Impending Storm

Kett wakes up, the sky is white this cloudy morning, but white light still beams through Kett's room. Kett stares up at the ceiling and shakes his head thinking, "What have I done? I've failed!! Macai, Kanna, Dade, they were counting on me. And now, I'm stuck here, I feel so useless!"

Kett tosses in his bed then peeks out of it at another prisoner of war across him. The soldier points, "Hey, 31st trooper, check out my art."

Kett leans against the bars, "Ugh, what man?"

Fire Nation trooper: "It's nice isn't it, I drew the layout of our cells." The soldier has short black hair, thin yet protruding eyebrows, almond-shaped brown eyes, medium ears, relatively big hands, and yellow skin.

Kett whispers, "What are you planning?"

Fire Nation trooper: "Nothing at this moment, but it's nice art isn't it? If you want to think of something later, I could take notes next time they bring us outside." The trooper winks.

Kett: "Uh, sure. Might give us something to work with. You're lucky I've got a good set of eyes, I can see decently across the hall. And you're lucky they even allow you to write. Fire Nation prisons prevent inmates from reading and writing in war facilities for that same reason."

The soldier nods and raises his left hand to give a signal to Kett that Water Tribe guards are coming. Kett stops talking and acts natural. The trooper across him does the same. As the guards check the cells, Kett waits for the right moment to speak again. Kett: "So what's your name trooper?"

The trooper responds, "Dux, from the 69th army regiment."

Kett: "That's a good regiment, I heard your Captain is a good man."

Dux responds, "Was a good man, he passed."

Kett: "I'm sorry to hear that."

Dux: "It's too bad, but he served his time."

Kett: "That he did." Teshiki steps over Kett's cell and two Sogoian guards stand beside him with their spears drawn. Kett groans, "Uh, did I do something wrong?"

Teshiki: "No, not as far as I'm aware. They are just my company, don't mind them."

Kett: "It's just kind of hard to trust a counselor who has a military escort."

Teshiki: "Believe or not, I don't make the rules, I just follow them."

Kett: "So all the things you tell me aren't your real opinions? Glad we got that out of the way."

Teshiki: "No I believe them, but I don't decide exactly how things are implemented. That is completely beside the point however."

Kett asks, "Are you sure? I think it is very relevant."

Teshiki turns, "Ah Dux, right. I read your profile, I see you like art. How would you like for one of your pieces to be submitted to a local art contest we are having at the facility. Winner gets a medal that will be hug up in the holding lounge."

Kett sighs, "Well I guess confinement is a little better with prizes."

Teshiki: "You can either view a glass of water as being half full or empty."

Kett: "I mean both are true so I can see it as both."

Teshiki: "I see you like to make things complicated."

Kett adds, "Things are already complicated, might as well admit and accept it."

Teshiki: "Perhaps, but we could still make them BETTER."

Kett: "Different people have different ideas of what better actually means."

Teshiki: "And I want SOME of your ideas."

Kett: "Really?"

Teshiki: "Really, but only some. In exchange, you have to hear SOME of mine."

Kett: "Hmm, I don't know."

Teshiki: "Then let's find out." Teshiki escorts Kett out of his room. As they stroll, Teshiki steps with Kett into a vast ball room. The room has many cakes, breads, rice bowls, salads, and other dishes. Teshiki looks at Kett, "Our Chef is struggling to describe which desert would be appropriate for a banquet."

Kett: "Um what? You have banquets at a prison?"

Teshiki: "The banquet will be for you all."

Kett: "What? Why would you reward us?"

Teshiki: "The behavior of the prisoners has been great. You all have been compliant, so we want to let you all know that we appreciate your cooperation. Our nation runs on a combination of carrots and staff. Sometimes we are generous but if our kindness is not respected, then we alternate in our approach."

Kett is taken to the Chef's Quarters. A man with a long mustache, cocoa brown skin, wavy hair, light blue eyes, wide shoulders, a round belly, and a large nose stands across Kett's position. He seems to be in his early forties. Chef: "My name is Chef Abrar."

