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Suddenly I See

Chapter One

"Your faith in me brings me to tears, even after all these years.
And it pains me so much to tell, that you don't know me that well."

Shenanigan

Toph sat under one of the many maple trees scattered across the ground near their campsite, head resting back against the rough bark. She sat in serene silence as the sun set over the white-tipped hilltops in the distance, painting the sky a striking violet. The moon hung in the vast, azure-tinted sea above the land like a dream-catcher while the stars were peeked through even the darkest of the clouds, ready and waiting to shine through into the midnight sky. She was waiting for Sokka to arrive and bring her the news. Merely enjoying being free again, she didn't notice the time it was taking him.

The six of them had been camping for a few days by now, somewhere in the north of the Fire Nation. Toph had forgotten its name; was it really that important? What was important was why they were here. There had been fights breaking out all over a near-by village caused, of course, by a group of rebels. The whole thing wasn't hugely urgent, seen as these things tended to die down after a few months, but the Gaang had decided to travel together for old time's sake. And Spirits, did it feel good to get back on the road again!

Footsteps approached her from the direction of the campsite and she grudgingly peeled open her jade eyes, already knowing it was Sokka.

"Sorry I took so long. Katara kept asking what I was doing." He took a seat next to her, leaning back against the bark while his gaze flew up to the rainbow of colours in the sky.

"How long d'you think it'll take before he notices?" she asked nonchalantly, watching him for a moment through her sightless orbs. She stretched out her feet and leaned back a second or two later, moving her hands behind her head. The air was so fresh out here. It was great to get back outside after being cooped up in Zuko's palace for so often (she was enjoying avoiding the formality, too). She curled her toes up, letting the dirt wedge itself comfortably between her petite toes. Man, had she missed that feeling.

Sokka gave her a slight smirk. "Not too long."

Her lips formed a small smile. That was another thing she had missed; Sokka's company. He'd been with Suki practically all of the time as of late and she hadn't even had the time to share a joke with him, let alone hold a conversation! It was relaxing though, sitting outside with him, just her and Sokka sitting in the stretch of land beyond the smell of the campfire and, well, Appa. Toph couldn't help but wonder; why couldn't this feeling just last forever?

And then they heard the satisfying scream of a very surprised Aang.

"I'm like a bird, I'll only fly away.
I don't know where my soul is, I don't know where my home is."

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