BREATHING DEEPLY, Korra shut her eyes as she assumed the lotus position, the forest she sat in fading out of her mind. She shifted herself as she got comfortable, moving the grass that spread across a footpath lined by large intertwining trees that seemingly touched the twilight sky.

Several creatures scampered around, some on the ground as others soared through the leaves and trees. Assuming unnatural shapes and varying in size, the spirits roamed the forest, some of which sat near her and watched in curiosity.

She opened her eyes slowly, her breath shallow as she trailed them around and looked onward; a frown etching on her face. A red line moved from the edge of the horizon at an immensely slow pace, touching trees in its wake and going right through them without deviating its straight path.

Breathing out, she huffed looking around as the creatures drew closer. Rising stiffly, she dusted herself off and picked up her satchel, moving away from the area; heading for a cliff. Reaching its edge, she looked onward, seeing a massive swamp with several vines and crystalline pools littered around outstretching as far as the eye could see.

She leapt off, whirling her hand at her side and gathered air to glide her to the swamp below, landing quietly near a tree. With apprehensive eyes, she trod on, sneaking behind a tree that she pressed her back against as she surveyed the area. Seeing nothing, she stepped out when she saw a figure and went back to take cover.

Clicking noises approached her, hitching her breath as they drew closer and amplified a low shuffling sound. Taking a deep breath, she leaned against the bark and assumed a deadpanned expression, looking straightforward as a creature moved past her. The beast, a large, crustacean creature with a lobster-like build walked onward; its dark shell nearly camouflaging with the tree she hid behind. Sighing, she quickly dashed off; glancing twice to be sure she wasn't spotted.

Leaping over a pond, she stood on a small island, breathing heavily as she leaned against a tree and heard an old man give a hearty chuckle. "It's not funny." She growled.

"You still haven't known how to deal with him, have you?" Iroh turned to her.

"I don't know why you still like staying around here." She walked around the tree, seeing him seated against it and sat before him.

"This place is quite quaint. I'm used to dealing with him; I assumed you would after all this time."

"Well, some things just don't work for me." She rubbed the back of her head.

"I guess so." He laughed.

Leaning back, she frowned and looked up at him. "It's still coming."

"Well, it was expected; it's been like that for a while."

"And you still have nothing?"

"Unfortunately." He shook his head.

"I'll have to try and close the Spirit Portal again."

"Korra, you have done this several times since you came here –,"

"Because I've got no other choice; if I leave it open, whatever that energy I've been feeling is will end up in Republic City."

"I'm not trying to say that you shouldn't close the portal. What I am saying is that you should've been able to already." His brows stitched.

"What does that mean?"

"Something is holding you back; you're conflicted." Worry exuded in his expression.

"Well, closing the Spirit Portals isn't an easy decision to make. Sure, it's what allowed Vatuu to return and wreak havoc, but if they were closed, the Air Nation would never have returned. If I do this, I don't think I'll be able to come here for guidance anymore."

"You're the Avatar, Korra; the bridge between the Spirit World and the Physical World. Whether the portals are open or not, you will be able to cross worlds. But, this is a decision you need to make and you need to be sure which path you're going to take."

"Yeah, I know." She huffed. "Thanks, Iroh."

"I'll always be here to help if you need me."

"I appreciate it."

"Say 'hello' to Tenzin and the others for me." He smiled at her.

"I will."

She smiled at him and stood up, looking around as she took her leave. Traversing the valleys, she left the swamp and moved to the centre of the realm, seeing a beam of light rising to the sky; spirals of energy swirling within. Turning to the forest behind her, she frowned determinedly and stepped through it.

BRIGHT LIGHT gave way for rocks and vines as Korra stepped through the portal, taking a deep breath as her eyes roamed around. Several buildings stood tall around the area, the street built around the crater which stood as an island in the middle of a road. Turning to the gateway, her eyes glowed brightly and she placed her hand on the energy.

