Relax - Frankie Goes To Hollywood

"Hot springs!" Toph yelled suddenly and started to sprint forwards. "We're here!"

"Thank god," Keito muttered. "I certainly could use the hot springs now!"

Sokka gave Keito a sympathetic look. Keito had been training with Toph for a few days now, and Sokka had amused himself by watching their progress. Slow, painful progress. Of the three of them, Keito would appreciate the hot springs best at this point.

Toph seemed to be the most excited though. She skipped along, grinning widely, and she was even humming as they reached the inn.

It was a small inn, a little ways of the road. It had been constructed because of the hot springs, and there wasn't anything else in the area, but it looked like a very nice place. The three companions stopped outside the building to count up their coins. "Do we have enough to pay for a night?"

Keito surprised the other two by pulling out a sizable pouch of coins. He explained that he had been working in towns as he passed through, and they left it at that. Neither of them really cared where the money came from, as long as they got to spend the night in comfort.

"Two rooms please," Sokka said at the desk. He smiled his charming smile at the woman there; she was too old for him, but there was no harm in being friendly. "We would like to use the hot springs."

"Ah! I don't have a swimsuit!" Toph exclaimed suddenly. Keito blushed, and Sokka frowned at him.

"That's fine; the baths are separated," the attendant explained. She smiled and showed them to their rooms.

"Alright guys, I'll meet you in an hour for dinner," Toph said and closed her door.

Keito and Sokka changed and went into the baths as quickly as possible. Sokka sighed happily as he lowered his body into the hot water. He may not have been as sore as Keito, but traveling takes it's toll on the body all the same.

"Psst! Hey guys, are you over there?" Toph's voice came from the other side of a tall wooden wall that separated the men's bath from the women's.

"Yeah, we're here," Sokka answered. Keito had turned red and hidden under the water and was unable to answer for himself.

"There are monkeys in my bath!" she yelled. "Do you have monkeys in your bath?"

"No! What kind of monkey?"

"Come here and see! There's no one else in my bath!" Toph called back. Keito's eyes widened comically and he blew bubbles out of his nose.

"Uh, I don't know if that's a good idea Toph," Sokka replied.

"Oh don't be such a wuss," Toph replied, and moments later Sokka was lifted into the air by a pillar of earth under his butt, until he could see over the fence.

He shut his eyes tightly, so as not to see a naked Toph, but she yelled at him to open his eyes. "See look?" He heard monkeys chattering back and forth, and Toph imitating them. "They're cute! I think they're otter monkeys!"

Sokka cracked one eye open, and he saw to his relief that Toph had covered herself with mud from her neck down. She was surrounded by a small gang of what did appear to be otter monkeys, and she was laughing. The otter monkeys swam around in the water, jumping over her shoulders and diving into the water, splashing in and out of the water.

"I've never seen an otter monkey before," Sokka said. He laughed as an otter monkey jumped from a tree onto the belly of another swimming in the water.

"I guess they don't like guys," Toph said. "Maybe they only hang out in the women's bath."

Sokka nodded. "Maybe." He watched the monkeys and Toph playing around for a little while longer. "I wonder what they taste like."