Stories
They wander from meadow to sea. They wander in rain and in snow and in a glittery falling powder that reflects sunlight like motes of glass. Korra realizes how little of the Spirit World she has actually traversed – like swimming in a pool, while the ocean is out there to explore. They can wander ten thousand lifetimes and never see it all even as the land behind them changes after their passing. They have packed enough food for two weeks – hard, dry rations, because anything else will not keep.
"I think I'll rather go hungry than eat another meal of this stuff," Korra says. She stares at the grey square of "bread" in her hand.
"The sooner you start, the sooner it'll be over," Asami says sagely, taking a bite. She makes a face. "Are you sure there's nothing we can eat over here?"
"Probably, but I'm not sure if it'll be safe. And I don't want to mistake a spirit's tail for fruit or something."
Asami laughs, and Korra reluctantly takes a bite.
When they finish eating, they lie on their blankets and stare at the sky. Nights are warmer here. There are no stars but the Spirit World's sky has no need for such ornament. Swathes of reds and greens and purples swirl into one another as if an artist spilled his palette while painting the world, and each color wars for attention against the dusk. Korra is reminded of the kaleidoscope her mother gave her when she was a child, the pattern shifting with every turn of the cylinder. But who is turning the sky? The only constant is the clear-water moon, proud and perfect, where, if they squint, they can just make out two fish swimming below its surface.
"Tui and La," Korra says, then corrects herself. "Yue and La. Or something like that. I don't remember the specifics."
"The Moon and Ocean spirits," Asami murmurs. Her eyes are closed, her voice dwindling. "My father used to tell me their stories…"
Korra lifts a strand of hair out of Asami's eyes. She looks better without makeup, Korra thinks, her face marred only by a slight grimace on her lips. Asami does not normally let it show; it only appears on the precipice between waking and dreaming, before she falls asleep and before she wakes. Korra wracks her brain for the details of Aang's accomplishments, back in that compound where her tutors droned for hours while she hid behind a stack of books, trying not to let them see her sleep. She doesn't remember all (or even most) of it, and what she does remember is most likely wrong, but she goes for it anyway.
"The scout saw the Fire Nation warships coming across the sea," Korra begins. "Aang and his future wife were learning how to waterbend from Master Pakku, the greatest waterbender of their time…"