Happy Waitangi Day to all my New Zealander readers, from a British admirer of your country!

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RonaldM49206867: Hmmm. I don't know, I'm struggling with this one. Maybe Appa the Sky-Bison.

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The camp was clearly in absolute disarray as Gembul swooped low, looking for a gap in the trees large enough for him to land. People were dashing around, many of them carrying weapons, and the sound of shouting filled the ar.

"What's going on there?" Yue asked, curiously.

"Is the camp under attack?" Katara reasoned. "Maybe they were caught by surprise."

"Doesn't look like a battle," Suki looked down thoughtfully. "Doesn't sound like one either. This isn't the work of the Fire Nation."

Finally Rinzen spotted a gap and Gembul landed with a thud. The Air Nomad vaulted off his back gracefully. The others followed him, rather less gracefully. They were getting used to fast dismounts by now, but Rinzen had airbending and had been doing it all his life.

It was clear by now, though, that this was not a battle. It was, however, clearly a prelude to one. Units of soldiers were beginning to form up in lines and columns, infantrymen with spears, swords and shields, ranks of archers carrying large bows and with quivers full of arrows on their backs, cavalrymen riding Ostrich-horses, some draped in armour and carrying long lances and others more simply dressed and armed with swords, serving as light cavalry for reconnaissance and harassment of the enemy.

There were even a few soldiers riding enormous grey Komodo-Rhinos, huge reptilian beasts with nasty looking horns that must have been captured from the Fire Nation.

Every one of them was dressed in some variation of white and blue, just like Yue was. Some of them saw her, and cheered.

They weren't exactly the most disciplined soldiers, Yue saw. Compared to the Imperial Firebenders of their enemies, or the Royal Waterbenders of her father's palace guard growing up, or even the earthbender soldiers she had encountered so far. Many of them slouched, some had sat down in their place in the formation, and they all continued chatting happily to their friends standing next to them.

A moment later there was a noise, and Longshot was riding up to them, astride an ostrich-horse with his bow slung over his back and a quiver hanging from his saddle. He raised a hand in greeting and nodded, before gesturing for them to follow him.

"I haven't seen you this frantic before," Yue asked. "What's the problem?"

Longshot just shrugged and rode away.

"He's a chatty one," Rinzen grinned at his friends.

They began walking after him, but it didn't take long for another Ostrich-Horse to come flying up to them. Jet leapt off its back, his hair flowing behind him, and landed in front of them.

"We have news," he said urgently.

"It's nice to be back here too," Rinzen bowed sarcastically. Jet ignored him.

"One of our scouts managed to ambush a Fire Nation messenger," Jet said. "And the news is bad. They're planning a massive new offensive, aimed right at us."

"That's no problem, you've beaten them before, haven't you?" Katara asked.

"We have, but this attack is twice as big as any force we've fought before. They've brought fresh troops into the area specifically for it. If we want to stop them, I have to send my own reinforcements. The detachments I've already got guarding the villages in their way are inadequate."

He looked around.

"We have enough time that we can get there and fortify ourselves before they attack, but we have to move quickly."

"Where are they attacking?" Rinzen asked.

"There's a valley not far from here," Jet said. "It would allow them to outflank me if they got through it. And there's another problem. There's a dam in their path, and it supplies a lot of the water for this area. Both the army and the civilians use it. If the Fire Nation manage to capture it, needless to say, that would be bad."

Yue nodded.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Suki asked seriously. "They could be trying to lure you into an open battle where they can destroy you."

"And what choice do I have?" Jet shrugged. "That's probably what they are doing. But the alternative is letting them get that dam, letting them get around my flank, and letting them capture those villages in their way. It's just too important."

Yue nodded. She wasn't well versed in military matters, but she guessed letting a dam fall into enemy hands probably wasn't good news. But Rinzen was frowning.

"Seems a little too simple," he said. "Usually they're sneakier than this, aren't they?"

"They got to Ba Sing Se through brute force. This is exactly what I'd expect from them. Anyway," Jet changed the subject, "any news from my mystery man?"

The fact your mystery man is actually a mystery woman, for a start, Yue thought, but did not say it. Instead, she told him as much of what she had learned there as she thought she could get away with without compromising Poppy Beifong's identity. Including the events of the night she had been kidnapped and then rescued by Toph.

"A 12 year old girl saved you?" Jet asked, astonished.

"She did!" Sokka nodded. "You should have seen it, it was brilliant!"

"I asked her to join me though, and she refused," Yue sniffed.

"I don't think everyone is cut out for the life you lead," Jet shrugged. "Doesn't seem a big deal."

"She was going to be my earthbending master."

"And there are other masters. Now come on, we have a village to save."

"Wait!" Yue called as he began to turn away. "Our mutual friend gave me a message. And a sword, but mostly a message."

She pulled out Poppy's scroll and extended it towards him.

"He gave you a sword?" Jet raised an eyebrow as he took it. "Is it cool?"

"It's pretty flash, yes," Yue replied, smiling. "Although it's just for show at this point."

"Excellent," Jet opened the message. He scanned it for a few seconds, and then pocketed it again.

"Anything good?" Yue asked.

"Just a new weapons shipment coming soon," Jet replied. "I'll reply once this is over with."

He turned away.

"Now, like I said, we should get going. We do not have much time."