"I've been having the same dream again. I see a strange beast from a distance, but I can't reach it." Korra confides in Huu. They've taken refuge back in her mother's homeland, the Foggy Swamp in the southwestern parts of the Earth Kingdom, after the incident eight years ago. Appropriately referred to by that name, the area is a large marshland densely populated by strange flora and fauna. It is largely uninhabited by humans, and outsiders seldom venture in. A mystic place with vines and trees connected for many miles to a single enormous banyan-grove tree that stands in the middle. Centuries ago, a group of Southern Water Tribe folk journeyed north to take pilgrimage in the northern tundra, but their journey came to an end once they reached the swamp. Believing it was destiny to arrive in a place that retains the same roots with branches extending from the same tree, it perfectly represented family and harmony and had a strong living ecosystem. These folk have protected the tree and the entire forest from then on, forming a strong relationship with nature; they navigate the dense undergrowth with skiffs, where they forage for sustenance.
"A strange beast.." Huu says to Korra, who is sitting cross-legged next to him at the top of the banyan-grove tree. He's been serving as a spiritual mentor and guide for her at the behest of her mother. An old man over a hundred years of age, he found enlightenment under the banyan-grove tree during the hundred-year war many years ago. "The swamp possesses deep spiritual qualities, Korra, this beast could be calling to you. It could be a messenger, or it could be a guide." Huu says.
"It did feel like it was calling to me, and believe me I tried to chase it, I try this every time, but it leads me to the edge of the swamp, it vanishes to the outside world, and then I stand still, unable to move and follow it." Korra says to Huu. He smiles, his thoughts go back to the time when the previous Avatar and his friends came to him with a similar experience. Avatar Aang heard the swamp calling to him, and a vision in the swamp showed him someone he will meet in the future.
The beast, Huu wonders if the beast is who he thinks it is, "Time is an illusion," he says, but Korra interrupts, "Yeah, I know, time is an illusion and so is death. We all have the same roots, and we are all branches of the same tree. The swamp tells us that no one is gone, that we are all connected, one big living organism."
"That is correct." Huu says, and tries to approach her in the same manner he did with her previous incarnation, "So tell me then, what do you think the beast is trying to tell you?"
"It's… if time is an illusion, I don't know, I guess it's telling me to leave the swamp?!" Korra answers him as she tries to figure out how to fit the concept of time to her dream, and he lets her try harder to solve it, not saying much. She is lost in thought, time is an illusion and so is death, she stops thinking, "Ahhh this is insane, can we be done for the day? I gotta go back to the huts, I think they're about to go hunting. Thanks for the lessons master, see ya!"
Old man Huu smiles as Korra leaves, but he worries about her. He doesn't mind taking as much time as it might take to teach her. She's 15 years old and although her waterbending and earthbending skills are great, she's yet to learn firebending and airbending. For an Avatar to be able to connect to their spiritual side and become fully realized, they would need time and mastery of all four elements. He was friends with her predecessor, Avatar Aang, and is aware of the possible challenges that a young Avatar could face. Aang was a lot more receptive to his teachings and was more in tune with spirituality. Korra, however, is more focused on the physical side of bending, only applying what she learns by manipulating the element, without much understanding how the element moves, and what energy is causing it to move. He taught her what this energy is, Chi; the life energy that exists in all lifeforms, benders and nonbenders alike, it flows inside every living being and serves as the root of bending and all other skills. Some have perfected how to control the flow of chi within their body, making them excellent at combat and martial arts, able to jump high and hit the most critical spots in their opponents. For a bender to become a master, they would need to know the network of chi paths coursing through their body and how to change it.
A bender or nonbender who masters how to control chi within their body, and more importantly, how to unlock the concentrated clusters of chi in their body, better known as Chakras, will become a lot more attuned with their spirituality. An Avatar will need to unlock all seven chakra points to fully master and control the Avatar State and become fully realized.
Korra arrives at the camp, nestled in the heart of the Foggy Swamp in the middle of a clearing. The camp consisted of a few dozen huts, each crafted from sturdy branches and woven reeds, blending seamlessly with the swamp's natural landscape. Small fires crackled in pits surrounded by stones, and wooden walkways, slick with moisture, connected the various huts. In the center of the camp stood a communal area with a larger fire pit and a few benches made from twisted roots and vines. This was where everyone gathered for meals, storytelling, and meetings.
"You're back just in time! We're heading out." Vek says to Korra. "Great, I'm with you!"
"Hold on just a moment," Zia interrupts "your mother was looking for you."
"Oh, I gotta go let her know I'm back. Don't leave without me okay!" Vek raises one eyebrow and cups one hand near his mouth, "We probably will!" He shouts.
Korra runs into their hut, "Hi Mom, I'm back. Was just gonna leave with Vek and the others for today's hunt." Senna replies, "We'll go hunting alone together tonight."
Korra knows this means training, and she thinks to herself that tonight she must showcase how far she's gotten with her waterbending, even earthbending too. It was easy for her to find an earthbender who can teach her, Dhruv is practically part of their little tribe. He would visit frequently, trading with them and sharing news. The people of the Foggy Swamp tribe prefer not to venture outside, and they tend to be hostile to visitors, living in secrecy imposed by Senna to protect her daughter after what happened eight years ago. It wasn't like this prior, although their existence is not acknowledged by the polar tribes nor the Earth Kingdom and they aren't governed by them, they were completely fine mingling with the outside world when the opportunity presented itself, but now is different. Senna strongly believes that Korra must be protected and everyone agrees. They've seen what condition they were in when they arrived. Senna could barely walk that day, holding the unconscious Korra in her arms and taking small steps. Little Korra remained unconscious for the next two weeks. She couldn't remember much of what happened that day when she finally awoke, except for her mother's five clean kills. That was all she could recollect. Senna told her of her father's murder by her uncle, and they both hate him for it. She was told of her mighty feat against her uncle, but she cannot remember it.
