ATLA: Azlua

Rebellion Part Five

As Mai was lost in thought, she realized the skirmish had ended. The rebels had done their part, retreating as planned, while the Earth Kingdom soldiers were tending to their wounds and regrouping. From her perch in the trees, she spotted a man shouting orders—a hardened veteran, by the looks of him. His presence exuded authority, making it clear he was the commander.

Mai watched closely, expecting the soldiers to tunnel underground for a swift retreat. But instead, they began walking back, no rush in their movements. It puzzled her until her gaze drifted to where they had initially emerged. Then, it clicked.

They never dug tunnels for the ambush. They had been stationed there the whole time, waiting. It made perfect sense now—no wonder the rebels had been ambushed every time they tried to leave. The Earth Kingdom troops were always nearby, simply staying out of sight.

No wonder we've had trouble escaping. Mai felt a small surge of satisfaction at figuring it out, though it complicated things.

Good thing she and her Yuyan Archers had stayed in the trees. If they had used the ground route, they might've been discovered long before now. She silently followed the soldiers from above, moving through the branches as her team shadowed her.

It wasn't long before they reached their camp. She had expected something makeshift—earth walls hastily erected to provide temporary shelter. But what she saw instead surprised her.

The camp was fortified with tall stone walls, reinforced with wood beams. From her vantage point in the tree line, she could make out soldiers moving in and out, carrying supplies and weapons. There was more activity than she'd anticipated.

This is going to be trouble.

Her fingers tightened around the branch as she weighed her options. She had initially planned to strike now, hitting them hard and fast, with Rangi's forces reinforcing her after the initial attack. But seeing the camp's defenses, she realized it wouldn't be that simple.

I need to wait for Rangi to catch up.

Mai settled into her position, her eyes scanning the fortifications for weaknesses. She could feel the impatience gnawing at her, but she knew better than to rush in blindly.

Here's the continuation of the scene:

---

Within moments, Rangi appeared as stealthy as a man of his stature could be. Asha trailed behind him, along with two dozen other rebels, their expressions a mix of tension and anticipation. Rangi's eyes immediately went to Mai, who was now on the ground level, waiting.

"What happened?" he asked, his gaze shifting to the mini fortress just beyond the tree line.

Mai gestured toward the structure. "They cleared the trees in all directions. We'll be seen the moment we leave the tree line. We need a new strategy."

Rangi nodded, and they fell back to a safer distance, out of sight of the fortress. The tension eased slightly, but only just.

"We have two options," Mai began. "We charge in recklessly, or—"

"Or the better option," Rangi interrupted with a smirk.

Mai's eyes narrowed slightly, but she continued, "Yes, the better option. We wait until dark. My Yuyan will surround the fortress. On my signal, they'll take out the wall guards. That should stall them from waking everyone long enough for us to enter. The Yuyan will then scale the walls and provide support from above."

Rangi crossed his arms, listening intently as Mai outlined the plan.

"The buildings," she gestured to the distant camp, "are made of wood and cloth. We set them ablaze, cause a panic. That's when you move in, clear them out. My Yuyan will take care of anyone who escapes."