Thank BG-13! :)

Mako's POV

I had just seen Korra next to me not even five minutes ago when I realized she was gone. I sighed running a frustrated hand through my hair. This is not the time for your disappearing acts, I thought. It really wasn't. We weren't familiar with the Swamp and if we got lost, we wouldn't know how to get out. Not to mention I was not about to leave her. No way.

I made my way through the thick fog before coming to a clearing. I saw a couple and I frowned.

"Hey," I called. Have you seen-" I stopped when I realized who they were. I shook my head. This had to be a dream. "Mom? Dad?"

They smiled at me. "We're so proud."

My throat went dry and I struggled to breath normally."I'm sorry I couldn't protect Bolin," I said, my voice cracking. "I'm sorry I failed you."

Their faces saddened and when I took a step forward they vanished. I shook my head. I had to be dreaming. This wasn't real. I turned away and continued to make my way through the Swamp, trying not to get myself killed as I climbed over the roots of the trees. I saw another figure ahead and I called out to them.

The figure didn't turn and I went closer, being careful of my footing when I saw there was a small cliff ahead. The person turned around and my eyes widened, instinctively taking a step back. I shook my head. I must be losing my mind. This wasn't possible.

"Bolin?" I asked. My younger brother smiled at me, his goofy smile. "I'm sorry, Bolin," I said. "I'm sorry for having yelled at you. I-I would have given my life for you."

He shook his head and held his hand up. I sighed. Typical Bolin, even in my hallucination. He looked down the hill and I frowned. I walked over before and tried to see what he was looking at. I turned back to look at him but he was gone. I quickly made my way down the slope.

"Korra!" I shouted. I got down the small hill and ran to her, turning her over and checking for a pulse. I let out a relieved sigh. She was ok.

Her eyes slowly fluttered open and I could tell she was still in a daze, her eyes foggy and unfocused. "Aang?"

I frowned and shook my head. "No," I said. "It's Mako."

"Mako," she repeated, my name coming from her mouth slowly and deliberate before she closed her eyes again. I sighed. Looked like we were going to make camp here for the night since she wasn't getting up any time soon. I looked up the slope once again. Had that been real? Had I really seen my parents... And Bolin?

Korra's POV

When I woke up again, I was wrapped up in a blanket, leaning against a tree, a small fire beside me. I groaned before slowly sitting up, placing a hand to my aching head. What I'd seen had to have been a dream. It couldn't have been real. I looked up and across from me was Mako, also wrapped up in a blanket.

"Hey," he greeted.

"What happened?" I asked.

"That's what I'd like to know," he muttered. We sat in silence for a while before he handed me a cup of tea. I took a sip, letting my mind wander. "Did you-did you see anything when we were separated?"

I looked down to my drink, wondering if I should tell him what I saw. I thought about my talk with Howl and what I'd tried to do. I thought about running from Aiden. I inwardly laughed, the echo sounding humorless and sad. I really was a coward.

Mako was still waiting for my answer, watching me. "Yes," I said after a while.

"Me too," he answered. "I saw my parents and…Bolin."

My head snapped up at this. "Bolin?" I asked, my voice cracking.

He nodded. In the Swamp I had seen the people that I had seen di, whose deaths I had caused. It wasn't till now that I questioned why I hadn't seen Bolin. But of course I knew the answer to that. I hadn't seen him because he hated me. He didn't want to see me. Why would he? It was my fault he was gone, that him and his brother were separated. I felt my stomach tie into knots.

"Did you see him?" he questioned.

I shook my head. "No," I replied, the word like lead on my tongue. "Why would he want to see me, the monster that led him to his death?"

Mako's POV

I shook my head at that. She wasn't a monster. She hadn't killed my brother but she blamed herself and I feared the guilt would consume her.

"Close your eyes," I said. She didn't want to but I asked again. When her eyes were closed I took her hand and placed it over her heart. "What do you feel?"

"My heart," Korra answered.

Then I took her hand and placed it over my chest. "Now what do you feel?"

"Your heart," she answered, opening her eyes. Her blue eyes were watching me intently.

"Now if I'm not a monster, then neither are you. Monsters don't have hearts and our hearts beat the same way." My hand was still clasped around hers and she didn't pull away. She didn't even seem to notice as her sapphire orbs searched my amber ones. What they were looking for, I didn't know.

Korra's POV

I didn't say anything. Mako was holding my hand against his chest. To be honest, I sort of enjoyed the feeling of having his warm skin against my cold hand. I didn't think he was being honest at first, but when I looked into his equally warm amber eyes, I found nothing but sincerity. No pity like everyone else, just…sincerity.

I realized that he was still holding my hand and I gently and slowly pulled it away. "It's late," I whispered. "We should get some sleep."

He nodded. "This tree looks pretty good to lean against," the Firebender replied. "And Korra?"

"Hmm?"

"Bolin doesn't hate you," he said. I looked away. He reached out and turned my face so I could look at him. "He's the reason I found you," Mako confessed. "I was looking for you and I saw him looking down at the slope. He wanted me to find you."

I gave him a nod as I slipped the parka over my head, before leaning against the tree. Mako scooted next to me and I took a deep breath as I looked up into the thick branches of the moss covered trees. I could hear crickets all around us, and sounds of other wildlife...and of course the voices were still whispering. I wondered momentarily if Mako could hear them too. Slowly my eyes began to droop and before long I was out.

I started to have the same dream that night. About the unknown person chasing me, except this time they caught me quicker. I woke again with a jolt, looking around and making sure there wasn't anyone in sight. Mako woke up as well, sleepily rubbing his eyes.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing," I answered. "Go back to sleep."

He sighed but closed his eyes again. It took me a long time but I eventually closed my eyes as well, letting the darkness carry me to comforting oblivion where I had no dreams, no nightmares. Just darkness.

When I woke up again I was covered with a blanket, my temple resting against a warm body. I slowly raised my eyes to meet Mako's gaze. I quickly sat up, rubbing my eyes.

"Morning," he said with a chuckle.

"What time is it?" I asked.

"Probably past midday," the Firebender replied.

I actually pouted. "Why didn't you wake me up?"

"You didn't sleep most of the night," he answered. "Besides, you looked comfortable," he added with a shrug.

I silently cursed. Every time I was around Mako I always slept more than I was supposed to, but surprisingly woke up refreshed. I got up and gave him back his blanket. I didn't need to be thinking about my Firebending companion. There was something here I was supposed to find and he was simply escorting me. That was it. Nothing more.

"We need to get moving," I simply said. As we walked through the forest I couldn't help but think about what he had said. It had been Bolin's apparition that led Mako to me. A small thought made its way through my mind. Perhaps…maybe…he really didn't hate me.