Toph marches alone down the sidewalk, her steps heavy with her massive backpack full of traveling equipment, a bag full of money jangling at her belt.
Well, not really "money." More like "bits of scrap tin metalbent into coin shapes and painted with what Sokka said was the exact shade of a gold coin." But, you know, potato, potahto. Homemade money should work fine until she has the time to run another scam.
The scent of something fried wafts from a nearby restaurant over to Toph, whose stomach growls. Iroh's tea might be good, but scones and cucumber sandwiches get old quick. She hasn't eaten since breakfast.
She's about to step inside when she's interrupted by a voice calling her name loudly.
"Toph! Over here!"
Toph turns toward the slightly-familiar voice, annoyance coursing through her at the newfound obstacle between her and her lunch. She's slightly confused when she sees who it is, although she isn't quite as apprehensive of the girl as she was several months ago.
"Ty Lee?"
"Zuko told me you're going off on your own to travel the world." Ty Lee's feather-light footsteps are bouncy and excited.
"Yeah. And?"
"Well, can I come?"
Toph scans Ty Lee skeptically, taking in the satchel slung over her shoulder that seems entirely insufficient for a lengthy journey.
"Why do you want to leave the capital? With me, of all people?"
Ty Lee smiles as if the answer is obvious. "Hey, we're not enemies anymore! I loved traveling with the circus, and I want to get out and about after being in that icky prison this summer! And Mai is busy because her dad's making her go to university, and Azula...well..."
"Busy being a psychopathic disgraced princess?"
"Um, yeah." Ty Lee's weight shifts as she hefts her slipping bag back over her shoulder, clearing her throat uncomfortably. "Anyway, I know how to get around pretty well from my time with the circus. There's a whole train system that's powered by firebenders. Oh, and there's this company with a bunch of stations in major cities around the Fire Nation that lets you rent ostritch-horses to ride from one city to another. Or there's—"
"Yeah, why not." Toph shrugs, wincing at Ty Lee's sudden, excited squeal.
Suddenly Toph is being squeezed into a tight hug, her vision going blurry as her weight is almost completely lifted off the ground by the taller girl.
"Okay, rule number one. Don't do that."