Chapter 2

Toph felt cold. Not because it was particularly cold outside, but because of everyones silence. Ever since she left her home to journey with the Avatar, she had grown accustomed to the livley, group of kid's, her friends, she loved the sound of their happiness. Being blind meant she really didn't know what they looked like, but through sound she was able to paint a picture in her head of their personalties. Since the invasion, she missed all the happiness, mostly though, she missed Sokka's.

While she loved Aang & Katara they were sometimes emotional, Sokka was always funny, smart, & upbeat (in his own way). For the last few weeks he had hardly spoken & Toph knew just why. During the short time they had to find Firelord Ozai, Azula was stalling them for time. When Azula made the comment about Sukki to upset Sokka, she could almost feel the world get more sad with him. Since then Toph tried making funny comments, she even complimented him on his leadership skills(She knew he had a big ego), but nothing seemed to snap him out of his sorrowful daze.

Toph walked towards Sokka who was sitting near Appa Staring blankly at his sword, which laid on his lap. She placed a hand on his shoulder. "Sokka do you want to go try to catch some food for dinner?" Sokka's head snapped up as though he hadn't even noticed her walk over.

"Oh, yeah, sure." Sokka stood up & placed his sword in it's sheath, "We'll be back later guys." Sokka called to Aang & Katara who were doing waterbending excersizes in the shallow water. "Alright, be careful." Katara called back. They began to walk.

"Wait, can I come with you guys? Maybe I can help." Zuko asked catching up to them. Toph decided to let Sokka answer, she didn't care either way, unlike Katara she didn't hate Zuko, lately he was the only one exuding any happiness. Besides if he tried to pull something she could take him down.

"I geuss so, that ok with you Toph?" Sokka asked.

"Fine by me." She replied. As Zuko fell in step with them she could feel his excitement. He must have been glad somebody was being friendly to him, it hadn't exactly been a tea party for Zuko the past few weeks.

They had walked for nearly an hour around the western air temple, there was hardly any sign of life. Though on the bright side they had started talking a bit.

"So how can you be an earth bender? I mean I've seen you fight before, but I've never met any bender who was blind." Zuko inquired.

"Yeah Toph you never really did tell us how you learned bending." Sokka added showing a hint of interest.

"Well, when I was about five years old I accidentally fell into a hole on some of my parents land. I was lost & confused, for a long time, but then some sort of animal found me & guided me by earth bending to a hole that brought me right to my front door. I was so excited about it I kept going to that hole & playing with the animal which I found out later was a badger mole, & in a year or two I was an Earth bending master. My parents never knew of course, until you guys showed up." Toph finished giving Sokka a friendly punch in the arm. This made Zuko laugh. Sokka laughed too, while rubbing his arm.

"Well I guess that makes sense. Badger moles are blind, so they would be the best teachers for you, bet you didn't know that." Sokka said, sounding slightly cocky at his own intelligence.

"No I didn't." She did, but she decided to let him think he was right. "Thats how I learned to see through vibration. Like now." Toph kneeled down & placed her palm on the ground. Both boys stopped & watched. She waited a moment. She then Lifted her hand & punched the gound. About ten feet away, a bunch of mongoose pigs flew into the air forced by a large rock from the ground.

"Incredible." Zuko eclaimed in shock. "Your amazing."

"I know. Now this is where you guys come in." Toph said shoving the boys in the direction of their future meals.

It had been about a half an hour Zuko happily carried the sack of mongoose pigs over his shoulder. He found Toph to be quite friendly & funny he was glad he went with them. They were half way back to camp now & was hoping that when they had dinner later he could talk to Aang & Katara like he was talking Toph & Sokka, these two gave him hope that he could have friends after all.

Zuko noticed Toph had stopped. He stopped. "You alright?"

"We've got company." She said pointing just ahead. Sokka unsheathed his sword. Zuko followed by dropping the bag of food & getting into fighting stance. Then they saw who it was.

"Ty Lee?" Zuko sounded shocked. She was running towards them. Toph pushed a rock out of the ground which hit her in her lower back, pushing her forward. As she fell forward she placed her hands on the ground & did a front hand sprang & landed perfactly balanced on her feet. Zuko & Sokka began attacking. Sokka struck at her with his sword & Zuko sent blasts of fire quickly all of which she was able to dodge.

"Where is Azula? Is she here?" Zuko yelled angrily. Ty Lee didn't answer for she was dodging multiple attacks from every direction. Finally toph was able to trip her with a rock from behind. Just as she was about to flip onto her feet again, Sokka elbowed her in the back causing her to finally fall to the ground. He imediatly placed the sword at her neck.

"Don't move." Sokka said in his best intimidating voice.

"What are you doing here?" Zuko demanded angrily.

"You have it all wrong guys, I don't want to fight. I have to talk to Zuko it's really important.

"You can't just show up her & have a chat whenever you like." Toph said.

"Yeah," Sokka added. "Zuko's with us now, & your with Azula." Toph nodded in agreement.

Zuko couldn't help but be filled with joy because they were sticking up for him.

"It's important though!" Ty lee pleaded. "It's about Azula & ...Mai."

"What? Is she ok? What Happened? Is she here?" Zuko asked to fast for her to answer.

"Who's Mai?" Toph asked.

"You know the other girl who helps Azula...throws blades & arrows, black hair, dark cloths." Ty Lee stated non chalently.

