Chapter Text
The cold nipped at his nose, wrinkling it back up in disgust. The small flame torch they carried provided nothing to keep the frostbite off his running nose.
"We should have waited till morning.." The other man sighed pulling the coat tighter around himself. "The blizzard is only to get worse, it's just that time of year in the South" commented the last, a woman, huffed sending a raised eyebrow of glare at her comrade. "It's too cold here" he grumped back, a bit quieter.
The shortest of the three shushes them with a wave of the lantern, "Here, That's the one isn't it" he points out with his other hand. Despite the cold, at sight of the small Southern Water tribe village gives them renewed hope trudging through the snow at new speed.
Tonraq who had first sent them the letters greets them at the door before they even need to knock. "Greetings!" he's overtly cherry within a second remembers his place, dipping to bow to them, "You honour my family by visiting White Lotus" his tone turns my respectful, more adult than overtly excited child. "Please, come inside" he pushes the door aside ushing them into the small home.
Wang sniffles as he steps inside removing his cloak, the other two coming in quickly after. "We've investigated many claims both here and to the North. With no luck yet." he sighs, Senna the woman who doesn't quite reach Tonraq's shoulders smiles "Well... I do hope your search will be complete" she beams up to her husband and back to the three of them.
Yij the tallest of them shifts his eyes about the home. It's scruffy, it's small. There is a small pit fire burning to the home's heart, from his place at the man's door two small doors can be spotted leading to other rooms. The walls are decorated with spares, shields and animal skin so typical of the region. There is nothing he can find that feels remarkable in any way, so why would Aang's spirit seek this home out? This child.
Ai ruffles her coat, "Where is your child? She was born 153AG?" She clarifies taking out her bag lined with all they would need to decipher if Aang's spirit had led here.
Seena jumps at attention, "I'll go get her now!" she puts the broom aside stepping away into the back rooms. "It's so different from the North isn't it" Yij is nearly silent as he whispers to Ai, because it is. The North is so grand. Having built such marvellous cities, well the South. He remembers the first time he ever stepped foot in Wolf Cove to meet Aang and Katara in person,
How unremarkable it was. Yet...
"Korra, I would like you to meet some elders of the White lotus. Very special people" Senna shuffles the young child, who could only be four or five now out in front of them. Yij glances to Ai who's blue eyes seem to sparkle for a moment. She feels it too then. So his eyes come down to his shortest of friends who looks back up there is an unspoken moment between them before Ai moves forward.
Unremarkable indeed.
Senna knees at her daughter's side, "They want to talk to you okay Korra" she says to the youngster with a Polar Beardog plushie in one hand, "Okay!" The child jumps excitedly forward beaming at the three. "The South hasn't had Airbender in nearly a thousand years... The ways seem to have been lost with the War so we have been using Method Aang left to us." Wang speaks quietly tucking his hands back inside his arm sleeve.
So the elder women roll out the bag of toys placing them in front of Korra, "Take whatever ones you want Korra" she says with a warming smile to her face. As smiles grow around them, Yij realises the most remarkable things are often found in the most unremarkable of places.
"We've missed you Aang" he whispers once more letting the words escape him like plead.
They watch her grow, take her somewhere safe as Aang had requested so one could foster, and grow, properly as he hadn't amid the war. No fate that had fallen onto him would fall onto the next avatar. If it was cruelty or kindness, Katara stayed and cared for the child. They were none such fools to think the death of her husband had not been difficult. Had not shaken the woman to her knees and thrown her world so out of balance. That he had been everything and more to the so-called last water bender of the south.
Yet it was Katara who offered. Who told her great stories of Aang. Who made sure she was always well-fed. Had plenty of time to child, not an avatar.
Where Korra now at 17 was a powerful bender in her own right. She had picked up serious skill in bending three of the elements without any trouble. Masters had travelled all over the world to train her. Korra herself continued to excel in all manner of physical training. "She's strong" Katara had said unsurprised, first hand had she witnessed the power of the Avatar alone. Wang huffed, "She lacks restraint" that was very true.
As they watched the last of her opponents for her Fire Bending Mastery Test falter and fall onto his back, one would have to be hard pressed to say she didn't show exceptional physical prowess.
