Love Burns Brighter ( Korrasami Fanfiction )

by nofacemonster

korra and Asami were good friends but the things have started to change... This is a korrasami fanfiction purely written on my imaginations, story takes place after the season #3 end. please bare in mind that this is the first work i ever published and it may contain many shortcomings please bare with me.

9. Chapter 9

My dearest readers…!

It's been a while since I've last published and I am sorry for taking so long to publish another chapter. Life and work kept me busy but I kept on working on this whenever I can. Finally one episode is finished and I'd love to publish it right away. I am just little worried over the errors it may have and cloud your enjoyment because I couldn't thoroughly check it for errors yet.

I want to thank you all for bearing with me during all the short-comings and yet kept on encouraging me to write further. As I always says… without you I wouldn't have come this far.

I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

Two years have passed since Zaheer broke out of frozen north with Korra….

The cold morning breeze blows gently through the leaves making a soothing sound as if nature is whispering in her ears. She sits by the calm flowing river in lotus position deep in her state of Samadhi. Gentle wind caresses her with its refreshing touch as she inhales and exhales in a slow rhythmic manner. Further she stays in the state of Samadhi, deeper she felt herself in the bliss of relief as if everything slowly fades away and there is only beautiful warm light wreathed around her.

Zaheer watches her from the distance as she meditates peacefully. He sees a mocha skinned girl with fairly long hair French braided to a single stem. She wears a cotton collarless shirt and pajamas. The avatar Korra sits few yards away from the river bank deep in her meditation. He felt a profound happiness within him to see his student who has mastered everything he thought her. He slowly walked towards her without causing any disturbances and sits in lotus position in front of her.

Korra felt the presence of her master and she slowly let go of her state of Samadhi then opened her eyes exhaling deeply yet in a calm manner.

"It brings me to an utmost joy to see you have completed the entire training Korra" Zaheer said in a soft tone. Korra smiled at him as he complimented sincerely on her achievement.

"As of completing the training in the art of "Fist of the blood dragon", It is a requirement to bear the marking of the art, you may now receive the marking of the blood dragon…., Speak to me when you are ready Korra" said Zaheer while having his eyes closed.

"It is an honor to be trained under your guidance; I'm ready to receive the marking now…" said Korra and bowed at her master as he watched over her proudly.

They both stood up facing each other and stared at each other for moment quietly. Zaheer had a small leather pouch with him. He opened it and took out a pot of strange looking ink. Then he took out a stack of sharp long needles and a one long pointed bamboo shard. He held the equipment right in front of her face. Korra nods approving him to begin the process and she turned around facing away from him. Then she slowly undid the buttons of her shirt and slipped it out of her arms leaving her with the bra. Korra paused for a moment and took her hair to the front.

"In the history of red lotus, you are the first woman to receive the honorary marking of the "Blood Dragon"" Zaheer said slowly. She unclipped her bra and slipped the straps revealing her back freeing from all obstructions and held the shirt against her chest. Korra took a deep breath and sits on the ground in lotus position quietly letting Zaheer begin the marking. He stepped close to her and kneels behind her. Korra leans a little forward revealing all of her back to him to begin the marking process.

"I begin the process when you are ready..." said Zaheer.

She nods signaling him to begin the marking process. He dipped the bamboo shard and needles in the ink then he started to tattoo the mark on Korra's back.

As the first sharp needle went through her skin, she felt a tremendous pain yet she held on to it having her eyes closed. Korra felt like someone is slowly carving a design out of her back with sharp knives. She felt like she's going to pass out in pain.

Marking process went on for several hours…, Zaheer knew how much it hurts to receive the marking. It hurts far more than getting an ordinary tattoo, but he kept on going until he finished the whole process on her back. After few hours he completed a large tattoo on her back with a similar design to the original red lotus emblem along with a large furious dragon encircled around it. After completing it, he took a small bottle of wax and poured it in to his palms.

"It is complete, now I will apply this wax to speed up the healing and prevent infections" said Zaheer. Korra nods.

He applied the wax with his palms on her back and she felt like someone pouring salt in to an open wound. She gnashed her teeth together and tried to tolerate the pain as much as she can. He finished it and wiped his hands clean with a cloth and kept the blood soaked equipment at a side. She sits up straight and slipped the shirt back on with great difficulty and put on the buttons then stood up on her feet. Zaheer stood up along with her and she turned around to face him.

"You are the first person I've seen who did not pass out during the marking of "Blood dragon". You held on and tolerated the pain well Korra…. I am honored to call you my student…." Said Zaheer and bowed to her and she bowed to him as well.

"Honor is all mine…. Zaheer" said Korra.

She has received the honorary marking of the "Blood Dragon" as of completing the training in a ceremonial manner.

Two days have passed…

The chill wind kept hooting in through the window. The night is dark as it could be with no moon shining in the sky. Korra sits by the front porch looking at the stars above. She gently massaged her scalp and combed her long loose hair with fingers. Korra wanted to unwind and relax tonight, she felt lighter like a feather as she smelled her own hair and then she smirked as it smelled like sandalwood. She heard few footsteps approaching from behind.

"Would you braid my hair in the morning….?" She asked in a carefree tone.

"I will… if you want me to…" said Zaheer sitting beside her on the front porch staring at the nightly sky. Korra exhales sharply.

"Do you think I'll ever be able to get my bending back and reconnect with the avatar state?" Korra asked with so much hope in her tone. Zaheer looked at her because it has been sometime since she asked him that question.

"It is within you Korra, it is you who has to find a way to reconnect with it. You have learned what I thought you well, through meditation, you have gained control over the blood bending and now you can summon it at will. I have seen many blood benders in my life but I have not seen anything like what you possess. I firmly believe that through meditation you will be able to regain what you have lost as well. Remember that you are the avatar and you have been the avatar for many lives. It is a part of your soul and there is no way that you could simply loose it," said Zaheer.

"Your words flatter me Zaheer. Thanks for believing me. I just don't want to be the worst avatar ever lived by losing everything I'm born with…." said Korra with a sigh. Zaheer kept thinking for a moment.

"What are you thinking so deeply…?" Korra asked.

"It has been more than two years since we came here and…" said Zaheer and paused.

"Two years…? How come I never thought of it…? Two years is a long time. What were you going to say?" asked Korra furrowing her eyes with curiosity.

"I think it is time that you should head out and see the world yourself. I may have already lived most of my life but for you…. You cannot live your entire life hiding in a place like this. You are still too young for that and there is so much power in you that you could put to good use," said Zaheer.

"Don't you think it is dangerous to go out there…? We are perfectly safe here and we never had any problems for the last two years. Do not forget that we are fugitives and there could be a price on our heads. Besides you're the one who said that we should seek a life of a hermit," said Korra.

"Two years back you were not ready for the world but I have trained you and with your skill you can face whatever the world throws at you. Therefore, I want you to venture out and see what life has in store for you. If you face trouble, do not be afraid to use what you possess. Have no mercy on those who oppose you and remember that you are the avatar," said Zaheer standing up.

"What about you…? Aren't you going to come along with me…?" asked Korra looking at Zaheer as he walked few steps away from her. He looked back and her big blue eyes sparkled as they stare at him.

"I may only be a burden to you Korra; I have already decided what I will do with the rest of my life…" said Zaheer.

"And what will that be…? If I may ask…?" asked Korra in a little angered tone.

"Once we're apart… I would like to travel further away from the society and continue my meditation. I wish to severe the bond I have towards you and seek to be enlightened," said Zaheer. Korra stood up with an angered gesture upon hearing his decision.

"I never thought of you as a burden Zaheer. You saved me and you trained me. You made me who I am right now. There is no way I am going to leave you behind and go out there all alone," said Korra. Zaheer stayed silent hearing what she has to say.

"You are better off without me Korra; you have a whole life ahead of you and there is so much you can do. I am sorry…. I think it is time…" said Zaheer and looked down.

"Your place in this world is not going to be in some jungle or a desert… You belong with me by my side as my teacher and my mentor. Just don't try to push me away for your selfish reasons," said Korra angrily and walked back to the house.

Zaheer walked inside the house after Korra went in and he saw her sitting on her sleeping bag facing backwards to the entrance. As he walked closer, he heard she is sniveling quietly. Zaheer laid his hand on her shoulder.

"I'm sorry…. Korra" he said softly as he could.

"It's alright Zaheer… Just go. You don't have to waste your whole life trying to help me. Just go on like everybody else," said Korra and snivels.

"Nothing lasts forever… Whether we like it or not we have to accept it, learn to let go of what tethers you…" said Zaheer.

