As the wagon hurtled down the road at a breakneck pace, Saph felt a bizarre electric crackling materialize in the air around her. It made all the fine hairs stand up on her skin. Something bad was about to happen, she just knew it.

A flash of lightning passed right overhead and she screamed, but it didn't hit her. It hit the people who were apparently pursuing them, their contorted forms lighting up for a brief second. Her ears were ringing and she couldn't hear anything else, but the lightning kept flashing above. Eventually, she had the presence of mind to squeeze her eyes shut and press her palms to her ears to block out the horror.

It didn't last long, fortunately. Soon, there was only darkness and the sound of the wagon. As reason returned to her, Saph briefly contemplated rolling out and taking her chances in the black forest that surrounded them. Her manacles would slow her down, but maybe she could hide for a while and then creep away. It might be her only opportunity to escape.

But…it would hurt. A lot . There was a good chance she would break something, actually, as fast as they were going. After several minutes of pained deliberation, she concluded with a dismal sigh that she wasn't nearly brave enough to try it. Her eyes closed and she attempted to relax back into the layer of straw. It poked through her thin summer clothes, making her itch, but it didn't really matter. Nothing mattered anymore.

Maybe she was being rescued, but probably not. Why would a blue sage help her? And apparently, she wasn't just any blue sage, but an actual combustionbender. One of the rare elite. More than likely, what was happening had something to do with a disagreement within their ranks. It was hardly a stretch; they were just as lawless with each other as with everyone else.

Saph guessed that they'd been traveling for about half an hour—though it felt like an eternity—when the loud rattling from the wooden wheels began to grow softer. They were slowing down. Finally, they pulled off the road into a secluded clearing. The deep black sky above was ringed with the faint outline of treetops, like ghostly sentinels surrounding them.

That vivid image, coupled with the apprehension of what might be coming next, made Saph begin to tremble with fear. Fresh tears leaked from her eyes and streamed into her mouth. She lapped up the salty moisture with a desperation that only served to remind her how dire her situation was.

"I'm not going to hurt you," the woman said abruptly, her voice like gravel crunching beneath leather boots. The wagon creaked as she lowered herself into the back where Saph lay. "I'm going to take the cuffs off, but I'd advise against trying to run. There's nothing out here for miles and miles, other than the place we just left. They will find you—if you don't die of dehydration first."

Saph said nothing, though she couldn't stop shaking. It seemed too good to be true. Too good to trust. But slight pressure appeared on the metal that held her wrists, then the clasps popped open and fell away. Slowly, cautiously, she sat up and rubbed the chafed parts. She felt so much lighter, but still wary.

A moment later, her ankles were free as well and she gave serious consideration to running away, despite the warning. But after a look around in the near-total darkness, she knew it was hopeless. This woman would probably catch her, anyway.

"My name is Koko. Nani and your parents sent me to find you."

Those simple words, which should've been comforting, were enough to turn Saph's entire perception of the world upside down. It wasn't enough that this blue sage actually had a name —and one that didn't seem to fit the tough, hardened woman—but she…knew her parents and Nani? What could that possibly mean? How could they be friends with a blue sage?

Before Saph could even begin to formulate a response, a warm cylinder was placed in her hands.

"Drink this."

Fragrant steam emanated from the object and she put it to her lips hesitantly. Warm broth with a salty, gamey flavor flowed into her mouth and she gulped it down gratefully, but Koko took it away far too soon.

"Slow down," Koko said, pulling it away from her mouth. "You'll make yourself sick and then it'll be wasted."

Finally, Saph found the strength to say something to her. "How– How do you know my parents? And Nani?"

"I've known them for a long time. Since before you were born."

It wasn't really an answer but Saph doubted she'd get more than that. "Will you t-take me h-home?" She could barely get it all out before her lip began quivering, threatening more tears. The long silence that followed wasn't encouraging.

"No. The blue sages will hunt you, now."

"Because–" The memory of what had happened earlier nearly overwhelmed her, making her stomach churn. Screaming and fire and pungent smoke. She very nearly gagged. "Because of what you did back there?"

"Not just that. If you go back to Dao-Shu and the blue sages there recognize you, they'll catch you again."

"Why? Why do they care?"

"It's just their way. How they operate. Fear and intimidation."

Their way. It took a second for Saph to pick up on the significance of the wording. "But you're one of them."

