Hello all! Kris here! so, I released the authors note asking what ya'll think, and ill paste it here, so at least it's with a legit chapter this time, and it wont be at risk to be removed. It stated this:

So, I decided to revisit this story because I miss the legend of Korra so much, and I miss writing, and I wanted an opinion from you all.

I know, I know, authors notes arent allowed anymore... this will be deleted. Bear with me.

Would you guys like to see this continued? I was a lot younger and a little stupid when I first began this, but I really want to revise the early chapters and finish this one strong. Again, its based off a tumblr post that compared the legend of korra to lion king characters, and I cant try a lot harder to make it less of such a carbon copy, and more of its own story that simply uses the au as sort of a spring board...

idk, I really think this story has amazing potential... just let me know what you guys think. Ive been away awhile, but I hope that hasnt made anyone lose faith! ive been super super busy at college, my program is kicking my ass... but I want to use writing as a positive outlet for my stress. its something I really enjoy, and id love to hear what you guys and girls think.

thanks so much! and feel free to PM me with any questions or concerns! I have other LOK fics up too if anyone is interested in those!

But yeah! I felt such a huge wave of nostalgia for fic writing in general, and I miss the series a lot, so I figured screw it, and I wanted to finish this one. Im going to be workshopping and revising my older chapters too, so in the coming weeks those will begin to change, but I wanted to update. Tell me what ya'll think! id love the feedback. Writing is my escape from all the bad stuff going on around me, and believe me, there's been a lot. Im very anxious and sad most days, but I love the community we have here, and I cant wait to hear from you lovely people again. Thank you so much for your continued support. Every follow, every like, every review (even the bad ones) mean the world to me. Okay, enough talking... down to the read :)

Oh! one more thing before we begin. A little disclaimer here. Though in the actual story, korra starts out as four, but to make things a bit easier, and to make her speech seem a bit more fitting, I decided to start Korra out at 7. It doesn't make much sense to some of you, but remember, Aang didn't really discover he was the avatar until he was older. Just figured id close that plot hole! I thought it was hilarious how eloquently a four year old Korra was speaking in earlier chapters, and it really bothered me, so yeah. Artistic license I calls it. Enjoy!

It had been almost two hours since Mako had initially left to score them some food for dinner. The shelter had been fixed up as promised, and Bolin and Korra were still fast asleep against Naga's back, proud that their work had been completed. Bolin soon began to stir first, his tiny body slumping against Korra's side as he began to come to. He yawned loudly, and smiled.

"Hey, Korra! Wake up! Mako's probably home, we can show him the shelter!" He exclaimed, proud of his work, and even more proud at the prospect of making his older brother smile. It was rare, and wasn't an easy task, but when it happened, he felt like he could fly. He quickly ran towards the mouth of the alley, a smile on his face, ready to call out Mako's name, but after a few minutes he went quiet.

Korra noticed this, and tilted her head a little. She shook Naga awake, and frowned.

"What's wrong, Bo?"

Bolin paused, shaking his head.

"We slept for a long time… and… and Mako isn't ever late. He reads the clock in the town and he tells me what hand he'll come home at… he isn't ever late…"

Korra felt worry rise up in her gut. She was older than Bolin, and understood the dangers better than he ever could. Still, he wasn't stupid, and she knew that he had every right to be concerned. She looked over at the clock that was visible in the town square from their alley, and glanced back at the chubby earth bender.

"Did he say what time he'd be back?" she didn't know how to read a clock either, in fact, she barely knew how to read, but both her and Bolin had been receiving lessons from Mako. The older boy had stolen a lesson book from a professor at the local school, and had been transferring as much knowledge as he could to his little family. Bolin and Korra still struggled, but were getting the hang of it.

"No, but… he always tells me that if he isn't home by the time the big hand is on the 12… that I should get help from the other street kids…" Night had fallen indeed, and with a sick twist in her gut, Korra realized that big hand was dangerously close to 11.

"He'll be home soon, I'm sure of it…" she offered, wanting to remain positive. "We still have time, see? The big hand is on the 11…"

Bolin sighed, not seeming convinced. He plopped down on the ground sadly, his eyes beginning to water. He shook his head a few times.

"Mako always comes home early… I'm scared…"

Korra sat beside him, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. She gazed up at the clock, feeling her spirits dropping. However, she promised herself that she'd find a way to save Mako if he really was in trouble. She flashed back to her father's demise, her uncle's blame, and no doubt, her mother's disappointment and grief. She'd already failed once, but she refused to fail again. Mako and Bolin were here new family, her second chance. She refused to be the avatar, but she could be herself. She could be Korra the waterbender, a girl who loved her adoptive companions and who always helped when she could.

