The Newcomer:

The Spirit World was truly beautiful. In her youth, Jinora had never truly appreciated the natural wonder of the place, instead focusing on its inhabitants. The spirits were varied and ever changing, but so was the world they lived in. Untouched by humanity for so long, it still felt…new. Even at dusk, it shone with a thousand colours, twirling and circling to create beautiful ribbons of light in the sky.

Her stomach still hurt when she moved, making her groan quietly. The waterbender had healed her considerably when she awoke but even so, it would take a while before she would be in fighting shape again. A strong blow from the Avatar and she was effectively down and out. Pretty poor show. Even Meelo would be back on his feet by now. Thinking about it, Meelo would definitely be on his feet. That guy never really grew up. The thought of her brother brought a faint smile to her lips.

"So, granddaughter of the Avatar huh? That's pretty sweet! I probably wouldn't be here if Aang hadn't saved the Northern Water Tribe and the Moon Spirit," Anik said with an impressed grin.

"Yeah. He saved a lot of people. So did Korra. They were great people," Jinora said. Ordinarily she would have loved to discuss history such as this but she felt too bruised for small talk right now. The only things which drew her attention were the portal and the creature beside it. One inspired sheer panic in her, whilst the other inspired absolute wonder.

"The portal is closed. How did that happen?" she asked the waterbender. His name was Anip, or something similar. Anid? Anik? No idea. She'd decided to solve the mysteries around her first before considering why he was helping her.

"The Avatar did something when he came through. He kinda flew through the air and when he shot out of the portal, it just sealed up. I've never seen anything like it," Anik exclaimed, waving his hands around excitedly and making Satomobile noises as he demonstrated it, jumping into the flowers. Clambering to his feet, he dusted off the petals from his water tribe clothes.

Jinora frowned. "You haven't? You do realise that's a lion-turtle standing next to you? They're supposed to be extinct by now!" she remarked, totally baffled by his nonchalance.

Anik nodded with a smile. "Oh yeah, that's my buddy Whiri. He's accompanied me from the Northern Portal. Don't tell him but I'm totally jealous of his shell."

"Amazing! Does he talk? My grandfather said the one he met talked."

Anik shrugged. "Probably. He's just the quiet type. If he talks then he's never bothered to respond. It's just nice having company, y'know? Gets pretty lonely sometimes…"

Jinora observed the newcomer. He seemed genuinely nice, with a spark of craziness that reminded her of Ikki, Meelo and Kai. The ability to make people laugh in dark times was a valuable one indeed. Plus, healing her was a blessing. Ever since her Gran-Gran passed away, she'd never met anyone quite as effective at healing. Except for maybe now.

"Do you not have a girlfriend or family that could have come with you?" she inquired. She was trying desperately not to miss her own family but if the portal was truly closed then there would be no way of saving them.

Anik laughed. "Nah, girls aren't really my type."

Jinora's eyes widened slightly. "Oh I'm sorry, I didn't mean presume to...Well, Korra dated her female friend for a while too so it's not that I don't approve…" she gabbled on, aware of Anik's amused smile.

"Jinora, calm down, it's fine. The reason I came here was because I actually fell out with my old boyfriend. I don't really wanna go into details but I thought some time away from people might be nice," Anik said somewhat ruefully.

The airbender didn't reply. She observed the man who had stayed to help her when she needed it most. His water tribe garbs were slightly tattered and frayed, showing either a long period of use or a very hectic one, or perhaps even both. His bright blue eyes shone brilliantly and his hair was silver-white, which was tied in traditional water tribe dreadlocks. He was well built but slim, narrow faced but with a good jawline.

"How old are you Anik?" she asked, curious to complete her analysis of him. She so hoped she'd got his name right. Embarrassment was really not what she needed right now.

"Twenty-five next spring. I've no idea what season it is in the Spirit World though, so might already be that by now," he chuckled. Bending over the fire, he rubbed his hands together for warmth. The glow from the portal helped illuminate the area but the Spirit Night had set in.

"And your hair? My Gran-Gran once told me a story of when…"

"When Princess Yue of the Northern Water Tribe became the Moon Spirit. Yeah. I know it. And yes, the same happened to me. I was blessed by the Moon. I'd rather not discuss anymore," Anik said, turning away from her slightly.

Jinora raised an eyebrow but stayed quiet. She'd clearly offended him by delving too deep into his past too quickly.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled sincerely.

