Heads or Tails

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Book 1 – Arin's Tale

I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender or Legend of Korra or any of the characters. Only the OC's.

Chapter 7: Change of Plans

Lin's POV

Time: 191 A.G.

The fog was thick and dense this morning on the bay. If it weren't for the waves of the water slapping the sides of the boat with the salty ocean spray hitting us in the face, one would think we weren't moving right now. The boards of the boat creak as I make my way to the front of the deck, waiting to see if there was any sign of life, a light, trees, or a dock. Anything to let us know we were close to the mountains of the Southern Air Temple.

It's been a week since the phone call; when Mako informed me that he received a distress call from his brother, telling him we need to get to the temple asap. Though no other details were relayed to him, Mako was able to tell that something was up. Bolin's all too-happy tone was gone, not once heard throughout the whole exchange. Something was off, something was bothering the optimistic Beifong's, and it was up to us to help. Since then, we departed from Republic City, taking one of the marine boats from the police department, and made our way to where we are now; it was the only way to get here without being noticed by the public. Taking a plane or an airship would've caused an uproar. After everything with Korra's disappearance, there was no need to make a scene.

The firebender was currently on lookout on the upper-deck with his binoculars, scoping out the foggy scenery with a giant bright light attached to the roof above him. Hopefully, he'll be able to spot something beyond the mist. But only thick fog was seen everywhere it swivels. With any luck, we might be able to reach the wooden docks before we hit them.

"See anything?" The voice came from behind, an all too familiar one. After all, it's been a pain in my side since we were kids.

"Nothing yet, Tenzin. We ought to have something any minute now."

Tenzin, the youngest – not so much anymore – child of Aang and Katara, and for a while, him and his family were the last of the airbenders, under the protection of the Republic City Police Force and the White Lotus. He happened to be there when Mako informed us of the call; he too wanted to join in case it was what we were thinking. It had to be, it had to be about her.

"Do you think this is about the mission? About – about Korra?" He was beside me now, his orange air nomadic robes ruffling from the gust. His beard and eyebrows were white now, and the frown lines were increasing with age, disrupting his tattoos just a little. Makes sense for his age, but the seventy-two-year-old wasn't quitting just yet. Just like mom, although Suyin says the same thing about me. She doesn't have much to talk about; still ruling over Zaofu even though I'm the retired one.

"It has to be. What else could it be about?"

"It's been nine years since we heard a peep or a letter from her. What could they have found? Her parents are restless." A sigh escapes his mouth, and even though I'm not looking at him, now facing straight ahead looking for anything to come in sight, I know his white brows are furrowed in thought. "We all are."

It's true. We're growing tired looking for the lost avatar. But we weren't giving up. Korra needs us, and despite having not heard from her in years, we knew she was out there. Somewhere.

This wasn't the first time she has done this before. Getting up and leaving, leaving her family clueless as to where she's gone. It's been nearly twenty years since she last did that disappearing act on us, and it took three years for her to come back to us. It's nothing new, but nine years. Nine years since we last had a letter. Nine years since we last heard from her, since we last seen our friend. And all during that time, we haven't found a single sign of her. We've searched the entire Earth Kingdom. Or at least we thought we had. Even the other nations, the Water Tribes, the Fire Nation. No evidence as to where she was last seen, no witnesses of who last seen her or where she went, no sign of any avatar business. Nothing. Not even a stash of clothes, not even a sign of powerful or mysterious bending, no events of fights with spirits, not even a strand of hair. What could she have been doing all this time? The longer it's been going, the more restless we grow, the more worried we are, the more the world will need her. The only evidence or even a lead we have left has to be there. It has to be at the Southern Air Temple.

"We're tired, and we're going to remain tired." I finally turn to him, his tired blue-grey eyes meeting mine. "Until we find her." And there it was, the fire back in his eyes, it's returned, ready to put up with anything to get our avatar back. To get our friend back. The fire we have all been continuing to burn.

"There it is! We're here!"

Mako's shout got us to look back at him. He was leant over the railing with the binoculars aimed in the distance. He drops the binoculars back around his neck and rang the golden bell hanging from the side of the ship, alerting us that he spotted something. The sound of the bell ringing wasn't needed, we already knew from him. But when we look back out toward the water, we can see it. The wooden dock was now in sight, a small glow of a lit flame sways above it. "We're one step closer to finding her. Whatever's at the temple, whatever they want us to see, let's hope it can finally solve this mystery," I tell him as we stare at the docks that are slowly coming more into view.

