The Seldom Avatar

...a Legend of Korra fan-inspired story...

By Gothic Rain

Disclaimer: This goes throughout the entire course of the story. I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender nor do I own Avatar: The Legend of Korra. I gain no profit from the creation of this story and will not abuse this penmanship I have been given. I do not own the Avatar or its characters and neither its plot and storyline. I own nothing but my imagination.

The Whisper in the Wind

A gentle breeze caressed the people of the Northern Water tribe sending a soothing chill to calm the grief of the death of their own. A tall man stood outside the walls of the tribe with saddened blue eyes and held a small bundle of blue blankets in his arms. A soft cry broke the whisper in the wind and the man looked down to see his newborn daughter reaching her tiny dark hand to him.

The man held unto her hand softly and kissed her tiny knuckles before tucking her tighter in his arms. "We'll be okay Korra, I'll keep you safe."

He took a long and brutal journey the Southern Water tribe, since he had only returned to the Northern Water tribe for his lover in labor the man had to stay off the radar for his banishment. He had fallen in love with a women he had not known at the time wasn't only visiting his tribe and actually lived in the Northern Water tribe where he was no longer welcome.

No one knew he was there, and with his beloved dead he knew if they caught him with their child by the tribe, he'd be sentenced to life-imprisonment or death. The father knew he didn't have much time left, another day and his daughter would lose what life she'd been given from her mother. The father coughed suddenly, his body shivering from the illness that had taken him over his journey.

Korra cried in worry for her father knowing that something was wrong but unable to tell what and soon found herself in a deep slumber against the icy cold of the winter. Three quarters of the way there Korra's father was unable to go any further, the sickness in him leaving his health deteriorating by minutes. Korra began to cry for her father until the cold became to much and the only thing she had left was the warmth of her father's body beneath her own.

The newborn baby stayed awake despite her exhaustion. The sound of her father's slowing breathing the only thing she could hear among the icy wraths of the land around her. Suddenly a shadow stood in front of her, and cyan blue eyes peered up at the strange face of a creature so unlike her father's. A polar bear dog lowered his head and licked Korra out of curiosity. He tilted his head in wonder when Korra giggled at the creature.

She attempted to speak but it was gibberish. The polar bear dog didn't seem to be bothered by it though and instead laid down beside Korra, whining for her as her father began to breathe his last breaths. The baby began to wail when the cold began to return, her father's warmth no longer there.

Her hands reached out for her father, knowing she lost something great. The polar bear dog moved closer to Korra, and the baby with some hesitation turned towards him. A shy hand reached toward the polar dog bear who in turn showed her compassion and in time the creature carried the newborn away from the harshness of winter. Korra cried in the loss of her father, burying her head in the softness of the polar bear dog's white fur.

Three Years Later

A little girl stood inside a cave secluded from the winter outside. She smiled when her friend approached her, his family curled around them fast asleep. The polar bear dog stood beside her and the two looked outside where the sky awaited a deep blue. Somehow the polar bear dog sensed that she wanted to go outside and with a groan of exasperation the polar bear dog signaled that it was okay and with a cheer she leapt on the older polar bear dog's back and the two journeyed outside.

The outside may have been cold but it was also welcoming and so the girl, Korra, felt truly connected. The moon shown overhead, full and magnificent. Korra didn't know why but she felt something from the moon, like a pull of sorts. The polar bear dog brought her over to the water and the two settled side by side. As the elder polar bear dog rest beside her, Korra looked up at the moon and gasped at the site of a beautiful women appearing in front of her.

She smiled softly at her, and Korra found herself in awe by the power and grace the women in front of her projected. She had long white hair and wore an elegant dress with skin as dark as her own. She seemed different to Korra though, as though she wasn't quite like Korra. She was glowing but also somewhat transparent.

"Avatar," the moon spirit spoke. Her voice echoing across the water causing it to vibrate.

Korra didn't know how to respond but it seemed as though the moon spirit understood her. Yue, the moon spirit, gently brought her hands up causing the water a great distance away from Korra to lurch up like a tsunami. She brought her hands down allowing the water to settle peacefully again. Korra watched in awe and even the polar bear dog looked up at the majestic moon spirit. Yue repeated this action multiple times until Korra had memorized it and slowly albeit hesitantly began to bring her hands up and watched in surprise as the water in front of her moved up slightly. Korra brought her hands down and the wave collapsed, although not as gently as Yue had done so.

The moon spirit only smiled at her and encouraged her to continue and by dawn Yue was gone, but Korra now controlled a ginormous wave in front of her. The polar bear dog watched in wonder and barked in delight as Korra lowered her hands allowing the wave to settle once again.

Korra's shoulders slumped and the young girl leaned against the polar bear dog in exhaustion.

