Smoke and Steel
Mai and her rebels approached the city from the backside, the thick smell of smoke already hanging in the air. The sky was dark with the rising stacks of ash, and the distant echoes of battle rippled through the narrow streets. Every step they took brought them closer to the chaos, the tension in the air thick enough to choke on.
The city itself, usually bustling with life, now felt eerily empty. Windows were shuttered, doors bolted, and the few civilians they passed had fear etched into their faces as they hurried toward whatever safety they could find.
As they rounded a corner, a lean, battle-worn man rushed to meet them, his face grim and streaked with dirt. He gave Rangi a respectful nod, urgency clear in his eyes.
"Commander Rangi," he greeted breathlessly. "I'm Han Shu, second-in-command of the local faction. I'm glad you made it."
Mai remained silent, her presence unnoticed by Han Shu as he directed his attention solely to Rangi.
"What's the situation?" Rangi asked without delay.
"The north gate's overrun," Han Shu replied, wiping sweat from his brow. "The bandits are pushing hard toward the warehouses—if they get to the grain, the city won't make it through the winter."
Mai's jaw tightened. "What about the east gate?"
"They haven't broken through yet, but we're expecting them to hit the docks soon. If they control the docks, they'll cut off our supplies entirely."
Rangi swore under his breath, his eyes narrowing. "So, we're fighting on two fronts."
"Exactly," Han Shu confirmed. "We don't have the manpower to hold both gates for long. We're stretched thin as it is."
Mai surveyed the scene before her, the distant fires casting an orange glow over the rooftops. The sound of steel clashing with steel echoed from the north, while the east remained eerily quiet—too quiet.
"We'll take the east gate," Mai said, her decision firm. "We can't let them take the docks."
Rangi nodded in agreement. "If they take the grain at the north gate, it'll be a disaster, but if they control the docks, we lose everything. The whole city will starve, and the bandits will have the upper hand."
Mai's eyes flicked to her forces, seeing the tension in their faces, the grip on their weapons tightening as they prepared for the battle ahead.
"Get your forces ready," she ordered. "We'll cut them off at the east gate and make sure they don't reach the docks. I want the rest of your men holding the north for as long as they can."
Han Shu gave a quick nod. "Understood. We'll try to hold them at the north as long as possible, but we'll need help soon."
"We'll send support when we can," Rangi promised, though they both knew the odds were slim.
As Han Shu ran back toward his men, Mai motioned for her group to follow her through the narrow streets toward the east gate. The sound of battle grew louder with every step, the tension palpable in the air. As they neared the gate, the distant clamor of the docks came into earshot—the shouts of men, the creaking of wood, the splash of water against stone.
Mai's breath caught when she saw it. Beyond the walls, in the shadow of the gate, a large group of bandits was assembling. They were readying themselves for a full-scale assault, and it was only a matter of time before they broke through.
The wall came into view as Mai and Rangi rushed forward, the dire scene unfolding before them. The gate was already buckling under the pressure of the assault, cracks spider-webbing across the wood, and the relentless barrage from the outside showed no sign of stopping. It was clear—the gate was going to give way at any moment.
Rangi, always the first to act, immediately began barking orders. "Get those archers into position! We need suppressive fire on those earthbenders now!" His voice boomed, cutting through the din of battle.
Meanwhile, Mai held back with her Yuyan archers, her sharp eyes scanning the chaos from a distance. Beside her, Commander Shin stepped closer, his tone hesitant. "Lady Mai... Is it wise to leave command to Rangi? He's a capable fighter, but..." He trailed off, his concern evident.
A sly grin tugged at the corner of Mai's lips. "Rangi may seem like a muscle head, but he's smarter than he looks. He knows how to think on his feet. Besides, there's a reason the rebels trust him so much."
Shin nodded but remained unconvinced. Mai's eyes, however, were drawn to something else. The "bandits" outside the wall were far too organized for what they were supposed to be. Her instincts, always sharp, were screaming at her now.
"Did you see the way they're fighting?" she muttered, more to herself than anyone else. "Those aren't bandits. They're too coordinated."
Shin furrowed his brow. "What do you mean?"
Mai's gaze narrowed as she watched the non-benders outside the wall fire volleys of arrows with deadly precision, suppressing the rebel archers and earthbenders on the wall. Meanwhile, the earthbenders among the attackers were doing more than just bombarding the wall with rocks. They were trying to form slanted pillars to climb the wall, an organized and methodical strategy.
