A/N: Thank you again to everyone and congrats to all of you who finished finals. This chapter should answer some questions and please enjoy and Review!
Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar
Chapter 27
Zuko studied the man as Toph jumped off and the others dismounted before grabbing his mounts reins and Aang's. The man was about fifty, tall with tan skin and long black hair pulled back into a small braid. A few gray wisps showed from behind the ears and disappeared into the braid. He was big and muscular, but looked like he had a gentle disposition. The man looked up and silver eyes met Zuko's gaze before the prince could turn away to take care of the animals.
"I think it would be best if we wait for everyone to finish what they're doing before I tell you why I'm here, young Avatar," Daniel said in a deep comforting voice, turning back to Aang. He held out a white lotus tile in his hand towards the Avatar. "I am a friend of Iroh and Bumi."
Aang nodded and turned to help Zuko with the ostrich horses, making sure they had water and food before the two turned to head back to the others. Ty Lee passed out dinner as Zuko and Aang sat and Daniel thanked Ty Lee before turning to the Avatar.
"You can not enter our town, Avatar Aang," the elder told them. "Last week, a group of cavalry entered, known as the Rough Rhinos. They were destructive and took us completely by surprise. The next day a battalion of the army arrived and took over. The white lotus has remained hidden, until yesterday."
Zuko became tense at the mention of the rough rhinos and noticed Aang, Katara and Sokka became tense as well.
"Who are these guys that they can ride in and take over?" Jet asked, anger coloring his tone.
"They're masters of different weapons, the elite of the elite," Zuko told him. "Their leader, Colonel Mongke, used to serve under my uncle."
"Yes," Daniel continued. "And now they are honored guests of the army."
"What happened yesterday?" Katara asked the elder.
Daniel sighed, looking older. "Our people have continued to ferry people coming in to Duran Island. The fire nation has become suspicious and two ferries were caught coming back empty yesterday. The captains and their first mates were taken to jail to be questioned. They haven't talked, yet. But all the secrecy could be for nothing if they talk."
"We need to help them," Aang said, rising and stomping his staff onto the ground for emphasis.
"Didn't you listen, Twinkle Toes?" Toph stated, smacking her hand onto the ground and causing Aang to fall onto his rear. "You can't go in. They'll be looking for you."
"Correct, Miss Bei Fong," Daniel said, bowing his head to Toph. "None of you can enter the town."
"What about us?" Ty Lee asked. "Mai and I are from the fire nation. We could help."
"But what could you do, my lady?" Daniel asked, turning his attention to the gymnast. "You are both young and could be taken advantage of."
Haru and Jet sat up straighter at that and started to frown, but Mai just sighed.
"We have a letter from Princess Azula," Mai told Daniel before frowning at Jet. "Saying to give us the same respect she would be given and that we can be in charge."
"I am not letting you go in there alone," Jet stated, looking at Mai.
"I won't be alone, Ty Lee will be with me," Mai told him.
"But…" Jet started but Daniel held up a hand and Jet stopped.
"The ladies have a point. We have an apprentice in the battalion here. He's a lieutenant, third from the top. If we could somehow take out the top two and the Rough Rhinos, then he would be in charge and cover for us until the ferries complete in three days."
"What's all this apprentice, white lotus talk anyways?" Ty Lee asked.
Daniel appeared startled before smiling gently at Ty Lee. He then looked at Aang and Zuko, questioning them with his gaze.
"No, we haven't told them yet," Aang said.
Daniel nodded before turning to address Mai, Ty Lee and Jet, though all listened in attentively.
"The white lotus is a society that clings to the old ways and balance. We have been around since the nations found out about each other and have always strove for peace. The past hundred years have been hard on us, and when General Iroh lost his son and found enlightenment, we had hoped there could be peace, but his brother usurped his place. Prince Zuko, we have heard much about you and hope you can follow your uncle's teaching."
Zuko nodded when the elder turned to look at him, Daniels' silver gaze seeming to pierce him. Daniel smiled and turned back to the new additions.
"With the return of the Avatar, balance could be restored, and we have waited for the moment to come out of our secrecy and mobilize. It was found after the day of black sun, when one of our grand masters, General Iroh, escaped prison and Prince Zuko left his home to train the Avatar. There are not many of us, but we have people in high places, and they command others. Those others are the main force behind our invasion before the comet arrives."
