Chapter 22.1- And so the Dragons Danced

“How are we going to approach this?” She asked as we walked into the Mountain Pass that marked the beginning of what was ostensibly Fong controlled Territory. It was called Fong-controlled, because he was something of a rogue element within the Earth Kingdom’s military apparatus. He acted as he willed and did not necessarily answer to the broader earth kingdom hierarchy. Part of it had to do with how remote he as and how it was just too difficult to control his actions, but the other part related to his nature as a person. Fire Nation Intelligence had extensive analytical profiles done on the guy. He was a textbook narcissist with an overinflated sense of self importance. We kept a careful eye on him simply because of the nature of his outpost. He held the closest unfriendly port to Fire Nation soil. The possibility of him launching an attack was remote, but it was one that was still relentlessly studied.

Taking him and his outpost off the board was sure to win me the gratefulness of many an analyst as they wouldn’t have to spend time wargaming attacks from that particular venture. Not like they’d be getting any more free time either way. They’d still have a million and more things to work through when it came to the offensive. We were fighting a war on three fronts in vastly different terrains and against vastly different opponents. Needless to say, they had more than enough to do.

“We climb the mountain, of course” I said, pointing at one of the steepest mountain tops. The plan had come to me during our march to this place, and it was just the kind of insanity that was guaranteed to work in a world where things like common sense took breaks early and often.

“That one?” One of the men behind me asked with trepidation in his voice.

“Of course. Are we not men of the Fire Nation?”

“And women” Maki stepped in.

“Man and Women of the fire Nation, yes. Thank you, Maki.”

My words kept the detractors silent, but I could tell they were not convinced of the plan itself. They were shamed into shutting up, so that was enough for me for the time being. We took out our climbing gear from our bags and began to prep the climb. It was a good thing i'd taken all the most skilled firebenders from the main detachment because that also happened to mean that I'd taken the ones who had the best training. The best training that just so happened to include mountain climbing. In my force of sixty men and women, I could count about forty that I knew had attended the Academy.

I quickly took my position as the head to nods from Maki and one other and then began to make the climb. Tied around my waist was a length of rope that flowed down to Maki’s waist, and then down further until it got to the very last man. The man was that if anyone below me fell, then those above would keep them up long enough for them to regain their grips and continue climbing. For me, I trusted in my physical capabilities enough that I did not need any guarantee as such. I had a hook for attaching to stronger holds as I climbed, but I had barely any need for it. The mountain was tall, and steep, so it involved very little walking and a shit ton of climbing to crest the summit. I did in just under an hour, and those coming behind me were quick enough that I did not get enough time to lose my patience with the whole affair.

When the last person had