036. Danger

A sensation erupts suddenly, like lightning in her feet. Toph's hands tickle as she presses them to her beloved earth to get a closer look at the vibrations approaching. Zuko's steps are warm like fire and quick like a blade. He is coming.

But he's not alone.

Another pair of footsteps, too. Katara's? No. Katara's footsteps are soft and gentle, padding smoothly and effortlessly; she might as well be dancing when she walks. These are definitely not Katara's: They are sharp like a stone dagger and cold like its flat side; they bore holes in her head, gently pounding but never caring, never digging deeper, only on the surface, only tasteless superficiality.

Toph tries to recognize and remember them; she tries hard to feel the vibrations, pressing her palms so firmly to the ground that they begin to dig into the floor and make perfect hand-shaped prints. Yet she cannot remember such a tread and she can only come to one conclusion.

Toph doesn't like these footsteps. She doesn't like them at all. They are different than Katara's but they are walking femininely with Zuko and it feels wrong to even be listening to that.

As the Firebender and his mystery friend approach, the only thing Toph can think is that she must get out of here now and warn Katara before she can find out for herself. Toph is not scared but she feels the same feeling she feels before a good battle, like danger is coming, like she needs to prepare.

Angry suddenly, she punches the earth and rock propels her to her feet; once there she takes off like lightning toward Katara's tent as Zuko approaches with the untrustworthy other.

Danger is coming. But it's a different kind of danger and Toph finds herself worried that Katara will be injured far worse than anyone else.

Author's Note: For those of you who need some explaining: Zuko's with another girl. Katara will be sad. Toph cares. Gasp! Ha. I love Toph. She does have a sensitive side somewhere, right? (Buried. Deeply. But I'm sure it's there.) Anyways. R&R. I'll probably update… soon… love you :D