Rally Point <Wilderness, Earth Kingdom>

[ashuku]

((Please Note: All recruited soldiers under Admiral Ashuku, if you want to be in the battle of Bai Seng Sai, find your way into this thread.))


Sunlight. Sunlight was the thing that peaked across the mountains, hills, trees, rocks to light the world, to warm the animals, to feed the plants, to wake up those who found on this lazy day that sleeping next to a tree means waking up at sunrise. One of those including the great Admiral Ashuku, who had found an uncomfy spot between a hard rock to prop up his feet and a old, rough tree to rest his back upon. The night was long, for he had run a half mile away from the campsite he tried to burn before having to rest. Age was catching up to him, although he didn't want to admit it.

With a heavy yawn he took a lazy stand, and adjusted his disguise, finding it foolish now. His fingers drummed across the documents hidden in his sleeves as he squinted at the landscape, getting a sense of where he was. Oh yes, of course.

The taste of fish still lingering in his mouth from the night before, he took a few steps towards where he had ordered the camp to be. Covering the sunlight with his hand, he found the area, sure of the location. He broke into a gentle run, trying to wake himself further. After running for a few hours, with many resting intervals in between and the occasional stop to search for a small forest animal he could kill and cook for an early breakfast, he had reached the outskirts of a busy campsite.

Those who were off duty lounged around, doing what Ashuku had done many years ago with his platoon, only on some occasions of course. He preferred solitude. He also watched the military men who were on duty, chanting military chants, officers barking orders at the slackers, a bustle of activity as each one tried to do whatever they could to be ready for his arrival. Now he’s here, it was time to get the ball rolling so to say.

“Who is in command around here?” he commanded a soldier who ran past him hastily. The soldier took one glance at his attire, and took a fighting stance.

“Earth Nation scum! You have no authority here! State your name and a good reason why I don’t burn your hide!!” he shouted.

Ashuku quickly sent a small kick to his legs, crumbling his weak fighting stance. The soldier collapsed and looked up with fear as Ashuku showed him the Fire Nation tattoos etched on his skin, “I am Admiral Ashuku, and I believe you have threatened the new standing commanding officer in this camp.”

With surprise at the older man’s speed and shock at his sprawling position, he quickly rose up to give a messy, somewhat formal bow. His words ran together as he tried to find an excuse. Ashuku’s outstretched hand ended his running mouth, and he hung his head guiltily.

“Your punishment will be less severe if you escort me to the commander of your unit, quickly,” Ashuku commanded with a booming voice to which his soldier nodded slowly to as he broke into a sprint into the bustling camp.

Marching chants and lazing soldiers choked the view and airwaves of the myriad number of tents that was strewn across the landscape. The moved quickly away from the young soldier with the older man following behind, like water would to an oncoming oar. After a brief run, the soldier paused to wearily catch his breath at the flap of a stately tent with the fire nation emblem painted upon it.

“Commander Hiazo! Requesting your attention! Sir!” the soldier managed to gasp out, assuming a salute position.

The flap unfurled, guided by the hand of a very annoyed commander, dressed in the typical reds and oranges of an officer. With a frustrated gaze, he cast a glare at the soldier.

“What business demands you to disturb me, soldier?” he commanded.

“Admiral Ashuku has arrived, sir,” the soldier muttered as Ashuku took a small bow out of respect.

At the mention of the Admiral’s name, the before shaken officer had fallen to the ground in a bow of the utmost honor. His clothing neatly followed after him, creating an abnormally shaped silhouette across the grassy floor. As the commander bowed, the surrounding soldiers off duty quickly erected to salutes and various shows of honor and respect, bringing a slight smile to the Admiral’s face.

“Commander, I shall be taking your quarters. I highly suggest that you gather together all the military leaders in this camp for battle strategy discussion this eve. Before then, I want every soldier in this camp drilled until the sun falls on this day. I am clear, yes?” Admiral Ashuku stated his face serious and stern.

“Yes, sir!” the commander responded and he dashed off into the camp to spread the message to each and every member occupying the camp.

Pleased with his progress, the Admiral passed through the tent flap into his new quarters, and his heart thumped with excitement. The days of battle loomed before him, and the thrill of victory was in his grasp. Inside the tent he had found a luxurious bunk, luxurious to a military man at any rate, a small wooden stand laced with ink and parchment, a chest of clothing and a crate of the finest Fire Nation provisions available. He adjusted the battle plans hidden in his sleeves and approached the wooden stand. He pulled out a piece of parchment, a fresh pen of quill, and lightly dabbed it into the black ink.

