Ojos Así

I tried my hand at the little sibling-ish bickering between Sokka and Toph in this one. Things pick up next chapter, don't worry. Enjoy, reviews are appreciated.

"Everything's dripping," Sokka complained, eyeing the stalagmites above him with contempt. "We simply can't sleep in a place that's dripping,"

Katara sighed and rolled her eyes, standing up and taking a deep breath. She shoved her fists forward and instantly, the moisture of the cave froze in its spot. It fell silent for a moment before Toph spoke.

"Now it's too cold,"

Katara growled, throwing her hands up the in the air.

"So we'll start a fire!" she shouted, her voice ricocheting off the cave walls. She slumped against a protruding rock and crossed her arms like a stubborn child. "Honestly, you guys…,"

"…Katara?" Aang ventured. "Are you all right?"

She sighed softly, giving him a tiny smile.

"I'm just a little upset with myself," she explained. "Now I know you how feel about fire bending. The power I wield is frightening…I just didn't know what else I could do to stop Hama,"

Even Sokka caught that she was split between emotions. And he couldn't blame her; blood bending seemed almost…cruel. But at the same time, he was almost proud of his baby sister. For now he knew that she wouldn't take advantage of this new found power, however powerful it made her.

"You had no choice, Katara," Aang consoled. "Hama had us attacking you. What else could you have done but control the one controlling us?"

She shrugged, just because it was justified didn't make her feel any better about doing it.

"At least you can take comfort in the fact that no one will disobey you anymore," Sokka attempted, giving her a pathetic smile.

"Thanks Sokka," Katara smiled back. "But you still wouldn't listen even if I controlled your body,"

They all laughed, knowing it was true. Aang reached up and untied his headband, folding it up and tucking it inside his shirt. Suppressing a yawn, he looked out the gaping mouth of the cave. The moon was still bright, but it had moved over to the west some more to make room for the approaching sun. He could still see the trees, bare and dead where the two quarreling water benders had drawn ammo earlier. He closed his eyes with a sigh, wondering if the plants would ever recover or if they would just serve a memorial to the night the Puppet Master was apprehended.

"What are you thinking about?" Katara asked and Aang realized then how quiet the cave had suddenly gotten.

"I'm thinking that we've all had a rough night and should get as much sleep as we can," he recovered, laying his head down on his arm. "First thing tomorrow we have to find Appa and get to a new town…I don't like the feelings I get from this one anymore,"

"I feel fine," Toph quipped.

Sokka put a finger to his chin.

"Hm…the instincts of a blind bandit…or the instincts of the Avatar…,"

A sudden tremor and rock careening into the floor had him leaping back for cover.

"You almost killed me!" he shouted, gaping at the rock smashed against the spot his butt once was.

"Gee, I'm sorry," Toph feigned innocence. "I'll just have to try harder next time,"

Sokka growled as Aang and Katara stifled giggles.

"Okay, enough you guys," Katara smiled. "We should all just get some sleep. Goodnight,"

The word was tossed around several more times until finally the cave fell silent save for deep, even breathing.