Chapter 7

Korra woke to the glitters that her glass dream catcher cast on her cheek. It was early, as normally the sun wouldn't wake her up. Howl's present to her, which she absolutely adored, had been making her open her eyes too early for the past days. Still, she cherished it as much as she cherished Howl.

Sighing, she lay in bed and stared at the ceiling. The morning was evil. But now that she was awake, Howl interested her more than sleeping. She pushed the furs off of her and wandered to her closet. Her parka lay on the floor of the closet and with a sigh, she picked it up. Shoving on her clothes and pelts, she opened the door to the outside world and stepped out.

The sun glittered on the snow as she wandered to the center of the camp and spotted a sentry on the tower. Shockingly, it wasn't Howl. She put her hands on her hips and called up to him "Excuse me!" She shouted. The sentry turned, an old grey beard covering his face. Her heart thudded uncomfortably. Had someone found out about them being best friends? "You seen a tall, lanky looking fellow? Black hair?" She sighed when the guard eyed her suspiciously and confused. "Reads a lot of books?"

"Oh, you mean Howl." The guard leaned back in his seat. "Haven't seen him today, miss. Might want to check the mess hall or the barracks." With that, he turned and ignored her. Korra sighed, dropping her hands from her hips. This is why it was important for Howl to be on guard. He was the only one to pay attention to her, it seemed. Other than her masters and Naga. She started towards the mess hall, her own stomach grumbling. She opened the door and was hit with a blast of heat.

Glancing around the cafeteria, she saw no sign of Howl. Her frown deepened as she walked to the warm food and took a bowl of fried fish over rice. When she turned, she almost expected Howl to appear. He usually found her either while he was on guard or before he went on his first shift. She grabbed a fork and spotted Katara sitting by herself. With a warm smile, she sat down beside her waterbending master.

"Good morning, Korra." The elder said, her blue eyes warm. "How are you today?"

"Okay, I guess. I didn't expect to wake up this early in the morning." She prodded at her fish with a sigh. Her stomach didn't growl again and she wondered if she truly wasn't hungry, or if she was just full of worry. Howl always greeted her when he wasn't on duty and he never missed breakfast. Maybe he was just tired.

They sat in silence as Korra inhaled her food. There was still the barracks to check, and if she could get time in before training, she'd check the training hall for the soldiers. The camp may be confined, but there were a few spots she go to and search for clues on her favorite solider's disappearance.

She finished her fish in a few minutes and smiled at Katara. "I'll see you at training?" She questioned. The elder nodded and busied herself with eating seaweed noodles. Korra knew that the woman could see through her bubbly façade. It wasn't that hard when they had similar personalities in more ways than one.

She wrapped her parka tighter around her and stepped into the sunlight once more. Clouds had invaded the southern sky as she hurried out of the cafeteria and towards the barracks. A chilly wind struck her and nearly bowled her over, and she was more aware of Howl's absence now more than ever. His tall form usually took the wind for her.

Korra opened the barrack doors and peaked in, her gaze sweeping the room without hesitation. The night guards were passed out in their individual bunks as she sneaked over to where she knew Howl slept. His bed was the only one that had been made. Blue sheets overlapping the pelts they'd been given from the tribe she'd come from. Her father's thanks to them all. She ran the silky seal skin through her fingers and sighed. So he wasn't here either. But, oddly enough, his helmet was.

With a sad frown on her face, she exited the barracks with the helmet in tow and started towards the familiar training ground.

"I want to be back at the compound." Howl grumbled uncomfortably. His cheeks had been wind burned, his eyes sore from staring at nothing but white ground and blue eyed females. "Take me back, Sitch." He begged.

"No." His comrade stated, relaxing with his head on a snow pile. "Not until you pick a lady up."

"I don't want a lady." He mumbled. I want Korra. Howl immediately felt guilty when he thought that. He shoved his hands into the snow before pushing himself up. "I'm going to get food." His back was frozen solid and so were all of his limbs, which ached for movement. It had only been three hours of sitting still in the snow that he desired to be back in his warm bed. He hadn't even wanted to leave, but Sitch had been an idiot and volunteered him to go.

He was closest to the tribe he and Korra had visited only a week ago. His tunic was soaking wet as he walked into town, strolling up and down the marketplace. He ought to have told Korra where he was going but hadn't had the chance to because of his comrade's incessant begging to go into town on his second day off.

He strolled into the book store surrounded by his favorite; romance novels. His cheeks burned when he saw that he was the only male in the shop, other than the shopkeeper's young son. "Hi!" The child said, running up and shaking his gloved hand. Howl flinched at the act before softening and smiling at him. "I'm Lokka. My daddy says I have to greet everyone at the door the same, but you're cool because you're a boy like me! What's your name? What's that weird outfit you're wearing? Why are you here?"

Howl smiled at the boy. Lokka reminded him of Korra in a way that made his heart swell two sizes bigger. "Lokka, stop bothering that man." The shopkeeper shouted at her son from behind the counter. Her face gave an apologetic smile before he grinned.

"It's really okay. I admire his curiosity." He kneeled before the little boy with what he hoped was a warm smile. "My name is Howl. It's a guardian outfit. And I'm here for books." He ruffled the child's hair before he smiled.

The woman crossed her arms. "You're Korra's guard, aren't you?" She questioned as he aimlessly searched the shelves.

