The whole of the Northern Water Tribe was gathered in a large room. Despite the large crowd, the Northern Water Tribe had never been colder. The ash flurries had finally disappeared, but their effect was ever present. Tarrlok and Noatak's father stood at the front of the room. While he wasn't the chief, his opinion was highly regarded here. The hushed whispers disappeared the moment he opened his mouth. "It appears that the Fire Nation is planning an attack on the tribe. We have nothing to fear. All women and children will head to the heart of our tribe while all men of fighting age will be ready to defend our home."

Yakone paused letting his words settle through the crowd. Korra was slightly ticked that he had said all women wouldn't be fighting. Had he forgotten about her, the Avatar? It was obvious that the women here hadn't been taught to defend themselves, something that Korra felt needed to be changed.

Korra silently observed the crowd. Traces of fear were present on nearly everyone's faces, save Noatak, Tarrlok, Yakone, and herself, had she been looking into a mirror and had been able to see her reflection. While Korra had planned to leave the tribe, she would have to wait until the Fire Nation Attack was under control. She was prepared to defend this tribe, with everything that she had.

"I'm going to ask volunteers who plan on being on the front line to step forward now to get my mark."

Korra got to her feet immediately along with Noatak, Tarrlok, and other nameless faced boys and men. They all made their way to Yakone, falling into a line, Korra at the very end. Everyone received three red vertical lines on their foreheads without any problems. When it was Korra's turn, someone in the audience cleared there throat, getting everyone's attention. "We can't let her defend our tribe. This is strictly a man's job."

Korra's eyes set on him irate. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down before speaking, attempting to control her anger. "I wasn't there when the fire nation attacked my people or the Air Nomads. I'm going to make a difference this time."

Korra turned back to Yakone. Ignoring the man's protests, Yakone marked Korra's forehead.

Noatak let out a frustrated sigh. After the meeting with the tribe, Yakone had pulled Noatak off to the side, and waited for the whole room to clear out before he spoke to him. "Noatak, I let Korra be part of our group, but I'm giving you the job of watching her and making sure nothing happens to her."

Noatak looked at his father, unsure why he appeared so worried about the Avatar. It was clear that she could defend herself. So he must have an ulterior motive as to why he would want the Avatar kept safe. Regardless, Noatak wasn't a babysitter. He didn't want to have to watch her back, getting a fire dagger imbedded in his back in the process. Instead of voicing his opinions, Noatak only nodded to his father, and made a silent exit, leaving his father alone.

Korra looked out over the wall, eyes squinting. A scout had come back this morning, informing the tribe that the Fire Nation fleet was only a few hours away from the tribe. Korra was itching for the battle. She had spent the past few days training with the other men who were in the front lines with her. She was slightly annoyed with Noatak; he was constantly by her side, breathing down her neck, pointing out the slightest error or hesitation, in her strikes. Korra had finally had enough of it and had confronted him about it. All that got her was a water whip to the face and a furious slam of a door.

Korra was brought back from her thoughts when she felt a light tap on her shoulder, it was Tarrlok. "The ships are just coming into view. It's going to be a long battle."

Korra glanced up into the sky. An orange color of sunset greeted her. She smiled. "Not that long, we get our powers from the moon, and it's nearly full tonight."

Tarrlok smiled back at her. Before he had the chance to answer, Korra glanced away from him out towards the water. Her eyes widened, and her eyes brows rose. She shifted into a bending stance, bending the ocean water to her will. She slowed a fire canon to a stop before it had the chance to hit the wall. Korra whirled faster as more and more fire canons approached. The males on the wall began to join her. During a small respite as the canons were being reloaded, Korra turned to Tarrlok. "I'm going to take some of those catapults out."

Tarrlok grabbed her arm, remembering what Noatak had told him. Don't let her out of your site. "You mean we are going to take some of those catapults out."

Korra nodded at him and jumped over the side of the wall, Tarrlok following after him. Korra and Tarrlok willed the water to push them towards the nearest ship. They gave themselves a boost, and landed on the deck. "You take out the catapult; I'll take care of these guys."

Korra pulled water up onto the deck, turning to the eight crew men on the deck. They weren't looking at Korra, rather they made their way towards Tarrlok. "Hey, Chumps! Over here!" Korra yelled as she blasted water into each of their faces, forcing them over the side of the ship. Korra, using the ocean water, began to steer the ship to the nearest boat, forming large water hands that grabbed and crushed the catapults. She and Tarrlok continued this, taking out nearly forty catapults before Noatak and another man joined them. They continued taking out catapult after catapult, but it still wasn't enough, some ships got through, and began to attack the wall. "We need to start taking down the ships from the behind as everyone else attacks them from the front."

Korra nodded at Noatak's logic. She looked at a ship that was passing, only a short jump away. She made her move. Noatak shook his head, following after her. They called water to them, forcing the ship's crew and warriors off the side. With the enemy off the ship, they could concentrate on the ships around them, they began to sink the ones closest to them, forcing them to take on more water than they could handle. Everything was working fine until they heard a scream come from Tarrlok and the other man's direction. Korra and Noatak shared a glance. "Go to your brother Noatak."

