The Bending Games

Chapter 3

Silence.

There was nothing but silence surrounding Korra as she sat solemnly in what felt like a jail cell. The tributes were quickly escorted to the town hall shortly after the ceremony. She was not allowed to leave her room, but was told that her family would be able to visit her before they departed for Republic City.

Korra was having a hard time internalizing what had just happened. All she was capable of doing at this moment was staring at the ground between her feet as she sat on an uncomfortable bench. How could I let myself end up here? What if I don't make it out alive? Is this the last time I'll be home? Were all thoughts that were rushing around inside her head.

She didn't know if it was the anticipation or the soft ticking of the clock that was driving her insane. She snapped out of her trance as soon as she heard footsteps approaching her door. She stood up and waited to see who it was. The doorknob rustled as the door creaked open and she saw a flash of familiar brown hair. Her mother rushed in quickly grabbing a hold of her baby girl followed by her father who wrapped his large arms around the both of them.

Korra felt her mother's tears on the side of her cheek as they all held each other appreciating every single second. Tonraq was the first to break the silence.

"Korra… sweetheart," he spoke with a slight tremble in his voice, "whatever happens, just know that we love you so much."

"Be strong," Senna finally spoke, "we believe in you."

"I love you guys so much," Korra said trying not to breakdown in tears.

Their embrace was cut short when the door opened and two officers came in to escort her parents out.

"Wait, you can't take them yet!" Korra yelled as the officers grabbed her parents and pushed them out. Her father erupted at the officers as her mother sobbed. The door slammed shut and Korra was left all alone once again. She rested her forehead against the door. Her eyes were shut tight to keep tears from escaping.

Just then, she heard footsteps once more. She stepped back from the door hoping it was her parents again. The door opened slowly and in walked,

"Varrick?" Korra was confused as to why he of all people would be visiting her.

"Ya know, a lot of people would be ecstatic when I grace them with my presence" he said as he twirled his mustache.

"Anyways, I'm here to collect you so we can go board the boat."

Korra stood up and followed Varrick out the room and made their way to the exit.

"Wait, what about Kaito?" Korra asked.

"He's already on the boat. Said he didn't want to see his mom and sister cry anymore. Poor kid." Varrick let out a big sigh.

They exited the town hall and were quickly surrounded by a pack of officers that would escort them to the ship. Korra kept her head down as she walked past people who stood outside their homes and buildings watching as the tribute made her way through town. She pushed her feet through the snow leaving a path as they walked along. This would be the last mark she leaves in this place thinking she would never set foot in this snow again. As she stayed focused on her feet, she noticed a large shadow slowly creeping up towards her. She panned her head up and gawked at a ship that looked larger than the entire Southern Water Tribe.

"Woah…" Korra whispered.

"Woah is right! This baby is the first battleship I ever purchased," Varrick said proudly. He put an arm around Korra and pulled her close to him. "I call this baby the Zhu Li. I named it after my assistant because she's reliable and always there when you need her."

"Yes sir?" A woman said as she popped up behind them which made Korra jump.

The two turned around, "See Korra, always there when you need her. Zhu Li, do the thing!"

"Yes sir." Zhu Li pushed the button on a remote that lowered the bridge on the boat for them to board.

Korra followed Varrick aboard, and entered into a large lavish room. The table was covered in food she had never seen before. The carpets and furniture looked so fancy. She wasn't a fan of any of it. She preferred simple things. Why would anyone need so much stuff? She thought to herself, clearly not impressed.

"Right this was Korra," Varrick led her into a room. She had a seat on the couch and ran her fingers over the velvety fabric.

"Zhu Li, go get the others," he ordered and she left swiftly without a peep.

"So Korra, are you ready for all of this?" Varrick asked with a serious tone.

"…" Korra looked out the window and saw everyone from town gathered outside the large boat. They were too far away for her to make out any of the faces, but she had a feeling that her parents were standing there among the crowd. She just knew.

The boat blew its horn signaling its departure. She put one hand up against the window. Everything felt so unreal. This would be the first time she would be leaving the place she grew up in. Korra felt a little uneasy and had butterflies in her tummy.

"Sir, here they are" Zhu Li spoke which snapped Korra out of her daze.

She turned around and saw two familiar faces, "Katara!" and ran up and gave the old woman a hug. "I am so glad you are here," Korra said happily.

"Because Katara is the only victor from the Southern Water Tribe, she is going to be mentoring you and Kaito," Varrick explained as he sipped his tea.

Kaito took a seat on the far end of the couch and Korra returned back to her seat. The two glanced at each other and nodded. He was awfully quiet.

"This trial is going to be like nothing you've ever faced before," Katara's words eerily lingered in Korra's head. "You will be pushed to your limits and will be forced to make choices that could end in life or death. Don't be fooled. This is no game. It's a nightmare."

"How…" a soft and warm voice began to speak, "how did you make it out alive?" Kaito asked.

"You two weren't even born when I was a part of the games."

Varrick poured Katara some tea and she slowly took a sip.

"I hid," she continued, "I kept my distance from the other tributes. In the games you will be pre-assigned an element. Earth, fire, air, or water. You have to figure out on your own what you can do. I was a water bender fortunately. My brother Sokka wasn't as lucky as me. The year before me he was sent to the games and it turned out that he was a non-bender. There will be some of those in the games. The unlucky ones. They get picked off quite easily. Sokka made it close to the end before he sacrificed himself to save a girl. He always had to be the hero," she shook her head as she took another sip.

"I let the other tributes pick off one another until it was me and one other fire bender girl. I had been searching for water because I was just as helpless as a non-bender without it. She found me and chased me up a cliff and by some miracle she ended up falling to her death. And I… won," she said solemnly.

"Do you think we have a chance of making it out alive?" Kaito asked worryingly.

Katara reached over and placed her hand on top of his, "You control your fate, not the Republic."

He nodded and turned to face the window. The sun was going down and casting its orange and yellow hues on the water. Sunsets were one of the few things in life that made him happy no matter what. This was the exception.