𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐀𝐋 ᵃᵗˡᵃ

Chapter Three: Now I Really Hate Hippies

"Oh, no. No, no, no, no, no! I am not going in that death trap!" I shrieked. Appa groaned in agreement.

Sokka growled, "Beth, everyone else is already inside. It's either this, or the Fire Nation." He grabbed my arm and tried to pull me inside the cave.

I dug my heels into the ground. "I'd rather take my chances with the human flamethrowers!" I was panting; the thought of being trapped in the labyrinth, combined with the nomads' music, set me over the edge.

Maybe Sokka could sense my fear, because his eyes softened, and he said, "It'll be okay. We'll be in and out. Just calm down." I took a deep breath and nodded. He led me and Appa into the cave.

A few moments later, an avalanche of boulders closed off the entrance.

"No! No, no, no ... " I ran to the entrance and started digging at the rocks. "I have to get out, I can't stay in here!" I whispered. Appa pawed at the tunnel walls. Maybe he's claustrophobic too. Katara stroked his shoulder.

"It's okay, buddy." She turned to me as I joined her. "You alright?"

I shook my head, "Not in the least bit."

Chong held up a torch. "These'll last around two hours each."

Lily started lighting the rest of the torches. "So that's ten hours!" Sokka grabbed them and stomped the fire out.

"Not if you light them all at once!" I yelled. She gave a sheepish smile.

Sokka pulled out a piece of paper and some sort of pen. "I'm making a map."

Katara and Aang shared an unsure look. I couldn't help but agree.

I'm a claustrophobic, trapped underground, with a claustrophobic flying bison, two optimists, a pessimist, and a bunch of idiots.

I'm going to die in here.

Aang placed a hand on my shoulder. "What's wrong?" I just shook my head.

We'd been in the tunnels for what felt like hours, and Sokka kept leading us to dead ends. I felt lightheaded from hyperventilating.

Sokka stopped again. "I don't get it. We've already been here."

Chong strummed his lute. "No maps. We just need love. Isn't that right, Arrowhead?"

Aang looked up, "Maybe, but I'd still like a map."

Sokka turned around slowly. "Guys, you're going to think I'm crazy, but ... I think the tunnels are changing."

Just then, the walls shook around us. Dust fell and settled on our heads and shoulders. My knees buckled, and I slid down the wall. "When I said I wanted to know how Percy felt in the Labyrinth, this is not what I meant."

Chong spun around. "Oh, no! I knew it, this was a bad idea! We should never have come!"

"Gee, why didn't I think of that?" Sokka muttered.

Katara held up a hand. "Shh. Do you guys hear that?" A snarl reverberated through the tunnels. Momo jumped off of Sokka's shoulder and into my arms. Sokka slowly lifted his torch.

Suddenly, this thing shot out of the darkness. It had the body of a wolf, the snout of a hog, and ... bat wings?

"What is that?!" I screamed, ducking as it flew overhead.

"Wolfbat!" Moku bellowed. The "wolfbat" flew toward Sokka. Panicked, he swung his torch at it. It worked, partially; the wolfbat disappeared, but cinders landed on Appa, causing him to run into the walls. Rocks rained down from the ceiling.