Author's note: To address the Air Acolytes vs. Air Nomads issue - maybe I'm translating the word incorrectly, but I always thought that acolytes where just assistants, while the nomads where the actual airbenders who did the hard work travelling around the world and helping people. That's why Tenzin was still so worried for the Air Nomads's future, even though there were already a bunch of Air Acolytes scattered around different temples. I don't really know if that's correct, but if the need ever arises, I'll stick with that definition for this story. In the meantime you might correct me, I'm always happy to learn. :)


Qiang was awoken roughly when someone barged into the dark living room, but his training was not in vain - he jumped out of bed and took a fighting stance before his brain was able to comprehend what was going on.

"Halt! Republic City Police Department", he bellowed at the intruders. He had to search for his police uniform, but when he found it on the floor, it was easy for him to make cables whirl out from it - two of the shadows jumped into different directions, but he got the legs of the third bound, making them fall over.

Suddenly he felt a blow to his face, making him thrust into the wall. He needed a moment to comprehend that it was just air that was hitting him, but by then he had jumped towards the smaller shadow and tried to punch him - but the person was just too quick.

He felt rather then saw the other intruder sneaking up on him, and moved out of the way, making the two of them tumble into each other. With a quick hand gesture he willed more metal cables at them, binding them.

"What are you doing", Saki's voice questioned, and at the same time the lights were turned on, effectively blinding him. When Qiang's eyes adjusted to the light, he looked over at the three forms he had been fighting - these were airbenders, children nonetheless.

"Since when do airbenders raid vacation flats", he questioned in shock.

"We are not raiding", the oldest of the three stated, while wiggling free from the metal, "we're friend's of Korra and Asami. I'm Jinora, and they are Meelo and Ikki." Qiang furrowed his brows. "And you are?"

"Their bodyguard", he answered truthfully, but the boy named Meelo laughed loudly at that.

"Yeah, as if the Avatar needed a bodyguard!"

The kids had removed their bonds and were now standing up, looking Qiang over with visible distaste. "Tell that to Chief Beifong", he just stated.

They were rather suddenly jerked out of their conversation when they heard someone cry - it was Tara, who had been awoken by the racket only to find her parents gone. Now she stood in the door to the bedroom and was searching for them in tears.

When Qiang saw that the bed behind the child was empty, his face felt and he rushed over to look into the room - of course there was nobody hiding in there either. "Where are Asami and Korra", he asked in panic, shaking the child, which did nothing to calm her, on the contrary.

"What are you doing", Saki interrupted and went over to take care of the child. She kneeled in front of Tara and stroked her arm, then hugged her tightly. It took a long time to calm the girl.

"So where are Asami and Korra", Qiang repeated his earlier question, while Jinora joined in with a stressed out voice.

Tara just sniffled in response: "They're not in bed."

Qiang was burying his head into his hands in frustration, which was why he did not saw Meelo jump over to him and shove him harshly.

"I thought you were their bodyguard? Now where's Korra?"

"I don't know", he shouted at the boy in frustration, "they must have sneaked out on me!"

Jinora groaned: "It's like Air Temple Island all over again!"

"Jinora, can't you make the spirit telephone thingy", Ikki questioned, and the oldest airbender nodded, then sat herself down to meditate.

She had the eyes closed for maybe five seconds when she opened them again. "She's already in this building."

That was the exact moment Korra slid open the door and poked her head in with a very confused expression.

"Korra! Thank the spirits you're back! We have to prevent a massacre!" It was Meelo's energetic voice. He had used a gust of air to jump back to the door, before Korra and Asami entered.

"Where the heck have you been", Qiang wanted to know, stomping over to them angrily.

The women did not answer directly, but instead opted to blush simultaneously. "Stargazing", Korra finally answered feebly, even though they looked nothing like stargazing. Their hair was a mess and full of grass blades, their clothes had grassy stains everywhere, especially the pelt around her hip. And while it was not immediately noticeable, the fact that Korra absentmindedly wiped her mouth with her sleeve multiple times drew attention to the fact that her lips were a bit redder than usually, almost to the point where you could tell it was the same color as Asami's lipstick. But it was still nothing compared to the redness of their cheeks.

"We don't have time for this", Jinora stated and took the wrist of Korra's hand which was not holding on to her girlfriend. The Avatar almost whimpered when she was pulled away from Asami.