Korra sniffs up wiping her tears away and falls on her sleeping bag wanting to sleep. Zaheer walked away from her letting her deal with her own anguish. He thought that it is time they walk on separate paths because she can take care of herself now. He has thought her everything he knew.

Next day early in the morning…

Korra woke up and rubbed her eyes. She saw that Zaheer is gone. He has taken his sleeping bag along with him. She quickly gets on her feet and ran outside. He is nowhere to be seen. She knew he was going to leave before she wakes up and she felt terrible. She tried to stop herself from being emotional but tears burst in to her eyes. She wiped her eyes and sniffed up.

"So this is goodbye then…? Thank you for everything Zaheer…! Being my enemy… you did things for me that even a friend wouldn't do" whispered Korra in a sad tone.

She walked back to the house gathered up all her belongings. Suddenly something came to her mind as she kept shoving things in to the backpack. She touched her head and she shook her hair to the front. Her long hair was beautifully French braided in to a single stem while she was sleeping. She couldn't figure out how he has done it without waking her up. Korra burst in to tears and cried, she couldn't hold it in her heart anymore. Even though Zaheer was her enemy she has formed a strong bond towards him for the past two years.

She prepared everything and walked out the house wearing a pair of jungle pants, an off blue collarless t-shirt and a dun green jacket with its hood down. She fastened her back pack and turned to have a one last glance at the house which sheltered them for the past two years. As she kept starring at it; the time she spent here with Zaheer flashes in her memory.

"Thank you for everything… Goodbye…" she whispered and walked away slowly.

Republic city
City Centre Shopping Mall Rooftop

Asami kept on starring in to the cityscape resting her elbows on the balcony railing and leaning against it. She is holding the vanity mirror in her hands, the one that she gave to Korra three years back on that tragic day. She slowly opens it and stared in to her own eyes in the silvery mirror and a gust of cold wind embraced her.

"To the one that holds the key to my heart…. With love Asami" she reads it softly.

Mako steps out of the elevator in to the open roof top and looked around for Asami. He has two takeaway cups full of spicy ice tea in his hands. Then he saw her in usual outfit, black jeans, riding boots and a dark brown riding jacket. Mako slowly stepped towards her.

"Asami…" Mako said as he approached her. She turned her head to look at him and gave him a faint smile. He noticed the hollowness in her smile and hopelessness in her eyes.

"I just bought some spice tea…. I thought you might like it" he said offering one cup to her. She took it from him quietly and he shoved a drinking straw on it.

"What have you been doing for past couple of months….?" asked Mako and leaned against the railing sipping his tea. Asami kept quiet and there was silence between them for a moment.

"Travelling…." Asami said very briefly and sipped her tea.

"It has been more than three years already…" said Mako and paused as Asami intervened.

"So what's new in your life…? It's been months since we last met" said Asami wanting to change the topic of the conversation.

"Well…. I've been busy doing nothing, just going here and there with Prince Wu and being his personal body guard means doing absolutely nothing. Sauna's, foot rubs, fancy restaurants, exotic dances and lots of alcoholic drinks are just to name a few. Lana and I broke up as well" said Mako and sips his tea again.

"That was quick, I thought you two were going to be the thing…" said Asami.

"Actually it happened quite a few months back. It wasn't that quick, we were together for more than two years and she decided to move on because she has figured out that being with a cop is not her thing anymore…" said Mako with a deep sharp exhale. Asami smirked amusingly out of nowhere.

"Why are you laughing… what's so funny about that…?" asked Mako in a curious tone.

"Nothing… it's just that the way you said it…" said Asami.

"What about it…?" asked Mako.

"You told me as if she matured and suddenly came to realization that loving a cop is not her thing anymore…" said Asami covering her mouth with her hand.

"So what…? Am I a laughing matter to you now…? Is that what I am to you now…?" asked Mako in an angry tone.

"You asked me to come here and meet up with you just because you wanted to fight…?" asked Asami furrowing her eye brows. Mako leaned against the railing looking at the cityscape with an angered gesture. Asami stood up straight and walked away without talking to him.

"Where are you going…?" Mako asked because he knew that she was hurt for the way he acted.

"I don't have time for this Mako… we are not petty children anymore to waste time arguing and fighting" said Asami.

"I am sorry… alright? I just over reacted. Come back here" said Mako. Asami turned at him with a sigh and walked back to him. They were quiet again for a moment.

"I just wanted to see you… That's why I asked you come here…, Let me have a look at it" said Mako wanting the clamped vanity mirror which she was holding in her hand. Asami gave it to him and lean against her railing again. Mako opened it and kept looking at for a while reading it in his mind. Tears seeped in to Asami's eyes as she kept staring at the cityscape.

"I am sorry… I know that you have been through a lot. I shouldn't have yelled at you…"said Mako feeling regretful for his action.

"It's alright… I don't care anymore…" said Asami as she wiped her tears with a tissue.

"I am sorry about Korra…" said Mako returning the Vanity mirror.

"You don't have to be sorry… it's not your fault" said Asami slipping the vanity mirror back in her jacket pocket.

"I just don't know how to put this to words… I know you have been doing everything that you possibly can to look for her but…" Mako paused.

"But what…?" asked Asami turning towards him.

"It's just that… I don't think she will ever come back Asami… I'm sorry. There are some things in life that we just have to let go and move on. We have to do it whether we like it or not…" said Mako.

"I hate it when you say that Mako…" Asami uttered.

"Sometimes we just have to accept the reality, we can't just be optimistic all the time and lie to ourselves just because we want us to be happy" said Mako.

"I won't be able to rest until I find out what happened to her. I will not be at peace until I bathe in Zaheer's blood for what he did to her" said Asami gnashing her teeth with thoughts of vengeance running through her minds.

"Didn't you find anything that could lead us to Zaheer in earth kingdom? You were there for months" asked Mako.

"Not a single clue after the incident of Frozen North, It seems like he has vanished in to thin air…" said Asami with a sigh.

"Have you gone to the Mount Laghima? As far as I know, Mount Laghima is a very special place for Zaheer, he deeply respect Guru Laghima even though he lived more than 4000 years ago. Zaheer follow his teachings" said Mako rubbing his chin. Asami looked at him with her eyes wide open.

"Why didn't I think of this before….? You're brilliant Mako, That's the only noteworthy place I haven't visited so far…." said Asami standing straight in amusement. Mako grinned at Asami as she hugged him.

"Let's go to Mt. Laghima, Are you coming with me Mako….?" Asami asked.

"Sure, count me in… but" said Mako rolling his eyes.

"But what…? Is there anything that you are not telling me Mako…?" Asami asked.

"I've been thinking lately that… it is true that two of us has been searching for Zaheer for past two years or so but have you ever thought, what if two of us encountered him at one point and we had to face him in a fight…?" asked Mako wanting Asami to think a little further.

"What are you trying to say Mako…?" asked Asami.

"What I am going to say is… don't underestimate Zaheer. He is not your daily villain you may encounter at the corner of the street…" said Mako.

"Hmmm… what you say is true… two of us will not be able to take him down but what other choice do we have…? I don't want Korra to get in trouble again, the whole world thinks she's dead and I want to leave it that way so she will not be chased like a wild animal… So I am willing to take my chances" said Asami.

"It's alright Mako… you don't have to risk your neck for me or Korra, if you want yourself out of it… you can do that. I am not forcing you to come with me…" said Asami again and looked away.

"What makes you think that I'd send you all alone to face Zaheer…? Remember…? We're a team!" said Mako.

"I have this feeling in my gut that we have a high chance of encountering Zaheer at Mt. Laghima…" said Mako.

Mako laid his hand on Asami's shoulder and she smiled at him with a feeling of relief knowing that he will lend his full support.

Three days later…
evening at Mt. Laghima

The wind blows echoing over the calm and quiet atmosphere of Mt. Laghima. It is a perfect place for deep meditation. Zaheer has reached the Mt. Laghima two days back to begin his deep meditation. Mt. Laghima has always been a special place for him because he holds a deep respect for guru Laghima and his teachings. He sits under the starry skies in lotus position and draws a deep breath to relax himself then he closed his eyes and entered the meditative state. Through meditation he wishes to severe all that tethers him and regain his power but the moment he closes his eyes thoughts about Korra kept stealing his concentration away.

Even though it has been many days since he departed from Korra, he could still hear her voice and playful laughter in his head. Memories of the time he has spent with Korra while training her kept playing in his memory.

He furrows his brow in frustration and opened his eyes. He felt slightly annoyed because this is his fifth attempt to severe the bond he has with Korra and it has failed.

"Korra…. You have become a stain in my mind. Why am I so obsessed with you….?" Zaheer asked himself in his mind.

