I was gasping for breath after all that running - and it had only been about fifteen minutes. Yeah, I'm not really a runner, just a skater. But I had slowed down enough for the three figures to catch up to me, and before I knew it, someone had yanked me to the side and into another alleyway. My breath caught where it was in my throat, and I was pretty much crying for my mother. (Mentally, you, idiots!) But as they didn't seem to be hurting me, I gulped and opened one eye. Oh! It was Jet...and Longshot...and Smellerbee. What were those guys doing here? "Hi, everyone!" I managed to croak out, sounding a lot more cheerful than I felt. Jet smiled. "Hey, Darrin. Where's Syd?" Huh. He still had a thing for that girl. "Um...well..." I said nervously, trying to pull up my drooping pants. "She isn't here. I'm alone. And I need to get out of here!" Was that disappointment I read on Jet's face?

"You went through the portal again, didn't you." He was laughing, and so were his buds. I groaned and leaned back against the wall. No self-respecting fourteen-year-old boy should have to go through this torture. "Yes, I went through the portal. And these clothes are driving me nuts, my head hurts, I'm hungry and thirsty, and-" Jet stopped me. "Alright, alright, we'll help you find your way out." "And food?" I asked hopefully. He nodded. "Yes, and food." I let out a sigh of relief. It was either me, or that stupid portal. And it wasn't going to be me. Once I went through, I was never going to another Avatar fansite again.

I expected Jet to take me to a restaraunt, but no...he took me to a smallish house on a hill, overlooking a river. It looked like one of those motels, except it was much cleaner and there were no stinking cars or webs everywhere. "This is where they're living for now," Jet explained. I arched a brow. "Who?" "Katara, Sokka, and Aang." He pointed in the direction of the little house. "And they've picked up a new friend as well. Some kid...an Earthbender." I nodded, knowing very well who he was talking about. Toph, this really tough Earth Nation kid they rescued from her dimwitted father. "Should I just go ahead up there?" I asked uncertianly. He gently pushed me forward. "Go on. You'll be ok. You're safe within these walls."

I headed up to the house, Jet's last words ringing in my head. I didn't like the way he said them...all trancelike. Still, all that mattered at this point was getting home, so I gave the door three hearty knocks. It swung open, and an overjoyed Aang practically suffocated me. "Darrin!" he yelled, flinging his arms around my waist. "Hi, Aang," I said, patting his back. I'm not much of a hugger. "Where are the others? I need to find that portal...again." His face fell, and he let go of me. "But you can't go yet. Something happened...and it's not good." He sighed and motioned for me to follow him into the house. I didn't see Katara or Sokka anywhere, and I had this mounting dread that whatever Aang had to show me was very, very bad. And I found out he was right.

Lying on a bed in one of the rooms was...Syd. My heart leaped into my throat and I rushed to her side. "Syd? Oh, come on, Syd, speak to me..." Katara was standing on the other side of her, with a cup of water. Syd's breathing was shallow and dry. I feared the worst, and I looked up at Katara helplessly. "What...what happened to her?" "She must have fallen through after you did," the waterbender explained sadly. It didn't take long for her to completely explain - Syd had gone through after me, and the portal was closing. She had somehow gotten stuck between worlds. "I think it was too much of a shock to her body. When the portal closed around her, she just passed out. That was an hour ago." Katara shook her head. "She's alive, but she won't wake up. We tried to get a doctor for her, but Sokka's been gone for awhile now. I don't think he's found one yet."

I knelt by the bed. Syd's red hair, streaked with black as usual, was flowing all over the bed. The portal must have dumped her here, which was a good thing...in a way. But this was the worst thing that had ever happened to me. "I'm sorry, Syd..." I said weakly, stroking her hand.

She didn't wake up.

Another cliffie. Maybe you'll think twice before calling me a fanpoodle. Hah.