An hour or two passed on and several messages and responses to letters he had received formulated themselves under Ashuku’s scripting fingers. One, a response to the Princess, another, a request for Yu-Yan Archers for the assault, and other various supply requests. The most prominent of these things that were written was a speech, a short yet illustrious string of words that was sure to encourage the men onto victory. Before the sun set, Ashuku had redressed in his typical military outfit discarding the Earth Kingdom rags into the crate.

As the sun descended, Ashuku set out to a crimson tent where they were to gather, his notes grasped tightly in his hand. As the stars twinkled in the sky, and the wind reminded him of the seasons, he entered through the very wide flap into the moderately well decorated meeting room. A long table stretched across the middle and it was fairly low to the ground and made of wood that was not sanded to perfection, and several grass-woven mats lied across either side of it to serve as kneeling positions. He placed the yellow-stained notes on the far side of the wooden table and stood, waiting for the officers to file in so the battle meeting could begin.

[jingko]

"Keep that damned beast in line or I'm going to start hitting you with a whip!" Jingko threatened a young recruit who was having difficulty keeping his irrate war mount to a steady march. The Lieutenant watched his charge with a scrutinizing gaze as he eventally managed to calm the komodo-rhino and ride him into the corral that had been set up on the edge of the camp site. "Word is that the commander of this operation is arriving soon," Jingko went on, walking along the barbwire-lined posts that served as the perimeter of the corral. "I don't need any Privates making me look bad."

A spiteful look crossed the young recruit's features, but the eyes of the Lieutenant promised an unpleasant outcome if he dared to speak his obvious thoughts. The younger soldier let the insult sit, and he rode his mount toward the opposite side of the field. Jingko let his gaze linger a moment longer before turning to regard a pair of spearmen standing on either side of the entrance to the corral. "Seal it up and make sure the rhinos are fed and cleaned," he ordered. "I'll be in my tent."

Jingko recieved two symmetrical salutes from the men before he made his way towards a moderate-sized tent that served as his quarters on the battlefield. It wasn't much larger than many of the ordinary tents that soldiers shared, but he had it all to himself. He sat down at a simple table that served as his desk and took out a piece of parchment, a quill, and an inkwell. For the next hour or so, he wrote a brief entry into his own logs of the war, then spent a short while looking over the maps they had of Ba Sing Sei's inner domain until a messenger came to his tent. The soldier had informed him that Admiral Ashuku had arrived at the camp not long ago and that he was requested to attend a meeting to discuss the battle plan that night.

Jingko spent the remainder of the time before the meeting by reviewing his previous letters from other commanders as well as looking over his own contemplatons of strategy over the last several days that he'd written in his log. He didn't entirely expect to play a major role during this meeting, or even during the bulk of the Siege, but he was determined to do his homework and be able to answer any questions the Admiral may ask of him. Lastly, he made sure to shave and wear his finest armor.

About 10 minutes before the meeting was to begin, he made his way across the camp. He approached the large central tent belonging to the Admiral, gave a curt nod to the guards beside the entrance to ascertained his rank from his gold collar, and strode confidently into the tent.

[prodigy]

Declinging the offer of a royal procession, the Princess had reduced to the Royal Entourage to a few nobles of her choosing, some of her father's advisors, herself and the Lady Agni Azad, Azad being the surname of a extinguished branch of the royal family. They traveled deep into the earthkingdom first by ship, as far inland as they could go. The Princess's royal battleship having been left well back at the ocean. Now they traveled on Komodo Rhinos, the nobles riding, the soliders walking and running alongside them. The princess herself opted to do away with her litre, the giant platform carried upon the shoulders of six servants that the princess would ride in. Along side her, the lady Agni, whom Azula had kept close to her at all times during this journey. The young woman was now dressed in the best finery Azula could gather together in the short time before their journey.
As they approached the camp, Azula took a moment to ride next to the girl. "Lady Agni.. we're approaching the camp of Admiral Ashuku.. let us hope that he is within the camp.. or returns soon once word of our arrival reaches him."