Electricity surged out of the portal and repelled her, hurling her aside. Scrambling to her feet, she frowned as the gateway stabilized. She looked at her hand and jerked back in surprise, seeing red energy exude from it slowly; the burns once sustained disappearing slowly.

"What the ...?"

She looked at the portal and frowned turning as she saw people whisper amongst themselves and watch her in awe. Clenching her fists, she launched into the air with bursts of fire propelling her at the soles of her feet. Landing on a rooftop nearby, she looked around the city, seeing its new and expanded streets.

She smiled when she turned to her left, seeing a large spirit vine stretch across a road nearby. She sighed and trailed her eyes to the City Hall in the distance whose roof peaked over some buildings and saw the Future Industries skyline nearby. Running toward another building, she shot toward a building, using fire to boost herself forward.

COCKING HER neck, Korra glanced around as she approached the steps of the council building. She entered the lobby and headed over to the receptionist, looking around in apprehension as people roamed the concourse. The elderly woman turned to her, lowering her glasses condescendingly.

"Can I help you?"

"Excuse me, I'm looking for Councilman Tenzin, is he here?"

"He's a bit busy right now." The lady frowned.

"You know when he's gonna be free?"

"I dunno, it could be hours, but I don't give a damn." The woman sat back.

Korra huffed as the hefty woman turned to her typewriter and ignored her, taking a scope of the room as people moved past her. Looking to her left, she saw Tenzin and a small, brunette-haired black woman clad in a red suit near an elevator and walked up to them. The man shook his head at his assistant's joke when he turned to Korra, jerking back in shock.

"Korra?"

"Hey, Tenzin." She smiled slightly.

"Wh-where've you been? It's been a year, I –,"

"Hi, I'm Leigh." Tenzin's aide forcefully shook her hand then cocked her neck. "Korra? Hmm, that sounds familiar."

"Yeah, I'm the Avatar."

"Whoa, Avatar Korra? I'm just kidding, I know who you are." Leigh chuckled and shook her hand excitedly. "I'm Leigh, it's such an honour to meet you!"

"Korra, where've you been? What happened to you? Are you alright?" Worry showed on Tenzin's face.

"I'm fine; I just needed your help with something."

"Um, Leigh, meet me outside."

"Yes, sir." Leigh nodded and headed for the door.

"Korra, where've you been? It's been a year." Tenzin's brows stitched.

"I've been in the Spirit World."

"Where? People have been going in and out of there and nobody's sighted you there. Do you know how worried your family was? You just left right in the middle of Varrick's wedding reception. The least you could do was tell someone you had gone." He frowned.

"I'm sorry, Tenzin, but you have to listen to me; I need your help with closing the Spirit Portal." Korra frowned.

"Why?"

"There's an energy I've sensed rising for the past year now and I need to stop it from entering the Physical World."

"Why can't you close the portal yourself?"

"I've tried but something's blocking me. Iroh told me it's because I was conflicted about it before and I'm determined now, but I still can't."

"Well, I'm afraid I can't help you, Korra; Jinora's better suited for such a task than I am."

"Then where is she?"

"In the Western Air Temple; she's a Spiritual Guru teaching upcoming Airbenders." Tenzin crossed his arms.

"Great." Korra huffed. "Is there a way you can take me there?"

"I can't do that either, the council's very busy at the moment with the treaty signing coming up soon."

"What's that?"

"The Fire, Earth and Water Nation representatives will be coming to Republic City in a couple days to sign a treaty to join military forces since Kuvira's uprising."

"Seems a lot's been going on since I've been gone. Well, thanks anyway." She headed for the door. "I'll just go to the temple myself."

"Korra, slow down." He held her shoulder. "Whatever it is, it can wait. You've been gone for a long time now, at least say 'hi' to your friends again; I'm sure they've missed you."

She sifted her mind. "Okay. I'll leave for the temple tomorrow."

