Chapter 25
"Sokka where's Toph? Isn't she supposed to be with u?" asked in a semi-worried tone
"Well she decided to stay with Katara and Aang, because they've been hurt" said Sokka
"What? How?" yelled Gaara as he grabbed Sokka by the collar
"I don't know! All I know is that there was that everyone, including u was covered in sand.
As you already know, you were injured as well. We nursed you back to health but Katara and Aang
haven't woke up yet."
"Who did this?" yelled Gaara as he shook Sokka by the neck
"We don't know! Before we rescued you however we did see a huge creature, it looked like a raccoon
but as quickly as we saw it crumbled to sand, Isn't that the weirdest thing?" asked Sokka nervously
Gaara froze in terror as the realization sunk into his already muddled mind..he had done this and he was alone responsible..
"I understand." said Gaara as he let go of Sokka
"Sokka from here on we are gonna split up, I have a feeling that sound that we heard earlier came from camp so if we come in from
different directions to cut off their escape" s
"Smart strategy. Which one of us should go in first?" asked Sokka
"I'll go since most likely are enemies are fire benders. You'll be needed to guard their only other escape route. Now go there isn't much time, take Appa north of the camp, I'll take the southern route." said Gaara in a fearless tone
"But wont u need Appa? How r u gonna get there?" asked Sokka
"I'm a ninja remember?" as he turned to the edge of Appa's back
"Wait what are you think-?" said Sokka quickly
With that he dived off of Appa, bent a ledge of sand underneath his feet, and sailed out of sight
"Wow that guy is so cool.." said Sokka with a childlike grin on his face "Well you heard the man, Yip-yip Appa!" said Sokka as they flew to their new destination
Meanwhile at the camp, things were heating up between the two young benders..
"Twinkle-toes? Snap out of it! Whatever you went through is over now, Katara is fine!" said the little earth-bender
But to no avail..In fact just the mere mention of Katara's name sent the monk deeper into his rage-fueled frenzy, and as a result the monk unleashed a wave against Toph..
"Whoa!"yelled Toph as she burrowed into the ground to avoid the attack
"Where are you"said Aang as he muttered under his breath
At that moment, Toph popped out of the ground and delivered a uppercut to aang's jaw, taking away his vertical base..
"Got'em that time.." thought Toph as she stood over the nomad "Aang are you ok?" said Toph as she inched close to the nomad's body
but it wasn't enough..for as soon as she got above his body, the crafty nomad bent a rock pillar catching Toph in her jaw, sending her flying..
"I got to give the boy credit he's getting better with visualizing then attacking.." thought Toph as she was free-falling to the ground
Just when all looked bleak for the little earth-bender, her body managed to land on a large mound of sand, saving her life...
"Aaang! What going on? She's your ally isn't she?" yelled Gaara as he safely laid Toph on the ground with his sand
"One last chance..Give..me..back...Katara!" yelled Aang in his enraged avatar state
"But I don't.." said Gaara as he was interrupted
"...Aang?" said a familiar voice from the camp
Footsteps slowly approached the battle-site, the leaves that surrounded them rustled as the steps got closer..
"..Aang is that you?" said the voice as a body shuffled out of the leaves
"Katara?" said Aang as he gradually drifted out of the Avatar State and ran to meet Katara "Thank the Spirits you are ok!" said Aang as he tried to stop the tears from flowing down his eyes
As Katara and Aang reunite, Gaara checks on Toph and on the severity of her injuries...
*sighs* "You know I cant believe you fared so well against him..with the power i was sensing earlier, the injuries should have been more severe.." said Gaara with a sense of relief
"I didn't really...when he's in go into the avatar state, he can still remember some people and is able to control himself to a certain point..but anyway for saving me back there. I appreciate it.." said Toph with a slight blush as she groaned
"No problem you did the same for me not once but twice...I'm in your debt." said Gaara with a slight blush
Meanwhile in a nearby location, The Fire Nation Azula plots her next move..
"Princess Azula, it seems the fighting has finally stopped shall we go in while their members are hurt?" said a fire-nation soldier
"No..That newcomer...he's quite strong. He might even be stronger than the Avatar..we need to tell Dad about this new little development, send the messenger-hawk. Let him know that I'm going to eliminate this problem myself..." said Azula