A/N: Special thanks to the awesome people who have read, followed, reviewed, or favorited this story. You guys rock! :)
Chapter One: Safe and Snow
The South Pole
5 years later...
The snow fell in white swirls, drifting gently down atop sheets of ice. The road was slick with frost – it always was – but the wagons and trucks did not stop moving. There was a rule inside the compound of the White Lotus Fortress. No outsiders were allowed to stop inside. Whatever packages of food or supplies they brought were to be dropped off immediately, followed by immediate departure. No dawdling or waiting about and certainly no talking to the anyone.
On this particular day, a delivery truck was parked next to a pile of large crates which had just been unloaded. The truck driver was peering about, seemingly oblivious to the no-loitering policy. Unbeknownst to him, a young girl was hiding just behind the mountain of crates, sneaking covert peeks around the corners at the driver and the truck.
"Korra, what're you doing here?"
Korra jumped slightly as a teenage boy appeared at her side, a bemused expression on his face. The boy was wearing a dark parka which had the emblem of the Order of the White Lotus, a white lotus encased within a circle, sewn onto the chest with white thread. He was the same age as Korra but held himself awkwardly as though he was still getting used to his fast-growing body. His hair was muddled mop of brown and a few freckles stood out against his pale complexion.
"Sh!" Korra hissed, pressing a gloved finger to her lips. "I'm watching that guy," she mouthed, jerking a thumb at the truck driver.
"Well, I can see that," the boy mumbled, wondering what Korra was getting so excited over. She had a look of anticipation on her face, her clear blue eyes shining as she observed the truck driver who looked nothing short of uninspiringly normal in every aspect.
A few seconds later, an OWL sentry approached the driver, heaving a large tire in his arms. The two men conversed for a short while. Then the driver replaced one of the back tires of his truck with the new one. After that brief exchange, the driver quickly got back into his truck and drove off. The sentry left shortly, leaving Korra and the boy still hiding behind the crates, Korra looking thoroughly disappointed.
"I was so sure he was a spy," Korra said a while later as the two walked toward the stables. The boy trailed behind her, an expression of exasperation written all over his face. "I'm serious!" said Korra, rounding on the boy who quickly rearranged his features into one of mild interest. "That truck driver looked pretty suspicious, didn't he, Howl?"
"Um… Suspicious?" Howl repeated, not wanting to encourage Korra's absurd conspiracy theories. "His truck had a flat tire and he was waiting for someone bring a spare."
"Obviously, that was just a distraction!" Korra insisted matter-of-factly. The two teenagers entered the stables which smelled distinctly of hay and manure. "He was planning something, I know it."
The stable housed several wooly Horse Oxen, their brown coats gently steaming in the cold air. Several saddles were mounted on the walls alongside decorative plaques of stuffed Moose Bear heads and the twisted antlers of some long-dead half-species no one could quite remember the name of. Korra moved quickly through the stables to the back where, in a larger stall, gigantic Polar Bear Dog was curled up.
"Wake up, Naga, sleepy head!" Korra jumped over the gate instead of opening it and proceeded to tickle the sleeping giant. "Come on, girl, wake up!"
Howl stayed behind the gate, fidgeting with the latch on the door. Though he visited Naga on a regular basis, he was still getting used to the idea that a Polar Bear Dog – notoriously untamable wild beasts – could actually be considered a pet.
Howl watched apprehensively as Korra practically jumped onto Naga's back, keeping up a constant flow of cajoling words. "Come on, girl, come on. Wake up, wake up, wake up –"
"Korra, maybe you should let her rest," Howl suggested when Naga gave a curt growl and shifted slightly on her bed of hay. "She's tired."
"Nah, she's just getting lazy is all. C'mon girl, let's go for a run!"
After half an hour of coaxing on Korra's part, Naga finally got up, yawning and pawing at the ground restlessly as though half-wishing she could go to sleep again. Pleased with the results, Korra placed the reins over the Polar Bear Dog's head and led her out of the stable, Howl trailing slightly behind her.
"Hey, Howl, wanna go for a ride?" Korra asked, looking over her shoulder at Howl who blushed red at the suggestion.
