Tain had started to fall behind the large group of bison. In a panic to keep up, he slammed the earth with his foot and jumped into the air. A large rectangular slab rose up under him and as he landed. He pushed his hands forward which made the earth surge forward and he took off surfing the earth. He remembered how back home, he had used this technique a lot to get from his house to the main city, but the thought of home made his stomach tighten, so he put it out of his mind. He was soon under the mass of bison again, and since he was so far below them, none of the riders would notice him following. He kept his arms swaying back and forth in order to keep the earth moving and soon it became just a methodic rhythm as his thoughts strayed to his home again.

Well, there's no going back now…

He realized that the bison were going to cross the water to the north water bender tribe. He knew that the bridge was not too far from where he was so he decided to take it to keep up with them. Luckily this bridge was made by earth benders long ago, so he was able to use his move to cross it. Once across he noticed that the bison had started to descend into what looked like a base of some sort. As he got closer he realized that the bison were just dropping off the riders on their backs and heading off into the distance.

After a while he had made it to the outer wall of the camp and noticed that there were armed guards patrolling each carrying a white katana.

I guess I'll wait till night fall before I go investigating.

...

"What! So the rumors are true?" Saile's grandpa asked astonished.

"Shhh! Your grandson might over hear." The mysterious man whispered back.

Too late for that… Saile thought happily.

The mysterious man had started talking again.

"… and apparently there is an old building that the air benders are using as some sort of base not too far from where they captured her."

"Are you serious? What is he going to do about that?"

"He doesn't know yet, our spies were the ones who discovered that fact and we have yet to inform him. I was only sent here to tell you since you are the closest White Lotus member to their base. I also need to tell you that we do have a few spies in the air nation working to find out who is loyal to the air master. There are still good air benders you know." The man pulled out his pai-shou tile and showed it to Saile's grandpa, who also got his out and showed it. They firmly shook hands.

"O.k. my friend, I'll see what I can do." Lot said.

Saile had heard enough. He heard that a girl was in trouble and that someone didn't even know about it yet. This was his chance to show the world who he was. He snuck into his room, grabbed some things, and took off out his window running south toward the shore. He knew exactly where the building was. His parents had taken him there when he was very young. The thought of his parents made him choke back tears. His dad had left not too long after his mom died. Grandpa had told him that his dad had a very good reason for doing so, and that he should never be mad at his dad for leaving, that he should be proud. Saile made it to the shore in no time at all, and once he was out on the water, he froze a block of ice and launched himself forward on a large wave.

I'm coming girl. Hold on.

"So what all do you want me to do?" Saile's grandpa asked the man.

"Actually Lot, we don't want you to do anything, a team is being sent there tomorrow. What we really need, is the whereabouts of your son…"

...

Not too long after releasing herself, the girl heard the creak of the door starting to open. She flattened herself against the wall behind the door. She heard the guards talking on the other side.

"She needs to be moved downstairs to the torture chambers. Commander Sid's orders."

So that's his name. She thought.

The first guard came in the room, and she jumped on him. Summoning all her strength she punched the guard in the throat. He grabbed his neck, unable to cry out and went down. She then ran out of the room and was face to face with two other guards. She dispatched the other two in the same way as the first, by hitting them quickly in precise spots.

Now I need to find out what the air nation is up to.

Sid walked into the gassed cell to find out what was taking the three guards so long. He found them all tied together and unconscious, each one stripped to their underwear, and the handcuffs the girl was wearing were defiantly attached to the door handle.

...

Tain stood scoping the base. Night had finally fallen and he was ready to find out what was happening.

This is not good… though I could just be jumping to conclusions; I mean they're air benders! What's the worst that could happen?

He decided to go in. The guard was keeping a tight watch so he got down on the ground on his stomach and used his earth bending to cover himself with earth. He then crawled all the way to the wall. It must have worked well enough because the light passed over him multiple times and he kept on crawling unnoticed. When he got to the gate, one of the air bender men were coming back in, so Tain managed to slip in with him at just the right time.

