Two days…two days and nothing…Aang was sitting on Appa's head, thinking about how they were running out of time. To his left, the orange sun was setting. Behind him, Katara was trying to make Toph eat some food. She had succeeded in bending water down the girls throat, but getting food down was a little more challenging. Toph steadily grew paler each day, but had not woken up at all. After the first day of flying, they landed in the middle of a group of trees to rest, thinking they would find the tree the next day. But they didn't…so Aang made the excecutive decision to fly through the night.

"Toph…c'mon Toph, wake up…please." Katara was trying again to get Toph to wake up, or at least show some sign that she was still there, but nothing had been happening. At least someone is talking…Aang thought. Sokka was actually the last person to say something yesterday. Aang was amazed at how everyone in the group was able to function without communicating.

"Hey," Sokka said, jumping down next to Aang.

"Hey," Aang said back. "How's she doing?"

Sokka shook his head. "She won't swallow food anymore. Is that a side affect or something?"

Aang shrugged. "I don't know. But it's defiantly not a good sign. I'm worried that we haven't found the tree yet."

"Where is it supposed to be?"

Aang shrugged again. "I guess I don't know. Roku said to fly directly north for two days or so…and I would see it, I would know that it's the tree."

Sokka frowned. "That's it? That's all he said?" Sokka looked up at the twilight sky. "Way to be a help, Roku!" He shouted.

Aang gave a small smile. "Roku says 'You're welcome'."

Behind Aang and Sokka, Katara was finishing up doing another check up of Toph. Zuko was listening in on Aang and Sokka's conversation.

"So we really don't know where we're going?" he asked Katara. Katara placed Toph gently back into Zuko's arms and wrapped a blanket around the two.

"Aang has it all under control. If Roku said that it's north, then it's north." Katara sat back down on her side of the saddle, away from Zuko, and closed her eyes. Zuko frowned. He was just trying to make conversation. He was sick of no one talking. It's like there's a giant platypus-bear here with us that no one wants to mention. Zuko had his share of secrets too, but he didn't feel like he had to share…he just wanted to know what was up with everyone else. He watched Katara sleep for a little bit, then let his thoughts drift. For awhile, Zuko thought of nothing, and just concentrated on regulating his and Toph's heat. He was rubbing Toph's arm when he ran his hand over the arm band she wore on her upper arm. He'd noticed it before, but never thought anything of it. Now that he had a closer look, he could see that it was black, and seemed to be not quite rock…but not quite metal either.

"Katara." She pretended not to hear him and rolled over. Ignore me, will you? Zuko was about to kick her awake when Sokka crawled back into the saddle.

"Sokka."

"What?" Sokka sat down next to Katara. He didn't seem thrilled that Zuko was talking to him. For a moment, Zuko considered challenging his attitude, but then thought better of it. Instead, he asked, "What's this thing made of on Toph's arm?"

"It's some space rock…from the same meteorite that my sword is made of. Why?"

"Just wondering. I've never seen that material before. It has metal in it?"

Sokka nodded, his eyes now closed. "Yup."

Zuko frowned. "So, how did it get this shape? Did you make it for her?"

Sokka shook his head, eyes still closed. "No. I just gave her a chunk of it. She bends it to whatever shape she wants." He opened one eye and looked at Zuko. "She can bend metal, you know."

"Really?" Zuko said amazed. "That's…pretty powerful. I knew she was a good bender. Just not that good. She learned that on her own?"

Sokka closed his eye again. "Yup. Not everyone from rich families are spoiled with expensive teachers. In fact, she learned bending behind her parent's backs. She's had a lot of challenges to overcome to bend…never mind being blind."

Spoiled? Well…at least he thinks I didn't have to struggle to learn to bend…I won't tell anyone that…

"I'm not from all snobby blood, you know." Zuko said instead, for some unknown reason, suddenly angry.

Sokka didn't respond.

"In fact…" Zuko thought back to what he had learned from his uncle. "In fact…technically, Aang is my…well, I guess he would be my great-grandfather."

Sokka opened his eyes. "No he's not."

Zuko nodded, glad he finally got some attention, and possibly a rise out of Sokka. "Well, Avatar Roku was my great-grandfather…so the Avatar Spirit is in my family." Zuko looked down at Toph. "Small world, isn't it?"

Sokka was angry. "You're lying. I don't think Roku had any kids."

Zuko shrugged. "Ask the person who would know best."

Sokka looked back at Aang. Then he looked at Zuko again, this time there was sadness in his face. "No. If he know that you two were somehow related, it would drive him nuts. Fine, I believe you. Just don't tell him."

"Oh, that's great to know where I stand! 'It would drive him nuts'…I'm not too fond of you guys either, but at least try to get along with me! I gave up a lot of stuff to come help you."

Sokka frowned at Zuko, angry again. "We don't need you're help, you know! We got along just fine without a fire bender…"

Zuko interrupted, "And now he's a master in three elements…good job. But last time I checked he's not an Avatar master until all FOUR are under his belt! Who were you going to get to teach him? After that so called 'invasion' you guys pulled, not too many fire benders would be happy to see him…"

"If you think invading the fire nation was wrong, then why are you here? Obviously you still have a loyalty to your people! I thought you had said that the people were ready for the war to end!"

Zuko and Sokka's voices had gotten so loud that Katara couldn't pretend she was asleep anymore. She opened her eyes and was about to interject when Aang yelled from Appa's head, "FOUND IT!"

The other three looked over the edge of the saddle. There was just a forest below them.

"How do you know it's there?" Katara asked. "They all look the same."

"I can see it…it's got a certain…thing…about it. It's definantly a spirit tree. We're going to have to land about a mile away from it, though. There's a little clearing there." Aang began to bring Appa down.

Zuko and Sokka looked at each other again. Zuko was about to continue the argument when he felt Toph stir in his arms, and her movements brought him back down to earth. He sighed.

"Look…I didn't say that because I still had loyalty to the government…I have a loyalty to my people, yes…but I want to make things better for them now. I'm against the government…well, basically my dad. All I know is that after that invasion, dad will tighten up his boarders and make life difficult for everyone…including his own people. And even though some may disagree with his decisions, they don't want to be labeled as traitors…so no one will want to be caught helping the Avatar. Aside from Uncle, I'm Aang's only hope to learn fire bending. Deal with it."

Zuko, Sokka, and Katara looked at each other in silence while Aang landed Appa. Once on the ground, Aang air bended himself back to the saddle, a smile on his face.

"I found it! Finally, something went right!" His smile slowly faded as he saw the hostility on Sokka and Zuko's faces, and a worried look on Katara's. "What did I miss?"

Zuko looked at Katara. "Nothing," he said.