46 Danev

Getting past the wall was the easy part. I had done it before. There was nothing to it. We took a different way this time, however. Aden and Meeko guided us through the industrial innards of the wall past the collapsed support beams and fallen platforms. Entrances and exits could be seen lining the interior of the wall from the bottom with no immediate access. The dust within the wall was made visible by the many rays of light shining through arrow slits and cracks within the wall. We knew the wall was in disrepair. It was even obvious from the outside. People, for the most part, were free to leave at any time they liked. Some did. Figured it was better than starving outside. They, of course, died. Whether it was pirates, raiders, bandits, Fire Nation, or hell, even Earth Kingdom, none of them made it nearly as far as they would've liked.

That wasn't why I was here however. I wasn't here to leave. I was here because I wanted to make sure we could stay and live long enough for somebody else to do the hard part. Citadel was falling apart. They cared more about keeping keeping the slums rats out of the military district than they did the Earth Kingdom. And hell, if what Luke told me was right, the Earth kingdom had already started.

But I wasn't putting all my bread in one basket. I wasn't an idiot. With the siege of the Earth Kingdom city and the conquest of a good portion of their continent, what little time the Earth Kingdom had left wasn't going to be spent in comfort. Aden and Meeko led us up a stairway that neither Goni or I had comfort walking on. There was about as much chance the stairway collapsing beneath us as a child dying within the next minute. And if Citadel has taught me one thing, it's that I should be afraid of those odds.

Somehow, we made it to somewhat steady gangway brining us to a steel hatch leading us outside. I had to shield my eyes to avoid being blinded by the sudden shift of light. It was only after a good couple of minutes that I could get my first peak today of the world outside. We had made decision of leaving Citadel by an entrance near the Homeland road, meaning we were by the river that would lead out to the Eastern Sea. That wasn't our target, however. We made for the North, staying close to the wall, allowing the shadow of the setting sun to hide us from the view of the few guards actually patrolling the wall. From what Luke had told us, the Fire Nation kept closer eyes on the Inner wall than anywhere in the city. When it came to our safety, finding any concern for us was the equivalent of finding a needle in a haystack. It wasn't there. It was just something we were told to keep us looking, keep us thinking that we were safe.

We weren't. I don't think there was a living soul left in the slums of Citadel that still believed that lie.

"Camp's to the west. We get close enough that we can see the fires and we take it from there. They probably have patrols going around the area so keep your heads down in the ground. Don't do anything stupid" I made sure to say that last part with my eyes locked to Aden's. Goni, while not smart, was obedient as a good mutt should be. It was people like Aden, thinking themselves the spirits' gift to the world that got people killed. And it was just that I was trying to avoid today.

The Fires of the camp burned high, which I guess wasn't surprising when it came to the Fire Nation. We had snuck along the riverbank, crawling when necessary to make extra sure we weren't spotted. The others had their objection, but I pushed them aside. We were doing this without getting anybody killed, which meant doing things my way.

The camp lay in front of us as we ourselves lay on the ground, keeping a sharp eye on it. Blood red tents lined the better part of the river bank as squires and servants made routine trips from and to the lake to gather water for drinking, cooking, bathing the like. Tents were pitched nice and tight, banners were settled securely, and from the sound of drunken men, they weren't going anywhere anytime soon, which meant we had all the time in the world, but at the same time, it meant whatever supplies was being brought to Citadel had been unloaded and weren't packed nice and tight in carts ready for moving. That was the hard part.

From where we were positioned, we could see racks of weapons lying alongside the outskirts of the camp as well as shelves of uniforms and armor. Grabbing those uniforms would mean an easy way in, but a hard time out, especially if it meant lugging a cart behind us, but it would make a good distraction. I could see those same uniforms as firelight reflected off their shiny red and black armor, making them more visible than I could have hoped. My train of thought was interrupted by the grunt of a Komodo Rhino coming from further north.

"Any ideas, Danev?" I heard Goni ask from behind. They were tense. So was I, but I guess I was better at hiding it. They came here ready for a fight and every second leading up to it wasn't helping them.