"This isn't just some random attack," Mai continued, her voice low and thoughtful. "They're suppressing our forces from afar while their benders work on breaching the wall. This feels planned... calculated."
Her bad feeling, the one that had gnawed at her since the start of the attack, intensified. Something about this assault wasn't right.
She turned to Shin, her expression sharp. "We'll take defensive positions behind the wall. When they break through, we'll hit them from inside as they come."
Shin blinked. "But... should we—"
"I'm not suited for leading troops in battle," Mai interrupted, her voice calm but decisive. "I work better in one-on-one fights. Sneak attacks. We'll strike when they least expect it."
Shin, though still concerned, nodded in agreement. Mai was right—her strengths lay elsewhere. And if the wall was going to fall, it was better to be prepared for what came next.
As Rangi continued to rally the troops on the wall, Mai took her Yuyan archers to set up a trap behind it, preparing to deal with the invaders once they breached the defenses.
Her instincts were rarely wrong, and something told her this fight was about to get a lot more complicated.
As the battle raged on, Mai remained crouched on the roof, her eyes scanning the chaotic scene below. The Yuyan archers beside her stood ready, their bows drawn, waiting for her command. The fight at the wall was fierce, but something gnawed at the back of her mind. She began to doubt her instincts—perhaps this was just another desperate raid. But then, from the corner of her eye, she noticed something.
The dirt near the side wall shifted unnaturally, just far enough from the main battle that it went unnoticed by most. Mai's gaze sharpened, locking onto the spot. A moment later, the ground erupted as a dozen bandits burst up from beneath, their faces twisted in concentration as they tunneled their way into the city.
Her heart sank. She knew something was off from the beginning. These aren't bandits. This is too calculated. She had limited knowledge of earthbending, but even she knew tunneling beneath walls required skill—something ordinary thugs didn't possess.
"Archers, fire!" Mai barked.
Without hesitation, the Yuyan loosed their arrows in unison. Each arrow flew true, piercing the invaders before they had a chance to react. The first wave fell in an instant, bodies hitting the dirt. But no sooner had they dropped than another wave surged through the tunnels, using the openings left behind to flood into the city.
Mai cursed under her breath, quickly assessing the situation. "Shin, take command!" she ordered, her voice cutting through the din. "Asha, with me!"
Asha, along with a small group of rebels, sprinted to her side. Mai's mind raced—if they allowed the bandits to scatter, the city would be overrun. They had to contain them.
"Form a funnel!" she ordered, her voice steady but urgent. "We can't let them escape into the city!"
The rebels moved swiftly, forming a defensive line, forcing the bandits into a narrow passage where they would be easier to cut down. Mai's eyes flicked to the lack of earthbenders among the attackers. They must have already been taken out, which explained the brute force tactics now in play.
The bandits rushed forward, weapons drawn, but Mai and her forces were ready. Arrows rained down from above as the Yuyan archers continued their assault. Each shot was precise, the bandits dropping one by one. Those that managed to push through were met by Mai and Asha, their blades flashing in the dim light.
Mai's sword moved with deadly precision, cutting through the chaos. She sidestepped a heavy swing from one of the bandits, spinning around to deliver a swift slash across his chest. He staggered, clutching his wound before collapsing to the ground.
Asha, fighting beside her, used her earthbending to send small spikes of stone shooting up from the ground, impaling the feet of the bandits and leaving them vulnerable to Mai's strikes. The two of them worked in tandem, their movements fluid and synchronized as they held the line.
The fighting was brutal, each bandit more desperate than the last. Blood stained the dirt as bodies piled up, but Mai remained focused, her breath steady even as exhaustion began to creep in. She moved like a shadow, her blade cutting down anyone who dared get too close.
After what felt like an eternity, the waves finally stopped. The last of the bandits fell, their lifeless bodies scattered across the ground. Mai exhaled slowly, her muscles aching from the strain.
"Collapse the tunnels," she ordered, her voice firm despite the fatigue. The rebels quickly moved to seal the holes the bandits had used to infiltrate the city, using earthbending to fill the gaps and prevent any more from coming through.
Satisfied, Mai turned to the Yuyan archers. "Spread out," she commanded. "Check the other walls and be ready. Light a flare if any more breaches are made."
