Disclaimer: I don't own Bionicle or Avatar: The Last Airbender. They belong to LEGO and Nickelodeon/Bryke respectively.


Some hundred feet in the air, Sokka discovered a way to both gulp and chatter his teeth. One reason–being the fleet below–briefly faded into the cold wisps from Kopaka's sword. Katara would've tried bending the mist if she hadn't held the reins and said, "A-a-almost th-there."

"G-g-good job," Sokka said. "Kopaka, tell me you've found a spot to land? Please?"

Kopaka did, with Vakama pointing the way. Soon, the threatening lake of red tents replaced the blue ocean. Fortunately, Appa had flown far above the pointed watchtowers. And landed on one peak of the surrounding mountain range–all undetected. Sokka didn't question it, given the thud on the rocks and Appa hiding behind them for cover.

"Brr! Anyone spot us? Kopaka? Vakama?" Sokka said after he dismounted and shook off the chill. Vakama's bandaged head shook next to Kopaka's grunt. "Katara? Feeling any better?"

"Kinda…" came from atop the equally groaning Appa.

Accepting it, Sokka peeked over the rocks with his telescope and surveyed the camp. "There's gotta be a way in. They have to store something for all those soldiers. Food. Anything."

Kopaka already spied over a taller rock, his scopes shifting while Vakama translated for him. "There is a passage cutting in front of the camp to bring in the ships' cargo. There are guards but only up to a certain point."

Sokka's telescope followed the railing up to one of the ships. "I think I see it. They're unloading something right now."

From behind, Katara's grunt lowered after she fell on her rear. "Is it Aang?" she asked.

Sokka stayed silent so as to not get Katara's hopes up. In his scope were a few crates, each draped in red cloth and too big to carry one person. Vakama confirmed as such: "Kopaka says he can not see him. Not yet. They may have cages, one large enough for the Avatar."

"What about that over there?"

Sokka's telescope followed Katara's finger. Was that an arena in front of the camp? Probably, given the rectangular walls. The flaming stocks on each corner lit up Sokka's snort. "If you want to fight a firebender…" he said until he met Katara's stare. "But hold that thought."

Stashing his telescope, Sokka turned and laid out the map. As everyone gathered, his finger trailed through the red squares for tents on it. "Whatever they're bringing in, it's a lot. We can use that. We cut through the camp's edge, jump on, and ride the rest of the way in. They need a big spot to store that stuff anyway. Kopaka, you see any huge tents? Maybe together?" Getting a nod, Sokka scooped up the map. "Good! Any questions?"

"But we can't take Kopaka. Because, well…" Katara said, gesturing her head to the side.

"Ah." Sokka's eyes went between the two white figures. "Kopaka, stay with Appa. Give a signal if you see trouble. Shouldn't be too hard."

"They might keep Aang separated, and surrounded by guards."

"One problem at a time, Katar–"

"Stop," Kopaka said urgently. "Go, now."

Sokka didn't need his telescope to know why. From below, shouts echoed as the crates, their target, fell on the rails leading into camp. "Well Katara, you wanted to rescue him," he said.

"But those soldiers," Katara asked, "how will we get past that many?"

"Leave them to me," came from Vakama.

Or Sokka thought so since Vakama was nowhere to be seen. "Wha–?" Sokka said, but Appa's groan cut him off, reminding him of both Kopaka and the bison. "You two, stay. Stay…"

Sokka and Katara left the grunts and moans behind. Ahead, Vakama's voice rang with "Watch your step," and "Just this way." Rocks, some round, were obstacles to climb over. The others, more jagged, gave cover, as Sokka ducked behind one and Katara bumped into him.

"We are safe," said Vakama from wherever he was. "The way down is easier now."

Sokka agreed after leaving his cover behind. The rocks grew fewer and the camp was meters below. It was some semblance of a path. A steep one, Sokka's shoes scraping against it as he tried not to yelp. Katara's voice also rang from behind and off the mountain's wall.

As they continued, a pattern developed: slide down, hide behind some rocks, look out, and repeat. Sokka didn't count how many times, focusing on the groaning crates below… until…

"W-woah!" Sokka cried, tripping over a protruding rock.

Sokka didn't hear anything from Vakama and Katara, turning over and over again. The "ows," "oofs," and "gahs" went up as he rolled down the mountain. "Why. Can't. It. Stoooo…?" Sokka trailed off as his descent ended. "Ow, ow, ow. Why does everything hurt?"

The mountain did not answer when Sokka sat up by its base. Despite looming over him, it didn't hide the sea of red tents in front. Nor the particularly large red tent and its pointed tops. Nor the pair of surprised soldiers. "H-halt! Stay where you are!" one shouted.

"Uh," Sokka said while the two backs faced him, having used the tent's shade as a toilet.

Sokka whirled to shield his eyes. The same soldiers fixing their pants collapsed with muffled grunts. There had been no splashes–only thuds, including Katara's behind him. "Sokka, are you–?" she began but whipped her hand over mouth and nose.

"I know," Sokka said into his own hand, trying to ignore the smell. "Where's…?"

He froze, hearing another man's voice. "Are you guys finished yet?"

Sokka's eyes left the two unconscious soldiers. "Just–ahem–Just a second!" he yelled with the only deep voice he could muster. Turning back, he whispered, "Katara, a little help!"

So, the siblings sat the two soldiers upright. Vakama must have left because Sokka heard faint footsteps leaving the area. "Ugh," Sokka's soldier groaned, raising his head.

Sokka's boomerang sent it back down. By then, the shadow, and voice, of a third soldier approached. "Come on! The captain will have our hides if we're not at our posts!"

Sokka pressed himself against the tent. "Katara," he whispered, hoping his sister heard.

Instead, Katara's respective soldier slumped atop her. Unfortunately, or fortunately, Katara slinked under him to hide. Sokka shrunk in the tent's red cloth and out of sight as a hint of a whiskered face popped in. "What are you two doing? And what happened to him?" said the third and only conscious soldier.

Sokka again used his fake voice, now for the soldier sitting up. "Oh, uh, he's just tired,"

"He just took a leak."

"He took a big leak."

Sokka swore his heart stopped, hearing another step. However, the smell of smoke–not of urine–touched his nose. "What the–?" said the third soldier before more voices arose from further in the camp. "Another fire? I swear these recruits! You, get him up before I get back!"

Left alone, Sokka wasted no time and rolled the soldier off Katara. "Come on!" left his mouth before he yanked her up.


AN: Yeah, my Bionicle/ATLA crossover, Bending the Legend, isn't dead. I've been very slow working on it, and I started writing chapter 12 recently. Even if I want to finish it soon, I have no idea how long it would really take. In any case, here's a preview of chapter 10.