AN: 4re: Hello, and welcome to our first story! I am 4re, one half of ArartardDuo! I write most of the story, but this wouldn't of been made without MiriM, my co-author. (I am terrible at organization and it's a miracle that this story was posted)

MiriM: Hey all! So as 4re said, this is the first story we've ever written for . This story took forever to get started but, here it is! Reviews and constructive criticism are very welcome, considering this is our first story. (Be gentle :3)

4re: So, basically this is set in our world, but still with some elements of the LOK universe. We hope to make this quite a few chapters, and the chapters should be fairly long. This is only the prologue, and is therefore rather short. It was actually shorter until we edited (*coughMiriMnaggedmecough*) and added a few parts. Hope you enjoy!

MiriM: On with the story! (And to 4re, I don't nag. I motivate. -.-)

"Korra! Korra, come here! Let's go!"

Korra, pouting, turned away from the extremely interesting polar bear cubs, and waddled after her mother.

"But I want a polar bear, Mommy!" Korra beamed up at her mother, her wide blue eyes gleamed with euphoria and the wide gap of her two missing teeth showed.

"No, dear, bears are not meant to be pets." Her eyes narrowed and she grumpily grumbled under her breath, clinging to her mother's fur clad leg as they walked through the snow covered village. Korra's mother, Senna, huffed, hefting up the basket of furs and skins as her daughter continued to inhibit her walking abilities. Fianlly, she stopped and looked down at Korra. Her daughter looked up at her mother and met her eyes.

"Korra dear, can you hold the basket for Mommy?" Korra scrunched up her face and rolled her eyes.

"Mommmm!" Korra whined. "Why can't one of the guards hold the basket?" She gestured to the men trailing behind; the three armed guards were far enough behind to offer some privacy, but close enough to protect the pair.

"Because they have better things to do. Now be a good girl and hold the basket." Korra pouted, blowing a few strands of her dark brown bangs out of eyes, and took the basket, grabbing it with both of her tiny arms. Senna sighed in relief as she watched her daughter reluctantly comply. Korra was only seven, and she was already starting to develop a fiesty, stubborn attitude. Senna briefly imagined what Korra would be like as a teenager. "Oh dear..." Senna breathed under her breath. "I've got myself a handful with that girl." She shook her head affectionately and walked a bit faster in order to catch up with Korra.

The mother and daughter continued, calling out warm greetings as they passed neighbors and friends. It was a rather warm day, at least compared to most in the far reaches of northern Canada, and the villagers were bustling towards the market. Senna walked through the crowd of vendors and tradesmen, bartering away the skins for coin and food. Korra scurried after her mother, begging for a treat or toy whenever something caught her eye.

Senna ushered Korra in front of her as they journeyed back home, Korra munching on a bag of seal jerky her mother had finally given in to buying for her. The two approached their home, a fine show of the family's wealth and prestige, with its large stone walls, broken only by the perfect paned windows that showed the fine decor within.

There was something off about it though, the curtains in the meeting room and office were drawn, and there were two extra Satomobiles parked in the driveway. Senna's face grew grim. She placed a firm hand on Korra's back, pushing her towards the door.

"Mommy what-"

"Go find Howl, and stay with him" Korra stared at her mother, eyes wide with worry.

"But Mommy-" Senna bent down and cupped Korra's face in her hands, an unnerved look on her face. Korra for once was quiet and looked at her mother with confused, frightened eyes.

"Korra just listen to me, okay? It's going to be alright. Just do say I say, please." Korra nodded and her mother bent down and kissed her on the forehead. "I love you, Korra." Senna pushed her in the direction of the bedrooms, and ordered a guard to go with her. Korra continued to glance back in the direction her mother had disappeared. She wandered to her room, shocked from her joy by her mother's actions. Something was clearly wrong.

"Korra!" She turned at her name, brightening at the familiar voice.

"Howl." The older boy smiled at her, trying to reassure both of them that everything was okay. The guard placed a hand on Howl's shoulder, and the two exchanged a look. Howl grabbed Korra's wrist, and pulled her with him as he lead her down the eerily quiet halls. The guard watched the children walk for a few moments, then turned around to rejoin Senna after deciding the two would be alright.

