Italics is Toph thinking...

Behind These Painted Masks

Chapter 8

Promise me

"Katara?" I opened her door. She was sitting on the bed stroking something in her palm. I fiddled with the black bracers on my arm. The object's paint was fading; whether from age or Katara's constant holding was unknown. She was crying softly, when I sat on the bed and wrapped an arm around her, she tensed slightly,

"This was his whistle." She showed me, the bison expertly carved, one horn slightly cracked, "It's all I have left…"

We sat in silence the whistle and cloth sitting in her hand, I reached for the cloth, "And this?" it was yellow and frayed.

She snatched it back, "A piece of his tunic…" I reached from her hand and placed mine on top protecting the remains. Katara laughed slightly followed by a sniffle, "It's ironic…I was the first to find him, and the last to have a piece of him." Her eyes were spilling with tears, soaking her lap.

I opened my mouth, "As it should be." She let out a gasp and sighing wrapped the whistle up holding it to her heart.

"Let's go…" Katara nodded and placed the wrapped up bison in a pouch she kept under her shirt.

"He needs to be avenged." Her voice was strong, more determined, she wiped away the tears angrily. "Promise me that is I die…" she bit her lip, tears crowning, "you'll bury me beside Aang, and avenge us both."

I hesitated and she grabbed the front of my shirt, "Promise me Zuko!"

I couldn't say no to those eyes, I kissed her forehead, "I promise."

"Thank you." She smiled and clutched the pouch, "From the both of us."

Toph opened her eyes, groaning from the pain raw in her head. She attempted to send out vibrations, but could barely feel anything

Great, she thought, they must've drugged me…how did they sneak up on me? I can only remember one person being so light on their feet. Aang died a long time ago…

"Hi!" a young voice spoke from the corner. Toph shook herself; I'm hearing things...

"Hello?" the voice asked, closer than the last time.

"Who's there?" Toph called out, attempting to feel whoever was talking. A small girl approached, her dirty hair was pulled back in a braid and she had large blue eyes that were missing the shine of childhood innocence.

"Me." She smiled reveling a crooked set of pearls.

"Me who?" Toph mentally groaned as she said it.

Tiny vibrations plopped down beside the Earthbender, "I'm Sakora."

"Toph Beifong." The blind girl shoved out a hand a tiny one shook it. She can't be that old…

Toph voiced the question aloud, "I'm 3 and a bit." The girl stated proudly.

3 … that's how long it's been since the Day of Black Sun…

"And where are your from?"

The little girl giggled, "that's not how it works, you have to tell me how old you are."

She's got guts Toph admitted, "15."

The child seemed satisfied, "The Northern Water Tribe."

Water is next in the cycle… "And how…"

"Noooooo, you first." She girl teased.

Toph wanted to hug and choke her at the same time, "Gaoling, in the Earth Kingdom. How long have you been here?"

The child's mood saddened, and Toph felt power course through her briefly, "2 months…ever since Lightning Lady caught me."

It all fits, Azula has the new Avatar…

"Sakora…" Toph started but a crash down the hallway interrupted her. A young man walked in through the door, his feet barely making any noise on the metal floor.

"Toph Beifong, the world's greatest Earthbender and only Metalbender," The young man's eyes flashed, he sounded unimpressed, Toph knew that voice…she had heard it a long time ago.

"And my old teacher."

Aang...