A/N: Hey, everyone! I finally managed to upload a new chapter. The original plan was to post it earlier... But the lights in my house went off -.-'. But that didn't stop me of posting the chapter :) I hope you guys enjoy it!

All the gang immediately rushed to aid Katara.

"Katara! Are you alright?"

"Yes, Sokka. I'm a bit injured, but it's not something that I can't heal with some bending".

Truthfully, it was a miracle that the waterbender didn't receive more attacks. If the fight would have prolonged a couple of more minutes, and we might have witness a tragedy. However, it didn't mean that it would not happen.

"Katara, please tell us everything".

"All I remember was screaming at Toph. Then suddenly, I was fighting for my life against something that was unable to recognize me".

And so, the waterbender went into detail. By the time she had ended her explanation, all her friends were speechless of what they had just heard. After a few seconds of silence, the banished prince decided to speak.

"Whatever that thing is, we need to find it. We don't know what that creature could cause. Besides, our friend is in danger, and we need to save her from whatever had took possession of her. Toph is trapped inside that thing".

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She was running fast across the woods. Her speed could easily surpass the Avatar's one. Her limbs were soared; not because of the fight that had occurred a few moments ago, but rather because her bones were quickly elongating. How? That story will be explained in another moment by another being.

For the moment, as the protagonist of this tale was moving, she became aware that her clothing did not fit her any longer. Fortunately, she was passing by a small village and noticed a bundle of clothes that might be of significant use. She grabbed whatever might be appropriate and proceeded with her journey.

What was she looking for? She didn't know the answer to it. The only thing she was certain of was the increase of her thirst. Just at that moment, there was the sound of a twig being cracked. The creature halted. She made a turn to the right and sniffed the air. Believe it or not, that noise was made a couple of miles away from where she was standing. None the less, it didn't pass unnoticed from her ears. Her eyes scanned the area (for now the earthbender was now able to see) and found a new target.

She rushed at full speed and, in a matter of seconds, tackled her prey. Apparently, she had just attacked a wild beast known as a sabre-tooth moose lion. Nevertheless, the animal has succumbed to its death by the time it was immobilized, and all its blood was drained from all its body.

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A day had passed, and the Avatar's team were still unable to find their missing friend. There was no trace that could give them any clue of the whereabout of the earthbender… until now.

Appa was flying above the woods while each member of the group was surveying every corner of the landscape. That's when Sukki had spotted something.

"Look, over there! It looks like there was a quarrel in that region".

And so, Aang made the flying bison turn around and land a few feet away from the spot where Sukki had pointed out. Some trees were smashed and spread all over the place. The grass was painted with a scarlet tone. There was a corpse of a saber-tooth moose lion lying in front of their eyes. But it wasn't the only thing that had lost its life.

To the horror of everyone, there were the bodies of men who had certainly died due to the brutal wounds that they were covered in. That sight of it resembled that of a butcher's work of art. It seemed that all of them were dead, until one of the bodies had started to shiver.

The gang went to the aid of the man. When they flipped him over, some of them had gasped for they had recognized him.

"Zuko! He's one of the pirates that you were with when you showed me that you had my mother's necklace!"

"Yes, Katara. He also contributed with an attempt of murdering me when Zhao invaded the North Pole".

The banished prince got closer to the pirate and looked at his face. The man was the embodiment of fear itself for his facial expression gave him away. The injured man was unable to move for most of his bones were broken.

"What happened?", asked Zuko.

The wounded man started to breath quickly and was unable to come up with any word. This made the fire bender get angry which provoked him to threaten the man with his fist that was now covered in fire.

"I'm not going to ask again!"

"Zuko, don't!", interrupted the young airbender, "he's already frightened. The use of violence will not give us the answers that we're looking for".

Katara supported the Avatar's statement and touched the prince's shoulder. "Aang is right, Zuko. Perhaps if I can use my healing abilities, I might be able to stabilize his state of mind".

Amber eyes crossed path with cobalt eyes. Zuko exhaled and moved to the side to let Katara do what she has suggested. Katara conjured a water glove and spread it across the man's forehead. The pirate was able to focus his mind better, but it still didn't take away his fear.

"Could you tell us what happened?", asked the waterbender.

The injured man began to stammer while trying to tell his story.

"I-it ha-ha-ppened so... so quick-ly...".

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The sound of the crushing of leaves and the click of their weapons resonated along their path with every step they took. The pirates were searching for exotic animals so that they could capture and sell them at the black market. For instance, if you were able to get your hands over a platypus bear, you could gain a lot of money either by selling it to the circus or elaborating expensive coats with its thick fur.

"Ai, captain! Do yaw happen to know wha' type of beast we're looking fa?" 1

The captain grunted at the remark.

"Stop asking these questions, you fool! You all will know when I say so!"

And just when he had finished talking, the captain and his crew had stumbled upon a dead body.

"Look, boss! It's a saber tooth moose lion!"

"I know what I'm looking at, I'm not blind!". He surveyed the dead corpse and said, "Well, it might be dead, but we could still sell its horns and fangs for a good sum of money".

Some of the men unsheathed their weapons to claim various parts of the body. But just when they were about to get nearby, the pirates noticed some movement at the side of the dead animal. It appeared to be the killer of the deceased creature.

The predator seemed to be biting the moose's throat. Yet, she stopped savoring her meal when she felt the presence of other beings. Slowly, the attacker raised her head. Her eyes were gleaming like a pair of garnets. Most of her face and clothes were covered in blood. The hunter did not appreciate the fact that these men had interrupted her feast, for she has started to gnarl at them and show a pair of sharp teeth as a sign of attack.

"What the...?"

But the captain was unable to finish the sentence. His body was tackled about ten feet away. His face was imprisoned by the hand and claws of the beast. Without any warning, a skull was crushed, and the remains of a brain were splattered all over the ground. There was no trace of the captain's head left behind. The ship's crew went mad at the recent loss of their leader and decided to attack their captain's assassin. That was a terrible mistake which would be paid for at a deadly cost.

The fury lunged towards her new attackers with a terrifying growl. They didn't stand a chance at all. Her mere strength, speed, and animalistic assets had made it possible for the creature to gain the upper hand. Limbs were ripped apart, flesh was pierced and cut into little pieces, and bones were broken and pulverized into dust. With each passing second, a life was claimed by the blood-thirsty being.

One of the pirates was able to stab the predator's torso. But it seemed that his action had caused no damage at all. The butcher of the massacre looked down at the weapon that went through her body. She then glanced at the owner of the spear and gave him a malevolent smirk. One of her hands pulled the spear far deeper into her, making the trembling man get closer to her for he foolishly hadn't let go of his weapon. The color of his face was completely drained by merely being face to face with this woman (if you could even call it a human).

"What… what are you?"

She just smiled diabolically and slaughtered his throat with her pearl knives. Screams were spread all over the forest until they slowly started to decrease. The last sound that was heard was a maniacal cackle.

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Fear took over the group's emotions. They could not believe what they've just heard. They denied the fact that their friend was responsible of such atrocity. Toph was not a murderer. And yet, the former description was nothing but the mere truth, which was the last thing spoken by the wounded survivor moments before his last breath was finally claimed by death.

1 *Written on purpose as a type of pirate's slang. *