"Wait," Lei struggled to speak as they are escaping. "We can still fight! We must buy more time for the people to retreat to safety!" He pleaded.
"Shut it!" Zhou snapped. "We will be killed if we remain there!"
A large claw flew out from a mecha tank, toppling the Earth board they are standing on. They all flipped forward, painfully slamming to the ground.
"Ugh!" Satchiko groaned. She cleared the dust in her eyes, quickly climbing back up. From a distance, she can saw the mecha tanks being driven through the street and heading their way. Alongside the vehicles are countless acolytes burning houses and killing anyone on sight. She did her best to cover her ears, but still, it couldn't block off the painful cries.
As the Green Ribbon rebels tried to support themselves, Satchiko noticed that a large fat man is walking towards their position. One hand carried a piece of roast meat, and a little girl is grabbed by the neck in the other.
"Ha! No where to run!" Taotie gleefully bellowed. He tightened the grip on the little girl's neck. Satchiko stopped her breathing, she recognized that girl. Even until now, the kid still have her doll made by her mother.
"Don't worry about me!" The little girl cried, tears dropping. "I'm not worth your trouble!"
"Let go of her, I will fight you myself!" Satchiko immediately opened up her war fan, she entered an offensive stance, preparing to fight the enemy. But as her eyes caught sights of the bandits slaughtering the villagers, she can't help but do something she never knew she would do at this moment. Tremble.
With each and every cry, an innocent person is probably being brutally murdered. People are dying every second, and here she is standing in the middle of the street, listening to their last dying breath. She now remembered that exact moment before they came to this town, how she confidently promised Lei that she will defend the weak and powerless against murderous people. But right now, being in the very situation that demands her to act with bravery, she can't help but feel the flame of determination slowly whittling away.
"Rarrr!" A madman charged her with a spear. The Kyoshi warrior snapped to attention, quickly disarming him by using his strength to her advantage. She dodged the spear's thrust and brushed the sharp edges of her war fan across the shoulder, giving the acolyte a deep laceration.
Satchiko noticed that her fighting performance was not at her best. Her opponent came at her with full killing intent. For some reason, her fighting spirit was suppressed when she saw the man's snarling face.
But instead of wailing in pain like she expected, the man got back up again and punched her armor. While her protection successfully mitigated the blow, and even bruising his hands, he still does not back down. He displayed a fierce fanaticism, which is much more intimidating then any pirate gang she faced back home.
"For the Eternal Balance!" He cried, but was quickly silenced by one of Lei's allies, who kicked a piece of rock at the enemy. Finally, the cultist was made unconscious.
Satchiko regained her composure, all these action, these unexpected events all happened so quickly. That was just one non-bender, yet they scared her more than Huo and her three other friends.
She looked again at Taotie, who still won't let go of the orphan girl. Satchiko forced herself to charge forward, forgetting the tactics and method of a Kyoshi warrior. Stealth is no longer an option, she must do everything she can to save the hostage.
She built up the momentum, looking Taotie straight in the eye and swing her fan in a cutting motion, attempting to maim the man's arm before he can even react.
"Pathetic!" Taotie spouted. "I think you should know that only the strongest and purest of us all are made leaders! Watch this non-bending worm!" He stomped on the ground, and a huge pillar was protruded towards Satchiko's direction.
The Kyoshi warrior failed to anticipate the attack, she thought Taotie would use hands in order to manipulate the rocks. The earth slammed straight towards her body, face included. She felt a strong kinetic force traveling across her armor as she was sent flying backwards.
When she dropped to the ground, her war fan and golden headdress was also knocked out of her possession. But instead of worrying about those two, her eyes is still fixated on the hostage.
Taotie bursted into a thunderous laugh. As Lei and Zhou tried to stand up with their weakened body, Taotie proceeded to mock their misery. "This is why the Eternal Balance favors me, a great bender of the highest breed! The reason why you are all weak and frail is because of your tainted bloodlines, yes, that must be the reason!" He tightened the hold on the little girl's neck, and the hostage responded by displaying the pain on the little face of hers.
"You bastards!" Satchiko snarled. She couldn't help but judge his wording. All she saw in him was gluttony and cruelty, not purity. "Release her, she is just an orphan!"
