Katara shrugged. "The usual. Boasting. Toph said she could take anybody, anytime—especially non-benders. Sokka disagreed. They got into a spat, so here they are."

Aang looked at the two combatants. "Isn't that kind of dumb?"

Now it was Katara's turn to smirk. "You remember who you're talking about?"

"Oh." Aang chuckled. "Yeah."

"I heard that!" Sokka glared at them.

"So did I." Toph's smirk was full-on now. "You think you can take me down, Snoozles?" She beckoned with her fingers. "Come on. Rock my world."

Sokka knew that this was one of those times when he had bitten off more than he could chew… but he also felt like he had a few tricks up his sleeve. And he knew his opponent.

"You're on."

He ran right at Toph.

Toph let him come… then sighed and sent an Earth wave his way. Sokka leaped to his left. Toph stomped and raised up some rocks, then roundhouse-kicked them at Sokka. Again he rolled left—then stopped. He picked up some rocks.

"Ooooooooooo, now you're the fancy dancer!" Toph scoffed. "Did you take lessons from Twinkletoes or something?"

Sokka grimaced; Toph was in full Earth Rumble trash-talking mode. He made to reply—then stopped himself. He remained still and silent. Then he gently tossed the rocks, first one, then the other.

Toph caught it. She lashed out with another Earth wave—that passed just a few arm's lengths from Sokka, right where the rocks had landed. Now he smirked.

Toph turned her head, first one way, and then the other. "Whatsamatter, Sokka, nothing to say? I didn't think you were the strong silent type!"

Again Sokka restrained himself. He judged the distance between himself and Toph. As quietly as he could, he slid his boomerang from his sling. Metal whispered on leather.

It wasn't quiet enough. Toph zeroed in and grinned. "Gotcha." She hurled more rocks at Sokka.

Sokka sidestepped the barrage, then aimed and threw his boomerang. He ran at Toph, randomly zigzagging to throw off her aim. Several rocks came close to him. He drew his sword and warclub.

Toph barely heard the whirling boomerang as it came in. Just in time she threw up an Earth wall and blocked it.

Now Sokka came at Toph head on. She threw everything she had at him. He proved himself his father's son, sidestepping waves and walls of Earth, smashing and deflecting with his club and sword. He ate up the remaining distance and made the final rush.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"

The flat of his sword was on Toph's neck.

He was magnanimous in victory. He sniffed. "Care to apologize?"

Toph gently moved aside his sword… and kissed him on the nose.

He smiled. "Hey hey, Toph, that's not—"

Then he saw that she'd raised her foot.

His face fell.

Her foot came down in a stomp, bringing up a column of earth and launching him.

"—faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaair!"

His sword went one way, his club went another, and his body described a graceful arc that carried him clear out of the arena into some bushes beyond. Aang and Katara traced the arc with their eyes as he flew, both shocked and amused.

Toph sniffed. She walked toward Sokka's landing spot with no little amount of strut.

"Don't mess with the best, Snoozles. Don't mess with the best."