A/N: CW: From this chapter on, Valen will have a lot of scenes and be dealing with his partially unresolved grief.

"I know you don't like it when I ask questions," Saph said while they were camping that first night out from Oldtown, "but this one's not about you. It's about Nani."

Shit, now I've got her scared to ask me things. I really fucked up. "What?"

"When I met her mom, she said that Nani adopted my parents when they came to Zaofu. But why did she do it? Why did she care so much when she didn't even know them?"

"You know how she is. She gets invested."

"Well, yeah, but she helps all kinds of people, and she still never adopted anyone except my parents. That's a big deal. And she was so young back then!"

Oh boy. "Why didn't you ask her this before we left Oldtown?"

"I didn't think of it until just now."

Of all the things you could've asked, why this? Koko's thoughts became wild and unorganized. Half of those memories were fuzzy while the other half were needle-sharp. More importantly, she had to figure out how to answer the question while also deciding whether or not now was the right time for difficult truths.

Saph was looking at her expectantly and she knew she had to say something, so she started slowly and chose her words carefully.

"In Zaofu, kids became legal adults when they turned seventeen. Oldtown works the same way, but some things are a little different. Zaofu's laws gave the parents unconditional rights to make medical decisions for their underage kids. Since your mom was an orphan, that burden fell to the midwife assigned to her case. A senior midwife, not Nani.

"That woman was going to end the pregnancy because your mom was so young and small. But Mara didn't want that, and Nani disagreed with the other midwife's decision to take her choice away, so she intervened the only way she could—by becoming her legal guardian and letting her choose."

Saph had a pensive frown on her face but seemed to take the new information in stride. "So if not for Nani, I never would've been born."

"Mm, well…" Maybe. Maybe not. It's not that simple. "There are worse things than never being born."

Saph's eyebrows shot up. "Do you think my mom made the wrong choice? That she would've had a better life if she hadn't been able to choose?"

Fuck. This is so hard to explain without telling her about Jade.

Not now, another voice said. She needs to be focused. It can wait. Besides, do you really want to be the one to tell her? To be the cause of that pain?

Koko decided she didn't, after all. Maybe another time, but not right now. But she also didn't want Saph to feel like the world would be better off without her. "No. I don't think that."

"I guess it doesn't matter now, does it?" Saph said with a sigh. "And it turned out alright in the end."

"Yeah," Koko whispered, staring off into space. More or less.

The campsite was perfect, Koko observed as she glanced around with her hands on her hips and picked out a spot for a shelter. "Nice choice," she told Shylo, who grinned back. He was easy to please.

Meanwhile, Saph was investigating a crack in the cliffside. "Hey, what's this? A little cave…?"

Confident that she wouldn't wander too far, Koko only said, "Be careful," and continued getting the tarp set up. But when Saph didn't return after a minute or so, she followed, just to make sure.

…see what I gotta put up with…relentlessly curious kid…gonna make my hair turn gray…

The cave was narrow—just big enough for her to comfortably walk through—and there was sunlight on the far side. Vague worry began to set in, but only for a moment until she emerged at the edge of a circular glade where Saph was knelt down in the very middle.

"What are you doing?" Koko asked.

Saph flinched and turned around. "Oh–! Um, look. There are people buried here."

Strange… Koko strode over to investigate. Who would've buried people all the way out here? Makapu was half a day's walk away. But what she saw carved on the four small gravestones made every muscle in her body clench.

Kyori Luca Hunir Zira

"What?" Saph asked in the growing silence. "Do you recognize the names?"

Koko couldn't answer. Instead, she dropped to one knee to stare at three names that she hadn't heard in many years, one she'd never heard…and one that was mysteriously missing. She'd asked Nani about them the first time Valen's face had surfaced from the very back of her mind.

"What ever happened to Kyori and Valen? Were they not with you guys when Zaofu was evacuated?"

"No, they were on vacation during the comet, remember?"

"Oh," Koko murmured as she searched Kiriko's memories. "That does sound vaguely familiar."

"They went to the Fire Nation with Hunir and Zira. Their 'babymoon', they called it, since both women were expecting." Nani shook her head with deep regret. "We never could find them. The Council sent scouts to the resort they went to, and even though it was abandoned, all the records were still intact. We found out that Zira had her baby there. A girl named Zenya. But that was the end of the trail. It's like they vanished into thin air."

Kyori, Luca, Hunir, and Zira.

Really, it was two missing names: Valen and Zenya. But who was Luca? Kyori's child?

