Yes, Himiko has met with Zaheer. Might I add, his appearance in Book 4 was a big surprise to me. That swag hair, though!

Chapter 12 Chaos

I don't know if I could put my finger on when things started to spiral out of control, but no one will deny things soon became hectic for everyone. I was told by Baatar that Suyin did manage to reach her sister at the Misty Palms Oasis, long after Huan and I had both fallen asleep.

It had taken her some effort to convince Lin something was wrong, which I took to mean Lin did not believe it at first. She did eventually agree to return to Zaofu once she had found Avatar Korra. With Lord Zuko and Korra's own father helping her, I had hoped that it would not take too long.

Even with the three of them out there, Suyin still felt the need to look for Korra herself. I think she had felt a little guilt about letting them go after Aiwei.

Baatar managed to talk her into staying at Zaofu for the time being, but from what I heard later, the twins were all for her going... as long as they got to go, as well. Baatar also put his foot down on that.

My days soon were spent in Huan's atelier while he sketched and painted. I did not ask, but he seemed to know what I needed to feel safe and comfortable, if not fully happy. I did not like being kept inside. Even if I was afraid to go out.

"Come paint."

I looked up from where I was sitting with my back against the wall. It took several seconds to register than Huan was talking to me, despite the fact that I was the only other person in the room. He crossed the room and held out a hand to me. I took it, and he pulled me to my feet.

"I don't know," I began. "I'm about as good an artist as I am a bender."

"You need to do something other than mope," he told me. Before I knew it, he had a canvas and paint in front of me and a brush in my hand.

I dipped my brush into some paint and began to make slow, steady strokes. Neither of us spoke for a while. Huan stood behind me, watching over my shoulder as I painted. I did not have any idea what to paint at first, but as I played with the reds and browns, it came to me.

"Do you know anything?" I asked quietly, a little afraid to be overheard.

I paused with my brush over the white paint to look behind me. Huan seemed to be debating on whether or not he should speak, which I took to mean yes.

He saw me looking and gestured to the canvas. I returned to my work, painting the rough outline of a wing.

"My aunt is going to find Korra, and bring her back here. I heard my parents say that earlier."

"But they have no idea where she is?"

"I don't know."

We fell quiet again. The only sound came from the paintbrush as I painted. I painted a bushy tail, perhaps a little too bushy, a tiny black nose, little ears and little feet. I stood back to study it, feeling like there was something missing, even if I knew there was not.

"Are you done?" Huan asked. When I nodded, he said, "Sign it." So I did in the bottom right corner.

He placed his hands on my shoulders and asked, "Can I take a guess?"

"Go for it."

"Is it a spirit?"

I nodded, then I elaborated. "I've seen it in your parents' gardens. Only a few times. It would rather hide in the bushes than interact with people. And really," I looked at the canvas, "I'd like to find it and apologize to it for my attempt at painting it."

To me, my painting did not look slightly fox-like. It was more of a coppery, elongated blob with legs, a large tail, and wings. Huan did not seem to mind. If he did, he did not voice his opinions.

I don't know what came over me, but I tilted my head back so I could look directly at him. "I don't want to go back to the Spirit World," I whispered.

He squeezed my shoulders reassuringly, then kissed my forehead. "No one's going to make you," he whispered back. I smiled at him. I knew that, of course. No one could force anyone else into the Spirit World, unless they shoved them through a portal. But it was great to hear.

Our moment was shortly lived. The door burst open and in rushed Wing and Wei. They were slightly out of breath, but looked both scared and excited. Either they ignored me, or momentarily forgot that they were being distant with me.

"Aunt Lin's on the way back, she's got Korra," Wei began.

"Everything's going wild in Ba Sing Se," Wing added.

"Mom wants you both." Wei again.

"Hou-Ting's been assassinated." That last one they blurted out together. Huan and I exchanged looks before running off after the twins to see exactly what was going on.