It is not the sudden lack of power afterwards that is bad. La leaves my side once we clear the bay's entrance, and I begin to feel the strain of this much continuous, strenuous bending. There is no moon to keep me from rapidly losing energy. Yue has little power during the day and even less on a decrescent moon. I wonder if, since La paid me a visit, Yue could do the same under different circumstances. I like to think she would speak with me, if she had the chance. Perhaps during an event such as the Blue Moon.

What is uncomfortable, more so than the exhaustion that will soon be settling in, is the way the others seem to be debating whether or not to throw me over board now rather than later. Not, that I wouldn't do the same. They cluster together, looks almost fearful. However, I do intend to survive.

"We're in the middle of Chamaeleon Bay. The Southern Watertribe will soon find us. If you pretend to be who you're not," this is directed at Mai and Circus Girl, "You might even get a hot meal out of it."

Mai looks torn between the promise of proper food, and her pride. Circus Girl seems to not even consider it. Sea food prepared by warriors though is usually an acquired taste. That is, if they are anything like the warriors I was on patrol with.

"Ship ahead! It's sinking!" Comes Haruto's cry from the crow's nest.

Oh. Well, I'm not entirely dead on my feet yet. It seems like, in actuality, I may have lost energy, but I have retained more than I usually have. I would even go so far as to say that I feel invigorated. So, rescuing a few shipwrecked wouldn't be much of a strain.

And this could be Sokka and Katara's father. So there really isn't any other viable choice.

"Okay then. We can expect injured, so one of you needs to get our medical supplies," I say as I stand, and Circus Girl surprises me by wordlessly turning and going to fetch what I need.

The water is relatively still now, though the last vestiges of the storm haven't passed yet. With only a bit of effort I manoeuvre our ship to the sinking one. Watertribe. I'd have thought they'd be smarter than that. Staying out of their protected coves in this weather is insane. If one doesn't have La on their side anyway.

I stretch my senses for bloodbags. Most of the crew have managed to cling to driftwood, old planks of their ship, or the mast that is slowly but surely being dragged under with the rest of the ship by its tethers. But there are two down there who haven't managed to exit the ship.

In order to keep the ones who have managed it alive, I cut the ropes binding the mast to the sinking ship. Then, I strip down to my trousers.

"What are you doing?" Mai asks, tone incredulous with lack of understanding.

"Saving two people from drowning," I tell her and dive into the water.

It's been a while since I've bended while properly submerged. It must have been at my last spar with Pakku.

The ship looks like it was battered with a large hammer, and then ripped open by large hands. The two people still on board are together, and I can feel their weakening thrashing.

I propel myself forwards quickly, to find that both of them are caught in some rope, but can't free themselves because one is tugging on the end of the rope that would need to loosen in order for the other to escape, and vice versa. They seem to not even have realised it.

I am quick to cut them free, and bend us to the surface together, where I form a platform of ice for us to sit on. And flop around on, gasping for air once I've bent the water from their lungs.

Gorou and the other two pirates have begun throwing out ropes to pull the able ones on board. Mai and Circus Girl are preparing the hold for visitors who aren't prisoners and Haruto is carefully watching the proceedings while he keeps Tom-Tom on his hip so that the toddler can see what's going on.

Briefly, I check on my two new friends who are still hacking and coughing before I begin to carefully expand my platform and gently scoop up the shipwrecked crew.

"I've never been so glad to see a bender," one of them coughs out, sending me a grateful smile. "Thank the Spirits they sent you here."

That's truer than he thinks. "Glad to be of help," I tell him, before raising the platform to our ship's railing and setting everyone down one by one.

Once I've pulled all the water from their and my clothes, I set to examining every one of them. Some, I help remove the last water from their lungs, others I wrap up cuts for, and for the man who so reverently thanked the Spirits, I heal a broken ankle.

Not bad. But we do have the problem of no more provisions. That is, except for the liquor I found a few days ago.

Finally, I sit down for a good drink. I have no injuries, and I have earned it.

If nothing else, the captain had good taste in beverages.

So much so, that once I pass the bottle around, I don't get it back. "This is good stuff," one of the shipwrecked comments before emptying the last swallow once Mai has shaken her head no, she doesn't want any.

"The former captain of this vessel was generous enough to leave it behind," I reply, and sit to lean against the mast.

Gorou snorts, but doesn't comment as he finishes tidying up the ropes with his two underlings. "What were you doing out in this weather?" he asks. I'm surprised. But then again, ingratiating himself with the watertribe warriors isn't the most stupid thing to do.

"Our mooring was faulty and our anchor, once we noticed what was going on, almost managed to sink our ship even without the help of the storm. It was almost over by then, but even so it was all we could do to stay alive," he pauses for just a moment, "What were you doing out?"

"Sailing," I say at the same time as Circus Girl answers, "Committing suicide."

He looks between us, shakes his head, and asks, smiling, "So which was it?"

I glance at my 'crew'. "I feel there is a distinct lack of trust on this ship."

Silence reigns then, and for a short time I amuse myself with smiling benignly.

"You're a bender," the warrior finally says, "From the north?"

I nod in answer to his question. "Met Pakku recently?"

"Master Pakku? You know each other?"

"He was my teacher," I reply, and his eyes widen.

"You're Kaito! He said you might somehow find your way here! My name is Bato, Hakoda's second in command. Pakku stayed with us for a week, and left us with two of his benders, but neither of them were able to help us in this storm. I can hardly believe you made it through, and with your ship intact!"

"I had a bit of help," I admit. "Who are these two benders, then?"

"Katsuo and Buniq," he replies promptly.

"What a coincidence," I murmur, and smile. My formerly fellow student under Pakku, and my former friend in Yugoda's domain. She helped me out a few times with the new bending methods I had never encountered before then. I have a feeling I might not receive the warmest welcome from them. "In any case, I'd like the opportunity to speak with Hakoda, if only to take some messages to his children."

"Yes! How are Sokka and Katara? Why aren't they with you? Pakku told us he left you with the Avatar almost at General Fong's doorstep."

"Ah," a slow smile stretches my mouth, "He did."

"And? What happened?"

"How about I tell you when I tell Pakku?"

He looks at the faces of my companions then. And nods, slowly.

...

Don't forget to throw some power stones :)

...

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