"Excellent, they'll be quite pleased to see you again." He walked on with her.

"Well, I miss 'em too." Korra smiled. "Iroh says 'hi'."

KORRA'S EYES roamed the foyer, taking in the lavish, shimmering floors and art-covered walls as she moved across the expanse. Looking around, she stopped as she saw Bolin, Mako and Asami happily approach her, entering their warm, welcoming embrace.

"Oh, Korra, I can't believe how long it's been!" Asami hugged her again.

"How're things going in the Spirit World?" Bolin grinned.

"Same as always." Korra shrugged. "Iroh says 'hi'."

"Korra, it's great to see that you're okay; you had us so worried." Mako placed a hand on her shoulder

"Thanks, Mako." She smiled at him.

"Yeah, how's about calling us next time, huh? The Spirit World's got bad reception or something?" Bolin feigned anger.

"There's a lot we've gotta talk about." Asami led her down the foyer. "Things have really changed since you left."

"Yeah, the city's gotten a little bigger." Korra pocketed her hands.

"Oh, that's not even the half of it."

"Yeah, I got a job as a lieutenant in United Forces." Bolin grinned.

"Whoa, congratulations. How're you fairing out under General Iroh?" Korra turned to him.

"Well, it's a little tough on me, but Pabu here's really getting into shape." The fire ferret climbed onto Bolin's shoulder.

"Guess he'd do well with the eagle shepherds, huh?"

"He's got a lot up his sleeve." Bolin petted Pabu.

"Come on, Korra, you must be tired." Asami opened twin doors leading to a hallway. "Let's get you freshened up and get you up to speed on what's going on in the city."

"Yeah, I sure could use a break." Korra stretched.

KORRA CHUCKLED as Bolin sat back and grinned, making Mako shake his head in disapproval and Asami frown in confusion. Having finished her food, Korra sipped her water and looked across the table, distancing her mind from her concerns in the Spirit World.

"Well, representatives from the Water Nation, Fire Nation and Earth Republic will be arriving in the city today for the Armed Forces Alliance." Asami wiped her mouth with a napkin.

"Well, Tenzin already filled me in. When's it happening anyway?" Korra rested her chin on a cupped hand.

"In a couple a' days. I'm so psyched." Bolin grinned.

"Well, I dunno if I can attend cuz I needed to head to the Western Air Temple to see Jinora so she can help me close off the Spirit Portals."

"Why? Didn't you want people to be able to cross worlds freely?" Asami's brow curved.

"Yes, but I've been sensing some powerful energy rising and I wanna stop it before it enters the Physical World." Korra frowned. "I tried closing it before I came here, but it repelled me."

"Is it Vatuu?" Mako's brows stitched.

"I can't tell, but I don't wanna wait around to find out."

"How long have you been feeling it?" Asami interlocked her fingers before her.

"For about a year." Korra turned to her. "It's very faint and it hasn't changed that much, but I know it's powerful; maybe even more powerful than Vatuu."

"Stronger than Vatuu?" Bolin jerked back.

"Is that even possible?" Mako frowned.

"I don't know." Korra shook her head. "It frightens me that something like that could exist, but I know what I felt."

"Well, you should probably get going then." Asami huffed.

"But, you can stick around for at least a week, right? The signing's gonna be done by then since they've been discussing for months." Bolin sat back. "Right, Pabu." The ferret nodded.

"Bolin has a point; it'd be good to have the Avatar show her support." Asami turned to Korra.

"I dunno." Korra sighed.

"C'mon, Korra, it's been a whole year since anyone's seen you. The people need to know you're still around." Mako smiled in assurance.

Korra glanced at him and shrugged. "Okay, I'll stick around for the signing."

"Alright! Team Avatar's back in action!" Bolin shot his fist up.

Korra sat back and smiled. "I missed you guys."

