That's right, it's back. One more chapter of action and climactic GLORY after this, then probably some sort of epilogue style chapter after that. So, 2 more chapters and you no longer have to wait around for months to read the next chapter. :oD

Still don't own 'em.

--

"Is that the cave there?"

"No, but it's not far from the cave we were planning for, and the sun is rising. We should travel by night." Zuko turned back to see Katara, Sokka and Da Shan had fallen asleep in the back of the saddle. "Let's set up camp there and wait till the sun sets again to continue moving."

Jung yawned, nodded, and brought Appa down to rest in the large cave the two benders were discussing. After unloading everybody Katara awoke long enough to seal up the mouth of the cave with a thick layer of ice to hide them, as Da Shan bent a couple small air holes in the thinner parts of the rock walls so they wouldn't suffocate. Sokka refused to wake up, so Jung moved him, roughly, to a corner of the cave using her bending, and went to set up her own spot to sleep in.

"Need any help with that?"

Looking up, Jung saw Da Shan heading towards her with his own bag. "Thanks, but I'm alright here. Looks like we're going without supper tonight, though. You wouldn't happen to have any extra meat on you, by chance?"

Da Shan shook his head and grinned. "No, but you could probably find some in Sokka's bag."

"Nah, he's already passed out and that bag is a mess. It's like some old lady's handbag or something, and there's no telling what you'll pull out of it. Gives me the creeps."

A grumbling was emitted from Sokka's corner of the cave that sounded suspiciously like "I heard that, arrow-girl," but the two teens didn't seem to pay any mind.

"It's going to be cold. Even sleeping during the day it's gonna get cold." Jung complained and briefly looked over to see Katara scooting herself closer to Zuko, both already wrapped up and trying to get some sleep. "That's not fair! I want a firebender to sleep next to, too!" Jung sent a gleaming toothy grin over towards the two of them, as they blushed and turned away from each other, embarrassed. In an effort to warm her friend, Leitha flew over to the airbender's shoulder and quickly wrapped her wings and arms around Jung's head.

"I know you were only kidding, but I'd be willing to help… umm.. share my warmth? If you wanted, that is."

"Eww!! That's not what I meant," Jung let out, taking Da Shan's offer the wrong way.

"What? What are you – ohhhh… No, no, that's that what I… I was just wondering, if you'd mind if I slept here, next to you? To help keep you warm?"

"Ohh. I guess that's ok, but don't try anything funny. My dad told me once that this kinda thing is how my mom ambushed him for their first kiss." The pair climbed into their sleeping arrangements. Jung set her cheek on the earthbender's chest, closed her eyes, and reached her hand out over her head to point into Da Shan's face. "I loved that man dearly, and that story makes me fearful of earthbenders in this kind of situation. Don't give me any more reason to not trust you."

For all the threats, she was rather comfortable and happy in her place. She seemed to fall asleep quickly.

Da Shan glanced over at Katara and Zuko who were similarly cuddled up to sleep. Katara's eyes were open, however, and she watched the teenagers with amusement. Noticing Da Shan's eyes upon her, she started mouthing what seemed to be "kiss her" from across the cave. She even would pucker her lips and point excitedly toward Jung. The earthbender summoned up all the nerve he was capable of, and kissed the top of her head, as it was all that was within reach. Jung's cheek burrowed deeper into the boy, and her smile grew noticeably. "You're gonna pay for that when I wake up."

--

"We are still awaiting confirmation sir, but –"

"No! We don't have time for confirmation. I want as many people pulled back to the capital as possible. I want patrols throughout this city doubled. I want patrols throughout this castle tripled! I want our troops at the local harbors both in the Earth Kingdom and the Northern Air Temple to search for anything that might say they were there. I want the missing guardsman from the dock found and brought to me here immediately!" Hahn then let out a growl somewhere between a suffering widower and charging baboonadillo.

"Is there anything else you want, sir?"

"That damn airbender's head!"

The messenger before Chief Hahn was obviously quite shaken at this point. "Sir, I do report some good news as well."

The chief tried to calm himself. "Spit it out."

"Well, our prisoner, Toph Bei Fong, avatar Aang's wife, has stopped acting so harshly towards the guards. Not even a single snow ball in the past two days. Also, there has been no sign of Darro performing any more bending. We were not able to assess how good he has become at the skill, but with the current watch on him he will not be allowed to progress any more that we want him to."

"The news about Darro is good, yes, but the blind girl… that troubles me."

"What do you mean, sir? It's saved us quite a bit of grief if nothing else."

"I want to speak with her. Guards, bring her here immediately!"

"Yes sir!" A few voices chorused from around the room as they started heading out.

