Attention Readers:
Due to the end of summer, and a busy schedule. I will be putting badgermole days on hiatus for the month. Don't worry it will be back the first Friday of September. So without further ado here is the final part of A Spirit Adventure. Enjoy~
A spirit adventure (part 7)
Whatever commotion Korra had heard going on in the forest had gone quiet some time before the sun had risen. Now an hour into the new day. She stood with hands drawn tight against her. Gripping her elbows. Fixated on the forest. She had seen birds flying out of their nests. Heard the loud roar of tiger monkeys too. Beside her foot was a bowl of porridge. The spoon stuck in the cold goop. It had been brought to her by one of the villagers.
There were dark clouds overhead. A storm rolling in soon.
Korra shivered. Pulling on the bags under her eyes to force them to stay open. She couldn't go to sleep; not till they were back. Not until she could hug the two of them in her arms. Kiss them. So until then she hugged herself. Imagining the sensation.
The thought that something could of happened never crossed her. This was Lin. The one person who could make anything better. Who never let Korra down. She would find Yee-Li and bring her back safe. Scold her. Maybe even punish her for wandering off. Korra thought of what she could do as punishment too. Make her go for a swim with us. Was the most dastardly thing that came to mind. Then don't let her bathe for the rest of the day. She gripped herself tighter. Make her eat nothing but desert. Yeah, that'd be good. Give her a stomach ache.
It should of been enough to make her laugh. Yet it had the opposite effect of sobering her up even more. The island wasn't that big. With Lin on Yee-Li's trail she should of found her by now. Unless they had been sidetracked. Maybe Lin had decided to scold her as soon as she found her. I hope she's doesn't go overboard.
After all there was more punishment coming her way when Yee-Li got back. And Korra wanted to be in on it. Why did you have to make me so worried. Snorting a flame. Lin was right; we should of done the leash thing.
Korra sighed. "Please-spirits...just bring..." As she stared into the edge of the forest, her eyes drooping again, she saw a shadow. It was coming closer. Taking the shape of a person. Korra knew those hips. That pale skin. The gray hair; that as it bounced left a cloud of dust behind.
Korra let her hands drop to her sides. Because wrapped around Lin's torso was a small group of limbs. Two legs digging into her hips. And tiny hands hung like a neck tie.
Lin sighed. She looks like a bug eyed lemur; she thought before she whispered something to the child holding her; who grew stiff in her momma's grip. Lin crouched down.
Her dress was torn. There was mud all over. Sticks and leaves were woven into her now less than vibrant red hair. Dimed by fatigue and a healthy coating of earth. Korra was watching Yee-Li as the girl was watching her.
Is mommy mad? Yee-Li fretted.
Did Lin scold her to much? Korra wondered.
Lin leaned over and talked to their daughter. The girl shook her head.
Korra sagged. She's mad at me too.
Spun on her heels Yee-Li was shoved forward. The child glanced over her shoulder. Lin imposed her thoughts with her hands crossed and a grunt. Telling the kid to get moving. The first step she took Yee-Li stumbled on her bad ankle.
Korra gasped. Hands going to her mouth. She's hurt! What happened to you Yee-Li? The woman's frown sinking deeper into her chin with each step the child took.
The ankle made her wince and her eyes prickle. Still Yee-Li continued on feeling the presence behind her. Nipping at her heels. To not even get a chance to rest was making her frustrated. Her foot hurt. Her whole insides hurt not from falling but from the flips her stomach was doing. She just wanted to go to bed. She just wanted avoid being yelled at by her mommy for whatever she must of done to deserve those...tears. Mommy's crying? The girl thought. Why is mommy crying? She's supposed to be mad at me for disappearing isn't she?
Korra let her exhausted body flop onto her butt. Hunched into herself. Her elbows tucked into the space between her legs. The skin on her lips seemed to sag even lower when Yee-Li stopped a few feet away from her. The image of the little girl, now grown from that tiny bundle she'd found, blurred. Rubbing her eyes she coughed on the lump in her throat.
"Mommy." The tiny voice said.
"Ye-hiccup-Yee..." Snot flowed from the convulsing nostrils attached to a bubble nose. "Yee-" It was impossible. The words were stuck in the back of her throat. The world through her eyes looked like a watercolor painting. Hazy. Yet beautiful. So wonderful to see.
Yee-Li's hands rubbed nervously as she took a step forward. Calling again to the woman. Then took another step. The ankle only brought more tears. Not of pain. It was relief.
Her mommy raised her arms. In an impossible to miss length. The dam that had been holding her words back finally broke. Korra gave a most appreciated call. "Yee-Li!" As the child fell into waiting arms. Her little hands tried to get a hold of as much of her mommy as she could. Tugging on the furry fringe of her robe. Using it to soak up the snot; making it sticky.
Lin, seeing the two in an embrace, made her chest tight. And before she knew it Lin had gotten in on the hug too. Sandwiching her daughter between her parents.
"Thank you." The dialogue was soft. Earnest with a quiver tacked on the end to get the point across.
"Told you I'd find her." Lin whispered. And in an effort to make the situation a little lighter. "Seems she has my sense of direction."
