Book 2: Earth

Chapter 7- Escape to Omashu

Noatak and Tarrlok both stared dumbfounded at the little girl for a second, who was impatiently tapping her foot on the cell floor. She spoke the name with an authority that expected recognition, but in their short time with the Wolf Tails, neither had enough experience to recall anyone from the Earth Kingdom apart from coastal raids on Fire Nation outposts. Noatak himself knew that the Water Tribes kept some contact with the Earth Kingdom resistance, which must have been why the name sounded faintly familiar to him at least.

Lin, oblivious to the internal dilemma of the brothers, shouted impatiently. "Well, what are you two waiting for? Get me outta here!"

"Geez, someone's impatient." Tarrlok grumbled back, then scratched his head in realization as he assessed the situation. "One problem, we're waterbenders, what do you expect us to do with this steel cage?"

"I don't know, but do something!" Lin berated, clasping the bars in frustration.

Tarrlok gave a forlorn look towards his brother, and Noatak nodded firmly in response.

"Stand back brother. You too Lin."

Both Tarrlok and Lin backed up a few steps in response. Noatak closed his eyes and took a deep breath to regain his focus, almost feeling the rush of the raging waterfall around them. Some had thought Earth and steel were the most stubborn and powerful of elements, but they were wrong. Yakone had taught him that water was powerful in its very flexibility. In fact, that made it the most powerful element. One moment, it could be gentle like a soothing stream, and in the next, it could be as hard and unforgiving as a glacier.

It could wash away earth and put out fire.

It can even cut through iron.

With tremendous effort, Noatak outstretched his arms and exhaled, bringing his arms backed together he conjured two water whips from the waterfall around them and sent them straight at the steel bars. The action was done so fast that they sliced horizontally into Lin's cage, dropping the iron bars as easily as thin reeds in a swamp. Both Tarrlok and Lin gaped in awe at the scene in silent awe. For Tarrlok, he knew that his brother was a water-bending prodigy, but now, he truly appreciated the extent of Noatak's skills.

"Noatak! Tarrlok!" A voice shouted at them from the other side of the waterfall. "I'm outside!"

"Let's get out of here." Noatak nodded towards Tarrlok, who had taken Lin's hand as he led her out of the cage. With a circular wave of their arms, they bent a thick arc of ice into the waterfall, creating a slight opening through which the trio ran through.

As they emerged on the other side, they were greeted by the slump forms of three Earth Kingdom guards, and a lone Kyoshi warrior standing over them, Katana in hand.

"Niska!" Lin beamed as she ran joyfully towards the Kyoshi warrior, wrapping her arms tightly around the armored girl.

"Lin! Thank the spirits you're alright!" Niska, equally relieved and happy, knelt down and patted the little girl on the head before embracing her just as firmly.

"Who are these guys Niska?" Lin asked as she pointed towards the brothers.

"My bodyguards." The Kyoshi warrior winked at the brothers nonchalantly, then smiled back at Lin. "We're going to bust you out of here."

"Wait, we're what now?!" Tarrlok exclaimed indignantly as he exchanged looks with Noatak, who watched with a detached calm.

"Wow, that's so awesome Niska!" Lin beamed. "I knew you would find me."

"Of course Lin, didn't I say so?" Chuckling softly, Niska sensed the gazes of the brothers and turned around to face them.

"I've done a few tours with the resistance in the Earth Kingdom while you guys were exploring the world with the Wolf Tails." Niska explained. "This meant working with some of the resistance leaders, and that's where I met Lin. She's been like a little sister to me since."