( Toph's Story )

Toph bit back a snarky comment as Aang once again failed to complete one of the simplest moves in Earthbending. The two of them had been at this for a full hour and so far the only thing Aang had achieved was getting himself pinned underneath a boulder. It didn't help that Katara kept shouting encouragement to her pupil when he needed to be concentrating, or that Sokka kept laughing.

Toph couldn't be sure, but she was fairly certain she was developing a twitch in her left eye.

"Okay, let's take a break," she told Aang. "We're not going to get anywhere if you wear yourself out."

"Good idea." The Avatar's voice sounded tired, and if Toph's "sight" were reliable (which it was), he looked it too. Toph chuckled to herself as Aang went and flopped down in front of the Water Tribe siblings, and Sokka immediately started in on ribbing the younger boy. As for herself, she started walking away from the camp.

Katara's voice called out from behind, "Toph, where are you going?"

"Don't worry, Katara; I'm not going to leave the group again," the Earthbender assured the other girl. "I just need a little time to myself, that's all." Or else she was liable to smack Aang.

With a huge slab of earth.

"I'll be back in a little bit," Toph finished. "Maybe after Aang's rested a bit, you two could work on his Waterbending." Katara agreed (over the protests of the prone Avatar), and Toph continued on her way.