Hello readers!

First I want to thank you all who have read and/or reviewed this story. It started out as a whim but now I'm so glad I decided to post it. I hope you enjoy the ride as much as I do!

Next, I want to apologize in advance if it seems a bit slow at times. I place a lot of stock in character development, and I love thoughtful dialogue as much as I love action sequences. So bear with me on this

That being said, I promise I know where this story is headed. I have two main villain arcs in my head and I'm quite looking forward to writing both of them. And yes, this WILL be a Mako x Saiorse story. But I'm doing my best to avoid clichés. I hope you'll stick around to see what I've got up my sleeve….

In addition, I ALWAYS welcome and encourage comments and suggestions. I'm writing this for all of us, so if there's something you want to see or something you don't like, please please please let me know!

Well that's all I have for now. Hope you enjoy!

Her head was pounding, her stomach was painfully empty, but she was breathing. And that was a start.

The dark before her eyes was not as painful as before. In fact, it was comforting. Comfortable. She was comfortable. There was warmth all around her. There was definitely no rain. She felt the urge to sigh. Yes, that would be appropriate. Saiorse inhaled deeply and prepared to let out her breath when suddenly—

She caught her breath in a short gasp. There was something odd. She was warm and comfortable, but not alone. There were people watching her.

Her eyes flew open. Indeed, she had an audience. There were the three kids she had fought before and an older, bald man with a pointed beard.

She didn't think. She wasn't yet strong enough to think things through. She was living on instinct. With the energy she could muster she pushed herself up, barely registering the layers of blankets and the mound of pillows that cascaded off of her body. She grabbed water from the air around her and assumed the octopus defense.

Korra felt a tugging in her mind, as if she was being lifted from this place and time and dragged to another. The scene changed. She didn't see the stranger they had rescued in front of her, but a young water tribe girl with the unmistakable hair-loops worn by Katara. They were in a crystal-lined cave, and young Katara was standing in the same octopus position, surrounded by hostile men poised to attack her.

Confused, Korra tried to break away from the scene. But she was not in control. And yet, this was not a strange feeling. She had experience it before. Only before, she had been on the outside looking in. Here, she was seeing the scene through her predecessor's eyes. Through Aang's eyes.

A battle. A flash of lighting. Korra was falling…falling into darkness.

Once again, Saiorse opened her eyes. She had absolutely no idea what happened. One moment, she's surrounded by three people she had previously fought—and hurt, and who probably wanted to hurt her—and a strange older man, ready to fight and escape once again. The next, she's watching a girl dressed in the same blue as Korra and feeling a lighting strike in her back.

Now, as she opened her eyes, Saiorse was slumped against the side of the bed she realized she had been sleeping in. No one was surrounding her now. Instead, they were huddled around Korra, who had apparently also passed out and was now opening her eyes as well.

Saiorse and Korra locked eyes for a moment. Saiorse felt a sharp pang in her chest. She didn't know these people, but it was obvious they were all friends and all cared about Korra. She couldn't blame them for leaving her lying alone on the floor, but the loneliness hurt her all the same.

"What happened?" mumbled Korra.

"We were wondering the same thing," said the older man, now turning his gaze over to Saiorse.

"I saw…I saw Katara," Korra told her friends. "Through Aang's eyes. During…during a battle of some sort." Korra rubbed her forehead. "She was…she was doing the same move as you," she looked again at Saiorse, whose eyes were wide and who was pressed up against the bed as if she would have liked nothing more than to just go right through it and get outside to where she could run away.

"Interesting," said the man, stroking his beard.

"What's interesting, Tenzin?" Mako asked.

"Well, I can't be sure, but it seems your defensive posture," he said, indicating Saiorse, who winced, hating to have any amount of attention turned on her, "triggered something in Korra's spirit. Tell me, did you see this scene as well?" he asked Saiorse, who simply jerked her head into a nod.

"It would appear you were both in the Avatar state," concluded Tenzin.

"That's impossible!" blurted Korra. Make put his hand on her shoulder, keeping her from leaping up.

"Up until now, I might have agreed with you," said Tenzin. "But recent events have been such that we must reevaluate what is possible and impossible." Korra scowled, and everyone turned to look at Saiorse.