"Howl, what's wrong? Where's mom and dad?" Korra whispered. Korra saw Howl's jaw line stiffen, and his mouth open slightly, but the boy quickly closed it and said nothing. Korra followed behind, noting the young teen's guarded posture and darting eyes. Her worry and fear only grew. They finally reached Korra's room, and they entered, Howl shutting and locking the door behind them. Korra collapsed on her bed, mind whirring and stomach churning with apprehension and fear. Why wouldn't anyone tell her what was wrong? She went towards her shelf, pulling a photo album off of it. They sat in silence, Korra tracing her small hands on the faces of her family's smiling faces, and after a while she began to wonder if they had to stay here forever.

The two children jumped to alertness at a loud rap on the door.

"KORRA?"

The girl almost sobbed in relief at the voice, a voice that made her feel safe and strong. She threw open the door, and collapsed into the withered arms before her.

"Master Katara!" Howl rose, shock on his face.

"Children, are you all right?"

"Of course we are, Katara!" Korra spotted a boy hiding behind the old woman.

"Tahno? What are you doing here?" Tahno gripped the back of Katara's clothes, and turned his head from Korra. He was shaking, and his eyes were swollen and red. She grew worried from her friend's actions and appearance. Korra looked around; other than Katara, Tahno, Howl, and herself, the corridor was empty.

"Katara..?" She looked down at Korra, "Where are Mom and Dad, and Tahno's parents?" Katara's face contorted, and she averted her eyes from Korra.

"Korra...They...are gone."

"What do you mean, 'gone'?"

"They're dead, Korra" Tahno whispered from behind Katara.

~7 years later~

"Tahno, why did you do that?" Korra yelled, tugging Tahno behind her as he nursed his swollen cheek. Her aqua colored eyes blazed and her eyebrows furrowed in a frown. He huffed in anger and refused to meet her eyes with his own pale blue ones.

"Those guys were being assholes!"

"No, they were not! We were having a wonderful conversation, until you jumped in and started punching everyone in sight!"

"They were touching you!"

"They're my friends! There isn't anything wrong with a friendly pat on the back!" Tahno grit his teeth, trying his best not to blow up at Korra. She was his best friend and he cared about her deeply but, sometimes she could just be so stubborn!

"I'm going home" He snarled, and released Korra's grip from him. He pushed by Korra, hailing a cab, and then drove off, heading back to Katara's house, where the two had gone to live after their parent's murders.

Korra sighed; this was the fifth time Tahno had gotten into a brawl this month, and it was only the eleventh! Tahno and her were very close and had been through everything together but, he could be such an ass! Pushing back her temptest of emotions, Korra raised her chin, deciding she would walk back home. She needed time to think.

As she approached her guardian's large estate, Korra could hear the muffled shouts of Katara and Tahno. Obviously her adopted brother hadn't been able to escape to his room without the old woman catching him. She bypassed the room the two were in, slightly wincing at the raised, angry voices, then hopped up the stairs, and let herself into Tahno's room. She had to talk to him.

Tahno stormed into the room, kicking the door shut behind him. His eyes passed over Korra, where she sat on his bed, as he turned to his personal washroom. She watched solemny as Tahno bent over his sink, and let the tap water soak his head.

"Tahno..." Korra whispered, causing Tahno to jump and knock his head on the tap. He rubbed the welt on his head where he hit it, scowling at Korra. "Tahno, please." Korra repeated. "You need to stop doing this." Tahno clenched his fists and closed his eyes, trying to contain his anger.

"Korra, I have already had Katara nagging me over this, I don't want to hear it from you too. So just drop it."

"Well, I'm sorry, but we will discuss this!" Korra inhaled deeply. "ever since Katara took us in, you've constantly gotten into fights, not only with Katara, but with any person who looks at you or me the wrong way!" Korra walked over to Tahno and placed her hand on his shoulder. He looked up at her slowly. She could see a storm of emotions swirling in his eyes. "You've always been there for me, but now I'm here for you, Tahno. Please," she begged, "if anything is wrong, tell me." Tahno averted his gaze from Korra and she felt his his shoulders tense under her hand.

