Hey guys, I will be continuing this story on ao3 since this website has been difficult to work with because of some recent glitches. This will be the last chapter I post here. If you're interested and would like to continue reading, please visit: archiveofourown dot org/works/56625067 (or just google Avatar: Crimson Against Snow)
The summer ocean is calm as Korra stands at the ship's railing. Her hair dances freely in the wind as she savors the refreshing sea breeze. She wore her green, sleeveless tunic. It looked simple but functional, fitting loosely to allow freedom of movement, and clinched at the waist with a leather belt adding structure to her look. Her forearms are wrapped with light green bracers, and she wore dark green pants slightly loose at the bottom just below the knees, tucked into her boots which are made of dark brown leather, the boots are sturdy and well-worn.
Her clothing reflected the natural environment of the swamp and did not give any hint of her Water Tribe lineage. The only clues for that were her natural Water Tribe features, her distinct face, marked by a tan complexion and a strong jawline and high cheekbones. Her eyes are a striking blue glimmering against the ocean, and her dark brown hair is styled in two thick, symmetrical ponytails at the sides that hang down her shoulders, with a warrior's wolf tail at the top back of her head, all secured with green hairbands.
She leans over the railing, her gaze drawn to the horizon where the sky meets the sea in a seamless blend of blues. The scenery reminds her of that day; it was the last time she had seen the ocean before. She shakes her head to shrug off the memory, not wanting to let it cloud the moment.
Tadashi approaches her with a plate of dried rice from the ship's canteen. They eat together on the ship's dock. She continues asking him about the Fire Nation and the world in general, and he answers her with patience and detail. Tadashi isn't shocked at all at her lack of knowledge about the world, and he was more than happy to tell her everything she wanted to know. She then proceeds to ask him about his skills, recalling observing him incapacitate the skunk monkeys with ease.
"That was chi blocking," he tells her, and she tells him what she knows about chi. That was the only thing that surprised him about her. Her knowledge of chi was good, but her explanation of it made it sound like she didn't understand much of what she is talking about.
He starts to explain to her himself with more coherency, "So, you know when you're bending, you're merely manipulating your own chi to the point where this energy extends beyond your body and interacts with the environment."
She nods. "So then, if chi exists in every person, then how come some people can't use it to bend?"
"Bending is something you're either born with or you're not. It's tied to your genetic history, but spirituality also plays a huge part in inheriting it. The Air Nomads were all born airbenders for example, but none of their descendants have shown the ability to airbend." Tadashi says.
"Their descendants…?" Korra questions. "There are several people who trace their lineage back to a few of the Air Nomads who were able to escape the genocide. Those Air Nomads lived in hiding for years, some were hunted by Sozin's soldiers, and some eventually began living new lives with new identities. Though they had children, none were born benders, and those children had children who also were not airbenders." He answers her, and Korra wonders, "How do we know they're really descendants of Air Nomads?"
He gives her a small lesson in history, how Avatar Aang met a large group of travelers after the war had ended, making their way to the Patola Mountain Range where the Southern Air Temples are, proclaiming to be descendants of the original Air Nomads. Those families had extensive knowledge in Air Nomad culture and practiced their traditions in secrecy. They showed Aang many artifacts that originally belonged to Air Nomads before the genocide, and each family told him stories about their parents and grandparents and their struggle to escape. None of those descendants are airbenders, believing the spirit of airbending had died along with the original airbenders and their sky bisons a long time ago. They continued to live in hiding like their parents and grandparents did, but when the news broke that the century long war had ended and the Avatar won, they came out of hiding to meet him.
"What happened then to those families?" Korra asks.
Tadashi's head tilts to the direction of the south, "They built a small village under the mountains of Patola. They all live there now."
Korra sighs, "Y'know, sometimes I wonder how I will be able to learn airbending…"
Tadashi swerves with his back against the rails, "There are two airbenders left in the world."
"Wait, really? Who are they? Where are they now?" Korra excitedly asks.
"They're Avatar Aang's two sons, Bumi and Tenzin. Not sure where they are, but I do know they are master airbenders. I'm sure they will be more than happy to teach you." He says to her.
Korra stares back at the ocean as the breeze blows against her face, Aang, she thinks. She has never really known much about him except what the elders and Huu had told her, and Huu barely shared much, believing that it will all come to her as she grows. He was her past life after all. He carried the spirit of the Avatar before her, and everyone spoke so highly of him. Korra fears she'll never be able to live up to him. She leans over and watches the waters below her and sighs again.
"Have you ever met him before?" Korra asks Tadashi. "Met who?" He asks her.
"Aang." She says to him. "No, unfortunately I haven't. Wish I did though. But hey, I'm meeting you now, you're the new Avatar, Korra. You've got so much ahead of you." He says to her, and she smiles albeit faintly.
