The Return North <Shai City, North Pole>

[nati]

Nati paced the bunker tirelessly, fearing mainly for her family fighting. The non benders of her family, including many male cousins and uncles had been drafted into helping patrol the city, guard the entrance to the many safe houses and guard the bunker in which the valuable healers had been placed. The dark brow above azure eyes crinkled in worry, teeth tugging at her lower lip. Kian was out on the frontline she had been told, under the command of a vaguely familiar name of Nokose.

News came that the first phase of battle had finished, with the retreat of the Water Tribe, but also the strange rumour that people of their sister Tribe had arrived to help. They would need every bender and non bender to win this battle, without the Avatar’s powers, victory would be no easy matter. But her people were hardened survivors, some of the best benders originated here, victory would be sure. Nati tried to assure herself with this patriotic thought, but her faith was waning a little already, how could she last a longer siege if her cup of faith was already draining?

It was quickly decided by some of the master healers that a small group would meet the injured at the docks, time was off the essence with the injured, and some would not last the trek to the healer’s hut. Nati was one of the few younger healers to aid, and with a small guard of warriors (who could help carry some wounded) set off to find the group at the docks.

***

Nati stood at the docks, huddling close with the group of healers, craning her head to look for Kian and any familiar faces. Boats glided in with their normal quiet grace, and if Nati blocked out the vision of smoke, it could almost be a normal day, apart from the fact the place was almost deadly quiet. Finally a boat glided in, with the oddest sight, like a wave had been swept over them but frozen at the last minute. Her heart jumped in her chest, instinctively knowing that it was Kian’s vessel. She managed to glimpse a few injured lying on the vessels small deck, being attended to by some of the warriors. Her reunion with Kian would have to wait if he was well, others would need attending to.

But her heart lifted when he stepped off looking well, only the slight tear in his parka from a metal bolt.

“Thank the spirit you are safe!” Was Nati could say to Kian before she was swept away by the healers to start treating the wounded. It was slightly better that way for Nati, her tears of joy were hidden.

[saghani]

Saghani snorted at Hissun’s question before Injuquaq could reply to the man’s question, “Unless you brought the Avatar with you, then as we are now we face complete annihilation in a siege situation.”

Injuquaq frowned at his lieutenant interrupting him, but refrained from scolding him on this occasion. Sadly, he was probably correct. Already weakened by the siege two months ago, the Northern Water Tribe was the weakest it had been within a century. On top of that, the Fire Nation seemed to have developed brand new weaponry to attack them with, putting them in a new position of strength. The only reason that the Northern Water Tribe had really survived the attack of Admiral Zhao had been because of the power of the Avatar, who had personally wiped out most of the Fire Nation fleet, and he was long gone. Another siege even remotely close to that attack power left them at a high level of fragility. They couldn’t take too many losses or they wouldn’t be able to bite back at the attackers at all. To win, in both Saghani’s and reluctantly Injuquaq’s minds, they would need to strike at the enemy.

“With your experience in the Earth Kingdom and greater knowledge of the enemy, Hissun, I would hope that you could do something to prevent that type of situation from happening,” Saghani continued. “Now, I have some quite relevant business to take care of, so if you’ll excuse me.”

Saghani’s words were more request then statement, as he immediately took his leave of the two commanders and vanished into the crowd of soldiers. Shaking his head, his senior officer let him go nonetheless. With Saghani, you picked your battles, and this was not one worth starting a quarrel over.

“I have to admit that the boy is right. I don’t think we can afford to let the enemy take potshots at us from afar,” Injuquaq said once Saghani had left. “My word alone will do nothing to sway the chiefs, however, after this expedition, yours might. If you are willing, I would greatly appreciate your help in the matter.”

Meanwhile, Saghani had sifted through the crowd of soldiers towards the docks. Specifically, a small fishing dock conveniently located next to the military docks. The dock was essentially owned by Pakak, the brother of Saghani’s old commander and a merchant noble of some note, although one would have to do some digging to find this out. Although it was indeed used for fishing, the greater purpose of the dock was that of communication, so Saghani could quickly alert his political ally of anything of note going on in the military, and in turn Pakak could aid his ally in the military. It was a mutually beneficial relationship. Walking discretely up to a man cutting up some fish, Saghani spoke to him without looking at the man.

“Tell Pakak to prepare the pieces for dusk,” he said in a low tone.

