Katara grinned and winked at Kyoto. Both girls couldn't help but smile and chuckle a little.
Aang ran into the house. He was still smiling weakly, knowing that Katara was trying to cheer him up. It worked. But she was right, if he didn't go with Sokka and Katara, he would have to stay with Kyoto. He was even chuckling a little bit, and a smudge of color returned to his face. He didn't look quite so pale.
Sokka was in the tiny backyard, behind the well. Aang came rushing out, hiding mischievously from the girls. Even though he was still sore and depressed, he was starting to act like himself again, just a little.
He ran up behind Sokka, and Sokka jumped a little, startled. But he kept working. Aang calmed down and asked "What are you working on, Sokka?" Sokka looked up from what he was doing for a minute, then answered. He was drawing in the ashes with a stick he found. "I'm drawing plans." He said bluntly. He wanted to add 'You're just a kid, you couldn't understand." like he used to, but didn't. He knew Aang was afraid of this whole idea, and he understood. In the ashes looked like a map. Aang just nodded and sat down next to Sokka. But Sokka covered his work. "Hey Aang, why don't you go back inside. I need to talk to Katara…alone, okay?" There was something in the plans he odviously didn't want Aang to see. Aang frowned for a minute, sort of pouting. But he hung his head and walked into the house. Katara came out a few minutes later, and looked at her brother. "What is it, Sokka?"
Sokka pointed at his map, and started to explain things. "This is where Zuko is staying right now. If we meet him there in the next few days, and persuade him to help us, the plan might just work out.
Katara shook her head with a little smile on her face. "I'm not sure this will work, but I'm impressed. How did you find out where Zuko is?"
Sokka smiled mischievously. "I have my ways." Katara looked at her brother for a second, smiling. Then, she stood up. "This means we have to get ready. I'll be getting things together in the house."
As she put apples and bread together, Katara muttered to herself about having to get things at the market. She was also looking back at Aang, who was on top of the bed, staring at the ceiling, deep in thought, a worried expression on his face. Finally, he spoke up.
"Katara, what did Sokka not want me to see?" She flinched, and then turned to face him. "Aang…we both know you're worried about this whole plan. That's not a bad thing, we completely understand. It's normal to be scared and worried. So we just don't want to talk about it with you…so you don't have to feel worse." Aang swallowed loudly, then pulled the thin blanket around his shoulders. "Is it…that bad?" Katara shook her head. "No, Aang. Really, don't worry so much, okay? You'll find out soon enough, I promise."
But Aang looked frightened. "I want to know now…" he mumbled, then wrapped the blanket around himself completely. Katara put the rest of the bread and apples in the ceramic pot, then came to sit on the side of the bed beside Aang. She took his hands in hers, and looked him in the eyes. "Aang…don't worry. Everything will be fine. You know Sokka and I will never let anything happen to you." Aang nodded, and looked at the ground. "I know..." he said quietly. But he didn't sound so sure.