Daniel concluded as Zuko studied the faces watching the elder. Mai was looking thoughtful, and Ty Lee and Jet seemed slightly confused, and Haru and Suki were staring at Daniel in shock and admiration.
"We were initiated in Omashu," Aang told Daniel and the rest of their group. "But we don't know anything really. There just wasn't any time."
Daniel bowed his head in understanding. "You will learn more on Duran, once you get there. But perhaps we should focus on the task at hand. Ladies Mai and Ty Lee, you can go in and find out what the army has learned and perhaps take over the interrogation, but what of the Rough Rhinos?"
"Oh, we can scare them away!" Sokka said, glancing at Katara and Zuko and starting to grin.
Zuko sighed and ran a hand through his hair, seeing where the warrior's thoughts were going.
"How? Forgive me, but you are just ten and children?" Daniel asked.
Sokka frowned, but continued on. "Yeah, but we have a few spirits that can help. That, along with a few tricks, we can scare them away and maybe the top leaders as well. That or knock them out and hide them somewhere. We've faced these guys before and beat them out of a town to the south. We can do it again!"
"Not with the army here," Jet said, frowning at Sokka. "You need to use stealth, not just attack them."
"I plan to," Sokka smirked and turned to his sister. "Do you still have it?"
"Yes," Katara sighed. "But I thought you didn't want me to do this anymore."
"Yeah, but we need it."
The new additions, Suki and Daniel looked utterly confused and Katara noticed.
"Zuko and I have dressed as spirits before, to rescue Toph from a balloon, and also on our own to help other people. We still have the costumes, but we're going to need to know where these guys are and how to hit them," the waterbender told the group.
"Well, I'm not on a wanted poster," Sokka said. "Suki, Haru and I can go into town and check it out as Mai and Ty Lee go check out the army area."
"I'm going too," Jet stated.
"You can't," Mai told him. "You're on a wanted poster. And your armor and swords kind of give you away. Maybe you can go in with Zuko. The army already thinks you're dead."
"Hey!" Jet started, frowning at Mai as she started to smile. "Wait, was that a joke?"
Ty Lee giggled as Mai continued to smile. Jet relaxed and sighed. "Fine," he growled. "I'll wait, but be careful!"
Mai nodded and they turned to Daniel who had been watching the exchanges with amusement.
"Well, I'll leave you to work it out. My house is also a tea shop, called the Blue Dragon and is just down the street from the jailhouse. Come and see me once you find out what you need and I'll try and find a way to make the people disappear once you figure out how to get to them," Daniel said.
The elder rose and bowed to them. "My thanks for the dinner, but I do advise you not to firebend, especially at night. The army is on the lookout and I shall see you on the morrow."
Aang rose and bowed back to the elder as the rest bowed their heads in respect to Daniel as the elder left, walking proudly back into the forest and towards the town.
Mai and Jet turned to study Zuko once Daniel was gone. "What spirits?" Jet asked.
"I'm the Blue Spirit and Katara is the Painted Lady," Zuko told them.
"Well, not the Painted Lady," Katara said, blushing. "I just dressed as her to help a village and then to rescue Toph."
The four newer additions to the gang stared at Zuko and Katara in shock, looking from one to the other. Toph laughed as Zuko sighed again. He knew he'd never live it down with Mai and Ty Lee now.
"Can I see the mask?" the gymnast asked, excitement in her voice and on her face.
"Later," Sokka said. "Right now we have to decide what we're going to do."
"Well, you guys have fun, but those of us not going can train Twinkle Toes right now," Toph said, standing.
Aang and Katara nodded, rising to follow the earthbender and Zuko thankfully followed them. He was almost out of sight of the others when Sokka called out.
"Hey Zuko, didn't Daniel say no firebending?"
"I'm not going to bend," Zuko growled over his shoulder to the water tribe warrior.
The prince grabbed his swords and followed Toph, Katara and Aang as he heard Sokka and Jet asking what his problem was. Toph led the way to a clearing and the girls started firing on the Avatar as Zuko watched. He pointed out several points of weakness in Aang's defense and attack before they ended and Katara and Aang walked off on their own. Toph walked up to Zuko with a smirk on her face once the lovebirds were gone.
"What's on your mind?" Zuko asked her, feeling a sense of dread. She only wore that smirk when she had something devious planned.
"Come on. I have training for you," Toph told him. "And leave your swords."
The prince set the swords down and followed Toph, knowing she would get her way, no matter what. Toph led him to the center of the clearing and then turned to him.
