"I can't BELIEVE this!" Azula shouted angrily.
The ever-widening circle that Azula was pacing was marked by the scorched, blackened undergrowth around her. Azula was practically on fire herself; she was so enraged. Ty Lee nervously bounced on her heels, following Azula with her large grey eyes. Mai twirled a dagger in her hands, seemingly uninterested.
"Our plan was perfect!" Azula fumed. "We KNEW that the Avatar was playing in Pao Shen! Zuko would have been with him! We HAD the upper hand until SOMEONE spied on us and told those villagers!"
At that comment, Ty Lee's anxious eyes flitted to Mai for a brief second. "I'm sure nobody spied on us, Azula." She tried to soothe the raging princess.
"Hmmm... you're right. Those idiotic villagers don't know up from down anyway." She stopped in her pacing. "Unless..." she trailed off, her eyes cold and calculating.
Ty Lee's nervous gaze found Mai's once again. Although Mai seemed bored, she was just trying to be unassuming. It was Mai who had told Zuko and the villagers to flee before Azula arrived. Their trio had arrived to an empty village with no clues to where the Avatar and his friends had gone. Undoubtedly, Azula was furious. It was only a matter of time before she guessed the truth. Until then, Mai tried to appear uninterested.
Mai felt her heart sink as Azula turned her fiery glare on her. She stifled an apprehensive gulp as Azula threateningly stepped towards her.
"Unless..." Azula repeated in a deathly quiet tone. "We were betrayed." Suddenly, Azula's hand shot out and swatted Mai's dagger to the ground. "What exactly were you doing on your 'extra patrol' last night, Mai?"
Mai forced a sigh and looked down at the ground. "I was patrolling." The assassin said nonchalantly.
Evidently that didn't satisfy the princess. Azula roughly grabbed Mai's chin and forced her to meet her menacing gaze. "You BETRAYED us, didn't you, Mai! For my disgrace of a brother even! You traitorous imbecile! I-"
"Azula! Stop, please!" Azula's blazing glare snapped to Ty Lee.
"Please, stop!" The acrobat begged, placing a gentle hand on Azula's arm. "It wasn't Mai!"
Azula cocked her head at the girl. "Oh? It wasn't Mai? Then who do you propose it was then?" She asked in a sickeningly sweet voice.
Ty Lee's gaze shifted uncomfortably, but she didn't answer the firebender. Azula's hands firmly grasped Ty Lee's wrists and squeezed threateningly. Pain flashed in the acrobat's eyes, but Ty Lee gritted her teeth.
"Ty Lee, I ask again... who betrayed me?" Azula asked coldly, her eyes flaring.
Ty Lee's grey eyes grew as wide as saucers as she stammered out an explanation. "I-I-I-ow- I got Mai to switch patrols with me and-ow- I just- I just went to the village- just to visit the pets-they're so so so cute and- ow- I just told them to- to- keep their pets safe and- I-I- I didn't know that they'd tell- tell the Avatar- I'm so sorry! It was me!" Tears spilled out of Ty Lee's eyes as she finished her story.
Azula froze, obviously stunned by Ty Lee's confession. Mai was grateful that Azula had turned away so that she didn't see the expression of utter disbelief on the assassin's usually stoic face. Mai watched Azula's grip become tighter and a short sound of pain came from Ty Lee. She could feel the heat of Azula's anger radiating off of the princess. She watched with bated breath as Azula decided her next course of action.
Suddenly, the firebender let out a wicked laugh. The sound reverberated through the forest around them and sent chills down Mai's spine. Ty Lee let out a yelp as Azula began burning her wrists again. Mai forced herself not to react.
"Mai?" Azula asked, eerily calm. "Leave us."
Mai fought down the refusal that rose in her throat. if she accidentally revealed anything, it might blow her cover or bring Ty Lee more pain. Instead, Mai let out a sigh that she hoped seemed passive.
"Fine. Don't kill her, though. She can still be of use to us." She spoke distantly, almost as though the words weren't coming from her own mouth. She felt a sharp pang of guilt when she saw hurt flash across Ty Lee's face. "I'll get us a room in Bao Pai. It's only a few miles north of here. Meet me there later tonight."
With that, Mai left, hoping that she seemed calm and unfeeling. As soon as she was out of earshot, Mai ran from the scene, trying desperately to hold back her tears. Finally, exhausted, she fell to her knees and broke down.
