Chapter 35

Worried

'Dear Korra,

How are things going, sweetie? We miss you very much. Your father and I are really worried about you. I hope you aren't hurt. I know that we don't exactly have the best relationship in the world, but you're still our daughter, our one and only child, and we love you. I'm sure you're more accustomed to getting letters from your father, but he's a bit – occupied. Stubborn is a better word. He's just concerned and he doesn't always know how to express his emotions. I'm sure you know that, though. He just – He doesn't want to lose you. Neither do I.

Strange things have been happening here. Another storm came in just a few days ago. It was a nasty ice storm that took out the ships we had finally rebuilt from the last storm, along with some of the docks and many of the houses around the village. Luckily, no one was hurt. We were planning on using one of the boats to get you from Republic City for your break, but now it's looking like we won't be able to get you home at all. It will take weeks alone just to get the resources we need; everything is destroyed. We had to invest the money we were going to put into this letter to go towards supplies for trading and hunting. I hope the yuans we sent you a while ago are still holding up.

I've been writing to Mizu about the Fire Nation's plans on coming to the Southern Water Tribe for trade. You remember Mizu, right? It's been a long time since I've seen him since his promotion. I miss him. He doesn't really work with the trading units anymore in their Navy. I believe they've got him on their battle units, but I think your father mentioned that already. Anyways, I told him about the storm in my last letter (the one before this ice storm), and he agreed to send a few ships of supplies to us to help us rebuild. Those ships should be going out soon, and from what he told me, your father and I will be able to go with him for the return trip. Mizu said he would make a stop in Republic City just so that we could come see you! He even said Naga could come with us, if she wants.

What am I kidding, of course she does! She misses you, probably more than any of us. She's been getting very aggressive since you've been gone. She was fine in the beginning, but after a few weeks, she started growling at people. I think she's been having bad dreams. I can hear her whimpering from your bedroom, and when I go to check on her, she's pawing at the floor. She took a few boards up one night. She's been sleeping in your bed, now, since the second-last storm. Other times, she doesn't sleep at all. She just sits by the window, staring at the moon. I think she's waiting for you to come back. After this past storm, though... she ran away from home after that storm, Korra. Ran right to the docks and dove into the ocean towards Republic City, like she was going to swim all the way to your college campus. Your father and a few Water Benders had to chase her down and Bend her out of the water. She isn't the same. She's just been curled up in your bedroom, looking out the window. She won't even go hunting anymore. Every time your father and I try to get her out of the house to exercise, she growls at us. She even took a swipe at your father. The only person she lets near her is Katara.

That's another thing. Katara has been asking about you a lot lately. Every day, she stops by to see if we've received your letter from the post. She'll sit with Naga, and they both just look out the window. It's cute, in a way, to see her in a chair with Naga's head in her lap. They really get along well. They'll have conversations about you, and how much they miss you. I've overhead Katara mentioning that she's been dreaming about you, too. Her behavior – it's been worrying your father and I, as well as Kya. She's come back to the Southern Water Tribe to look after her. She had left shortly after you went away to college, but once she heard about her mother – her original reason for returning to the Water Tribe years ago was to say goodbye to her father and look after Katara after Aang's death. She thought after all this time, Katara would be okay on her own. But I guess that's not quite true. It's really hard to see her like this. Once in a while, though, Kya will convince them to go on a walk, but otherwise, they refuse to do much at all. I've asked Kya what's going on with Katara, but she said that her mother hasn't even told her. She told me that every walk they go on, the two of them sit at the top of the glacier nearby and look out to the ocean, completely silent. This is all very strange.

Please, just reply to this letter. We are so worried about you. We will get to see you soon, but please, just be okay.

Love Always,

Mom'

(-)

'Dear Mom,

I'm sorry I haven't been writing to you. Things have been – things have been really rough, lately. There's no point in hiding it. My classes have been more difficult than I could have ever imagined. I don't think I'm cut out for this whole college thing, to be honest. But I'm going to continue my studies regardless. I know how much this means to you two. Maybe next semester will be better for me. Finals are coming up, so I'll be spending time preparing for those. I can't really write all that much right now because my hand hurts a lot. Mom, I'm so stu- I just, I don't know.

I'm happy that you and dad will be able to come up to visit in a few weeks. I hope he's not too mad at me. I didn't mean to ignore his letters. I've just been busy. Really, really busy. It will be nice to see Naga again. I miss her. I miss her so much, mom. It hurts me knowing that she's suffering this way. I'm sorry for all of the trouble she's caused. I miss you and dad. I miss the south. I miss everything. I miss Master Katara, too. Please don't tell her about how things have been bad with me. I don't want her to worry about me anymore. Tell her everything is happy-go-lucky with sunshine and I'm getting straight A's, or something like that. I don't want any more people to suffer because of me.

Please give Mizu my thanks for allowing you to sail with him. I'm sure you two will have a nice reunion fun trip up to Republic City.

Love,

Korra'