"One moment", she pleaded, wriggling her hand from Jinora's grip just to cup both of Asami's cheeks. "I'll be right back", she promised, "love you." They kissed a final time before Korra followed the airbenders outside.

The air bison was parked in the garden behind the house, and Korra was honestly surprised she did not see him when they had arrived earlier.

"Pepper, yip-yip", Jinora called to the bison, and they started to fly.

"So what massacre", Korra questioned while watching the cottage fade away with a longing expression.

"Can I ask something first", Ikki questioned, bobbing up and down next to the Avatar, and without waiting for an answer, she continued: "Why are you wearing a red shirt? I thought you hated red! And why was Asami wearing a blue one? It didn't match the rest of her outfit."

They say all cat deers are gray at night, but Korra was pretty sure her face glowed so much she could be used as a beacon at that point. The moon did nothing to hide her embarrassment.

"So what massacre", she repeated after waiting for a moment that clearly showed she was not going to answer the last question.

"There are reports that some of the men of Yi will take matters in their own hands and just blow the entire mines of Xun up", Jinora explained, furrowing her brows, "if we know, then Xun will know, too, and they will send their men against them. If they get to fight just now the peace negotiations might get really tough."

Korra groaned at that. For some reason, she was angry at the people of Yi for destroying her nice evening, and she found herself thinking that this behavior was just typical for the hotheaded firebenders of the Fire Nation colonies.

"Is the United Force going to attend the party, too", the Avatar questioned, trying to lift everyone's spirits by being her usual carefree self.

"Of course they are", Meelo answered, "but we thought we'll get there first with Pepper." The boy saluted. "Who needs an army when they have the Avatar and the best airbender in the world." He looked over at his sisters. "And these two ladies."

Korra laughed and shifted so she was able to see where they were going, anxious to get the entire ordeal over with.

When they arrived in front of the mines of Xun, the fight was already over, and there was no sign of life anywhere. The losers had already fled and the winners had taken their casualties home to be treated. Korra's heart dropped when she realized the dark shadows on the ground where no stones, but men. She tried to fight the thought as long as possible, but it came back with a bigger force each time: if she had not been stargazing with Asami, these men might still be alive.

When the burden became too much, she needed to do something - she jumped from the bison, realizing a moment too late that she still was not able to airbend properly. Luckily, she had enough time to prepare for the landing, but a ripping pain in her left foot told her she might have sprained her ankle. Or even worse. But, she mused to herself, when it came to injuries from jumping from flying animals, a sprained ankle was one of the better outcomes.

She ran towards the nearest man and checked his pulse and breath, and her heart clenched painfully when she found nothing. She sat there for what felt like hours, and only dimly saw the bison land some feet away. Without really thinking, Korra laid her hand on the man's stomach and tried to tap into his energy - to her utter surprise there was still some left. And with the energy that she felt still circling in his body, she felt a very faint pulse and breath, just way too shallow for her calloused hands to feel.

Experienced in this kind of thing, she started administering CPR, stopping only to heal him when the children brought her some water. When he was stable enough so that Meelo was able to feel his breath, she moved to the next person, and the circle started over.

The airbender helped wherever possible, and started to carry the injured men to the air bison so they would not need to run back and forth so much. When they arrived at the ninth person, they saw Korra crying over the still form of a woman. The lying person was dripping wet.

"Is she...", Ikki started when she came over to bring new water.

"I can't help her anymore", Korra whispered, her breath was hitching.

"Don't worry", the girl told her, laying a hand on her friends shoulder in an encouraging gesture, "you saved a lot of them already. And there are still some more that need you!"

"No", Korra's head jumped up to look at the young airbender, her face was disfigured by pain, "it's gone. My bending is gone. I can't heal them anymore."

Her exclamation was loud enough that it echoed back from the mountains. The airbenders, including Jinora and Meelo, who were treating the other men, looked at her in shock, neither of them had any idea that her bending had been irregular. "Did you try the Avatar state", Meelo yelled over to them.

"It doesn't work", Korra mumbled, way too quiet for him to hear, while she stood up and wiped her face with her sleeve, "it never works." Even more faint were her next words: "I'm useless."

Neither of them talked much until reinforcements arrived. At the end of the night, they brought seven men back to the army camp to be treated - and four to be buried.