Kett: "Nice to meet you Abrar. I am Kett, of the Fire Nation."

Chef Abrar: "Well, Kett, I hope you won't be causing our people too much trouble."

Kett: "I hope not to."

Chef Abrar: "We were thinking of a desert that might be appropriate for the people of the Fire Nation. We generally share foods with you all that are more customary to our traditions, but we thought it might be neat to allow one of your descent to pick something this time."

Kett: "What ideas do you have in mind?"

Abrar: "We were thinking about fruit pies..."

Kett: "That's too much like what the airbenders eat, next."

Abrar: "We also considered something fried, maybe donuts."

Kett: "Maybe if you put some cinnamon and mace in them. But as a side desert, we need another option as well."

Abrar: "Perhaps some snow cream, it's very popular among people in the Northern Tribe. You would love it."

Kett: "Well that's not really a Fire Nation kind of treat, but I like it. People might want to get something different, the Water Tribe experience. I like it."

Abrar: "Great! We have many flavors, I will prepare vanilla, mint, and honey."

Kett crosses his arms, "That's fine but those are simple sweet Water Tribe flavors. We need something different, something that pops!"

Abrar: "The only other falvors I have are maple, blueberry, and strawberry."

Kett: "That won't do, make a new one."

Teshiki: "Spicy snow cream? Like red pepper flavored cold dessert? That sounds disgusting."

Kett: "No not quite like that. But um, you have cinnamon and mace. That would be one great flavor but since you already have the donuts we won't do that."

Abrar: "Since the donuts have spice, a sweet snow cream would balance it out."

Kett: "Maybe in the Earth Kingdom, where their diets are more in the middle. I'm telling you now, the people will want something with some pop. There is an alternative, people like chocolate, do you have that?"

Teshiki: "We don't have much of that in this land or climate."

Kett groans, "While chocolate is sweet, our people tend to like the rich bitterness that comes with it. What about lemon, do you have that?"

Abrar: "Yes."

Kett: "Hmm, then make a ginger lemon flavor with red pine nuts as a topping."

Abrar: "That should work."

Kett asks, "When is this event happening."

Abrar answers, "In three days."

Kett glances at Teshiki: "Why haven't you advertised this earlier?"

Teshiki shrugs. Kett: "And we've had a lot of fish recently. Honestly, it's ok, but kill more of your cow. We need more beef here. And whatever other meat you can find. And for soups, you can keep some local stuff but we need some savoy and powerful soups. Get some chili powder, red pepper, black pepper, and chipotle powder."

Arbar's face turns a bit red from frustration, "Unfortunately we lack all of those spices, so that will be the compromise firebender. That goes beyond your scope my friend. We will take care of the rest."

Teshiki looks at Kett, "You have quite the demands for a prisoner."

Kett: "Well, you give me quite a lot of options for a prisoner. Why are you upset with me for trying?" Three days later, Kett and multiple firebenders sit in the ballroom. The room has a shiny light brown floor, light pink walls, and a light blue ceiling.

Teskiki stands with Chef Abrar beside him, "Welcome, not every prisoner has been invited but most of you have. As you've probably heard, we are going to rotate the prisoners that can enjoy this feast by splitting you up into five groups. You are actually the third group, the first two have already eaten."

Kett recalls Jannik telling him that he's in the fifth group. Teshiki: "But before you all have a chance to eat, I want our lead representative to speak. The man who made this all possible and that runs this facility. Please give special attention to the Mayor Duyako Xató."

Several people clap. Most of them are Water Tribe staff but a few Fire Nation prisoners clap as well. Teshiki comments, "Good, but come on can more of you clap? He worked really hard to put this event together." The number of claps go from few to a moderate. Kett is impressed by the reaction considering the history.

