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Post by blindgirl on Feb 23, 2008 22:18:09 GMT -5
Toph blinked awkwardly as she was carried by Sokka, very much she wanted to be back on solid dirty grimy ground. Kicking her heels into Sokka's stomach unintentionally she clung to him as he darted out of the way of the fire, down and spinning, effectively disorienting the girl.
She didn't have to see in order to feel the heat of the f lamming projectiles, after all it wasn't as if her other senses were broken. Her teeth gritted and she dug her fingers into the water tribe teen hoping to illustrate her point of not being all too amused.
" Put me down-HEY!" He sped up and dashed past what seemed to be his sister at least what she could tell from the ear piercing noise he was yelping, but soon enough she heard the water bender whip into action disarming the men.
This wasn't something she wanted to happen too often, no more metal, metal was horrible. She slackened her hold on him when she felt his knees nearly give out. She attempted to stretch down and touch the ground, nope, it was still metal. Inwardly she groaned wanting to feel the earth beneath her toes, this place sucked.
Soon enough the teen allowed her to be down on the floor. Her foot annoyingly slammed into the ground, it was much harder to feel on metal, the vibrations moved to quickly, it was an over load. In milliseconds she had a survey of the area but nothing was really that clear to her, it all came too fast.
But she'd rather it overwhelm her than have another "ride on sokky". Distastefully she glared ahead at the heartfelt reunion with Aang and bumsi or whatever his name was. " This is just lovely, glad we came all the way in here"
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Post by meatandsarcasm on Feb 24, 2008 16:01:02 GMT -5
Still catching his breath, it took Sokka a second to realize what Bumi was saying. The king not only didn’t want to be rescued, but he didn’t need to be, either. None of that made any sense, but then, Bumi didn’t make much sense himself. Maybe he had a plan. Maybe he was crazy. Either way, without his cooperation, Sokka didn’t think they’d be able to escape with him in tow. Even if they did, then what? If he needed to be in Omashu, he’d leave at the first chance given to him, and he certainly wouldn’t stick around to teach Aang earthbending.
“So, you’re telling us that we came all this way for nothing?” Sokka said a little bitterly.
“Well, not nothing,” Bumi said, grinning that half-insane grin that Sokka couldn’t quite figure out. “You got to see my lovely new home. I’ve tried to decorate, but I’m afraid I just can’t do much with the place.”
Sokka stared flatly at the king. Katara just looked befuddled by the whole thing.
Bumi cackled, “Oh, don’t be so uptight. Take a vacation. Read a book. I hear the desert is lovely this time of year.”
Sokka continued to stare flatly. Katara, still a little befuddled, shook off her confusion and walked over to Aang. She knew it would take some convincing to get him to really leave his friend behind it seemed, though Sokka also figured her motherly nature was taking over again.
“Come on Aang,” she said, placing a hand on his shoulder. “We can find you another Earthbending teacher.”
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Post by airnomad on Feb 27, 2008 22:18:23 GMT -5
Aang continued to look at Bumi, a frown visible on his face. He had really had his heart set on learning from his old friend, and at that moment he couldn't imagine there was anyone on earth better suited to the task. However, as much as it pained him to say goodbye so soon after their paths had crossed again, the Avatar believed Bumi knew what he was doing.
"Okay," Aang said. He breathed out a sigh and then stepped up to the old king. He looked at Bumi's reassuring grin and then wrapped his friend in a hug; no easy task considering the restraints and the height difference. The old King raised an eyebrow and tried to move his hands.
"I'd pat your back, but I'm a little tied up at the moment," he said, bursting into one of his snorting laughs. Aang broke off and smiled back at his friend.
"Good-bye, Bumi," the Avatar said. At that moment, he couldn't help but wipe at the corner of his eye with the back of his sleeve.
"Don't worry, Aang," Bumi told him, "I'll see you again with the time is right. Til then, find yourself another teacher." Then, as if as a sudden thought struck him he guestured toward the door where the other's stood. "Maybe your knew friend there can help you out?" he proposed, shrugging slightly, "She looks like she's got some spunk."
Aang smirked and looked at Toph, realizing that she was indeed an earthbender of considerable skill. "I'll keep that in mind," he replied to the King of Omashu.
"Now you kids get out of here before more guards show up," Bumi ordered, "Take the hallway to the left and follow it until it brings you to the caverns where I made you get my lunchbox key. Just follow the waterfall and it will take you to the reservoirs at the back of the city."
Aang nodded, taling his friend's advice and starting for the door.
