Book 3: STONE

CHAPTER 14:

THE BOUNTY HUNTERS

The mountain had been searched all along the base. Some men had found a tunnel into the mountain itself but did not dare travel any further. Kizu was sitting at one of the tables with his patrol, eating lunch. "Did you see the look on the guy's face when I jumped out of the bush?" one of his comrades said with a cup held lazily in his hand.

"Yeah. Didn't even know what killed him." One of the men said as he laughed and drank his fill. "Kilmojo doesn't have the guts that we do."

"Yeah. Big bunch of floozies." The comrade said as he took a swig of his drink and then wolfed down his noodles.

"How much have they lost now? Maybe a good mile of land." The soldier said as he tried to map out how much of Kilmojo they had shaved off. The northern mountains were theirs in a blood bath and their patrol was set to station themselves near the northeast corner of the valley next to Kilmojo.

"Who cares? Pathigo is still winning this thing." The soldier said. He picked up his helmet and walked out. "I'm going to go see what pretty women want some of this. You coming, Ram?"

"Yeah. Leave some for me." Kizu joked as he finished his drink and then joined his comrades on a walk about Pathigo. They walked and spoke to each other about issues non related to war.

As they passed the governor's mansion, Kizu stopped. He could see that the mansion was being rebuilt with new iron supports around it. "What's going n here?" Kizu asked.

"There?" one of the men said. "That's just a little renovation. See, when the governor's daughter, Oma, was stolen, some Kilmojo spies broke in and tore it apart with their bending."

"Yeah. And I heard that after they catch his daughter, she's going to be locked up in some torture chamber they're building in the basement." The man laughed and elbowed Kizu in the ribs. "Wouldn't want to be with that thing when she comes back. Been making love to some Kilmojo scum."

They laughed and walked away, a sinking feeling settling in Kizu's stomach.

"Aer, do you want to go get something to eat?" Mizu asked as she walked into the tent with Ran-fo behind her. Aer spun around, a knife held in her hands. "What are you doing?" Mizu asked as she took a safety step backwards.

"I'm trying to modify this staff." Aer said as she showed the staff she had on the table in front of her. She had been carving out slots in the top and bottom, also boring small holes into the wood itself.

"Why?" Mizu asked as she walked over.

"Well, it was during that surge of Pathigo soldiers. Remember, when they attacked to the south. Well, when I had that pole in my hands, it felt…like I had more control of my airbending." Aer explained. "If I could just modify it a bit, it could be exactly what I need to sustain flight for longer periods of time."

"You do that." Mizu said as she patted Aer's shoulder and walked away. "I'll be sure to bring you back something."

"Thank you." Aer shouted over her shoulder as she returned to her work. Mizu brushed the hair out of her face as she paced around the camp, meandering to the mess hall.

"What's going on?" Mizu asked Dueno as she picked up two loaves of bread from the basket.

"Nothing. The men were just getting ready to set out to the front lines." Dueno said as he shifted his tray over and gave a quick look to the soldiers gathered around their captain. "We may not be back at the barracks for a while. We're all leaving with them." Dueno grabbed a bowl of soup from the table and moved to sit at his private table. Mizu moved with him.

"What?" You mean all the troops?" Mizu asked as she sat down with him.

"Yes." Dueno said as he broke his loaf of bread and dipped it in his soup. "You see, Shishou's tribe has joined with Pathigo's now and we need all the man power we can get out there."

"But, does this mean Kan will be leaving us for good?" Mizu asked as she gave a thoughtful look at him.

"It won't be any different from when Kan has been on leave before." Dueno remarked. "This time though, no one will be in the barracks. Of course you will still have to tend the sick and any injured will be sent back here. I myself will be setting up my new headquarters with the men."

"Oh, I wish you luck in your campaign then." Mizu said as she held out a hand to Dueno. He politely shook it and went back to eating while Mizu got up and walked out of the tent, bringing along Aer's lunch.

"And why are you here?" Shishou asked the people, sitting near their cart as they entered Pathigo's camp. Kizu had a small squirm in his stomach as he looked at the bounty hunters. "Who are you anyways?"

"They are the Hung Xi Bounty Hunters, sir." One of the men said as he un rolled the piece of parchment the bounty hunters had given them.

"That answers who you are, but not your objective." Shishou said as he scowled at them and snapped his fingers. Spears rose at them. The bounty hunters had their own weapons out in an instant, ready for a fight.

"We are here on an expedition of our own." The one in blue plating said with a muffled voice. "We are gathering any and all benders or those that help them to bring in…for a price of course."

"You capture benders?" Shishou said as he rubbed his ear. "Interesting, because it just so happens that we have a bit of a bender issue here."

Kizu felt a hole open up in his chest as he thought exactly what Shishou was saying. "You see, Kilmojo, as old as it is, has foolishly decided to let the heathens into their army. In fact, they support this new idea of immersion with them!"

