As soon as the ship was docked, the earthbender Hong ran down to the ground. The normally quiet and serious earthbender was making quite the scene. He was hugging a self-made pillar of stone. Nobu was close behind, offering support to the joyful earthbender.
Korra watched them for a moment as she was adjusting the now weathered green shirt over her sleeveless blue one. She fixed her matted hair and pulled it back. The next fresh body of water would be her bath. For now, she needed to head somewhere to attempt to find Kuvira. She was weeks behind trying to find the metalbender.
"Korra, wait for us." She heard Nobu shout. The young woman stopped and turned as he and Hong followed, "Come with us. We are heading inland to find the monks."
She let out a pout, "I can't. I need to find someone that came with me."
"Even with your set of skills," Hong started with a sterner look, "You do not want to travel alone. There are men with wicked minds."
"Not to forget about the warlords. Some of them simply destroy everything and everyone." Nobu added, "If we help each other then we can both find what we seek."
The waterbender let out a huff, blowing her bangs off of the bridge of her nose.
After selling the ship and splitting the gold equally between the crew, the trio set off to head eastward. With speaking throughout the village, Korra learned that Kuvira did head east. Nobu and Hong also said that there was rumored to be a temple in the east where the monks gathered. They could only assume that the monks had the power of air.
Korra thought it was odd to see benders carry weapons like Nobu and Hong did. The two men picked out swords and bows to take along. Hong explained that it was because having a backup plan was always a good idea. The waterbender nodded and continued to follow the earthbender.
At their first camp, the earthbender unveiled that he had brought a small four-string instrument with him. Out of habit, Korra was expected to cook. She found that it was easier to get something going for three people and when someone was playing a song.
"I would love to bring you to the Festival of Colors," Hong began, "My entire village would come together for food, dancing, music and of course, the celebration of the natural colors. Perhaps if you are staying with us long enough, I will take you both there."
"That," Korra found herself interested now, "Actually sounds like a plan if I am still here."
She then listened to them for the rest of the night. Hong would play music and tell stories. The older bender sometimes would combine the two. Nobu attempted to tell stories but as he told them, he was not a word weaver.
They would camp and enjoy the evenings and walked during the day. Korra noticed that the land truly was different from her time. There were not always roads to follow and the villages were far and few as they headed away from the coast. She quickly understood why they both brought bows. Earth and firebending was often loud when they tried to hunt.
Then Hong handed the bow over to her.
"Try it, Korra. The spirits sent you back in time for a reason. Maybe living the way we do will help you."
While she knew she was strong, the bow was pushing her to use all of her strength. Even as skinny as Nobu was, he could pull the string back with ease but she struggled. Hong and Nobu laughed as she tried to pull the string back again. Her hand slipped as the arrow shot off into a bush.
"Let me guess," Nobu smiled, "You do not use bows in the future."
"I don't personally." She said as she walked off to retrieve the arrow.
She pushed through the bushes looking for the lost arrow. While she could hear Hong reassuring her that it was not necessary, she felt responsible for the arrow. As she trudged on, she failed to see the ground drop and she tumbled down. When Korra managed to stop, her jaw dropped. Before her was the apparition of herself when she was poisoned. She had not seen it since her fight in Zaofu and now it was staring at her again.
"You were supposed to be gone?" she stuttered out, "Why are you back? I'm past fearing Zaheer."
The specter rolled its neck before attacking. Korra rolled out of the way of the chain before firing back. The vision shifted around in a blink of an eye like the Avatar's attacks were not fast enough.
"Korra?"
She could hear the others calling for her and she leaped out of the way of another attack. The specter stopped when they caught up.
"We heard fighting." Nobu started, "Are you alright?"
"Please tell me you can see her." Korra said fearfully.
"See what?" Hong looked around trying to find this 'her' Korra was talking about.
The waterbender shook her head and the thing disappeared. The others could tell that she was shaken from whatever she was talking about. A noise to their right scared them into fight positions. A few bald headed men with tattoos walked out with their hands up.
"Please do not attack," one of them said, "We mean no harm. We heard something; like it was fighting of some kind and we had to come."
Korra's focus was a bit off when she looked up at the monks. She then brought her knees up and hugged them. She swatted at Nobu's offer to help her up.
"I'm alright. Just let me be for a moment." She said with more hostility than she wanted.
"Is there anything we can do to help you, Avatar?" one of the airbenders bowed, looking at Korra.
"He's the Avatar." She nonchalantly pointed at Nobu. This left the airbenders confused.
"Our apologies but we can sense the light spirit within you." One said.
Hong and Nobu glanced between the monks and Korra. She finally stood and began to storm off.
"You are greatly mistaken then." She retorted.
They watched as she headed back up the hill towards their camp. The firebender sighed and apologized to everyone before following.
"We just went through a traumatic experience." Hong simply said. The monks nodded in understanding.
When Nobu found her, Korra was already meditating. He tried calling her name but there was no response. He sat down and waited.
The Spirit World was a mess when she entered. The spirits reminded her of her unneeded existence but they did not attack this time. They left her alone to wander the darkened world.
"Happy thoughts Korra," she told herself, "I need a spirit to help me but which one?"
She could ask the Moon and Ocean but she did not know if they had moved to the Mortal World yet. She feared the tricks Koh could play. It was a gamble trying to wait for the face stealer's mother.
"Why didn't I think of it sooner," she slapped her forehead, "Raava might know."
She sat down in the water and was glad to see that her connection was not lost. The light spirit answered but she too was confused as to what was going on.
"I'm sorry Korra. I cannot recall anything like this from before." The spirit responded, "Do not give up hope though. We will find a way back."
"This is so frustrating."
"There is one we can try. You know where he is."
Korra sat silently for a moment, "I don't want to speak with him."
"He is harmless in his prison. Or you can try training Nobu and have him contact me."
"I don't want to cause too many more changes to this world. He has a path to follow so the world can continue in its linear self."
"You are paralyzing yourself again with fear, Korra. If you punish yourself too much, we will not go anywhere and one of us will die." Raava finished her lecture and left Korra to her own devices.
The Avatar then let herself fall back into the murky water. Everything was falling apart again. Korra lingered in the water until her chest hurt and she had to come up. The land around her changed and the Tree of Time stood before her. Now she was stuck having to talk with Vaatu.
Even the Spirit of Darkness was at a lost with her presence.
"Isn't it a bit early to begin preparing for Harmonic Convergence, Raava? Two of you? Have you lost your faith in the humans that you have been with already?"
Korra muttered something before answering, "I'm not here about Harmonic Convergence. I already won again in my time. I need your help with returning back to said time."
"Perhaps I could help you," the spirit hummed, "But I cannot do anything from this prison a previous life locked me in."
"Good try," Korra smirked, "But I'm not letting you out."
"Then I cannot aid your return."
Sighing in desperation, Korra shot back at him, "Well, can you guide me to another spirit? One that can help?"
"You should speak with the face stealer or the knowledge spirit."
Korra's face lit up. She had forgotten about Wan Shi Tong. She bowed, thanking the spirit.
"I look forward to our next meeting, Raava."
The Avatar grinned, "We'll see."
When she returned to the Mortal World, she found that her two fellow travelers were speaking with the airbenders. One of the monks was trying to show Nobu some basic steps when the young Avatar cried out.
"She has returned!"
"How are you feeling?" Hong asked, "You were frantic when you ran off."
Ignoring the airbenders for a moment, she spoke in a determined manner, "I need to find the Knowledge Spirit."