CUTTING THE line, Mako placed the receiver down and rubbed the bridge of his nose, sitting back as his eyes trailed his desk cluttered with towering piles of papers and office equipment. Looking around the room, he sighed as he sipped his cup of coffee when a knock came at the door, startling him a little.

"Come in." He put his cup down.

"Hey, Mako." Korra entered the room.

"Korra, what're you doing here?" He raised his brow.

"Just lookin' for something to do before the representatives arrive." She sat at his desk. "Bolin's busy working on the security detail for the signing; Asami's at work and Tenzin's busy with the council. His family's over in the Western Air Temple, so I had nothing to do."

"Kinda sad that Fire Lord Izumi won't allow Republic City police around any of her representatives' convoys." He huffed then chuckled. "Asami's finally busy with something? Kinda seemed like Varrick put Future Industries on auto-pilot."

"Good thing too cuz she complained about being unable to tag along with me to go to the Spirit World for a vacation cuz she was busy."

"She didn't hear you talk about the energy you sensed?" His brow curved.

"She's persistent, but I'm making it a point not to go there. Anyway, you're last on the list, so what you got in store for me?" She sat back.

"I dunno, you did ask everyone else first." He feigned anger.

"I could've listened to the Blues on the radio all day, but I figured I'd hear the real thing." She chuckled. "Wait, don't tell me you're busy too cuz I've had to get a bunch a' mopeds with Naga being back home."

"Luckily, I don't have much to do; just receiving calls of small time stuff like break-ins I'm delegating to other officers. Things aren't the same since you left."

"So, you've got nothing? I wanted to try and get back into the field. Kinda getting into the vibe of helping out since I went AWOL."

"Sorry, you lucked out this time." He shrugged.

"C'mon, there has to be something. Robberies, Triads – anything?"

"Hmm, well, there's the mystery on the disappearance of the Equalists." He stroked his chin.

"What do you mean?"

"Since Kuvira's uprising, the Equalists have been carrying out strategic attacks to signal their return, but when you left, the attacks suddenly stopped."

"They were attacking since then? Why didn't anyone tell me?" She frowned.

"They were pretty small time at first, nothing consequential, but they got bolder and began attacking precincts, stealing police weaponry. We intended to bring you in on the attacks after Varrick's wedding, but then you went and they up and stopped all together."

"Well, thank God they didn't continue when I left." She rubbed the back of her head. "Sorry about that."

"I understand; you needed time to pick yourself up – Zaheer really did a number on you."

"... Yeah." She huffed. "But, why would they stop after I'd left? Wouldn't that be the best time since their biggest obstacle was outta the picture?"

"That's what concerned us, so Ling and I led an investigation to track them down. We supposed they were planning for a large attack, but we never found 'em. The case was closed about three months ago and the files were declassified. I decided to keep 'em in case something else came up, but nothing's happened still." He sipped his coffee.

"Can I have a look at them?"

"Don't worry, you don't need to." He placed his cup down. "The Equalists have been gone for a long time, so they must've packed up and quit. I mean, Amon's not here anymore, so they must've been lost without him."

"But, that's the reason why I wanna look into it. Think about it, Amon was the soul of the Equalists and without him; they'd just be a bunch of hired guns for the Triads. With him gone, they'd be hopeless, but it didn't stop them from continuing their attacks, which means they found someone else to lead them."

He frowned. "I thought of that, but I don't see any reason to continue investigating. We had an intensive search for nine long months with our best detectives, but we found nothing. We were running out of resources, we ran outta leads –,"

"But you didn't have the Avatar with you." She smirked.

"I don't think this is a good idea, Korra." He shook his head. "The Equalists are gone."

"Then let's make sure they don't think of resurrecting again." She frowned. "They did it once after they lost their purpose, so we'll stop them before they try again."

"Like the Prequels?"

"Luckily The Force Awakens washed my eyes, so I won't have to remember that crap." She rose from her seat.

"Mui, mui, I love you." Mako teased.