"Why, Ty Lee?" She whispered angrily through her tears.
The acrobat knew that Mai had betrayed them. As much as Ty Lee wanted everyone to believe that she was stupid, Mai knew better. Why on Earth would Ty Lee take the blame for Mai? Mai's gut twisted as she tried not to imagine what Azula was doing to punish the acrobat...
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Mai threw dagger after dagger into the ceiling above her. The inn was inconspicuous, practically devoid of guests, and best of all, cheap. The bed she was laying on had a faintly musty scent laced with alcohol and sweat. It creaked every time she moved her arm to throw another knife.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
It had been hours since she had checked in to Bao Pai. Knots formed in Mai's stomach and she searched for a way to distract herself. She had lost count of the number of daggers she had thrown up at the now ruined ceiling.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Knife-throwing had always been a form of relaxation for Mai. She found peace knowing that she was in control. She held the power of the dagger in her hand. The assassin had trained her entire life in secret just to master the art of throwing knives. This time, no matter how many knives she threw, Mai couldn't rid herself of the anxiety threatening to overwhelm her.
Thud! Thud! Th-
Just as Mai threw another dagger at the ceiling, the door to the room quietly opened. Mai inhaled sharply and schooled her face into an expression of boredom. To an observer, the practiced movement would have seemed almost second nature to the gothic assassin.
Azula entered the room, a smug aura practically radiating off of her. Mai discreetly scanned the hallway for any sign of Ty Lee, but soon reached the conclusion that only Azula had returned from the clearing.
"Well, you're back early." Quipped Mai, trying to quell the anxiety constricting her chest.
Azula met Mai's gaze with a searching look of her own. The firebender's eyes raked over Mai's face, as if looking into the assassin's soul. Mai found it ironic that although Azula was a FireBender, the princess had the coldest glare she had ever seen.
Evidently, the princess found what she was searching for in the depth of Mai's amber pools. With a cackle, she said, "Sorry we took so long. Ty Lee got caught up in some... things. We'll be collecting her in the morning."
Azula's comment was so... calm and unfeeling. Anger roared in Mai's mind and icy claws of fear gripped her heart. Mai couldn't even begin to fathom a response. To distract herself, Mai rose from the creaky bed and closed the blinds with a snap. A cloud of dust rose from the obviously rarely used curtains. The sun was beginning to set, so Azula used her fingers to light the excuses for candles on the table adjacent to her bed.
As the blue fire danced on the wick, Mai watched, transfixed. Fire was capable of such beauty and wonder, yet Azula used it to terrorize and hurt people. Mai briefly wondered what it would be like to have that power; to bring such beauty and pain into the world with her bare hands. She shuddered imperceptibly and began twirling her dagger in her hands.
Out of the corner of her eye, Mai watched Azula pull out a beaten copy of "Fire Nation Victories" and begin to read by candlelight. Although Azula was all fiery temper, she had a cool, calculating logic that allowed her to think ahead. Azula enjoyed reading the successes of previous great fire nation leaders. Mai thought the reading to be rather dull, but she didn't dare say otherwise.
After a few hours, Azula turned and blew out the candles lightly. "Get some sleep, Mai. We collect the traitor at dawn, then continue our mission."
Mai's heart clenched as she thought of Ty Lee alone in the woods. She wondered what on Earth Azula had done to the acrobat. Mai lay awake, staring at the hole-ridden ceiling above her, knowing sleep was a long time coming...
Mai wasn't sure how long she'd lain in bed, anxiously waiting for Azula to fall asleep. She hoped that the firebender couldn't hear her heart beating out of her chest. Mai forced herself to breathe slowly to simulate sleep.
As much as she hated herself for it, Mai couldn't immediately run to Ty Lee's aid. The moment she got up, Azula would confront her. Mai was a good liar, but she wasn't that good. Azula would find out that Ty Lee had lied to save Mai, so her sacrifice would have been in vain. Mai inwardly winced at the word sacrifice.
At last, Azula's breaths even out, signalling her slumber. Mai quietly got to her feet. Years of going unnoticed had given Mai the ability to move soundlessly. She grabbed her belt and fastened the dagger and sheath into the worn loop. The assassin donned a thick cloak to combat the cold night wind. After a moment's deliberation, Mai rolled up the thin blanket off of her bed and slipped it in her pack.