"What are you going to do little girl? I am tormenting her, yet you can only stand there and watch! How does it feel?" Taotie noticed Satchiko's resolve. He suddenly let go of the kid, allowing her to go free. The Kyoshi warrior was greatly surprised by this action, this felt too easy. Taotie released the hostage, and the kid bolted towards the Kyoshi warrior as fast as she could.
"Quick, come here!" Satchiko cried. Her heart cannot be at ease if this girl is still in danger. She opened her arms wide, ready to welcome the little girl in tears into her embrace.
But Satchiko's greatest failure is to not realize her own wishful thinking. Things rarely ends well for her. Nothing in her martial arts training or her Tessenjutsu could have prepare her for what is about to happen.
The nameless little girl was just a few meters away. As Satchiko felt she could touch the orphan, a large spike protruded from the ground. And like a sword, it pierced the little girl's back, completely stopping her movement.
Satchiko paused her breathing, eyes fixed. She is trying to process it all, but she can't. The world moved too fast for her pace. The orphan girl is no longer moving like before, as life was drained out of her, she dropped the doll to the ground.
The Kyoshi warrior stood there silently, she didn't scream nor did she cry. Just plain silence as her soul froze with guilt. She blamed herself for not being strong enough to stop this. She only stayed there, knees touching the dirt. Her blank stare into the orphan girl's now dead body made her look like someone who has committed a great crime.
Taotie erupted in another round of laughter. "What you doing?" He asked Satchiko. "That little girl I just killed is just a street rat, what difference does it make for you when I killed her? After all, her perishing meaning she will not be able to further pollute bending with her inferior bloodline."
He is toying with her, playing her emotions. Satchiko refused to respond. Her eyes are not even blinking when Taotie is further taunting her. She just stared at the orphan's body continuously, and not doing anything else.
"Kid, what are you doing, we need to fall back, now!" Zhou barked into the Kyoshi warrior's ears. He tried to get Satchiko back to her senses by shaking her shoulders, but to no avail. While an injuried Lei is being carried by the other two rebel to safety, Zhou remained behind to fetch the motionless Kyoshi warrior.
Zhou cursed his luck, he ran forward and amassed a giant wall, stopping a mecha tank from charging through. Taotie spend some time to entertain himself, watching with amusement at Zhou's struggle.
The Kyoshi warrior's hand slowly reached for the little girl's doll. She now realized that she didn't even ask the owner's name yet.
"I'm sorry," She whispered. So quiet that she can barely hear it from her mouth. "I failed you."
"Ugh!" Zhou was pummeled by a flying piece of boulder. He was sent sliding on the ground, arriving next to Satchiko.
The Kyoshi warrior looked helplessly at the fallen guerrilla fighter. She placed the doll inside her kimono and picked up her war fan and headdress. Something on her mind prevented her from wearing the headdress. She put it back in her backpack, and once again entered into a defensive stance.
"Kill her!" Taotie commanded. "But leave the corpses with blood, elder Qiongqi prefer his food to be fresh."
Satchiko can already feel her legs weakening. The mental pressure and the fear rising in her heart statued her body. A whole swarm of bandits is sent towards her, and this might be her last stand. She is weak.
A lone arrow pierced the acolyte at the very front, and another, as well as many more. Countless projectiles were sent forth, killing multiple acolytes charging at the Kyoshi warrior.
Taotie looked up in the sky, a few hovering shadows are encircling them. Each rained countless arrows, and almost each one landed on a living target.
A puny ray of hope suddenly prevailed inside Satchiko. The bisons landed behind her, and a few dozen of Kheshig warriors jumped off. Ganbaatar lead a group of nomads and arrived right next to the Kyoshi warrior. They walked ran her and formed a line in front of the army.
"Hey no fair, why can't I fight!" Batu complained in anger. But Khenbish and the others insisted that he remain on the bison. Citing his young age and the lack of combat experience. But the truth is, they do not want to expose him to further danger, only allowing him to watch from a distance.
"By the master!" Taotie said. "Air-benders! On the Earth Kingdom!" He yelled in disgust. This is the same sentimental reaction Tufei and the other bandits had when they got news the Kheshigs were nearby. Judging by the values of the 'Eternal Balance', Air-Benders on the Earth Kingdom is not natural, and therefore should be eliminated.