"I do not understand the reason…." Zaheer said to himself and closed his eyes again. He slowly dives deep in to his meditative states again.

In his mind he starts seeing Korra again and he tried to push away the thoughts that kept flowing in. Zaheer tried to push the thoughts away hard as he could and suddenly the moment he has nearly seen her naked by the river has started to replay in his mind.

"Crystal clear water of that river splashing against her mocha skin…. Her wet dark hair dripping water wreathed around her body…. Her playful smile…."

Zaheer opened his eyes again breathing heavily. He rubbed his face and felt angry frustrated. He stood up on his feet straight and bow to the air.

"Forgive me…. Korra, I would never let my mind give in to such carnal temptation…" said Zaheer having a feel of guilt within him.

He sits back on his lotus position after few minutes and kept staring in to the distance from the peak of Mt. Laghima. Suddenly he starts to feel a presence of another person slowly closing in.

"ZAHEER….!" said a female voice from behind.

Air Temple Island
Tenzin's Residence

He kept staring at the starry night sky through the telescope and then leaned back. He wrote down what he just observed. Pema walked over to the open roof top of the air temple with a cup of tea. She smiled at her husband as she saw him busy writing down what he saw through the telescope.

"I bought some jasmine tea for you…" she said in a soft tone without disturbing him. Tenzin lifts up his head and smiled at his wife.

"That is very kind of you Pema…" he said walking over to her.

"I've noticed that for past few months you have developed an interest in astronomy…." Pema said with a smile on her face as Tenzin took the cup of tea from her serving tray and he smirked for what she said.

"Forgive me for not filling you in with enough information Pema…." said Tenzin after taking sip of Jasmine tea.

"Oh! Don't worry, It's just that I was little curious over your newfound interest… that's all" said Pema.

"Well…. Reason why I was often observing the night sky for past few months was that there is this strange glowing object which keeps growing in size every time I look at it. So I thought I'll observe it and write a report on it. I actually wanted to deliver my observation report to the government authorities tomorrow" said Tenzin staring at Pema as she peeked through the telescope while he enjoyed the tea.

"I see the little star you just mentioned…" said Pema.

"It didn't look that big about a month back, it kept growing in size over night" said Tenzin.

"I think you have made a fascinating discovery Tenzin" asked Pema.

"I really don't know about that Pema, but we'll see tomorrow when I hand this report over to the authorities, probably someone at the national observatory has already noticed it" said Tenzin looking up at the starry sky.

"When did you discover it…?" asked Pema.

"Well… I err, i… I was actually, I mean i just thought of doing something other than training new air benders so…. i… err I thought why not I start a new hobby…? Maybe, err maybe I could learn something new as well, and then I thought I am going to learn about what's out there in the night sky, learn a little about astronomy. So while I was observing the night sky few months back, I came across this strange star that keeps growing in its size day by day" said Tenzin stammering with his words.

"Oh really… That is fascinating… by the way I almost forgot to tell you, Lin came here this morning while you were away" said Pema walking over to Tenzin as he finished the cup of tea and kept it back on the trey.

"Did she….?" said Tenzin briefly.

"She actually came to meet you… and I must say that she has changed quite a lot for past year or so, grown her hair longer, and it seems she pays more attention to way she looks than she use to…." said Pema rolling her eyes.

"Well…. I didn't notice it Pema…" said Tenzin feeling awkward to hear the change of Pema's tone.

"How could you my dear Tenzin….? You see her quite often…, it's difficult to notice changes when you see people quiet often" said Pema while picking up the empty tray.

"I bet she's in love with someone… She looks lot younger and prettier than she used to be… and since when did Lin start to wear those expensive Jasmine perfumes? Way she looks, way she talks, everything has changed completely" said Pema with an ignorant smile at Tenzin as he kept looking away.

"Did she tell you why she wanted to meet me…?" asked Tenzin.

Pema smiled at him and walked away towards the stairs which leads down without answering Tenzin. Then she stopped and turned at Tenzin again.

"She said two of you have spotted something strange in the night sky while at the national observatory few months back. She wanted to know whether if you have done any follow-ups on it because she never had time to do it by herself" said Pema sarcastically. Tenzin kept quiet feeling speechless within him.

"I assume that you have forgotten how you first spot that shining star up there… strange thing is, I never knew two of you are so interested in astronomy" said Pema walking down the stairs.

Tenzin rubbed his bald head feeling awkward because Pema caught him lying to her for the first time in their lives.

"Mom was right about me… I was never a good liar" he said to himself.

Mt. Laghima Peak

"ZAHEER!" said a female voice from behind and it echoes along with the wind.

Zaheer stands back on his feet and slowly turned at the direction of the voice and opened his eyes. He sees a young girl standing few yards away from him wearing a dark brown jacket, dark blue jeans and riding boots. She has a dark red scarf wrapped around her neck. She keeps frowning at him with her sharp eyes.

"Yes, that is me…." He replied to her in a calm tone.

Another young man came running behind her and stopped and light up his fists with fire. Zaheer realized that he is a fire bender.

"I was right about it…" said Mako furrowing his brow.

"I want to clarify something with you…." said Asami as her lightning glove starts to glow with sparks of electricity.

"What may that be….?" Zaheer asked.

"Where is Korra….? What have you done to her…? General Akbar told us the real story behind your escape from frozen north…." Asami said in an angry tone.

"I made a promise to Akbar… but the promises are meant to be broken. What made you think I would do as he wanted me to….?" Zaheer asked with an evil grin on his face.

"Tell me now! I want to know what really happened to her…!" Asami shouts as the wind echoes around them.

Even though he realized that they are Korra's friends, Zaheer didn't want to take any chances and let someone know the truth about Korra which could put her life in jeopardy again. So he thought of telling a false story.

"Well… she didn't give me much of a fight though; I just slit her throat just to put her out of the misery. I would have enjoyed if she really fought with me…. Oh well, so much for the mighty avatar…. The bringer of balance…" said Zaheer and laughed mirthlessly. Asami's eyes flooded with tears as Zaheer confirmed Korra's death.

"If you killed her then where did you put her body….?" Mako shouted in anger.

"Did I forget to mention that she tasted really good…? I butchered her and then I ate her heart and fed the rest of her to the polar bear dogs…, Thanks to Akbar I got to eat the heart of the avatar" said Zaheer with an evil grin. Asami kept shivering in anger as Zaheer kept laughing like an evil monster right in front of them.

"Is there anything else you would like to know….?" Zaheer asked.

"YOU WILL PAY FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE…. MONSTER!" shouts Asami in rage. Zaheer stood up straight facing both of them.

"I see that two of you have come to avenge your friend…" said Zaheer.

"I AM GONNA GUT YOU LIKE A FISH…" shouts Asami running towards Zaheer with her full blown rage.

"EEEEYAAAAAAA" Mako shouts running towards him as wells.

Asami attacked Zaheer straightaway without thinking twice. Zaheer dodged all of her attacks with ease and pushed her away from him on the ground. Mako jumped on to him with his fire bending attacks. Zaheer successfully dodged all of his high flying kicks and full blown fire attacks. Asami got back on her feet and ran back towards Zaheer trying to land an electric shockwave on him.

No matter how hard both of them tried to attack Zaheer, he dodged all of them without attempting to attack them at all and then he lands a kick on Mako which threw him on the ground. Zaheer grabbed Asami restraining her in his arms. He could have easily snapped her neck in this grapple but instead he thrust his fingers on to one of her pressure points in the spine which gave her a paralyzing pain all over her body. Asami screamed in pain.

"How does it feel….?" Zaheer said softly as if he is whispering in her ear. Asami slipped a knife out of her sleeve and stabbed it on his side and twisted it. He instantly released her from the grapple groaning in pain.

"How does it feel now….?" asked Asami as Zaheer kneels on the ground in pain bleeding all over. Mako came on crashing on to him with a powerful fire bender kick which threw Zaheer on to the air and land him on the ground. Mako and Asami paused on their attacks at Zaheer and took an offensive stance. He stood back on his feet and pulled the knife out of his side gnashing his teeth in pain.

"Looks like I have under estimated you…." said Zaheer.

Blood kept squirting out of his stab wound and he threw the knife on the ground. Mako and Asami charged towards him again with all they got. Zaheer blocked all their attacks swiftly and landed a severe blow to Mako's gut which made him paralyze in pain, then he threw him over the shoulder landing him on his back hard against the ground. Asami came from behind and Zaheer evaded the attack and as a counter attack he dislocated her right arm. She cried out in pain and he smashed her on the ground landing a kick against her back.

