In the cave, Mako lit two fires in his hands. Bolin scratched behind his head. He peered up and down the strange writings on the cave walls, sticking out his lip.
"So this is…" Bolin said, trailing off, "yeah, I can't read any of this."
"This whole thing is strange," Korra grumbled, walking forward, "I wonder if Yao just trapped us down here. If there even is an answer."
"It doesn't look too good" Bolin answered, spreading out his hands, "What with the 'being trapped in an endless cave' thing." Korra kicked a pebble. The air was cool and a feeling of moisture clung to her bare shoulders and neck.
"Maybe we should earth bend out of here?" Mako asked, "You know, for those of us capable of doing that?"
"Don't worry, brother of mine," Bolin said, rubbing his hands together, "Let ol' Nuktuk handle this one." Bolin spread out of his legs, breathing out. As if ready to lift heavy weights, he heaved his arms steadily upward. The walls vibrated but did not move. Sweat rolled down his neck. Bolin dropped his hands in exasperation, panting. "Yup, it's not budging." Bolin wiped his brow. Korra put her hands on the rock and closed her eyes. Her senses pooled out from her fingers.
"It's like the earth's being held together by something," Korra whispered, "Almost like-" There came a whooshing sound ahead. Then another, louder.
"Did you hear that?" Mako said, looking forward. Vaatu. It had to be, Korra thought. She bolted forward. "No! Korra!" Mako shouted. Korra sped ahead, darting down the tunnel. Suddenly, she halted. Her body felt a strange tingling. She stared into the darkness. What was this feeling?
This is wrong.
This can't be happening.
Korra put a hand to her forehead. "What?" she said, "I don't understand."
"What? What is it?" Mako said, running to her side.
Korra turned to him and said, " I thought I heard something. 'This can't be happening'? Nevermind. None of that made any sense."
"Hey," Bolin shouted, "did you guys see? We passed a split in the road." Korra turned around.
"We did?" A tidal blast of the creeping wind shot through her.
Don't.
Korra curled her fists. What did Vaatu not want her to see? They must be getting closer. She followed Bolin through the split in the tunnel.
"Weird, I didn't see that back there," Mako commented.
"Probably because you two went running off!" Bolin shouted, "Also, can we promise not to do that again?"
"We don't know what we'll face down here," Mako answered.
"I know. I just- I just felt something, okay?" Korra said, agitated.
"Oh, no," Bolin said quietly. Mako stepped forward. His eyes widened. Korra cursed. "Speaking of which," Bolin said. The tunnel had opened up into a large cavern. Korra burned the flames in her palms brighter. The cavern was circular and lined with dozens of openings.
"So, which one?" Korra whispered.
"Korra, we can't just blindly pick one. We could get lost," Mako whispered back.
"I know," Bolin said, fishing into his pocket. He pulled something out, "Wait, no, that's a coupon. Yes- this- no, another coupon. Man, I need to take Opal to that noodle place before these bad boys expire."
"Bolin!" Mako and Korra fumed.
"Got it!" Bolin shouted, holding up a small green pouch, "knew this would come in handy."
"And that would be?" Korra growled, crossing her arms.
"A gift from Opal," Bolin said, taking out a small iron compass and ball of iron, "every Zaofu foot soldier carries one. It's pretty neat, look. I take this little ball and-" The ball morphed. Bolin hovered it over to the entrance of the tunnel they emerged from. The metal glommed on to the rock wall. "And now, look! This compass will always point to it. Wherever we go, it'll always point right here," Bolin said, looking down at the compass as it twirled around, the needle following the splotch of iron, "Opal said it has to do with some the metal's frequency. They hum together as long as they touch earth and an earthbender. Gosh-" Bolin cradled the compass, "I sure do love that woman." Mako clapped his hand on Bolin's shoulder.
"You did good."
"Okay, great," Korra said, "Now, let's get going." Mako and Bolin stepped forward. The cave walls grumbled. They paused. There was silence again. "Here," Korra said, "why don't we take go down this way?"
"Korra! Stop!" Bolin whispered, "your steps are-"
Korra stepped forward and shouted, "Bolin, come on!" She walked, spinning around, spreading out her hands, "What's your problem?" Mako and Bolin exchanged glances and walked forward. The cave shuddered violently. From above, a rock crashed down before their feet. Bolin rolled back. A dark wind howled out from the tunnel behind them. It ruffled through their clothes, sending goosebumps along Korra's flesh. A fog filled her mind.
Choose
"Choose? Choose what?" Korra said, frowning.
"What was that?" Mako asked beside her. Bolin rolled back to his feet and walked over to them. "Hmm." Mako knotted his mouth. "I think only one of us can move at a time."
"On the count of three," Korra said, holding up her fingers, "One, two-" They all lifted their feet. The walls rumbled loud as distant thunder. Three more rocks rocketed down, exploding around them. "It's making us choose who goes forward," Korra whispered, "Do you think this is some sort of test?"
Bolin handed her the compass, "Hey, from everything I've learned, you either listen to disembodied spirits or-" he drew a finger sharply across his neck. Korra took the compass.
"I'll take five hundred steps."
Mako said, "And five hundred back here." Korra clutched the compass.
"Mako, if I'm not back soon-"
"Korra, we're not going anywhere. Even if we could."
Korra sighed, "I hate that I got you two into this mess."
Mako wrapped her in a hug. She closed her eyes. Mako may not have had a way with words but he was a damn fine hugger. Korra willed herself to feel certain. She took determined steps, counting aloud as she went. By twenty she was in the mouth of the new tunnel. By forty, her counting sounded small and closed in. By ninety, she could no longer see Mako's flame behind her. She was alone. Her heartbeat ticked in her ears.
Two hundred. Soon she could turn around, try another tunnel. That was all. No need to let her imagination paint horrific situations.
"Oh no," Korra stopped, "What was I on?" Two hundred and seven. Ish. Yeah. What was one or two steps off? Or was it two hundred and seventeen? The wind pushed against her, vibrating through her chest.
You chose poorly
"What? You just said to choose and we did!" Korra barked out, swiveling around, "Now how about you become something I can fight? I choose for you to show yourself!" The flames at the tips of her fingers grew brighter, hotter. Fiercer. There was silence. "Argh!" She howled, shooting off a ball of flame. It fired into the distance dark. But then, the flaming ball shuddered. It had hit something.
Korra stepped forward. Two hundred and eight. Or was it two hundred and eighteen? Taking a deep breath, she scooped her arms in a circle and brought them to her chest. She lunged, slinging off another fire ball. The tunnels lit up again, but then it smacked darkness before her, exploding into sparks. She ran. Two hundred and forty-three, two hundred and forty-four. She ran to greet whatever stopped the fire balls. But then, nothing touched her. She scrunched her brows, wheeled back and shot off a ball of fire. It smacked nothingness just a few feet behind her.
"I passed through it," Korra whispered, walking backwards. "What just happened?"
"Did you hear that?" came Mako's voice ahead of her. "No! Korra!" Mako shouted. Korra's jaw dropped. What was happening? How was it possible? Without thinking, she wheeled backwards, past through what she guessed was the dark barrier. "Korra!" Mako yelled ahead. Now, Korra could see what was happening and she froze.
It was her. Korra, from just a few minutes ago. She stared straight at her. But she knew that this Korra would not see her. The other Korra put a hand to her forehead.
"What?" the other Korra said, "I don't understand."
"What? What is it?" the other Mako said, running to her side.
The other Korra turned to him and said, " I thought I heard something. 'This can't be happening'? Nevermind. None of that made any sense." It was all of them from just a few minutes ago. Now, she knew, this Korra would turn and leave to the large cavern. If only she could warn her.
"Hey," the other Bolin shouted, "did you guys see? We passed a split in the road."
The other Korra turned around, "We did?"
Korra ran forward, but she smacked into the invisible barrier. The veil had become rigid. She banged her palms against it. "Don't!" she yelled.
"Korra?" came a weak voice. She spun around in her fighting stance. Mako looked at her. He feebly held up his hands. Dark circles ringed his eyes. "It is you," he said hoarsely, dropping into her arms.
"Mako? Why did you follow me? You told me to take five hundred steps in and five hundred steps out," she said, her heart pounding.
"We chose poorly," he said, his voice wavering, "Korra, we chose wrong. We chose so wrong."
"Mako, tell me what happened to you," Korra said.
"When you left us, yesterday," Mako wheezed, "Korra, we chose wrong. You left and we chose wrong."
"You keep saying that, Mako," Korra said, setting him down on the ground. She crouched over him and put her hand to his brow, "Mako, did you say I left you yesterday? But I've only been gone a few minutes!"
"Don't let them," Mako breathed, "Don't let them get-" Korra felt bindings of fear wrap around her body.
"Bolin," she said, "Mako, where's Bolin?" Mako went limp in her arms. He breathed shallowly against her shoulders. With a grunt, she hauled him over a shoulder, staggering. "Come on," she said, "let's go." She walked back the way she had come. Back to the large cavern. Once she was there, she heard a faint cry. Sitting in the dark was Bolin.
"You get away from me," Bolin said in a shaky breath.
"Bolin?" Korra said.
"Korra!" Bolin jumped to his feet and wavered."Oh, thank the cabbage maker!" In the light of her flame, Bolin was pale. His eyes were red and puffy. Korra slid Mako off her shoulder and laid him on the ground.
"Now, tell me what happened to you two," she said.
"We chose wrong," Bolin shivered, "we shouldn't have, but we did. You were gone for so long and when we decided to get up- it was filling our heads. Filling our heads, Korra!" Bolin sat down on his bottom and rocked. "Can we go home? I'm so hungry." Korra bit her lip.