"After all these years, I never thought I got another chance to face a whole army of you sheeps!" Ganbaatar raised his bow at the enemies. The others around him did the same, Jargal used Air-bending to climb to a higher position, allowing more options when he shoots his arrows.
Taotie turned to his followers, dogmatically barking out orders left and right. "What are you waiting for you non-bending nitwits! Kill them! Make the master proud!"
The non-bending acolytes of the army went straight to action. Their numbers are countless times more than the Kheshig men present. A whole volley of arrows impaled the zealots heading the frontal assault, and many more would lose their lives to what happens next.
When the acolytes came near the Kheshig, the air-Benders would conjure a strong current to push them back. Using the narrow street as crowd control, the nomads were able to held them off.
Taking the opportunity when the adults are not focusing on him, Batu pulled out his composite bow and shoot out a few arrows at the endless masses. But with each shots, he didn't felt he had landed a single hit, to his greatest displeasure.
He climbed out of the bison's saddle, hoping to get closer to the action. Perhaps today is the day where he gets his first kill.
But his footsteps halted when he finally noticed the dead orphan girl among the countless bodies in the street. He arrived next to Satchiko, just standing there.
"I didn't even get to ask what her name is." She gently said to Batu. Still sad.
The nomad boy made an uncomfortable face as he recognized the dead girl. He also stood there silently, ignoring the fighting that is happening nearby.
...
Ganbaatar chopped a man into pieces with his scimitar, and Khenbish used his spear to pierce another acolyte. While Jargal and Amgalan are using their bows to support the warriors at the front line, Air-Benders like Batzorig made miniature tornadoes to disrupt the enemy's formation.
So far, they have been holding the line very well. But their greatest concern is still the mech tanks, the mechanical monstrosity that is out of this world. It's hideous design felt out of place with the humble huts and building in this town, which still uses the traditional Earth Kingdom architecture.
"They just keep coming, do they!" Ganbaatar seemed to be enjoying this fight. Khenbish only nodded as he killed another poorly trained acolyte.
Just then, three mecha tanks shoot out their claws at the Kheshig. All the warriors dodged the attack, although some were injured by the sharp claws.
Temujin then flew in with his bison, toppling all three war vehicles in one single swoop. He then made a dive, and used his sky bison to plow through all the fleeing acolytes, crushing all those who couldn't avoid his surprise attack. The weapons on the mecha tanks tried to intercept him. But the grey sky bison's maneuverability is too fast even for the machines made by Future Industries.
After Temujin finished his attack run, he flew back to his men and landed behind the line of defense. He arrived next to Satchiko and Batu, the two are still mourning at the death of the orphan.
While this action is inappropriate in the midst of an invasion, he didn't discourage them with his words. "You all shouldn't be here, get on the bisons, we will make our escape at once!"
"We...I, I want to fight them!" Batu suddenly said to his leader. He then tried to charge at the enemies, but was stopped by Temujin.
"Not today, your time to set foot onto battle would arrive eventually, but I will not allow you to go this time." Temujin's word felt like chains for Batu, who couldn't quench his sudden urge to kill the Acolytes of Vaatu.
"My Khan!" Batu kneeled to the ground. "Please grant me the permission, I don't want to just help, I want to destroy the Acolytes, the enemy of our people! I don't want to run."
Satchiko stood besides the kid, watching his change of behavior. It's clear that the young nomad has a sudden change of heart, influenced by the death of the orphaned girl. She can see the regretfulness in Batu's expression, how he had dishonorably mistreated someone who have also lost everything.
Temujin contemplated. He refused to give Batu a direct response. He watched the entire situation of the battle. Originally, he wanted to assist the town's defense by sending his warriors. But at last, they were a bit too late. The gate was overwhelmed, and the guards are pretty much useless. What they are doing now is quite a hopeless battle. Despite the strengths and coordination of his trusted warriors, he knew they will get exhausted eventually. There are still thousands of Acolytes still coming through, and the other parts of the town is also being razed just as they speak. Staying here would mean they will eventually be surrounded and outflanked.
