It had been three days since the crew of Zuko's ship had saved they refugee's from the oil rig. They had traveled nonstop for two days but they had slacked off the night of the second day. Sokka was saddling up an ostrichhorse up to go with Zuko and Kuma to a nearby town for supplies, while Iroh and some of the crew made their way to the local hot springs. He was dressed in a pair of feminine black pants and a loose black long-sleeved shirt with bell sleeves. He also had on a black lace choker, not wanting a repeat of the last town they visited. His bow was slung over his shoulder along with the blacked out quiver of arrows. He also had a matching pair of black daggers strapped to his wrists hidden by his large sleeves.
Zuko was to his left doing the same, with Kuma on his right. The three boys would be leading the former bandits' mounts to be sold. They would then get supplies to be delivered to the ship. Which was kind of funny since this was Zuko's job but any other fire nation commander would see this as servants work. However Iroh made it very clear that a commander's duty was to take care of his soldier's needs. So here they were getting ready to make a trip it another earth kingdom town. The trio looked at each other and rolled their collective eyes before mounting up.
The trio were making their way back from town when they past the hot springs. Zuko called out that it was time to return to the ship and kept headed to the ship without even looking back. They all arrived at the ship when the trio were unloading the sacks of food onto the ship. They were helped only to find that Iroh was still at the springs. 'most likely asleep.' Zuko muttered angrily. The trio made their way back to the spring to get Iroh, only to find him missing with signs of earthbending all around the area. Zuko glared at the sharp rocks sticking from the earth and the single sandle laying on the ground.
Sokka pointed out a trail and the trio quickly mounted up and followed at top speed. They were covering the ground as fast as possible when Zuko pulled up sharply and roared angrily at the sky. Kuma and Sokka looked at the sky in confusion only to see the Avatar's skybison.
"Come on Zuko we can get him later!" Sokka roared. "We know he's in the area now, but the Earth King's forces will kill the general if they aren't stopped. It looks like we're chasing a whole squad he can't take all of them by himself!"
Zuko raged silently but nodded and spurred his mount onward even faster. Sokka was right the barbarians in the earth kingdom army weren't known for patients. But he quietly swore that if any harm had befallen his uncle they would believe a cluster of dragons had fallen from the sky to raze them to the ground. Such would be the fury of the exiled prince.
The trio arrived in a small inclosed valley in time to see the commander of the earth kingdom forces about to crush general Iroh's hands with a large rock. Kuma quickly bent the ground under Iroh and pulled him out of the way of the large rock. The enemy forces roared in outrage that an earthbender would save the dragon of the west from his fate. They quickly began chucking rocks at the trio of newly arrived enemies and the former captive. Sokka dove to the side while firing arrows at the enemy. The first fell from an arrow to the throat, another spun around from an arrow burying itself in his shoulder. Sokka dove under a rock and came up swinging his arm and crushing an enemy's nose with a satisfying crunch. He idly wondered who would take out the most enemies. He grinned before firing another arrow. Heh that was number three.
Kuma was using his hands to direct his sand towards the earthbenders in spears and waves. So far his sand had claimed seven soldiers. It was a very stoic giant who thought this. These people were as much a part of him as the fire nation, but he had grown up fire nation and if he had to kill his heart and do what must be done to end this war then so be it.
Zuko was carving through the enemy with his Dao swords and firebending he was moving like a fiery twister leaving no one alive in his path. It was a sad necessity that these men had to die, as if even one was left alive the entire Earth kingdom army would be after them. Not a pleasant thought. He wouldn't allow it! He had to find the Avatar so that this war could finally be ended. There was no reason for him to draw the ire of such a force when he needed to end this.
Iroh was dancing through the battle field with a grace born from years of experience. He was using the chains on his wrists to redirect the boulders and use them as large mauls. His breathe of fire was used to great effect of incinerating anyone within ten feet of him. He truly felt remorse for the enemy troops. These men had stumbled blindly into a nest of spiderwolves. They never stood a chance.
When all the earth kingdom soldiers were dealt with the four looked at each other making sure everyone was alright then Sokka grinned and said "I got fifteen."
"Fourteen." Kuma grunted.
"Seventeen." Zuko said with a smirk. The trio looked at Iroh who merely smiled and turned around and grabbed one of the former soldier's ostrichhorses and spoke mirthefully. "Twenty-nine."
The boys all gasp at the figure. That was amazing. How on earth did he manage that many so quickly?!
After they had returned to the ship they had been informed that the avatar's skybison had flown over half an hour before headed into the fire nation's direction. They quickly took off after him they followed as fast as they could only to come up on the blockade. Iroh's advice was that since they hadn't crossed over to fire nation waters they couldn't be arrested but Zuko ordered them to run the blockade. The ship was damaged in the barrage of flaming rocks that Zhao sent at the avatar though so they didn't have the speed to make it. But somehow they did. Which left everyone on the small ship feeling uneasy like they had just walked into a trap. They tried to follow the avatar but soon realized they were being tracked by the smoke trail from the ship so Kuma, Sokka, and Zuko took the smaller river ship to try to get away. They arrived at Roku's temple just in time to see Aang rush into Roku's Chamber and the doors to seal shut. Zuko demanded they open the door immediately so that he could capture the avatar, only for the sages to tell him Roku had sealed the door until he wanted it open.
It only got worse from there with Commander Zhao showing up and trying to take Both Zuko and the Avatar. He was debuffed rather strongly when Kuma incased him in sand and told him if he so much as spoke another word he would be crushed. Then the doors began to open, causing everyone to get ready. When the doors opened though it wasn't Aang that stepped through them…..it was Roku. Everyone inside the temple was forced to flee from the wrath of the former Avatar as he began to bring the temple down around their ears which was the perfect opportunity to leave for the trio. They sat on the deck of the damaged ship thinking of the last misadventure regarding the Avatar, and cursing silently to themselves at the bald brat's luck. With Dawn approaching swiftly they made their way to bed while the ship limped through the ocean towards a friendly port.