No one knew what to say. No one knew how to begin. Saiorse realized she wasn't going anywhere, not without food and not without blasting all four of them out the door, which she was in no condition to do. Instead, she let out the sigh she had wanted to breath earlier. Only now, it wasn't so sweet.

"Hi," she began. "I guess we all need to talk, don't we?"

Gathered around the large common room in Tenzin's house, everyone was silent. Asami had joined them now, and Pema had brought a hot meal for everyone to enjoy. Saiorse was eating, but slowly, knowing that gorging herself after a good length of time with no food would only make her sick.

The others watched her carefully. Saiorse didn't think it could get more uncomfortable. Then again, they hadn't started questioning her yet. She was hoping—a foolish hope, really—that if she kept her head down and avoided eye contact, they wouldn't start asking her anything. But no such luck.

Korra was impatient to begin. She was tired of waiting. If no one else was going to take the lead, she would have to.

"So who are you?' she asked. Best to start in an obvious place.

Saiorse put down her food and hesitated. Here was her chance to become a new person. She could change her name, her story, her past. However, though normally adept at lying, she found her imagination useless. She'd have to stick to the truth.

"My name is Saiorse," she said slowly. "I already know all your names."

"Phew! That makes introductions easier!" said Bolin. "I was conflicted between going for strong, intimidating earth bending master; the group's funnyman; or the silent, brooding type."

Saiorse raised an eyebrow on him. "You're…kidding, right?"

"Kidding? I never kid!" said Bolin. "Unless of course I'm being the funnyman. In that case, the jokes never stop!"

"Oh…um…okay."

"Just ignore him for now," said Mako.

"I was planning on it," replied Saiorse. Bolin's puffed chest deflated a bit.

"Can we please return to the kind of important matter at hand?" asked Korra sharply. "We know your name, Saiorse, but who are you, really?"

"What do you mean?" said Saiorse, turning to face the water tribe girl. She didn't like her tone.

Luckily, Tenzin stepped in. "I think what Korra means to ask, is how did you come to Republic City?" Korra made a face: that was not what she meant.

Saiorse was wary. "Well, I walked," she answered.

"Look, this would go a lot faster and easier if you start talking!" said Korra loudly. Saiorse clenched her fists and a small amount of lighting flickered and cracked around her hands. Everyone took a step back.

"Let's just calm down," said Mako, daring to step forward. Saiorse glared at him, but he refused to back down again. She sighed and unclenched her hands. The lightning faded.

"Sorry," she said curtly.

"Saiorse," said Tenzin calmly but sternly. "Korra is right, though she did not express herself in a tone of voice suitable for guests." He cast a disapproving glance at the Avatar, who looked away. "We would like to figure out this situation that we have found ourselves in, and we need your help."

"What situation?" asked Saiorse.

"Regarding your bending abilities," Tenzin answered. "From what the others have told me, you are quite a skilled bender."

Saiorse looked around, confused. In response, Mako said, "I saw you firebend."

"And waterbend," added Bolin.

"And airbend and earthbend," concluded Korra, looking back.

"Okay," started Saiorse. "You all keep saying this word. 'Bend,' 'bender,' 'bending,' whatever. But I don't know what you mean!"

Now it was everyone else's turn to look puzzled. Regaining his composure first, Tenzin said gently, "You've never heard the term 'bender' before?" Saiorse shook her head, so Tenzin tried to explain. "A bender is a person who has control over a specific element. There are firebenders," he indicated Mako. "Earthbenders," he pointed at Bolin. "Very few airbenders," he said, pointing to the arrow on his own head. "And water benders."

"And…some who can use more than one?" asked Saiorse. Tenzin gave her a meaningful look.

"The Avatar has the ability to control all four elements. No one else. And there is only ever one Avatar at a time," he told her.

Saiorse shook her head. "So, am I this…this Avatar?"

"No," said Korra. "I am." Korra extended her hands. In one, two miniature balls of fire and water swirled. In the other, she formed a small tornado in her palm and made a pebble orbit her wrist. Saiorse stared. Korra let the elements go, but Saiorse kept staring. She wasn't stupid; she could connect the dots. Still, she did not speak.

After a pause, Tenzin resumed the flow of dialogue. "You see, Saiorse, that you have presented us with a bit of a conundrum. And, as you too appear to be able to enter the Avatar state—"

"The what?" asked Saiorse, eyes not leaving the floor, voice emotionless.