"N-no, I don't think –"
"Oh, come on, it'll be fine!" Korra dragged Howl over and all but shoved him onto Naga's back before joining him. They set off at a trot, Howl holding onto the reins with a sick feeling in his stomach. Behind him, Korra sat grinning, oblivious to his discomfort.
As per the rules within the compound, the Avatar was strictly forbidden from leaving the fortress without the express permission of one of the OWL Elders. As luck would have it, Erma was passing by on her way to the main building, her gray hair swept up into a tight bun.
"Elder Erma!" Korra called out, waving at her. Erma stopped short, watching the huge animal approach with a stern expression.
"Korra," said Erma when Naga skidded to a halt in front of her. "Shouldn't you be practicing for your Earthbending examination? Am I mistaken in thinking that it's only a few hours away?"
"It's no big, I've only been Earthbending since I was three," replied Korra, leaning sideways to peer at the disapproving frown lining Erma's mouth. "And I've also been practicing really hard for the past few days," Korra added hastily, smiling innocently at the Elder.
Erma sighed, her short breath of steam rising in front of her. "Very well, then," she relented to which Korra whispered "Yes!" into Howl's ear. "But make sure you're not late for your examin –"
"Kay, I'll see you later!" Korra called out, nudging Naga gently with her foot before the Elder had finished talking. Naga bounded away, kicking up a flurry of snow as she sped off toward the main gates.
Erma scowled after them, brushing snow from her hair before she moved on.
.
Three people sat silently around a polished table which was engraved with the lotus symbol. Gappak, the Head of the White Lotus Elders, sat sipping from a steaming cup of green tea. To his left sat Elder Washu, who was blinking slowly through a pair of spectacles, his beard and hair a dull shade of grayish white. The next seat, reserved for Erma, was empty while the seat after that was occupied by a very old lady who was famously known as the wife of the late Avatar Aang – Master Katara of the Southern Water Tribe.
"Apologies for my tardiness," said Erma briskly when she entered a few minutes later. She took her place between Master Katara and Washu, her bony cheeks still quite red from the frigid outside air. "I bumped into Korra on the way here – she's taking that animal of hers on a stroll with the Howl boy."
"How is Howl these days?" Master Katara asked, a warm smile spreading across her wrinkled face. "I take it that he's doing well in his training?"
"Hardly," scoffed Erma. "He's always too busy running after Korra. At least the Avatar has some natural talent whereas the boy..."
"I'm sure, in time, that he'll take his sentry training seriously," said Gappak. "He's only twelve and it would be cruel of us to take away his childhood, especially after he lost his mother at such a young age."
"Quite right," Washu chimed in after a prolonged sip of tea. "The boy needs time."
"A shame that the same cannot be said of the Avatar," added Gappak, looking pointedly around at the gathering. Beside him, Erma straightened her already stiff posture, and Washu busied himself by pouring himself some more tea. Master Katara watched the Elders carefully, her blue eyes landing on Gappak who held her gaze with a determined expression.
"It's difficult to believe that we're having the same conversation again for what must be the third time this month, Great Elders," said Master Katara respectfully. "To someone as old as I am, it seems a waste of our limited time to repeat the same topics."
"Master Katara, you know full well how urgent this situation is," said Gappak and the two companions nodded sagely. "If we do not decide right now, the Avatar might –"
"And who are we to decide what the Avatar should or shouldn't do?" asked Master Katara, her manner still as mild and polite as ever. "We are her protectors, not her owners."
"I take offense at that comment," grunted Washu, his mustache bristling slightly. "Surely you understand, Master Katara? If we do not act, someone else will."
"With all due respect, Elder Washu, you cannot seriously consider that Korra would willingly accept this proposal. It would mean giving up a lot for someone who has already sacrificed so many things."
"Clearly, she is far too young to be making the decision herself," said Erma. "Perhaps if we had the luxury of waiting until her sixteenth birthday, but at the age of twelve?"
"My late husband, Avatar Aang, was the same age when he saved the world, as I recall," said Master Katara.
"Well, that's an exception," Gappak said. "Avatar Aang had help on his end from you as well as his other companions."
"Yes, and his companions, including myself, were all children at the time. I regret to say Korra does not seem to have as many friends. Perhaps that is the main problem? I did express some concern over the Order's tendency to overprotect Korra from the outside world. Am I to understand correctly that her parents have been denied their visitation rights in the past year?"