The fog felt like it was starting to lift. The air was less dense, and our vision becomes clearer. The docks were in better view now. At the other end of the dock, there was a dirt road path that leads into the valleys, with empty wagons parked to one side for small transport if there were no bisons around. Usually, the vehicles were kept closer to the smaller villages just in case. Trees full of green leaves yet bare of any birds and lemurs, presumably due to the fog, and the bottom of the mountains have thick and tall green grass that slowly thins out the further up it goes, but as the fog was still somewhat there, the tops couldn't be seen. A bison lays near the dock with a saddle on its back for our transport. And on the end of the dock near the water where the little flame was seen was Rohan, standing tall in his monk uniform, the blue arrow tattoos and flat top brown buzzcut looking orange from the flame, the flame that which was a lantern he held out in front of him. He looks strong in his pose, and with the serious frown on his face, he reminds me of Tenzin when we were kids. Normally they send an air acolyte out to greet us. With it being Rohan, it must be kept on the down low for us to be here, meaning whatever is going on is very important, leading me again to believe that it really has to do with the mission.

One step. We're one step closer, Korra.

After docking the boat and getting off board, Rohan walks over and greets us. "Welcome everyone. It is so good to see you all again." With what seems like a forced yet genuine smile, I swore I could've heard him mumble, "I wish it were over better circumstances."

This gets the elder airbender's attention – despite his age, his hearing is still in tip-top shape – as he speaks up. "Is everything okay, son?"

Rohan brightens a little upon hearing his dad's voice, but the slight glimmer of sadness doesn't leave him. "Hey, dad. We didn't know you were coming."

"I was at the office when Mako here told us about Bolin, so I decided to tag along. Don't worry, I told your mother this time." Pema always freaks out whenever he doesn't report his whereabouts, worried something might've happened to him. It's been like that with everyone in the know about Korra for nearly a decade. He jabs a thumb at Mako and the serious expression on the younger man's face never leaves. With his arms crossed, he too finally decides to speak up. "What's this about, Rohan?"

The young master lowers the lantern, and the tense sadness seems to grow after the shadows from the light fade. If that didn't worry us, then his far-off glance did. "It's probably best for us to wait till we get to the temple. Trust me, it's better if we discuss this once." Meaning it's already hard enough to hear it the first time. He couldn't even look us in the eyes when he spoke, yet we knew he wasn't lying. And with that, he starts walking to his bison. "Come on. The others are waiting."

He led us to the bison and didn't speak anymore for the rest of the trip. As we flew into the air, his silence was like a distraction at the front, a thought he couldn't lose. Like the others, their facial expressions, their thoughts of curiosity and concern, it worries me too. There was obviously something wrong that we couldn't find out until we arrive, that was so horrid they could only handle speaking of it all at once. And it left questions at the back of our minds. What did they find that was so major? Did this have to do with Korra? What could be waiting for us at the temple?

Mako's POV

We land in the courtyard where groups of nomads walk nearby and keep a safe distance from the bison. It's been a couple of months since my last visit to the temple, but as always it never seems to change, unlike the city. Normally the kids would be outside playing with one another, whether with or without their bending, with or without the other kids in the temple. But today for some odd reason, not a single one of them was in sight. It makes me wonder if they were in trouble. Or, if it has to do with us being here.

Opal stands to the side as the wind and dust ripples her suit's wings and hair. The bison lands on the stone ground with a groan and the tan girl next to him wipes the dust particles from her clothing due to the bison's landing. Now being on solid ground instead of in the air, we stand to get off of the saddle.

While I'm able to jump from the saddle with ease, Tenzin and Lin will need help. No matter how much the elder Beifong might hate it, with her age the seventy-one-year-old isn't as limber as she used to be. Neither one of them is as they remain standing in the saddle, stretching their limbs and muscles as best as they can; even though it was just an hour or two of a ride they get much stiffer than they used to a long time ago. Rohan jumps across the saddle to help his father down the arrowed-fur tail of the bison. I reach a hand out to help Lin – the woman who was almost like a scolding mother to me – but she swats it away, claiming that if her mother could do it at that age and blind then so can she.

With us all finally on the ground now, Opal gives us a small smile. "Hey guys, it's been a while." Another odd greeting, as this wasn't her normal one. Just about every time someone visits, she welcomes them with open arms, big hugs, and smiles like it's the first time she's seen us in forever. Now it's like we were distant friends instead of family. Though I can understand how she feels, as it is sometimes on a few occasions months before we can see each other again depending on how busy our schedules are, what with her helping Rohan with the temple and me and Lin – the supposed to be retired chief – protecting the city from any crime. Like the Triple Threats or any straggling equalists whenever they and their next generation of thugs decide to come out of hiding.

"Master Tenzin. It's nice to see you too, we weren't expecting you." She tells him with a bow, and the old master returns it.

