Unbreakable Bond

I'm going to kill them.

Jade had spent the last five minutes rushing around the camp's entrance, yelling for Tess and Isis. Minutes that could have been spent helping defend the camp. She couldn't waste anymore time. The rebels needed her to protect them from Barrak...and the Fire Nation. She wasn't sure what he was planning, but he had gathered the rest of the rebels in front of the entrance.

Jade turned her attention to Barrak. She carefully made her way across the front towards the soldiers, wary of the earthbenders who were trying to plug up the hole in the front wall. Arrows kept flying through, stabbing into anything in their path and warring off anyone who dared to come close. 

"Get it covered!" Barrak yelled as he climbed the steps to the wall-walk, stopping midway. He turned and addressed his soldiers. "Alright, men! It's time for action. We either let those smoke-breathers barge into our base, or we give 'em what for!" The rebels yelled in agreement.

"Raise your hand if you're a bender," Barrak shouted. Five hands shot up, including Kass'. She stood with a taut jaw and a hungry look in her eyes, ready for battle. "You all come with me. It's time to remind those smoke-breathers who they're messin' with!" He smiled as the benders shouted an agreement. Then he looked at the non-benders. "The rest of you...hold down the fort. This shouldn't take long."

Jade couldn't believe her ears. Was he seriously only taking the benders and leaving most of the other capable soldiers behind? Even after being told by his own father—and their general— that he was to include herself in the attack? She stormed over to the stairs and was about to give him a piece of her mind when a masculine voice broke through the yelling.

"Am I hearing right?" J.G. said from the back of the crowd. He gripped a rusty spear—or, as he called it, Angie. It had been passed down from generation to generation, and it was one of J.G.'s most prized possessions. "You're going to leave the rest of us behind?" His bushy eyebrows scrunched into a bewildered scowl. "You do realize that this is most of your army, don't you?" 

Jade could always count on good old J.G. to question the commands of his superior. She hoped she would be as brazen as he when she was old.

"I know that," Barrak snapped. "But now's the time to have the strongest in the front lines."

Jade's blood boiled and her fingers curled into fists. He had some nerve. She was sure she could take any one of his beloved benders in a duel. Easily.

"I won't lie,"J.G. said, stroking his mustache. "I see a lot of flaws in this plan."

That's putting it nicely.

Barrak's jaw tensed, which would normally bring Jade some amount of joy. But not now.

Calm down. Don't whine. Be professional, and don't treat him like a noodle-bodied, brainless jerk. Technically, He's your superior. Just...give him the respect he doesn't deserve.

"He's right, Barrak," Jade said. "If you take the benders, that will leave the camp more vulnerable if you fail."

"We won't fail," Barrak shot back. "And I'm not taking all the benders." He jutted his chin over at the four earthbenders standing on the pillars.

"General Tilak already gave us an order," Jade pushed.

"Well he's not conscious right now. That leaves me in charge." He flicked the hair out of his eyes then winked at Jade. "Relax, by the time they know what's happening, we'll be dancing on their graves. And this way you and your sisters can stay safe. So you're welcome!"

Jade wanted to scream. And punch him. In the face. Hard. He had no idea what he was doing. He was a boy dressed up in a man costume. And everyone was going to suffer because of it.