"We're not getting out of here with this many Fire Nation soldiers. We need a distraction."

"Okay. Such as?" intercede Meeko.

"Further north, there's some Komodo Rhino. Let them loose, and they'll storm through the camp, destroying everything and anything in their way. Do that, and we'll have a perfect opening to get at the supplies."

"Do we know where the supplies is?"

"Unfortunately for us, it's been unloaded and maybe even unpacked. Aden, Meeko, set those Rhino free and do what you can to cause even more of a ruckus. Burn watch towers, kill stragglers, set fire to their tents, anything. Just keep them away from this part of the camp. Hell, lead them out into the woods if you can. The more time you buy us, the better."

"Got it." Said Meeko. "Should we give you a signal once we're done?"

"If you need to make a signal to tell me that the camp is in chaos, then you haven't done your job. Now go!"

They went, stalking off into the darkness of the woods, setting themselves up for probably the most dangerous act they've ever done.

"Think they'll be okay?"

"Maybe. Maybe not. Hope so. Last thing we need is more dead hornets."

Aden and Meeko surprised me. I had expected one or the other, but when I saw the smoke from an uncontrolled fire go up near the northern rear of the camp sending the soldiers running followed by the stampede of Komodo Rhinos trampling them, I felt something that I could only assumed was pride.

"Go!" I said to Goni as we stood up and ran towards the camp. We stood up from the bank and immediately ran to where soldiers had been drinking and laughing seconds ago judging by the spilled tankards littering the ground around the fire.

"There! Cart!" I pointed out as I saw the empty cart across from where we were.

As we ran towards it, looking for supplies nearby, we saw another Fire go up near the Northwestern side of the camp, followed by an explosion that I could only assume was the detonation of barrels of blasting jelly.

The cart was there, but it was empty, as I had expected.

"Find the larger tents. They're probably kitchen tents and look for any fortified areas too. It's probably where they're keeping weapons. Food, medicine, water, and weapons are a priority. Find boxes. Don't bother with the loos stuff. Just grab what's packed together and bring it to the cart!"

He ran off, which led me to my dilemma. How to get the cart out of here. The cart was located near the base of a hill, which is understandable given the fact that nobody wants to haul a cart of supplies up a hill, but now that it was empty, it would be easy, and I would have a plan. I pushed that cart to where it was less steep and brought it to the top of the hill as Goni would run past every few minutes to load something onto the back. As we went about our work, it was hard to not be distracted by the chaos going on in the rest of the camp. I don't think they would've even noticed us. There was just too much going on for them to keep track of. I felt kind of sorry for them.

By the time the cart was at the peak of the hill, 13 crates had been loaded onto the back. That was the good news. The bad news: the last sound I heard coming from the Fire Nation was the sound of an explosion in the distance. When I first heard it, I had hoped it was them being blown up, but now… But now I could hear the dozens of footsteps leading right back to where we waited. I turned to Goni. Even if we got the cart down the hill, they would hear us if they didn't see us. Aden and Meeko had made their distraction, but now I had to make one more.

"Get on the cart."

"What?"

"Get on the cart as I push it down the hill. There's barely any trees in your way. Let the inertia take you past the tree line and take the crates to the opening in the wall from where we came. Stash them in the wall and tell Aden. You have enough supplies in there to last you half a year. Don't lose it. Don't let the Fire Nation spot you and for Spirits' sake, do not let the Rats steal it off of you. Got it?!"

"Danev, what are you-?"

"Got it?"

He looked down at his feet, not able to bring himself to look me in the eye as he agreed to leave me behind. "I got it."

"Good. Get on the back. I'll be right behind you."

I wouldn't.

Goni sat himself on the back of the cart as I raised the brake anchor on the back of the cart and I pushed the cart to get the one rotation I needed to kick off the cart's journey back to Citadel.

"Danev!" I heard Goni yell to me from the front of the cart as he was rummaging through the loot he had taken for the Hornets. "You'll need this." And as I made the last rotation, sending the cart down the hill, away from the Fire Nation straight back into their claws in Citadel, Goni threw me the sword that I caught mid-air.

