Hiyyah! You guys probably hate me for taking so long to post, but look at the bright side... I actually posted!

Chapter 4- Instinct

Tamiko's P.O.V.

One week.

That's how long it's been since I've joined the Avatar crew. And I'm loving every moment of it.

Toph is hard core. She's blind, but she's still hard core. Most of the time, I even forget that she's blind, like when we're sneaking up on Sokka or Aang.

Aang is awesome. Not just because he's the Avatar. He's a great teacher, and since he's an airbender, he helps me with my air bending. He's also really caring and kind, and he doesn't get mad when I mess up. Then there's Katara.

Katara has serious and frequent mood changes, so I've learned not to pay her much mind. But when she's in a good mood, she's really fun to be with. Except when she makes jokes. She kinda sucks at that.

Unlike her brother Sokka. Now, I could hang out with him forever. Sokka tends to have the power to make me laugh, and it's not just because he's cute. But seriously, he's really cute. At times I'd catch myself just staring at him, and at other times, I'd catch him staring at me.

Like right now.

"Close your mouth ponytails! You'll catch a fly-rat!" I yelled out of the blue, causing Sokka to lose his balance and almost fall off of Appa.

Of course, Aang and Katara laughed.

"How can you guys be so calm when we're so high?" Toph complained, gripping on to the seating railings.

"Oh relax, Toph," I said. "If you fall off Aang or I'll just fly down to get you... That is, of course, if you don't hit the ground first."

The expression on her face was priceless.

"How could you even think of such a thing?" she whined.

I smirked. Then I had an idea. I edged closer to her. Katara gave me a warning glance whilst Sokka and Aang's eyes widen in anticipation.

"Tami? What're you doing?" Katara asked. I glanced at her, my eyes telling her to zip it. However, her question kinda helped with my situation. Toph tensed. "Wh-what's she gonna do? Tami?"

I grinned and turned back to her, gripping her shoulders and giving her a quick shake. Her reaction was just what I needed.

She squealed.

Sokka, Aang and I burst out laughing.

"I'm gonna get back at you when we land," she swore.

Still laughing, I replied, "I have no doubt in my mind that you will."

"But till then, you'll just have to endure the abuse," Sokka added. I looked at him and grinned.

Katara shook her head. "You two are so alike," she mumbled.

Good thing I was quick with words, else there would have been an awkward silence. Instead, I grinned at her. "Hey! A little sick glee is good for the health."

"What's that down there?" Aang asked, turning our attention to the landscape below us. I followed Aang's gaze. There were three male figures below. Looking more closely, I could see that two were beating up the other.

My first instinct was to help them, and I attempted to do just that. Except, I totally forgot that I was extremely high in the air on a flying bison.

I jumped and then recognized that I was far from the ground. I heard the others calling after me but what they said didn't register in my head. There was only one word going through my head at the moment. Shit.

To my surprise, I was really calm about it. I actually just let myself fall. That is, until I felt a pair of feet wrap around my waist. I looked up and saw Aang on his glider. "Hold on tight!" he yelled. All I could do was grab on and nod.

We landed a short while later behind some trees and I let go of him, making my way to the three guys. "Hey, Tami. Wait up," Aang yelled, but I kept running.

Aang's P.O.V.

I hastened after Tamiko, but she was already a good way back. My instinct told me to stand back and watch her, so I did.

"Hey!" she yelled at the guys. "Put the boy down!"

The two guys smirked. From what I could see, they were Earth Kingdom.

"Whatcha gonna do if we don't?" The bigger guy challenged, still gripping onto the guy who he was beating up.

"Tamiko stretched her fingers. "You don't wanna know," she threatened. The guys laughed. The bigger guy turned to the smaller guy. "You can handle her, right? He asked. The smaller guy nodded and he grinned evilly.

I thought about helping her for a moment, but curiousity got the better of me- I wanted to see what Tamiko could do. Sokka and Katara rushed to my side. Seeing them caused me to turn back and see Appa a way off with Toph, both of them unseen by the three guys.

I turned back to the upcoming fight.

The smaller guy pulled out a started pen knife and charged at Tamiko, trying to cut her, and failing miserably. Tamiko dodged his moves easily, and she actually seemed to be enjoying it a bit. After dodging a bit she flipped backwards, knocking out his blade in the process.

She stood quickly and flashed them a creepy smile.

"Is that all you got?" she taunted.