Dear Zuko,
I hope these help with the cold. Presents from Ty Lee and I. Well, she was the one who suggested it. Sorry about the color. I received your letter a couple of months after you wrote it, so I'm not sure if they're needed.
The Fire Nation is still dull. Nothing has changed since you left.
Mai
P.S. Zuko, this is Ty Lee. I thought the pink socks would bring some smiles and happiness. Mai is really missing you. I think it's sweet that you're writing her. It's like in the stories of the man leaving for war and the girl is waiting for him to return and brings back riches. Come home soon!
Zuko tried to hide his blush of embarrassment but the recent tradition between him and the twenty other men under his command meant that he had to read his letters out loud.
The young officer wrote a reply a week ago. For all the teasing he received, he was glad for the wool socks and the red knitted shirt. They helped him stay warm at night even as a firebender. During the day, it was warmer than his first battle had been. Spring was a month away. There was still snow on the mountains, but the sun was out and the wind was still.
Instead of dealing with the prisoners, his new mission was to seek and destroy underground bases. Zuko was in charge of this mission for the entire mountain range. Since he did not have to report to Captain Yu anymore, he had to trust Sergeant Dae Hyun to write good reports whenever they did reach a post.
They had not seen any sign of underground bases since they started the mission.
"Since the sun is out more, I'm going to show you how to make the gold on your helmet not as visible." Dae Hyun spoke grabbing his helm.
Zuko had his. At first, he was not happy about wearing an enlisted man's helmet. It took the sergeant a while to explain that wearing his helmet would let the enemy know that he was the leader. Zuko had yelled calling him a low life peasant. He changed his mind when most of the earthbenders tried to take his head off with a few boulders.
"The grease that we use to keep our weapons from rusting and dirt tend to do it." The older man said, "Whenever we have to do parades, just wipe it off and polish it. Then it's ready to go."
Dae Hyun was the oldest in his command. He wore the traditional moustache. The sergeant was the eldest son of a factory worker. Many of the recruits soon tried to grow one. Not all could.
"Like this?" Zuko asked, holding up the helmet.
"Good Sir. Now if there was a way to hide the scar."
Zuko frowned. He refrained from speaking about it. The older man decided to change the subject.
"The girl that wrote you; are the both of you courting?"
"No. She's my sister's friend." The boy looked away.
"We should start moving, Sir." He grinned as he sensed the embarrassment.
Zuko nodded and stood.
The past few months were rough for the soldiers. They slept in thin tents on snow. They were climbing and descending mountains every day. As they traveled, they became used to the thin air. The company was living off of rice and whatever meat they could hunt. Frostbite became the enemy. Even with his firebending, the mountains demanded respect.
The underground bases started to sound like old folk tales, until they found one. The entrance looked like a shadow from where they were standing.
"Now what?" Zuko asked.
"We enter, Sir and look for a map."
"Right." Zuko pointed to two men, "Um, take your knives and enter."
The two stood there, looking nervous.
"Go!"
"Yes Sir!"
Thirty minutes went by and nothing happened. Zuko was tapping his foot impatiently. Another ten followed before Zuko decided to do something.
"Fine, I'm going in."
The ground suddenly jumped causing everyone to fall. A couple screams could be heard. Zuko then let every emotion fill the hole. Smoke came out of the hole along with one Earth Kingdom soldier. The man was coughing. In his hand was a Fire Nation knife. Zuko took the moment to grab the man and slam him against the ground.
"Where are my men?"
"Go die Fire Nation scum." The man spat.
Dae Hyun got in the way with a knife in his hand. The sergeant's knife was embedded in the enemy's collarbone.
"I wouldn't want the blood of a prisoner on your hands, Sir." The sergeant said.
He and two others then headed into the hole. They returned after an hour with burnt maps and the bodies of the two sent in first. Their bodies were broken. The two soldiers that followed the sergeant soon ran off, sick to their stomachs.
"Sir, if you could give them the honor?"
Zuko turned his head, angry at the Earth Kingdom, before setting fire to his deceased. A small funeral was held. The enemy's body was just tossed into the hole. No one slept that night.
Dear Mai,
We were given a mission to search for an underground base. It doesn't sound heroic like we were told. Sounds more like a fool's errand and I'm that fool. I think this might be the last letter for a while. Let Ty Lee know I said thanks for the pink socks. Not only did they cheer the men up, I was teased for the rest of the day. Thanks for writing me.
Zuko.