"There," Korra whispers, she condenses water vapor out of the humid air and freezes it into icy projectile, shooting it straight at the possum chicken she scouted. "Show off." Senna smirks, "nice job though! There's another one." She says as she tilts her head in the direction of another possum chicken standing upside down from a branch. Korra thinks this will be their last one as they had already collected three, so she better make it worth it. Using vines for camouflage and to maintain stealth, she slowly extends a single vine where the legs are, manipulating the vine instead of removing water from it, but the possum chicken is alerted by the sudden movement and hops below. Senna quickly raises her arm, lifting vines from the wetland to catch the animal. They approach it together, "Ah I almost had it..." Korra murmurs.
"You did good. You're an excellent waterbender, your father would be proud." Senna takes out her knife and slices the animal. Their hunt is now finished.
"I've taught you what I learned from this place and from the south, and what your father taught me from his home too. You learn fast. How about a duel before we head back?" Korra expected this to happen and excitedly responds "Let's do this!"
Senna takes a rigid and straight stance, using stiff and circular arm movements to move water like a propeller. Korra knows this fighting style well; this is the Foggy Swamp style. It is not fluid and graceful, but it is accurate and precise, utilizing both arms and feet in the desired direction. Korra, occasionally using earth blocks without launching them, forms a body of water around herself into multiple whip-like tendrils, this form is perfect for defense and offense, commonly taught in the Northern Water Tribe, you wait for your opponent to strike and intercept them; this is the northern style. Though similar to its southern counterpart, the southern style is a lot more aggressive and direct. Korra's skills greatly impress her mother, and they both end their duel in a graceful bow to each other. They take their game back home where everyone who is awake is gathered around the fire.
Korra sits on the bench next to Zia, a waterbender close in age to Korra, who excels at healing. Vek, a year older than Korra but shares the same height, approaches them, "What's up cousin!" He says to Korra.
"Which one?" Korra jokes. "Haha funny" Vek says
"What, we're all cousins are we not? We're all just one big happy family, one big living organism..." Korra says and Zia chuckles.
Zia asks how Huu is doing; they haven't seen him around in over a month. "He's Huu, foraging and meditating. He's doing good." Korra answers her.
Vek asks "And how's your training with him?" Korra doesn't answer him straight away. It was only the three of them, so she feels comfortable talking, but she doesn't know what to say. As the flames cast dancing shadows around the fire, their faces illuminate by the warm, golden light. The crackling of the fire filled the quiet night as they look down, their eyes fixating on the mesmerizing dance of the fire. "I… I'm not sure." Korra says.
Korra's face reflected a mixture of uncertainty and contemplation. "Huu says that I need to give myself time and be patient, but I feel like I need to learn fast and be excellent."
Vek's brows furrowed slightly, and he bit his lip before speaking, "Is it because of what happened?"
"N- I mean, ye- Ugh. It's not just that. Huu always taught me that I'm going to have big responsibilities in the future, and that I'm going to have a role in shaping the world, but I just can't see it for myself. I don't feel responsible for the world. I feel like… my duty is to my family, is to be with you and protect you all." Korra says as a fleeting thought passes through her mind, it was her uncle Unalaq. She doesn't remember what he looks like, but he's all she knows of the world and what it has to offer. If helping the world means eventually helping him, then she doesn't want to help at all.
Vek raises a brow, "Wait, wait, wait, didn't Tal's father help Aang during the invasion? Hoz's dad too. Tev as well. Mora and the other waterbender women left too. If duty calls, I'll be the first to go and help."
"What do you know, you're not even a bender!" She says to him. "I can still beat you though," Vek winks.
"Wanna go little guy?" Korra offers a challenge, but Vek yawns, "I'm hitting the sack. Everything you just said is nonsense. You're totally the man for the job, Korra." He smiles and runs off.
"Man?! Ugh he's so irritating!" She says in frustration.
"Don't mind him, Korra. He's right in what he means though. You're so smart and brave. Everything will come together in due time. I know you feel like you need to accomplish everything now, but you'll probably make a lot of mistakes before you become the kind of great person you wish to be." Zia says, and Korra knows both Vek and Zia are right. Vek is right about venturing out into the world, and Zia is right about time.
For the past eight years, it felt like a cloud was looming near her. If it's true that she was able to tap into the Avatar state and protect her mother, she wished she could've done the same with her father as well. But she can't even remember how she did it. She wants to be able to control it. She wants to be her mother's protector, what happened to Tonraq will never happen again to anyone she loves. Unalaq is out there, and she needs to be ready. This is what Senna thinks too. She saw her own daughter defeat him once and render him powerless. She wants her to be ready when the moment comes and Tonraq is finally avenged.
The sun had just begun to rise as the next day arrives, the camp is quiet, save for the gentle rustle of leaves and the occasional screams of the screeching dodo. One of the men guarding the camp quietly makes his way through to Senna and Korra's hut. With a gentle yet firm touch, he shakes Senna's shoulder, careful not to startle her. "Senna," he says in a low voice so not to wake Korra, "we got a visitor from the Fire Nation."
Senna stirs, her expression shifting to alertness. "How do you know he's from the Fire Nation?!"
"He's wearing red and black with the emblem of the Fire Nation on his chest. He's arriving at the edge of the clearing." Hoz says.
She squints her eyes, "How did he even… let's go!"