"Yes," Koko admitted. "And no."

"I don't understand."

"And it'll have to stay that way for now." Her outline—tall and strong—became visible against the dark gray sky as she stood. "We need to get out of here. Can you walk?"

Saph shifted her legs around, sore but uninjured. "I– I think so. What about the ostrich horses, though?"

"We don't have any feed, so we'll have to walk. Someone will find them."

They trudged through the forest in almost complete silence for what felt like hours, Saph sipping on the broth until it was gone. Her fear remained but was muted by intense fatigue and no shortage of curiosity. Still, she worried that speaking could give away their location to any searchers, so she kept her mouth shut. But soon she could go no further and stumbled into a tree.

"We'll stop here," Koko said. "Get some rest. We have a long journey ahead of us."

Saph gratefully sunk to the ground, not even caring that she'd be sleeping on hard dirt. Fortunately, the night was warm with a pleasant breeze. "Where are we going?"

"Far away."

The familiar meadow seemed…odd. Saph spun around in a circle to study the scene, trying to figure out how and why it was different than usual. It seemed duller, less vivid, like some of the color had drained out.

It took her some time to find Yin, who was only a faint shadow. Saph sat cross-legged in front of her. "Why do you look like that? I can barely see you."

As always, her friend remained silent, but they'd never needed words to communicate; Saph only spoke because it was cathartic.

The ghostly form in front of her shimmered like billowing smoke, only the barest hint that she was there at all. The deep connection Saph had always felt with her seemed just as weak as her image.

"I was afraid you were gone forever. It's just been horrible, lately. I was kidnapped and imprisoned for days and days because I used my firebending to fight." Tears streamed down her face as she spoke, the awful memories rushing in. "And then one of the blue sages helped me escape and she– she killed a bunch of them! I don't even know who she is! But…she seems alright, I guess. She said she knows Nani and Mom and Dad, and they'd never let anyone hurt me."

Yin was a great listener. Her presence was always a soothing balm. Saph unloaded all of her fears and worries, soaking up the comfort that her friend provided. How could anyone think she wasn't real?

"I miss Mom and Dad and even Lia so much! I don't even know if I'll ever see them again. I'm really glad you're still here because I'd be so lost without you."

It was midmorning when Saph woke, still exhausted and horribly stiff. She was sweating profusely; it was sure to be a hot day, as warm as it was already.

Koko sat against a nearby tree, staring into the distance with a pensive frown while she munched on some nuts. Saph couldn't help but stare: Amber eyes. Pale skin. Black hair in a thick braid, messy as if she'd done it in a hurry several days ago. She had striking features, though haggard, and looked to be in her thirties. Despite the intimidating blue sage tattoo, dark bags under her eyes, and what appeared to be a permanent scowl, she was a beautiful woman.

And quite clearly, deeply unhappy…

Before Saph could say anything, Koko blinked like she was coming out of a daze, then glanced over with one eyebrow lifted. Her hard expression didn't change, otherwise. "What?"

There were so many things Saph wanted to ask; it was hard to pick one. "How– How did you know where I was?"

"I was coming to Dao-Shu with Nani. Your parents told us you'd disappeared, so I asked around and found out there'd been an altercation with a blue sage. It wasn't hard to find you after that." She tossed the bag of nuts and an odd sort of waterskin over to Saph. It was rigid on the inside, like a flask, but very light. "Eat. We need to get moving soon."

"So they don't know I'm okay?" she asked, filling her mouth ravenously.

"I sent them a message as soon as I knew for sure you were there. They should know by now."

It was the best news Saph had received yet and she slumped with relief, eyes welling up with tears. The effect on her appetite was swift; soon the nuts were gone and she longed for something more filling. "I'm still hungry."

Koko reached into her bag and produced an apple, which she handed over. "Let's go. We have a lot of ground to cover today."

"Are you going to tell me where we're going?" Oddly, she found Koko to be easy to talk to. It was rare for her tongue to be so free with people she didn't know well, especially someone as intimidating and unapproachable.

"North."

"Ohhh, north," Saph retorted, rolling her eyes. "Thanks for clearing that up."

Koko stopped suddenly and turned to face her. "I know you've been through a lot, but if you could keep the teenage sass to a minimum, that would be great."

The rebuke was a bit of a shock but mostly just humiliating. Saph's face went hot with indignation and she spluttered for a second or two, though Koko simply turned back around and started walking again as if nothing had happened.

