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They had abandoned the drill outside the wall of Ba Sing Se, retreating quickly and quietly before any of the Earth Kingdom generals could intercept them. Azula, being Azula, had accounted for this possibility. Their mongoose lizards had been stalled nearby with all their supplies. They had been quick, leaving the city beyond the horizon within a few minutes of their defeat.
Now they were back to camping in the woods, one of Mai's least favorite activities. She knew better than to complain when Azula was in a foul mood like this, but she had really rather hoped they would sleep in a house with a roof tonight. She kept the thought to herself as she watched Azula stomp off into the woods the moment they dismounted.
Every time they to set up camp, the girls would wordlessly split to attend their separate tasks. Ty Lee tended to the mongoose lizards, tying them to a nearby tree and giving them their food. Mai could hear her chatting to them in her high-pitched cheerful voice. The animals really seemed to like her, and the feeling seemed mutual. Mai was glad she didn't need to feed them herself. Riding one was bad enough.
Mai set up their camp, starting up a small campfire for Azula to light up later, laying out their supplies and spreading out their bedrolls. They had a tent but unless it rained they oftentimes slept in the open air. Mai missed the tank train they had used to track down the Avatar before. It had been big, clunky and noisy, but at least it had supplied them with a roof during the nights. She did understand why Azula preferred sleeping out in the open, it was a lot more difficult to get ambushed that way.
Azula going off on her own as the girls set up wasn't unusual. Mai could only assume she was scouting out the area, though one never really knew. Azula was the one in charge and only shared her plans when Mai and Ty Lee needed to know them. Mai was fine with that, though she had a private suspicion Azula had gone off to sulk for a bit about their loss at the wall. Specifically her loss against the Avatar. Azula wasn't used to losing in a direct fight.
After Mai had set up everything she needed to, she waited for Azula to emerge from the bushes. In the meantime she was sharpening her knives while idly watching Ty Lee practice her circus tricks in front of the mongoose lizards. They seemed surprisingly entertained.
When there was no sign of Azula after a few more minutes, Mai got to her feet. She grabbed one of their pans, telling Ty Lee she was going to get some water. There was a river nearby, and if she wasn't mistaken, it was in the direction Azula had disappeared off to. Mai knew better than to go looking for Azula if she didn't want to be found, but it couldn't hurt to just see if she was close. She took a small satchel as well, hoping she could find some herbs for tea on the way.
As Mai found her way through the bushes, she heard the rushing water of the stream growing louder. She stepped out on the riverbank, looking around for any sign of the Fire Princess. There was nothing here, just a few birds on the other side of the river bathing in the water.
With a sigh, Mai bent down to fill the pan, only to jump up when she heard a familiar voice hissing out a muffled curse nearby.
Frowning, Mai moved into the direction of the noise. She found Azula, who had been blocked from view by a large boulder. The princess crouched on the grass, cradling her hand. A trickle of blood ran down her finger, dripping onto the ground below.
Alarmed, Mai took a quiet step forward. The rustle of her clothes made Azula look up. Their eyes met, and Mai noted a a flicker of guilt on Azula's face. Her own eyes dropped down, finally spotting one of her own daggers lying at Azula's feet, scarlet drops spattered on the metal.
No attacker then, the princess had injured herself.
Mai relaxed slightly, returning her gaze to Azula's. Another beat of silence, then Mai spoke.
"You know, some people might say this is your comeuppance for taking something that isn't yours."
A flash of anger in those golden eyes as Azula straightened up from her crouched position. "What?"
Mai smiled mildly, bowing her head a little. "Luckily I would never be that foolish. Let me look at it." Setting down the pan, Mai moved to Azula's side, crouching down beside her and taking the princess's hand in hers. The wound was fairly shallow, which was a relief. Mai had had many similar nicks before and knew what to do. "It's not that bad, I can help."
Azula scoffed. "I never said it was bad, and I don't need help. It'll heal."
Mai was already searching in her satchel. "It'll heal faster this way," she said as she pulled out a roll of bandages.
"You just carry that on you at all times?" Azula asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I also carry more than twenty knives on me at all times, so yes."
Azula huffed out a breath and Mai knew she had won the argument. She started wrapping the bandage around Azula's hand, covering the wound neatly. She kept her touches light and fleeting, but still felt a small spark of electricity every time she touched the princess' skin.
There was a silence between them as Mai wrapped the wound. When their eyes met, Mai briefly wondered if Azula felt the sparks as well. There was a strange look in her eyes, almost uncertain, which wasn't like Azula at all.
Mai cleared her throat. "So… why did you take the knife?"
"Are you actually mad I borrowed something of yours?" Azula asked, frowning.
"No, of course not." Mai knew better than that. Azula was her friend, but also her princess. If she wanted to take anything of Mai's, it was within her right. "I'm just curious."
Azula sighed, looking away, out over the water of the river. "I just wanted to practice. Like when we were kids."
Mai remembered. When they were children, Azula had always encouraged Mai and Ty Lee to practice their own skills, she liked that they were able to do things she herself couldn't. But at the same time, she had wanted to know some of it. Azula had never been content not knowing how to do something. It had been a confusing contradiction back then. The princess had seemed pleased when Mai hit all the targets she set out without breaking a sweat, but then got frustrated when she couldn't hit one herself. She remembered sitting in the shade of the tree, watching Ty Lee patiently explain how to do a backflip to Azula for hours until the girl could do it on her own.
"I don't understand, you don't need weapons." Mai said after a moment. "You are—" a weapon, she nearly said. That felt wrong. She pivoted. "—the strongest fighter I know. You can burn someone to ashes in the time it takes for me to draw a blade."
A slight smile appeared on Azula's lips, she liked to be reminded of her power. But then the smile slipped again, replaced by a frown.
"Fighting the Avatar showed me I need more than just raw power. He's something else. Not someone to be underestimated."
Mai nodded quietly, listening.
Azula went on. "I'm not saying your knives are the solution but if I can't defeat him one way, I need to change my strategy, be open minded. Unexpected."
Mai smiled slightly. "You're hoping to slit his throat when he's not looking?"
Azula scoffed. "Killing him wouldn't work—" It took her a moment to see the smile on Mai's face and realize she was joking. She sighed, smiling despite herself. "Well, maybe I was being silly."
"No," Mai said softly, realizing suddenly she was still holding onto Azula's hand. She didn't let go. "You're smart to think of other ways to fight. I think a lot of benders don't consider anything else, even if they're at a disadvantage."
"Well, firebending is superior."
Mai ignored that. "I can help you train with my knives, like we used to. It might not be what takes the Avatar down, but you never know when it might come in handy."
Azula considered her quietly. Then she nodded. "Very well."
They both sat for a long silent moment, neither of them wanting to acknowledge that Mai was still holding Azula's hand.
It was Azula who finally broke the spell, getting to her feet and letting her hand slip out of Mai's casually. "Well, we should go back before Ty Lee gets worried."
Mai sighed softly, then got to her feet as well. She grabbed the knife off the ground and picked up the pan with water as well. "She was very busy with the lizards, I don't think she noticed we were gone."
As they walked back, Mai looked at Azula sideways. "We'll start training tonight. I'll make sure to have my bandages ready."
Azula huffed. "I won't cut myself again."
"We'll see." Mai murmured, the smile still on her face as they returned to their campsite.