At last, Sokka began to feel healthy, strong, and cheerful. He and Zuko enjoyed a walking holiday in the hills.
But, when they got back to the city, a terrible shock awaited them!
There was a letter from Hakoda. Sokka read it with horror.
One fine evening, the Bei Fong family went for a stroll in the woods. Haru and Tom-Tom ran ahead, playing hide-and-seek.
A little while later, Haru came back, looking worried and frightened. Had anyone seen Tom-Tom? Haru couldn't find him anywhere!
The Bei Fongs hurried back to the house. But Tom-Tom wasn't there! What could have happened? How could he have disappeared? Desperately, fearfully, they searched the woods again.
At daybreak, Hakoda found Tom-Tom lying dead on the grass. He had been strangled.
Hakoda carried the body back to the house, where Suki was waiting. She blamed herself for everything.
She'd let Tom-Tom wear a real gold locket with a minature portrait of Kya inside.
He'd begged her, he loved that picture of his mother. If only she'd refused! A thief must have killed him and stolen the locket!
Sokka set off to join his grievin family. But he travelled slowly. How could he face a tragedy like this, so soon after his own illness?
"My dear Bei Fong, are we to always to be unhappy?" asked Zuko.
Sokka rested by a mountain lake, seeking comfort in its beauty. Then, at last, he took the road home, in deepest gloom and misery.