Zaheer stood still as Mako and Asami both lay on the ground squirming in pain. Asami looked at Mako and she saw that he is out, so she tried to get back up on her feet but she couldn't because of the paralyzing pain that kept coming from her collar bone.

She tried to crawl away from Zaheer all covered in dry dirt. Zaheer walked towards Mako who lays unconscious on the ground.

"STAY AWAY FROM HIM… YOU MONSTER…" shouted Asami angrily and he turned to her.

"Looks like you want to die first…" said Zaheer and started to walk towards Asami. He grabbed the knife which was on the ground on his way and wiped it clean on his shirt. Asami struggled on the ground trying to get back on her feet. Zaheer walked towards her and with a blink of an eye he stabbed the knife right through Asami's left thigh and she screamed in pain.

"YOU BASTARD…" she shouted crying in pain. Zaheer giggled relentlessly and stood up on his feet pulling the knife from her thigh.

"You shouldn't play with knives, if you don't like to get yourself cut…" said Zaheer smiling down on her.

"YOU MONSTER… STAY AWAY FROM HER…" Mako shouted while he tried to get back on his feet again.

All of a sudden two metal whips flew out of nowhere and grappled Zaheer tightly. Then another two more came flying and wreathed around his neck, arms and whole body restraining him from all movements. Zaheer couldn't figure out where it came from. Asami quickly looked at the direction where it came from and she saw Lin and Suyin emerging from the shadows. Few other elite officers followed them as well. Zaheer tried to free himself from the tight metal grapple but he couldn't.

"It won't be easy to free yourself from that grapple without your bending Zaheer," said Lin.

Asami couldn't figure out how they came in here and she felt like she's about to pass out in pain. The officers who came along with Lin and Suyin quickly came over to Zaheer and restrained him further with metal bending grapple. Zaheer couldn't do anything so he closed his eyes surrendering to them.

"Take him to the armored truck… This time you are going to pay for all the crimes you committed Zaheer" said Lin ordering her men to take him away. Suyin ran over to Asami and Lin shouldered Mako.

"Are you alright dear…?" asked Suyin kneeling near her. Asami shook her head gnashing her teeth in pain. Mako and Lin walked over to her in a rush.

"Quickly… a stretcher… she's bleeding and needs attention" said Suyin and Lin ordered her men to bring the stretcher.

"I can't move…" said Asami in pain.

"Looks like he dislocated your arm and stabbed you on the thigh… don't try to move… we will take you on a stretcher" said Suyin wanting her to calm down. Asami felt like everything around her is blurring out.

"She's going to pass out…" said Mako with a worried tone. Suyin quickly held her head without letting her fall back on the hard ground.

Zaheer was taken as a prisoner and the officers loaded him to the armored truck. Lin ordered her officers to transport him to the ultrahigh security prison at republic city.

Republic City Central Hospital
Next day…

Asami woke up and found herself on a hospital bed. She saw that Suyin was right next to her bed staring at her as she woke up. She smiled at Asami.

"Oh my head… I feel like my whole body is numb" said Asami sitting up on the bed.

"Numbness will soon come to pass; it is due to the medication that doctor injected to ease the pain before relocating your arm and treating your wound. You will feel sore all over after it wears out, but in a day or two you will fine" said Suyin with a smiley face.

Asami found out that her thigh is being bandaged.

"You are lucky that hunting knife didn't really fracture your bone" said Suyin as Asami rubbed her forehead trying to go through her memories.

"Where's Mako…? Is he alright?" asked Asami.

"He is doing alright, just few bruises but nothing too serious… he is at the visitors lounge with Lin" said Suyin.

"Don't try to push yourself too hard Asami… rest now, I will inform Lin and Mako that you're awake" Suyin added as Asami tried to sit up.

"Suyin… what happened to Zaheer…?" asked Asami.

"You don't have to worry about him anymore dear… Lin took him in to custody and now he's being taken to the Republic city high security prison for further questioning and will be put on trial. I think he will face the death sentence for all the murders he committed…" said Suyin.

Someone pressed the visitor bell. Suyin opened the door and Mako walked in with Lin. He quickly came over to Asami with a relieved expression on his face.

"I was just about to call for you…" said Suyin smiling at her sister.

"Did you inform my dad…?" Asami asked him.

"I think Lin gave him a call and he will be here in couple of hours" said Mako.

"Thanks to Mako and his timely thinking, if we didn't arrive there on time both of you would have been killed, it is foolish to go after someone like Zaheer that way" said Lin. Asami looked at Mako and he grinned at her.

"Just before you leave towards Mt. Laghima, Mako informed me that you are going to go after Zaheer along with him. He wanted me to be there just in case if he was found in Mt. Laghima, he knew that two of you may not be able to take him down" said Lin wanting to clarify things to Asami.

"I know that avenging your friend will bring peace to your soul… but think twice before you do something like that again dear…" said Suyen with her kind tone.

"I am sorry… You are right… it was foolish of me to go there straightaway and confront him like that; I could have gotten both of us killed. I can't thank you enough for being there for us" said Asami.

"Zaheer vanished from the existence two years ago; I wonder how Mako guessed that you'd find him at Mt. Laghima" said Lin looking at Mako.

"What can I say…, I was just lucky and my instincts were correct" said Mako.

The visitor bell rang and Suyen answered the door again. The doctor who is in charge of Asami walked in with a nurse and Mako, Lin and Suyen walked out of the room letting him do his job. After few minutes they were called back in to the room.

"I have checked everything and Ms. Sato is out of danger, the laceration caused by the knife wasn't lethal but it was deep. I prefer her to stay in the hospital for few days but Ms. Sato insist that she wants to go back home" said the Doctor looking at Mako and Lin.

"It's up to you to decide doctor… anyways her father is on the way as well" said Lin.

"Alright Ms. Sato you can go back home today but you must bed rest for few days because the wound needs to heal and I will prescribe you some medicine which will ease the pain" said the Doctor.

"Thank you doctor," said Asami as the doctor and nurse left the room.

"Alright then, I'll be on my way as well, I have few things to take care of before lunch time. Do you want to come along with me Suyen?" asked Lin and Suyen nods as a confirmation.

"What are you going to do Mako…?" asked Suyen.

"Drive me to the beach house…" said Asami breaking in and Suyen looked at her for the rude tone she used.

"I thought you are going to wait till your dad comes…" said Lin.

"No worries… I can drive her back to the beach house…" said Mako in a spontaneous tone.

"Alright then… do as you please… take care you two, don't ever do something like that again" said Suyen with a smile.

"And I must say that it was pretty daring to go against Zaheer like that…. I will inform the nurse on our way out to send you a wheel chair…" said Lin walking out of the room along with Suyen.

"Thank you Lin… Take care" said Asami waving at them. After they left, Asami leaned back on the bed and lays a deep breath. Mako pulled a chair to sit and lean against it. There was a long dead silence between them in the room until the hospital attendant bought the wheel chair and helped Asami on to it.

Half an hour later…

Mako was driving Asami back to her beach house and he is wondering why Asami kept quiet for all this time. He shifted to the top gear and accelerates little harder in the open road feeling slightly angry.

"What's wrong Asami…? If you got something to say… let's hear it…" said Mako in a little angered tone. Asami looked at him furrowing her brow.

"Why did you have to call Lin to come and aid us…?" asked Asami.

"If I didn't ask her to come, you and I probably be dead by now… I've been helping you with your search for Korra for the past two years and now I know how stubborn you are. Yes, I was the one who told you that we'd go looking for Zaheer in Mt. Laghima…" said Mako and paused.

"When we spotted Zaheer, I told you to stay quiet and we'll get back to him with a proper plan but instead of listening to me you just went towards him roaring as if you can take him down all alone. That is just plain suicide alright? I didn't had any choice so I walked with you right in to his presence. Just be thankful to me for asking Lin to come along, something told me that you'd do something stupid like that so that's why I informed Lin just before we went there" said Mako.

"My blood started to boil when I saw him… how could I just watch him be at so peace… he killed her and he…." said Asami bursting in to tears.

"I know… I am sorry, I understand how you feel Asami…" said Mako lowering his tone.

"Do you know how I felt when he said he killed her and ate her…?" said Asami sniveling.

"Zaheer is just plain crazy, it was stupid of Akbar to trust him and put her life in his hands, she had to die such a horrific death all because of his stupid thinking…" said Mako. Asami kept crying quietly and wiped her tears.

"Do you think Zaheer will receive the death sentence…?" asked Asami.

"Yes… Lin said authorities will not go easy on him for all the murders he committed" said Mako.

"I want you to take me there to see him die on his day of execution…" said Asami in a cold tone.

"Asami…" said Mako.

