Chapter 23- Journey Through The Serpent's Path

"I can't believe we gave up our tickets and now we're going through the Serpent's Pass," Sokka complained as you all grabbed your bag to leave.
"I can't believe you're still complaining about it," Toph sighed as you heard footsteps behind you.
"I'm coming too!" Suki said with her Kyoshi uniform.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Sokka asked warily.
"Sokka, I thought you'd want me to come," Suki argued as Sokka scratched his neck.
"I do, it's just–"
"Yes, you're coming with us! Don't listen to Boomerang, let's go!" You interrupted Sokka and grabbed Suki's hand, pulling her with the group.

Suki turned her head to Sokka and made a motion to you, and to them, and then made a slicing throat to threaten Sokka, which he gulped and sighed.

"Oh, and if we ever stumble to a hidden village, ignore it,"

"Why-"

"Just ignore it,"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"This is the Serpent's Pass? I thought it would be a little more wind-y, you know, like a serpent. Huh, I guess they misnamed it,"
"Oh you have no idea," You said while crossing your arms.
"Look at this writing! How awful!" Ying covered her mouth with her hand.

"What does it say?" Toph asked you.
"Oh man, "abandon hope"," You sucked in air at the words.
"How can we abandon hope? It's all we have!" Ying hugged her husband as he comforted her.
"I don't know. The monks used to say that hope was just a distraction, so maybe we do need to abandon it," Aang shrugged.

"What are you talking about?" Katara asked.
"Hope is not going to get us into Ba Sing Se and it's not going to help find Appa and Twig. We need to focus on what we're doing right now and that's getting across this path," He explained as he slinked over to the entrance.
"Seems fine to me, I lost hope when I got exiled, but look, I'm fine!" You have her a small smile, and she sighed worriedly.

"Okay, if you say so," She mumbled as you all started to walk, with you behind to make sure no one would fall.
"The Fire Nation controls the western lake. Rumor has it they're working on something big on the other side of it and don't want anyone to find out what it is," Suki explained as a Fire Nation ship sailed next to the pass, not noticing you all.

Just then, Than slipped from the path, but you and Toph managed to save him with a rock platform.
"I'm okay!" He said, bout the rock he slipped on fell into the water, and the ship noticed.
"They've spotted us! Let's go, let's go!" Sokka shouted and you all ran for it. Aang jumped to block any fireballs, and one hit above you.

But then Sokka pushed you forward as rocks were about to fall on him, but Toph covered him with a rock wall.
"(Y/N)! Are you okay? You have to be more careful!" Sokka told you.
"I could handle myself," You said and patted Toph on the head.

"Thanks Tophy," you smiled and pulled her along. Suki sighed and punched Sokka on the arm.

"Dummy, she's an earthbender,"

"Oh right,"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Sleep next to me Suki, I got a nice view with the stars," You said as you laid your sleeping bag on the campsite you all set up.
"Thanks (Y/N)," Suki smiled and you nodded, getting up to take a walk.

"Yeah, it's a nice and stable place to sleep, safe for you guys," Sokka said, making sure your sleeping place was perfect.
"Sokka..." Suki sighed at his protectiveness as you let out a small laugh.
'When did protective boyfriend mode kick in?' You stopped and slightly blushed at those words.
'Boyfriend...' You shook your thoughts and noticed Katara with Aang.

"You know, it's okay to miss Appa," She said to him, but Aang remained silent.
"What's going on with you? In the desert, all you cared about was finding Appa and now it's like you don't care about him at all," Katara pointed out as you stood next to her.
"You saw what I did out there. I was so angry about losing Appa that I couldn't control myself. I hated feeling like that," Aang explained his his head bowed.

"I know how you feel Air boy, I miss them too. Appa was my snuggle buddy and my bud to play cards with, and Twig is like a little brother to me. When I lost Twig, I felt nothing and, it felt scary to know that if you lose someone you love, you lose a piece of you." You told him.

"I hold in a spark of hope that Appa and Twig are okay, and that makes me feel safe... and we want you to feel something too," You placed a hand on Katara's shoulder, but Aang just turned and placed his fists together.
"Thank you for your concern you two," Aang bowed and turn to walk away. Katara sighed sadly as you gave her a small smile.

"Don't worry, because a wise man once said "you must never give in despair. Allow yourself to slip down that road and you surrender to your lowest instinct. In the darkest of times, hope is something you give yourself. That is the meaning of inner strength,". Aang just needs to find that small spark of hope," You quoted, making Katara smile a little.

"Where'd you heard that?" She asked, and you just shrugged.
"An old friend," You said and walked to camp, where you noticed Sokka and Suki are missing. You tilted your head and walked around to find them. You were turning a rock to call out their names.

"Suki? Boomerang? It's nearly midnight and we need enough energy to sle-"You stopped mid sentence as you turned a corner, to see Sokka and Suki leaning close to each other, about to kiss.
"Oh!" You sucked in air, feeling your face heat u at the sight, and a swirl in your stomach.

"(Y/N)!" Sokka gasped and Suki turned to see you rubbing your neck nervously.
"Uhh, I- um, I should go-! See that you're busy!" You stammered out an apology as you took a step back.
"W-wait (Y/N)!" Suki tried to explain as Sokka piped in.

"We weren't doing anything! W-we were just-" You coughed and waved your hand.
"I-it's fine! Should've k-known that my ex w-would get together with my bo- friend! Yes, friend! Ex and friend, g-getting together! What a s-sight!" You yelped and turn to speed walk away, ignoring the calls from Suki and Sokka.

You silently shuffled over to your sleeping bag, pausing as you see Suki's and Sokka's sleeping bag next to you, before just moving it to Toph. You laid down and then Toph turned over, wrapping her arms around you while snoring. You smiled and stared up into the moon, knowing that Yue is watching over you.

'Yue... I just need some comfort right now...'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Next day rolls around, and you awkwardly walked with the group, behind everyone to make sure no one falls behind. Suki and Sokka were in front, avoiding eye contact with each other and you, but then the path was blocked by water, to deep to swim through.

"Everyone single file!" Katara told everyone and she parted the water to walk through.
"Aang, I need help," She said as Aang gave the staff to you and bended to make a giant air bubble. You watched in awe as Momo swam through to try and catch fish, but swam back into the bubble in fear as he spotted a long creature in the water.

"What is that thing?" Katara muttered as suddenly the air bubble was broken with the creature crashing into it. Everyone screamed as you and Toph lifted everyone up with your bending.

"Oh no,"
____________________________________

Oof, that's awkward ._.

But hey! Here's something to uhh, forget about that scene.

*sniff* Twig 🥺