"How could you let them take Appa!?" Aang hollered, glaring at Toph's back. "Why didn't you stop them!?"
"I couldn't!" Toph shouted back. The wind had picked up, blowing sand all over the place. It was making it hard to see and hear each other, much less Appa. "The library was sinking! You guys were still inside, and-!"
"You could have come to get us!" Aang yelled, approaching her and pointing an accusatory finger at her. "I could have saved him!"
"I can hardly feel any vibrations out here. The sandbenders snuck up on me, and there wasn't any time for-"
"You just didn't care! You never liked Appa, you wanted him gone!" Aang accused.
"Aang!" You shouted, glaring at the boy. "You know that's not true! I'm sure Toph did her best."
"She saved our lives." Katara reminded.
"Who's gonna save our lives, now?" Sokka questioned, gesturing at the endless sea of sand. "We'll never make it out of here."
"That's all any of you guys care about! Yourselves! You don't care whether Appa's okay or not!"
"Aang! Knock it off!" You hollered, approaching him. You pointed an accusatory finger down at him. "Don't you dare suggest something like that again! We all love Appa, not just you! So you'd better pull yourself together, because we need to find a way out of here before we all die one way or another! Do you understand!?"
Aang fell silent, sitting down on the ground.
"We're all concerned." Katara assured softly. "But we can't afford to be fighting now."
"I'm going after Appa." Aang declared, pulling out his glider.
"Aang, you have no idea where he-" Before you could finish, the Avatar had flown away. "He's going to get lost out there." You mumbled.
"We'd better start walking." Katara said. "We're the only people who know about the solar eclipse. We have to get that information to Ba Sing Se." She began to walk away.
"Do you think if we dig out the giant owl, he'd give us a ride?" Sokka asked, following his sister.
You grabbed Toph's hand and pulled her along with you to make sure she didn't get lost. "I doubt it, Sokka."
You felt like you've been walking forever. Your face felt hot, and your feet were dragging, getting sand in your shoes.
Sokka placed Momo on his head and opened the creature's wings, trying to get some shade.
"Katara? Can I have some more water?" Toph asked softly.
"Okay, but we're going to have to conserve it. We're getting low." She replied, bending the water into four orbs.
"I'm fine, Katara." You lied, holding up a hand.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah. I just had some of mine a little while back."
Katara put the fourth orb back in her pouch, and bended the other three into Toph, Sokka and Momo's mouths.
Sokka swallowed, a disgusted expression on his face. "We're drinking your bending water?" His face contorted into one of horror as it dawned on him. "You used this on the swamp guy!"
"It does taste swampy." Toph noted.
"I'm sorry, it's all we have."
"Not anymore! Look!"
You turned, seeing that Sokka was pointing at a cactus.
The teen rushed over, cutting a large piece off and drinking its contents. He did this a few more times, chugging the liquid.
"Sokka, wait! You shouldn't be eating strange plants!" Katara shouted, grabbing Toph's wrist and pulling her with her.
You shook your head, rubbing your forehead in irritation.
"There's water trapped inside these!" Sokka defended offering his sister a piece.
Katara backed up, eyeing it warily. "I don't know…"
"Suit yourself. It's very thirst-quenching, though." Sokka's pupils suddenly dilated, and he gestured dramatically at the half of a cactus he was holding. "Drink cactus juice. It'll quench ya. Nothing's quenchier. It's the quenchiest!"
Your eyes widened in alarm.
"Okay… I think you've had enough." Katara admitted, taking the cactus and dumping out the water inside.
"Who lit Toph on fire?" Sokka questioned.
Momo was chattering as he was flying circles in the sky, before plummeting to the ground.
"Can I have some of that cactus?" Toph asked.
"I don't think that's a good idea." Katara confessed, picking up Momo. "Let's go. We have to find Aang." She said, taking hold of Toph and walking away.
You followed before doubling back, realizing that Sokka was standing still and staring up at the sky. You grabbed Sokka's arm, dragging him with you.
"How did we get out here in the middle of the ocean?" He asked, voice full of wonder.
You groaned.
You heard a loud noise behind you. Turning around, you saw a giant mushroom cloud. A strong gust of wind blew through your hair.
"What is that?" Katara wondered.
"What? What is what?" Toph asked, looking around hopelessly.
"It's a giant mushroom." Sokka explained, sounding dazed. "Maybe it's friendly!"
"Let's just keep moving." Katara declared, taking ahold of Toph's hand again and continuing her walk. "I hope Aang's okay."
"Friendly mushroom! Mushy giant friend!"
"Shut up!" You yelled, grabbing the back of Sokka's shirt and dragging him along the ground.
You all walked until dark.
A large shadow flew over and you turned, seeing Aang land.
Katara approached him and they began talking, but you were busy keeping an eye on Toph and Sokka.
Toph wasn't really a problem, but Sokka sure was.
"We can make it out if we work together. Right, Toph?"
"As far as I can feel, we're in a giant bowl of sand pudding." Toph remarked, kicking a little at the sand. "I've got nothing."
"Sokka?" Katara tried. "Any ideas on how to find Ba Sing Se?"