"I want to see it…. I want to see him getting killed…. I will enjoy every moment of Zaheer's death. The monster who took her away from me…." said Asami with a vengeful tone in her voice.

Republic City
High Security Prison
Situated in the far end of the Republic city

Lin walked in to the visitor's chamber with Tenzin. The officer in charge of the high security area came marching towards them and salute at Lin as she salute at him.

"Welcome to the Republic City High security prison Ma'am" he said.

"Take us to see Zaheer…" said Lin.

"Very well, please hand over the clearance card and follow me…" said the officer leading the way. Tenzin and Lin handed him the clearance cards. He took them towards an elevator that leads the way far below the ground level to a newly designed holding cell. It is a newly constructed part of the republic city prison to hold dangerous criminals like Zaheer.

After few minutes the elevator has reached the lowest floor and they stepped out of it. Lin and Tenzin followed the officer along a long empty corridor. As they walked the entire corridor lightened up automatically.

"Fantastic…" said Tenzin looking around.

"This is the newly built high security level of republic city prison, designed and constructed by none other than Sato industries. Mr. Hiroshi is the brain child of this cell" said the officer as he leads them through the corridor.

After few minutes of walking they stopped at a massive metal door which resembles a safe in bank.

"Here we are… this door will lead to his Cell…" said the officer by punching the secret code in to the numeric keypad on the wall. Suddenly a gust of steam came from the sides of the massive steel door and it slowly opened up. They stepped in to a fully steel room and there is another steel door at the far end of the room. They walked toward the second steel door.

"He's in there but don't worry… he can't do anything" said the officer with a smirk.

"We are not worried about him, so please don't worry yourself over us" said Lin in a sarcastic tone.

"Alright then…. When you're done just press the alarm button at the main door, I'll be waiting outside" said the officer leaving two of them.

The second door opens slowly revealing Zaheer all chained to the metal room with thick metal chains. Lin and Tenzin walked towards him and stopped, keeping a certain distance from him.

"Zaheer….!" said Lin.

He raises his head and opened his.

"What do you want….?" Zaheer asked.

"Tenzin wants to speak to you, He is the Korra's mentor and the leader of air nomads" said Lin.

"Go ahead Tenzin… he is all yours" said Lin and stepped back.

"Zaheer….! What did you do with the Avatar, tell me the truth. Speak the truth… you have murdered her in cold blood back in Frozen North but you left no evidence…" said Tenzin wanting to know what he has done to her body.

"I butchered her to pieces… and ate her heart. It was a blissful experience to devour the warm still beating heart of the avatar" said Zaheer in a cold tone.

"You what….?" Tenzin asked feeling sick to his stomach.

"I am telling what I have done…. And it is not a lie…. I have fulfilled my duty…." Zaheer said.

"Good heavens, why haven't you told me this before?" Tenzin asked in a frustrated tone looking at Lin.

"If I have told you, you will be left with many questions. That is why I bought you here to be heard from the culprit himself" said Lin.

"You will be facing the trial tomorrow, all your dark deeds will be assessed there…" said Lin. Zaheer laughed mirthlessly again.

"Why did you have to do that Zaheer….? What wrong has she ever done to you?" Tenzin asked breaking in to the conversation. Zaheer laughed out loud.

"It was my trophy for ending the cycle of Avatar. Open your eyes and look around now…..! Can you see it…? By destroying the avatar once and for all I have gifted the world with equality and balance which it yearned for the past ten thousand years" said Zaheer.

"Tenzin…! There is no point in talking with him further, he is insane. I just wanted you to hear it directly from him… because she was your disciple after all. I thought that it is best for you to speak to him directly so you know" said Lin and looked at Tenzin as he kept staring at Zaheer. He went speechless feeling devastated as Zaheer laughed out loud after telling how he killed Korra.

Deep within Zaheer, he felt a relief as he manage to convince everyone that he has killed Korra in the most inhuman manner and butchered her body.

An hour later…

Lin was driving her car and Tenzin was sitting on the next seat. He kept quiet and startled after what Zaheer said. Lin kept looking at him from time to time while she drives.

"Tenzin…. Snap out of it…" said Lin.

"It's just…" said Tenzin looking at Lin.

"I know what you mean… I mean killing her is a different thing to reach his goal but devouring her heart after butchering her is…." said Lin and paused with a nod.

Tenzin rubbed his forehead and raised his brow.

"It's just that… I don't know what to say…" he said.

"We can't really do anything about it…. Can we…? No matter how we worry or get freaked out, she is not going to come back and things will never be the same again" said Lin driving in to the traffic.

"In my whole life…. I never wanted anyone dead…. I never wished someone to die… I have always believed that living is always better than dying. But right now… I want him dead… I want to kill him with my bare hands, I shall never be at ease until I witness his death…" said Tenzin starring at the traffic in an angry tone. Lin looked at him feeling strange to hear such words coming out of Tenzin.

Lin kept looking at Tenzin from time to time as he kept quiet starring in to the traffic deep in his thoughts.

"Tenzin….?" Lin called his name again, wanting him to snap out of it. He still kept latched on to his thought.

"Tenzin…!" Lin said again.

"TENZIN…!" she shouted loudly and Tenzin snapped out of it and looked at her. She pulled the car over to the side of the road and turned to him.

"Why…?" asked Tenzin with his eyes wide open.

"You are asking me…? You are the one who been starring at the same direction and you couldn't hear me calling out your name" said Lin in a panicked tone.

"I am sorry Lin… I may have drifted far off in my thoughts…" said Tenzin rubbing his forehead. She reached out to his face and turned him towards herself. She starred in to his eyes for a moment.

"Love… Look at me…!" she said following his eye movements. Tenzin looked in to her eyes.

"I am sorry I made you hear it… I know that you are already going through a lot, but we must face these harsh times whether we like it or not… it's done, it's over, she's gone and it's not your fault" said Lin. Tenzin reached her hands which was holding his face.

"If only I was little more observant and careful… nothing like this would have happened. My father appointed me to be the leader of air nomads; wanting me to be his successor. No matter which community he or she is born the responsibility of Avatar has always been in the hands of air nomads for thousands of years…" said Tenzin and paused.

"… but look what I have done, I simply allowed the evil to completely destroy the avatar. My irresponsibility has put the world out of balance forever" Tenzin added with a deeply saddened tone.

"I know how you feel Tenzin…. I am sorry" said Lin slowly driving the car back in to the road. She knows that no matter what she says she cannot make him feel any better.

Meanwhile…

Korra has walked for so many days aimlessly and the road has led her through many towns and villages. She found it surprising that no one has managed to identify her as the avatar. She kept on walking in this road which falls through a dense forest for past three days and still there is no sign of civilization.

She looked up in to the cloudy sky and her stomach growled as she felt hungry because she didn't had a proper meal for past two days.

"I am so hungry and it's going to rain tonight…" Korra said with a sigh because she knows that she will get caught in it tonight.

She walked a little further and noticed an old two story house at the side of the gravel road. The small house has rock walls with a wooden roof and looks very well taken care of.

Korra walks up to the main door and knocked it few times but it did not open.

"WHOZ THERE" a voice said from the behind.

"I am KOR…. I mean…" she stammered knowing the mistake she could have just made by saying her real name.

The door opens suddenly revealing an old woman wearing spectacles and a dark maroon robe.

"I…. I err…. I am really sorry if I have disturbed you ma'am…" Korra stammered.

"Get inside the house…. Quickly child…" said the woman rushing her to come inside. Korra quickly walked inside and she closed the door behind and locked it. She turned at the old woman wanting to question her about the sudden rush.

"I assume that you happen to be one of those backpack travellers who have wandered in to these parts of the jungle…" said the woman adjusting her spectacles to get a clear view of Korra.

"I… err yes…" said Korra and grinned at her.

"Well… I don't see many travellers coming this way… but anyways, you are right on time for the dinner…" said the old women walk passing her. Korra slowly followed her in to the small kitchen area with a little wooden table.

"Please take a seat child… I have made some rabbit stew…" said the women showing her the table. Korra slowly pulled the chair with so many questions filling up in her head.

The old woman put two plates on the table and served her freshly cooked rabbit stew on to both the plates.

"Mm Smells good…" said Korra as she inhaled in.

"It's been a while since I had a visitor to share my dinner with… eat up all you like child… I am sure you are hungry after walking all this way…" said the woman with her withered voice. Korra dig in to the stew without thinking twice as she was hungry.

"I was right about you…. eat as much as you want child… there is plenty" said the woman kindly and served her more.

"Thank you so much for your food ma'am…" said Korra while munching on.

"What is your name child…? A girl like you shouldn't wander around all alone in these parts of the jungle…" said the women.