Twelve months had passed since Korra first met the moon spirit on the full moon. And during every full moon she would venture out and be trained by Yue. Korra didn't know why the beautiful women referred to her as "Avatar" but she enjoyed seeing her enthralling smile and twinkling eyes as her hair blew gently by an invisible wind. It would be another two weeks before the next full moon, as the stars alignment told Korra. So, for now she was left taking care of the elder polar bear's cubs.

"Ada," Korra called him, for the only word she knew was the name the moon spirit whispered to her every time they met. Nevertheless the polar bear dogs learned that Korra was referring to them. The den mother being called "Ava" and the five cubs as "Al," "Ash," "Ade," "Aga," and "Ajah."

The little girl was currently grooming Ash and Al as the den mother cleaned the other three cubs. Ada sat beside her, snoring quietly as his hot breath touched her hand. "Ada," Korra cooed softly as she snuggled against the great polar bear dog.

Suddenly loud voices similar to her own neared their cave causing all the polar bear dogs to leap to their feet. Ada growled lowly beside her, standing in front of the six members of his family. Seven men stood outside their cave, each holding torches and glistening swords. Ava stood a little behind Ada, just as frightening to the men before them.

"These will make perfect coats," one of them laughed.

"The babies can be used for transportation labor too!" All the men were suddenly laughing and began to move forward only for Ada to let out a ferocious roar of rage. Two of the men ran away, but still five remained little afraid of the powerful beasts in front of them.

"Grah!" One of them yelled as they charged at Ada only to be slapped away by Ava's tail. The men didn't stop and attacked again only to be thrown against the wall by Ada. Ava leaped over Ada when one of them tried to play dirty and instead snapped his arm in two with her teeth. He let out an agonizing scream but still threw his arm out throwing his sword through the air where it pierced an unsuspecting Ava in the shoulder causing her to yelp. Ada became much more ferocious and tacked three of the men at once. Suddenly the flames in the torches escaped and all headed toward a single unscathed man.

Ada backed up slightly after rolling over the tackled three men at the sight of the fire.

Ava stood beside Ada and the two roared at the two remaining men. The one with the sword charged forward and leaped in the air as fire shot below him. Ada avoided the flames only to realize it was a distraction when the man landed beside him and immediately thrust his sword forward straight through Ava's chest. Ava let out a yelp before her body slumped to the side, dead.

The cubs began to whine sensing their mother's defeat and scurried to the back of the den with Korra in front of them, protecting them despite her shivers of fear.

Ada looked over his Ava and buried his face in her fur before looking at Ava's killer dead in the eyes and leaped at him, tearing his throat right out of him, killing him instantly.

The fire bender threw a ball of fire at him but even when the flames hit Ada he continued to run after him. Sensing his approaching death, the man, reared his arms back for a final and greatly powered attack. Releasing it, the intensifying red flames flew forwards Ada and everyone else just before Ada reached him.

All Korra heard as the flames approached her was Ada's high-pitch yelp before being followed by a gurgling cry from the man.

In desperation Korra stood in front of the cubs and threw her arms outward causing air to launch forward causing the fire to weave around her. Soon she found the air extinguished followed by exhaustion but kept on her feet determined to keep the cubs safe but a stray wave of fire brushed her shoulder causing Korra to cry out before falling over.

The smoke became too much and was the last Korra saw before passing out.

When Korra awoke the smoke had cleared out but the smell of death and decay filled the air. The young girl sat up only to cry out as her shoulder burned by the air. Her vision cleared as she took in the site of two large white masses lying on their sides with black scorches along their bodies. Men lay dead around her, their blood splattering the ground and walls of the cave entrance. She covered her eyes despite the pain in her shoulder while her body shook with sadness.

A small whine sounded behind her and Korra quickly turned around, uncovering her eyes to gasp in horror at the sight of four dead cubs. Fortunately one of them survived and she sat in front of Korra with her head bowed in sadness but eyes looking up at her with love.

Korra scooped the last of her polar bear dog family into her arms and tucked her closely in her arms determined not to lose another friend.

"Naga," Korra renamed the polar bear dog, unable to bear the memory of her old name by such great loss. The newly renamed cub licked her face before burying herself in Korra's arm falling quickly asleep in her remaining family and best friend's arms.

Korra left the cave she learned to call home for so many years with Naga in her arms as tears of great sorrow fell to the snow below. She looked back a final time before continuing her way through the winter with a newly found will to survive, and a companionship with the polar bear dog called Naga.

I know that this type of story is hardly seen but I felt that a new approach on the avatar would bring a new perspective to her legend. Stay tuned for further updates, and let me know what ideas and question arise from your mind.

Also the angst and tragedy do not last for long, so don't worry about keeping a tissue box nearby.

- Gothic Rain