Chapter 2: Found
It has almost been two and a half years after Toph had disappeared. Zuko has sent troops all over the world to look for her but when Toph decides to run away it is almost impossible to find her. She had taken their ease of mind with them, especially Aang's cheerfulness. Ever since Toph left he had been guilty stricken and looking for her madly. But like every other man, the Avatar had failed to find her.
Sokka and Suki had married and they had been settled down in Chin, a big city similar to Gaoling. They have a little daughter whom they named after Toph. She was turning two this month so the Gang was gathered to Sokka's mansion in Chin to celebrate her birthday, all the gang but Toph.
Little Toph who turned out to be an earth bender played with some tiny pebbles in the backyard while Suki and Katara were busy preparing the decorations. Sokka's home was lined by a large lawn which ended up in a not-very-thick forest. Men were out buying fireworks for the party. No one noticed that little Toph was creeping towards the forest. And it has started to snow lightly.
Toph, who knew nothing of this, was camping in the forest. She had been travelling all over the world by herself for the last two years, not stopping to think what happened back in Ember Island. She knew it was just a matter of time that the snowing gets heavier so she built up a rock tent and lit a fire inside it.
She heard a little whimper far ahead her camp site and knew some kid was wandering in woods. Toph assumed that she could take a quick peek if they needed any help. Snow has been heavier so Toph practically ran to the clearance where the kid was crying and pick her up. "Hello there little one!" She soothed the crying kid. "Don't be afraid now. Let's find your parents"
Though she suggested that, she did not know how. Snow had fallen feet thick blurring her vision. She tried to find her way back to the camp sit but it was impossible with the snow layers. She could try going underground, but it was too dangerous for the kid. So Toph did the only doable thing. She dug her feet through the snow and found a little earth. Then she made a small earth tent to cover them from the falling snow. It was getting colder by the minute. The little girl was shivering. Toph took off her jumper and wrapped the kid up warmly. With the warmth she cuddled in Toph's arms and felt asleep.
"Let's just stay until the snowing is over." Toph murmured. Her limbs were going numb and she was feeling drowsy as she sat their nearly for three hours. Snowing seems to get thicker. She had almost fallen asleep when she heard a distance call. "TOPH!"
Sokka, Zuko and Aang had returned after two hours of shopping. "Where is daddy's little girl?" Sokka asked entering the house.
"She is not with you?" Asked Katara and Suki in unision.
"No" Said Sokka, lifting up an eyebrow. "I thought you were taking care of her"
Suki ran towards the backyard just to find a snow covered earth but no Toph. Frantic they all got in to a search. All the tracks were erased by snow so finding the kid was no easy task. Suki bit her lip while Sokka hold on to her shoulder. "How could I be so irresponsible" She kept saying. Aang and Zuko fire bended their way deep in to the snow covered forest shouting "TOPH". After an hour or so Zuko noted that the earth beneath them was trembling. About a hundred yards away he saw a plate of earth was shot upwards. And some one's weak voice was asking for "help". They ran towards the figure, which now crawl outside a small pile of earth. It was a girl in her late teens. She was not wearing any clothes that suited weather like this. Her robes were thin and she looked frozen. She offered a little bundle to them. "Help her" She said hoarsely. "She was lost"
With that the girl collapsed on the snow weakly. Zuko hurriedly knelt down beside the girl and took the bundle. He saw why the girl was not wearing any jacket. She had used it to warm the kid. "It's Toph" Zuko cried giving the bundle to Suki.
Toph heard Zuko cry "It's Toph". But she was too weak to say or do anything. Though she knew Zuko was kneeling besides her, her brain felt too numb to process anything that was going on. The last thing she remembered was Zuko picking her up, bridal style. She felt asleep, her face buried in Zuko's warm torso.
Suki and Sokka were busy pampering little Toph. She was in perfect condition, asleep, safe and sound. Katara hurried to Zuko to check on their savior. Her face was covered in Zuko's puffy clothes but she looked very pale. She had ivory skin and ebony hair, a tall slender built body.
"Common. We need to get these two to safety. She is freezing." Katara said placing a palm on the girl's neck to check the temperature.
Toph woke next morning to find herself on a comfortable bed supported by many thick blankets. Her throat felt hoarse and her limbs numb. She coughed loudly and stepped down to find some water. From the moment she set her feet down she knew she was back among them. She 'saw' Sokka and Suki feeding the baby downstairs, Katara making some soup and Zuko and Aang sitting on the living discussing. "How the heck..!" She wondered. Then only the events of last evening came dashing back to her mind.
"oww" She did a face palm. Toph knew they could not have recognized her just by looking at her because she had grown from a 16 year old tomboy to an 18 year old girl. She even wore her hair down.
Toph heard Katara hurrying back to the room she stood. She hastily climbed to the bed and sat there, her head habitually hung downwards.
Katara came with a bowl of steaming soup. "How are you now?" She asked Toph. "You were freezing last night"
Toph, her voice still hoarse, fought back the urge to hug her friend who she had not seen for two and a half years and said casually, "You must be the baby's family. Is she alright?"
"Yes. Thanks to you" Katara said gratefully. "You risked your life for her, and we are in your debt"
"Oh forget it sug-" Toph stopped abruptly. She was about to call Katara 'sugar queen'. "I am glad she is safe" She added politely.
You need to regain your strength. You are still very weak." Katara said helping Toph to settle in bed in to a comfortable position and handing her the bowl of soup. The aura about this girl was so nostalgic to Katara. But she did not bother about it just yet. "I am Katara buy the way" She added in a friendly tone.
Toph sipped a mouthful of soup and gulped. She felt it burn her down to the stomach. It was warming and comfortable. "I am err... Dum" She replied fighting back a smile as she remembered the royal ball of Earth king in to which She and Katara sneaked in. After all Katara was the one who had given her the name.
Katara stood there her eyes narrowed. Surely Dum was an odd name for a girl like this. But she decided not to make any harsh comments.
"Has the snow cleared out?" Toph asked. "I should be get going."
"No it has not" Katara replied. "You are yet in no condition to travel anyways. So how did you find our Toph?"
"Toph?" Toph asked, alarmed.
"My little niece" Katara said.
"Oh!" Toph breathed. "I was travelling nearby and I heard her cry." So they have named their baby after her! How touching!
"But we did not find any of your belongings. Not even your shoes." Katara said wondering.
"Don't worry about it. I left them in err.. where I was staying" Toph added hastily.
"OK. You finish that soup. It'll make you feel better." Katara said as Aang and Zuko came in. "How is she now?" They asked almost in unison.
Toph hung her head so that they can't see her face and kept drinking the steaming soup.
"Better." Katara said. "Aang, Zuko this is err… Dum! Dum, Aang and Zuko" She introduced them to one another. "Dum? Aang bustled out only to receive a kick from Zuko.
"Nice to meet you! Eerr Dum!" Zuko said greeting her. "We owe you so much for keeping Toph safe"
Toph did not speak back. But she gave a stiff bow to the two and went back to her soup.
Sokka and Suki came running in to the room. Toph's jacket folded in Suki's arms. But they did not go thanking Toph as the others did. Instead Sokka called the others.
"Guys, Suki was folding up this jacket in which Toph was wrapped. And we guess what we saw in the top left corner of the jacket?" What asked Aang while Katara and Zuko stared.
"The Bei-Fong seal embroidered to it." Sokka said slowly while Suki stared at now stiffed Toph.
"I do not think this is just a passerby traveler, are you?" He asked directly from Toph.
