ATLA: Azlua

Rebellion Part Nine

Smoke and Steel

Mai and her rebels approached the city from the backside, the thick smell of smoke already hanging in the air. The sky was dark with the rising stacks of ash, and the distant echoes of battle rippled through the narrow streets. Every step they took brought them closer to the chaos, the tension in the air thick enough to choke on.

The city itself, usually bustling with life, now felt eerily empty. Windows were shuttered, doors bolted, and the few civilians they passed had fear etched into their faces as they hurried toward whatever safety they could find.

As they rounded a corner, a lean, battle-worn man rushed to meet them, his face grim and streaked with dirt. He gave Rangi a respectful nod, urgency clear in his eyes.

"Commander Rangi," he greeted breathlessly. "I'm Han Shu, second-in-command of the local faction. I'm glad you made it."

Mai remained silent, her presence unnoticed by Han Shu as he directed his attention solely to Rangi.

"What's the situation?" Rangi asked without delay.

"The north gate's overrun," Han Shu replied, wiping sweat from his brow. "The bandits are pushing hard toward the warehouses—if they get to the grain, the city won't make it through the winter."

Mai's jaw tightened. "What about the east gate?"

"They haven't broken through yet, but we're expecting them to hit the docks soon. If they control the docks, they'll cut off our supplies entirely."

Rangi swore under his breath, his eyes narrowing. "So, we're fighting on two fronts."

"Exactly," Han Shu confirmed. "We don't have the manpower to hold both gates for long. We're stretched thin as it is."

Mai surveyed the scene before her, the distant fires casting an orange glow over the rooftops. The sound of steel clashing with steel echoed from the north, while the east remained eerily quiet—too quiet.

"We'll take the east gate," Mai said, her decision firm. "We can't let them take the docks."

Rangi nodded in agreement. "If they take the grain at the north gate, it'll be a disaster, but if they control the docks, we lose everything. The whole city will starve, and the bandits will have the upper hand."

Mai's eyes flicked to her forces, seeing the tension in their faces, the grip on their weapons tightening as they prepared for the battle ahead.

"Get your forces ready," she ordered. "We'll cut them off at the east gate and make sure they don't reach the docks. I want the rest of your men holding the north for as long as they can."

Han Shu gave a quick nod. "Understood. We'll try to hold them at the north as long as possible, but we'll need help soon."

"We'll send support when we can," Rangi promised, though they both knew the odds were slim.

As Han Shu ran back toward his men, Mai motioned for her group to follow her through the narrow streets toward the east gate. The sound of battle grew louder with every step, the tension palpable in the air. As they neared the gate, the distant clamor of the docks came into earshot—the shouts of men, the creaking of wood, the splash of water against stone.

Mai's breath caught when she saw it. Beyond the walls, in the shadow of the gate, a large group of bandits was assembling. They were readying themselves for a full-scale assault, and it was only a matter of time before they broke through.

The wall came into view as Mai and Rangi rushed forward, the dire scene unfolding before them. The gate was already buckling under the pressure of the assault, cracks spider-webbing across the wood, and the relentless barrage from the outside showed no sign of stopping. It was clear—the gate was going to give way at any moment.