AN: Well guys it's been a few years since I've updated this story. I honestly forgot about it but I'm gonna try seeing it to the end. Going back and reading some of these chapters left me kind of confused as to how I wanted things initially played out but not distributed correctly. So if there was any confusion, don't worry, I'll try to explain them the best I can. Feedback is always appreciated. On another note, the Amorra part felt rushed when I went back through reading it. I think they need more time to figure out whether they can trust one another before they get in any way really acquainted. Song is Feel Nothing by The Plot In You.


Noatak got up off his feet and runs over to Korra once Shoichi was completely out of sight. He bends to his knees to examine the damage. "Can you stand?"

Looking down at her legs then back up at him, it was hard to say. "I'm not sure, but I can try."

She tried to fake a smile that was fooling neither of them.

Noatak stood and moved around her, looping both hands under either of her arms. Lifting her up onto her feet her held her where she stood until she found her balance. For a split moment both of them held thoughts in their hand of how only after such a short amount of time they went from being two sworn enemies converted to two acquaintances helping the other in the midst of battle. Never in either of their lives would they have thought they would put both their differences aside and try working together as a team. The first name basis was still a little difficult to get used to as well.

"Can you s-" Before he could finish asking if she was able to stand on her own, Korra loses her balance almost as quick as he got her to her feet. This wasn't good news.

"I take that as a no." This was probably the worst possible situation to have happened. Shoichi was escaping and the Avatar can't even pursue him because of some leg injury. Avatars far before her were capable of even greater feats. How could she amount up to them at this rate? Gritting her teeth she pounded her fist onto the ground, angrily muttering. "Great, just great!"

Setting her down gently in the grass Noatak glances down at her. She still was an undeveloped Avatar. Deciding a plan of action he moves to her side and hoists her up over his shoulder this time.

"Hey!" She shouted and slams a fist back and forth on the mans shoulder blade. "What do you think you're doing?! Put me down!" That strong musk of his wafted past her nose. It instantly brought back memories of the fur pelts from his bed, the scent leaving her with a tingling feeling of warmth as she snuggled into the blanket. It was luring. But she would not give in to those thoughts.

"Stop complaining. You'll recover and then go after him. I'm taking you back to the cabin."

"I don't have time to go back and rest!"

"Korra if you can't walk and it's as bad as I suspect then you will want medical healing immediately. Water bending is a much safer option than if I tried to heal you quicker with bloodbending." She doesn't respond and her silence makes him uneasy. Perhaps the sheer mentioning of blood bending was still a touchy subject. At one point when Tarlokk and him were alone his brother had mentioned Korra still had nightmares of Amon taking her bending and bloodbending her. Tarlokk didn't see it himself but received the word from Korra's cabin mate who seemed worried it could get worse. He expected this would be useful news for his brother, given the fact he was the source of these constant nightmares that still fueled her years later. Perhaps last night she had tossed and turned upstairs in the bedroom kept awake by nightmares. To make matters worse the man she held these unbearable nights about was real and just a floor beneath her. And yet she still accepted his hospitality. Perhaps it was a way to overcome the fear and face it head on. Or maybe there was more to it than that. Maybe this was a trap to keep him here until back up arrives to bring him in for his crimes.

Deciding whether the girl was a friend or a foe would determine how he would play out his actions.

"Do it."

"I'm sorry?"

"I said do it." Korra said with certainty. "If this guy is as dangerous as you say then I need to be able to fight. And if it's him the killer from Republic City is after then we've got even bigger problems. Is your blood bending going to heal me quicker than water bending or not?"

Gaping his mouth open to reply, the bloodbender stops. Before he was able to answer something catches his attention. Noatak stops in his tracks when the sky began to change above them. The light that shone past the heavy clouds was a solid indicator something wasn't right. "What in spirits is that?" Gazing up it would have been a beautiful sight if it wasn't for the rapid winds picking up, kicking snow into their eyes. A wind strong enough to knock them off balance and stumble into the snow at their feet. They squint their eyes to try and see past and make out what the strange light could be.

"The spirit portal... Its gone dark..." Korra trembled.

