Chapter Twenty-Four:
The group peered over a rock and saw a boat land on the shore and men stepped out. They were clearly of the Southern Water Tribe. They fanned out and searched the beach. "That's our ride." Sela whispered to the group.
Tetsu slowly edged the rock closer the boat. Everytime, the men look away, he moved just a few inches. One of the men pointed to the rock, and the rest looked over at it. "Wasn't that thing..."
Tetsu slammed his fist against the rock and sent the shattered bits towards the men. They pulled a wave out from the sea and caught the Kaze sent a blast of sand at the men and Sela and chunks of rock. Tetsu then sent waves of sand across the beach knocking the men off balance.
Genji lunged at them. Sela dodged a snake of water and kicked a man in the gut. She punched him in the gut a few times, sending him to the ground.
Another man lifted a water snake and aimed it at Sela, but Genji hit him in the back with his glove. A couple of men sent water blasts at Genji. He dodged one, but the other one struck him.
Two of them men rushed at Genji, but Tetsu tripped them with the sand. He threw pieces of rock that slammed against them. Kaze sent windblasts at two more men and Sela punched them out.
Kaze then walked over to the boat. "All aboard" she announced.
The group stepped onto the boat. Kaze waved her arms and the sail went taught in the wind. The boat drifted across the sea, as the group watched the shore disappear across the horizon.
Kaze continued to sail the boat across the sea, stopping only when she tired. As they drifted closer, the air around them grew colder. The Southern Water Tribe slowly appeared on the horizon.
Upon reaching land, the group stepped off the boat. They stared at the vast open plains in front of them.
Another boat approached the shore, and a skid vehicle approached from land. The group ducked down in the snow, hoping to hide. The skid parked at the shore, and men jumped out. When the boat landed, the men climbed onto the boat and grabbed barrels and crates.
The group slowly moved towards the exchange, making sure not be seen. Suddenly, one of the men dropped the barrel he was carrying. Another man slipped and fell of the skid. They were all falling and tripping for no apparent reason.
A rain of ice crystals fell down from the sky, followed by a group of men. One of the water tribe soldiers charged at the man but fell of the skid. Another lifted up a wave, but it crashed down on him instead. "Grab the supplies." he shouted.
The newcomers traded waterblasts with water tribe soldiers. The leader of the group ducked and dodged smootly, and struck back with precision. Three soldiers charged at him from behind. He dodged a punch, grabbed the man's arm, and flipped him in front of him.
Kaze hurled and airblast and the other two soldiers, and Sela and Genji took them down. Tetsu hurled a rock a group of soldiers and began to brawl with them. He slugged a man with a massive punch, and slammed another to the ground. Soon the soldiers were in retreat.
The leader jumped down from the skid. He looked at us. "Who are you?" he asked.
"The Avatar's companions." Kaze answered.
"And where is the Avatar?" he added.
"That's why we're here." Sela replied. "This is where we heard he was taken." she gestured towards where the soldiers retreated. "By them."
"The Southern Water Tribe Army?"
"Yeah" Kaze
"So I might want to ask you." Sela said. "Who exactly are you?"
"I'm Kinto. I lead the resistance against Visola's regime. She's the one in charge down here."
"So you think she might have Avatar Arata?" Tetsu suggested.
"The Avatar has always been an obsession of her's." Kinto said. "I'm would not put it past her."
"So can we work together?" asked Kaze.
"I need you to prove yourselves first." Kinto replied.
Kinto took a swing at Sela. She countered with a series of punches. "Chi blocking" he commented.
A few punches hit, and Kinto went limp. He then suddenly jerked back up. Sela swung a kick up, and Kinto jumped back. Sela foot went up in the air, and she fell down on her back.
Kinto threw a waterblast at Kaze, who flipped up into the air. She continued to flip and dodge, his blasts. As Kaze tried to land, her hands went apart and she slammed the ground. The waterblast hit her and sent her across the ground.
Kinto heard a crackle and ducked. Genji's electric glove swiped by him. Kinto turned around and dodged another blow. He jumped back repeatedly, until Genji's glove smacked Genji himself.
Tetsu lifted up a giant rock and threw it towards Kinto, who sent a wave of snow at it. The two collided and Kinto pushed and shoved to slow down the boulder. Tetsu charged at who jumped out of the way.
Tetsu slammed into the rock and it exploded. He turned around and lunged at Kinto again, this time with thick rocks gloves. Kinto dodged again and Tetsu went charging past. He slipped and went tumbling to the ground. By the time he got up, Kinto sent a massive wave of snow, burying him.
Kinto walked over to Tetsu. "Had enough?"
"I don't think so." Sela replied.
Kinto turned around and saw her along with Kaze and Genji. "Looks like your first lesson is complete." he said.
"How could you do that stuff?" Kaze asked.
"Bloodbending."
Kaze was shocked. "But but I heard..."
"It's an evil art?" Kinto asked. "Believe me, it can be done for great evil. I have seen so myself. But every tool has its use."
I sat in Visola's cold dark dungeon. Nothing I dreaded more then some "playtime" with her. "Psst" I heard from another cell.
I looked over to the voice. "What?!"
"I heard your the Avatar."
"What about it?"
"I know about your friends. Tetsu, Sela, Kaze, and Genji."
I crawled towards him as far as my chains let me. "How do you know this?"
"Word travels fast among Kinto's network. I heard your friends have joined with him. That means we're on the same side."
I wasn't sure who this man was, and if I could trust him. He was the only one on my side. "So what's your plan to break free. I've got these platinum chains on me."