As the night wore on the three fire ferrets became bored with the repetitive practices moves. Recently Korra had been less playful and more focused on her fighting skills. Fuelled by her recent encounter with Amon, Korra's state of mind was fixed with training and pushing herself more and more. This state of mind was a safe place to her, using her brute force and bending skill to fill her mind, so that it wouldn't fall back into the memory that had recently bend burned in her mind; held down by ropes and many arms, Amon moving closer, his hands on her chin, and her face, so close. But tonight Korra was making a point to repress that memory, and focused every part of her in her training; push herself harder and harder, to become a great avatar, to become a great person. Both Mako and Bolin sensed the almost malice in her attitude and kept up with her need to keep going during their all nights practice. They themselves were enjoying the physical tests and also in helping with the inner struggle they could easily sense in Korra. The three of them made a great team, and their working together was effortless and natural, even very enjoyable at times
Korra backed off to chug some cold water when her back began to ache, but was hardly deterred. "Let's just do a free for all, everyman for himself sort of drill." Mako looked with a concerned face to Korra, this woman he so recently was thinking more and more of. It had occurred to him the night before, laying in bed unable to sleep, that after her confession about liking him, her presence was in his thoughts almost always. The care he felt for this strong fearless woman was sort of comparable to his brother. He wanted her safe, happy, and to always be with her. And yet of course, he wanted her in other, more primal ways. He reveled in her beauty. In the way her perfect body moved as she controlled the elements effortlessly. She was like a goddess to him. And the urge to get closer to her was becoming maddening these days. But now, he looked to her, frustration and searching glowing in her eyes, he was worried.
"That sounds… awesome!" Bolin yelled, and jumped into a fighting stance. Mako smiled at his best friend, Bolin always made him smile. "You sure about that? It could get pretty damn intense, you two got the head to restrain and be careful?" He looked over the two sternly. "Psh. If your too chicken to go against us, just say it big guy." Korra actually smirked out the words, feeling a refreshing surge of relief and playfulness at her two best friends. Bolin chuckled and nodded "Yea big bro, no shame in sitting this one out if you can't take the heat, or in my case, the sheer awesomeness!" Korra let out a laugh as Bolin stomped on the ground and brought up two columns of earth beside him. Mako let his head fall back in laughter, "Watch yourself pipsqueak, It's gunna hurt being taken out by your brother." Mako held out one hand and lit a large flame, putting his other hand on his hip and smiling wide at Bolin. "Or by the avatar," Korra grinned moving her arms in a fluid pattern, ending with her palms facing skyward and two tree sized water fountains rising from the stream behind her. In an instant everyone moved. In reenergized skill, Bolin took off large disks from each column and sent one flying at Mako and the other at Korra. Mako jumped and kicked the disk into dust while throwing a flame to put out the balls of ice that raced towards his chest. Korra shot her ice at Mako and jumped over Bolin's disk, coming down with a tower of water over Bolin's head. As Bolin washed away towards the nearby trees, Mako turned and punched his arm to release a surge of fire at Korra. She stepped to the right, spinning quickly and pulling water into a spear that she hurled at Mako. This went on for what seemed like forever. Bolin had quickly rejoined, and the three pushed themselves harder than they do in the games. All three reveled in the surge of adrenaline and in the sheer enjoyment of using their powers so effectively.
They laughed and mocked as the night wore on. Bolin made a few feeble attempts to initiate a momentary seas fire, to get the dust out of his eyes. Eventually the laughter is what slowed them down and soon all three collapsed in the grass, catching their breath and trying to stop laughing. The three got back to normal breathing and as they stared up into the night sky an easy conversation about the stars and the world keep them fully occupied. Mako and Korra lay close to each other, a closeness that was normal, but one that they both secretly took pleasure in. Bolin had rolled over to lay above them, head rested so he could easily hear them both. After a while Mako looked over to Korra, who had dropped out of the conversation Bolin was leading about the existence of worlds like their own that are far off behind the stars, and creatures who breathed with gills. Mako almost stared for a moment as he took in her beauty; staring up at the stars she looked almost, innocent. Like a girl searching for the answer to a question. Then he smiled when he noticed something on her forehead. Korra jumped a little when she heard Mako, closer than he was before, "Hey wait a minute young woman, I think I see blood." He rose up, as did Bolin, and leaned over Korra, both smiling wide. "Ha, yes sir, looks like Bolin got a flesh wound in on the avatar." Mako chuckled as Bolin did some silent show boating. "What!? No way, I didn't feel anything." She moved her hand up to her face and felt around on her cheek bone and nose. Mako laughed, "Nope, right here," he moved his hand to her forehead, and seeing out the corner of his eye that Bolin was still in a state of mindless celebration he let his eyes first pause a moment on her own. He let his hand rest almost a full second on her temple and was about to rub the blood from her forehead with his thumb.
Korra would have noticed the slight pause of tenderness in the man she dreamed about, day and night, if it wasn't for this horrible feelling that was suddenly and rapidly filling her gut. Before she had any time to think through her emotions, his hand touched her face and she was stunned by the pulse of fear and pain that shot through her whole body as Amon's face appeared before her. He hovered over her and she felt weak with dread as that debilitating fear of the possibility of losing her bending surged through her, again. The scene was exactly as it had been the moment it happened before. Like she had fallen asleep and was now reliving the horror of that moment, or rather more accurately, like it was really happening again. She screamed in fear, a fear that had the power to shut down her body completely and render herself as useless as it would if he began his evil trick. She screamed and struggled, pushing Amon away from her, it was all so real, something had happened and Amon was really, there. Korra fought frantically with her mind, 'He's going to take my bending away!' was all she could think about. She looked up again after thrashing as far back as she could in her state, he was rushing at her! She threw up a column of earth and as she turned and rushed for safety her foot caught in a tree root. She hit hard in the water, the shallow stream full of rocks.
Mako was thrown back against a tree by the panicked strength of Korra. Her screamed ripped through his mind. What had happened? He thought she liked him, she liked him didn't she!? Why did she act so viciously? As his vision cleared his mind was filled with more confusion, Korra was scrambling back on her hands, panting with a look of panic and fear on her face as Bolin ran to her "Korra!" Bolin yelled in confusion and care, "What's the matter!? It's ok! You're ok!" Mako realized something terrible was happening, in her mind. The look of fear and the echoing of the scream in his mind was maddening. What was she seeing!? She had stopped crawling and now gasped for breath as Bolin got closer, "Korra!?" But then with another deafening scream of fear Korra sent up a column of earth. Mako yelled helplessly and got to his feet as the column hit Bolin in the chest and sent him flying. Mako ran for his brother, sliding in the grass and collapsing over him. Bolin balled in pain, clutching his chest. He made horrible gasps for breath, as he tried to recuperate from the breath being knocked out of him. "You ok bro!?" Mako was panicked, rolling Bolin over and looking over his face. Finally Bolin breathed in a full breath of air. With only a moment of relief for his brother Mako felt his stomach drop as he heard Korra's screams cease after a loud splash and a gut wrenching thudding sound. Bolin's eyes grew wide with new panic. Mako raced to the stream, "Korra!" He scooped her limp body from the water, "Korra!" He yelled again, with emotion breaking over his call. Her whole body was wet, but just the back of her head, her face was covered with mud and blood, her eyes closed. Mako pulled her tighter and made her head lean against his chest, he ran to Bolin who had just got to his feet. "I gotta get her to Tenzin now!" Bolin looked down at her and his face of shock grew grim and urgent, "Run man, I'm fine!" Mako took off and Bolin followed as quickly as he could. "Tenzin! Help!" They both shouted as they ran up the hill to the main house.