The bisons behind him growled suddenly. Temujin heard this, and prepare to air bend.
"Look out!" Batu cried. He pulled out a small dagger from his deel and stabbed a lone man behind Temujin. The assailant wailed. The Khan turned around, and witnessed the man dropping to the ground on his knees
Batu's timely intervention prevented a possible disaster. An unexpected assassination in the midst of battle can destroy the morale of the Kheshig, and effectively change the whole tide of the battle. It's reasons like this that made the Khan wanting to wear his armor. Even though it's just experimental equipment made by Subutai the 'physician'.
Temujin, unamused by the acolyte's attempt on his life, snarled. Since the Khan has no weapon on him, he decided to let Batu have a unique opportunity.
"Batu, you have done well." Temujin patted the kid on his shoulders. "A true Kheshig warrior must never show fear. He must destroy the enemy of his family and clan, now prove your resolve to me."
Batu has never been so surprised in his life. As he bear the weight of the Khan's words, he realized that his dagger is still drenched in crimson. The Kyoshi warrior glanced nervously as Batu involuntary pulled out his bow and aimed it at the downed Acolyte. Judging by the young nomad's fearful expression, he has is conflicted. Should he kill the dishonorable acolyte for his assassination attempt? Or should he spare the man's life and disobey the Khan, the man whom he deeply respected.
Temujin carefully watched every expression on Batu's face. Of all the children in the Khanate, Batu is that one member who always got his attention. Mostly due to the youth's insatiable desire to prove himself as a worthy warrior and to not be a 'drawback'. Both of which is linked to Batu's low esteem, the thought of being the burden of everyone else.
Batu's hands are shaking, the force of pulling the arrow backwards from the bow is slowly draining his strength. He remained in that position for a while now, and he is still undecided. He thought about his identity as an air-bender, and how it attracted the attention of the Acolytes of Vaatu, thereby dooming his parents. While Batu agreed with his new father Khenbish about the values of not 'kicking a man when he is already down', it is only now did he felt the temptation to go against Khenbish. He cannot forgive these foul creatures, not a single one.
"Please...I have a family, I got a son just like your age." The man pleaded for Batu's mercy.
After Batu took one last glance at the impaled street orphan, he finally made a choice that will define his life for the foreseeable future.
"Batu wait..." Just as Satchiko is about to ask what he is about to do, the arrow was released. She stood there in shock as she just saw a kid younger than her ended another person's life. Since the nomad is standing so close to the target, there is no way he would have miss. The arrow was plunged right into the man's chest.
It is now done, Batu let out a heavy sigh, he made a choice by himself.
"Sometimes, the best way to save a life, is to end one." Temujin marched past Satchiko and arrived next to the dead orphan girl. "The Air-nomads in their secluded temples might tell you otherwise, but they don't live like us do they?"
Satchiko thought about it for a second, but didn't linger on it for too long.
"Kheshigs!" Temujin roared loudly. "We retreat back to the inner walls, we have delayed them enough!" He then leaped onto the alpha bison with his air-bending.
The nomads quickly begin their retreat. Amgalan was limping towards the bison, as his leg was hurt by one of the acolyte's attack. Ganbaatar meanwhile, helped Lei onto a bison, and everyone else also went on.
As the bisons ascended to the air, Satchiko can't help but notice something.
"Wait, where is my sister?" Satchiko asked with a demoralized mood. She lost the will to fight already, and only wanted to go away from the violence as fast as possible.
"She is with Subutai, they should be in the inner district of this stupid town by now!" Batzorig muttered underneath his helmet. "This stupid town and its stupid mayor, I don't want to come back here again!" His rant can be heard all throughout the sky.
...
"Let us in! The raiders are coming, we would all die out here if you don't let us through!" A fearful and anxious peasant from massive crowd of common folks banged on the closed wooden gate. The entire inner district have been walled off, preventing anyone outside from entering. So far, a large gathering of the town's common folks are trying to force themselves into the safety of the inner district. But after retrieving their families and food, they were denied entrance after the last wealthy members of society have retreated behind the safety of the inner district.
