Avatar: The Book Of The Phoenix

Cornered

The morning sun scorched the dust-choked plains, its relentless glare casting skeletal shadows from the siege towers encircling Bin Er's fortified walls. On a nearby hill, King Xuo's laughter boomed, his face flushed with smug triumph.

"Cowards! These ash-born savages huddle behind their walls like cornered beasts!"

Zuko stood beside him, his scar stark in the harsh light, a knot of unease twisting in his gut. "Your Majesty, this is far from over. Rokkun won't yield easily." His gaze swept the city, searching for Azula's fiery silhouette or Rokkun's commanding presence—his sister and childhood friend, now his enemies.

The recognition burned, a wound deeper than any blade. He couldn't tell Xuo about Rokkun, not yet; naming his old rival risked unraveling their alliance. Azula's choice to fight with the Nomads was a betrayal he could barely stomach, but Rokkun's transformation from friend to foe was a heavier burden.

Inside Bin Er, tension hung like smoke in the town square. A council convened under a gnarled tree, its shade offering little relief. Taijuk, Oghuz, and Azula faced Khan Rokkun, their expressions grim, defeat's sting raw in their eyes.

"Cowardice!" Taijuk spat, venom lacing his words. "We flee like whipped dogs, abandoning our people to those vultures!"

"Silence!" Rokkun's roar shook the square, his amber eyes blazing. "Your bluster's worthless, Taijuk. Their armies outnumber us. This city's a trap, waiting to become our grave."

Oghuz's voice trembled, heavy with pride. "What of honor? We can't slink away like thieves!"

Azula leaned forward, her golden eyes glinting with a cold, calculating spark. "There's another path," she said, voice a silken blade. "The sewers. We vanish beneath their feet, strike from the shadows, then slip away."

Taijuk sneered, his distrust palpable. "Sewer rats? That's no Nomad's way! You'd lead us straight to your brother's mercy, Fire Nation witch!"

Azula's lips curved, unruffled. "Learn to trust your allies, Taijuk. My loyalty lies with Rokkun and the Phoenix Legion." Her gaze flicked to Rokkun, unwavering.

Rokkun's fist slammed the earth, the crack echoing like a war drum. "Enough!" His voice was a growl, raw with fury. "You dare question me, Taijuk? Whispers of doubt reach me—doubts about her!" He jabbed a finger at Azula, eyes flashing. "Do you think me weak? Blinded by loyalty? My resolve is iron!" His chest heaved, then steadied. "We won't die here. We launch a counterstrike, then evacuate through the sewers to join the Southern Army. They'll taste our fire again. Understood?"

Silence fell. Taijuk, Oghuz, and Azula nodded, their defiance tempered by Rokkun's command.

"Oghuz, rig traps across the city—fires, snares, anything to slow them. Taijuk, station your archers on the rooftops. We hit their advance, then regroup here."

As night cloaked Bin Er, the city transformed into a labyrinth of menace. Fires flickered in windows, casting eerie, dancing shadows. Oghuz, face set with grim purpose, wove a network of traps—oil-soaked ropes, hidden pits, and smoldering embers ready to flare. Taijuk's archers perched on rooftops, bows taut, eyes scanning the dark for the enemy's approach. Bin Er was no longer a city—it was a predator, waiting to strike.