As Saph munched on her apple—still vaguely annoyed but intent on not giving Koko any reason to fuss at her again—she realized that she was almost as hungry for information as actual food. "How do you know Nani? And my parents? And why do you have the tattoo? And how did you–"

"Calm down, kid. I'm not going to answer all your questions. You don't need to know everything about me or why I do what I do."

"So you just expect me to blindly trust and follow you?" She knew her mouth was getting away from her again and fully expected Koko to get angry.

But the response, though stern, was calm. "Blindly trust? No. Follow? Yes. Because what other option do you have?"

At that, Saph fell silent. It was the simple truth. She had to rely one hundred percent on this woman she didn't know at all, who—by all appearances—had allied with the enemy at some point in her life. A cold-blooded killer.

While they walked, Saph spent some time silently contemplating how she had lost all control over her life. It was ironic, really; only a week ago, she'd felt stifled by boring routine and fantasized about leaving Dao-Shu. Adventure and excitement were proving to be a little less appealing than anticipated. And with each step, home grew further and further away.

Her reverie was interrupted when Koko spoke.

"Tell me what you know about history."

What? It was the last thing she expected to be asked, like some bizarre brand of small talk. But Koko didn't seem like the type for idle chit-chat. "History? Of what?"

"Of the world. Specifically, the last century, give or take. What were you taught? Have your parents and Nani educated you?"

"Gran and Nani told me stories…" she said slowly, unsure of what Koko meant. "I know about the comet and Avatar Korra and Avatar Aang. Gran told me about the Hundred Year War and Republic City and Zaofu. And the other big cities. I know they were all destroyed when the comet came back and all the important families died."

"And what about the blue sages?"

It seemed like a dangerous question. A potential trap. What if she said something Koko didn't like? "They…were all combustionbenders at first, but now they can be any kind of bender. They blew up the cities during the comet. And…they make sure nobody gets too rich or powerful." And they're horrible bullies who pick fights for no reason sometimes.

She huffed a little from the rising heat and drank some water. The forest around them was thick and shaded but seemed to hold in the warmth, making the air feel stifling.

When Koko stayed silent, Saph continued. "You must know a lot about the blue sages, since you're one of them. Or were, at least. I guess Nani probably wouldn't be friends with you if you were evil or whatever."

A reply didn't come immediately. Koko just continued to lead her through the trees for a few long seconds.

"The world isn't so black and white."

"Then again…" Saph mused, mostly to herself. "Nani is such a gentle person. I think maybe she would trust people too easily. But you know my parents, too. Mom's more skeptical, kind of a worry-wart, and you'd never be able to trick Dad. He always knows when people are lying to him. He says it's his special superpower since he doesn't have bending. So...I guess you must be alright if they're friends with you."

Koko didn't seem to have a response to that and they both fell silent for a while. Saph was left thinking about her family. Missing them. Wishing she'd been more grateful for the life she'd had. Wishing she hadn't complained so much about having to babysit Lia or talk to Yura.

I never should've tried to steal that pie…

"How much farther?" Saph asked after a few hours of walking. "My feet are killing me. And I'm literally going to starve to death."

"It'll take a few days to reach our destination, but we're almost at the place we'll be spending the night."

Saph slumped with relief, eternally grateful that they wouldn't be walking for the entire day. "Is there…a bed there?" she asked with tentative hope. "And food?"

"Yes."

It renewed her just long enough to keep going until they reached a ridge overlooking a town—the first sign of civilization they'd seen yet. But Koko led her away from it, instead taking her to a small house nestled in a thick grove.

The cottage was just a single room with a narrow bed, a fireplace, and a basic kitchen—the last of which Saph found fascinating. She'd heard of indoor plumbing before, from Gran's stories, but Dao-Shu was a relatively new town. There were no old houses there, from before the comet. No remnants of an era that had been snuffed out in an instant.

Koko put her bag on the kitchen table and sat down to rifle through it while Saph investigated. The metal basin on the counter was covered in rust, the tap stuck permanently in place, it seemed.

"It's broken?"

"The water pump in the well stopped working a long time ago," Koko replied. "And the pipes are probably all rusted, anyway. No one maintains the system. What would be the point? No power grid for the pump."

