Wandering Firebender

Seventy Seven: Metalbend

"Whoa! Hey, can you tell whoever's flying this thing to keep it steady?!"

Cindra stepped out of her room in the airship to find a young Earth Kingdom girl that she didn't recognize standing in the hallway complaining loudly.

Cindra had heard already that there would be someone new onboard the ship for this mission, and although she might've vaguely recognized hearing the name Toph Beifong somewhere before, this was her first time seeing her in person.

This seemed like as good of a time as any to introduce herself.

"Hey! Is everything alright?" She asked as she approached her.

"Does it look like everything's alright?" Toph replied sharply, "I need to feel vibrations to see where I'm going, but this stupid ship shakes so much in the air that I can't keep my balance." She explained with a huff.

"Do you need help?" Cindra offered a hand to her.

"Ugh..." Toph impatiently blew a puff of air out of her mouth before taking Cindra's hand. "Thanks."

"You're welcome. I'm Cindra. You must be Toph Beifong." She presumed.

"Yep, that's right. You're one of Katara's friends, right? The other waterbender girl?" Toph asked.

"I am, yeah! How is she?"

"Fine," Toph answered with a shrug. "Hey, where's hotfoot at? I thought he was supposed to be the captain."

"You mean Elio? He's...in his quarters. He's been going through a tough time lately." Cindra said in a lower voice.

"Yeah, well he's not the only one. I hope we land soon so I can get off this hunk of junk."

"Yeah...um, well, have you eaten yet? Why don't we go get some food?" Cindra suggested to redirect the focus of the conversation.

"Ooh yeah, that would be great! I'm starving!" Toph realized.

"Great. Let's go then." Cindra said, leading Toph by the hand down to the dining area.

Toph didn't seem to be entirely clueless of her surroundings, but she had an odd way of feeling her way around. It wasn't until she noticed the absent expression in Toph's eyes that she came to realize that Toph was blind.

Why would Zuko send a blind girl of all people to help them on this important mission?

"Hey, Cindra! Over here!" Sri, who was eating with Alger at one of the tables, called her over. Cindra and Toph walked over to them, "Who's your friend?" She asked curiously.

"This is Toph. She's accompanying us on this mission, apparently," Cindra introduced her. "Toph, these are my friends Sri and Alger."

"Toph? As in Toph Beifong?" Alger asked, raising an eyebrow.

"That's right. I know you, don't I? I'm pretty sure I don't know anybody else named algae." Toph asked with a sideways smile.

"Alger. Alger San."

"Sandman! I do know you! How've you been?" Toph asked enthusiastically.

"I'm well. I hardly recognized you, Toph. You look very different." Alger commented with a chuckle.

"Heh, you're just saying that because I ditched the makeup and the foo-foo girly clothes."

"Among other things, yeah." Alger agreed. They both chuckled at this.

"You two know each other already?" Cindra asked.

"Obviously." Toph said.

"We've spoken a few times at different functions. You were only about 7 years old the first time we met. I take it you aren't staying with your parents anymore?" Alger deduced.