. . .
The room shook. Shudders groaned under the stress and would welcome being torn from their hinges. Still they at least held through it. Lin was awake through the storm.
With two heavy loads pressed against her she sighed. To her left was the beauty that was her wife. Looped around her shoulder creating an uncomfortable pressure on the joint as it was squeezed. A rain drop of flesh wiggled in the back of her throat as Korra snored in her face.
Someone who had grown up used to her mommy's sleeping habits was pressed into Lin's other side. Head on her stomach. Yee-Li was comfortable underneath the covers. Having freshened up with her parents; who could of used a bath themselves after the nights adventure. It was something they hadn't done as a family in a long time. Not since Yee-Li could hardly put two words in succession of each other without a gurgle of nonsense in-between.
They all thought it best to go to bed early. Or the yawns that spread around like an infectious disease decided for them. Their daughter didn't have a say in the matter. As they did something they hadn't done as a family in the longest time either; not since they moved.
"Come here squirt." Lin spoke up and beat Korra to the punch. The edge of the blanket already raised. Creating a nice den for her to curl up in.
There was no protest. No sigh of annoyance, or frustration that she thought she was being forced to do something by her momma that she didn't want to. Without a word. Yee-Li slid into the small hole in the blanket. Cuddled close to Lin and let herself fall asleep. While above the covers Lin got an extra special kiss.
The rain came harder. Turning the bright streamers from the festival into a goopy mess. Soon to be washed away. That river they had swam at would flood. Spoiling the food source of a couple of irritated flutter bats.
Lin watched a trail of water make its way under one of the shudders and down the wall were it pooled on the floor. Small now. It'd grow before morning. Were Korra would get some fun out of bending it back outside. Though it would lose its amusement after the seventh time. Still, seeing her daughter get a giggle as her mommy drew with it in the air, it made all of them feel a little lighter inside.
The rain wouldn't stop for three days. Sometimes shallow which Korra would take advantage of and run out to get them some food. Other times it fell so thickly that it wasn't surprising if they weren't stuck at the bottom of the ocean. It kept them trapped in their small living quarters. Not that they were interested in venturing out.
Even when it was time to leave on the boat. With Captain Everet absent from seeing the guests on board. They stayed in their cabin. Sticking close. All huddled on the bed. Yee-Li reading Rohan's book at the foot of it. Lin and Korra resting against the headboard. Legs tangled and unable to keep their hands off each other. Korra tapped her fingers on Lin's thigh. While Lin had her arm around Korra's shoulder and massaged her collar bone.
"So..." Korra rubbed her thumb over the back of Lins hand idly as she spoke. "...even with all that happened. I'd say that was a good vacation right?"
Yee-Li stopped and turned her attention to her mommy. "It was alright." She said offhandedly. "Not sooo boring towards the end." Adding in haste. As Lin narrowed her eyes. Making quick head gestures to the woman next to her.
Korra shook her head. "Next time we won't go so far. Maybe we'll go to the beach house instead. We haven't been there in a while huh, badgermole." Rubbing up to her side. Korra shot her wife a smoldering gaze. Fluttering her lashes. Though the gesture was meant to try to excite something in the other. To Lin it just looked like her wife had something in her eyes.
And she snorted into her hand. "Well, I'm not driving. Asami probably won't lend me a car again."
There entangled limbs were parted as Yee-Li, with her book in hand, crawled on her knees between the two. Jabbing a pointed knee cap into each of their thighs. Before she managed to settle down in-between.
"We have a beach house?" Looking to her mommy for answers. The woman shrugged.
"Yes it was grandma Toph's." The red head gave herself whiplash as she spun to look at Lin.
"And it's near the beach?" The book held between the Childs thumbs was resting on her legs and forgotten.
"Not too far away really." The Childs neck did make a small audible crack this time as she looked at Korra. Her face getting bigger. Showing a big giddy smile. At seeing the enthusiasm Korra went on. "And there's toucan puffins too. They'll eat out of your hand."
"Really?" The fact seeming unbelievable to Yee-Li.
Korra nodded her head. Now her own grin coming out. She told her daughter of how awesome the beach was. How her mother's had built sand castles. And that her momma was very good at it. And Lin filled in the parts of how Korra was great at riding waves. This doubled the size of the Childs eyes. And carried over into her enthusiasm about wanting to do it too.
All three of their stomach's lurched as the ship dipped with the sea. Yee-Li grabbed hers. Poking her tongue out. They felt the light pull of gravity urging them forward. The sheets slipping with them. Then called them back violently into the headboard. The two women got the full brunt. Bruising their backs. As they held their daughter in the safety of their arms.
Over her daughters head Korra saw her small arms disappear to her face. "Oh no, Lin! Get the trash can!"
The women leapt onto her feet.
The boat gave another roll. Deeper than before as the sea tried to swallow the ship. Korra dug her finger nails into the headboard. As she threatened to slip off. Using her other hand to rub her daughters back and hold her on the bed. The little girl was holding her lips tightly. Eyes closed so she could focus.