"Security reasons, naturally," said Washu as though it were the most obvious thing in the entire world.
"Which brings us back to the main issue," said Gappak with a slight edge to his voice. "It would be in the Avatar's best interest to follow through with our plan."
At this, Master Korra smiled sadly and shook her head, two strands of looped hair moving swaying slowly. The Elders fell quiet at the gesture and Erma fixed her gaze on the lotus symbol engraved on the polished table.
"I'm sorry, Elders," Master Katara said, a resolute finality in her voice which seemed to carry many years of worldly experience. "But I cannot agree to this. Good day."
She left, leaving the three Elders sitting around the table, their cups of tea growing cold with neglect.
..
"Yes, I win!"
Korra jumped around with excitement, even before her opponent landed flat on his back, having been flung across the arena floor by one of Korra's Earthbending strikes. Korra's Earthbending Master, a stout man with a bulky build by the name of Po Tung, stood off to the side with the Elders as they watched the Avatar celebrate her victory.
"I won!" Korra shouted, running over to where the adults stood. "Did you guys see that? I totally nailed it!"
"By 'it', are you referring to your exam or your opponent?" asked Po Tung, gesturing at Korra's opponent who lay breathing heavily on the floor, too exhausted to pick himself up. "Korra, I thought I told you to take things slowly. Earthbending is about patience and endurance –"
"How're we supposed to fight if we're both waiting?" Korra interrupted, bouncing on the heels of her feet. "That's why I won, isn't it? That's stuff's all good in theory and all but if you want to win – "
"For the hundredth time, Korra, not everything is about winning!" exclaimed Erma with a touch of exasperation. She sighed, massaging her forehead with forefinger and thumb.
Gappak cleared his throat, catching the look on the adults' faces which contrasted heavily with Korra's look of joy. After a quick exchange with Master Po Tung, Gappak addressed Korra. "Perhaps you should go wait in your room while we deliberate on your performance."
Korra beamed. "Does that mean I passed?"
"It means you'll have to wait until we decide," explained Washu sternly.
Korra nodded and made as if to turn away before adding, "I passed right?"
"Go to your room!"
..
The night was cold. Too cold, maybe, but Korra felt energized, exuberant. She had just been informed that, on a technicality, she had passed her Earthbending exam and would be meeting her Firebending Master for the first time in a few days. In the meantime, she planned on fully spending her free time goofing off with Howl and Naga, even if she had to forgo a couple hours of sleep.
Instead of walking through the knee-deep snow, Korra formed an ice-path to slide down by Waterbending the snow in front of her. Bending her knees to maintain balance, she whizzed down the slippery path, simultaneously melting the ice behind her as she went.
The stables looked dark and empty from the outside but Korra bounded inside, glad to get out of the snowfall. Inside, the smell of hay and manure greeted her. Without bothering to turn on a lantern, Korra moved briskly through the stable, listening to gentle neighing from the Horse Oxen.
"Naga?" Korra whispered, when she reached the rear of the stable. "You here girl?"
A flash of white caught her eyes and she turned around. Naga was lurking in the corner of the stall, growling in a low murmur. A strange dark mass of what appeared to be rags was bunched up next to her. Korra took a step closer, feeling her way through the darkness.
"Let's go for a ride, girl," Korra said, climbing over the gate as per usual. "C'mon it'll be great –"
She stopped. Something wasn't right. As she landed, a great squelching noise accompanied by the sharp scent of copper caused Korra to peer down at her feet. She was standing in something black and wet. She tried to remove them with a flick of her wrist but it wouldn't budge.
A liquid she couldn't Waterbend? But that could only mean –
Just then, a cloud passed the dark sky, unveiling the pearly orb behind it. Light filtered in through the stable window, revealing the source of the black pool. Almost immediately, an unearthly, high-pitched scream of terror tore through the entire compound. It took Korra a few seconds to realize that it was she who was screaming, and that what she was seeing was not a fantasy or a dream.
The body of an old woman lay cooling in a bed of her own blood, the two beads that separated her signature hair loops glinting in the pale moonlight.
To be continued...
A/N: For the record, I have nothing against Katara, I really don't. I loved her in ATLA and I love her still. This was not a hate-killing on my part, believe me.