Thank BG-13
Korra's POV
It had been a couple of hours since we started walking. Mako stayed by my side the rest of the way to ensure we didn't get separated again. As we went deeper into the forest I couldn't help but get the feeling like I had walked through here before. It was as if I was heading towards something…or someone.
"What are you kids doing here?" a man asked, coming towards us. I hadn't seen him approaching, or heard him for that matter. And he wasn't a small man.
Mako rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, uh, Korra?" he said, looking at me.
I shrugged. "Zuko asked me to come here," I told the man. "I don't know why."
"Trespassers are not welcomed here," the old chubby man growled.
"She's the Avatar," my Firebender companion replied.
The elder's eyes lit up at this. Figures. My title struck a chord with him. "The Avatar?" he asked. I nodded. "Come with me. Names Huu, by the way."
As I followed him I couldn't help but think that those words sounded really familiar. After a few minutes we came across an extremely large tree, which we climbed. Once at the top he sat down and gestured for us to do the same. Mako and I shared a look before doing as we were told, wondering why he brought us here.
"The swamp is a mystical place," Huu began, almost like he was telling a story he had told hundreds of times before. "It's sacred. I heard the banyan tree calling, just like you did. Isn't that right, Avatar Korra?"
I stiffened a little at this. I had heard it call my name, but I thought it was a mere product of my imagination. I slowly nodded.
"You see this whole swamp is just one tree, spread out over miles," he continued. "It's one big living organism, just like the entire world."
Mako moved his head to the side. "The whole world?" He seemed slightly intrigued but weary. I didn't blame him. Something was...odd about this man.
"Think about it this way: do you think that you, me, and this tree are any different?" Huu asked. "If you close your eyes and forget what you see; you can hear every living organism breathing and feel them growing. We are all living together, even if some people don't act like it. We all have the same roots, the same branches of the same tree."
I didn't say a word, letting him speak; letting his words sink in. Mako looked over at me and gently patted my thigh. I knew what he was going to say before he said it.
"We saw…visions," the Firebender began. "What do they mean?" I was somewhat curious myself. I briefly thought that maybe it was to torture the people that had the misfortune of stumbling into the Swamp's territory.
"In the Swamp we see visions of people we've lost, people we've loved, folks we think are gone," the elder replied. "But the Swamp tells us they're not. We're still connected to them. Time is an illusion and so is death."
"But they're gone," I said. "They aren't coming back." I replayed the scenes in my head of when I'd seen Howl and Aiden. My statement only reminded me of how true that was. They were gone. Because of me.
Huu gave me a small, sincere smile like he could read my mind. "That doesn't mean they are not with you," he countered. "The Swamp is even known to show you the people you will meet in the future. It showed Aang, your past life, a vision of Toph."
I frowned. That wasn't supposed to be known information. I'd only learned of it by reading Aang's journal and from Katara's stories. But even they had been vague when it came to the Swamp. "Did Aang tell you that?" I asked.
He smiled in a knowing way and shook his head. "Time is an illusion, and so is death," Huu simply repeated before he faded into the fog.
I turned to see Mako's mouth had slightly dropped. Just another vision, it seemed. This Swamp was definitely creepy.
We got up and started to head back down to where the boat would be picking us up. As we exited the Swamp I looked over my shoulder, feeling as if someone was watching me. When I didn't see anyone I kept walking and then I heard the Swamp whispering to me again. 'Asa' it said.
I needed to get out of here.
Howl's POV
This girl had to be joking. There was no way I was going to electrocute her with this glove or with the nets. No freaking way. This was not what I signed up for. I was not going to do this. I did not want the blood of the Avatar on my hands. But something told me that if I didn't help her she would find more drastic measures and I wasn't sure if I wanted her to go that far. But I was sure that whatever plan B she had in mind, it would most likely kill her.
"There's more than one way to save the city," I said. "You don't have to hurt yourself this way."
"Not for me. I need tolerance against these things," she answered. "Now do it."
I shook my head again. I didn't want to do this. Korra walked over to me and punched my jaw. I toppled back before rubbing the spot. This girl had some nerve. I sighed in defeat, knowing I wouldn't be able to talk her out of it. It started off like a spar but then I managed to place the glove on her shoulder, letting a current go through her body. She gritted her teeth in pain and I made a move to remove the glove.
