Chapter 5: Going on a trip

"Can you at least warm it up for me?"

"No."

"Please. I'mma be a good prisoner if you do."

"No."

"Come ON, officer."

"No."

Flint never won with Grumpy. He was too old to go out into the field and too young to retire, he told her. So he stayed guarding dangerous prisoners. In reality it was the opposite. He guarded prisoners with secure enough cells that a guard was redundant. Old Grumpy would sit on a too tiny stool and sleep while Flint listened to his snoring. It would have been pleasant if it weren't for the cold food the cook brought every morning noon and night.

The steady breathing of Grumpy told her he was just gone enough for her to warm up her meal. Her mediocre bending was good for something. She produced a diminutive flame on the tip of her index finger and let it heat the bottom of her tray. The oatmeal (she thought it was oat meal) warmed little by little. If she had been more cautious, she would have noticed the squeak of the stool when Grumpy relieved it of its burden.

"Firebender…"

It was too late.

Lin's austere presence made Flint feel like she was five. "Now, Flabiana, tell me where you learned chi blocking." The chief folded her hands on the table patiently.

"Well, you see Madame, chief, metal bender Lin…" She paused to cough, "I kind of just picked it up?" Her shoulders rose like her voice.

"Flabiana, we want to protect Republic City from chaos. We want to help all of our citizens feel comfortable and safe. Do you believe everyone is safe when there are chi blockers out there?," Chief Lin gestured to the window where the building rose to meet the sky.

Flint was aware of who 'everyone' was. The benders were probably more scared of the chi blockers than the normal citizens. "With all due respect, your highness, I think some the benders can take their comfort and safety and put it where the sun don't-"

Flint was cut off by the door bursting open. Linna was too quick for the first two officers. Their bending was obstructed before anyone knew what was going on. Rata took out one officer and immediately ran to Flint. "Dad?"

"Flint, I need you to go." She didn't move. "Now Flint!" He pushed her away before the cords shot towards them.

She rolled under the desk. They hadn't put cords around her ankles, but the ones around her wrist were an inconvenience. She didn't have time to break free because she heard Linna yelling for her to go out the window. It had been broken by a rogue metal cord.

One problem though; Lin stood in her way. Flint couldn't begin to describe how hopeless it was. "Misses officer Lin…"

Lin didn't see Rata as he came in from the side, tackling her to the ground. It gave Flint seconds to get through the window. She made it through, but not without some cuts and splinters of glass. She landed painfully on her right shoulder. If not for the flood blossoming on her shirt, she would have stayed there dazed for longer. As it was, she had to run.

She wasn't that far from the ground, but the jump could break her ankles if she landed incorrectly. She decided not to chance it. A dozens of officers were coming up from the left and right. On second thought she could chance it!

Even though she bent her knees, the impact still shocked her. But there was no time to stop and evaluate herself, the officers were already heading down for her. With a final look up, she ran towards the heart of Republic city.