Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender. I simply enjoy using the plot line and characters that the talented people who made Avatar have graciously created for our enjoyment.

Sokka had found heaven.

He gawked when he first arrived, mesmerized by the numerous varieties of food. They had everything here. There was sweet cherry delights, puffy donut jellies, wheat muffins, several different pastries, grilled fish, steaming hot birds, meats Sokka never heard of before, red and blue berries, whole rice, peaches, juicy pears, different cobblers and cakes, chunky soups, and salads. Sokka passed on the salad, but engorged everything in sight – for free. Yep. Sometimes hanging around famous people had its perks.

Many people started hanging around him. Probably think Aang will show up soon. Sokka thought. The people looked bored as they waited for the Avatar, and watched this boy eat hours on end.

"Man. Aang and I sure had some good times." Sokka started, stretching. A few people glanced up to him, but many continued to stare blankly at the entrance. "Why, there was this one time where Aang was just, doing his peace-keeping thing you know, when a few ugly canyon crawlers started coming after us. Well, Aang was caught off guard, you see, so he got knocked back. I don't blame 'im, but I started going after them crawlers. Picked up my boomerang, and I hit one straight in the eye! It screeched and ran off. The other one was looking pretty scared by this time, but I didn't let my guard down…"

A girl who had been hanging by the walls the whole time left out a laugh, but covered her mouth, giving it the effect of a snort. She seemed to be ignored however, because a few others began looking at Sokka with a new interest.

"Canyon crawlers? Oh! I hate those!" Replied an attractive girl with long black hair. She crinkled her nose, as if she smelled something awful.

"Have you even seen a canyon crawler before, Emi?" asked the girl by the wall with a smirk.

"Of course I have!" replied Emi, looking offended. "Well... pictures of them anyway. From the books Kasumi teaches us with."

The girl narrowed her eyes as if Emi had just said an offensive curse word. She turned around to the wall and mumbled something undistinguishable under her breath.

"Sho's just jealous." Emi explained to Sokka.

"Sho? Isn't that a man's name?" Sokka asked Sho.

Sho flipped around on her heal. "It is. Picked it out myself."

"She's crazy."

"Who's Kasumi?" Sokka asked. His curiosity had peeked. What was with Sho? Why was she so ticked at Emi?

"Kasumi…" Emi started.

"Fills your minds with trash." Sho interrupted.

"Hear that? It's jealousy." Emi smirked. "Kasumi is the woman who teaches the ladies in this village."

"What does she teach you?"

"Trash."

"What she teaches us, is secret to all men, and what the men are taught, is secret to all the ladies."

"What are the men taught?" Sokka asked Emi, new excitement flaming within him.

Sho laughed. Emi snorted. "If you had been listening you would know that I have no idea. Go find out for your self!" Emi flipped up her hand daintily.

"Erm… where would I go exactly?"

"To the building just south of here. At the end of the street, first house on the left of the intersection. Have fun…."

"Sokka. And Thanks." Sokka mumbled as shot out the door. He hoped they were taught what he thought it was…

Aang walked in the door, followed by Katara.

"Well… I don't think he's here." Aang said observantly as he studied the now empty café. Katara nodded sadly. They had been searching for hours and not a trace of him.

"Who's not here?" asked a girl, gliding up to Aang.

"Sokka." Katara said hurriedly. "Why? Have you seen him?"

Aang placed a hand on Katara's shoulder. "Calm down. I'm sure he's fine."

"Define, fine." The girl said, her words shinned with a tinge of annoyance. Aang looked at the girl quizzically. "Never mind…" the girl mumbled. "Yeah… he's ok. He's over at Ryo's place." The girl gestured a thumb over her shoulder, pointing to a building down the street.

"Thanks!" Katara said, relieved. She began to walk out the door.

"No wait! You can't go there!" the girl said jumping out to grab Katara's shoulder. "Uh… stay here. It's kind of a men only place…"

Katara looked at the girl wide-eyed. "What?"

"I'll go get him!" Aang volunteered bubbly. He didn't wait for a reply, but flew right out the door.

Katara looked at the girl again, concern pasted on her face. "What is he doing?"

The girl shrugged. "Warrior stuff probably."

Katara laughed with relief. "That sounds like Sokka."

The girl ignored her, examining her own hands silently.

"So... uh… what's your name?" Katara said nervously, trying to make conversation.

"Sho."

"Oh. Mine's Katara."

There was more silence.

"I wonder why all the guys take warrior classes." Katara commented, trying to pass on a good-hearted smile. "I mean, girls are just as capable, if not more so."

Sho looked up with burning eyes. "You're right." She replied, but said nothing more.

This silence was awkward, and Katara still tried to make conversation. "So…. what do you do around here?"

Sho jumped up suddenly, knocking over a jug of water, the contents spilling over.

"What I do, is none of your business." Sho replied, anger flaming up insider her. Katara could feel the heat radiating off Sho, and known she had asked the wrong question.

Katara eyed the spilled water on the floor, longingly. "Oh... sorry… Let me help with that." Flipping her hands oh-so-smoothly, the water lifted up off the ground and rose back into the water jug. Katara's bright and joyful eyes were only greeted with Sho's eyes lit up with a look of absolute horror.

"What's…. what's wrong?" Katara asked, placing a hand on Sho's shoulder. Sho dashed out of the room, leaving Katara baffled.

"Hey! Come back!" Katara yelled; but Sho was gone.

Sokka examined the building carefully. It looked pretty rundown. Not like a place he would go for training. The atmosphere seemed damp and suddenly the excitement in him was starting to freeze off. He shrugged. Looks could be deceiving. Jet was proof.

He strutted towards the door, taking a look around as he did so. Nobody was around, and it was suspiciously silent. Sokka placed a knuckle on the door, but it opened before he could knock. No one seemed to be behind the door and Sokka put a foot in the doorway.

Someone grabbed him and he was thrown to the ground.

"Hello Sokka. We've been expecting you."

Oh! Thanks for the whole two reviews! I'm not extremely pleased with how this chapter turned out, but hey…. It'll get better!

Please let me know what cha' think!