The Runaway chap. 3
The avatar, Katara, Sokka, and Toph were once again riding on the big, lovable Aapa.
"I'm so glad you were able to find Aapa, Aang," Katara said. Aang smiled. He was happy to have the flying bison back.
"Yeah, now that we're off the ground again, I'm sooooo happy," replied Toph, rolling her eyes.
"Let's go get the Fire Nation!" cried Sokka, punching the air like he had just boomeranged Zuko in the head.
"Sokka, we can't just go storming in there. It's a death sentence," said the water bender.
"You can go, Sokka. We won't miss you," said the blind girl, smiling.
"Anyways, Aang still has to learn fire bending," Katara added.
The avatar said nothing, focusing on guiding Aapa. Not that they had a place to go. On the great plains just northwest of Ba Sing Se, the "fearsome four" (named by the water tribe warrior, of course) flew quietly for an hour: Katara watching Mo Mo fly around the great, white beast; Aang directing the flying bison; and Toph gloomily wishing they were walking again. Sokka at first thought of beating the Fire Nation, but soon his thoughts wandered to Suki and her lovely smile.
Meanwhile, near the outer wall of Ba Sing Se, Zuko and Iroh were planning their escape.
"I don't like this city," complained Iroh, standing with his back against the inner side of the wall. "Do we have any tea?"
Zuko narrowed his eyes but did not answer.
"You need to keep up your strength, Prince Zuko. If you want to still catch the avatar…"
"Enough!" whispered Zuko violently. "Never mind the avatar. We must get out of this prison of a place."
Iroh let the subject drop and began thinking of a way out of the city. "It will be difficult to leave," he had said earlier. "No one wants to leave a place with so much prestige like Ba Sing Se. We will have to find an exit of some sort, Prince Zuko. Just not the ones the merchants use. We are too noticeable there."
The two refugees crouched at the base of the wall, deep in thought. They were ready to leave, even if they didn't know how to yet. The night before, Zuko had put their few belongings in two small packs, along with about two days' supply of food. That is, if they ate very little in those two days.
"Ah ha!" cried the prince a little too loudly. "I now the exit we must use." His companion was interested. "Where the drill broke through (of course he is referring to where his royal-pain-in-the-neck of a sister had tried to drill into Ba Sing Se, through the great outer wall), they are repairing it. That is our exit, Uncle."
Iroh smiled at his nephew's genius for a few moments. Then the proud grin disappeared from his face. "They have guards there tonight. Every night."
Zuko turned to look at his uncle. He shot Iroh a look, telling him he felt insulted and did not like being called stupid. "I know this, Uncle. That is why we leave this evening, right before the workers go home.
"There are guards then, too, Prince Zuko, making sure the workers do their job."
Zuko turned back towards the wall, tracing the small cracks with his finger tips. Then he added flatly, "That's why we are leaving today."