The sad questions held her so firmly that it took a second to react when her ears picked up the sound of someone clearing their throat. Koko jerked her head around to find a stocky man with wild black hair and a long, unkempt beard.

He approached slowly with his hands up. "I mean no harm."

Koko wasn't willing to take his word for it and sprang into action. "Don't come any closer," she growled, hoping to intimidate him into submission while her body shielded Saph.

The man stopped, eyes wide, though with more curiosity than fear. "A blue sage protecting her cub. Not something you see every day. But you don't seem much like one, anyway. You're not–" His mouth went slack. "Wait–"

The pieces began to fall into place in Koko's mind at the exact second that a look of disbelief spread across his face. He was utterly unfamiliar…except for one thing:

Those eyes. Those gray eyes. She knew those eyes.

"Ki– Kiriko?!" he stammered.

She understood now and slowly allowed herself to relax. His name was missing from the gravestone because he was the one who had carved it.

"Valen."

Those familiar eyes lit up. With the rest of his face covered in overgrown hair, they were the only recognizable part of him.

"You remember me!" he said happily. "I– I can't believe it's really you!"

What he did next happened too quickly for her to react. In any other situation, her body would've interpreted his rapid advance as an attack, but…this was Valen. Her brain was short circuiting and all she could do was freeze.

One second he was standing there at the edge of the trees, and the next…he was hugging her. He smelled of pine needles and wood smoke. The feeling of his arms around her—strong but polite—brought back a flood of teenage dreams and fantasies; for a couple of seconds, she was completely at their mercy.

That all went away when Saph snorted. Koko glared at her, red-faced and annoyed but also relieved because the sound caused Valen to let go. Present reality had caught up. She didn't want anyone's arms around her, not even his.

I don't even know him. It's been fifteen years.

Satisfied that there was no danger, Valen turned and motioned for Zenya to come out of her hiding place. Every part of him was buzzing with new hope, eager anticipation, and a healthy dose of apprehension. Fourteen years of isolation, of raising a silent child, and now this? The day had started out somber and sad—a quiet moment of remembrance—but now everything was different. His life had changed in the blink of an eye.

I can't believe I finally found someone I know. By accident! And I was so close to staying hidden…

Only curiosity—and Kyori's encouraging voice in his head—had made him step forward. The way Kiriko had knelt down in front of the memorial stone had been too much to ignore. That tattoo was an unpleasant shock, but there was probably a logical explanation for it.

Zenya crept out of the shadows and came right to his side. He wrapped a protective arm around her shoulder. She must be scared, he mused, faintly surprised that she was allowing the close contact.

'Of course she's scared,' Kyori retorted. 'She never sees other people.'

"It's okay," he said aloud, though it was more for the others. "This is Zenya."

Kiriko scrutinized her. "She looks just like–"

"I know," Valen interrupted, reluctant to let her say it aloud. "Uncanny, huh? Strong genes, I guess."

"She's Zira's?"

She's mine. But I guess that's not what you meant, is it? "...Yeah," he admitted. So much has changed since I last saw you. I've got Zenya and you've got– He glanced at the mysterious girl, unsure. She looked familiar but he couldn't place it.

He and Kiriko stared at each other in tense silence. What was she thinking about? Probably how Zenya was most likely the last surviving member of the Fire Nation royal family. The heir to a shattered throne.

His gaze traveled up to that horrible tattoo on Kiriko's forehead. Seeing others like it had once caused blind rage, but now it simply made him feel sick to his stomach. Was hers real? Or just a disguise?

"Well," she said finally, her eyes darting back to Zenya. "That's…interesting."

"It's one of the reasons I've been hiding in that volcano for more than a decade. I knew it was likely that others had survived, but I couldn't afford to search. Too risky."

This was probably the longest conversation they'd ever had. She had never liked him much, for whatever reason. But that hadn't stopped him from admiring her all those years ago, despite his persistent attachment to Kyori.

The girl at her side jumped in before anything else could be said. "Is anyone gonna tell me what's going on? Who is he, Koko?"

Valen found himself amused yet baffled. Okay, not her daughter, then. "Koko? I thought you hated that nickname?"

"I can't believe you remember that," she said with raised eyebrows.

How could I forget? I paid attention to you. Probably more than I should have.

"Koko–" the girl pressed. Something in her expression made it finally click in Valen's mind: She looked a lot like the child that Raniq had adopted back in Zaofu.

