"Uh..." He didn't know what to say to the woman. He didn't know if she was some sort of spy or something, and even telling her that they were the ones firebending could put them in jeopardy. He was losing focus, unraveling. He had to stop himself before it got worse.

He took a slow breath and began to clear his mind.  Masaru's eyes closed as the world around him began to slow down to a near pause. He was well aware of how his avatar state could be triggered, even while knowing only one element, but he didn't want to keep spiraling into uncertainty to eventually reach that level of stress. His mind began to clear, no longer plagued with the thoughts of what could go wrong. His mind was being cleansed, and he only hoped that the woman and anybody nearby weren't sensitive to spiritual energy. He knew that he was risking their position to Iluq's agents, but he needed a clear head.

Masaru's eyes opened just as slowly as they closed. He instantly smiled at the woman and shook his head. "Nope! Wasn't us." He replied rather quickly.

------

The woman rose from the water and glided across it as she neared one of the beaches on ember island. Well on her way to the island, she encountered two people who she believed might be able to lead her to the avatar. They stood out among others she had seen, especially the one with the eye patch. 

Stepping onto the sands, the woman dried herself off using her waterbending, and slowly approached the duo.

"You should definately go with the man, earth woman." She spoke out loudly but calmly to the woman. "The avatar will need all the help he can get, and I need a challenge." A wild smirk appeared on her face as she rapidly approached them, ready to attack.