Sorry, I know I'm extremely, horrendously late, but yeah… a BIG thank you to all the people who read and reviewed my story. You guys made my day!!! (sniff) Okay, here's Chapter 8!

Chapter 8: The Earth Relic

Katara and Aang moved vines, branches, and other strange plants out of their way.

"So let me get this straight," Aang said, snapping a small branch in their path. "Zuko told you he loved you in the middle of a battle?"

"Yeah, that's pretty much what happened," Katara said passively.

Aang grew nervous. Zuko?! Of all the people to beat me to telling Katara, it had to be Zuko. He thought. "Uh, what did you say to him?"

"The truth," Katara went on. "That I hated him and he was a jerk. Then I hit him with a wave."

Aang was jumping around excitedly inside. YES!! Aang thought. She doesn't like Zuko!! Now there's room for me!! "That's great!" he blurted out.

"How so?" Katara asked him inquisitively.

"Well, uh, it means you're getting much better at Waterbending, and you've been practicing on that idiot Zuko" What am I saying?

"Yes, Aang, Zuko is definitely an idiot. Anyone who tries to kill you, whether it's because you're the Avatar or because you're Aang, is an idiot in my book."

Aang blushed, wide-eyed. "Thanks Katara," he mumbled, smiling. "Y'know, I always kinda thought you liked Zuko."

"You did? Well, I like someone else."

"Who? Jet?"

"I did sort of at first, but he's dead, and he betrayed me, so no."

"What about Haru?"

"I haven't seen him in ages. And he's really much too old for me."

Aang froze. "Who's left? Sokka?"

Katara burst out laughing. "Sokka? Where'd you get that idea? He's my brother. Sure I love him, but it's a family-sibling love, not the kind we're talking about."

"Okay, I knew that, but there's no one left."

"There is one person you didn't mention."

"Well, who is it?"

Katara turned around and blushed. "It's-"

Katara was cut off by a loud CRASH! Suddenly a huge panda bear and a bigger brown grizzly came crashing into the area in front of them, knocking trees every which way. Aang instantly recognized the panda.

"Hei-Bai!" He shouted.

Hei-Bai roared happily and bounded up to Aang, knocking him to the ground and licking his face.

After hugging his cuddly spirit friend, Aang climbed on Hei-Bai's back. "Katara, get on!" he yelled.

"Are you sure that's safe?" said Katara

"Of course!" he held out his hand. Katara took it, and Aang pulled her onto Hei-Bai's back. Katara hugged Aang's waist for support, which of course made Aang blush again. Aang leaned forward and put his hands on Hei-Bai's neck, with Katara still holding onto him. Hei-Bai ran to a safe distance away from the grizzly, with the monstrous bear charging after him.

"Hey Aang, is that what I think it is?" Katara pointed at the grizzly bear, who was pawing and swiping at the air, snarling, almost as if he was showing off.

"Huh?"

Aang noticed it too. Around the waist of the grizzly was a familiar object, something given to them at a certain underground Earthbending tournament… Toph's wrestling belt.

"That must be the next artifact we need!" Katara exclaimed.

"Katara, you keep Hei-Bei safe. I'll get the belt." Aang said.

"What!? Me!?" Katara protested. "I have no clue how to keep a giant spirit panda safe!"

"It's not that hard!" Aang said, and he jumped off of Hei-Bai's back and onto a low tree branch a few feet above him. He may not have been able to Airbend, but his jumping skills went beyond Airbending.

Katara scooted up to where Aang had been sitting on Hei-Bai's back. She was unsure of just how to keep him safe, but Aang knew what he was talking about when it came to spirit creatures, so she felt her only choice was to listen to him.

Aang looked at Katara from his spot in the tree. He stared at her, perched like a bird, his eyes watching her like a hawk. I don't want you to get hurt, Katara, he thought. That's why I gave you the easy part, my love. He smiled lovingly.

Katara somehow managed to steer Hei-Bai in circles around the grizzly, temporarily distracting it. Aang grabbed a vine and swung towards the grizzly's waist. It slipped off easily, but due to Aang's lack of Airbending powers, he swerved awkwardly and crashed into Katara, knocking her off Hei-Bai's back. Somehow Katara managed to land in Aang's arms, while the belt dangled from his elbow like Sokka's pocketbag. For a brief moment, all was silent to the two. Aang and Katara stared lovingly at each other as they swung through the great Earth Jungle on a vine. They were lost in each other's eyes.

But it didn't last. Aang hadn't been paying attention, and the two crashed into a tree very ungracefully. Aang slid down the trunk of tree slowly as he winced in pain and Katara was left hanging over a branch.

Aang crouched down at the roots of the tree, legs crossed. He held the belt in his hands carefully as he checked it for dents. Everything looked good here!

Katara awkwardly climbed onto the strong branch she had landed on and slid to the trunk, where she slowly and cautiously climbed down the strong tree. She walked over and sat beside Aang, her knees bent towards him. She placed her hand on his shoulder and smiled shyly, blushing.

Aang looked back at her. "Um, sorry about that," he said, blushing as well.

"It's okay," Katara said, warmth clearly visible in her voice. "You didn't mean to." She gazed down upon the belt, and her expression went from a shy smile to a glare, serious and slightly angry, and she removed her hand from his strong and slightly muscular shoulder. "It must be nice to have something of your girlfriend's." Katara said resentfully. "I'll bet it makes you feel a whole lot better about having to do this."

"Huh?" said Aang, clearly confused. "What are you talking about?"

"This is Toph's belt, right?" accused Katara. "She's your girlfriend, isn't she?" her nostrils flailed slightly as she spoke the word "girlfriend".

"No. I only think of Toph as a friend."

"Really? Oh- well- ah-" stuttered Katara "I mean- that is- sorry."

Aang chuckled. "It's Ok, Katara. Nothing to worry about."

Aang and Katara got up and headed in the direction of their next relic, which would be in the fire volcano. "So what were you saying about this guy you like?" asked Aang.

"Um, maybe it's better you don't know," said Katara.

Their quest was half-finished. Two relics down, two to go.

Ta-Dah!!! How did you like it? Please review. I don't know when the next chapter will be out, but it will soon… I hope. Rosepelt out!