Izan ignored the painful blisters as he dragged his feet over the makeshift road, kicking up dust clouds as he marched along. The heavy armour that had been his saving grace in the battle three days ago, was now a curse that drenched him in sweat and burdened his every step. But Izan knew very well that rest without shade or water was no option. He glanced over his shoulder to check on the thirty-or-so soldiers that walked behind him. Their red and black armour, like his own, was smeared with dirt and dried blood. Some of them limping, others holding on to their broken spears as support. The only comforting thought was that the forces of the Earth Kingdom they had faced were in a similar state.  

It had been almost three years since they had last been home. Three years, since the newly-ascended Fire Lord had united the islands and declared war upon the Earth Kingdom. While he had claimed his reasoning to be the abduction of his sister by Earth Prince Hao the Third, all of the minor lords knew that tension between the two nations had been brewing for a long time. It was why the call to arms came as no surprise. Yet he hadn't been ready for it. While he was technically a Lord, the rally had come so shortly after his father's passing that he had never gotten the chance to truly establish himself as one. 

He locked eyes with Norio - a tall Fire bender who had served as one of his father's senior officers in the past. [color=ed1c24]"You smell that?"[/color] Norio began with a sheepish grin. [COLOR=RED]"That's gotta be the coast."[/COLOR]

Izan nodded. [COLOR=CRIMSON]"We're not that far away from Goju. We'll meet up with the local garrison there, and await our next orders."[/color]

[color=red]"Goju?"[/COLOR] Norio asked, his thick brow furrowing. [COLOR=RED]"Last I heard that place was a warzone. For a city known for their dyes, they've been putting up quite a bit of resistance."[/COLOR] 

[COLOR=CRIMSON]"That was three months ago. Earth-bending has been outlawed and the garrison has even issued a curfew."[/COLOR] Izan explained. Access to information was one of the few things he appreciated about his rank and status. [COLOR=CRIMSON]"If anything, it'll at least be better than camping by the road."[/COLOR] He finally decided to add.

It took just a little over two hours before they reached the stone walls of Goju city. It had been an important trade city before the coming of the Fire Nation. It was nowadays a key harbour in the supply route that stretched further inland toward the frontlines. But the city had retained much of its character. Namely, the city-spanning fabric and dye market.

Even on a hot afternoon such as this, the market was wide awake. The shops were stuffed, manned by their owners, who shouted their prices like auctioneers. It was necessary too, for the street vendors obscured them from sight. Their stands narrowed the streets leading up to the market square, providing little leeway to the mass of people who were out and about in the heat. Only the vendors seemed blessed by patches of shade that kept them out of the harsh sunlight.

Izan didn't need to raise his voice to make the people move out of his way. He never did. Despite the state of them, the citizens of Fire Nation occupied cities knew better than to cross them. Yet he couldn't stop them from whispering as they passed through.

"Look, they must've been at Meijang."
"I heard that the Fire Nation is losing ground."
"It won't be long before they're gone here as well."

He could almost feel the unrest among his own men. It would only take one bad decision to create a street-wide conflict. Izan could hear Norio mutter under his breath to the men beside him.[COLOR=RED]"Move along. Give them no reason to spread rumours."[/COLOR] 

It was the rising tension that made him realize coming here was a mistake.