Alternative action

----First things first, last chapter i made a small update at the bottom explaining that I won't actually have anyone yield guns. As much as I find it funny that someone uses a flintlock and shoots themself. The whole gun thing in general is just a jab at a few things. Like a few cliches and Lok.-----

-----Sokka pov-----

I miss Yue, though I don't really miss the cold. Spending so much time on the road I kind of gotten used to the sunshine. I should learn how to use a bow and arrow, that would make this so much easier.

With Aang and Katara practicing what they learned at the north pole left me to get food. Which now left me watching an Elephant-Boar. I had set up a few traps, but dinner wasn't moving. I had time though, all the time in the world.

"Hiyah!"

My eyes widened as my dinner was impaled by a large stone spike. "DINNER NO!" Spotting the robber of my dinner I charged. Except the earth moved beneath me. I sucked in a breath as I was forced into a split. Throwing my boomerang at the brat I missed.

"Ha! Can't hit a blind girl!"

Looking at the girl she was maybe 16? She was a little short actually. Jokes on her though! My boomerang hit her in the back of the head. Going for a tackle I entered a struggle. "Argh! Why are you so strong."

"Why are you so weak string bean!"

Deciding on a headbutt it felt like I hit a brick wall. I stumbled backwards into a well dress beautiful woman. "Oh hello?"

She dropped me as she marched toward the brat. "Toph! What is wrong with you! We are not barbarians we don't need to hunt for our food."

"Mom, we are out of rations and no where near the closest town!"

"Maybe, but that is no excuse for getting into a fight with..." The woman looked me over trying to decide on a word. She didn't have one. "Sokka what is going on?"

I sighed, letting my head fall back. Of coruse Katara was here to help.

"Oh, hello. Is my brother bothering you two?"

"Oh no, it was my daughter. Lately since we left home due to a... disagreement we have had a few troubles with discipline. May I ask who are you." She took a second pausing. "Three are?"

Aang helped me up. "Thanks man."

"No problem, what's up?"

I shrugged, "Tried to hunt dinner for me and Katara."

Aang nodded, He didn't eat meat, so I had already collected food for him. Zoning back into Katara's conversation with the lady i realized Katara offered camp to the two. Grabbing my sister I pulled her aside, "*What are you doing, That little girl is clearly evil.*"

Katara gave me the look, "*She's an earth bender, maybe she can teach Aang a thing or two.*"

I looked behind us at the two strangers, then leaned back in. "*What about the whole people hunting the Avatar thing? How can we trust them?*"

Katara slapped me in the back of my head. "Hey why?"

Katara rolled her eyes, "Sorry you had to overhear my conversation with my brother. Would you mind teaching my friend here how to earth bend?"

The girl the older woman called Toph stared blankly forward. oh shit, she's actually blind! She mentioned it earlier when i missed with Boomerang, but damn. Wait did she hear me call her an evil little girl?

The Mom answered first, "My baby can't teach earth bending! She's small and... Erm..." She sighed, staring at her daughter. "Fine only if she wants to."

"That's cool and all, but isn't your friend there a water bender?"

Aang laughed, "nah its all good! I'm the avatar!"

The older woman lit up and grabbed Aang's hand. "Oh my to think! My name is Poppy and this is my daughter Toph. We are from the Beifong family! Are these two your servants?"

Ah yes, rich people. I picked up my Boomerang, and got the elephant-boar. i would just make dinner. Eventually we were gathered around a campfire while I roasted pieces of meat for dinner.

"So why are you two out here by yourselves?"

Poppy sighed, "About a week or two ago. Our home was visited by some unwelcome guests. At first we tried to get rid of them, but they got my husband to turn around. I'll admit they offered some truly amazing ideas. Things related to glass production and some truly wonderful medicines. Except..."

Katara patted the woman on the back giving her some form of comfort. Until the little monster continued the story. "Except they wanted to buy me. Dad practically gave in too! Real bullshit if you ask me."

"Toph! Language young lady!"

The blind girl rolled her eyes, "It's true!" She then sighed, "At least you acknowledge my bending now."

"Toph! i always knew you were a powerful bender. Except you are my baby, I can't accept you running around like some hooligan. What if you get hurt?"

"I can take care of myself!"

"So what about these guest you had?"

Poppy jumped slighty, "Right, i'm sorry you had to see me and my daughter argue. Those guests wanted my daughter to form an alliance with them. It seems not only is the earth kingdoms are endanger."

Aang flinched at her words, but asked what I wanted to ask. "What do you mean by that?"

Toph threw a stick into the fire. "She means they were fire nation rebels! Woooo, so fun!"

Poppy quickly corrected, "But they were still monsters! Hiring a bounty hunter to kidnap my baby! When the bounty hunter tried to protect us they captured her and I presume tortured her!"

I raised an eyebrow, "You presume?"

"Well I mean she was being carried around tied up with rope. She wasn't really resisting so i assume she was tortured. Why else would she not resist right?"

i pulled a piece of meat off the fire. Seeing as it was done it was time to pass some around. Poppy just looked at it staring. "If you aren't gonna eat it..."

"No, no. i'll uh- I'll eat it, I am just not used to eating with my...hands."

-----Iroh pov------

Pulling a piece of seal off the fire i admired my handy work.

"Uncle?"

I looked at Zuko, he was wrapped in a blanket. "What is it?"

Zuko looked up, "I don't think i want to chase the avatar anymore."

My eyes widened, I was certainly glad. Except i had to wonder why his change of heart. "Why do you say that Zuko?"

"Just..." Zuko curled slightly, "Did you know Azula is traveling the earth kingdom?"

I nodded, "I do, a friend of mine told me."

Zuko fell back, "Yeah Zhao told me about it. She's on vacation while I am trying to regain my honor. Except, you were right. I could've died, I struggled and yet she is with Mai and Ty Lee playing princess."

"I don't think that is exactly what she is doing. Though i think I do understand."

Zuko grabbed a slice of seal from the fire. "Do you have some sort of metaphor for this?"

"You want a metaphor?"

Zuko sighed, "I'm twenty, and I failed to capture a twelve year old. I feel like a failure."

"You were never a failure Zuko, you never gave up hope. A failure wouldn't do that, and now you are questioning who you are. Something everyone goes through at some point."

"Azula hasn't."

I sighed, "Auzla hadn't reached a turning point. Though i do believe she too is growing as a person. She may not wish to believe it, but she has a sweet side."

"A sweet side? Ha! Yeah right."

Zuko may not believe it, but Azula has a soft side. After all Ursa was a special woman, even in her worst moments she seemed to affect those around her. Though she was rather soft herself. I looked back at Zuko, "Then what do you want to do?"

"I don't know..."

"Then I suggest we have a vacation ourselves, maybe we can find what you want to do."

He would find his path, some day. Just like I had.