Here's the next one. This chapter brings us to about the half way point. I think there will be about eight more chapters left in this story. Enjoy and please review.
Opal was sleeping peacefully when Jinora finally started to eat. It had been a couple of days since their raid and no word of Kai. The two airbenders were staying at Air Temple Island for the time being. Their spirits were fluctuating to and fro depending on what was on their mind. Opal's wound was healing perfectly but not hearing anything about Kai's status was stressing Jinora out.
A sudden crash at a window alerted the young master. She slowly went through the halls looking for the cause of the crash. A shadow moved before her, causing her to react instinctively.
"Hey, it's me!" the shadow shouted.
"Kai!" Jinora cheered with joy as she ran into him.
They embraced tightly before Jinora kissed him, "You had us worried. Where were you and what happened?"
Kai rubbed the back of his head, grinning, "I took care of the camp and got lost in the city."
She gave him a look of worry before hugging him tightly again, "Don't do that again. You had us both worried."
He continued to grin. Opal peeked from the room, still tired from the fight. She gave him a weary wave.
"You're alive!" Opal cheered.
"It's going to take more than a small army to take me down." Kai smirked, "How's your leg?"
Jinora spoke up, "She'll be fine if she'll get back into bed."
Opal chuckled, limping back into the room. Kai's smirk turned into a mischievous smile and he took Jinora's hands.
"Follow me."
They ran out to the shore before he sat down, bringing her down with him. He leaned back into the grass, smiling.
"The sun is about to rise. Care to watch it with me?"
"Of course, but why are we doing this?"
"Because, look." He smiled, pointing at the city in ruins.
The master airbender followed his finger with her eyes, not quite seeing what he was.
"I don't see anything but the city."
"No, just look." He smiled, sneaking a hand into his tunic.
Jinora's attention stayed on the city, trying to find what he was talking about. Kai would soon hold up what he wanted to surprise her with; a flower from the city.
"What's this?" she asked as it was placed in her hands.
"The only flower I could find in the city."
Jinora raised an eyebrow in wonder, "You brought me out here to show me a flower?"
"That and the sun is coming up."
"They're both beautiful."
Kai grinned, "But not as beautiful as you are."
They both blushed as they embraced. Kai took the flower back, only to tuck its stem in her hair. The couple would stay and watch as the sun rose. It was rare they had private moments like this, but they cherished it.
It took him a week to find one of the Resistance camps. He walked in with his head hanging low, avoiding the gathering of staring fighters. Bolin was tired and wanted a nice hot bath. He was soon led to the camp commander.
Kong was normally a happy old man from Omashu, but when his brown eyes saw Bolin, his cheery smile turned into a frown. A man wearing black robes dismissed himself from the tent.
"Bolin, I heard about your brother and Asami. I'm sorry to hear about it."
"Yeah, I'm sorry too. I feel alone now without their guidance. I suppose everyone else is feeling down about it?"
Kong hummed, "With the loss of our main leadership, some of the other groups are worried about what to do next. Some of the White Lotus showed up finally though. I think this plan of ours will still work."
"That man in the black robe was a part of the White Lotus?"
"He said he was. Smart fellow he is. I appreciate their help."
Bolin raised a brow before shrugging it off, "Well okay then. We could use more help."
When he slinked into the steaming tub, the heat washed his worry away. He cleaned the swamp and smoke residue from his bearded face before sitting in the tub looking down. His thoughts and memories came back to him. Finally, the realization that he was now alone in a camp with people he did not know hit him hard. There was no Mako to tease and receive objecting jokes from. No Asami to comfort him when he's missing Opal. No Opal to simply enjoy her presence. No Varrick… well, he honestly did not need the inventor but his humoring rants would make him happier.
The earthbender hid his face in his hands. A part of him wished that Korra had come with him even with her own issues at least he could talk to someone. Perhaps he could have helped her too.
He later drifted to thinking about the men wearing the black robes. Bolin brushed them off at first, but now that he was actually thinking about them, he began to worry about who they were. He cracked his knuckles before getting out of the cooling tub.
After he was dressed in a better conditioned set of clothing, he took a stroll around the camp. Others in camp continued with their sympathies and he could only hold his head up and thank them. He was not trying to forget his brother and friend, but this matter with the black robed men was a high priority. He stepped behind a tent to listen in on the black robes. They were talking about an upcoming fight. He pressed his ear further onto the tent before someone grabbed him. When he looked up at the intruder, he realized it was one of them.
"Oh hey," Bolin smirked, "Just passing by."
"Were you listening in on them?"
"Me? Oh spirits no. Why would I care about what's in the tent?"
The man hummed not amused before suddenly raising a brow, "Hey, you played that Hero of the South, Nuktuk, right?"
Bolin's smirk disappeared, "A long time ago. Why does everyone bring up Nuktuk still?"
"Hey," the man smiled, "Can you do his catch phrase? Aw man, I miss those movers."
The earthbender sighed before flexing, "I'm Nuktuk, Hero of the South!"
The black robed man busted out laughing before leaving Bolin alone, "Good ol' Nuktuk."
Bolin sighed before pressing his ear to the tent. He later peeked inside to find that they had all left. He was certain that something was going on between them now.
He was adding some finishing touches to his letter home when he heard something hit the outside of his window. He got up slowly before walking towards the window. When he peeked out of the room, he saw nothing but something in his mind was telling him to get out of his room and check. As he began the long walk out of the ship's quarters, he was met with a few guards also going his way.
The moon was out in Yue Bay, lighting the entire ship. The silhouette of the city left him in a foul mood as he knew that it was no longer the city his father built. The sight of the sailors holding their arms ready to fight did not help him either. He pushed through seeing what had caused alarm. Sitting against the railing was a figure. Tenzin could not make out the face from its hooded face. A light of a cigarette moved from the floor to the person's mouth. A long plume of smoke soon rose from the person's mouth.
"No need, gentlemen. I'm sure our guest had his reasons for being here this late at night."
The figure laughed, letting everyone else know that the figure was a woman.
"I have my reasons for being here." The woman began to stand, lowering her hood, "But I would prefer to just talk to you."
Tenzin nodded as he dismissed the sailors, slightly in shock from who he was seeing before him. The woman soon created a ball of flame in her hand. She looked dirty and wore no shoes on her feet.
"Korra?"
"Tenzin," she paused to bring her smoke to her lips, "I need your help."