"I'm Toru now, but my name was once Toph."

Saph's mouth fell open in shock. "T– Toph?" she stammered. "Beifong?"

That word caused a rueful grimace, though Toru seemed to recover quickly. "That's a dangerous name to say aloud. In fact, you shouldn't repeat any of our true names."

"Oh. Okay. Sorry. But I'm right, aren't I?"

After a slight pause, Toru nodded, but Saph wasn't finished.

"I thought Toph Be– Er, I thought she was born like, a hundred years ago?"

"Almost a hundred and twenty-seven years ago, actually. She was my great-grandmother. Sadly, I never got to meet her. I was born a few months after she died, so my parents named me after her."

That explanation made perfect sense, but something else didn't. "I was always told that your whole family died when Zaofu was destroyed."

"Not exactly." Toru beckoned for her to follow to another room. It was a homey space, well-decorated with colorful drapes and full of comfortable-looking furniture. "Please, sit."

On her way to do so, Saph spotted something that made her turn and stare in shock. Photos weren't rare, exactly, though most of the ones that existed were from before the comet. It was the subject of the picture that stopped her in her tracks: An old woman with a bright smile had her arm around the shoulders of a second old woman who seemed far less enthused.

"Gran…" she murmured, picking up the picture to trace her trembling fingers over that familiar smile. Her vision blurred as tears filled her eyes. This woman was younger than the Gran she remembered, but still recognizable.

Toru appeared at her shoulder. "I guess you never had any photos of her, did you?"

"Why do you?" Saph asked, blinking quickly. This was truly surreal, but the last thing she wanted to do was start crying.

A faint frown spread across Toru's face, green eyes darkening a little when dipped her head. "Let's sit down. We have a lot to talk about."

"What's going on?" Saph asked apprehensively, though she did attempt to get comfortable in a nearby chair. Mainly, she just wanted to curl up in a ball to protect herself from whatever unpleasant news this conversation would bring. What else could Toru's sudden mood shift mean?

"Koko asked me to explain some things to you."

"...Okay?"

"Did your parents ever tell you where you were born?"

"Just in some town," Saph said with a shrug. She'd never given it much thought. "Before the comet."

"Well…you were actually born in Zaofu."

"...What?! Really?"

"Your parents showed up there one day, looking for help. They'd been on their own for a long time, and they were in trouble. I'm about their age and remember it clearly." She sighed regretfully; in fact, she looked extremely uncomfortable. "I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this, but the woman you called 'Gran' was actually my grandmother. Her name was Suyin."

Saph let out a breath, feeling simultaneously relieved, awed, and slightly abashed for having made Toru assume she was breaking some dire news. "I know she wasn't actually related to me–"

"Oh!" Toru rubbed her temple with a rueful smile. "Okay. Heh, sorry. I– I wasn't sure what she'd told you."

"I didn't know the rest, though." Saph just shook her head. It was hard to believe Gran had been a Beifong. "But why hide it? She told me all kinds of stories about your family, but she never let on that she was part of it."

"She hid those things to protect herself. And us. We were hunted down after we escaped from Zaofu. Hiding our identities has kept us alive. Your parents kept their connection to my family and Zaofu secret for the same reason. There was no reason for you to know."

Gran was from a big, important family, Saph mused. She was one of the heroes in her stories… It seemed so stupidly obvious now that she was actually thinking about it. And I'm just…no one. The daughter of strays that she took in. Aloud, she asked, "How did you—I mean, we—escape from Zaofu?"

"We had advance warning of the attack and evacuated the city through hidden tunnels. No one guessed that they would target the other cities, too. Gran just assumed someone had it out for our family."

"But…why did she stay with us in the swamp when the rest of you left? I always figured she just didn't have any family left."

"It's complicated," Toru said with a deep sigh. "My parents did try to keep everyone together. They wanted to go out into the world to find a better life and look for the rest of our family, but Gran refused to leave. Said she was too old for a life on the run—that she would only be a liability—and that was probably true. Young as you were, your parents wanted to stay, too.

"There was some disagreement, of course," she continued. "Mom didn't want to leave Gran behind, worried that she'd never get to see her again, but Gran convinced her that Ryu and I needed more than the swamp could offer, and reminded her that my brothers and uncles and cousins might be out there and need our help. So…in the end, we left, eventually finding this place."

