A Town Unworthy of Mention

Lee walks along the trail hanging his head. Kodok's eyes are also down cast as he shuffles uphill next to the earth bender in the waning sunlight. Both carry a travel pack with supplies and a rolled tent that weigh them down further.

"I still can't believe what happened with Chang," Lee mutters.

"I agree," Kodok sighs. "Who knew it would turn out like this..."

"Hey!" Chang shouts from the top of the hill they are climbing. "If you are going to tag along, stop slowing me down."

"Coming!" Lee assures him before turning to the water bender next to him. "Wasn't he like half-dead yesterday?"

Kodok shrugs and says, "He did say that he heals quickly."

"Did he mention that he is incapable of getting tired too?"

"No, he left that part out."

Chang disappears over the crest of the hill. Carrying more supplies than either other member, including the food and cooking supplies, didn't stop him from setting the pace for the unlikely group as they climbed out of the mountains north of Gaoling.

Unwilling to talk or take breaks, the swordsman dragged the two benders across the country side all day. The distance they have traveled from the mountains where they started is impressive. Mountain ranges are no longer visible behind them, just the countless hills they have traversed.

Fortunately, as the exhausted pair of stragglers reaches the top of the hill, they see a neat campsite prepared. A tent is already setup in the shade of a large, solitary tree on top of the hill overlooking a large valley. The cooking fire has dinner slowly roasting off the trail, next to a spring that trickles down into a river running through the valley.

In the valley there is a luscious green forest with golden light from the setting sun casting a gentle glow over it. One clearing in the trees reveals a collection of straw-roof huts along the river. The dusty path leads into the valley, through the forest, and into the center of the huts before continuing into the trees beyond.

"Whoa, nice view!" Lee shouts, having a second wind of energy.

"Yes, this is beautiful," Kodok agrees.

"This whole country is full of views like this," Chang comments. "It makes it even sadder to see so much of it consumed in flames."

"Is that roasted duck?" Lee asks. His mouth waters as he stares at the meat hanging over the fire.

"And boiled cabbage. It was the best I could do with what we have."

"When did we get duck?"

"He was waiting for us at the top of this hill."

"Oh..."

"Thank you," Kodok says with a nod.

He sits down next to Chang in the soft grass and bends water from the spring to fill his canteen. The water bender repeats the process for the other two as Chang finishes preparing the meal. Eating in silence, the trio looks over the valley as they chew.

"Goodnight," Chang states when he finishes, standing to leave.

"What? You are going to bed already?" Lee questions.

"This is the best spot to make camp for the night. We can enter the village tomorrow around mid day. It's further than it looks from this height."

"No, that makes sense. I just meant that you don't have to sleep right away."

"There is nothing else that needs to be done."

"But-"

"I think what Lee is trying to say is that we should take this opportunity to talk," Kodok explains.

"Yeah!" Lee agrees.

"Getting to bed early will allow us to start earlier tomorrow. Besides, we have nothing to talk about," Chang says.

"I disagree," Kodok asserts.

"What do we need to discuss?"

"How about what happened last night? Did that woman you know ever return? Also, it would be nice to know if you had a specific destination in mind."

"Oh, we should pick out a group name too!" Lee interrupts."

"Group name?" Chang echos. "I guess we can discuss these things if you want." Chang sits back down by the fire as the sky darkens. "To answer your first question, I had no other visits last night. If she did come back, she left without waking me."

"That's strange," Kodok muses. "Who is she anyway?"

"I don't know."

"You said that you met her before..."

"And you owe her cabbages!" Lee adds.

Chang sighs and answers, "We aren't well aquatinted. She was also fighting at Omashu when the city fell."

"Why does she want to kill you then? I mean, you were also fighting for Omashu when it fell, right?"

"Omashu fell because of me." Chang gazes into the fire with a hollow expression. "She has every right to be angry."

"One soldier can't be blamed for a battle when his king orders a surrender," Kodok points out. "I don't see why you should blame yourself."

"Let's just move on. What else did you want to know?"

"Where are we-" Kodok starts.

"Group name!" Lee screams while throwing his hands in the air. "Oh, we can talk about where we are going first."

Chang looks despondent, but he replies, "Anywhere that needs help."

"That's all you have?" Kodok asks. "The Earth kingdom is huge. Fire nation controls most of it too..."

"Exactly, this area is filled with towns like that one." Chang points out to the village below them.

"What about that village are you concerned about?"

"This town might not even show up on a map. It's unworthy of even mentioning in a battle plan; however, they still have to suffer under the fire nations conquest." Chang shits his finger and points to a thin pillar of black smoke further down along the river. "That is a military camp. The Earth kingdom army can't be bothered to protect this place, but the fire nation is here."

With that, the group unanimously decides to head to bed and arrive in town early the next morning. Lee and Kodok wake up just as the morning sun washes over the valley, but Chang is already packing up camp. Without a word, the three get back on the trail with a clear understanding of their new mission.

Leading up to the village, nothing seems out of the ordinary. In fact, trail is pleasant, shade keeps it cool, animals scurry about, running water is creates a peaceful atmosphere. It isn't until they reach the town that they notice a problem.

"Where is everyone?" Lee asks as they walk amidst the empty huts.

Not a single villager is outside. Every house looks empty, without smoke in the chimney. Some of the buildings have the thin wooden doors kicked in.

"Something is wrong," Kodok admits, looking around.

"We should hurry ahead," Chang suggests.

"Shouldn't we investigate here?"

"Look around, there are no children playing or adults working. This places looks deserted, but they haven't been gone long. Also there are signs of forced entry..."

"So, they were attacked?" Lee offers. "Shouldn't we look for survivors?"

"Not attacked, they were taken."

"Taken by who?" Kodok asks.

"If we are lucky, some random fire nation soldiers are taking things too far."

"What is we are not lucky?"

"This looks like the work of Zurum."

"Who?"

"A fire nation general that ran into once. They call him Zurum the torturer."

"Wait, what?" Lee shrieks. "Why do they call him that?"

"Let's hope you never have to find out." Chang instinctively draws his sword and charges forward along the path.