Chapter 4

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Chapter 4 I've been working really hard with Aang every day for the past few weeks. He's improved his Earthbending and Waterbending significantly. We're all pretty tired from training and traveling, so we've decided to take short vacations. At first Sokka objected, saying that we needed to find a map of the Fire Nation and come up with a plan to stop the Fire Lord once Aang was ready. But we promised him we'd spend his vacation tracking down the Fire Nation intelligence he was so keen on getting and he quieted down. He might be a total goof sometimes, but I do kind of admire his determination to kick some Fire Nation butt. Anyway, it was Katara's turn first, and she chose to go to the Misty Palms Oasis. Peace and quiet, here I come! We arrived at the place only to find that it was a rundown cantina—so much for lounging by the lake. But we did meet Professor Zei, head of anthropology at the university in Ba Sing Se, the Earth Kingdom's capitol. He told us he was searching for a library built by a great knowledge spirit named Wan Shi Tong.

The library was hidden somewhere in the desert and was supposed to contain knowledge from all around the world. Sokka got all excited because he decided that we're going to spend his vacation in the desert searching for the ancient library. He thinks that the library will have maps and other information about the Fire Nation. If you ask me, that sounds like a horrible vacation. Who cares about some old library? I mean, I get that he's after the Fire Nation and all, but I really hate the desert. I just can't feel anything out there in the sand. I know there are some Earthbenders that live in the desert. They're actually called Sandbenders. In fact, there were quite a few hanging around the cantina when we arrived. But I can't Sandbend, which basically means that in the desert I'm blind—really blind—without Earthbending to help me see. I'm not looking forward to this trip, but what can I do? I'm part of this team now, and there's no turning back. So, here we go, up onto Appa and off to the desert. This is so boring! I can't even see, and I know there's absolutely nothing out there. Then the professor tells us that this place may not even exist! Great. This is most definitely not my idea of what a

vacation should be. I've had enough of this. Time to have a little a fun. "There it is!" Ha! Made them look. I can't believe they all listened to me! People, I'm blind, remember? "That's what it'll sound like when one of YOU spots it." "Wait, down there," Sokka said anxiously. "What's that?" Finally! Thank goodness! Time to land and get this over with already. "Forget it," Katara cried suddenly. "It's obviously not what we're looking for. The building in this drawing is enormous." "What kind of animal is that?" Sokka asked. "That could be one of Wan Shi Tong's knowledge seekers, taking the form of a fox!" the professor said excitedly. "We must be close to the library!" "No, this IS the library," Sokka said. "It's completely buried in the sand." "Buried?" the professor cried as we landed. Then he fell to his knees. Is he going to start weeping? He must think the library is ruined. Okay, Toph, time for a little reconnaissance, feel things out and see what the story is. This stone spire is definitely part of a huge

building, and it feels like that building is buried beneath the sand. But it feels whole. "Guys, the inside seems to be completely intact… and it's huge!" This library must hold every book and map ever made. Apparently the knowledge seeker they were talking about climbed through a window on the side of the building. The others decided to follow it. Not me. Books don't do much for me. So I'm waiting outside with Appa. Geez, Appa sure does scratch himself a lot. Talk about boring. When are they going to come back? I hope they find their maps and books and whatever else they wanted to get out of the library, or else this is a huge waste of time—Whoa, what's going on? I can't feel anything! Everything is shaking and the sand beneath my feet is disappearing.… Is the library sinking? If I could just get over there and feel it, I'd be able to tell—Oh no, it IS sinking. And everyone is still inside! This is awful. I've got to stop it. I have to keep the library from disappearing or the others are doomed. Who knows how far down it will sink? This is why I hate sand—you can't get secure footing in grains that keep moving. I'm going to have to go ahead and do it anyway. Okay, fists tight, feet

rooted… now push hard. Come on Toph, keep it from sinking! Fight the gravity, fight back! What am I thinking? I can't hold this building up forever. I'm not THAT strong. My feet keep slipping in this stupid sand. Come on, guys, get out of there— NOW! Please, hurry! What's that rumbling? It sounds like it's coming from far away? Is something coming toward me? I can't deal with a new threat; I can barely handle this one! Well, whatever it is, it's moving very, very quickly. "Who's there?" The sand, it feels like it's moving, and I'm not doing it. It's swirling around and around. That can only mean one thing: Sandbenders. What could they want? Oh, no. They want Appa! How can I help him without letting go of the library and losing my friends inside? I can hear the Sandbenders throwing ropes on Appa from every direction. They're trying to capture him. I can't just stand here! I have to let go and throw some earth their way, to slow them down.… WHOOSH! Take tha—Great. A sloppy cloud is all I can muster up? On solid ground I would have blasted them away. I'm useless here… and the library's sinking faster now than before!