"And the rest of your family?"

Toru shook her head, a deeply mournful look spreading across her face. Saph didn't know what to say. People being upset or sad made her uncomfortable; she didn't have the slightest clue how to offer comfort.

After a brief pause, she opted to instead ask a question that had been burning in her mind. "How does Koko fit into all this?"

"Her story is her own, I'm afraid," Toru said with a wry twist to her mouth. "You'll have to wait for her to open up to you if you want to know."

Saph sunk back into the chair, frustrated. Like that'll ever happen… But that train of thought evaporated when she felt a familiar warmth course through her veins. She sat up straight, excited and energized, and managed to produce a small flame in her palm.

"Hey, look at that!" Toru said brightly. "Your bending came back!"

Two days passed, during which Saph learned that the town was called Jupa. That guy from before—Shylo—would appear randomly, sometimes to practice airbending with Toru, but he kept his distance from Saph.

At any rate, there were far more interesting things in the town besides him. "I've never seen any place with Spirits, other than the swamp," she remarked to Sherabi after spotting one frolicking with some animals.

"They're shy, but we do see them occasionally. I think they feel welcome here, since it's a peaceful place surrounded by nature. Just like the swamp."

It was a comforting thought. Most people in Dao-Shu had avoided the swamp, but Saph loved it. That had been her first home—that she remembered, anyway—and she'd always enjoyed its wildness and mystery. The adventures she and Yin had had together… There were times, when the light hit just right, that Saph had been sure her friend was standing right next to her.

On the evening of that second day, Koko announced that she would be leaving the next morning. They'd had a couple more firebending lessons and Saph felt like she'd learned enough to defend herself—or at least would be able to, once she got a chance to practice the techniques Koko had shown her. Saying goodbye would be hard after everything they'd been through together, but she didn't think she could handle such a dangerous and stressful life.

But then, for the first time in days, Yin appeared in her dreams. She was just a shimmering disturbance in the air above the grass of their meadow, but Saph knew it was her. She got the distinct impression that Yin wanted her to go with Koko.

"But why? I'm finally safe. It's not as good as being home, but it's better than being hunted down by blue sages. And maybe Mom and Dad and Lia will come."

As always, there wasn't an answer so much as there was a warm sensation in her mind that led her thoughts down paths that hadn't been there before.

"I don't want to be a hero anymore, Yin. Yeah, sure, Koko is awesome and cool and kind of terrifying in a good way. Maybe even important. Maybe she'll find the Avatar and save the world. But I don't need to be part of that. I don't want to be."

Yin revealed the lie Saph was telling herself, making it froth over and spill out of her. She did want to be part of that, despite everything. Despite the fear that threatened to overwhelm her.

It wasn't about wanting to face her fears. There was no desire whatsoever to do that. She would've much preferred to ignore them and hide from them until the end of time. No, the root of this feeling, Saph knew, was a much deeper fear—a fear that had fed that childish desire to go on adventures and become someone important that people admired and respected.

She was afraid of being no one forever. Of living a life without purpose and dying a meaningless death.

Morning came far too soon and Saph waged an internal war with herself over breakfast. With each bite, each sip of her tea, each word spoken by the family around her, she felt the pressure build and build inside her.

"I want to come with you," she ended up blurting when Koko finally stood.

Everyone went very quiet and most stared at her in surprise. It was only then that it occurred to her that Koko probably didn't even want her to come. Saph would only be another mouth to feed, a mostly helpless person to protect.

Her face went hot and she slumped down in her chair. "I– I mean… If that's okay…"

But Koko just nodded shortly, giving no indication of her feelings on the subject. "We leave in an hour."

Sherabi tried to talk Saph out of it, of course. "Are you sure you don't want to stay? You know you're welcome here, right? You're family, as far as I'm concerned. And I bet we could finally convince your parents to make the journey, now that you're here."

"They know you live here?" That realization came as quite a shock to her, despite the fact that it seemed obvious now.

"Koko and Nani have been trying to get them to come for years. But…they're scared. It's a long way, and not without danger. By the time you were old enough for them to consider it, another baby came along. I understand their reluctance."

