Avatar, The Storm Book 2: Blood Drifts

Chapter 2 Wayward Souls

After a couple of minutes, Iroh reappeared from the back, carrying a tray with some odd looking drinks on it. Iroh started setting the drinks down on the table in front of each, everyone looking down at it in confusion. Toph picked up her cup and smelled it. It was unlike any kind of tea she had smelled.

"What is it?" She questioned.

"Oh, it is a new tea of my own invention."

"If it's tea, why is there stuff in the bottom?" Iroh turned to Toril, who was sniffing it suspiciously.

"Those are little balls of tapioca I cooked so they would be soft and tender." As Iroh walked away, Zuko choked and spat out his mouthful, which seemed to consist mostly of those tapioca balls. He grimaced and turned to Aang.

"Tea is not meant to be chewy." He muttered under his breath so his uncle wouldn't hear. Aang, however, was drinking away at his tea happily.

"I think it's delicious!" Zuko blinked a couple of times before pushing his tea towards Aang and walking off, muttering something about getting his own. Katara watched him go, shaking her head.

"He's getting more moody by the second. I can't take it, I'm saying something." She got up, only to be grabbed by Toril.

"That might not be the best idea, Katara."

"Well, we can't just sit here and do nothing!" Aang stood up and walked over to Iroh.

"That's one of the reasons why we're here. Zuko's been acting off lately, he hasn't been sleeping well. And he hasn't said a word to any of us." Sokka nodded.

"We figured if anyone could snap him out of it, it could be you."

"Not that anyone else has bothered trying." Katara muttered.

"Let it go, Katara, it'd be a waste of effort."

"You don't know that Toril." Toril shrugged.

"Actually, I do."

"Oh, what? You've been on this team like what? A week? And you already think you know us better then the others?"

"No, Sunshine, I think you're just a little salty because I'm more equipped to understand what's going on in my cousin's thick skull!" Katara stood up abruptly.

"Sunshine?!" Sokka stood up too, slightly panicked.

"Uhhh, guys? Don't you think you both should calm down? Besides, Toril, you really don't want to anger someone who can blood bend." Sokka cautioned, looking from his sister to Toril with concern. Toril turned to him, a look of pure shock on her face. 

"Blood WHAT?!"