"You as well, Opal. I've gotta check in on Rohan's work every once in a while, as one of the newest leaders of the Air Nomads," he tells her with a small chuckle as he gently elbows his son's side. "But I trust that everything is going well here, especially with your help." "As good as it can be, dad," the younger monk replies.

"Alright, enough with the chit-chat, Opal. What's going on?" Lin as always wants to get straight to the point, something Bolin claims I do quite often. Can't really blame her as our patience is thin due to the long-awaited time of the expected news we need to hear. It's been a week now and we still don't know what we are here for.

I take a step closer as I observe her. The small smile that Opal had when we arrived was gone, the calming aura she always radiates much like her husband's happier one disappeared with it, the smile replaced with a sad frown, one of which felt like defeat. She was already weak of emotions when we arrived but she at least was trying for us. Now this felt more realistic; something was clearly wrong, and it was time to find out why.

"Is everything okay, Opal?" With a hand on her shoulder, I can feel her muscles tense. Not from the touch, but from the question. Like she was expecting it, but it was still hard to hear, much like this news they need to share I presume.

It must have been this way the whole week, normally she's relaxed and calm with a peaceful smile on her face, as if everything was okay. Perfect. But today, ever since our arrival, it was obvious that she's exhausted mentally and physically. She looks like she hasn't slept in several days, the light from her green eyes were gone. Was Bolin the same way? What could have affected them so badly for them to end up like this? Were we wrong about what this was about? Were we wrong about it being about Korra? Could it be one of the kids? Someone in the temple? Another Beifong?

"Everything's … okay. We will be, eventually. All of us." She couldn't even look at us when saying this, her glance to the side both at the ground and at the other nomads going about their day in concern, worried about someone overhearing. "But we should discuss this inside, in private." She gently brushes my hand off her shoulder and begins to walk back toward the temple entrance. Not even bothering to look back to see if we will listen, she waves a hand over her shoulder for us to follow. "Come on, the others are inside waiting."

The three of us lag behind with a glance at one another with several expressions of confusion, bewilderment, and concern. But as Rohan too began to follow her, we soon join in.

The sound of our footsteps bounce off the walls with each step, echoing in the stone wall tunnels of the temple, compared to the much quieter ones from Opal, Rohan, Tenzin, and the other air people they pass by. The side glances they give or the full-on stares some of them couldn't help, especially when they duck their heads down when they are caught were easily noticeable. They know something. They know why we were here; they know the one piece of information we don't. They witnessed something, and their mouths were forced shut, a promise amongst the temple they couldn't break. And we were about to share that secret with them. Whatever it is.

We arrive at these double doors that were decorated in orange fabric much like the wings of their staffs with three giant swirls of air symbols in the middle of the two. Wooden edges stick to the sides, and a gold-colored metal doorknob. It's different than the rest of the temple with all of its residential doors being mainly made of wood with small strips of metal on the bottom and top. This door was probably one of the only ones in this temple, meant for the highest amongst the airbenders. The top monk, the one in charge. This was Rohan's office doors.

Said monk takes the lead in front of Opal and opens the door for us, ushering us inside. As we file in with Opal in front, we take notice of the atmosphere, of what it looks like and who was in there.

Inside the medium-sized office space, it was mostly plain, like any ordinary office – for a temple at least. Stone floor, stone walls, stone walls. Stone, stone, stone. The entire room was made out of mountain carvings, everything except for the furniture and the door that is. One wall that was left bare has a window with an outside view of the temple, orange curtains drape on each side of it, pulled back with an open view of the other mountains, connected temples, roads on the sides of the mountains lead up to the top and to the valleys below. The only decorations on the other walls were pictures of his siblings and parents – much like Suyin's office – with a few antique airbending décors such as pictures of famous old monks, even one of Aang, what looks like an old airhorn, an old airbender's staff with the orange wings wide open, and a few other artifacts I was unsure of. Most of the older stuff that they were able to save they keep deep inside the temple, like a room made for a museum. Sometimes they let tourists inside to see and talk about the history of before the war when the airbenders used to thrive.

Though it was interesting to look at, what caught our attention the most were the people in the room that were waiting for us, and more importantly, how they were currently reacting.

There were a few orange cushions lying on the ground to one side of the room for people to sit and a wooden desk sitting opposite of it with a wooden, cushion-covered chair. And in that wooden chair sat Suyin Beifong with her husband Bataar Sr. hovering behind her. He was rubbing her shoulders trying to give her some form of comfort, but knew there was no way he could given the solemn look of dread on his face. He avoids our gazes as we enter like he couldn't care about anything else other than his wife right now.

