The next morning Aang and the others awoke to a red sunrise, Tem awoke to the same, "I have a bad feeling about today." Tem said to himself. He then strolled about the village.
"Hey Tem." Katara called out, running up to him. Tem looked at her and tried to smile, but knowing what he'd sensed the night before, and feeling the coming dread of morning's light. He found the ability to smile illogical and unbearable.
"What…what's wrong Tem?" Katara asked.
Tem looked at her, "You and the Avatar should leave here…and soon."
"Why, I thought the elder and the others told us we were safe here." Katara told him.
"That is what I thought, that is what I believed…until last night when I sensed it." Tem said coldly.
"Sensed what?" Katara asked.
"Sensed a disturbance in our power, in the Tomaì…this disturbance now brings darkness behind it, and it is in the West…near the shore, I see its aurora and it is as dark as the disturbance itself. If I was you, I'd get on that bison of yours and get out of here as soon as possible." Tem told her, his voice sounding grim at that.
"I don't understand." Said Katara.
"Reading auroras...oh, well you see, a specially gifted Dark-Fire bender can sometimes read a persons'—." Tem started to explain.
"No, no, no…not that, I mean I don't understand why we have to leave now?" Katara asked.
"Because it's heading this way." Tem told her.
Within a few hours the whole village seemed to be packing, "Aldaris, you get the women and children away from here…as well as the elder." Fenix told Aldaris.
"But what about you and the other men Fenix?" Aldaris asked.
"We'll stay here, try and hold them off while you escape." Fenix told him.
"I want to help too." Said Tem.
"Tem, in a few moments this area is going to become a battlefield…I think you'd be better off with the others and I." Aldaris told him.
"Let me guess…women and children?" Tem asked, Aldaris nodded. "Well seven years have transformed me from a child, you've seen that…I know things I want I don't need, but right now I want to defend the village, and Fenix is going to need all the help…and the manpower he can muster."
"He has a point there Aldaris." Fenix said flatly.
With a frustrated sigh Aldaris said, "All right Tem, but just come back safely."
Tem then looked around and saw Aang and Appa, Tem walked beside the bison and whispered, "Appa…to avoid detection, fly low, stay close to any high trees, if they spot you then everything you have worked for may be forfeit."
"You're talking with Appa?" Sokka asked, coming up from behind. "No, just giving him an escape plan is all."
"Aren't you coming with?" Katara was next to ask, Tem shook his head, "I'm staying with Fenix to defend the village, but I promise I'll return."
"I'll hold you to it." She told him, Tem watched as Appa took off, he looked at Katara, "I'm glad she's not staying here…if anything happened to her I'd…no I—I can't think that, I will see you again Katara. That is a promise I'm willing to keep."
Tem then ran to meet up with Fenix, "Now men, I can only briefly describe what you are about to face…but I don't want you to look upon these soldiers with contempt, despite what they have done in the past I want you to realize they are still our friends, you will show them the same respect as you'd wish to be bestowed upon you." Fenix told the men surrounding him, "Now…outposts have told me there are 30 of them, and I see 17 of us standing here…some of us may not walk away from this, but what you do is for your families, for your way of life, if any should perish today…then let them know that they have reached the Tomaì's end and that there is no greater honor or valor then that."
Suddenly in the dying noise of the women and children leaving the village in the North, there came an approaching sound of marching from the West. "Ready yourselves!" Fenix ordered. Tem closed his eyes, going into a meditative state, knowing when he opened them again he'd see an army heading for them.