Avatar: The Dragon Ryu

Badger Moles

Ryu and Toph arrive at a cave. There's no one around for miles. Ryu drops his bag on the floor and walks over to the opening. "This is it? This is where I'll be staying for a whole year?! You're joking.. Please tell me you're not being serious."

Toph shakes her head. "As serious as I'll ever be. This is where I got lost. In there, there's five bagger moles. They helped and taught me how to see. When I block off all the exits it'll be pitch black. You won't be able to see for a while. Don't worry, I've already asked the moles if this is okay. They don't mind. They will teach you how to see like I see. Then you will be taught, by me, how to use this sense at all times. I taught my old friend Aang how to, but he only used it when he thought about it. I want you to use it at all times.. And.." Toph can feel a lump form in her throat. She didn't want to cry, but she couldn't stop it. "I- I'll miss you Ryu." She scooped Ryu up in a hug, he was also crying at this point. They stayed hugging for a while. "I love you Ryu."

"I love you too."

~~~

With all of the exits blocked off, it's really hard to see. Ryu gets on his knees and feels around, afraid that he'll bump into something. The ground is a nice, cool temperature. Feeling around, the cave is pretty wide. Ryu was pretty scared to start going deep into the cave. But he'll have to do it at one point, so that'll just have to be now.

He starts going forward, making sure to feel everything within his reach. Everything is hard and rough until he feels something soft and mushy. "What the.." Ryu feels up the thing, then he feels air rush past him, hitting him full force. It was moist and made him feel icky after. Whatever he was feeling wasn't rock. Ryu's mouth opened and without even thinking he screamed. The thing moves and sniffs him. He trembles, but stays still. It touches its forehead to Ryu's then suddenly he can see what's in front of him. "Wow... is this how granny Toph sees?" The Badger mole starts walking away so Ryu follows it. It doesnt seem to mind.

When they reached their destination there were four more badger moles. They all already seem to know who Ryu is, taking him in and giving him the food Toph prepared in advance. He takes it and eats. They eat with him, but they eat various bugs like centipedes and worms.

"Soo.. you guys like it in here? ..Do you think if I close my eyes because it's so dark and you guys are too far away that I could fall asleep while eating?" Ryu chuckles to himself. "I'm going to miss having company.. But I'll get through this! It won't be that hard.. It's not like I have to train-"

~~~

"Eugh- haa.. huff.. God.. Ha.. I can't believe I have to train my earthbending here.. huff- I'm so tired.." The badger moles wouldn't give Ryu his food unless he trains at least three hours everyday.

"There.. Phew! I'm beat." Ryu flops on his makeshift dirt bed. He's been in the cave for about eleven months from how he's been keeping track. Toph gave him one of her braille watches and taught him how to use it. It's five o'clock, so it's about dinner time. Ryu can see pretty much the entire cave now. He feels the badger moles grab the food from where they keep it. (he can see where they keep it now but pretends he doesnt know)

When he feels that they got the food he runs over. "Thanks for grabbing it Bob. You know, you're the most responsible one here." Bob nods and eats his food. The badger moles eating bugs were gross, at first, but it got better. The sounds are still super gross but it's better to handle. After everyone finished they all went to their rooms.

Tommrrow is the day Ryu goes back home to Toph and everyone. He's excited but also sad to say goodbye. He's named all of the badger moles. There's Bob, Nancy, Fern, Lil man, and his best friend (out of the badger moles) is Gil. Gil is the one that found him in the beginning. Gil and Ryu both sleep in the same room, kinda like roommates. But they actually live in the same room.