Chapter 3

Yeah, We Didn't Want Your Company Either

Katara gathered up the water from the river in her bend as it towered over their heads. Aang joined her and helped move the water to pour on the other side of the wall where the archers were coming from. The water set them back a few feet. Toph did her best to send tremors through the ground so the men found it difficult to stand. Aang and Katara lowered their arms, sending the rest of the water back in the stream. He opened his glider and jumped to a thermal. Gliding over the wall, Aang caught sight of the archers and recognized them as the Dah li. In a final attempt he earth bended the mud they were caught in to hard rock. The soldiers struggled but found freedom to no avail. Satisfied Aang returned to the others. He landed near Katara and Toph who were waiting for him.

Katara looked in the direction of her brother and the fire benders. "We better hurry if we want to catch up. Who were those men anyway Aang did you see?"

They started walking in Sokka's general direction.

He looked down with a heavy forlorn expression. He spoke softly, "Actually they were the Dah li"

Katara and Toph took a step back. "Are you sure?" Katara enquired.

"Yeah. I must have made them angry for posting fliers." He mumbled softly.

"You think? I'm more curious why the old man was their target." Toph growled.

They started walking again. "Toph raises a good point why were they after him?" pondered Katara.

Aang pondered the even bigger question. "Why were they not earth bending?"

The girls looked at each other even more perplexed. This was strange.

Aang kept looking at the ground with each step. Disheartened by the fact he now had more enemies then the fire nation and two outcasts. They knew the Dah li were suspicious in the city but why the mountains too?

They started to hear the distant cool sound of water. Along with a small murmur of shouts that increased with each step. A small yet strong stream was in their direction. As they approached they found Sokka and Zuko had laid the old man down near the water's edge. Their shouts echoed through the surrounding trees and rock sides. Sokka and Zuko not far from each other's faces each held a stubborn anger that showed no signs of letting up.

"You are completely unbearable you know that? Your pompous ungrateful attitude will be your shortcoming!" Accused Sokka.

"Filthy peasant your weakness in body and mind will get you killed, you barely helped lift any of his weight!" Zuko hissed.

"Why did we even help you out? Your not even human, fire benders don't have souls. We help people not demons." Sokka growled.

Zuko couldn't take it any more and attacked Sokka to the ground. He started punching him in the face. "We..are…human…I am..human "

Aang jumped over and used his glider to blow Zuko off Sokka. The exiled prince landed in the stream soaking wet. Katara water bended the water and froze him. His blood boiled. They are mocking me he thought. He melted the ice and was coming for Katara when Toph yelled stop.

Katara had knelt down and was looking at Zuko's uncle trying to heal his remaining wounds. He looked at her and his anger began fading. Katara returned her stare in his direction, their eyes meeting and locked fiercely.

She spoke sternly and softly, "Please just calm down"

Taken aback he slowly nodded. Still he was being weary of their actions and intentions. He walked slowly toward them. Sokka eyes never looking away.

"You owe us an apology you know that?" He ordered.

"Sokka that's enough." The avatar took his friend's arm as he scolded him. He looked to Zuko. "So Zuko why were you in Ba Sing Se"

"Isn't obvious, he was stalking us of course. Cause he is creepy like that." Sokka taunted.

Zuko glared at Sokka.

"Well you are"

Iroh groaned from the ground which silenced the young travelers as they turned to take in his condition. He slowly sat up to be confronted with the young water bender in front of him. He looked to each child nearest to him then farthest taking in who he was surrounded by.

Toph walks over to him. "I'm glad you're ok"

"We were very worried." Katara added.

"We were?" Sokka asked.

Katara gave him a cold stare. "Are you trying to make enemies today"

"When were they not our enemies?" Sokka replied.

"Once" Aang muttered under his breath as he looked to Zuko. Sokka heard him and looked at him puzzled.

"Speak for yourself princess." Toph looked in Sokka's direction. "This man did nothing but give me kind advice and tea, so back off or you'll have me to answer to."

Sokka angered by this lost argument said nothing as he stormed away.

"Sokka!" Katara called after him.

"It's ok I'll go find him." Aang intersects her path looking very calm. She nods and slightly smiled worried for her brother. His bad moods never left him in good predicaments she thought as she watched Aang go after him.

Those pesky Dah li are always up to something. Sokka is only a jerk cause he cares.