Thanks once more for all your support and reviews. Originally posted on deviantART. Repetitive I know.

I don't own Avatar.

Chapter 10; The Return:

Iroh sighed as he stopped to get his bearings. It was no use. He was lost. The old man toke a seat on a mossy rock. He was going to have a word with his nephew on wandering off. Iroh glanced at the treetops. And if he was doing that Bluespirit thing again…his eyes narrowed at the sun. That was another matter.

A shadow passed over the sky. Iroh squinted at the object. "A big hawk." He muttered dryly.

The 'hawk' landed squarely on the ground, his staff pointed defensively at the old man. "Where's Sokka and Katara?"

Iroh sighed, waving his hands tiredly. "I can't be much help, young Avatar. I, myself am looking for my nephew. It seems he's-" Iroh paused to find the right word. "Wandered off."

The staff lowered slowly. "Great." Aang rubbed his head tiredly.

"You wouldn't have seen him by chance?"

Aang gave Iroh a grimace. "Sorry, no."

An awkward pause. Aang rubbed his head, unable to think of what to say. Finally Iroh broke the silence. "Is your camp far?"

"Not really." Aang said slowly. "Why?"

"My nephew's still is trying to capture you." The old man said simply.

"And you're not?"

"No. Dragging you back to the Fire Nation would hardly be any good in our present situation."

Aang studied him before pointing in the direction he'd come. "Our camp's that way, but you can't really tell now." He murmured the last part.

Iroh gave him a curious look. "Why is that?"

"Azula burned it down."

The firebender sighed heavily. "Azula is here, is she? I should have suspected as much." He stood again. "No doubt she has Zuko."

"She has Katara and Sokka too."

Iroh just nodded. "I think we can form a compromise."

Aang grinned in response.

At the camp Toph sat miserably under one of the trees. She plucked a piece of charred grass and twirled the blade between her forefinger and thumb. Appa and now this. She sighed. It was sickening to think that for the first time in twelve years she actually had friends. And now she was about to loose them. Momo landed beside her, chittering softly as though sensing her feelings. She smiled sadly at the lemur and stroked his long ears, lost in thought. Finally "You'll always be my friend, right Momo?" Momo purred. "I wish the others could say the same."

"I'll always be your friend." Toph jumped to her feet to embrace the boy in front of her. "It's great to see you, too." Sokka choked. "What's the deal with you ignoring us until we're right beside you?"

"I was thinking." Toph snapped. She let him go. "We were so worried, are you guys alright?"

Sokka massaged his ribs. "Yep, just dandy."

Katara's "Where's Aang?" was overlapped by "Where's the Avatar?"

Toph glared in the direction of Zuko's voice. "Who invited you?" She felt Sokka shake his head. "Well, Twinkletoes is off on other business, so get lost!"

"Then where's Azula?" Katara interrupted. Toph shrugged. Katara looked dangerous "Does she have Aang?"

"Sugarqueen, would I be sitting here chatting with Momo if she did?"

The waterbender glared at her. "I assume you'd save your boyfriend."

Toph grimaced "Look, we need to talk about that-" Her eyes widened before assuming a bending stance. "But not now."

The other three whirled just in time to see Azula and her cronies step into the camp.