Night fell, and a violent thunderstorm raged in the mountains. To Sokka, it seemed as if all of Nature was mourning Tom-Tom's murder.
Sokka took shelter. He was alone with his memories of Tom-Tom. But then a sudden flash of lightning showed a dark figure, peering around a tree.
Horrified, Sokka recognized the creature he had made. In a flash, he understood the terrible truth: it was his creature that killed Tom-Tom.
"Tom-Tom, dear angel! This is thy funeral, this is thy dirge!" cried Sokka.
Sokka spent all night in the woods, in utter misery. Had he made a creature that could only harm and kill?
At daybreak, Sokka hurried to his family house. Haru, now his only living brother, greeted him.
"Poor Tom-Tom!" He was our darling and our pride!" greeted Haru.
Haru told of the Bei Fong family's shock and anguish. Then he added some astonishing news.
"The murderer has been discovered." told Haru.
"Hoe can that be? He was free last night!" stated Sokka.
"I do not know what you mean." replied Haru.
Haru did not understand what Sokka was trying to say, and continued his story. The murderer, it seemed, was Ty Lee, the family's trusted servant!
"No one would belive it at first, and even now Suki will not be convinced." explained Suki.
The whole town, except Suki and Sokka, thought that Ty Lee killed young Tom-Tom. Her trial began today. The whole family had to go.
Sokka swore that Ty Lee couldn't be the murderer. But he dared not mention his creature, so no one belived him.
Ty Lee told how she helped to search for Tom-Tom until late at night, when she fell asleep in a barn, cold, wet, and exhausted. Next morning, she returned home, and learned that Tom-Tom was dead. She was devastated.
A servant put her to bed, and found the locket hidden in her clothes. Ty Lee didn't know how it got there.
Suki still believed that Ty Lee was not guilty. Bravely, she told the court how much she trusted and admired her. Ty Lee was a loyal servant, and a good, kind, helpful, honest person.
"I belive in her perfect innocence." told Suki.
Despite Suki's passionate plea,the trial verdict was "Guilty!" Sokka begged the judge to show mercy, but he refused. Ty Lee had to hang!
Before she died, Ty Lee confessed to the murder. She was not guilty, but she wanted the temple to forgive her sins so she would join Tom-Tom in the spirit world. Suki was heartbroken.