The man grunted low in acknowledgement, and Saghani quickly made his way back into the crowd of soldiers, his business taken care of. He wanted to get a closer look at the Southerners and their ships. They had seemed well built from what he had seen. He supposed that they would have to. After all, he had heard that their Southern brethren had very few, if any, waterbenders, and therefore had to put double the effort into non-bender oriented equipment and tactics. He was interested in learning more about these warriors and their tactics. There didn’t seem to be that many of them either. They could make an excellent addition to his - rather, Injuquaq’s – unit. Curious, he made his way over to the Southern dhows. As he approached, Saghani spotted a group of men unloading amount of spherical shaped objects that he didn’t recognize. Picking out a taller southerner with coiled hair and strange clothing that looked somewhat like a cross between Earth Kingdom and Water Tribe garb, Saghani stepped forward and addressed them.

“You there, Southerner,” he said levelly as he made his way over. “What are those things you are unloading?”

[nokose]

Once inside the city itself, Nokose's craft slowly picked up speed after being lifted into the main canal. Expediently it glided towards the docks, seeking immediate aid for the injured lying upon their deck. No sooner had the catamaran arrived and begin to dock when healers begin to step forward. At first a handful of male warriors who were granted the opportunity to become combat healers, competent in using their waterbending in not just fighting but also healing with almost as much skill as many of the women who were solely taught to heal. And right behind them were the women healer themselves, who greatly outnumbered the combat healers but whose help would also be needed in this coming siege.

Moments later, there were other waterbending powered craft making way towards their section of the dock, carting their own injured. Thankfully the cries heard from the crafts were those calling out for a healer rather than those sounding their agony. At least for the time being, Nokose thought. Momentarily he was distracted by one of their female healers, probably upon seeing a kin or beloved alive amongst them. Uncertain who she was yet her voice sounded familiar enough. But for the moment Nokose ignored her and went back to work, briefing the healers as to what the men lying atop their deck sustained before his crew began unloading the deck, carefully lifting some onto stretchers while others were swiftly undressed from their damped clothing and wrapped in heavy blankets before being carted off.

With the last one carted off, Nokose took a visual sweep of the area around him before turning back to his crew. Recognizing a healer with two, thickly plaited braids and familiar face. Familiar because it resembled the same face as one of his crewmen, Kian, making the woman his twin sister. Her name was Kati or Kiana or something. Again, as he had asked them before, none of his crew recieved any real harm despite the tears and few crossbow bolts embedded in their heavy parkas, mostly around the lower half of their bodies.

He had them check themselves again as a few began removing bolts from their clothing. "Keep the tips," Nokose twirled about the curved and sweptback of the iron head after snapping a bolt in half, formerly embedded into the waist of his parka. He figured they could serve some useful purpose later on. Maybe placed upon the tips of spears or javelins of melted down. Yet the way he thought about their use went beyond this new siege but later in the future. Because he believed, somehow, that even without the aid of the Avatar they would succeed. Whether he was there to see that day or not he decided to think nothing about.

"Nasty little things", muttering as he inspected the arrowhead and took a look over the deck of his catamaran. Grimacing at the sight of the fletched ends of a few bolts sticking out of the vessel. Curiously he knelt and tugged at one, attempting to pull it out from the boat's deck.

"Nasty little things indeed," as he let go, understanding that simply pulling it out would risk tearing out some of the surrounding material as well. Solemnly, Nokose bowed his head. Reciting a brief prayer for those whose flesh was struck and those they had lost outside the walls just now. Sighing, he wanted not to think about what other devices the Fire Nation had prepared for his people.

[dian]

Folding his legs close to him, Dian settled at the low table and stool set up inside the command bridge. Partaking in the stores of tea brought with them for what may be a long operation. The brew had its uses, not only in keeping Dian active and away in the long hours without rest but help warms his body in these savage, arctic conditions that chilled you to the bone.

This close to floor he could feel the vibrating tremor of the ship's engines as his destroyer moved into position. Outside, the rest of the fleet was doing so as well. Forming up into a four line half circle as intended that would consist of corvettes, frigates, destroyers and transports. A formation made less than perfect with at least three ships still frozen in the water and another scouting the Northern Water Tribe's makeshift second wall. Everyone else already in position kept a sharp watch, especially the available corvettes partolling the fleet's outskirts, for any sign of the tribesmen on the water and any iceberg that approached their vicinity. Meanwhile lifeboats and steam dinghies darted back and forth between the larger ships. The decks of their cargo vessels teeming with activity as crews began doling out repair supplies to the other ships or raising the war balloons from below their decks.

