Hey, guys. I'm uploading Chapter two very early, just to give you guys a chance to get hooked/interested. I hope you enjoy! reviews are very much appreciated!
She hadn't ever been so scared in her life.
Still brushing away tears after realizing her father's death was her fault, seven year old Korra was running for her life through the tundra on her ice sled, dark spirits on her tail.
"As the avatar, I order you to go away!" she yelled, screaming in fear as one sent her tumbling off her sled. She continued rolling for a while before stopping, and whimpering. The spirits loomed in the distance, and somehow, she managed to gather her strength enough to stand up, and continue on. When she thought she had put a little distance between herself and them, she burrowed under the snow, and covered her exit in ice. She dug, and dug, continuing on her journey.
The spirits, upon losing sight of her, disappeared. She sighed with relief, but that was the least of her worries.
There was a massive blizzard coming.
She had no food, or water.
She was as good as dead.
She walked for hours, drained, tired, her little legs being threatened with getting swallowed whole in the snow. After another hour, she collapsed, and passed out.
When she came to, it was because something was nuzzling her. She whined, shivering as something started grunting, and digging her out. Something licked her cheek, and pulled her out of the snow.
She slowly opened her eyes, and found a polar bear puppy gazing down at her with a curious stare.
She jumped. Her father had always warned that unless domesticated, polar bear dogs were vicious animals, who were very protective of their young. Terrified to meet the young pup's mother, she spoke.
"G-go away! Shoo!" the puppy whined. Even as a young animal, it was still a little bigger than Korra. It nudged her hand. Korra looked around for its mother, but there was nothing in sight for miles, just more snow.
"Where's your mom, huh?" Korra asked, still exhausted and frigid. The animal tilted its head, and whined, nudging her once more. Korra realized sadly that its mother wasn't around. The puppy was all alone- just like she was.
"I'm sorry to hear that, girl…" Korra murmured to the puppy, who wagged her tail. "What's your name?" the puppy tilted her head, barking. Korra smiled. "You look like a Naga to me…"
Naga jumped in excitement, and suddenly thrust her head under Korra, and threw her onto her back. She took off running, Korra holding on for dear life.
"Whoa!" Korra yelled. "Easy!" Naga howled, continuing on. Korra took one last look in the direction of her home, and sighed, closing her eyes in sadness.
Her uncle was right.
She couldn't ever go back.
Naga had soon taken them to a remote harbor on the outskirts of the glacier. Korra managed to get her to stop, and hide, and she lay against her back as she waited for the next ship to arrive.
The next morning, the whistle of dock workers caused Korra to stir from the igloo she had constructed for her and her new companion.
She waited until the coast was clear, and she and Naga ran inside.
On the freight deck, at the bottom of the ship, Korra was grateful she at least was able to escape the oncoming blizzard that had begun to ravage the south once the boat was pulling away.
Remembering how proud her father was of her avatar title, she began to cry again. Naga looked up, licking away her tears. Korra hugged her, shivering. Luckily for them, they had managed to break into a crate that contained seal jerky, and they were fed. The pain in her gut was a lot worse, though, and nothing like food or water could fix it.
After weeks of stowing away on the ship, barely making it by, they had finally docked at the harbor of republic city. Korra climbed onto Naga's back, and once the doors of the ship opened, the polar bear puppy burst out, running away from the dock workers as Korra hung on tight.
They wandered the city for hours, without food, or water. Korra felt the effects of hunger and dehydration creeping in, not to mention a bad cold from when she was in the snow. Naga was slowing down, too.
They traveled further down the backstreets and slums of the city, where few dared to lurk, and those who did weren't very well off. Near a dirty, dark alley, Naga finally collapsed, her eyes closing in exhaustion. With a yelp, Korra fell off her back, but soon passed out herself, giving into the sweet release of unconsciousness.
Six year old Bolin walked along the streets, looking bored, and hungry.
Eight months ago, the young boy's parents were mugged and killed, and he was left on the streets with his eight year old older brother, Mako.
They were both benders, and though Bolin didn't have the hang of his yet, Mako was getting more and more skilled in using his ability to score food, and shelter for them each night.
Right now, Mako was away doing work for the triple threat triad. It gave them measly amounts of money, but it was still cash they could use to not starve for another night. It was Bolin's job to scope out a suitable place to sleep, or beg for food.
They didn't have to worry about shelter, though. They had recently set up their camp in an alleyway in the slums of the town, which had a dumpster that was behind a restaurant. They got most of their meals from it. However, it hadn't had much lately, so Bolin was out looking for more.
