Moshi and Dharma make their way west (avoiding Fire Nation patrols) to the small village where Ma Leng, the young earthbender, and her brother Ma Ran had been fending off the Fire Nation. The companions had previously liberated them from Commander Saoku, and the children earlier weren't convinced travelling the wilderness with the companions was a great idea. Now, however, Dharma uses his charm to explain the benefits of the "new and improved!" resistance camp. Everyone's joining the band!
Ma Leng is interested, but her brother mentions that a couple of their protectors were taken by Saoku and Captain Shan, whose encampment lay to the west, immobilized by Toji's earlier machinations. If the group can rescue their last-standing allies, they'll return to Shimoni Dhato.
Leaving Ma Leng in the safety of the village, Moshi and Dharma take Ma Ran into the fringes of the Fire Nation camp. Dharma creates a distraction so that Moshi and Ma Ran can sneak in and rescue the villagers. They're successful and Dharma manages to keep the Fire Nation soldiers busy and then escape as well. Ma Leng thanks the group for again helping out the common folks, and Dharma solidifies their friendship offering to protect them on the way to camp.
Elsewhere, Tojim Layi, and Chuko head into the nearby mountains to visit the protected town of Makapu, under the volcanic Mount Makapu. While Layi and Chuko talk to townsfolk for recruits and get the lay of the land, Toji goes to the town leader as a representative. They learn most of their fighting forces have gone west to Taku, Omashu, and Ba Sing Se. The mountains around the village and proven a good defense, and Fire Nation since ignored them since a young Captain Yama slew the dragon of the mountains. Toji and the mayor agree to a contract whereby Shimoni Dhato can protect them if they can use Makapu as a supply and rest post.
Layi and Chuko learn there are not many fighters left, but there's a rebellious woman named Wu Hana who lives on the outskirts who may yet be persuaded. Wu Hana seems a little spiteful, however, saying she wants nothing to do with the Earth Kingdom or governments, with whom her ancestors had previously also battled. They're eventually joined by Toji, directed to Wu Hana by the mayor, and he tries to convince her to join them and fight for the cause of ridding the Fire Nation from the land, rather than the government. Wu Hana is not immediately convinced but gives the idea some thought.
With at least the protectorate contract fulfilled, the group returns to camp.
Whilst all this occurs, back Shimoni Dhato Shizaku finalizes the decoy reliquaries. He goes to check on the surveyors expanding the camp, but they are stand-offish to a Fire Nation citizen. He instead goes to check on Bozan. The two reminisce about the Fire Nation urbanity and that the camp is more impressive than Bozan would have initially thought. Bozan asks to send a letter back home. Shizaku allows this and checks if it's a coded message. Seeing nothing amiss, they send the messenger hawk to the Fire Nation islands.
When everyone returns, Shizaku debriefs about Bozan's letter and that the reliquaries are now ready. The group decides to maybe send one back east to Ma Leng's village, where they can set an ambush up against Captain Shan. Layi, Moshi, and Dharma agree to deploy there. Shizaku and Toji stay in camp, to further plan and perhaps convince Bozan to help their cause.
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