It made sense that Katara and Guru Patik stay behind...in my mind at least. They're the most qualified healers and would best aid Aang during his recovery. While Katara slept, the guru coached us about how we should go about reentering the city.
"The element of surprise will be essential."
Duh. As if I didn't know that. The old man emphasized the point though, rambling on and on that to be truly invisible we must enter as ghosts: unseen, unheard, and untouched.
Being a smartass, I asked about untasted...and then grimaced at the implications.
He seemed confident about our chance of success. After such a horrible and heart wrenching defeat, our adversaries wouldn't expect our immediate return. Azula's pride would blind her to that possibility. Still if anything...anything...felt wrong, he advised us to trust our instincts and get out of there.
Toph assured him she'd get me out if anything happened.
I faked a laugh before readying Appa's saddle.
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"So what's the plan?"
It's only been a day and she's already rubbing me the wrong way.
I muster up what I hope is an agitated enough glare. Extended travel by bison...hours upon hours limited to the same ten square feet. And heaven forbid a caustic personality like Toph accompanies you...Just how the hell did the air nomads do it?
An irritated sigh. The same voice, "A-h-h-hem..."
"It's formulating."
"It's been formulating for a day now, Snoozles. Just what do you have going on in that small busted brain of yours?"
I wish she'd just leave me to my thoughts: there's enough on my plate as it is. Granted, I kinda sorta brought it on myself, but figuring out a way to reenter Ba Sing Se is mind-numbing enough without her picking a fight every few minutes.
Don't get me wrong. I love a good 'ol war of words...unless its in haiku form. Damn syllables. Toph's especially fun to banter with...ask her to play a game of 'I Spy' and enjoy the explosions that ensue...
But I can't afford to be distracted right now. I'm the plan-guy, and as such, I have to come up with a plan...there are just so many distractions right now.
I must have dazed out because Toph's voice breaks in, gentler this time, "Look. I know it's hard."
She glances away, an odd behavior for a girl who can't see me anyway.
"It's hard not to think about what happened. But what you said to Katara was right. We can't afford to be shortsighted. I get this feeling that what we're doing is right."
Even if my sister was going to kill me, it was nice to know I had someone on my side.
"Thanks, Toph...Hey, does that mean I can count on your support when we get back?"
Her expression becomes incredulous. "Hell no...I'm not burying myself into the hole you dug."
"But you're the one who convinced me to go through with it!"
She smiles sweetly, "You see, there's this thing called free will..."
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"Aaaaaaagh!"
The water in the fountain explodes outward, showering the interior of the room.
The Earth King sticks his tongue out to catch one of the misty droplets, but his face screws up at the bitter, moldy taste.
"Ick."
As if he'd been expecting something better.
Guru Patik looks up from where he meditates to the now red-faced Katara.
"Why thank you, my dear. For an old man, it can be such a chore watering all of these plants."
Her fury focuses in, "Did you know they were going to leave?"
The guru considers the girl before him.
He was one hundred and fifty years old. He'd been advisor to a countless number of great benders. He'd spent a fifth of his life in meditation, gaining insight. He was very, very wise.
He knew exactly how to answer. He offers a placating smile.
"Nope."
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"...Sokka?"
My eyes snap open. I've been steering Appa for fourteen hours...much too long when you consider I've been known to sleep just as long.
"H-huh?...I-I'm still formulating."
"Riiight...."
I rub my eyes.
"Let's land and rest a couple hours."
"I'm fine, Toph."
"Shut up, not everything's about you," Toph sighs, "I want to dig my feet in the Earth awhile."
Oh...good. As long as I'm not the weak one. I steer Appa toward the ground.
"I see a town ahead," I squint to see beyond the woods. "Maybe they'll give us something other than banana-onion juice."
Toph visibly brightens.
"Land there!"
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Aang's eyes move rapidly behind closed lids. Katara knows this because she can make out the dark pupils through the lids' thin, pink membranes. She's never seen her friend so pale.
But there have been victories. While she slept, the airbender's breathing had returned to a much more stable pattern.
Sleeping had done her good. She'd been invigorated when she woke up, happier...but that had changed quickly when she searched the temple for Toph and her brother.
She was going to kill them...especially her brother. That is, if you can especially kill someone.
She'd find a way.
Ever since she'd been little she'd fought to be his equal. Little sisters, waterbending talents or not, seek approval from older brothers. That's just the way it is.
And for him to abandon her...to make her feel so useless...She wouldn't make it easy for him to win her trust back.