She wouldnt let them down.

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Mako sat shivering in the cold, and dirty cell that was inside the orphanage. This was a part that the city wasn't really allowed to see, the "rehabilitation" areas for problem children. Rehabilitation was a word that Mako learned quick when he was thrown onto the streets after his parent's murder. It was supposed to mean "to help someone get better, to change for the good", but out here? It was like a dirty curse word. All the street rats were afraid of it, and now Mako knew why.

A caretaker strode past with a tray of awful smelling food, and pushed it through the slot and onto the floor. Mako turned away, having lost his appetite long ago. He stopped screaming, stopped crying, and stopped begging to be let free, because no matter how many times he tried to explain that his little brother was out there, lost and alone and probably hungry, he'd get laughed at.

"Then you shouldn't have stolen from someone!" one of the elderly ladies snapped, turning her back on him. What she failed to realize was that he had no choice. He had lost hope of being released, and buried his face in his hands. Nobody would tell him anything about his getting out except "when you've learned your lesson." He did learn his lesson, alright.

If he did somehow make it out of this? He wouldn't ever take a moment with his brother for granted again, and when Korra offered him help? He'd accept. He looked at the clock on the wall in the orphanage. It struck twelve loudly, and he vaguely remembered what he told Bolin about his disappearances, and what it meant. He felt a small gleam of hope in his chest. Maybe he and Korra would find him after all… maybe this wasn't the end.

He just hoped they wouldn't get caught or locked away in the process, either. He felt ashamed of himself. Boy, his parents would be proud…

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"Look! It's past the twelve!" Bolin cried, his lip sticking out, and tears threatening to spill over. "Korra, Mako is in trouble! We have to help him! We have to help!" he grabbed at her sleeve, tugging on it, and whimpering. Naga lowered her head, whining, and Korra soon pulled back, getting Bolin's attention.

"Bo, Bo! Easy… easy, come on!" she looked him in the eyes, and sighed. "We don't know where he could even be… we have to come up with a plan before we start running all over the whole city…"

Bolin considered this before nodding, and lowering his gaze sadly.

"Look, I wanna find him too, but we have to be careful… we can't help Mako if we get caught by the police…" Korra murmured, and stroked Naga gently. "We can ask around, try to find out where Mako was last… maybe somebody can tell us something… do you guys know anyone like that?"

Bolin began to cry. "N-nobody is gonna wanna help! M-Mako says they won't t-talk unless you g-give them money, and we don't got any! I-I w-wont get Mako b-back!" he wailed loudly, and Korra began to hush him softly.

"Hey, hey…. Bo?" Bolin cried harder, but sniffled, looking up at her. She smirked a bit, and looked at Naga. "Naga? Show me your war face!" Naga wagged her tail, and curled her lips back into a frightening snarl, her hackles rising, and her eyes narrowed. Bolin gasped, and stumbled back, and Korra began to giggle. "No, no! It's okay! It's what we want!"

Bolin laughed as Naga nuzzled him lovingly, and licked his cheek.

"Nobody is gonna make us pay for anything if Naga scares it out of them! She's our own personal body guard!" Naga barked happily as if to say "yes, yes I am."

"Oh man!" Bolin cried, his anguish long forgotten. "Shady shin is gonna poop his pants when he sees that! We have to go, we have to go!"

Korra smiled with determination. "Mako is your brother." she began, not feeling welcomed enough to call him her brother, too. "We WILL get him back, no matter what."

"Family sticks together." Bolin spouted diligently, as if this phrase had been set into him since birth. Korra nodded, feeling warmth spread through her stomach.

"Yeah, they do, don't they?" Bolin nodded quickly, and ran over to Naga.

"Come on! Shady Shin is always by the big statue, and then the other kids will come out, and then even more and we can ask everybody!" his eyes gleamed with hope, and his six year old spirit shone. "We gotta go!"

Korra ran over to Naga, and climbed onto her back before reaching down, and helping Bolin up behind her. The small child clung to her back, and she took hold of the makeshift harness that Mako had given her as a present her first few weeks with them, and cracked the reins quickly.

"Let's roll, girl!" Naga let out a loud bark before bounding from the alley, and the two children disappeared from sight.

"We're coming, Mako…" Korra thought to herself as Bolin cheered them on. "Just hold on…"