Birds greeted the morning autumn sun with song and dance. It was chilly and Korra had draped herself with a brown overcoat lined with white fur to keep herself warm during morning meditation. With focus always being her greatest challenge, she was actually making a better effort for once. Today will commence the first scouting mission for Amon's hideout. So top mental clarity was a priority for the druid. Her soul was calm but her mind did wander from time to time, predominantly to Asami. Even with her eyes closed, Korra could feel her sitting just a few yards away in the gardens. She could even sense what mood Asami was in, completely matching her own sense of content and happiness for the time being.
Asami was her soulmate. A fact that she still had trouble grasping but it is the one thing that made her trials all worthwhile. When her teeth sank into Asami's neck the night before, she was flooded with her entire essence. Her blood tasted like ambrosia and the flavor washed over all of her senses filling her insides with a glorious nirvana. Korra had never known such peace before. It was almost too good to be true which left her with a complex stew of caution.
You are happy about it, are you not?
'Of course I am,' Korra replied with humble bashfulness. 'It's just… that…'
You are worried about the future, I understand. The road before you will be hard and you will need each other to be in sync to overcome it. The tie will make you stronger now that you have something more precious to protect. Thus that is why I did what was done.
'And so… the bite?'
It is a mating ritual reserved for the gods. I've grown a concern about Morrigan's true intentions for Asami when the tie was stirring. It's an extra precaution. With my power, her soul can be protected against Morrigan's hunger.
Korra's brow furrowed in concern at the mention of Morrigan again. 'I thought you said I should not meddle with the contracts of gods and champions.'
Yes… I did mention that.
'Wouldn't Morrigan be angry?' Korra asked next but an answer did not come. The druid cocked her head and called, 'Raava?' Still no answer. Korra sighed out loud and eased her eyes open, just a peak. Tenzin sat before her in a peaceful quietness, oblivious to his student's struggle to follow him in meditation. Besides her, Opal was in the same state making Korra feel like a spiritual failure once again. But her attention continued to wander in the direction of the gardens. Korra could make out her mate's figure, bundled over a craft that Korra couldn't see over the tall grasses.
Asami paused her work suddenly, glancing up to catch eye contact with her across the way. The small smile that followed caused Korra's heart skip a beat upon arrival. She tore her eyes away quickly, blushing like a teenager who got caught staring when they weren't supposed to. Even after all that has conspired between them, Asami seemed to keep making her feel like a child.
Korra's body then went stiff as a board when she felt a hand crawl over her thigh. Blue eyes popped open wide, dragging to the right side. Opal kept her eyes shut with a growing grin on her lips in knowing exactly what she was doing during the morning meditation session. Fat beads of sweat grew over Korra's brow with a growing panic swelling in the pit of her stomach. She glanced back over to Asami, the very woman who she had made passionate love to the night before. A stone glare was expected, yet Korra only received an arched brow in response. If she was jealous, Asami didn't let her know it. Even within her aura, Korra couldn't find a smidge of unpleasantry.
Still though, Korra couldn't help but feel uncomfortable. Any second now, Tenzin could open his eyes to what is happening before him. If Opal was caught feeling her up while meditating, Korra could only imagine what the master would suspect what could be happening in his sacred home. With a tight squeeze on her thigh, Korra yelped and sprang up from her spot.
The spiritual master heaved a sigh as he opened his eyes. "What is it this time?"
"Uhhh," his delinquent pupil shifted her eyes to come up with an excuse. Thank the spirits that Mako and Bolin had just showed up, strolling towards them from the dock. "Sorry, Tenzin! It seems like we need to cut this short!" She flashed him a nervous grin before shooting off to meet her comrades. Bolin was quick to scoop up his friend in his arms with a giant bear hug and a wide grin. Mako's greeting was less personal. A simple arm grab in respect had sufficed.
"We need to be ready to meet the others in two hours," Mako said while shrugging a heavy parcel over his shoulder to ease the weight. Korra could pick out the reek of garlic oil and sulfur seeping from the bag.
"Do you really need all that for a scouting mission?" she asked, cooking her head to the side in curiosity.
"This isn't for us." Mako dejected. "Meet me at the docks in an hour." Korra and Bolin watched stride off without another word. While the two friends chatted it up, Mako was quick to find Asami in the gardens toying with a long braided string. She met him with a smile and rose up from her place, dusting her tunic off with care before tying the blue rope around her waist for later.
"You got everything?" She implored while taking the bag from his shoulder to inspect the contents.
"It's all there, my lady," He assured, taking a moment to observe her glowing features. Something had changed. "It seems like the island life has treated you well?"
"It is tolerable," Asami answered. She was not in the mood for idle conversation, however. So she steered straight into business. "When?"
"Tonight," he replied, digging out a manilla scroll from his coat to place in her hands. "Two platoons will be in the north while we take the west side. If they see you…"
"They won't," Asami promised him. "Just make sure Korra stays with your patrol… She will try to come for me if you don't have any other pressing matters going on."
"Have you discussed this with her?" Mako asked. "Otherwise, I don't understand how she would know."
"It is…" Asami paused to gather her thoughts. Now that it has been confirmed that Korra as her soul mate and now can tell exactly where she is at all times, keeping her own plans a secret from her will be difficult now. "...complicated. If she tries to leave… please explain to her as best as you can."
"I will do my best," Mako said without a hint of confidence. "But I can't make any promises that she will listen to me."
"I can handle her if she doesn't. All I'm asking is to buy me some time."
.
.
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The Spirit Vale. A place for the gods and spirits to call home. The atmosphere is thick like water and colors tend to be more vibrant depending on where you are. In other places, darker places, not even the happiest of poppies can be seen in the grey underworld. But Morrigan always found a way to keep her table a little happier with a vase of spirit lilies. Just because she was a goddess of death did not mean that she didn't appreciate the beauty of life. Without it, she would have no purpose after all. A second teacup sat on the opposite end of the table in preparation for her incoming guest. She didn't send an invitation, but she was expecting her anyways.
