Greetings, avid readers!

I'd like to start with thanking all the reads, favs and follows in this story. Even if silent, your support means a lot. As for the ones that took their time to write a review, thank you as well!

I can't do anything right, I'm so sorry for not posting the chapter! To make it up to you, I'll post the new chapter today and next week I'll post another to make it up to you. Is that okay?

My weekly obsession is... Water! Maybe it's the heat or maybe I've just been dehydrated (it's more likely than you think), but WATER. And pillows and sleep. I've been a bit down lately, but that is no excuse and I'm sorry. I've given up hope on Ms. LiAnne Kay's book, but I keep getting sneak peaks to the Book 5 of Little Hope series and I CANNOT WAIT FOR IT!

Dommie, here, goddamn it please don't hurt me! I'm sorry okay!

Brain Fart, your nose is sharp!

This is my first try at a Avatar fanfiction. Go easy on me. Reviews and flames are always welcomed, for they keep my cat and I warm at night.

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar nor any of the characters. Such credit should go to Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko. I do own a... certain amount of characters that will be recognized further into the story.

Thank you, and enjoy the chapter!

Chapter XV: The Last Trip

X—X

Three days passed, and Aang found himself touching down the pier they had docked in when they arrived. Sokka and Suki smiled at him, Katara arrived not long after him. Ahria and Toph were nowhere to be seen, but the Avatar could hear the airbender's chirpy laugh from the boat.

"Aang! Where have you been?" Katara smiled brightly.

"Hm, meditating. Needed to take care of a few things." He declared, "Where's Toph?"

"Right here, Twinkletoes."

They turned to see the earthbender sitting on the crown of Appa's head as Ahria beckoned the sky bison closer to the pier. Suki took her hand and she smiled, levitating the Kyoshi warrior to Appa's dorso. She gave Sokka a helping hand as well and followed the Tribe Chief. Katara smiled up to Aang and he brought the two of them up to Appa's neck, grabbing his reins.

After a few energetic goodbyes, the gaang was off, ready to get to the Fire Nation.

The soaring trip was long, but they were not in a hurry. Hours passed and Toph became bored of teasing Suki, abusing Sokka, and tricking Katara. She closed her eyes and frowned. She could only feel six stable heartbeats, the flying bison included. She dug her fingers into Appa's fur, but there was no other information coming to her.

"Toph?" Katara called, watching her distress. "Are you okay?"

"Sokka?"

"Yeah?"

"Suki?"

"Yes?"

"Aang?"

"What is it?"

"Momo?" the lemur chirped.

"Toph?" Aang frowned.

"Where's Skipper?"

"What are you talking about?" It was Katara's turn to ask.

"I can't feel her."

Sokka stood up and looked around. "She's fine. Napping in Appa's tail."

"SKIPPER!"

"Aah, what?!" The airbender shot up. "Are we under attack?!"

"Where the fuck are you?!"

Ahria sighed and walked to Toph, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Right here, Master Toph."

"I'm gonna kill you when we land." The earthbender growled.

"What did I do?"

"You died!"

"What?!" Aang shot up.

"How do I die if I'm right here?" Ahria sat down in front of her and grabbed her hand, pressing it to her chest. "See?"

"No, never could."

Ahria huffed a laugh. "I'm okay."

"…your heartbeat faded."

"…war training."

Everyone turned to look at her, shocked. But Suki was the first that spoke up. "Didn't you live in the Air Dome? Completely protected from the war?"

"There was a time in my life where I… didn't. And I had to learn to survive in a dangerous place. Apparent death brings a certain level of disgust to night guards."

"Night guards?" Sokka frowned.

But before Ahria could answer, Appa growled and began descending. Aang yelped and moved to grab his reins, and everyone held on. Clearly, the sky bison was simply hungry and had spotted the perfect place to drink and feed.

The group jumped down to the gravelly sand. Toph wasted no time in punching Ahria's arm, hard, and throwing a handful of pebbles at her head. She let her land the punch but dodged the pebbles. Suki smiled at the two and looked around.