"Bolin, what did you choose wrong?" she asked. Bolin spoke but not noise came out. "What?" she scrunched her brow. Bolin waved his arms, pointing behind her. Korra felt something move through her. She jumped high, missing a shot of flame. She landed on her feet. Mako, somehow, was standing again. He growled, arcing his feet into a roundhouse fireball shot. She rolled and dodged. "Mako! You're awake!" she shouted.
"I think it's over there!" Bolin shouted, pointing her direction.
"It?" she asked, cocking her head, "Did you just call me an 'it'?"
"Urgghh!" Mako fumed, shooting off volleys of flame in her direction. She brought up two fallen boulders against the scorching heat.
"Hey, cut it out!" she hollered, "Mako, what are you-" Mako ran at her. He sliced down with fire but she grabbed his arm and twirled it around him. He donkey kicked behind with flames and she redirected the fire away. He flipped her forward but she rolled smoothly, leaping back to her feet.
"On it!" Bolin yelled. He seemed fitter, brighter than just a moment ago. Bolin stomped and a bed of lava snaked out from his feet. She yelled and flew up in a stream of air, landing on the cavern walls.
"What are you two doing? It's me!" she shouted, incredulous.
"Stop it!" Bolin cried, putting his hands to his ears. Mako, too, winced. He gritted his teeth.
"It's me!" she yelled, cupping her hands.
"Mako! What's going on?" Bolin asked, stooping to his knees, "Stop the yelling!"
"What are you two talking about? Why can't you see me?"
This time, Mako screamed too. They were writhing in pain. She was doing that to them, she realized. She was causing them pain. Tears filled her eyes.
Leave them or they will die.
"Mako," Bolin shuddered. Mako crawled over, biting his lip.
"Bolin, just, just hang on- I'll- I'll get Korra."
Leave them.
"Don't go," Bolin's voice was hoarse. He was crying. Mako crawled up to him, cupping up his head, "We've been in here for so long."
Korra wanted to run over, wanted to stop whatever was happening, but she knew. The voices were telling her. Crying, she turned and darted into a different tunnel. She wiped at her face. Okay, so now Mako would run, feebly, into the tunnel she just returned from. He would be weak and- and she would find him? But- but how?
"Nothing makes any sense!" she yelled out. She turned around and went back into the large cavern. But, now, it was empty. Not even Bolin was there. She opened her mouth and closed it. There was no test. There was no winning. Yao had trapped them beyond any doubt.
"Nothing makes any sense!" she heard someone yell. From across the way, out of a tunnel, she saw herself approaching.
"Nothing makes any sense!" yelled another emerging Korra.
"Nothing makes sense!" came a third Korra.
"Nothing makes sense!"
"Nothing makes sense!"
"Nothing makes sense!"
A cavern of Korras, staring at one another. Korra wanted to laugh at the absurdity. Perhaps the cave leaked noxious gas and in reality, she was twitching on the ground, dying by hallucinations. She held up a hand. The others waved back.
"So…" she started. And so did the others. "So there's no way out," she whispered as one.
"So none of us found a way out?" she asked.
"Is that what you're looking for?" a Korra opposite her yelled out angrily, "what about helping Mako and Bolin?"
"What happened to them?" another asked across the way.
"I heard the Li Ahng was just down the way!" another cried, "I was so close!"
Korra knitted her brows and said, "How can you actually believe you'll find anything down here?"
"Yao brought us here for a reason!" that one yelled back, "Right?"
"The voices," another Korra looked down at her hands, "they were always telling me, stop, or go, or- or-"
"It was just us," Korra said thoughtfully, slowly, "I mean, me. I'm just chasing myself down here. The winds."
"It's only me talking to myself," the Korra opposite her replied, looking into her eyes, "all these parts of me, talking."
"But which parts?" one asked timidly.
Korra stepped forward and the rest followed. She needed to focus, to calm the chattering voices inside her head. She closed her eyes and slipped into the Avatar state. In her mind's eye, she saw a single white circle. White ringed with blackness. Blackness surrounding the white. Light filled a room, she thought. And so did darkness. Darkness filled cups. And wells. And tunnels. Sometimes you only knew things by the darkness within it. Darkness had a purpose.
Vaatu had a purpose.
Korra breathed. She opened her her stood Yao, holding a small lantern.
"I can almost hear the gears grinding away in the skull of yours, Avatar."
"Please. I have a few questions."
Yao placed a book in Korra's hands. Korra opened her mouth but Yao held up a hand to signal silence.
"I am a disciple. I am not a teacher," Yao said directly.
"Who's disciple? Vaatu's?" Korra asked. Yao bowed her head.
"Korra, you have to abandon your foolish notions of right and wrong. Start in the brightest place within you and step into the shadows. Only there will you find more than ever promised by only Raava."
"Are- are you also an Avatar?" Korra asked hollowly. Yao looked at her with pursed lips and examining eyes.
"Would this fill you with fear or relief?" Yao asked slowly.
Suddenly, Korra snapped, "I'm the Avatar! I need to know!" Her words rang throughout the cavern, bouncing off and hitting her ears. Yao waited until the reverberating noise stopped.
"Do you hear yourself?" Yao asked, "You are a fool. Now, go. Get out of my tunnels. You have one minute before I come for you."
"What?" Korra took a step backwards.
Yao gently lifted a hand. A gigantic boulder rose above her head.
"Leave."
Korra backed away. She ran, clutching the Li Ahng to her chest.
"Korra!" Mako yelled, "Korra!"
"Mako! I'm here!" Korra yelled back. Mako found her and clutched her arms. He saw what she held.
"Is that-"
"No time. Where's Bolin?" They ran back to the other cavern. Bolin wheezed, holding up his hand. Mako and Korra wrapped his arms around their shoulders, hoisting him up.
"Are you sure this is even the right way?" Mako yelled out. The walls shook. Korra stumbled under the impressive weight of Bolin. His head rolled.
"No time! She's coming after us!" Korra yelled. Mako nodded. They sprinted. Rocks shook and fell around them. Behind them, the tunnel entrance sealed shut with falling boulders.
"This place is collapsing! What did you do?" Mako yelled.
"What makes you think this is my fault?" Korra snapped. They turned a corner. The way ahead had collapsed. Korra groaned.
"Korra! We need to do something!"
"I know, okay?" Korra yelled back. She threw her hands forward. A jet of air blasted at the fallen rocks, knocking a few to the side. A small crevice opened but it was too narrow.
"Korra!" Mako yelled. Lava bubbled down, trailing after them. It was heating up the cramped tunnel. Korra fumed. She blasted the collapsed rock wall ahead. A few more boulders rolled down. It would have to do.
"We can go one at a time!" Korra yelled, climbing up the bank of rocks. The grumbling grew louder. She slipped on the rocks, losing her footing. The heat swamped across her flesh. Bolin was difficult to drag upwards. Mako clambered up to the crevice, reaching out a hand. Korra grabbed on, but her hands were too sweaty. She slipped again. "Take Bolin!" she called, pushing forward Bolin's unconscious slump. A blast shook the caves. Dust blinded her. Something grabbed around her waist. She was being dragged.
"Korra!" Mako yelled hoarsely. She coughed and spluttered. But the heat of the lava had depleted her and the vice wrapped around her waist was crushing into bone. She was losing consciousness. With one last moment of effort, she shoved the book under her shirt.
A splash of water. Korra heaved, sitting up.
"Mondo! Give her some room!" a woman called out. Korra blinked. She was lying in grass. Sitting up, she looked around. Early morning. She was laying near a river. A large nose prodded into her side.
"Naga," she said with a grin, turning around. She shrieked.
"Whoa," a woman stepped forward, "Buttercup just wanted to say hi." Korra looked at the tall and handsome woman then back to the badgermole with its twitching pale whiskers.
"I remember you. You helped us when our airship crashed," Korra said, "Naomi." Naomi turned her dark green eyes upon her.
"And you almost got yourself killed back in Yao's Caves."
"Yeah!" Mondo, her tiny son said, "Did you get to see her? I heard Yao's got a second little head that grows on one of her shoulders!"
"Mondo!" Naomi said firmly, "How about you go take Buttercup down to the river for a drink?" Korra saw that Buttercup wore a blind over her eyes. Mondo grabbed her leash and led her to the water.
"Our badgermole came crawling out of her tunnel," Naomi explained, "She sensed something bad down there. Looks like we got to you just in time."
"We thank you," Mako said beside Korra, "you used metalbending to haul us out, didn't you?" naomi took out a coiled length of iron from a side pouch.
"Always carry my lasso, shouldn't everyone?"
Mako stood up and stroked his chin and said, "Amazing. That's pretty handy."
"Whoa!" Bolin sat up and clapped a hand to his forehead, "Is that an actual almost-compliment?" Mako blushed.
"All I'm saying is it's very practical!" Mako shouted. Bolin rolled his eyes, whistling and walking away to a much needed bush.
Naomi continued, "My son and I have an airship to catch."
"An airship?" Korra asked, standing up. She coughed, remembering what was pushed against her chest. Strapped to her underbinding was the book. She scooped it out from under her shirt.
"Is that-" Naomi stepped forward, "But it can't be." Korra opened the pages. She croaked. Mako glanced over.
"Oh no," Korra whispered. The pages were filled with the same unintelligible script lining the walls of the cave. Korra wanted to throw the book into the river. Rage consumed her. All that work and for nothing she could read.
"Wait," Mako said, "Korra, it's still writing. There must be someone in Republic City who'll be able to-"
"I know, okay?" Korra turned around, "I just- I just need to get back there, I guess."