"It is the Avatar's most powerful state. It gives the Avatar access to all their past incarnations and all the knowledge and skill past Avatar's have acquired. We are certain Korra is the Avatar because we have seen her enter this state before. But now that you have demonstrated this ability as well…"

"You don't know what to make of me," finished Saiorse. Tenzin nodded.

"Saiorse, how long have you had your abilities?" asked Asami.

"All my life," said Saiorse. "I've been told that, when I was born, I had a habit of causing trouble accidentally because of my…my 'bending.' So, as far as I know, I've never not been able to bend."

"And have you ever entered the Avatar state before?" asked Mako.

Saiorse began to shake her head, but stopped. "I don't know," she said. "I didn't know what the Avatar state was, so how would I have known if I was in it?"

"Very true," said Tenzin. "For now I suppose it is safer to assume that, even if you have not entered it before, what we have seen today is evidence enough that you have the capability to do so."

"What are you going to do with me?" asked Saiorse, quietly and with a tinge of sadness. For a moment, no one spoke. Then, thankfully, Pema broke the silence with her perfectly timed maternal instincts.

"First we're going to get you some new clothes," she said, crossing to Saiorse. She saw a young girl, alone, frightened, and more than anything, in need of a mother's touch. Pema did not know anything about Saiorse's past, but what she did know was that the girl needed caring for. She pushed a lock of Saiorse's matted hair behind her ear. Saiorse looked up at her with grateful eyes. Pema smiled back at her.

"I'll take her shopping," chimed in Asami. "We can get you some clothes and then get you a shower."

Saiorse wrinkled her nose. "I reek, don't I?" The mood lightened, and some nervous chuckled were released all around. By all except Korra, who was staring stone faced at the wall. Mako tried to take her hand, but Korra snatched it away and stomped out of the room. Mako looked after her sadly. Tenzin sighed.

"Just give her some space—"

Saiorse pushed passed them both and followed Korra into the next room. Naturally, a crowd formed in the doorframe. This time, Saiorse didn't care.

"Have I done something to you?" she asked Korra. Korra stopped walking and turned around.

"You mean besides fighting my friends and I and sending us on a wild chase around Republic City for you?" she replied.

Saiorse bristled. "Yes, besides that. And for the record, I didn't ask you to come after me!"

"You'd be dead if we hadn't found you."

"I wouldn't have to have run if you all didn't assume I was some criminal when I was just trying to help!"

Korra scowled. She had made the same assumptions against Saiorse that had been made against her on her first day in Republic City. She hated the irony.

"Look, will you just leave me alone for a bit? I really don't want to talk about this right now."

"Well I do! And since you pretty much forced me into an interrogation back there, I think I'm allowed to ask you one simple question."

"No, you're not! You're a stranger, you're dangerous for all we know. We don't owe you anything."

"But I owe you? Because you think you saved me or because you're some hotshot bender?" At this, Korra stiffened and Saiorse made the connection. "That's it, isn't it? You're threatened by me, aren't you?"

"I am NOT," yelled Korra, "threatened by you!"

"Then why the hostility?" asked Saiorse. "What other reason could I have given you? Like you said, I'm a stranger. I barely know you. What could I possibly done in the short span of time that I've been here?"

"You—you just—"

"No," interrupted Saiorse. She wasn't yelling, she was explaining. "I don't want to be this…this Avatar or whatever you are. I don't want to be special. I just want to understand. But you won't even give me the chance."

The two girls kept each other's gazes for a few tension-filled seconds, and then Korra turned her back and walked out the door.

Saiorse sighed. Mako walked by her, going after his girlfriend. Before he left he turned and looked at Saiorse, who was looking rather dejected behind him.

"Just…give her time," he told her. "She's great once you really get to know her."

"So am I," said Saiorse with a sliver of sarcasm. "Mind explaining that to her?"

Mako gave her a small smile before following Korra.

Asami came up to Korra. "Come on, let's go shopping."

Asami's car pulled up in front of a spotless shop window. Saiorse looked at the mannequins in the window and felt a bit queasy. She had cleaned up a little, but Asami was eager to go and promised that Saiorse could properly shower when they got back. Still, even at her best Saiorse didn't think she could ever pas client who belonged in this store.