Noatak read about it in old books growing up off many of the legendary Avatars opening the gate between both worlds. Never did he expect to see it with his own eyes, even it wasn't up close. Korra couldn't believe her eyes either. But this wasn't in the books. The black mass swirling around the portal was not normal. If the spirit portal wasn't distraction enough, the atmosphere around them began to change. The air was smokey and growing heavier. Fire, he suspected, but where?

Korra notices it to then locating the source. "The village! We have to go back!" She twists her body to face him. "It has to be Shoichi! You said it yourself, he's a firebender isn't he? He can use two elements."

Regaining his balance, the former Equalist lifted himself back on his feet and hoisted her up back up over his shoulder. "It doesn't work like that." Noatak responded solemnly. It had been a long time since he'd brushed up on his text books. "If my memory serves me right, he figured out a way to alter his DNA and rewire his system entirely. The scientist figured out how to change ones bending. Take it from them or give them bending abilities. But he can only use one element, or so I suspect with what evidence is present. In the books it clearly states that he's a firebender. Yet we saw him with our own eyes water bend today. If my theory is right and his work is as successful as rumors and books lead me to believe, then he can only retain one element at a time. Perhaps he knows how to blood bend on full moons depending on how long he's been a waterbender. If he gets away it's feasibly possible he'll change his element somehow, likely to fit in. We can only assume the next time we see him, he won't be a water bender."

It made complete sense. And he already gave himself away that he was going to the Fire Nation next during their morning chats. Or was that just to throw her off if she got too close to him? But there was no time to rationalize what is or isn't true. What was important was stopping him before any of those possibilities happened again. She had to take action before it was too late.

"Fix me, right now." There was no hesitation in her voice.

"Right now? I don't think-"

"Do it!" She commanded, nearly losing patience from desperation.

He sighs and reluctantly obliges. Stubborn as she was, she had confidence and heart. For that he was able to begin to understand her as a person rather than a beacon of something his alias once stood against. Stopping in his tracks he kneels and places Korra on the snow setting her upright. This close to her face leaves Noatak to study her facial features up close a bit better. She's sweating, nervous beyond reasoning. She has no control of the situation and has no plan, he recons. But she was taught to fight, no matter the outcome. Sitting aside was never an option, it was not in her training. She was shivering. Whether from the cold or fear, if not both. But there's adrenaline pumping through her and a strong fire in her eyes. Scared, but not willing to give up so easily.

She was just a girl.

But she was also much more than that. Much more than she wanted to believe. Perhaps that's why Amon lost. Not even a developed Avatar and she was exceptionally strong willed. There was a drive and a purpose. Just like he once had with his followers. There was belief and faith placed into him. A beacon, have you. Just as the girl before him stood. A beacon to the world that she had to protect and never give up on. However Amon was a farce in the end. Korra was not. She did not hide behind a mask and she couldn't escape her fate like he could. The world knew Amon's story, but few knew of Noatak except for the ones he trusted to know. Perhaps if he had cast away Amon sooner he would have took time to see this about her. But that wasn't him. No. Amon was a calm, calculated planner. Taking emotions into consideration wasn't even an option. It was crush or be crushed. The difference is that Noatak cared; cared for his brother and his will to keep living. Cared that he still was trying to let go of the past even to this day.

Amon's belief for equality was the right one and the people stood behind that. That part was still acceptable. He knew it was wrong to belittle nonbenders.

What was her real reason she wanted to put a stop to Amon's reign for equality? To the voice of the people he represented. Her own people. She denied the very men, women and children she promised to protect. Perhaps that's where his hate for her had began to truly stem. In his fathers footsteps he never initially hated her. When growing up their father trained them to bring down Avatar Aang and any future Avatar after. No, he had no hate towards Korra from the beginning. Only dislike upon judging her based on her responses based on his actions. He couldn't do his father justice and failed to carry out his wishes however.

And yet she still fought to protect every single one she could, come each situation thrown at her. She would never kill her enemies, just like the Avatars before her. She was merciful. And he knew, deep down, she couldn't save anyone no matter how hard she tried. But she was still too numb to accept that. Korra had to believe she could save everyone because the moment she stops, so too would her strength to protect. It would no different than giving up.

She couldn't stop believing in herself, not when so many others were depending on her.

He moves beside her and places his hand on one of her knee caps, looking at her.

