Chapter 17:
The sun was setting and Freya jumped down from Appa's saddle, Toph had already slipped down and Sokka had followed. Trees surrounded them and they landed on a rocky spot, hoping to get Aang some earth bending training as soon as possible.
"Hey, you guys picked a great campsite." Toph said as Appa growled and Aang passed Sokka a sleeping back. The rock below them was covered in white fur instead of grass, all of which had come from Appa. "The grass is so soft."
"That's not grass. Appa's shedding." Sokka admitted.
"Oh, gross!" Katara complained as she lifted her foot.
"That's not gross; it's just a part of spring." Aang smiled as a bird landed on his head and a butterfly floated past which Momo tried to grab. "You know, rebirth, flowers blooming, and Appa gets a new coat!"
"Needs to loose the winter layer or he'll be much to warm for summer." Freya smirked as she patted the bison. "It never used to get this bad though, we used to brush it all out, remember Aang?"
"Yeah, I never knew why you enjoyed it so much." Aang smiled
"Hey, when done correctly it worked great in pillows and mattresses." Freya smiled before she sighed contently. Appa was coughing in response and Katara looked at him.
"Ah, the beauty of spring." she said sarcastically. Appa opened his mouth to show fur in his mouth which he'd licked off his arm. He responded by sneezing and fur went everywhere as though the bison had exploded. Appa shook his head to get the hair from his eyes and Freya and Katara were covered in the white hair. Freya responded by just covering her face to keep hair from poking her eyes while Katara complained. "Stop, Appa, stop!" she started coughing and spluttering as she got hair in her mouth.
"It's not that bad, Katara." Sokka was crouched on the ground as Freya peeked through her fingers. He was fiddling with something before he turned around to reveal a large pile of hair on his head, as though his hair was gelled upwards into a pillar. "It makes a great wig!" he grinned.
Aang dropped from the bison's back beside them with the hair all over his mouth for a beard and a moustache.
"And a great beard!" he added. The two boys pointed at one another and started laughing.
Freya sighed and shook her head, removing some fur from her hair as she did.
"Boys." she mumbled. Katara bruised the hair from her sleeves.
"Well, at least our girl to boy ratio has tipped in our favour." Katara said. "It's nice to have another girl in the group because you two are disgusting."
Toph returned by walking between the two boys who'd stopped and looked at the girls.
"Excuse me," she had her arms behind her back. "Does anyone have a razor…" Toph suddenly rose her arms and she had Appa's fur tucked underneath her armpits. "…because I've got some hairy pits!" Aang and Sokka bursted into laughter as Toph grinned.
"Well, she's a girl on the outside." Freya mumbled "Not so much on the inside." Aang suddenly sneezed and all the fur on the three blew off as Aang went flying into Appa's back leg. He fell to the ground with fur all stuck to his back and the three continued laughing.
Katara had one eyebrow raised as Freya chuckled and Katara couldn't help but join in herself.
"Well, shall we set up the campsite?" Freya asked "A little away from Appa I suggest."
Everyone agreed and Katara collected water, Sokka collected sticks and Aang took out the tent. Freya unloaded the saddle as the four worked while Toph sat herself down and lay waiting for them all.
The stuff was all laid out as Aang airbended the tent up and Katara waterbended the water into the jugs. Sokka put the sticks down by the tent for a fire as Freya removed Appa's saddle from the bison once it was unloaded.
Toph sat against the rocks, her bag behind her back and a piece of grass in her mouth. Everyone stopped to look at her before Katara got up and walked over to her, somewhat annoyed.
"So, Toph, usually when setting up camp we try to divide up the work." she began to explain
"Hey, don't worry about me, I'm good to go." Toph assured
"Well, actually, what I'm trying to say is, uh, some of us might fetch water while someone else might set up the fire pit or put up the tent." Momo flew over and dropped some nuts into Katara's hand as he hovered nearby. "Even Momo does his fair share."
"Katara, I'm fine. I can carry my own weight. I don't need a fire, I've already collected my own food, and look," Toph sat up before she thrusted her hands downwards and two slants of rock rose up to teepee over her head. "My tent's all set up."
Katara clenched her fists annoyed.
"Well, that's great for you, but we still need to finish —" Toph cut her off again.
"I don't understand. What's the problem here?" she asked irritated.
"Never mind." Katara decided and she turned to walk away while Toph moved backwards into her tent.
Freya sighed.
"She can't just help?" Katara said as she approached the older girl.
"Katara, first of all, why would you expect her to help unload our stuff, none of it's her's." Freya said "Second, she grew up in a rich house where everything's done for her, you're gonna have to give her a bit at the whole helping out thing." she believed "She's used to being alone remember."