He had gotten half a loaf of bread from a sweet old lady who took pity upon him, and three apples that he had stolen from a rundown fruit stand. When he was walking behind a man, a bundle of yuan's fell from his pocket, and Bolin snatched them. He couldn't believe his luck.
Mako would be so proud of him!
That night, the small earth bender returned to their alley later than usual, and Mako was waiting, his arms crossed, and foot tapping.
"Bolin!" he hissed once the young boy came into sight. "You're late! Where have you been? I was worried sick!" Bolin smiled a bit, thrusting all of his earnings into Mako's hands.
The frown instantly faded.
"Bo…" he whispered, counting the yuan's, and looking at the food. "Where did you get all this?"
"It was a good day." He said with a nod, and Mako smiled, ruffling his hair.
"You're amazing, kiddo… here…" he broke the loaf in half, giving Bolin the bigger piece, and two apples. He took the smaller piece, and one apple, and the boys began to eat.
"I'll tell you what…." Mako murmured, swallowing a mouthful. "With my pay from the triads, and these yuan's… how would you like your favorite dumplings tomorrow when I get back from work?"
Bolin smiled brightly.
"Yay! Thanks, Mako!" Mako smiled, happy to see his brother happy.
The boys soon finished eating, and Mako walked over to check the dumpster when a low whine soon stopped him. He looked up, curious.
Bolin, who had heard the noise as well, glanced up.
"What was that?"
Mako became defensive suddenly, and lit a flame in his palm, pushing Bolin behind him.
"I dunno, Bo… stay behind me…"
They began walking forward until they were at the mouth of the alley. Mako lit the way, and to their surprise, a polar bear puppy lay there, whimpering, and the small body of a young girl lay beside it.
"Mako? What is that?"
Mako narrowed his eyes at the creature.
"It looks like a polar bear dog…"
"Don't those live in cold places?" Bolin asked, green eyes curious. Mako nodded.
"They're from the south…" he then glanced over, catching sight of Korra. "There's a girl…."
Bolin strayed out from behind Mako, holding some bread in his hands. Naga looked up, whining, her ears going up at the sight of the food. Bolin ran forward, suddenly handing her some. Mako scowled in disapproval as she ate it, then licked Bolin's hand gratefully. Bolin giggled, but soon sighed as Mako tugged him back.
"Don't touch it, Bolin! We don't know what it could have…" Mako scolded, his eyes locked on the girl. Bolin glanced at her too, then back at his older brother.
"Mako? She doesn't look good… we gotta help her!"
"No…." Mako whispered. "Come on, Bo… it's almost night time… we have to set up our beds for tonight…"
The green-eyed boy whimpered, reaching for his big brother's hand, and tugging on it.
"B-But Mako! She's all alone, and she looks sick!"
The older fire bender sighed, turning his attention ahead. They couldn't afford to be selfless. Not anymore.
"That isn't our problem, Bolin… come on…"
"We can't just leave her here!"
"Yes we can! Listen, Bo… we just can't afford another mouth to feed… we have to get going… she'll just have to fend for herself…" Mako got down to his little brother's level, and gently brushed a stray lock of hair behind his ear.
Mako stood back up, pulling Bolin a little closer to him. Street kids always tended to turn unpredictable, even if they were small. He had no idea if this girl was a bender or not. Not to mention she had a polar bear dog at her disposal.
"But what if we leave her behind, and a bad person gets her?" Bolin gazed up, his bottom lip sticking out. "She doesn't have a big brother to protect her from the bad people…" The bad people for them were strangers, rival street kids, or police, who would tear them apart, and send them to separate orphanages.
Mako dreaded that expression. His brother hadn't been exposed to the rough streets in-depth like he had. He didn't understand how important being selfish was out here- and it was partially Mako's fault. All he wanted to do was give his sibling the most normal childhood possible- no matter what their circumstances dictated.
"What did I just say?" Mako spat, getting frustrated. "It isn't our problem! Now come on... we have things to do…"
"No!" Bolin yelled, running away from Mako, and plopping down beside the fallen avatar. "I won't leave her! We can't just turn our back on people who need us! That's what mama always told me…" he whispered. Mako cringed at the mention of their parent.
"Bolin! Get away from her! We don't know what she'll do when she wakes up!" Mako hissed. Bolin continued to stare defiantly.
"I'm doing the right thing… the thing mama would want me to do…"
"Would Mom want you to get us both dragged to the orphanage!?" screamed Mako, fire suddenly shooting from his fists, and lighting the left over trash in the alley behind him. "Would she want us to get separated!? How do you like the thought of never seeing me again? Huh!? How does that sound!?"
