It was only a night before Azula found their hiding place at the Western Air Temple and led a terrifying assault against them. Unfortunately, Lu Ten and Hakoda, along with Chit Sang, Haru, Teo, and Pipsqueak, escaped through a tunnel created by Toph. Aang, Katara, Sokka, Zuko, Toph, and Suki, all escaped on Appa. They did not know when they would see each other again. Lu Ten was familiar with pain in Hakoda's eyes as he said goodbye to his children. A pang of sympathy claimed his heart.

They walked through the tunnel quietly just in case they were followed. Lu Ten was leading since he could light the way with fire bending. Haru followed close behind so that he could push the earth out of the way. After a while, they decided to talk to each other.

"So, where is everyone going?" Haru wondered.

"I've got to get back to my men," Hakoda said.

"I'm going underground for a while," Chit Sang chimed in. "I mean, not this literally, but you get the gist. I am a Fire Nation prisoner after all."

"We're all escaped prisoners," Lu Ten reminded him.

"Well, what will you do?" Pipsqueak asked.

"I'm going to find my father," Lu Ten answered. "He busted out of the Fire Nation prison during the eclipse."

"By himself? That's an impressive guy!" Chit Sang said.

"Well, it wasn't the Boiling Rock, but he still did it without fire bending," Lu Ten went on. "I've got to see him. I have a feeling he broke out for a reason, and he's planning something big for Sozin's Comet. I want to be with him."

"Will that be dangerous for you?" Hakoda pressed.

"I'm done running from the Fire Nation," Lu Ten said determinedly. "They have nothing they can use against me to stop me, either."

Hakoda raised his eyebrows at the comment, and Lu Ten realized it must sound strange. None of these people knew about his family, and he was keeping it that way for their safety. Now that the Fire Nation knew that he was alive, he could not risk them.

When they surfaced, they all parted ways. Lu Ten was honestly sorry to see them go. They all said goodbye and sent each other along with good wishes. Lu Ten felt emptier now than ever as he walked, alone and underprepared, toward any town where he could find some information.

He walked until nightfall before he finally came upon a settlement. It was one of the smallest towns he had ever seen. There was only one street through the center and just a couple buildings dotted the sides. One of them was labeled an inn, so he went there first. When he came through the door, the innkeeper, a kindly looking old woman with wispy white hair in her face, approached him.

"Hello, young man," she said. "How can I help you?"

"I'm sorry, but I have nothing to offer you in return for hospitality," he explained.

Another man suddenly approached. He was older than Lu Ten by maybe five years, and he wore an Earth Kingdom army uniform. His face was welcoming, but his eyes showed a stress beyond comparison. He was tired.

"I'll cover him, Hanako," he said.

"That's very kind of you," Lu Ten said, surprised. "I'll pay you back."

The man held up a hand. "No need. By your clothes, I guessed you were a Fire Nation prisoner. You've been through enough."

Lu Ten could hardly believe this. "Please. What is your name?"

"My name is Ling," he said. "I was a captain in Ba Sing Se, actually. I've been here in Xing just a short time, since the Fire Nation was starting to round up Earth Kingdom officers."

"Thank you for your kindness, Ling," Lu Ten said with a bow.

"So, what did you do to get thrown into a Fire Nation prison?" Ling asked.

"I…sorta helped the Avatar on his invasion during the solar eclipse," Lu Ten answered.

Ling's eyes went wide. "Wow! You've met the Avatar?!"

Lu Ten nodded. "He's a good kid."

"Hanako, get this man some food on me as well," Ling said. "And a drink. I feel like he's got quite a story to tell."

The two men smiled at one another as they sat down at the counter, where Hanako served them a hot meal. They were also given ale, which Lu Ten had not drank since he left Ba Sing Se. The cold, golden liquid slid down his throat and made him feel warm from the inside out. Ling quickly downed three of them, but Lu Ten knew he needed to be more careful.

"So," said Lu Ten. "How was Ba Sing Se when you left?"

"Not great," Ling answered grimly. "It was difficult for me to escape. But I've learned innkeepers are the best people to trust. Before I left, I stayed in an inn in the outer ring run by a woman named Cho. She was so kind to me. She didn't even charge since I was technically a refugee."

Lu Ten's heart skipped a beat. Cho? Could it be his Cho?

