A/N: Sorry this was such a long time in coming. I practically forgot about it, and since no one seems to be taking much interest in it…well, I'm continuing it anyway. I think it has some good potential…maybe I'll get around to finding it eventually. Anyway, for those of you who might read…enjoy.


The gang was reunited at the windthrowers camp, which was, as they had been told, an enormous underground cavern beneath the great inactive volcano. Sokka, Toph, and Katara had been yanked along through the treetops, kept from dropping to their deaths only by a few men's arms. Tied at the wrists and ankles, they would have slim chance to survive if they fell. The Water Tribe siblings' eyes were so huge with terror that if they had wanted to try to fit a coconut inside of their sockets, it would be physically possible. Toph, though she couldn't see how far from the ground they really were, was completely terrified of the speed in which they traveled, and clung to the warrior carrying her for dear life.

Now, she currently lay sprawled on the ashy volcanic ground, drawing comfort and security from the familiarity of it, her sightless eyes wider than a giant squid's. Despite being blind, even she didn't receive the liberty of not being tied up. Even with the restraints, had it not been for her utter helpless state, the earthbending master could've blasted the mountain open in a few seconds and have the windthrowers pleading for mercy. Sokka and Katara, a little unnerved but otherwise unharmed, sat on the ground beside the frightened young metalbender. The water tribe warrior took Toph's shoulder and pulled the girl to a sitting position, and the trio huddled together for comfort.

Glancing around, Katara and her brother noted the hundreds of green-clothed, dirt-streaked people gathered, some sitting on ledges at the entrance to small caves scattered throughout the huge living space, some of them hundreds of feet above their heads. Many people stood or sat at ground level, lounging and most likely waiting for the action to begin. In the very middle of the cavern was a gargantuan pit, and in the very middle of the pit was a tiny bubbling hole of molten lava. It glowed like the sun, and steam hissed from the opening, keeping the cavern warm, but not oppressively so. Dotted all throughout the cavern walls were hundreds of window-sized holes, likely allowing the heat to be released, so it wouldn't become overwhelmingly hot in the cave, as well as an entrance place for many daredevils among the windthrower community. There were exactly three large tunnels, one at ground level and two nearly as high as two Appa-lengths tall, most likely leading to more caverns.

Aang was shoved down beside his companions, still biting the cloth in his mouth. Katara's relieved sigh met the airbender upon his return, but Sokka's 'what-have-you-done-now' glare was a little less than welcoming.

Akiko approached them, flanked by two warriors, and she stood patiently as they were forced to their knees before her. Gesturing behind them, she addressed Katara.

"You three will spend the night in that cell. I doubt it would be as comfortable as lavished quarters you're used to, but under the circumstances, that can't be helped."

Indignant anger bubbled up inside of the waterbender, but she forced herself to stay calm and hide as much of her unease as was possible. "Where are you taking Aang?"

"The sprightly boy?" the woman replied with a laugh, her gray eyes dancing by the light of the red glowing magma, "Don't worry about him. His story and performance has convinced me that you Fire Nation allies are worth looking into, for the moment, at least. Tomorrow we will hold a session. You're friend here," she waved a hand toward Aang, "Will be blindfolded, gagged, and restrained, so he can give you no subtle signals. If your story matches his, a debate will be open among our council on what is to be done with you. If it doesn't, you all will be executed tomorrow at sunset." Leaving at that, the matriarch signaled to the guards.

Before Aang could do so much as exchange glances with the others, he was hoisted up by the waist and toted off to Yue-knows-where, probably another holding cell similar to the one Sokka, Katara, and Toph were promptly shoved into.

As the door to the cave, constructed out of sturdy bamboo bars, was closed behind them, Katara grasped Sokka and Toph's shoulders, pulling them to the corner of the shallow cave where they could talk in low tones without being overheard.

The waterbender eyed the guards that lined their small prison, each equipped with an identical staff, sharpened at both ends to create a sort of double-ended spear.

Toph, finally regaining control of her breath and her whirling thoughts, nudged Katara and whispered, "Want me to bust us out of here?"

To her companions' surprise, the waterbender shook her head.

Sokka's voice squealed up a few octaves as he hissed in a low tone, "What? Katara, you have no idea what they'll do to us…or Aang! We don't have time to wait; we have to get out of here!"

She turned to face her brother, placing her palms on the smooth stone below her knees. Her gaze was set and decided. "These people are airbenders, Sokka! Possibly the last existing in the entire world, besides Aang! And you want to split without giving them a chance to trust us and join us? Think of what we could do together against the Fire Nation! Have you thought about what this could mean? The Fire Nation thinks all the airbenders are gone. Then Aang showed up, and they've been chasing us around and trying to kill us since we found him! But this place…this island is untouchable! Think of the strategic advantages this could give our entire invasion force! This could be a fallback place for…for war councils, or planning, or…for everything! Just give it a thought, Sokka. If we escape now, without a word, they'll think we're on the wrong side! And why trust us if we ever came back again? This is a hidden society, terrorized by the Fire Nation since the war started! And yet, now they live in peace, underground and completely self-sufficient!"

Toph leaned back against the stone wall, staring with blank eyes toward the water tribe warrior and shrugging. "You've got to admit, Snoozles, this time, she does have a point."

Sokka was silent, staring at the charcoal-colored ground. Finally, he massaged his temples and sighed. Looking up at his sister, he said resignedly, "Okay. We'll do it your way…but if it doesn't work, we're busting out, no ifs, ands, or buts about it. And speaking of our fallback plan, we need to do some preparation. First of all, Toph, can you see where Appa is?"

The earthbender got to her knees, pressing her palms to the ground obligingly, and began her search. Thus, the trio got to work.

Aang was tossed unceremoniously into a similar cave, and he hit the stone with a grunt. Sitting up immediately and slapping a hand over the tender scrape on his cheek, he spun around to face the front of the cell, which was secured by a bamboo door just like the one his friends were in.

In a way, Aang was still in shock. After traveling the entire world for months, he had pretty much resigned himself to believing that the Air Nomads, along with their entire culture, was completely gone from the world. And all that was left of his people was him, Appa, Momo, and the Temples' ruins. He had given himself up to believe that Teo and his Mechanist father were the closest those Temples would ever be to returning to the past.

But a hidden society of airbenders, completely isolated from the war and the rest of the world…living on the edge of the very Nation that almost entirely destroyed them…it was a difficult idea to wrap his mind around, at the very least. But being thrown headlong into this world was much more than Aang had ever imagined.

Sure, the Air Nomads had changed and adapted…and through their hardships had basically transformed all of their traditions…but Aang was positive that Fate had sent he and his friends here, to help these lost airbenders remember who they were, a proud, peaceful people who had gained their reputation by advertisement of their good food and free-floating spirit.

The remainder of the night, Aang drifted in and out of sleep. Swirling images from his memory surfaced in the front of his mind.

Monk Gyatso and the other airbenders may be gone, but you still have a family. Sokka and I, we're your family now...

Then the Fire Nation attacked our temple. My people needed me and I wasn't there to help…the world needed me and I wasn't there to help...

I really am the last airbender…

Just because no one has seen an airbender doesn't mean the Fire Nation killed them all. They probably escaped…