"Remember, no metal weapons are to be anywhere near her at any time."

Within moments the small earthbender was in front of him.

"Toph! Always a pleasure to see you." Hahn wanted to at least fake a little hospitality.

"Who are you? Seriously, I've never heard your voice before." Toph sat at a large wooden desk and began tapping it rhythmically.

"I hear you've calmed down quite a bit the last couple days. Was wondering what sparked the change in your behavior."

Toph grinned. What she said when she opened her mouth was, "I think I've just finally become comfortable around here. This water stuff ain't so bad." What she was thinking, however, was more along the lines of, "you are so dead tomorrow."

"You don't have to lie to me, dear."

Something on the table caught Toph's attention. "No really, I think the past few years were just a little culture shock. It has been a few years right? Hard to tell when nobody's around to tell you what day it is and all that. They start blending together."

"Yes, it has been a few years, but you're still not telling me what I want to know." The false kindness in the chief's voice was beginning to wear thin. "Why have you been so calm?"

"I've already told you a couple times. Besides, that's nowhere near as interesting as some other information I bet you don't have."

Hahn's eyes narrowed and all the anger he felt started coming back to the surface. "Alright you useless blind girl, what information do you have that you think is so important, then?!"

"Do you know how they make ink in the Earth Kingdom?"

Hahn opened his mouth to speak, then closed it, repeating the process a couple times. Everything gone from his countenance, leaving only blank confusion. "Umm…. What?"

"Ink, from the Earth Kingdom. I mean, that's a mighty fine bottle of ink you have there on your table." She pointed, with surprising accuracy to a small glass jar on the wooden table. "And, around here, you'd need some very water resistant ink I would wager. The finest water proof inks happen to come from the Earth Kingdom." Hahn was still quite dumfounded.

"Well, yes actually. This is Earth Kingdom ink. What's your point?"

"Well, to make the ink water proof, they use a few different mineral deposits from iron. It's really silly to think about, but that liquid, is actually metal and earth."

Before Chief Hahn could move to cover the jar the contents of it jumped out and splashed across his face. Toph's grin stretched larger. "Get her back to her cell! Now!"

While being dragged away Toph looked back over her shoulder and whispered so quietly that the guards holding her couldn't even make it out. "I'll be back tomorrow."

--

Darru sat as close to the door as he could. He could swear he heard his friend Toph's voice nearby. At one point he tried to make a break for it, but the guards had stopped him after he made it about two or three steps. He was about to scream out, but a gloved hand was clasped over his mouth. Suddenly Chief Hahn was screaming again. Darru smiled thinking of what the woman may have done to warrant such a scream.

--

Toph was back in her cell. The guards came to bring her food again. It was the same guard as always, but he seemed a bit saddened today. Toph internally rejoiced at his suffering.

"What? No taunts today? Nothing about how hot my daughter is?"

"Shut up and eat."

"Oooo, touchy. Did I hit a nerve? What, did my little Fancy Feet beat up somebody you know?"

"Yes, actually, my brother, and he still hasn't been seen. When I get my hands on your little girl, I'm going to break her in two."

"Hate to piss on your parade and all, but you wouldn't be able to catch her. Fast and slippery and agile."

"Heh, is that why you keep calling her Fancy Feet? I always thought it was because she can't do anything but dance."

"Actually, the dancing is why I call her that, but she can apparently beat up your brother. What do you call him? Glass Jaw? Wait, I know, it's a family affair. You're Dummy, and he's Wussy, right? Your dad's name Grumpy?"

"You know, your little husband was caught waterbending the other day. Had to beef up security on the bastard."

Suddenly, realization struck Toph in the head. The kid, Darru. Her friend Soggy… It was Aang. That's why he hadn't been by the last couple days. That's why they were so comfortable together. How did she not realize it? Of course, it wasn't her husband any more, but Soggy was definitely just moved up a few notches in the friendship ladder.

"What wrong, I hit a nerve?"

"Nah, just enjoying the fine cuisine you've brought me." Toph winced as she took another bite. Some things you just can not get used to. "You can leave now."

--

For the record, yes it was Zuko who beat up the guard's brother, I know this, you should have realized this as well, but neither the guard nor Toph know this. They only know Jung may be involved in the disappearance and last seen at the NAT.

So yeah, I'll be back to post the next chapter, umm, eventually! Love you all! Love the reviews, more, though!

Ohh yeah, and one last thing, the title of this chapter has nothing to do with any relation between this chapter and the novel "On the Eve" by Turgenev. Just, happens to be a cool title (and a really beautiful piece of classic Russian literature. But then, there's much better classic russian literature that i'd suggest before it. ehh.. go read something guys!)