"I hope they'll come," Saph said in a tight voice, "but…I think I need to do this."

"Believe it or not," Sherabi said with a little half-smile, "I get it. I was once in a similar position. Go, if you feel you must, but know that you always have a home here."

No one had explicitly told Saph, but she'd put together herself that Sherabi was actually Gran's daughter, Opal. The stories had often featured her, and it was hard to think of this calm, mild-mannered woman as a fierce fighter, helping Avatar Korra defeat her enemies and maintain the peace.

It had been another time. Another world.

The Beifongs gave them a good send-off, loading them up with supplies, many well-wishes, and no shortage of hugs. Saph didn't particularly appreciate the last part, and she could tell Koko felt the same way, but something else happened that made her forget all about that.

"Ready to hit the road?" a vaguely familiar voice said behind her.

Saph whipped around to find Shylo standing there with a bag slung over his shoulder and a cheerful grin on his face. "Huh? …Why?"

He tilted his head and pursed his lips. "Why what?"

"Uh… Why are you coming?"

"Koko invited me."

"Really…" Saph said skeptically, glancing over at Koko, who was deep in conversation with Sherabi and San and didn't appear to notice.

"Really! She helped me and my grandparents find this place when the blue sages attacked my hometown for like, no reason. So I owe her a favor." He flattened his hand and put the edge of it against his mouth as if to signal telling a secret, but in an exaggerated way. "I'll be honest, I'm not really an air nomad. I am an airbender, though!" He demonstrated with a few light punches that created a sharp breeze. "I'm pretty scrappy."

"...Okay." But a second later her eyes narrowed suspiciously; his story didn't track with what he'd said during their initial meeting.

"Hey, listen," he continued, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "I gotta come clean about something, since we'll be traveling together." There was a brief pause while he glanced up at Koko and flicked his tongue across his lips in what looked like a nervous gesture. "I didn't just come talk to you on a whim the other day. Koko asked me to do it. She wanted to make sure you weren't going to blab about anything."

Saph's mouth fell open. Surprise battled with indignation. It had been a test, apparently, immediately followed by the 'reward' of Toru telling her about the Beifongs—once again, at Koko's request. She was beginning to feel a little manipulated.

"Don't be mad!" Shylo whispered. "She's just a cautious person–"

Their conversation was cut short when Koko approached them. "Ready to go?"

"Yep!" Shylo said, patting his bag. "All packed and ready to kick some blue sage butt!"

Koko rolled her eyes. "Spirits, what have I gotten myself into?" she muttered before grumbling something else unintelligible.

And Saph silently asked herself the same question.

They left from the north side of the town where the land was wild and untamed. The mountains loomed over their right shoulders as they picked their way through the wilderness. There was a raw beauty to it, Saph thought. It gave her a certain optimism that maybe she'd made the right choice in coming along, nervous as she still was.

Shylo kept trying to talk to her about this and that, asking her questions about her childhood or telling anecdotes about his own. When she was mostly unresponsive, he gave up and she decided to ask Koko some things that had been on her mind.

"Hey, um…" Saph began awkwardly, for some reason a little more intimidated by her now that there was a third person in their group.

"What?"

"Why did you let me come?"

Koko shrugged. "Because you wanted to."

"Well, yeah… But why did you let me? I mean, I'll probably just slow you down." She clamped her mouth shut, wishing she hadn't added that. The last thing she wanted was to be forced to go back.

"I already answered you," Koko said with a faintly annoyed frown. "I let you come because you wanted to. That's it."

"Okay…" Saph sighed, deciding to let it go, and readied her next question, which she doubted would even be answered at all. "So…where are we going?"

"A place called Oldtown to get–"

Saph gasped. "Oldtown?! That's where Nani lives!"

"Don't get your hopes up. I don't know if she'll be there. She might still be in Dao-Shu, or even on her way to Jupa with your family."

"Oh…"

"I'm only staying long enough to stock up on supplies for the journey, then I'm going to Republic City. Or what's left of it, anyway," Koko added under her breath with a grimace.

That wasn't at all what Saph had been expecting. "Repub– Really? Why?"

"There's supposedly someone there studying the chi plague. I've been…tasked to meet with her. Find out who she is and what she knows."