"What is going on, why aren't the gates opening! The mayor is incompetent, I get it, but he wouldn't be so cruel as to not even allow his own subjects to be safe would he?" Mayumi asked Subutai, who have years of experience ready to be unleashed on the righteous Kyoshi warrior. Aunt Meng only sat in a depressed mood as the Kheshig begin his small 'lecture'.
The old nomad made a sign, stroking his beard. "Young one, you ask me why the mayor is being cruel, I say why wouldn't he?" The response surprised Mayumi, who didn't expect such straightforwardness. "Sedentary leaders are all the same, they can do such heinous acts without accountability, and you should accept that such actions are quite common around the Earth Kingdom. It is a simple trick in the playbook to sacrifice your expendable cattle to prevent your own family from being killed by bandits. In this case, the cattle are the commoners, poor and helpless, their deaths serve no difference at all except to bail the rulers and his close friends out of trouble. That is all. In my opinion, none of the rulers in their permanent towns and villages are capable leaders."
Mayumi didn't sit well with that argument, her own father is also a sedentary ruler. "If my father is the one ruling this town, he would be letting those people through the moment this place is under attack!"
"You seem to held your father at a high regard." Subutai then reacted by pointing at the walls, letting her know that there is no one standing on it. "The guards in there are probably too ashamed to even peak their heads over the walls. But it doesn't matter, it's not like anyone of us can just go over the walls and unlock the gates from behind.
Mayumi took a long good look at the bastion. It is quite tall, but not too unscalable. The surface is made of bricks that is perfectly paved. She did notice a spot where stones appear more rough, and have few sharp edges where she can climb on.
"My father may be a weak man physically, but he is my village's chief for a reason." Mayumi stretched her hands and arms, placing her katana in a secure position.
"Oh?" The old Kheshig wondered. "Your people allow someone who is not a warrior to be your village leader? How interesting. Our Khan is the leader because of his strength, and he lead us through the turmoil of the Earth Kingdom!"
"Correct, your leader is what your people needs, his quality is what serves your people the best. But my father, while different from the Khan, doesn't need to be a strong person to be a chief. Even if he doesn't want to be chief." She fastened her armor, making it tighter for action. "They made him the chief because he qualifies. He has foresight."
She finished her sentence, then charged towards the walls. Subutai widened his eyes as the Kyoshi warrior bolted across the distance with extreme agility.
Mayumi leaped onto a person's head, using it as a platform to jump to another person's face. The weight of her full grown body is of course very painful on the folks she used as stepping stones. She knows this, but she also knew that saving lives is much more important than acting nicely to others.
"Hey!" A farmer yelled as Mayumi's boot is stepped onto his forehead. "Get off!"
After crushing the face of so many people with her boots. She finally traversed over the massive crowd and came into the wall's distance.
She launched herself from a person's shoulder, latching onto the wall. It was very difficult to grasp the wall's surface with only her gloved hands, as this is the first time she has tried this trick. She knew Suki performed something similar during the Hundred Year War, when her great grandmother tell the tale of her single handily captured Boiling Rock's prison warden during a riot.
Mayumi scaled to the top of this beautifully made wall. When she arrived she noticed that a few guards are cowering on the wall walk. Just like Subutai said, they don't want to bear anymore humiliation from the people. Crouching like this means no one can see them.
"What in the name of Avatar Kyoshi are you soldiers all doing!" Mayumi berated the men. She is disappointed at the garrison here, bullying the commoners during peace, and abandoning them when some raiders are coming. As a Kyoshi warrior who dedicate her life to protecting her home, she is inevitably disgusted at the contrasting conduct of these so called soldiers.
One of the guards, who is presumably the squad leader, stand up. He explained to the Kyoshi warrior, who is doing very well to remain calm but stern at the same time.
"We are following orders by the mayor!" He stuttered, hoping to clear away his responsibility. "Our job is to stop the commoners from climbing the walls, so that they can be here when the raiders come."
Mayumi narrowed her eyes, her normally pretty looks now appear very judging. The guards manning the walls can see her anger despite the heavy layers of makeup. "And why is the chief, or shall I say mayor of this town have such nefarious commands! Doesn't he want his people to be safe! It is a shepherd's duty to look after the sheep under their care!"
