Bend Over Backwards
Part I
Tiny pin pricks of light smiled at the travelers below.
The wind growled out, threatening to blow away anyone who dared to set foot in the desert.
Being too shy to grace the travelers with her presence, the moon occasionally peeped through her blanket of clouds at them.
Devious shadows seemed to be stalking them but in this unruly edge of the desert, illusion and reality were often confused.
"This place is so ominous." commented Katara, a teenage girl from the Southern Water Tribe. "Maybe it's because of the Legend of the Desert," Toph, the loudmouth earthbender, answered.
"Legend of the Desert?" inquired Sokka. "That's right. It is said that a group of travelers disappeared from the desert on this day a hundred years ago. Suki told me about it when I told her that we had to cross the desert to reach Ba Sing Se." replied Toph.
"Am I supposed to be scared? Lots of people disappear all the time. Besides, we have the Avatar with us." assured Sokka while pointing exaggeratedly to Aang.
"Suki seemed very serious when she told me about it. She said we should be careful in the desert because of the legend." Insisted Toph. "When did you talk to Suki anyway?" said Sokka accusingly. "You think I'm lying! Remember that time we met her on that-" Toph began but was cut short by Katara.
"We believe you Toph, don't worry, we'll be as careful as possible from now on." soothed Katara while putting an arm around Toph. "Sokka, apologize to Toph now." commanded Katara.
Sokka sighed dramatically and trudged over to Toph, taking her hand and getting down on both knees. "Oh Toph! Your royal Toph-iness! Please please please Phur-leeeeeeese forgive me." Sokka over dramatized while giving a lot of fake swooning and arm waving. "Well…" thought Toph out loud but was once again interrupted, by Sokka this time.
"Please forgive me…For being realistic and logical, everything that you are not. I mean, what could possibly happen to us? This 'legend' happened a hundred years ago!" interjected Sokka.
"Err, Sokka." said Aang shakily.
"What?" retorted Sokka, still riding the wave of his anger high.
"That could happen to us." Aang pointed somewhere behind the others.
Sokka spun around with a look of fury on his face but once recognition dawned on him that angry look changed to confusion, then fear.
A titanic dust storm wailed in the distance, coming at the four travelers at lightning fast speed.
