Book Four: Air

IC: Samanya

With a resounding thud, he clapped his hand againest Sokka's back. "Samanya come with you! Find small one! Beat bad men!" He grinned wide, clapping his hand againest Sokka again and again, with a little more force than probably necessary.

"We get small one back!"

IC: Azon

"I think you'll require my help in order to find the ship," said Azon, heading towards Sokka.

"So I shall accompany you as well."

As he passed by the young Avatar, a curious sensation overtook the two of them. It was as if time itself slowed to a crawl, leaving the two of them the only intelligent beings still in existence. The color of life seemed to fade in place of the strong blue light of Aang's energy, and the emerald green of Azon's.

"Since beginningless time, darkness has thrived in the void. The paths of the world are changing; the end has become the beginning. There is much to do...much to see; your eyes are still not open. In time we will meet, in time we will talk and you will see. But for now...we shall follow the paths that lead each of us to the end."

And then the strange sensation stopped; Azon and everyone continued talking as if there was no interruption.

"The ship is small and simple; it can not sail as swiftly as we can fly. If we make haste, we will be able to catch them."

IC: Suki

"You heard the man!" said Suki. "You boys need to get going. Don't make Toph wait any longer than she has to." Her voice grew a little more serious. "He"--meaning the stranger-"says they won't kill her, but that doesn't mean they haven't hurt her."

***

IC: Toph

The rolling of the ship was beginning to get to her stomach. Toph knew she got easily sea-sick, and now, deep in the bilge, it was happening all over again. The nausea did not help with her sore, aching head, or her stiff body.

She choked behind her gag.

Closing her eyes, Toph tried to relax. There was no way she was going to get sick with that gag on.

NAME: Jerrel
AGE: 15
APPEARANCE: https://2img.net/h/i88.photobucket.com/albums/k195/Ersher9/Black_Ninja_by_gelgoogkg.jpg
PERSONALITY: Doesn't take any crap, never backs down, is very protective, somewhat of a loner as well.
HISTORY: On the outside the Bei Fong family was seen as rich prostegious family, but they had agents that they used to protect their family and influence their competitors to surrender to them. Jerrel is one of those agents and he was charged with the protection of the Bei Fong family's daughter, Toph. He was punished severely when Toph ran away to join the Avatar. Now that the war was over he was told to search for Toph and bring her home.
BENDER (if applicable): Yes, Earth.

Aang paused in confusion for a second after what Aang had thought was a Guru had walked past him and time began to flow again. He glanced towards the man for a second but said nothing, actually wondering whether or not it had actually happened.

Aang looked towards Sei as though it was the first time he had seen the guard here. "I need you to go find Lady Katara and to tell her about what has happened. Then ask her to head for the stables, you should probably run since it's kind of important." He ordered the guard, partially to get rid of him, and partially so things could be sped up as well.

Sokka nodded at Suki and then at Aang. He spoke, "We should get going."

IC: General Narrative

Sei could only nod at the command. There was no officer more superior than the Avatar, in his opinion. The guard raced out of the room to deliver the message.

He found Katara rather easily.