"Wait, you're going to Republic City?" Naomi asked, "My son and I are headed there to see my family."
"Your family?" Mako asked. Naomi paused, flicking her eyes over him.
"Yes. My sister and her husband. I'm leaving today by an express airship."
"I'll escort you," Korra said suddenly.
Naomi twisted her mouth and said, "It's kind of you to offer but it isn't necessary." Korra smiled.
"Please, I owe you one. Let me repay you for saving me."
Naomi looked over at Mondo by the river, "Well, I'm sure my son would love that."
The airship was crammed with refugees fleeing the dust storms. Like the train, it was filled with earth kingdom citizens. People jostled around for seats. Suitcases were shoved and shoved harder under feet and into overhead compartments. As Korra climbed up the airship, she heard a familiar voice.
"Well, shoot! Didn't know the Avatar flew fourth-class!" Han the airship captain shouted, pushing aside several disgruntled passengers.
So Korra, Naomi and Mondo sat in the cockpit room of the ship. It made Korra uncomfortable, being singled out. For some reason, she felt as if Naomi was judging her for her revered status. If she was, however, Naomi kept it to herself. Mondo sat in the airship co-pilot chair beside Han, wearing a large captain's hat.
"We aren't looking for any charity," Naomi said to her hands rather than Korra, "But I do thank you for traveling with us."
"Trust me, I'd rather be with someone right now than my own thoughts," Korra said, thinking back to the book which now rested in her pack.
"You didn't ask, but soon after you left, the other families left Cactus Station," Naomi said in her deep and sure voice, "I was a leader but I'm not the type to stay with an abandoned fort. I just- Korra, it hurts me to leave my kingdom. I'm part of the earth. It feels like things are moving towards chaos."
"Republic City is no different," Korra said quietly, "I'm sorry."
"I know," Naomi said, "But at least I'll be with my people. You get by with others." The cockpit door opened. Mako stood in the threshold.
"Mako?" Korra stood up, "Don't tell me Wu's got you on another assignment out in the city?"
"Wu-" Mako knotted his mouth, "Wu gave me a- a vacation."
"What?" Korra's eyes widened, "That's fantastic!"
"He- uh- I'm sorry, I'm just a little dazed. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with myself."
"It'll be good to have you," Korra said as he sat rigidly beside Naomi.
"Weren't you a detective?" Naomi asked.
"Well, I don't know if I ever stopped," Mako said, frowning, "I'm sure Beifong will put me back on the force."
"I'm sure, given those recent attacks. My sister said things are pretty serious."
"What we know doesn't look good," Mako said, sitting up, "From what she's told me, it looks as though-"
Korra drifted out of the conversation. There would always be more time for cop talk with Mako. There was a tugging at her pants. Mondo looked up at her with large orb eyes.
"You're the Avatar," he murmured.
"And?" Korra asked with a small grin.
"You- you have a big puppy," Mondo said, wrapping his arms around her leg, "I like big puppies. Like Buttercup."
"You wanna meet Naga when we get back?" she asked softly. He nodded, sliding down to the ground. He rested his head against her.
"Big puppies," he said lazily, slipping into sleep.
Upon landing, it was decided that Naomi and Mondo would spend one night at the Air Temple. It was dark and everyone was exhausted. Naomi and Mondo were given a guest bedroom. Naomi was grateful to the point of tears when Pema showed them the room.
"You have no idea what this means," Naomi had said.
Pema hugged her, "I know what's it like traveling with a little one." Mako and Bolin bunked with Bumi, sleeping on mats on the ground. Korra mounted the steps to the tower. She found Tenzin meditating alone.
"I had a feeling you would want to speak," Tenzin said softly. Korra wordlessly dropped the book into his hands. He laid it down on the ground, putting a sleeve to his mouth. "You brought this to my temple when I already told you how I stood on this matter?"
"Please, listen to me." Korra told him all which transpired in the caves, including Yao's strange words. Tenzin nodded his head. Carefully, he opened the covers. He gasped quietly.
"Praise Raava," he uttered in exaltation. Tenzin's eyes glistened. "Do you have any idea-" he paused, mid-sentence, his hands stroking the thin pages, "It's just, I never thought I would be the Air Master who would see it again."
"Tenzin, you know this writing?" Korra asked, stooping down.
Tenzin grabbed the book, holding it up to the candle poured down his cheeks. Korra watched him. For the first time, a strange sadness hit her. Tenzin was an old man. One day he would die.
"Ancient Air script," he whispered, "there are no other records. None. All of our books were destroyed." He paused again, laying down the book, "But, no. Even if this is the true book of Avatar Nahsu, I cannot even begin to-" He wiped away a tear, "I will always be grateful for what you have shown me tonight, Korra. But I cannot condone this. These are dangerous writings."
"But you haven't even read it!" Korra barked out louder than she had imagined. Tenzin lifted an eyebrow. "Sorry," she winced, "I'm very tired. It's just-"
"I cannot translate this text. Even if I wanted, which, believe me, I have searched for years for surviving Ancient Air manuscripts, I cannot help you. I hope you can respect my decision." Korra swept the book back into her hands.
"I understand." But she didn't. Anger cracked open her wanted to tear off Yao's head and hurl it at Tenzin's. No one had answers. They bowed and Korra left. She turned down the staircase, bumping into Jinora.
"What are you doing here?" Korra asked.
"Korra!" Jinora grabbed onto her wrist, "Korra, I can do it! I'll do it for you!"
Korra took a step backwards and said, "Jinora, were you spying on us?"
"I can translate it for you," Jinora said with large eyes. Korra instinctively retreated. She gripped the book tighter.
"No."
"No?" Jinora was puzzled.
"Jinora, what's going on with you?" Korra asked, frowning. Fear lit up in Jinora's eyes and she softened, "Please. I think it's worrying your father."
"My father doesn't care," Jinora hissed venomously, "My father would push this island further into the sea if he could! If it meant getting away from things that made him scared."
"How could you translate it?"
Jinora looked down, "One week. Give me one week. If I can't translate it, I'll give it back." From above, Korra could hear Tenzin shuffling. "Quick! Before he comes down here!" Jinora whispered, fingers beckoning. Korra handed over the book. What did the thing mean anyway without a translation? Was there any harm? Jinora's dark eyes filled with wonder. "Thank you," Jinora said, fleeing down the stairs.
Korra followed. She did not want to Tenzin to see what just transpired. As she fled down the stairs, a strange hammering pulsed under her skin.
What just happened?
In the cave, Mako lit two fires in his hands. Bolin scratched behind his head. He peered up and down the strange writings on the cave walls, sticking out his lip.
"So this is…" Bolin said, trailing off, "yeah, I can't read any of this."
"This whole thing is strange," Korra grumbled, walking forward, "I wonder if Yao just trapped us down here. If there even is an answer."
"It doesn't look too good" Bolin answered, spreading out his hands, "What with the 'being trapped in an endless cave' thing." Korra kicked a pebble. The air was cool and a feeling of moisture clung to her bare shoulders and neck.
"Maybe we should earth bend out of here?" Mako asked, "You know, for those of us capable of doing that?"
"Don't worry, brother of mine," Bolin said, rubbing his hands together, "Let ol' Nuktuk handle this one." Bolin spread out of his legs, breathing out. As if ready to lift heavy weights, he heaved his arms steadily upward. The walls vibrated but did not move. Sweat rolled down his neck. Bolin dropped his hands in exasperation, panting. "Yup, it's not budging." Bolin wiped his brow. Korra put her hands on the rock and closed her eyes. Her senses pooled out from her fingers.
"It's like the earth's being held together by something," Korra whispered, "Almost like-" There came a whooshing sound ahead. Then another, louder.
"Did you hear that?" Mako said, looking forward. Vaatu. It had to be, Korra thought. She bolted forward. "No! Korra!" Mako shouted. Korra sped ahead, darting down the tunnel. Suddenly, she halted. Her body felt a strange tingling. She stared into the darkness. What was this feeling?
This is wrong.
This can't be happening.
Korra put a hand to her forehead. "What?" she said, "I don't understand."
"What? What is it?" Mako said, running to her side.
Korra turned to him and said, " I thought I heard something. 'This can't be happening'? Nevermind. None of that made any sense."
"Hey," Bolin shouted, "did you guys see? We passed a split in the road." Korra turned around.
"We did?" A tidal blast of the creeping wind shot through her.
Don't.
Korra curled her fists. What did Vaatu not want her to see? They must be getting closer. She followed Bolin through the split in the tunnel.
"Weird, I didn't see that back there," Mako commented.
"Probably because you two went running off!" Bolin shouted, "Also, can we promise not to do that again?"
"We don't know what we'll face down here," Mako answered.
"I know. I just- I just felt something, okay?" Korra said, agitated.
"Oh, no," Bolin said quietly. Mako stepped forward. His eyes widened. Korra cursed. "Speaking of which," Bolin said. The tunnel had opened up into a large cavern. Korra burned the flames in her palms brighter. The cavern was circular and lined with dozens of openings.
"So, which one?" Korra whispered.
"Korra, we can't just blindly pick one. We could get lost," Mako whispered back.
"I know," Bolin said, fishing into his pocket. He pulled something out, "Wait, no, that's a coupon. Yes- this- no, another coupon. Man, I need to take Opal to that noodle place before these bad boys expire."
"Bolin!" Mako and Korra fumed.
"Got it!" Bolin shouted, holding up a small green pouch, "knew this would come in handy."
"And that would be?" Korra growled, crossing her arms.
