Afterward Adventures (ATLA Zuko X OC)

Chapter Twenty-Two - North and South Pt. 2

"Team Avatar! Any progress?" Hakoda asked immediately as he saw Aang and Iris entering the room with the rest of the team following from behind.

"I'm afraid not," Aang said sighing disappointedly.

Toph sat tiredly on one of the armchairs, Sokka sat on another one, Iris crossed her arms frowning as Katara started explaining...

"Thod and his crew left footprints, but they lead into a maze of underground tunnels," Katara said.

"Tunnels that go on miles and miles," Toph said.

"Even I could feel them," Iris said.

"It'll take us days to search through all of them," Sokka said.

"Maybe weeks," Zuko added.

"We came back to check on you guys," Aang said disappointedly. He turned at the rest of the Team saying "Listen, team. We'll rest for a little bit, but we need to get back out there as soon as we can,"

"Yeah, no disrespect to the Earth King but that guy won't last long in a freezing tunnel," Sokka said.

Before any of them were able to say anything further, they heard the sound of a hawk. Hakoda woke up and he opened the window as a messenger hawk came flying towards them. It landed on Hakoda's shoulder and he took out the letter.

Hakoda scowled "It's from Gilak," he said.

"He wants to make an exchange. The Earth King's life for mine," Hakoda said darkly.

"What is he saying exactly?" Iris said crossing her arms and Sokka walked towards her.

"Can we see it?" Sokka said.

Hakoda handed the letter to them and the two of them started reading it. Iris pointed at the words on the paper "What's the Bridge of No Return?" she asked.

"Bridge of no Return?!" Toph asked, eyes widening in terror.

"An old rope bridge up in the mountains, not far from here," Katara answered.

"Supposedly, the bridge was how the Tribe used to deal with our criminals," Sokka said and then Katara explained.

"If you did something really bad, the Tribe would make you walk across and then make sure you never, ever came back,"

"The terrain on the other side is the most treacherous in the entire South Pole. Nothing stays alive there for long," Sokka said.

Iris smiled widely "Cool!"

"Yikes!" Aang said terrified.

"So Gilak wants to meet at the old rope bridge," Iris said crossing her arms.

"Him and his army on the one side..." Sokka said.

"...the rest of us on the other. He'll send Thod and a couple of his disciples over..." Iris continued.

"We have to willingly allow them Chi-block all of our benders," Sokka said.

"What?!" Iris and Toph asked in unison.

"I thought that's what you were gonna say," Sokka said raising his hands and defeat and turning at Iris.

"I was just gonna let it down to you the rest of it," Iris said.

Zuko placed his hand on his chin thoughtfully "Makes sense. They know we can easily overpower them, otherwise. They're essentially asking us to lay down out weapons," Zuko said.

"Then, as soon as dad starts across, Gilak will send Earth King Kuei over," Sokka said "Any funny business, and Gilak cut the bridge," Sokka said.

"You know he's going to cut the bridge no matter what, right?" Iris said bitterly crossing her arms.