They sat talking for a while about more trivial matters before Anik decided to retire for sleep. Jinora had never felt more relieved to close her eyes, despite having enjoyed learning about the newcomer. Maybe sleep would help her forget all that had happened. If only that could happen. If only...

...She sat upright with a start. Something was wrong.

Daylight had returned to the Spirit World. Around her, spirits were sat watching curiously. The portal had not been sealed since its creation. And who were these strangers?

"Anik!" Jinora whispered loudly. When she got no response, she looked over and saw the waterbender was gone. Turning her head, she saw that Jahn had also disappeared. The only familiar sights were the portal and the young lion-turtle, which had half buried itself in the ground, still asleep.

Hearing footsteps, she sat up with a groan. Her stomach felt far better than yesterday but was still sore. As she slowly clambered to her feet, she saw Anik running towards her, a look of alarm on his face. "He's gone, Jinora!"

The airbender frowned. Jahn had vanished!? "Did you see him leave?"

Anik stopped in front of her, gasping for air. "No. Although one of…these spirits saw him….walk over that hill last night and got snatched by a flying monster. I went to see but….I couldn't find any trace of him."

Jinora shook her head. "We need him to open this portal! Where the hell has he gone, what could have taken the Avatar of all people!?" she said angrily, panicking ever so slightly. Every moment they wasted in the Spirit World was another she was away from her daughter.

Anik shook his head. "I don't know but if you need to find him, we should follow the trail we've got. There might be a clue to what took him. Although we'd have to move fast. Are you able to travel?"

Jinora nodded, a fierce look of determination on her face. "Just try and stop me."

"Welcome, Avatar."

Jahn opened his eyes groggily. "Wha-what happened?"

"You gave in to your Avatar powers. And then you sealed the portal. I am not pleased by this, Avatar. Not at all." The voice was strange; it was both a whisper and a deep, powerful voice, mixed with an animal-like hiss.

His vision was blurry but he could feel himself bound by something. Looking at his wrists, he noticed a thin green vine wrapped around each and into the ground, binding him to the ground in a bowing position. Craning his neck up, he noticed the speaker as he fought to wake fully.

A spirit stood in front of him. Larger than a normal human, it had a humanoid shape. Its hands were large and had claws, as did its feet. Its torso was similar to a human male's, but was dark and covered in a thin layer of fur. Its head was that of a bat, with great white eyes that stared into nothingness. Its legs were strangely thin compared to its body; dark green and introverted, like that of an insect. Jahn thought it looked a weird mix of various animals and maybe even a human part or two.

"Creatures that I have absorbed," said the spirit, noticing his gaze. The mouth did not move. It seemed to be speaking telepathically.

"Who are you?" Jahn whispered. He felt terrible. The memories of Republic City was starting to creep back.

The spirit looked left and right sharply, before turning its head all the way around like an owl. "My name is Vehrin, the Soul Eater. You are the Avatar."

Jahn nodded slowly. "Yes. What do you want with me, Vehrin?" he asked. Looking around, he saw they were speaking in a small grove in a forest. The trees all had black leaves and were slightly withered, as if dying. The air had a menacing, ominous feel that left Jahn with a dreadful sense of foreboding.

The spirit twisted its head round to normal and unfurled two large bat wings from its back. Spreading them ominously, it raised a clawed hand to gesture around them. "Everything. I want what those humans promised me. They sought you out to barter with me, but I dictate the terms of our agreement," it said, apparently speaking to both Jahn and itself.

"What agreement?"

Vehrin clicked its tiny teeth together quickly. "I did not choose this form. I stole it. From everything. Do you know why they call me the Soul Eater, Avatar?"

"What? No. I've never heard of you."

The spirit shuffled slightly to the right for no apparent reason. "I eat souls. Slowly. Slowly. I devour the souls over time. Before, it was only the spirits. The yummy spirits. But then the portals opened and Vaatu was freed. Oh, and then all the humans. I couldn't enter the physical world then. I had no form. I spread myself like an illness, seeking out the strong spirits that I may feed on their life force, their chi," the spirit said, twitching at the very thought. It seemed to be apparently enjoying the monologue, so Jahn did not interrupt. His suspicions may very well be about to be confirmed.

"But then I came across the human, the little human. Seeking power, he made a deal with I, the great Soul Eater. But he was naïve to think he could control me. I took over his body and used it as a vessel. I wandered this world, finding the strongest spirits. I drew from their power to feed mine. The spirit portals were open. Feeding, feeding, through the portals. Slowly. Slowly."

