Avatar, The Storm Book 2: Blood Drifts

Chapter 3 Swordfights and Nightmares

The next couple of days were spent running around Ba Sing Se, questioning the family and friends of the disappeared people.

"Anything new?" Toril asked as Katara and Toph walked back into the house. Katara shook her head.

"Same as the others. According to Emoni, her husband disappeared in the middle of the night and hasn't been heard from since. They have two kids."

"People disappearing in the middle of the night, now that definitely sounds familiar." Sokka remarked.

"Maybe a spirit's doing it or something." Toph suggested. Aang turned to Toril.

"What if it's Ascian?" Zuko winced at the name, remembering that last night in the Fire Nation. The last night he had slept. Every time he closed his eyes, Ascian's words echoed in his mind. No one seemed to notice his reaction, everyone waiting for Toril to respond. She was clearly in deep thought.

"This doesn't sound like Ascian's M.O. He doesn't generally get himself involved in matters. Normally leaves it up to Vad."

"Wait, if he doesn't get involved in things than why was he on the ship?" Toph questioned. Toril shrugged.

"Probably because he'd had enough of Vad's incompetence to put me in the ground. But besides, if Vad took those guys, there'd be much more of a mess. Vad doesn't exactly know the definition of restraint when it comes to Firebending." Aang nodded.

"Yeah, that reminds me, Zuko, I think I need to continue my Firebending training. I was thinking, since it's a shadow spirit we're dealing with, what better to fight it with than fire?" Zuko looked up at Aang, a weird expression on his face.

"Just practice the moves you know for now, I..... I don't think I'm in the right headspace to teach anything tonight." Zuko stood up and walked off. Everyone exchanged a look and Toril shook her head sadly before standing up.

"I'm gonna go see if I can find anything else. I'll see you all later."

A few hours later, Toril entered the Ba Sing Se university, and looked around.

"Can I help you with something?" A woman asked, walking over to her.

"Uh, maybe. Is there a teacher or student or anyone here that knows anything about human psychology? I'm trying to figure something out." The woman shook her head.

"No, I don't believe there is." Toril sighed, looking slightly defeated.

"Eh, I figured. Thanks anyways." She walked back out of the university, biting her lip. "I gotta figure out some way to help the dumbass without him realizing I'm trying to help." Toril thought as she walked down the street.

"Hey, wait, lady!" She turned around and saw a man running towards her, stopping in front of her.