The archers nodded, splitting off in different directions to scout the rest of the city. Mai wiped the sweat from her brow, her mind already turning to the next step. This was far from over.
Mai looked down at her sword, watching as blood dripped slowly off the blade and pooled on the ground. The familiar rise of bile crawled up her throat, threatening to overwhelm her, but she closed her eyes and steadied her breath. Rangi's words... she reminded herself, forcing the wave of nausea back down. This was part of war. It always would be.
She glanced over at Asha, who was standing nearby, staring blankly at the carnage around them. Her eyes were wide and unfocused, clearly still in shock from the intensity of the battle.
"Asha," Mai called, her voice firm but calm. The girl didn't respond, her mind lost in the haze of blood and violence.
Damn it, Mai thought. Without another word, she stepped forward and slapped Asha across the face, the sharp sound cutting through the chaos.
Asha's eyes snapped into focus, her breath hitching as the shock stirred her consciousness back to life. She blinked, startled, and looked up at Mai.
"Sorry," Mai said, though her voice held no apology. "But I need your head in the game, okay?"
Asha swallowed hard, nodding as she tried to gather her composure. "O-Okay," she stammered, her voice shaky but determined to regain control.
Mai knelt beside one of the fallen bodies, narrowing her eyes as she examined it more closely. Her fingers traced the edges of the armor, her eyes taking in the well-crafted weapons, the formation tactics they had used, and their discipline in battle. These weren't just raiders or mercenaries. These were trained soldiers.
"They're Earth Kingdom forces," Mai said aloud, the realization hitting her like a blow to the chest.
"What?" Asha's voice wavered, her expression shifting from confusion to shock. "Earth Kingdom? But... bandits...?"
Mai brought a hand to her face, cursing herself under her breath for not seeing it sooner. How could she have missed the signs? The way they fought, their equipment—none of this pointed to bandits.
"They're too organized, too well-equipped," Mai muttered, her hand covering her mouth as she processed the bitter truth. She let out a dark chuckle, a grin creeping up despite the frustration. "Those bastards knew that moving an entire army would provoke us, so they send in smaller forces, making it look like common bandits while they chip away at our forces bit by bit."
She laughed, though the sound was filled with a kind of twisted admiration. "Whoever's commanding them... Azula would love that mind. Smart. Ruthless." Her laugh faded as she let out a quiet, bitter curse. "Fuck."
Asha, still trying to absorb the weight of the revelation, approached hesitantly. "Shouldn't we... I mean, shouldn't we warn Rangi?"
Mai let out a long breath, glancing toward the city walls where the battle was still raging. "He was in the army," she said flatly. "He should've figured it out by now. But give me a moment. I need to think."
Mai's mind raced. This changed everything. The Earth Kingdom wasn't just watching from afar—they were already here, infiltrating, using clever tactics to avoid detection. This was no longer just about defending a city. They were up against a much larger, more coordinated enemy.
----
Rangi stood atop the crumbling wall, eyes scanning the chaos below as arrows whistled past, and the clash of steel filled the air. The bandits were relentless, throwing everything they had against the gate. He could see the wood beginning to buckle and crack. It won't hold for much longer, he thought grimly.
"Archers, suppress those earthbenders!" Rangi barked, his voice hoarse from shouting over the din of battle. He grabbed a nearby soldier by the shoulder and pushed him toward the battlements. "Get those boulders ready to drop when they come through!"
The young rebel nodded, rushing off to follow orders. Rangi wiped the sweat from his brow, his eyes narrowing as he assessed the situation. They were holding the line for now, but only just. His mind raced, trying to stay three steps ahead of the bandits. Something about the way they fought gnawed at him—it wasn't just the ferocity of their assault, but their coordination. They weren't breaking formation, even as they took heavy casualties.
This is too organized for bandits.
He had spent years fighting in the Earth Kingdom's army, and he recognized the signs. Formations, coordinated strikes, discipline... This wasn't the work of a ragtag group of raiders. His gut twisted as the realization struck him.
These aren't bandits. These are soldiers.
The familiar thrill of battle faded as his suspicions grew. He clenched his fists, turning to one of his men. "How's Han Shu?"
The young man pointed toward the north wall, where Han Shu was trying to rally the remaining forces. "He's holding the line at the north, but we've got movement below the wall. Something's not right."
