Aang finally woke up. When he did, he saw Katara looking around worriedly. She was muttering to herself. "Where did he run off to now! Ugh…I can never keep track of you two…." Rubbing his eyes, Aang stood up, a little unsteady. "W-who?" he asked. Katara turned around to face him. "Oh, you're awake. Um, don't worry about it, Sokka just woke up before us and decided to explore by himself. Just his old irresponsible self…."
Aang bit his lip. "..Oh." He was worried that Sokka was angry with him for last night. But Katara didn't see his reaction. "He was supposed to help us pre-" but she stopped herself, remembering Aang still hadn't made his decision.
After a few minutes of awkward silence, Sokka arrived, still holding Kyoto's hand. Katara and Aang stared at them a few moments, then their hands.
Then Katara spoke. Her eyebrows were pressed together in annoyance. "Where were you? Why didn't the two of you tell us or something, instead of making us wait around to worry here!"
Sokka touched the back of his neck, embarrassed and a bit guilty. "Hehehe…Sorry Katara. I should have told you. You were sleeping...I was just catching up with Kyoto." Katara smirked slightly. "I can see that." She whispered. Sokka ignored it, and he sat on a sleeping bag, Kyoto sitting next to him. Then Aang stood up, ready to make his announcement. He sighed. "Okay…I've been thinking about it." Which, everyone already knew. They looked up at him in anticipation. He continued. "I'll go…but only because…" He closed his eyes, willing himself not to cry. "Only because I saw some really terrible things at Kioshi Island." Kyoto gulped. She didn't want to think about it. "It better be a good disguise…and if I get second thoughts…I want to turn back." Katara grinned broadly and ran up to hug Aang. "You're doing the right thing. I'm proud of you." She said softly. He nodded and accepted the hug, wrapping his arms around her.
Sokka smiled. "Thanks Aang. You won't be sorry, I promise." Aang released the hug, staring at Sokka. "I hope you're right." Kyoto smiled, and gave Sokka a light hug. It seemed a long time sense he smiled the way he did.
Sokka stood up and walked over to Aang, looking as if he was inspecting him. Aang stared at Sokka. "What are you doing?" Sokka put his hands out, as if to enclose Aang in a picture frame. "Thinking up a disguise." Aang blushed. "Oh…" he didn't want to think of what Sokka was going to make him wear.
Sokka was acting so strangely cheerful, it was as if nothing happened at the waterfall.
Sorry if it's semi-short. I've been writing a few a day. Anyway, big stuff is coming up. Thanks for reviewing!