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Post by blindgirl on Feb 27, 2008 22:34:29 GMT -5
Toph rolled her eyes, this was rather horrible, first off she was in an annoying dress, with firebenders trailing them, her parents were outside, the jig was up for her and now the kid who supposidly was the avatar was talking to a senile old man, lovely.
This day couldn't get any better. Her stomach was churning uneasily though her aggressive look didn't hint to much of her nervousness, quite the opposite, it covered it up. She crossed her arms and dig her fingers into her arms trying to keep herself from shouting at them. Honestly she wanted to get on some nice ground and out of this stupid metal room.
The way the old guy went on she had to assume he was crazy. It was insane, they broke in here only to break out, he didn't even seem to want to be rescued. In fact the crazy old guy seemed content to stay down here for the rest of his life. For all she cared he could stay in this metal hell hole. She couldn't imagine he'd be around much longer, after all, he sounded older than some of the rocks she bent, what was he, like a thousand.
Her expression turned even more grim as people began moving around, her eyes narrowed lightly, everything was hyper sensitive and fuzzy. She felt some more soldiers comming, she couldn't tell how far away they were, a few yards, a few feet, she didn't know which one it was.
Still it meant they'd need to hurry if they hoped to get out of here without singed flesh. Snapping out of it for a moment she looked up acknowledging that the crazy guy was speaking to her, she didn't seem to interested, even Aang's smirk was beyond her, she couldn't notice small details like that.
She was doing her best at the moment, soon he might be able to tell more details, she just wasn't used to it. " Hey, you looking for a fire bending teacher cause I think a few might be coming our way in a few second so if you don't feel like being an avatar kabob I suggest we get going."
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Post by meatandsarcasm on Mar 1, 2008 20:14:54 GMT -5
Sokka watched silently as Bumi explained the situation to Aang. As crazy as the man was, Sokka could recognize his intelligence. He knew what he was doing, even if it didn’t seem like it to them. The only thing that made him raise an eyebrow was when he mentioned Toph. The comment went right over everyone else’s head, but even as the others started to leave, Sokka paused and glanced first at Bumi, then quickly at Toph. The old man’s grin seemed to change a little, and his eye had that extra “I know something you don’t” sparkle that Sokka had come t recognize in people. With a small grimace, Sokka turned back to the others.
“Toph’s right, we need to go,” Sokka said, stooping down to pick the girl up again before grumbling to her. “And don’t you complain, this isn’t exactly my idea of fun either, but we can’t have you running into a wall or something.”
Giving one last glance to Bumi, Sokka and the others started out the door and down the hallway.
***
A short while later, they’d arrived at the cavern where Aang had solved the first of Bumi’s puzzles. It seemed like ages ago. Sokka had put Toph down a while back when the ground turned to normal earth, much to his relief. She wasn’t too big, but running while carrying her was still a bit of an effort.
Peering down at the water from the ledge, Sokka turned to the others, “So, what…are we supposed to swim?”
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Post by airnomad on Mar 3, 2008 21:55:15 GMT -5
"Bumi said to follow the waterfall," Aang said, recalling the old king's instructions to escape. The Avatar quickly scanned the area for some kind of trail, but he failed to see anything other than thundering columns of water pouring out of the cieling and walls. For a few moments the group just stood there in confusion, until at last Aang added with an edge of frustration to his voice, "How are we supposed to 'follow' the waterfall?"
At that statement, Katara's eyes lit up with a sudden realization.
"Aang," she said, turning toward the air nomad, "It's just like the sewer pipe."
"Hey, yeah!" Aang responded immediately, realizing what Bumi meant for them to do. A slight smile crept across his features when he thought of just how crafty his friend was to come up with this escape plan on the fly.
In the meantime, Katara had turned to Sokka and Toph and asked, "Can you lift us up level with that waterfall," she pointed toward the largest spout of water pouring out from the adjacent wall, "then Aang and I can part the flow and we can just make our way to the surface."
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Post by blindgirl on Mar 3, 2008 22:24:36 GMT -5
" I won't run into a wall! I can't see if doesn't mean I'm mentally ill like you are!" Toph wasn't so quiet about her discomfort this time, she kicked Sokka's sides relentlessly and hissed darkly in his ear. " Put me down now or else!" By the time she was worn out of huffing and yelling she was placed down on the ground with a very stubborn unlady like pout, she hated being treated like a little blind girl. Even though she was acting a bit like a brat, pfft, like she'd listen to her own advice. Snapping from her despair he face melted into a grin feeling the earth beneath her feet. A happy sigh escaped her lips and her toes wiggled against the rock like earth of the room, finally she could see. It was heaven after that stupid metal.