Rangi's eyes flicked toward the east, his gut telling him to trust his instincts. "Something's off with this attack," he muttered under his breath. He'd been in enough battles to know when things didn't add up.
Another volley of arrows flew overhead, and a sharp crack rang out as the gate finally gave way. The bandits surged forward, flooding into the breach like a tide.
Rangi didn't hesitate. He grabbed his spear and leapt down from the wall, landing heavily in the dirt below. "Hold the line!" he roared, charging forward to meet the oncoming wave.
His weapon moved with deadly precision, cutting through the first bandit before he even had a chance to react. Blood sprayed across the dirt, but Rangi barely noticed. He was already moving to the next, his spear spinning in his hands as he blocked a strike and drove the tip into another attacker's chest.
But even as he fought, his mind was elsewhere. The discipline of these so-called "bandits" was too familiar. Each strike was calculated, each movement methodical. They fought like soldiers—trained, precise.
"Earth Kingdom forces," Rangi muttered to himself, the truth sinking in. They're disguising their army as bandits to avoid provoking a full-scale response from the rebels. It was a brilliant strategy, really—disguising an organized force as a smaller threat, weakening the rebels one attack at a time.
Damn it, he thought, gritting his teeth.
Rangi spun his spear, cutting through another attacker before raising his voice to his men. "These aren't bandits! They're Earth Kingdom soldiers in disguise! Don't let them spread into the city!"
His men hesitated for a moment, the revelation sinking in, but Rangi's booming voice snapped them back into action. They formed a tighter defense, keeping the invaders from spreading beyond the breach.
Rangi's mind whirled. If they're attacking this hard here, what else are they planning? He didn't have time to strategize further, though. Not yet. First, they had to survive this.
Rangi slammed his fists into the ground with a satisfying thud, watching as the earth rose up around his hands, forming thick gauntlets. The weight of the stone felt familiar, grounding him in the chaos. The sharp crack of stone meeting skull echoed as he smashed through another enemy, his thoughts briefly shifting. What could they be planning?
He shook his head. Schemes and plots were never his strong suit. He'd rather things be simpler—like this. A battlefield, a clear enemy, and a simple goal: survive. Rangi grinned as he crushed another attacker, the raw physicality of combat bringing a sense of clarity he rarely found elsewhere.
"Push them back!" he roared, his voice full of adrenaline as he continued to swing, cutting through the onslaught.
Just as Rangi began to lose himself in the rhythm of the fight, one of his men grabbed his shoulder, pulling him back with a grunt. "That's enough, boss! Any further, and you'll be outside the city gates!"
Rangi blinked, the realization hitting him as he looked past the man, seeing just how close they were to the edge of the city. His grin faded, replaced by a sharp nod of thanks. "Good call."
Together, they raised a thick wall of earth, sealing off the breach. Rangi turned to the other earthbenders. "Hold this plug! Rotate if you get tired—we're not letting them through again!"
The benders nodded, shifting into position as they braced against the pressure of the enemy forces. Rangi stepped back, his mind still buzzing from the fight. But as he turned to assess the situation, his eyes caught a flash of movement above.
Mai?
She was running across the rooftops toward the north gate, her expression tight and desperate. Something was wrong.
His gut twisted as he watched her, but before he could react, she was gone, disappearing into the distance.
----
"Dammit, dammit, dammit!" Mai cursed under her breath as she raced across the rooftops, her heart pounding in her chest. Please be wrong. Please, let me be wrong.
But as she crested the top of a higher building, her worst fears were confirmed. Flares lit up the sky from the north, and below her, the scene was chaos. The north gate had fallen, and the enemy was swarming through the breach. Her stomach twisted as she watched the battle unfold—rocks flung through the air, the clash of steel ringing out against a chorus of desperate screams. The city was overrun.
Mai's breath came fast and shallow as panic gripped her mind. Think. Think! Her thoughts raced through dozens of counterattacks, but every plan she conjured fell apart. They're already inside the city, they have better armor, better weapons, and they outnumber us...
She trailed off as a sickening realization settled over her. They conscripted their people, but where did these soldiers come from? The thought struck her like lightning. Her body froze in terror.
Why did I assume they were low on troops just because they conscripted? The fire nation had released prisoners months ago—more than enough time to heal, retrain, and prepare. And the Earth Kingdom? They had always conscripted. I've been thinking with Fire Nation doctrines...