The state of her was shocking. Her head was head down with her hands and elbows propping it up, her hands rub the sides of her head and forehead. There were bags under her closed eyes with tears threatening to slip out. Some already have as we could see the tear stains on her red cheeks. Downward lips tremble like she was going to burst into tears any second again. Her hair a mess and looks unwashed from the way it stuck out in so many directions like she rubbed her hands around in it and was on the verge of pulling at it. She might have. She was downright miserable.

Bolin was in no better condition. He is leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. A normal stance for him, but what was extremely different about it was his hands gripped tightly around his arms, so much so that it was causing small bruise markings from his fingers as if he's been doing that ever since the phone call. Similar to Suyin, he too had bags under his eyes, a look of defeat reflects in the small glimmer that was left in him, his hair no longer slicked back but hung low around him in a tangled mess. There was stubble around his face and cheeks, almost as if he hasn't bothered to shave nor fix his wrinkled clothes since a week ago as well. Like Suyin's miserable state, he looks … defeated, like he has given up.

I hadn't seen Bolin like this in a long time. Not since our parents' deaths, not since we lost our home, not since we lost everything we had and were forced to live and steal on the streets hoping and promising that we would never get separated.

That was the only hope we had back then. Now it looks as if it were all gone.

"Su?" Lin's quiet tone was a shock just as much to me as it was to everyone else, they flinch slightly from the silent atmosphere being broken, not expecting us to be here so soon.

Lin was never quiet; she never once spoke to her sister or anyone like that before. In fact, they hated each other for a long time and didn't speak to one another for years before the walls finally caved and their sisterly bond slowly started to form back. After their mother died, that bond grew, with them being the only ones they have left. They were as strong and stubborn as her. But seeing her sister in such a state, a strong and happy-going Beifong, the complete opposite of what she used to be when she was a teen from what I heard can shock anybody. But seeing everyone like this, we were all shocked by the scene in front of us that there was no point in taking notice of Lin's soft outburst.

The three of them look up at once, Bolin's sour mood changes into one of curiosity, but is quickly replaced with regret, almost like he wishes this moment could wait a little longer, so he didn't have to come back to reality.

"Hey, bro." He let out a soft mumble, his enthusiastic tone was long gone, replaced with … this. Sounds like he's used to it, they all did. Has this been going on since the phone call? For a whole week, his happy mood was gone. My Bolin was gone. I couldn't even respond to him. How could I when I can tell from the look on his face – the side glance just like Opal and Rohan, like he would break down and cry, revealing everything they kept quiet with just one simple eye contact – that he didn't want one?

Suyin drops her arms and quickly wipes at her eyes as she stands. Bataar Sr. takes a step back and lets his hands be free of Suyin's shoulders, while Opal quickly joins her husband's side and hugs his arms, being his emotional support; though it seems that she needs it as much as him.

"Lin, Mako, Tenzin. Join us." Suyin gestures to the open room, requesting we come in despite the emotional state she tries to hide. Rohan quietly shuts the doors behind us as we step further into the tense atmosphere of the room. But no matter their regretful moods, no matter how they feel, they knew that whatever they need to discuss with us, whatever this entire temple was hiding deep in the mountains, they need to tell us and they need to tell us now. Even if they have to put their emotions to the side.

"So, can anyone tell us why we are here?" Tenzin broke the silence looking around the room, more specifically at his son where he remains guarding the door preventing any of us from leaving, hoping for an answer, but Rohan wasn't going to give it. His stern expression read that he wasn't the one to give us that answer. From his silent response, Lin grows irritated, which not surprisingly strengthens with age. Her sister was caught fighting back tears, something she hasn't seen in a long time. The room was an emotional mess, every single person in this temple was obviously hiding something from them, and it was finally cracking open the growing curiosity in our minds. Lin Beifong wants answers, and she wants them now. She wasn't the only one.

"We went a whole week without knowing anything. We traveled miles to get here without causing a stir. No one told us anything when we got to the docks, or when we flew around on a flying beast, and no one told us anything when we got here. Now we're here here and yet no one wants to say a thing?!"

The five of them glance to the floor, avoiding our eyes once more. Their lips tremble, threatening to split open as if they want to say something but can't. Whatever they want – need to say, is almost a forbidden language to them.

"Bolin, please. You got to tell us something." I practically beg him, pleading with him to tell us.

A week ago when I got that call, I expected his usual giddy self, waiting to tell me everything about his day and life and how his family was doing, which usually took what felt like hours on end. In reality it was probably only an hour or two. But that day, the phone call ended in seconds with just a few simple sentences. 'We need to talk. Come to the temple and bring Lin with you. You'll want to hear this.'

