The Legend of Korra: Imbalanced (Chapter 1: Part 1)
The naturalistic balance within the Avatar has been severed, as has the Avatar cycle. Who is Korra really?
(Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to any of the characters from Nickelodeon's animated show The Legend of Korra.)
Setting: A year after the events of Nickelodeon's The Legend of Korra Book 1: Air.
Tenzin cradled the limp body in his arms. The trembling form latched its blistered hands onto his robes; Skin dangled
precariously from the visible muscle as the fragrant scent of scorched flesh lingered on the bitter wind. Red, pallid sores
protruded from beneath the remaining translucent layer of skin, threatening to burst and relieve itself of the milky puss
that swirled in it s confining walls. The fingers numbly grasped and weaved themselves more earnestly in the deeper folds
of Tenzin's garment. The body trembled as wind's gusts licked at its open sores and vulnerable skin. Though the violence of
the wind made itself known, the burnt figure remained clinging to Tenzin's rigid frame.
With the body's every feeble movement, fragments of scorched flesh chip away and become wedged in Tenzin's robe's
fabric. Yet he did not make an effort to cease the weak spasms and the frequent grasps to his person. His eyes remained
plastered to the frozen landscape, staring at an unseen vantage point. Though try as he may, the burnt body's stench
invaded his nostrils and forced its presence upon his conscious thoughts. Blinking violently, Tenzin tore his eyes from the
dunes of snow and glanced hesitantly in his arms. The usual statuesque mask fell away from his face as his eyes regained
familiarity with what he carried.
He swallowed dryly, unable to motivate himself to speak. Without a cautionary thought, his arms clenched tighter to his
load, securing it to his chest. An involuntary, frantic whimper erupted from the dangling body as burnt flesh and fabric
suddenly meshed together. With an apologetic stare, Tenzin slackened his grip as eyes lingered on the scared face. Folds of
skin had warped and twisted into unnatural patterns from the lingering signature of fire's touch. Angry red patches of flesh
swelled around the eyes and mouth. Shallow gasps of air whistled weakly past the cracked lips. The mouth twitched but
could not will itself to open anymore. The small gap between the two plump swollen lips served as its air passage. Though
the jaw was no longer firmly secured and awkwardly hung limply from its rightful position, the corners of the mouth
quivered. The chest rose and fell at a melodious pace and Tenzin found himself falling into step with its lethargic rhythm.
Divorcing his eyes from the mutilated figure, he looked up at the fading horizon; the hazy silhouette of the gates of the
Southern Water Tribe greeted him; regrettably his heart fell at the sight.