"Oh her." Sokka said disgustedly, probably recalling a row of flying daggers just missing his head.

"Yeah well thats what I came to talk about she's in trouble."

"Whats happened?" Zuko said his tmeper rising. He then closed his eyes took his hands & pressed them down gently. After he calmed down he said in a normal voice again "Wait, lets take her back to the Avata- Aang. It wouldn't be right, for us to talk to her without him."

Sokka & Toph nodded in agreement. Toph then created rock handcuffs for her feet as well as hands. Sokka hoisted her over his shoulder, Zuko picked up the sack of mongoose pigs & did the same. They headed back to camp.

---

Katara had just woke up from a quick nap, & walked out of her room groggily. She liked having a room for a change, usually they would be sleeping in tents outside. Since they had been staying in the air temple everyone had their own rooms. She headed back outside. After her training session with Aang she had made yet another attempt to console Aang but as usual he just quietly agreed with everything she said & went off to feed Appa. She knew he just agreed with her to get her off his back, but what could she do, the only way to get him ready to face the firelord was to boost his confidance. She sighed & looked around. Aang was placing new fire wood on the fire as it was almost night & they would need light. As she rubbed her eyes she heard a rustling coming from the forest & assumed it was the others returning. First to emerge was Zuko with a sizable sack (full of dinner no doubt), she gave him a dirty look when he looked in her direction. then Toph & then Sokka with someone she recognized all to well.

Before Katara could even control herself she had her finger pointed in Zuko's face. "You lead her here didn't you?! I knew we couldn't trust you." She flicked the top of her water bottle open & prepared to let him have it. Zuko just looked at her blankly. Toph approached her.

"Settle down tiger. This isn't Zuko's fault." Toph said continueing to walk towards Aang. Zuko stood looking Katara for a moment & then followed.

"Fine." Katara sounded disappointed. She placed the top back on her bottle.

"Aang. we ran into her on our way back she says she wants to talk to Zuko but we thought it would be best for everyone to hear her." Sokka said placing Ty Lee on the ground.

"How did you get here?" Aang asked surprised. Everyone gathered around to listen.

"That is not important besides I don't have much time I-"

"Does Azula no where we are?" Katara asked threateningly.

"Like I said I don't have much time, I'm supposed to be on a mission for Azula if I don't do it she'll ask questions &-"

"What mission?" Aang asked.

"Nevermind that, right now I need help-." Ty lee sounded frustrated.

"Please just let her talk." Zuko finally piped in. For this he recieved (shockingly a dirty look).

"Thank you!" Ty lee breathed. "It's Mai, I think she's in trouble."

"Who's-" Aang started

"Blade throwing girl." Sokka cut him off.

"Anyways." Ty lee sounded annoyed. "Azula's got her & thinks she knew about you confronting the firelord." Ty lee lookd at Zuko.

"Why would we want to help her?" Sokka asked.

"Well you wouldn't but..." Ty lee answered.

Thats when Toph finished. "Zuko would." Everyone looked surprised. "She is your girlfriend isn't she?" Toph asked Zuko innocently.

Zuko blushed, all attention was on him. "Well yes. How did you know? Nevermind, look what does Azula want with her?"

"Right now she has her in prison, I'm not sure what she plans to do but I know it won't be good. She'll do anything to get something out of her." Ty lee looked down at the unlit fire.

"Mai doesn't know anything though." Zuko sounded upset. "This is all my fault." Everyone saw the look of pain on Zuko's face. Even Katara felt bad.

"Look the reason I came tell you this is because I'm worried for her & well... I can't fight Azula & I don't want to see Mai get hurt she is my friend." Ty lee sounded geniunly worried. There was a pause & A smile came to her face "Now I really must be going." She then smashed her rock handcuffs & flipped backwards & started running. Katara, Toph & Sokka all jumped up ready to chase her.

"Let her go." Aang said. Everyone looked around shocked. "There is no point in keeping her around, she has told us what she came to tell us, she didn't hurt us." They all nodded & sat back down.

"I have to go & stop Azula." Zuko stated.

"We can't exactly, just march into Fire nation & confront Azula." Katara pointed out the obvious.

"I didn't say that besides it's me that has to go not you guys. It's my problem." Zuko said sollemly. Looking at the stack of wood, he raised a hand & sent a ball of fire into it.

"Zuko," Aang said. "Were going with you. If your going to be a part of our group your going have to learn that we don't leave anyone alone." He looked at Katara & smiled. he patted Zuko on the back. "Were with you."

Zuko smiled quickly then it disapeared. "Thank you."

"I'll start working on a plan." Sokka sounded annoyed (even though everybody knew he had been anxious to plan something since they got back from the invasion). "You guys get started on dinner."

Zuko got up to retreive the sack of food.

"So Toph how did you know that Mai was his girlfriend?" Katara asked

"It was earlier when we first saw Ty lee. When she said her name, Zuko's heart beat faster than it ever has since I've ever met him. A boys heart only does that when he's with the girl he likes" Toph gestured behind Katara's back pointing at Aang. This caused Sokka to have a burst of laughter.

"What? What's so funny Sokka?" Katara asked perplexed.

Sokka looked a the devilish grin on Toph's face & the embarrassed look on Aangs, & with a smile said "Nothing, just nothing.