A/N: Hey, guys! So, it'll be 1 a.m. over here by the time I post this chapter. Still, I wanted to upload it for you . I hope you guys enjoy it! P.S. If anyone wants to leave a comment, I'll be glad to read it. :)
Toph didn't come back until the moon had already risen and the sky was invaded by stars. She dragged her feet towards the bonfire. The looks that were thrown at her were different. Some expressed skepticism, others represented concern, and one was spitting fire towards the earthbender. And yet, the latter one couldn't care less.
Aang rose up, grabbed a bowl of soup, and handed it to Toph. But instead of accepting it, the young earthbender gently pushed it back.
"No, thanks. I'm… not hungry".
"But you skipped lunch time. I'm sure that you must be starving".
"Don't worry, I mean it. I have no appetite for food".
Still, Aang and the others, even Katara, looked doubtful about it. None the less, they didn't say anything and just kept eating.
.
.
.
I was telling the truth. Since I left the training field, my stomach never complained about not having eaten during the rest of the day. The only thing that started to bother me was my throat. Apparently, it was demanding me to satiate a sudden thirst. Yet, when I approached a nearby lake (there were a lot of waters spots around here!), and I sipped from it, my body immediately rejected it, so I spat the water. It wasn't the fact that the water might have been polluted; but somehow, it felt as if my body didn't want any water at all. Then, if I didn't want such liquid, how come is it that I still yearned to satiate my thirst? If it isn't water that my body wants, then what is it?
.
.
.
Two days had passed, and the headstrong girl still refused to eat. The last thing that she wanted was to draw the attention of anyone. But, alas! It became quite the opposite. Everyone was alarmed about what was happening with Toph. Each one tried to persuade the girl to eat. However, all their attempts ended up failing and caused the young earthbender to drift apart from the group.
Right now, a certain waterbender wouldn't take it anymore. The gang decided to follow Katara, who had gone straight towards the place where her conflict with Toph had started.
.
.
.
I was sitting near the pond when I suddenly felt the presence of my friends. The earth's vibrations warned me that one of them was walking in my direction. I knew who it was.
"Look, Katara, if you are looking for a fight, I'll have to disappoint you. I'm not in the mood for a quarrel".
Katara furrowed her brows before replying, "I'm not here for that; you know why we're here".
Toph huffed and continued with the conversation. "If it is about the other subject, then again, I'll have to say that you'll be disappointed about it".
"Just tell us then why you won't eat! It's been two days since the last time that you touched a meal or a cup of water! Why are you doing this? Is it a way to get back at me because of our previous fight? If so, then I'm sorry! But it's also stupid to be acting like this, you are hurting yourself!"
At this comment, the earthbender snorted. "Oh, please, sugar queen, don't flatter yourself so much. I'm not doing this because it has to do with YOU." She pointed her index finger towards the waterbender, "none of it has to do with ANY of you! Do I have to repeat the idea again so that it finally goes through your brains?! I'm NOT hungry!"
"You are lying!"
"But I'm not!"
Katara started to massage her temples. "Toph, please, there must be a reason behind your actions!"
That's when it suddenly clicked in Katara's mind.
"It's about the letter, isn't it? The one you received a few days ago…".
Toph frown before starting to count with her fingers. "…One, stop sneaking into other people's life. Mind your own business, will you? And two, no I'm not being emotional about that stupid thing! (On the contrary, numbness has been consuming me). I-am-NOT-starving! Got it? Good!"
With that final statement, Toph started to walk in the opposite direction. But, apparently, someone would not take that as the end of the conversation.
"Toph! Don't you dare take one more step…"
"Oh! What are you going to do about it? Plus, haven't I told you before to stop calling me by THAT name?!"
"You ARE Toph!"
"According to whom?"
"According to your parents! It was given to you when you were born".
Toph hit a nearby rock and pulverized it. "They are NOT my parents! Have you forgotten about the content of that letter, Katara? That lady has clearly stated it!"
"But still, she was concerned about you! She is your mother".
"I have no mother! Can't you already get the idea?"
That line had upset Katara in so many levels. So, from there, her actions were taken over by her emotions.
"If I don't get it?! You are being ridiculous, Toph! I DO know what it means not to have a mother! I was the one who lost her! Sokka has! Zuko has! But you, what gives YOU the right to claim the fact that you have no mother?! None!"
While she was speaking, the banished prince had arrived at Katara's side. He grabbed her by the shoulders.
"Katara, stop!"
But she managed to free herself from his grip. "No, Zuko! She doesn't get it! What does she know about not being able to hug your mother?! Not being able to get some comfort from her when you have a nightmare? Miss all those stories that she would talk about to excite you?" A drop of tear had spilled from her cobalt eyes. "She knows nothing!"
I should have left the place… I should have ignored Katara. And yet, I stood there, listening to every single word that she delivered. Each of it fed something that was growing inside me. Something that was taking over me. Every single vein of my body was burning. By the time Katara had spoken "she knows nothing", I had finally loosened control. I was lost, and that THING got unleashed.