"Oh, that was kind of her," he said as calmly as he could manage.

"Yeah, especially since she had a little girl to support," Ling went on. "Malina was her name. And I only remember because she wasn't shy about it at all. Really, really sweet family."

Lu Ten took a deep swig of ale to hide his shock. This person had seen his family more recently than he.

"How long after the Fire Nation took the capital did you leave?" he continued, desperate for more information.

"Several weeks," Ling told him. "Two months or so. I offered to take Cho along so she could be free of those jerks too, but she couldn't. She said Malina was too young, and of course, with another one on the way, it doesn't make travel any easier."

Lu Ten choked on his next sip. Another one on the way? Cho was pregnant again? She was going through this alone? His eyes got watery and he didn't know if it was from coughing or knowing that his family was okay.

"Are you okay?" Ling asked, looking concernedly at Lu Ten. "Did you know her or something?"

"Yeah," Lu Ten tried to say, but it came out like a hoarse whisper. "Yeah, I knew her."

Ling clapped Lu Ten on the back to help him stop coughing. It helped a little, but then Hanako brought him some water, which he gulped down.

"Did you stay in her inn?" Ling wondered.

Lu Ten nodded. "Yeah." He looked very hard at Ling. His eyes were a little glassy from the effects of the ale, and tired still, but they were honest. "I'm her husband."

It was Ling's turn to be shocked. "What?! You, good man, are going to be a father again!"

More tears sprang up in his eyes. "I can't tell you what this means to hear about her. I didn't know when I left."

"What did you leave for?"

"That's a long story that I can't really get into. But you have done so much for me, Ling. Paying for my food and my room, telling me about my family…I don't even know what to say."

"Look, you fought in the war, and your wife helped me along my way," Ling said. "It's the least I can do."

Lu Ten felt a lump in his throat so large he found it difficult to swallow. Cho was pregnant. A familiar lurch in his stomach he knew to be excitement made him smile. He loved being a dad, and he just hoped he could be there when the new one arrived.

He stayed in Xing only one night before he moved on. Ling loaned him an ostrich-horse to take him faster. Ling said he no longer needed it since he was staying and was glad to part with it. He also gave Lu Ten a bag of rations and some new clothes. Lu Ten was once again astounded by the kindness in this man, and could not wait to tell Cho that she had had such a profound impact.

It was another several days before he heard any news. He returned to the Earth Kingdom, and got closer to Ba Sing Se, but knew he could not go there. The urge to see Cho and Malina was too strong, especially with the knowledge that Cho was pregnant again. He at first regretted telling Ling that he was Cho's husband, but realized that he had not given his name, so Cho and Malina were safe. There was still time before Sozin's Comet.

Lu Ten was resting in a forest not too far from Ba Sing Se. He had been traveling for nearly a week now, and was exhausted. He pulled some rations from his bag and ate them, thinking about what he was going to do. He still had no word on his father, and therefore had no idea where to go from here. He heard some voices in the distance, and he quickly ducked into some shrubbery in case it was a Fire Nation patrol. He didn't know how much security would be in the areas surrounding Ba Sing Se. It turned out, he was right. Two Fire Nation soldiers were strolling lazily by.

"I can't believe we have to do this," one complained. "Some rebels calling themselves the White Lotus or something are supposedly here, but what's the big deal? I mean, Princess Azula couldn't break through the wall, what could they possibly do?"

Lu Ten wondered about this. He knew that his father was a member of the Order of the White Lotus, a highly secret organization that Lu Ten only knew about because he had accidentally stumbled upon his father's white lotus Pai Sho tile years ago. Iroh did not go into detail, but told his son what it meant. If the Order of the White Lotus was nearby, that was Lu Ten's best hope of finding his father.

"Soldiers, come quickly!" a third soldier appeared, looking frantic. "The rebels have broken through the wall! They're being led by General Iroh!"

Lu Ten wanted nothing more than to burst forth from that bush and run toward the wall. But, he wasn't exactly sure where he was going and he was not eager to become a prisoner again. Escaping the Boiling Rock once was difficult enough. So, he listened as the soldiers' footsteps died, and then stealthily followed. He stayed just far enough behind them so that he could hear them, but not the other way around. He was lucky that he was mostly downwind.

He followed them almost to the wall.