Book 2: Earth

Chapter 10- The Gaoling Resistance

Tarrlok and Noatak walked uneasily in the middle of the resistance group. Although Niska and Lin were welcomed with open arms, Kori was a bit more cautious with the waterbenders, opting that they be blindfolded as a pre-caution to keep the location of their base a secret.

"Normally Niska's word and your actions should be enough, but we can never be too sure." Kori said apologetically. "Azula's been very clever with planting her spies everywhere, so one can never be too careful."

It's only temporary." Niska reassured them, just as Tarrlok coincidentally stumbled on a tree branch that lay on the road, which caused Lin to giggle. "Once General Bei Fong vets you two, these won't be necessary."

"Glad to know you've thought of everything." Tarrlok mumbled.

"Quiet Tarrlok!" Noatak hushed his younger brother, then bowed calmly in the general direction of Kori. "We understand. The Wolf Tail Raiders would have done the same. Lead on, and we can prove to you that we're trustworthy."

Kori nodded, and the group continued walking down the forest road. Above them, in the trees, Longshot and Smellerbee made their own way, providing cover and scouting for the group above.

They had been walking for the better part of a day now since their escape from Giam's men, and Noatak felt the warm bask of the sun on his skin quickly giving way to the cool air of the night. Tarrlok himself soon stopped complaining, he was too tired from the walking to do much else. Kodiak was adjusting well enough, walking beside Lin while occasionally brushing his fur against Noatak's leg. In a sense, he acted as a Seeing Eye wolf.

Noatak meanwhile, was using this moment to take note of his surroundings. True, he couldn't see, but a lifetime of scouting on the front lines had made him familiar with the feel of many landmarks. A rush of water usually denoted a stream, while the number of steps and turns, along with the brush of leaves on the ground would tell him just how far deep into the forest they were walking. After a while though, he simply gave up. His shoulder was still aching, and he was getting tired from the long escape and chase.

"Are you alright brother?" Tarrlok asked.

"I'm fine." Noatak replied gruffly. "Just getting a bit sick of running around like this, we should be back in the North Pole with the other Wolf Tails fighting the Fire Nation."

"Seems to me like we're fighting Fire Nation no matter where we are." The younger waterbender noted wryly. "Besides, it's not like we had much of a choice."

Noatak grudgingly had to agree. It was like they were being carried from one misadventure to the next, like the very water they bent. Still, Tarrlok may have a point, it was a Wolf Tail's duty to fight the Fire Nation, no matter where they were, and he could only hope that they would be able to make a difference here in the Earth Kingdom.

After what seemed like an eternity, the group finally stopped, and the brothers felt a rumble of the Earth beneath their feet, followed by a crushing slam that seemed to imply a door opening.

"This is it." Kori remarked, "Just be careful and go slowly, there are a lot of steps."

The brothers complied without a word, and they stepped down into the sunken chamber, following the series of steps and using the person in front of them as a guide. Noatak had Niska lead him by the arm, while Tarrlok clasped a hand on his brother's shoulder. Behind them, they felt the slab of earth shut up from above, sealing off the last gasp of air from the outside world.

It took another half hour of climbing down the stairs before they settled down onto a flat corridor. Around them, Noatak heard the whispers and footsteps of more guards as they questioned Kori, but after exchanging some sparse words, Noatak felt the guards slamming their feet onto the floor in salute, then earthbending another door down the hallway for them.