ATLA, In A Darker World

Chapter 38 Her Thoughts

Mingxia's POV

A putrid smell wafted into the damp air of the underground tunnel. With two lanterns fallen on the floor, the dim light they emitted enabled me and everyone else to see the face of the person standing before us.

Drip, Drip, Drip,

The sound of dripping liquid resounded, clearly coming from his blood stained blade after pulling it out of the soldier's corpse.

The squelching sound made my skin crawl. And honestly, I was sure I wasn't the only one.

A tightening grip on my left had only further assured me of this fact.

'Don't worry Mei. We're gonna be ok'.

The only person who dared to hold me like that was Meilin. She usually played the part of the bravest, talkative, most daring one among us.

But right now, even she was frightened to her core.

She couldn't hear my thoughts, but my slight squeeze back was my attempt to convey them as best as I could.

Though, I didn't know if that was to assure her or to reassure myself.

Standing at the forefront, I could practically feel the tension as Peng and Dandan stood at my sides, a few inches behind me.

With the three of us guarding Meilin at the back, the only one with no combat ability or bending to defend herself in a serious situation.

Ever since we all met, we had always been like this. Protective, supportive, working together and fighting side by side to overcome all difficulties.

Together. It had brought us this far. But ......

Gulp!

That was Peng gulping. In such a quiet standoff, it was practically as loud as thunder.

I couldn't blame him. None of us would. Not even the usually snarky and sarcastic Meilin. The bloody sight that just took place before our eyes was seriously visual.

Those ..... Those were four Earthbenders. A group of soldiers with training and bending, who almost captured them.

But now …. All that was left of them were four corpses. How long had it taken? Nine? Ten seconds? Perhaps less.

“Alright then ….”. He uttered while examining us with a curious expression. “... Now to you …".

Hearing this, my pupils shrank. The ice-cold feeling of my heart falling to the bottom of a pit spread throughout my body.

The worst possible scenario had come true.

“As one”.

I yelled out loud as I drew my weapons. A katana in one hand and a gold colored war fan in the other. Both held together in the classic Avatar Kyoshi Fighting stance.

Although I had left Kyoshi Island years ago, my regalia and weapons were always carried with me. The regalia and makeup were rarely used after I left, but my weapons had always been by my side.

Dandan took out a stream of water, circling it around the four of us as the first layer of defense.

My eyes remained fixed on the enemy before us. Eyes wide to make sure I caught his slightest movements.

At that moment, I saw his expression shift. An eyebrow raising in what I could only assume to be surprise.

“You want to attack me?”

My eyes narrowed at his words. Replying in a tone without emotion.

“If you think we will just stand and wait for death, then you're out of luck”.