Chapter 7: Something Wrong

Aang jumped into the swamp water and pressed his back to a tree. The flood water disrupted the vibrations he felt through the ground. He couldn't tell if there two assailants or twenty.

"Khan!" Aang called.

A hail of rocks flew at him. Aang moved on instinct and bent the flood water. Thick whipcords of water caught or knocked the rocks aside. One rock hit the tree behind him, shattering and splintering the wood. He ran towards the direction the of attack before the woodchips could even brush his back.

Except there was no one there, no one he could sense. Aang cursed. There was a crashing noise. He turned his head to the sound. A scream followed.

"Khan!"

The water vibrated with amplified movement. Aang pushed the water away from him, hoping that that way he could tell where the others were.

There. He smiled; there were two, directly ahead. He took a step forward...

And almost fell on his face. Aang looked down at his feet; they were sunk to the knees in mud. Aang cursed again, loudly; when he pushed the water away the mud and dirt had stayed and thickened. It was a stupid mistake from him.

They came at him then, Earthbenders. They jumped down from the trees and ran lithely across the ground. Aang earthbent and collapsed the mud beneath them, but they hopped up quickly, propelling themselves forward with their own bending.

Aang airbent the ground directly below him, trying to force himself out of the mud. His first attacker, a bearded man, launched himself at him. Aang Pushed down with all his might and catapulted into the air. He flew over both men and spun out of his fall. He wasn't prepared for how slippery the ground was, though, and slid backwards.

By the time Aang regained his balance the Earthbenders were coming for him again. The second man, clean-shaven, skidded to a halt and Pushed. The ground heaved and rolled like a wave.

Aang switched forms faster than most men could think and Pulled the flood water back. The torrent crashed into the upheaved mud, liquidising it back into the dirty water. Aang bent again, not waiting for the Earthbenders to recover, and wrapped a water tentacle around the bearded man, and flung him hard into a tree. The man hit it with a hard, wet smack with enough force behind him to shake the trunk. The bearded man dropped into the water, unconscious.

Aang put him out of his mind after one quick, hopeful thought that the man wasn't too seriously hurt. His clean-shaven opponent was already hitting back, uprooting from the bottom of the swamp heavy boulders and hurling them at Aang. Aang was ready, though; he threw up his hands, bending up sheets of water that slowed down the stones. When the missiles came closer he knocked them away like they were nothing but rubble.

Just as Aang thought he was getting the upper hand the ground beneath him collapsed. He plunged into the water, going under. Gasping in surprise, he ended up swallowing some of the murky water. Panic gripped him for a minute before he forced it away and head his head out of the water.

He sputtered and coughed and tried not to think what he had just swallowed. He whipped his head around, trying to spot the Earthbender. He saw him, just as the man threw his hands forward. The earth rushed before him.

Aang didn't think; he just moved. He jumped from the water with the ease of an Airbender, spun and kicked his leg out. A gale snapped through the trees, tore the leaves from the branches and chopped up the water. It knocked the Earthbender off his feet and threw him hard against a tree. Before he could get his wits back, Aang landed and Pushed. The water rose and iced around man's legs and torso, imprisoning him. He struggled for a minute or so but finally relented.

Aang sighed heavily, glad that it was over. The whole fight might've only taken a few minutes but it was tiring work. He frowned at the man. Pulling the ground out from under him had been Aang's trick. He didn't think that someone could copy it so easily. He decided to be more cautious in the future.

"Alright," he said, approaching his prisoner. "Who are you? A smuggler? An assassin? Did you kill Faizin?"

The man smiled a little. Aang didn't like that smile. It wasn't just mocking; it was knowing. He felt a hot flush of anger. He put his face up close to the man's.

"Talk," he said stiffly.

The man's smile widened a little. Aang blinked; something was wrong, very wrong. He felt his skin crawl, his stomach go hollow. He twitched his eyes to the side, to the man's hand. Something flickered, sparked in his palm. Aang went cold. Something ignited.

The air turned into fire.

That was all Aang was able to register before Khan tackled him into the water.


Sho sat beside Appa, his hand against the animal's side and trying not to look down at his clothes. He should have realised that when Sai Lin meant a change of clothes she meant Yamamachi style clothes. There had been perverse delight in her eyes when she handed him the clothes. Appa groaned and shifted his head a little. Sho eyed him and continued to pat his side. The sky bison was breathing heavily and had thrown up twice since the first time.

"Well?" he asked.

The town physician popped his head over the large animal's body and pulled the hearing tubes from his ears. "No fluid in the lungs, but his stomach is in riot."

The healer walked around to Sho. "What's he eaten in the past twenty-four hours?"

Sho turned his head to Sai Lin who stood at the far end of the stables; Appa still didn't like her.

"Just hay," she said. Her eyes widened a little. "You don't think it got rot, do you?"

"With the rainy season, it's likely," the healer said. "Just a bit of food poisoning; it'll pass through his body in a day or so." He packed his things. "Just give him water and rest and he'll come good eventually. If he doesn't improve by tomorrow let me know."

Sho stood and bowed. "Thank you, sir."

The healer eyed him curiously. "It's Bokku and don't mention it. Anything to help the Avatar."

