Heart thumping with worry, Lao searched from room to room. "Toph! Where are you?" He combed the whole house at an incredible pace, but there was still no sign of his daughter. "Toph? Toph!" Now extremely concerned, he zipped through the house yet again, this time searching behind doors, in closets, behind furniture, everywhere. Where in the world had she gone?

Just as he was entering a state of panic, Poppy walked in. "Good morning, dear!" she said cheerfully, not noticing Lao's sweaty face and trembling hands. "It's a very warm day today, much warmer than…"

"Have you seen Toph?" her husband interrupted. "I've been searching everywhere, and I haven't found her! What if she's hurt, or trapped, or…" he gulped, "…kidnapped?"

"Oh, calm down," his wife replied with amusement. "I brought her outside with me. She's always cooped up in this house, and I thought the fresh air would be good for her."

"Well, where is she now? She didn't come in with you…"

"I came back in to get a book. Honestly, dear, you should really try reading to her sometime. I know she enjoys it, and it's good for bonding…"

"What? You mean, you left her out there alone?" Lao's panic was returning as he dashed out the front door. "You should never leave her alone like that! She could trip over something, or fall into the pond…"

"Oh, for heaven's sake, the water only comes up to her knees!" Poppy called, grabbing a book off the shelf and following him. "You needn't treat her as if she were so fragile…"

Though she understood her husband's concern, she couldn't help but laugh at the wild lengths he always went through to make sure his little baby wouldn't get hurt. Why, when Toph was just learning how to crawl, he had bundled her up in thick, protective clothing, including padding and a tiny helmet, in case she bumped into anything. As a result, she was completely protected, but also unable to move. It had taken Poppy weeks to convince him to give up the ridiculous precautions, but not before Toph had spent many days lying on the floor with an adorable pout on her face as she tried to scoot across the room. Poppy smiled at the memory as she tried to catch up with the running Lao. "Honey, slow down! She's perfectly safe!"

"We'll talk once we've found her!" Lao panted, increasing his pace.

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The five-year-old girl calmly sat on the stone bench next to the pond. Her legs were far too short to touch the ground; so instead, she swung them back and forth as she twirled her soft hair around one finger. Her black hair fell to her shoulders, and her white and green headband matched her thin summer kimono. She was very small for her age, and her eyes, though pale, exhibited the brightness that came with innocence. She smiled as she swung her legs, enjoying the warmth of the sun and the songs of the birds in the nearby woods. But she knew it wouldn't last long. Any minute now, she thought.

Her father's voice rang out, breaking the peaceful calm. "Toph!"

There it is, she sighed.