Even then I can still remember how his voice trembled over the phone, how it sounded so broken, like now. He couldn't tell me over the phone, whatever it was needed to be in person. And now we're here, and they are having such an emotional time trying to tell us. Bolin finally looks at me, almost as if he wants to tell me. He really does, but his wounded heart won't let him. He backs down with a sad exhale and glances back down at the floor. I too began to feel defeated. It was beginning to feel like we traveled all this way for nothing.

"Can someone please just tell us what is going on?" With a sigh and a tip-tap of his foot, Tenzin too begins to grow irritated.

At first, no one spoke. It's like they want to say it but didn't know how, looking at one another to decide who wants to go first; no one does. They know the longer they drag this out, the more the elders' tempers will grow. And no one wants a cranky elderly airbender and an earthbender, not as much as they are now. One Toph was enough.

Finally, Suyin lets out a sigh and looks at us with a slight determination in mind. "We need to talk about the mission. We need to talk about – about Korra." She stutters slightly at mentioning her. Korra's always been a tough discussion, but never as much as it is now in this very room.

We assumed it had to be about the mission throughout the journey on both land and sea, during the unfamiliar greetings and welcomings, and pretty much throughout the whole week, however, we never thought we would get a reaction like this. Nearly every time we meet when it's not during our regular family visits, it's always about the mission, it's always about her. And they were never this emotional while discussing it. So what could be so big to make them this distraught? What caused them to be so upset?

"Okay, go on," Lin says still feeling impatient.

"Did you find anything? A clue?" Tenzin asks a bit more hopeful sounding than the rest of the Beifong's.

The group looks at one another in concern, unsure as to where to take this next. After a moment of growing silence, Bolin settles on taking the lead for now. He leans a little further away from the wall with Opal still as his support system.

"You know, Korra, she – she's been gone for quite a while. It's been a long time since anyone's seen her, it's been nine years since we last heard a peep out of her. And throughout that whole time, we haven't found a thing. Not one piece of evidence as to where she's been."

Not once in that entire statement was there a smile in it, or a sense of hope to build us back up. Not once has he smiled this entire time, and I was starting to miss my opportunistic brother; his enthusiasm always knew how to brighten the mood of an entire room. But the way he was talking, it almost sounds like he wants to … give up.

Is that what they want? Is that what they think? No. That can't happen, we can't give up on Korra!

"Yeah, and that's exactly why we need to keep looking. We need to search faster." The more they talk, the more I get this unsettling feeling in the pit of my stomach. It rises to my heart and through my veins as my fists clench.

This mission might have been going on for quite a while, but it was necessary. We need to find our friend; she needs us just as much as we need her. Korra never gave up on us or on anyone. Time and time again she came back, she always did and she always will. She will come back eventually because she never gave up on the ones she loves. The avatar always does. And that's why Korra wouldn't want us to give up, because she knows we would do the same for her, and we are. Her family wouldn't want us to give up. Because they weren't giving up either, and we were a part of her family. She was a part of our family. And family never gives up on one another.

That's something me and Bolin learned a long time ago.

"And your point is?" If you couldn't tell by her voice, you could definitely tell by her facial expression.

The grey-white eyebrows of Lin Beifong were so furrowed that they could almost cover her eyes, the light-green orbs that were so full of anger and irritation that were growing by the second, glaring directly at each one of them without so much as moving a muscle. Though she didn't wear the police uniform anymore and went back to regular Earth Kingdom suits, she didn't need the uniform to look tough. She still looks just as deadly from the look in her eyes. Lin was a comparison to her mother alright, and it can be terrifying in some cases.

Opal tightens a hand around her husband's arm then steps forward. Though she was still upset, she grows more determined than the other four in the room. She gestures a hand to him and the others while looking directly at us. "Our point is," Opal sighs and lowers her voice, her determined nature softens slightly and that expression of defeat returns ever so slowly. "Maybe, maybe it's time we change the mission – or at least the question. What we're saying is that, instead of it being 'Where's Korra?' to change it to … 'What happened to Korra?'"

The room was deadly silent after that. All emotions of annoyance, irritation, and anger went away with that one simple statement, flipping a switch to one of shock, disbelief, and horror that can compete with the level of sadness, defeat, and hopelessness coming from the others.

Are they insane? Do they even realize what that sounds like? What was just said? What they are suggesting? They make it sound like, like Korra was – was gone.

That can't be. That cannot happen, it hasn't happened. Korra's still out there. She's out there somewhere and needs our help.