Major Duyako smiles. He has light brown straight hair, long medium eyebrows, a small pointy nose, fair skin, and dark blue eyes. Duyako: "Thank you all. A lot of you probably wonder why I've been doing all of this. Not just this event, but I am the reason the war prison is run like this. I thought about what the Fire Nation, what your nation has done to many of our people."

Duyako: "And I thought about how many suffered under brutal conditions. How people were killed and treated as if they were not Human. As if we all, were not the same race. Though we may be somewhat different in background and traits, we all have many of the same qualities. We all are capable of reasoning, use the restroom, and wake up every day."

Duyako continues, "We all will pass away someday and will probably lose someone who means a lot to us now. Many of us know what it's like to want to defend our children and make life easier for them. So many of us know what it's life to want the best for our little sisters or younger brothers and to hope they marry a good person. And historically things were not always like this. Wars come and go; conflicts come and go so I hope our respect and universal values can survive through the tides."

Duyako: "My grandfather told me stories about how when he grew up, the people on the Eastern and Western regions of town competed. There were some gangs that fought each other. A lot of people disliked each other, simply due to the side of town someone was from. Parents on the East wanted their children marry and date others from the East and vice versa. But during the major Tonta Muca's run, he decreased the conflicts between the East and West."

Duyako: "From his example, things steadily got better throughout my grandfather's life. Each subsequent major, except one, tried to continue that precedent. While there were a few setbacks, by my father's time things had gotten a lot better. Conflicts were less intense. Now we all stand united as Sogoians. While this seems this task is so much bigger, I know things can change and I hope some of you will be harbingers of that change."

Nearly the entire room claps and stands. Even Duyako is caught off-guard by the reaction, but he smiles and nods. Two tears roll down Kett's eyes as he remembers the tensions between the nobles and commoners in Nyarri. Those issues still persist in Nyarri and many Fire Nation towns, villages, and colonies.

FIELD TRIP

Two weeks pass and Kett has gained some privileges for good behavior as well as some of the other Fire Nation prisoners. Two guards stand outside at attention as a United Way representative from the Water Tribe emerges. She has indigo armor with dark yellow and beige markings. The young woman has deep blue eyes, fair skin, medium lips, and rich brown hair.

It is Sada, a gifted waterbender who was born in the Eastern Water Tribe island village Hereko. The guards salute her and make way for Sada's entrance. Teshiki crosses his arms as he sees Sada in the middle of a hallway, "Well, look who came to visit? For what purpose do I have the honor?"

Sada hugs Teshiki, "It's nice to see you too sir. So Teshiki, how have your people been?"

Teshiki smiles, "The people of Sogo are strong. We have been well. The winter has been moderate, but we had a great harvest last fall. We are prepared."

Sada: "Right now I'm over the moon, the United Way and Water Tribes are extremely impressed in the Northern Water Tribe's success and victory over the full might of the Fire Nation. This has caused their empire to pull back and decrease attacks in all Water Tribes. Now they are focusing on their Earth Kingdom campaigns."

Sada adds, "I know the people of the Water Tribe want to save what they have and to replenish their villages. However, we need to work together to eliminate this threat once and for all. I'm not asking for official support. The tribes can keep most of their warriors in case our enemies ever return. The United Way could just use some supplies and volunteers. If the Fire Nation succeeds over the Earth Kingdom, our people will wish they had, because their empire would then be unstoppable."

Teshiki: "Careful young one, no worldly entity is ever unstoppable."

Sada: "Teshiki, you spiritually are given moments and opportunities to contribute to the light. If you squander those moments, there are consequences. Please just have faith in the journey my friend."

Teshiki: "Have you talked to Duyako about this? He's liberal in terms of how we treat our prisoners, but he is a bit exhausted in the risks he is taking. The people of the village at least expect us to keep most of our defenses in case these efforts go south. Helping another nation, will not be very popular right now."

Sada adds, "But the people of the Water Tribe would want help if the Fire Nation was at our door again."

