Warmth. Toph awoke slowly, only able to feel the suffocating warmth on her neck. Mint tea. She awoke, only able to smell the sweet aroma of mint tea. However, it was only when she heard a sizzling sound somewhere outside that she realised: she was not in her mother's house! Groaning, she wearily pushed herself up. Suddenly, a creaking noise erupted around her. In her shock, she collapsed back onto her bed.
"Oh good, you're awake." It was a voice, a male voice that had uttered those words. Of course, Toph couldn't tell where it came from; without her connection to the earth, she was truly blind. She sighed inwardly. Suddenly, a hand touched her forehead, burning into her skin. Toph yelped in surprise and the hand drew back quickly, as though burned.
"Sorry, sorry! I-I didn't realise t-that you were awake! I-I mean, I did, but I..." He trailed away nervously and there was silence.
After a minute of hearing absolutely nothing, Toph decided it was safe to try and get up. She had pushed herself up a few inches, when a sudden case of weariness overtook her bones and she collapsed back onto the bed.
"Where am I?" she mumbled weakly, breakng the silence.
"You're in my home. Ny name is Guo." the man
Toph decided it was safe to try and get up. She had pushed herself up a few inches, when a sudden case of weariness overtook her bones and she collapsed back onto the bed.
"Oh, d-don't stress yourself! Y-You're still recovering from a fever!"
Toph frowned, confused.
"A fever? What happened that I should have a fever?" A feeble voice croaked out and Toph was shamed to find that it was hers.
"Yes, a-a fever. I-I found you in the rain three days ago and...wait, you don't remember what happened?"
She began to shake her head, but stopped as it all came flowing back to her in graphic certainty. The painful feel of the shuriken, the numbness of the chi, the cold of the rain. Suddenly, she collapsed back unto her bed.
"Um, are you...okay?" asked Guo worriedly.
Toph placed her palm over her face in disgust at her weakness.
"I'm fine. I just can't believe I lost to a group of chi blockers. How humiliating."
"Well, chi blockers are pretty much invincible, not to mention the fact that you're bl-"
Guo stopped mid-word as Toph spun to the direction of his voice and gave him a ferocious glare. He gulped then decided to disappear there and then.
"Um, n-never mind! I-I'll go and see if the noodles have finished boiling!"
However, Toph had not been paying attention to a word he had just been saying. She remained still as she heard a pair of feet scurry in the opposite direction. In amazement, she stared up at the metal bracelet which hung from her wrist. It had just twitched. Slowly, she turned her head towards the direction of the door. Was it possible that he was... a metal bender?!