The sun was setting as Katara finally dared to venture out from her hiding place. She had seen a wagon approaching down the road and maybe, maybe there was a chance for her to slip in with it.

As the wagon drew closer, Katara could see that it wasn't just a wagon, it was a whole caravan of enormous coaches with the fire nation insignia engraved into the side of everyone one of them.

"Make way for the fire princess Azula." A man was standing on the outside of the front coach.

Maybe this wasn't such a good idea, Katara thought to herself, but then the coaches were stopped to be inspected by guards.

"Momo," Katara whispered and Momo flew off and pulled one of the guard's hats down over their eyes.

"AHHHHH." The guard screamed and while all the other guards turned to face him. Katara slipped quickly between the carriages and jumped into the back of one.

She fell hard on the wooden floor of the coach in the dark, and then quickly crawled to the side.

"Whose there?"

The voice turned her blood to ice and sent chills up and down her spine. She stayed completely quiet, unwilling to breathe.

Suddenly a light was shown in the carriage and Katara saw the faces of four or five face of earth benders. Two boys and three girls all chained to the wall. Their faces were gaunt and starved looking, but their eyes were bright and fierce looking.

The light moved on, but Katara could still see their outline in the evening light.

"Who are you?" She asked softly.

"We're slaves, taken from the earth kingdom to serve the fire nation prince." Said one of the voices. "Who are you?"

"My brother was captured by Prince Zuko," said Katara, "I'm going to rescue him."

"How are you going to do that?" A different voice asked.

"I don't know," said Katara, "I might pretend to be a slave, but somehow find the keys and get my brother out."

"We can help you," said the voice again, "We know all about being slaves, we can teach you."

The floor of the coach started moving and the carriage moved towards the fortress.

"Why would you help me?" Katara asked, "You barely even know me."

"We're hoping you'll help us in return." Said the voice.

"What do you want?" Katara asked.

"Please," it was one of the girl's voice, "can you set us free?"

Katara didn't know what to say. How could she promise to set them free when she wasn't sure she would even get out herself?

"I will," Katara hesitated, "try. The first chance I get I will find you and let you out. Where are you to work?"

"Ling and I are working in the kitchen." Said one of the boys, "Shay, Leela, and Shao Mei are to be escorts of the nobles." He spat the word escorts.

"Do you mean… concubines?" Katara asked.

The loud silence was all the answer she needed.

"Help yourself to anything in our supply closet," said the other boy, Ling.

"And talk to us whenever you get a chance," said Leela.

The carriage pulled to a stop and Katara ran to the doorway, no one was watching so she quickly climbed out.

"Keep in touch." Shao Mei whispered before Katara crawled under the carriage and out of earshot.

Five guards came to the door of the carriage and escorted the five earth kingdom citizen out. Katara crawled out from under the carriage and followed the guards. If she stayed close enough, and didn't make any noise, no one would know she wasn't part of the group.

Once under the shadow of the building, Katara broke away and slipped into the shadows.

"I made it into the fire nation fortress," she murmured to herself, "now I just gotta make sure I get back out."