"Lesson number one, you need to learn to use your other senses," she told him as she stepped up to him and hugged him tightly.
The ground they were on lowered into a pit and Zuko took deep breaths, trying to remain calm as the darkness swallowed them. The only thing that kept him from bolting was Toph's reassuring presence.
"Close your eyes," she told him.
Zuko complied and felt better as he felt her move to be behind him, though her calming touch never left. She entwined both of her hands with his and pressed them to his chest.
"What do you hear?" she asked.
Zuko tried to relax and concentrated. "My pounding heart," he told her and was answered with a small giggle.
"No, everything else."
He took another deep breath and sounds came to him. "A screech owl, a chorus of crickets, two people walking away, and… several pieces of dirt falling."
"Concentrate on the dirt. Where does it fall from and where does it stop?"
Zuko took another breath and willed himself to get past the sound of his rapidly beating heart. He heard another clump of dirt fall. "It starts about a foot above me and lands at my feet."
Toph squeezed his hands gently, almost as an affirmative and then spoke again. "Ok, what do you smell?"
He almost scoffed at that question, but decided against it. "Moon lilies, jasmine, and freshly ground up earth."
Toph nodded against his back. "Ok, and what do you taste?"
He did scoff at that one. "Are you kidding?"
"No," she said, her tone turning serious. "Trust me. Or you will eat it, literally."
The prince relaxed a little more as her voice became a tease once again. "The air is moist, and I can almost taste the moist dirt."
Toph nodded again and squeezed his hands. "Now, what do you feel?"
Zuko reached out a hand to feel the area, but Toph held his hands to his chest. "With your feet and senses. Explain to me where we are."
He sighed and could tell she barely held back a small laugh before concentrating again. "The earth is solid beneath our feet. And we're in a good sized cavern by the sounds that come back. Maybe ten feet in diameter. The ground is about three feet above me, and it's all dirt. Solid, but no stone."
Toph squeezed him to her in a hug and let their hands fall to the side, becoming looser. He tightened his hold on her hands, but she simply giggled.
"Now, open your eyes and look up," she told him.
Zuko opened his eyes and saw grass falling into the hole from about three feet above his head. The half moon was shining brightly on them and was surrounded by a few stars. He let one of her hands go and turned to Toph and saw the diameter of the cavern they were in was about ten feet and she was smiling up at him.
"So, how do you feel now?" she asked, a wry smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.
"Better," he told her before smiling and picking her up to kiss her.
She kissed him back and hung onto his neck. "Good, because you're eventually going to be on your own."
"I know," he sighed, setting her back onto her feet.
She giggled a little and then moved her arms up, causing the earth they were on to rise back to where it had been. The clearing was free of people, and Zuko smiled as they walked hand in hand back to the others. He heard something before they entered the camp and pulled Toph back behind a tree as Aang and Katara walked into camp. Toph leaned back against Zuko's chest as they watched Katara and Aang hug outside of the girls' tent and the Avatar looked around before turning back to Katara and grinning. Toph started smirking before Aang hugged Katara again before twisting and dipping the waterbender down and then bending down and kissing her passionately.
Toph held back a giggle and Zuko smiled as Katara turned a bright shade of red before Aang twisted back and put her back onto her feet, kissing her once more before they separated and each went into their own tents. The Avatar and waterbender looked at each other once more before each got into their tents. Toph sighed, squeezing Zuko's hand before she started to move towards the girls' tent. With a smile, Zuko kept hold of her hand and pulled her back to him and into a kiss.
"Copycat," Toph teased when they finally separated.
"But you know you love it," he teased back.
He smiled more when Toph's cheeks turned a bright pink and let go of her hand as she went to the girls' tent. He only entered the camp when Toph had gone to bed and looked around. Jet wasn't there. Zuko started to walk around the edge of camp and found the freedom fighter at the opposite end, looking toward the glow of the town.
"I wanted to avoid the lovebirds," Jet said as Zuko approached, the freedom fighter not even caring to turn towards the prince.
Zuko merely nodded and leaned against a tree a few feet from Jet. They watched the town in silence for a while, senses expanded to listen for any trouble.
"I know you're waiting to ask," Jet said after a while.
"You're right," Zuko replied. "But I wanted to wait till you were ready to tell me. Katara could heal it, whatever it is."
Jet turned and gave the prince an odd look before turning back to watching the town. After a few more minutes of silence, the freedom fighter started walking away from the camp. Zuko followed him.
