Chapter 3

As Sokka and Suki traveled through the woods they talked about various topics that popped into Sokka's head; many of them being pointless and random.

"Here!" Sokka said with a huge grin on his face holding what appeared to be a bundle of weeds, but Suki noticed a few purple peddles that barely clung to the top of the flowers after Sokka had shaken most of them off in his excitement of the discovery.

"Thanks Sokka," Suki replied as she grabbed them from his hand and gave them a nice sniff trying not to laugh at her goofball of a boyfriend, but that made her love him and his gift all the more.

"No problem babe, I just saw them and thou…" Sokka cutting himself off as he turned his head and his smile was replaced with a serious scowl. His nose moved up slowly as he smelled the air. "I smell smoke."

"We are in the woods," Suki said placing her hand on his shoulder. "Someone probably just made a fire to keep warm."

"No, it doesn't smell like that. Campfires smell like wood and tree sap, but this, this smells like cloth, and metal, and…" silencing as he looked up and past the trees he could see the pillar of smoke that Aang was discussing with the villagers just about this time. "See… that's no campfire. We need to go help."

Before Suki could even respond Sokka was running full speed through the woods towards the smoke and so she had no choice but to follow. They ran for about 250 yards before Sokka came to a halt and rapidly snapped his head from side to side like a deer trying to identify the location of something it heard.

"What is it Sokka?" Suki asked as she walked beside him.

"Didn't you hear that?" cupping his ear so he could try to hear it again.

"Probably just an animal there are…" Suki paused as Sokka's finger was pressed against her lips as a way to say hush. Suddenly a large crash came from in front of them and they could see several large shadows coming in their direction. Suki felt as Sokka pulled her arm taking him and her out of the way of what appeared to be three komodo rhinos. The last one must have caught sight them and halted turning to face them. Sokka and Suki stood up, Sokka pushing Suki behind him so he was between her and the komodo rhino. Sokka then noticed the reigns that ran up the side of its head and on top sat a man in light fire bender armor.

"Was that your doing?" Sokka asked pointing at the pillar of smoke that was just a little bigger since he first saw it.

The fire bender looked up and an evil, disgusting grin went across his face as he nodded in satisfaction. "Sure is, and is that not just beautiful. Those people think that just because the 'Avatar' says that the war is over that it is. War ends when both sides decide it is over, no one boy is going to end a hundred years of fighting," a dark, raspy voice left his lips with the words, which was a little surprising to Sokka since the man only appeared to be about 25 years or so. At this point the other two komodo rhinos had appeared beside him. The other komodo rhinos had two people each and appeared just as young as the first guy who seemed to be the leader of the group.

"Why can't you accept peace? Do you just love war that much?" Sokka said his anger starting to leak out in his voice and facial expression.

"Oh, you're another one of those people who believe in the power of the avatar. Maybe I should teach you why you should fear us," stepping from his komodo rhino and forming a flame in his hand. Sokka pulled a sword from his hip that Zuko had given him since he had lost his in battle to protect the earth kingdom. It was not nearly as good as his meteor sword but it did the job it was built for. He took a few steps towards the fire bender to feel resistance on his left arm.

"Don't do it Sokka," said Suki as she held on to his wrist with both her hands. "This fight is not worth it." By this point Sokka had turned his head and was looking at her in the eyes.

The fire bender was now just standing a few steps from his mount keeping his flame going. "Listen to your girlfriend kid, you are no match for us," looking back to get some laughter from his comrades and returning his glare to Sokka to see his reaction. The smirk left his face as Sokka had sheathed his sword and stepped back from his would be opponent.

"I have no desire or need to fight punks like you," Sokka said affirming his position by putting on a serious almost scary face. "Besides, I don't like killing people."

"You little…" taking a few steps forward to then have a gust of wind blow out his flame. He stumbled back to avoid the swing of an incoming staff. After recovering by catching balance on his rhino he saw Aang standing before him, staff firmly planted in the dirt and leaves scattered from his feet. "The avatar." The fire bender stumbled from his lips. "What are you doing here?"

"Well I was enjoying a nice brake from my trip to the earth kingdom and you had to go and ruin it." The fire bender snapped his head back and forth as Toph and Katara appeared next to Aang bending ready. "What is your name?"

"Lee, son of Commander Kyio," he responded.

"Ok, I'll keep that in mind for future knowledge," Aang turned to his companions and motioned for them to relax. "We don't have time to deal with you now, but I warn you, we will not hesitate to fight and defeat you next time we meet." Not another word left Lee's mouth as he turned and hopped back on his komodo rhino. Snootily, he turned his head from the gang and took off. Lee's comrades followed swiftly behind and after a little time had passed; the steps of the rhinos were unable to be heard. Team avatar, as Sokka called it in his dramatic reenactment of what happened, returned to the village to help them assess the damage and organizing those left with no home in the houses of some of the other villagers. Returning to their camp an hour or two past night fall the gang collapsed onto their sleeping areas and slept through the night without any form of disruption.

The next few days literally flew by as they continued their journey to Kyoshi Island. Upon arrival, Aang was tackled by his usual group of fan girls and they were all greeted by the entirety of the island villagers. Staying the night to rest and resupply on food, the gang left the following morning. Upon saying their farewells to Suki and the villagers the remaining four members of team avatar began their flight for the South Pole. The groups excitement stayed on Kyoshi with Suki; leaving the remaining members in silence upon Appa with only with the most basic of conversation leaving anyone's mouth. Camping was filled with an even more dreaded silence as the group went to bed early, with no desire to engage in a late night feast of interaction. Aang lay against Appa looking above at the endless number of stars that splattered the sky, as his companions lay resting in their tents. As he drifted into sleep he was unaware to what problems were waiting them in the South Pole.