Drinking his tea, Dian grinned as everything ran smoothly in the lowering afternoon sun. There seemed little the the arctic barbarians could do to retaliate at the moment. And if they they did not soon... then their cause was as good as lost. That was the way it should have played out the first time if not for the interference of that child. But this time would not be the case.

"Sir," Chief Engineer Mao had strode inside the bridge, "it would be an honor if you would share with me the delight of dropping the bomb on the palace sir." His booming voice resonating within the room's confines. Dian watched the cup of tea on his table actually shake at the sound of the man's voice. "And I was wondering if you would like to come downstairs and celebrate our victory with the rest of the crew," he continued.

Slowly an eyebrow raised on Dian's forehead, trying his best to withhold a smirk but slowly failing. A chance not only to finally ride in one those new flying contraptions but to do so while striking down the Northern Water Tribe's governing symboling. Reducing it to a pile of melted snow and ice.

"I would be ecstatic to do so, chief," finally stating as he offered Mao a stool. "Such a statement would be more than fitting..." stroking his beard. "The ending of one era and the beginning of anew for the people brought figuratively and literally by the two men responsible in showing them the way to enlightenment," he partially believed.

"Unfortunately," lifting his teacup, "I cannot join you in the celebration of our current victory as plans for tonight must be made. I plan on destroying whatever security they believe can be had by the nightly tides offered by the moon. We will not be dropping your bomb, just yet. But we will be battering their city tonight nonetheless. A prelude of what awaits them should they continue to fight. And I have no doubt they won't even after one night. For now you and your and the others are left to their own devices though. You will likely not be called until the second or third launch tonight, but until then feel free to enjoy the first of many victories for us in this somehow habitable wasteland."

[tsumao]

Mao nodded to Dian and strolled off. He would party down near the engine room with some of the other engineers and navy men. The lower deck was lit up and glowing deep crimson red as usual, which colored the skins of the paler members and it was rather warm compared to the freezing upper decks.

All sorts of shenanigans were going on in the lower deck; singing, drinking, and fighting alike. A small bar had been set up in one of the conference rooms . Mao sat down and enjoyed his night with a few drinks. The only thing he could think about was how proud he was to be the one to deliver the savages from their evil ruler. He played out over and over again the expected celebration that the savages would throw for them once they saved them, and Mao's ignorant smile was large as he drank himself to sleep.

[aden]

“I have to admit that the boy is right. I don’t think we can afford to let the enemy take potshots at us from afar. My word alone will do nothing to sway the chiefs, however, after this expedition, yours might. If you are willing, I would greatly appreciate your help in the matter.” The warchief Injuquaq's request for support was taken in stride by the returning commander of the war party.

Hissun nodded slowly as he weighed the options, and then answered, "We shall measure the extent of our enemy's forces and then decide on a course of action. If we cannot sustain a siege then I will support your efforts to take the fight to the Fire Nation." The commander gave a slight bow of his head, sealing the matter as it were, and then decided to move things along. "Where are the Chief and the members of the tribal council? I would like to speak to them while the battle has taken a momentary pause."


***************************************************************

"Hello Aden!" the young waterbender heard from Ryota as he approached the two southerners. Aden waved a hand in response as he came to a stop nearby his fellow warriors.

"Staying alive?" he asked. Although it was meant as a light-hearted sort of greeting, his voice didn't seem to carry a hint of humor. However, before he got a response from either Chamir or Ryota, a relatively young officer approached them with a face that told them he was all business. He spoke directly to Chamir and inquired about the tanglemines being unloaded.

Aden flicked his eyes between the tanglemines and the lieutenant, managing to keep from blurting out an explanation on his own. The question was not addressed to him, so he merely sat back and waited until he was called upon to speak.

[chamir]

"Staying alive?"

Chamir couldn't help but grin at Aden's question though the boy's voice carried virtually no sense of humor or charm to it. But Chamir had come to expect such a tone given Aden's usually grim and grave personality.

Almost immediately Chamir had his own quip to offer to Aden. Numerous ones in fact. That Aden would not have to worry for long as he and Ryota would die soon enough, being the 'old men' that they were. Or that he would look around confusedly and declare that they were on the wrong side of the wall. Or that that there is a particular place he would choose to die in and on... and that the battlefield did not even remotely resemble it even in the dark.