"Why don't we ask the circle birds?" Sokka recommended. He was lying flat on his back, arms and legs spread out like a starfish.
You groaned. "Why is our idea guy the one that decided to be an idiot?" You questioned, rolling your eyes. When you rolled your eyes, you caught a glimpse of four creatures circling. "They're probably waiting until we die, so they can eat us without a fuss."
Katara sighed. "We're getting out of this desert, and we're going to do it together." She said, voice determined. "Aang, get up. Everybody, hold hands. We can do this. We have to."
You took the back of the pack while Katara took the front, trying to keep Sokka and Toph especially out of danger.
You walked for what felt like forever. It was finally sunrise… or was that sunset? You couldn't tell anymore.
"I think we should stop for the night."
Aang, Sokka and Toph all collapsed at Katara's statement.
"Is there any more water?" Toph asked.
"This is the last of it. Everyone can have a little drink." She said, beginning to bend the water into equal portions.
Momo lurched forward at the water, making all the water splash on the ground.
"Momo, no! You've killed us all!" Sokka hollered, clutching at the ground.
"No, he hasn't." Katara assured, drawing the water out of the sand.
"Oh, right. Bending."
You groaned again.
"Sokka, let me see the things you got from the library." Katara requested, handing Toph the canteen.
"What!?" Sokka hollered, clutching his bag to his chest. "I didn't steal anything! Who told you that!?" He turned to Momo, pointing at the lemur. "It was you! You ratted me out!"
Momo began to cry.
"Sokka, I was there." Katara reminded, clearly sick of this already as she grabbed Sokka's bag and walked a few paces away.
"It doesn't matter. None of those will tell us where Appa is." Aang lamented.
"No, but we can find out which way Ba Sing Se is." Katara informed, opening a roll of parchment. "We can use the stars to guide us. That way, we can travel at night when it's cool, and rest during the day." She turned around, seeing that you were the only one listening. The others had all fallen asleep. She sighed.
"Try to get some sleep, Katara." You placed a hand on her shoulder. "I'll take first watch."
She nodded. "I want to get started again in a few hours."
You nodded in understanding as Katara laid down. You let them sleep for a couple hours before shaking them, waking them up. It was darker outside than it had been, so you guessed it was either morning, or it was about to be.
Toph sat up as Katara woke Sokka. "Yesterday my mouth tasted like mud. Now it tastes like sand. I never thought I'd miss the taste of mud so much."
You chuckled at Toph's confession as you helped Sokka to his feet.
"I'm awake." Aang told Katara as she was about to shake him. "I couldn't sleep."
"Well, we have to keep moving if we want to get out of this sand pit."
Aang's face lit up suddenly. "Appa!"
You looked up, following Aang's gaze, and saw something floating in front of the moon.
"Appa? Why would Princess Yue need him?" Sokka questioned, still not over the cactus juice. "She's the moon, she flies by herself."
You shook your head. It wasn't Appa, and you missed Yue.
"It's just a cloud." Katara voiced. "Wait. A cloud." She took her canteen off and handed it to Aang. "Fly up there and see if you can bend the water into my pouch."
Aang snatched the canteen from her, giving her a dirty look. He flew up and returned shortly after, the cloud disappearing.
"Wow. There's hardly any in here." Katara muttered, looking in the pouch.
"I'm sorry, okay!? It's a desert cloud, I did all I could! What's anyone else doing!?" Aang pointed the end of his glider at Katara. "What are you doing!?"
Katara's eyes widened in surprise and alarm. "Trying to keep everyone together." She pulled out her star map. "Let's just keep moving. We need to head in this direction." She stated, walking away.
You followed, holding Toph's hand and dragging Sokka along with you.
Aang took up the back.
You hadn't been walking long when Sokka got distracted by something and began to try to follow it. You let go of Toph to have a better chance of keeping Sokka with the group. "Sokka!" You shouted through a strained grunt.
"Ow! Crud!"
You turned, seeing Toph sitting on the ground, rubbing her foot.
"I am so sick of not feeling where I'm going!"
You drug Sokka back over to the group and leaned down to Toph. "Are you alright?"
"I hit my foot! What idiot buried a boat in the middle of the desert!?" She exclaimed, exasperated.
You looked down, seeing wood sticking out of the sand.
"A boat?" Katara echoed, confused.
"Believe me, I kicked it hard enough to feel plenty of vibrations."
Aang stepped forward, blowing the sand away.
Your face lit up. "This is what the sandbenders use! We can get home!"
"It's got a working compass!" Katara announced from her spot at the top. "Aang, you can bend a breeze so we can sail it!" She said happily. "We're gonna make it!"
Sokka laughed, burying Momo in the sand.
You pinched the bridge of your nose in irritation. "Sokka, get up." You instructed, grabbing him by his collar and hoisting him up on the boat. You grabbed Momo's tail, pulling him up as well. "Toph, are you gonna be okay on your own?" You questioned, holding onto the two troublemakers.
"I'll be fine, since I can see."
Aang began bending air into the sail, sending the boat flying.
"The needle on this compass doesn't seem to be pointing north according to my charts." Katara voiced.