"Katara could heal it. If you ask," Zuko told the freedom fighter once they were far enough away from the camp that they wouldn't wake the others.
"No, she can't," Jet answered, stopping with his back to Zuko.
"You don't know until you ask."
"Will you stop bugging me about it?!" Jet snarled, turning towards the prince and glaring at him. "The other healer couldn't heal it and she won't be able to either!"
Zuko felt his temper start to rise and stalked up to Jet. "You don't know that. You're injured, and even though you think you can fight, you're not going to last that long in a fight. I will not have you endangering anyone because you think you can defend them."
The two teens glared at each other and Zuko saw Jet trying to come back with a retort. Finally Jet turned and started walking again, around the camp. Zuko turned the other way and went back to where he had first found Jet and watched the sleepy town. After an hour, Jet came back and leaned against a tree and started watching the town again.
"I heard you like bets," the freedom fighter said.
"So?" Zuko asked, glancing at Jet. The freedom fighter's face was oddly expressionless.
Jet turned to Zuko and the prince saw amusement and a glimmer of hope in Jet's dark eyes.
"So how about a bet. In the morning, we duel, swords only. I win, you tell me all you can about Mai, you win, I ask Katara to look at my…injury."
Zuko let a smirk tug at the corner of his mouth. "Deal, but you also have to tell me why you're injured there."
"Not until the morning," Jet answered.
Zuko nodded and they continued to watch in silence until Suki's watch. At dawn, Zuko found the ones going into town already up and getting ready. They left after a hurried breakfast and said their goodbyes, leaving Katara, Aang, Jet, Toph and Zuko behind. The girls moved to train Aang as Jet and Zuko faced one another with swords ready.
"Whenever you're ready," Jet said, smirking.
Zuko waited with both swords out and watched Jet. He dove in suddenly, thrusting towards Jet's right and Jet swung his right sword out, redirecting Zuko's attack and swinging in towards the princes' throat. Zuko leaned backwards and brought his other sword up to counter Jet's next swing.
"You're not as good as you used to be," Zuko said as he thrust in again.
Jet was already starting to sweat, even though they had just started and redirected Zuko's attack again. They thrust and parried and Zuko noticed Jet's movements were getting strained though the freedom fighter refused to give up.
"You're going easy on me," Jet panted as he redirected another thrust and swung at Zuko again. "Stop it."
"No, you're holding back on me," Zuko replied as he took the brunt of Jet's attack and stopped it, swinging in with his other sword.
"Stop antagonizing me," Jet growled as he blocked Zuko's attack and spun, trying to knock the firebender off his feet with his other sword. Zuko jumped over the low swing and swung at Jet's neck.
"Not until you give me all you've got. I know you're better than this."
Jet snarled and moved away from Zuko's swords before charging in, both swords flying. Zuko went onto the defensive, blocking and redirecting each swing before he ducked under a swing meant for his head and started swing at Jet. Jet was forced to go on the defensive, losing ground and energy. Zuko saw a mad gleam in Jet's dark eyes before Jet leaned back to avoid a thrust to his throat.
"Don't…" Zuko started, but Jet had already risen and swung his left sword towards Zuko with all his force.
Zuko blocked the sword and was ready to block the other, but Jet cried out as his left sword hit Zuko's sword and suddenly dropped both swords, his right hand going automatically to his left shoulder.
"Katara!" Zuko yelled.
"I'm here," Katara said as she hurried to Jet from behind the prince. "What happened?"
She turned to look at Zuko, asking for information and almost frowning at him like it was his fault.
"Ask Jet. He was injured already."
Jet looked up and glared at the prince as Katara opened her canteen and applied healing water to Jet's shoulder. Toph and Aang hurried over, but stopped next to Zuko as the freedom fighter glared at the firebender, his face lined with pain.
"Jet, why didn't you tell me about this?" Katara asked as she continued to move the water around his shoulder and to his back.
"Yes, you lost. Now tell," Zuko told the freedom fighter, continuing to meet his hard gaze as he sheathed his broadswords.
"Fine," Jet growled as Katara continued to heal. "I told you about that other healer. Well, she said that when I relearned to walk, other things still wouldn't work. A nerve is pinched, I think she said, and there's nothing that could be done."
"Hah! Then she never met me," Katara said smugly before her voice turned gentle. "Hold on, this will hurt a bit."
Jet nodded and continued to glare up at Zuko.
"Happy now?" the freedom fighter asked.
