Bolin woke early that morning, racing over to Korra. The young girl was still out, and Naga was, too. The earth bender sighed in disappointment, and pouted a little.

An hour later, Mako began to stir.

"Morning, Bo…." He whispered, fixing his hair, and yawning. He frowned and tilted his head when he noticed his little brother looking rather upset. He got up, stretched, and walked over to him. "What's wrong?"

Bolin looked down.

"She hasn't gotten up yet, Mako…" Mako looked at her sadly, then back at his brother.

"We have to give her some time-"

"She hasn't moved an inch!" Bolin whined. "What if… what if she's?"

"She's still breathing, Bolin." Mako answered, crouching beside him. "Why don't we try and wake her up? She looks like she needs food, water, and care…. Go and fetch some cold water from the fountain, okay?"

Bolin nodded, and took off out of the alley. A block away, there was a small statue of Katara in the middle of a busy square which flowed water from its sides. Bolin quickly snuck towards it, getting some water into a bucket Mako had stolen long ago, and carrying it back, careful not to spill it.

"Good, Bo. Thank you." Bolin nodded, sitting beside the passed out girl, and taking some in his hands. Mako watched as Bolin splashed her. Nothing happened. Bolin looked back at his brother.

"Go on, just try again, okay?"

Bolin reached back into the bucket, and this time, splashed her again and again, persistent. With a small groan, Korra twitched a bit.

"She's alive…" Mako murmured, continuing to stare as Bolin gently splashed her some more. She slowly opened her eyes, and wiped away the water gently.

"Mmm… s-stop…"

Bolin smiled, putting the water to rest, and helping Korra to sit up.

"Man… we thought you were a goner…"

Korra looked at him in confusion, then at Mako with the same expression.

"Huh? What? Where…. Where am I?"

"Republic City." Mako answered, crossing his arms a little. "We found you at the mouth of the alley over there…"

"You almost died!" Bolin squeaked, and Mako nodded in agreement.

"Thank you…" Korra murmured, remembering her manners. "For saving me…" she suddenly got on a mask of depression, and turned back over, sighing.

Bolin looked up at Mako, wondering what was wrong. Mako rested a hand on his shoulder, and spoke.

"Are you alright?"

Korra coughed, still sick.

"I don't know…"

Bolin tilted his head.

"Where are you from?"

Korra turned again to face them, looking bored and miserable.

"Who cares? I can't ever go back…."

"Neither can we…" Bolin murmured without thinking, and Mako looked away. "Our Mommy and Daddy aren't here anymore…"

Korra looked up at them sadly.

"I'm sorry…"

"Don't be." Mako whispered. "It isn't your fault… what's done is done…"

Bolin smiled at Korra.

"Mako says you can live with us if you want…"

Korra glanced at the fire bender.

"Where do you live?"

Mako blinked.

"Anywhere…. Right now, this alley is home."

It wasn't what Korra was used to, but the idea of going home, of facing what she had done, seeing her mother- it was all too much. The alley had never been so welcoming. She gave a tired smile.

"Thank you… my name is Korra…"

Bolin grinned.

"I'm Bolin!"

Mako nodded.

"My name is Mako. We're brothers."

Korra managed to sit up, and her stomach growled. Bolin giggled a little, and gathered the rest of the bread, and some water.

"Here."

Korra scarfed it down at once, saving some for Naga, and guzzling most of the water. She soon crawled over to her companion.

"This is Naga…." She murmured, and shook the animal gently. Naga opened her eyes, and Korra offered her the food and water. Naga ate and drank quickly, and managed to get to her feet.

Mako watched them.

"Now I know you aren't feeling well right now, but once you're back to your old self…. You're gonna have to pull your weight around here, okay? We have to hunt for our food, shelter…"

Korra nodded at once.

"Of course."

Bolin watched her, that smile still persistent on his features.

"We can do it together… like a family, right Mako?"

The fire bender kept his eyes on the girl. Though she seemed kind, he was still hesitant to trust her. He ignored Bolin's comment.

"Are you a bender?"

Korra winced at this. Of course I am… I'm the avatar- but something inside made her keep this remark to herself.

"You've failed the world already, Korra…"

"The avatar should know how to call off evil spirits…"

"All your fault…"

"Run away…"

"What will your mother think?"

"Hey, I asked you a question."

Mako's voice made her snap from her trance, and she rubbed her arm.

"Yeah… a water bender…" with a flick of her wrist, she sent some water gently swirling through the air, around Bolin, who chased it and squealed with delight. However, it soon fell to the ground. Mako watched her carefully.

She soon lay back down, and closed her eyes. Bolin went to go up to her, but Mako caught his shoulder.

"Let her rest, bro."

Bolin nodded with disappointment.

"C'mon. Why don't we take those yuans you scored yesterday, and go get some of those dumplings you like?"

The disappointment soon disappeared, and Bolin smiled.

"Okay!"

Korra said nothing, her back to them.

They soon left the alley. Walking down the street, Bolin held Mako's hand, and stared down at the ground as he walked, counting his steps, avoiding holes, the usual thing a small six year old would occupy themselves with.

"I want you to be wary of Korra, Bo." Mako murmured, and Bolin gazed up at him.

"But why? She looks nice."

"Looks can be deceiving, Bolin…. And she's a bender… until she earns my trust, just be cautious, okay?"