"So…shopping," she said.

Asami laughed. "It will be fun, I promise."

Saiorse shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "You know…I…I don't have any money…"

Asami waved her off. "Don't worry about a thing."

Saiorse frowned and decided she would find a way to pay Asami back. Pay all of them back, actually. They had all been kind to her. Well, all except Korra, whom she hadn't seen since their argument. But the rest of them had welcomed her. If not as a friend, than as a guest. They hadn't asked her anything else…yet. Saiorse had a suspicion that they were waiting for a calmer moment.

Asami practically dragged Saiorse out of the car. She was talking fast and excitedly about the prospect of styling Saiorse. "I'm assuming you want athletic-wear, being a bender and all. But that doesn't mean you can't look stylish too! Just look at Korra: she's fashionable and fierce at the same time! Oh I forgot you two don't exactly like one another…"

Saiorse laughed a bit. "It's fine, Asami! I do like her clothes." Asami smiled, glad to avoid a potentially awkward situation.

The shop bell jingled as they entered. The owner turned, saw Asami, and smiled brightly. Then she saw Saiorse and her face twitched as she attempted to keep it neutral.

"Oh, Asami! You brought…a friend," she said.

Asami simply smiled and waved, and then began leading Saiorse around the store.

"Now I'd recommend pants, since it's easier and, well, less awkward for kicking and such. Nothing too fancy. But if you carry weapons you might want one of these utility belts. Aren't they great? Oh! Shoes! Do you like flats, boots, sandals? Then we have the tops, which I always find most fun. As long as it's comfortable and easy to fight in, you can really go to town with styles…"

Saiorse was overwhelmed. She began circling the shop, looking blankly at each piece of clothing. Where to begin? She had never been shopping, and it had been two years since she had consciously looked for new clothes. Clothes she had picked up out of necessity on the road didn't count.

"Well?" asked Asami, turning to Saiorse.

"I think..." Saiorse said slowly.

"Yes?"

Saiorse laughed. "I'm totally lost!"

Asami laughed with her. "Well that's why you try things on!"

The shopkeeper nearly had a heart attack at the thought of the dirt-covered girl trying on any of her clothes. Asami pointedly ignored her.

Saiorse didn't want to go crazy. But after getting used to the store, she began to see possibilities. For so long she had had to make due in impractical or uncomfortable fighting gear. Now that she could pick and choose, she began constructing her ideal battle outfit.

Once she had a picture in mind, the process sped up. Simple grey pants and calf high black boots were enough for her bottom half. On top she had selected, with the approval of Asami, a bright fuchsia top that ended at her low ribs. Why not? She wasn't hiding anymore. She could afford to be a bit brighter. On top she layered a black and grey travel vest that came to her hips. She rounded out the outfit with black, fingerless forearm guards and a black and fuchsia utility belt. It was comfortable. She could move. And Asami said it would look good too. And if anyone knew, Saiorse guessed it would be Asami. The girl was a walking fashion ad.

To spare the saleswoman the pain of seeing her clothes touch the still grimy skin of Saiorse, she took her purchases in a bag. For the first time, Saiorse felt that her world was not so dark. Asami had been more than kind to her. They weren't friends yet, but maybe Saiorse wasn't so much of a stranger anymore.

"Hey, Asami?" said Saiorse.

"Yeah?"

"Thank you."

"Get OUT! NOW! Out you little street urchin! OUT!"

The girl hurtled out of the teashop and into the street. She met her brother around a corner and the two sprinted to the appointed meeting place.

"Well?" asked the tall figure who awaited them.

"You were right," the girl reported.

"Are you surprised?"

"No," said the boy.

"What should we do now?" asked the girl.

"Remember the golden rule," hissed the figure. "We must treat them as they have treated us."

The brother and sister nodded dutifully.

"The village must burn."

Lightning cackled in the air.

BAM!

I know it might not have had any action, and I indulged the fashionista inside of me for a moment, but I did give you a peak at the first true antagonists of this story. We'll be seeing them more quite soon.

I'm personally very excited to describe a clean, put-together Saiorse to you next chapter. I just can't bring myself to describe her while she is covered in dirt. Wouldn't do her justice.

As always, review review review! I look forward to hearing your thoughts, predictions, likes and dislikes.

Until next chapter….