"I am Kor…. Err" she missed again. Korra felt a chill running down on her spine as she realized she missed again with her name.

"Korra…? What a beautiful name. I think that avatar girl had the same name as you are… it is a pity that she was killed few years back…" said the woman serving herself as well.

Korra felt a relief to hear she say that.

"My name is Akara… the neighboring town you have passed few days back calls me Akara the herb witch" she said and giggled slowly. Korra slowed down her munching and then swallows after hearing her name.

"No need to fear me child… I am just an herbalist living in this jungle, and I make medicine for many illnesses. The towns people come looking for me and calls me Akara the herb witch" said Akara giggling at Korra.

"I am sorry, it wasn't fear… I was just awed by your presence…" said Korra and drank a glass of water. She leaned back on the chair after finishing her plate.

"It seems like it's gonna be raining for few days… you can stay here as long as you like child" said Akara.

"Thank you for your kindness ma'am" said Korra serving her with a sincere smile.

"Just remember that not to wander outside in the late evening…" said Akara with a frightful tone.

"May I ask why I should not to wander outside in the evening…?" Korra asked keenly.

"Good heavens… haven't the towns people warned you before you came through this road…?" asked Akara making her eyes bigger.

"Warned me about what…?" Korra asked raising her brows.

"There lurks a vicious monster in this forest… whoever gets caught will be devoured alive. No one from the town wanders around here alone. Those who have seen it and yet lived to tell tales about it are very few in numbers. Those who comes seeking my aid from the town stays in my house overnight and leaves in the morning, They shelters themselves in the night in few known safe places throughout their journey" said Akara.

"Have you seen it…?" Korra asked.

"I have not seen it… but I hear it cries out aloud late in the night. That is the reason why I lock down the whole house before dark" said Akara.

"How do they say it looks like…?" Korra asked.

"Oh dear child… they say it is tall as a big tree and eats people alive… it is a vicious monster" said Akara in a frightful tone with monster like gestures.

"Don't worry ma'am, I will not wander around…" said Korra. Akara smiled at her.

"I'd be leaving soon as the rain stops…" Korra added.

"You're welcome to stay as long as you like child… I live all alone and it is good to have some company like you and I hope you liked my rabbit stew…" said Akara.

"Absolutely brilliant, the best stew I ever had" she said wanting to appreciate her cooking.

Korra's curiosity towards this monster grew as Akara kept telling tales about it over the dinner. The rain has started to fall with lightning and thunder. Night fell faster with the stormy weather. Korra finished her dinner and helped Akara to clean up the place. She was feeling thankful to Akara for letting her stay in her home otherwise she'd be shivering cold in the rain by now. Korra was given the visitors room in Akara's house. It was a nice room with a comfortable bed.

"If you need anything feel free to ask dear child… and also remember to turn down the candle when you don't need it. Whatever you do, never go out in the night" said Akara.

Korra nods at her and she closed the door as she left. Korra falls back on the bed carelessly feeling its comfort against her back.

"Ah… finally a comfortable bed to sleep after a nice hot dinner" she said to herself closing her eyes. Korra fell asleep unwittingly on the comfortable bed; even though she has not felt it, her body has grown weary and tired of travelling for days without proper rest.

Few hours go by…
In the middle of the night

Korra woke up suddenly as if she felt like falling from somewhere. She found herself holding on to the bed as she woke up. The wind keeps hooting and the storm is raging outside in its full strength. Lightning and thunder keeps cracking every second. She yawned and stretched herself on the bed.

"What a storm outside…" she said to herself and closed her eyes again turning over in the bed.

Suddenly she heard a distant howling… it was so loud and sharp that it made her wide awake.

"What in the world is that…?" she whispered to herself. She quickly blew the candle as Akara advised her earlier and tucked herself under the cozy sheets.

"That must be the monster she was talking about… whatever it is, it is not coming from an animal" Korra thought to herself. Then after a while she heard some heavy footsteps outside as if a large tree is falling hard against the wet ground.

"What in the world…" she said as she quickly got off the bed and crawled near the window which is covered by a thick pair of blinds. She peeked from the corner of the window to see what is outside. There is nothing but inky black darkness out there. Suddenly the lightning cracks again illuminating the environment and she saw something large and tall walking in the distance towards the thick forest.

"What is that thing…? Can it be a spirit that strayed from the spirit world…?" Korra thought to herself. Curiosity within her began to grow as she had a glimpse of the creature that was terrorizing the whole jungle. Korra slowly crawls back to the bed and tucked herself under the warm sheets.

Next Morning

Korra woke up peacefully after a long goodnight sleep. She sits on her bed and stretched her hands to the air with a long lazy yawn. She heard a noise outside as if someone chopping wood. She got off the bed quickly and walked over to the window and opened the blinds letting the morning sunshine inside the room.

"What a beautiful morning it is…" she said to herself with a smile and saw Akara is busy outside chopping firewood with an axe. Korra quickly ran down stairs and out of the house to lend her a hand.

"Good morning to you Akara" she came running at her with a smiley face. Akara dropped the axe and stretched herself backwards holding on to her lower back.

"Good morning to you young lady… looking lovely in the morning… did you sleep well last night?" Akara asked with a welcoming smile.

"I had a very good sleep thanks to you…" said Korra.

"I think my age is catching up… this back is killing me…" said Akara with a grimaced face.

"Let me help you with it… Akara" said Korra quickly grabbing the axe.

"It's alright dear child… I can manage…" said Akara refusing to let her work.

"It's alright Akara, I am happy to help" said Korra wanting to help her.

"Well… Alright then, If you insist…" said Akara stepping back.

Korra took off the dark blue long sleeved jacket she was wearing leaving her with just an off white color singlet.

"You are rather masculine for a girl… which part of the world do you hail from dear child…?" Akara asked as she sits back on a log of wood. Korra looked at her and smiled after chopping one block of wood with the axe.

"I am from the republic city, I grew up there" Korra lied and chopped another block of wood.

"I see, maybe your parents have settled up in republic city before you were born. I could say from the looks of you, you look more like a girl from southern water tribe" said Akara with her withered voice.

Korra wiped the sweat from her forehead and turned at Akara leaning against the axe resting its sharp end against the chopping block.

"Maybe… but I don't know, they never told me…" said Korra.

"I'd say republic city is made up of people from all over the world, unlike the earth kingdom it is very much diverse when it comes down to its citizens" said Akara slowly standing up. Korra nods and got back to chopping more firewood.

"You are doing me a big favor by chopping that firewood… let me get you some tea" said Akara slowly walking back towards the house.

"This is the least I can do for all the generosity and kindness you offered…" said Korra.

Akara came back after few minutes with a nice warm cup of jasmine tea.

"You are strong and fast… it would have taken hours for me to chop all that wood" said Akara.

"I'll chop you enough firewood for a long time…" said Korra panting lightly.

"You sure do like to work yourself out, do you…?" said Akara with a smile.

"Well… I do enjoy it…" said Korra and wiped her sweat again. She took the cup of tea from Akara and sips.

"That explains your well defined body and strength. You sure are strong for a girl…" said Akara.

Korra chopped all the wood that Akara had and prepared enough firewood for a long time. Then she stacked them up and carried to the storeroom of the house.

She wiped the sweat from her forehead and her singlet is soaked in sweat. Akara came to her with a cold towel. She wiped her face and hands with it.

"It seems like you have chopped enough firewood for a long time" said Akara looking inside of the storeroom while standing at its doorstep.

"It feels good to use a heavy axe after a longtime…" said Korra as she wiped the back of her neck with the towel.

"Now all i need is a long nice dip in the water…" said Korra.

"Follow that footpath falls behind the house… it will lead you to a nice hot spring with crystal clear water…" said Akara pointing out a small footpath in to the forest.

"That will be wonderful…" said Korra with a happy smile. She quickly ran back in to the house, grabbed few fresh clothes from her backpack and came back outside.

"This is for you…" said Akara handing her a bottle of golden color oil and a fresh towel.

"What is it…?" Korra asked while looking at the content.

"That is liquid sandalwood soap… it will soothe your skin and make it supple" said Akara.

"Thank you so much…" said Korra accepting it from Akara.

"Well… then be back soon, don't stay till dark. I will prepare you a nice hot meal when you get back" she said as Korra walked towards the small foot path.

"I won't stay till it is late…" said Korra waving back at Akara.

She walked down the path that Akara showed and it falls through a growth of spice trees. The scent of the spices makes the air very aromatic and energizing. She finally came to a small pond surrounded by granite rocks and it is full of hot water. She peeked in to the water of the small pond and smiled at her own reflection and then touched the water. It is comfortably warm and the whole pond is surrounded by thick growth of spice trees.