There was the sound of commotion in the courtyard. Sho turned his head and saw the Avatar running toward him. General Khan walked behind, speaking to Governor Tonshi. The Governor stood a careful distance apart from the General and seemed to be eyeing the sheathed sword that Khan was using for a walking stick.

"Speaking of whom..." Bokku said. "I better tell the Avatar about his sky bison. I'm sure he must be worried."

The Avatar did look anxious. Sho watched the physician meet up with him and explain the details. The Avatar was a right mess, his clothes wet and filthy, his face creased with dirt. Khan looked much the same.

"They look as bad as you did."

Sho glanced at Sai Lin; he hadn't noticed her come to stand next to him. Appa was too sick, apparently, to care about her getting close. "I wonder what happened?"

"Nothing good," Sho replied. Some of the tension had left the Avatar's face while he talked to Bokku but not all of it. He looked grim.

Bokku finally parted and the Avatar continued to the stables.

"How is he?" he asked and squatted beside Appa.

"He'll be okay," Sho answered.

The Avatar made no sign that he heard. He leaned his forehead against the sky bison's and closed his eyes. After a moment Sho saw the Avatar's lips move but his voice was so quiet he didn't hear the words. Appa seemed to react to whatever he was saying. Sho turned his head away, feeling uncomfortable. He felt like an intruder on an intimate scene.

The Avatar stood finally. "Thank you for watching him."

Sho flushed with embarrassment. "It was nothing, Avatar."

"It wasn't 'nothing'," the Avatar replied. "Thank you."

Sho swallowed, resisted a bow and compromised by lowering his eyes. Sho was saved from further embarrassment by the arrival of Khan and the Governor.

"Hmph. Governor Tonshi of course denies any knowledge of the weapons." Khan scowled at Tonshi and the thin man paled a little and took a step further away. Khan was looking more fierce than usual, his appearance dirty and wet and a long graze across the top of his head.

"Avatar, please, you must believe me. I had no idea about the swords." Tonshi protested.

"I still say we arrest you," Khan said.

Tonshi blanched further and spluttered before the Avatar raised his hand. "Our evidence is circumstantial, General. Faizin is the only one we can connect to the smuggling."

"Avatar-!" Tonshi interrupted but the Avatar cut him off.

"The situation has changed, though." He paused and looked around at them all. "I get the feeling this goes beyond Yamamachi."

No one said anything to that. The Avatar's face turned decisive. "Governor Tonshi, I need a moment with my colleagues alone, please."

Tonshi nodded mutely and he and Sai Lin left the stables.

"Pretty clothes, Lieutenant," Khan mused. "Taking a liking to it here?"

"The mud does wonders for your face, General," Sho retorted. "Can't hardly see it."

Khan looked surprised for a moment then suddenly laughed. "A joke, Lieutenant? We may be taking the rod out of your rear yet."

Sho went crimson with anger and embarrassment and opened his mouth before the Avatar stepped between them.

"If you two are done?"

Sho lowered his eyes, this time his face red only with shame. A tense silence fell on all of them. Sho decided to be brave and break it.

"What...what happened in the forest, Avatar?"

The Avatar was still hard-eyed but after a moment relayed the events in the swamp.

"I'm sorry I couldn't help," Sho said quietly when the Avatar had finished.

"You wouldn't have been any," Khan replied bluntly. "No firebending, remember?" He looked at the Avatar with disapproval. "I can't believe you forgot that."

"I didn't firebend," the Avatar said.

"And so the swamp magically set itself alight then?" Khan mocked. "It must have been you; who else could it have been? The Earthbenders?" He scoffed at that to show how preposterous it was.

"Maybe they had 'secret bending'," the Avatar mused.

Khan stared at him before laughing loudly. "We have jokers all round today."

When the Avatar said nothing Khan frowned at him. "It is a joke, yes? What you're saying is impossible."

"I can't say for certain what I saw," the Avatar replied quietly. "Maybe he had flint or a match in his hand, but I'd like to see a wet match that can strike." He paused and creased his brow in thought. "No. No, I don't know what I saw but I know what I felt when I looked at that Earthbender, and what I felt was something very wrong."

There was an uncomfortable silence before Sho stirred. "What should we do then, Avatar?"

The paused before answering, "Normally I'd want to consult with Zuko or Kuei about this but since Appa is sick and riding would take too long I say we continue the investigation. I'll go and follow the smugglers' trail. You two will stay here and continue to search for evidence."

Sho and Khan were united in their protests.

"Avatar, that is too dangerous," Sho said. "One of us should go with you."

Khan's snort was vulgar. "It's more than dangerous, it's stupid. What if you find more of those benders are along the trail?"

"You think I can't handle them?" Aang asked. He smiled at them reassuringly. "I appreciate your concerns, both of you. But if this is anything like I fear it is then it's a job for the Avatar alone."

Khan snorted again. "Foolishness," he muttered under his breath.

Sho lowered his head, his face creased with worry. He was wholeheartedly against the idea, but what could he say? The Avatar had made his decision.

"I'll change and leave immediately," the Avatar said. "Don't wan the trail to go cold. I get the feeling it heads straight to the mountain pass, though. It's the only way out to the other colonies." He looked at their faces and frowned. "I'm not stupid. If you don't hear from me in three days come look for me. Or better yet, go tell Zuko and Kuei."

"In two days," Khan insisted.

Aang conceded with a nod. "Two, then."