A/N: And here is the next chapter! I hope you guys like it and thanks for the reviews for the last chapter! Don't forget to R & R for this chapter!!! And I haven't decided to make this story Toph/Sokka or Suki/Sokka...let me know which one you want!

Previously...

"No, you can't trust them! They're fire nation! You know what they've done! They are the one's that started this war in the first place!" A female warrior said loudly.

"Who are you guys- er i mean girls anyways?" Sokka asked rudely.

I glared at him. Did he have no manners? Those warriors had just helped us win. Without them there would have been a lot more deaths on our side.

"We are the Kyoshi Warriors."

I looked at who spoke and my eyes widened. "Suki."

"Katara? Sokka?" She asked shocked.

"Suki?!?"

"W-what are you guys doing in the earth kingdom?" Suki asked after I hugged her and Sokka shook her hand embarrassed.

"It's a long story." I sighed.

"Then you'll tell it on the way." The guy that helped me fight Zhao interrupted impatiently. "Now I'm leaving, let's go."

"Is he always that pushy?" Suki whispered to me staring after him.

"We just met him like twenty minutes ago." I started "So I say pretty much, yeah."

KATARA POV

"He's right, we should go." I said looking towards the area where we had kept Appa.

Sokka had suggested that we get Appa to wait on the outskirts of the dense forest on the island since he was so inconspicuous. At the time it was a great idea but now...I was wishing that Appa was closer.

"The young lady and my nephew are wise in saying we should make haste. Who knows how long until the ice thaws and Zhao escapes."

I glanced at the elderly man who said this, startled at his presence. This must be the man that he called his uncle.

"We'll make sure that doesn't happen anytime soon." Suki said glancing at Zhao spitefully.

"You're not coming?" Sokka asked looking at Suki, his eyes riveted on hers.

Suki looked down at the floor before making eye-contact with him and answering. "I can't! I mean all the Kyoshi Warriors are here. I couldn't just leave them." Suki said looking pained as the words tumbled out of her mouth.

"You should go Suki." One of the girls spoke up. "We'll handle things over here."

"Are you sure? I mean I would hate to leave and-"

"Don't worry! We'll make sure he doesn't escape." The girl said looking at Zhao with clear distaste.

"Then It looks like I'll be joining you." Suki announced turning back to us, making a huge grin appear on Sokka's face.

Aang pulled the bison whistle out of his pocket, and I could hear- and see- Appa take to the air and head towards us.

"What is that thing?"

"That thing is our ride out of here." I shot back defending Appa, and shooting a quick glance at him. (A/N: Him referring to Zuko)

"And his name is Appa." Aand added just as said bison landed in front of us. "Good job buddy! Do you think you can carry a few extra people?"

"We don't have a choice. Let's go." Sokka said scrambling up Appa quickly, eager to leave the island.

Apparently everyone agreed since they quickly followed his lead, climbing up onto Appa.

"Sure, just leave me to get up last and don't help at all with the unconcious girl I have in my arms." I huffed annoyed with everyone for forgetting.

"Here." I looked up and grabbed onto the pale hand that was extended towards me over the saddle.

After Toph and I were safely seated on Appa, I turned to the only person who offered to help and muttered my thanks. He nodded slightly in my direction showing that he heard.

"Yip-yip!" Aang called and Appa launched into the air bringing us up into the sky.

I tightened my grip on Toph to steady her. I couldn't help but remember what Toph's reaction was when she first rode on Appa. The whole time she had kept a tight grip on Appa's saddle and insisted, or forced, Sokka to sit behind her just in case she lost her balance

"You said your Uncle may be able to help Toph." I said looking hopefully at the two firebenders.

"Uncle, their friend was hit by one of Zhao's attacks. She still has a pulse but isn't waking up." He said with a sigh explaining what his uncle had missed.

"Hmm...well maybe-" The old man started reaching his hand towards Toph only to be interrupted by Sokka.

"You wait just one minute! You're not laying one hand on Toph until we know who you are and why you helped us." He said protectively, his gaze switching between the two firebenders.

I looked at Sokka in shock. He had never acted so...protective of someone who wasn't in our family before. Besides haven't they already proved their loyalty by helping us defeat Zhao?