After quietly leaving the room, Mai tiptoed down the stairs. The moment she was out of possible earshot from Azula, Mai took off as fast as her feet could carry her. Blood roared in her ears as her heart pounded with exertion and anticipation. The assassin felt guilt constrict her throat and she tried her hardest not to panic. As Mai neared the clearing, she couldn't help but imagine a battered Ty Lee. Horrible images filled her mind and spurred her on even faster. Mai felt sick as the world spun around her.
Mai stopped a few yards away from the clearing. Her view was blocked by a wall of bushes in front of her. Mai was relieved yet terrified at the same time. She caught her breath and willed herself to stay calm. Since she'd stopped sprinting, Mai suddenly realized how cold it was outside. She shivered and pulled the cloak tighter around her thin frame. After a few deep breaths, Mai stepped into view of the clearing...
Mai gasped in horror. She didn't know what she expected to find, but nothing could have prepared her for the scene that lay before her eyes. The clearing that had once been teeming with life was completely burned and blackened. Soot crunched underfoot and some areas were still smoking. The trees had been burned away, leaving the assassin with a clear view of the night sky. The stars blinked coldly down at her as the ashes swirled in the cool night breeze.
In the center of it all, Ty Lee hung by her wrists from the one remaining tree. A rope tied the acrobat's arms above her battered body. Mai almost passed out, honestly believing that the other girl was dead, but she heard pitiful wheezing breaths emanating from Ty Lee's chest.
With relief and horror, Mai ran to Ty Lee's aid. Mai numbly cut the rope above Ty Lee with her dagger. She caught the acrobat's limp body in her arms and slowly lowered the unconscious girl to the ashen ground. In growing revulsion, Mai's eyes skimmed Ty Lee's body, taking in cuts and bruises and burns. In horror, Mai glimpsed angry red hand-shaped burns curling around the acrobat's thin neck.
That was Mai's breaking point. The assassin blanched and lunged towards the bushes surrounding the clearing. She emptied the contents of her stomach into the bush, tears streaming down her face. Mai couldn't process the unfairness, the horror, the utter disbelief she was feeling.
Kneeling, Mai wiped her face and struggled to compose herself. She took deep breaths to calm her roiling stomach and forced the anger and guilt out of her mind. After a few moments, Mai stumbled back to where Ty Lee lay.
The assassin couldn't think straight; all cool rationale had left her mind. All Mai could do was get both her and Ty Lee out of that godforsaken clearing. Without a moment's hesitation, Mai scooped up her unconscious friend, one hand under her knees and the other supporting the small of her back. Mai cradled the acrobat's head. When Ty Lee didn't show any signs of response, Mai tried to convince herself that it was a good thing.
Mai stumbled blindly in the direction of Bao Pai. Her body shook with exertion and repressed sobs. She tripped over tree roots and rocks and was repeatedly scratched by bushes and tree branches. She heard owls hooting around her and small animals scurrying through the brush. But all Mai was focused on was the sound of Ty Lee's ragged, shallow breaths.
Finally, Mai collapsed to the forest floor in exhaustion. The acrobat wasn't heavy, but Mai had been carrying the girl for nearly a mile. The trauma of the day had finally caught up with Mai and she simply couldn't carry Ty Lee any longer. Tears welled up in Mai's eyes but she refused to let them fall. The only way she could get Ty Lee to safety was by waking her up.
Mai lightly tapped the acrobat's cheeks, murmuring her name. "Ty? Ty Lee? Ty, wake up!" The girl showed no signs of response. Mai gave her a light shake, but still, the acrobat remained unconscious. Mai was beginning to worry. Why was Ty Lee unconscious in the first place? Perhaps the acrobat had passed out from pain or exhaustion. Mai hoped that she hadn't sustained head trauma. In the dim moonlight filtering through the canopy, Mai couldn't make out any evidence of a concussion.
Suddenly, Mai's ears caught the sound of trickling water. There was a stream about 10 yards to her left. With a groan, Mai half-dragged, half-carried Ty Lee to the bed of the stream. The assassin dipped a pale hand into the shallow creek. The water was bitterly cold. Perhaps Mai was desperate, but she decided to place Ty Lee in the water. She hoped that the cool water would rouse the acrobat and possibly soothe her burns.
Mai rose to her knees and slid her arms under Ty Lee's prone form. She lifted the acrobat and gently placed her in the water so that she was submerged up to her collarbone. Mai sat cross-legged on the bank of the stream, cradling Ty Lee's head in her lap. She combed her fingers through the acrobat's soft brown hair, trying to ease her into consciousness.
