The next morning, Zuko and I were getting ready to leave the kind family's farm. Once Zuko and I were on Jimbo, Sela handed me a good sized box of food. "Here, this ought to get you through a few meals."

I took the box with a small smile, "Thank you so much."

From the distance, we heard several loud footsteps and saw dust kicking up from behind them. I furrowed my brows, "Are those the soldiers from yesterday?"

Gansu nodded, "What do you think they want?"

"Trouble." Zuko responded. As they came closer, the hybrid pigs began to holler.

"What do you want, Gow?" Gansu asked the lead soldier who rode in on an ostrich horse, including his minions. "Just thought someone ought to tell you, your son's battalion got captured." Gow stated with a smirk. My eyes averted to the father, mother, and son. Their worried faces made my heart ache.

"You boys hear what the Fire Nation did with their last group of Earth Kingdom prisoners?" Gow asked his minions. "Dressed 'em up in Fire Nation uniforms and put them on the front line unarmed, way I heard it." One responded before he spat to the ground. "Then they just watched."

Gansu pointed his finger to the soldier, "You watch your mouth!"

Gow made his ostrich horse get closer to Gansu, but Zuko guided Jimbo to block him. "You came and told them what you wanted to say, they heard you loud and clear. Now maybe it's time you turn back, stranger." I told Gow with a stern tone.

Gow eyed me then looked to Zuko, "You ought to put a muzzle on your girl. She's a loud one."

Zuko and Gow eyes each other for a moment longer. "Why bother rooting around in the mud with these pigs?" Gow and his men turned around and rode off.

"What are we going to do?" I asked Zuko. "Move on." He replied. "We've stayed long enough."

I didn't argue with him. I hung my head down and looked away from the family.

"I'm going to the front. I'm going to find Sensu and bring him back." Gansu and his wife walked away from us. I tightened my grip on my clothes as I heard Sela cry.

"If my dad goes, will you stay?" Lee asked us hopefully. "No, we need to move on." Zuko reaches into his pocket then turned around and handed him a pearl dagger, "Here, I want you to have this. Read the inscription."

Lee took it from his hands then took the dagger out of its sheath and did as Zuko told him. "Made in Earth Kingdom."

So touching.

"The other one."

"Never give up without a fight."

When Lee finishes, Zuko and I begin to leave from the farm. I wave to the boy as he and a hybrid pig shortly follow us until the dust picks up.

"What do you think will happen to his brother?" I asked while I turn my body back to the front. Zuko shrugged, "First, he has to find him."

"I hope all goes well."

"Yeah..."

>>>

Zuko was a bit out of it so I thought it was best if we rested for a while. We stopped at a grassy field that had a stream of water in the middle of it.

Zuko was laid down on the grass in his own little world and I was warming up my bending. I lifted my hands up and the water followed. I moved my hands in a circular motion, the water spinning violently.

I created the water to form a tornado and moved it around. I looked over my shoulder when Zuko said lowly, "Azula always lies." When I heard hollering of an ostrich horse and wheels squeaking, I dropped my hands quickly. I regretted it instantly because the water created a large wave and splashed all over me.

Who approached us in a cart full of hay was Sela. "You have to help! It's Lee!"

As I ran to Zuko's side, Sela jumped off of the cart and ran toward us. "The soldiers from town came back as soon as Gansu left! When they ordered us to give them food, Lee pulled a knife on them!" I widened my eyes and looked down to Zuko who was looking away from her in fault. "I don't even know where he got a knife! Then they took him away, they told me if he's old enough to fight, he's old enough to join the army!" She cried into her hands. "I know we barely know you, but..."

I shook my head and pulled her into a hug. From over her shoulder, Zuko and I faced each other. I mouthed, "Now." And he nodded. "We'll get your son back."

I pulled away from her and placed strands of her bangs behind her ears. "Don't worry, okay? We got it covered."

Sela nodded and thanked us repeatedly.

"After what you've done for us yesterday, it's the least we could do. Now we don't have time, get to your cart."

Sela nodded and ran to her cart while Zuko and I ran to Jimbo. Before I hopped on, Zuko grabbed onto my arm. "You get Lee and I'll take care of Gow."

"Don't be an idiot, if I have to fight, I'll fight." I yanked my arm away from his grasp then got onto Jimbo.