"A little piece of heaven…" she whispered to herself and took her fairly long hair to the front. She gently unbraided her French braid and relaxes it by massaging her scalp with finger tips.

The wind sweeps through the spice trees making a soothing rattling sound. Korra slipped the singlet off herself.

"I smell like a dirty swamp rat…" She said to herself and smirks.

She took off all her dirty clothes and slowly stepped in to the water of the hot spring which is accumulated in the rocky pond and immersed herself in the hot water up to her neckline then rubbed her face with water. Korra leans against the rocky wall and closes her eyes feeling the comfort of hot spring water on her body. The spice infused hot water slowly rejuvenates her body by relaxing her muscles and warming up the joints.

With the comforting of the hot water she slowly fell asleep while leaning against the rocky wall.

Few hours go by…

A sudden lightning struck caused a heavy growling thunder and Korra woke up with a gasp. She wide opened her eyes and rubbed them with water. She looked around and figured out that she has fallen asleep too long in the hot spring. Storm has begun to brew up in the sky with lightning crashes all around.

"It's almost dark and how come I be so careless to fall asleep so long in the hot spring…" she said to herself looking around.

She slowly walked out of the water and dried herself with the towel. She looked at her dirty clothes and thought it is too late to do the laundry now. Korra put on her new clothes, a pair of blue baggy pants and a cream white singlet. She quickly ruffles her hair wanting it to dry up. Suddenly a long distant howling was heard from within the dense jungle. Darkness of the night has started to fall fast. Korra hurried towards the foot path which led her here with the soiled clothes rolled up in her hands.

She went half way on the foot path and the night has already fallen making it difficult for her to see through the darkness and spice trees. The wind blew passing her giving the chills of fear. She began to hear some heavy footsteps as if a heavy horse galloping towards her. Korra quickly turned and started to run back towards the hot spring.

She finally came to the hot spring and stopped next to it, panting heavily. The sound of the galloping has stopped yet she felt like something big is closing in. Akara's warning regards to a vicious creature that dwells in the nightly forest came to her mind. The disturbing sound of galloping started again and this time it seems closer than ever and she felt the chill of fear running down her spine. She looked around the surrounding area which is covered with spice trees and saw another opening which leads to a footpath at the far end of the hot spring.

She dropped her soiled clothes and started to run towards it without thinking twice. Korra kept running in the pathway for a while and it seems like it never ends. She kept looking back to see if something is chasing her but there was nothing in the visible distance.

Korra saw that in the distance there is an end to the pathway. She ran faster and rushed out of the opening without thinking twice. She ended up in a very steep slippery muddy slope which goes a long way down. As she exits the pathway of spice trees she also realized that storm has started and it is raining heavily outside. She was too late to stop, she slipped and fell on the mud and rolled all the way down the steep slope then landed at the bottom of the slope all covered in slimy wet mud.

Korra slowly got back on her feet and she felt a terrible pain just below her ribs. She's been scraped badly all over because of rolling all the way down on the muddy ground. She gathered some falling rainwater in her palms and wiped the mud away from her face so she could see. There is no way that she could climb back up because it's too steep and muddy and rain makes it even worse.

She looked around holding on to her lower rib in pain. Korra found herself in a considerably deep quarry. It's hard for her to see clearly without proper light but lightning crashes provided her flashes of what the environment looks like around her. It seems like there is no quick way out of here since the quarry walls are little high up to climb in this stormy weather.

She noticed at the far end of the quarry there is a cave like opening. She ran inside the cave opening hoping that there will be an exit to this place.

Korra ended up in a dark cave instead of finding an exit. The cave is been dimly lit with glowing mushrooms and algae which has grown inside the cave's walls. She leans against the cave walls and pants heavily holding on to her lower ribs. Korra held her hand in front of her face and realized that she's bleeding and got herself cut just below the ribs by a sharp rock while tumbling down the muddy slope. She walks few steps further in to the cave and it is a dead end.

As she reached the dead end of the cave in the dim light, a terrifying site revealed before her. The whole place was full of scattered bones, old rusted weaponry, rugged clothes, armor and shields. Horror of the place itself was self-explanatory; the remains belong to humans who have been killed by the creature which Akara mentioned and this is its dwelling place.

Korra leaned against the cave wall again staring at the entrance panting in fear and pain. She saw that the light at the entrance was slowly shadowed by something huge. It is standing at the entrance now. She yanked an old rusted sword out of a pile of bones which was near her and pointed it towards the darkness.

Something large and tall entered the cave slowly she can't see it clearly because of the darkness. The air inside the cave began to stench. It is a mixture of damp and musky smell along with rotting blood. The thing that just entered the cave started to walk towards her slowly. As it gets closer in the darkness she heard a heavy breathing like of a large horse.

Korra felt her heart rate rises up in fear for the unknown. She gripped the sword harder with both of her hands pointing it at the darkness panting in fear. It kept walking towards her and stopped at the dark shadow without stepping in to the dim light. She couldn't talk but to shiver in fear and pain pointing the sword at the shadow.

"How dare you soil my drinking water…" said a deep grunting voice which echoed in the cave.

"W…wh… WHO ARE YOU…? SHOW YOURSELF" shouts Korra as she pointed the sword at the direction of the voice,

The footsteps began to get audible again and a twenty feet tall massive hulking monster stepped out of the darkness in to the dim light revealing itself at Korra. It is a large creature with a face that looks like a mixture of a wolf and a deer, large mouth with sharp pointy teeth and a hairy body with clawed feet and clawed arms. It licks its mouth like wolf and kept snarling at Korra with its sharp teeth.

Korra went speechless as she realized that it is not a mere wild animal but a demon that stands before her.

"You have soiled my fountain and you shall pay for it with your blood mere human…" The creature grumbled angrily.

She has no other choice but to face the horror that stands before her. The creature suddenly charged at her and she faced it with the sword in her hands. The creature tried to attack her with its sharp claws but she managed to dodge its attacks and stabbed through its leg with the rusty sword. Creature howled in pain and grabbed her from the neck then held her in front of his face.

"It seems like you got the guts little girl… I could crush your head like slush right now…" said the Creature and threw her out of the cave in to the mud.

She landed on the muddy ground outside the cave. She realized that the he prefers to fight and kill its prey slowly. The creature turned back and walked out of the cave wanting to fight her more. Korra slowly got back on her feet all covered in the mud and the rain kept falling on her harshly. She wiped the mud and rainwater from her face wanting to see things clearly.

The creature walked out of the cave and pulled the sword out of its leg and threw it in front of her; wanting her to fight him. Korra grabbed the sword again and her hands began to shiver.

"Humans normally die of fear at the sight of me… but you… You are different… little girl" said the creature with its grunting voice.

The creature charged at her again growling in rage. Korra faced it with the sword again dodging its sharp claw attacks and deadly bites. Without any of her special abilities the creature is too big for her to fight in close combat. She lands few cuts all over the creature and she got hit by one of its deadly blows which threw her across the quarry on the mud. Korra got herself severely wounded trying to fight the creature. She slowly stood back up on her feet wanting to face it again. The creature growled loudly and ran towards her as if this is its finishing move.

She quickly took the defensive stance and summoned her blood bending at the creature. With a split second time creature grabbed her from the neck again.

"Blood bending with dark energy….? Trying to blood bend at me…?" grumbled the creature while holding her in front of its face.

Korra couldn't talk back; she struggled to breath because of the creatures hold on her neck.

"I am the god of blood moon; I was born from dark energy, what made you think that mere blood bending would work on me…?" Creature questioned her.

Korra has realized that she wasn't fighting a wild animal but a demon god. She tried to speak up but she couldn't. Creature was about to crush her head and Korra opened her eyes in pain; It instantly realized who it is holding in its hand as she gazed in to its eyes before her death. It dropped her on the ground releasing her from the grapple. Korra falls on the muddy ground holding on to her neck choking and trying to catch some breath. The creature stood before her and kept staring at her with its blood red eyes.

She struggled on the ground and coughed blood clearing her throat. She felt powerless and weak. The blood from the cuts all over her body dripped down with rainwater and smudged the mud around her.

"Who are you…?" creature questioned her.

"I… Am the…" Korra tried to speak while kneeling on the muddy ground.

"I am the… AVATAR" she shouted with all of her might and then there was a silence between her and the creature.

"The avatar…?" said the creature.

"Yes… I am the Avatar…" said Korra angrily trying to get back on her feet. The creature stepped back away from Korra as he realized he was attacking the avatar.

Korra couldn't take it anymore; she felt like there is no control over her body and she fainted falling back on the mud.