Teshiki: "And from what I remember the Earth Kingdom did NOTHING when Sogo needed them. Same for most of the Water Tribes. Where were they when hundreds or perhaps thousands of warships sat outside of the Capital's harbor?"

Sada: "Be the example of change you want to see. Come on Teshiki, you told me that."

Teshiki: "I'm just telling you, Duyako's political capital is low. Our people are strong with change compared to some other areas, but still can only move so fast."

Sada: "I'll visit him, see what he says."

Kett waits in his cell and Teshiki steps outside of it. Kett's hair has grown from a shorter length to a medium length. As the teen slowly grows older, the outlines of a mustache begin to come across his upper lip and a few hairs lay across his cheeks. Teshiki: "Kett, I'm glad to see you, you know you have a water like name."

Kett: "So what's up now? Another knitting project?"

Teshiki: "It's a useful skill."

Kett replies, "Knitting is for women."

Teshiki: "Well, most people in the Water Tribe would agree with you. Our people aren't that progressive. Speaking of progressive, one of the only female waterbending prodigies outside of the Avatar's newly famous companion Katara, is visiting Sogo."

Kett: "Oh? Who is that?"

Teshiki: "She isn't officially employed by her tribe's village. She is still able to make an impact and go on missions because she joined a movement of Freedom Fighters called the United Way. Her name is Sada."

Kett: "Aren't you afraid of sharing this information with me? I'm still a Fire Nation soldier."

Teshiki: "Fire Nation Intelligence already is aware of this."

Kett: "Though I must admit, I do not dislike your people as much as I once did." Kett frowns at the realization that is the young woman who captured him earlier, "And yes, her name is beginning to ring a bell."

Teshiki: "She's very responsible, mature, and motivated. I wish I had a daughter like that."

Kett: "So is that the reason you came? To tell me that?"

Teshiki: "It's one reason, though there is another."

Kett responds, "I'm listening."

Teshiki strokes his facial hair, "We have a special incentive, a horse-dog riding trip has been scheduled. You are welcome to go for a ride and explore the town a bit."

Kett: "Now that sounds risky, letting prisoners get used to the animals? Your major is giving us a lot of liberty."

Teshiki: "He has his reasons and his risks. Though even I have my qualms with this, Duyako is the politician. It's his role to decide, not mine."

Kett: "Ok, send me out. I'd love a chance to get out. Is it just one prisoner at a time."

Teshiki: "Nope, it's three."

Kett: "Are you going?"

Teshiki: "Not this time, I have some paperwork to do. Have fun."

AND WE RIDE

Kett steps outside, snow glides down from above. The sky is a faded blue color and the winds are strong. It is roughly -8.3 Celsius (17 degrees) outside. Another Firebender waits on the right side next to Kett. His name is Sachin and he is from the army. Sachin has dark orange eyes, dark brown wavy hair, thin eyebrows, thick lips, a small nose and yellow skin.

Kett turns side to side as he reacts to the chill outside. Sachin mutters, "Ohh, how I miss the warmer climate of our Kastakka!"

Kett: "You're from Kastakka, that island has a lot of history. I've always wanted to visit."

Sachin: "If we make it out of here, maybe we will." A female nonbender form the Fire Nation army with a black ponytail, dark brown eyes, fair skin, small soft lips, and a small nose named Sunia sits stands beside Kett. The Fire Nation members are given dark red and white fuzzy robes to keep them warm in Sogo's heavy winter.

Suina looks down at her hand cuffs, "How are we supposed to ride while we are still restrained?"

A waterbender comments, "Be glad that we stopped cuffing your feet after we released you from the facility. That is an extra liberty that you are ungrateful for."

Guide: "And you can ride with your cuffs, they are designed in a way that they can be clipped to the saddles of your horse-dogs. From there, jerk left or right to control their direction."

The Sogoians wear their typical tribal uniforms accept they have a slightly thicker version of their previous robes that has additional fur attached. The Water Tribe member's bodies are more accustomed to the frigid climates, allowing them to wear somewhat lighter clothes than the fire nationals.

