Book 2: Earth

Chapter 24- The Battle of Yu Dao (Part 1)

During the Hundred Year War, Fire Nation armies would be preceded by thick clouds of ash and soot falling from the skies like snow. A literal black wave that would stretch across the horizon, and fill every Water Tribe Warrior with fear and apprehension.

The Earth Kingdom army was different. Their approach was marked not by clouds of ash, but by the very ground that shook as they approached. Noatak and Tarrlok found it particularly hard to concentrate especially when they felt the tremors every few minutes. It had been faint at first, barely causing a ripple in a tea cup, but soon, it escalated, rattling pots and pans from the street vendors, and even knocking over the barrels and crates that were gathered at the supply depot. Although they tried to hide it, Noatak could see the fear inside the colonials and soldiers as they stood on the walls and even he had to take a second to appreciate the irony there. And it wasn't hard to imagine they'd be terrified, each tremor of the ground seemed to get stronger by the minute, almost as if a huge unseen beast was approaching, step by step.

One convenience in all this of course, was the fact that the soldiers were too terrified and focused on the task at hand to notice two Water Tribe boys sneaking out of the colonial labor camp. Today was the day of the great battle, and like Tarrlok said, they would take full advantage of the chaos.

Still, Noatak had to admit he was somewhat impressed by the demeanor of the majority of the garrison. It seemed like the Fire Nation had decided to swallow their pride and enlist a few Earth Kingdom colonials into the army, even if that thought left a vile taste in his throat.

That at least, seemed to be the case as they observed several companies of red and green clothed colonials rush past them, one of them led by none other than Kori. Although she knew of their presence in the city, Noatak decided against letting her know they were hiding in the middle of a restricted area; she obviously had bigger things to worry about.

At that point, as the soldiers were manning the walls, Noatak felt the vibrations of the approaching army stop. Although his expertise lay more in raiding and scouting, it didn't take a genius to realize what that pause meant.

"The Earth Kingdom is here." Noatak said softly, which meant the party was about to start soon.

He turned back towards his brother, who was busy filling up another flask of water from a well. "Are you ready?" The elder sibling asked, his face a grim mask.

"As ready as I'll ever be." Tarrlok put on a brave face, trying to hide his nervousness. He had seen Noatak prepare so calmly before battle so many times for as long as he could remember, and although he felt like his gut twist with dread, he was determined to make his brother proud, to become at least half the warrior his brother and father were.

"It just doesn't seem right. All these Earthbenders fighting for the Fire nation." Tarrlok noted as he watched more soldiers pass by, running to their assigned posts.

"They're fighting for their homes more than anything. But that's fine, as long as they don't get in our way." Noatak replied, and that gave him an unsettling thought. His father had always talked about his dream of laying waste to the Fire Nation and their colonies as revenge for what they did to their people. That was mainly what the raids the Wolf Tails did; but Noatak wondered, was that any different than what Giam was doing?

Noatak sighed, nodding back to Tarrlok. There would be time enough to worry about philosophy later, right now, they had to rescue Niska.

"Let's go."

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"Look at those fools. Thinking a mere wall can stop us." General Giam smiled as he spied the Fire Nation troops taking their posts on the walls. From the bridge of the Goliath, they were pitifully small, he noted almost with regret. Fighting inept colonials would nearly take the glory out of this victory. Nearly. He had read the maps of the surrounding area, and he knew off hand that the closest force was the battered Crimson Army, but even then it would take them days to reach them, and by then, Giam would have leveled this city and moved onto the next one.