[hr][hr] [center][h2]The Knotwood Fishery[/h2][/center] [hr][hr] A pillar of earth erupted next to the stumbling soldier just before the larger wave slammed into him and he managed to regain his footing. The capitan stepped forward, unimpressed with both his own men and the gangly waterbender, as the other scrambled to his feet. Two air benders and a water bender doing everything they could to defend this little ship - the intel was correct this time. Finally, someone is doing their job right. “Fetch the girl and the air benders. I’ll deal with this one.” The captain barked, immediately striking the pillar and sending three large stones hurling at Huo from every side. The other two saluted and bolted after the air benders, hopelessly out paced but working towards finding their comrades further in town. [hr][hr] [center][h2]Lazhou Alleys[/h2][/center] [hr][hr] The blazing flames did not go unnoticed. Shouts echoed down the street and people surged away from the area, including the poor owner of the rug who hastily snatched it out of the fire’s reach, as smoke billowed out of the alley’s mouth. The soldiers charged the flames, shoving their way through the crowd as they tried to navigate it with the grace of a bull in a china shop. Two of them barely paused to pull on rocky armor as they charged through the flames, breaking through the burning crates with no care for if the flames spread, while the third flipped a plate of rock on top of the blaze to smother it. The two dropped their armor as they looked around, prepared for a fight as they continued forward cautiously. “Oye, you.” The third soldier barked at Jin. “Did you see a woman with a lily blade run through here, or the fire bender who set blaze?” [hr][hr] [center][h2]Black Eel Inn[/h2][/center] [hr][hr] The woman stretched as she shifted from her perch out front the Black Eel Inn. She grimaced at the awkward pop in her shoulder, but shook it off. The excitement out front the Fishery was nearly wrapped up; the total abandonment of the water bender took her by surprise. Leaving the boy to deal with a hardened military man by himself was a cruel task; either his friend was confident in his skills or he didn’t know enough about the bender to stay back. Still, her part was played it seemed and so she’d finally take a moment to relax. “May I have this game, friend?” She asked the old man at the Pia Sho table, waving down someone to fetch her a drink. She’d barely waited for the old man’s response as she brought out her own pieces, her red Rhododendron well worn.