𝑨𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒎𝒆𝒆𝒕

𝑾𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕'𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕

                Chapter Seventeen
Elora

"I can't believe it," Aang's voice wavers with sadness as we stand gazing at Omashu, now draped in Fire Nation flags.

"It's like the war reached everywhere," I remark, my heart heavy at the sight.

"Omashu was always this symbol of strength,"aang adds, his tone tinged with disbelief. "And now... look at it."

Katara walks over to Aang, her expression reflecting her somber thoughts. "It's terrible," she murmurs softly, trying to offer some comfort. "But we have to keep moving forward."

I shake my head, my resolve firm. "No," I declare, determination shining in my eyes. "I'm going in to find Bumi."

Sokka steps forward, his voice tinged with concern. "Elora, wait," he urges, but I'm already striding away.

"We can't just leave him," I insist, my mind set on finding our friend, no matter the odds.

"But Elora, we don't even know if Bumi's still..." Sokka's words trail off awkwardly.

Aang's frustration is evident as he interjects, "Still what?"

"...around," Sokka finishes reluctantly.

Katara attempts to reason with me, her voice gentle but firm. "I know you're attached to Bumi, but we can find another earthbending teacher. It's not just about him."

But I shake my head, my conviction unwavering. "This isn't about finding a teacher," I explain. "It's about finding our friend."

✾ ✾ ✾ ✾ ✾ ✾

We found ourselves perched on a narrow ledge beneath Omashu, contemplating our next move. The sewer pipe loomed above us, the only entrance that offered a chance of sneaking into the city without risking capture or worse.

"Why didn't we think of this before?" Sokka wondered aloud, his curiosity piqued as Aang worked to pry open the pipe. With a metallic groan, the lid gave way, and a noxious green goo erupted, splattering all over Sokka.

"Ugh!" Sokka recoiled in disgust, his face contorted in repulsion.

I couldn't help but smirk at his misfortune. "Got your answer now?" I quipped, amusement tingeing my voice, though I, too, wrinkled my nose at the foul odor.

As we ventured into the darkness of the sewer pipe, I took the lead, using my airbending to push the vile green goo away from me, clearing a path for the others. The stench was overpowering, but it was a small price to pay compared to the danger awaiting us in Omashu.

Step by step, we made our way through the labyrinthine tunnels, the echoing sounds of dripping water and scurrying creatures serving as our only companions. It felt like an eternity, but eventually, we reached the exit and emerged from the sewers, grateful for the fresh air.

"Well, that wasn't so bad," Katara remarked, emerging from the pipe with Aang, both miraculously clean compared to what awaited Sokka.

As Sokka clambered out, he resembled a walking heap of green sewage, prompting an immediate intervention from yours truly. With a swift flick of water, I doused him clean before employing a gust of air to dry him off. However, our relief was short-lived as Sokka's face suddenly became a habitat for two squirming purple pentapuses.

"Ah! Get them off!" Sokka shrieked, flailing about like a fish out of water. His panic was so palpable that even Aang had to intervene, muffling Sokka's cries with his hand before they attracted unwanted attention. I stifled a laugh, but the situation was too dire for full-on hilarity.