"I'll need to make contact directly with the skin. The closer to the blood I'm controlling the stronger the bond." He pinched the fabric of her pants. "In other words, I need them rolled up."

Korra nodded. When doing so she slightly winced at the sudden exposure to the cold temperature of the air. She had spent too much time on the other side of the world it seems.

Once both legs were rolled up Noatak removed his gloves and stuffed them in his pockets. Feeling the warmth of his large hands on her knees was almost as spine chilling as the abrasive chill of the high winds.

"It's going to hurt." He warns. But he knew she wasn't going to back down. Not when such a high threat was getting away.

Closing his eyes, Noatak focused. Bloodbending was much more meticulous to learn than one would think. It required precision, especially. Much like healing through water bending, it was capable of saving. He could sense her entire system at the movement of her circulation. It helped him to locate what parts of the body were the most injured and where broken veins were located. However any small mistake and he could easily hurt her.

Pushing forward regardless, he focuses on her legs. They were dislocated for sure. He'd have to pop them back into place. Moving back he removes his northern water tribe coat tossing it onto her lap. Taking it from him, confused, she asks, "What are you giving me this for?"

With only a thin light weight shirt on that flaps vigorously in the wind, he breathes trying to hold his composure. Even for a large northern man the cold is affecting him as well. In that moment Korra could make out a near clear view of his torso from the contortions and ripples across his skin thanks to the loose fabric. He was toned well. It was easy to see he was born in the North now. Most water tribe men are known for their large torsos and hair. It is said they are some of the strongest men to fight in hand to hand combat. The strong hands on her knee led her to believe he was more likely in that percentage.

"Something to scream or bite into. This is going to hurt more than I expected it would."

She looked at him then closes her eyes placing the jacket over her face in preparation.

The first leg left her lunging forward, first screaming then followed by flinging onto her back, flailing and wiggling. Thankfully Noatak is quick to grab the limb and hold it down. Tears sprout from her eyes, something he had not expected to see before.

The Avatar was actually crying.

As a human being to another, he empathized for her. It felt like yesterday, going through these procedures with Tarlokk when they were just boys, after their father made them hurt one another. The thought was enough to make him hesitate to snap the other leg back into place. Nevertheless, he shakes off the thoughts and proceeds.

Even with the coat it couldn't cover the screams. It was near painful to listen to up close. He adjusted himself to put his hand under her head and the other on her back helping to lift her back up in her weakened state. Through gritted teeth, he makes up his mind.

Friend.

Between choked back sobs, she asks, "Can I walk?"

Noatak shakes his head. Spirits, she's in a lot of pain. It reminds him of when he washed up on shore after Tarlokk had tried to kill the both of them by exploding their boat out on open sea. "No. But you will. Soon."

The pain is shooting through her and courses up to her mind, forcing her into a state of utter exhaustion. Sleep is slowly creeping in and tempting with an escape from reality. The last thing she sees is Noatak picking her up bridal style and carrying her. The smell of his scent in the coat snug to her chest resonated, sending her into a content and intoxicated slumber.

Back at the cabin Noatak carries Korra upstairs into his bed tucking her in. Tarlokk follows, asking multiple questions as to what in Ozin's Commit was going on. As quickly and briefly as he was capable, Noatak updates the ex-councilman on the current situation. Smiling with forced confidence, he places a hand on his brothers shoulder. "Can I trust you to watch her and make sure she goes no where while I go take care of the fire in the village?"

Tarlokk nodds. "Be back soon or I'm going after you." His brothers blue eyes held worry in them. He hadn't seen this same sincerity since they were boys. But they were not children. They were adults who could die at any time.

"Noted." Grabbing a second coat from the room and wrapping himself in it, he made his way for the village, even going so far as to cheat and bend the snow at his feet to propel him farther.


Vinioz scoffed. "A chat? After I came all this way to kill you? You can't be that stupid."

"I believe you'll listen to reason after what I'm about to tell you." Shoichi smiled. "The spirit portal is open. Yes, you heard me right. You have an opportunity to rid that cannibalistic demon out of you. How does that make you feel? You could go back to being normal once and for all, isn't that what you want?"

Vinioz wasn't an idiot. This was a ploy to distract her long enough to make his escape.

