A scream sent shivers down Katara's spine as she nervously sat in the dark. There was absolutely no light in the small hold they had shoved her in. She ran her hands out along the wall. The small crevice was just large enough to hold someone sitting down or lying in a fetal position. The thought brought a rush of adrenaline laced fear to her mind. The screams rang again and she clamped her eyes shut, folding her hand over her ears. The tears formed in her eyes as she listened to the Fire Lady scream out in unbridled agony. She tried to put herself back to her home in the northern Air temple. Back in her safe little room with the soft wool blankets and the cool wafting breeze. She was almost dissolved into her thoughts when the screaming bright light blared into her vision. Forcing energy into her arms, she pushed herself into the corner trying to make herself the smallest she could. Through all of her attempts, however, she failed as the large hands grabbed her jerking her out of the hole. She fought, jerking her arms and thrashing her legs, but that only earned her a backhand across the jaw. A needle dug into her flesh as they pushed the bending-blocker deep into her veins.

"It's your turn girly." The voice was the deep and gruff one of the lead guard. She flung a mouthful of obscenities in his direction only to have her face slapped again. She forced her eyes open and cursed herself for pushing him. She had noticed rather quick that if the guards were to strike her or Mai, they made a point of hitting them on the fresh burn. Her hands were jerked up as she was drug into another room. She blinked hard as a beam of sunlight gleamed down on a spot in the center of the cabin. When the light faded from blinding her eyes she felt the pit of her stomach fall. A knot formed in her throat as she stared at the two wooden post sticking up from the ground. The leather, blood stained ties did nothing to settle her stomach. She jerked her arms back trying to get away from the guard that pulled her.

Through all of her fighting, she was, again, unable to get free. However, it did take three guards to hold her and tie her to the post. Her mind cussed in streams as she tried to mentally prep herself for what was coming. That first sting of the lash could never have been prepared for. The sering pain shot all the way through her and just as the sting started to wane another lash fell across her back, amidst her scream she heard the fabric shred. Her mind reeled in the minute between lashes as to how much worse the whip would burn after the clothes were no longer in the way. All too quickly she learned the answer as a wave of intense heat shot through her, a surge of pain unlike any she had ever felt. Tears tried to form in her eyes but they couldn't fall. She screamed out again as another lash snapped across her back. Slowly, lash by lash, she felt herself sag into the ties. She wanted to go home!

Mai rolled over pushing herself up from the ground. Dirt caked over her wrists where she had fought the ties. Her one true breaking fear was to be tied. She pushed herself to stand up uneasy legs as the guard watched her. She sneered at him and started to cross her arms, but the sting of the open wounds on her back as she moved her shoulders burned so that she couldn't.

"What did we do?" She hissed, not really expecting the dim witted guard to answer.

"Well, first off, you are you. We were given special orders to treat you two ladies extra nice, and second you spoke to the wrong slave." He laughed as he walked over to her. She frowned and watched him as he rebound her hands. There was a way out, there had to be. She knew sooner or later Zuko would know something was wrong. But that could be months. Without that damned bison to fly on, the ship ride along was three months away, and he had expected them to stay in Ba Sing Sei for at least three weeks to firmly settle the trading negotiations. Without warnign or provocation the guard knocked her to the ground. She let out a shriek as she fell back first onto the rocky ground.

"Ah what's wrong my lady? Don't like being bullied? Well maybe you should have thought about that before coming into hostile territory."

"Had we known it was hostile territory we would have never come." She growled as she tried to sit up. He only grinned and nodded. He walked over jerking her up by the elbow, her joints popping audibly.

"Exactly." He turned as the lashing guard drug Katara from the chamber. The girl was bloody and almost refused to walk. Katara could walk well enough, but she wasn't going to help the bastards a bit. If they wanted her anywhere they could drag her ass. She and Mai were tied together as the mini parade started over. Guard in front, two tethered prisoners in the middle and two guards behind. They were lead into a small cavern and picks were shoved into their hands. They were untied and shoved forward into the wall.

"You two will work if you know what is good for you." Katara growled at the guard as he left. IF he had only been a few inches closer she would have buried the pick in his skull. Or perhaps in his belly and watch him bleed to death. Dark, morbid, yeah but who the hell cares. She was a fucking prisoner for a over indulged spoiled prince that had a chip on his shoulder the size of Appa. As far as she could see she had the right to be morbid and ill wishing. She looked at Mai as they each stood frozen as statues.

"Now what?"

"I say we kill the guard and make a break for the next exit." Mai stated flatly and looked around. There were several branching halls and tunnels, and there wasn't a guess as to which one let out. She looked back at the pick in her hand and tightened her grip around it. Katara snorted and shook her head.

"What then? I think we need to be a little better prepared."

"Prepared for what, there dearies?" The two women turned with a jerk to see a rather large man walking toward them. He was dressed as they were, and dirty to the core of him, and he carried a shovel.

"Nothing." Katara hissed. She wasn't about to let her guard down, especially around someone the size of a house. The man cocked his eyebrow.

"Becareful girlies. I'll give ya one word of warning. No one is your friend here." He said with a smile and started shoveling beside them. Mai took the idea and started swinging the pick. Better to appear to be working than fall to the guards fury, especially if it meant being tied up again.

"Looks to me we are all in the same boat." She said glancing at Katara. Katara nodded.

"Yeah, why don't all to of us here just revolt against the guards."

"In case you two haven't noticed, the guards are trained soldiers, They are also all benders. None of us here can bend even if we wanted to." Katara nodded remember the hot fluid coursing through her veins.

"But still there is no reason for us to fight one another."

"Yeah well you haven't been here that long." He said and tossed a pile of dirt to the side. "You have to fight for everything. Meals, places to sleep, and your life. Another slave will kill you if they think they will get in good with the guards." Katara frowned as that settled back in her mind, and left a sour taste in her mouth.

"And you are another slave." Mai said flatly to the large man. He smiled and nodded.

"At least your learn quick. I'm just giving you fair warning. After tonight anything goes." Mai decided it was time to stop the conversation. Katara seemed displeased with his company as well, but their aggravation seemed to please the large man. "I should be a gentleman and at least give you fair warning about tonight..."

"Tonight?" Katara asked almost afraid of the answer.

"You will, as I said, have to fight for a place to sleep, I suggest you stay together and not draw attention to yourselves. The guards tend to take privileges with the slaves that make themselves stand out. And being who you two are, you are going to stand out easy."