Just in time. Morrigan smiled to herself, curling her long fingers in her lap as a figure breached the hazy fog which surrounded the black iron gazebo. Raava, the Goddess of Light. Here, in the underworld. Morrigan found it rather ironic since this was the protector of the living and her appearance made her stick out like a sore thumb. Pearly white flowing hair spilled over her dark olive complexion. Her eyes were sapphires. The dark goddess mused over Raava's colorful attire. The white robe did little to hide the rainbows of silk sashes and gold trimmings but it was the main attraction of her outfit. Through, what really caught Morrigan's attention was the triangular wolf ears that stuck out impressively from the sides of her head. The golden trinkets that prodded out of her hairbun seemed to accentuate them even more. Despite the dreary atmosphere of Morrigan's front yard, Raava's presence brought warmth and light to the area. Morrigan couldn't decide whether or not it made her uncomfortable at first.
"Please," Morrigan's emerald glowing eyes flickered with her extended hand. "Sit… we have much to discuss."
"You knew I was coming." Raava canted out as she took her seat at the iron dining table. With delicate movements, Morrigan poured her some rose tea from a black kettle with gold etching.
"I foresaw it." Morrigan said with a smile. "What more can you expect from one who can peer into the threads of fate?" She picked up her own cup and brought it to her black lips.
"I came to make sure that we won't find ourselves in a war over the affairs of our champions," Raava announced while medicating her own tea with a spoonful of spirit honey.
"You are concerned that you have interfered with my business." Morrigan smirked behind her cup. "I was expecting them to tie. However, your daring move to seal her with a mating bite was quite unexpected. Even so, it has not thwarted my plans at all."
Raava took a sip of the tea, humming with approval at the taste before resting her cup in the saucer with a soft clink. "It's good… is this from Iroh?"
"The very best." Morrigan confirmed. "If I may ask…Why do you feel the need to protect Asami? She has nothing to do with you."
"Paired souls are very rare afterall. It would be a shame to destroy that."
"Fate does not care about such things." Morrigan placed her cup down and gazed intently at light goddess before her. "Well, I must admit... The two of them are an interesting couple. The plight to gain dominance over one another is rather entertaining. It reminds me of Yin and Yang… With their energies balancing each other out."
"I have found a relation with that," Raava confessed with a faint smile. "Unfortunately, my duty to the physical realm turned my attention away from keeping an eye on my former mate. He fell into his own darkness and eventually became lost to me because he refused my offering to bite. I suppose my main reason for my actions is an attempt to save Korra from the same fate."
"Ugh," Morrigan grumbled in her throat. "How in the world were you able to put up with Vaatu's chaotic ambitions for all those eons? Did you know that he actually tried to claim me? The gall of that god! Just because I am a dark entity does not mean I share his thirst for destruction."
"It was an arranged mating…" Raava said with a look of apology. "The Ether saw it was best for me to keep his cravings at a minimum." Looking down, she found her cup empty and placed it back on the table with a sigh. "It wasn't all that bad… Vaatu did help me see things a bit more realistically in my youth. Light can only shine so far, he would say."
"He was foolish to leave you," Morrigan quipped out while pouring her guest more warm rosey liquid before refilling her own vessel. "Darkness cannot survive without the light." Raava's ears twitched with surprise at her host's kind words. She certainly wasn't expecting her to be so cordial. Rumors had it that Morrigan was a fierce goddess. Cold, unyeilding and very dangerous to quarrel with. "Well.. I guess I can't really relate to your situation. Most deities are too squeamish to think about mating with the Goddess of Death."
When Raava leaned forward to stir more sweet honey into her tea, Morrigan's emerald pupils veered towards the slope of her neck where she could barely make out the faded scar. In the moment of awkward silence, the black haired goddess raised her tea and saucer up to take another sip in remedy.
"Are you interested in mating?" Raava asked glancing up from the gentle stirring of her silver spoon. Morrigan's hands drew back too quickly, tipping her tea over in her sudden movement. The inquiry had startled her sorely. Why in the vail would Raava want to know such a thing? The phrasing itself almost sounded propositional. While Morrigan's mind performed acrobatic exercises, her tea continued to spill over and trickle down onto the table.
"My apologies." With a flick of Raava's hand, the spoiled liquid was willed away, flying off somewhere less important. "That was rather personal."
"V-very." Morrigan surprised herself with her own stutter. She never stutters. She fumbled to regain her poised confidence. "I do not understand the reason for it…"
"Well, love is a deciding factor." Raava's reply earned a loud snort from her host. Love? Morrigan never considered such a thing for herself.
"I've guided hundreds of foolish humans to the underworld dying in the name of love." With haste, Morrigan refilled her now upright cup and took a hardy gulp followed with a sigh. "Some of them were fated to achieve great things if it wasn't for that."
"It can offer great strength in times of need. Also I've known many triumphs in the forms of love. Love creates life, conquers the hearts of men to still their sword arms and can even save the planes of existence against destructive forces " Raava countered with a sigh. She straightened her spine and stuck out her bottom lip. "Have you ever been in love before?"
Another startling personal question. Morrigan won't have any part of playing whatever game Raava had started. "I think we have gone off subject… we are here to talk about our champions' relationship."
"Which is why I am concerned about your standing on this subject… You didn't seem to take an interest in Asami until the bond was starting to form. Since you've been alone all this time, I wondered if maybe you envied the connection they shared. And in this plight, you are moving to try to destroy it." This time, Morrigan all about laughed in her face at such a claim.
"Oh, dear little lightning bug," she mused from her seat and leaned forward with a snarling grin. "You speak as if I have intend to harm my own ward."
"I know what you do with your champions…" Raava slitted her eyes. "Even though you follow through on your contracts, you also force them to fuse with you so you can gain their power after death."
