Book 2: Earth

Chapter 12- Signal to Strike

The gray clouds parted slowly as the daylight gave way to night, with a faint orange glow in the sky, emanating from the distant city of Omashu. More close to home, however, were the small lanterns of the small slave camp on the outskirts of the fortified city. Korra lay prone with Hide as she scanned the forward guard posts. They were both in the heavy black and crimson combat armor of the southern raiders, and they blended in almost seamlessly with the darkened hills.

Korra almost wished they didn't have to lug the heavy armor around, the Earth Kingdom soldiers would have had to have the eyes of a hawk to spot them on the hill, let alone conjure up any rocks to hit them accurately, but Asami didn't want to take the chance. Korra and Hide were to be the support for the initial attack, and they had to stand by and be ready.

She nodded warily to Hide as she scanned that the coast was clear, waving for him to move forward, closer to the work camp. They were so close, Korra swore she could smell the waft of the cooking fires as the soldiers sat down to eat their evening meal, and she fought back the growl in her stomach with a fierce determination. There was still much work to be done.

It was still a tricky situation for her though, considering Hide was once one of Sergeant Rho's pet students, the same group that had tormented her for most of her teenage years while she was training in the prison camps. On Ji had sworn on Hide's behalf that it was all in the past, but that still didn't change the awkward tension that seemed to fill the air whenever they were together.

Why the heck did Asami pair me up with him? And not Mako... She grumbled softly.

Sensing the tension in her movements, Hide turned around. "You alright Korra?" He asked,

Korra blinked in surprise from the tone of concern in his voice. Surprised probably that he showed something other than the serious soldier act that he seemed to sport the entire expedition.

"It's nothing, Hide." Korra brushed off his query, "Let's just keep moving."

Hide sighed inwardly as he caught the animosity in her voice. True, Korra had thawed slightly towards him since joining up with their platoon, but there was still this mistrust in the air between them.

Normally he wouldn't have given a fig about it, but On Ji once again, was very persuasive.

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"Why don't you make friends with her?" On Ji said with reproach as they sat at the rear of the Satotank.

"I just have to work with her." Hide replied with a grunt. "I don't have to have her like me."

"Like it or not Hide, we're a team. I'd feel better if you got to know Korra a little bit more." She pressed her argument a bit more. "Besides, it's not healthy to have our team mates distrust each other.

"It's fine."

"No it's not. I can literally feel like you guys are one word away from tearing at each other. Can you at least promise me you'll try."

"She'll like it as much as I would." Hide grunted.

"Do it for me...okay?" she asked, grasping his forearm, her eyes giving that adorable, yet pleading look.

Hide hated it when she gave him THAT look.

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"Look...I get it. You don't like me. If it makes you feel any better, I didn't exactly join in when Rho had you in his twisted games." He blurted out roughly, and very clumsily.

"No," Korra replied with icy measure. "You just stood by and watched."

On Ji would have probably slapped him at that point, Hide thought. But still, anything was better than nothing.