[prodigy]

I want to live in fire..
Such a burning filled the Princess as they rode into the Fire Nation encampment. A great well of energy sprang up from inside her core, and she closed her shimmering golden eyes for a moment. Her head slid to the side just a hair's breath. The encampment was filled with the sounds of war prepation. The sounds of hammers striking iron, foraging weapons in the strenght of Fire. She heard the surges and blasts of Firebending being practiced and rehersed behind the tents. She heard the war songs and war chants that had become so dear to her people in the past century.

This time: Ba Seng Sei would fall.

The princess said nothing as she kicked the Rhino into trotting forward, the heavy and naturally armored creature lumbering forward to catch the attention of the Fire Nation soliders. Azula lifted one pale skin hand. She began to speak, no yell, across the encampment, hoping to draw out not only the Admiral, but to make known her prescence.

"Soliders of the Fire Nation! Do you not feel the honor you bear on your shoulders? The honor of my father is born on your shoulders! The Honor of your families! Of yourselves! Of Agni! Will those walls crumble, men?! Will the Earth Kingdom fall to mere dust at your feet?! Tell me, Sons of Agni! Your Princess desires to walk through Ba Seng Sei! Your Princess desires to see the flag of our beloved Nation flying from the Earth King's Palace. Your lord desires to rid the world of the dirty scum, the Earth Kingdom and the Water Tribes. Soliders of the Fire Nation. BRING ME THE STONE FROM THE WALLS OF BA SENG SEI!"

Azula's coral lips curled into a devilish smile as she threw her fist into the air, her speech ending.

[vu]

Like rolling thunder, a roaring din arose from the forest floor. Feet stamped the earth while spear butts slammed into it. Clenched fists pumped into the air while ignited ones held steady.
Amongst the cheering number stood Captain Vu Ganesa and his war crawler platoon, dubbed the Lucky Eighth. Despite the scrap of silk cloth about his neck weighing heavily upon him. As if the recently aquired item turned choker-ish jewelry had turned into an iron collar. Soldifying whatever regrets silent discontent dwelled within him. He participated in the exhubriant joy of his comrades.

His own fist ignited an intense yellow admist the diminishing sun light. And yet even admist the descending sun one could picture the princess's quite well atop her war rhino; the maturity of her features despite being half Vu's age and the exorbitant power that exuded from her lips. If not for her elder brother and her gender, her prescene would be felt for generations to come. And here they stood beside her, at the beginning of a historic event that itself would be felt generations from now.

[zilong]

A scene of cheering soldiers greeted Zilong and his company as they entered the Fire Nation camp, returning from a long, eventless patrol. Something had certainly gotten everyone riled up. Could it be that they were finally moving out? It had been far too long since they had engaged in battle, and Zilong dared to hope that he was right. Seeking confirmation, he grabbed the shoulder of a nearby soldier who he recognized as being in his platoon.

“What’s all the commotion about, Private?” he asked.

“You missed it, Sarge. First, Admiral Ashuku came to take control of the camp, and just a moment ago, Princess Azula herself arrived and got everyone fired up with a speech. Look, she’s right over there!”

Zilong followed the Private’s pointing finger with his eyes until he was looking at what had to be the Princess. Sitting atop a komodo rhino with her fist raised amidst a crowd of cheering soldiers, she certainly seemed to have all the charisma that the rumors said she had. She was young, clearly not out of her teens from what Zilong could gather at this distance, but she was said to already posses the traits of a strong leader. A small smirk found its way onto Zilong’s face as he looked over the scene. It seemed that she had truly inherited the blood of her father. There had been talk of Ozai’s line ending with his only son in exile, but if Princess Azula was really this strong of a leader, even the crafty politicians in the capital would have trouble wresting it from her.

“Looks like Lord Ozai is serious about taking Ba Sing Se this time, huh? Too many big names for this to be just about hassling them a little,” continued the Private.

Zilong nodded slowly. Ba Sing Se…it was hell trying to break through that city the first time, and he doubted the second time would be any more pleasant if that was really what they were trying to do. Of course, he would never tell the other soldiers this. That wouldn’t help anyone. So, instead, he turned to his company and slammed the butt of his guan dao on the ground the get their attention.

“All right, the biggest battle of our lives is coming up, and on top of it, we’re doing it in front of a member of the royal family, so get your acts together! Take a break for now, but no slacking once you’re back on duty, got it?”

