Book 4 Air

Chapter 21 Darkness Stirs

The stale air thickens as the swirls of orange fog sets over the base of a giant gnarled tree. Viewing deeper into the gaping hole mangled in dirt and bulky roots. A creature lurks in the darkness, its long body scraping against the moist soil. Turning its head, a red form of lips curved slightly.

"It is almost time…" spoke the malevolence creature as it crawled deeper into the earth.

Laughing wickedly as the huge darken tree drifts away from the view and a murky swamp formed around the area.


The sun rose high across the sky as the view of the harbor was seen with seagulls flying over the shore.

Toph took slow steady steps over the wooden dock as she grew more nervous.

"Come on Toph, we'll be late." Aang said as he looked back at the blind earthbender.

"Just go wait for me! I'll go when I want to!" Toph barked back.

"I've been waiting…" Aang said with amusement.

"Shut up!" Toph called out as she took another step.

Aang sighed, 'This is getting us nowhere…" Aang mumbled under his breath.

Walking up to his friend, he grabbed her hand.

"What are you doing?" Toph asked as her cheeks tinted a light pink.

"Helping you cross the dock, and into the boat." Aang said a matter-of-factly.

"Yea right…I can do this myself!" Toph said full of stubbornness.

Aang chuckled, "Then let's do this together…" Aang said warmly.

Toph's blank eyes widen slightly as the airbender's kind gesture.

"Alright, who are you, and what did you do with Twinkle-toes?" Toph asked as she subconsciously walked along the dock with the laughing airbender.

"Watch your step…" Aang said as Toph lifted her foot and into the wooden boat.

Sitting in the seat, Toph finally realized she made it across the entire dock and into the boat.

Seeing the surprised look on her features, Aang laughed. "See? It wasn't that hard, now was it?" Aang said.

Leaning over, Toph punched Aang's shoulder. "Be quiet!" Toph exclaimed as she sat back down in her seat as the guard started rowing to the huge ship over the reef.


Clinging to the warmth of the sheets and feeling the tender touch of a body. Sokka opened his eyes to find Suki in his bed.

'She must have snuck into my bed last night…' Sokka thought as he snuggled against her sleeping form.

'Suki…' Sokka thought as he softly admired his sweetheart.

Opening her eyes and lifting her head, Suki smiled warmly at Sokka.

"Good morning…" Sokka said gently as he kissed her forehead.

"Good morning…" Suki replied back in a small whisper as she giggled.

Sokka sighed heavily, "If only we can wake up like this every morning…" Sokka said as he stretched on the full sized bed.

Suki giggled again, "I hope we don't get in trouble Sokka." Suki said as she hid half way under the covers.

"Nah…" Sokka said reassuring his girlfriend as he then joined her under the blankets.

"Sokka! No, what if someone comes in!" Suki exclaimed softly.

"Don't worry…" Sokka whispered in Suki's ear as he kissed down her neck.

Giggling from her boyfriend's tender affection, she then stopped from the sudden knock on the door.

Covering her mouth, trying to hide her laugher, Sokka quickly sat up.

"Yes?" Sokka called out.

"Mister Sokka, please report to the dining room. The Fire Lord wishes to see you…" a servant said on the other side of the door. Sokka then relaxed, "Oh, alright I'll get up…" Sokka replied to the door in front of him.

A short pause and Sokka assumed the servant was gone.

"Come on out…" Sokka whispered to Suki as she lifted her head out from the covers.

"And Mister Sokka…" the servant called out.

"Ah…uh…Yes?" Sokka said gripping the sheets in embarrassment.

"Please inform, Miss Suki to return to her bedroom down the hall." The servant said as the sound of footsteps drifted off down the hallway.

Suki blushed deeply as she looked up at Sokka.

Sokka then moaned as he rolled out of bed. "How do they know?" Sokka exclaimed as he started to put on his boots.


Sitting in the head chair from the dining room table, Zuko sipped the warm jasmine tea from the fine porcelain cup. Placing the small cup down, he sighed.

After the news he received about his father, he started to get slightly depressed. Nothing seemed to help his troubled thoughts.

Over and over he somehow didn't want to think negatively about the dilemma he was faced with, the fact that he might have lost his only chance in finding his mother.

Walking down the vast hall, the gracefully steps paced to the dining room. A small gasp escaped the girl's lips.

"Zuko…" Katara said in a faint whisper.

Lifting his head, Zuko stared at the girl before him. His eyes glistened with a hint of warm underneath his dishearten state.

"You've come back…" Zuko said almost in surprise that she in fact had returned.

"Of course…I came back." Katara said with a smile as she walked to the Fire Lord.

"Are you alright? You look as though you haven't slept in days…" Katara said with worry as she brushed away the Fire Lord's bangs and felt his forehead.

"I am fine…" Zuko said as his cheeks lightly blushed.

"Please sit down, breakfast should arrive shortly…" Zuko said as he tried to ignore the waterbender's concerned azure-blue eyes.

"Alright…" Katara said as she sat down next to him.

"Are you in the mood to talk about it?" Katara asked.

Lowering his head, Zuko sighed. "Not at this moment…Sokka and Suki should be here soon. I'll discuss it then." Zuko said as he poured tea in a cup.

"Oh no, you don't have- Katara started to say as the Fire Lord handed her the warm tea.

"I wanted to…" Zuko said with a light smile.

Thanking him for the tea as she lightly bowed her head. Katara sipped the warm liquid.

Just then two figures walked into the dining room. "Hey you were able to make it!" Suki exclaimed as she saw Katara.

"Good morning Suki…Sokka." Katara said with a smile.

"Hey sis…" Sokka said as he sat down next to Suki at the table.

"Hey, where's Aang and Toph?" asked Katara as she looked around.

"Aang was send to the Earth Kingdom Central as promised by the Earth King. Toph decided to join Aang and go meet her family." Zuko said quietly.

"Oh…" Katara said as she looked down at the table.

Running her fingers over the fine cherry wood, Katara was amazed of the craftsmanship of the furniture. Even if she had seen it once before, she was still fascinated by the work. Looking back up at Zuko she smiled. Patiently waiting for him to speak.

"I have brought you here for more information about both my sister and Ozai…" Zuko started to say.

"There were sightings of Azula near the nation's prison. The guards assumed she was going to free her father in admits to take back the Fire Nation. But he was ill during his stay in the prison cell. Taken to a health institution for more care, the guards said Azula must have left after Ozai passed." Zuko said as his eyes narrowed.

"Passed?" Sokka questioned.

"He died?" Katara asked already knowing the answer.

"Yes…" Zuko said as he lowered his head.

"Was it from Azula?" Suki asked.

"No…There was no form of struggle or harm. Ozai simply died from the illness and/or natural causes." Zuko said as he took a sip of tea.

"So then where is Azula now?" asked Sokka.

"No one is sure. I ordered a full search within the Fire Nation. Every house, every street, even every cave along the shorelines. Yet no one has found a trace. It's almost as if she somehow escaped from the Fire Nation itself…" Zuko said out loud as he wondered deeply.

Katara turned her head and thought deeply, 'She must have had someone to help her…There's no way she couldn't have left the island's on her own…'

"Was there anyone with her?" Katara asked as she looked into Zuko's eyes.

"Hmm…There was a report of a woman by her side, but other than that. They have not confirmed she was working with her." Zuko said as he rubbed the bottom of his chin.

'Where has she gone?' Zuko thought as the other all pondered the same thing.


I hope you liked this, more Taang and some Sukka this chapter. Don't worry you'll get some Zutara romance next chapter! Please review!!!!