War is an Ugly Thing | An ATLA FanFiction

Chapter 1

Ngựa non háu đá.
Foals are eager to kick.

𖣊

The crackle of flames intensified as my team and I maneuvered through the chaos, our swords and armor gleaming in the fiery light. Our commander's voice cut through the roar of fire, his orders mixed in the heat of battle.

"Form a defensive line! Shields up, protect your flanks!" he commanded, his voice steady despite the danger that surrounded us.

With swift precision, we obeyed, raising our shields in unison, their metal surfaces reflecting the intense heat as we braced for the onslaught of firebenders. The air was thick with smoke, choking and acrid, but we pressed forward, determined to overcome the inferno.

"Advance slowly, stay together!" our commander's voice echoed across the battlefield.

With swords drawn, we moved as one, our footsteps measured and purposeful as we pushed through the wall of flames. Each step was a test of endurance, the heat searing through our armor, but we pressed on, unyielding.

"Sweep left, flank their position!" our commander shouted.

We adjusted our formation, our swords at the ready as we circled around the enemy's flank. The firebenders' attacks grew more frenzied, but we moved with grace and precision, dodging and weaving through the flames with practiced skill.

"Strike now, while they're vulnerable!" our commander's voice rang out, a rallying cry in the midst of chaos.

With a fierce battle cry, we charged forward, our swords slashing through the air as we engaged the enemy with ferocity and determination. The clash of metal against metal reverberated across the battlefield, each blow fueled by the fire of our own animosity.

And in the heart of the inferno, we fought on, united, our swords flashing in the fiery light as we battled against the odds, determined to emerge victorious against the firebenders who sought to consume us.

As my sword met flesh, a sickening squelch echoed through the air, accompanied by the metallic tang of blood. The heat of battle surged within me, driving my blade deeper into my opponent's body. With a visceral twist, I felt the resistance of muscle and sinew give way beneath the force of my strike.

Blood sprayed in a crimson arc, painting the air with the gruesome evidence of our clash. My senses were overwhelmed by the sight and smell of the gore, but I pressed on, fueled by the urgency of the moment. With a swift motion, I withdrew my sword, only to plunge it again, this time slicing through the tender flesh of my opponent's throat.

A gurgled cry escaped from his lips as life ebbed away, his eyes wide with shock and fear. The metallic taste of blood coated my tongue as I watched the life drain from his eyes, a grim reminder of the brutality of war.

The blood from my previous foe still stained my face as another spear came hurtling towards me. With lightning reflexes, I parried the attack, the clash of metal ringing out like a grim symphony in the chaos of battle.

But there was no time to catch my breath. Another opponent stood before me, his helmet gleaming in the firelight. With a swift strike, I knocked his helmet off, revealing the shock on his face before I brought down the full force of my pommel upon his skull.

Again and again, I rained down blows, the sickening crunch of bone echoing in my ears as his head caved in beneath the onslaught. His lifeless body crumpled to the ground, joining the growing pile of fallen warriors at my feet.

"Tighten up!" my commander's voice pierced through the din, his words a stark reminder of the task at hand.

But before I could heed his call, a searing pain shot through my side as a spear found its mark, sending me crashing to the ground. I gritted my teeth against the agony, my sword clutched tightly in my hand as I struggled to block strike after strike.

As I struggled to fend off the relentless assault and I could feel my strength draining, my teammates were suddenly forward, their swords flashing in the firelight as they formed a protective barrier around me. With swift precision, one of them grabbed me by the arm, pulling me away from the fray and toward safety.

"Oi, grab the TL!"

"Get her to the barricade, we'll hold off here!"

"Hey, stay with me! Keep breathing!" The voice beside my ear ordered with a stern bark. "Focus on the barricade!"

I stumbled alongside him, my vision blurred with pain and exhaustion, but their reassuring presence gave me strength. We had to keep dodging fire after fire as we made our way to the earthen barricade. I could feel the heat licking at my heels.

With a final burst of effort, we reached our destination, collapsing behind the safety of the barricade's cover. I was laid down on the ground with a hiss of pain, the adrenaline slowly ebbing away to reveal the full extent of my injuries.

The air was thick with smoke, my lungs burning with each labored breath as I struggled to regain my composure. My teammate hovered over me, their faces etched with concern as they tended to my wounds with gentle hands while a medic ran over quickly.

"How bad is it?" He asked quickly wiping soot from her forehead.

"It's not too deep," the medic replied, kneeling beside me to assess the wound. "But she'll need a couple of stitches."

I gritted my teeth against the pain, my breath coming in shallow gasps as I focused on the task at hand. "Just pack it with cloth and wrap it tight," I instructed, my voice strained. "We can stitch it up when we've finished fighting."

My teammate hesitated, torn between following my orders and their instinct to ensure my well-being. But with a nod from the medic, they set to work, carefully packing the wound with cloth and wrapping it tightly with bandages.

As the medic began to clean the wound, a searing pain shot through me, radiating from the site of the injury like tendrils of fire. Every touch felt like a branding iron against my skin, each movement sending waves of agony rippling through my body.

With each pass of the medic's hand, the pain intensified, a relentless torment that threatened to consume me. And then, with a sharp tug, they extracted a shard of the spear that had lodged in my side, sending a jolt of excruciating pain coursing through me.

I couldn't hold back the scream that tore from my lips, the sound echoing across the battlefield in time with a sudden flare of flames overhead. The fire danced in the air, a reflection of the inferno that raged within me, a primal response to the agony that consumed my senses.

Gritting my teeth against the pain, I clenched my fists tightly, my nails biting into my palms as the wound was packed with clean cloth. Each touch was a fresh wave of torment.

"You sound like a baby!" My teammate tried to joke but quickly looked away at my glare. "A-a strong baby!"

Soon enough, a bandage was wrapped tightly around my abdominal region, securing the makeshift dressing in place. With a deep breath, I forced myself to stand and grabbed my sword.

With a shared glance around the barricade, my teammate and I exchanged a silent understanding. We were a well-oiled machine, our movements synchronized and instinctual. Without a word, we broke into a sprint, closing the distance to the formation where our commander awaited.

As we joined the ranks, our commander wasted no time, his voice cutting through the chaos with clarity and purpose. "Team Bahn! Take your team and head left!" he commanded, his orders ringing out above the roar of battle. "Everyone else, push forward!"

"Forge left! Stay together!" I hollered out. With a nod, my team dispersed, each of us taking up our assigned positions with practiced precision. Our swords gleamed in the firelight as we engaged the enemy, our movements fluid and coordinated.

Together, we fought as one, driving back the onslaught with ferocity and determination. With every blow, every strike, we inched closer to victory, our resolve unshakable in the face of adversity.

And before sunset kissed our bodies, the victory was undoubtedly ours.