Saph looked over to see her with a small mirror in one hand while the other spread skin-colored makeup across the tattoo on her forehead. It covered it completely, removing any trace of her dubious identity.

"I'm going into town to get food," Koko said. "Stay here."

The final words were spoken in such a severe, commanding tone that Saph couldn't imagine disobeying. Not that she would, anyway. Where would she even go?

Once alone, she sunk gratefully into one of the chairs at the kitchen table and looked around. Her study of the small space didn't take long. It was dirty and dusty as if no one had been there for a long while. There weren't any personal touches she could see; it certainly didn't feel like a home—just bare walls and sparse furniture. A waypoint to rest at.

The long day began to catch up with her and she rested her head on her arms, folded on the table. Exhaustion settled over her shoulders like a heavy blanket and she let her eyes close.

It seemed that no time at all had passed when someone started shaking her shoulder. Saph jolted upright and flinched away forcefully enough to fall out of the chair. Terrified and gasping, she looked up to see Koko eyeing her curiously, one eyebrow quirked up.

"I– I thought–" Saph stammered. "I thought they'd found me…"

Koko wordlessly sat down at the table and pulled a few small boxes out of her bag. Their delightful scent finally hit Saph and she scrambled back into her chair eagerly. There was a generous selection of noodles and rice full of meat and vegetables, all slathered in rich sauces. She devoured her half of it silently with absolutely zero regard for table manners. It was surely the best meal she'd ever had in her life.

With her stomach finally filling up for what felt like the first time in weeks, things didn't seem quite so dismal anymore. Maybe this adventure could be fun. Her parents knew she was safe. Maybe they could meet her at whatever place Koko was taking her to? And they could all be safe there together. It was a cheering thought.

Once the two of them had finished off everything, Saph sat back and sighed with satisfaction, more than ready to turn in early for the night. It felt so good to be full and tired.

Koko stood and stretched like she had the same idea, but then turned toward the door and said, "Come with me."

Saph followed her with reluctance, glancing at the bed regretfully as she passed it. Outside, there was a moderately sized patch of dirt in front of the cottage, free of trees, bushes, or undergrowth; Koko stood in the middle of it with her arms crossed.

"Show me everything you know about firebending."

It suddenly dawned on Saph for the first time since meeting Koko that she was a fire bender. It was obvious of course, but so far the only display of her abilities had been the explosion and the lightning—the memories of which were far better tucked away into the back of Saph's head. It just hadn't clicked.

But…Koko was a blue sage. Or had been, at least. She would know all kinds of fighting techniques. And this seemed an awful lot like an offer to teach, which was something Saph had dreamed of since she was a little girl.

She stubbornly pushed away the fatigue and settled into a stance. With one palm up, she produced a moderate flame, then went through a series of forms that she'd mostly come up with herself. The scrutiny was a little embarrassing; being put on the spot wasn't a sensation she enjoyed in the slightest, especially with her lack of skill in comparison to a seasoned fighter.

"Interesting…" Koko said, rubbing her chin thoughtfully. "Adapted earth and waterbending forms."

The assessment made Saph suddenly defensive. "The only benders that ever taught me were earth and waterbenders. It's all I've had to learn from. And no one's shown me any combat forms since we left the swamp and moved to Dao-Shu. I've had to teach myself, and only when I can find time to go into the swamp. Ever since Lia was born–"

"Hey, relax." She waved her hand dismissively. "I was just making an observation. It's a good thing to incorporate styles from other elements into your bending."

"Really?"

"Mm. Makes you more versatile. Less predictable."

Saph was suddenly overwhelmed with curiosity at just how much Koko knew. "So…since you're a combustionbender, does that mean you're a master?"

"I was a master long before I became a combustionbender."

"That seems like a really useful skill." The idea of being so powerful excited her. "Are you going to teach me that?"

Koko's eyebrows furrowed more than usual, a darkness passing across her eyes—so cold despite the warm color. It was…unsettling. "No."

"Why not?"

But she received no answer. Instead, Koko turned and walked a few steps away, then did a couple of stretches to loosen up. "Watch me closely and mirror my movements."

They went slowly through several forms, repeating them until they felt familiar. It was a bit boring and not at all the exciting combat lesson Saph had been expecting. She couldn't help but think that she should've learned these basics years and years ago, and that she was already so far behind.

"If you've known my parents my whole life," she asked, "why haven't I ever met you before now? Why didn't you come teach me when I was a kid?"