"A gift from Opal," Bolin said, taking out a small iron compass and ball of iron, "every Zaofu foot soldier carries one. It's pretty neat, look. I take this little ball and-" The ball morphed. Bolin hovered it over to the entrance of the tunnel they emerged from. The metal glommed on to the rock wall. "And now, look! This compass will always point to it. Wherever we go, it'll always point right here," Bolin said, looking down at the compass as it twirled around, the needle following the splotch of iron, "Opal said it has to do with some the metal's frequency. They hum together as long as they touch earth and an earthbender. Gosh-" Bolin cradled the compass, "I sure do love that woman." Mako clapped his hand on Bolin's shoulder.
"You did good."
"Okay, great," Korra said, "Now, let's get going." Mako and Bolin stepped forward. The cave walls grumbled. They paused. There was silence again. "Here," Korra said, "why don't we take go down this way?"
"Korra! Stop!" Bolin whispered, "your steps are-"
Korra stepped forward and shouted, "Bolin, come on!" She walked, spinning around, spreading out her hands, "What's your problem?" Mako and Bolin exchanged glances and walked forward. The cave shuddered violently. From above, a rock crashed down before their feet. Bolin rolled back. A dark wind howled out from the tunnel behind them. It ruffled through their clothes, sending goosebumps along Korra's flesh. A fog filled her mind.
Choose
"Choose? Choose what?" Korra said, frowning.
"What was that?" Mako asked beside her. Bolin rolled back to his feet and walked over to them. "Hmm." Mako knotted his mouth. "I think only one of us can move at a time."
"On the count of three," Korra said, holding up her fingers, "One, two-" They all lifted their feet. The walls rumbled loud as distant thunder. Three more rocks rocketed down, exploding around them. "It's making us choose who goes forward," Korra whispered, "Do you think this is some sort of test?"
Bolin handed her the compass, "Hey, from everything I've learned, you either listen to disembodied spirits or-" he drew a finger sharply across his neck. Korra took the compass.
"I'll take five hundred steps."
Mako said, "And five hundred back here." Korra clutched the compass.
"Mako, if I'm not back soon-"
"Korra, we're not going anywhere. Even if we could."
Korra sighed, "I hate that I got you two into this mess."
Mako wrapped her in a hug. She closed her eyes. Mako may not have had a way with words but he was a damn fine hugger. Korra willed herself to feel certain. She took determined steps, counting aloud as she went. By twenty she was in the mouth of the new tunnel. By forty, her counting sounded small and closed in. By ninety, she could no longer see Mako's flame behind her. She was alone. Her heartbeat ticked in her ears.
Two hundred. Soon she could turn around, try another tunnel. That was all. No need to let her imagination paint horrific situations.
"Oh no," Korra stopped, "What was I on?" Two hundred and seven. Ish. Yeah. What was one or two steps off? Or was it two hundred and seventeen? The wind pushed against her, vibrating through her chest.
You chose poorly
"What? You just said to choose and we did!" Korra barked out, swiveling around, "Now how about you become something I can fight? I choose for you to show yourself!" The flames at the tips of her fingers grew brighter, hotter. Fiercer. There was silence. "Argh!" She howled, shooting off a ball of flame. It fired into the distance dark. But then, the flaming ball shuddered. It had hit something.
Korra stepped forward. Two hundred and eight. Or was it two hundred and eighteen? Taking a deep breath, she scooped her arms in a circle and brought them to her chest. She lunged, slinging off another fire ball. The tunnels lit up again, but then it smacked darkness before her, exploding into sparks. She ran. Two hundred and forty-three, two hundred and forty-four. She ran to greet whatever stopped the fire balls. But then, nothing touched her. She scrunched her brows, wheeled back and shot off a ball of fire. It smacked nothingness just a few feet behind her.
"I passed through it," Korra whispered, walking backwards. "What just happened?"
"Did you hear that?" came Mako's voice ahead of her. "No! Korra!" Mako shouted. Korra's jaw dropped. What was happening? How was it possible? Without thinking, she wheeled backwards, past through what she guessed was the dark barrier. "Korra!" Mako yelled ahead. Now, Korra could see what was happening and she froze.
It was her. Korra, from just a few minutes ago. She stared straight at her. But she knew that this Korra would not see her. The other Korra put a hand to her forehead.
"What?" the other Korra said, "I don't understand."
"What? What is it?" the other Mako said, running to her side.
The other Korra turned to him and said, " I thought I heard something. 'This can't be happening'? Nevermind. None of that made any sense." It was all of them from just a few minutes ago. Now, she knew, this Korra would turn and leave to the large cavern. If only she could warn her.
"Hey," the other Bolin shouted, "did you guys see? We passed a split in the road."
The other Korra turned around, "We did?"
Korra ran forward, but she smacked into the invisible barrier. The veil had become rigid. She banged her palms against it. "Don't!" she yelled.
"Korra?" came a weak voice. She spun around in her fighting stance. Mako looked at her. He feebly held up his hands. Dark circles ringed his eyes. "It is you," he said hoarsely, dropping into her arms.
"Mako? Why did you follow me? You told me to take five hundred steps in and five hundred steps out," she said, her heart pounding.
"We chose poorly," he said, his voice wavering, "Korra, we chose wrong. We chose so wrong."
"Mako, tell me what happened to you," Korra said.
"When you left us, yesterday," Mako wheezed, "Korra, we chose wrong. You left and we chose wrong."
"You keep saying that, Mako," Korra said, setting him down on the ground. She crouched over him and put her hand to his brow, "Mako, did you say I left you yesterday? But I've only been gone a few minutes!"
"Don't let them," Mako breathed, "Don't let them get-" Korra felt bindings of fear wrap around her body.
"Bolin," she said, "Mako, where's Bolin?" Mako went limp in her arms. He breathed shallowly against her shoulders. With a grunt, she hauled him over a shoulder, staggering. "Come on," she said, "let's go." She walked back the way she had come. Back to the large cavern. Once she was there, she heard a faint cry. Sitting in the dark was Bolin.
"You get away from me," Bolin said in a shaky breath.
"Bolin?" Korra said.
"Korra!" Bolin jumped to his feet and wavered."Oh, thank the cabbage maker!" In the light of her flame, Bolin was pale. His eyes were red and puffy. Korra slid Mako off her shoulder and laid him on the ground.
"Now, tell me what happened to you two," she said.
"We chose wrong," Bolin shivered, "we shouldn't have, but we did. You were gone for so long and when we decided to get up- it was filling our heads. Filling our heads, Korra!" Bolin sat down on his bottom and rocked. "Can we go home? I'm so hungry." Korra bit her lip.
"Bolin, what did you choose wrong?" she asked. Bolin spoke but not noise came out. "What?" she scrunched her brow. Bolin waved his arms, pointing behind her. Korra felt something move through her. She jumped high, missing a shot of flame. She landed on her feet. Mako, somehow, was standing again. He growled, arcing his feet into a roundhouse fireball shot. She rolled and dodged. "Mako! You're awake!" she shouted.
"I think it's over there!" Bolin shouted, pointing her direction.
"It?" she asked, cocking her head, "Did you just call me an 'it'?"
"Urgghh!" Mako fumed, shooting off volleys of flame in her direction. She brought up two fallen boulders against the scorching heat.
"Hey, cut it out!" she hollered, "Mako, what are you-" Mako ran at her. He sliced down with fire but she grabbed his arm and twirled it around him. He donkey kicked behind with flames and she redirected the fire away. He flipped her forward but she rolled smoothly, leaping back to her feet.
"On it!" Bolin yelled. He seemed fitter, brighter than just a moment ago. Bolin stomped and a bed of lava snaked out from his feet. She yelled and flew up in a stream of air, landing on the cavern walls.
"What are you two doing? It's me!" she shouted, incredulous.
"Stop it!" Bolin cried, putting his hands to his ears. Mako, too, winced. He gritted his teeth.
"It's me!" she yelled, cupping her hands.
"Mako! What's going on?" Bolin asked, stooping to his knees, "Stop the yelling!"
"What are you two talking about? Why can't you see me?"
This time, Mako screamed too. They were writhing in pain. She was doing that to them, she realized. She was causing them pain. Tears filled her eyes.
Leave them or they will die.
"Mako," Bolin shuddered. Mako crawled over, biting his lip.
"Bolin, just, just hang on- I'll- I'll get Korra."
Leave them.
"Don't go," Bolin's voice was hoarse. He was crying. Mako crawled up to him, cupping up his head, "We've been in here for so long."
Korra wanted to run over, wanted to stop whatever was happening, but she knew. The voices were telling her. Crying, she turned and darted into a different tunnel. She wiped at her face. Okay, so now Mako would run, feebly, into the tunnel she just returned from. He would be weak and- and she would find him? But- but how?
"Nothing makes any sense!" she yelled out. She turned around and went back into the large cavern. But, now, it was empty. Not even Bolin was there. She opened her mouth and closed it. There was no test. There was no winning. Yao had trapped them beyond any doubt.
"Nothing makes any sense!" she heard someone yell. From across the way, out of a tunnel, she saw herself approaching.
"Nothing makes any sense!" yelled another emerging Korra.
"Nothing makes sense!" came a third Korra.
"Nothing makes sense!"
"Nothing makes sense!"
"Nothing makes sense!"
A cavern of Korras, staring at one another. Korra wanted to laugh at the absurdity. Perhaps the cave leaked noxious gas and in reality, she was twitching on the ground, dying by hallucinations. She held up a hand. The others waved back.
"So…" she started. And so did the others. "So there's no way out," she whispered as one.
"So none of us found a way out?" she asked.
"Is that what you're looking for?" a Korra opposite her yelled out angrily, "what about helping Mako and Bolin?"
"What happened to them?" another asked across the way.