"Go away" Korra bit her lip, her worry only growing. She retracted her hand and slowly got off the bed, and approached the door, as though she was about to leave. Opening the door, she prepared to pass through, but opened her mouth to speak.

"Go, Korra." Tahno sighed, before Korra could speak.

"...Alright." She replied mournfully, stepping out of the room. She closed the door behind her, and slid down the wall, head in her hands.

~2 years later~

16-year-old Korra awoke to the sound of shuffling feet across the floor outside her room. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she got out of bed, careful not to make a sound, and pushed open her door, then peered through the crack her labors produced. Spirits, who would be up at this time? What she saw was a surprise.

It was Tahno; fully clothed and with several bags in his hands, and a rather large canvas pack strapped to his back. Korra opened her door fully, and stepped up to the young man.

"Tahno!" Korra hissed, startling him. "What the hell are you doing?"

"It's none of your business, Korra." He kept his back to her, and shifted the bags in his hands, making his way to the door leading outside.

"Yes, it is my business!" She followed him out the door, not bothering to grab her coat from the hook on the wall, and almost immediately began to shiver. From what Korra could tell, it was about four in the morning, and snow had just finished falling from the pre-dawn sky, leaving a fluffy; and freezing; layer of snow on the ground.

"Korra, go back inside." Tahno ordered. Korra stumbled after the walking man, her slippers stumbling through snowdrifts. She wondered to herself what Tahno could possibly be doing. There was never anything going on this early in the morning, and even if there were, he wouldn't need so many things with him. She continued following Tahno, who had stopped scolding her. He figured if he ignored the girl long enough, she would head back.

After about five minutes of the two walking in frustrated silence, Korra recognized the path they were on. It was shortcut Howl had shown to her a couple of years back, leading straight to the ports.

Now she was really confused. What business could Tahno possibly have at the ports? Katara had people who took care of all their shopping and selling, so it wasn't like he would be bartering with the sailors. Even though it was far too early for any sane person to be up and about, the port was bustling with people, mostly sailors preparing to leave and a few merchants making last minute sales and purchases. Tahno approached one of the larger, fancier trading vessels, and started up the gangplank. He paused for a moment, and for the first time that morning, turned to face Korra. His face softened a bit and he affectionately admired her one last time. This would probably be the last time he saw her. He was going to miss her and his heart ached to leave her behind but, he had to do this. When Korra saw his gaze softening, she bravely took a step towards him. Tahno's eyes immediately hardened and he stepped back.

"You need to go home, Korra. You're going to get sick out in this weather." He fished out a few coins from his coat packet, and tossed them to Korra. "That should get you a cab back." He turned, and began his way up once again. Korra stared in shock at the coins in her hand, then curled her fingers around them, her nails digging into the soft skin of her palm.

"WHY ARE YOU LEAVING TAHNO?" She roared, her voice wavering slightly from shock. Tahno stopped, now fully on board the ship, and sadly looked Korra in the eye from where he stood.

"I'm leaving because I can't stand it here. This family is far too hectic and overwhelming for me. I have dreams I want to achieve, and I don't want to end up like our parents on the way, Korra. I am going to Republic City, and cutting all of my ties to the organization, so I can start a new life." Korra felt her chest grow heavy. "I probably won't see you again Korra..." Tahno drew his gaze away from her. " Take care of yourself...goodbye." He traveled farther from onto the ship, and crew members blocked him from Korra's sight.

She watched the boat as it sailed away, hoping for one last look at Tahno. She finally saw him, standing at the bow of the ship, staring right back at her. Her last glimpse of Tahno was him like that, the rising sun outlining him in a fiery, orange glow.

AN: 4re:Was that enjoyable? Please review, though we will continue even if no one even reads (because we're stubborn asses). If you are confused by any parts, please tell us and we will try to make it clearer!

MiriM: Hello, lovelies! So was it okay? Like I said before, review, constructive criticism (which would be super helpful to us), and questions are welcome. I hope you guys liked it and we hope to get the next chapter up soon! :)