A little voice in the back of her mind reminded her that she wasn't useless. Her purpose lay in front of her...
Aang. That's what she had to focus on now. She couldn't change the fact that half her group was in route to Ba Sing Se, but she could help him.
She'd hoped that he would wake when his breathing returned to normal. But still his pupils dart about...dreaming.
The Earth King plops down beside her, legs crossed.
"He looks good."
"Yeah..." The confidence in her voice was wavering.
"Don't sound so glum!"
The Earth King surprises her with his cheerful voice. Too cheerful, in fact...Didn't he just lose his kingdom?
The king whispers to her gleefully, "Luck is on our side. Bosco performed a dance this morning! A great omen!"
In her mind, Katara questions for the hundredth time how this man became king...
Guru Patik appears in the doorway, "A dance you say?"
Katara looks from king to guru, perplexed.
"This is wonderful news indeed!!"
As angry as she is at them, Katara prays her friends will hurry back soon.
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Rolls and cheese and cured chicken-pig taste tastes wonderful when you've been living off the guru's special 'recipe' for two days. Toph and I had debated the issue briefly while we traveled, and in the end we concluded that it wasn't worth living to one hundred and fifty, if we had to eat banana-onion juice every day. We'd rather just die.
The villagers who greeted us were quite hospitable. Food was freely given, and a wonderful old couple offered us a room. Toph, noting their humble home didn't have dirt floors, asked if she could sleep in the stable with Appa instead. She has a wonderful way of unintentionally insulting people.
Night soon fell. When we excused ourselves from our meal to feed and settle Appa, we found the normally mellow bison to be quite antsy. The animal's huge nose sniffed the air and his six legs paced just outside the old couple's door. At first, I'd feared the worst...had we been spotted landing by Fire Nation scouts? No one had mentioned anything about them being in the area...
"What's up with Fluffy?"
I raise my eyebrow a notch, "Do you have a nickname for everyone?"
"Awww Snoozles...don't get jealous. I thought long and hard about yours."
"Hn...cute."
"I know."
Appa nudges me from the side unexpectedly, almost toppling me over. Big guy apparently doesn't know his own strength.
"Hey! Watch it!"
Again, a deliberate, but softer, nudge.
I begin whining, "Quit it, Appa! I'm not rubbing your belly!"
The bison is now in full 'speak mode'. His grunts draw the attention of the old couple, who appear in the doorway, curious about the noise.
Toph picks up a pattern, "He wants to lead us somewhere."
"You think?" Another nudge and I give up struggling, allowing the bison to push me, "So much for a nap..."
Twenty minutes later and we're standing in front of a small home on the outskirts of town...actually, it's more like a shack, and it's in the woods...a good mile outside of town.
I eye the structure warily. A stray gust of wind causes its planked sides to creak and moan. Dead trees stretch thin fingers to scratch its crumbling, decrepit roof. It's obvious that the home was abandoned awhile ago, with vines slithering all over its exterior...all but the door.
The woods around me are suddenly darker than any moonless night I can ever remember...My mind wanders to the scary stories Dad used to entertain me and Katara with as children...Didn't one involve an abandoned ice shelter, haunted by the spirit of a vengeful old hag? That's right...She lured children in with the smell of blubber seal jerky and candies. She fed them until they were too plump to escape, and then stewed them for her own meal...
I sniff the air...Is that jerky I smell? And just what in the Four Nations led Appa here?!
In the back of my mind, I can hear Mom scolding Dad. "The children nearly wet themselves!" Dad only laughs heartily.
Appa sniffs the air once more before sitting contently. This must be his intended destination.
Toph notes my shifty eyes. "Okaaaay...."
"You knock, Toph."
"What?! Why me?"
"Well what do you want me to do? 'Hello sir, ma'am, would you like to barter for some Water Scout snacks? The Thin Minced Blubber Seal is delicious! Oh, and mind explaining why my flying bison led me here?'"
The wind howls again and I jump. My heart's racing.
Toph must feel it. She sighs, "You're such a pansy."
"Sticks and stones..."
She approaches the door and knocks three times. Its not long before light footsteps approach.
I hug Appa's front paw tightly, anticipating escape from the old hag.
Toph only smiles knowingly.
The door cracks open. One eye looms out. Toph waves.
I've already climbed half-way up Appa.
"Don't eat me!!"
A bedraggled Suki opens the door fully.
"You're the strangest boyfriend I've ever had, you know that?"