Not long after defeating Kuvira, Korra and Asami were traveling on foot. They wanted to travel slowly and quietly, so they kept their identities hidden. As night came on, they snuck into the barn of a prosperous farmer in the South Earth Kingdom.
After a day of walking, and Korra sat with her legs dangling from the loft's bay window and watched the farmer go from room to room in his lodge across the field, putting out the orange candles.
"Sleeping with the crow-pigs", came Asami's voice from within. "Now this was a grand idea."
"Admit it," said Korra evenly, "it's comfier than you thought, though?"
The night was temperate, and the barn loft, the hay-store, was empty of animals. They only heard the occasional low cry of a crow-pig, dreaming perhaps, from below.
Asami slumped into the hay. Rustled experimentally. She said, "You know, I always imagined hay would be prickly, but It's kind of soft. Not soft like a goose-fox feather mattress, of course. But still!"
"It's not exactly up to your usual standards of comfort, though right?" Korra smiled warmly. "So thank you for humouring me. I really mean that."
Asami settled her head back, eyes meeting Korra's. "This feels safe, Korra. This feels freeing. I'm glad we got to travel like this just once before real life takes over."
"Me too". Korra tipped her head back against the window sill and looked at the stars.
A bright moon was slowly rising as the evening came on, casting pale light into the loft. Asami watched Korra carefully. "What's this I see? Are you lost in though, Korra?" she chided. "That's not like you."
Korra squeezed her eyes silently for a moment, then slowly opened them. "To be honest, I was just thinking about the last time I slept in a barn."
"You sleep in barns often, then?"
"Only one time. But it's a long story. I'll tell you another time."
"Tell me now," said Assami softly. "I'm not sleepy."
"Ok".
Korra settled her hands into her sleeves, smiled at Asami, then turned her face to the moon and began.
"It was after I set off from the South Pole. Once I could walk again. I was so ashamed of being away from everything that I didn't tell anyone where I was going. I didn't even know myself. All I wanted was to put one foot in front of the other."
"I traveled through the South Earth Kingdom. I'd cut my hair but still I'd occasionally get recognised, so I tried to avoid big towns. Sometimes I'd walk at night and sleep in the day. When I ran out of money, I'd doze off in a field by the side of the road."
"One evening, I'd been walking all day when I came into a village. It was a cold night and I was aching all over from nights on the road. My injuries, the poison, still hurt me too then, every second of every day."
"I followed the sounds to the local inn. Every other house was dark, and the inn was only dimly lit, and the shutters were down. But I heard people inside, raucous noise actually. Tavern noise. I felt… small."
"I walked up to the doorway. It was only just ajar and - I don't know why I did this - I just stood there and peeped in."
"I saw a semi-circle of people gathered around these two guys. One was a tall, stern looking official, the other a stocky farm-owner looking type. They were arguing. The stocky one was jabbing the other in the chest. His face was red. But the tall guy was the one who scared me, because he stood so still. Everyone was yelling, cheering them on, but he was quiet, and pale as frost, and I knew it was coming when suddenly - hsss!" Korra put her bottom teeth over her upper lip and inhaled sharply, creating a shrill sound between a hissing flame and an agonized gasp.
"The tall one used his firebending, and the stocky guy fell to his knees. The semi-circle gasped, spat at him… And I ran. I ran."
Korra paused for a moment and glanced back at Asami. The cottage lights were off now; only the faintest reflections of moonlight illuminated her face. Dropping her head, she went on:
"I still remember the heat from that firebending move. It was nothing fancy, but for some reason it felt so intense. Like he was attacking me, straight for the heart. Worse. As I ducked away from the door the firebender's eyes met mine, just for a moment. Everyone else was looking at them - he was the only one who saw me. And i don't know for sure but… I think he recognised me. I think he saw me, saw my terrified face, and realized I was the Avatar."
"I had to run then. I ran back out into the night. I felt sure I was being chased. I ran through the village along the main path until I couldn't see the light from the inn anymore. That's when I saw the barn in the field - this one - and I hid. As soon as I dropped my head in the hay I started to cry…"
"In the morning, I couldn't believe how I'd felt. I knew what had happened, but I couldn't understand where the fear had come from. The flames on the firebender's fingertips… his eyes… the helplessness of all of it. I don't know how to explain it. I just felt indescribably small…" She stifled a sob.
Asami stood, went over, and put her hand on the side of Korra' face. Her cheek was wet. Korra looked up at her and forced a smile. "Don't tell anyone else that story," she croaked. Then, looking into Asami's eyes, she eyes brightened. "Especially not Mako and Bolin!"
Asami said softly, "You have nothing to be ashamed of, Korra. Yes, you were scared. You ran. But you're so brave, you've come back to the place that scared you."
They embraced, holding each other tight. "In the morning, we'll visit the farmer," said Asami softly. "That's what you want, isn't it?"
Korra nodded softly. Then she said, "thank you," and pressed her cheek against Asami's. The last light in the cottage was already out. It nestled into the pastel darkness of the night. Korra looked over Asami's shoulder, out the loft window in the direction of the village, where not a single light shone, and tried to bring to mind the events of her story. But she felt sleepy now, and her thoughts were as still as the moon.
