Desna's head whipped around as he heard the loud noises starting to emit from the peak of a mountain of snow. He made eye contact with Eska for a split second and she seemed to understand what he was saying. There was a sprit wreaking havoc up there, and they would need to stop it.
Desna started to move, his arms lifting from his sides in a display of waterbending, but he stopped as he realised his twin wasn't following suit. He gave her a look that wouldn't mean anything to anyone else, but conveyed curiosity to Eska.
Eska's eyes flickered briefly over to the Earthbender standing nearby, he was slower and had only just noticed the spirit. He looked ready to run straight up the mountain to help, but he couldn't make it up without assistance.
'No'
He didn't speak the words, but she knew what he meant. Desna wanted to use their waterbending to scale the mountain quickly, but Eska knew Bolin wouldn't be able to do the same. She refused to give into his refusal though, and made her way over to the Snow-Satomobile that was resting on the crisp, white snow.
"Here" She thrust a large, green bundle into his chest, he looked at her curiously, a smile graced his face as it often did when she spoke to him
"What's this?" He asked, trying to form some sort of shape out of it that would reveal its identity. She didn't answer, he would figure it out soon enough.
It only took him 3 more seconds of fumbling before he realised it was a puffy jacket, he quickly put it on before jumping into the Snow-Satomobile. Desna gave her another slight look before joining her in it.
Before Bolin could ask how to start the machine, Desna lifted his arms once more and the vehicle started to move. Eska contributed too, trying to ignore Bolin's terrified screams. They were moving fast, but not as fast as they would have if it were only her and her brother.
Eska's breath hitched as he grabbed onto her arm to stop himself from flying out, she shot him a look before once again focusing on their destination. It wouldn't do them any good to accidently kill the Earthbender, so she didn't protest.
Desna's eyebrows furrowed in frustration as they reached their top speed, the weight of all three of them becoming apparent in it. Even the powerful waterbending of both of them combined would not spur it faster.
The lights from the peak were dimming and becoming less frequent. She noticed Bolin had his eyes screwed shut in fear as she came to the conclusion that the sprit was leaving.
Three figure came into view as they sped toward them, Eska recognised her Father, her cousin, and an unknown sprit.
"Woo-hoo!" came a yell as Desna quickly stopped their transport, Eska, Desna and Bolin all shot out from it but the twins were able to land on their feet. Bolin's jacket puffed up in protection as a pile of snow impacted with him
"Did you guys see that?" Demanded Korra, smiling in celebration "I was all like bam bam, and it was all Ahh Ahh!" she made fighting motions as she re-enacted the scene, Eska assumed she was being over dramatic.
"Yes, you fought quite well" Spoke Unalaq, putting a hand on her shoulder "You put into practise my teachings and were able to rid us of that sprit"
Korra bowed down, thanking him for his teachings. "You fought too though, it was amazing!"
"My sincere apologies for not assisting you in your task Father" said Desna, not sounding sincere at all
"That's quite alright son, Korra handled herself very well. There was no need for help"
"Uh, can someone please deflate me?" came a small voice to their side, Eska lifted her hand and a number of sharp, long pieces of ice punctured his jacket.
"You were aware that alternate means of transport would prove slower" Desna stated to his sister, she picked up the subtle change in tone in his voice, something not even their father could do.
"I was also aware that he had no other means of transport to our current destination" She responded flatly, knowing what was coming next
"It was not necessary for him to accompany us"
Eska had no reply, she knew her brother was right about that. If he couldn't even reach the top of the mountain, how was he going to help fight against the spirit?
"He is no longer just a source of amusement for you" He stated. It wasn't a question, Desna was sure about what he was saying. "You feel the emotion labelled as 'care' toward him, you presenting him with a token of safety is evidence of that"
Eska denied this in her head, she did not care for the Earthbender. She only gave him the jacket so he wouldn't kill himself as they dismounted the Snow-Satomobiles, nothing more.
"I do not have any caring emotions for him" She shot back, "I merely interact with him for my own amusement at his expense"
She heard a choked breath from behind her and turned, startled to see Bolin standing behind her. A single native icelily fell from his hand as she recognised pain on his face. He turned around without commenting on what she had just said, his heavy footsteps leaving deep prints leading away from her.
"A token of affection" Said Desna, picking up the fragile icelily and holding out to her "Your feelings toward him are requited"
"There is nothing to be requited" She said, snatching the flower from his hand. Desna walked away but she knew he was thinking of the times the Earthbender had made her smile, or that single time she had laughed.
Bolin was going to give her this flower…wasn't that a social norm of those intending to court someone? She admired the delicate beauty of it, flakes of ice has formed intricate patterns over its white petals.
She wanted to throw it away, it bend the water inside of it until it shattered into thousands of pieces. This single flower had evoked so many confusing emotions within her. The usually level-headed Princess was doubting herself and her words.
She never let go of the lily.
