An ominous rumbling sound caused Tenzing to pause as he made his way across the rooftops of the ravaged city. Looking out towards the harbor, he saw a massive wave rising into view, climbing higher and higher until blocked out part of the sky. He could see several Fire Nation ships as well as trading vessels being swept up into the vertical wall of water, attesting to the great force behind it. At the rate it was moving, he knew it would come crashing down on this part of the city, leaving him no time to run and seek shelter. As the towering wave loomed closer, casting it's shadow over him, he quickly went into a low stance and brought his fists crashing together forcefully, bending a dome of swirling air around him for protection.
As the immense volume of water fell down onto the rooftops, Tenzing's airbending channeled most of it's crushing weight and sweeping force safely away from him. That did not keep the building under him from collapsing, however, and as it's tons of stonework dissolved and fell apart he was forced to leap away to avoid being buried in the rubble. By the time he began to descend to the earth once more, the wave had settled, steeping a wide section of the city in several feet in water.
Landing on a piece of wood that had until recently been a door, Tenzing looked around, surveying the damage. Only a few of the taller buildings could still be seen intact, all the others either having been buried under the water's surface or washed away completely. He couldn't see any other people, meaning that part of the city had likely already been abandoned. If there had been anyone still there, they were likely to have drowned or otherwise perished from the deluge. While he imagined the victims would have died indiscriminately whether they were invading soldiers, citizens, or refugees, Tenzing took pleasure in knowing the Fire Nation's plans to march through the city without any real challenge had now been somewhat hindered. With so many of their ships damaged, it also seemed possible that their plans for retreat or departure would be affected as well.
It occurred to him he still had no idea what had happened to the other members of his caravan. Tenzing rushed back to the area which had previously been the marketplace, hopping from one piece of floating debris to another. Once he arrived, he saw that even this area had felt the impact of the wave, although the water here was much more shallow and subsiding more quickly. There were no signs of any people, meaning the sandbenders had either fled or been killed by Fire Nation shoulders like all the others. Some of their wares had been left behind and were now drifting around as the waters circulated, gradually draining way. A particular wooden chest stood out to Tenzing, with good reason, since it contained his only true personal possession, and the single reminder of the life he could never return to. Tenzing waded over to it, staring down solemnly. He slowly opened the chest and removed what was inside. He held his glider staff for what felt like the first time he could clearly recall. After a moment of silence in which countless chaotic thoughts consumed his mind, Tenzing tossed it into the air, it's wings unfolding on their own. He leapt up and grabbed ahold of it with both hands and began riding the winds in the direction of the palace, where he would hopefully find more survivors of the Fire Nation's attack.
