"Flora Cottage"

CHAPTER III

Author Notes: So incase you haven't realized, I'm pretty terrible at paragraphs.. Never sure when I'm meant to use them, so sorry for all the shit speech grammar! If you're reading this, I guess you've decided to carry on reading my work, which I praise and thank you for!

Also, I know I wrote this story as M and there hasn't been any M-rated stuff yet.. I guess it just seems so out of character to make them swear.. I might occasionally slip in the odd swear between them all so yeah.. As for sex, I'm gonna put that in a little later, you'll have to make with flirting, sexual tension and awkwardness for now.. And don't forget the violence, that will be coming in a while, even if in the tv series nobody ever dies (asides from Jet, but that was a tad ambiguous).

Thanks for reading, and PLEASE REVIEW

Daise x


Eventually regaining his composure, Aang wiped the best of the saliva he could reach onto his orange over-cloth. Momo, in an attempt to help began to vigorously lap at Aang's ankles where streaks of ostrich-horse grain mixed with a thick saliva ran down. "Thanks Momo," he mumbled before looking back to Ti. "Any chance I could take a bath some time soon?" Toph, who had remained uncharacteristically quiet since the arrival of Ti, snorted before crossing her stout arms.

" You need a hose-down not a bath, Aang!"

"There's a hose over here!" cried Sokka, attempting to unravel a knotted hose attached to the wall to no prevail.

"That won't be needed! You can use the bath, Aang, after all, you are the Avatar." Ti chuckled, thinking back to his proud speech, smited by Appa's interruption. "Anyway, you guys better stay here tonight, you'll need food and rest if you want to carry on to the best of your abilities tomorrow."

At the mention of both food and rest, dreamy smiles grew on each member of the team's faces. Sokka's stomach rumbled audibly created another bout of laughter around the youths.

"You can keep Appa in the barn, there's enough hay in there for twenty air bisons!" She smiled, gesturing towards a big wooden barn standing on the outskirts of the farm.

"Thanks, Ti. Do you mind if I take him there after I've had my bath?" He smiled sheepishly, gesturing to the wet sheen covering his body and face. Before Ti had a chance to speak, Katara did so in a weary tone.

"I'll do it."

"Thanks Katara, I owe you one!" Aang spoke, his tone contrasting strongly.

"You owe me several, Aang"

* * * * * * *

Leading the way across the yard, dozens of pickens scattered, snorting as they fled from the group.

Darkness was beginning to settle, the salmon hues of the sky changing to an almost purple shade, the crescent moon hanging, lighting the ground before them in a silvery glow.

The near-silence was broken by a cracked voice as Sokka scooted to the side of Ti, a grin on his face.

"Hey, I'm Sokka by the way!"

"Hi Sokka." Keeping her eyes on the house ahead, a smile tugged on the corner of her lips.

"So, I have this one burning question…" He began.

"Shoot."

"Why 'Tigris'?"

Ti slowed a little causing both Aang and Toph to slow in their tracks. Opening her mouth to speak, she shut it again, her emerald gaze flicking to Sokka's open, honest face.

"Maybe when I know you a little better I'll tell you."

"Oh.. Oh, right, cool." Sokka's cheeks began to burn noticeably. He always seemed to get himself in these kind of situations.

A sly smile on Toph's innocent face, Aang watched her warily, knowing what was coming.

"Sokka slow your heartbeat down, it's rupturing my ear-drums back here!"

* * * * * * *

The Flora Cottage was similar to the inside as it was on the outside. Slightly ramshackle, countless numbers of shelves decorated the stone walls, an array of ostrich-horse rearing books scattered about. Photographs of unfamiliar faces lay dusty in frames, the occasional rosette draped over. Medals and trophies, rusty and stripped of all former glory could be found on practically any surface.

A large fire crackled comfortingly in the hearth, the orange flames licking a charred branch, sparks escaping as they were sucked up the chimney. A small, low table stood by the fire, mats on the floor to sit at, presumably for mealtimes.

The floorboards creaked underfoot as they walked, a grandfather clock tick-tocking pleasantly in the corner of the room. The curtains were drawn to keep the heat in, though a slight draft could be felt from under the driftwood door. Although it could never be described as luxurious, there was a certain homely appeal that could be felt by ever one of the gang, however different their surroundings had been back where they were reared.

"If you guys stay back here, I'll show Aang where the bath is. Feel free to sit down by the fire, make yourself at home. " Ti smiled gently before gesturing to Aang to follow through a doorway leading to the bath.

As the two disappeared from the room, Sokka made a beeline for the hearth, Momo screeching at sudden movement, his tiny fingers digging into Sokka's lean shoulders. Kneeling on one of the placemats, he sighed contentedly as the heat reached his back making it arch.

"My aim is not to leave this position till my stomach is full and distended!"

Rolling her glazed eyes, Toph took a kneeling position on another one of the mats before drumming her fingers on the table impatiently. Both jumping as the door slammed open, Katara stepped into the doorway, a familiar sheen to her. Both Sokka and Toph burst out laughing as the drenched Katata fumed visibly.

"How can you be laughing!? I went out of the goodness of my heart to put Appa away, and he repays me with this!"

"The bath's that way Sugar-queen!" Snorted Toph, pointing in the direction she had heard the others go.