"Oh God, I hate that guy." She groaned.

He chuckled then stroked his chin. "Wait, how do you know that movie anyway?"

"Ask the guy who's writing this." She shrugged.

UNLOCKING THE door, Mako flipped the light switch and entered a small foyer, followed by Korra as he fastened the latch. Draping both their coats on a hanger nearby, he tailed her as she walked into a corridor and turned into the living room to her left.

"Nice place." She looked around, taking in the small radio to her left atop a bookshelf that lined a wall and four chairs set around a brown carpet and coffee table.

"Nah, it's nothing." He placed his bag on the dining table across from the living room. "Cup of coffee?"

"Bourbon." She took a seat.

"Are Avatars supposed to drink?" He moved up to a fridge.

"Didn't get the memo." She shrugged.

"Tenzin's okay with it? He isn't gonna give you a lecture on sobriety as the Avatar?" He poured out two glasses and moved over to her.

"Never brought it up." She received a glass.

"Well, not my problem." He shrugged and took a sip. "The files should be back in my room."

"You don't have an office or something? Don't you end up mixing things up?"

"Nah, plus I figured I'd keep it where I spend most of my time anyway."

"Knowing you, I bet an office wouldn't make much of a difference anyway." She scoffed as she walked past him.

"Hey, I'm not messy." He frowned.

"Messy, piling stuff up." She smirked and turned to him. "You say tomaito, I say tomato." She headed into a hallway.

"Wait, you can't just waltz around my apartment."

"Lead the way, chief." She gestured.

He groaned and stooped over. "Welcome back, Korra."

"Ya miss me?" She smirked, getting another groan from him.

Traversing the small hall, Mako opened a door to his right and led Korra into his room, its walls covered in red and white wallpaper with Fire Ferret symbols littered around and floor carpeted with a red rug leading up to a burgundy sheeted bed laid between two drawers and set across from a large wardrobe. Moving to his left, Mako walked up to a locker he unlocked and opened, sifting through folders and papers that filled it.

"Fire Ferret posters? What? Never wanna get laid?" She smirked.

"It's for ... reasons; I remember my Pro-Bending days."

"You do know that just ruins the entire room, right?" She pointed at the locker. "How'd you get that in here anyway?"

"I have my ways." He crouched as he searched the lower shelf.

She crossed her arms and looked around, sighing as she waited. "You haven't found it yet?"

"It's a little ... difficult to find it in here. It's very ... organized."

"Maybe you should just say tomato; people won't look at you weirdly anyway." She shook her head and huffed. "Move aside, lemme see."

"But you won't be able to find it with the ... system I have set up." He moved aside.

She walked up to the locker, her brows stitching as she looked at the ruffled up papers and folders that filled each shelf, nearly falling out and a small duffle bag that lay at the bottom. "Man, how do you find anything in this mess?"

"I get to them." He crossed his arms. "... Eventually."

"How're you not fired yet?" She began searching. "Or do you delegate everything to everyone else."

"They are declassified files." His eyes darted around.

"Doesn't mean nobody will ever need 'em." She coughed. "Damn, do you clean this thing?"

"Dust is a sign of authenticity."

"What?" She turned to him.

"Yeah, I got nothing." He walked away.

Chuckling, she went back to searching as he paced around the room, turning to see the moon's rays create shadow patterns with the blinds. Moving up to the corner of the room, Mako turned on the lights and saw Korra pull out the duffle bag and sit on the bed.

"What's in here?" She unzipped the bag.

"Ah, that's where they are." He moved up to her. "I put 'em in a bag cuz there were too many to sort out and I planned to do it later."

"And later would be?" She raised her brow.

"Um ..." His eyes roamed. "Well, there're a lotta files in there, most of 'em coming from forensics and pictures taken from crime scenes. We've got some files on some Equalists we've arrested, but most of 'em were moved to the Boiling Rock after they escaped and started rampaging."

