Chapter Nine:
The day after the twins were kidnapped the gang was already making their way back to Republic City. None of them had been back there in almost a year and it seemed strange that they were now. But the only thing Korra or Mako knew to do was report the kidnapping and ask Lin for help. Neither of them were emotionally stable to try and think through this on their own.
It was early evening when the group came to the police station. Asami wrapped her arm around Korra, who had been silent as the dead since last night, and directed her to the sitting area while Mako and Iroh went to the front desk. Bolin stayed with the girls.
"Please we need to speak to Beifing!" Mako slammed his open palms on the desk as the heavy set man on the other side walked away from them. "My kids are missing! You can't just ignore this!" He was about ready to jump the desk and and beat the man to his senses. But before he could Lin walked out from the back and spotted them. The closest thing to a smile the woman could get was quickly whipped from her face when she saw the panic and sorrow mixing on the young groups faces.
"Connell, what is going on here?" She demanded narrowing her eyes at the stubby man who had refused to even speak to Mako. The man fumbled with his words, trying to explain that they had more important things to worry about. Iroh was the one to cut the man off.
"He wouldn't listen when we tried reporting to kidnapped infants. The Avatar's infants!" Without hesitation Lin was calling out orders and herding the group into the back where to their surprise Tenzin was. He eyed the group before coming over and hugging Korra tightly. It didn't take too long for her and Mako to explain everything that happened since they parted ten months ago. When they had finished Bolin stepped up to explain all he had learned during the time him, Iroh, and Asami spent trying to find Korra's father.
"So this is all the White Lotus's doing?" Tenzin's face was turning bright crimson as he fumed. "How could they? My mother?"
"She didn't know anything, or at least she didn't at first. But as far as we know she's probably been taken as well." Bo lowered his head. He and Iroh had made a pact not to tell Korra or Mako of their findings until they knew the young family was able to deal with it. But now keeping anything a secret would be hurting their chances of finding the twins.
The search for the twins took off with most of the new task force out searching for information or others who have been reported missing such as Tonraq and Senna. Two weeks went by with no clues or information surfacing. With each day Korra grew stronger and more ready to kill. She headed a search group by herself, Bolin joining the party to make sure she didn't push her limits. Mako on the other hand left on his own. He decided he needed to do this by himself, and she understood. He was beating himself up and nothing Korra said or did could change that. She knew that this was something she couldn't help him through no matter how much she wanted to.
Mako was traveling north following Naga's sense of smell. It had been two days since he parted from his love and two days since he last slept. The only thing he had to keep him focused was a tiger monkey plush he had made for Shiro. It was the only thing that still had both infants' scent strong on it that they were able to carry. The young firebender stared at the toy for what seemed like hours when Naga raised her head and howled. He looked up to see her pointing her nose towards the east and wagging her tail excitedly. Glad to be making head way he pressed the plush tight against his chest before stirring the polar bear dog in the direction of, what he hoped, would be his children.
The airship had finally landed for the day. Everyone was ready to call it a day it seemed. Especially the young man who had somehow been straddled with watching over the avatar's infants. "I don't get it!" He fumed rubbing his temples. "Why not just leave them somewhere? Like a lake?"
"It's not their fault, Tartok. We can't just leave infants to their death because you're jelous of their father." A pale skinned man laughed as he relaxed back into a chair and held Nilak up. The infant sniffled and reached out to the man, hungry and in pain. "You need a bottle don't you? Tartok." The man brought the child to rest on his lap and held out his hand for a bottle. With a huff Tartok handed him one and turned.
"These children are sins how can you show any affection for them?" He stared down Shiro in the make shift play pin the two men had put together.
"Unlike you I don't believe the shit the White Lotus has been feeding us. Did Korra look like she was being held against her will? Did it seem like she didn't want her children?"
"If you don't believe them then why are you helping?" The blue eyed boy snapped, turning on his heels to stare down his life time friend.
"Simple, to make sure you don't screw your life up. And to make sure these kids aren't starved." He was poking fun at how Tartok couldn't even hold a baby right let alone hold them in a comfy position to feed them. He looked up from the suckling child to the boy and smiled. "Sooner or later you'll come into your senses and you know it."
He didn't know what to say. Grounding his teeth he turned and stormed out. "Fine you can take care of them then. I'm done!"
The man shook his head, letting his eyes scan between the brother and sister. "Don't tell anyone but I left your mommy and daddy a few clues to find you guys." He whispered. "Uncle Akycha, will make sure you get home safe and sound." He pulled Nilak up after setting down the now empty bottle and smiled brightly at the boy.
Back with Mako the firebender had found his first clue. A piece of red fabric with a cherry blossom detailing. It was Shiro's. A piece of her nightgown she was wearing the night of the kidnapping. Wrapped inside of the fabric was a small piece of scrap paper with the words 'Full Moon Bay' scribbled across it. Mako pocketed the paper and fabric and stirred Naga towards the cove. "Daddy's coming."