Mai bit her lip hard enough to draw blood. We've lost. Her fist trembled as despair washed over her. The enemy was superior in every way, and it seemed like there was no way out.
Just as the dark thoughts began to consume her, a sharp sting snapped her back to reality. Asha, her eyes filled with determination, had slapped her across the face.
"Please don't give up!" Asha cried, her voice trembling but strong.
Mai blinked, her tunnel vision dissolving. She drew in a shaky breath and collected herself. No. I wasn't wrong. This battle had likely cost the enemy dearly, but why? Why commit so many resources to a single city? If their goal was to chip away at the rebels, they could have breached the walls and retreated, then attacked another city. Why commit so much? Why deplete quality soldiers?
Her mind flickered to a conversation she'd had with Azula. Azula had once spoken of Admiral Zhao, a competent commander who had the Northern Water Tribe within his grasp—only to lose everything because of his arrogance and wounded pride. "Pride can turn even the most competent leaders into idiots," Azula had said.
Could this really be about pride? Mai wondered. If the enemy was committing this much simply because they couldn't stand to lose face, then she knew what to do.
Her resolve solidified. She turned to the others, her voice clear and strong. "Take out as many as you can!"
Without wasting another moment, she called for one of the Yuyan Archers. "Take a message to Rangi. Tell him to advance. Be more aggressive."
The archer nodded and sprinted off toward the southern gate.
Mai watched him go, her mind sharp and focused once again. If this is about pride, we'll use it against them. Let's make them regret overcommitting.
----
Mai's heart pounded as the battle unfolded beneath her. The flares, the overwhelming sounds of clashing steel, and the cries of men locked in desperate combat pressed on her mind. She had sent the message to Rangi, but she couldn't stay idle any longer. She had to act. The city was swarming with Earth Kingdom soldiers disguised as bandits, and if they weren't stopped soon, there would be nothing left to defend.
Without hesitation, Mai pulled a handful of her poison needles from her sleeves, the familiar cold metal sharp against her fingers. Enough holding back. She had been cautious before, careful, but this wasn't the time for restraint. They were outnumbered, outgunned, and surrounded.
Her eyes narrowed as she leapt from the rooftop, landing with feline grace on the street below. The adrenaline coursed through her veins, sharpening her senses as she moved through the battlefield. Arrows whizzed past her head, but she didn't flinch, her focus honed on the enemies ahead.
She spotted a group of soldiers charging toward a crumbling section of the wall, their earthbending shattering stone as they advanced. Mai's lip curled into a snarl. Not today.
She moved like a shadow, slipping between the fray, her fingers deftly plucking the needles from her sleeves. She flung the first set with precision, her aim flawless. The needles found their targets—throats, necks, vital spots. She didn't wait for them to fall before moving on to the next.
The poison worked quickly. Within moments, those struck by her needles crumpled to the ground, their bodies twitching as the venom coursed through their veins. Mai didn't blink. She couldn't afford to hesitate now.
Another group of soldiers spotted her, their eyes locking onto her dark figure cutting through the battlefield. One of them raised a hand, summoning a wall of earth that shot up in front of her, attempting to block her path.
Mai's expression didn't change. With a flick of her wrist, she sent another volley of needles flying over the earth wall, catching the soldiers off guard. They gasped in pain as the needles pierced their flesh, and Mai used the distraction to vault over the barrier, her movements fluid and graceful.
She landed in the middle of the group, her sword flashing out in a deadly arc. The blade cut through the air, meeting flesh and steel with practiced ease. One soldier lunged at her, his sword raised, but Mai sidestepped effortlessly, slashing across his exposed side. He collapsed, blood spilling onto the cobblestones.
Another soldier came from her left, swinging his hammer wildly. Mai ducked under the blow, her body spinning as she drove her blade into his chest. She yanked it free with a twist, her breath steady despite the blood staining her hands.
For a moment, there was a brief lull in the chaos around her, the enemy forces momentarily thrown off by her sudden assault. But Mai didn't stop. She refused to give them the chance to regroup.
Her hand shot to her sleeve again, pulling free another set of poison needles. She hurled them into the approaching soldiers, her movements swift and precise. More fell, their screams cut short as the poison did its work.
She could feel the fatigue starting to creep in—the weight of battle, the adrenaline pumping through her, the strain of keeping her movements sharp. But she pushed it down. This was far from over, and she wasn't about to give in.
