While Aang and Katara practice waterbending and Sokka relaxes in the middle of a lake, a group of Earth Kingdom nomads appears, displaying the characteristics of carefree, nature-loving people. When Team Avatar reveals their plan to travel to Omashu, Chong, the lead nomad, speaks of a shortcut through a tunnel passing under a mountain. Sokka initially distrusts these new characters, but, after an unsuccessful attempt to fly over the mountains due to an assault by Fire Nation soldiers, the team agree to follow the nomads through the tunnels.