A/N Thanks to Q for reviewing and giving me that helpful advice. I need to do that, badly, but it seems to just skip my mind from time to time. Thanks :)

Also, thanks for adding the stories to the favorites/watch list. First fanfiction ever and I'm really finding every little thing insanely cool :D

Chapter 6

Howl should have known that as soon as he was off for one day, Korra would disappear. He knew the other guards well enough to know that, unlike him, they were too busy trying to find something more entertaining than watching over a fifteen year old Avatar. He wanted one day of rest, just one. A day where he could sleep late and read as many books as he wanted without having to go outside in the frigid weather of winter would have been too perfect.

Instead, he had been woken to the alarm calls going off in the camp and instantly he knew what had happened. Ever since the night on the tower, Howl and Korra had shuffled past each other with few spoken words and little acknowledgement. He wondered why she had become so distant; maybe it was the story he'd read? He wasn't sure. All he was sure about was that if he didn't find her, he would be both lonely and without a job.

So he pulled on his clothes and cloak but left the breastplate behind. There was hardly any need for it; the worst damage that could be inflicted on his would be falling. Which, in his case, was likely. A light snow had lost all chances of finding footprints of the girl or her massive pet. Still, he had an idea of where she could be hiding. He trudged up the snow cliff, finding it much harder without Naga, and made it to the top.

Multiple times before, Korra had come to hide in a cave she considered her safe place. It was just over the snow cliff and hidden by the usual snow barricade. He'd almost missed it when he spotted a small, small red flag poking out where white should be. He sighed, shaking his head, and leaned against the snow barrier. "You know they're looking for you." He mumbled, crossing his arms. Spirits, he was exhausted.

"Howl!" The snow wall that she'd bended up immediately came down, Howl with it. He fell back and hit his back against the hardest slab of stone. His breath caught in his throat and he inhaled sharply. "Oops." Korra whispered, pulling him farther into the cave. She smiled when she saw him. She knew it had been his day off and had freely considered telling him to meet her here in the first place once her firebending had grown fed up and dismissed her for the day. But when she found him, he'd looked so tired and helpless. And small. For the first time in a long time, he looked vulnerable.

Howl rubbed his head subconsciously. "Thanks." He muttered under his breath as she bended the wall once more. The cave was aglow with a small fire that made his amber eyes dance eagerly, she noticed. Dark rings hung below his eye sockets, his cheeks pale.

She grabbed her sides. He was mad at her, she knew. "Howl?" She questioned, scooting farther towards the back wall where Naga rested, the dog out. He glanced up at her, the tired expression in his eyes heavy. "I'm sorry I made you come looking for me." She whispered.

Howl's brow rose. Korra, apologizing? It seemed like a rarity, because she honestly hadn't done anything wrong. She was a teenager who needed just the right breath of freedom. Instead she was a teenager with a thousand and one responsibilities piled onto her shoulders and no hint to freedom. He patted beside him gently, struggling to keep his eyes open. The fire was making him drowsy but he didn't want to sleep. Not while there were the possibilities that he could be sucked into a different reality while Korra hung dangerously in the middle of safe and free.

Korra hesitated before accepting his offer and crawled over. His hands seemed to be trembling, she noticed, but why? He had never been that scared before. Maybe when she had disappeared, he had gotten nervous? Had he been worried about her? She found herself begging to know. Ever since his words on the tower that she had accidently heard, she didn't know what to think. He was her best friend. But somewhere… somewhere in the back of her mind…?

"Can you read me a story?" She questioned, sitting beside him and smiled when he exhaled in feigned annoyance. Same old Howl. Same guy who could make her feel better without even saying one word.

"I didn't bring a book." She frowned, unfolding her arms and bending a small piece of snow from the wall she'd built. The water formed different shapes as she absentmindedly pictured the animals in the pictures she'd seen. Howl watched her, trying to identify them as they scrolled through his head. Cat-gator, moose-lion, armadillo-bunny… for a girl who hadn't seen the world, she surely knew a lot about animals. Her concentration broke and the water fell in between them.

