Chapter 7: A Sanctuary?-
After a few hours the air Appa was flying through began to turn cold as he entered the northern sea between the Earth Kingdom and the Northern Water Tribe. Toph dug through one of Rien's bags for a few minutes before pulling out a small green blanket. Rien had fallen asleep on her lap a little after they had started flying, but the colder air had caused him to shiver. Toph wrapped the blanket around the sleeping boy and held him close. As soon as they were inside the Water Tribe, she knew that she would be safe.
An hour later Appa landed just inside the wall surrounding the Northern Water Tribe. Unlike the last time they had been up there the citizens did not surround the sky bison but went along their normal lives, only young children pointing at the large bison now in the middle of the square. Aang jumped off Appa's head then looked around arching his back, cracking all the kinks from his spine. Katara grabbed the gear from the saddle bags before standing up and going over to Toph.
"Toph we're here." She said and took Rien from Toph's lap. Toph stood up and stretched before holding her arms out. Katara chuckled some. "I'm not going to carry you too Toph."
"I want my son back Katara." Toph said, ignore Katara's comment. Katara looked at Rien then handing him back to Toph. Toph held her son close. "I know you aren't going to carry me Katara, but it would be best if you guided me around while we're on this iceberg." She commented. Katara nodded and took Toph's arm and guided Toph down Appa's tail. As they were walking down, three people approached them. Chief Arnook and Master Pakku walked up, accompanied by a woman neither Aang or Katara knew. The three bowed at Aang, and Aang bowed back.
"Avatar Aang, it is good to see you again." Chief Arnook greeted him. Aang nodded.
"Thank you for letting us stay here Chief" Aang replied. Arnook nodded and gestured to the woman who was with him.
"This is Shay, she will be the healer that will stay with you while you are staying here for when Master Katara and your friend go into labor." He explained then looked at Katara. "She is our best healer, I hope she will be of great help to you." Katara nodded and looked at the healer.
"It is an honor to be able to serve you Avatar and Master Katara." Shay said bowing. "I was still training when you freed our tribe from the Fire Nation raid." Aang turned red and rubbed his head.
"Well... thanks. It's all part of the job." He smiled. Katara looked at her then back
"We should head to the oasis, before Toph freezes." She said. Arnook took a deep breath.
"You may stay in there as long as you do NOT disturb the spirits. Only use the spirit water if a life is at stake." He warned, his voice stern. Katara nodded.
"You have my word Chief Arnook." She agreed just as Aang nodded.
"CAN WE PLEASE JUST GET TO THE OASIS!" Toph burst in, shivering harshly from the cold. "You know, BEFORE MY FEET FREEZE!" Master Pakku raised an eyebrow at the earthbender then looked at Katara. Katara sighed then nodded.
"We're going Toph." She said then looked at the two elders. "Thank you for your hospitality." She thanked before leading Toph off to the entrance of the Oasis. Aang followed looking around the tribe, waving towards the younger children as they smiled. Once they were inside the Oasis, Shay led them to a hut that had been cut into the ice wall behind the spirit gate.
"This is where we have set up for you to stay, hopefully it works." She spoke timidly. Katara smiled at her.
"It will be just fine Shay." She said then looked at Toph. "Why don't you sit down? Let me give you and your children a check-up?" She asked. Toph nodded and set Rien down on the furs lain on the floor of the hut. The boy curled up, dreaming happily. Toph sat down and stretched out, letting out a low groan as small aches and pains returned.
"I haven't had a check-up since I was one month pregnant." Toph said lightly. "Want me to lie down? Or will it be easier if I'm sitting up." She asked. Katara looked her over then took a deep breath.
"Go ahead and lie down. It may help me see the babies easier. You said you were five months in your last letter... right?" She asked. Toph nodded and slowly laid down and nodded. After she was settled, Katara covered her hands with water and lightly uncovered the fabric from over Toph's baby bump before placing her hands on it lightly. Toph made a small noise and squirmed some, getting a weird look from Katara.
"The water's cold..." Toph whined. Katara sighed.
"Of course it's cold Toph. Its water tribe water." She said before closing her eyes concentrating on the fetuses lying just under her hands. "They look healthy Toph. Just about the right size for five months. And..." She trailed off as she noticed something that confused her. "You said, twins...?" She asked cautiously. Toph looked confused.
"Yeah... why?" She asked, worry flowing into her expression.
"There's something else. I can't quite... make it out." She said concentrating harder on the spot. "It might be another... baby. But its smaller than both of the others." She said quietly, surprising Toph.
"Another... baby?" Toph asked quietly. This didn't make sense, she could only feel two heartbeats coming from her that weren't hers. If there was three babies and two heartbeats, did that mean that the third was...?
"Here, let me see if I can see the little one a little better." She said and shifted her hands finding a better position. "There we go." She muttered then closed her eyes.
"I can see him better now. He's a lot smaller than the other two, but he's alive." She told Toph then took a small breath. "I don't know if he will survive birth though." Toph shook her head hearing this. The children may be Takeo's, but she did not want any child to die.
"Don't worry Toph. Shay and I will try to help as much as we can to prevent that." Katara assured her. Toph nodded some. Katara smiled and pulled herself up to her feet. "Come on, lets find something to do."
Everything went well for just over a month while they stayed in the oasis. But a month into the stay, Toph was getting nervous. This was around the time of the month that Takeo showed up for his week with her. She didn't know if he already knew she wasn't where he left her . But she had the feeling that he would show up. At this point, it would be very hard for her and Katara to fight, well Katara could barely move from the weight of her pregnancy, she was carrying twins just as Toph had thought she was.
It was the middle of the night where a dark shadow looked over the edge of the ice wall surrounding the spirit oasis. Aang, Katara, Toph and Rien all were fast asleep in the hut. The figure looked into the oasis before leaping down, seeming to float down to the ground hundreds of feet below. After landing in the middle of the oasis the figure turned to look around the dark circle of land and water. Unable to see anyone the figure lit a small burst of fire on his hand, filling the oasis with a small glow of light and revealing the figures face. A bright red airbending tattoo is very prominent on his forehead as the his eyes scan the oasis. Through the dim glow created by the flame, the man noticed the dark rectangle cut away from the wall of ice.
"That's where you're hiding." He smirked and headed towards the entrance to the hut, bending air under his feet to prevent any vibrations in the ground. Pulling back the cloth covering the doorway to the hut and moved inside. He could see the sleeping forms of his wife and son, but as he moved towards them he stopped seeing Aang. A smirk creeped across his face. His search was over. The Avatar would die tonight.
