We gather by Appa the next day to leave for Ba Sing Se.
"Okay, that's everything," Sokka announces.
"No it's not," Toph calls from the fountain. "Where's Aang?"
We all share a glance before scattering all over the property. Appa calmly eats his hay. We search the attic, the woods and forests, the basement, and the entire house. But the Avatar has vanished without a trace once again.
"Aang?"
"Aang!"
"Come on, lazy bones, let's go!"
"Where are you?"
"He's not in the library!"
"Aang?"
"Not in the mountains!"
"He's not anywhere," I wipe sweat from my brow when I meet up with Sokka, Suki, and Katara on one of the balconies.
"He left his staff," Sokka reaches for the stick of pine. "That's so strange."
Zuko and Toph enter one after the other.
"Aang's not in the house." Zuko reports. "Let's check the beach."
