CHAPTER 3: A fast Naga and too much cake.
Naga came bounding to her as she rounded the corner of a shop just beyond the devastation. The large female polar-bear dog wagged her tail, skidding to a stop as Korra nearly ran into her. "Naga! Good girl, Asami's hurt, please, we've got to get her to the nearest hospital!" Naga bowed her head, letting Korra lay Asami down on her saddle and she quickly stood up, feeling them both on as she took off heading east. The city was still greatly deserted, making their run swift through the quiet streets.
Kuvira's army as well as the United Forces had stayed well outside the city limits, only coming in to offer aid to the slowly returning refugees at the behest of the President, Raiko.
She knew the hospital nearest the city center, Lady Katara Hospital, named in honor of the greatest living healer of this modern age, was staffed, as medical personnel were among the first asked to come back, while most of the already sick were transported to Ba Sing Se via the train network.
She kept one hand on the saddle of Naga and her other arm around Asami, getting more and more worried as they flew past shop after deserted shop.
Mako, Bolin, Tenzin and the rest, they needed to be told, and Korra swore to herself she'd telephone them as soon as she got Asami to the emergency ward.
Naga ran as fast as she could, the surrounding buildings were a blur to them as they neared the hospital.
Naga stopped quickly, skidding to her side in front of the entrance and Korra held Asami as she jumped off, patting Naga's flank. "Good girl, please run back to Air Temple Island and find the others, I'll call ahead that you're coming, now go girl!" Naga whined but obeyed, taking off again heading west out towards the island in the bay and out to sea.
Korra turned, heading into the hospital as she kicked the double doors open. "Someone help!" she called out urgently, spotting a doctor just coming out of her office in a side hallway.
Doctor Fa Mulan, a resident of the city for over 50 years, rushed to the Avatar and the woman she carried in her arms. "I'm Mulan. What happened to Ms. Sato?" she asked as she called for a nurse to come help and bring a gurney. Korra soon laid her on the high wheeled bed, watching as the doctor and nurse wheeled her through some double doors. Korra glanced and saw the woman's name tag as a Doctor Fa.
"I don't know, we were in the spirit world, I fought Amon…long story," Korra said as Dr. Fa gave her an incredulous look. Korra squeezed Asami's limp right hand in hers as the Doctor and the Nurse wheeled her into one of the offshoot emergency elevators. Due to the attack on the city, only the top 2 floors of the 7 story building were working, there had been much water and fire damage from the river and the battle, which the hospital happened to be situated along. "We'll do what we can, please wait outside, Avatar, I promise we'll help her!" Mulan said in a soft tone. Korra nodded, her right hand that had held Asami's now wrapped around her left forearm. She turned and went to the nurse station nearby after they'd gotten off the elevator, snatching up the phone and she dialed Tenzin's residence.
Korra paced, her face grim as she thought to herself, come on, pick up, Tenzin…pick up! There was a click and then came a boy's voice, "I was having some wedding cake, this better be important!"
Korra sighed softly, why did it have to be Meelo!? "Hi, Meelo, can you put your dad on the phone, it's Korra! Hurry!" "Korra's not here, oh no what happened to her?!" "No I am Korra, go get your dad!" "If you're Korra…what's my last name?" Korra glanced at the nurse manning the desk in a *can you believe this kid?* sort of way. "Listen up, soldier, go get Tenzin right now, that's an order!" Korra said more firmly.
Meelo blinked at his end of the phone, straightening up, his mouth messy with white frosting. "Yes ma'am!" he said quickly, saluting even though she couldn't see. He jumped off the chair he had been kneeling on, running to the window and he pushed it open and, using his air bending, took a great big breath and shouted: "DAAAAAAAAD!"
Meanwhile, Tenzin, who had managed to talk Varrick out of his stupid glider suit stunt, had been perched near the edge of the air temple island's tower, got startled by the great voice in the air and he lost his footing. "Wahhh-ahhhh!" Tenzin pinwheeled his arms, falling backwards off the tower and he managed to propel himself inside the tower through one of the luckily open windows by jet blasting air from his feet. Landing with a grunt, his robes flapped forward, covering his face and he stood and struggled comically to pull them off. He soon managed and ran as fast as he could down the stairs of the temple tower, outside and all the way to his residence, luckily Bolin and Mako saw him running and they ran after him too, sensing something was wrong. Bolin ran, pumping his arms, outpaced by Mako. "Mako, slow down…ah…too much…wedding cake!" Bolin said to himself as he ran, breaking a sweat already. "Bolin, hurry up!" Mako said sounding worried and irritated. In other words, totally normal.
A few minutes later, they burst in on Tenzin on the phone with someone. "…what!? Okay yes we'll be right there and…are you sure? Yes, we'll be… Yes? I could but- ...alright." Tenzin hung up and turned to the boys. "Asami's hurt, Korra is with her at Lady Katara Hospital, she says they were attacked but she didn't go into detail. Naga is swimming here right now, but I think Varrick and Zhu Li are still at the dock, you two go catch them and get to Korra, she said she wants me to fly to the Southern Water Tribe and get my mother, now go, hurry!" The young men didn't ask any questions, they turned and headed out, but they heard Tenzin calling out, "take Kya with you!"
"I hope Asami is ok, man!" Bolin said as they ran, skidding to a stop as Naga ran up to them, wow she was fast. Bolin folded, his hands on his knees as he breathed hard. "Naga, good girl!" Mako said, patting her head and they both got on her saddle and took off, Mako telling her to find Kya. Naga sniffed the ground and took off, heading down to where the wedding had taken place in the temple courtyard. They quickly came to a stop beside Kya, who, along with a few of the air temple acolytes was stacking some chairs, the main party having wrapped up not long ago. "Kya!" said Bolin, still panting and out of breath…yes, too much cake. "Korra…Asami…Hosptial….Tenzin….mommy….flying…." Kya tilted her head, looking at Mako. "What did your brother say?" she asked, brushing a strand of her gray hair out of her eyes. "I'll explain on the way, hurry come with us!" Mako said, reaching his hand out to the older water bender. She nodded and took it, climbing up to join them on the polar bear dog.
They raced off to the dock, where hopefully Zhu Li and Varrick still were with his yacht. They saw they were already gone, spying them in the distance, Mako encouraged Naga to head to the end of the dock. She did as she was told, running full tilt. "Hey bro, what's the plan here…Mako…Mako!" Mako turned and traded places with Kya so she was in front and he told Bolin to bring two rocks up with them, as long as he could carry with his bending. Bolin nodded, flinging out his arms and he used his earth bending to break the stones just before the wood of the dock and levitate two large sturdy slabs, which flew along with them as Naga ran on the dock. "Kya, can you make an ice bridge until we catch up with the yacht?" She nodded and raised her hands, pointing them at the water and the surface shimmered and became ice. Naga didn't hesitate, jumping off and onto the ice. Her claws easily found purchase as she ran while Kya kept bending the surface of the bay water into ice before them. They were quickly catching up to the ship and Bolin, Mako and Kya all thought the same thing: Hold on, Asami….hold on Korra, we're coming!