"I heard the Li Ahng was just down the way!" another cried, "I was so close!"
Korra knitted her brows and said, "How can you actually believe you'll find anything down here?"
"Yao brought us here for a reason!" that one yelled back, "Right?"
"The voices," another Korra looked down at her hands, "they were always telling me, stop, or go, or- or-"
"It was just us," Korra said thoughtfully, slowly, "I mean, me. I'm just chasing myself down here. The winds."
"It's only me talking to myself," the Korra opposite her replied, looking into her eyes, "all these parts of me, talking."
"But which parts?" one asked timidly.
Korra stepped forward and the rest followed. She needed to focus, to calm the chattering voices inside her head. She closed her eyes and slipped into the Avatar state. In her mind's eye, she saw a single white circle. White ringed with blackness. Blackness surrounding the white. Light filled a room, she thought. And so did darkness. Darkness filled cups. And wells. And tunnels. Sometimes you only knew things by the darkness within it. Darkness had a purpose.
Vaatu had a purpose.
Korra breathed. She opened her her stood Yao, holding a small lantern.
"I can almost hear the gears grinding away in the skull of yours, Avatar."
"Please. I have a few questions."
Yao placed a book in Korra's hands. Korra opened her mouth but Yao held up a hand to signal silence.
"I am a disciple. I am not a teacher," Yao said directly.
"Who's disciple? Vaatu's?" Korra asked. Yao bowed her head.
"Korra, you have to abandon your foolish notions of right and wrong. Start in the brightest place within you and step into the shadows. Only there will you find more than ever promised by only Raava."
"Are- are you also an Avatar?" Korra asked hollowly. Yao looked at her with pursed lips and examining eyes.
"Would this fill you with fear or relief?" Yao asked slowly.
Suddenly, Korra snapped, "I'm the Avatar! I need to know!" Her words rang throughout the cavern, bouncing off and hitting her ears. Yao waited until the reverberating noise stopped.
"Do you hear yourself?" Yao asked, "You are a fool. Now, go. Get out of my tunnels. You have one minute before I come for you."
"What?" Korra took a step backwards.
Yao gently lifted a hand. A gigantic boulder rose above her head.
"Leave."
Korra backed away. She ran, clutching the Li Ahng to her chest.
"Korra!" Mako yelled, "Korra!"
"Mako! I'm here!" Korra yelled back. Mako found her and clutched her arms. He saw what she held.
"Is that-"
"No time. Where's Bolin?" They ran back to the other cavern. Bolin wheezed, holding up his hand. Mako and Korra wrapped his arms around their shoulders, hoisting him up.
"Are you sure this is even the right way?" Mako yelled out. The walls shook. Korra stumbled under the impressive weight of Bolin. His head rolled.
"No time! She's coming after us!" Korra yelled. Mako nodded. They sprinted. Rocks shook and fell around them. Behind them, the tunnel entrance sealed shut with falling boulders.
"This place is collapsing! What did you do?" Mako yelled.
"What makes you think this is my fault?" Korra snapped. They turned a corner. The way ahead had collapsed. Korra groaned.
"Korra! We need to do something!"
"I know, okay?" Korra yelled back. She threw her hands forward. A jet of air blasted at the fallen rocks, knocking a few to the side. A small crevice opened but it was too narrow.
"Korra!" Mako yelled. Lava bubbled down, trailing after them. It was heating up the cramped tunnel. Korra fumed. She blasted the collapsed rock wall ahead. A few more boulders rolled down. It would have to do.
"We can go one at a time!" Korra yelled, climbing up the bank of rocks. The grumbling grew louder. She slipped on the rocks, losing her footing. The heat swamped across her flesh. Bolin was difficult to drag upwards. Mako clambered up to the crevice, reaching out a hand. Korra grabbed on, but her hands were too sweaty. She slipped again. "Take Bolin!" she called, pushing forward Bolin's unconscious slump. A blast shook the caves. Dust blinded her. Something grabbed around her waist. She was being dragged.
"Korra!" Mako yelled hoarsely. She coughed and spluttered. But the heat of the lava had depleted her and the vice wrapped around her waist was crushing into bone. She was losing consciousness. With one last moment of effort, she shoved the book under her shirt.
A splash of water. Korra heaved, sitting up.
"Mondo! Give her some room!" a woman called out. Korra blinked. She was lying in grass. Sitting up, she looked around. Early morning. She was laying near a river. A large nose prodded into her side.
"Naga," she said with a grin, turning around. She shrieked.
"Whoa," a woman stepped forward, "Buttercup just wanted to say hi." Korra looked at the tall and handsome woman then back to the badgermole with its twitching pale whiskers.
"I remember you. You helped us when our airship crashed," Korra said, "Naomi." Naomi turned her dark green eyes upon her.
"And you almost got yourself killed back in Yao's Caves."
"Yeah!" Mondo, her tiny son said, "Did you get to see her? I heard Yao's got a second little head that grows on one of her shoulders!"
"Mondo!" Naomi said firmly, "How about you go take Buttercup down to the river for a drink?" Korra saw that Buttercup wore a blind over her eyes. Mondo grabbed her leash and led her to the water.
"Our badgermole came crawling out of her tunnel," Naomi explained, "She sensed something bad down there. Looks like we got to you just in time."
"We thank you," Mako said beside Korra, "you used metalbending to haul us out, didn't you?" naomi took out a coiled length of iron from a side pouch.
"Always carry my lasso, shouldn't everyone?"
Mako stood up and stroked his chin and said, "Amazing. That's pretty handy."
"Whoa!" Bolin sat up and clapped a hand to his forehead, "Is that an actual almost-compliment?" Mako blushed.
"All I'm saying is it's very practical!" Mako shouted. Bolin rolled his eyes, whistling and walking away to a much needed bush.
Naomi continued, "My son and I have an airship to catch."
"An airship?" Korra asked, standing up. She coughed, remembering what was pushed against her chest. Strapped to her underbinding was the book. She scooped it out from under her shirt.
"Is that-" Naomi stepped forward, "But it can't be." Korra opened the pages. She croaked. Mako glanced over.
"Oh no," Korra whispered. The pages were filled with the same unintelligible script lining the walls of the cave. Korra wanted to throw the book into the river. Rage consumed her. All that work and for nothing she could read.
"Wait," Mako said, "Korra, it's still writing. There must be someone in Republic City who'll be able to-"
"I know, okay?" Korra turned around, "I just- I just need to get back there, I guess."
"Wait, you're going to Republic City?" Naomi asked, "My son and I are headed there to see my family."
"Your family?" Mako asked. Naomi paused, flicking her eyes over him.
"Yes. My sister and her husband. I'm leaving today by an express airship."
"I'll escort you," Korra said suddenly.
Naomi twisted her mouth and said, "It's kind of you to offer but it isn't necessary." Korra smiled.
"Please, I owe you one. Let me repay you for saving me."
Naomi looked over at Mondo by the river, "Well, I'm sure my son would love that."
The airship was crammed with refugees fleeing the dust storms. Like the train, it was filled with earth kingdom citizens. People jostled around for seats. Suitcases were shoved and shoved harder under feet and into overhead compartments. As Korra climbed up the airship, she heard a familiar voice.
"Well, shoot! Didn't know the Avatar flew fourth-class!" Han the airship captain shouted, pushing aside several disgruntled passengers.
So Korra, Naomi and Mondo sat in the cockpit room of the ship. It made Korra uncomfortable, being singled out. For some reason, she felt as if Naomi was judging her for her revered status. If she was, however, Naomi kept it to herself. Mondo sat in the airship co-pilot chair beside Han, wearing a large captain's hat.
"We aren't looking for any charity," Naomi said to her hands rather than Korra, "But I do thank you for traveling with us."
"Trust me, I'd rather be with someone right now than my own thoughts," Korra said, thinking back to the book which now rested in her pack.
"You didn't ask, but soon after you left, the other families left Cactus Station," Naomi said in her deep and sure voice, "I was a leader but I'm not the type to stay with an abandoned fort. I just- Korra, it hurts me to leave my kingdom. I'm part of the earth. It feels like things are moving towards chaos."
"Republic City is no different," Korra said quietly, "I'm sorry."
"I know," Naomi said, "But at least I'll be with my people. You get by with others." The cockpit door opened. Mako stood in the threshold.
"Mako?" Korra stood up, "Don't tell me Wu's got you on another assignment out in the city?"
"Wu-" Mako knotted his mouth, "Wu gave me a- a vacation."
"What?" Korra's eyes widened, "That's fantastic!"
"He- uh- I'm sorry, I'm just a little dazed. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with myself."
"It'll be good to have you," Korra said as he sat rigidly beside Naomi.
"Weren't you a detective?" Naomi asked.
"Well, I don't know if I ever stopped," Mako said, frowning, "I'm sure Beifong will put me back on the force."
"I'm sure, given those recent attacks. My sister said things are pretty serious."
"What we know doesn't look good," Mako said, sitting up, "From what she's told me, it looks as though-"
Korra drifted out of the conversation. There would always be more time for cop talk with Mako. There was a tugging at her pants. Mondo looked up at her with large orb eyes.
"You're the Avatar," he murmured.
"And?" Korra asked with a small grin.
"You- you have a big puppy," Mondo said, wrapping his arms around her leg, "I like big puppies. Like Buttercup."
"You wanna meet Naga when we get back?" she asked softly. He nodded, sliding down to the ground. He rested his head against her.
"Big puppies," he said lazily, slipping into sleep.
Upon landing, it was decided that Naomi and Mondo would spend one night at the Air Temple. It was dark and everyone was exhausted. Naomi and Mondo were given a guest bedroom. Naomi was grateful to the point of tears when Pema showed them the room.