The soldiers offered a sharp “Sir!” before scattering to various parts of the camp. Hefting his guan dao over his shoulder, Zilong momentarily thought about what to do before making his way through the crowd to get a better look at what was going on with the Princess. Not that anyone around was really tall enough to block his view, but this was his first time seeing a member of the royal family since his tenure in Iroh’s army. Surely it couldn’t hurt to get a better view.

[prodigy]

The princess soon dismouted her rhino, letting a pair of boot-kissing soliders eagerly lead the stinky beast away. Azula's slender fingers straighten and adjusted the wide collar acorss her shoulders, making sure it was perfect and percise. Satisfied, her little chin lifted skyward and her lips returned to their usual seriousness. Golden eyes narrowed as she waited for the rest of her party to disembark, careful detail being paid to the strange noblelady riding with her. Lady Agni.. the Fire Spirit and patroness of the Fire Nation.
After seeing that she was on the ground safetly, the Princess would speak quietly to the goddess, her eyes not locking on the girl's face, but rather glancing around cautiously. "We should go find the Admiral, but it would do us well to increase troop moral a bit more. There are many ways we could do this.. another rallying speech, a walk among them.. numerous ways. Even a sign from the great Agni herself.." Azula let her low voice drift off as she finally let her golden eyes meet the bright, amber eyes of Agni's human form. There were numerous soliders staring at the small Royal Procession, which included the princess and very few nobles. Azula lifted her hand up, glancing down at her spotless nails.. these powerful weapons.. her claws. The gold around her neck, a sign of her rank, glittered as she raised her eyes.. The prescence of the soliders was certainly.. flattering to her ego, the feeling of power, but she had to keep Agni rather.. secret..

[vu]

Still there.

Even as the cheers; the hoots; the hollers subsided.

Still there.

Birthed from her lips. Those words converging licks of flame into a forest fire. A raging inferno.

Blesseded by her appearance. Her presence was lightning jumping between clouds. An electrified air.

Heat... energy...

Vu felt it. Heard it. Throbbing with the pace and beat of rushing blood.

No. It was his blood.

His body, feeling warmer. Hotter. A surge of lightning, his body became. As if the presence herself was here. A source of his being. The fount of his power. The very well containing the water he was drawn from. Was a part of.

And despite the day's failing light he felt like a plant soaking amidst the sun's rays. But he wanted more. Like a moth to a flame, he wanted more.

It was coming from Princess Azula. But was it the princess? Maybe it was. Or maybe she was gifted, blessed. Whatever it was he felt it, was stirred by it.

He followed the press of others also drawn to the royal procession of the princess's retinue. Her, the nobles and the elite firebenders of the royal crimson guards that kept the crowd at bay.

"Can you feel that?" A comrade, another firebender nudged his arm.

"Yes," he replied. Grinning, almost laughing at the warmth. Looking around for a moment. Contented visages even amongst most of the sternest face veterans. Prideful boasts and joyous helmet buttings and heroic war chants.

This was a scene were legends and heroes were conceived. And amidst it he sought out the princess.

"Perhaps a blessing..." he told himself.

[zilong]

Zilong was not exempt from the strange feeling that his fellow firebenders were receiving. The weapon he was carrying seemed lighter, and his armor nonexistent. Power, that’s what this feeling was. He felt like he could set the whole forest ablaze in an instant, like he could walk up the famed walls of Ba Sing Se and smash them to pieces all by himself. It was like the feeling he had in the heat of battle, but calmer, more controlled. It was glorious, but where was it coming from?

"Perhaps a blessing..." muttered a soldier to his left, answering the unasked question.

A blessing, yes that fit. Suddenly, Zilong remembered a story told to him by his father about his great grandfather, who had participated in the first battles of the war a hundred years ago. He had spoke of the power given to him by Sozen’s comet that gave them the strength to devastate their enemies. According to his father, his great grandfather had said “It was like having divine power right at your fingertips. I felt like I could defeat a god.” Could this be that same feeling? Zilong removed his helmet and gazed up into the sky. An unintentionally menacing smile slowly formed on his face, and he let out a deep, booming laugh.

He turned his gaze down at the soldier next to him and pointed his guan do skyward, “Not just any blessing. This has to be the blessing of Firelord Sozen! His comet must be drawing near.”

