Sight ↣ A:TLA

03

Thalia (1)

Toph and Aang were ambushed by Xin Fu and The Boulder. They left a note saying that if we want Toph back, my uncle and aunt must bring 500 gold pieces to the arena.

My uncle asked Master Yu to help get Toph back, Sokka and Katara said they'd go with them. I didn't say anything to anyone. I simply followed.

Once my uncle realized I was next to them, he didn't waste any time to yell at me. "You have one job here, Thalia! One job! I asked one thing of you!"

"I'm sorry, Uncle."

"No! You do not get to be sorry! If you had just obeyed-"

My hands were now in fists. "I have been. For the past three years, I've been at her side for everything. I didn't think this would happen, she was with the Avatar. The Avatar can do much more than I can."

My uncle and I looked away from each other.

"It isn't Thalia's fault. This was bound to happen." Sokka said. My uncle scoffed, "Do not defend her. She is at fault here."

Before Sokka could say anything else, I shook my head. "Thank you, but no thank you. Let's just focus on getting Toph and the Avatar."

When we reached the arena, you could hear Toph yelling. "You think you're so tough?! Why don't you come up here so I can smack that grin off your face!"

I couldn't help but chuckle, "Ah, that's my Toph."

Toph and Aang were up in metal coffins, Xin Fu and The Boulder had their backs to us.

"Toph!" I called out. The kidnappers turned around. Sokka held up the bag of gold pieces, "Here's your money! Now let them go!" Sokka dropped the bag in front of Master Yu who then slid over the bag using his bending to the other side of arena.

Xin Fu picked up the bag and looked inside it. Once he saw that the money was indeed there, he waved his hand. Toph's coffin was brought down.

Once she was out, she ran to us. I placed my hand on Toph's arm and gave it a squeeze before we walked away from the scene. When I realized that Aang wasn't brought down, I kept my head high and my mouth shut. It wasn't any of my business. We came for Toph and we got her.

When we were further down the tunnel, I stopped in my tracks when I heard Katara. "Toph, there's too many of them! We need an earth bender! We need you!"

"My daughter is blind! She is blind and tiny and helpless and fragile! She cannot help you!" My uncle said. Toph yanked her hand out of her father's, "Yes, I can."

Toph walked away from her father and walked past me. My uncle wore an expression that was mixed with shock and worry. "She's a lot tougher then you think, Uncle." I said.

He sent me a glare. "This is your fault! Being around you probably triggered something in my sweet daughter! I knew letting you stay with us would be a problem."

My chest tightened. My uncle was impossible, but his words were never cruel. "Then why did you?"

"I was respecting my brothers wishes!"

"...I'm done." I turned my back to him. "I am going home and I am going to pack my things and I will be gone by the time you return."

My uncle scoffed as I walked away from him. "And to think I believed you when you said family was all that mattered to you."

"Blood doesn't always make you family, Uncle. And I've had to learn that the hard way."

>>>

"Thalia, please reconsider." My aunt persevered.

"I've made up my mind. I told your husband I'd be gone by the time he returned." I put the straps of my backpack on my shoulders. "Thank you for the hospitality."

"Thalia," My aunt sighed. "Where will you go?"

Before I could answer a question I didn't even know the answer to, I was  interrupted. "You weren't going to say bye?" Toph asked me from the doorway.

My aunt left the room without saying a word. Toph walked into the room and punched my arm. "Ow!" I whined while rubbing where she had punched.

"I'm being affectionate." Toph said. "I know why you're leaving."

"I'm not wanted here, Toph. If I am, it's not for the right reasons."

"I said I know why you're leaving. That means you don't need to give me an explanation." Toph said. "And also, I'm leaving with you."

I widened my eyes, "What?!"

Toph covered my mouth with my hand. "If I stay here any longer, I'm going to go nuts. We don't have much time. Aang's going to leave soon." Toph began to shove some stuff into her bag as I tried to wrap my head around everything.

"We're going with Aang?" I asked with my brows furrowed. Toph changed into her outer wear. "He needs me. And I need you." She grabbed my hand and lead me to the window of the room. We hopped out and ran up the hill she said Aang and his friends would be.

When we made it up the hill, our panting got the attention of the Avatar. "Toph! Thalia! What are you doing here?!"

"My dad changed his mind." Toph lied with a smile. "He said I was free to travel the world."

Then they looked to me for my reason of being there. I shrugged. "I was going to leave anyway."

They all smiled. "Well, we better get outta here, before your dad changes his mind again." Sokka said. Toph and I nodded. "Good idea."