Jahn did not take his eyes off the spirit, but began to carefully rub his hands together, creating a little heat. Touching the vines with his index fingers, they began to smoke lightly. As interesting as this was, he did not like where it was going. This spirit was a vampire. Nothing good could come of that.

"Oh, the great spirits would be a feast. A tasty tasty feast. I looked for them, but Vaatu was no more and Raava was gone. But then a new portal appeared. One which was close to I. One which spirits flocked through. It helped tear down the divisions in our worlds, helped me to—YOU AREN'T LISTENING!" it roared randomly, making Jahn jump in fright. The bat head screeched loudly, the high pitched squeal making Jahn's eardrums hurt.

"I am, I am!" Jahn shouted back in panic. The spirit was clearly insane.

"Not you, human. Raava is not listening. Listen, listen, listen."

Jahn frowned. The name sounded so familiar but he could not remember why.

"The portal was new, fresh. I was strong by then, strong enough to start feeding on the humans in your entire world. But humans are stupid, mindless, boring. I need spiritual energy. So the spiritual humans die first. I drain them so fast, so tasty. They don't even know who they are by the end. So weak, so pitiful. The Avatar was the first. The Avatar will be the next. The Air humans too. Then the rest, the rest of them," it said gleefully. Clacking its teeth, it flapped the wings excitedly.

Jahn stopped burning the vines. Looking up with sudden realisation, he stared at the spirit, understanding dawning on his face. "It was you. You."

Vehrin opened its mouth wide but did not close it. "I. I eat the souls."

"You went after Korra when you woke up. You made her ill, you drained her life. You killed her. And made my mother ill….because I'M the Avatar now. The Airbenders, Aana, anyone spiritual or close to the Avatar. YOU'RE KILLING THEM!" Jahn exclaimed in horror.

Vehrin took a few steps closer to Jahn and bent over slightly. At around nine foot tall, it towered over the young Avatar. "Of course. And if the Red humans uphold their end of the agreement, I shall kill the rest. Including them. I helped them take the City. They help me become the most powerful spirit. Raava and Vaatu will be helpless against I." Giggling, it turned and began to sway back and forth erratically.

"Jahn."

He looked around quickly. The voice was female; definitely not the spirit in front of him. It was soothing and reassuring at the same time and Jahn knew then and there that it was his Avatar spirit talking directly to him.

"Jahn. Connect with your past life. She will help you," Raava said quietly within his mind.

Closing his eyes tight, Jahn squeezed his face in concentration. The panic to escape was so strong, the fear of what this spirit could do so palpable that he simply wanted to melt into the earth. It was a mere moment after this thought flashed through his mind that he felt a surge of power. Korra was with him.

Turning, the spirit was quick enough to witness Jahn drop into the earth as though he'd never been there. There was not even a hole; the human had simply sunk into the dirt. Feeling its power, Vehrin knew that the Avatar was still there somewhere. Still….succulent.

The grotto turned dark, despite the clear sky. Shadows infused every gap in the branches and the Spirit World was silent. In confusion, Vehrin flapped its wings and hovered in the air, twisting its neck around to see the change in the area. Something was wrong. Very wrong.

The ground beneath the spirit exploded violently. A great white light shot from the ground into the sky and within this light, the Avatar rose slowly. Eyes glowing bright, hair whipping in a frenzy, Avatar Korra rose in terrible vengeance. Pointing at the spirit, she delivered her ultimatum. "You took away my life. You hurt my friends. You're killing the people I love. You must be stopped, Vehrin. Back to the shadows! "

A sphere of bright blue energy enveloped the Avatar, obscuring her from view. The spirit hissed and flew away from the blinding light, fleeing into the trees with a howl. Once it had vanished from view, the sphere gradually lowered itself to the floor and vanished, leaving Jahn stood with glowing eyes. The glow dimmed and Jahn fell to all fours, exhausted, but victorious. Despite the victory, he felt only an ashen taste in his mouth.

Korra had learnt the truth of her death. At last.

((Yeah that's right, Korra was technically murdered. Yay! What a happy fanfic this is, eh? Had the idea for a vampire type spirit for a while now and just to clarify, it kinda drains and absorbs pretty much anything, hence the haphazard appearance. Also, Anik aspires to be the next Sokka and enjoys long walks on the beach. In case that chapter didn't give enough info on him...))