"Lady Katara, you are needed," he said. "Your friend has been taken, and your brother and a few others are going after her."

~~~

The rest of the guards wished Sokka, as well as Azon and Samanya, the best of luck on their mission. Appa was brought from the stables to the front of the manor. The giant bison seemed to sense there was trouble, and groaned deep in his throat.

***

IC: Toph

Relaxing was hard to do when your head and heart were all in shambles. Toph kept thinking about her friends, and whether or not they had realized she was gone. And if they had, would they come after her? How long would it take?

And that was just yet. Toph feared she just might be on her own now. The council in the Colonies needed to take place, and her second family had been asked to help. It was an important meeting. They couldn't put it off or forget about it all for a measly little earthbender.

Stop it! That's what he wants you to think!

Her friends cared about her. Toph knew they would find her. Until then, she just had to hang tight.

So she thought about the past couple of days she had spent with Sokka. She had been so happy... Those memories helped combat the feelings of fear, doubt, and helplessness that now plagued her.

***

OOC: You are good to go, Ersher!

Katara

"What," Katara asked, eyes going wide. "Who was kidnapped?!" He said 'her', but that didn't help much, either Toph of Suki, and Sokka would go after either of them. They'd probably be taking Appa, and not waiting for an answer, Katara was already running to the stable, first stopping by her room to gather her clothes and her water pouch.

Zuko

As soon as Zuko, Aang, and Suki were alone, Zuko told them, "Aang, Suki, I can't go with you to the colonies. Not yet."

IC: Suki

She stared at him surprise. "Why not?" asked Suki. "Has something happened, Zuko?"

Now that some of the mayhem over Toph's kidnapping had gone away, Suki could see that Zuko looked rather haggard. She wondered what was bothering him, though she had a bad feeling about it.

Zuko

Zuko took a deep breath and said, "yesterday I got word that my father escaped from prison, and today I got a report that said Mai hasn't been seen in hours. It may just be coincidence, and even if it is, I need to see what I can do about my father, and to check on Mai."

Suki's eyes widened. As if it could not get any worse, this just had to happened.

"Of course you have to check it out," she said. "I understand. Just be careful, Zuko. I hope it turns out Mai is okay."

Aang began to grow worried after hearing Zuko's news. He nodded his head in agreement with Suki's statement. "I'm sure she'll be fine too, she's a strong person after all. But if..if she has been kidnapped, do you think there might be a chance that it's connected to Toph's disappearance too?" Aang asked as he looked up Zuko and Suki, wanting to see their reactions.

"I'm not sure," said Suki. "We'll have to consider that possibility, though. That, and think about whoever tried to have Sokka killed."

It was all troubling, to say the least.

Zuko

"I wouldn't be surprised if my father had all of this orchestrated," Zuko said. "He'd do anything to bring us down. We'll have to be on our guard, or something might happen to us as well."

Suki could not help but agree. It was no longer the days of the War, but it was still a very dangerous climate. She and her friends were obvious targets for many people and for different reasons.

It was almost overwhelming, in a way.

"We should try and get some rest," she said, looking at Aang. "It's late, and we have to leave for the Council at noon."

Though how could they rest when their friends were in danger?

(Wait, isn't Aang going with Sokka to save Toph.?)

OOC: I thought Aang was going to the Council with Zuko and Suki. Samanya and Azon and Katara are going with Sokka.

(OOC: Oh. Got it. Should I have Sokka prepare to leave now?)

OOC: That would be just fine. ^_^

Sokka smiled a little as he finished saddling up Appa. He was grateful to Aang that he let him ride the bison. He'd be able to overtake Toph's kidnappers in no time. He turned to Azon and Samanaya, "Are you guys ready?"

Katara

"Sorry I'm late," Katara said as she approached Sokka. "I only just heard, and rushed to get ready. No one told me who was kidnapped though."

Sokka turned to his sister and sighed, "It was Toph. Someone kidnapped her and we need to hurry up and rescue her!"

"You're right." Aang agree before sighing loudly as he began to feel slight annoyance mix in with his worry. He had wanted to spend time with the group all back together for a while, but once again fate had stopped it from happening. "I'll see you guys back at the mansion, I want to say goodbye to Katara before she goes." The Airbender decided before running ahead and grabbing his staff. Within the minute he was already in the air again, gliding towards the large home that he could see across the small island.

IC: Samanya

"Ready." The large man smiled at Sokka, althought slightly baffled as to how exactly this big creature was going to get them where they needed to go. Surely this immese bison wouldn't be able to keep up with those immense vessels he had seen in the harbour.

Rubbing Appa's side, Samanya glanced over at Katara as she arrived, but didn't say anything.

Katara

"Oh I just knew this would happen," Katara said. She sighed and looked over past Sokka, noticing the other two men for the first time. "So... who are these two, and where are the others," she asked.