Happy summer. Here's some more story for you. Thank you to everyone who reviewed. And for those of you who didn't, review! Please, take two seconds out of your day and drop a line. Any little suggestion or comment will be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Enjoy!
Expedition Africa
"Toph, are they almost here?"
The blind girl placed her hand on the sand. "It's kind of fuzzy, but I think I feel them."
Aang nodded and looked to the horizon. The sun began to rise over the water. It was still dark, however, and boats wouldn't begin to flood the waters until later. He heard the familiar 'crunch' of the sand under foot. Katara and Sokka were swiftly making their way towards the clock.
"Sorry we're late," Katara apologized when she was standing in front of Aang.
"Not a problem," he flashed the siblings a grin. "Get you're things secured below deck. We set sail in five."
The two Australians nodded and moved hastily. Mere minutes later, they returned above deck empty handed and ready to go. Aang directed them to the front, where Toph was sitting.
"I'll be steering," he told them. "But I might need your help with the sails later Sokka. So for now, you guys can just sit tight and uh… get to know each other?" And with that, he untied the boat from the dock. The waves carried it out from the shore and Aang began to steer it towards the mainland- Tanzania.
"So…" Katara started, attempting to start a conversation. "You've know Aang for four years, huh Toph?"
"Yup, she affirmed simply. "He was looking for some random endangered bug when he came to my village." She smirked.
"Have you two been traveling together since then?" asked Sokka.
Toph snorted. "Are you kidding? Twinkletoes had to go back to Coloardo and go to college. And my parents wouldn't let me leave the village. I'm not even supposed to be on this expedition."
"Oh," Katara nodded and looked towards the water.
"Why do you call him Twinkletoes?" Sokka questioned.
"Light footsteps. And he's pretty girly," the blind girl chuckled.
"Girly?!" Sokka cried. "My idol is girly?!"
"He doesn't seem girly," Katara mused.
"Not yet he doesn't," Toph continued. "But his feminine side will show eventually, and you," she turned to Sokka, "Well, both of you really- there are three rules you need to follow with Aang. One- never kill any plant, animal, and insect without him saying it's okay to do so. Two- no idol worship. He hates that. And lastly- don't ever say his last name."
A series of powerful gusts of wind rocked the boat.
"Sokka, get the sails!" Aang called.
The twenty-two year old Australian boy quickly ran to the ropes, leaving the two girls alone at the head.
"So, do you know why Aang won't let us say 'Ferrier'?"
Toph shook her head. "He's almost told me a few times. But no, I don't know. He has told me that no one alive knows, though. Besides him, of course." She paused, her eyebrows coming together. "It's something he has to tell you. You can't ask him about it. I've tried."
An awkward silence set over the two.
"That's so strange," Katara finally said.
"It sure is," the pale girl snickered. "Then again, Aang's a pretty strange and mysterious guy."
Katara smiled faintly.
The girls continued casual conversation and eventually Sokka rejoined them. Now, he was in the middle of a bad joke.
"Land ho!"
Katara turned around to see Aang grinning like an idiot. His eyes shone brightly in the sun's light. She looked over at her brother's watch.
Eight o'clock.
0.o
"Tell me if I'm going to fast."
The three nodded.
"Pace yourself with your water. You never know where the next water source is, and you don't want to get cramps. Don't kill anything. Someone always has to remind me to stop walking when it's around three or four. If you see any native people don't say anything or wave or anything. Always stay close to each other because you-"
"Aang!"
The young man flinched at Toph's voice.
"We already know the rules of hiking. We should get going," she picked up her pack as if to accentuate her point. "We're burning daylight."
Aang sighed, but reluctantly nodded. They had landed on the shores of Tanzania two hours ago, and he wanted to get at least eight miles into their journey today. "You're right. Is everyone ready?"
Sokka nodded vigorously.
"I think so," Katara said timidly.
"There's no turning back after this," Aang continued. He looked at the other three. Their faces were shining with confidence, excitement… and fear. "Okay," he exhaled and turned around, facing the mess of trees and mud.
0.o
"Ferrier is going to Koama?"
The young man shouted furiously and threw an innocent novel at the wall of the airplane.
"He can't possibly be going to Koama! We're going to Koama! What do you suppose will happen if he gets there first?" He continued, "There isn't any feasible way I can hunt with 'mister protector of life' getting in my way?"
"Zuko, may I suggest that we take into-"
"There's nothing to suggest!" he roared. "Uncle. What else did the sailor tell you?"
The old man stroked his beard- trying to recall the conversation he had previously had with a local boat shop owner. "I believe he told me that Mr. Ferrier began his expedition today. There were three others traveling with him."
"But where is he?"
"Directly east of Zanzibar Island, off the coast of Tanzania."
The young man grinned evilly and looked down towards the African Plains. "Then we shall go to Tanzania."
"And what are you planning to do once we reach Tanzania?" the Uncle asked.
"Set up traps for his little group I suppose," he answered simply and shrugged. "Maybe capture him."
"Capture him? What, are you crazy?"
"I am far from crazy Uncle Iroh," he hissed.
"But you can't just capture Aang Ferrier!" Iroh exclaimed, flailing his arms. "You'll be tried for kidnapping!"