After a few moments, Ty Lee let out a whimper. Her big grey eyes fluttered open and she looked around. Her round, unfocused eyes met Mai's. Recognition flashed in their stormy depths.
"M-M-Mai?" Ty Lee asked in a strained voice.
Mai let out a breath that she didn't realize she'd been holding. "Hey, Ty." She responded, relieved.
Confusion flickered across Ty Lee's face as she obviously tried to piece together what was going on. "What happened? Did we- did we capture the Avatar? Where's- where's Azula?"
Before Mai could stop her, the injured gymnast sat up. The acrobat let out a brief gasp of pain. Mai SAW Ty Lee remember what happened. The acrobat looked like she had aged ten years, yet Mai had never seen her look more young and vulnerable.
Ty Lee had paled rapidly and her eyes began rolling into the back of her head. Mai worried that she might pass out again, so the assassin gently adjusted her so that Ty Lee was sitting up against Mai and was submerged up to her waist. Ty Lee looked shell-shocked, her face ashen and pale. Mai remained silent, unsure of what to say or do.
Suddenly, the acrobat turned around with a bright smile gracing her face. She wrapped her arms around Mai. "You- you came back!" She whispered, happily surprised.
The utter disbelief in Ty Lee's broken voice brought Mai to tears. She hugged her friend gently, relieved that Ty Lee was at least somewhat okay. After a few moments, Ty Lee gingerly pulled away. The gymnast gasped when she saw Mai's tear-streaked face.
"Mai! Are you- are you okay?" She asked, concerned.
Some of the guilt and anger resurfaced in Mai's mind. The assassin shook her head vehemently in response to the acrobat's question. "What the HELL were you thinking?" She asked, furiously swiping at the tears beneath her eyes.
Ty Lee cocked her head innocently. "What do you mean?"
Mai laughed in pitiful endearment. "Ty Lee, please don't play dumb with me. You know that I was the one who warned Zuko..." Mai trailed off, not wanting to mention anything else.
Ty Lee didn't answer, instead taking Mai's hand in her own cold ones. She studied Mai with her round grey eyes. After a moment, she said softly, "Mai... your aura's orange now..."
Mai pulled Ty Lee into another hug, angrily whispering in the acrobat's ear. "Never ever do anything like that again you crazy suicidal circus freak! Please, Ty Lee, for the love of Agni, save yourself for once! I can't lose you, Ty. It's not worth it..." Mai's voice broke.
Ty Lee wrapped her arms around Mai, offering her comfort.
Eventually, Mai broke the hug and looked her friend up and down. Ty Lee's body was still submerged up to her waist, so the water had washed away most of the soot and ash from her body to reveal her injuries. Mai couldn't make out Ty Lee's ankles and feet through the water, but she could see a large gash on Ty Lee's right thigh. As far as Mai could tell, it wasn't deep and the cut had scabbed. Mai's gaze traveled upwards. In the dim moonlight, Mai could make out some small cuts on Ty Lee's bare stomach and arms. Half of Ty Lee's pink shirt was torn off, the gaping tear singed at the edges.
Worst of all, though, were Ty Lee's hands. Mai gently took one of Ty Lee's hands and inspected it. There were dark red burns halfway up her forearms where Azula's hands had grabbed and burned her. Around her wrists, the skin was rubbed raw from rope burn. Ty Lee's palms were an angry, inflamed red. Mai felt bile rise up in her throat when she realized that Ty Lee probably used her hands to shield herself from Azula's wrath.
Sensing Mai's guilt and sadness, Ty Lee shifted uncomfortably. She let out a light laugh in an attempt to dispel the tension. "Mai, I'm fine! Don't worry! Everything's okay!"
Mai clenched her teeth and shook her head. "No. None of this is okay, Ty Lee."
Ty Lee's thousand-watt smile dimmed slightly as she tried to come up with a response. They sat in silence for a few moments, listening to the trickling water and the forest sounds.
Finally, Ty Lee let out a soft sigh. She looked at Ma, her eyes big and round and curious. "What- what do we do now?" She asked tentatively.
"I'm gonna KILL Azula." Mai growled.
Ty Lee's eyes grew as wide as saucers and her expression became terrified. "No no no, Mai! You can't!" She squeaked. "She's our friend and- Mai, it's okay! Can't we- can't we just pretend that nothing ever happened? Just go back to normal?"
