Part IV

The sun was setting, painting the entire valley in a soft, orange glow. Appa circled lazily in the air, searching for a suitable area to land. Sokka leaned over the side of the great animal.

"Appa! Appa!" He started to tug on the sky-bison's fur urgently. "Look, I think I found us a spot."

Appa emitted a short huff, partly of agitation and partly of agreement. He descended quickly, exhausted from the day's flying.

Toph grabbed onto the saddle so tightly that her knuckles turned white.

Aang noticed the earthbender's distress and decided to call her out on it. Her jabbed her in the shoulder, and said with a mischievous grin. "What's wrong, Toph? Can't handle a little flying?"

Toph's expression soured and she mumbled something under her breath about showing Aang "a little flying."

Katara chuckled softly. "Ok, knock it off you two. Let's try not to kill each other tonight, I'm tired."

The rest of the group murmured in agreement as Appa settled onto the grassy knoll spotted by Sokka.

Toph stood up quickly. "Finally, I can get off this snot monster!"

Just then, Appa flopped down onto his stomach, shaking the earth and sending Toph flying through the air.

"OOF!" She landed hard on the ground.

After a moment of silence, the entire crew burst out laughing. Toph stood up, steam pouring out of her ears.

"What was that? He… did that on purpose!"

Aang gracefully floated to the ground and scratched Appa under the chin, causing him to rumble happily.

"He didn't mean to do it. Isn't that right boy?"

Appa chewed on some grass in front of him.

Everyone was setting up camp for the night.

Sokka spoke up. "I'm going to go get some firewood."

Aang nodded in agreement and stared up at the sky. "Ok, I'll get the tents set up, it looks like it's going to rain tonight."

Toph saw her moment of opportunity. "Actually, if it's going to rain, we should get more than the usual amount of firewood. Aang, you should go help Sokka. Katara will set up the tent. And uh, I'll help."

Katara could not keep her feelings of surprise from her voice. "You will?"

Toph nodded.

"Alright Toph, the girl with the plan!" Sokka chanted.

Toph punched him in the arm. Aang giggled.

"Ow! Ok, we're going, we're going."

Both boys trekked off in search of dead twigs and branches.

Toph smiled to herself in triumph before turning to Katara, who was busily rooting around her pack for something. "Hey Katara."

"Yeah, Toph?" said Katara absent-mindedly, not picking her head up from her pack.

Toph put her hands on her hips. "I was just wondering… what were you and Aang really doing last night?"

Katara stopped moving. "Why would you… I mean… what?"

"I know you and Aang were lying to us last night. I'm not as dumb as Sokka."

Katara felt heat creep up her back. Why couldn't she just put this issue behind her? Katara knew she couldn't lie, but then again, she didn't have to tell the truth. She turned around and faced Toph. "Yes, I lied. But, I'm still not telling you anything. It's none of your concern. It was no big deal anyway." She bent back down and resumed searching her pack, this time a little more angrily.

Toph picked at her nails and adopted an overly innocent tone of voice. "Oh, I guess if it was no big deal you don't mind me asking Aang about it, do you?"

Katara snapped back up and whipped her head around. "You wouldn't."

Toph shrugged. "Since its 'no big deal,' I don't see why that would be a…"

Katara cut her off, throwing her hands into the air. "Ok ok ok ok! I'll tell you what happened. Just promise me that you won't bring this up to Aang."

Toph nodded enthusiastically.

"Or Sokka."

Toph looked disappointed. "Fine. I promise."

Katara twiddled with her fingers for a moment and took a deep breath. "I was bathing in the lake and Aang saw me naked."

Toph cocked her head to one side. Her lack of words bothered Katara.

"Well?"

Toph finally spoke. "So did you guys make out or what?"

Katara's eyes bulged. "What? No! Why would you say that?"

Toph laughed. "Come on, Katara. I can sense the way look at each other. Heck, I can feel both of your heartbeats pick up speed whenever you guys touch."

Katara blushed deeply at that statement. She opened her mouth, but no words came out.

"It's ok Katara. I'm just confused as to why you didn't take advantage of the situation. We both know you too feel about each other."

Katara shook her head violently. "I don't like Aang like that. He's a really good… friend."

Toph scoffed and raised an eyebrow. "Don't give me that, Katara. I don't need my feet to see that lie."

Katara hung her head in defeat.

Toph walked over to her and rubbed her arm. "Just tell him how you feel."

She nodded, but the earthbender wasn't convinced.

"Or I will."

Katara shot her a threatening glance, but Toph only grinned.

Author's Note: :)