Chapter 9! Yay! Alright, as to how Sokka acted last chapter, read Newguy22's comment he (I'm assuming it's a he because of his pename, but if I'm wrong somebody please tell me before I make a complete ass out of myself.) Anyway read his comment and that pretty much sums up what I was gonna say in this A/N anyway. That and that I really need Zuko to get riled up. And the teaset is going to play a bit part later on in the story. Anyway, speaking of Sokka being a wee bit OOC, that's what I need a beta-reader for! I need them to point out the stupid things I do like that. So if you're interested please PM me!

Anyway, this chapter follows Haru, Sokka, Toph and "The Duke." (notice the quotations...hmmm...) Enjoy!


The Duke clambered onto Sokka's back as the night grew darker. The four companions walked in silence, with the occasional update from Toph to confirm they were still on Combustion Man's trail. They'd been walking the entire night; each of them extremely glad they chose to snooze while Appa was still carrying them.

Their feet and the hours dragged on until Toph finally held up a hand signaling them to stop. She concentrated on the vibrations her feet were picking up to confirm that the large half-metal man was finally taking a rest. She let a soft sigh slide past her lips and closed her fatigued eyes. Just because she had slept on Appa earlier didn't mean she wasn't exhausted now.

While her three companions searched for a comfortable spot on the ground, Toph found the first pile of rocks and flopped down beside them. She bent herself a pillow of earth and happily snuggled into it. Toph let a content smile creep onto her face and she spread her limbs out as far as they would go around her.

"Hey Toph? Do you mind keeping watch while we sleep?" The smile was quickly replaced with an annoyed grimace and Sokka started to shuffle his feet nervously. "I'm only asking because the rest of us can't really see him, well neither can you but you can sort of and we need to know when he starts moving again." He cringed and flung his arms in front of his face and over his head in preparation for the rock he was sure to be pummeled with. But it never came. Instead, the earth swallowed him up to his neck. "Gee, thanks Toph, we really appreciate your help." He said sarcastically.

Toph grinned and sat up. "Oops." She feigned an apologetic look on her face but made no move to get him out. So he shifted awkwardly until he was somewhat comfortable, and soon enough his head was slumped over sideways and he snored softly with drool dribbling out of his mouth.

Toph yawned lightly and desperately tried to stay awake. Her eyelids drooped heavily and she fought frantically to keep them open. I'll close them for just a few minutes, Toph thought and let her eyes drift shut.

"Heya Toph!" The Duke greeted enthusiastically and her eyes flew back open in surprise.

"Whoa!" She cried and sat up wildly. "Geez, uh…The Duke, you scared me." The Duke sat cross-legged and looked up into Toph's grey-ish green eyes.

"I couldn't sleep." He grinned innocently and started to draw curvy lines in the dirt in front of him. Toph nodded and leaned up against her rock pillow.

"What kind of a name is "The Duke" anyway?" She asked curiously and fought back a yawn.

The Duke frowned slightly. "It's not really one, I guess. That's just what Jet started calling me when I joined the Freedom Fighters."

"Oh." Was all Toph could think to say. "Then what's your real name?"

The Duke hesitated. "Huo Jin. That's the name my father gave to me." He mumbled.

"Uh, cool." Toph said awkwardly and The Duke, or Huo Jin continued drawing in the dirt.

Then he stopped. "Do you ever miss your parents?" He asked suddenly.

Toph thought back to a few weeks before when she sent her parents a letter with Hawky. "Yeah, I guess. Sometimes."

"Good. Me too." He said and started to draw again.

"Why did you leave them?" Toph inquired curiously and held back another yawn.

"I didn't. They died."

"Oh. I'm sorry. I didn't know." She apologized.

"It's ok. I don't even remember my mom; she died when I was a baby. My father raised me." Huo Jin said quietly and wiped his drawings clear from the earth. "He was killed a few years ago in a fire."

"That's terrible. Fire Nation soldiers can be so cruel sometimes." Toph empathized.

"He wasn't killed by the Fire Nation." He said and started another drawing.

"Then who-?"

"Jet." He answered quickly.

Toph was astounded. "But why?"

"My father was a General in charge of one of the Fire Nation colonies." Huo Jin mumbled. Toph's eyes widened. "He was one of the best Firebenders the army had, but he still got killed by his own element. I don't remember it very well; I just remember being trapped in a burning room and my father throwing me out the window. I think he died to save me."

"I-I, uh…" Toph wasn't sure what to say or how to react. She felt terrible that the kid's parents were dead, but had mixed feelings about him being from the Fire Nation.

"Please don't tell anybody." He pleaded.

She was going to agree to keep his secret, but all that came out was, "Are you a bender?"

Huo Jin looked shocked for a second. "I think so." He said slowly. "But you have to keep that secret too. But I hear you good at keeping bending secret…" He smirked and Toph smiled half-heartedly.

"I won't tell." She finally told him.

Though she couldn't see, the corners of his lips turned up in gratitude as he continued his lines in the dirt.


I felt we need to see a bit of Huo Jin aka The Duke's past. Huo Jin means 'fire metal' in chinese so since it said fire, I chose it. I also kind of wanted to show a softer Toph. I hope I did ok.

Tell me what you think!

Emily