Hey guys, Kris here. This one is going to be a short chapter, and I apologize for the cliff hanger!

Updates will be coming soon. I haven't given up on this one yet!

-One Month later-

The sun was shining high in the sky of Republic City. People were quickly scuffling around, trying to get to whatever destination or arrangement they needed to arrive at. The streets were alive with the shouts of merchants, the laughter of children up to no good, and the blaring of Satomobile horns.

Bolin and Korra were play fighting in the alley, though it was kind of one sided. Bolin kept charging her, laughing until he was red in the face, and she would simply send him to the side with a gentle wave, or if he was persistent, she would bounce him a little with a careful water whip. Mako was still asleep after having a rather rough night with the triads, so he wasn't around to play mother hen when things got a little rough. Korra had begun the exercise, figuring it would be useful for Bolin to know how to fight, just in case. Mako had wanted to teach him, but with his hands full with triad jobs, Korra had agreed to do him a favor. He was grateful.

"I wish I could do that!" he yelled with excitement, shaking off some of the stray water droplets. "Mako says I don't have a good handle on my bending yet… but once I practice, and learn control, I'll be the best!"

Korra smiled gently.

"I have no doubt that he's right, Bo." She narrowed her eyes playfully, and took a defensive stance. "And I'll be more than happy to give you that practice… let's go…. Again."

Bolin got a fierce look of determination in his eyes, and smirked. He got a running start, his hands outstretched. Korra was about to duck to the side, but before she could, Bolin was like lightning. He tried something new, and stomped his small foot. He managed to shift the ground under the young avatar, and throw her off balance. She stumbled, still trying to avoid him, but it was too late. With a yelp of surprise, and with his momentum, the two went tumbling through the trash and dust, and were soon wrestling, muttering curses and giggling, each one trying to get the upper hand.

The fight finally stopped when Korra dodged Bolin's attempt at a hold, and she jumped up, pinning the small child, and sitting on his back with a smug grin, her arms crossed. Though she had lost weight from not eating nearly enough, she was still heavier than he was, and stronger too. Bolin squirmed and whined about it being unfair, and Korra laughed.

"Don't be so hard on yourself, Bolin." She murmured. "That ground shift thing you did? That was seriously cool. I don't think you've ever tried that before."

Bolin looked up at her, his whines stopping for a moment. He grinned with excitement and pride.

"Really?"

Korra climbed off his back, and helped him up, nodding.

"Yeah… you're learning fast, and getting better every time we train." She smirked, and punched his shoulder, hard. He stumbled, and rubbed it, and she half expected him to cry before he moved quickly, and punched her right back, making her almost fall backwards. The two looked at each other, and laughed some more.

A small groan made them both look up. Mako had emerged from their makeshift shelter, his eyes tired. He stretched, and lit a small flame in his palm, warming up his body. He looked over at them, and nodded in acknowledgement.

"Mako! Mako!" Bolin yelled, his excitement threatening to trip him. He raced to his brother's side, and tugged on his arm. "Korra says I'm getting better at fighting!"

Mako looked down at him, then back to the avatar. Half of him wanted to be upset- a child Bolin's age shouldn't have to worry about self-defense, but at the same time, he knew his parents were gone- and when he was at work, or away, Bolin needed to be ready for anything. He pushed down his regrets, and forced a smile, lovingly ruffling the earth bender's hair.

"That's great, Bo. I'm proud of you." Bolin nodded happily before running over to Naga, and beginning to play fetch with her. Mako watched them for a moment before walking over to Korra's side.

"Did you take it easy with him?" Mako murmured, his eyes on her warily. Korra couldn't help but notice that the longer she stayed here, the more suspicious and cold Mako had become. She was snapped from her trance when he spoke again. "I saw a scratch on his cheek that wasn't there last night…"

Korra sighed.

"You wanted me to show him how to fight, so I did! Mako, I can't make everything easy on him… you think a street kid would go easy on him? Or a gang member?" At this, Mako looked down.

"No… they wouldn't."

"Exactly… and besides! He's a tough kid… he didn't cry, or stop… he kept going. He can take me being a little rough sometimes… he's getting better… more skilled… he even caught me off guard today…"

Mako couldn't help but smile a little at that. He gazed at his brother once more before turning back to Korra.

"I'm gonna go steal us some breakfast, okay? Could you and Bolin fix up the shelter some? It's falling apart."

Korra quirked a brow.

"You shouldn't go alone… we can fix the shelter later, let me come with you."

Mako shook his head.

"It isn't a big deal… just some dumplings or soup from a cart, and a loaf of bread… I can handle it myself… besides… I'd much rather you here, watching over him. He has a tendency to wander…"

Korra would have said more, but the confidence in Mako's voice kept her silent. She nodded.

"Yeah, alright… but just…" she paused, offering her hand. "Be careful… okay?"