"You have no idea what this means," Naomi had said.
Pema hugged her, "I know what's it like traveling with a little one." Mako and Bolin bunked with Bumi, sleeping on mats on the ground. Korra mounted the steps to the tower. She found Tenzin meditating alone.
"I had a feeling you would want to speak," Tenzin said softly. Korra wordlessly dropped the book into his hands. He laid it down on the ground, putting a sleeve to his mouth. "You brought this to my temple when I already told you how I stood on this matter?"
"Please, listen to me." Korra told him all which transpired in the caves, including Yao's strange words. Tenzin nodded his head. Carefully, he opened the covers. He gasped quietly.
"Praise Raava," he uttered in exaltation. Tenzin's eyes glistened. "Do you have any idea-" he paused, mid-sentence, his hands stroking the thin pages, "It's just, I never thought I would be the Air Master who would see it again."
"Tenzin, you know this writing?" Korra asked, stooping down.
Tenzin grabbed the book, holding it up to the candle poured down his cheeks. Korra watched him. For the first time, a strange sadness hit her. Tenzin was an old man. One day he would die.
"Ancient Air script," he whispered, "there are no other records. None. All of our books were destroyed." He paused again, laying down the book, "But, no. Even if this is the true book of Avatar Nahsu, I cannot even begin to-" He wiped away a tear, "I will always be grateful for what you have shown me tonight, Korra. But I cannot condone this. These are dangerous writings."
"But you haven't even read it!" Korra barked out louder than she had imagined. Tenzin lifted an eyebrow. "Sorry," she winced, "I'm very tired. It's just-"
"I cannot translate this text. Even if I wanted, which, believe me, I have searched for years for surviving Ancient Air manuscripts, I cannot help you. I hope you can respect my decision." Korra swept the book back into her hands.
"I understand." But she didn't. Anger cracked open her wanted to tear off Yao's head and hurl it at Tenzin's. No one had answers. They bowed and Korra left. She turned down the staircase, bumping into Jinora.
"What are you doing here?" Korra asked.
"Korra!" Jinora grabbed onto her wrist, "Korra, I can do it! I'll do it for you!"
Korra took a step backwards and said, "Jinora, were you spying on us?"
"I can translate it for you," Jinora said with large eyes. Korra instinctively retreated. She gripped the book tighter.
"No."
"No?" Jinora was puzzled.
"Jinora, what's going on with you?" Korra asked, frowning. Fear lit up in Jinora's eyes and she softened, "Please. I think it's worrying your father."
"My father doesn't care," Jinora hissed venomously, "My father would push this island further into the sea if he could! If it meant getting away from things that made him scared."
"How could you translate it?"
Jinora looked down, "One week. Give me one week. If I can't translate it, I'll give it back." From above, Korra could hear Tenzin shuffling. "Quick! Before he comes down here!" Jinora whispered, fingers beckoning. Korra handed over the book. What did the thing mean anyway without a translation? Was there any harm? Jinora's dark eyes filled with wonder. "Thank you," Jinora said, fleeing down the stairs.
Korra followed. She did not want to Tenzin to see what just transpired. As she fled down the stairs, a strange hammering pulsed under her skin.
What just happened?
In the cave, Mako lit two fires in his hands. Bolin scratched behind his head. He peered up and down the strange writings on the cave walls, sticking out his lip.
"So this is…" Bolin said, trailing off, "yeah, I can't read any of this."
"This whole thing is strange," Korra grumbled, walking forward, "I wonder if Yao just trapped us down here. If there even is an answer."
"It doesn't look too good" Bolin answered, spreading out his hands, "What with the 'being trapped in an endless cave' thing." Korra kicked a pebble. The air was cool and a feeling of moisture clung to her bare shoulders and neck.
"Maybe we should earth bend out of here?" Mako asked, "You know, for those of us capable of doing that?"
"Don't worry, brother of mine," Bolin said, rubbing his hands together, "Let ol' Nuktuk handle this one." Bolin spread out of his legs, breathing out. As if ready to lift heavy weights, he heaved his arms steadily upward. The walls vibrated but did not move. Sweat rolled down his neck. Bolin dropped his hands in exasperation, panting. "Yup, it's not budging." Bolin wiped his brow. Korra put her hands on the rock and closed her eyes. Her senses pooled out from her fingers.
"It's like the earth's being held together by something," Korra whispered, "Almost like-" There came a whooshing sound ahead. Then another, louder.
"Did you hear that?" Mako said, looking forward. Vaatu. It had to be, Korra thought. She bolted forward. "No! Korra!" Mako shouted. Korra sped ahead, darting down the tunnel. Suddenly, she halted. Her body felt a strange tingling. She stared into the darkness. What was this feeling?
This is wrong.
This can't be happening.
Korra put a hand to her forehead. "What?" she said, "I don't understand."
"What? What is it?" Mako said, running to her side.
Korra turned to him and said, " I thought I heard something. 'This can't be happening'? Nevermind. None of that made any sense."
"Hey," Bolin shouted, "did you guys see? We passed a split in the road." Korra turned around.
"We did?" A tidal blast of the creeping wind shot through her.
Don't.
Korra curled her fists. What did Vaatu not want her to see? They must be getting closer. She followed Bolin through the split in the tunnel.
"Weird, I didn't see that back there," Mako commented.
"Probably because you two went running off!" Bolin shouted, "Also, can we promise not to do that again?"
"We don't know what we'll face down here," Mako answered.
"I know. I just- I just felt something, okay?" Korra said, agitated.
"Oh, no," Bolin said quietly. Mako stepped forward. His eyes widened. Korra cursed. "Speaking of which," Bolin said. The tunnel had opened up into a large cavern. Korra burned the flames in her palms brighter. The cavern was circular and lined with dozens of openings.
"So, which one?" Korra whispered.
"Korra, we can't just blindly pick one. We could get lost," Mako whispered back.
"I know," Bolin said, fishing into his pocket. He pulled something out, "Wait, no, that's a coupon. Yes- this- no, another coupon. Man, I need to take Opal to that noodle place before these bad boys expire."
"Bolin!" Mako and Korra fumed.
"Got it!" Bolin shouted, holding up a small green pouch, "knew this would come in handy."
"And that would be?" Korra growled, crossing her arms.
"A gift from Opal," Bolin said, taking out a small iron compass and ball of iron, "every Zaofu foot soldier carries one. It's pretty neat, look. I take this little ball and-" The ball morphed. Bolin hovered it over to the entrance of the tunnel they emerged from. The metal glommed on to the rock wall. "And now, look! This compass will always point to it. Wherever we go, it'll always point right here," Bolin said, looking down at the compass as it twirled around, the needle following the splotch of iron, "Opal said it has to do with some the metal's frequency. They hum together as long as they touch earth and an earthbender. Gosh-" Bolin cradled the compass, "I sure do love that woman." Mako clapped his hand on Bolin's shoulder.
"You did good."
"Okay, great," Korra said, "Now, let's get going." Mako and Bolin stepped forward. The cave walls grumbled. They paused. There was silence again. "Here," Korra said, "why don't we take go down this way?"
"Korra! Stop!" Bolin whispered, "your steps are-"
Korra stepped forward and shouted, "Bolin, come on!" She walked, spinning around, spreading out her hands, "What's your problem?" Mako and Bolin exchanged glances and walked forward. The cave shuddered violently. From above, a rock crashed down before their feet. Bolin rolled back. A dark wind howled out from the tunnel behind them. It ruffled through their clothes, sending goosebumps along Korra's flesh. A fog filled her mind.
Choose
"Choose? Choose what?" Korra said, frowning.
"What was that?" Mako asked beside her. Bolin rolled back to his feet and walked over to them. "Hmm." Mako knotted his mouth. "I think only one of us can move at a time."
"On the count of three," Korra said, holding up her fingers, "One, two-" They all lifted their feet. The walls rumbled loud as distant thunder. Three more rocks rocketed down, exploding around them. "It's making us choose who goes forward," Korra whispered, "Do you think this is some sort of test?"
Bolin handed her the compass, "Hey, from everything I've learned, you either listen to disembodied spirits or-" he drew a finger sharply across his neck. Korra took the compass.
"I'll take five hundred steps."
Mako said, "And five hundred back here." Korra clutched the compass.
"Mako, if I'm not back soon-"
"Korra, we're not going anywhere. Even if we could."
Korra sighed, "I hate that I got you two into this mess."
Mako wrapped her in a hug. She closed her eyes. Mako may not have had a way with words but he was a damn fine hugger. Korra willed herself to feel certain. She took determined steps, counting aloud as she went. By twenty she was in the mouth of the new tunnel. By forty, her counting sounded small and closed in. By ninety, she could no longer see Mako's flame behind her. She was alone. Her heartbeat ticked in her ears.
Two hundred. Soon she could turn around, try another tunnel. That was all. No need to let her imagination paint horrific situations.
"Oh no," Korra stopped, "What was I on?" Two hundred and seven. Ish. Yeah. What was one or two steps off? Or was it two hundred and seventeen? The wind pushed against her, vibrating through her chest.
You chose poorly
"What? You just said to choose and we did!" Korra barked out, swiveling around, "Now how about you become something I can fight? I choose for you to show yourself!" The flames at the tips of her fingers grew brighter, hotter. Fiercer. There was silence. "Argh!" She howled, shooting off a ball of flame. It fired into the distance dark. But then, the flaming ball shuddered. It had hit something.
