Ok, yes, I decided to add more! This joins on after chapter 1/chapter 3. It's that same night.


I sit with my legs tucked against my chest, my arms wrapped around them hugging myself tight. I stare out over the horizon-light, heat, fire…Zuko. No! I can't think about him. He only stayed with me because he was using me to get to Aang. There is no other reason, nothing else. And yet, he has been on my mind all day and night and I can't get him out of there. He is plastered in my mind; moulded. Maybe he's meant to be there?

I sigh and turn around to look at my friends. Those who have stuck by me, not my enemies who want to capture me.

His scar…

My mind seems to constantly wander. I wonder how he got it. I wonder if I can heal it.

"Sugar Queen…"

"Yes, Toph, I'm coming."

"No it's OK, Aang and Sokka are…attempting to cook," Toph said unsurely.

I giggle and roll my eyes. "That should prove interesting."

Toph stretches and heaves a sigh. "You reckon hothead will be after us again?"

I shrug. I hope so. "I hope not, but there's no doubt he'll keep trying."

"Yeah. Oh well, we'll deal with that when it happens." She waves a hand dismissively. "Now to more important things. What's up with you?"

"What do you mean? There's nothing wrong, I'm perfectly fine" I reply defensively. Maybe a little too defensively.

She snorts. "Do I have to continuously repeat myself? I'm blind not stupid."

"It's nothing."

"Sure," she says, obviously unconvinced.

"I'm going to find some water; I'll be back in half an hour to cook dinner."

"But I just told you the guys are…oh right, yeah. See you when you get back."

I nod, realising that she can't see it and walk off.

O0oO0oO0o

Finally, water. The fully illuminated moon shines down brilliantly through the canopy, revealing lush grass and now sparkling water. It's beautiful. I guess I deserve a bath. I strip down to my underclothes, still conscious that the Aang or Sokka could find me. That would turn out very awkward.

I jump in for a short time, try out a few waterbeding techniques and feel the dirt and sweat fall off me. It's only a small pool of water, but enough for what I want it for. Keeping in the back of my mind that I promised to be back in half an hour and that it took me at least 15 minutes to find it, I refill my waterkin and finish up in the oasis. I step out of the water, shivering slightly.

My mind is suddenly alerted that someone is around when I see a shadow move in amongst the trees. Though, my heart seems to slow down when I decide it's Sokka or Aang and they don't want to be seen looking at me in my underclothes.

I call out into the nothingness, "It's OK, I'm getting changed again. How did cooking go?" I laugh.

There is no response, and worry slowly begins to fill up inside of me again.

"Uh, Aang? Sokka?" There is still no response and there are now two shadows that I can barely make out in the darkness. "Toph?"

I quickly transition into my stance, just in time for a frenzy of attacks to be fired at me. I manoeuvre and block all sorts of weapons that come my way. I don't how long I'll be able to keep this up for.

The people come into view, and I distinctively recognise who they are. There are a lot more of them that I had originally thought. They encircle me, burly men with hatred filled eyes. I bring the water up from the oasis and fire volleys of ice daggers at them. Some are knocked out, lucky, but others are still standing.

I get hit from behind and as I turn around my legs are caught in a chain hugging them tightly and I'm knocked to the ground, my legs bound together. Nonetheless, I get onto my knees and continue to fend them off. But it's no use. My wrists are also caught in chains and there is nothing more that I can do. I can already feel them piercing into my flesh already.

It's them. Those pirates. Why can't they just leave us alone? Are they that pathetic that they've got to sneak up on a girl, who's by herself in her underclothes?

They approach me, closing in the circle. From what I can tell the leader, the one who was there when I stole the waterbending scroll, grabs a tuff of my hair and pulls me to my feet. I yelp and stumble as he lets go of me. Another one places his hand on my forehead and forces my head back. He whispers in my ear, "Your Avatar friend is around here somewhere. Take me to him."

I shake my head as much as possible to signal to them that I wasn't going to show them where he was no matter what.

"What was that?"

I scream, "No! I won't tell you where he is!"

"Really? Well maybe you need some persuading."

I hear a sword or knife unsheathe and it's held to my throat. OK, it's a knife and it's sharp. He pushes it against my skin a little harder and I feel warm liquid trickle down my neck.

"Now, are you going to show me? Or do you need more persuasion?"

I think momentarily on whether I should say I'll show them but only if they let go of me. But they won't let my hands free, so that won't be of any use to me.

"No," I tell them plainly, averting my eyes from the expectant, piercing gazes of the pirate leader to a tree in the distance.

Then I see a figure, him, her, I don't know. But someone is definitely crouched on that branch. My eyes depict pleading blue ones, although the figure can not see them. And as I blink once, they are gone from sight. But where did they go? Please help me.

"Well?" He questions gruffly, his tone full of annoyance.

I now remember the dilemma at hand and once again fight up the courage to say, "NO!"

He continues to cut deeper and I'm now choking. "I'll ask you one more time! Where is he?"

Before I can respond I fall to the ground from the sudden weight of my captor crumpling to the ground also, but from unconsciousness. I breathe a sigh of relief but I know it's not over yet.


AND….Cliffhanger. I had to break this up into two or I would've just kept on writing. I'll put the next one up soon.