Aang had made some new friends in a creepy swamp, some waterbenders who had almost eaten Appa, however Thyra and the others had managed to rescue their fluffy friend as well as Momo. Thyra had been curious about the swamp and how alive it had felt but since then, they had moved further on, leaving it far behind. Right now they were strolling through a market, trying to look for supplies however Sokka was torn over a smart looking bag, wistfully gazing at it though was drawn back by the sale tag.
"It's pricey, but I really do like it." He said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
"Then you should get it. You deserve something nice." Katara told her brother who grinned at her in agreement.
"I do, don't I?!" He said, stretching out a hand to take the bag but then drew back with a sad expression. But no. It's too expensive, I shouldn't."
"Alright, then don't." Katara shrugged before turning to walk away with Aang as Thyra stood there, arms folded as Sokka sighed dramatically, shoulders slumping low before trudging away, so she followed. However after a moment, Sokka spun around and wore a now brightened expression.
"You know what? I'm gonna get it." He decided and Thyra rolled her eyes, following after Katara and Aang as Sokka wasted his money on a new bag.
"Look, there's a coupon on the back. The first lesson is free!" Aang was saying as she reached his side and she looked down at the coupon that he had just been handed.
"What's that you got little brother?" She questioned and Aang turned a wide smile on her.
"A voucher for Master Yu's earthbending class, so let's go!" With that he dragged his sister and Katara towards the academy, Sokka running after them and yelling for them to slow down as he cradled his new bag. Aang went inside for the lesson whilst Katara, Sokka and Thyra were made to wait outside.
"You know what? I'm going to finish getting our supplies." Thyra announced, getting up from the barrel she had been sitting on. "I'll meet you all back at the square once Aang's done with his lesson, okay?" She gave the siblings a smile as they nodded their heads.
"Okay! Oh, if you see any clams, be sure to get me some." Sokka called after her with a wave. "And some rope. Oh and more fish hooks! And maybe some CUSTARD TARTS!" He continued to yell after her even as she walked away until finally Katara whacked him on the back of the head to silence him.
Thyra carried the last of their money, knowing that it wouldn't be long until they had run out, so she found a busy street away from where the others may see her and sat down, placing a small bowl in front of her then took a deep breath.
From behind her Thyra slipped out the flute that had once been her parents', removing it from within her robes then began to play. The sweet music filled the street and many heads turned to listen in awe, smiling as Thyra began to play an old air temple aria that Monk Gyatso had taught her many, many years ago.
Slowly coins began to be tossed her way, clinking as they landed in the bowl and gradually the amount began to increase as Thyra smiled serenely and continued to play, her fingers working the magic of music as people either stopped to listen or simply tossed her a coin then moved on.
Once Thyra had collected sufficient coin, she stopped playing and slipped away with her earnings, finding a dark alley where she ran her hand over the flute, smiling as she turned it over to read the inscription on the back. "Hope always sings." She murmured, brushing her thumb over the small carvings before exhaling, holding it close to her heart. "I promise mom, I promise that I'll take good care of him for you." Many times over the years Thyra had whispered that promise, however as the years passed she found the pain that came with it gradually subsided until it was nothing more than a dull throb. She missed her mother, however she had to look to the future and to Aang. He needed her now more than those who were dead.
So turning around Thyra went back to the market and bought the supplies they needed then hid the rest of her coin away in her robes, glancing up at the sky to see it was getting dark. She went to the square, however the others were nowhere to be seen, so she waited.
She waited and waited, sitting quietly in the middle of the square at the well until finally, she realised that they were not coming. "Maybe they went back to Appa." She thought, so she turned and returned to their flying bison, who greeted her warmly, stopping his munching on a bush briefly before returning to it. "Hi Appa. Has Aang been here?" Appa continued to eat, so she assumed that her brother and the others had not come back.
Thyra placed the supplies in the saddle, securing them all down to go out searching for them when she heard someone approaching. Leaping off of Appa's back, Thyra adopted a battle stance, ready to defend at a moment's notice but then Sokka stumbled through the bushes, tripping over his own foot and landed flat on his face, wearing his bag and a strange belt as well. "Uh…Sokka?" Thyra frowned, arching an eyebrow in confusion at him as he leaped back to his feet and brushed himself off casually.
"Meant to do that." He informed her simply then marched forwards again as Katara and Aang appeared.
"Thyra! There you are, we were getting worried about you." He said, running over. "You'll never guess what happened. After the lesson, we found out about this earthbending rumble competition thing, and there was this girl there. She calls herself the Blind Bandit, but her real name is Toph Beifong, and she's the most amazing earthbender I've ever seen!" He ranted as Thyra just looked at her brother with a blank expression. "She can't see but feels everything around her, she listens to the earth and waits for the right moment to strike, and she's the exact same girl I saw back at the swamp!" Aang's arms had been flailing around wildly so Thyra gripped his wrists and pinned them down.
"Okay, okay little brother. Are you sure you didn't get some dirt in your head or something? You're going all crazy." Thyra said and everyone just stared at her for a moment before Sokka burst out laughing, pointing down at Aang.
