Avatar: The Last Airbender: Legend

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-What are we going to do?

-We have to leave! Right now we don't have any...

-This is treachery and cowardice!

-If we join forces with the garrison.

-They'll sit there unseen until they've killed us all! -We've got to go!

Nonsense, let's go back to the fortress and--

For hours after the battle, Yu listened to this bickering. Confirming his theory with the words of surviving witnesses, the young man learnt that their commander had been captured by the savages. A huge man painted red and purple had overpowered Sun Ce in battle and dragged him underground. All the bodyguards that surrounded the acting general at that moment were killed in a couple of seconds. The hail of projectiles and earth magic didn't leave the teenagers even the slightest chance of victory.

As talk of further action went into a second round, Yu left the confines of the tent, heading for his tent. His confident appearance and gathering did not go unnoticed by the others. Some of the bodyguards followed, and soldiers began to rise around him.

A small group of about fifty men huddled around Yui's tent, watching his actions. Quiet whispers flew in the air, but no one dared to call out to the guy. The soldiers knew that he was one of those close to the superiors, so his actions raised a lot of questions.

When the packing was over, the orphan picked up his trusty halberd and set off in the direction of the menagerie, where the animals that had not dispersed were clustered. The loyal phlegmatic komodo greeted his master with a lazy look. chewing his food, he knelt down, allowing Yu to secure his saddle and supplies.

-And where do you think you're going?

The familiar voice cut at his ears. The lack of positive notes or any involvement made him twitch.

-Is it that important?

-Of course it is,' Yuan Shu's instant reply escaped Yuan Shu's lips, 'you should see the excitement in the camp. A lot of people think you're abandoning us and we're all doomed.

-You think so too?

-Huh,' the creepy laugh caused another wave of goosebumps, 'unlike me, you haven't changed a bit. Just as straight as the stick you have behind your back.

Without commenting on his old friend's words, Yuu was about to saddle his komodo when Shu began harnessing another one nearby.

-What are you doing?

-With a medic in the squad, it's better than without.

Shrugging as if the answer was obvious, Yuan Shu quickly attached the saddle and climbed onto the beast's back. The indifferent mask on his face was replaced with a sneer and a sneer.

-Not to mention, you'll definitely be killed by one.

Riding outside, Yuu witnessed the active gathering. Realising that enough people had heard their conversation, he glared at his comrade that, rolling his eyes tiredly, he decided to give a reply.

-The two of us will be killed too, and this way we have at least some chance.

-I didn't say where I was going.

-I told them. Or did you really think you had a chance alone? Without trackers, magicians and soldiers to back you up. You know, comparing you to the Guan Dao is too flattering, you're more like a brick.

With a tug on the reins, Shu moved forward in a stoic manner. Not wanting to lag behind, Yu followed his friend, glaring at his former classmate's back. More and more soldiers and mages joined them as they travelled. Pohai bombardiers, Yuyang archers, cavalrymen and common infantry. Warriors of all walks of life and ranks joined their ranks, even ordinary supply men pulled up harnessed komodo carts and joined the ranks. The huge crowd marched through the camp like a snowball, gathering more and more people under their banners.

A delegation of officers and loyalists met them near the wooden walls. Around them the rest of the soldiers were already gathering - most of the army, those who had not yet made up their minds. A few men of different ages frowned at the huge procession that was heading for the exit. Captain Lee, one of the most inadequate and aggressive officers, stepped forward. Serving under Gongsun Zan's command, he had a cold attitude towards soldiers, especially Lipin's fighters and volunteers. This kind of discord and widespread disobedience to orders made him blush and become angry, struggling to keep his emotions under control.

-What do you mean? What are you doing here?

The captain's loud voice echoed throughout the camp, halting the living wave of people. Rising up from the face of the soldiers, Yu saw with the corner of his eye that Yuan Shu and a couple of veterans that had come with them from Liping had followed him.

-I'm Guan Yu, Mr Qie's bodyguard. We're going to rescue our commander and friend-

-Sun Tse, may Agni rest his young soul, he's probably dead by now! -He's probably dead! What you're doing here is desertion!

-Mr. Gongsun Zan is wounded, he never regained consciousness, all the senior officers have been killed or captured, and you, - pointing his finger at all the officers gathered behind the captain's back, - can't decide who will lead the army to Liping.

-The city's under siege, what makes you think we're going there?

-Then Pohai?

-No, but...

-The Baru Forest?

-Definitely not!

-We stay here to hold off the savages and shrews? -No.