Turning his gaze to the Princess and her procession, Zilong’s confidence seemed to rise further. So this was why Ozai was attacking Ba Sing Se head on. With each day, the Fire Nation soldiers would only get stronger, frustrating the defenders until they broke. At least, that was what Zilong surmised. Of course, Zilong was never the greatest analyst, and so he could never have figured out that his assumption about this sudden feeling of power was dead wrong…

“Twenty-four years I’ve been waiting for this,” he said before glancing back at the soldier next to him. “You pups are lucky, seeing this day so soon."

[agni]

Agni, now adorned in layers of rich, sheer silks of copper, gold, scarlet, vermillion, and safforn in the shape of an open, flowing gown, dismounted her own rhino carefully, surveying the scene. Bangles of gold and rubies clinked and jingled on her wrists and ankles. Her long inky hair was done up in a small headdress, again of gold and rubies, she she was almost alight with flame when the sun washed over her form. Though she was still unused to her human form, Agni carried herself with great pride. She may be in disguise, but she was still the noble goddess Agni, Mother of the Fire Nation.

Listening intently to Azula's speech made Agni smile with devious delight. As soon as Azula was in earshot, Agni murmured, "A speech worthy of Agni."

"We should go find the Admiral, but it would do us well to increase troop moral a bit more. There are many ways we could do this.. another rallying speech, a walk among them.. numerous ways. Even a sign from the great Agni herself.." Azula murmured back. Agni grinned, flashing white teeth. That would be excellent.

"Perhaps, if we are lucky, the Great Goddess would show herself... if we are lucky." Agni's amber eyes flashed with the exciting thought... to be revereved by hundreds of studly male soldiers... perhaps find a special place in the Princess' heart...

[mai]

The trip had taken too long. It was wearing on her nerves. The young noblewoman Mai sat atop a komodo-rhino, accompanied by three guards on their own komodo-rhinos in a triangular formation around the girl and her mount. With her belongings in tow, her trek from Omashu to this Fire Nation war camp was drawing to a close, and she felt a certain joy in knowing she would see her friend Azula again. She still kept a stone face, veiled by shade from a scarlet oilpaper parasol she held above her head in her right hand. The air was still that day, so her delicate alabaster skin could be easily be shielded from the sun in such a way without the parasol flying away in the next gust of wind.

The destination was in clear sight. Mai and the three soldiers made their way down the hill and toward the encamped soldiers. Their steady pace seemed to be getting slower and slower the closer they got, as anticipation was rearing its ugly head toward the depressed-looking Mai. The parasol she held, though unadorned, was too girly for her tastes but she tolerated employing its use because it served its purpose well.

The four Fire Nation denizens entered the camp, but Mai was the only one to dismount. She grasped the lacquered bamboo handle of her parasol as she walked with her left side to the beast, her other arm dangling freely at her side. She sighed when she noticed Azula wasn't anywhere in clear view. Maybe she didn't arrive yet? thought Mai in disappointment. She folded up the parasol and inserted it into a saddlebag on the moving komodo-rhino, then, narrowing her eyes, she looked across the crowded field to check once more if Azula was present.

She started to move through the camp, staying within her escorts' sight, of course. and she spotted what was likely to be Azula's royal procession. She sprinted back to her komodo-rhino, and gestured the three guards to go ahead. The escorts remaind on their mounts while Mai walked beside the beast's head, and they arrived in Azula's vicinity in a few seconds. She motioned the soldiers to stop. She hastily walked a few yards ahead of them and spotted Azula. Upon seeing her friend, she continued walking hastily and approached Azula from behind.

In her low, stoic tone, the pale girl spoke up.

"Hello, Princess."

[prodigy]

The Princess's coral lips curled into a grin at Agni's approval of the idea. The soliders would adore a sign from the Goddess. Already gears were cranking in Azula's pretty head, her eyes sparkling as if the sun had kissed them. She lifted a hand to her chin, fingers curling under her pointed chin. Her thumb fingered the golden edging of her collar, marking her high status, though because of her altered military uniform, the gold was less ornate than it should have been befitting a Princess of the Fire Nation.

"Perhaps, in the next hour or so.. we'll hold another rallying speech to the troops.. maybe even outshine Admiral Ashuku himself with a blessing from the Great Agni of the Fire." Azula mumured softly to herself and to Agni, flashing those delivish eyes under her dark tendrils of hair.
The Princess's thoughts were interupted however by a deep, somewhat raspy voice that dripped with boredom... Azula turned her head, lifting her shoulders and chest to face what might have been a simple solider. However, her stotic expression, regal stone in the face of anyother, slowly set into a welcoming smile, dripping with so little sweetness that one had to know that the Princess was forcing it a little. Certainly, the arrival of the honorable Lady Mai, Daughter of the Duke and Governor of New Ozai, was a pleasure to Princess Azula, as Mai was one of those childhood friends that always was with her.. that always listened to her orders.. that always supported it.