The ship continues sailing across the ocean. Earth Kingdom to their east, and Fire Nation to their northwest. They sail for the next week and a half. Korra finds the journey long and boring, occasionally sparring with Tadashi and talking with a few passengers. Tadashi warns her not to share her identity with anyone as to be careful. She wants to tell people she's the Avatar though, she wants to announce to the world that the Avatar is back, but she heeds his instructions reluctantly.
They finally arrive at Shu Jing's port in the eastern islands of the Fire Nation. Once a secluded town tucked on a cliff next to a waterfall, it has become a large city dominating most of the eastern islands. Korra watches in wonder as she holds her backpack on her back.
"Welcome to the Fire Nation." Tadashi says.
Korra beams, "WOW, this is so cool. Look at the buildings, look at that building over there! How did they even make stand!" She inhales sharply, "It does smell of smoke though, smoke and sea breeze. Hmm."
They go to the ferry. "Now it's straight to the Capital." Tadashi exclaims.
As they walk up the gangplank, Korra overhears weird sounds coming from behind her, a mix of chirps, squeaks and purrs. She looks over and sees a boy. She doesn't think much of him but wonders where the sounds came from, it sounded like an animal but there were no animals around. She follows Tadashi to their seats and stretches her arms and feet, "How much long we have left, Tadashi?"
"A day." He answers her.
"A DAY! Ugh, this trip is never gonna be over." She sighs and then walks over to the back of the ferry to catch another glimpse of Shu Jing before it fades with distance. The boy is standing at the back of the ferry, talking to something tucked over his chest. Korra finds him weird. He shares her same height but has a striking and serious demeanor. His face is angular, and his hair is jet black like Tadashi's, but his is styled in a distinct, slicked-back fashion, giving him a sharp and somewhat intense look. His eyes are a deep amber color, and his brows are thick, dark, and slightly arched. His clothes are just as distinct, grey, high-collard jacket with red accents over a white shirt, with dark pants and black boots. He also wears a red scarf.
He notices her and quickly moves far from her. She raises an eyebrow and doesn't pay him any attention. As the ferry moves farther away from the city, Korra heads back to Tadashi, who is sitting calmly reading a book. Korra opens her mouth to ask what book he's reading but decides to just sit down. She glances around at the passengers, most of whom are wearing fancy attire and holding umbrellas. She feels bored and gives a prolonged sigh, ugh I can't believe this'll go on for a whole day and night.
Tadashi wakes her up before the sun sets, fearing she won't be able to sleep at night. She goes for another walk, approaching the rails in the back, and sees the same boy standing there, staring out at the sea, lost in thought.
As she walks by him, not trying to pay him any attention, a small, furry creature with reddish-brown fur and a striped tail pokes its head out from the boy's jacket and leaps out, landing directly onto Korra's shoulder, startling her. She lets out a surprised yelp,"Woah!"
The boy whips around, his serious demeanor cracking slightly with surprise. He reaches out to retrieve the fire ferret after Korra holds it, examining it with amusement.
"You have an animal with you, I knew those sounds didn't come from a human." She says to him.
"What's it to you?" He scoffs, taking the fire ferret and tucking it back in his shirt.
She raises an eyebrow, "You're gonna keep it in your shirt the whole ride?"
The boy's expression hardens, "You wanna have it?"
"I don't even know what kind of animal that is." She says to him.
"It's a fire ferret and it won't leave me alone!" He answers her, and the animal lets out a gentle squeak.
"Aww does it have a name?" She asks.
He grunts, "Ugh, Pabu." And the animal raises its ears when it heard its name.
Korra leans over to Pabu and gently pets it while it's tucked in the boy's jacket, "Hi, Pabu!"
"Shhh, please! Animals are not allowed. I don't want anyone to notice." The boy says to her.
"Oh, right. Sure. So then why did you bother bringing it in the first place?!" She asks him.
The boy sighs, "Like I said, it won't leave me alone. I told it to stay back, but it kept following me. Ugh this is just not good."
"Well, it's not causing any trouble." Korra says.
"I know, but I can't bring it with me to where I'm going, I don't want to." He says to her.
Korra shrugs, "I'm sure animals are allowed in the capital."
"Yeah, but I'm- whatever." He stops before saying more. They stand together at the rail, and he catches a quick glimpse of her entire outfit. She didn't look Fire Nation to him, and certainly her outfit didn't look as fancy as the other passengers in the ferry. It made him feel a bit more comfortable as he thought she probably won't be snobbish or tell on him.
Korra begins to wonder about him, "So, where are you from?"
"Oh, umm I'm from there, from Shu Jing!" He says, "And you?"
"Oh, uh I'm from Gaoling!" She says to him, "What's your name?"
"Mako, and you?"
"Korra."