Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar, The Last Airbender

"Sokka, you can't do anything!" yelled Katara. "All you do is sleep, eat our food, and come up with ideas that usually end up failing; I can't believe you are my brother!"

The water tribe warrior was a bit taken back by his sister's comment. Is that true?

Yes…

"You all may be benders, but that doesn't mean I can't fight!" he screamed in protest.

Zuko gave a humph, in response. The furious Sokka shot him a stare that could kill. "What's that scar face?" Zuko frowned and stood.

"I seem to remember a certain fight at the South Pole," Zuko smirked. "Who won that fight?" Sokka clenched his fists in rage. He very clearly remembered when Zuko brought him to his knees with hardly an effort.

Managing to control his temper, Sokka turned his back and stormed off into the forest. "And where do you think you're going?" shouted Katara coldly at his back.

"I can't be around you filthy benders, I need to be alone. No one talk to me!" Aang was to the side of the fight, watching painfully as his friends fought. In this case, he was on Sokka's side, but couldn't deny the fact that Sokka was the only one who could not bend. He winced as Sokka said those last words, and everyone detected the hint of a sob.

He swatted furiously at the branches, trying to get away, get away from something, from them. He tried to find something in their words that wasn't true, but he couldn't. They were right, he couldn't do anything. Tears started to swell in his eyes, no matter how hard he tried to push them back.

You can't do anything, you can't do anything…

Something, something has to be there. Please let something be there. No matter how much he tried to think, he couldn't push those words away. "They don't need me. I'm just a hassle."

That night, Sokka cried himself to sleep on a cold rock by a river, only the thought of Yue managing to provide some comfort.

"Maybe we should go find him," said Katara, looking out into the woods. "We were kind of harsh."

"Kind of?" asked Toph. "I wouldn't be surprised if he went to kill himself."

Aang gave her a nasty look, but knew she was right. "Katara, I'm sure he's fine. You know Sokka, he always bounces back. He'll be here by morning, and if not then we'll go looking for him."

Katara nodded silently and stood, going back to the fire.

Sokka looked down at his wound. Blood rushed from his arm like a river, dripping down his arm at a dangerous pace. He didn't dare look behind him, just made sure his feet were moving. He had to get back to camp, just had to or…

He didn't want to think about the or.

It was the middle of the night. Sokka could not sleep, and after finally giving up he decided to take a walk and clear his mind. But that walk quickly turned into a nightmare.

While he ran, the water tribe warrior painfully remembered the beast who attacked him just minutes before. He could not even describe it, just the horrible pain that came when the beast slashed at him with its vicious teeth. He was loosing blood fast, and was already becoming light headed. If Katara didn't heal him soon, he would be in extreme danger.

Branches and twigs ripped at his clothes, and tore more wounds into his flesh. He stumbled on a log, crashing through a meadow and tripping on Aang sleeping soundly on a pile of leaves. The young air bender immediately sat up at attention, darting his gaze to all corners of the area. Toph was already awake, sensing Sokka running towards them.

Sokka lazily stood, holding his wound tightly. Once Aang saw the blood, he immediately rushed to the aid of his friend. Toph stood fully and looked into the direction in which Sokka had come from. "Kat-Katara," Sokka began, but almost immediately fell to the ground unconscious.

"Katara, wake up!" Aang screamed at the top of his lungs. The young woman immediately sat up, trying to grasp the situation. Once she got her bearings, and saw her brother lying in the dirt covered in blood. "Sokka!" This woke Zuko and Iroh.

Aang turned him over, revealing the horrible gash in his arm. Katara immediately withdrew some water from her pouch, engulfing the long tear along his limb. Zuko rushed to her side, making sure it was not infected before she healed him. The liquid glowed, and the open wound slowly closed. Aang glanced over to Toph who still stood absolutely still, staring into the forest. "Toph, what are you doing?"

Toph silently lifted an arm, signaling him to be quiet. Aang did so while standing and approaching his earth bending teacher. When he came close enough, he whispered to her, "What is it?"

"There's something in there, but I can't tell what. Its moves like you, so stealthy and silently, stalking like some ghost," answered Toph, continuing to stare straight ahead.

"Is it going to attack?" asked Aang, bringing his staff in front of him.

Toph hesitated answering, her mouth seeming to be stuck in one position. "No….its not going to attack. It's just….watching us."

"Then let's go after it, look what it did to Sokka!" Aang started past his teacher when she outstretched an arm to roughly block him. He glanced curiously at her, noting her very troubled expression. She turned her glance to the ground, her teeth clenched tightly.

"Please Aang; do not go in after it," Toph said, her tone very serious and almost sad. Aang had never seen her this way, or heard her voice so…troubled. Appa grunted and glanced in their direction, looking into the trees.

"What's wrong Toph?" asked Aang extremely sincere, his eyes still on Appa. Toph stood absolutely still not moving at all. Although he could not exactly tell with her long bangs, Aang thought he saw a tear form in her eye. "Toph, seriously, what is going on?"

"This thing, its just so, evil. I can feel it," Toph said. "Please don't go Aang. It's a miracle Sokka isn't dead, don't go."

Aang looked angrily out into the dark forest. This thing was scaring Toph, one of the most assertive and bravest people he knew. Did she say, so evil? It didn't matter. If Toph didn't want to fight it, neither did he. Aang turned back to Katara, sitting over her brother crying and Zuko trying to comfort her.

"What's wrong Katara? He's fine isn't he?" Aang asked, almost immediately swelling with sorrow, realizing his good friend could be dead. Zuko nodded.

"He's not dead," said Katara. "He's fine. He has lost a lot of blood, but he should be back to normal. It's just, he's my brother and to see him like this is just…just…"

"I understand Katara," he silently placed a hand on her shoulder. "I understand."

Zuko, Toph, and Aang took turns watching, all of them getting only three hours of sleep at the most. Aang took up most of the time, watching the trees for any form of movement. More than once had he sworn he had seen some shadow swoosh by, but convinced himself it was only his imagination.

Soon, the sun peeked over the horizon. Aang was asleep while Toph was on guard, but he immediately awoke when he felt the warmth of the sun. Toph sat silently, and glanced towards him as he woke. "It's gone."

"What?" asked a weary Aang.

"The," Toph paused as she searched for the right words. "The thing is gone. It left about fifteen minutes ago."

"Well, good. We should start moving. We are going to the Eastern Air Temple, home of the female Airbenders, I can't wait!" Aang looked curiously over to Katara, suddenly remembering the events that unfolded the night before.

She was just staring at her brother, sadness painted across her beautiful face. "Katara, can you wake him?"

"It would probably be best if you didn't," answered Iroh before she could answer. "In my experience the body needs a little more time to rest before it can recover from such a wound." Katara nodded her agreement.

Zuko gently picked Sokka up and laid him across his shoulder. Aang helped him lift the unconscious young man into Appa's saddle. Soon, the camp was packed and the group took off, leaving the forest behind. Zuko curiously glanced back at the long stretch of trees, unaware that the events that took place that night would change all of their lives, especially Sokka's.

I know you may not really like this story and I'm surprised you've stuck with me this long, but please try to hold out. I promise it will get better, and if you enjoy it great. Review if you find the time.