Gasps and whispers come from the villagers, some of who were beginning to come out of their hiding places. Turning to investigate, just behind them was the beam of the spirit portal shooting endlessly into the clouds above. So it wasn't a lie after all. She inwardly cursed.

"You still doubted me? I kept my word. I always have."

Vinioz narrows her eyes on him, moving her feet into a fighting stance and raising her arms to prepare for any kind of attack. However Shoichi doesn't budge and only glares at her.

"Stubborn, to the very core. But are you willing to abandon your comrade to chase after me? Does your revenge run that deep? Of course it doesn't." He steps forward and Vinioz braces herself. He begins to circle around her, arms folded across the chest.

"You care too much. A trait you probably obtained from your mother." Scoffing he unrolls a finger from his fist and taps his chin and winks, taunting. "But you always had a much stronger will to live. Perhaps that's why you are still alive and she's not?" He drops his hands to his waist. "Then again, I never placed a demon inside of her like I had you." Laughing to himself with high self appreciation, Shoichi steps forward only a foot away from touching Vinioz's closest fist.

Taking the initiative and sprinting forward she kicks Shoichi hurling him back into the snow. Low after the kick, knees to chest, she begins to rise slowly, arms on either side of her outstretched. Fire flared from each palm, the color changing as she rose. First red, then blue, and white. At full stance, the flames turn a dark black, swirling and consuming parts of her skin.

The cannibal was fast and upon him in seconds blasting flaming fists right and left, each strike precise and calculated. Shoichi's responses were just as fast, years of experience allowing him to follow each move and respond accordingly. Quick to take defense he brings up an ice wall to block the fire. Vinioz pulled back, wincing at her charred skin once the flames disappeared. She yells over the ice wall, furious. "So you're a water bender now, huh? How convenient for you it must be to play god!"

Shoichi didn't need to bother revealing himself. The ice wall was melting like a stick of butter in a microwave on high the moment the black fire engulfed it. In seconds his wall came down with ease creating a massive cloud of mist. Using the sudden presented advantage he forms two sharp ice daggers in either hand.

Planting both feet firmly into the snow beneath him Shoichi smirks. The ground beneath them begins to shake and the snow kicks up all around. In the North Pole it wasn't common to have earthquakes but this was unlike anything they had experienced. A large rumble comes from the distance in the direction the wind blows from. It wasn't just a bad day to have a snow storm, no. Something was coming and it was from the direction of the spirit portal. Many of the animals within the town began to stir and stomped back in great caution, ears and tails upright.

However Vinioz planned to waste no time. She threw a kick up shooting a stream of fire directly at him then ducked, twisting her body into a handstand once her hand touched the ground allowing her to grace the ground and avoid the first ice dagger thrown at her. The second she manages to catch once back up on her feet but the moment she does Shoichi had already bent it, melting the ice just enough for the water to cover her hand then freeze it over. There was no time to focus on one fist when the man could escape at any moment.

Bending the snow beneath him he shot it at her in multiple snowballs but adding ice shards on the inside, one grazing her waist. It still wasn't enough. Once she was close enough she hurled an open flaming palm at his face hoping to land. However, he had a trick of his own.

Allowing her to reach him, he uses the momentum she built from running and redirects it by grabbing both shoulders and throwing the younger girl over his shoulder. Landing into a wall of one the huts the flame in Vinioz'z hand escapes accidentally igniting the home. The fire spreads quickly and reaches the other huts in a matter of moments. People instantly begin to evacuate their burning homes while others tried desperately to put out the fires. Shoichi

"You bring nothing but destruction. Why haven't you gone off to die already? Even here you bring chaos. Was Republic City just not enough for you? But lucky for you, the Avatar has expressed how desperately she wants to take you down. Now doesn't this all work out? She'll dispose of you for me so I don't have to."

The storm was growing stronger. The people were more caught up by the preparation of the storm rather than the cannibal having a showdown with an unknown man out in the open as they frantically ran past them in an ever growing crowd. No, it was worse than that. They needed to evacuate immediately. It was larger than just a small storm.

Shoichi's eyes flash with madness and victory. "Too bad your opportunity is disappearing."

The spirit portal is beginning to close. Her heart races to make a choice.