Korra stepped forward. Two hundred and eight. Or was it two hundred and eighteen? Taking a deep breath, she scooped her arms in a circle and brought them to her chest. She lunged, slinging off another fire ball. The tunnels lit up again, but then it smacked darkness before her, exploding into sparks. She ran. Two hundred and forty-three, two hundred and forty-four. She ran to greet whatever stopped the fire balls. But then, nothing touched her. She scrunched her brows, wheeled back and shot off a ball of fire. It smacked nothingness just a few feet behind her.
"I passed through it," Korra whispered, walking backwards. "What just happened?"
"Did you hear that?" came Mako's voice ahead of her. "No! Korra!" Mako shouted. Korra's jaw dropped. What was happening? How was it possible? Without thinking, she wheeled backwards, past through what she guessed was the dark barrier. "Korra!" Mako yelled ahead. Now, Korra could see what was happening and she froze.
It was her. Korra, from just a few minutes ago. She stared straight at her. But she knew that this Korra would not see her. The other Korra put a hand to her forehead.
"What?" the other Korra said, "I don't understand."
"What? What is it?" the other Mako said, running to her side.
The other Korra turned to him and said, " I thought I heard something. 'This can't be happening'? Nevermind. None of that made any sense." It was all of them from just a few minutes ago. Now, she knew, this Korra would turn and leave to the large cavern. If only she could warn her.
"Hey," the other Bolin shouted, "did you guys see? We passed a split in the road."
The other Korra turned around, "We did?"
Korra ran forward, but she smacked into the invisible barrier. The veil had become rigid. She banged her palms against it. "Don't!" she yelled.
"Korra?" came a weak voice. She spun around in her fighting stance. Mako looked at her. He feebly held up his hands. Dark circles ringed his eyes. "It is you," he said hoarsely, dropping into her arms.
"Mako? Why did you follow me? You told me to take five hundred steps in and five hundred steps out," she said, her heart pounding.
"We chose poorly," he said, his voice wavering, "Korra, we chose wrong. We chose so wrong."
"Mako, tell me what happened to you," Korra said.
"When you left us, yesterday," Mako wheezed, "Korra, we chose wrong. You left and we chose wrong."
"You keep saying that, Mako," Korra said, setting him down on the ground. She crouched over him and put her hand to his brow, "Mako, did you say I left you yesterday? But I've only been gone a few minutes!"
"Don't let them," Mako breathed, "Don't let them get-" Korra felt bindings of fear wrap around her body.
"Bolin," she said, "Mako, where's Bolin?" Mako went limp in her arms. He breathed shallowly against her shoulders. With a grunt, she hauled him over a shoulder, staggering. "Come on," she said, "let's go." She walked back the way she had come. Back to the large cavern. Once she was there, she heard a faint cry. Sitting in the dark was Bolin.
"You get away from me," Bolin said in a shaky breath.
"Bolin?" Korra said.
"Korra!" Bolin jumped to his feet and wavered."Oh, thank the cabbage maker!" In the light of her flame, Bolin was pale. His eyes were red and puffy. Korra slid Mako off her shoulder and laid him on the ground.
"Now, tell me what happened to you two," she said.
"We chose wrong," Bolin shivered, "we shouldn't have, but we did. You were gone for so long and when we decided to get up- it was filling our heads. Filling our heads, Korra!" Bolin sat down on his bottom and rocked. "Can we go home? I'm so hungry." Korra bit her lip.
"Bolin, what did you choose wrong?" she asked. Bolin spoke but not noise came out. "What?" she scrunched her brow. Bolin waved his arms, pointing behind her. Korra felt something move through her. She jumped high, missing a shot of flame. She landed on her feet. Mako, somehow, was standing again. He growled, arcing his feet into a roundhouse fireball shot. She rolled and dodged. "Mako! You're awake!" she shouted.
"I think it's over there!" Bolin shouted, pointing her direction.
"It?" she asked, cocking her head, "Did you just call me an 'it'?"
"Urgghh!" Mako fumed, shooting off volleys of flame in her direction. She brought up two fallen boulders against the scorching heat.
"Hey, cut it out!" she hollered, "Mako, what are you-" Mako ran at her. He sliced down with fire but she grabbed his arm and twirled it around him. He donkey kicked behind with flames and she redirected the fire away. He flipped her forward but she rolled smoothly, leaping back to her feet.
"On it!" Bolin yelled. He seemed fitter, brighter than just a moment ago. Bolin stomped and a bed of lava snaked out from his feet. She yelled and flew up in a stream of air, landing on the cavern walls.
"What are you two doing? It's me!" she shouted, incredulous.
"Stop it!" Bolin cried, putting his hands to his ears. Mako, too, winced. He gritted his teeth.
"It's me!" she yelled, cupping her hands.
"Mako! What's going on?" Bolin asked, stooping to his knees, "Stop the yelling!"
"What are you two talking about? Why can't you see me?"
This time, Mako screamed too. They were writhing in pain. She was doing that to them, she realized. She was causing them pain. Tears filled her eyes.
Leave them or they will die.
"Mako," Bolin shuddered. Mako crawled over, biting his lip.
"Bolin, just, just hang on- I'll- I'll get Korra."
Leave them.
"Don't go," Bolin's voice was hoarse. He was crying. Mako crawled up to him, cupping up his head, "We've been in here for so long."
Korra wanted to run over, wanted to stop whatever was happening, but she knew. The voices were telling her. Crying, she turned and darted into a different tunnel. She wiped at her face. Okay, so now Mako would run, feebly, into the tunnel she just returned from. He would be weak and- and she would find him? But- but how?
"Nothing makes any sense!" she yelled out. She turned around and went back into the large cavern. But, now, it was empty. Not even Bolin was there. She opened her mouth and closed it. There was no test. There was no winning. Yao had trapped them beyond any doubt.
"Nothing makes any sense!" she heard someone yell. From across the way, out of a tunnel, she saw herself approaching.
"Nothing makes any sense!" yelled another emerging Korra.
"Nothing makes sense!" came a third Korra.
"Nothing makes sense!"
"Nothing makes sense!"
"Nothing makes sense!"
A cavern of Korras, staring at one another. Korra wanted to laugh at the absurdity. Perhaps the cave leaked noxious gas and in reality, she was twitching on the ground, dying by hallucinations. She held up a hand. The others waved back.
"So…" she started. And so did the others. "So there's no way out," she whispered as one.
"So none of us found a way out?" she asked.
"Is that what you're looking for?" a Korra opposite her yelled out angrily, "what about helping Mako and Bolin?"
"What happened to them?" another asked across the way.
"I heard the Li Ahng was just down the way!" another cried, "I was so close!"
Korra knitted her brows and said, "How can you actually believe you'll find anything down here?"
"Yao brought us here for a reason!" that one yelled back, "Right?"
"The voices," another Korra looked down at her hands, "they were always telling me, stop, or go, or- or-"
"It was just us," Korra said thoughtfully, slowly, "I mean, me. I'm just chasing myself down here. The winds."
"It's only me talking to myself," the Korra opposite her replied, looking into her eyes, "all these parts of me, talking."
"But which parts?" one asked timidly.
Korra stepped forward and the rest followed. She needed to focus, to calm the chattering voices inside her head. She closed her eyes and slipped into the Avatar state. In her mind's eye, she saw a single white circle. White ringed with blackness. Blackness surrounding the white. Light filled a room, she thought. And so did darkness. Darkness filled cups. And wells. And tunnels. Sometimes you only knew things by the darkness within it. Darkness had a purpose.
Vaatu had a purpose.
Korra breathed. She opened her her stood Yao, holding a small lantern.
"I can almost hear the gears grinding away in the skull of yours, Avatar."
"Please. I have a few questions."
Yao placed a book in Korra's hands. Korra opened her mouth but Yao held up a hand to signal silence.
"I am a disciple. I am not a teacher," Yao said directly.
"Who's disciple? Vaatu's?" Korra asked. Yao bowed her head.
"Korra, you have to abandon your foolish notions of right and wrong. Start in the brightest place within you and step into the shadows. Only there will you find more than ever promised by only Raava."
"Are- are you also an Avatar?" Korra asked hollowly. Yao looked at her with pursed lips and examining eyes.
"Would this fill you with fear or relief?" Yao asked slowly.
Suddenly, Korra snapped, "I'm the Avatar! I need to know!" Her words rang throughout the cavern, bouncing off and hitting her ears. Yao waited until the reverberating noise stopped.
"Do you hear yourself?" Yao asked, "You are a fool. Now, go. Get out of my tunnels. You have one minute before I come for you."
"What?" Korra took a step backwards.
Yao gently lifted a hand. A gigantic boulder rose above her head.
"Leave."
Korra backed away. She ran, clutching the Li Ahng to her chest.
"Korra!" Mako yelled, "Korra!"
"Mako! I'm here!" Korra yelled back. Mako found her and clutched her arms. He saw what she held.
"Is that-"
"No time. Where's Bolin?" They ran back to the other cavern. Bolin wheezed, holding up his hand. Mako and Korra wrapped his arms around their shoulders, hoisting him up.
"Are you sure this is even the right way?" Mako yelled out. The walls shook. Korra stumbled under the impressive weight of Bolin. His head rolled.
"No time! She's coming after us!" Korra yelled. Mako nodded. They sprinted. Rocks shook and fell around them. Behind them, the tunnel entrance sealed shut with falling boulders.
"This place is collapsing! What did you do?" Mako yelled.
"What makes you think this is my fault?" Korra snapped. They turned a corner. The way ahead had collapsed. Korra groaned.
"Korra! We need to do something!"
"I know, okay?" Korra yelled back. She threw her hands forward. A jet of air blasted at the fallen rocks, knocking a few to the side. A small crevice opened but it was too narrow.
