Chapter Three
Coda cracked open an eye through the dried blood on his face. How? Where am I?
"You're awake. Good." Came a sharp voice.
He looked over to see a woman staring into some spot on the opposite wall. "Who are you? Where am I?" He asked, looking around at his surroundings; a small house with bare walls, a mere two windows, and a small cot which he was lying on.
"Toph. You're in my house."
"Toph? Toph Bei Fong? The hero from Ba Sing Se?"
She looked in his direction with a tight smile. "One of them."
Their conversation was cut short by the door banging open and a shaved head with a large blue arrow poked around the corner.
"Hey! Who's this? I'm Aang."
"You're getting dirt on my floor. This is Prince Coda."
"Your floor's made of dirt. Prince, huh? Of what?"
"Fire nation, sir."
"Huh. Toph, is Katara coming for dinner?"
"Yes. She's cooking."
"Toooooppphhhh! Aaaaannng!" Sokka ran into the house, nearly knocking Aang off his feet. He grabbed Toph around the middle and squeezed.
"Let go of me if you want to remain above the ground." He let go in a hurry, dropping her on the floor.
"Klutz." She mumbled.
He managed to look sheepish. Barely.
"Hey, Sokka, what's that on your face?" Aang asked.
Looking over, Coda saw a red-ish mark in the shape of a hand print.
"Oh, uh, well…."
"Another girl turned you down, Sokks?"
"I told you, Toph, don't call me Sokks."
"Sokka, you never answered the question," Aang said in a sing-song voice.
"What question? What happened to your face Sokka?" A new voice interrupted.
"That's the question, Katara!"
"Just some girl, okay?" Sokka answered in a hushed whisper.
"I knew it!" the earth-bending girl from the forest entered the house and punched the air.
"Aithne, calm down." Toph stared in the girl's direction with a frown on her face.
"Oh, mother."
"Don't 'oh mother' me, missy. Set the table, and then show our guest his room."
Aithne mumbled sarcastically as she set about her charge, taking fine silverware out and laying it on the table.
"Done. Come on, princeling,"
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Aithne led Coda out into the yard. "Where do you want your room?"
"What?"
"Over here?" She stamped her foot and made a small stone hut in the right-hand corner of the yard. "Or here?" she moved it to a place beside the flower garden. "Or –"
"How 'bout right here," he pointed at the ground in front of him.
"Oh. Sure." She replied as the stone hut moved to right in front of them.
"Thanks."
"No problem."
Smells of roast boar-q-pine and mashed yam and potatoes wafted through the open window of the main house. His stomach gurgled loudly. Aithne laughed as Coda's face turned the color of a tomato. "C'mon you, lets go get dinner."
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Dinner for Coda was awkward; however Aang and Sokka were soon exchanging stupid jokes which they both thought were hilarious, whilst Toph and Katara looked on disgusted. Aithne covered her own laughter by drinking large amounts of water and choking on it. Coda just smiled weakly.
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After dinner, Coda and Aithne were outside picking herbs when he asked, "Aithne, your mother is Toph right?" She nodded distractedly.
"Right. So who's your father? The Avatar?"
She let out a bark of laughter. "Hardly Uncle Aang. I don't know who he is. I've never met him and mother never talks about him. I just know it isn't Uncle Aang or Sokka." Her voice hinted at regret of not knowing.
"Sokka what?" Sokka asked.
"Oh, nothing Uncle Sokks." Her voice instantly turning back to it's laughing, cheerful self. Coda began to feel suspicious about her cheery nature and wondered if it was all just an act.
"How many times have I told you and your mother not to call me Sokks?"
"One hundred and ninety two times."
"And that tells us that…?"
Aithne gave him a fake blank look. "Do tell me again, Uncle Sokks, I so enjoy hearing it."
"I'm sure. Fine," he relented at her puppy eyes. "Aithne, never ever call me Sokks again or I'll pound you to a pulp! Okay?"
"Yessir, Uncle Sokks." She gave him a sarcastic salute.
"Uhuh. Toph wants you to take the boy back where you found him unconscious."
"Found me unconscious?!? She's the reason I was unconscious!"
"Is that so Aithne?" Sokka turned to look at her as she was trying, unsuccessfully, to slip out their gazes.
"Erm… Well, um… You know Uncle Sokks…"
"Oh, please, enlighten me."
"Oh? What's that mother? Oh sorry, I have to go guys, see you later!" Aithne said the last to Coda and Sokka as she left with the pretended summons from Toph.
"Women." Sokka lamented. "They're such a mystery."
"Yeah," Coda agreed looking at the spot Aithne had disappeared from. I wonder why she pretends to be so cheery… I wonder who her father was…
AN: Yes, yes… Who is Aithne's father…? If you think you know, feel free to guess. I know it wasn't much of a cliff hanger, but more will certainly happen in the next chapter; however, if you guys want another chapter, I require five more reviews.