"Mai!" As brightly and exhuberant as Azula could muster.. "How wonderful to see you.. I take it you received my summons. Isn't it wonderful? Ba Seng Sei's Walls will finally fall."

[vu]

Sozen's Comet, Vu's eyes skeptically gazed skyward. He knew the story of the comet, could not feel this sudden intensity in him. Yet one could not help that such a power came from such a single event that suddenly arrived a century ago.

If anything the victories his people incurred back then were merely due to strategic planning, unpreparedness and luck. This feeling however could not be explained as easily.

“Twenty-four years I’ve been waiting for this,” the man who could probably mount a war crawler tank in one step stated before turning to Vu.

Twenty four years? Vu's mind questioned. Compared to his own decade of service.

“You pups are lucky, seeing this day so soon," the soldier told him and the others.

"As opposed to some old hunting dog can still keep his eyes open," Vu quipped in turn. Somewhat surprised that a man of his possible age was still fighting in the field rather than lead from behind or from a desk.

"I almost feel sorry for the rockheads," viewing his own hand and clenching it. His voice mixed with maliciousness and regret. The Earth Kingdom had held out for a century, slowly losing more ground than they regained. Soon such fighting would come to an end. And somewhere a woman would hate him for what his role in this.

[zilong]

Zilong turned his gaze back to the soldier who responded to him and grinned wide. It wasn’t exactly a friendly looking grin, with Zilong it never was. His rough features tended to make even the grins with the friendliest of intent seem somewhat wolfish. He couldn’t help but smile, though. He tended to like those who weren’t intimidated by his size over those who cowered from it. Frankly, it showed a lack of trust that was unbecoming of a Fire Nation soldier if he was intimidated by a peer.

"I almost feel sorry for the rockheads," said the same soldier in a tone that Zilong couldn’t quite place, but decided to label as some form of malice.

“As long as it stays ‘almost,’” Zilong replied with a deep chuckle. “You don’t get to be an old dog like me if it becomes anything more than that.”

Zilong chuckled again and gazed out towards the Princess’s procession. He didn’t particularly enjoy giving out advice or think himself sagely, but helping out your fellow soldier was helping yourself. The more they know, the less mistakes they’ll make and the better off you are. Hell, everyone is better off. So, when a chance to give a small bit of advice presents itself, Zilong will take the occasion to give it. Unless he disliked the person, of course, and so far he had no qualms with this one.

Another group of komodo-rhinos could be seen riding towards the camp, four soldiers and a young woman. A noble, most likely, Zilong assumed, and was proven right by her immediate change of course towards the Princess’s group. They were certainly pulling out all the stops with this one, it seemed. Surely, so many nobles and big names wouldn’t be gathering if victory weren’t completely certain.

“Looks like we’re going to have an audience to watch us charge through that wall, huh?” he remarked, turning again to look down at the soldier who had spoken to him before shifting his gaze back to the procession, smirking. “They’re gonna be missin’ out. It’s much more of a rush actually running through it.”

The smirk turned into a wolfish grin as he thought about the coming battle. It would certainly be exhilarating to rush through that wall, tearing into the feeble guard that lay behind it, just like before. This time, however, there would be no retreat once they got in. They’d crush the rockheads for good in one glorious battle. He could hardly wait…

[mai]

The welcoming smile Azula bore failed to set off even a slight grin on Mai's face. The placid young Mai was happy to see her friend, and merely offered a polite bow after Azula spoke. The girl replied, while pouring on a standard amount of dry wit, "Yes. I received your summons, and I thank you for making my way out of that dreadful Omashu place. I almost died of boredom there."

Mai stepped back from the princess, and slid either hand into the opposite sleeve. Anyone else would assume Mai was being cold and unfriendly, but her friend would surely know of the girl's true intent. She couldn't possibly have forgotten much about Mai in the time they had been apart.

As a slight smile tugged at the edge's of Mai's thin mouth, she left Azula's second half of the question without a reply. No answer was needed; the fact that Mai was there was proof enough that she wanted to join in the war efforts and escape her previous, uneventful way of living.