When he came upon the section where the riders had set up camp, he slipped into the first tent he came across. Luckily the tent was empty. The owner had probably gone outside to patrol or something. Inside the tent were a few small belongings; a bedroll, a picture of a woman, and, to Tain's delight, a guard uniform with a white katana. He was surprised at how far he was going to discover what going on. Cautiously, he slipped back outside and started walking the streets toward the larger building.

…

Saile landed on the shore near the base. He probably still had another fifteen minute walk until he would be there.

Even if I am a kid, I know I can do this. I mean I know all the basics, and grandpa said I could be even better than my dad. Plus I can make the dragon now, so that should be good enough. Right?... no! I know I can do this! I will save that girl!

Saile was approaching the main entrance of the air bender base, and seeing that there were people coming in and out, he decided to go around to the back of the building where he used to go as a kid. When he got close enough, he peered over the wall and realized that there were more people then there was space for them. All the tents were crammed together and the fires were few and far between so as not to catch on the tents. Saile looked over at the building he wanted to get into. The building the girl was in.

How am I supposed to get in there? He thought. Oh! I know!

Reaching down, he uncorked a little bottle he kept at his side and drew some water out. He formed a small little square of water on his palm, then, lowering it, he made it expand and turned it to ice. He jumped on it and made it rise into the air. As he was moving up to one of the tower windows, he noticed a lone solider come out of one of the small tents on the perimeter. He looked slightly peculiar, like something about him was just out of place. Taking his attention away from the man and putting it back on the tower, he realized that he was already at the window. He managed to open it, which wasn't very hard considering the buildings age. Once inside his gaze was immediately held by a large statue. Directly in front of him was a large statue that depicted a young air bender boy holding down a very mad looking man in rich looking clothes. His eyes looked as if he were about to burst with flames.

This must be one of those ancient statues of that one famous avatar from five hundred years ago. Wish I could remember his name…

"Hey! You're not supposed to be in here kid!" a guard said as he rounded a corner.

"Uh-oh" Saile panicked.

Saile took a battle stance, ready to take down his first air bender. The guard, seeing this, drew his white katana. Saile, realizing this was going to be a serious battle, turned and ran.

"What am I doing?" He yelled, "I'm just a kid! I don't want to die!"

"Get back here!" the guard yelled and gave chase.

The two were quite comical as they ran though the winding pathways of the tower. He was surprised that they didn't run into any other guards.

Wait. Why am I running? I came here to save a girl! He thought bravely.

Saile found the courage to turn around and face the guard. As he pulled out the stream of water, the guard faltered for a second, but quickly decided that he could still take the boy. Saile spread the water out on the floor and quickly froze it. The guard realized what he was doing, but it was already too late. He slipped across the floor and hit the back of his head on the ground, instantly knocking him out cold.

That was lucky. Saile thought while releasing the breath he was holding.

He walked over to the guard and poked him in the arm and jumped back. No response. He poked him again, but this time in the face. Still no response. Curiously, he picked up the white katana that the guard had been holding. The blade was amazing to Saile. He looked it over in wonder, and then took a couple of practice swings.

I wonder why they all carry these things.

As he sat there in wonder, a door opened across from him. An important looking official walked out of the room.

"What's all the racket out here?" the man was saying as he walked out. Then he noticed Saile standing above the knocked out body with the sword. Saile realized how bad the scene probably looked to the man and quickly dropped the sword.

"Don't just stand there! Get the boy!" the man screamed into the room.

Without delay, three nasty looking men poured out of the room and looked at Saile.

Why does this always happen to me? Saile thought as he turned and started to run.

He managed to make it down the hallway and turn the corner, only to find himself face to face with another guard.

...

The girl had heard the entire interaction from around the corner. She already had a plan.

"Get behind me!" She whispered as the boy ran around the corner.

