Chapter Thirty Four

Secret Tunnel

"Sokka, we have to go back. Olin - he might be…still…alive." I murmured through quiet tears, trying to reason with the older boy.

Sokka continued walking. "He might be. Katara is right behind us," He motioned back, "She will stop and help him. We can afford to keep still too long, though."

I didn't say anything, instead, focused on walking. I pushed away the sadness, but the anger was seething. I clenched my fists, angrily wiping the tears away. I wasn't mad at Sokka. Instead, the firebender who took out my brother.

A team of ten or so Fire Nation soldiers swooped down from the overhanging ledges above. Glowering at them, I twisted my arms in a circular movement, bending the air into an orb which easily took them out, pushing them all effortlessly over the side of the hill.

I kept my head low, staring at the ground. I breathed in slowly, and ignored Sokka's quiet chatter. The walk up the hill - mountain - was slow and excruciating. My calves burned and cramps stabbed into my sides. Sometimes, a crew of firebenders would come out of nowhere, only to be deflected by the Invasion force.

Finally, I turned to Sokka, "I'm going to go back. To Katara." I didn't wait for an answer. I swept back until I found my waterbending friend.

She was riding on top of Appa, who was walking and looked like he absolutely hated it. I gusted myself up on top of him, kneeling beside Katara.

She jumped, "Oh, hey. You scared me."

I smiled, but it was small, "Sorry." I peered around her shoulder. My breath caught in my throat, and I held in a cry, "H-How is he?" I asked quietly, looking at my unconscious brother. His breathing was shallow.

Katara frowned, her shoulders slumping dramatically. "He's…okay. Well, he will be. Olin lost a lot of blood…and I barely managed to heal the cut. It's really deep." Her frown increased and she sighed. "It's nothing I can't handle. I did bring Aang back to life, didn't I?" she chuckled sadly.

I patted Olin's bloody hand. I swallowed loudly, "Thank you, Katara." She shrugged, brushing it off, "No, I'm serious. He's the only one I have left. I can't loose him."

She shook her head slowly, "Maybe so." There was a pause. "But he's not the only one you have left, Vinca. You have us. Sokka, Toph, me, and Aang." Katara pointed out.

I let this sink in. I eventually nodded, offering a smile, "I guess you're right."

"What to you mean, 'no one's in the palace'?" Sokka hissed, his face flushing a dark red. My eyes widened slightly and I glanced at Aang.

Aang shook his head, running his fingers nervously over his glider. "No one is there. It's empty. And so is the who inner city."

Sokka closed his eyes momentarily, rubbing his temples. "I can't believe…they…they must've known."

The Avatar nodded, "I don't know how."

"This whole plan…we're all going to get killed…oh Spirits." Sokka muttered under his breath, clutching at his now-sheathed sword.

Toph sighed from her position beside me, "Well, if their not in the city, where could they be? They have to be somewhere." She stated, huffing.

After a thoughtful silence, I shrugged, "Underground?" I suggested lamely.

Sokka looked at me like I was a Spirit itself, "That's it! On the side of the mountain behind the Palace!" He suddenly pulled out a small map, and pointed to where he was talking about, "Right there."

Toph grinned, "Let's go kick some Fire Nation butt."

Appa anxiously shuffled each of his large six feet across the side of the mountain, letting out tiny grunts. I patted his head, cooing words of comfort to him as Toph felt the ground off to my right.

"Anything?" Sokka inquired, his voice exasperated and tired.

Toph didn't answer, instead she only continued running her palms against the ground. Suddenly, she straightened, and with a fluid movement only an earthbender could do, removed a large slab of earth, revealing a wall of metal.

Aang looked at it in curiosity. "Is that it?"

The earthbender nodded, "It's a tunnel…it runs deep into the mountain. It's a kind of a bunker." With that, she kicked the metal wall, metalbending a large hole in the side.

Sokka grinned, "Good thing we have the worlds' only metalbender on our side!" He exclaimed giddily.

Toph smiled smugly, "Save your compliments, Sokka, and get in the tunnel."

AN: Eh. Short chapter, I'm sorry, and kind of lame. But, more chapters are coming soon. Hopefully they are more entertaining.

Happy Memorial Day to all of those who celebrate it! (:

Thank you all for the reviews! (:

SECRET TUNNEL, SECRET TUNNEL.

tehe