Riko dashed through the street, rushing to catch up to the Avatar. "Damn, that woman is fast even in her old age!"
She grunted as another thug stepped out in front of her, stopping her chase. She dodged a fire dagger and sent a rolling earthquake at him in return, also fending off the other approaching benders. Something was off. These weren't normal thugs. They wore none of the normal clothes affiliated with the local gangs. Riko didn't have time to ponder about it anymore when she felt a disturbance through her sensory skills, and not just the kind that disrupts the earth. "Mom!"
She hurried through the last of the benders and rushed around the corner. Her breath caught in her throat and tears already trickled down her worn cheeks. Her mind raced a thousand miles per hours. How could she let this happen?
Riko hopped off of the boat after a long day at work, but she was happy to see how her grandson's training was going along. She set foot on ground again and was greeted by Jinora. Riko smiled at her old friend. "It's been awhile, Chief."
"That is has. How goes the airbending training?"
Jinora smiled. "Your grandson is an amazing student. It's almost like he was born to do airbending."
Riko smirked. "I guess he gets it from me." They laughed together and headed towards the training grounds. They found the waterbenders by the water of course. Riko smiled as she saw her wife try to show Tadashi how to waterbend. It seemed this element was being a little bit more difficult. He struggled with the fluid motions since he was used to the rigid stances of earthbending.
Riko quietly snuck up behind them. Tadashi looked over and couldn't help the smile that came upon his face. Karina noticed and smirked. She began showing the boy an example of a basic waterbending move.
Riko was about to pounce on the waterbender when she was suddenly soaked to the bone. Karina whipped around and crossed her arms with a smirk while Tadashi laughed. Riko pouted and hung her shoulders.
"You're not a sneaky as you think you are." Karina commented.
All of a sudden Riko smirked. Karina noticed and frowned. Riko quickly jumped up and grabbed her wife. Karina screamed and tried to push her away but it was too late. Riko happily hugged the woman even though she was soaked. "I'm gonna get you back for this." Karina growled with a shiver.
Riko smirked more. "I'm sure you will."
They looked up when they saw Tadashi and his new animal guide playing in the water. Riko smiled and ran after them, leaving her wife behind. Karina sighed happily as she watched her wife play with their grandson in the shallow water.
After a while, Riko allowed Karina and Tadashi to get back to training. The Chief sat down next to her daughter and the two watched in content as they waterbended. The Sun was beginning to go down and Riko was growing bored, but the two still were training. She sighed and decided to see how far she could use her seismic sense this time. She went all the way to the pier, to the police station, to Future Industries factory, and further into the Earth territories. She began making her way back, taking her time to see everything. She could see families begin packing up and leaving the park. Workers were finally getting off of their day-shifts. She pushed harder and saw Nami still in her office at work. Riko sighed. 'That workaholic, just like mom.'
She almost cut the connection off when she sensed that someone had been at the ship port for the whole time. She scowled and sat up. Olivia saw her confusion and watched whatever was happening.
Riko saw a man leaning on post, looking towards Air Temple Island. She looked closer and saw a high-tech camera. Riko immediately jumped up and raced towards her family. "Stop!"
Karina and Tadashi froze. "Sweetie, what's the matter?"
"We're being watched." Everyone went wide-eyed. Riko growled and stomped off. "Stay here. I'm gonna take care of it."
Karina dragged Tadashi back to Olivia and then raced after her wife, but Riko had already jumped on the boat and was headed back to the mainland.
Riko growled loudly as she dashed down the port. She saw the man several yards away. She yelled and charged at the man. The man lowered his camera from position when he heard her and immediately took off running scared. "Get back here!"
She easily caught up with the man and tackled him into the ground. She then snatched the camera away and began shuffling through the pictures. "I-I'm so sorry Chief! Please don't hurt me! I'm just doing my job!"
Riko frowned when she only saw pictures of the airbenders. She then turned to him. "What were you doing spying on Air Temple Island?"
"I-I was assigned to check out how the airbenders had been doing in the past few years. They tend to keep to themselves nowadays."
Riko then noticed the press badge around his neck. "You're a reporter."
"Y-Yes."
Riko sighed and handed the camera back to the man. "I understand you're just doing your job, but at least get permission from Master Jinora next time. I'm sure she wouldn't mind answering a few questions for you. If I see you here again you'll get a ticket."
"Y-Yes ma'am. My apologies! I'll be on my way." The man then dashed off in a hurry to get away from her. Riko sighed, but then chuckled at the situation. She seriously just took down a reporter for taking pictures. Wait until Karina hears this.
The man hurried to turn in what few pictures he got of the airbenders to the head journalist. Then he raced towards an old rundown apartment complex near the Spirit Portal. About a dozen or so men lined the room.
"Thank you for finally joining us. Did you complete your assignment?" A deep voice asked from the end of the room.
The man nervously stepped up and presented some prints of the Sato family on Air Temple Island. "I could see the boy was waterbending with Master Karina. But I thought he was an earthbender?"
The man smirked and shuffled through the sorted pictures. "He is. Now I know why they've been going there so often. It looks like the Sato family has another secret to hide. We just might expose them for it. Good job. I'm counting on you to get more evidence next time." He then looked to the tall man leaning against the wall next to him. "You're up, Lieutenant."