"This DID happen, Ty Lee! There is NO GOING BACK TO NORMAL!" Mai roared in anger.
Still seething, Mai glanced down at her friend. Ty Lee suddenly looked so small, so young, and so vulnerable. She looked so afraid and... guilty? Mai immediately regretted yelling and her anger dissipated.
"Ty Lee, it's okay... I'm not mad at you, I promise. I just don't know what to do! This whole situation is wrong... so, so wrong..." Mai said, her voice small and regretful.
Ty Lee shook her head to protest Mai's guilt, but was immediately overcome by a wave of dizziness. She paled rapidly and her eyelids fluttered shut. The acrobat weakly grabbed Mai's hand to avoid slumping over and pressed her other hand to her head in pain.
"Ty!" Mai immediately shouted in concern, unsure of what was going on.
After a few minutes, one of Ty Lee's hands fell into the water with a splash, the other still holding Mai for support. "I'm f-fine..." Ty Lee said softly, still squeezing her eyes shut.
The assassin was not having the acrobat's excuses. Mai was so relieved that Ty Lee was awake and smiling and laughing that she had forgotten that the acrobat was terribly injured. Ty Lee's dizzy spell had snapped her back to the present and reminded her that she had to get the girl help.
"We're taking you to a healer." Mai declared with resolve, her grip tightening in preparation to lift up the acrobat.
"Wait!" Ty Lee protested, struggling to open her eyes against the dizziness. "You can't!"
"I CAN'T?" Mai scoffed. "The hell I can't. You just almost passed out. Again." She reminded the acrobat. 'I'm worried about you,' Mai added in her head.
"But-But what about Azula? What did you tell her?" Ty Lee asked in a small voice.
Mai hated the fear that crept into Ty Lee's tone. "I... I haven't told her anything. She's still in Bao Pai. Sleeping." 'I hope...' Mai thought.
"Mai... she'll think-she'll think that I'm still in the clearing! She'll know-know it was you that came to get me!" Ty Lee insisted.
"I don't care." Mai spat.
"Yes, you do." Ty Lee said knowingly. "Mai... Azula is- Azula is our friend. We need her. And she- she needs us too. She's lonely and- and afraid and misguided. We're the only ones who- who stop her from doing terrible things. We all need each other." Ty Lee finished breathlessly.
Ty Lee's grey eyes were usually wide and vulnerable and full of childlike wonder, their round depths sparkling with excitement. But now, as Mai gazed into the, even though they glittered with pain and tears, they had never looked so wise.
"Ty... I hate it when you're right." Mai said after a moment of silence.
"I know." Ty Lee giggled, the childlike wonder returning to her grey irises.
"But we need to get you to a healer." Mai added desperately.
"But Mai, I'm fi-" Ty Lee insisted.
"Don't you dare say you're fine, Ty." Mai interrupted, her gaze boring into Ty Lee's.
God, Mai hated that Ty Lee was right. Mai was torn between her heart and her head. On one hand, Ty Lee was seriously injured. She was covered in burns and cuts and bruises. Those were only the injuries Mai could see. The acrobat could have broken a bone or have head trauma. Mai's heart screamed at her to just take her friend to a healer. She shouldn't even consider doing otherwise. However, the logical part of Mai knew that taking Ty Lee to a healer would have repercussions. For one, nobody in the Earth Kingdom was supposed know who they were or why they were there. Even if Mai did take Ty Lee to a healer, she had no excuse to explain Ty Lee's injuries. Azula was usually in charge of their cover stories. Most of all, Azula would most definitely object to Mai helping Ty Lee. Mai knew that she shouldn't care what Azula thought, but Azula is powerful and cunning and smart. It wouldn't take her long to realize that Mai had betrayed them, not Ty Lee. If the assassin was completely honest with herself, she was afraid of what Azula was capable of doing to herself, to Ty Lee, to Zuko, and to so many other innocent people. Ty Lee was right; the assassin and the acrobat were the only two merciful influences that Azula trusted in her life. They couldn't just leave, even if they wanted to.
"You need to get to a healer..." Mai repeated, if only to speak it aloud.
Mai shook her head to clear it of her conflicting thoughts. Ty Lee was looking at her expectantly, her grey eyes looked almost black in the dim moonlight. Mai let out a sigh of depressed resignation.
