It was near dusk, and a sheet of rain started to descend on Sokka and Appa. "Great," he muttered. "Toph! Toph! Where are you?" he yelled as hard as he could into the rain. It was getting darker, and he could barely see. Appa landed and they continued on foot. The rain poured harder, and Appa was getting restless.
"AAARRRRGHHHUMMMPPPHHH!!"
"I know Appa! It's okay, we just need to find Toph and some shelter," Sokka patted the ten-ton bison affectionately. They walked around and finally Sokka saw a cave. "Appa, come on!" he yelled as he started running towards the cave. He suddenly stopped when he felt a presence in the darkness of the opening. He cautiously took out his boomerang and prepared to aim. "Who's there? Show yourself now!" He heard crying, and he lowered his boomerang. "Toph?" He said quietly. "Is that you?" His eyes adjusted to the darkness and saw the tiny, wet, cold, blind girl curled up in a ball. "I'll start a fire," he said as he went to find some wood that was dry. It wasn't long before the cave was lit, and Sokka sat down next to Toph.
"Do you want to tell me what's wrong?" He asked.
Toph was silent for a while, but then she started.
"I'm sorry I ran away."
"It's okay, but why?"
More silence. "I was sad and embarrassed."
"About what?"
"My…blindness."
"Why were you sad and embarrassed? I don't think we judge you on that. You're the most amazing Earthbender I've ever met. And you're a really great friend. And, we're alike. We seem not to care, and are sarcastic, but when it really matters, we just seem to…fit."
"Thanks Sokka," Toph replied. "And it's not you guys. It's just, I can't see like you can. I can't really imagine because I don't know what color things are or what they look like. When I feel with Earthbending, it's an outline, but still fuzzy. I just don't think it's fair. What did I do to deserve this? I can't fully take part in anything with you guys. I have just started feeling, well, empty. I want to see! I don't know what any of you guys, or even myself, look like. It's just hard when you have freedom, but you don't know what to do with it because you don't know how to use it." She started to cry, and tears rolled off of her cheeks.
"We had no idea you felt like that Toph," Sokka said. "We would have tried to make you feel better, or done something. You're our family, and we're always there to make you feel better." He moved to sit next to her against the cave wall. Appa was already snoring. "Listen. We're not getting out of this storm tonight, so just lean on me, because I'm, and Katara, and Aang, and even Appa and Momo, are always here for you."
"Thanks, Sokka," Toph cried as she leaned on his shoulder. He put his arm around her and she did the same. "You are such a great friend." She closed her blank eyes. Sokka looked at her and wondered how he would live his life if he was blind. "Toph, you are so strong. I don't think I could survive like you. I admire you for that. Now, rest, and try to get some sleep. I have a feeling you're going to catch a really bad cold." Sokka closed his eyes, falling asleep to the crackling of the fire, the bison's soft snores, the rain outside, and the thankful sigh of a tear-filled girl's content.