Then the ocean swelled and forced the ship to pitch the other way. Not ready Lin toppled forward. Nose smacking the hard floor. She felt it begin to ooze. Then an odd warmth spread over her backside.
"Uh-oh." Said her wife.
Lin reached. Felt something sticky and beginning to congeal on her fingers. It was watery yet bits were squishy.
"Sorry momma." Yee-Li moaned.
Lin ran into the bathroom. Turned the knob to the shower and stripped; carefully. Rolled up her clothes and crammed them into the tiny trash can. Left for the staff take care of.
"She is not going out onto the water with you Korra." She shouted over the noise of the shower. Draining half the bottle of soap to clean the bile off.
Through the horrible yellow colored shower curtain she saw a silhouette stand in front of the door. Leaning on the frame. No doubt her hands were crossed. Just as her voice sounded. "Your upsetting your daughter."
To cross her point Yee-Li spoke up. Now taken to the other bed in the room. Laying on her side she'd shut her eyes. Praying to the spirits to stop the boat from moving. "I'm fine, Mommy."
Lin squirted another generous helping of suds into her palm. Massaging it into her scalp. "Geez..." The shower curtain was tugged back so Lin could stick her head through. Her bubble helmet dripping down her forehead and onto the floor with a thick slap. The bubbles popping on the rug; which was a gross and ironically puke green color. "Squirt...Yee-Li, I'm sorry."
"It's-bleh." Was the reply as the boat rocked again.
"Spirits. She's like a fountain."
"Mom-meeee."
"Now who's being insensitive." Lin rebutted. Almost slipping on the wet floor.
Korra huffed. "Not now L-Oh no, she's going to do it again."
"Sprits." Suds dripped onto her face and covered her eyes. She pawed at the stinging liquid. "Get the trash can." She yelled at her wife. The soap was leaking into her head. Were it sent her senses a blaze. Lin felt for the wall of the tub. Her balance thrown when the boat was caught in another swell. Her hands found something solid for a second before it gave way. The shower curtain fell around her.
"Lin!"
"Mom-ma"
Lin reached out. Fingers bending awkwardly as they hit a wall. Lin clutched them as she shouted at her wife. "Just get her the trash can." She pleaded as she blew on her stinging digits. Soap still in her eyes. Naked. And wrapped in a horrible yellow shower curtain on the floor.
Korra got on her knees. unable to help but admire the show out on. The way Lin's head was tilted back to expose that strong neck. How the shower curtain was hiked up her thighs. So little left to the imagination. She wanted to pull up that skirt in a sense. Till the sound of another hurl came. And instead she placed a kiss to Lins cheek. "You might want to cover up badgermole. It's getting harder to wait till we get back home." Spitting the soap remains out of her mouth Korra left the bathroom.
Lin growled. Moving towards the sound of running water. As Korra was murmuring comforts in the other room. Lin cleaned her face. Blowing a few droplets of water that ran down her mouth.
A towel was exchanged for the curtain which was deposited in the shower.
Korra was huddled over their daughter. Who was making another deposit at the moment. Korra rubbed her back and whispered apologies.
Drying puke was ladled on the floor between the beds. While a puddle of it was on the sheets. Lin avoided it by folding the edge of the sheets overtop it. Sitting her hand joined Korras on her daughters back.
The boat soon settled. Along with Yee-Lis stomach. But the trashcan was left by the bed and the comforter stripped off. Leaving the flimsy under sheet their only source of warmth. They managed. Lin wore her white tank top and the pair of sweat pants that her daughter thought so little off. Lin was on her side. Head propped in her hand. Using the other to rub her daughters back as she lay on top of Korra. Even though she felt bad for her kid. Lin couldn't help but be jealous that she got to use Korra as a pillow.
Yee-Li breathed deep. Nuzzling Korra in her sleep. Her face less green, but still pale. Her mouth open and drool dripped out. She even snored a bit.
Lin smiled. "She's developing your night time habits. Soon I won't be able to get any sleep." A joke to lighten the mood. To clear the air. Not only of the puke smell. But the bad feelings it brought with it. The ones that hadn't had enough time to be put away.
"This trip was awful." Korra sighed; nose dipping into her daughters red hair. She took a whiff to calm herself. Then gagged on the smell of lingering puke.
"Now..." Lin scooted closer. Pressing into her. Lin moved her hand from Yee-L's back. Taking the time to give Korra a little pinch somewhere higher that made the woman's face redden. "We couldn't help what happened at the end, right?" Korra nodded to this. "And I think overall we enjoyed ourselves too. Even if..." Lin leaned into her ear. Took it in her mouth and gave a playful bite. Then mumbled with it still pinched between her teeth. "There were some things we had to miss out on."
Korra let Lins name ghost out in a slow and agonizingly low moan. However, that was where the fun stopped. As Lins head sunk to her shoulder. "Besides I think it was a fun time..." Her hand roamed through her daughter head. The child gave a murmur of approval. A smile bloomed and made her face brighter. "For all of us."
Korra gave her wife an awkward peck on the side of her head. Just shy of her temple. Letting her thoughts drift off with the boat as it sailed the ocean. Taking them home.