Azula was getting impatient. The troops had seen the bison take off, and just before that a traveler had caught sight of the soldiers and fled. The avatar had to be in the woods somewhere. She looked at Ty Lee and Mai who were looking ahead with mounting boredom.
"I thought this would have been a little better than New Ozai…" Mai droned, using Omashu's new name, dictated by Azula herself.
"Something's bound to happen soon, Mai," Ty Lee said jovially, "We're gonna see some action in no time."
"Whatever," the girl replied.
Azula rolled her eyes in her tent. She was honestly bored herself. Her 'friends' were even more annoying than they were in school.
A soldier appeared next to the tent, "Princess, I'm afraid I bring bad news,"
"Really? That's a shame. You know how I take bad news." Azula said with deceptive sweetness.
"Yes, well…" the soldier took a deep breath, hoping it would not be his last, "We haven't found the bison in this area of the woods."
"And you've sent your men to the far reaches of the forests?"
"Well… no."
She turned toward him, and through the gauzy curtains he could see her scowl, "Then why are you bothering me? Go into the forest until you reach the other side! I didn't bring you along to tell me you are incapable of carrying out my orders!"
"Yes, Princess," He rushed away, practically diving into the woods.
xxx
"That's it?" Zuko snarled.
A twenty some foot waterfall spurted from the cliff side in the woods. At the basin of the waterfall was a pit, a very dark, deep, hollow pit.
The group peered over its side. Even Aang found it's darkness to be a bit foreboding.
"Yea, this is it," Haru answered, looking pleased with himself to have refound the cave.
"But, Haru… How did you get into it?" Katara asked, pushing the water aside to try and get a better look at the bottom.
"Earth bending!" He exclaimed.
"Obviously," Sokka said gloomily, "And how exactly are we going to get Appa down there?"
"You're standing on my solution, Sokka," Haru sloped the earth upward, forcing Sokka to fall onto his backside. The rest retreated quickly.
Haru spread his arms to his sides, and the ground around him began to rumble, and with one smooth, solid motion, the rock and dirt surrounding the waterfall pit shifted. If any of the group members had blinked (which none of them did), then they would have seen a sinkhole one second and a spiral staircase descending pleasantly into the cavern the next moment. Haru stepped back from his handiwork and bowed with a flourish.
A smile broke out upon Aang's face, "That was great, Haru!"
"Maybe I could teach you some? I'm not much of a master, but I know a little bit I can show you."
"That'd be great!"
Haru and Aang scuttled down the stairs, chittering about bending techniques. Sokka followed wearily, still unsure of the rocks' stability. Zuko glanced at the girl, who was gazing with a peaceful expression at the cascading falls. He paused his way to the cavern lip to see what she was going to do. She merely watched it.
He looked at the waterfall. Nothing special. He looked back at her. Was she seeing something in this thing that he wasn't?
"What are you doing?" he finally asked her.
His sharp tone jerked her from her thoughts. Her gaze floated to the source of the sound.
"Don't you think it's amazing?" She asked softly.
He glanced at it once more. "You think it is?"
"Well… yes."
His brow crumpled in confusion. Why would anyone think water was fascinating? He was just hoping he wouldn't get soaked. He shrugged and stepped down the stairs. Sokka gave him a shrewd glare once he reached the slick rock floor.
"You took long enough. What were doing, signaling the fire nation?" Sokka asked.
"Listen, you squib, you've made your opinion clear that you don't want me around. I'm going to stay down here until the troops pass, then I'm leaving to find my uncle."
"Where is your uncle?" Aang asked, appearing beside him.
"Why does this concern you?" Zuko snapped and crossed the cave to sulk in a corner.
Aang watched him go with some mix of sympathy, whereas Sokka was ready to let Zuko see just how far down the water pit really was.
"You don't really believe him, do you?" Sokka asked Aang in an undertone, "He's got you just where he wants you. What are we going to do once fire nation soldiers come at this place? We're as good as beached whales!"
Aang glanced over his shoulder at the pale teenager who was making a small blaze in his palm. "I really think he's out of this, Sokka. I think what he told Haru was true; his uncle is sick, and he needs medicine."