"Only if I get caught. Which I won't," he smirked. "With a little, shall we say, help from our resources, I can inspire some certain people to help me with my cause." Zuko fingered a dollar bill.
"You plan on bribing the government officials?"
"Bribery is such an evil word," Zuko sighed. "I'm merely giving them a little incentive."
"Incentive," the old man repeated. "What a funny word."
0.o
It was early afternoon in the jungles and swamp areas of Tanzania. As the four explorers trekked through the dense trees, the sun was doing quite a number on its inhabitants with its severe rays of heat. Hiking through the untamed jungle proved more tiring than what they first thought, and after dodging vines and jumping over roots, the group was certainly overdue for a much-needed rest.
Sokka felt like complaining. His mouth was dry, his legs were tires, his breath was fast, and his skin was hot to the touch. But he couldn't complain. Not now. Not on the first day. And definitely not in front of Aang.
Aang was currently in the front, followed closely by Toph. The four of them had been walking non-stop for three straight hours now, and up a mild incline nonetheless. The Australian boy noticed his sister a few yards behind him. She had been lagging a little bit the whole walk. Apparently, he wasn't the only one to notice. He saw as Aang slowed down, saying something to Toph, and then walking side-by-side with him.
"Hey Sokka. I'm gonna stick back here a little. Just keep on the parallel going east, 'kay?"
"Yeah, no problem," Sokka nodded and continued walking. He turned back and found Aang now walking right next to Katara.
"Hey," he greeted.
"Oh, hi Aang," she smiled.
"How are you doing?" He asked her.
She perked up immediately. "I'm fine! Feeling great!"
"Okay, because we can take a rest whenever one of you wants to. We should be setting up camp in two or three hours, so anytime before that…" He trailed off.
"Thanks. But I'll be alright."
He looked at her, seeing the sweat leaving trails on the side of her face. "Hey Sokka!" he called. "Let's take a short break here. I'm, uh, kind of tired."
The four of them all sat down near each other, taking short sips of water and wiping salty sweat off their brows.
"So, we've made it four miles so far," Aang started. "We should make it about eight miles by the time we set up camp, which was our target for today." He grinned, seemingly satisfied with the progress. "If we continue at this pace, we should make it to the Uluguru Mountains in about two weeks."
"And it should take about a week to get over the mountains," Toph contributed.
"I found the fastest route through the mountain range," Sokka said. "It's a steep incline at some parts but-"
"Is it safe?" Aang questioned.
"If no one makes any stupid footing mistakes, we should all be fine."
"And if someone were to accidently loose their footing?"
Sokka glanced nervously to the side. "I don't know, I guess they would tumbling down the cliff side."
Aang nodded slowly. "Hm… well, good job Sokka; we do need to get there as soon as we can. But, maybe we can make some alterations so that our path is a little safer."
The four of them were silent for a minute more.
"Everybody ready to get going again?" The pale boy looked around, beginning to get up.
"Let's go Twinkletoes."
They all chuckled and resumed their fast-paced hike. They saw odd plants and insects- but no animals bigger than a fist. After two and half hours, exhaustion was starting to settle over the four.
They saw Toph walk slightly off the route. She tossed her bag down and fell backwards in the dirt. "Time to set up camp!"
0.o
"Sir, we've landed in Tanzania."
Zuko and Iroh stood up from their seat on the plane.
"Get our bags!" Zuko barked at the bellhop. "Uncle, have you arranged for our porters?"
"Yes, nephew, I hired ten porters. That will be enough."
Zuko went on walking out of the jet as if he hadn't heard anything. He looked around the airport. Some townspeople stared at him- disgust, pity, awe. They all wondered about his scar, he knew. And he thought about it often as well. The stares. Turning heads. Quiet, subtle whispers. Zuko found himself touching his left eye sometimes. Did some people recognize him? Did they know who he was?
The factory made all sorts of noises. But he was used to them. He had grown up with the mechanics of leather making and ivory compressing. He was now accustomed to the screeching metal and banging iron shafts. Zuko new exactly how it felt- the products. Animal products. He had memorized just how soft the skins and furs were. And he knew what they looked liked as well. What exactly was the difference between a leopard and a cheetah? He knew that too. Zuko could identify the shade of white of the ivory keys on a piano.
"We are to meet the porters at the trailhead," Iroh said from behind him.
"Of course. And we will need to stop by a local store. I need nets and rope. I already have my rifles."
But what the boy remembered most from the industrial jungle was the smell. Dead animals. How the stench had made him retch. The pure, vile smell of a decaying body. He had been around the odor his whole life- twenty years. The thought of it used to disgust him. And now, after three years of being away from the factory… now he craved the smell of an animal being prepared to be made into an expensive coat. Craving- like incentive- really was a funny word.
"After you shoot the animal, I am certain you won't need a net," the Uncle noted.
"It's not for the animals."
0.o
So, once again I apologize for the lack of action. I had to bring Zuko in there, so yeah… but next chapter I promise will be chock full of traps, schemes, and awesomeness. And of course the development of romances. So, once again, I'm going to ask those of you (who haven't already voted) to vote for either Tokka or Sukka. So remember, drop me a line! Thanks! Over and out.