Noatak looked at her, with a moment of hesitation before he resolved to go to his brother.

Noatak was gone for a few minutes before Korra felt the presence of someone else on the ship. She took down another ship, and then spared a glance over her shoulder. The man that was on the deck was not Noatak.

Iroh had his crew working overtime. He wanted to get to the Northern Water Tribe as fast as possible. He was in a less forgiving mode, causing him to be left alone in his room for most of the trip. Only Mako and his grandfather Zuko were willing to put up with his bad mood.

Zuko made it a habit to give Iroh and Mako, mainly Iroh, a cup of calming Jasmine tea every hour. Zuko made his way to Iroh's meditation room, carrying a tray of the tea for his grandson and his grandson's friend. As he was shifting the tray from both hands to his left in order to open the door, the door burst open.

"Grandfather! Where is Mako?"

"I'm here. And yes, we have finally arrived."

"Excellent, let's go get a view of the battle. And no, Grandfather, there is no time for tea."

Zuko's upset expression was missed as Iroh and Mako made their way up the to the deck. Iroh's expression turned gleeful at the sight that was before him. "They've barely managed to make a small dent into the wall. They defiantly need our help."

Mako silently looked over the battle field, eyes stopping on a pair of people forcing ship after ship to sink below the surface. "We need to get to those people." Mako glanced farther to the pairs left. Two others were taking down ships at a much slower rate. "Zuko go distract those two while Iroh and I take on those two."

They nodded. "I'll go first." Zuko said who, agile for his age, began jumping several ships to get to the duo Mako had pointed out.

Mako and Iroh's attention was brought back to the more efficient pair, who was no split up as the larger one went to the aid of the ones Zuko had distracted. "I'll go attack him. Then you'll sneak up on him and restrain him. We'll force him to take us to the Avatar." Iroh told Mako who nodded at him, gesturing for him to have at it.

Iroh silently made his way to the person. Closer up, he realized that this he was a she. Once he was on the deck that she was on, she seemed to notice his presence. She turned towards him. First surprise registered on her face, then a calmness spread over her features. Iroh only just blocked her first attack. He was distracted by her exotic beauty; tanned skin, blue eyes, short yet curvy body, completely opposite of his own.

She continued to shower him with cold, sometimes icy attacks that he dodged. She seemed to get angrier with each attack that missed its mark. He smirked at her. This only aggravated her farther. She charged him. Underestimating her power, she knocked him over, landing on top of his chest, pinning his arms and legs down.

They stared into each other's eyes until Mako's deep laugh disrupted their moment. Iroh flipped her over motioning for Mako with his head. Her earlier fight seemed to have left her as they tied her hands together.

She looked into each of their eyes, distracting them. Finally Iroh cleared his throat, as she was looking deep into Mako's eyes. "Take us to the Avatar, and we won't hurt you."

She looked slightly taken aback, surprise creeping onto her expression. "Why do you want to see the Avatar?"

"That's none of your business."

"Oh yeah?" She asked, issuing a challenge. Iroh only stared at her, eyes wide as fire burned away the rope the restrained her arms and legs. With her body finally free, she got into a bending stance, a waterbending stance, Mako noticed.

She began fighting both men, only using water. Does she only know waterbending? Mako asked himself. Making a big gamble he held up both hands. "We have a proposition for you, Avatar. I have a brother who is a master earthbender, and the two of us are firebenders. We are willing to help you learn these elements, and attempt to help you with airbending." Mako paused, pleased to see his assumption was true, judging by the girls facial expression. "You do need to learn the other elements, right?" Mako slightly taunted.

She didn't seem to catch his teasing, as she was deep in thought. "Would you really help me learn firebending? Would your brother really help me learn earthbending?"

She took a step closer to Mako, completely trusting him. Before he had the chance to answer, Zuko appeared walking obediently surrounded by three young men.

"Noatak, Tarrlok, this is just a misunderstanding, these people are going to help me learn earthbending and firebending."

The eldest one seemed only interest enough to humor her. "Earthbending? They are firebenders, Korra."

"My brother is an earthbender, his name is Bolin." Mako quickly said, answering the asked question.

The Avatar, Korra, looked into the eldest boys eyes, pleadingly. Both Mako and Iroh secretly admitted to themselves that her pout was adorable.

"This is ridiculous, Korra, we don't even know who these people are, you are way too trusting."

Korra looked into his eyes, defiant and determined. "I don't need your permission nor your company if I chose to go with them."

The teen sighed, clearly Korra had an effect on him, and he was going to cave.

"Korra, I don't like this, but if you are determined to go, Tarrlok and I will go with you." Then he glanced at Iroh and Mako menacingly. "But mark my word, I won't hesitate to kill these people if I see them as threat."

Neither Mako nor Iroh let out a sigh after the Avatar and her two friends got aboard Iroh's ship. Leaving their friend to inform their tribe where they were going.