Mostly a filler, but an improtant one. Chapter 18!

Disclaimer: I do NOT own "Avatar: The Last Airbender"

They looked around the empty space to see absolutely nothing. Noku was still looking completely sad of his once home.

“If the Fire Nation is brave enough to declare war on the entire world for 100 years, why isn’t it brave enough to rebuild a town?” asked Noku.

“It’s scared of the freedom fighters that roam near here. They are-, “started Ito.

“-led by my parents’ murderer, Jet. I know,” interrupted Noku, looking tense suddenly.

“Maybe the freedom fighters make sure no one enters this area. I actually feel we’re being watched,” said Sokka, looking around at the trees.

“I feel like firebending someone,” said Noku suddenly, making tight fists.

Toph walked up to him and held onto his wrist. He loosened his fists as soon as her hand touched his wrist.

“Remember what happened yesterday. You don’t want to act like that again,” said Toph, looking to where his head was at.

“Yeah, I guess. Man I’m going to hate that in the future,” said Noku, slightly annoyed.

“Lady’s charm,” finished Toph.

“Well, we can still set up camp here. The ground is soft because of that flood. It’s a good place to sleep,” said Ito, feeling the ground with his sword.

“We can also practice bending here. Enough space for fire and earth, and we can bend the water out of the soil,” said Aang, grabbing his staff.

“I call corner!” yelled Ito, as he got his sleeping bag and laid it at the corner of the wall.

Nighttime came as Aang and Katara were waterbending with the dirty water from the ground. Sokka and Ito were talking about their weapons and how which is better and why. Noku and Toph were taking a walk around the remains of the wall that surrounded the town.

“I used to meditate over here and-wait, you can feel where I’m pointing at right?” asked Noku.

Toph nodded and continued to listen to Noku’s life. He talked about where he would practice after he came here from the Academy, what he and some other Firebenders would do at certain times, and even where he one time burned an animal on accident and blamed it on one of his friends and worked. They were approaching the forest that was said to contain the old tree houses of the Freedom Fighters. It hasn’t been confirmed that if they left for good or not, but that didn’t stop Noku and Toph from enjoying their night stroll.

“So what about your life, what was it like?” asked Noku.

“I told you, my life was overprotected and boring. The only thing I liked about it is when I battled in the earth tournaments underground,” said Toph. “Luckily Twinkle Toes, Sugar Queen, and Snoozles found me and encouraged me to join them.”

“Sorry,” replied Noku.

They walked toward a rather steep hill. They were on a path that was supposed to lead them around the steep hill and further into the forest. Noku just looked at Toph with a small grin on his face.

“No thanks, I can walk fine,” said Toph, knowing what he was thinking.

“I just thought so because when if there was a landslide?” asked Noku.

“I said no thanks.”

Noku turned to Toph and grabbed her hand. They both blushed slightly at the touch.

“You sure?” asked Noku, smiling now at her.

“Nice try, but still, no thanks.”

Then, they both heard a sound of an arrow flying and were at full alert. Next thing that happened, Noku got hit in his left shoulder with an arrow at full speed. He tried to stay up, but it sucked the energy out of him as well as a few drops of blood.

“Noku!” yelled Toph, as she felt where the arrow was at.

She gently, but aggressively, pulled the arrow out of Noku. He screamed in pain at first and then held the rest of the pain in

“Ouch! Who’s there damnit!!” yelled Noku, holding his shoulder.

Then, out of the trees came out 5 armed people surrounding the 2 benders. The 4 on the sides were armed with katana swords while the middle one had a piece of wheat from his mouth and 2 hooked swords in his hands.

“Stay right where you are, pathetic Firebender,” ordered the person.

“Pathetic? You mean 5 of you have to surround a ‘pathetic’ Firebender like me?” asked Noku, taunting him to attack.

But before anyone else could react, they all saw the gang appear behind the middle person and ran to him.

“Jet, stop! This is our friend!” yelled Aang.

“….Jet?” said Noku quietly.

Cliffhanger, WOOT!! lol, sorry, for that.