"Avalanche!" Kama roars to Mako over the heavy winds. They were so close to reaching the spirit portal too, maybe a mile out. But it was no use. It was closing, somehow. The bright light that had illuminated the sky left them in what felt like a world of darkness. The clouds above began to darken and thicken. This was no doubt the work of Shoichi.

Mako had admittedly never been to the North before. Not until Korra came into his life. He thought with the Avatar around it would be easy to maneuver and find his way around, know the routine. But as a first trip experience having to face an avalanche and not knowing if you were going to escape it in time was not something that had once crossed his mind before.

"Shit. There's nothing we can do now about the spirit portal." Kama adjusts his glasses and takes a deep breath in preparation of the oncoming monstrosity. 'One problem at a time.' Thinking of the best appropriate plan the waterbender mumbles. "Of all the times to be in a pinch and we're split up." He looks over his shoulder to Mako, calculating his potential then aks, "What color are your flames?"

"What do you mean?"

"Just as I said. Now hurry and answer me, we're running out of time."

"Red!" Mako shouts, covering his face with his arm to brace him from the cold. The scarf flapped vigorously in the wind and almost flies off his neck. The chilly air was thickening and the temperature was dropping. "I think we should be running!" If they don't leave now they'd be doomed. Unfortunately Kama had other plans. It seems Mako was incapable of producing flames like Vinioz but that didn't render the firebender completely useless either. Stomping the ground the snow kicks up around Kama as a plan begins to form. 'Yes that's it. That should have been the obvious choice.'

Kama turns to his side. He takes a large breath of air then exhales, much like the cannibals fighting style and begins imitates her hand movements, lowing himself to the ground and rising slowly, arms outstretched and palms open facing upwards. Instead of flames or water swirling around his palms, the snow around them picks itself up and begins to swirl before them. Mako is watching in bewilderment. To think anyone could create a tornado without airbending would initially be impossible. Until this man revealed himself that is. Powerful was the first word that came to his mind if he were to describe Kama. Unfortunately the duo had murdered many people, an important fact that should be remembered at all times. It was still plausible they were in it for themselves. Stopping the Avalanche from reaching the town below may not even be in the waterbenders best interests. But the avalanche is large and closing in faster and almost upon them. He gulps nervously.

This is where they're going to die, surely. How could either of them escape something this massive? Firebending wasn't going to melt all the snow coming their way. Catching the distraught look on the teenagers face, the man shouts over his shoulder. "Light the tunnel!"

'Tunnel? What in the spirits is he talking about?'

Following his eyes Mako drags his feet through the snow closer to him in order to hear better. His eyes are averted to the snow beyond and only until they are standing next to each other is the plan understood. It wasn't meant to be a tornado intended to redirect the avalanche. There was a massive tunnel that ran for what looked like miles. It was dark and hard to make out where the bottom touched but whatever life still thrived beneath the snow it finally took its first breath of air in who knows how long.

Moving into position and hovering over the edge of the drop Mako shoots his hands out and shoots fire down the long stretch. The light illuminates and begins to melt the snow around it on its way down until it reaches the earth beneath and sets ablaze.

Kama had planned to make a fire wall. Or at least create a massive strip large enough for the snow to fill as it comes down the hill. Suddenly the snow swirling in the air begins to plant itself between them and the drop and piles. The ice within the tunnel is melting quickly thanks to the massive flames growing. Mako is using as much energy as he can put out given the circumstances. In what feels like could be his final moments, he ponders what Kama had meant when he asked about what color flames he could produce. The only known human to produce any other flame color was Lord Zuko's sister, Princess Azula of the Fire Nation. But those days had passed and the old woman had long since died.

Water shoots up from the tunnel and begins to solidify into ice atop the already high pile of snow strewn before them evenly. He's building a massive wall in case the fire isn't enough. It motivates Mako to force out as much of his flames as he can in order to melt the ice faster. But it's too late.

So micro focused, it takes a second for Mako to realize he is no longer standing in position shooting fire. They're on a large piece of ice Kama produced beneath their feet when suddenly the huge collision of snow meets the tall ice wall and rocks the ground beneath. Kama looks back and sees the wall he made worked successfully. Unfortunately the smoke in the sky rises high, coming from the village.

It was going to be a long day.