"But…I thought you said only the Avatar could fix it? Shouldn't we be looking for them?"

"You got a better idea?" Koko asked with deep reproval. "Any brilliant insights as to where we should start looking?"

"Well… No…"

"I didn't think so."

"What if there are blue sages there, too?" Saph asked in a low, timid voice.

"Believe it or not," Koko said wryly, tapping the tattoo on her forehead. "I have a way to deal with that possibility."

The journey quickly became boring and tiresome now that they weren't actively running from anyone. Not that Saph was complaining about being safe, but she couldn't help but regret her choice to come along just a little bit. Walking all day seemed barely worth the firebending lessons that came after.

"How long will it take to get to Republic City?" she asked as they were setting up camp on the evening of the second day, quite proud of how patient she'd been up to that point.

"Several weeks."

"Weeks? Of walking? Are you serious?"

"I don't know what you expected. It's very far away. Haven't you ever seen a map?"

Saph bristled at her tone, keenly aware of Shylo silently listening to their conversation. "Where would I have seen a map?"

"Never mind…" Koko said with a deep sigh. She pulled out a knife to skin the gopher rabbits she'd caught earlier with a few cleverly placed bolts of lightning. "Just start gathering some firewood."

It reminded Saph too much of when her mother would get tired of arguing and assign a chore, which made impulsive, sarcastic words spring from her lips. "Alright, Mom."

Koko just stared at her for a second, stoic as she'd ever been, then blinked a couple of times. "Don't ever call me that again," she deadpanned, her voice neither angry nor amused.

"It was just a joke…" Saph muttered, though she couldn't help but roll her eyes, a little annoyed by the rebuke. Deep down, she knew she'd been asking for it, but right now her pride was too great to acknowledge that.

She glanced over to see Shylo choking down a laugh. A deep scowl directed at him seemed to be effective; his smile evaporated and he walked away to begin clearing an area for the firepit.

Saph felt a twinge of regret, knowing how hard he'd been trying to make friends with her, so she reluctantly dragged herself over to where he was crouched down arranging some stones. "Um… Do you want to help me get some firewood?" she asked in a halting voice.

"Ah…yeah. Sure."

"Don't go far," Koko said.

Yes, Mom, Saph mocked silently, unable to stop herself from thinking it.

"What are you smiling about?" Shylo asked with a smirk.

"Oh, er…nothing."

"Heh. You're gonna give her gray hairs."

Saph didn't have a clue how to respond to that, so she said nothing. They spent the next few minutes walking around the edge of their little camp, picking up dead sticks, and she racked her brain for something to say.

"I'm not good at talking to people," she found herself blurting for no apparent reason.

Shylo paused and looked at her curiously. "Hm?"

"I– I mean, I'm a nice person. I just– I'm not…good at making friends." Saying it aloud made her face burn with shame.

"I can tell," he said with an amused twinkle in his eyes, which only made Saph's embarrassment worse. But he laughed at whatever he saw on her face. "Don't worry, I'm pretty easy-going. I'll try not to annoy you too much."

"You're not annoying…"

"Really?" He cocked a skeptical eyebrow. "You act like I annoy you sometimes."

"Well… Maybe a little…"

It didn't seem to offend him, fortunately. He just laughed again and Saph tentatively smiled, deciding to pretend she'd meant it as a joke. In all, it hadn't been the worst interaction she'd had with someone near her age.

As expected, Koko got up and cleared an area for training once they were finished eating. "You two will be sparring today."

"Wh– Really?" Saph stammered, eyes going wide. She'd never sparred with anyone before. "But…fire is dangerous. What if I hurt him?"

"Don't you worry about me!" he said brightly. "I told you, I'm pretty scrappy. I've fought firebenders before."

"Just stay calm while you fight and don't do anything reckless," Koko said to her, then turned to Shylo. "Don't underestimate her. You may have more experience, but she's a fast learner."

Saph's chest swelled with pride at her mentor's assessment. It filled her with confidence and she squared off for the lesson. Surely, there was nothing to fear from an airbender.

"Just try to knock each other down without physical contact," Koko continued. "No headshots, obviously."

Shylo attacked rapidly with a spinning jump that caught Saph completely off-guard. The sharp air stream took her feet right out from under her and she went sprawling in the dirt.