"Korra!" Mako yelled. Lava bubbled down, trailing after them. It was heating up the cramped tunnel. Korra fumed. She blasted the collapsed rock wall ahead. A few more boulders rolled down. It would have to do.
"We can go one at a time!" Korra yelled, climbing up the bank of rocks. The grumbling grew louder. She slipped on the rocks, losing her footing. The heat swamped across her flesh. Bolin was difficult to drag upwards. Mako clambered up to the crevice, reaching out a hand. Korra grabbed on, but her hands were too sweaty. She slipped again. "Take Bolin!" she called, pushing forward Bolin's unconscious slump. A blast shook the caves. Dust blinded her. Something grabbed around her waist. She was being dragged.
"Korra!" Mako yelled hoarsely. She coughed and spluttered. But the heat of the lava had depleted her and the vice wrapped around her waist was crushing into bone. She was losing consciousness. With one last moment of effort, she shoved the book under her shirt.
A splash of water. Korra heaved, sitting up.
"Mondo! Give her some room!" a woman called out. Korra blinked. She was lying in grass. Sitting up, she looked around. Early morning. She was laying near a river. A large nose prodded into her side.
"Naga," she said with a grin, turning around. She shrieked.
"Whoa," a woman stepped forward, "Buttercup just wanted to say hi." Korra looked at the tall and handsome woman then back to the badgermole with its twitching pale whiskers.
"I remember you. You helped us when our airship crashed," Korra said, "Naomi." Naomi turned her dark green eyes upon her.
"And you almost got yourself killed back in Yao's Caves."
"Yeah!" Mondo, her tiny son said, "Did you get to see her? I heard Yao's got a second little head that grows on one of her shoulders!"
"Mondo!" Naomi said firmly, "How about you go take Buttercup down to the river for a drink?" Korra saw that Buttercup wore a blind over her eyes. Mondo grabbed her leash and led her to the water.
"Our badgermole came crawling out of her tunnel," Naomi explained, "She sensed something bad down there. Looks like we got to you just in time."
"We thank you," Mako said beside Korra, "you used metalbending to haul us out, didn't you?" naomi took out a coiled length of iron from a side pouch.
"Always carry my lasso, shouldn't everyone?"
Mako stood up and stroked his chin and said, "Amazing. That's pretty handy."
"Whoa!" Bolin sat up and clapped a hand to his forehead, "Is that an actual almost-compliment?" Mako blushed.
"All I'm saying is it's very practical!" Mako shouted. Bolin rolled his eyes, whistling and walking away to a much needed bush.
Naomi continued, "My son and I have an airship to catch."
"An airship?" Korra asked, standing up. She coughed, remembering what was pushed against her chest. Strapped to her underbinding was the book. She scooped it out from under her shirt.
"Is that-" Naomi stepped forward, "But it can't be." Korra opened the pages. She croaked. Mako glanced over.
"Oh no," Korra whispered. The pages were filled with the same unintelligible script lining the walls of the cave. Korra wanted to throw the book into the river. Rage consumed her. All that work and for nothing she could read.
"Wait," Mako said, "Korra, it's still writing. There must be someone in Republic City who'll be able to-"
"I know, okay?" Korra turned around, "I just- I just need to get back there, I guess."
"Wait, you're going to Republic City?" Naomi asked, "My son and I are headed there to see my family."
"Your family?" Mako asked. Naomi paused, flicking her eyes over him.
"Yes. My sister and her husband. I'm leaving today by an express airship."
"I'll escort you," Korra said suddenly.
Naomi twisted her mouth and said, "It's kind of you to offer but it isn't necessary." Korra smiled.
"Please, I owe you one. Let me repay you for saving me."
Naomi looked over at Mondo by the river, "Well, I'm sure my son would love that."
The airship was crammed with refugees fleeing the dust storms. Like the train, it was filled with earth kingdom citizens. People jostled around for seats. Suitcases were shoved and shoved harder under feet and into overhead compartments. As Korra climbed up the airship, she heard a familiar voice.
"Well, shoot! Didn't know the Avatar flew fourth-class!" Han the airship captain shouted, pushing aside several disgruntled passengers.
So Korra, Naomi and Mondo sat in the cockpit room of the ship. It made Korra uncomfortable, being singled out. For some reason, she felt as if Naomi was judging her for her revered status. If she was, however, Naomi kept it to herself. Mondo sat in the airship co-pilot chair beside Han, wearing a large captain's hat.
"We aren't looking for any charity," Naomi said to her hands rather than Korra, "But I do thank you for traveling with us."
"Trust me, I'd rather be with someone right now than my own thoughts," Korra said, thinking back to the book which now rested in her pack.
"You didn't ask, but soon after you left, the other families left Cactus Station," Naomi said in her deep and sure voice, "I was a leader but I'm not the type to stay with an abandoned fort. I just- Korra, it hurts me to leave my kingdom. I'm part of the earth. It feels like things are moving towards chaos."
"Republic City is no different," Korra said quietly, "I'm sorry."
"I know," Naomi said, "But at least I'll be with my people. You get by with others." The cockpit door opened. Mako stood in the threshold.
"Mako?" Korra stood up, "Don't tell me Wu's got you on another assignment out in the city?"
"Wu-" Mako knotted his mouth, "Wu gave me a- a vacation."
"What?" Korra's eyes widened, "That's fantastic!"
"He- uh- I'm sorry, I'm just a little dazed. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with myself."
"It'll be good to have you," Korra said as he sat rigidly beside Naomi.
"Weren't you a detective?" Naomi asked.
"Well, I don't know if I ever stopped," Mako said, frowning, "I'm sure Beifong will put me back on the force."
"I'm sure, given those recent attacks. My sister said things are pretty serious."
"What we know doesn't look good," Mako said, sitting up, "From what she's told me, it looks as though-"
Korra drifted out of the conversation. There would always be more time for cop talk with Mako. There was a tugging at her pants. Mondo looked up at her with large orb eyes.
"You're the Avatar," he murmured.
"And?" Korra asked with a small grin.
"You- you have a big puppy," Mondo said, wrapping his arms around her leg, "I like big puppies. Like Buttercup."
"You wanna meet Naga when we get back?" she asked softly. He nodded, sliding down to the ground. He rested his head against her.
"Big puppies," he said lazily, slipping into sleep.
Upon landing, it was decided that Naomi and Mondo would spend one night at the Air Temple. It was dark and everyone was exhausted. Naomi and Mondo were given a guest bedroom. Naomi was grateful to the point of tears when Pema showed them the room.
"You have no idea what this means," Naomi had said.
Pema hugged her, "I know what's it like traveling with a little one." Mako and Bolin bunked with Bumi, sleeping on mats on the ground. Korra mounted the steps to the tower. She found Tenzin meditating alone.
"I had a feeling you would want to speak," Tenzin said softly. Korra wordlessly dropped the book into his hands. He laid it down on the ground, putting a sleeve to his mouth. "You brought this to my temple when I already told you how I stood on this matter?"
"Please, listen to me." Korra told him all which transpired in the caves, including Yao's strange words. Tenzin nodded his head. Carefully, he opened the covers. He gasped quietly.
"Praise Raava," he uttered in exaltation. Tenzin's eyes glistened. "Do you have any idea-" he paused, mid-sentence, his hands stroking the thin pages, "It's just, I never thought I would be the Air Master who would see it again."
"Tenzin, you know this writing?" Korra asked, stooping down.
Tenzin grabbed the book, holding it up to the candle poured down his cheeks. Korra watched him. For the first time, a strange sadness hit her. Tenzin was an old man. One day he would die.
"Ancient Air script," he whispered, "there are no other records. None. All of our books were destroyed." He paused again, laying down the book, "But, no. Even if this is the true book of Avatar Nahsu, I cannot even begin to-" He wiped away a tear, "I will always be grateful for what you have shown me tonight, Korra. But I cannot condone this. These are dangerous writings."
"But you haven't even read it!" Korra barked out louder than she had imagined. Tenzin lifted an eyebrow. "Sorry," she winced, "I'm very tired. It's just-"
"I cannot translate this text. Even if I wanted, which, believe me, I have searched for years for surviving Ancient Air manuscripts, I cannot help you. I hope you can respect my decision." Korra swept the book back into her hands.
"I understand." But she didn't. Anger cracked open her wanted to tear off Yao's head and hurl it at Tenzin's. No one had answers. They bowed and Korra left. She turned down the staircase, bumping into Jinora.
"What are you doing here?" Korra asked.
"Korra!" Jinora grabbed onto her wrist, "Korra, I can do it! I'll do it for you!"
Korra took a step backwards and said, "Jinora, were you spying on us?"
"I can translate it for you," Jinora said with large eyes. Korra instinctively retreated. She gripped the book tighter.
"No."
"No?" Jinora was puzzled.
"Jinora, what's going on with you?" Korra asked, frowning. Fear lit up in Jinora's eyes and she softened, "Please. I think it's worrying your father."
"My father doesn't care," Jinora hissed venomously, "My father would push this island further into the sea if he could! If it meant getting away from things that made him scared."
"How could you translate it?"
Jinora looked down, "One week. Give me one week. If I can't translate it, I'll give it back." From above, Korra could hear Tenzin shuffling. "Quick! Before he comes down here!" Jinora whispered, fingers beckoning. Korra handed over the book. What did the thing mean anyway without a translation? Was there any harm? Jinora's dark eyes filled with wonder. "Thank you," Jinora said, fleeing down the stairs.
Korra followed. She did not want to Tenzin to see what just transpired. As she fled down the stairs, a strange hammering pulsed under her skin.
What just happened?