Koko lifted an eyebrow. It seemed to be her only expression besides frowns and scowls. "You are a kid."

"I'm fifteen."

"Like I said—a kid."

"But why didn't you teach me sooner?" Saph pressed.

It took Koko a few seconds to answer. "I lead a busy life. And there was no need for you to learn how to fight."

"How can you say that?! I was kidnapped!"

"Yeah, because you tried to fight. Do you not see the problem? Even if you had been trained, that blue sage still would've caught you. Or worse—killed you."

Saph had no answer to that so she just stared at the ground and silently sulked. The rest of the lesson continued without conversation beyond Koko's occasional instructions. By the end of it, Saph was panting and sweating, nearly ready to fall over with exhaustion.

"That's enough for tonight," Koko said finally, though there was still plenty of light left. "We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow."

They went inside and she began clearing the empty takeout boxes from the table to throw away. Saph stood in the middle of the room and rubbed her arm awkwardly, wondering where she was supposed to sleep. There was no way they'd both fit on that narrow bed.

But Koko took a few blankets from the corner of the room and got settled in front of the door.

"Oh, um…" Saph stammered. "You're sleeping on the floor?"

"Yep."

"Oh, okay. Thanks…" She lay down on top of the sheets, reflecting on how Koko wasn't exactly a friendly person—she certainly hadn't come anywhere near smiling—and yet she'd freely given up her bed. Why?

The question remained unanswered as sleep came only seconds later.

They left just after sunrise, eating their breakfast of fresh fruit and cold cheese pies while they walked. Despite being quite sore from all the walking and the firebending lesson, Saph felt much stronger than before, refreshed and ready for the journey. She'd dreamed of Yin for the first time in days; it boosted her spirits, making her feel better than she had in a long time.

Out of the blue, Koko asked another random question. "How much do you remember about growing up in the swamp?"

"I dunno..." Saph took a moment to think about it as she carefully picked her way through some dense undergrowth. "Not much. We just lived there. Dad said it was because of the comet, when all the rest of the world was in chaos. There were some waterbenders that lived there, too, but not Water Tribe like Nani. They were swamp people. And there were some other people that lived with us, but they left, I guess. I don't really remember them." A thought occurred to her and she glanced up at Koko. "Do you know them? Since you seem to know everyone."

"Yes, I know them."

When no further explanation came, Saph sighed and rolled her eyes. She should've known it wouldn't be so easy.

Their journey soon brought them to an abandoned town that sprawled across an open space. Koko stopped when they reached the treeline.

"On either side of this town are a river and a steep hill, so we have no choice but to pass close by. Keep your eyes open, as it's a popular place for bandits to hide out. I'll take us along the outside edge by the river. Be very quiet. If anything happens, stay behind me and do whatever I tell you to do."

For the first time since being rescued from the blue sages, Saph felt fear. Her earlier optimism that everything would be easier from there on out withered a little, and she hunched down behind Koko as they walked along the raised riverbank.

Even so, it was impossible not to stare at the town with curiosity. Dao-Shu was relatively new, having sprung up in the years following the comet. This place…was much different. It looked as if everyone had simply disappeared, leaving everything behind where it stood.

The wood and stone buildings were mostly intact, though in disrepair. Once-smooth roads—not stone, but not dirt, either—were full of cracks and potholes, and had rusty metal contraptions lining them; she thought they might be Satomobiles, based on descriptions from Gran and Nani's stories. Tall wooden poles with wires strung between them crisscrossed the town, connecting most of the buildings to each other.

Saph had never seen such a strange place.

"What are–"

"Shhh."

"Sorry…"

They'd nearly come to the other side when Koko suddenly turned and shoved her backward. Saph tripped and rolled, skinning her knees and elbows. She'd only just gotten her bearings enough to look around when a boulder exploded in front of Koko.

Saph curled into a ball, cowering against the shards, but was shielded by her protector. There wasn't a single thought to fight—only pure terror. Her life was fully in Koko's hands.

There was a short high-pitched noise and Saph dared to peek out from between her fingers with one eye, though she instantly regretted it.

BOOOOM

Fire and dust exploded in the distance, from the direction of the attack. In the next moment, she was yanked to her feet and dragged towards the rushing river. Koko jumped, holding her wrist firmly, and Saph barely had time to take a big breath before they plunged into the water.