"Azula- she told me that we would come fetch you in the morning. Maybe I could convince her to take you to a healer then?" Mai didn't sound positive. She knew there was little chance of Azula showing any mercy towards the injured acrobat.
Ty Lee smiled and placed her hand on Mai's shoulder. "I'm sure you can convince her! I mean, I would try... but I don't think that Azula and I are on good terms right now..."
Mai let out a laugh despite herself. She shook her head in fond exasperation. "Only you, Ty Lee."
Ty Lee cocked her head. "Is that a good thing?"
Mai shook her head again and gave her friend a rare smile. "Are you ready to go back?"
Ty Lee nodded slowly in an attempt to avoid the onset of dizziness. "Of course!" She chirped.
Mai slowly extricated herself from Ty Lee's upper half, still supporting the acrobat's back. She knew that Ty Lee would need help standing up, if she could even remain upright. Kneeling on the bank of the stream, she slung the gymnast's arm around her shoulders. Slowly, Mai stood up, hoisting Ty Lee's body along with her. Ty Lee, to her credit, tried to push herself up with her feet and opposite hand.
However, as soon as Ty Lee was completely upright, she slumped against Mai. Her eyelids fluttered shut and she rapidly paled. The acrobat shivered against Mai and she let out a gasp of pain.
"Ty Lee, what's wrong? Are you okay?" Mai asked softly, supporting her friend's frame.
Ty Lee didn't respond to Mai. The gymnast's eyes were tightly shut against the sudden dizziness. She swayed unsteadily, threatening to topple over. Mai lifted Ty Lee into her arms in a similar manner to the way she had carried the acrobat to the stream. Mai stepped towards her pack that she had left under a nearby tree. She unrolled the comforter and bundled Ty Lee in it. Mai had just realized how cold Ty Lee must have been. The night was already freezing and she was soaking wet from being submerged in the cold stream. Mai rubbed Ty Lee's arms through the blanket, trying to warm the shivering gymnast.
Finally, Ty Lee blinked her eyes open and offered Mai a weak smile. "Sorry, I- I- I just stood up too- too fast."
Mai shook her head in concerned exasperation. "Do you need me to carry you?"
Ty Lee giggled. "No, Mai- it's okay! I'll walk." She said with determination.
Mai raised an eyebrow. "You sure?" She quipped.
"Yeah, I just probably won't be doing any cartwheels..." Ty Lee responded with conviction.
That remark should have made Mai laugh, but instead she was only filled with sadness when she realized the tumbling acrobat wouldn't be doing any jumps or flips any time soon. She gingerly set Ty Lee on her feet, the blanket still wrapped around the acrobat's slim shoulders. Ty Lee inhaled sharply but tried her hardest to concentrate on standing up. Mai kept one arm around Ty Lee's waist to support her.
After a few moments, Ty Lee nodded slowly at Mai. Reluctantly, Mai let go of the acrobat, allowing her to stand on her own. The gymnast somehow managed to remain upright, albeit swaying heavily. Ty Lee's eyes were screwed shut, leading Mai to wonder if the girl was dizzy. The assassin's question was soon answered when Ty Lee suddenly crumpled to the ground.
Mai's arms quickly shot out and encircled the acrobat. Ty Lee's eyes were half-closed in exhaustion and dizziness. She opened her mouth to say something but Mai quickly shushed her.
"Don't." Mai said, not coldly. "Just let me help, Ty."
"M'kay..." Ty Lee murmured into Mai's shoulder. "'m sorry, Mai."
'It's okay,' Mai wanted to say, but instead she slung Ty Lee's arm around her shoulders once again, holding her wrist. The assassin's other arm encircled the acrobat's waist. Mai knew that Ty Lee was in no shape to walk anywhere, but she also knew that she wasn't physically capable of carrying the acrobat all the way back to the clearing.
With a deep breath, Mai half-carried Ty Lee in the direction of the clearing. The acrobat was completely out of it. She stumbled blindly along with the assassin, letting out small gasps of pain. Her eyelids fluttered and her breaths were too shallow. Every few minutes, Ty Lee murmured apologies to Mai.
Mai was an expert at compartmentalizing. She could have felt concern, or anger, or guilt, or sadness, or exhaustion, but instead Mai shoved all of those feelings away into the dark recesses of her mind before they threatened to swallow her up. Ty Lee came first. She had to get them back to the clearing.