"It is the highest honor my best champions can hope to achieve," Morrigan squared her jaw in defense. "But that will not be the result of Asami's contract," she added. "And it's not because of the mating bite either. As a Goddess I have to keep my word to Yasuko's request to ensure Asami is reincarnated. The reason why I gained an interest in their relationship is because it is the key to defeating Amon."
"Explain this to me, please." Raava demanded softly with a furrowed brow. She wanted to know exactly what Morrigan had in store with the noblewoman. She watched her black lips purse in hesitation to answer, but she waited patiently nonetheless for her to speak.
Morrigan started to explain as her fingers slid across the rim of her cup. "Despite your efforts, Amon's forces will overwhelm your champion while the ritual takes place. He will succeed, I have seen it in the threads of fate. When Amon becomes a daywalker, all of his ghouls will gain the same resistance to the dawn. The Republic will fall and soon after, the entire empire. Even though fate is very hard to change, we actually have the upper hand in this situation. We can control one variable."
The word 'we' gave Raava some hope. So it seems that Morrigan is willing to work with her to save the physical world from dark forces that threaten it. With a tentative finger to the rip of Morrigan's cup the conversation continued on.
"But before I tell you… I need you to be compliant with what I'm about to say."
.
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Korra grumbled with impatience. She was ready to get the mission started but the others haven't arrived yet. The only thing she was able to do to cure her boredom was to play a game of fetch with Naga in the field. Bolin and Mako sat around near a few boulders to watch as they waited patiently. Beforelong, Korra's nose turned up into the air with alert. Her fists clenched, hair prickled up on the back of her neck as a familiar, unwelcome scent grew stronger.
"What is she doing here?" Korra snarled under her breath as two riders came into view. She was aware that Lord Tarrlok was coming along but everyone seemed to fail to inform her that so was her long time enemy.
Kuvira. The proud general's shoulders drew back in dominance as their horses slowed to a stop to meet them. Her forest green eyes glued onto Korra's defensive stance with an upturned lip curl. "Princess." Kuvira's greeting was anything but friendly. Her aura was swirling with tension at the ready in case she decided to try something foolish.
"Kuvira," Korra spat out her name as if it was poison. "I thought you made due for Zaofu a week ago."
"I was well on my way to return home," Kuvira explained. "That is until a courier stopped me with a message from the King for Zaofu's aid. Since I would have to return anyways, I thought I'd save myself some time and just wait here for my army to meet me." Kuvira turned over to her riding companion. "Lord Tarrlok was kind enough to give me useful things to do by inviting me to join your party."
"We are grateful to have you with us, General." Tarrlok turned his attention to the southern royal with a gentle stare. "Since there is no more need for Kurvia to pursue you now, I think it is wise to have her on our task force. Even you can attest to her rather unique abilities."
Before Korra could open her mouth to protest, Mako placed an assuring grip on her shoulder. "We need all the help we can get, Korra," he said. "We will split up into teams to search for the hideout. That way we can cover more ground in less time."
"Fine," Korra growled as she tore her shoulder away from his touch. "Kuvira can track as well as I can… so she will go with you and Bolin while Lord Tarrlok and I take the northside." Hoping onto Naga's back, Korra waited until the brothers mounted their own horses until giving further instructions. "Look for any caverns or abandoned structures with any signs of recent use or suspicious activity. Do not go inside. If you find anything, note it on the map and move on. We meet back here before sundown. Do not be late."
With affirmative nods, the party rode off in two seperate teams. Korra kept a glance back every now and again to assure that her partner was keeping up with her. After a few good strides into the thicket of the forest, they slowed to a canter side by side to explore the area. Korra paused at a bush with a freshly broken branch to inspect it. With a sniff, she dismissed it as a simple game trail.
"You're tracking skills are impressive, Princess." Korra wasn't really in the mood for conversation, but Tarrlok seemed to not share her preference for the quiet. "Just how long were you in the wilds for?"
"Long enough," she mumbled, trying to keep the conversation brief. She was still wary about him as a northern ambassador regardless of his alliance with the Republic.
"I've taken a pilgrimage in the wilds of the northern rim before as a right of passage in my youth," he mentioned while riding by her side. "Did you do something similar in the south?"
"Mmn," Korra confirmed with a nod. "Our right of passage involves sailing through the Icebergs of Tonpikani by ourselves at age twelve."
"On your own? Really?" Tarrlok had expressed genuine surprise at the information. "That sounds dangerous for such a youngling."
"Not everyone does it," she added. "Only those who are made to be warriors. The success rate is only half the time. If you don't come back then you are assumed not worthy."
"And I was told that southerners were soft. Clearly a misconception." Korra held up a fist for silence when her nose picked up a sickly scent. Rotting flesh. It was unmistakable. She kicked Naga off into a run in the direction of the stench with her partner following closely behind on alert. They stumbled upon the source with grunts of dismay.
Women.
A spread of hollowed out bodies scattered across the ground in a small clearing within the dense cluster of trees. Korra choked back bile in her throat with a hard gulp at the horrific scene. Her effort to shield her nose from the putrid smell did little to help the burning in her nostrils. All the young girls shared the same wounds. Gaping holes in their chests along with pressure marks around their wrists and ankles were all present. Korra had also noticed that they had been drained from their necks showing that they all died the same way. There was no question about who was the culprit.
"This is worse than I thought," Tarrlok broke the silence again. Korra glanced up to him with a look of agreement. "I knew that this would be serious, but to see it for myself…"
"He is growing his power by eating their hearts," Korra stated as she continued to inspect the carnage. "To gain complete control over virgins. They will come willingly into his hands on the winter solstice. We have to stop this. We can't wait any longer." Korra's stomach was thick with anxiety as she hissed out her words. Thoughts immediately went to Asami as the reality of this situation sunk in further. If anything were to happen to her…
"Look here." Korra swung her head to the councilman at the edge of the clearing. "There's a trail." Naga pressed her rider further to the evidence to confirm. Boot prints laid in the dried clay of the ground leading into a shadowy path further deeper into the forest. Korra didn't like the look of it. The thick canopy shrouded most of the sunlight that would have kept a vampire at bay. If Amon was awake and about, he may be hiding in the shadows.