Toph's expression hardened once more when she was spoken to, her head inclined towards the voices idly and she rolled her shoulders back trying to make herself look taller, ignoring her whining completely she gathered her tough girl persona again scoffing as if they were insulting her. " Of course I can, what do I look like?" Not waiting for a response she gruffly walked closer the the spout spitting in her palms before rubbing them together.
Her legs moved into a wide stance her hands at her sides, with a stomp and a few trusts of her palms she forced the earth under the group of them to buckle and finally surge upwards on a platform leading up to the pipe. Crossing her arms she turned her body back towards the group holding back an 'i told you so' grin. She shifted her weight from one leg to the other continuing to ignore lady like manners. " How's that work for you"
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Post by meatandsarcasm on Mar 4, 2008 23:56:24 GMT -5
Sokka rubbed his sides, sore from Toph’s kicking and watched her with a deadpan expression as she boasted, and then proceeded to bend them up to the top of the waterfall. Surely, Bumi had been joking. He must have misinterpreted the look in his eye. Maybe it was just insanity. Then Sokka paused to look at her handiwork. It was certainly as good as any earthbending he’d seen, at least as far as he could tell. He looked back at the girl briefly and then shook his head. This was going to be interesting, to say the least.
“All right, get to the bending so we can get out of here,” he urged, promptly receiving a splash of water to his face from his sister. “And you’re always acting like you’re the mature one…”
Still smirking, Katara started gently rotating her arms at the shoulders, easing the water in front of them back, and the group was on their way out of the city. After a short period of walking, Sokka remembered that they’d still need to get past the huge ravine.
“Better get that whistle ready, Aang. Appa will need to pick us up.”
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Post by airnomad on Mar 5, 2008 22:29:14 GMT -5
"Way ahead of you, Sokka," Aang replied, brandishing the bison-shaped whistle that he had fished out of the inner pocket of his shirt. He was bringing up the rear of the group, keeping the water from closing around them as they made their way up a very dark, but surprisingly smooth ascent through the earthen conduit. For a while, they were going by nothing but the feel of the ground beneath their feet and the sound of water up ahead. The young Avatar wondered for a moment if this was how Toph felt when they were in the metal-lined region of the dungeon, and then chuckled at the thought she she was able to see better than any of them now.
The darkness passed soon enough as rays of daylight began penetrating the water that remained ahead of them. And after an uphill march that was starting to put a cramp in Aang's legs, they finally came to an end of the tunnel. With Katara in the lead, their bubble of air finally opened up near its top as they breeched the surface. They quickly veered to the side and then climbed up another incline toward the edge of what appeared to be a massive reservoir of rainwater.
The moment that he was no longer needed to maintain the barrier, Aang sucked in a deep breath and blew a powerful blast of air through the whistle. Its note was so high that it was not even audible, but he could feel the vibrations in his hand.
"We should find some open ground," the Avatar suggested, "Somewhere Appa can see us."
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Post by blindgirl on Mar 5, 2008 23:08:11 GMT -5
Toph followed along quietly, he feet a little chill from the wet ground but she wasn't one to complain, even in a snow storm she wouldn't want to put shoes on. She could remember being a child and screaming and fighting her parents as they attempted to put shoes on her, sure they were the proper lady like thing to wear but it disconnected her from the earth, it mad her vision fuzzy and forced her to really be blind. More than anything else she hated that. Without a single complaint she followed the group of benders and Sokka.
The trip was nothing if not uneventful, the water blocked some of the details from her view but still her step jumped up a notch as soon as the exit came into her view. It was rather exciting, running from the firenation and breaking through anything in their path, she hadn't needed to bend so intentsly except in tournaments and even those left a little to be desired, the same competitors and no one really worth her time. This was different. She felt alive and excited, the danger in the air and the knowledge that people were after them, it gave her shivers, she wanted to full out bend, make fissures in the earth and force people to acknowledging her. Well right now wasn't the time.
Her head moved towards Aang as she noticed him with the small wooden object, her eyebrow cocked and her hands hung limply at her side as they usually did when the long annoying sleeves of her dresses encompassed them. " Correct me if I'm wrong but don't whistles usually make noise?" Nothing above ground was in her line of vision but they said they wanted open ground, that much she could handle. Trailing off she made for the closest place she though would work out.
