Boy, was I worried. Syd was alive, but she didn't look like she was going to wake up anytime soon and we were both stuck in Avatar Land. I knew it'd be possible to relocate the portal and get home...but there was no way I was taking her back through the very thing that had hurt her until she was better. And, in all honesty, I wasn't feeling too confident. As I strolled out of the house, with my new weird clothing and new eyes staring at me, I wondered just why I managed to get myself into these messes.

Jet met up with me again a few miles away. I was walking aimlessly across the bridge when he appeared in front of me, looking curious. I decided to just let it out. "Syd's here," I puffed out, looking up at him dully. I really didn't feel like talking to anybody. "She is? Where?" I felt even worse as Jet's face lit up like a light bulb. He really cared for Syd...and it was my fault she was hurt. My throat choked up as I began to speak again. "She's - she's with Aang and the others." I took a deep breath and looked down, not wanting to see his expression next. "And she got caught between portals. She won't wake up...I don't know what to do..." There were at least ten seconds of silence before Jet finally said anything again. I still felt rotten, but I managed to look up again. Poor guy looked like Syd had died right before his eyes.

"Oh...um...did you get a doctor?" he asked slowly. I shrugged. "They're looking for one. Hard to find anything in this place." "Yeah." I sighed, feeling even more of an idiot than I already was, and pointed in the direction of the house. "You can go see her if you want...just tell them that I sent you."

He arched a brow in confusion.

"So Katara won't murder you."

"Oh."

And with that he took off running in the direction of the house, leaving little old me on the bridge alone. I didn't want to see Syd again...not like that. So without anything else to do, I decided to wander back into the city and see what I could see. The people were probably getting used to me now that I'd found a way to fit in, but I knew I didn't belong there. A little boy followed me for a few minutes, until I asked him why he was tagging along. Apparently kids aren't very talkative here; he just ran off.

Since I know I'm probably boring you to death with all these sordid details about my boredness...let's skip to the part where I was wandering around the more crowded part of the town. By then my legs were tired and I was starving, so I flopped down onto a nearby bench. Two men were talking a few feet away, and normally peoples' conversations drove me nuts unless it was me involved. In fact, these two dudes were discussing the war. I could only hear bits and pieces, but they stopped abruptly when a tall man in armor passed them. He glanced at me suspiciously, and then went on his way.

Phew.

I thought attracting any more attention wasn't a good thing on my part. But the men looked nervous, as if talking about the Fire Nation war wasn't allowed. That's when I noticed everyone else looked at ease. Too at ease. Like there was no war, nothing going on, no violence...it was worse than that eerie calm before the Langoliers came (which was NOT Stephen King's best work...). Then I saw that the guard who had glanced at me before was now staring at me, and then motioning to another guard. They were pointing. Aware of my non-Earth Nation appearance (at least in skin color and eye color) I stood and walked discreetly away.

Not discreetly enough. They were following.

Once around a corner, I started to run again, much faster than I had with Jet. This part of the city was unfamiliar, and I turned corners like a mouse in a maze trying to get away from those guards.

Well, unfortunately, I slammed headfirst into something hard and cold and...metal?

As the birds twittered around my aching head, I looked up to see what I'd run into this time. Ooh...one of those guards. Now it was time to put my super lying ability to work. "Lovely day, isn't it?" I began, forcing a big smile across my face. "I was just running from these robbers...they were trying to get my money." The guard frowned. "Do you expect us to believe that?"

"That was the general idea, in fact. You're sharp."

Unable to move for the guards behind me and the guard I was talking to, I knew I was in hot water now. I could try earthbending...but I wasn't too confident of my abilities. I might kill someone. They grabbed both of my arms, and no matter how much I struggled and kicked, they wouldn't let go. How fun was this?! I was too busy wallowing in self pity to realize the danger I was in.

As they dragged me, I heard a whoosh, and then searing pain in my head (again) made me cry out.

Then I blacked out (again).

Another cliffie. Enjoy.