Korra reached out and held my hand in place. I kept forgetting how strong she really was. "Don't," she managed to say through her clenched teeth. She fell on her knees but wouldn't let me remove my hand. And believe me, I really wanted to.
Slowly, she stood back up, fighting against the current, eyes closed. When it finally didn't affect her as much she nodded and I quickly backed away.
The girl tried to walk it off as if nothing was wrong but fell on the floor not even a step later. I rushed over and checked her shoulder, flinching when I saw a burn there, the skin red and charred. Part of her shirt was burned as well.
"You stubborn idiot," I muttered, making a move to help her get up.
"We aren't done yet," Korra said, pushing herself back onto her feet. "I need more practice and I need to be able to remove the net."
I pinched the bridge of my nose, praying to the Spirits for patience. This girl had a serious death wish.
Mako's POV
After seeing the really weird guy in the Swamp a few days ago, Korra had been quiet. She seemed deep in thought and I wondered what she could have possibly seen in the Swamp that had shaken her up so badly. It had been a week since our return and I decided to go pay her a visit. Katara informed me she was somewhere in the back of the island giving Naga a bath.
I buried my hands in my pockets as I made my way over there. Not too long after, I spotted her and went down the small path to get closer. The large polarbear dog was shaking its fur, completely soaking a shirtless Korra. I smiled when I saw her smile. It had been a long time since I had seen a real smile from her.
"I'm looking for Bolin," I said, walking over to the girl who was lying on the grass, hands behind her head.
"Haven't seen'em," she simply replied with a shrug.
I sighed. Bo was always getting into trouble and if I hadn't found him by now I knew he was probably doing something stupid. I turned to go back to the city when I felt a hand on my arm.
"Want me to help you look for him?"
My mouth dropped. Korra, the Korra, was willing to help search for my brother? I must have heard wrong. "What?" I asked.
She rolled her eyes. "Hey, cool guy," Korra began. "Let me help you. I just need to get Naga."
I frowned. "Naga?" I asked. "Who's Naga?"
"My best friend," she answered with a shrug. "And a great tracker."
"So your best friend is a polarbear dog," I called as I went down to the beach. "Somehow that makes perfect sense."
Korra turned her attention onto me and a small smile appeared on her face before she rolled her eyes at the memory. "I'll take that as a compliment, city boy."
I chuckled at that before petting the large beast that sniffed at me before wagging her tail and licking my face. I pouted. Naga knew I didn't like that. I raised a brow at the ball of fur but she simply barked happily. I sighed.
"Just this once," I told her.
Mako's POV
The girl stared at me for another moment before turning around to pick up a towel. My eyes went wide when I took in the various burns on her sides, back and shoulder. She turned around to dry the beast and I grabbed her hand, seeing burn marks on her arms as well.
"What happened?" I asked.
She pulled her hand away, turning her attention to Naga. "Nothing," Korra answered. "Don't worry about it."
"Korra, the wounds are raw," I insisted. She opened her mouth to speak but I touched her shoulder burn, causing her to flinch. "You need to get them checked."
"No," my ex teammate said. "I'm fine."
"Either you get them checked or I'll tell Katara," I threatened.
She walked up to me till we were toe to toe. I could tell she didn't like to be threatened. "Mind your own business." Her jaw was set and her body tensed, ready to fight if necessary.
"You are my business," I replied. "Now tell Katara to heal you or come with me to the city."
"Katara will start asking questions."
I nodded. "Yeah, like how you got those burns." She looked away, leaning against the big ball of white. "What happened? How did you get them?"
My ex teammate sighed before turning to look at me. "They were caused by Equalist equipment."
I clenched my jaw. Looked like Amon was expanding his little army, and that was not good. "Let's go to the city. Dinner's on me," I said, making my way up again.
"Mako?" she called.
"Hmm?"
"Do I have to come back home after?"
I turned to look at her. Korra didn't like being home. Home was where everyone treated her as if she was damaged, as she herself had said. It was where everyone looked at her as if they were waiting for her to snap, where everyone pitied her.
"No," I answered. "You can stay at my place or go to Asami's. You don't have to come back."
She nodded and asked Naga to follow her. I grabbed her shirt and threw it at her. She caught it and put it on, determined to hide the scars from everyone. I could already tell not many had seen them, and she didn't want anyone to.