With a deep breath of preparation, Korra suggested to press on. "Let's see if it goes anywhere." Tarrlok gave her a nod and joined her down the dark path on his dark brown horse with a shared sense of caution. As the rode side by side, Korra produced the rolled up map she kept on Naga's harness and made a few quick marks to keep track of where they were. Her thoughts kept stirring up her nerves and so she decided that maybe conversation would be useful after all.
"Lord Tarrlok," She called the attention of her companion. "Usually councilmen like to hide behind their guard and stay on the side lines with these things. Why is it that you've insisted to be on our taskforce? You were rather persistent at the council meeting."
"Amon," Tarrlok briefly answered while he kept his stone gaze in front of him. "I knew him very well when he was a mortal. In a way, I feel responsible for what has happened."
"...responsible?"
"He was my brother," Tarrlok confessed with a low voice. His eyes darted over to her to catch the surprised look on her face. "His name was once Noatak. The two of us were very close when we were young."
"What happened to him?" The hunter saw the hesitation on the councilman's angular face. It took a pause of silence before he answered her.
"Our father was an infamous bandit leader. We got in all sorts of trouble. Raiding, stealing and killing innocent people. One day, our father was captured and brought to justice at the gallows. That very day… I was witnessing our future. The only thing a life of crime will bring is the heavy swing of the executioner's axe. I wanted to leave the ambitions of my father behind and live an honorable life. So I escaped. But Noatak was older and more infested in my father's work so he took control of our father's party instead and continued on in his footsteps.
"As time went on, I joined the guardforce and made a name for myself. Then one day, fifteen years ago, there was an raid upon the Sato Estate. My brother was the reason… he was so thirsty for coin and power that he sought out Hiroshi's manor for spoils. As a result… Lady Yasuko was killed in the chaos."
"Asami's mother…" Korra bit down on her bottom lip as the story continued on to end.
"Yes," Tarrlok confirmed. "I pursued him and found him with a sword wound in an alley of the market. He begged me to end his life but I could not bring myself to do it. I was weak… I still had hope that he could change. So I gave him an ultimatum. Face the rest of his days in a dungeon or change his ways. To my relief, he said he wanted change. He was tired of the life of pillaging and wanted something more than just a cell. Since I was to be initiated on the council, I was able to give him a new persona and an apprenticeship in the mage's court. I had no idea that he was diving into something more sinister than I could possibly imagine."
"Do not blame yourself for your brother's actions. He choose his own path as we all do." Korra expressed her empathy through her words. "I'm very sorry that happened… I can't imagine what you are going through right now."
"It was my actions that freed him to gain so much power…" Tarrlok sighed. "I've come to the terms of having to bring my brother to justice like I should have. And that is why I must be here." Even though the councilman's words should be stirring with dismay, Korra was surprised at how calm his aura was through the entire narrative. In fact, he had been calm this entire quest. She found it interesting at how he was able to keep a firm grasp on his emotions considering his own situation with his brother. She wondered if she would ever mature to his level in maintaining control over her own feelings one day.
Korra strung her head to the canopy above them. From the way the shadows were laying she could perceive that the sun was getting lower in the sky. The path that they had been following seemed to keep going deeper without any other signs leading to an end. If they kept going, they would be in the high mountain ridge of Honey Badger Pass. Korra has been there before, but only in passing. Upon recollection she remembered that there was many caverns and even old pilgrim trails which led to various temples of different kinds of gods. She had taken care to avoid those paths. Cultists were not too kind to wandering travelers who may disgrace the sacred ground of the ancient ruins of their masters.
"Do you think that Vlad Zar may have a temple in the mountains?" Korra asked.
"It is possible," Tarrlok said. "Occult followers like to keep the knowledge of their temples secret. That would be a good assumption as to where my brother is hiding."
"We should turn around," she suggested. "We won't be able to get there and back by sundown." And so they did. Korra rode a bit behind Tarrlok, mulling over the map as she let Naga steer herself. She continued to mark the map of possible routes to temples from her memory. If anything, it was just a rough guess. Next time they would have to risk the darkness in order to find the temple. Waiting for the Zaofu army would have to be their only option before pressing any further safely. But Korra didn't like waiting. She was growing desperate to find the blooddrinker and put an end to it.
Her mind continued to turn to worried thoughts about Asami. The night that Kuvira pursued her in the country bore into her mind. Amon had accosted her soulmate but instead of killing her, he had let her go. There was only one reason why he would do that. He was saving her later… until the day of the ritual would come. Even though the Blade of Lunas was safe for now, Korra wasn't confident that Asami would be so lucky. Amon was thirsty for revenge and would come after her regardless of whether or not he had the blade.
A glimpse of movement caught her attention. A figure stood a few yards away in the forest. Blue transparency of Lord Sakka's ghost stared into her direction. Naga paused as she saw it too but Tarrlok kept riding on without a hint of knowledge. Korra watched the ghost turn his head at the councilman's back before fading away into the growing shadow.
.
.
.
Korra sat at the bar of the bustling tavern. Her head prompt up with her hand as she stared across the tavern at the two councilmen in the corner. She had joined the rest of the taskforce to get a drink after the day quest as a break before setting off for the night patrol. Now that she has seen Lord Hiroshi sitting at the same table, her suspicion of Tarrlok being the one trusted with the Blade of Lunas gained solidarity. Unfortunately for her, the tavern was too loud for any chance to eavesdrop on their conversation. Her attention was stolen away in almost an instant when a mug of ale slammed down in front of her. Kuvira plopped herself down on the stool next to her with a gruff heave.
"Drink up, Princess." Kuvira offered as she took a hardy swig of her own pint. Korra shot a stabbing glare in her direction before picking up the drink. "If we are going to be working together now, we might as well drink together."