It was the first time I'd held steel. In Citadel, I had once before held an iron sword. Old Fire Nation weapons that were now out of service. Now, however, I had what I'd always dreamed of whenever I held those rusty iron swords. Pure steel. The weight, I know, was heavier, but somehow felt lighter in my hands. I was meant to be holding this. I felt ready for whatever came.

"There he is!" I heard the first Fire Nation soldier to spot me shout as he charged towards me. A second masked Fire Nation soldier stepped out from behind a tent and sent a blaze of fire flying through the air which I had to jump to avoid, sending myself to the base of the hill. I'd always hard of Firebenders but had never seen them in action. Guess Citadel wasn't important enough to warrant their presence. Now, however, I realized that I never should have hoped to see them in action someday.

I stood up just in time to meet the first soldier who charged towards me. I threw myself aside to avoid his spear and swung my sword at the lousy piece of metal attached to wood, cutting straight through the spear, leaving the soldier only with a splintered stick. I pressed my advantage before he could reach for his own broadsword and swung at his head. The blow didn't kill him, but was deflected by his helmet, knocking him to the ground unconscious. I looked up just in time to see the firebender prepare a second blast as more soldiers appeared from the innards of the camp, all coming to meet me in combat. What can I say? There was something exhilarating about getting this much attention, feeling this important. Even if it was to kill me.

I didn't wait for the firebender to make the first move. I charged. He hesitated. Fire Nation soldiers, they thought themselves invincible. So, when they saw somebody charging them, it got them doubting. And them doubting and hesitating was just what I needed. I swung at the unarmed firebender, cutting through his slightly outstretched arm, sending him to the ground, grasping his wound as he let out a mechanical shout through the white mask of his helmet.

The other Fire Nation soldiers had now switched to swords, realizing this would be a longer fight. They were alive. And I didn't see Aden and Meeko. And the Fire Nation wasn't known to take prisoners unless it was in their interest. And I highly doubt that a few slum kids were any concern of the Fire Nation.

I realized now that Luke was right. I wasn't fighting mindless grunts. I was fighting soldiers who had trained for events like this. This played to their strength, and their strength here was numbers. They already started to surround me, but I wouldn't wait until I was in the middle of their ever-growing circle. I pushed. I charged the soldier directly in front of me, catching him off guard judging by the look in his eyes. I was lucky enough to be against non-benders now or I would have already found myself in the center of a 10-man flamethrower, but that wasn't the case, so I took advantage of that. I swung my sword upwards, catching him in the shoulder between the chest and shoulder plate, cutting upwards through the leather pauldron, up to his helmet, knocking it clean off with a nice spray of blood to accompany it. I turned to the soldier next to him, but felt a sharp pain go through the rear of my left knee, sending me kneeling to the ground. I looked around to a Fire Nation soldier holding a bloodied sword up, ready to bring it down again and end it.

I passed my sword to my left hand and turned my torso to the left, swinging at his legs, cutting through the leather boots and cloth uniform, making a sizable gash that sent him to the ground. I made an attempt to stand, but felt a pain against my chest as a soldier's boot sent me to the ground. I tried to get my left hand up, but felt a different soldier's boot find ground on my wrist, pushing until my hands were forced to open, releasing the blade. I kicked my good leg at the soldier standing in front of me who had a spear raised, pointed straight to my neck, sending him stumbling back. I bent forward and bit at the leg of the soldier standing on my chest. I met flesh and tasted blood, sending his foot away from my chest. I was starting to raise myself to fight at the soldier stepping on my wrist until the same soldier I had bitten kicked at my head, turning my vision into a haze before feeling that same foot back on my chest. I writhed with all I could, but there wasn't anything that could stop the weapon being held above my head that I couldn't even differentiate through my haze of a vision. I saw it being razed, and saw it in the fraction of a second as it grew in my vision, making its way towards closer and closer to my head until there was nothing. Only black. Only. Darkness.