Chapter 18
Wowwww I can't believe i'm already on chapter 18! I didn't expect this story to be so long! I think I just got a bit attached to Joy and I didn't want to end it early. I guess the 'Zuko and Toph's life-changing field trip' theme isn't so big as the main idea at the moment and its more focussed on saving Toph so if you get bored of me straying away like this, sorry it's just what I do! I seriously wanted Joy to have some fight scenes before I ended this, except i'm not really sure when i'll end it! Let me know if you want me to keep going and maybe incorperatre some other adventures later on!
Ok sorry for that random paragraph! I probably felt like writing it t make up for how little I wrote yesterday... sorry I'll shut up now!
-oOo-
The few mental exchanges weren't enough. The first vision Joy had was clear and obvious, but what with the travelling and the other people, she sometimes couldn't distinguish between signals from her sister and subconcious thoughts. She wanted to stop again, so she could concerntrate but also feared what would happen if they took to long to reach... where? Where exactly was Toph being held? She got the general direction, but what if it was a secret bunker somewhere? It was impossible.
A fork in the road. Another decision. Joy dismounted and sat in the middle of the road. She tried to concerntrate.
"Left"
They travelled for another few hours, but they were no closer to finding Toph. Joy knew she was near, but wasn't sure how near. The sun climbed up into the sky. The dawn reminded the 4 travellers that they hadn't slept. It reminded them that if they didn't do so soon, fighting would become impossible. It took a lot of persuading but finally Joy agreed to rest. Iroh took watch as the other 3 young people collapsed into sleep.
-oOo-
Thud thud thud
Toph awoke to precise punches up her arms. Someone in a mask was drawing away and nodding to someone outside her line of vision. Chi-blocked. Toph silently cursed herself. If she hadn't gone to sleep, she wouldn't have been off her guard. Despite the numbness in her limbs, she could still move. But could she bend? Of course not. The chi-blocker had done their job too well.
Toph pushed herself up onto her knees and then her feet. Her body felt fragile, unbalanced. The man standing on the other side of the bars had paid the masked chi-blocker and turned his head in her direction. An all-too-pleased-with-himself Shin-fu said "Now, you're going to tell me." an exasperated Toph was ready to retalliate.
"There's nothing TO tell. Bending isn't like a secret that, with it you can unlock new forms! It has to be taught." his stupidity was unbearable. She turned her back on him. "If there was a secret I wouln't tell you anyway" This felt childish to say, but it was needed.
Shin-fu had left after a harsh decleration that SHE WOULD REGRET THIS and had stormed off. Toph had spent the past 2 hours attempting to wear away the wood with her fingernails. It was pointless, but kept her busy and feeling like she could make a difference. I reality, she had to rely on people other than herself. It wasn't that she didn't trust her sister's instincts, but she couldn't stand the thought of being powerless.
Having nothing to do was infuriating and brought up unwanted memories, the times when everything had to be done for her.
Toph, let the guards escort you outside, it's too dangerous.
Toph, let me blow on your tea, it's too dangerous.
Toph, stop asking for more advanced earthbending classes, it's too dangerous.
Toph it's too dangerous.
Toph it's too dangerous.
-oOo-
Once rested, the 4 searchers found that sleep brought a clear mind. After half an hour of travel, Joy, who had been steering the lizard and leading the others, stopped abruptly.
"I know where she is."
-oOo-
More tomorrow!