Haru is an earthbender, who used to be afraid to earthbend in his own village.
After leaving Omashu, the Avatar gang heads finds themselves walking in a forest.
Earthbender Encounter
As they are relaxing, two huge booms startle them. They run to see what is causing the noise. It is an earthbender practicing his moves. Katara tries to say hello, but the Earthbender runs away and barricades the path behind him. Aang, Katara, Sokka and the rest of the group go around the barricade, and follow the young man to his village. They find him, Haru, talking to his mother in the village.
Aang says that they saw him earthbending. His mother scolds him and shuts all the doors and windows to the house. She says it is dangerous if “they” catch Haru earthbending. Then, several Fire Nation soldiers knock on the door. They have apparently been in the village for 2 years. The Fire Nation forbids earthbending. They say they are there to collect taxes. Haru’s mother gives them their money, and they leave.
Katara thinks it is a ridiculous that Haru’s mother does not want him to earthbend. After explaining that it is natural that Haru continue to want to earthbend, Haru’s mother gives the reason; Haru’s father was taken by the Fire Nation. Katara tells Haru about how the Fire Nation took her mother from her.
As Katara and Haru are walking down a path, they hear a man screaming, and some rocks crashing to the ground. They run towards the sound, and find an old man trapped under some rocks. Haru is hesitant, but he eventually earthbends the rocks off of the old man.
Later on, everyone is asleep at Haru’s, and the Fire Nation shows up. They were led to the house by the old man. The Fire Nation takes Haru. Katara is devastated, and blames herself because she thinks she forced Haru to earthbend. She decides she is going to help Haru; she will fake-earthbend by using a boulder and Aang’s airbending. The Fire Nation would then take her prisoner, and lead her to Haru. The plan works, and the Fire Nation troops take Katara.
Katara tells Haru about what the Fire Nation did to her mother
Appa, Aang, Sokka, and Momo follow the ship where Katara is being held. The Fire Nation has a “base” in the middle of the ocean. The area is used to hold captured earthbenders. The structure is made entirely from metal, rendering the earthbender’s powers useless. Katara is taken to a metal courtyard-like area, where all the earthbenders are being kept. She quickly locates Haru and his father.
Katara tries to convince the earthbenders to come up with a plan. Haru’s father says that they are just trying to survive. He explains that the warden is ruthless, and that lives will be lost if there is any rebellion. Katara stands in front of the courtyard area, and delivers an inspiring speech to the earthbenders. She tells them that the Avatar has returned. The prisoners are so beaten down, though, that they cannot muster a response. They just whisper amongst themselves.
Katara Won’t Give Up
Aang and Sokka arrive to get Katara off the Fire Nation rig. Katara says that she’s staying. As Appa flies away, one of the Fire Nation guards sees the giant flying bison and alerts the warden.
Katara, Aang and Sokka realize that there is smoke coming from the metal Fire Nation structure. They were burning coal. They figured out a way to airbend the coal through a shaft, and into the courtyard where the earthbenders were trapped. While still reluctant, the earthbenders eventually start using their skills. With the help of the Avatar, they are able to take control of the structure.
Haru and Tyru thank Katara for helping them to find the courage to stand up to the Fire Nation. They head for home, where they will retake their village. They invite Katara and the Avatar along; Katara refuses. The Avatar clan must move on.