Chapter 2

The next morning Korra awoke to a flurry of activity occurring in the compound. Men were sharpening their fighting skills; women were readying armor; children, if they weren't being evacuated, were practicing their bending in case any soldier was brave enough to challenge them.

Rubbing her eyes, Korra headed down the stairs towards the kitchen only to find her mother and Katara engrossed in an argument.

"The benders should be first!" Senna said. "They are our strongest warriors; thus, we would be able to take down the intruders faster as opposed to using non-benders!"

"My dear student, those batons the intruders carry do not distinguish between bender and nonbender. It is best we put non-benders as our first line of defense. If non-benders are taken down, it is not as devastating as it would be with benders," Katara argued.

"Mommy, Sifu, what's going on?"

The women quickly turned in surprise to find the little girl looking up at them with wide eyes.

"Hi there sweetie, Katara and I were just debating what we would do if we were caught in a battle," Senna explained as she scooped her daughter into her arms and gave her daughter a peck on the cheek.

"Are you hungry? I made you some penguin eggs with fish. I'll get you a plate," Katara offered.

Korra, snuggling closer to her mother, nodded. Katara disappeared into the kitchen and soon reappeared with the promised food. The little girl, after being placed on the ground by her mother, ran eagerly towards the food. As soon as she was finished, she was shooed out by Katara.

"Katara, did I do the right thing by not telling her what was really going on?" Senna asked.

The master pondered for a moment.

"Yes. You did do the right thing by not telling your daughter. She's only five after all-it's probably best to shield her while we still can. In the meantime, perhaps we should work on a viable battle strategy..."

Outside, Tonraq practiced his bending with Nakoda.

"You're getting soft, my friend!" laughed Nakoda as Tonraq barely deflected the water whip that was destined for his chest.

Tonraq gave only a simple laugh, letting his retaliatory water jet do most of the talking for him.

"Oof! I guess I should take that back now, shouldn't I? But you haven't gotten me yet!"

Nakoda and Tonraq proceeded to battle it out throughout the compound, throwing at each other an impressive array of water bullets, water drills, and even some new moves. Korra, having never seen anyone but herself, Katara, and her mother waterbend, was delighted by the display. After seeing Nakoda throw ice disks only a hair above her father's head, she decided to join in.

"Look at what I can do, Daddy!"

Summoning all her effort, she surrounded herself with a water cloak. If not for Nakoda's quick reflexes, he and Tonraq would have hit square in the head by one of the water whips she created.

"I've got to say Tonraq," said Nakoda while stretching out his sore body, "I don't think I've ever been prouder of my goddaughter."

"I could probably think of a few other moments," Tonraq grinned, tackling his best friend.

"Just what is going on here?"

Tonraq released his chokehold on Nakoda at the sound of his wife's voice.

"I was-we were just-"

Senna raised an eyebrow.

"Look, the next time you guys spar, try not to do so in front of Korra. She can be very...impressionable." Motioning with her head, the men turned to find the little girl forming ice claws and throwing them at imaginary opponents.

"I'll take care of it," Nakoda said. "She's doing the form wrong anyway."

"Nakoda! You're supposed to be telling her that she shouldn't be doing that in the first place!"

"Senna, I'm her godfather; I'm supposed to let her do what her parents don't want her to!" With a laugh he trotted towards the little girl.

Finally alone, she faced her husband.

"Come with me. Katara wants to speak to both of us, and it doesn't sound good."

Hand in hand, they strolled to the master's house. It was a small but cozy affair, partially built out of stone and ice. Once inside, Katara practically forced them to the dinner table where she fed them two-headed fish soup, which they then washed down with leechi juice.

"You're probably wondering why I brought you here today," said the waterbending master.

"I thought you just wanted to see us," said Tonraq.

"That's true, but the reason why I brought you here is because Tenzin called me today."

"Really? What did he say?" questioned Senna.

Katara hesitated.

"He's not coming tomorrow."