"C-can you tell me a story, then? About growing up?" She asked, watching the water sizzle and evaporate with the heated flames lapping near it. When she glanced up, she saw Howl frowning, his brows clenching close together. She immediately wanted to take her question back. He was so self-conscious about his childhood, so reserved when it came to his home. His eyes flickered to hers, amber seemingly pouring over her and warming her. "Never mind, I shouldn't have—"

"Did I ever tell you my father was a firebender?" He interrupted, startling her. Her interest piqued, and she crossed her legs, glancing up to him expectantly. One side of Howl's grin lifted up, giving him a lopsided look. "And that my father fought in the Hundred Years War?"

"No." She breathed, her mind stolen by the story.

"Yes." He teased, squeezing his tunic under his fingers. She stuck her tongue out at him, a laugh rising from his diaphragm. Korra tugged on his cloak for him to continue. "They were both firebenders, and they both served their country."

"What did they do? What ship did your grandfather sail on? Is that why you joined the White Lotus?" Her questions came in mere seconds, her eyes wide with shock. Howl chuckled, sitting up straighter and making the mistake of meeting her gaze. Immediately, her cyan blue eyes drew him in, a small sense of home flooding his stomach. His laughter and smiles faded instantly, the same loneliness that had invaded his dreams and nightmares returning to him.

Korra spotted it immediately. Howl seemed to be in pain. His eyes had glazed over, emotionally blocking her out. Her brows furrowed as she tried to reach out to him. What nerve had she struck? Her hand touched his knee and his breathing began to pick up. She'd never seen him this upset before; this was the most emotion she'd ever seen him express and it wasn't even a dignified answer! "Howl, it's okay." She whispered, panic racing through her.

Howl tried to get the pictures of his family out of his head. He knew he was scaring Korra and he honestly didn't mean to. When he felt her hand touching his knee, his mother appeared in his eyes. He had loved her more than anyone else. He had come to her first whenever he needed something. He had lost a piece of himself when she had been killed.

He found that piece in Korra.

Struggling to get his breathing back under control, he grasped Korra's hand for support. Korra's cheeks grew pink, but she wouldn't let him see. He needed her more than ever. She wanted desperately to be there for him, like he had always been there for her. He was her best friend, her only human friend, and the only one who she could trust to take her anywhere.

"It's okay, Howl. I'm here." She whispered. Howl glanced at her and felt the smile returning to his face. His heart fluttered weakly when he touched the inside of her soft but calloused hand, begging for this to last. He wanted to give her everything, but felt that it would be hard since he couldn't give her freedom.

Instead, he decided to continue the story. He put all the memories of his family into the back of his head but left the one story that his grandfather used to tell so well. "The Fire Lord wanted to be renamed the Phoenix King." He said. Korra's eyes widened as he continued, describing the battle in as much detail as he could, as much detail as his grandfather had given the boy. "He had the pleasure of meeting Sokka." He said, a proud grin on his face.

Korra had never noticed it, but when he smiled, he was exquisitely handsome. She was used to the shy boy who hid her whenever a guard spotted the two of them together. She knew the job was important to him, but now she knew why. After the war, his grandfather had joined the White Lotus. Then, his son. Then, Howl. Two Avatar lifetimes, three brilliant lives. She was extra thankful that her former life had forgiven the soldiers, because Howl might not have been with her. She might have not had a friend like him.

Howl's story finished abruptly when they heard voices above the snow. Korra extinguished the fire instantly, petting Naga's head to keep her from barking. Howl moved to the back of the cave with her. Even though they needed to get back, finding them here, alone and together, might give a guard the wrong idea. Soon the sounds faded back to the dull silence of the wind. He sighed and offered her his hand. "We have to go." He whispered. "They've been looking for you."

Korra's gaze looked crestfallen, but she gladly accepted his hand and pulled herself up, petting Naga gently. He watched as she pushed the snow out of the entrance and led the pet out. Howl took Naga's reins from Korra as she bended back the snow to hide her safe haven. He glanced over his shoulder and spotted the guards disappearing into the sunset. Perfect, they were heading back to camp. He glanced at Korra, whose head was down in false shame. They had practiced it multiple times before and he started down the hill.