“You there, Southerner,” one of the Northern warriors interrupted as he strode over to the three of them. “What are those things you are unloading?” Questioning them with a sense of command and authority Chamir took rather lightly, despite the man's rank and the graveness of the situation around them. Taking a moment to gauge the overly confident standing man, looking him up and down, with a friendly smile of a greeting.

"Why those friend," Chamir almost immediately began responding to the newcomer as he clasped the fallen Ryota's forearm. Pulling up Ryota, he followed the new man's line of sight.

"My good man," chin pointing while his free hand waved over the Southern sea armaments. An advertised persona that would be reminescent of a quick talking snake oil, tonic, magic elixir salesman from the Earth Kingdom or Fire Nation taking over him.

"Those are the beautifully imagined, nasal applied cacophony of odiferous doom personally conjured by the astounding mental faculties of my kinsfolk's and I's very own Chief Hagoda of the Southern Water Tribe established in the North Pole."

"Guranteed,"holding the note so it would sink in. "To make any ship full of Fire Nation sailors wish they were swimming in the filled crap hole of an outhouse on the hottest day of the year rather than stay aboard and smell its far from pleasant odor any longer."

"But rather than let me fill you on the details of their inner workings," Chamir then gave the standing Ryota a hearty slap on the back, "allow me to pass the expositionary voice over to my just as bombastic friend, Ryota, here to fill you in on these marvelous devices' function. Truly a thing to behold and if you're Fire Nation, something to despise."

Nodding his head in a bow while not showing the slightest hint of losing breath, Chamir gave his famous grin and nudged Ryota forward with the palm of his hand.

[ryota]

Aden's prior comment fell on clueless ground as it was thrown at Ryota. The chubby Southern warrior took it literally, as usual, which is why it made no sense to him. But he shrugged it off, staying silent so that a long explanation was not required. Afterward, pushed ahead by his fellow smooth-talking Southerner, he followed up with a big smile, "Certainly, my friend." He took a few careful steps toward the slim Northerner, vigilant so that he wouldn't fall again.

"What we have here, already explained...sort of...by my friend Chamir," offering a quirky grin as he bolted his eyes between Chamir and the stranger, "are tangle mines." Diverting his walk, he approached one, patting it on its hardened animal hide shell. Repeating what he had said to Chamir and Aden days ago, though with a bit of added embellishment intended for a good first impression, he followed, "When one of these babies hits the propeller of the targeted ship, it bursts, throwing a stew of seaweed and skunkfish everywhere." His words were assisted by appropriate gestures resembling an explosion.

"The seaweed wraps around the propeller, stopping it dead in its tracks, and the skunkfish's odor forces any person with a sense of smell to abandon ship...", stopping to see how many tangle mines they had actually brought, he resumed, "...or simply pass out." Patting the shell of the same tangle mine again, he met the Northerner's eyes with his own. "Make sense to you?"

[nati]

Nati managed to compose herself before the drilled in ritual of a healer took over, water was bended gracefully from her water pouch, and applied to small cuts here and there on the not so wounded. The more experienced healers and some warriors were efficiently swathing men in furs and carrying them off to the inside to avoid the blistering cold.

Being present on the frontline had numerous advantages, as well as disadvantages, she could keep a weather eye out on what was happening, no knowledge was second hand, she would know which of her family returned, which in turn was a terrible burden. Worry and an anxious feeling was dominate in her body, quelled only a little when her eyes saw her brother and a few other distant relatives. Nati performed the basic breathing techniques engraved into her mind at a young age. They helped calm her physical body, but her spirits were low.

She now knelt next to a man suffering the onsets of hypothermia, his teeth chattering and body shaking with cold. Nati did her best to appear hopeful, but this retreat has dampened many of their spirits. She set in place measures to prevent the hyperthermia developing, and the man was carried away to somewhere with a warm fire.

The next was a grizzling job, needing required some minor surgery and Nati’s talent with a sharp blade. She felt her normal steadfast constitution was wavering due to other stresses, but this a water bender had a sharp bolt buried deep in his left shoulder, and it would need instant attention. Nati along with a master healer blocked the chi channels to the man’s arm, numbing any pain he would feel. Next they had to decide how deep the bolt had landed, and at what angle. When it had been decided, Nati carefully enlarged the wound with confident cuts till the barbed bolt could be removed. Two healers healed the wound; no doubt it would leave a scar.

