Hey everyone! So this chapter's more of a transitional one as far as the plot goes. Hope that last sentence made any sense :p Anyways, it'll feature more of Lin and Opal's relationship and will be kinda short.
Opal and Lin searched every inch of the filthy alleyway. They flipped over every sleeping bag, examined every crack in the walls, and interviewed every resident. Yet they came up with nothing.
Tenzin had ordered them to gather more information about the crime group that kidnapped their benders. The Beifong duo's search had led them to this alleyway, where the bandits were last seen according to eye witnesses. The thieves had robbed yet another store clean without fail, and afterwards, they'd ran into the alleyway and vanished. No one knew how, for it led to a dead end; there was only one way in and out.
Or is there? Lin thought to herself as she examined the scene.
"Aunt Lin, maybe we should just look somewhere else," Opal suggested dejectedly.
"No, I'm not giving up yet," Lin replied sternly.
Opal sighed at her stubborn aunt. Lin may not have been on "friends" with Kai or Yung or Daw, but she wasn't about to leave them in harm's way. Stubborn and intuitive like her mother Toph, she would search this alleyway for hours on end until she found the missing variable in this equation. Thus, she continued hypothesizing possible explanations, employing her detective skills, the one thing she did best.
Opal, however, didn't share the sentiments.
"Come one, Aunt Lin. We're wasting time. There's no way they could've escaped through here. All that's here are sleeping bags and earth." Opal complained.
"Earth," Lin whispered to herself.
Lin's eyes bulged. A switch flipped in her mind, illuminating the hidden truth. The police began to kick aside sleeping bags, forming a blank circle around her feet. She then turned towards a confused Opal and got into a fighting stance.
"What are you doing?" Opal asked.
"You'll see," Lin responded.
The earth-bender jerked her right leg up, and in one swift move slammed it onto the ground below. She closed her eyes: her world turned gray, allowing her seismic sense to guide her. Rings rippled from the soles of her feet, allowing her to sense every creature, every vibration, and every crack in the earth. Soon, her seismic sense (as it had done for Toph myriad times before) opened her eyes to what no one else could see. After the effects ebbed, Lin turned her heads upwards, determination fresh on her face.
"What is it?" Opal asked.
"I sensed something underground, something hollow," Lin informed her.
"You mean like a cave?" Opal questioned.
"More like a tunnel, a network of tunnels," Lin clarified.
"Tunnels? That must be how the bandits are moving around and where they're hiding!" Opal realized.
"Exactly. After they make off with their loot, they'll find some secluded corner where it's hard to be seen. They'll operate in groups, and each group will have at least one earth-bender. That earth-bender will open up a hole in the ground, and through that hole, they'll drop back into their tunnels—their layer." Lin explained further.
"And I bet that's where they're keeping Yung and Daw," Opal added on, "we've got to get tell Tenzin this, right now!"
With a nod of affirmation from Lin, the duo headed back to the camp—unaware that a blue and yellow spirit had been perched on the wall, watching them from above.
By the time Lin and Opal had sprinted back to the camp, they could discern there was something wrong. The dejected faces of Jinora and Tenzin were clear indicators, and the four didn't let a moment slip before revealing to each other what they had discovered. Opal started, Tenzin followed, and confusion ended it: they'd no idea what to do.
"We can't just give into his commands," Opal murmured.
"Maybe we don't have to, not fully," Jinora stated.
The three turned towards Jinora, who now had her hand on her chin, lost in thought. She would do anything to get Kai back, which meant she would—even in this time of distress—formulate the most cunning plan to do so. She reviewed the plan in her head, meticulously checking every detail.
"What are you thinking, Jinora?" Tenzin inquired.
"I'm thinking that we split up. Tomorrow afternoon, daddy and I will go meet Chou along with the rest of the town, and we'll try to stall him. Opal and Lin, you two infiltrate their layer and find Kai, Yung, and Daw. We'll keep in touch with the radios we brought, and once you two have found the three and gotten out safely, contact us immediately. Then, we'll take on Chou—hopefully with the help of the townspeople." Jinora explained.
"But do you even know what he's planning tomorrow?" Opal asked.
"I'm not sure, but I'm guessing it's gonna be more than just a ransom. We don't have much of a choice but to take a leap of faith. Are you in?" Jinora explained then asked.
Tenzin, Opal, and Lin glanced at each other before nodding in agreement. Jinora smiled, thankful for their trust, then frowned, hoping that it wasn't too late to save Kai.
Team Air+Republic City Police Chief have a plan! Will it work? Also, what was up with those spirits watching them? 0_o That's the second time a spirit has appeared in the story, even though they supposedly left a long time ago. Just a couple things to keep in mind. I've got a good idea where I want this to go. Please continue to review; it's greatly appreciated.