Sorry the update took a while but this chapter is allot longer. I injured my wrist the other day adn the brace i have to wear really isn't keyboard compatable. xD Typo's much.

But i DO NOT intend on not writing. xD

Alright this chapter it the well uh no explanation without reading.....

So for a few minutes they stood there, contemplating what to do. So far the only idea that even made sense was Aang flying back and getting Appa. But not only would that alert the others and cause the group to stay in the forest over night, Sokka also pointed they didn't have that much time to spare. In a more straight forward way; Zuko wasn't going to make it if they stayed overnight.

So they were down to about no options because walking through the fire nation capitol was decided to be extremely stupid.

Zuko mumbled something unintelligible in sort of a semi-conscious state. Sokka looked towards the other teen catching a few words of what he said. Something about a merchant road.

Apparently Chit Sang knew what he meant because he slapped his forehead in desperation. "I can't believe I didn't think of that" he muttered

"What?" Sokka asked

"Like the mail carts in Omashu and ferry in Ba Sing Se the fire nation uses these passages for merchants and mail" Chit Sang explained. "The only thing is that there is a guard station so who goes in and out is monitored"

"But if we go from underneath" Toph started

"We can easily slide by and then come up after we're out of visible distance" Sokka interrupted.

"Sounds like we have a winner" Hakoda said

"So...where is the passage?" Aang asked

"Um that I wouldn't know. I've never used it and they like to keep others away" Chit Sang said a bit awkwardly. "All I know is that if people see us they talk. We need to be back qt the temple before word spreads to far"

Zuko coughed and softly said something else. They turned towards the teen in attempt for him to speak again.

Zuko's voice was barely above a whisper. "It's south of the gates. Toph should be able to tell it apart from the main road"

The others nodded a thanks. Toph was already busy scanning the area.

After a moment she stood up and smiled. "And we have a passage way"

"Yes" Sokka muttered. Finally something was going their way.

So they started walking with Toph in the lead, switching off supporting Zuko who was now unconscious again. Well not unconscious actually; he was more like living a nightmare or something, sleep talking and scowling allot. Sokka was a bit concerned because thought he knew the teen had a lot of nightmares but he never showed it. Okay Sokka really didn't know that being the heaviest sleeper but that's what Toph said.

Anyways, It was only a few minutes before they reached the passageway. Like planned Toph and Haru bended a tunnel system. Then went inside, Chit sang providing light, and Toph made sure there were no traces of the whole.

From there they went right under the guards noses, totally unnoticed.

After walking a while Toph determined it would be safe to come up so they did. There were a few merchants on the road but most seemed either too preoccupied to notice them or they just really didn't care.

Zuko blinked his eyes opened painfully. Sokka looked down as the teen straightened up in his arms, trying to save whatever small ounce of dignity and pride was left in him. Sokka smiled apologetically but the paned teen was already looking ahead.

"you guys actually found it" Zuko rasped.

"Of course. Don't tell me you had that little faith in us" Toph teased. She put her hand down, feeling ahead. "Guys the road splits"

Her blind eyes shifted hopefully to Chit Sang. "I was a factory worker. I don't know much about these roads" he admitted

Zuko, now obviously given up on dignity and pride, nodded weakly. "Forest" he mouthed.

"Huh. Wouldn't that mean...." Hakoda stopped in his tracks. "No"

Zuko nodded a yes. Hakoda glared. "Am I missing something!?!?" Sokka exclaimed and heads turned.

Haru's hand covered his mouth immediately. "Shhh" the earth kingdom teen released his hand.

"Sorry' Sokka muttered

"We have to keep going forward" Zuko said, his voice almost inaudible.

Toph put her hand down again. "It's think mud and brush for a while but the path clears out with no potential danger" she confirmed

Hakoda lightly let down his guard and started walking.

Zuko fell limp in Sokka's arms again. Aang looked back, his face a grave concern. Aang was quiet the whole time. Sokka was worried about him too.

Aang snapped out of his thought. "Sorry" he whispered to nobody in particular and followed Toph and Hakoda.

They walked into forest terrain. Think mud mixed with quicksand and tar cover all visible area.

Toph stuck her hand in. "We can walk over as long as we keep light on our toes and don't stay in one place to long"

A few pairs of eyes rested on Zuko. "We gonna be able to take him over?" Chit Sang asked after a moment.

Toph shifted awkwardly, unsure. "Maybe" her voice cracked.

"Can we bring earth over it?" Aang asked.

Haru tried to rise it. "The earth is all trapped"

"Great" Sokka muttered sarcastically.

'Alright we have to do this sooner or later" Hakoda decided. His leadership skills began to take over. "Get in a line, smaller people in front"

Toph and Aang stood to go first. Haru and Hakoda stood behind. And Sokka, with Zuko, and Chit Sang last.

"Ready" Aang asked. Toph nodded. 'Now!" and with a rush of air the two took off. Aang easily glided over. Toph's unsteady vision got her caught a few times but she was fine. Once they were a ways off Haru and Hakoda followed, carefully but quickly stepping on sturdier areas.

Sokka took a breath. He was going to ask Chit Sang to help but didn't want to ultimately cause three deaths. Chit Sang began the countdown and followed.

Sokka took a step. "sorry Zuko" he muttered and took of aftr the others, now not in sight.

Sokka was trudging along, trying to support his own weight as well as Zuko's, and not sink.

Sokka was doing alright though and he could see Chit sang in the distance, trudging as well.

Sokka slipped in a wetter area. He pulled up but his foot was trapped. "Dam" Sokka muttered, using a hand to yank at his leg. It got pulled further in.

He hadn't even realized Zuko was being pulled in to. "Guy Help!" Sokka called.

Chit Sang spun around and started running back. Sokka had one leg almost all in, the rest of his body was secure on a rock, and Zuko was about knee deep in it.

Hit Sang grabbed Sokka's hand and heaved the boys up.

"I'll take him" Chit Sang said, referring to Zuko. Sokka nodded and passed the teen. Chit sang and Sokka started up again, this time careful to watch where they step.

They finally made the other end. Toph was also covered halfway in mud and sand. Sokka brushed off his own leg.

"Well phase one complete" Haru looked into the distance of trees and nothing else. 'Phase, the rest of the plan" he pointed. "A long way to go"

Hope you guys like that. I know aang is out of character but remmeber he's scared out of his mind right now, injured slightly, and yeah. I know generally he'd be leading now but i like to write about characters people forget about.

also Hakoda's uncomfortableness actaully does mean somethign in the mnext chapter. uh lets say, Zuko was wrong. Sort of anyways.

Hope you guys liked it. Please leave a review.