"I see." The Bounty Hunter said as he straightened and gave a small salute.

"I trust you know what to do?" Shishou said with a smirk upon his face. He tipped his head and then turned on his heel. The bounty hunters gathered around their cart and began pick out what they would use in their assault. Kizu was forced back into formation as his drill instructor ordered them to march out towards the front lines to relieve the third platoon.

Dueno arrived t the front lines, large walls of sandbags set up to help cover the archers. Some of the men were sitting around playing a bit of what looked to be poker. They rushed to their feet, standing at attention as their commander passed them. "At ease, men." Dueno said as he dismounted his ostrich horse. He took off his gloves and handed them to his aide.

"We haven't met any opposition yet." One of the captains said as he bowed to Dueno. "We expect that they are switching out platoons on their front lines. At least, that's what a little songbird told us." Dueno winked, indicating that he did indeed understand Kizu's hand in this.

"Good. Then have your men flank the sides of their camp." Dueno said. "Kan, ready your troops! You are going straight into the fire." Kan's eyes popped out when he heard this.

"What?" Kan responded as he scrambled to gather his patrol together. They assembled quickly and began to line up as some other patrols spread out in a fan. They could see from far away that there was a large motion on Pathigo's front lines.

"Looks like our song bird was correct." Dueno said as he snapped his spyglass shut and gave the command.

Kan and his men were over the bluff and creeping towards the other army when it happened.

The air was ripped open by the blast as the explosives went off. Kan and his men flew through the air, twitching and sputtering as they hit the ground hard. Kan was first to his feet as he gave a heave and a rock shield flew from the ground, swinging around to block the other barrage of catapults.

"What is it?" Kei asked as he grabbed Bo and Pici and held them behind him. Kan peered out from a crack in the rocks that floated in front of them. He could make out the colored plating.

"It's bounty hunters." Kan replied as he turned to the benders of the group. "I suggest that you guys take some cover."

The benders responded and dug into the earth, some bending the water over them to hide their escapes. The rest of the troops fell in after them as Kan lowered the stone wall and ran full force to the front lines.

Kizu could see Kan running head long into the fray, letting all of the new reinforcements take their shots at him as the bounty hunters prepared to enter the field. Kizu had to think fast. How could he save Kan while at the same time not making it look obvious whose side he was on?

One of the bounty hunters aimed at Kan, a bomb tied to the tip of the arrow. Before the bounty hunter could release, Kizu tripped into him, knocking the bow to the side and letting the bomb fly into the cart full of explosives.

The Pathigo camp lit up in a blaze of fire and color. The front lines began to draw back when the ground fell away from them. The benders were tunneling from below, sending troops falling into the sinkholes that sprouted in their lines. Kan leapt over the protective wall and began beating down upon the bounty hunters.

He grabbed one by the head and sent him twitching through the air into one of the tents stationed behind him. He heard the heavy axe break through the air and turned in time to duck.

It stopped in mid air and the soldier fell backwards at the impact of Aer's strike. She examined her staff with a puzzled look on her face. "I expected him to go more into the air and not so much stumble backwards. I should fix that."

Two men ran at her from opposite sides, their swords brandished above their heads. "Watch out!" Kizu shouted without a second thought. Aer merely bent some air into the small holes set into the staff, making the glider handles pop out and smash the two men in their faces.

"Those work." Aer observed as she snapped them back in and ducked. She spun the staff over her head, causing the men to be blasted back on a spiral of air. "Just a few more kinks to work out." Aer said to herself as she walked calmly into the fray, making some small adjustments to the bottom tips of the glider.

The flanks of Kilmojo closed in, leaving the only option for Pathigo to retreat. As the enemy fled into the hills of Pathigo, Kizu was hustled back into his patrol. They were the first to leave the battle, already setting up defenses for the other troops to retreat. The bounty hunters hustled past, shooting some explosives and arrows into the oncoming swarm of Kilmojo.

But it was over. Kizu had already given himself away. It was only a matter of time.

"Thanks for the backup." Kan said silently as he brushed past Aer, who was sitting on a rock, clutching her staff tightly.

"I know." Aer said absentmindedly, gazing off into the dying light.

"You don't have to be so smart about it." Kan said as he stopped and whipped his head towards her.

"I wasn't." Aer said without acknowledging Kan's presence. "I know it was them." Aer blinked hard as the sun disappeared behind the hills around the cities locked in war. "I know they know where Jip is."

"Still on that fruitless thought are you?" Kan said as he tossed a limp hand in the air and turned away.

"I know she's alive." Aer told herself. "And I will find them and I will save her." Aer closed her eyes and bowed her head. She stood up and took off down her rock and bounded down and back to Kilmojo, the sky growing dark on both the day and their lives.