"No, but I'll tell you about Mai once you're healed."
Zuko turned away and started walking back to the camp, having Aang follow him away from the freedom fighter. Toph was already walking that way and smiled back at Zuko.
"What was that about?" Aang asked once they were out of sight of Katara and Jet.
"He's injured and too proud to talk about it," Toph said as she found an apple and started munching on it.
"I couldn't let him fight as he was," Zuko told the Avatar. "His pride and unwillingness to face that he was injured could have hurt others."
"Oh," Aang said, looking downcast. "Will he be ok now?"
"He'll be better," Katara said as she came into the camp. "A few more healing sessions and he'll be almost normal. I can't fully repair the damage, but it'll be better. Zuko, why did you have to fight him?"
"To make him see that he needed a healing," Zuko replied, meeting Katara's stern gaze.
The waterbender sighed and glanced at Aang, starting to smile. Aang smiled back and soon they were walking off together, hand in hand.
"Nice work there Sunshine," Toph said as she slid next to him. "Couldn't have done it better myself."
Zuko grinned at the earthbender and waited for Jet to reappear so that he could fulfill his end of the bargain.
--
Mai and Ty Lee walked calmly into the army barracks. Or at least Mai did. Ty Lee was looking everywhere and getting quite a few stares and wolf whistles headed her way as she smiled back at all the young men. Mai simply sighed and walked straight up to a middle aged sergeant who was reading a book behind a small table. He was leaning back against the chair and had his feet propped up on the table.
"I need to see the commander immediately," Mai told him once she had stopped in front if the table.
"He's in a meeting," the sergeant said, not even looking up from his book. "He can not be disturbed."
Mai frowned and knocked his feet off the table and stalked over to stand over him.
"I am Mai Hu, and I answer only to Princess Azula. If you want to explain to her why we were not treated with the respect we deserve, go ahead. I'm sure she and your commanders will be merciful," Mai told the man, scowling at him.
The man dropped his book and abruptly stood, bowing to Mai.
"Forgive me, my lady. I'll tell Commander Wong right away."
Ty Lee started grinning as the man ran off and Mai let her face relax more. Within a minute the sergeant was leading a young man back with captain bars on his coat. The man was about twenty five, clean shaven, and handsome with brown hair and eyes. His eyes lit up as he spotted Ty Lee and the gymnast ran to him and hugged him.
"Brendon, what are you doing here?" Ty Lee asked the young man once she had separated and took his arm.
"I'm stationed here," Brendon replied before bowing to Mai. "Forgive the sergeant. We did not have word you were coming here."
"It's all right," Mai replied dully, waving it off. "We need to speak to Commander Wong."
"Of course, my lady. This way," Brendon replied, bowing again.
Ty Lee stayed on his arm, looking around and asking all sorts of questions as they made their way upstairs. The building had previously been an inn, and a prosperous one by the look of it. Men and weapons were everywhere, but the farther they went, the rooms and hallways looked neater. These were the officers' quarters and meeting rooms. Brendon came to the last door and opened it for Mai and Ty Lee. They found two older men along with a Yu Yan archer and a nearly bald man that Mai knew to be Colonel Mongke around a table littered with maps and papers.
"What is the meaning of this interruption?" the eldest asked Brendon shrewdly.
Mai turned her attention to the commander and saw that he was about sixty with many scars, one particularly on his cheek next to his left ear and continuing down his throat to disappear under his collar.
"There was word that the Avatar was heading this way," Mai said, walking calmly up to the table where the men were seated. "Princess Azula told us to continue on and gain the assistance of the commanders in the area while she checked out another lead."
The commander continued to appear calm, but Mai saw a flash of fear in his brown eyes. "And when will the princess be expected to arrive?" he asked
"Within a week," Mai replied dully. "And if she finds the army in this state of disarray, she will not be happy."
"Very well," the commander said, gesturing to several empty chairs. "Please, sit ladies. Forgive my outburst. The town resists and there is some subterfuge going on. Perhaps you ladies could assist us?"
"Of course," Mai said, taking a seat as Brendon pulled out a chair for Ty Lee.
Mai noticed the rough rhinos were frowning and starting to scowl and finally the colonel stood up.
"We don't need a bunch of girls to erase the rabble. I told you before Wong. Let me have a few minutes with the prisoners and they'll talk."
"No, Colonel," the commander stated, giving Monkge a stern look. "We do this my way. If you don't like it, you and your rough rhinos can leave."