It was the last man who had to be attended to, and had put on a brave face when the small operation had gone on. Nati washed her hands of the blood, but still the small bolt her hand, inspecting it with a mild interest. She raised her eyes to Kian’s vessel, also noting that it was covered with bolts. The other ships appeared to have taken some damage, leaving her wondering if some had not yet returned.

Nati stood still in the harbour for a moment, cocking her head a moment as she overheard words from conversation all around her. Her feet took her forward, next to a man pulling a out a bolt.

<B> “Nasty little things indeed.”</b>

Nati held up the bolt in her hand, to inspect it for a moment before saying:

”They are nasty, I suppose we may only dread what else the Fire Nation hides up her sleeve..” She commented to Nokose, before looking at him full in the face. “I pray these are to the few injured. Is that everyone from your craft?” Nati asked, glancing over the deck incase anyone had been missed.

[saghani]

Injuquaq nodded solemnly in response to Hissun’s reply. It was a reasonable enough request to try and gauge the enemy’s abilities. So long as they didn’t get to wounded in the process to bite back, anyway.

“The Council has convened in the war room like last time, I believe. I’ll secure you an escort,” the warchief replied, and then paused to whistle over a waterbender crew in a longboat. “These men will escort you there. I’ll join you once I have my unit in order again.”

With that, Injuquaq nodded and made his way into the crowd of soldiers, barking out orders left and right.

---------------------------

Saghani stroked his goatee as the Southerners explained their contraptions. From the sound of it, they were marvelous little contraptions, capable of disabling an entire ship with just one of them. In skirmishes against a small group of ships, they could prove ideal, especially employed in defense. However, against a large group of ships that it would be tough to get close to, they would need to be deployed before hand to prove as effective. While they could still prove useful, it was a pity they hadn’t been deployed before the Fire Navy fleet arrived. Still, in the end, that might be for the better. The hand motion the stockier Southerner, Ryota, had made intrigued Saghani. He’d moved his hands outwards, like an explosion, but clearly based on the description of what the mines did it was not an explosion of the fiery variety. Rather, it was merely a strong outward push of force that would occur when enough force was applied to the mine’s shell to make it burst.

This force in turn was enough to send the weeds flying across the propellers enough to jam them entirely, but what if it weren’t weeds in the mine? What if it were something with more…bite? Surely this would also be sent flying. Additionally, it likely wouldn’t have to strike the propeller to burst, for if it were hurled at anything solid enough with enough force, the result would be that same burst, and with no water around it to dampen the “explosion” it would likely send whatever was in it flying much further than it would from within the water. Granted, something would be needed to send it flying like that, but this piece had already been taken care of. All that had been needing was something to complement them, and these would do nicely.

“Interesting, so the contents of the mines, in this case the weeds and oil, are sent flying when the weapon is triggered, yes?” Saghani began. “So, were we to replace the weeds with, say, sharpened pieces of metal and bone, shrapnel if you will, then these would also be sent flying, and they would burst open with the same force if they were smashed upon the deck of a ship, yes?”

The lieutenant walked up to the mines as he was talking, inspecting them more closely. Briefly, he paused to feel the material they were made of. Certainly nothing that couldn’t be found in the North Pole, that was to be sure. In the future, more could be made, but for now…

“If this is correct, then approximately how long would it take you to replace the weeds in three fourths of the mines with shrapnel?” continued Saghani, though the question was directed at no one person in particular as he was still looking at the mines. “I have something in mind for them.”

Saghani turned back to the soldiers with the smallest of smiles on his faces. This was perfect, too good to be true. Right now, the Fire Nation thought they were the only ones with advanced weaponry, they thought they were the only ones with weapons that could strike fear and panic into their opponents. If this shrapnel flinging idea could work, it would turn that fear against them for the first time. Sure, the mines might be a nasty surprise, but they merely disabled ships and made them smell. They did not kill, they did not maim, and they most certainly did not cause fear. These, though, these would do the trick. He could see the picture as the first ones struck the deck, the soldiers screaming in pain and panic as this new, unknown weapon rained death upon them and their comrades. They would be in disarray, unable to react. After all, they have never been on that end of the spectrum before. It was going to be glorious.

