Yianna awoke with a start, a nearby explosion still ringing in her ears as she started to attempt to gain her bearings. She quickly looked around for Aang who was already up, dressed, and looking out of the entrance of the healing tent.
"They hit the weapons storage" Aang said as he tilted his head to look at her, half updating her and half checking to see how she was doing.
Yianna quickly shot out of bed and started placing her own armor on. "We need to get out there, are you okay to fight?" Though she already knew the answer, she had to ask regardless.
"Still really sore but I'll get over it." Aang smirked back at her. She knew he was worse off than he was letting on, but she wouldn't press it because she knew she couldn't convince him to stay anyway. "I'll have your back today" she started. Aang responded: "don't you always?" To which Yianna smiled. "Always."
Aang and Yianna quickly ran towards the direction of the armory. They saw Arnook had beaten them to the blaze. Waterbenders were quickly snuffing out the flames and assessing the damage as additional volleys could be seen hitting other nearby structures. "We need to put these fires out!" Arnook called out. "Aang! Protect the food storage!"
Calling to some nearby Waterbenders, pulling them from their task, "on me!" Aang yelled as he ran towards the food storage facilities that were being targeted next. Jumping into the air, Aang and two other benders drew water from the nearby canal to block the oncoming volleys, protecting the necessary supplies.
"How do they know where to hit us?" Yianna yelled over towards Aang. "I don't know! They aren't close enough yet to see specific targets so easily!" Aang responded as he blocked another flaming shot, grimacing in the process. This brief moment was enough to let one volley through which grazed the food storage building, collapsing the side wall partially.
The shelling slowed as if to assess the damage they had caused.
Aang looked behind him to see buildings that were damaged but still standing. "Shore up our defenses!" He said to the Waterbenders closest to him who rushed to comply.
Aang walked to Yianna, lightly holding his side.
Just then, Katara and Sokka came rushing towards them. "What can we do?"
Aang didn't immediately respond. Though he looked over at Yianna to confirm what he had already been silently thinking.
"They have to have spies" Yianna began. Katara and Sokka were shocked. "Spies?" They both said in unison. "Here?" They both turned pale at the thought. "They have to." Aang started, "how else would they know exactly where to hit us that would hurt us the most."
Sokka continued: "If they took out our weapons storage and our food supply, we wouldn't last long under their consistent pressure, so it adds up."
"But who?" Katara started.
"That's what we need to find out." Aang gravely finished. Aang turned to them both: "Katara, Sokka, I need you to find your Dad and relay what we've talked about to him. Task him with finding this spy. If there is one."
"We can find this person Aang, don't worry." Sokka began but Aang quickly responded: "No, we don't know who is relaying this information or even how many individuals it may involve. As a matter of fact, I'm not even sure if there is a spy. It's just speculation at this point. Bring this information to your Dad and please let him handle it. You guys need to stay safe and focus on bolstering our defenses right now and figuring out what other targets might be candidates for other strikes."
Sokka and Katara only nodded at this. "Promise me you won't go after the spy, relay the information to your Father." Katara answered quickly for the both of them: "We promise."
As they began to walk away, Katara mumbled to Sokka: "We gotta find out what possible next targets are and what better person to tell us than the spy!" Sokka just smirked and shook his head: "Of course you find the one loophole and run with it."
Aang smiled softly at this as Katara and Sokka ran off, then turning to Yianna. "We have a counter assault to plan."
Yianna sighed: "We are going for the command ship aren't we?"
"You bet" Aang smirked in response.
As they began to walk towards a group of Waterbenders waiting for their orders, Yianna whispered to Aang, "what are the chances they won't go after the spies themselves." Aang sighed at this: "I hope Katara and Sokka stick to their word for their safety, but my guess is they'll go out looking for them anyway." Yianna only nodded at this, "I hope they stay safe."
Author's note: I know it has been YEARS since I have written anything for this and for that I am really sorry. Life just got in the way and my interest waned a bit. I will continue to occasionally post for this though, this has been something I've worked on for the better part of a decade and I'd like to see it through to the end. I started this story in high school and now I finished college, my master's degree, been through 3 jobs, and I just got married! So, it's definitely been a story that I've carried through my adult life. Thanks to everyone who has stuck around to read this and I hope you get just as much enjoyment out of reading it as I do writing it!