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Post by meatandsarcasm on Mar 6, 2008 22:40:14 GMT -5
As soon as the group exited the city, Sokka ran out to near the edge of the cliff and spread his arms wide as he took a deep breath of fresh air. They’d been inside for far too long. The recycled air had been starting to get to him. As Aang blew the bison whistle, Sokka scanned the skys. He didn’t see Appa approaching. Then, he thought better of it and looked down, smiling as he saw the beast rising out of the ravine. The bison had hid where no one would find him. It really was intelligent for an animal.
" Correct me if I'm wrong but don't whistles usually make noise?" asked Toph from behind him.
Sokka turned to the girl and smirked, walking up towards the large section of cliff-side that Appa was heading towards. If she could only see by vibrations in the earth, then he doubted she could see Appa earlier. This would be a fun surprise.
“True, true,” he admitted with a faux-intellectual attitude. “But then again…”
Appa landed behind him with a loud thud, and he gently patted the animal on the head. He was still smirking.
“Bison don’t usually fly, either.”
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Post by airnomad on Mar 9, 2008 1:00:51 GMT -5
Aang's eyes followed Appa's large form as it rose over the edge of the city walls and started toward them. He could see the bison hover for a few moments before he managed to spot them. Just a short while later, the massive fuzzy silhouette was over them and Appa landed heavily on the ground.
Aang was the first one to hop aboard his animal friend, bolting forward and leaping onto the back of his head. "Good to see you're okay," the Avatar said happily, rubbing the fur on Appa's head vigorously. A slight chittering sound behind him gave hima moment's warning before Momo lept from the saddle and landed on his back. The flying lemur clung to his shirt and crawled up to perch on his shoulder. "You too, Momo," Aang said, scratching the lemur's back.
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Post by blindgirl on Mar 9, 2008 9:49:36 GMT -5
Toph noticed something odd with the air, a strange noise and a bit of displacement, was it a fireball? No... there wasn't enough heat for that. Perplexed she stood still not wanting to move and be ill prepared for whatever was coming. Her eyes narrowed and her feet clenched into the ground, no, nothing big she could tell of, what was he talking about?
Suddenly a massive creature made itself known and Toph was mildly agape, a flying bison? Swiftly she covered her surprise with annoyance punching the water tribe teen in the arm, honestly he deserved it. " Thats not funny, I'm blind you know!" The wonderfully double edged sword of being a young blind girl, she could demand people treat her equally because she was blind and also shout at them for treating her the same. It wasn't often she got to play both cards, usually at the rumbles, but this guy was too easy.
Honestly this was a character trait most girls shared, her ill-sight added a little extra sting to it through. Toph took a good step away from the giant beat and the kid who bounded over to it like it was a big dog. She didn't know what they were planning with that thing but if it flied it meant it left the ground, if it left the ground the group of them most likely wanted to get on it to get out of here. She was most certainly not leaving the ground to go flying on some giant beast.
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Post by meatandsarcasm on Mar 9, 2008 23:10:09 GMT -5
Even though Toph’s punch to his shoulder hurt, Sokka couldn’t help but smirk at getting the better of the girl for the first time. Still rubbing his shoulder, he climbed up onto Appa and took his usual seat at the rear of the saddle. Folding his arms behind his head, he sighed with relief. This crazy escapade may have turned up nothing, but it was at least coming to an end at last. He closed his eyes for a moment, but opened one of them to glance at the others. Toph hadn’t gotten onto the bison yet. What was the deal? Was she pouting? He chuckled. They ran into the oddest people.
“Well, guys, I guess Toph wants to stay here on the cliff forever. Everyone wave goodbye to Toph!” he said with more than a hint of sarcasm, and then waved down at the girl. “Bye Toph! Have fun down there!”
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Post by airnomad on Mar 13, 2008 16:34:42 GMT -5
Aang glanced down at Toph after hearing Sokka patronize her. He hadn't thought there would be any problems escaping now that they were safe above ground and had reunited with Appa, but apparently their new friend took issue with the matter. The young Avatar furrowed his brow in thought for a moment before he realized that this was just like the metal prison. They were once again reducing Toph to being completely blind.
Aang scooped up Momo and deposited him on Appa before hopping down to the ground beside the earthbender girl. "It's okay, Toph," he told her, offering a hand. "I guess it must be tough for you, but you can trust me. Appa is our only way out, and we're not going to leave you behind or let anything bad happen." The airbender smiled slightly, more out of habit than anything else. "Here," he said, taking a small step closer with his hand still offered, "I'll get you up into the saddle, and we can land as soon as we're safe out of range."
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