"You weren't joking about there being lots of stuff to dig through." She picked up a file. "But, I'll go through each of them anyway." She packed it and zipped the bag.

"Take as much time as you need."

"I will." She shouldered the bag. "Well, I'd better get going."

"I'll escort you." He headed for the door.

She followed him when something caught her eye in the locker. She picked it up and wiped dust off it, seeing a photo of the two of them sharing cotton candy before a Ferris wheel. "Oh, look." She chuckled. "This's the time when we went to the Glacier Spirits Festival."

"Hey, yeah." He took a look at the picture. "It was four years ago."

She smiled warmly. "Time sure does fly by."

"Yeah ..."

"Didn't think you'd still have it though." Her brows stitched.

"I just wanted to have a keepsake; it's something I didn't want to forget."

"You didn't want to?" She turned to him.

"Uh ... well, yeah. I needed to, but I kept it till you'd left for the Spirit World. I never really thought about it, even when we'd broken up, but you leaving made me realize we're too different to be together and our jobs always get in the way."

"Yeah." Her eyes lowered. "They always did, but I didn't leave because of you or anyone else; I needed to work some things out."

"I guess we needed the time apart to reflect; my work with the police had gotten harder, but I'm getting a handle on things now."

She smiled. "You think we could work things out again? Could we work?"

"You were on my mind each day you were gone." He smiled back.

She pressed her lips against his, dropping the duffle bag and picture as she pushed him toward the door, slamming it shut as she pinned him back. Her breath quickened as she held his face, deepening the kiss as his hands snaked down to her back. She hastily unbuttoned his jacket, moving it aside as he stepped forward and pulled her vest upward, revealing her bra and massaged her breast.

Placing her arms on his shoulders, she leaned into him as she kissed him furiously, stepping back as he pulled her vest off and lifted her, pressing his lips against hers. Falling into the bed, the two ran their hands over each other, his moving down her thigh and up to her breast and hers unbuttoning his shirt.

KORRA'S EYES roamed the city as she looked around from a rooftop, turning to the Spirit Portal to her right. She frowned as the previous night came to mind, regretting her hasty departure and jumped down, weaving air around her to ease her descent. Moving over to a food cart, she stopped and turned as several vehicles drove down the street.

Red cars with Fire Nation insignias drove down the street with their militia following them in a motorcycle convoy. They whizzed past her and she turned to the lady at the cart when three other motorbikes eased into the corner of her eye. She studied them as they joined the motorcade, seeing RCPD logos on their sides.

"What's the police doing here?" Her brows furrowed.

She wove air around her waist and moved onto a building's rooftop, looking down at the street as the motorcade made a turn into another road. A military motorcycle drove into an alley and hit a dumpster, making her jerk back in surprise. Another motorbike swerved out of the convoy, into another street and crashed into a store.

"The hell?" She turned to the motorcade, squinting she as saw a police officer raise his arm and shot it to his right. A military bike turned to its right, into an alley and crashed into a dumpster. "Blood bending?"

She dove to the street and flipped over, using air to land on the road and stamped her foot on the asphalt, raising rocks in a line that launched a RCPD motorcycle. The police officer leapt off the vehicle in mid-air and spun toward her, letting the vehicle crash. She jumped back and he shot his hands toward her, holding her in the air.

She gritted her teeth as her limbs contorted, her muscles sliding against each other as her arms twisted and her knees came together. She screamed and bright light shone from her eyes, releasing her from the policeman's grasp. She shot three fireballs at him in swift punches and he flipped out of the way, zigzagging as he ran up to her.

He kicked her in the face and wove water out of a tube on his belt, grabbing her leg with it and slammed her on the ground. He whipped her around and spun, tossing her into the air. She flipped over and hovered with fire from her boots, spraying fire onto him with a palm thrust.