The people of the Water Tribe can also survive for longer periods of time if they are stranded or lost in blizzards. Three Water Tribe spear warriors and three waterbender accompany them on their trip. A Water Tribe Guide has cornflower blue robes and light brown markings (as opposed to the typical light-yellow color most Sogoians wear).

The guide himself is a spear warrior. The guide leads the patrol to several sheds which are policed by two Sogoian warriors. One is a swordsman and the other is a female waterbender. Duyako's progressive policies have allowed very few women to get positions within their village, something that has gotten moderate backlash from certain elders.

The guide waves at them, "Show them the horse-dogs." Kett looks and notices most of them are white. However, one is light grey, one is yellow, and another is light brown.

Kett looks at the guide, "Can I request one?"

Guide: "Silence." The guide assigns animals to each Fire Nation member. The light-yellow horse-dog steps to Kett. Guide: "The animal will choose you all, not the other way around." Kett mounts his creature.

Kett: "What's its name?"

Guide: "Zeto."

Kett: "Ok Zeto, looks like you and me are going to go on a little trip." Sachin rides a white horse-dog and Sunia hops on the grey one. Kett looks back and notices each water tribe guard has a white horse-dog.

Kett asks, "What is the purpose of this?"

The guide comments, "You have many questions, but unlike your nation our people value that. The major requested we show you all what it feels like to ride a local horse-dog. We will ride around the perimeter of the village for about ten minutes, but first we will stroll across the outskirts of the village."

Sachin asks, "Can we see the main part of the village."

Guide: "Not yet. Not today. That trip must be earned. But you will see more than some of the other prisoners, so appreciate that."

Sachin: "Fair enough." The patrol strolls across a pathway where a grey-brown pavement leads them to several grey plank houses. On the right side of the trail, two children look at the patrol alongside their mother as they stand outside of their home.

On the left side of the trail, an older man plays his flute as he sits in a wooden chair outside. Kett: "I wonder what other activities the locals have; I am really enjoying this."

Sachin: "They like to fish, I'd be down for some of that."

Kett: "That sounds nice to me."

Guide: "One thing at a time, firebenders. And you both had better follow regulations if you hope to earn those trips." The stroll continues as the riders move beyond the village outskirts into an open snowy frontier.

Kett comments, "So we are beyond the Sogoian settlements?"

Guide: "Mainly, there are a few people who prefer a more isolated life, that live in smaller hamlets. One is not so far east of our location, another is west, but another three are south of our village. Still Sogo, the main area is where you stay."

Kett: "But we clearly don't stay in the middle of Sogo, but on its outskirts. And from what I've seen, Sogo is a large village. Are the hamlets also big?"

Guide: "No, they only hold 20-80 villagers. The largest one might have 120 people or so."

Kett: "Which one is that?" The guide realizes he is divulging too much information.

Guide: "It doesn't matter." Kett picks up on the guide's response. In the distance, a large man walks with a polearm and thick dark grey steel armor that has dark red and black stripes. As he steps forward, two firebenders walk beside him.

The firebenders have light red armor with black and white stripes. The troops that stand beside him are sergeants and these sergeants stand out from the other troopers because they wear light grey masks. About five other soldiers step behind them with the same armor design and black helmets that do not cover their faces.

The polearm warrior breathes heavily through his helmet. The man stoically raises his right hand and gives a signal. The guide continues to ride ahead of the three firebenders with one spear warrior and one waterbender riding beside him. Another two waterbenders and one spear warrior ride directly behind the firebenders while the remaining two Water Tribe members move on the outside of the formation.

As they slowly ride forward, the guide speaks, "Ok, we should head back in two minutes."

Kett looks up and notices a light orange aura in the sky, "Hey look at that."

One of the waterbenders crosses his arms, "Yep, we get that every once in a while. Sometimes it's orange, sometimes it's pink or yellow. And you should really see it at the crack of dusk, sometimes a light green stream can be seen up there. The sunsets are also beautiful."