"This doesn't change a damn thing," Korra growled as her fist tightened around her mug. "As soon as this is over… I'm gonna pound you into a pulp."
"Says the one who's been running scared from me for four years…" the general catted with a sneer plastered on her lips. "It's rather charming now that you are Sato's pet. Tell me… does she make you lap up the grime off of her boots?"
"Lapping grime isn't in my job description anymore," Korra grumbled. "Besides, she's not that bad."
"Not that bad?" Kuvira laughed. "When I heard you made her move onto the island I thought for sure you'd be dead by the time I came back. But I'm glad that you are alive so I can kill you myself when this is all over."
"You couldn't even take me prisoner," Korra chuckled out as she recalled her memory of the times Kuvira had caught up with her. The skilled hunter had always retorted to unorthodox methods to evade her, specifically using her knowledge of the wilds. One time, she cut a giant wasp nest right at the bounty hunter's feet from a tall tree.
"Speaking of which…" Kuvira let out a heavy sigh. "When I found out about your situation… it was rather embarrassing."
"I told you that he was lying…." Kuvira groaned and pawed at her own face. When Korra's brow twisted in amusement, she gave her rival a little nudge on the arm. "Don't worry about it. In normal circumstances people will usually say anything to avoid being caught. You were just doing your duty."
"Don't patronize me!" A stone glare shot in Korra's direction but it held no weight. Not like Korra could care at this point. She had other things to worry about than starting fights.
"So are you filled in on what we will be doing tonight?" The hunter asked with a serious tone.
"I'm up to speed on what's going on," Kuvira mentioned. "It's not my first mission involving vampires."
"This one is more dangerous that normal." Korra wanted to make sure that the general took this as seriously as the others. Kuvira has proven that overconfidence leads to a lot of mistakes.
"I've faced him before," Kuvira announced. "I was in training at the time… When Asami and I were sparring in the barracks when he broke into the warehouse. I ran in there without thinking and got my ass fried by his weapon… if it wasn't for Sato I'm sure he would have killed me."
"So you know how he fights." Korra nodded in satisfaction. "He's much more powerful now… So keep yourself at a distance and hit him hard with long distance attacks."
"You are not the person to be giving advice in this situation," Kuvira scowled at her with annoyance flaming up in her aura. "You used a lot of energy with just a few attacks last time and nearly drained yourself of all your manna while in that spirit state. If you keep up with that, Amon will have your head." She swung a gesture to the hunter's bow that was leaning up against the bar. "And that basic weapon won't do much against a vampire. No matter how good you are with it."
"I've improved since last time we fought," Korra countered with a glare even though the words Kuvira was speaking was the truth. In truth her capabilities was still a mystery at this point. Magic is a whole new spectrum for her and with her limited experience there was absolutely no gaurentee of victory. The only thing that could give her validation was the support of her goddess. To Korra, that was enough.
"Just don't get killed out there." Kuvira downed the rest of her drink and slapped a couple of silver coins on the bartop, enough to pay for both ales. "I won't forgive you for dying by someone else's hands other than my own."
.
.
.
Leather armor, cloak, rope, map, saber, garlic oil, smoke bombs, gauntlet. All accounted for. Asami made a place for all of her items on her inventory for ease of access. No matter how prepared she was, she couldn't calm the racing of her heart. She was able to slip away off the island without notice earlier that day to acquire a few more things before her personal quest.
Kai yelped out in surprised when she grappled him up from behind, slapping a hand over his mouth to silence him. She hushed the young man to calm him down.
"It's me," Asami whispered soothingly into his ear with a smirk. "I need another favor of you, Kai… I'm sorry I keep dragging you into my business but… I really need to borrow Hokage again… just for a little while. Please…" The stable boy turned his head with shock when Asami released him.
"M-my lady?!" Kai stuttered while stumbling down onto the fodder of the stall he was cleaning. "You shouldn't be here!"
"Never mind that now," Asami tossed a bag of coins at his feet. "We all have secrets… And I know plenty of yours now… Even Jinora." The mention of Tenzin's daughter caused Kai's face to light up like a lantern. He jostled himself back to his feet like a nervous scurrying varment scooping up the bag of coins.
"It's all there…" Asami assured as he opened the sack up to count them.
"Hah," Kai grinned at her and shoved the sack in his tunic. "I don't mean to offend you, it is just a habit." Asami smiled underneath her hood and twisted away to retrieve Hokage from his stall. The stable boy trotted after her. "Wait... Don't you want-"
"Not now…" Asami cutted in while strapping the black stallion with a saddle. "The sun is setting, I need to go…. Don't wait up for me. Hokage will be back in the stall in the morning." As soon as Asami mounted her horse, she wasted no time in kicking him off into a run leaving Kai in the wake of a cloud of dust.
The wind stung at her face leaving her lips numb to the cold. Looking up, the sky was blackened by the overcasting clouds. Only the waning light of the sunset lit her path. Because of the bitter chill she wore leather leggings to keep herself warm while riding. Protection from the elements as well as the monsters was a necessity.
Over a tall hill, a Cabbage Company mill landmarked the farmlands. The wind sailed propellers turned as fast as the mechanism allowed against the gusting of the air. The fabric was tattered and worn, clearly needing replacement. Upon further observation, the structure of the mill was in worse neglect. The main wooden beams which supported the weight of plaster was warped and cracking. Asami wondered how the building was standing at all while in such a state.
A band of mercenaries lounged around nearby. The title 'mercenaries' didn't really fit the description. Their armor didn't come in complete matching sets and the swords they bore all were made from different craftsmen. If Asami had to guess, all their equipment were either bought in pawn shops or perhaps even stolen. One of them noticed the intruder and nudged his fellows to take a gander. The group of six strolled over, each one drawing their swords.
Great. Just what she needed. Asami palmed the hilt of her saber as they approached but she made no other advancement just yet. A tall lanky man with black hair and eyes flashed her a crooked grin.