Raising his right eyebrow, Yu was beginning to lose patience. This whole conversation was pointless. If Shu hadn't told everyone about his scheme, the orphan would have rushed to find his friend long ago.

-No! -It's suicide! We don't have the strength to hold off the enemy! But to retreat without orders?

It was clear that the captain wanted to add something else, but did not speak in front of the crowd. Grinning at the suggestion, Yuu tapped the reins, sending the komodo on its way.

-Because of your indecisiveness, many misfortunes can happen. I didn't want to take these people with me, they went on their own. Because inaction in our situation is like death.

-I won't let this go, you'll all be labelled deserters. -Mines and jail time. Mines and jail time is what awaits you if you leave!

Such a statement frightened many people. Simple soldiers and servants, those who did not have influential families or military connections behind them, began to leave the column. In the end, there were no more than twenty people left in Yu's squad. Moreover, most of them were veterans of the Fiery Giant. Almost all of Ce's noble classmates were left behind, refusing to go under the command of a parentless orphan. Their silent protest and frowns should have shown their attitude towards the little upstart, but the teenager didn't even pay the aristocrats any attention.

Turning around behind him and counting the people, Yu smiled sadly. Shaking his head, he passed by the yelling officer, heading outside the walls of the camp. The soldiers that had decided to save Ce no matter what, followed their leader.

-Sounds like we lost either way?

-Come on,' Yu waved his hand lightly towards Captain Li, 'I'm sure he won't pout for long.

Leaving the 'safe' walls, the column accelerated sharply, hurtling towards the Baru Forest. There was no doubt in anyone's mind that if there was anywhere the heir could be, it was there.

Waking up, Sun Ce could hardly realise what had happened. Another day filled with the bitterness of loss and new figures in the reports had ended all too spectacularly. Almost reaching the tent where the council of officers was meeting, Tse felt a vibration in the ground and tried to bounce away, but instead collapsed to his knees.

The soil in front of him cracked and a huge layer of earth went down, revealing a deep chasm. A couple of seconds later, a stone staircase emerged from the abyss, leading to the surface, and soldiers of shrews and savages rushed down it.

The second disorientation was over and Lipin's heir rushed into the battle, covered by his guards, but as it turned out, the pit with enemies was not alone. A friendly volley of enemy fire mowed down most of its defenders. The survivors sprawled in different directions, covering their wounds and moaning in pain.

There was blood everywhere, and a new silhouette emerged from the dust that had settled around the former headquarters. A swift approach, and the enemy easily fended off his spear strikes and then magic. The last thing Tse saw before being knocked out was a painted face and a strange headdress.

Getting used to the darkness, the young man tried to see what was going on around him when a bright flash of flame blinded him. Closing his eyes and covering himself with his palm, Tse tried to see where the light was coming from. A few seconds later, he recoiled sharply as he realised that the same savage who had knocked him out during the attack was standing in front of him.

His painted face was visible in the firelight, only now the pattern had fewer colours. The white stripe on his nose went upwards, crossing his forehead, separating the red that covered his cheekbones, eyes and eyebrows. He was dressed in a multitude of brown hides, and his arms and shins were covered in armour made of wood and beast skin. Wide trousers fluttered in rare gusts of air, and feathers stuck in a handkerchief swung above his head. There were red patterns on the back of his palm, and his fingers were adorned with strange symbols and badges. His whole appearance was strange, even to the ordinary savages of Baru.

Standing in front of Ce, he slouched slightly with his right arm stretched forward, and the most unexpected thing was the flickering light flickering in his palm.

-Good morning. You can't tell, but the sun is rising now.

The kind smile didn't match the look of the savage thug. With a wave of his hand, the man sent fire petals to different parts of the room, lighting the torches he had prepared in advance.

-Effectively...

-There was no reason for them to burn out while you slept. Living away from civilisation, you learn to save money quickly. You can't just go out and buy it, you have to make it or trade it for something decent.

-That sounds like a normal trade to me.

-Maybe so, I'm not good at it. -Maybe so.

After a few seconds of silence, the two continued to look at each other. Tse looked at each other warily and reacted jerkily to any movement, but his opponent was frozen like a stone statue and smiled. Unable to endure the pressurising silence, the heir asked his most burning question.

-What will happen to me?

-Don't worry, you will be well taken care of and then handed over to your father. We want to talk to him about an exchange, so behave yourself and you'll be home soon.

Before he could say anything, Tse watched as his interlocutor turned on his heels and headed for the exit. As he walked away, the torches began to burn dimmer and dimmer until they went out. Stopping near the last one, the man turned back around in surprise and beckoned Tse to him with his hand.

-Well, come on, let's go.