He leapt to his right, running onto a food cart as civilians ran away and jumped onto a store's roof. Shifting his arms to his side, he drew out water and shot icicles at her in quick palm-thrusts. She swerved out of the way and he wrapped a tube of water around her ankle, slamming her on the ground.

She groaned as the man ran toward her and she got on one knee, weaving the water on the ground into a line of ice stalagmites that shot toward him. He jumped to the side and she spun the icicles around, impaling his back. She rose to her feet and panted as the ice melted and she turned to the motorcade that drove into the distance. A police motorcycle left the convoy and turned into another street.

She moved up to the corpse and kicked it over, studying its uniform as her eyes trailed it. Stopping at the neck, she frowned as she saw a spot on it, kneeling down as she moved the jacket aside. A black crescent moon laying within two rings ran down the side of his neck.

Standing up, she studied the corpse. "What the hell's going on here?"

MAKO SAT back as he held up a file and read it, frowning as he looked at his desk that towered with several others. Placing it down, he began working on his typewriter, creaking his neck as he leaned forward and sipped his cup of coffee, groaning as it had finished. Rising from his seat, he moved up to the door when a knock came and he opened it, finding Korra standing behind it, a bag slung over her shoulder.

"Oh, Korra, where've you been? You left before I'd woken up."

"I, uh ... had to deal with something." She glanced around.

"So, what brings you here?" He stepped back and let her in.

"The Fire Nation motorcade was attacked." She moved up to his desk.

"What?"

"I intercepted a bunch of Bloodbenders posing as RCPD who attacked the convoy and sent soldiers off course. I put one down, but the others got away."

"Wait, Bloodbenders? How'd that happen?"

"Wait a minute, how isn't the RCPD on it already?" She raised her brow.

"Well, we got a call on a disturbance on Eighth and sent some officers to check it out and all they found was the scene of a fight that'd just occurred." He shut the door behind him.

"That's where I fought the attackers."

"But how did this happen? If there was an attack, surely the Fire Nation would've gotten on the case long before we did. I mean, wasn't the motorcade thrown off course?" He moved up to his desk.

"No, they just Bloodbended the Fire Nation soldiers into crashing, but the motorcade went on as if nothing happened." She took a seat.

"Well, I'd have to report this to Ling, but this's tricky." He sat down. "If Bloodbenders infiltrated the police force, then we need evidence as to how much we've been compromised. We also need to figure out how the motorcade just went on without noticing."

"There was some distance between the attackers and the convoy and most of the cars were up ahead." She frowned. "What's troubling me more is this." She fished out a dossier out of the bag.

"What's this?" He picked up the file and flipped through it.

"I searched the files on the Equalists for hours after the attack and I found a photograph of one of their members bearing this symbol." She held up a photograph of a crescent moon laying within two circles.

"Yeah, we've seen this symbol on two Equalists, but it's never led to anything substantial." He received it.

"That's the symbol on the Boodbender that attacked the convoy."

"So, the Equalists have more Bloodbenders among them." He closed the dossier. "This is bad."

"What's worse is that they're out to stop the treaty signing." She frowned.

BREATHING DEEPLY, Zaheer shut his eyes and calmed his mind, his hands placed on his legs as he hovered in the lotus position. Manacles wrapped around his wrists, legs and midsection, linked by chains that ran to the ground and attached to the circumference of a green circle in the middle of the room. Rocks walled the expanse with metal comprising the boundary behind him and a large door before him.

The door slowly slid upward, the sound of it grazing against rock drawing his attention as it revealed two men standing behind it. One of them, a guard, walked toward him, struggling as he moved and unlocked the chains on the circle, making him jerk back in shock as he was freed. Frowning, he turned to the sentry who looked at him in a panic.

"What are you doing?" Zaheer frowned.

"I c-can't control myself!" The guard strained.

"What is this?"

"We're giving you freedom; a chance to follow your destiny." The second man walked toward him slowly, wearing a black mask with white markings and clad in a hoody and trousers with a crescent moon circle on his chest.