The Avatar's Guardian: The Lost Story (Avatar the Last Airbender fanfic)

Chapter Twenty-Six

Satomi's P.O.V.
The journey to the Serpent's Pass is relatively short, and Suki decides to accompany us along this leg of our journey which lightens the mood. It also creates another barrier between Aang and myself which, for now, is the best. Aang sticks to Katara's side or vice versa, but either way, the proximity to Katara lightens his mood. Sokka is acting a bit off though, but following his gaze to Suki it's clear what his propelling him to act amiss. Toph hangs back with me, Suki, and Sokka as I explain what occurred on Kyoshi Island and catch her up on who Suki is while Suki between conversations with Sokka asks about our travels and my well being. She's rather interested in any advances in fighting I've made. I guess I can count her as one my friends as well now.

"There's a sign up there," Suki points out drawing me from my plotting and thoughts. I was contemplating the effects of severing the connection and how Aang will react once everything has been completed. The out come wasn't pleasant.

"What's it say?" Toph asks as Katara leans down to read it.

"It says, 'Abandon all hope on the pass.'" Katara bites her lip.

"Well that's comforting," Toph snorts crossing her arms over her chest. I nod in agreement.

"Who's going first?" Sokka asks suddenly as he looks out over the path way with Momo perched on his shoulder.

"I'll go first," Aang declares boldly, and Katara sticks beside him. Suki and Sokka follow suit, and I nudge Toph in front of me leaving the refugees in between Toph and me and Suki and Sokka which may just be the safest place for them for now. My side prickles fiercely, and I snap my head to the side, and sure enough there's a fire nation ship skimming across the lake.

"Keep moving," I call out to the others just loud enough for them to hear me. Aang looks back at me, and I jerk my head in the direction of the ship. His pace picks up considerably once he spots it. If he begins to question everything I say, then the likelihood of him surviving becomes slimmer by the second which means the chance of my death increases exponentially. Wonderful. There really is no way to knock sense in this kid is there?

Everyone begins to rush along the path to avoid being spotted by the fire nation ship. The rush causes one of the refugees to slip and nearly top into the waters below. Toph manages to save him and I have to wretch her back from the ledge so she doesn't tumble into the lake herself.

"That was close," Toph sighs. Something crunches suddenly. "Uh oh," she whispers and a piece of rock slides off the side of the path and splashes into the dark waters below. "Move!" I shout ushering the others forward as they all look back at us. There was no way the ship didn't see that and even now I can feel the prickling of my scar. They've seen us.

A fire ball is slung off the ship. I take to the skies and deflect it. I'm still weak from the desert. I need to be careful. More fire balls are slung at us forcing Aang into the sky as well. We deflect most of them, but one manages to get through. "Look out," I shout as I dive back towards it. I reach out with my bending and begin to pull it back, but it begins to change color and I'm forced to let it go. Thankfully it buys Toph enough time to protect Sokka, who pushed Suki out of the way.

"You alright?" Toph yells at Sokka over the roar of the battle once the debris settle.

"Come on," he urges Suki pulling her to her feet and rushing along the path with her completely ignoring Toph. Toph glares at him, but she drops it and keeps moving as I nudge her with a gust of wind.

"Keep moving!" I shout down to her. She nods and keeps going. The others rush across the path until Katara finds an alcove everyone stuffs inside. The small space accumulates the body heat and the nervous energy of the group.