Kett: "When we're not spending so much of our lives behind the walls of a building, we really can enjoy more of life."

Guide: "Don't be dramatic, you've only been here for less than a month."

Kett: "Time still flies." A Fire Nation army archer prowls. The sharpshooter has light grey armor with black and white markings like the other soldiers in his unit but also wears a hood over his armor and fur to warm his armor. A second archer steps beside him and the bowmen peek over a cliff across the Water Tribe patrol.

Another two archers wait at the peak of a hill on the left side of the patrol. The men take aim at the Water Tribe forces as they stroll. An arrow flies into the guide's neck from the right. A gash of red blood gushes and the masked guide falls off his animal. The horse-dog turns and runs in terror.

Kett, Sachin, and Sunia struggle to keep hold of their creatures as they panic during the commotion. Another arrow from the left flank dispatches a waterbender on the left. Waterbender: "Get clear everyone, Tohiyo, take the fire warriors and get them OUT of here!"

A Water Tribe spearman shouts, "Come on! Follow me!"

Kett asks, "Ok, but if we are to keep up, you have to tell us how to sprint on these." A waterbender on the right flank is shot in his chest by an arrow and he howls before he falls in the snow. The remaining waterbender leaps off his creature and raises two walls of ice to block incoming shots.

Tohiyo (the waterbender): "Shake your chains up and down but don't pull too hard or they will stop running." The three fire prisoners steer their animals around and yank their chains as command. The other riders may way for them as the firebenders sprint toward the Sogo.

Tohiyo takes the lead and a Water Tribe spear warrior rides behind them to guard their rear. As they flee, two waterbenders and two spearmen stand guard. One of the waterbender's aids the other waterbender as he holds the left barrier, "Let me that one for you."

Waterbender 2: "Thanks, let's deal with these archers!" The waterbenders launched their ice walls into hundreds of fragments and back at the Fire Nation archers around them.

Waterbender: "Well, that should take care of them!"

Colonel Hurayo strolls with Captain Betossi in the tundra. Hurayo: "Well, that took longer than expected, our estimates are off, this island is much bigger than I expected."

Betossi: "Well, unfortunately our lead navigator got killed during that last ambush before we thought we were supposed to pull out which is the reason we got lost and missed our ship in the first place."

Hurayo: "It was those rotten Water Tribe archers!"

Betossi: "They never miss." A Fire Nation lieutenant sprints toward the officers and slips in the snow.

Fire Nation Lieutenant: "Ugh!"

Hurayo: "What is it now you moron?"

The lieutenant salutes the officers, "Sir!"

Hurayo: "Just tell me what it is!"

The lieutenant catches his breath, "Our archers on the outskirts have detected a Fire Nation patrol. We believe we are close to a village. Unfortunately, they countered and dispatched our archers. The war captain Kusain is in command of the scout unit."

Hurayo: "Then don't worry, Kusain will deal with these scum. He will have a plan."

Six Fire Nation troopers race toward the Water Tribe team on tiger-hounds. Two of them have swords, two have spears, and two are firebenders. The tiger-hounds hiss loudly and the horse-dogs back at them. Unlike regular tigers, the tiger-hounds do not have any stripes and have all white fur. One waterbender moves right and shoots two volleys of ice at incoming fire riders.

A firebender on a tiger-hound punches a gust of fire which vaporizes the ice attack. One of the Water Tribe spear warriors looks at the waterbender, "Get on, we can all fall back to the town."

The waterbender comments, "Perhaps but I do not want them to discover our location."

The spear tribesman insists, "Then we won't but we can get around faster together." A blast of orange-yellow fire glides toward the spear warrior who's animal hops left as it evades the explosion.

Waterbender: "It's too late, defensive positions!" The other waterbender uses water propulsion to hover on the back of the other spearman's horse-dog. That waterbender looks left and shoots a beam of water into a swordsman on a tiger-hound. The spearman rides toward a firebender on a tiger-hound.