"What?!" Tenzin's shout was one beyond an airbender's temper, and yet no one was surprised by it. The elder airbender was always known to have it, especially his youngest son that grew up hearing it who stood by the door with his head hung low like he was expecting it. He still knew something we didn't. They all did as they mirror his reaction. But whatever it is, whatever they 'found', I don't want to hear it, because it's wrong and they are wrong. Our friend is still out there, and she is still alive and well.

"Do you even realize what you're implying?" Lin gasped in audible shock, her brows still furrowed but this time with even more fury, and I couldn't blame her, because I was beginning to feel the same way.

I could feel it, the anger rising in me. The anger because of what they were thinking, of what they were trying to convince us of. They want to quit, they want to give up, and they want us to join them in their failure. But that wasn't going to happen. It won't.

"Lin, I know how you feel, and I know how you feel about her. She's like a daughter to me too, I care about her." Suyin opens up to her sister about their long-awaited emotions of Korra. It's what we all knew, the unspoken words left between the two Beifong's. The younger sister holds a hand over her heart, almost as if it were the key to what was left of her memory of Korra, but no matter what she believes, it's won't be the last. "But, but we need to face facts. We need to accept that Korra could possibly be –."

"No."

We couldn't. I couldn't. I couldn't listen to it anymore. I refuse to let them talk like she's not here anymore. Because they were wrong, they were wrong about Korra.

"No. Don't say it. You – you can't talk about her like that! Like she's no longer – no, no, just no!" My fists were shaking and bringing them up to the sides of my head to make the ache go away didn't help. My eyes were shut tight, they stung of salt and my face is growing hot. I can't handle this. Losing my parents was enough, and we almost lost Korra once. We can't lose her again. We won't.

"Mako …"

The sound of Bolin's soft, comforting tone grew louder the closer he came. Knowing him, he'll probably try to put a hand on my arms to lower my clenched fists from my head. But with a swift turn I hastily move to where I assume the door is. "No! Just no, Bolin!" I take a few deep, quick breaths to try and calm myself down. I thrust my arms down and open my eyes – confirming that I was by the wall nearest to the door yet close enough – but the snappy anger was still there, and the stinging in my eyes still lingers. "Do you know what you're saying?! Listen to yourself?! I mean, this is Korra we're talking about, the most powerful person in the world, the balance between spirits and humans! You're wrong, you are all wrong!"

One look at the others: at Bolin, Opal who remains near her mom, Su, Bataar, and Rohan, and I could tell that they were now as shocked as we were just moments ago. But it wasn't from their false statements, it was from me. From my anger. Because I might be a firebender, I might be the police chief, and I might be the responsible one out of me and Bolin, but I do have a temper, one as high as an erupting volcano Bolin used to claim when we were kids. It's the line between me and Bolin, what makes us the complete opposites. However, at the moment I don't care, because this volcano was spewing over the rim, and it was time to erupt. "Korra's our friend, she's our best friend. She was by our side for years; we've been through nearly everything together. And you – you make it sound like – like … no! She can't be. Absolutely not!"

There was a smell of smoke in the air, and it took me a minute to realize the trail of puffy grey was coming from my hands. I don't care, not until this conversation was finished. But Bolin wasn't going to stop. He was worried and his concern was growing deeper as he too notices the smoke but with gentle hands in the air, he continues. "Mako, please listen to me. I know how it sounds, and trust me, I hate it too. But we need to think about it, you need to understand that she could be –" Bolin was begging by now, but I'm not giving up that easily, not like they were.

"'Could be'? Do you even know her anymore? Or who she is? She's not! She's not dead!" The unfinished words of everyone here. They were all hinting around it, but no one would directly say it, thus proving more that they could be wrong. They had to be.

And with it being spoken out loud, probably once more, the others in the room lower their heads a little more, a downfallen look taking over. For the others I wouldn't care as much, but with Bolin … I've seen that look one too many times, of hope long gone. After our parents' deaths. When we were living on the streets. After a loss from a pro-bending battle. It was always why Bolin chose to be happy, because he couldn't stand to be so down about something anymore, he couldn't stand to see others this way either. He chose to be happy all the time even when others couldn't, so he could try and find a way to put a smile on their faces again. Usually it works, but today, today Bolin joins their solemn expressions of guilt, regret, and yet again, defeat.

Given up.

I hate seeing it on him, and I promised myself when we were younger, he would never look like that again. And yet here he was. Again. A sigh escapes my lips and the shaking in my fists and smoke disappears. With a deep breath to calm myself – this time working somewhat as a reminder that Bolin was still in front of me depressed – and after closing my eyes for a moment, I look back to my little brother with slight regret and an apologetic look.

"I'm sorry. But – why? Why do you think … this?" Waving a hand to them, I want to know why they thought so about our dear friend and what brought them to this horrible conclusion. Although some of the anger was gone, a little bit of frustration in my tone still escapes.