He fell silent, snarling to himself, when Bolin's sudden sniffling caused him to freeze. The stocky child burst into tears, backing away from Mako, who in the shadows, enraged and shooting flames, in that moment, had resembled the man who had done away with their mother and father. Mako realized this without even having to think, and his hands fell to his sides, his eyes growing wide in horror. At once, the girl problem disappeared. This was worse. So, so much worse.
He had promised his father he would take care of his brother- not scream and terrify him. He felt like an awful big brother in that moment, and he tugged on his scarf miserably. Bolin wailed again as Mako stepped closer, and reached out, and in the next second, he ran down the alley, and disappeared down a side passage.
"B-Bolin! No! Wait!" Mako called desperately, giving chase. He felt so small then, all alone as he strained to listen for his little brother. Worry began to rise in his chest as minutes passed. What if Bolin had wandered into a street? What if he got taken? Or hit by a car? Scenario after scenario plagued the firebender's mind, and he felt tears well up in his eyes. After the death of his parents, he had felt as if he couldn't cry any longer- but this changed things. He lit a small flame in his gloved hand, and looked around.
After a few minutes of walking, he heaved a sigh of relief as he caught sight of Bolin's shaking form, curled up against a dumpster, still sobbing painfully. It made Mako's heart feel as if it had been ripped out, and stomped on. He gulped, and walked slowly forward, keeping his voice low, and soothing.
"Bolin? C'mon bro… it's just me… I didn't mean to yell, okay? I'm sorry…" he reached out, but Bolin whined, and cried harder, gazing at Mako with fearful eyes. Mako winced.
"It's just me, okay? I won't hurt you… spirits, Bolin… I wouldn't ever hurt you… not ever… I didn't mean to scare you…" he sat down on the ground, and began doing little tricks with his flames, the ones Bolin adored. Bolin watched him, his sobs turning into little hiccups. However, he still stayed back. Mako sighed, going to his last resort.
He began to sing a lullaby.
"Leaves from the vine…. Falling so slow… like fragile, tiny shells… drifting in the foam…." Bolin sniffled again, slowly coming away from the dumpster, and shuffling towards Mako hesitantly. Mako opened his arms. "Little soldier boy…. Comes marching home…" Bolin heard the distant howl of a dog, and jumped, suddenly running, and throwing himself into his big brother's arms, feeling safe as he buried his tear stained face into Mako's neck, and clung tight. "Brave soldier boy… comes marching home…"
Mako held him for what seemed like hours, petting his shaggy black hair, and murmuring soothing comforts into his ear.
"I'm s-sorry… M-Mako…" Bolin whispered, shivering. Mako held him tighter, beginning to warm them both with firebending. "I just wanted to help…"
"I know, Bo… I know…" Mako answered, ruffling his hair gently. "I'm not mad at you… I promise…" he sighed.
"Do you think she has a mommy and daddy?"
Mako thought for a while.
"I dunno, Bo…." he and Bolin began walking, and soon found themselves in front of the child once more. "But if she does… I don't think they'll be able to find her all the way out here…"
"Do you think she's a bender?" Bolin whispered, gazing at her in awe. Mako shrugged.
"I'm not sure about that, but that's all the more reason for us to be careful. She could be, and benders are scary, even if we're benders ourselves."
"But if we save her, and take care of her, won't she be on our side? She can help us stay safe! She can get us real food! Three people are better than one, and if she's a bender, we can do anything!" Bolin yelped, looking at Mako with an excited grin. Mako froze, beginning to think this over.
Every time he had come close to securing a good street for them to sleep on, or a decent dumpster for them to ravage for food, a band of street kids had always beaten him to it. Even with Bolin, the odds were never in their favor.
This girl looked older- and Bolin was right. If she was a bender, they would have an even better chance at survival- even if it meant giving up extra food. The Polar Bear dog would soon come in handy.
"Y'know something, Bolin?" Mako murmured with a smile. "I think you're right…" Bolin grinned in excitement, and Mako rested a hand on his shoulder. "Let's get these two back to camp… they look like they've been through a lot…"
Bolin smiled, helping Naga to stand, and feeding the animal again. Mako leaned down, scooping Korra into his arms. Naga followed after Mako, keeping a close eye on Korra, and this new stranger.
The two boys soon settled their guests down for the night. Mako lay on the pile of rags that was their bed, and yawned. Bolin soon cuddled close to him, falling asleep, his head on his brother's chest. Mako played with his hair absentmindedly, and wrapped an arm around his snoring form protectively. He sat awake for a bit, watching the beaten and worn girl curiously.
He hoped his brother's plan would work.