[i]Hmm, the speed's not so bad,[/i] Jun thought as his sort-of student transformed the earth into some sort of mudslide. It would throw off a Fire Nation soldier for sure, one who'd only been taught on metal floors and coastal sands. A guerilla fighting technique his uncle had taught him was, 'use the environment' and true enough, the kid did so, even if he had to manipulate it.

Still, the swordsman had fought earthbenders and firebenders and (on one, very drunken occasion) a waterbender before. He was no pushover, and he certainly wouldn't lose or [i]worse[/i] draw his sword against the kid. A vein throbbed in his temple in irritation as he remembered that he had wanted the brat to come at him with the [i]hammer[/i], not his earthbending abilities. 

Oh, well. He'd let it slide (literally). Jun sidestepped the muddy path and stuck a foot out.
-------
Suyin's eyes sparkled as she watched Falco. Whoa, that was [i]impressive[/i]. Even she had stopped to listen to his command. General Zhang -- Daddy -- would approve, especially if his daughter did. The strong, silent type made her want to giggle like a thirteen year old. With a nod and a brief half-smile in the falconer's direction, she headed into the narrow tunnels barely big enough for one person.

A few seconds later, she stowed her bow behind her back to save room in the chokepoint, drawing her throwing knives instead. Caves were no place for arrows flying around. Sen and Lee followed her first, fighting in hushed tones for who got to guard Suyin's back directly, then the others moved in. At more than one point they had to step over a corpse left by the birds, but true enough there were no enemies left as they approached the rickety wooden doorway presumably leading to the lowest dungeons of the fortress.

She shuddered to think of what pirates could use it for as she pushed open the door into a quiet, too quiet stone room without any furniture or chains whatsoever. Suyin beckoned the others in after her.