"Easy, little lady. I'm sure the sand folks who built this thing know how to get around here." Sokka said, a dumb expression on his face.
Katara gasped. "That's what the compass is pointing to!"
You turned, seeing a large rock.
"That giant rock! It must be the magnetic center of the desert!"
"What for?" You asked, looking over at her.
"I'm not sure."
"A rock!? Yes! Let's go!" Toph exclaimed, finally smiling.
"Maybe we can find some water there!"
"And maybe we can find some sandbenders." Aang added darkly.
You reached the top of the rock just in time for sunrise.
"Ah, finally!" Toph said, falling into the rock and making a snow- er… rock angel. "Solid ground!"
"What are all these holes for?" You asked, pointing at the side.
"Probably entrances." Katara dismissed, walking in, everyone following.
Sokka took a deep breath. "I feel like my head is finally starting to clear out the cactus juice." His face lit up. "Ooh!" He rushed to the side of the cave, reaching out to touch some of the yellow gunk lining it.
You grabbed his forearm firmly, stopping his quest. "Don't." You insisted, eyes narrowed.
"Uh, guys. I don't think this is a normal cave." Toph piped up, feeling the wall. "This was carved by something."
"Yeah." Aang agreed, finally not snapping at anybody. "Look at the shape."
"There's something buzzing in here. Something that's coming for us!"
"Run!" You yelled, turning and rushing out.
The others followed you, all screaming as giant buzzard wasps followed.
The large creatures surrounded you.
Aang send a large gust of wind at one, sending it flying.
You drew what was left of your water and began flicking them sharply.
"What are you doing?!" Sokka shouted. "That rock almost crushed me!"
"Sorry! I can't tell where they are in the air!" Toph defended.
"I've got this one!" Sokka charged, making various grunts as he slashed.
"Sokka, there's nothing there!" Katara told him.
Sokka stopped swinging. "I guess my head's not as clear as I thought."
"Well, at least you're making sense, now." You reasoned.
"We have to get out of here. I'm completely out of water to bend!" Katara yelled.
"Momo!" Aang shouted as the lemur got carried away. "I'm not losing anyone else out here!" He declared, opening his glider and chasing the buzzard wasp.
"Come on! We're going down!"
You all began your descent.
"Toph! Shoot a rock right there!" Katara instructed.
Toph shot some out of the ground.
"Fire!"
Toph shot the rocks out, hitting the buzzard.
"She got him!" Sokka celebrated briefly before he became more serious. "She got him, right?"
"Yes. Now let's move."
You were at the bottom now, but the buzzard wasps were closing in on you.
"On your left." Katara told Toph.
Toph sent a rock that way, hitting one.
All of the sudden, several large pieces of rock shot out of the ground, sending the buzzard wasps into the sky. You flinched, and when your eyes reopened, the rocks were gone, and sandbenders where standing in their place.
Aang leapt down, landing in front of them.
"What are you doing in our land with a sandbender sailor? From the looks of it, you stole it from the Hami tribe." One of the sandbenders accused.
"We found the sailor abandoned in the desert." Katara clarified. "We're traveling with the Avatar, our bison was stolen, and we have to get to Ba Sing Se."
"That wasn't all necessary information, Katara." You scolded lightly.
"You dare accuse our people of theft when you ride in on a stolen sandsailor?" One of the younger ones said.
"Quiet, Ghashiun!" The first one shouted. "No one's accusing our people of anything! If what they say is true, we must give them hospitality!"
"Sorry, father."
"I recognize the son's voice." Toph whispered. "He's the one that stole Appa."
"Are you sure?" Katara whispered back.
"I never forget a voice."
That was all Aang needed. He marched forward, holding his staff and pointing the end at the son. "You stole Appa. Where is he?! What did you do to him?!" He demanded.
"They're lying. They're the thieves!" Ghashiun denied.
Aang let out a holler, sending a gust of wind at a sailor, destroying it. He turned back to the group. "Where is my bison!?"
They still didn't respond.
"You tell me where he is, now." Aang commanded, destroying another sailor.
The father turned to his son. "What did you do?"
"It wasn't me!"
"You said to put a muzzle on him!" Toph accused, pointing at him.
"You muzzled Appa?!" Aang's eyes and tattoos glowed white and the wind around him picked up. He destroyed another sailor.
"I- I'm sorry! I didn't know it belonged to the Avatar!"
"So that makes it okay?" You mumbled under your breath. You hated to think of what was happening to Appa.
"Tell me where Appa is!" Aang demanded, his voice echoing darkly.
"I- I traded him! To some merchants! He's probably in Ba Sing Se by now."
Aang's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"They're gonna sell him there." Ghashiun saw the look on Aang's face. "Please! We'll escort you out of the desert! We'll help however we can!" He pleaded.
"Just get out of here! Run!" Sokka shouted, pulling you and Toph away from Aang.
The Avatar was surrounded by a ball of air, and he was rising.
You covered your face with your arm, trying to protect it from the sand.
The wind died down slightly and you dared to peek.
Katara was holding onto Aang, and they were both crying silently.
Aang's eyes stopped glowing, his arrow following the action moments later.
You sighed.
Poor Appa.