"As you probably already know we are both from the Fire Nation. I am Iroh and this is my nephew Z-"

"Lee." The other interrupted quickly. (A/N: Lee = Zuko)

Iroh looked curiously at Lee for a moment before turning his gaze back to where Toph lay still unconscious.

"Why should we trust you, your own nation started this war! You're Fire Nation, why would you desert your country to help the other side?" Sokka continued suspiciously.

"That is the farthest thing from the truth, we didn't desert them! The Avatar is the only hope for peace and...overthrowing the firelord who rules the nation with an iron fist. Joining the Avatar will help free our people and restore honor to the Fire Nation, therefore we are not deserting them. We are helping the nation, the world, achieve the peace that was lost two years ago." Lee said calmly, only his eyes betraying the depth of his emotions.

Everyone gaped at him rendered speechless at the otherwise quiet firebender's strong words. After hearing that no one could doubt their honesty and dedication to their country. Having to face being labeled a traitor and liar, when truly all they wanted was what everyone else wanted. Peace.

"Now do I have your permission to aid this young girl?" Iroh asked seeming amused at everyone's shock and Sokka's questioning.

Sokka chose wisely and agreed to let Iroh help to the best of his abilities.

We all watched, I even caught Aang looking back a couple on times from where he sat atop Appa's head, as Iroh checked Toph's pulse and made sure nothing vital was injured externally

"Is she okay?" I whispered, desperate for good news about my friend.

"Everything looks okay. She has no damage as far as I can see, but I can only see what's external. Internally though..." He paused. "I'm afraid there's not anything I can do there."

"So you mean she'll stay in a coma until we figure out what's wrong?" Suki asked her eyes wide with surprise at the extent of Toph's condition.

"I'm afraid so."

"Katara! You're a waterbender! Can't you do some magical healing waterbending stuff and see?" Sokka asked, just as impatient and concerned as me.

"I-I'm not sure. I mean I've never done anything like that." I said nervously.

As much as I wanted to help Toph, what if it didn't work? Everyone would be depending on me to help her and what if I let them down? Or worse, what if I messed up and hurt her? I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I ever hurt Toph, or anyone in anyway.

"Could you really do something like that?" Iroh asked intrigued with the thought of me being able to heal.

"I'm not sure. I can heal most external wounds, but I've never tried anything on the inside. I should have stayed at the North Pole to learn." I said regretfully feeling a little guilty for not being able to confidently help her.

"When I was first learning to firebend I accidentally burnt my mother." Lee said quietly. "It was nothing serious, but from then on I refused to firebend. I was scared that I would hurt her, or someone else when I was practicing. Finally I realized that I shouldn't stop myself from firebending out of fear because I was born to be a firebender. My element is in me, as yours is in you. If you try to contain your element and hold it in, one day it will erupt and cause more damage before. You can't hold yourself back from what you were born to do."

"You know what? You're right." I said suddenly. "I have to do this, for Toph's sake as well as mine."

"Wise choice young waterbender." Iroh commented approvingly.

"By the way...What did you burn down when you tried to contain your element?" I asked Lee knowingly, a smirk on my face.

"My sister's room." He said sheepishly, his own smirk appearing on his face.

"Is that how you got your sca-" Sokka started asking before I slapped a hand over his mouth.

I glared at Sokka inwardly screaming at him to shut up. Lee probably didn't want to tell a bunch of strangers about how he was scarred for life.

"Well I better get started." I muttered awkwardly trying to fill the silence that Sokka cause with his question.

"You'll do fine dear." Iroh said comfortingly.

"Yeah Katara don't worry! Your a master!" Aang called smiling at me.

I glanced at Lee and when he nodded encouragingly I took a deep breath and prepared to venture into a new part of my element that I had never known.

A/N: This chapter was pretty uneventful but I tried to throw in some starting friendship Zutara! I hope you guys liked it! I love reading your reviews! WHEW this chapter was about 5 pages...kinda on the short side but oh well its better than nothing!! Actually I'm going out of town tomorrow so it was either put up this short chapter or you guys would have to wait a couple of more days for a longer one...I chose to update now. lol

REMEMBER: ZUKO IS USING THE FAKE NAME LEE so... lee = zuko

Next chapter...

They arrive somewhere.

The gang gets to know their new members.

A beginnings of a love triangle starts to make itself known.

Some people go for a swim.