[nokose]

Her face returning to his, Nokose stiffly answered Nati with a single nod. Momentarily his eyes rolled sideways, looking away from Nati lest he became too observant of her appearance. Comparing them to that of her twin brother's, Kian. Noting similarities and differences in how alike the two actually looked. Of course to himself he admitted that Nati was the more attractive twin, but that was obvious due to her feminity which differentiated the two to begin with. Yet, in his own mental aside, Kian was not much of a "looker" to begin with and it was to difficult to find Nati's ardent visage attractive when she resembled her twin brother so closely. Though, again, her feminity and the two massive braids of hair distracted from a steady visualisation of Kian as he looked at her.

"Time may be better spent upon the task at hand," eventually stating, his voice flat and uncompromising as if he were giving her a direct order. "If one's mind succumbs to dread, then one becomes of little optimal use to those around them. And we shall be needed to the best of our abilities. Whatever is planned for us, good and ill, should not be fretted over and only dealt with as it comes. Not before."

His attention from Nati was further distracted by the sharp pitch of a whistle, piercing through the air and into his ears. Craning his head to view down the ice carved docks, Nokose spotted one of the senior warriors. Captain Injuquaq, whose shrill signal was aimed towards him and his crew, removed the two fingers from his mouth and held them up before pointing at a spot directly before him.

"Elechuhto! Kian!" Nokose's voice boomed as he stood from his kneel, eliciting their attention without him having to look around for either. He then chin pointed towards Injuquaq. All the information he needed to relay in getting his own order across. Save for Kian who was still learning, the others were quite accustomed to most of Nokose's briefly verbal and nonverbal cues and commands.

His gaze immediately returned to Nati's, holding back any apprehension upon realizing what he had just done. If she did not know her twin brother was serving under his command beforehand, then she did now.

"My crew have fared well, ma'am" finally parting his lips from their pursed, thin line expression. Deciding not to refer to the woman's brother directly. "Despite our newly acquired... garish adornments," still facing her rather than turning towards the pontoon, the deck and sidings along its bow peppered with crossbow bolts obtained during their retreat, attempting, at somewhat dry, humor yet his first quip succumbing to a morbid undertone.

"I keep telling my crew it would be far more fetching if it had a woman's touch."

[dian]

Cape fluttering in the wind, tightly Dian's jaw clenched. A stiff arctic breeze caressing across the deck of his flagship whilst he observed the ramparts of Shai City through the brass telescope. Watching the bob and sway of heads and spears, he absentmindedly wondered amongst all his crews how and if the firebenders fared in this climate. That if they were able to use their bending to heat their own body from within, keeping them warm. However their bending worked and despite the fact that many, if not all of them, were clad in heavy clothing like furs and coats much like their comrades in arms.

Removing his eye from the lens, his mind returned to the mission at hand. As if history were repeating itself the Northern Water Tribe once again placed themselves on the defensive, giving ground to the commodore and his fleet. Holding themselves up within the city as they awaited the setting of the mid-afternoon, perhaps waiting for the nightly tides of the moon to boost their strength if not stage a raid this coming evening.

After today's earlier engagement the tribesmen had yet to any percievable effort against them. The lull in events and restraint of their foes had divided the reactions of Dian's men. There were those, mostly veterans from the first siege upon Shai City, who thought nothing of the Northern Water Tribe's action and were willing to be patient and wait for events to unfold while others hawk eyed and on edge, believing that the tribesmen would not mistake the same mistakes as last time and were plotting at the moment. Dian himself was almost becoming the latter, more so due to the second wall they had recently constructed during their most recent defeat at the hands of the Fire Nation's navy. Sculpted from icebergs, the semi-circle protruding from the city's outermost wall stood high enough to block even the highest most view on the destroyers if it pulled alongside the wall. Behind it, the arctic menace could easily amass themselves behind it without being seen, save for a view from above made by the war balloons.

But that would be a hand further played for later.

[aden]

At Saghani's mention of turning the powerful, yet nonlethal tanglemines into weapons with the potential to maim an injure dozens of FIre Nation soldiers, Aden's lips curled up into a malicious grin. He hadn't had occasion to speak with this Lieutenant before, but that proposition alone had earned him a great deal of respect from the young bender.