"Dirt! In your head! Thyra just made a joke! Because you were learning about earthbending! Classic." He appreciated so Thyra picked up a small stone and flung it expertly at Sokka's head, causing him to yelp and fall flat in the saddle.
"Quiet bonehead, or I'll show you my own earthbending style. Which includes dropping the biggest rock I can lift onto your head." She growled before taking a step back towards Aang. "So this earthbender, Toph. Is she going to be your teacher?" But now Aang only hung his head.
"No. Her parents wouldn't let her come." Thyra sighed then gave an understanding smile at her brother's disappointed face.
"Never mind. I'm sure there's someone else just as good waiting out there for you." She said then guided him over to Appa who had stopped eating.
"Don't worry. We'll find you a teacher." Katara said to him optimistically. "There are plenty of amazing earthbenders out there."
"Not like her." Aang answered, turning his face back towards the town before turning back. Thyra looked to see Sokka polishing his tournament belt with love, smirking proudly and she rolled her eyes in despair. Suddenly there was the sound of someone running towards them, small feet that padded gently against the soil as Aang and the others all turned to look as a small girl with black hair appeared from the darkness, heading straight towards them. "Toph! What are you doing here?" Aang questioned in surprise, brightening up a little as Toph gave a smirk.
"My dad changed his mind. He said I was free to travel the world." She informed them and Thyra arched an eyebrow, putting a hand on her hip as she jumped down to the ground as both Katara and Sokka glanced at one another quickly.
"Well, we'd better get out of here before your dad changes his mind again."
"Good idea." She agreed with a nod of her head, her untamed hair falling in front of her pale misty eyes as Thyra looked down at her with a slightly surprised look.
"This is the girl you were talking about, huh Aang?" Thyra questioned and Toph's face instantly dropped into a hard expression as she clenched a fist and pointed straight at Thyra, not even looking towards her.
"Hey, keep your big mouth shut before I stuff it with a rock." She threatened and Thyra slowly smirked.
"Okay. I think she'll fit in just fine." Thyra said before walking over to Appa's head. "Climb on everyone. We gotta get going." She called as Aang walked over to Toph with a smile.
"You're gonna be a great teacher, Toph." He told her and Thyra noticed how a smirk crept up on Toph's lips as she lifted her head slightly.
"Speaking of which, I want to show you something." She announced and Aang unwisely moved closer, curious.
"Okay." With a single tap of her foot, Toph erupted a rock from the ground and Thyra watched with an impressed gaze as Aang flew up into the air as he yelled, arms flailing before he landed in a tree, dangling by one foot which had snagged a branch, making his sister chuckle quietly behind her hand.
"Now we're even." She announced before her hand shot out towards Sokka. "I'll take the belt back." She informed him and Sokka's face instantly fell but he complied, unlacing it from around him then tossed it back down to Toph, but it smacked her head instead as she failed to see it coming. "Ow!"
"Sorry!" He said as Thyra shook her head then walked over, helping Toph to stand up before lifting her up into her arms easily, cradling her like she would a baby.
"Whoa hey! Easy there! Put my feet back on the ground right now before I throw you into a tree!"
"Relax tough-stuff, I'm just lending a hand." Thyra said in a smooth, warm voice that instantly made Toph blink in surprise then cave slightly, smiling as Thyra jumped up easily onto Appa's leg then again into the saddle, putting Toph down before pulling out one of her own blankets. "It gets a little cold up here if you're not used to it, so wrap up warm and try to get some sleep. It looks as though you've all had a long day." Thyra said and Sokka yawned loudly.
"Yeah. I'm beat. Watching everyone else fight is exhausting." He said and the girls all shot him a glare. "What?! It is! Yelling and cheering is hard work, you know!" He defended proudly so Thyra shook her head as he then dropped down and started to snort, drooling in his sleep.
"Very attractive Sokka." Katara said, glowering over at her brother as Aang flew back to Appa's head then took the sky with a single call. Toph instantly gripped onto Thyra, startled by the unfamiliar motion and Thyra placed her arms around the smaller girl.
"It's okay, here. Give me your hand." Thyra said and curled an arm around Toph, taking her hand then stretched out together, touching the clouds as Appa flew higher and higher. Instantly Toph grinned from ear to ear.
"We're flying!" She realised then laughed, feeling the wind against her skin and she closed her eyes to savour the feeling of soaring as Thyra lifted the blanket further over her shoulders to keep her warm.
"Sleep well tough-stuff. We're glad to have you travelling with us." Thyra murmured and Toph smiled as she snuggled down, feeling comforted by the older girl's tender voice, reminded of her mom, only with a lot less control issues and over protective ideals. Thyra rested her hand against Toph's hair then moved over to Sokka, pulling his sleeping back around him to keep him warm as well whilst Katara slipped into hers.
"Thyra? Will you sing that song again?" Katara asked as Thyra crawled over the saddle towards her.
"Sure Katara. You just relax. We're safe up here in the clouds." Thyra told her gently, finding a comfortable space to settle before starting to sing, her voice travelling on the wind and filled the air with an enchanting melody, bringing sweet dreams to all those who heard. Both above and below the stars.