1. Prologue
The empty snare stared at Malina, mocking. Many more like this and they would go hungry again. The surrounding white peaks were unsympathetic.
Sighing, she looked at her little brother, dancing erratically around the waterskin. "Come on, Tulok, you're scaring the firefoxes!"
"Did it move?" he asked expectantly. "I'm waterbending, just like dad."
"And if you don't stop they'll take you away, just like dad." It hurt to say it, but couldn't he understand?
"I want them to come," Tulok said, tearing up. "I could have helped him, if I hadn't been so… weak!" The waterskin burst into spray, the snow rippled around him.
"I'm sorry, Tulok," said Malina, stepping over the freezing puddle. "It's just… if we don't catch something soon…" She hugged him.
There was a deep rumble. Malina froze.
The wave of snow cascaded towards them. She looked around frantically - no shelter, no time. She tightened her grip on Tulok. "Whatever you do, don't let go, you hear?"
He nodded, terrified. The white wall washed over them.
#
Darkness and silence. So this is what Adlivun looks like. Except Malina didn't see her ancestors around – or anyone else's for that matter. And that familiar smell. She'd never given any thought to how the afterlife would smell.
"Tulok?"
Hesitation, then a whisper: "Malina? Are we…"
"Of course we're not," she interrupted, relieved. She felt around the cocoon of compacted snow and punched the ceiling. "Now stop being stupid and start helping."
Snow collapsed around them, followed by blinding light, biting cold. Almost like in the songs, the champion returning from the underworld.
"I'm sorry I caused an avalanche," Tulok mumbled. "Again."
Malina frowned at him. "Tulok..." She exhaled. "It's okay. You also saved us. Now let's get out of here, we'll have scared the game anyway."
"What's that?" Tulok pointed behind her.
"We don't have time." She stood and dusted her coat.
Tulok rushed past her. "It looks like there's something inside…"
Malina turned. The avalanche had exposed an ice wall on the mountainside. White light glowed within, outlining a silhouette.
"There's someone inside," said Tulok, grabbing a rock. "We have to help."
"Tulok!" Malina called. "Get back here! We don't know what that thing is!"
Tulok smashed the rock against the ice once, twice. It chipped, then cracked, engulfing them in mist as it crumbled. They were blinded by light.
#
Korra collapsed, exhausted, against the rock shelf. She rested her eyes, the cold no longer hurting. She felt herself drift away… Her eyes snapped open, glowing. Snow rose to envelop her. A beam of light shot into the clear blue sky.
Korra woke. She had to help her friends, but where was she? The room was unfamiliar, run down, cold. Had the poorer districts really gotten this bad? She thought back: Tarrlok hadn't taken her… Amon, of all people, intervened… She had escaped into the wilderness. She was lucky to have been found alive, but she had to keep moving.
Korra rose, instantly aware of her weakness - and lack of clothes. The door burst open and Korra yanked back the sheet. A young boy froze at the doorway, then retreated. "She's uuup!"
He was replaced by a slightly older girl carrying a tray. She entered apologetically, closing the door behind her.
"Sorry about my brother." She handed her a cup of tea. "My name's Malina, what's yours?"
Korra accepted gratefully. She brought the cup to her lips, almost spilling it when she noticed the black-on-red ping character above the doorway. She blew on her tea instead. Were her rescuers Equalist sympathizers? Had they really not recognized her?
"Lin," she replied at last. A solid Republican name.
"I'm glad you're feeling better," said Malina. "We found you in the woods and brought you back on our sleigh, you must have been caught in last night's blizzard."
"Thank you," said Korra. "What happened to my clothes?"
"They were badly torn." Malina lowered her voice. "They're also not the kind of clothes people wear around these parts, you know? We didn't take your bracelet or anything, we're not thieves, okay?"
"Of course," said Korra, "I didn't mean to…"
"You can wear mom's old uniform for the time being," said Malina, taking it from the tray. The gray fabric was well worn, but seemed clean and warm enough.
"Thank you," said Korra. "Do you know how I can get to the city?"
Malina smiled. "I knew you weren't from around here, you have that fancy city worker look. You can take the train at the mining station. I can loan you some money if you leave the bracelet." She grew serious. "Remember: Malina Liu from Kuan. You better be good for it."
"I will," Korra smiled. "I promise."
#
Kuan did not exceed expectations: a mine; a railroad to transport the ore; a town for miners to sleep in; little else. Korra had no trouble finding the station, or a seat in the half-empty passenger car. The locomotive puffed to life and they were off.
Korra absently touched her arm, feeling the missing bracelet. She missed her pony tail, too, but it was best not to draw undue attention. The desolate landscape surprised her, and she realized how little she knew of the countryside. The Council ought to do something.
The train rounded a hill and finally came in view of the coast. The city was gray under the rain, chimneys billowing dark smoke skyward. She had never seen Memorial Island from this angle. Korra started preparing for the task ahead: denouncing Tarrlok, getting her friends out of jail. Then she realized what had struck her about Memorial Island: that wasn't a statue of Aang. It was Amon.