"A good idea," he remarked, speaking a bit out of turn considering that the question was directed at either of the Southerners. However, considering Chamir's tendency to speak in ridiculously circuitous language, and Ryota's lack of descriptive detail, he figured that it might be of benefit to everyone if he just expedited the exchange. "Though the casings are simple enough to make that we wouldn't need to re-use the ones already fashioned. We could just make new mine shells of ice or hide wrapped around a frame... It would save us the displeasure of storing the foul-smelling contents of the ones we converted."

Aden might have gone on to inquire about a few more specific tactics and even propose an idea or two of his own that had been stirring in his mind for a little while now, but an announcement from off to the side cut him off. "Everyone!" shouted the voice of one of Hissun's lieutenants, speaking loudly to be heard over the bustle of the warriors, "All unassigned warriors are to report to the barracks. You'll be given your orders there. Move quickly!"

Aden took his glance off of the speaker and looked back toward Saghani as the returning members of the war party began disbanding to journey toward the warrior's training ground of the city. "We must go," he said to Saghani, casting a look over his shoulder toward Chamir and Ryota in order to make sure they were also coming.

[chamir]

Chamir followed along with the yet introduced man, Saghani, as he imperiously strode over to the tangle mines. Chamir attempted to wrack his brain around the man's suggestion as he went about his inspection. Thinking of the idea more clearly as a sack full of nails. And if that is the case, would many of the nails really fly out or would it just fall to the ground upon impact? Would they still need a liquid like water or oil to help carry the sharpnel? Or would the shards of metal and bone need some sort of tension to hold them back? After all, the concoction in the tangle mines were more or less packed in there with little or no space probably left in there.

But those sort of thoughts began to slip away the moment this man mentioned what seemed like, Chamir's ears, a suggestion to empty out the tangle mines.

Chamir's eyes began to widen. Grimacing he turned to Ryota and whispered, "Did he say 'replace'?" More than a little worry hinted in his voice.

Still going through his inspection the man's words of "how long would it take you to replace the weeds in three fourths of the mines" rang in Chamir's said. Causing him to turn back to Ryota with an expression on his face that exclaimed, "There he goes again! He does want them emptied!"

And watching that Northerner's small smile made Chamir want to wipe it off his face. Maybe have this newcomer work with them or bound him so he can get a good whiff of the stuff once they uncorked it. Filling them was bad enough, but opening them after its contents have been left in stir and rotting for weeks on end?

Might as well hand Shai City over to the Fire Nation after opening more than one of those, Chamir thought.

Before either of the Southerners could answer, Aden suddenly stepped in. A good idea? Chamir mentally mocked and questioned Aden, his eyes almost narrowing while his own mind still focused on the matter of emptying the minds rather than the possibility that Aden was agreeing with the use of sharpnel. Traitor! He almost called the boy in a harsh whisper.

But all hostilities against the youth were soon dropped as Aden suggested the easier task of making new mine shells instead of emptying the ones already in use. As the three of them left Saghani behind, led by Aden towards the barracks, Chamir gave the boy a slap on the back. "Thanks for the save Aden," he smiled. "If we had to dump out even half of those horrid things we might as well call the siege to an end here and now! Heh heh."

[ryota]

Ryota crossed his arms as the Northerner spoke, listening to Chamir add his own disbelief at differing intervals. At this expressions from the taller man in the headcloth, he would agree with monosyllabic replies as he continued to listen. Clearly,[/u] Ryota thought, this man has never smelled skunkfish oil at its full potential...

Ryota thought it wise to step in at one point and explain how a small band of warriors at the bay had defeated so many a number of incoming enemy ships with those very same model of mines that it would be foolish to replace them. Much less touch what was inside.

His scrunched nose lead to a somewhat cruel thought inducing a wry grin. Maybe to prove a point, he would "accidentally" cause some of said odiferous seaweed mash to fall on or near the Northerner as a friendly joke. But he'd probably never do that. It would be mean, and Ryota was not an unkind person.

Of course, Ryota now had developed his own premonitions about the fellow, that he was full of hot air so to speak. But the least he could do was humor him. He was grateful when Aden stepped in and gave his suggestions. It felt like a load was lifted from Ryota's manly shoulders, saving him time in giving yet another explanation.

Ryota chuckled, saying "True" to Chamir before heading to the tangle mines. After all was said and done, he carefully stepped over to walk alongside the makeshift explosives. "So..." he said, turning around and patting one yet again, "Shall we get to work?"