(A/N): I still don't own anything Avatar. And don't worry, there are visits from the characters we all know and love. Sooner or later.
The spitfire Avatar battles back her opponents with trusty polarbear dog at her side. Chi watches as they progress, from both her dream of above and from the woman's sight. She's calling out a name in fury as each enemy falls in her deadset path. There's an attack too quick for Chi to sense as the scene changes. The woman is pinned in the dark, a man's voice speaking words too big and complicated for Chi to follow, but she gets the message from their shared reaction. Fear. She's terrified, and the woman manages to break free, but only purposely. They run, being chased by something Chi can't see, doesn't want to see. She's scared, Chi's scared. As if noticing something amiss, the Avatar stops and looks up right at the little girl.
"Chi." Her voice speaks, trying to hide the fear.
"Chi." A familiar man's from far away.
The thing gets closer, a howl getting the woman's attention again as her blue eyes dart in quick thought of what to do.
"Chi." Avatar Korra takes a step back, letting out a deep breath. "I'm sorry."
She knows its the end for her, the slipping chance of any escape crashing down as the beast approaches. Her life is fading, she's dying, but Chi, she's starting living-
"Spirits, Chi, wake up." Howl doesn't mean to shake her, but the sight of the nightmare-ridden girl tortures him. She awakes with a cry, beginning to fight back the man that isn't her father, then briefly remembers who he is and buries her head into him.
Knew I should have let her sleep with me. Howl holds her close, the safe feeling of being in his arms calming her down.
"There, there. Let's see what we can do." He stands, taking her with him as he walks into the kitchen area of the small apartment-like home. It was more of a Dormitory, the housing portion of the OWL Headquarters like a main base for its traveling members. With the dark and Avatar-less times, there were hardly any who stayed for too long. Howl sets the teapot on the stove, Chi still clinging to his nightrobes and staring at the shadows that linger on the walls.
"You know all the stories about the Spirits, don't you?"
A nod gets out of her, seeming distant yet so close.
"I used to tell them to a little girl just like you, back when I was a teenager. She was quite the opposite, though. My first mission was to protect her as she would run off on forbidden adventures." He's silent for a moment, remembering those times as if they were yesterday, the wild Southern Water Tribe girl growing up into a fully realized Avatar. "I guess some things never change."
I couldn't protect her. I'm sorry. She had left without a word, gone into the night and leaving them all to wonder why.
"What...what was her name?" Chi asks quietly, her voice almost lost to the whistling of the kettle.
"Korra."
A part of her knows the name, much like the man in her dream. Aang, Korra. Howl pours them each a cup of jasmine tea, adding honey to the girl's.
"Drink up, little one. It'll help you sleep better." Howl blows at the steam that curls over the hot liquid. The ripples that it creates reminds Chi of the waterbending Kulana had done that day as they had left what had remained of Chi's village.
"You're not a bender." Chi notices and he looks up.
"Nope." He states, not disappointed in the slightest. Amused, however, he adds. "I am how I am. Didn't help much about keeping Korra in line."
"Oh. Was it hard?" Chi dares to ask given his change in expression, and escapes into her tea glass. "I see."
"Maybe another night. Bedtime, this time." He waits for her to finish the tea as he sets his emptied aside.
"Okay, Mr. Howl." She lets out a yawn, green eyes drooping with sleep as he guides her to the small makeshift bed
"Just Howl, Chi." He reminds her.
"Good night, Just Howl." Chi mumbles as she falls into a peaceful slumber, no more nightmares to haunt her this night. He lets out a sigh as he places the blanket over her.
"Good night, Chi."