- Sokka: Toph, when I was in town, I found something that you're not gonna like.
- [holds up a wanted poster]
- Toph: Well it sounds like a sheet of paper, but I guess you're referring to what's on the sheet of paper.
- Sokka: It's a wanted poster, of you. They've nicknamed you 'The Runaway.'
- Toph: A wanted poster! That's so great. The Runaway. I love my new nickname. Is there a picture of me? Does it look good?
- Sokka: [compares the wanted poster, which has an evil looking version of Toph] Well, yeah, actually. It does look pretty good.
- Sokka: [Writing a letter] 'Dear Katara, Sorry for everything. Your friend, Toph.'
- [Sokka puts the letter in Hawky's messenger pack. Then Hawky flies to Katara]
- Katara: I know this is from you, Sokka! Toph can't write! Ugh! You're all driving me crazy!
- [Katara storms off]
- Aang: I can't believe we forgot Toph can't write.
- Sokka: Yeah, we're idiots.
- Sokka: I'm gonna tell you something crazy. I never told anyone this to anyone before, but honestly, I'm not sure I can remember what my mother looked like. It really seems like my whole life Katara's been the one looking out for me. She's always been the one that's there, and *now*, when I try to remember my mom, Katara's is the only face I can picture.
- Toph: The truth is, sometimes Katara does act motherly, but that's not always a bad thing. She's compassionate and kind, and she actually cares about me, you know, the real me. That's more than my own mom... Don't *ever* tell her I said any of this.
- Sokka: Hey, my lips are sealed.
- Katara: Sokka, tell me you didn't buy a bird.
- Sokka: [Excited] Not just a bird, a messenger bird. Now we can send messages all over the world, even to Gran Gran.
- Aang: Wow, how does it work?
- Sokka: Hmm. Uh... I never actually thought about that. Hawky, Gran Gran, South Pole.
- [He points helpfully. Hawky shakes his head in confusion]
- Sokka: think he gets it.
- Katara: Don't you walk away from me while I'm talking to you.
- Toph: Oh, really, Mom? Or what are you going to do? Send me to my room?
- Katara: I wish I could!
- Toph: Well you can't! Because you're not my mom and you're not their mom.
- Katara: I never said I was!
- Toph: No, but you certainly act like it. You think it's your job to boss everyone around, but it's not. You're just a regular kid like the rest of us. So stop acting like you can tell me what to do. I can do whatever I want!
- Katara: I don't act that way. Sokka, do I act motherly?
- Sokka: Hey, I'm staying out of this one.
- Katara: What do you think, Aang? Do I act like a mom?
- Aang: Well, I...
- Katara: Stop rubbing your eye and speak clearly, when you talk.
- Aang: [Straightening up] Yes, ma'am.
- Town Marshall: You did the right thing by turning in the Runaway.
- Katara: The right thing is its own reward.
- Town Marshall: Well, I'm happy to hear you say that.
- Katara: But, I still want the actual reward.
- Town Marshall: Of course. Right this way.
- Katara: You know what? It doesn't matter. These scams put us all at risk and we don't need that. We've already got some third-eyed freak after us.
- Sokka: Speaking of that third-eyed freak, I think I've come up with a name for him. What do you think of... Sparky-Sparky Boom Man?
- [the gang is unimpressed]
- Sokka: Just think about it.
- Sokka: Speaking of money, I'm off to spend some. See you guys later.
- [Cut to Fire Fountain Village where Sokka has just fulfilled his dream and bought himself a messenger hawk]
- Sokka: Hawky, welcome to Team Avatar. My name's Sokka and I'm your new owner, and, as such, I should warn you that there's already a lemur in our group, so I don't want to see any fighting.
- Sokka: [Starts baby-talking] Good wittle messenger Hawky. Who's got pwetty feathers?
- [He walks by a wanted poster of Toph, and does a double-take]
- Sokka: ou're right, Hawky. This is bad.
- Aang: Toph got us money. She scammed one of those guys in town who moves the shells around all sneaky-like.
- Sokka: She used Earthbending to win the game. Classic!
- Katara: [Dissaproving] Ah, so she cheated.
- Toph: Hey, I only cheated because he was cheating. I cheated a cheater. What's wrong with that?
- Katara: I'm just saying, this isn't something we should make a habit of doing.
- Toph: Why? Because it's fun and you hate fun?
- Katara: [Indignantly] I don't hate fun.
- [She seizes Momo and drapes him on top of her head]
- Katara: See? Fun.
- Katara: Ah, I see. You're acting like this because of your parents.
- Toph: Whatever.
- Katara: They were controlling over you so you ran away, and now you act like your parents don't exist. You act like you hate them, but you don't. You just feel guilty.
- Toph: I *do* hate them.
- Katara: I don't think so. I think you miss them, but you just don't want to deal with that. so instead, you act like this crazy person.
- Toph: Wait. It's a trap.
- Katara: Really? No kidding. Is that why we're sitting in a wooden cage right now? Gee, how'd you figure out it was a trap.
- Toph: Not for us, Katara. We're the bait. He wants Aang.
- Katara: Oh. I can't believe I was so stupid. See, this is exactly why I'm against these scams. I knew this would happen.
- Toph: But this was *your* idea.
- Katara: I know. I wanted to show you that I'm not so motherly. I wanted to show you that I can have fun, too.