"But what if she really does help? Then you'll be wrong." He stuck his tongue out playfully at his brother. Mako quirked an eyebrow.

"Big brothers are never wrong."

"Are too."

"Are not."

They continued their little bicker until they got to the dumpling cart. Mako got a full bag, ten dumplings for the each of them, more food than they were able to have in a very long time. Mako led them to the Republic City Park, and he sat down at the edge of the turtle duck pond, Bolin by his side.

"Here, Bo." He handed him his share of dumplings, and took his own. The earth bender set three back into the bag. Mako noticed this. "What's wrong with those?"

Bolin smiled.

"Nothing. Korra might want some, too." Mako couldn't help but feel a bit moved by Bolin's kindness. Despite their harsh environment, that caring boy his mother had raised didn't disappear. Mako reached into his pile, taking three of his own, and putting them in the bag with Bolin's offering.

"There. Now she has a bit more."

Bolin leaned against him, and nibbled on his food slowly. He smiled happily, enjoying the warmth, and taste. Mako ruffled his hair, and gazed out at the water.

"You're a good kid, Bolin."

Bolin looked up at him.

"Not as good as you. You're the coolest big brother ever!"

Mako smiled warmly at this, and put an arm around his shoulders.

"Thanks…"

Long after their meal was done, they stayed that way, enjoying the views, and giggling to each other when they began to people watch, and Bolin would make up stories about the many strangers they saw. Even when they eventually grew older, the stories never ceased to make the usual stoic Mako crack up.

Soon, they began to head back. Bolin was the first one who ran into the alley with the dumpling bag, and over to Korra's side.

"Hey, Korra! I brought ya something!"

Korra poked her head up, and noticed the dumpling bag in Bolin's hands. Her stomach had been growling for hours. She felt thankful.

"For me?"

Bolin nodded eagerly. She accepted it, and smiled.

"Thanks, Bolin… this means a lot…"

She ate her food quickly, and gave three of the six dumplings to Naga, who happily took them. Mako watched them before starting a small fire that would serve to keep them warm. He looked up at his brother.

"Bolin? Go find some twigs and newspaper."

Bolin went to leave, but Korra's voice stopped him.

"Take Naga. Just in case. She's the best guard puppy in the world."

Naga barked happily at the mention of her name. Korra pointed ahead.

"Go on, girl. Take Bolin."

She ran forward, and knocked Bolin's legs out from under him, and throwing the child onto her back. Bolin laughed loudly, hanging on tight as they ran from the alley. Mako stood, looking panicked.

"Is that safe!?"

"He'll be fine." Korra answered, sitting up. "Naga wouldn't hurt a fly…. She saved my life... that's how we met…"

Mako poked at the small fire he was nursing gently.

"I have to talk to you."

Korra looked over at him.

"Listen, Naga wont-"

"It isn't about that." Mako said, his voice stern. He gave her a serious glare. "I know Bolin told you that I said you could stay, and you can…" he paused. "But you're a bender, and I barely know you… I'm just telling you right now… if you do anything that puts our shelter, or Bolin's safety in jeopardy…" He narrowed his eyes. "You're out… that is, if I don't get to you first. You'll have to earn my trust… understood?"

Korra was taken aback, but nodded.

"Yeah… I get it…"

Mako added the last of the twigs he had.

"Good."

The two remained in silence, until Korra finally piped up again.

"What happened to your parents?"

Mako was still silent for a time.

"They were mugged… eight months ago… a fire bender killed them…. I promised my dad I'd take care of Bolin…" he tugged his red scarf around his neck tighter. "It hasn't exactly been easy."

Korra watched him, sympathy in her eyes.

"How did you… how did you keep going?" she whispered, and Mako looked up.

"Nothing is going to bring my mother and father back…" he answered, his eyes sad. "But that doesn't mean my life has to stop moving, either. Someone has to raise Bolin, and besides…" he took a deep breath. "My father once told me… that the past is the past… history is called history for a reason… you can't change what has happened to you, but you can determine where you go from then on…" he looked up at her. "I will get a better job, and I will get us a place to live… One day, Bolin is gonna have a warm spot to sleep, and food in his belly every night, and one day, we won't ever have to worry about hunger… we just have to keep moving."

Korra took this in for a long time.

She couldn't change the fact that she had failed as the avatar.

But maybe she could start anew.

Nobody around her knew who she was, so what did it matter? She didn't have to be anything.

As far as she was concerned, from now on, she wasn't the avatar anymore.

Not understanding the avatar cycle yet, she figured maybe her uncle could find someone who actually knew how to protect people, and keep peace.

Someone who wasn't a complete failure like her.

All of a sudden, Bolin came bounding back into the alley on Naga, a huge bundle of twigs in the Polar Bear Puppy's mouth. She dropped them beside Mako, wagging her tail.

"Bo! This is enough wood to keep us going for weeks!"

Korra smiled, running over, and hugging her pet.

"Good girl, Naga!"

Bolin laughed, putting some twigs on the flames, and babbling about the shocked expressions of strangers as they watched Naga race through the crowds. The puppy lay behind Korra, and the young girl rested against her. Mako looked over at her for a few seconds, and smiled.

Maybe he had nothing to worry about.

Maybe this stranger was just what they needed after all.