Some of you had a little confusion about Toph accusing Katara about liking Aang, so let me try and clear it up.

Toph was making fun of Katara liking a boy (Aang) so, it being a girl's nature, immediately turned down the thought , but when you straight out ask someone (a girl) if they like someone that you know they like they turn all red and start stammering and fidgeting and stuff. I hope that helped a little. Sorry for the confusion.

Well, that was fun ;) Let the story go on!

Disclaimer: I do not own AtLA.

Chapter 7 – The Answers

That evening Aang walked into the courtyard. He was so excited! 'I'm going to tell her, tonight' he thought to himself. He was surprised when he came in view and saw not only Katara but also Sokka, Toph and Zuko all there. Everyone looked up as Aang walked in. They all looked very unhappy and it seems Katara had been crying.

"What's going on?" Aang asked.

Katara was the first to answer. "Nothing Aang, nothing is going on. We've all had a rough day. Let's all just go to bed." She grabbed Aang by the shoulders turned him around and lead the bewildered airbender back the way he came. He didn't start struggling until they were out of earshot. He released himself from her grasp.

"Katara, I'm not stupid! Now would you quit lying to me? What's going on?" he repeated the question. Katara sank to the ground and pulled out a scroll from her cloak.

"This letter came from Kyoshi Island. It was sent to us by messenger hawk." She held up the scroll to him and he carefully unrolled it. He started reading.

Friends,

While out on a berry expedition, the Kyoshi Warriors were apprehended by Fire Nation soldiers. Before we could do anything they were taken to a war ship and are now prisoners of the Princess, Azula. We are sorry to inform you that we have not the slightest idea if they are even still alive.

Kyoshi Island

Aang put the scroll down and saw that Katara was trying to hold back tears.

"Ba Sing Se." He said quietly. She nodded. "That's how they got in." He sank down beside her, his back against the wall. "Katara," She turned to him. "were you going to keep this from me?"

She wiped the tears. "I was trying to." She smiled.

"Why?"

"Because you already have so much to worry about and I didn't want to put on any more pressure... I'm sorry Aang."

Aang leaned over and gave her a half hug. They stayed like that for a while until Zuko walked up to them. They broke apart and turned to him.

"Where are Sokka and Toph?" Katara asked him.

"Sokka walked away just after you two left and Toph followed him." He said plainly. She looked at Aang who had a similar look on his face and she knew he was thinking the exact same thing she was. "Listen," her attention turned back to Zuko. "I... I'm sorry about your friends on Kyoshi."

"It's okay. I guess this is war. I just wish it was over." She leaned against Aang's shoulder.


"Sokka?" Toph said as she approached the warrior. He threw a rock into the nearby pond. They were in the garden of the temple. It was overgrown and full of weeds but Aang had explained what it had actually looked like 100 years ago. "Look, I'm sorry about Suki and the warriors. I know they were your friends. I wish there was some way for me to help. So, let's go back." Toph gestured that they should head back but Sokka didn't follow; he didn't even turn. He threw another small stone into the pond just as far as before.

Toph sighed. She sat down beside Sokka at the edge of the pond. "Tell me about her." She said as sweetly as she could. Sokka picked up another rock. Toph was about to get up when Sokka said.

"Well, she was sweet, funny, kind, powerful, beautiful, mannerly, and strong, she was the leader of the Kyoshi Warriors and she was very protective of her friends and she even taught me some of their moves."

'So that's where you get them from.' Toph thought it wasn't that nice to say it out loud so she kept it to herself. Sokka finished labelling all the adjectives that described this girl; Toph had counted nearly twenty; he said quietly "I've already lost so much in this war, Mom, Yue, now Suki. If I lose anyone else it will be too soon." He paused and they just sat in a comfortable silence until he spoke up again. "I want to go home."

"What?" Toph said in surprise.

"As soon as Aang masters waterbending, Katara and I are leaving."

Toph shook her head. No amount of convincing was going to make him change his mind. So she got up stretched and said over her shoulder as she was preparing to leave "Have fun telling Aang that." She left

Sokka hung his head.


This chapter took me a long time to write. It was driving me crazy! I didn't know how to lay it out and I had a really hard time deciding to kill Suki or not. Don't worry I didn't kill her. She comes back in my sequel.