The team then leapt to the air rushing to greet them at the podium. "Come on! Why all the doom and gloom? That's three down, one to go" She lept about on the spot throwing her helmet into the air. Yim sighed dropping his head forward, "You are getting ahead of yourself as usual Korra, We still haven't decided if you have passed your Fire Bending" he tried to reason lifting his head back up.
"No one can doubt you have excelled in the physical of your life. But you have completely ignored the Spirit side of bending." Wang huffs slowly pulling at the long bread at his chin that had silvered since they'd first met the youngster.
Yij wanted to laugh seeing Korra's face completely blank and bore ahead of them. Wang could drone on, even he had to admit inside his own mind that his friend was one to babble in the most boring of tones that could never connect with the teenager. The teenager who was alive with energy. Who couldn't sit still or focus on the little things. So she reasoned, again, this is why she must train with Tenzin again. 'Mr Spiritual' brought a smirk to his ageing face.
Wang turns his body to face them, and more importantly Katara. "Well? Do you think she is ready Master Katara" It's something they should all have seen coming the Water Bending master has always been more relaxed than they have with Korra. "Yes. Tenzin can teach her everything she needs to know" Katara smiles, giving the teenager wink that surely doesn't escape that of the White Lotus but no one mentions it.
Korra leaps to the air again throwing her helmet up once more. Cheering and yelling, Like that she is off. "I don't remember ours to be so ... excitable" Yij hums Ai raises his eyebrow but says nothing in reply. "Do we think Tenzin will truly be able to get away from Republic City long enough to train her?" Wang says, ever the optimist, says with a long drawn-out sigh.
"It will have to be, Tenzin is the only one." Ai chimes in before Katara has too. "We've got to work with what we have. Tenzin is the only airbender, Korra will need him." Ai places a firm comforting hand on Wang's shoulder. "Let us write to Tenzin as quickly as we can" Yij adds.
By week's end, Tenzin arrives as the sun is coming to set over the Southern Water tribe. Korra races along the snow under the Giant Sky Bison's shadow as it runs along the ground just ahead of her. The chattering of the children overhead can already be heard as the animal comes to land just in front of the homestay.
Katara follows along more slowly. The race and rush have long since left her now but she still gets there as Tenzin and the children climb down. "Please, Mother... Help me" Korra waits behind her eagerly her eyes jumping around at the airbender family. Careful not to interrupt as desperately as her body wants to. Till at least, there is the signal she's been dying for when Tenzin's eyes catch hers. Her name leaves his lips Korra leaps forward rushing over.
Tenzin brings his hands to her shoulders as Korra wills herself to stand still and attentive to the master. "Look at how you have grown" he comments, "So strong" he adds more quietly the smile warming across his face. "You have become quite the young Avatar" he compliments. Korra's lips split into a wide smile that sparkled her eyes.
"Master Tenzin!" she races to say, "I'm so glad you are here, I'm so excited to start training!" Korra wills herself to settle the bubbling nerves. She just wants to get into training now, skip dinner and skip all the formalities!
Then Tenzin's face drops as his hands slide from her shoulders, "Yes. Well." he sighs again his eyes leaving hers searching to look at anything other than herself. Korra could feel every excited part of herself drop at the expression on his face.
Katara beats her too the words she doesn't want to think about, "You aren't staying are you" the elder woman says her own smile dropping. "I'm afraid so" Tenzin sighed trying to place a comforting hand on her shoulder once more but all of Korra's rush had left now the touch only felt cold and distant. There is a sinking feeling in her stomach, as if she's sinking into the snow right there.
"We are only staying for the night and tomorrow then we must return to the city. The city is turbulent at the moment" his words feel empty now as Korra pushes back against them. It wasn't the plan, it wasn't what was supposed to be happening. Her training would only stall now. "But- But no. You are supposed to move here and train me" she whines clenching up her fists trying to fight off the anger that bubbles up.
It's always been this way. "I'm sorry Korra but your Air bending training will have to wait" it always is. It's always pushed aside because he can never be here. That there is no other Airbenders left. That Aang only left one to the world. It's just not fair.