"Guess we're staying here for the night. Sokka, hunting duty."

"Yes, ma'am." He saluted and smirked.

"I'll gather the firewood," Ahria suggested.

"I'll help." Aang walked up to her.

"No, it's okay." She looked away. "I got this."

"Ahria…" Aang reached out a hand, but she pulled away.

"Thank you for the offer, Master Avatar, but I got this." And she followed Sokka into the woods, leaving a shocked Aang behind.

Toph whistled lowly. "Damn, even I could see the ice in that. What the fuck did you do, Aang?"

"I…" He gulped. "Nothing. I didn't do anything."

Dinner went by quietly, with Ahria blatantly choosing to sit between Toph and Suki, and as far away from Aang as she could. After their meal, Suki and Sokka sparred as Katara and Aang cleaned up, and Toph sat by the fire. The Avatar dried the last bowl and looked around, frowning when he did not see a head of brown curls.

"Don't," Toph called.

"But I didn't-!"

"You were getting ready to go and find her." Toph pulled the furs she borrowed from Sokka tighter around her shoulders. "Don't."

"Is she okay?"

"She shouldn't be bothered."

"Is she in trouble?"

"The only trouble in her life right now is you, Aang."

Everyone froze.

"Toph…?" Sokka tried. "What is going on?"

The young woman suddenly shuddered. She growled and pursed her lips. "Nothing, Snoozles. Skipper is off to sleep. We should follow suit."

"Okay." Suki nodded.

"If you try to take another step to go find her, I'll bury you ten feet under." The earthbender started preparing her bed. "Leave her alone."

"What if-?"

"She's fine. Leave her be."

The engaged couple exchanged a look and shrugged as Sokka finished setting up their tent. Katara quickly set up hers and sat down in front of it, waiting for Aang. She had no idea what had happened with the airbender, but she was sure Toph would not turn on Aang on her behalf without a strong reason.

"Ready to get some sleep?" She asked when Aang stepped up to her.

"…yeah." He swallowed hard.

"Aang, I'm sure she's fine." Katara tried to reassure him, but the lost look in his eyes was something heartbreaking.

"I don't know what I did wrong."

"Aang…"

"How can I fix something I didn't know I broke? How do I make this right?"

"I don't know," Katara replied. "But we'll figure it out."

"You could start with stop stringing her along. And being honest with her for once." Toph called out. "Telling the truth never hurt nobody."

And the earthbender turned her back on them.

"…come on." Katara gulped, tugging his arm. "Let's get some sleep."

–X–

The sun rose, and everyone woke up to the delicious smell of breakfast being served. Katara stepped out of her tent and smiled. Ahria was leaning over the fire, cooking breakfast. Toph was the first to join her, Katara followed soon after, and the couple plopped down next to them. Aang was the last to join them, nodding his thanks in silence.

"So, I figured out where we landed," Ahria spoke up. "We're at a beach on the far side of the Fire Nation. On foot, we'll take about four days to get to the outskirts of the Capital."

"Best if we start moving then." Katara declared.

"Let's get to it." Suki nodded. "Rea, thank you. Breakfast is delicious."

"You're welcome." She bowed her head.

After they finished eating, everyone cleaned up after themselves and packed everything up. Ahria hoisted her bag over her shoulder and moved to retrieve her staff from Appa. Momo perched itself up on her shoulder and curled its tail around her upper arm. Toph began walking to the forest and everyone followed suit.

Katara watched as Aang walked beside her, head down and eyebrows scrunched up. Even though he appeared deep in thought, she knew he paid close attention to what was happening behind him. Or better yet, who walked behind him. She sighed and took his hand, squeezing it.

"Last stop, Fire Nation."

A/N: It's quite probably the last short one, I pinky promise. I will not go back to short ones. I promise! I think I'm getting to the point of no return where I can't drop the story... but still. Keep in mind, I'll keep this story up or drop it depending on your feedback.

Thank you in advance for taking the time to review if you want, or if you don't, I hope you liked it!

First to review gets a cookie!

Lots of love from this weirdo,

LoneeWolf :)