Korra wasn't really the same after she escaped out of Tarrlok's prison. Not even in the slightest. There were new things about her; good new things, but also bad. There was a new determination and power in her after escaping in the middle of the night, but she also felt more vulnerable than ever as she walked through the mountainside. She wasn't even sure if she was going the right way; all she knew was that she had to get away from where she was.
The farther she walked from Tarrlok's cage the more vulnerable, and less powerful, she felt though. Ever noise made her jump, ever whistle of wind making her shiver. How long had she been walking for; hours? Minutes? She wasn't sure of anything anymore; everything was becoming muddled inside her head.
She started breathing heavily, water seeping behind her eyes. She was going to cry any second and she knew it. She stopped for a minute, looking for a place to rest, anywhere to just sit and calm herself down. She found a small cave and sat down at the mouth of it, pulling her knees to her chest as she let her tears fall freely.
It was cold, she was tired, and she just wanted to go home. She now finally knew how Aang felt over a hundred years ago, when he didn't want to be the Avatar. She guessed it was how she was feeling right now, the feeling of just wanting to be a normal kid. She missed her parents, Katara, the south pole, and she just wanted to go back and forget about all the problems that arose once she came to Republic City.
After what felt like an eternity Korra looked up, wiping the tears from her eyes and blinking into the dark night. That's when she noticed it; something wasn't right. She blinked a few more times, looking around.
The young Avatar went to wipe her face once more and that's when she discovered what was wrong. Her hand, it wasn't the same as before. The way the light of the moon caught it made it look see through, which Korra new was impossible.
For minutes she sat there, studying her hand as her eyes became wider with shock and a bit of fear. The fear is what probably made the teenage girl jump when she heard something, or someone, jump near her. She spun around faster than she thought possible, ready to attack with her bending at a seconds notice. When she heard something else, a few feet behind her maybe, she turned, shooting a burst of fire at the intruder. Or at least she thought she had.
That's when she heard the genuine laugh, "You can't bend in the spirit world, Korra."