Danny slowly opened his eyes and they faded to his usual blue and smiled at Sam and Tucker watching him. He turned to Aang as the light illuminating his tattoos faded and he too opened his eyes.
"So, you managed to get into the spirit world," Katara prompted. Aang shook his head.
"We were astral projecting," Danny answered. Katara scowled.
"Meaning?" Katara questioned. Danny smiled.
"Halfway to the spirit world. I showed Aang where that spirit's shrine was and he examined it. We're planning to go back tomorrow and take a better look in the daylight," Danny explained. Aang nodded and then frowned.
"Where's Sokka and Toph?" he asked.
"Getting Appa and Momo. We're going to camp here tonight if that's alright," Katara replied. Danny smirked.
"I told you that would be the case," Danny remarked. Aang smiled at him and nodded.
"I better have a look for a couple of candles. I think I have some in my bag," Danny informed the group as he stood up and stretched. He strolled over to where he had meditated earlier to retrieve his pack. Sam frowned at him before joining him to help him look. Tucker started to gather the bowls into a pile. Katara turned to Aang.
"So, you seem more relaxed. Did you have a talk with Danny or something?" Katara commented. Aang nodded.
"Yeah, he explained a few things to me. He really blames himself for what happened to his village. I mean, he's been dealing with it for a couple of years now and he still hasn't gotten over it," Aang informed her softly. Katara bit her lip.
"I have something to tell you. I found out why my mother was killed in that raid," Katara whispered nervously. Aang frowned at her.
"That raid had been looking for a water-bender, me. The fire-bender who killed my mother asked her about me and she lied. She told the soldier that she was the water-bender," Katara revealed. Aang stared at her.
"When did you find this out? Why didn't you tell me then?" Aang questioned. Katara hung her head.
"I found out when Zuko helped me find the fire-bender responsible and I didn't tell you before because I had to come to terms with it myself," Katara admitted. Aang frowned.
"But why are you telling me now?" Aang inquired, confused. Katara sniffled.
"Because I just realised when Danny said that it wasn't the same for us to lose our mom and for you two to lose your homes. I know it isn't but I wanted to tell someone and I don't think Sokka would understand. And Toph…" Katara explained.
"Isn't exactly approachable. Katara, I had no idea," Aang finished and pulled her into a hug. Katara began to cry softly into his shoulder. Danny looked up and gave Aang a confused look. Aang shook his head at him and pulled Katara closer.
Slowly Katara regained her composure and wiped away the tears and went to help Tucker clean the bowls. Aang watched her go and then turned to the sky as he heard a grumble he recognised. He smiled. Appa was coming in for a landing. Aang got to his feet and greeted his flying bison and Momo when Sokka and Toph arrived.
"Oh, great, you're awake. So what intel did you get on the imposter?" Sokka muttered conspiratorially. Aang rolled his eyes and shrugged the arm around his shoulders off.
"He's not an imposter Sokka. He's really nice when you get to know him. Thanks for bringing Appa and Momo for me. And thanks Toph!" Aang replied. Toph waved dismissively in his direction and trudged over to Sam.
"If you want me to teach you, you have to show me what you can do," Toph announced. Sam blinked in surprise before grinning and nodding.
"Of course! Tell me when you want me to start," Sam replied. Toph smiled and blew a strand of hair out of her face.
"How about now?" Toph suggested. Sam nodded and ran a little away from everyone and began to calm her breathing. Everyone gathered together to watch.
"I can't wait for this. Finally someone to stop her showing off all the time," Tucker chuckled. Danny elbowed him in the side.
"You're only saying that because you're jealous that she can bend and you can't," Danny retorted. Tucker scowled at his friend, rubbing his ribs.
"She's been rubbing it in my face ever since she could lift little pebbles! I'm going to enjoy this," Tucker grumbled. Danny rolled his eyes.
Sam then thrust her fist downwards and kicked forward and began to bend the earth around her in the most impressive way possible.
"Looks good," Sokka remarked. Katara nodded.
"It does, except her foot work is sloppy," Aang informed them. Tucker bit back a laugh.
"So, she isn't as good as she thinks she is," Tucker sniggered. Danny glared at him.
"What if I told you that's she's self-taught? Her uncle was conscripted into the army and he was the only other earth-bender in our village," Danny replied. Aang's eyes widened in shock.
"She's self-taught! Completely?" Aang inquired. Danny nodded.
"I think her uncle told her about breathing techniques, which is why she's obsessed about them but other than that she's learned by experimenting or watching soldiers that marched through our village every now and again," Danny answered. Sokka whistled impressed.
After five minutes of earth-bending, Sam was panting for breath but grinning excitedly at Toph.
"Well?" Sam prompted. Toph frowned.
"Your basics are messy. Honestly, I'm surprised that you can bend at all with that technique. But I overheard Danny saying that you're completely self-taught. So your mistakes should be easy enough to fix, if you work at it. First thing, you need to protect your core, like this," Toph informed her and demonstrated by holding her hands across her body.
"That means your movements will be tighter and you'll flow better, for example," Toph resumed and thrust her arms out, stomped down and pulled her arms back into her body, lifting a large chunk of earth out of the ground. Sam nodded and mimicked Toph eagerly.
Toph smiled and nodded.
"See? You're improving already. I'll teach you Sam," Toph agreed. Sam grinned broadly and rushed forward and took Toph's hand.
"Thank you so much. What do I call you, now that you're my teacher?" Sam asked.
"Aang used to call me Sifu Toph. That's fine by me," Toph suggested. Sam nodded and bowed to Toph.
"Thank you Sifu Toph," Sam amended. Toph smirked.
"I like this girl," she commented over her shoulder. Tucker gaped at her and then slumped.
"Great, she's never going to let me forget this," he grumbled.
Everyone's making friends. Yay!
Let me know what you think so far.
Until the next chapter.