ATLA, In A Darker World

Chapter 31 Bounty Hunter

Southern Earth Kingdom.

Luca's POV .....

The rumbling sound of moving earth fell into my ears. In the current situation, it was especially jarring.

It had happened right under my gaze. More than a hundred people had stepped out of the tunnel.

Many of them had left their families back at the stronghold due to the reasons given by the Captain. After all, it was ultimately better than having to travel and rely on themselves through the dangerous earth kingdom lands.

Without knowing how exactly the transport would take place, even I had no doubts about the reason given by the Earth bending captain.

After all, this was war time. His explanation had some merit.

I thought so, and so did they. But the situation had changed now. The rendezvous point we were supposed to meet Earth Kingdom forces that would take us swiftly to Omashu now had Fire Nation soldiers.

Why in hell was that? I didn't know but I couldn't spare the time to think about it now.

I turned around in an attempt to dash back into the cave. And that's when I saw it.

The very same Earthbenders that brought us here had sealed up the entrance in one motion.

The hole that was previously made was now filled up like it had never existed before. Any doubts that could have possibly risen were squashed immediately.

The dots connected as I realized where exactly that sense of unease came from. It was a trap all along.

The Earthbenders waited for the whole group to step out of the cave, staying far back until they were the only ones left. I hadn't followed all the way, staying at the cave entrance.

While others walked forward. Those behind me were too immersed in the shock and horror of the sight of Fire Nation that they didn't react immediately. I was different. I turned tails and ran into the cave only for this to happen.

But here's the thing. Why?

There was no way this was a coincidence.

I wasn't foolish enough to think in that direction. Coupled with my previous suspicions, it all but confirmed that something was terribly wrong.

They knew the Fire Nation was already here. And they brought them and closed the entrance without so much as a sound or second look.

'..... We're .... being handed over to the Fire Nation .....'.

Once the thought appeared, it was firmly rooted there, refusing to make way for other possibilities. My eyes narrowed as I rushed to the now sealed entrance.

The sound of clamoring footsteps behind me let me know that these people had finally come back to their senses and were now running for their lives.

But it was too late. At least, too late for them.

I remember that the initial roll call for occupations included benders of any element.

Not one person among the group of a hundred plus was registered. Understandable really, as anyone with bending ability would already be fighting in the war or imprisoned by fire nation if not already dead.

Be it voluntarily, or forcefully drafted. The Earth kingdom had lowest bending ratio despite having the largest population.

That didn't mean their number of benders was the smallest of the four nations but that despite having the largest population, less than 15% made up the overall bending population.