Shadows and Embers

New Enemies-Return to Omashu

(Aang)

"I can't believe this, I know the war has spread far, but Omashu always seemed untouchable." Aang says
dejected

Aang, Sokka and Katara stand at the edge of a cliff facing what used to be Omashu. The city, once
beautifully designed was now reduced to little more than a smoking ruin. The Earth Kingdom banners
now replaced by the somber Fire Nation insignia, and every obvious entrance heavily guarded.

"That's because until now it was," Sokka responds curt but not unkindly.

"Now Ba Sing Se is the last great
Earth Kingdom stronghold."

He looks at Katara and she understands, putting a hand on the avatar's shoulder she says "This is
horrible, but Aang it's not safe here we have to move on."

Aang immediately moves out of her grasp and opens his glider,
"Aang stop, we don't even know if Bumi's still..." Sokka trails off, his meaning clear.

"Still, what? Still what Sokka."

"Around."
"No, I'm going in to look for Bumi."

"I know, you had your heart set on Bumi, but there's other people who
can teach you Earthbending."

"This isn't about finding a teacher Katara, I'm going to find my friend,"

"Alright," Sokka says eventually ", but how will we get in."

( - )

"Uhg when you said you knew a shortcut, I didn't realize it involved walking through the sewers."

Aang rolls his eyes and ignores Sokka. He did feel kid of bad though, he and Katara had bending to keep the sewer water off them. Sokka just had to keep wiping it off his face with his hands.

They reach a metal grate in the ceiling, and Aang sends a strong gust of air to push it out of place.

He climbs out of the sewer relatively dry followed by an equally clean Katara. Aang is however startled when Sokka emerges looking like something Appa would spit up.

Katara looks at him for a moment before directing water from a nearby barrel (at a pressure that couldn't be safe) at Sokka. Aang takes her cue and swipes his glider in Sokka's directing drying him off.

"Ahhh ahh they won't let gooo," Sokka screams pulling at the little creatures attached to his face.

Tackling him Aang covers Sokka's mouth, "shush stop making so much noise it's just a purple pentapus". Aang swipes his finger one of little creatures' head and giggles, "just tickle it's head and it'll let go."

Sokka tickles the other and it releases its hold of his face.

"Hey, what are you kids doing out past curfew," says a gruff voice.

When Aang looks over and sees two Fire Nation soldiers, he quickly pulls his shirt into a turban of sorts covering his arrow.

"Uh nothing we just lost track of time," Katara says. The guard look unconvinced but let them leave, "ok then don't let us catch you out this late again."

They turn to leave and walk a couple steps before the other guard exclaims, "what's wrong with that kid, what's that on his face?"

Aang and Sokka look at each other in panic before Katara speaks, "Pentapox sir, it's very contagious."

Sokka streets out his arms and begins swaying and groaning "Oh no, I'm so sick, I'm dying."

"And deadly," Katara adds quickly.

"Pentapox? Wait I think I've heard of that. Isn't that's how Lu Xhao's cousin died."

While the guards are distracted by the potential lethality of Pentapox, Aang, Sokka and Katara quickly excuse themselves and leave.