Katara turned back to Toph before returning to her water collection. It wasn't a few minutes until she decided to approach Toph again. The girl was eating as she did, taking a large bite and chewing as Katara spoke.
"Hey Toph, I wanted to apologise for earlier. I think we're all just a little tired and getting on each others' nerves."
"Yeah, you do seem pretty tired." Toph responded and Katara looked aggravated.
"I meant all of us." she said angrily.
"Well, goodnight." Toph chucked down the rubbish from her food before she turned and lay down on the earth under her rocky tent.
"Goodnight." Katara returned half-heartedly. She turned and walked away.
As usual Katara and Sokka climbed into the tent while Aang curled up on Appa with Freya, the older girl however didn't curl up to sleep, but lay down until everyone else had.
"Remember your stances Freya. Your foot work is very important."
"It's different." Freya frowned as she moved through her fierce stances. Her eyebrows were pulled together and a frown on her face.
"It's a different bending, the stances are different."
"It doesn't feel right." Freya mumbled, stopping and looking at her hands.
"Water and fire are opposites of one another Freya," the girl looked up as Azure walked towards her and her father, who was watching and instructing her. "Water has very smooth and elegant turns,"
"Fire however is quick and straight forwards. A water bender stands and waits, taking their opponents offence against them. Firebenders however strike first, they are fuelled by desire and the element represents power." her father explained
"Water was your first element my dear, learning how to use it's opposite of fire may prove a little more challenging." Azure placed a hand under her daughter's chin and smiled.
"Are they really that different?"
"Actually the elements are rather similar, both are powered with a celestial force of the sun and moon. Both require self control, diversity and variation in strength. They are both connected to your emotions and forces outside of your control." Azure said carefully.
"Only the Avatar will be able to tell you the difficulty of learning both Water and Fire." her father continued "However, every Avatar has to master their natural opposite element and each has succeeded. I'm sure you'll be able to master both Water and Fire as well." he smiled and she grinned back at her, exposing a missing tooth from her teeth.
Freya stood, the stars above her and she had her hands before her as she breathed, taking in deep breaths through her nose and releasing them through her mouth. She felt the wind moving around her and moved her breaths with it. She remembered Zuko as he moved across the deck of his ship and further Iroh sending instructions at him. She stood hiding and peaking out watching the boy and listening closely.
Freya fought Zuko, her water countered his fire, but now, looking on the memory, she watched his moves, his stances.
Freya, a tiny child, moved with her father watching who adjusted her stances as fire blew across the ship. A few of the crew mates through out pointers and she listened to as many as she could remember.
"Fire is quick and straight forwards. Firebenders strike first, they are fuelled by desire. Both require self control, diversity and variation in strength."
Self control. Desire. Quick and Straight forward. Offence instead of defence. Freya took another breath before she took her stance.
"Firebending is fuelled by you're inner chi, Freya. It is the only bending that creates it's element rather than utilises what's already there. You tap into your chi to create your fire."
Freya, having been with the monks, was well aware of her chi, more so than many others, and she could feel it as it flowed within her.
She began with the usual quick sets of punches and kicks. Her body turned and twisted and the usual elegance she held was hidden behind the offensive moves. Trees surrounded the girl and so she didn't bend any fire but the stances worked even without it.
"What are you doing?" Freya stopped and turned around to see Toph.
The girl had moved a little aways from the camp but enough to see the bison. Freya looked surprised that Toph had woken up but then assumed it had been her movement that had done so.
"What does it feel like?" Freya countered "I'm practicing." she turned away from the girl and closed her eyes to continue.
"I was under the impression you were already a master bender?" Toph said
"What's your point?"
"Why do you need to practice?"
"There's always more to learn." Freya mumbled "Did I wake you up?" she asked not really needing an answer "Sorry, I'm not used to someone who I can do that with by just walking. I'll try to be more careful."
"Do you always practice this late? Why aren't you asleep?"
"Yes I do."
"Why?"
"It's really the only time I've got, we're usually running around during the day." Freya explained "I'm sure it'll change though as you start teaching Aang earthbending. We'll be stopping more."
"Don't you need water to bend?" Toph continued to question
"I don't need the actual element to practice the movements."
"But wouldn't it be better if—" Toph suddenly cut off and Freya, who'd been getting annoyed by all the questions, turned to the girl confused. Toph had her hands on the ground and was looking down confused.
"What's wrong?" Freya asked
"There's something coming toward us!" she suddenly said and she shouted it before running back towards the tents, waking up the other three. Freya followed quickly, now concerned as Aang woke up with Momo and Sokka and Katara poked their heads out of the tent.
