The Sea of Ice (Sun and Moon Book 2)

Chapter 24 - Dreams

So wow, guys! I didn't even have this chapter written! I logged into my email and had seven comments already. 0_0 you guys are amazing!!! *hugs everyone and passes out cookies* I love you all! *-*

Also, I've been missing writing actual Zutara scenes, so I posted a new book called ATLA Shorts. Some of you have seen it, some of you haven't, but there's lots of Zutara in it so I suggest checking it out! ^-^

______

She woke with a scream, his name on her lips. A sickening sense of panic enveloped her, and she wrapped her arms around herself, trying to calm down. She couldn't shake it though, the horrible feeling. She couldn't get rid of the images in her head. Fear and fury warred inside her, along with her practical side which tried to tell her that it was just a dream.

But she didn't think it was. How could it be, when it was so very, very real?

She pressed her feet to the floor, but the cold rug didn't help. She couldn't see anything in this place.

Then another form was there, hazy through the messed up vibrations of the snow blocks. His warm fingers brushed her shoulder.

"Toph?"

"Hey, Sparky." She tried to make her voice sound normal, but her misery seeped through. He sat down beside her, put an arm around her shoulders.

"You were screaming..."

"I had a bad dream." Toph whispered the words, hating the sound of them in the darkness. They made her feel weak, but she had to tell someone. "I've been having them for awhile."

"How long?"

"Almost two weeks. Every night." She shuddered again, remembering.

"Do you... uh... wanna talk about it? Them?" She could hear the uncertainty in his voice--despite their friendship, Zuko had never been good at mushy stuff like emotions. For that matter, neither was Toph.

But she couldn't keep it bottled up anymore.

"They're... they're about Aang. He's trapped somewhere, under a lot of ice. I... I think he's in trouble, Zuko."

He stiffened when she said his name. She never called him by name. "Aang's in trouble? In your... dream?"

She pushed him away. "I know you think I'm crazy, but I'm not! I know it's stupid, I know it's just a dream, but there's something WRONG! He should've been back by now." She hugged her knees, her voice breaking on the last sentence. "It's been MONTHS. He should... he should be back." She hated how small her voice sounded. How afraid.

Zuko was quiet for awhile, and Toph felt embarrassed for telling him. Why hadn't she gone to Suki, or even Sokka? Why ZUKO? Then, he surprised her.

"Okay. So let's go get him."

"What?"

"Let's go to this Araden place, and get Aang."

For the first time since the dreams started, Toph felt something similar to hope. Zuko was right. All they had to do was go get him. But... her hopes crashed to the ground. "I can barely see HERE. I'd never make it."

"I'll help yo--"

"No. You don't understand. I CAN'T. But please, Zuko, you have to save him! I know there's something wrong. You can do it! Please?" She hated that she had to plead with him.

"Of course, Toph. I'll bring him back, I promise." He squeezed her arm, and his words echoed in the room long after he'd gone.

Toph laid in bed, but she still couldn't sleep. She tried to figure out what was keeping her awake. She was worried about Aang, and now Sparky... was that it? Twila had said that even she had trouble with the journey, that the Avatar was the only one capable of surviving. How could Zuko survive by himself? He couldn't.

It would be too cold, too snowy, too wet...

And it would be too cold for a waterbender, too. Unless... Toph jumped out of bed and ran from the room, not bothering to get dressed. She had to find Sokka. She needed him to write a letter for her, and then she needed Hawkie.

**__**

Iroh watched the sun rise over Ba Sing Se, his thoughts troubled. Katara refused to back down, and he didn't know what was right. Zuko needed to know about his daughter, but if Iroh told him then Katara would just hate them both, and she would take Lia and leave. And they would never see her again.

Already, Iroh was attached to the little girl. He couldn't imagine not watching her grow up and live her life. He--

A flutter of wings drew his attention to the doorway, and he smiled as he saw a messenger hawk land on a table near him. The ribbon was green--it was from Toph! Iroh pulled the paper from the bird's container, and unfurled it quickly.

His smile turned to a frown, though, as he read the words.

He sat down heavily, his thoughts whirring. He was still sitting there when Katara walked into the room, her steps soft. She stopped when she saw him, turned to go.

"Wait. You need to read this." He held Toph's message out to her, and she walked closer so she could take it from him. Her eyes were wary, her movements hesitant. Neither of them knew where to go from here, but Iroh knew something she didn't. Something that would change everything.

Something that would change the world.

______

Five comments! I'll try to hurry and write! XD