The rest of their trip got busy for them. Toph was urging Aang to practice more, Hakoda tried to teach his son some fighting-skills, since Sokka obviously lacked some and Iroh trained his son and nephew in firebending. Katara was left to watch out for enemy-ships or other problems ahead.
Whenever they encountered a Firenavy-ship that got too interested in them, Iroh would send all children under deck and would greet them with Lu Ten and the water-nation-soldiers in disguise. He would reveal himself as Prince-General Iroh and would tell them that he was heading for the homeland. His story was that it had taken him ages until he would find a Firenavy-ship who wasn't too busy to bring him home. And the leaders of the other ships had no doubt in his story and left them alone. Some even tried to offer their support in guarding them, but Iroh explained that he was sure they had better things to do and that he was perfectly capable defending himself against peasant scum, if he would find some, so close to the homeland. They grinned, nodded and wished them save travels before they would retreat to their own ship and leave.
So they finally reached firenation-waters unharmed. Encounters were more frequently now, and so Iroh decided that the children were no longer allowed on deck. Also they were now more or less forced to go directly towards the havens, despite they knew the danger that was awaiting them there. Though surprisingly encounters stopped two days before they had reached their destination, and so Iroh decided it was time for a plan to escape. Luck was on their side once more, for the warm weather of upcoming summer brought a thunderstorm. Together with Hakoda, Iroh planned to sink the ship and make their disappearance once again. It was not an easy task to reach the land without a ship, but it was the only way to do so undetected.
They packed together their most needed things and stored them on Appa. And then they waited for the thunderstorm to strike. The nearest land was a small island, some hours on ship away from them. They planned it to be their first goal. Waiting in pouring rain was not pleasant. And knowing what path lied ahead of them was even worse. Appa was not able to carry all of them, so they would have to split. Part of them would be carried over to the island on Appa, as soon as the thunderstorm would hide their actions from possible by-passers. Then someone would return with Appa to get the rest, who would have to sink the ship and escape both more or less at the same time.
Sinking the ship was Katara's and Aang's task, of course. So they had to stay back. Toph and Sokka were sent with the first part, since Toph couldn't swim and she wouldn't let go of Sokka's arm. That left Zuko as the one who would know how to handle Appa, and therefor he was the one who would return to pick up the rest. Some of the Water-tribe-soldiers and Lu Ten went with them. "Be careful!" Iroh warned them, shouting, since the storm was gaining strength by the minute now. He hugged both his son and nephew and watched, as they climbed onto Appa together with the rest of the first party.
Appa reacted obediently to Zuko's leading, but it still wasn't easy to fly him. The storm would pull at their clothes and hair and the rain would soak not only all of them but also Appa, causing him to smell. Also the rain was falling so thick, it was hard to see anything. Water running down their faces and into their eyes didn't help either. Only the compass they had taken with them helped them find the island, but landing Appa was another task. The waves were dangerously high and the trees of the little island swung around in the strong wind. Finally Zuko spotted an area big enough to land Appa, and he managed despite the strong wind pulling on Appa from different directions. They unloaded Appa quickly and Zuko made Appa take off once more to head back to get the others.
This time a compass was of no use. The ship was a moveable target. He would have to fly low and have his eyes open. And since the wind was getting stronger by the minute and the rain tried to catch up with it, his task was even worse than the one landing on the island. Appa roared at a lightning-bolt and went on flying. He seemed to see more than Zuko did, for he suddenly went down and landed in the water, right next to their ship. Iroh made the rest of their team climb onto Appa's saddle and then ordered Aang and Katara to sink the ship, while he ordered Zuko to make Appa rise. The Sky-bison leaped out of the water and back into the air. Beneath them the bending of Aang and Katara caused the waves to go mad. They tipped the ship over with ease before the rain swallowed it all up and Appa carried them away through the storm.