''And the Lord said unto Cain: Where is Able thy brother? And he said '' I know not; I am my brother's keeper?''
''What?! No, you can't go!'' Korra shouted. The dining room was quiet. The Avatar stood there with her hand a flame. Mei-Xing looked at her with an equally harsh stare.
''You can't tell me what do to!''' She shouted back. Korra narrowed her eyes.
''What about Amon? Are you forgetting what happened?! What he did to you!'' Mei felt heat rushing through her. She sent a fireball toward Korra. She dodged it, she sent a gust of wind at Mei, knocking her off her feet. Lao looked at his wife, who then looked at Tenzin.
''Don't pull that shit with me!'' Korra growled out in frustration. Tenzin cleared his throat.
''Korra it's important that-'' Tenzin sputtered as the water hit his face.
''I'm the Avatar. I order you to stay here. '' Mei looked at her best friend with narrowed eyes. As she was about to climb over the table, her father Lao grabbed her by the arms. ''Go to your room.'' He whispered in her ear. With a final look at Korra, Mei stomped off to her room.
''Korra listen to me.'' She sent a fireball toward Lao, the airbender blew it away easily.
''I'm not asking you Korra, it is a command,'' Lao said gently. The Avatar breathed deep. She sank back down on the cushions.
''Sorry.'' Korra looked down at the table, shaming flooding her every system. Lao put his hand on the young woman's.
''I know you care greatly for Mei. But you have to remember that she cannot be stuck behind these walls forever. Was it not just weeks ago month you complained of the very same thing?'' Lao asked. Korra nodded sadly.
''I know it's just I don't want anything to happen to her.'' Tenzin cleared his throat.
''What I was going to say is that as the Avatar you have a certain amount of power, but that power cannot be exerted on our friends and family.'' Tenzin asserted.
''I know. It's just when Amon… I felt so powerless. She called for me.'' The room went silent. They all knew what happened in the store room where Mako and Korra were helpless when Mei was… Korra stood, bowing deeply to the others.
''I am extremely sorry about my outburst. If it's okay I would like to check on Mei.'' Lao pointed his head to Mei's room. When she left they sat in silence the only sounds were the clinking of dishes and the sipping of tea.
''I think Korra might be right though. Kyoshi Island is so far away. What if something happens? There are rumors of Equalists kidnapping benders and holding them for ransom!'' Mizuki blurted out. Lao patted his wife's hand.
''She'll be safe Zuki. It's just for a few days.'' Her husband said. Mizuki nodded, getting up.
''I'll be seeing myself out. I have a dress rehearsal tomorrow. '' Leaving the twin brothers alone together. Tenzin looked at the door that his sister-in-law slammed closed.
''You don't seem to be worry Lao.'' Lao shrugged shaking his head.
''Do you remember what Dad about worrying?''
''The less you have, the less you have to worry about.'' His brother smacked him in the chest. ''No. We bless children instead of worrying. So no I am not worried about her at all.'' Tenzin took a sip of tea.
''I know, but someone has to be.''
Mei-Xing sat in her room packing her things. She tossed the clothes in her bag. Korra was worse than her mother. Sure Korra had been protective of her, but since the storehouse, Korra wouldn't leave her side. The door to her room slides open, turning around she saw Korra standing in the doorway.
''I don't need a lecture from a seventeen-year-old.'' Mei turned her back. Korra came in and sat next to her.
''I just wanted to say I'm sorry. I didn't have the right to say that.'' Mei wrapped an arm around her friend.
''Thanks. I'm only going to be gone for like two weeks, at most.'' The Avatar leaned into Mei.
''I'm gonna miss you. You're like the sister I've never had.'' Mei's fingers ran through Korra's hair.
''Me too Kor Kor. I'll be back before you know it.''
The trip to Kyoshi Island had been uneventful. The recent news of a potential burial sight for Avatar Kyoshi became a media sensation. Mei-Xing stood over the dig site watching as the rest of the students examined pottery remains that were just found.