"Evening, Miss…" His eyes flickered with interest. "This is private property. And you are trespassing." Asami's neck prickled when the man reached out and took a hold of her horse's reins near the bit.
"I'm investigating the ghoul attacks in these lands." Asami explained even though she needed not to. She only hoped that she could avoid any trouble with the common squabble. "How has this farm held up?"
"Hah," the mercenary raised his brows, intrigued. "We had a few scraps last night but it was no trouble for us… I couldn't say the same for Basket's Bounty further north. The entire family was eaten along with the livestock… How is it a pretty dame like you find such interest in things, I wonder. Guard force?" He gestured to the Asami's saber. "That's Sato's steel I recon."
"Just a concerned citizen." Asami purposely dug her heels into Hokage's side just a little. The stallion kicked up and jerked his head. When the reins were ripped out of the mercenary's grip, the horse jotted to the side in which gave some distance between them. "I'll be on my way now… Good luck."
Asami didn't give him a chance to stop her from riding off. She didn't falter for one stride until she met the forest border where the monsters of the night will emerge. Asami's stomach twisted with the growing darkness. A breath of readiness absorbed the cold and released a ghostly exhale. Her eyes drew shut as she waited with a calming mantra on her lips.
I am the dark, the death, the bringer of sovereignty.
The last ray of daylight vanished with one last gasping of life. Falls of the black embrace blanketed everything, beckoning the creatures of the night to emerge from the security of the forest. Asami's eyes became green lanterns in the dark. One of Morrigan's gifts was Night Sight. As convenient as it was, it left a sting in her optic connections. Even though she would only able to withstand it for small moments at a time, Asami couldn't ask for anything more. Saber drawn and shoulders taut. The first sighting of a crawling ghoul sprang up as a goblin with shimmering gold in sight.
Hokage leaped into fury to bring his rider to the kill. An uppercut slashed the monster's head clean off his shoulders and for the first time. The soul of her kill ghosted from its body with a hallowed scream of pain. Flying up to be claimed by it's master of the unliving. But Asami had other plans. Her free hand raised and reached out in calling. The soul twisted in the course as a moth to the flame. Asami's beacon was all it wanted now, her own soul being the connecting point of Morrigan's sweet embrace. When ghost touched her aura, a cold sensation filled Asami's bones with the essence that absorbed into the portal within her leaving behind a grateful warmth.
It was at that moment Asami felt truly useful for the first time in her life. To be able to guide a damned soul back into the proper heaven… no amount of smithing or invention would be able to do such a thing.
She pressed on as more undead sporadically crawled out of the tree line. Easy pickings. Every swing of her her sword brought salvation to their souls. One by one they fell but their numbers climbed to heights that surpassed her solo capabilities. Wide and far, Asami couldn't get to all of them as they speckled far and wide across the country side for miles. When she cleared a small area to silence, she paused for a moment to think about her options.
A flash of lightning flickered from the heavy clouds above making her stifle a hiss of pain with the burning in her retinas. She halted the flow of aura in her eyes and rubbed them to sooth the stabbing ache. The thunder rumbled with a promise of rain that would make her quest more difficult. She worried her lip and twisted her head to the west to check on Korra's location. She noticed that she can only do so when thinking about it. If the same goes for Korra, maybe she can get through the night without her housecarl being the wiser if she is distracted enough. Asami could feel her to the west side of the country with her taskforce no doubt. If they face Amon and his forces, they would have a challenging time with the ghouls being under his command. Yet, there was nothing else Asami could do but work on the stray ghoul's numbers to help. Working in the sidelines and away from knowing eyes.
Asami rode back south and a bit east to the nearest lively farmstead she could find. Instead of trying to pick off bloodsuckers from the forest, she might be more useful protecting the source if their food and let them come to her. Dismounting her steed, Asami strolled up to the farmhouse door and wrapped on it. Looking around, there was not a soul in sight but she could hear the frantic movements inside the house.
"Wh-who's there?" A man called out in a nervous tizzy. Now Asami had a choice to make. What type of identity to give herself to the farmers she's moving to protect. A name came easily to her.
"Yasuko Takahashi," She proclaimed her alias in honor of her mother. "I am a swordsman from the Fire Nation. I've come to offer protection tonight against the monsters that plague this land."
"Go away, mercenary! We have no gold for you."
With a heavy sigh, Asami turned and leaned her back against the door to keep an eye out on the farm. "I am not a mercenary. I just needed to make sure you were alive and well. Don't come out until the sun rises."
"We won't pay you! Just leave!" Asami shook her head with a pairing eye roll. There was no use trying to convince them that she was not interested in coin. Of course, they would never understand that. Just get through the night. She told herself as the sky yawned open and brought forth the freezing autumn rains. At least she had some shelter from the farmhouse awning until needing to brave it. As she waited, her hand palmed at the side of her neck. The bite Korra had given her throbbed every now and again. It was pleasurable during their tangles of passion but now it was annoyingly aching and tender. She could tell it was no ordinary wound for every time Korra invaded her thoughts throughout the day, it would throb again and send her loins into a clenching frenzy.
She didn't have the time to contemplate the reason behind it for long. A animalistic scream pierced through the beating raindrops. Giving her the cue that she needed to go now. With her saber drawn, a course of energy shot down her sword arm to ignite the magic gauntlet to life. The pulsing electric jets extended down her steel weapon encasing it with a bluish white halo.
Within the blanket of the downpour, Asami's eyes triggered the night sight again as she neared the barn to the source of the animal's screaming. The wide door was already open and four ghouls were hunched over, feasting together on one animal. The other goats kicked and bellied as they cowarded into a corner as they faced the death of their brother.