Few hours later…

She opened her eyes and found herself laying on a flat rock inside the cave. She saw that the creature is standing beside her and she panicked again as she saw the monstrosity.

"Fear not… young avatar… I am THRALL the demon god of blood moon and the guardian of this jungle" said the creature.

Korra sits back up on the flat rock very slowly and she's shivering in cold and fear.

"You may not remember… but we've known to each other for many thousand years…" said Thrall. Korra felt a relief as he said that.

"Forgive me, I have attacked you without knowing who you are…" said Thrall.

"How do you know me…?" Korra uttered few words with a grimaced face.

"Many thousand years ago… You have saved me from being killed by another jealous god. We became allies from that moment on and fought many battles together side by side" said Thrall.

"I see… I don't remember anything… I have lost my connection to past avatars…" she said looking up at the monster that stands before her.

"I am sorry if I have ruined your drinking water…" she said shivering in cold. She felt terrible as her body is being badly bruised and wounded. Thrall threw an old rug at her and she quickly grabs it and put it around her shoulders.

"It is an honor for me to drink the water of the fountain which you have bathed… Young avatar…" Thrall said lowering his head.

"You knew me from a previous life…! But many things have change since then… I am not the avatar anymore, I can't reach the avatar state, I've lost it…" said Korra without fearing the monster.

"Avatar state and yourself is inseparable, it is within you. You have only lost the connection to it… Raava spirit is forever merged unto your soul…" said Thrall.

"I've been trying to get it back for past three years…" said Korra in a sad tone and sighed.

"Allow me to return the favor by restoring your connection to avatar state… I shall guide you…" said Thrall.

Korra stared at the demon god for moment as he offered his help to restore her avatar state. Within her she felt a great relief.

"I know you are a god… but how can you help me to get it back…?" Korra asked Thrall.

He stayed quiet for a moment and then slits his wrist with his own claw.

"What are you doing…?" Korra asked.

He held his arm in front of her and the blood starts dripping down from it.

"Drink from me young avatar… come and bathe in the blood of a demon god… You shall be awaken" Thrall said in his deep grunting voice with his hand held up with dripping blood. Korra slowly stood up on her feet and walked towards him. She held her palms together and collected the dripping blood in it.

"Now drink it… So I shall be able to guide you…" said Thrall.

Korra paused for a moment as she felt a disgusted to drink the thick hot demon blood. She knew that there is no other way to restore her avatar state, so she drank it down sucking in with her lips. She felt a strange sensation in her body as she drank Thrall's blood. A sudden burst of euphoric feeling began to bloom within her making her feel as if she has taken some kind of a powerful drug. She smiled senselessly kneeling under the falling blood of Thrall. She allowed the blood to fall on her face and she looked up then laughed hysterically. The blood showered upon her and she rubbed it all over her face neck and chest as if she's gone insane. The euphoric feeling began to get more and more intense that she felt like she's losing her mind.

"This will reconnect you with the Avatar state…" said Thrall as she kneeled in front of him dazed and senselessly smiling. He reached towards her forehead with one of his sharp pointy claws.

Suddenly Korra found herself levitating in celestial space. She experienced similar out of the body state when she learned to control the avatar state. She looked up ahead as the glowing blue pathway began to appear in front of her. She kept a one step ahead in the starry heaven which glows all around her.

The starry heaven slowly started to fade and take a different shape; the sky has changed in to throbbing bloody red flesh. She looked down and she was hovering above a bubbling lava pit. She looked around and it is surrounded by a fiery inferno.

"Where am i…? Am I in hell?" Korra asked as the face of Thrall appeared in front of her in red flesh.

"You are inside my mind young avatar… Devoid yourself from fear and follow my voice… I shall lead you to what you seek…" said Thrall.

Korra slowly began to move forward hovering above the pits of hellfire. She saw that at a distance a black portal opens up.

"Walk through it and we shall enter your mind…" said Thralls voice.

She reached the portal and walked through it. The whole reality changed in to nothing but inky blackness all around her. She kept levitating in total blackness and suddenly everything started to take shape in to an ocean of blood. Korra gasped as she saw herself hovering above an endless raging ocean of blood.

"This… is this…?" She stammered.

"Yes…! This is the darkest corner of your mind young avatar… surprising isn't it…? You are not what you think you are… This is the part of your mind that awakens when you are pushed to the limits, the part that thirsts for blood and violence. It gives you the power to blood bend in inhuman levels" said Thralls voice.

"But… but how did I…" Korra stammered again.

"Look further in to the horizon and you will find what you seek…" said Thralls voice and suddenly everything turned in to inky black space again.

Raava spirit began to appear in front of her in glowing heavenly white and blue.

"RAAVA…" said Korra as she saw her. She felt so happy to see the Raava.

"Avatar Korra… it is been so long…" said Raava facing her.

Korra reached out for Raava wanting to restore herself with the avatar state.

"The connection you had with me has been severed… Now you are connecting to me again through a different medium… It will not be peaceful as it belongs to Thrall. He is the demon god of the blood moon and things will be different than they were earlier…" said Raava.

"I don't understand… When Thrall led me in to my own mind, I was hovering above an ocean of blood… He said it is the darkest corner of my mind… and!" said Korra and paused as Raava wish to clarify it to her further.

"What you saw was within you Korra… That is your new found ability… the power of blood bending… Once we merge again… you shall gain the maximum potential of blood bending in avatar state…" said Raava.

"Will I get my bending back…?" Korra asked.

"Yes you will, you will have your bending back along with the avatar state…" said Raava.

Korra no longer felt like delaying further so she reached out her hand towards Raava and she merged with Korra once again restoring her connection to the avatar state along with all four bending abilities. The whole blackness became a heavenly white glow as they merged again.

Next morning…

Korra opened her eyes again and found herself sleeping in the cave. After a very long time she felt like her old self again. She rubbed her forehead and tried to think back about what happened to her last night. The whole incident which took place in the cave instantly flashed back to her mind. Korra felt as if a part of her that was missing for past few years has been fully restored.

"Was it a dream… how did I end up here…?" she thought to herself by getting back on her feet.

"Thrall…?" she said as she walked out of the cave in to the morning sun. Sky is clear and the birds are chirping… soft wind soothes her as she stepped out of the cave.

"Thrall…?" she called out for him and there was no answer. It is a beautiful morning after a whole night of endless rain. She touched below her ribs as she remembered she got herself cut last night, but she didn't feel anything painful. So she quickly pulled her dirty singlet up and the wound was gone. Other than dirt and mud there are only few minor bruises on her.

"How did all the cuts and bruises disappear…?" Korra thought to herself. She saw that she's still in the bottom of the quarry and needs to climb up the rocky wall to reach the ground level. She looked up and saw the spice trees.

"Well… Let's see..." said Korra smiling with corner of her mouth wanting to try out the air bending. Korra ran towards the rocky wall and air bend herself out of the quarry back in to the spice trees.

"YESSSSS!" she said happily as she lands on the ground.

Then she played around with few fireballs, water bending, and earth bending then summoned the avatar state. She jumped around happily.

"I am back…" she said giggling and feeling happy to have herself restored to who she was.

She turned back at the quarry and kept staring at it.

"I know you are watching me… Thank you Thrall…" She said unto the air with a smile.

She started to walk back to Akara's house through the spice trees.

Near the Akara's House

Akara was outside the house with a worried face and saw Korra slowly walking back towards the house from a different direction. She quickly walked up to her with a joyous smile.

"Where on earth have you gone last evening child…? You had me worried to so much… and for heaven's sake…. Look at you, All covered in mud and dirt…!" said Akara as she reached Korra. She smiled at Akara happily.

"Speak to me child…! I thought I'd never see you again, I feared that monster has taken you…" said Akara with her withered voice.

"It's a long story… I had a date with the monster…" Korra said to Akara with a friendly pat on her shoulder.

"A date…? Have you gone insane dear child…?" Akara asked with puzzled tone.

"Not really… I am sorry that I had you worried; Last evening while I was at hot spring, I fell asleep. When I woke up it was night and on my way back I slipped on a muddy slope and ended up in a quarry…" said Korra.

"Good heavens… I am so glad that you could make it back here in one piece… I hope nothing is broken?" asked Akara.

"Don't worry Akara… I am fine… just few bruises and dirt…" said Korra with a smiley face.

"Come now… let's go back to the house and get you cleaned up… let me look at those bruises… I have some great ointment for that…" said Akara rushing back towards the house wanting Korra to lead the way.

After three long years Korra was able to restore her bending along with Avatar state. Her journey was a perilous one; it was filled with death and darkness in every corner but she made it through them all.

Avatar Korra, The bringer of balance to the world has been born again.