Chapter 3

The couple sat in stunned silence.

"I'm so sorry," Katara quietly said, tears coming to her eyes.

Tonraq put his large palm on his former teacher's shoulder.

"It's okay, Katara," he said, his voice hollow. "I'm sure there's another way to keep Korra safe."

"Maybe so. For now, you should go spend some time with your daughter. Perhaps you all could play with these?"

Katara held up two dolls, one that was dressed like the moon spirit and the other like a Northern Water tribe waterbender.

"I remember these! Kya and I would play with them in the attic all the time!" Senna exclaimed.

"I remember the attic! When you girls weren't in there, Bumi and I would spy on-"

"So it's true!"

Senna spun around upon hearing Katara.

"What do you mean? What's true?"

Katara chuckled.

"Senna dear, have you ever wondered why you and Tonraq were never in classes together?"

The young wife pondered for a moment.

"Hmm, now that I think of it that is rather odd…"

"It's because the minute you walked by him everything flew out the window. I can't tell you how many times he watched you from the attic during your lessons, or lost his train of thought because you looked his way. He couldn't take his eyes off you-still can't, for that matter."

Senna clutched her husband's arm and smiled, only to find the smile being returned by her husband.

"Wait Katara," Tonraq said. "Is the attic still-"

"Set up with a bed, food, and toys? It is. Why do you a-"

A smile came to her face.

"Of course! We can hide Korra in my attic! It's warm, there's enough food and toys to keep her inside, and the trapdoor is hidden so she can't be found!"

For what seemed like the first time in a while, the trio felt relief.

"At least we have a plan," said Katara.

"You all should go. Nakoda's outside waiting for you."

After putting on their warm fur coats, the master showed them to the door.

"I don't want to see any of you tomorrow," she stated.

"Wait, what?" Senna asked, pausing mid-stride.

"Like I said, you need to spend as much time as you can with your daughter. You never know when you'll get another chance to." With that she closed her door.

Tonraq gave Senna a hug.

"We are going to get through this, Sen," he whispered. "I promise."

"Should I leave or something…?"

They released their hold on each other to find Nakoda holding a sleeping Korra.

"Thanks for taking care of her, Nakoda," Senna said while taking her daughter into her arms. "We're really grateful."

"Anytime. Now go to sleep you lovebirds! I better not see you tomorrow!" he called after them.

"Yeah, yeah," said Tonraq, waving him away from their doorstep.

Once inside, the exhausted couple put a sleeping Korra in her bed before retiring to their room for the night. Not five minutes later, Korra woke up, saw that she was alone, and ran to join her parents in their room.

XxXxXxOoOoOoxXxXxX

In the morning Korra woke up to the sound of her parents laughing in the kitchen. Dragging herself out of bed, she walked down the stairs to find her parents thoroughly enjoying a 'friendly' game of pai sho.

"Hi princess!" Tonraq said, grabbing his daughter and tickling her until she turned red from laughter. "Did you sleep well?"

"I made you a bowl of crab stew if you want some," said Senna, already bringing her daughter a plate.

Korra was slightly confused. Her parents weren't usually home at this time. Besides, they seemed a little too...eager.

"Shouldn't I be at practice?" Korra asked quizzically.

"Your mother and Sifu Katara decided that it would be best to give you a day off," her father explained. "After all, it's not good at all to work and work and work and never get any time off."

"So I have the entire day to play with you guys?" she said slowly.

Both of them nodded.

"YAY! That means you finally get to teach me how to play pai sho!" she screamed while clapping her hands with glee.

Her parents looked at each other and groaned. This was going to be a long, long day.

XxXxXxOoOoOoxXxXxX

The rest of the day passed uneventfully. Korra more or less got the gist of pai sho, but it was unanimously agreed upon that she did not possess the patience for it. Nakoda came in and out, saying hello to Senna and playing with his goddaughter while updating Tonraq on the state of affairs.

Korra also managed to rope Tonraq into playing dress-up with her (he was the princess while she was the dashing prince, much to her mother's amusement), along with making him her sky bison that flew her all over the Earth Kingdom. The little girl was in the middle of singing an old nursery rhyme and playing on her toy yueqin with her mother when she caught her parents gazing wistfully at her.

"Mommy, daddy, what's wrong?" she asked upon seeing their sorrowful faces.

"It's just that you're growing up so fast," said her mother forlornly. "Before long you'll be all grown up and you'll leave us here by our lonesome."

"Don't say that Mommy! I'll always be here!" exclaimed Korra. She was about to reach for a hug when she noticed something off about the sky.

"Mommy, why is the sky glowing?" she questioned.

Tonraq and Senna looked at each other, their faces filled with fear.

This wasn't supposed to happen! Not right now!

"I don't know sweetheart," said Tonraq. "But if we go to Sifu Katara's attic, we'll be able to see why."

With that he picked up his daughter and took her to Katara's house, singing soothing lullabies the entire way. By the time he laid her in the attic's bed, Korra was sound asleep.

"Goodnight my love," he breathed. "Your mother and I love you more than you'll ever know. No matter what happens tonight, know that you will always be my princess and our little girl." With a kiss and one last gaze, he departed.

For now, it was time to fight.