Suyin steps around the desk and comes forward. "We don't just think. We believe, and we know. Something happened to Korra. We don't know how or where, but perhaps while on her journey through the Earth Kingdom."

Tch. Lin makes a hissing noise in disagreement. "That's impossible." She scoffs at the idea, finding it ridiculous, and I couldn't agree more, however, I didn't want to make Bolin even more upset than he is. "There would've been a sign or something by now if she were – were –." Even Lin couldn't say it, which shows how much everyone cares for her, even the most stubborn of all.

Korra knew how to change people; she knew how to make people care without even trying.

"I'm sorry Lin. I wish it wasn't, but it's true." Suyin, despite her apologetic form and the deep look of care she expresses, wasn't affecting her sister. Nothing could until there was solid proof. Hopefully, there wasn't. There's no way Korra could be.

"I have to agree with Lin. When – when dad died," Tenzin sighs as he speaks of his father's death. Rohan perks his head up slightly upon hearing such very little information about his grandfather. It was never an easy subject for Tenzin or his siblings. Neither is this one. "The statues lit up, all of them, declaring the death of the previous and the birth of the next. It happens with every avatar's death. We would've known by now if it were true."

"Exactly." Lin nods her head in agreement, Suyin and Bataar Sr. too with their heads down. They must've all seen it in Republic City upon the passing of Avatar Aang. We would've seen it happen too if Korra were gone. So far, it wasn't in their favor. Korra's still alive, she has to be.

"But we don't know if it's still the same or not. Korra lost the past avatar spirits during the battle with Unalaq and Vaatu. The avatar spirit was broken. Who knows what else happened? We don't know if it's still the same or not. Korra didn't even know herself," Bataar Sr. backs up his wife as he now stands next to her in front of the desk.

"Alright then, so what makes you think the impossible? What makes you think she's gone? That Korra is dead?" My tone came out a little harsher this time, and as much as I tried, it still cracked a little.

"Guys? Will you please just listen to them?" Rohan for the first time since we arrived at the temple speaks up in a firm tone. He wasn't in charge of this conversation, but this was his office where it was being taken place. Tenzin lets out a breath of more frustration but lets it go momentarily. He closes his eyes and takes another breath. "Alright, son." Tenzin looks at both me and Lin with a small look of plead. Lin scowls but remains quiet with her arms crossed. My eyes narrow between him and Bolin. I really don't want to hear any more about this, but it was obvious that Bolin with his sad begging wants me to hear this. We came all this way, a week's worth of travel, and they've been keeping it quiet, waiting for us to hear what they have to say the entire time. I guess it wouldn't hurt to listen for a little longer.

"Fine." My sight lands back on Bolin; he is still sad, but the determination is back. And so were the others.

"Go on," Suyin sadly encourages Opal and Bolin to begin their story. "Alright. Listen closely," Opal starts out, a slight caution with her hands as she tries to be gentle.

That gentleness was broken the moment they started talking about Korra's possible – impossible death.

"About a week ago, me, Bolin, and Rohan were out in the courtyard while the kids were playing with their bending. While we were talking, something happened."

Opal looks to Bolin to finish. He must've saw more to it than her. "After Rohan left, me and Opal were talking while I was watching the kids. They were playing, running, and bending. You know, the norm. Everything was." As he spoke, his eyes roam the room with nervousness, his hand reaches to rub his sweaty neck. The way he spoke, if it weren't for the strange sad occasion they brought us to, one would think this was one of our weekly phone calls to each other. The way he spoke so fast and all mushed together, if we weren't here right now I would think so too, just without the optimistic tune.

However, it stops. He pauses in his explanation and the depressed look returns. His eyes and mouth droop to the floor with his hand now back to his side. He was no longer standing straight, his posture was slanted and if Opal wasn't next to him, I thought he might fall. But why? It sounds like everything was fine. Both them and the kids.

Where is this story leading to?

"Then …" His face grows paler the more he thinks it over, the memory replaying in his head. The more it did, the more his emotions from that time seeps over to now. He was reliving the moment. "The next thing we know, Arin – Arin was –."

"Mom! Dad! Arin's throwing snowballs at me!"

At the window, Noren appears. The young preteen was propped up in the window, his hands holding back the curtains. There was a scowl similar to the eldest Beifong's and he was wearing his wingsuit, however, it was soaking wet and his thick mop of hair has particles of snow in it that continues to melt the longer it stays. From the gust of wind that came with his presence, he must've flew himself here since Rohan was still guarding the door. Try as you might to get away from your kids, they'll always find a way. "We'll be out there soon, Noren," Opal tells him. With a small huff, he hops back outside with another gust of wind following him. Opal sighs and rubs her closed eyelids in irritation. I could feel it, because it was eating me up too.