"Ugh…ow. Was that payback for me saying you were annoying?"

He just chuckled and bounced on the balls of his feet, throwing a couple of light, breezy punches. "C'mon, I know you can do better than that."

Her hip hurt a little from the impact, but her pride was bruised far worse. She couldn't let him get the jump on her again. Still on one knee, she flung herself forward into a roll and performed a sweeping kick. Flames lashed out from her foot and he diffused it with a circular motion just before it reached him.

Back and forth they went, attacking and dodging until both were panting from the exertion. They were well-matched, Saph thought, but she was determined to knock him down at least once so they'd be even.

With what remained of her energy, she began a frenzied series of attacks that pushed him back further and further. Finally, she sent one last fiery punch right at his chest. He stepped back and yelped in pain as his arms came up to defend against the flames, then he dropped to the ground like a sack of potatoes.

"I'm sorry!" Saph exclaimed, deeply regretting that she'd gotten so caught up in the moment. She hurried over and knelt down next to him. "Are you okay?"

He grimaced, face drained of all its color, and clutched his foot. "I stepped on something…"

Saph looked down to see a piece of a dirty branch sticking out of his boot. His hands were trembling, half-reaching forward as if he wanted to pull the offending object out.

"Move," Koko ordered just before pushing her out of the way to have a look. To Shylo, she said, "Don't touch it."

He just nodded weakly and lay back with his palm pressed against his forehead.

"I'm sorry…" Saph said again in a small voice.

"Not– Not your fault," he managed, giving her a thumbs-up. "I'll be fine."

"Just lie still for a minute," Koko said. "I'll be right back."

She got up and went over to their bags and returned with a small box, then set about loosening the laces on Shylo's boot. For the first time since they'd met, Saph noticed that her hands and fingers—what little of them showed through the wraps she wore—were covered in small scars.

"Brace yourself." But Koko gave him little time to do so, pulling stick, boot, and sock away with a single deft motion.

Blood instantly poured from the gaping wound but she quickly pressed some gauze against it and held it there for a minute or so. No one spoke. Saph was near tears, worried and guilty, but strengthened by Koko's calmness.

When she pulled the thick, white square away, it was soaked in blood, though the wound only seeped a little now. She took a small bottle from the box, firmly grabbed Shylo's ankle with her free hand, and poured the liquid over the bottom of his foot.

He gasped and grunted, his whole body jerking. "Thanks for the warning," he choked out.

"Trust me, it wouldn't have helped. You're lucky I didn't have to cauterize it. You would've enjoyed that even less."

He lifted his head to peer at his foot while Koko bandaged it up, then gave Saph a crooked smile. "That was a good fight. You really had me on the run there at the end."

"Your arms…" Saph said, her guilt peaking as she noticed how red they were. "I burned them."

He frowned thoughtfully and had a look. "Eh. It's not so bad. Can't even feel it, to be honest."

Koko finished with the bandage and dug through the box until she found a small container of what appeared to be a salve. It had a strong, herbal scent that intensified as she rubbed it into his burns.

"Ooh, ow," Shylo said with a grimace. "Okay, I can feel it now."

For five days, they made their way through hill, river, and forest. The mountains were left behind but new ones loomed ahead. That was their destination, Koko said. Shylo had to limp along with a makeshift crutch, bearing the pain with only a small amount of complaining. Koko seemed frustrated with the speed of their travel, judging by how her natural scowl had deepened, though she said nothing to that effect.

On the morning of the sixth day, Shylo woke with a fever and chills. "My jaw hurts…" he mumbled while Koko felt his forehead. "Actually, everything hurts, but mostly my jaw. And my neck. And my stomach."

He wouldn't eat, nor were his usual smiles and jokes in evidence. Saph became increasingly worried with every passing hour. They slowed to a crawl until, finally, late in the afternoon, he sunk to his knees.

"Shylo!" Saph exclaimed, hurrying over while he folded over onto the ground. She felt his cheeks, which were red and flushed. "Koko, he's burning up!"

"There are healers in Oldtown," she said in a tight voice. "We're almost there."

"I don't think he can walk anymore." Her stomach clenched painfully as she looked at him, mumbling and whimpering while the side of his face contorted in a spasm. "Is going to die?" she choked out.