The spearman looks down at the vicious tiger which lunges at his animal and swings low as he impales the creature. The swordsman attempts to leap on the horse-dog to kill the water tribe rider, but the animal kicks the man in his stomach with its hefty legs. A jarring crunch is heard as the man's body glides back into the snow beneath him.

Suddenly, another twelve Fire Nation troopers storm forward are arctic eel hounds. Unlike the average eel hound, these creatures are warm blooded, can raise their body temperature naturally, and are capable of living in colder climates. Unlike their more common cold-blooded cousins, these creatures cannot survive in hot climates.

They are white in color which better blends into their freezing environment. These creatures are fast and run at 70 miles an hour. Three zoom left of the Sogoian warriors who still clash with the team of Fire Nation tiger-hound riders. On the left, each eel hound carries two troopers (one swordsman & one archer, a spear woman & one firebender, a swordsman & a firebender).

On the right, each eel hound also holds two soldiers (a duelist & a firebender, a spear trooper & a sword wielder, and a firebender & an archer). A firebender pumps an orange flame at a waterbender and the warrior raises a wall of ice which intercepts the blast. The wall is blown into fragments which melt into water and an arrow is fired at the trooper while is back is turned.

The water fighter raises a ice barrier which intercepts the arrow but shortly after a tiger-hound closes in and impales the man with its left claw. The waterbender screams, "Awwwwwwhaaaah!" A blast of orange and yellow fire knocks a waterbender and spear warrior off their animal. The horse-dog falls on its back and cries before it lets out its last breath.

Unlike in the Fire Nation, the Water Tribe sees its animals as allies and as family not simple as expendable cattle bred to die. The waterbender touches his hand on the creature and feels its pain. The man looks in the creatures eyes and feels its smooth fur as it grows still. Waterbender: "It's ok friend, it's alright. Death is the way of life. You have been good to us."

A firebender rides on his eel hound as he notices the waterbender's reaction and points, "Look at the waterbending fools, they focus on an animal instead of combat. It only makes our job easier." As the Fire Nation tiger-hounds press against the Water Tribe forces on horse-dogs, the eel hounds quickly move past the force.

The waterbender who was tending to the fallen animal companion turns and shoots a beam of water into a swordsman on the right flank who is on the back of a eel hound. The waterbender attempts to raise a wall of ice directly in front of a eel hound but the creature notices with its fast reflexes and hops over it.

A Sogoian spear warrior tosses his weapon into one of the eel hounds on the left. The spear warrior and firebender riding it are knocked into the snowy ground as the warrior slows their advance. Still, four of the eel hounds have continued their pursuit and moved beyond their scope. The warrior turns and notices a comrade of his being blasted in his chest by an orange fireball, "Ouuu!"

A waterbender spear warrior is impaled by a Fire Nation spear that is tossed into his chest. The soldier enters his battle stance and a tiger hound leaps a few feet ahead of him. On top of it is a firebender who pumps a violent flame into the man's midsection.

Tohiyo leads Kett's, Sachin, and Sunia as a Sogoian spear warrior continues to trail them. The waterbender leads the firebenders toward a smaller hamlet rather than the heart of Sogo, without making his intentions clear with hopes of alerting the people so they can evacuate and link up with the main village. Tohiyo also believes his actions will give the village more time to coordinate their forces and successfully prevent the invasion.

A thunderous swirl of orange-yellow fire pulverizes the rear spearman and his horse-dog, "Gah!!" Kett looks back and notices the four eel hounds. Kett looks forward as an arrow flies into Tohiyo's rear left shoulder. Blood gushes as the man falls off his animal but they allow the horse-dog to run off. Tohiyo bleeds out in the cold as the hounds encircle the Fire Nation captives.

Firebender: "Take these ones back, the Colonel is going to want to see them." The fire invaders escort the captives to their leader's position.