Kai let out a low whistle as he trotted out of the narrow confines of the canyon into the dusty flats that surrounded Zaofu. The town sprawled along the riverbank, the bustle of steam trains, paddleboats and stagecoaches mingling with the noise of construction as saloons, homes and stores were thrown up in all directions. "Every time I've been here, it seems like the town's doubled in size." He said, as the others left the canyon behind him. Korra took a swig from her water skin and paused, taking in the sight of the town framed by the dipping sun.

"It'll be dark in a few hours." She said, taking the lead. "You can take us to the place where the Red Lotus hired you tomorrow. For now, follow me. I'll find us a place to stay." With that, she urged Naga into a run and galloped towards the boomtown.

The streets were even more packed up close than they looked from a distance, miners, guns-for-hire, railwaymen and cowboys filling the dusty streets. "How do they keep order here?" asked Mako, astounded by the sheer amount of firepower on display.

"That bunch, that's how." Korra said, gesturing to a quartet of riders in green uniforms, sabers on their belts and carbines in their laps. "The Zaofu guard. The only groups tougher than them are the regular army and the White Lotus Marshals." The leader of the group of guards, a young woman with epaulettes on her shoulders, noticed Korra and pointed her out to her squad. They began trotting towards them, spread out in a semi-circle, and although they seemed relaxed, they raised their carbines slightly as they approached.

"Welcome to Zaofu, Marshal." The young woman said, her tone seeming to possess a natural authority. "I'm Kuvira, Captain of the Guard. What brings you here?" "Official government business." Korra replied, gesturing to the group behind her. "My name is Marshal Korra. I'm hunting a group of dangerous bandits, along with a posse led by myself and the Deputy of Nueva Republica, Mako." "Ah, Deputy Mako!" said Kuvira, arching one eyebrow. "Your town's gunsmith, Asami Sato, is here negotiating a deal with Mr. Varrick. She spoke of you." "What did she say?" Mako asked, reddening slightly. "Nothing terribly important." Kuvira replied, in a tone that could either have been deadpan sarcasm or simply a casual response. Mako slumped in his saddle slightly, and Korra noticed Bolin grinning as he nudged Mako with his elbow.

"If we might get down to business" Korra said, "We require room and board for the night before we can continue our search. Can I speak to Su, please?" "Of course" said Kuvira, holstering her carbine as she turned to the rest of her soldiers. "I'm taking them to the compound. Just continue your patrol as usual." The guards saluted and rode off as Kuvira led them towards the center of town. "Quiet tonight." Kuvira said, as she led them down the street. Korra turned in the saddle, feeling the pressure of someone staring at her, but when she turned it was impossible to see anything specific through the crush of people. She turned back towards Kuvira, slouching in the saddle. "Let's hope it stays that way." She said, as the sun dipped and the shadows lengthened behind her.

"That's them." P'Li said, pointing the retreating figure of Marshal Korra out to Zaheer as they stood on the balcony of the Lucky Hand Saloon. "Good." Said Zaheer, his arm around her waist as he turned to go back downstairs.

The saloon was filled with characters almost as mean as him, men who'd shoot their own fathers for a nugget of gold or even a mug of beer. The chatter was not simply harmless and trivial, it was dangerous, whispers of murder and bounties and splitting ill-gotten gains. Every man in that bar had a pistol prominently on his hip, and it was clear that no matter who you were, you were most definitely not welcome here.

Ghazan was seated in front of the surly, one-eyed bartender, watching Ming-Hua rake in the yuans at a knife-throwing game in the corner of the bar. "This place is great!" he said, grinning. "Suspect beer, tense atmosphere, loaded guns, the looks of hatred from complete strangers-why can't every place be like this?"

"We found the Marshal and her posse." P'li said. "We'll make our move tomorrow night." Ghazan beckoned Ming-Hua over, and she left her game considerably richer. "Watch my back." Zaheer said, as he moved towards a table at the center of the bar. Conversation grew hushed as he drew his pistol and placed it on the table, then went silent as he placed two nuggets of gold the size of a man's fist on the table. Every eye in the bar was fixed avariciously on the prize, and a gunfight would surely have broken out had P'li, Ming-hua and Ghazan not drawn their guns.

"Gentlemen." Zaheer said, his voice carrying across the room. "Who here is willing to kidnap a Marshal and kill her friends for a thousand dollars?"

Um...Hello, everyone! (ducks hail of thrown objects) Now, I know what you're going to say, and yes, I am super, super late in updating this story, but I couldn't find a way to make the chapter work, and before you know it, school showed up, so...yeah. Sorry.

However, I do NOT intend to abandon this story. I'll have a chapter for you by the end of the weekend, and if I don't, feel free to spam my inbox and call me any sort of names you like (bragging rights will be awarded to the most creative and/or insulting). Next chapter, gonna be introducing the Beifongs, Asami, Varrick and Zhu Li, and of course you've already met Kuvira. Hi Kuvira! Sorry about giving you a bit part in this chapter.

Also, I'm doing another story called Totality alongside Spirit of Sunset, so go read that! And then call me out because I didn't proofread and used the word 'calm' or some variation thereof four times in the same paragraph!

Anyway, apologies, and thanks for reading and reviewing!

Maple