Hakoda walked along as best he could using his spear as a crutch. He had really taken a tumble when Appa fell, shielding Sokka and Katara from as much of the force as he could. Luckily the sky bison had enough forward momentum to glide to a less deadly descent, but he had definitely had seen better days. Katara had healed as much as she could within a couple minutes and then moved on to Appa, where she was still working to undo the damage done.
Lightning. Spirits, they had lightning. At least it seemed to be just the one, but even then this lightningbender had done more than enough damage. Not to mention rally their enemies. Nothing to boost morale like a blast from the heavens to smite your foe, he thought grimly. Sokka had said it must be Azula. If this was the fire nation princess, what was the firelord capable of?
But it didn't matter anymore. The eclipse was upon them and they had the advantage. His men charged through and rocks were sent flying, walls left behind now that there was no fire, but the earthbenders stayed on the sides all the same. The eclipse only lasted eight minutes, no sense in throwing caution to the waves just yet. He looked up through his eclipse-goggles.
That was what saved them.
"Arrows!" The earthbenders startled at his desperate shout, but enough reacted to pull up cover to save them. Hundreds of small thuds sounded through the rock covering and Hakoda let himself sigh. They would have been dead. Now they could just-
Just what? They couldn't leave the earthbent shelter without being skewered by arrows. They could try to create more shelter as they went, but it would just mean moving their self made cage. The cliffs on the sides and the forces in front... He could assume they were surrounded by now, except perhaps the rear. What should he do?
Appa began groaning and thrashing about, trying to leave the enclosed space. Katara managed to calm him down with soft words and healing water, the lessening pain soothed him enough for now but he was close to panicking. If he hadn't been so hurt, things might have been more difficult.
One side of the cave opened and a figure rushed in, closing the small hole quickly behind him. One of the earthbenders from the tanks, desperate for orders. The tanks could advance to the capital, it was not much further, but the climb was steep and inside it would be too narrow for them. And the archers were too far away and too mobile to hit with earthbending.
Hakoda gave the order to advance, using the earthbenders in the tanks to move the walls forward as those inside couldn't see where to go. And there wasn't enough room in the tanks left to transport them all. They would just have to make do like this, and advance to the capital.
What could they do once they got there? They didn't have enough shields left to protect them from the arrows, and the earthbenders couldn't see everything all at once in time to stop so many little missiles. Even now small thuds hit the walls and ceiling from all around, constantly reminding them what they would face the instant they left the shelter.