"No. Now help me make something to carry him with. Start looking for two straight, sturdy branches, at least six feet long each."

Within thirty minutes, Koko had fashioned a crude stretcher. The second Saph picked up the back end of it where his feet were, she knew she wouldn't have the strength to carry him far.

Her prediction soon proved true. She wasn't sure how long she struggled on—hands and arms screaming out for rest—but guessed it couldn't have been more than fifteen or twenty minutes.

"I can't–" she gasped as she sunk to her knees, fingers stiff and cramping. "I can't… I'm sorry." He's going to die because I'm not strong enough. Tears streamed down her cheeks, blurring the horrible sight of her new friend lying there, sick and hurt because of her.

"Get up," Koko said, though not aggressively. "No crying. We're almost there."

Saph wiped her eyes and saw Koko fixing a leather strap under her armpits and across her chest. It attached to the stretcher, which she began to drag without saying anything more. Saph sniffled and got up to follow, dejected and ashamed of her own weakness.

An hour passed. Then another. The sun set and the forest began to grow dark. But then…something appeared in front of them, sparkling between the trees.

"Lights! I see lights, Koko!"

She just nodded and plodded on in silence, aside from her labored breathing and the persistent scraping noise of the stretcher against twigs and dead leaves. They had nearly reached the town when several people appeared from the gloom. Saph flinched, squeaking in fear but too weary to even consider defending herself.

"Koko?" one of the men said. "That you?"

"He needs immediate medical attention," she rasped, undoing the strap. Her shoulders slumped but she remained standing. "More than your healers out here can provide."

"You know I can't–"

"He'll die otherwise."

"He's not verified–"

She got right up in his face aggressively, eye to eye with him. "I don't give a damn! Is your job more important than his life?!"

The man, who was lean and lanky with a scraggly beard and the clothes of a farmer, stared at her impassively, unsympathetic. "Is his life more important than everyone else's? We have laws for a reason."

"Damnit, Rinaf!" Koko growled. She looked like she was about to slap him. "Just let them in! They're kids. I'll take responsibility for both of them."

He let out a disbelieving scoff. "Seriously?"

"Yes."

"Huh." Another few tense moments passed, then finally Rinaf nodded and gestured to his companions. "Take them to the medical center." He turned back to Koko. "When you're done there, go straight to the registry office. I'll let them know to expect you."

Saph had no idea what was going on as she followed Koko and the two men assigned to carry the stretcher. From what she could see of it, the town didn't look like anything special—just the usual stone houses and dirt roads one might see anywhere. Could they really help Shylo in a place like this?

The darkness they walked through was broken only by pools of light from the occasional lantern. Saph wasn't entirely sure what she was expecting, but the single-room storage shack they were brought to certainly wasn't it.

But then an attendant by the door made a swift earthbending gesture and several crates slid away from the center of the room. He gave a stomp and a large, rectangular hole appeared in the open space, with stairs leading underground.

Saph stayed close to Koko, eyes wide with both curiosity and apprehension. This was a strange place, indeed. The stairs descended into total darkness, but only for a moment. A large metal door creaked open to reveal another room just as the hole above them closed with a decisive whump.

"Where are we g–" Saph cut off as her mouth fell open in shock. She didn't even have the words to properly describe what she was seeing. They stood on a well-lit stone platform next to a tunnel that stretched deep into the pitch-black. Some sort of…vehicle was on metal tracks, and they were hurried into it by a man in a drab gray uniform.

No sooner had the doors clanged shut than they began to move, slowly at first, though the speed picked up until it was truly terrifying, air rushing past to add to the din of metal on metal. Saph fiercely gripped the bench she sat on, unable to resist the urge to lean against Koko's arm like a frightened child.

This is a train, just like in Gran's stories. It must be that.

They were going down, she could tell. The angle was shallow but discernable enough that she was able to sense when it leveled off. Gradually, they began to slow until they emerged very suddenly into another room like the first one.

The train squealed to a shuddering halt and Koko wasted no time exiting onto the platform, giving Saph's shoulder a firm nudge to get her walking. Then they pushed through a set of double doors and…

It was the most incredible thing Saph had ever seen.