That's strange… Asami's furrowed her brow. Why would they all feast on one when there were plenty to feed on? Her boots scuffed across the fodder floor and stopped just a couple of yards behind the feeding pile. They were so lost in their thirst that they did not even take notice. The glowing saber teetered behind her as she recoiled to strike but then the wooden beams of the barn's ceiling frame groaned under a sudden pressure. A shrouded figure leaped down upon her from above, taking her by surprise. She twisted almost too late as gleaming steel slashed into the fabric of her cloak. She barreled backwards but then the four feeding ghouls screeched with anger and lunged themselves in her direction. Her saber drew up to behead them all at once but it was met with two short swords with a sizzling clank.
Asami gave the closest ghoul a kick in the chest, making him slam back into his fellow feeders, giving her the distance she needed to leap back and keep all of her enemies to her front. Her eyes met her opponent's. He was tall and lanky. Green round spectacles shrouded his red glowing eyes making his pale angular face stand out even more with his fu manchu beard. When he grinned, the two fangs in his mouth stuck out like needles.
"How exciting…" He said to her surprise. Ghouls don't have the ability to talk much nor the intelligence to fight with anything more than their fangs. This was another vampire.
"Indeed…" Asami agreed with him. Up until now, her kills have been too easy. Now she was presented with a greater challenge making her blood burn with excitement. "I take it that you are one of Amon's turned?"
"You can call me Lieutenant." He greeted with a twirl of one of his blades in taunting. He shrouded his broad shoulders making his black leather armor croak like a roped noose. "So Lord Hiroshi's virgin daughter wants to play." Asami narrowed her eyes when he attempted to glide around her. He was trying to pin her into a trap with his subordinates behind her. But she didn't falter back by his advancement, instead her body pressed forward in a flash. Within a split second, a slash drew up at him and met his flashing blades in deflection. Hot flashes of steel and energy sparks across the barn one after another like an indoor lightning storm. Asami had to parry many times, for each deflection of her own blade his spare came slashing forward to her thighs. It was becoming a realization that she would need more than her own steel in order to defeat him. For he was just as fast and agile as she was.
She caught wind of two ghouls who found their way behind her during the fight. The vampire didn't deliver another attack just yet, giving her time to analyze her situation for a moment. But not without a distraction. "You are pretty good with that sword," He said. "It's a shame that I'm not allowed to gut you… but we can take you as a captive… you don't need those legs, right? My ghouls could use a snack on the way."
"I encourage you to try," Asami taunted as she reached into her cloak. The lieutenant leaped towards her with his blades in the air. The ghouls followed suit, snarling in hunger while making their attack. Their prey crouched low the the ground and kicked off to the side to avoid claws and steel. She twisted and threw a ceramic vessel in their path. With a shattering break, the bomb exploded into a cloud of brown smoke dominating the area around their bodies with the stench of garlic oil.
Satisfied with their cries of agony, Asami made for the spare ghouls at the other end of the barn. Two slashes was all it took to render them lifeless. She smiled in victory when their souls merged into her aura. But her triumph was short lived. Lieutenant had jumped out of the garlic haze with rage, charging straight in her direction. Both of his swords clashed into her saber, pushing her back with scraping boots in a challenge of strength. His boiled and blistered face was just shy a few inches from her twisted brow. Jaws snapping just out of reach in a feral rage as she pushed back against his blades with all her might but she was waning. His undeadly strength surpassed her own. Not to mention that she was rusty… This was the first real battle she's ever been in.
Asami moaned in agony, wondering that maybe she thought too highly of her skills. Maybe it was foolish to do this on her own. She sobbed in defeat when her strength gave out and her sword was torn from her grip. Her opponent's blade slashed down and opened a fresh wound on her thigh. She cried out in pain and stumbled back, clashing into a pile of farming tools which sat against the wall.
"You know, we have a plentiful bounty of virgins to choose from for our master," He spat out while scuffing his feet closer. "Amon will be disappointed, but accidents happen." He sheathed his weapons and drew into a crouch over her body. The young woman screamed when the vampire dug two fingers into the open gash on her thigh, twisting and digging. Asami trembled and jerked at the searing stab, choking back a cry when his fingers withdrew from her body to his lips. His grey tongue lapped up the sweet virgin blood which coated his digits, drawing out a rumbling moan from his thirsty throat. His red eyes dilated in pleasure with her taste.
"No," Asami choked out. Her whole body was rigid with trauma and exhaustion. But she wasn't done yet. She had to fulfill her duty. No matter the cost. She will keep fighting until she dies. Her left arm swung up to smash a fist into his jaw. With a flash of movement, his claws caught her wrist before it made impact. The blooddrinker snapped his teeth onto her forearm, tearing through her tunic and sinking into the skin. Her head fell back with a scream on her lips as his fangs wore open the main vein of her arm. He pulled greedily, sucking the warm blood from her body.
Asami's vision started to blur as the bite injected her with endorphins, leaving her limp and open to his feeding. She didn't understand how it became this way. This was not the fate Morrigan showed her. This is not how she was supposed to die. Before she lost consiousness, her right shoulder rolled with all the strength she had left. Her hand slapped onto his shoulder and sparked a burst of energy from her gauntlet. The burn of the electric shock shot through her attacker's body, making him unlatch and scream in pain. It was not without consequence, since he was attached to her, the burning pulses also rushed into her own body setting all of her nerve endings into a zapping blaze.
In the final moment of clarity, Asami muttered out her mate's name in longing.
.
.
.
The taskforce patrolled the westward lands of the Republic's crop production. Korra was bothered by the lack of cattle at most of the farms they had passed. Barren as a wasteland, many rotting carcasses scattered across the fields. There were too many of them to clean up right away and the farmers were too superstitious to salvage the meat. As if consuming it would turn them into ghouls. Which was not completely an unreasonable thought. The bite of ghouls and vampires injects a cursed toxin, marking the flesh and soul to be claimed by the God of the Unliving.
Captain Beifong had joined them in their patrol that night and took the lead for further investigations. They stopped at each farm, pounding on the doors and asking questions about any suspicious activity happening in the area. They came to the conclusion that each unmarried woman to every family had disappeared without any signs of struggle. Fathers, mothers and siblings begged for their help in finding their missing loved ones. Each family with a virgin daughter, it was all the same story. They retire to sleep for the night and then the next morning they vanished leaving the only evidence with an unlatched bedroom window. No broken glass, no signs of struggle.
