I don't exactly have a reason to trust you, either.

( just pointing that out. her word doesn't mean much to him. )

And no. But I am an earthbender ( that still takes some getting used to, saying that instead of fire. he's adapted pretty quickly, all things considered, but it's still bolin's element more than his. ) and I can sense... things, in the soil. ( bo would be better at it. or toph, if they could have her here. but mako's what they've got, the only earthbender in their party of five. he turns his attention back to the tree, skimming dirt off a tangled network of fine-haired roots with a flicker of his right hand. ) It's at least something I can rule out.

( better than nothing. he's sorry to have upset her, but he's also not going to apologize for doing his job. )