Mako stared at it for a long time before he reached down, and clasped it tightly. They nodded to each other, and he began to walk off.

"I will."

He turned his eyes ahead, and Korra watched as he paused by Bolin's side, patting the younger boy's shoulder, and leaning down to kiss his head. He explained where he was going, and he was soon gone, Bolin waving.

Tired from their morning training, Korra and Bolin settled for lounging against Naga, enjoying the warmth of the sun, making them comfy, and drowsy. It wasn't long before they were fast asleep, leaning against each other in a nap.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Mako narrowed his eyes as he crept among the many vendors of the street, scoping out any openings he could take to pluck something from a cart or store. Finding food to feed three people, and a polar bear dog would be hard enough…

Maybe he should have accepted Korra's help…

Knowing it didn't matter now, he continued on his way, and smiled brightly as he noticed a food cart completely unguarded. Three loaves of bread, and a bag of fresh dumplings sat on a low shelf, ready to be nabbed. Mako couldn't believe his luck. Glancing around one more time, he made a run for it, and hastily grabbed the food.

What he didn't count on was the police officer, who was talking to the owner of said food cart. The reason they weren't in sight was because they were inside the small tent that lay beside it. The vendor had already been robbed a great amount by a street kid earlier that day, and when his eyes looked upon Mako, he jumped to attention, and yelled out:

"Officer! Another one! Get that street rat!" Mako gasped loudly, and stumbled as the officer turned a hateful gaze towards him. He shot a metal cable, aiming to wrap Mako's wrist.

The boy was too quick, and dodged. In a fit of desperation, he sent a wave of flames in the direction of the officer, unknowingly lighting the vendor's cart ablaze. He didn't stick around to see anything further, and with the distraction he had caused, he made a run for it, the food long forgotten. He didn't feel hunger anymore. He felt sick with fear.

"MY CART!" The owner shrieked, and pointed after the amber eyed thief. "SOMEONE GRAB THAT BRAT!"

Mako's chest heaved as he ran as fast as he could, the undeniable clanking of the officer's boots behind him in hot pursuit. He kept having to jump to the side to avoid the metal cables, and he quickly bolted past the direction of the alley where Bolin and Korra were.

He was in danger, and he wasn't about to take the threat straight to his doorstep, or to his little brother, and new companion. He had to do this on his own, whether he liked it or not.

"It's just one guy…" he sputtered to himself. "I can lose him…" he ducked down a side street into a crowded square. With his smaller size, he was able to duck and weave through the masses of people easily, the shouts and protests of the officer he left in the dust quickly fading. He sighed with relief, but kept running anyway, his adrenaline convincing him he still needed to flee.

The officer doubled over, his hands on his knees. He tried to catch his breath, and pulled out the radio that had been strapped to his back.

"This is…. Officer Shen… requesting back up…. Anyone on tenth… in the Republic Town square…"

Mako ran down the street, and once the crowd thinned, he made a sudden turn down another alley way. He paused to catch his breath, leaning against the building. Despite himself, he smiled, proud of his daring escape. However, a voice behind him suddenly made his blood run cold.

"You! Stop!" Mako whipped around, and panicked as officer Shen caught up, and was yards from him. He sent a few blasts of fire behind him before he made a run for the mouth of the alley, his heart pounding. He was almost there…

Suddenly, three shapes stepped out, blocking his way. Trying to skid to a stop, he screamed loudly, and shot more flames toward the new threat. He was no match for them. Six cables all soared towards him at once, and pinned his arms against his sides. He squirmed and kicked.

"N-no!" he yelped. "Let me go!"

Shen dusted off his singed uniform, and glared down at Mako, his eyes brimming with fresh hatred.

"I'm sick of you street kids causing messes all over the city… you think it's okay to take something that isn't yours?"

Mako said nothing, returning the hateful stare, despite the fact his legs were shaking.

Shen shook his head in disgust.

"Cuff the little animal… throw him in prison…"

One of the officers spoke up.

"Sir… the jail is pretty full right now, and even so… isn't he a little young to-"

Shen spun around, fire in his eyes.

"THEN TAKE HIM TO THE ORPHANAGE!" Mako shrunk down, the man's loud, booming voice striking fear in his usual cold heart. "If I ever see this little runt on my streets again…" he gave Mako a long, threatening stare that left the fire bender to determine himself exactly what the old officer meant.

"Let's go, kid…" one officer grunted, cuffing him quickly, and beginning to drag him away.

"Please wait! You don't understand!" Mako yelled, trying to fight once more. Another officer came over, and kept him restrained. "I can't go to the orphanage! I can't!"

"You have to, and you will!" shouted the third officer. "Now be quiet!"

Mako said nothing more as he was loaded into the back of an armored satomobile. He gazed longingly out the back window, and his eyes began to fill with tears. His freedom had been taken away, but worse?

He wouldn't ever see Bolin, or Korra again.

For the first time since he lost his parents, he began to cry.