"They just laborers, who cares!" The squad leader defended. "Besides, it's not like the town of Shang would permanently be depleted of its labor! The mayor's decision is for these peasants outside the gate to satisfy the raider's plunder. When all they are all dead and their possessions stolen, all we need to do is remain inside the inner district while the outer district is being plundered and looted. At that point, surely the invaders would fulfill their appetite and leave!"
Mayumi slapped the squad leader across the face. It wasn't a strong, but the message was clear.
Mayumi's disappointment is hard to contain. Perhaps comparing her own father to the mayor is like differentiating a dragon and a eel. The difference is day and night. While she is not ignorant towards the existence of incompetent leaders, experiencing such regretful reality made her question whether all leaders asides from her father is like this.
"Your job is to stop anyone from climbing over the walls, but not preventing anyone from opening the gate!" Mayumi walked down the stairs, prompting the squad leader to act.
"But our orders are to-"
"Your orders?" Mayumi ridiculed the guard. "Ha! You salary and pride do not make you true guardians of this town. You do not deserve the uniforms you wear, for you do not understand the true meaning of being a warrior!"
Not a single guard followed her off the walls, as her words prevented them from doing so.
When Mayumi finally reached the back of the large wooden gate, she realized that she made a slight miscalculation. The door is completely barricaded. Wooden logs, sandbags and even stacks of rocks are used to block up the entrance. Her non-bending body alone would not be able to remove the obstacles. This is bad, she thought.
"Hey! Who are you!" Suo said, coming up behind her.
She turned around, noticing that same guard captain who tried to woo her when she was in disguises. She wondered if she can use the same trick twice.
"What in the world are you doing here!" Suo hushed. "I know you, you trick me before didn't you! Aunt Meng's assistant!"
Suo immediately raised his hand into a fist, but Mayumi's next act made him question the fabric of reality.
Mayumi is now sobbing, she covered her face with her hands and proceeded to cry on the ground. "What am I ever going to do!" She then cried even more.
"Um..." Suo scratched his head.
"I am so sorry for lying to you, but my whole family is still outside the gates, and they will be killed by the raiders!" Mayumi said, tears trailing and voice sorrowful. A damsel in deep distress, worrying about her family. "My dear poor mother, who is just a frail lady that wouldn't even harm a fly. And my lovely father, who is suffering from a head disease, doesn't even know how to speak like a normal person. And then there is my precious baby sister, who still doesn't even know how to Earth bend! It doesn't matter now because all of them would be gone soon!" She cried even louder, even people outside the wall can hear her.
"Hey!" Suo tried to calm her down. "Be quiet! Look, I might not be from around here, but I can emphasize!" He looked around unsure what to do. It appears Suo's worries are still not vanquished after he excused himself from the front line.
Mayumi raised her tearful face to look at Suo. "Why did this happen to me? A maiden like me should never experience such sadness. Oh what am I going to do! My mother and father always wanted me to find a good husband, but it looks like they cannot see me getting married! For all my life none of the men that have tried to court me were accepted by them, if only they can live to the day when a suitable son in law shows up. Them they would truly be happy!" Mayumi punched the earth to vent her frustration.
Suo on the other hand, is suddenly exhilarate at what the beautiful Kyoshi warrior said. He couldn't believe his ears. Like a miner who have found a goldmine, the spirits have certainly blessed him with a potential to be with a world class woman.
"All of you on the walls!" Suo barked at the squad leader and the other guards. "Remove the barricade and open the gate!"
"But what about the plan?" The squad leader pointed it out. "Wouldn't they attack here too?"
Suo thought about it for a while, and a good idea came to him.
"Just do as I say!" Suo waved at the guards. Following the command of a superior officer, people manning the wall have finally come down and torn down the barricades. They swiftly opened the wooden gate, and people all poured right into the inner district, quickly overwhelming the nearby guards. Children, mothers, elderly, all entered the safety of the walls.
Subutai and Aunt Meng also entered, of course being wary of the presence of the guards.
"Your parents are saved!" Suo said, very proud of what he has done for himself. "You know, maybe you should introduce me to your family, I would like to know them a bit, and ask your parents for a special permission." He is clearly hinting about taking Mayumi as his wife, after all, her looks are far above the average fish in the ocean. In his mind, saving a girl's entire family would one hundred percent guarantee Mayumi's hand in marriage.
