*Bee*

We'd been running for at least a minute. Everyone but Longshot was about to collapse. Alright, Pipsqueak was hurt, The Duke's still a kid, and Abi was new to this, but what was wrong with me? Usually I'd be the one yelling at everyone to hurry up.

Longshot looked back at me. Even behind the glasses, I could tell he was concerned.

"I'm fine," I said, trying to sound convincing.

He didn't look convinced.

"I'm fine," I insisted. "Look, we even secured the palace. As long as Aang got rid of the Fire Lord, we're fine."

(And if he didn't?)

I been trying not to think about that. "He did. He has to have. If not… I don't know."

I heard Abi come up behind me.

"How much time left?" I asked.

She looked up. And gulped. "About a minute." She was still gasping. "Good side: the invasion's almost over. As long as Aang won, we win the war. Bad side: the invasion's almost over. If he didn't… we're dead," she said.

I nodded. "C'mon, let's just catch up." I glanced back. Pipsqueak had caught up; The Duke was a few feet behind.

"You okay?" I asked him.

He nodded, gasping so hard I'm amazed his lungs didn't burst.

"I'll carry him," Pipsqueak said.

I nodded. Even if he was hurt, he was the only one who could carry him at this point.

Pipsqueak bent down; The Duke climbed on.

We started running again.

A minute later, we were a few yards away from Katara and the Chief. She leaned him against one of the tanks and they took off their glasses. Abi, Pipsqueak, The Duke, and Longshot did, too.

Bato ran over.

I was so out of breath that the world was spinning, but I could still make out what they were saying.

"What should we do, Hakoda? Shouldn't something have happened by now?"

"I don't know," the Chief said. "But now that the eclipse is over, I expect we're going to see some firebenders any minute."

My gasps were easing a bit. The three of them looked thoughtful. Then Bato looked up.

And terrified.

Katara turned around; I looked up.

Five huge… balloons came into my line of sight. But you wouldn't want these at a party.

They were huge, red… things with Fire Nation emblems on the side. I could see the soldiers on them.

"My own invention!" the Mechanist said behind me. "Oh, this is terrible!"

Well, things could get worse.

And did.

Five brown things, ten times as big as the balloons, came up. They looked like one of them could burn down Ba Sing Se.

I heard Appa groan.

I looked up. Sure enough, Aang, Sokka, and Toph were flying in.

"They're back!" Katara said, pointing.

No duh.

Appa landed. Katara ran over. I was close enough to hear.

Sokka started climbing down. "It was all a trap! Azula knew we were coming and she's plotted out every move!"

He and Toph jumped down.

"We've just gotta get to the beach as fast as we can," he said. "If we can make it to the submarines, maybe we can get away safely.

The Chief came up behind Katara.

Aang stood up, still on Appa's head. "They've got airpower," he said, "but so do I. I'm gonna do what I can to slow them down." He whipped out his glider and took off, Momo right behind him.

Appa roared.

"Appa!" Katara said. "You and I can help, too." She jumped on and Appa took off after Aang.

"Everyone!" Sokka yelled. "Let's get back to the subs."

We started running.

Again.

Ha! Got another up! And poor Bee, she's been running for, like, three chapters. ^^;