''Having fun?'' The voice of her professor startled her. Mei moved to the side letting him take the spot next to her.
''I am Professor. It's humbling to be here.'' Professor Rei Aoki smiled. He took a sip from his thermos. Professor Aoki, who was in his eighties had been teaching since before the end of the Hundred Year War. The man had been outspoken against the war, exiled to the furthest edge of the Earth Kingdom where he made his living as a fisherman, and taught the village on the side. At the end of the war, he had been welcomed back with open arms.
''It certainly is Mei-Xing. I take it you're going to be down there today.'' Mei shook her head.
''Tootega and I were assigned to look at the burial mound a few miles away.'' Professor Aoki nodded sagely.
''The resting place of the first Kyoshi Warriors. It's said that Kyoshi might be buried there also.'' Mei cocked her head to the side, gesturing to the dig site.
''I thought this was the burial site here?'' Her professor laughed.
''It could be here, could be where you're going to look. It could be in Ba Sing Sa Se.'' He shrugged, jumped into the dig site, and started to talk with the students. Professor Aoki was something else.
''Hey Mei-Mei, you ready to go?'' Tootega called out. A girl from the Southern Water tribe ran up to her in the signature blue dress that most girls from the Water Tribe wear
''Yeah, let's get this over with.''
The trek to Kyoshi's Peace seemed to take forever. The burial place of the first Kyoshi Warriors was a few miles east of the dig site. The walk had been long and arduous, walking through dense foliage and trying to avoid bugs along the way they finally made it.
''Would you look at this? This is so cool!'' Tootega exclaimed as they finally made their way to Kyoshi's Peace. The burial site itself was magnificent with statues of the first warriors of Kyoshi standing in fighting positions as if they were waiting for an enemy that would never come. Their faces set in a determined focus.
''It certainly is. Where do we start?'' Mei asked. Tootega shrugged. Sighing, Mei knew that this would be challenging, perhaps that was why he sent her and Tootega down here.
''Hey did you know that Kyoshi's Peace is a spirit portal?'' Mei shook her head.
''Did you read that in the travel guide?'' The Water Tribe girl mocked hurt, putting her hand on her heart.
''Yes, I did. Professor Aoki said it's important that we get to know the locals. Anyway, apparently, on the day of Kyoshi's birth, it opens up and…'' She made a snatching motion with her hand. ''It takes whoever is standing in the portal to places unknown. Ooh,'' Tootega wiggled her fingers in front of Mei. She pushed them away.
''Okay, your point is?'' She asked as she started to examine the statues for anything to indicate that Kyoshi was buried there.
''It just so happens to be Kyoshi's birthday, and we are at the burial site.'' Mei shook her head.
''And? It's just a story to drum up tourism. There is no historical proof. Are you going to help me or not?'' Mei complained. Tootega gave a smirk.
''Well, I read those people who come up here disappear.'' Mei turned around, hands on her hips.
''Tootega you are archelogist! Folk stories are none of our concern. Facts are our concern.'' Tootega frowned. She went back to work, leaving the two of them in silence. It was under the hot summer sun that the Water Tribe girl cursed.
''What?'' Mei asked. The girl frowned.
''I left my medicine back at camp. Do you think you can handle it?''' Mei nodded.
''Yeah, don't worry about it.'' Tootega nodded and ran off through the woods, leaving Mei alone. The sun in the sky rose high. Sweat began to prickle at the back of her neck. Even though summer was when a firebender was at their strongest it didn't mean she have to like it. As she worked Mei got a gut feeling in the pit of her stomach. Something was wrong, Tootega should have been back by now. Then again she was notoriously lazy. Sighing she continued working until a buzzing sound filled the air. Was it wood bees? No, they didn't buzz this loud. Mei looked around there was no one around her. It certainly wasn't one of her classmates. As if by some unseen force Mei moved to one of the statues, she placed her hand on it the buzzing intensified. Struggling to knock out the sound she stepped away from the statue, only to tumble down the hill hitting her head hard on the ground. The last thing she heard was footsteps as her world went black.