She grabbed him and pulled him into the shadows as a small "Huh?" escaped him. As the guards ran past, the girl visibly relaxed. She inspected the curious young boy and figured he was about the same age she was. She also realized that he must be a native water bender based on his clothes. Saile wasn't sure exactly what to do. To him, he had just run into another guard that had just helped him escape. She realized this and took her helmet off, letting her dark hair fall just past her shoulders.

"Look kid, I don't know who you are, but since you're obviously not one of them and I know you don't want to get captured, you should come with me. That or you can go back out there on your own."

Saile quickly shook his head.

"Good. Now be quiet and come with me." She said as she put her helmet back on and walked of. She didn't even bother to see if the kid had followed. Saile was troubled by his thoughts.

Who IS this girl? Is she trying to lead me into a trap? Is she really even a guard? I need to find the girl I came here to save! Uggh! What should I do?

Not wanting to be left alone, he decided to follow the guard girl. Maybe she would lead him to where the imprisoned girl was.

I just hope she's not part of the air nation. Though if she is, I'm pretty sure I can beat one girl.

"Hey. What's your name anyway?" he whispered once he had caught up.

...

Tain stalked the corridors of the strange building looking for something out of the ordinary. He heard people talking as he passed a few open doors, but he didn't even bother to look inside, and with his uniform on, no one even took a second glance at him. He had just turned a corner when he heard the door directly in front of him open. Quickly, he jumped back around the corner, and out of sight. He looked peeked around to see a big man step out of the room. The guy looked to see if anyone was watching him, and locked the door. Luckily he walked off the in the opposite direction of Tain.

"Perfect." Tain said to himself.

Once the man's footsteps had faded away, Tain crept up to the door. He used his bending to make a small ball of earth, which he molded into a thin strand and slid into the keyhole. Using tiny movements he smiled as the lock clicked. Once inside the room he quickly shut the door. Looking around, Tain found himself in an empty office with a big wooden deck in the middle. The only other thing in the room was a small stack of papers on the desk, and a large white chair. Curious, he sat down and started sifting through the papers. Most of them were boring. He found that most of them were bills showing how much was owed, or who it was owed to, while others detailed things that were supposed to happen or plans that were being made. All of them were useless. He was about to give up when he noticed a small dark colored envelope near the bottom of the stack. It was already opened, so he decided to see what it was.

"I assume by your last response, that the soldiers are nearly ready to should be arriving in a week. With them are another seven dozen air bison. Use the men and beasts to crush the earth nation cities south of where you are located. Kill the resistance and capture as many as possible. Be quick about it, for we cannot risk the fire nation learning of our plans. I await news of your victory. Also, you no longer need to worry about the Avatar."

Tain stared at the paper with wide eyes as he wondered at the implications of the paper. As he folded the letter to put it back in the envelope, a man burst through the door.

"Captain! There are two intrud…" he trailed off as he realized Tain was not who he was supposed to be. He reached for his sword, but Tain was faster. He slammed his fists into the wall behind him, which made a small stone from the wall behind the guard collide with the poor man's head. Tain smiled to himself, proud of how he managed to handle the situation.

"There's an earth bender in there! He must be with the other intruders!" he heard from outside the room.

Cursing, he ran out, hearing swords being drawn behind him.

...

"Pleeease... can't you just tell me your first name." Saile pestered yet again.

"Shut up!" she whispered back hotly, "I can't tell you that right now, so just be quiet and follow."

The two rounded a corner and ran straight into a very large man with three scars on his exposed shoulder. The girl instantly recognized him as the man that threw her around.

"Oh, great…" she whispered to Saile, "Get behind me and don't say a word." She pulled Saile behind her and squashed him into the darkest part of the wall. She stood at attention as he walked by.

"You there!" he walked over to the disguised girl, "have you seen the girl we captured the other day or an earth bender boy in an air nation uniform?

"No sir!" she said in her manliest voice.

"Very well, return to your duties" he said as he walked down the hall and rounded the corner.

She breathed a sigh of relief and hurried down the halls until she got to a part of the base that looked nicer than the rest. The door had borders and there were small statues in some parts of the hallway. She turned down another hallway and noticed evidence of earth bending.