When they returned to the camp, Korra was scolded. Howl was rewarded with thanks but he felt nothing. He knew just how badly she wanted to escape.

That night, he snuck out of the barracks and to her sanctuary. The one window held his tiny dream catcher, the rosary glass making speckles on the ground like summer. He left the note on her window sill before pounding on the glass twice and running out of sight. A few moments later and he saw her appear. His heart fluttered as he remembered how truly pretty she was. Her hair was down, the brown locks falling and hiding her face.

Korra unrolled the note and saw the familiar scribble that he hardly used. Meet me out back. –Howl. Her gaze instantly flew to the corner where she saw a luminous shadow standing. His amber eyes glinted with the lantern light coming from her room. A small, lopsided smile crossed his face momentarily before disappearing.

She raced to her closet and grabbed her parka, pulling on her hood and sneaking out of the sanctuary. The full moon shone at its highest peak and she felt her powers strengthen like the tides. Her footsteps crunched against of the snow as she peaked around the corner, spotting him and running over to him. Korra hurried over, smiling brightly. She couldn't help it.

"You snuck out," She whispered, grinning slightly.

Howl's smirk returned. "You actually came," He whispered back.

"Why wouldn't I?" She questioned. "For someone so worried about losing his jobs, you've become very daring lately." She teased, leaning against the compound walls.

Howl glanced up at the sentry tower above them and around before he turned to her. "You're rubbing off on me," He poked her nose playfully before grinning. "I had to thank you for calming me down today."

She looked at him, her blue eyes flickering in confusion. "I didn't… I mean… did I?" When he nodded, she continued. "I didn't mean to." She whispered. His head turned nervously. Korra reached up and returned his gaze to her. His chin was cold and wind lashed but he didn't resist her touch. "Can you promise me something?"

"Sure." Howl said bluntly.

"Promise me that you'll go anywhere I'll ask you to go? If I ask you to come with me, will you?"

He froze. "You're not thinking of escaping, are you?" He questioned. Korra sniggered under her breath but shook her head. "Then, what..?"

"One day, I'm going to leave this place." She vowed. "But I don't want to be alone. And you're my best friend, Howl. I don't want to go anywhere without you. We can go to Republic City and have the best time of them all. We can be like Avatar Aang and travel the world while we're young."

As promising as it sounded, Howl didn't know how to reply. His voice was lodged deep in his throat, his heart beating irregularly. "Korra…."

"Please, Howl." She whispered, taking her warm hand in his. Howl stiffened immediately, before the soothing reminder that this was the girl he wanted to love forever was holding it. "It could be fun. And I'll need you to protect me in case something happens."

Howl smiled at the thought. He could protect her, in more ways than just one, but he didn't want to tell her that. With a single squeeze against her hand, he nodded. "I promise."

"You have to make a blood promise." She said.

"A what now?" He questioned, before shaking his head. "A blood promise. So how does one make a blood promise?"

"Give me your knife." She begged. He frowned, hesitant, before Korra reached down and grabbed the dagger off of his belt. Her hand skimmed across his lower stomach, his entire body freezing with the accidental touch. As soon as she reached away, Korra handed him the knife. "Take off your glove." He did so. "Now, you're going to have to draw blood from your palm."

Obediently, Howl put the knife to his palm. "This is gonna hurt, okay?" He muttered, reassuring himself. He pressed the dagger against his skin and hissed, cutting a slight place in his palm, enough to draw blood.

Korra winced as he did, spotting the pain flashing across his face. She wanted to make a promise to him; one he wouldn't refuse. She cared for him too much. When the time came for her hand to be cut, she let him take off her glove and lay it on the ground. Then, as careful as he could, did the same thing to her hand. It hurt like the spirits raining down on them, but she inhaled to push it away. When he drew the dagger back, she saw a small red dot form on her palm.

"I promise, Avatar Korra, that I will follow you where ever you take me." He stuck his hand out. So he'd caught on to the entire ordeal. Korra grinned and placed her hand in his, so that their blood would mingle.

"And I promise, Howl, to take you where ever I go."