But when he spun around, he realized that the crying woman on the floor is no longer here. He spinner his head around, trying to find Mayumi. She has vanished without a single trace.
"What are you looking for? Unattainable dreams?" Meng asked the bewildered guard captain. She quickly snatched his palm and did a quick reading on skin lines. "Don't worry, you will be matched with someone, a person of true love. But I highly doubt my assistant is in your league."
Suo involuntarily sighed. "I know, no way a liar like her deserves to be with me!"
Subutai covered his mouth, stopping his laughter. "You sedentary folks intrigue me."
...
The bisons have landed on a wall turret, and all the passengers have arrived safely to the inner district.
Batu and Satchiko were the first to reach the ground, meeting up with Mayumi, who is having her big sister face.
With her arms crossed, and face frowning, Mayumi marched right in front of Satchiko, who nervously met her gaze.
"You made a big mistake little sister!" She begin, blasting Satchiko of her impulsive action. "You could have been killed!"
Mayumi doesn't need to ask any question to grasp the brutality of the battle. One glance at the tired and exhausted Kheshig men is more than enough to paint a picture. As for Lei and his guerrillas, they are in even worse shape judging by their unconscious bodies. The four men were being carried off the bisons by others.
"I don't want to sound bossy, but what you did today was completely unacceptable!" She used her finger to stab Satchiko's chest plate. "You just ran off to danger, all by yourself! This is just like the last time, you almost got swallowed by the Unagi. All I wanted was for you to be safe! Is it that hard! You may be a Kyoshi warrior, yet you still lack the discipline and restraint of one. This isn't just another game where you lose and everything returns to normal my dear sister, no, this time, the enemy is much stronger, and you could have lost everything!" Mayumi never yelled at Satchiko so loud in her life. She might have went overboard, as Satchiko couldn't even muster the courage to defend herself.
All the Kheshigs watched quietly as Mayumi unloaded her frustration, but Batu quickly intervened before the older sister can further crushing Satchiko.
"You don't need to say anything else," Batu mediated. "Something happened there, and I wish none of us saw it."
Mayumi then watched as the boy looked down at the ground, sulking. But her sister is in an even more depressed state. Concern begin to rise from Mayumi as she realized that something very wrong has happened to her little sister.
"Remember that little girl earlier?" Satchiko weakly said. "She is gone."
Mayumi processed that word with great difficulty. She now noticed the little doll, the head poking outside Satchiko's kimono.
"She doesn't have parents, no food and no home, she had nothing. Yet she still have to suffer." Satchiko tried not to cry, as she doesn't want to appear weak in front of so many people. "If you had just given me the chance to ask her to follow us, maybe she would have still be here, and maybe, she might even go on to become a Kyoshi warrior just like one of us!"
Mayumi felt guilt, a lot of it. Nothing she said now could possibly rectify her action with Satchiko. For the first time, their unbreakable sisterhood had finally found a small crack. But if they are not careful, that crack will only grow larger.
There was a long silence between the two of them, neither of them knew what to do about it.
"I will never allow anything like that happen to you." Mayumi whispered into Satchiko's ears. "I don't care about who I would marry or traveling around the world, my commitment is to you."
Batu gave them some space, and returned to Khenbish. The nomad warrior is carrying Amgalan with Batzorig to see the physician. And the little boy only followed them. Right now, Batu's father is still unaware his action during the battle.
But the truth would get out soon eventually.
Author's note: I have read the comic Suki Alone, and this is what I have to say. The golden headdress of Suki is now confirmed to be a design worn by a leader of a chapter of warriors. While I have always felt that is indeed the case, I didn't went that path because I felt it would be a good touch to have the headdresses go a similar route of samurai clans. Each family having their unique names and symbols. I forgot to mention in the last chapter, I change Akahana's current headdress to a similar design Suki has. It is larger because she is a leader, and Mayumi and Satchiko can only wear smaller one(the exact headress design as Suki). Since the hierarchy of their organization is not exactly clear, I can only make assumptions and substitutes to make the story more interesting. The comic does not address the existence of other villagers on the island, which I am not sure if it's good of bad. It depends. Once again, feel free to leave some questions.