Korra sucks in a deep breath trying to still her anger, "I just don't get it. When can you come to train me? Month? A week?" she begs, he only sighs "It could be lot longer" he says honestly that only sucks the life from her. "Why are you making me wait?" she whines like a child kicking her foot into the snow.
Tenzin seems to bubble with a touch of annoyance on his end. It has been a long flight here she has to reason herself. "Because I have duty as one of the city leaders and the situation is unstable right now." but that doesn't make the ache any better on her end.
Then the idea hits her like a wall of ice coming off a penguin sled. "What if I just come back to Republic City with you!" she leads into the idea her eyes sparkling once more.
"Absolutely not! Republic city is horrendously dangerous and Avatar Aang trusted us to protect you" Wang of the White Lotus interrupts the moment. The teenager clenches her jaw in response, "I don't think keeping me locked up like a prisoner in this compound was what he had in mind" he mumbles narrowing her eyes at the elder. "I know this is difficult but it is not the right time to come to Republic city" Tenzin joins in, her rich blue eyes jumping between the two staring at them in shock. How could this be. Why must it be?
Korra goes to bite back, she knows what will come out won't be too pleasant or becoming of the young Avatar when Katara finally speaks again, "I'm getting rather peakish. Lets go enjoy our dinner, I've made my Grandmother's famous Seal jerky" she chimes gently taking ahold of Korra in one arm and Tenzin at the other walking away into the homestead, "We will see you later Master Wang" she calls back with smile at her face
She pulled the hood tighter around herself as she slipped from the window. Sliding down the edge of the roof Korra's foot hit the bar, she pushed back of it lifting herself up into the air and flipping from the roof to land perfecting in the snow. Wasting no time the young Avatar made run for the Beardog kennel,
"Naga, Naga" she calls gently using her fire bending to light the candles around the kennel. The large creamy white Beardog stands to attention, "Shh, good girl Naga" she hums grabbing the saddle to toss astride the large animal
Then there is a presence lurking behind her that causes Korra to falter for a second, "Nice night for a ride isn't it" Katara stands there at the edge of the candlelight with a smile on her face Korra is struck wordless for a moment as she shrinks down like child again, "I have to leave.." she says ever so quietly. Slinking her way closer to the elder woman.
Katara lets herself into the open space kennel, "I know. Aang's time has passed, and so has my brother and our friends." Korra can watch the sadness that overtakes her for a brief moment, "It is time for you and your generations to take on the responsibility." Katara's warm blue eyes come back up meeting Korra's own crystal deep blue, "Write your own story now" The elder's smile grows, so does Korra's at that statement, "Thank you- Thank you so much Master Katara you are amazing" the teen beams coming forward wrapping her arms around the shorter elder before her, squeezing onto Katara for a moment. The woman who has been such a stable driving force in her life. "Goodbye Avatar Korra" Katara
From the back of Naga, she crept along the shipping docks quietly. There had been one of the large shipping containers settled in the docks for the last two few days she was sure must be expected to leave soon. Korra slid from the Polar Beardog's back slipping between large container boxes, then her eyes spied the last of the workers for the evening. Loading the last few boxes, with that Korra was off. Running towards them.
The workers stopped staring up at her with Polar Beardog in her shadow, "Good Evening!" she called out waving her hands about, "Eh? Good evening Miss" one of the workers called back sitting down his box, "Can we help you?" he offers adjusting his hood back despite the chill in the air.
"I um," Korra fidgets her shoe against the light dusting of snow on the dock, "You mind if I catch a lift? I'm trying to get to Republic City and I promise I won't cause you no trouble!" she puffs out her chest holding her head up trying on her best pleading smile.
The workers exchange looks, and then the same one shrugs. "If you sneak onboard now. We'll pretend not to notice" Korra's face lit up nodding quickly, "Thanks so much!" she waved running around the workers onto the ship.
Naga settled herself in behind one of the larger container boxes. "Here we go Naga, Republic City" Korra beamed dropping back against her large plush Polar Beardog. Slipping her arms back behind her neck.
"This is finally it. My story!"