Balance | Old Version

Chapter 68

Elua's POV.

We stand in front of the entrance of the Serpents pass. Suki had decided to join us, just in case something happened.
"This is the Serpent's Pass. I thought it would be windier, you know, like a serpent," Sokka says as we look at the path along the mountain. "Hmm, I guess they misnamed it," He shrugs.
"Look at this writing, how awful," Ying says as she reads the lettering that has been carved into the side of a wooden arch.
"What does it say?" Toph asks in curiosity.
"It says, 'Abandon hope'," Katara reads, her face turning to a look of gloom.

"How could we abandon hope? It's all we have," Ying says sadly.
"I don't know. The monks used to say that hope is just a distraction. So, maybe we do need to abandon it," Aang says, understanding why someone would write that.
"What are you talking about?" Katara asks him in confusion.
"Hope isn't going to get us into Ba Sing Se, and it's not gonna find Appa. We need to focus on what we're doing right now, and that's getting across this pass," Aang explains.
"Ok, if you say so," Katara says shrugging her shoulders as we begin to walk along a narrow peak, spotting a Fire Nation ship in the water as we walk.

"The Fire Nation controls the western lake," Suki informs us. "Rumor has it they're working on something big on the other side, and they don't want anyone to find out what it is," She states. Suddenly, the mountain rumbles for and part of the path that Tahn is standing on collapses. Before he falls, Toph bends a ledge under him and saves him.
"I'm okay," Tahn reassures his wife. The noise of rocks falling alerts the Fire Navy ship of our presence and they begin to fire at us.

"They've spotted us! Let's go, let's go!" Sokka shouts as a fireball is heading towards us. Aang airbends the fireball back at the ship, causing minor damages to it. I suddenly hear the sound of rock on rock, I look up and see rocks heading straight for me but, Sokka quickly pushes me out of the way. Before the rocks hit him, Toph stops them and he runs over to me.
"Elua, are you ok?" Sokka asks me, I nod. "You have to be more careful! C'mon!" He says as we run after the others.

That Night.

I was setting up my sleep mat by the edge of the mountain, a little bit away from the others when Sokka rushes over to me.
"Elua, you shouldn't sleep there," Sokka tells me. "Who knows how stable this ledge is? It could give way at any moment," He says as he takes my sleeping mat and sets it next to his.
"What is with you lately?" I ask him. "Is this about me getting hurt? Because I'm fine, there's no need to worry over me," I reassure him.
"You're right, you're right," Sokka sighs.

"You're perfectly capable of taking care of yourself...Wait!" He suddenly shouts as he steps in front of me. "Oh, never mind. I thought I saw a spider, but you're fine," He says smiling as he walks away, I watch after him in confusion. Later that night I went looking for Sokka, but when I found him he was about to kiss Suki. So, here I am, sitting in a pool of emotions with my feet dangling over the edge of a cliffside. I'm sad and mad and just, ugh! Why do I even care? He was in love with Yue and I didn't care then...did I? I'm so confused, but at the same time, I'm not at all.

Maybe Toph was right, maybe I am in love with him. I suppose it wouldn't matter if I was, he obviously isn't in love with me. I sigh as I hear footsteps behind me.
"Hey, there you are!" I hear Sokka say behind me. "I've been looking all over for you," He tells me, but I don't lookup.
"I've been here," I say sadly.
"...What's wrong?" He asks in concern as he sits beside me.
"Nothing," I say, he doesn't seem convinced. "We should get some rest," I tell him as I stand up and walk away.

The Next Morning.

We come up to a part of the pass where there is no path or anything to walk across, just the blue ocean.
"Everyone single file," Katara instructs as she bends the water into a bubble that surrounds us and allows us to breathe underwater. "Elua, I need help," She tells me, I nod and start to bend the water with her. We walk under the water in our bubble, but as we walk we see a shadow swim over us.

"What is that thing?" Suki asks as we stare at the creature in front of us. Whatever it is, it breaks through the bubble and water starts to rush in. Toph earthbends us out of the water and we see a green spine like thing poking out of the water. Suddenly, it shoots out of the water and we see it's a giant Serpent.
"I think I just figured out why they call it the Serpent's Pass!" Sokka shouts as the Serpent screeches at us angrily.