Korra's stomach sank with sickness with each visit. They barely gone through half of the farmsteads before it started to downpour. Soaking each party member down bitterly to the bone, they all still pressed onward in dreaded silence. The rain muted Korra's ability to pick up scents and sounds from afar. So far though, there was no signs of Amon or his followers. She wondered if there were any virgin women left in this side of the country at this point. With the amount of bodies she had discovered with Tarrlok, there was a hanging question on where else would Amon be feasting.
Moaning in distress, Korra hunched over to the side and rubbed her left thigh when a sudden burning sensation sprang up out of nowhere. Mako, who was riding very close next to her, took notice.
"Something the matter?" He asked in concern. With a shake of her head, Korra groaned anyways and pressed in farther to rub out the ache.
"Think my leg is cramping up from riding so much today…" She explained. Though she never had riding cramps before while riding her wolf. She's ridden much farther and longer than this, sometimes for even days at an end.
"Does the Princess need a rest?" Kuriva asked in a mocking tone from a few strides behind. "Shall we send for a masseuse and feed you grapes by hand?"
Korra snapped her head back at the general with a leering stare. "I'm fine," Korra snarled through clenched teeth. Next, a hiss expelled from her lips as another pain suddenly stabbed at her left forearm. Her heart quickened with a shot of adrenaline, causing her clenching teeth to grind with deep, heaving breaths. Whatever is going on, she had no clue on what was causing it.
"We can take a few minutes of rest at the next farmstead," the Captain suggested.
"Do you honestly think this is doing any good?" Kuvira let out a audible sigh. "It's all going to be the same result. I think we should move further east. There are no more virgins left here."
"We should stick with the plan," Mako jetted in. "There might be a few we missed."
"I agree with Kuriva," Tarrlok announced from ahead. He turned to the Captain who rode by his side. "The Sato Mill farms further north were most likely attacked first. They would have been closer to Amon's hideout. We would have better luck further east." Linn nodded sharply and turned twisted her body to the party behind her.
"Alright, let's change course to Cabbage Capital farms. We can get there faster if we cut across the hunting lands instead of the road." With nods of confirmation, Korra urged Naga to prance onward to the new direction with a sudden rush of urgency.
"I'll scout ahead to make sure the way is clear!" She hollered behind her, not leaving anyone else a chance to object. As if alarmed by her actions, Mako kicked his on horse into a gallop after her.
"Korra! Wait, I'm coming with you!" He shouted out into the slamming thunder which rolled across the sopping ground. With a disapproving scowl, the captain grumbled under her breath before leading the others to join the chase.
Naga's paws fumbled in the mud, limiting the pace as which she could carry her master. The beast took concern with her rider's sudden need for haste. She was tired, but could sense that something was bothering Korra a great deal.
"Korra!" Mako shouted from a few yards behind as he chased the wolf rider across the hill range against the storm. "Slow down! We can not keep up with you!"
His plea fell on deaf ears. Korra's heart was pounding. A nagging stab in the back of her skull indicated something was off. A force… something familiar was pulsating into the direction she was traveling, urging her to push harder, faster to the location. It wasn't until she found a thrush of movement up ahead.
Naga skidded to a stop. Just shy from slamming into a stumbling figure which was crawling on the muddy earthen gloop. The hunter sprang off her steed in an instant. A man, crawling with a moaning in agony in the middle of nowhere. With caution, Korra gripped onto her hunting knife as she approached with caution. His aura was dark and vibrated with a strange energy.
"Who are you?!" Korra demanded. He craned his head up, revealing a blistered face and dilated dark eyes. Just when Korra thought he was going to answer, he hunched forward and spilled the contents of his stomach onto the ground. Dark, thick liquid pooled before Korra's boots, making her step back to avoid the bile. He stumbled to his feet with a coughing hack, spitting and wiping the red off his chin.
"Wolfrider," he growled with a lunging leap, unsheathing his dual blades. With a lance back, the obsidian knife knocked the first slice away, then the next. A fury of exchanged clashing followed until Mako met the two fighters. Korra flipped backwards to avoid the next attack, leaving her companion an opening to spray a plume of fire at her opponent.
The vampire leaped just out of range in a raging fury. He threw his head back and let out a piercing shriek, spitting the sound barrier. Korra and Mako threw their hands up to their ears when the scream stabbed into their brains, rumbling the ground below them. Even Naga yelped with pain at the sound, recoiling to the ground in search for some kind of relief.
The sound did not stop until he gave into the need to puke up more bloody bile from his mouth, rendering himself back to the ground, shaking with clear signs of illness. Disoriented, Korra fumbled towards him. A gasp expelled from her throat, making her stop in shock at a hoard of ghouls advancing to the scene. Too many to count. Throaty, feral sounds came all at once as a roaring fire of battle.
Mako jumped from his horse, landing just in between Korra and her wolf. His hands threw up and ignited a large tornado of flames. The fire roared with power, creating a secure barrier around them. Peppered flaming bodies broke in, screaming and gnashing as they braved the fire in order to make a kill. Korra's fists summoned up whatever rocks that were hidden in the mud to slam the ghouls back. When they fell back into the fire wall, she combined the water and earth elements to create an inner layer of muck to add the the barrier. Drawing out the water and hardening the earth to keep more from breaking their way in, she completed her own contribution to the shield.
Battle cries echoed through the chaos, cuing the magic users that the rest of the party had joined the fight. Cracking of earth, slashing of flesh, screams of valor echoed into the night as it went on. Korra didn't want to miss any more of the action. She hoisted back onto Naga's harness and ripped Mako from his stance by his cloak, making his fire wall dissipate in seconds. Just long enough to leap out of the protected area and into the battle with a throaty cry.