"What is it?" Aang wondered. Toph crouched to put her hand on the earth again as the four watched her.
"It feels like an avalanche…" The three joined Freya as she watched the younger girl. "But also not like an avalanche."
"Your powers of perception are frightening." Sokka said sarcastically
"Should we leave?" Katara wondered
"Well I don't feel like any unexpected visitors." Freya admitted
"Better safe than sorry." Aang agreed with a nod.
"Toph, grab a few things and throw them in the saddle would you." Freya said and she ran to do the same as they moved quickly around the site. Aang put the saddle back on Appa and they were up in the air quickly.
Over the trees and towards the mountains was a heap of dust, it was being kicked up by some machine that was heading towards them.
Aang glanced over from the front as Toph clung to the saddle and Freya stood up.
"What is that thing?" Katara wondered.
"Not cool." Freya mumbled.
The moon shone down and the bison flew on as Aang's eyes dropped and bags appeared under his eyes. Sokka and Katara were no different as Freya stared over the back of the bison. They eventually came to another patch of dirt and Appa landed with a groan. Toph climbed down instantly and threw herself into the ground with a grateful sigh.
"Ahh, land, sweet land!" Toph propelled herself to her feet with the dirt before grinning with her bag in her hand. "See you guys in the morning!"
"Actually, can you help us unload?"Katara asked as Toph took a few steps.
"Really? You need me to help unload Sokka's funky-smelling sleeping bag?" Toph wondered as Aang passed Sokka his sleeping bagged and the boy sniffed it, he groaned in complaint and held it away from his face.
"Well, yeah." Katara said walking towards the girl as Sokka toppled over. "That and everything else. You're a part of our team now and—"
"Look." Toph said irritatingly and pointed at Katara. "I didn't ask you to help unload my stuff. I'm carrying my own weight."
"That's not the point." Katara believed, her hands on her hips as Toph walked away. Katara stalked after her. Freya slumped in Appa's saddle with a huff.
"It's too late for this," she mumbled as the boys watched.
"Ever since joining us you've been nothing but selfish and unhelpful."
"What?" Toph demanded turning half way and pointing up at Katara, her finger in the water bender's face who lend back slightly to avoid being poked by it. "Look here, Sugar Queen, I gave up everything I had so that I could teach Aang earthbending, so don't you talk to me about being selfish!" Katara looked like she being loaded up with frustration as she shook slightly in anger and pursed her lips together. Toph sat down and her teepee tent rose up again.
"Sugar Queen!" Katara demanded but another triangle of rock rose up with a smash to block Katara from Toph. Katara jumped back slightly. "D-Did you just slam the door in my face! How can you be so infuriating!" she started bashing on the rock as Momo, Freya, Sokka and Aang were watching her.
"Alright, sleep time." Freya decided as she yawned, uninterested in the two girls.
"Should we... do something?" Aang asked hesitantly
"Hey, I'm just enjoying the show." Sokka responded.
Aang walked over to Katara anyway, being cautious about the action.
"Okay, okay, you both need to calm down." he said
"Both?" Katara demanded angrily as she turned to Aang with a hysterical face. "I'm completely calm!"
"I… can see that." Aang said carefully, doubting her before he, with his hands still raised in defence, backed away quietly.
"Katara, you're angry as hell right now." Freya said from her spot beside Appa. "Will you leave the girl alone, you can complain about it in the morning, we need sleep thanks and I don't appreciate all the earth rumbling or your shouting." Freya said annoyed and Aang looked between the two as Katara huffed at the earth and walked away.
They didn't bother with unpacking the tent and both water tribe members climbed into their sleeping bags as they all laid down to sleep, Freya included. Katara was staring at the sky still annoyed and suddenly grinned.
"The stars sure are beautiful tonight." Sokka looked at her aggravated and covered his head with his blanket. "Too bad you can't see them, Toph!" There was a grunt and a tunnel of rocks went sliding towards Katara. The girl was thrown into the air and she landed on her brother beside her.
"Katara, Toph is blind, she can't see the starts regardless." Freya mumbled from her spot beside Aang as the younger boy sat up.
"Hey, how is a guy supposed to sleep with all this yelling and earthquaking!" Sokka complained as he pushed Katara off of him.
Toph's door suddenly pulled down and the girl had her fingers on the ground.
"That thing is back!"
Freya sighed. "I so wish I could say that surprised me."
"Well, how far away is it?" Sokka wondered before he lay down and covered his head again, muffling his voice. "Maybe we can close our eyes just for a few minutes…"
Freya, who'd sat up, Aang and Katara turned to see the dust rising just beyond the trees.