The colonel sat back down, frowning and the meeting was underway again.
--
Suki followed Sokka and Haru as they fruitlessly wandered the town, asking about the Rough Rhinos. She was bored and it was almost noon. Getting tired of only getting the same, useless information, Suki walked up to a pair of young soldiers as the guys looked over produce and questioned a shopkeeper.
"Excuse me sirs," she said sweetly to the soldier closer to her own age. "I heard the famous Rough Rhinos were in town. Could you tell me where I might find them?"
She batted her eyelashes at the young soldiers and they started smiling. The youngest, probably only about eighteen, smiled shyly at her.
"Well miss, they're not all that famous," he started and Suki started to pout out her lower lip a little as she had seen Toph do. The soldier smiled again. "They're staying at the River Inn, next to the White Tree where the army is stationed. But be careful miss, they're unsavory fellows."
"Oh, I will be," Suki said, giving the soldier her best innocent, grateful look and it seemed to be working because he started grinning. "Thank you so much!"
"Yeah, just be careful."
Suki nodded and hurried to Sokka and Haru. As she walked away, she heard the soldiers talk among themselves.
"Why'd you tell her?" the older asked.
"Cause she reminds me of my little sister," the youngest replied, a smile in his voice.
Suki smiled and ducked into the grocers. She found Sokka eyeing the meats as Haru tried to talk to the shopkeeper and pulled the water tribe warrior away from the food.
"I found out where they're staying," she whispered to Sokka as he looked back at the meat longingly.
"What?" he asked, looking at Suki as if for the first time. "Really? Where?"
"Next to the army barracks," Suki replied.
She smiled as Sokka frowned and slapped his forehead as Haru came up to them and looked at Sokka curiously.
"Well, that won't help. Let's go see Daniel and try to think of something."
Suki and Haru nodded and walked out and towards the elder's tea shop which they had passed earlier that morning. Fortunately the soldiers that Suki had approached were not there anymore and the walk to the tea shop went smoothly. Once there, Daniel came out of the back and escorted the teens to the second level where his living quarters were. Sokka's stomach rumbled as they passed the kitchen and Daniel motioned for one of the servers to come to him.
After a few words, Daniel led them to his room where they found Mai and Ty Lee waiting. Ty Lee was up instantly and hugging Haru while Mai watched with a small, amused smile tugging at her mouth. Sokka was about to speak up when a server arrived with five bowls of chow mien. Suki smiled, holding back a laugh as Sokka dug into the food eagerly while the rest of them ate more sedately. Once they were finished, Sokka having also finished Suki's bowl, Mai started.
"Your lieutenant is now a captain, and Ty Lee knows him," she told Daniel. "The commanders go out quite often to survey the countryside and town. The Rough Rhinos are getting tired and about to move on, but they're waiting for their bonus pay which may not arrive until next week."
"And the Rough Rhinos are in an inn next to the army barracks," Suki said, seeing Mai nod.
"So we can't take them out where they stay without fear of waking up the entire army," Haru said dejectedly.
"We can draw them to us," Ty Lee suggested.
Everyone looked at her oddly before Sokka started grinning.
"Yeah. Aang could make an appearance at the edge of the forest while they're on an outing and then the commanders could go in and we'll nab them," the warrior said, getting excited before his face fell. "But what about the army and where can we put them?"
"We'll deal with the army," Mai said. "I'll make sure it's at twilight."
"And there's a river that goes through the forest, and ends to the north of the town. The docks end at the edge of the delta," Daniel said. "I'm sure you've seen it already. If the earthbenders in the group could contain the men, we have a few ferries that can take the men to a nearby island. It's too far to swim to, too small for the navy to notice and has enough on it to sustain men for a while. Also we'll supply them food and water."
The teens nodded, seeing this was the best course and knew Daniel would be good on his word. The elder then turned to the two fire nation girls.
"Has there been any word from the captives?"
"None," Ty Lee stated. "Brendon let us continue the questioning and we gave Commander Wong some false information, saying that the men were empty. Brendon assured us the Rough Rhinos wouldn't question the men."
Suki noticed Haru started frowning as Ty Lee said the captain's name with such familiarity and fondness.
"Who is this Brendon?" Haru asked Ty Lee, frowning more.
"Oh, he's a friend from when I was a kid. And he's my sister Jun's fiancé."
Haru relaxed and they got down to the details of what was going to happen that night.
A/N: Don't Forget to Review! Thanks!