As Mai stumbled through the dark woods, everything blurred together. Her vision swam, either from exhaustion or tears. She could barely see the path in front of her. She prayed to Agni that they were at least heading in the right direction. Ty Lee had fallen almost completely silent, but Mai couldn't afford to stop now.
Finally, after what could have been hours or seconds, the assassin and the acrobat stumbled into the blackened clearing. Mai fell to her knees in relief. Glancing to her side, Mai realized that her acrobat had passed out at some point, either from exhaustion of pain or even just the sheer trauma of everything that had happened. Mai didn't know whether to be concerned that Ty Lee was unconscious or relieved that the acrobat had finally escaped the pain.
Mai looked skyward and saw utter darkness glaring back. Azula would not be awake for a few more hours, when the sun rose. It would be cruel to tie Ty Lee back up and leave her for hours. The assassin and the acrobat had earned a rest.
Soot crunching with every step she took, Mai placed Ty Lee up against the tree. She realized that the acrobat was still shivering, so she moved the blanket, preparing to secure it more tightly around her exuberant friend. As Mai lifted the blanket, she realized that because all the trees had been burned away, the moonlight lit up the clearing much more than the stream bed. Mai decided to quickly examine Ty Lee's injuries.
With a deep breath, Mai first looked at Ty Lee's head, searching for any evidence of a concussion or something to explain the acrobat's dizziness. By the light of the moon, Mai glimpsed a large bruise forming on Ty Lee's left temple. A bump was forming above Ty Lee's closed eye. The assassin knew that Ty Lee shouldn't be sleeping with a head injury that severe, but she didn't have the heart to wake the acrobat.
Mai's gaze traveled downward, studiously avoiding the burns on Ty Lee's neck. The acrobat's once pink shirt was almost completely burned. The edges of the gaping hole on the right side were singed and underneath, Ty Lee's right shoulder was burned. The burn was superficial, but Mai knew that it would still hurt. There were shallow cuts and a few bruises marking Ty Lee's toned arms, but none were any cause for great concern. Mai figured that they were probably from flyaway rocks and splinters, but she tried not to dwell on how Ty Lee received the injuries.
Once again, Mai studied Ty Lee's wrists. The delicate skin was inflamed and raw. Welts had begun to form over the rope burns. Ty Lee's hands were horribly burned from blocking Azula's blasts of fire. Mai quickly looked away.
Ty Lee's chest rose and fell quickly, her breaths shallow and wheezing. Mai knew that Ty Lee had probably inhaled copious amounts of smoke during her ordeal, which ravaged her lungs and windpipe. Looking at the fist-sized purple splotches, Mai wondered if Ty Lee's ribs were bruised, or even broken. Her gaze traveled even further down Ty Lee's body. The cut on her thigh had been reopened and a few streaks of blood dripped from the gash, but it was shallow.
Upon looking at Ty Lee's ankles, Mai turned and threw up what little she had left in her stomach. In utter horror, Mai stared at Ty Lee's feet. There were angry red, hand-shaped burns on Ty Lee's ankles with clawed gashes from FINGERNAILS raking over TyLee's sensitive arteries in her ankles. Mai glimpsed the burned red soles of Ty Lee's feet and flew into a white hot rage.
Their "friend" Azula had beaten, burned, and attempted to CRIPPLE Ty Lee with her bare hands. She left the poor acrobat hanging by her wrists alone during the cold night. She was probably in the cheap hotel room in Bao Pai sleeping peacefully with no regrets.
When the red haze finally dissipated from Mai's vision, tears gathered in her eyes and Mai finally let herself cry.
Mai cried for her country and the cruel nation she called home. She cried for Zuko and the Avatar, she cried for Azula, she cried for Ty Lee, and she cried for herself. They were all just kids, fighting in a war that wasn't even their own, losing pieces of themselves they hadn't even begun to comprehend.
Finally, there were no more tears left to cry. Mai wiped her eyes and shuffled closer to Ty Lee. She retrieved the thin blanket and wrapped it around the shivering acrobat. Ty Lee didn't stir.
Exhaustion hit Mai like a shrishu as she finally fell to her knees beside the acrobat. She could feel Ty Lee shaking through the blanket. Mai shifted closer to her friend. If anyone asked, Mai would insist that it was just to conserve body heat, but really, Mai just needed someone. The sky above them was still dark. As much as Mai fought against the tide of sleep, her exhaustion washed over her, forcing away the stress and anger and sadness. Mai felt all of her emotions fade away as she drifted into blissful nothingness.