"I don't think so, Sokka." Aang believed.
"Come on, quick." Freya said and they were up, packed and flying away quickly. Even from several mountains away they could see the dust rising behind them.
"Seriously, what is that thing?" Katara asked again as she rubbed her eyes, her and Toph looking over the back of the saddle.
"And how does it keep finding us?" Toph wondered
"I don't know, but this time I'm going to make sure we lose 'em." Aang decided with determination. He turned and grabbed the reins while Sokka was already snoring and crashed out on the saddle.
Freya laid herself down as the bison flew.
"You might find we'd need to cross water for that, if it followed us so far…" Freya mumbled before yawning.
Appa flew past mountain ranges and over uneven ground, away from open planes and sets of trees. The bison grumbled and complained a few times before they finally came to rest on a flat surface on the side of a mountain, overlooking the land below. Appa flopped himself straight down and rolled over, throwing everyone off his back including some of their supplies. Freya groaned before she sighed. She couldn't be bothered moving and it seemed everyone else agreed as Katara pushed her sleeping bag under head head and Toph created a dirt pillow.
"Okay, forget about setting up camp. I'm finding the softest pile of dirt and going to sleep." Sokka actually climbed into his sleeping bag and crawled around like a worm.
"That's good, because Toph wasn't going to help anyway." Katara snapped
"Oh, I didn't realise baby still needed someone to tuck her in bed." Toph responded, her bag behind her head.
"Will you two shut up and give it a rest." Freya complained "You're both aggravating me now."
"Come on guys, there's something after us and we don't even know what or who it is." Aang complained as he covered his head with his shirt.
"It could be Zuko. We haven't seen him since the North Pole." Katara thought
"Who's Zuko?" Toph wondered
"Oh, just some angry freak with a ponytail who's tracked us all over the world." Sokka responded before putting his face into the ground. Katara turned towards him with a smirk.
"What's wrong with ponytails, ponytail?" Katara asked
"This is a warrior's wolf tail." Sokka said pointing at his hair as he talked into the dirt.
"Well, it certainly tells the other warriors that you're fun and perky!" Katara mocked.
"Zuko's the Prince of the Fire Nation, only he was banished." Freya muttered through her sleepiness. "And It's not him." she mumbled
"How do you know?" Katara asked slyly
"Zuko lost his ship and his crew just before the siege at the North Pole, he doesn't have the connections or the provisions to get something like that to follow us. He can't return home so he can't get machinery like that." she said tiredly
"It worries me how you know all that." Sokka said
"It'll be someone else who wants us though, if not they wouldn't have found us twice so far." Freya thought as her eyes were closed and her voice airy in her sleepiness. She remembered the girl from Omashu. "It could be Azula."
"Who's Azula?" all four asked her.
She sighed.
"I don't understand how you guys survive sometimes. Azula is Zuko's sister and crowned Princess of the Fire Nation. We met her already in Omashu remember. She shoots blue fire."
"How do you know that's her?" Katara asked
"She looks just like Zuko." Freya admitted "Although her expression is not nearly close to his."
"How do you know Zuko's expressions?" Aang asked
"You learn when you spend several weeks kidnapped on his ship." she responded before yawning
"Anyway, whoever's chasing us, they couldn't have followed us here. So… now would everyone just shhh!" Sokka put his finger to his mouth to shush them all.
Momo responded by jumping onto Sokka's stomach and chattering at him.
"No, Momo, ssh! Sleepy time." he mumbled in response. Momo responded by running towards the edge of their camp, still chattering and causing everyone to look up at him.
"Aww, don't tell me…" Sokka complained as Momo turned to them.
"That's impossible. There's no way they could have tracked us." Aang believed
"I can feel it with my own two feet!" Toph disagreed as Freya and Katara got to their feet and Sokka had thrown his face into the dirt sadly.
Aang ran up beside Momo who was still making a scene and the smoke and dust was thrown up down the path from them and coming their way.
Freya looked annoyed as dark circles sat below everyone's eyes.
"Let's get out of here!" Katara decided as she, Sokka and Toph joined the two other benders.
"Maybe we should face them. Find out who they are. Who knows, maybe they're friendly." Aang offered
"Always the optimist." Sokka muttered
"I doubt if they were friendly they'd be stalking us through the night." Freya mumbled.
They saw the machine, on wheels and towing two carts behind it as it come to a stop below them. A heap of steam was released and from inside the second cart three very large lizards crawled down the ramp. The three girls from Omashu sat on the backs of each one, Azula in the centre. The three girls were wearing different variations of Fire Nation clothes, the same they'd worn the last time they'd faced them.
"Azula." Freya said annoyed.