It's taken so long for them to tell us whatever they found. It's taken a week for us to just to be able to get here, all because of one phone call, all because they couldn't tell us over the phone. They can't even tell us now from all the interruptions!

The energy within was building from the anger, and it needed to be let out. The energy of a firebender. There were several ways to let it out, one of which includes without bending. After all, almost a hundred years ago, the Fire Nation nearly won by turning their energy into anger and so forth. "Okay, you know what? I've had enough of this." With an angry huff, my feet marches toward the door, not caring if Rohan was still in the way or not. "Mako, wait." The sound of Bolin's pleads of begging couldn't stop me now. My mind was made up, and as long as I don't look at him again – just a look at his face might make the walls crumble – it shall remain.

"No, Bolin. That's it, I don't want to hear of it anymore. If you're just going to keep dragging it out instead of just telling it as it is, then I don't want to know anymore. I'm going to find the kids so they can see their Uncle Mako then I'm out of here." Rohan steps to the side, even he was able to see the steel anger within. The cold metal of the arched doorknobs was just at my fingertips. "At least then it won't be such a waste of –."

"Wait!"

That shriek. It was so unlike her, yet it was her voice. That was Lin. My hands were on the doorknobs when I turn, but the metal wasn't going to budge. How could I leave, when my old boss looks like that?

She was as white as a sheet with her eyes nearly bulging out of her sockets. Her mouth hung open a little and she was in a slightly frozen state. Her feet weren't moving anywhere, yet her hands were trembling, and she looks like she was going to pass out. "Did – did he say, snow?" Her eyes refocus on her sister. The younger Beifong sibling doesn't vocally respond, only with a small nod. From that answer Lin trembles more, even her breaths were a little unstable. Whatever the big secret is, the big news they want to tell us, Lin has figured it out, and it too was affecting the elder one. But why? It's just snow. Bolin and I used to play in it all the time whenever it snowed in the city. It was much easier when you had no school and no parents.

Tenzin quickly joins their little club, he too becomes distraught with the Beifong's. "But … no." Rohan speeds over to his side and guides him down gently onto one of the cushions on the floor. His voice cracks as he speaks and tears form in his eyes as Rohan holds his hand for support. "It's … it's summer," he gulps the words down as if he were dreading them. Opal clung to Bolin's arm once more, the both of them as support buddies once again from the two seniors figuring out the puzzle.

What is it? What am I missing that they were so easily able to understand? The anger disappeared with Lin's a while ago, it was now pure confusion as to what they were saying. So what? Yeah, it's summer. Here in the temple that's when they have the Summer Festival every year where the airbender kids show off their new tricks and talents, where the new young masters receive their tattoos – much like Noren will be at the upcoming one – and families, friends and any alike in the air nomad culture get to celebrate the new season. The season of beautiful cloudless days and blue skies, nothing to cover up the wonderful sunshine or shade them from the warmer weather which they don't have to worry about because they can … bend it.

Their benders. Bending.

Oh, oh no. Oh gosh.

With that revelation, my back hits the doors, my legs felt so weak I stumble down to the ground, my breath was shaky, and my hands were clenched tight against the stone floor.

It couldn't be. It couldn't mean that. But it does.

Noren's words were repeating in my head. 'Arin threw snowballs at me!' 'Arin threw snowballs at me!'

Threw. Snowballs.

There is no snow in the summer, especially in the mountains. Only in parts of the fall and winter, even spring on some occasions. So how the heck did Arin get snow to pelt Noren with? Hana would make it for her earthbending cousins to cool off during the heated temps, but there was no way she would if she knew what Arin was going to do with it. And she was the only waterbender in the Southern Air Temple, or any temple for that matter.

So, it only leaves one possible explanation, and Bolin was telling us as soon as we all came to that conclusion. They didn't have to tell us what the big secret was anymore because it was so simple and so awful to figure out. "Well, that's because Arin can waterbend."

The grimace in his tone and face was no match for our shock. He looks at me and I look at him, and it suddenly makes sense as to why they were all like this, why they were keeping it on the down-low, why it seems like the entire temple knew something we didn't, and why we received that phone call a week ago. And as to how they were currently feeling all week and in this very moment, because I was feeling the exact same way. That dread, that awful regret, the guilt, the overwhelming sadness, and all because of that one simple reason as to why they thought – knew Korra was dead.

Arin Beifong, our dear niece, the young earthbender and newly discovered waterbender was the avatar.