Part 4

Toph returned to camp early that morning, finding her friends were already wide awake, making breakfast around the fire pit. Smellerbee instantly teased, "Welcome back, love bird!"

Toph shot the remark down quickly, choosing to just ignore it completely.

"You have mail, two letters actually."

Dragging the other girl by her hand to a small clearing, they both sat down.

"Read them to me here please."

The other girl first read aloud the note from Sokka, a bright red blush instantly staining the pale girls face.

"Oooooohhhh you kissed him!"

"Shut up!"

"I can stop reading at any time.."

"No please read the next one..."

"Okay, next one is from your old friend Aang."

"What the hell does he want? We restored peace already or whatever - this girl is still catching up on her sleep!"

"It seems important.."

"Alright go on then - please,"

"Dear Toph,

Hopefully you can get someone to read this to you - I was just going to send Momo but I'm not sure you would be able to understand him either! I keep hearing rumors of a small fire nation group that is growing larger each day. Some say they are trying to plan a rebellion, possibly another Ozai disaster if I don't deal with this in time. I'm trying to get the gang together, one last 'fight' , huh? I heard you might be in the fire nation already from a few merchants in town so it would be great to all meet up within the next few days. I've already set up camp so get here as soon as you can, see you soon!"

"Oh brother! Not this again..."

"Are you going to go?"

"I mean... if the whole gang is going... I might as well, right?"

"You better head out then, how about we write one more letter to your lover before we leave?"

"He's not my lover... but alright whatever.."

Already prepared with paper and ink, Smellerbee carefully waited to dictate Toph's words into writing.

"Dear Sokka,

I'm sorry I've had to lie to you, but it's not best for you to find out who I am just yet. Maybe it will never be the right time. I'm scared of how you would react, what you would say to me... I think it's best that our letters stop here.

Love, Anonymous"

"Wow you're stopping them already? We were just getting started!"

"He can't find out who I am... last night was too close of a call.."

"You're seriously no fun!"

Sending the letter out, Toph gathered her belongings. After a few quick goodbyes and see you laters, she quickly set off to the area Aang mentioned in his letter. Back to business, no more fun and games.

It was only a few hours before she arrived to her destination, she could feel Appa's presence from miles away. They were easy to find, on the ground at least. She charged the campsite, screaming into the air, "Your favorite earthbender is back and ready to kick some fire nation ass!"

Katara and Aang sprung up from their seats, running over to embrace Toph in one of their good old fashioned group hugs. She wasn't much of a hugger, but it was nice to be with them again.

After a bit of catching up, they sat around the fire munching on some pastries Aang had purchased from Iroh's tea shop back in the earth kingdom.

"I wasn't exactly sure where to find you at first Toph, we looked around the earth kingdom for a while at first but couldn't find a lead, the fire nation was one of the last places I would expect you to be."

"What can I say, I've grown fond of their strange fire food."

"You're actually the first one here surprisingly. We're still waiting on Sokka and Zuko. Sokka was easy to convince, It's way more difficult to strip the fire lord away from his throne for a few weeks."

"I'm sure cranky pants will figure it out."

She had almost forgotten the obvious, Sokka would be there. The letters definitely had to stop now, they would be too close to get away with something like that. Her cover would be blown way too easily.

The three of them sat around the fire late into the night, sharing stories both old and new of their travels. It was nice to reminisce on the old days, but would they ever be the same? It had been so long, who knows if they would be able to battle in harmony like they once did so easily. She needed to stay focused this time around, her feelings were irrelevant anyways.