"Yes." He whispered, finding one and picking it up. His eyes scrolled the title before tucking it under his arm. "She's not in town though." Howl repeated the process twice more and walked up to the counter with his purchases. He spotted Lokka jumping up and down behind the desk, trying to peek at his book covers. He was thankful the child couldn't spot it or know what it meant.

"What's the Order like?" The woman questioned as he pulled out his yuans. Howl froze, confused, and struggled to fix his stopped heart. "My husband joined and I just wanted to know how it's treating him."

"Where's he stationed?"

"Republic City." She whispered, patting her son's head softly. Howl felt sorry for the young mother and the boy. He tried hard to imagine if Korra disappeared to Republic City… he wasn't sure if he could take it. Howl knew he would try and request a post change as soon as possible.

But Korra had mingled her blood with his. She had promised that she wouldn't disappear without sudden warning and he had promised he would go with her the minute she decided to leave. He knew he should have made her promise not to go until her training was finished completely. It was too late. His hand still ached from the puncture in his hand from the previous night.

"It's rough." He said softly. "Make him feel needed when he comes home." He explained, grabbing the books and tucking them tighter under his arm. Howl nodded towards the little boy and mother before turning and walking out of the store.

Clouds had appeared when he exited the store, his eyes focused on the ground. He still had one place to visit before he left. Korra's sixteenth birthday was coming soon. He wanted to thank her for being his best friend even when she got him so close to trouble that he thought he was going to lose his job. He wanted to thank her for not leaving this lonely soul to die in the winter.

He walked up to the old woman's stall and glanced around. A new shipment of supplies had come in recently, that much he knew, but he hadn't exactly visited town since the storm. Spring had sprung in the Earth Kingdom and the older woman had lots of vibrant colors of trinkets on display. His eyes glanced over the multiple animal carvings she had. It was so good to see different shades of green and red and purple. He'd almost forgotten what they had looked like. Down here, it was only blue and white and brown. Nothing in the middle, nothing more.

"Oh!" The old woman's voice made his head shoot up and hit a wind chime, setting it off. He hissed in annoyance, rubbing his helmetless head. "Welcome back, sir. Can I ask you what seems fit?"

He reached down and ran his hand along a moose-lion carving. "How much for the carvings?"

"They come in a set. They represent animals from all around the world. 25 yuans." She said. Howl winced slightly at the thought of how empty his wallet would seem without that money, but he forked over the cash and smiled as the woman gave it to him. Korra always had a strong connection with animals and he hoped this would be good enough.

He started back to Sitch as more clouds gathered, sealing the promise for snow. His hands were full. Sitch hardly even eyed him when he took the reins of the dog sled. "Storm's coming." He told the soldier. Sitch's black eyes opened one by one as he set the supplies on the sled. "Time to go."

"Alrighty then. You pick up a lady?" He questioned, sitting on the front of the sled. Howl rolled his eyes absentmindedly; he would be happy to just get back to the compound, eat, and talk to Korra. The latter would be before anything else, he hoped. He missed her something fierce. Sitch's sled took the lead as the dogs started up, Howl following close behind.

In truth, the storm was practically overhead when the two men appeared back into town. Korra recognized one of the guards as Sitch. He and Howl sat together during breakfast. That was the closest she knew them to be. Her heart fluttered when the second one entered the gate, black hair helmetless. She breathed in relief. He was home, safe and sound.

She had left him a note on his pillow saying to meet her in the same spot as the previous night when he returned, but now she wasn't sure if he would come. An icy water ball hit her and she went flying on the training course. Glancing up at her master, she saw Katara with her arms crossed and a single brow raised. "Practice is cancelled. Go shower and relax."

Korra would usually do that. But today was different. She pulled up her hood and ran to where she had begged Howl to meet her. Her fingers were frozen, her dagger mark aching severely, when she ran into something strong and hard. "Oops, I—"She blinked and gasped. "Howl!"She threw her arms around his throat, squeezing his neck tightly.

Korra was hugging him. Korra was hugging him. Korra was hugging him. And though she might be choking him, he felt his heart beat sputter uncontrollably as he hugged her back. It had only been a day and he desperately missed her. His hands found the small of her shoulders, his face burying itself into the crease of her neck. Her breath was warm and comforting, but shaky, on the open skin by his collarbone. "Korra?" He questioned, reluctantly pulling slowly away and finding the fifteen year old crying.

"I-I thou-thought you ha-had left!" She whimpered while struggling to keep him close. Howl sighed. He knew he should have left her a note or something. Slowly, he pressed his forehead to hers and used his calloused thumb to wipe the tears off of her face. It didn't last for long because she threw herself into his arms once more, a new wave of sadness.

The snow began to fall and Howl didn't want to risk either of them getting sick. He picked Korra up around the waist and cradled her to his chest. Her wet tears rolled down her cheeks and onto his neck, sending slight shivers through his body. He sneaked around the building and, when the time was right, opened the door to her room. Her sobbing had resolved to snivels as she climbed into the bed. The dream catcher couldn't reflect light due to the cloudy way, but Howl lit a lantern and watched as the rose colored glass sent reflections across the floor.

He noticed how tiny she looked in the massive bed, her eyes shut tightly with tears still pouring. He also noticed his helmet, which he'd left on his bed that morning. With a sigh, Howl picked it up, kissed her gently on the top of her head, and sat in the corner of her room. All he had to do was wait for her to fall asleep.