As she paused to catch her breath, her eyes darted across the battlefield, scanning the chaos for the next threat. We've lost the walls, but the fight isn't over. We can still make them bleed.
Asha appeared at her side, her face smeared with dirt and sweat, but her expression resolute. "What now?" she panted, eyes flicking to the bodies that lay scattered at Mai's feet.
"We keep pushing," Mai said, her voice low and determined. "Take out as many as we can. Every life we take weakens them."
Asha nodded, though her hands trembled as she raised them for another strike. Mai could see the fear in her eyes, but there was also determination—something that kept the girl moving forward, even in the face of overwhelming odds.
---
Mai's arms felt like lead, each swing of her sword becoming more labored as the battle dragged on. Her breaths came in shallow gasps, her chest tight, the weight of fatigue pressing down on her like a vice. She wasn't trained for endurance—her fighting style was quick, calculated, designed to end battles before they became wars of attrition. But this was different. This was grinding, relentless, and it was wearing her down.
Her swordsmanship, already rocky from exhaustion, grew sloppier with each strike. A downward slash was parried, her blade bouncing back weakly. Another thrust missed its mark entirely, cutting through air as the enemy sidestepped. Focus, she told herself, but her body wasn't listening.
Her hand reached for her sleeve, but the familiar weight of her poison needles was gone. I'm out. Her mind spun as the realization hit her, but she didn't have time to dwell on it. An enemy lunged at her, and she barely deflected the blow, stumbling back as her feet struggled to find purchase on the blood-slick ground.
Around her, the Yuyan archers were faltering. Their once-precise volleys were now erratic, as the twang of their bows became fewer and farther between. They're running out of arrows. The thought sent a chill down her spine.
Asha—where was Asha? Mai glanced to her side, expecting to see her companion, but the space where Asha had fought beside her was empty. Panic flashed in her chest. Did she fall?
Her grip tightened on her sword, but the hilt was slick with blood. Her hand slipped, the weapon nearly falling from her grasp. Her fingers fumbled to adjust their hold, but the strength in her arm was waning, the numbness spreading from her fingertips up to her shoulder.
Somewhere in the chaos, a blade slashed at her leg. She felt a sharp sting, but it didn't register—her mind was too clouded, her body too numb to process the pain. A moment later, another strike grazed her arm, tearing through the fabric of her sleeve, but she didn't flinch. The adrenaline was wearing off, leaving her in a state of empty, mechanical movements.
Keep fighting. That was all she could think, all she could do.
But then her sword slipped again. This time, she couldn't catch it in time. It clattered to the ground with a dull thud, and her knees buckled. She collapsed onto one knee, her vision blurring as her body screamed for rest. Sweat and blood dripped down her face, stinging her eyes. She tried to push herself back up, but her muscles refused to obey.
Get up. Get up! she commanded herself, but nothing happened. Her body was betraying her, too weak to stand.
The battle raged on around her, but she could barely register the sounds anymore. It was as though the world had narrowed to a single point—the pain in her chest, the weight of her exhaustion, the feeling of blood and sweat mixing on her skin.
Just as she felt herself slipping into unconsciousness, a sharp whistle cut through the air. The sound was piercing, clear, and then, suddenly, the fighting stopped.
Mai blinked, her head snapping up. The enemy was retreating.
She looked around, her eyes wide in disbelief. Dozens of bodies littered the ground, the blood pooling in sickening puddles. The streets were soaked, the cobblestones slick with crimson, and the silence that followed the retreat was deafening. Allies stood nearby, panting, some crying, others tending to the wounded, their faces pale with shock.
Mai tried to speak, to say something, but her throat was raw, her breath too ragged. Her body refused to give up any precious oxygen for words. All she could do was pant, her chest heaving as she struggled to regain control.
From the corner of her eye, she saw movement. Commander Shin approached, his face splattered with blood, his armor dented from the fighting. He looked as exhausted as she felt, his steps heavy, but his eyes were steady.
"A draw it is," he said, his voice rough but steady, as he surveyed the battlefield.
Mai clenched her teeth, bitter anger flaring in her chest. She wanted to scream, to shout that this wasn't a draw. Her fingers dug into the ground as she forced the words out, her voice hoarse but determined.
"No." She lifted her gaze to the blood-soaked city, the sun casting a dim, fading light over the carnage. "We won." even if barley.