What was her name? Mira? No—Mara. And the baby's name was Sapphire. This must be her. Looks about the right age.

"Alright, alright," Kiriko said to her. "This is Valen. He, uh–" She paused, brows furrowed. That seemed to be her natural expression now, but it deepened when she was thinking. "He married my cousin."

"Wow," Valen deadpanned. Was that really the only thing she had to say about him? "You haven't changed a bit."

She huffed with annoyance. "Fine. He was San's…protege? I guess that's the right word. San taught him lavabending."

"San?" Was something wrong with her memory?

Sapphire seemed equally confused. "San is a lavabender?"

Out of nowhere, another voice added to the confusion. "Hey, what are you guys– Oh!" a teenage boy exclaimed as he emerged from the cave. "Who are you?"

Valen arched an eyebrow. How many kids had Kiriko collected? "Another one? What exactly have you been up to?"

But when Zenya started whining at his side, he realized it was past time they returned to the safety of their cave. Koko herself appeared to be nearly as stressed.

"Why don't we go inside?" he suggested. "She's not used to being around other people and it's upsetting her. And we all have a lot to talk about, I think. Better to do it over a cup of tea."

They didn't make it far before his curiosity got the better of him. While Sapphire and the boy packed up their campsite, he had a quiet word with Kiriko.

"So is Koko just what she calls you? Or is that your name now? I'm assuming Bolin goes by San now, since you called him that." If he survived, maybe the rest of the Beifongs did too. And my parents…

"Yeah," she said before he could ask about them. "They all changed their names for safety. And I'm not Kiriko anymore. I'm Koko."

"Is it…real?" he asked, pointing to his own forehead.

Zenya made a soft noise of complaint—a clear sign that she was getting impatient. Koko glanced down warily. There was a severely guarded look in her eyes that had always been off-putting; it was even stronger now than it had been before. And yet…they were still beautiful eyes. They seemed to shine, reflecting the fire within.

"Don't worry," he said when he realized the source of her skepticism. "You can talk freely in front of Zenya. She doesn't speak or understand any speech."

"Really? Why not?"

"I don't know." I hope it's not because I screwed her up by keeping her isolated.

"Hm…" She seemed to take that in stride and glanced back up at him. "The tattoo is real. It's a long story."

His heart sank. He'd hoped it was painted on—a disguise—and that he wouldn't have to look at it anymore after she washed it off. Why did she have the mark of those awful people permanently etched onto her face for all to see and fear? And why wouldn't she explain it?

The only thing that made sense was that she'd been captured and forced into that life. Kiriko had been good and kind, not the type to terrorize innocents. And certainly, these children in her care didn't seem afraid of her in the slightest.

"My parents," he blurted to think of other things, though he was scared of the answer. "Do you know where they are?"

"No. They must've split off with a different group after the comet. Nani never mentioned them."

Well, it wasn't the worst news. They could still be alive. "Nani?" Where have I heard that name before…?

"Raniq."

Valen smiled fondly. Whatever had happened to this woman to harden her so much, those two had found each other again. It was heartwarming. They'd had such a special relationship.

As if she hadn't already been tense enough, Koko felt everything inside her tighten when Valen smiled. There was a pervasive sadness in every expression he displayed, but when he smiled, all of that got pushed to the background.

What had happened to Kyori and their kid? How long ago had they died? Koko wanted to know but didn't want to ask.

Why do you care? a small, scornful voice asked. Still got a crush?

No. I can't help it if Kiriko had stupid, childish feelings that she was too pathetic to let go of, foolishly pining for years on end. I'm not her. I just have to deal with what she left me.

She took a deep breath and resolved not to be affected by him. He didn't even look like the Valen she remembered. This man was haggard and unkempt. Aged. His hair and beard showed bits of silver. Nearly everything about him was unfamiliar. All she had to do was avoid eye contact and keep their conversation short and to the point.

Fortunately, Saph and Shylo soon finished gathering what little had been set up. Valen opened a hole in the ground, revealing a tunnel, and they set off for…wherever it was he called home. She quickly made a light in her hand, mostly to preempt Saph from doing so. The less Valen knew about her, the better. Too many years had passed. They didn't know each other and it was reckless to trust anyone that hadn't earned it.

A long walk brought them to a cave that felt well-lived in. Simple but cozy. Zenya darted off into the darkness as soon as they arrived and Valen pottered about like a man who'd never had a house guest.

Well, that's probably true.

He tried hard to be friendly with her—harder than he ever had before—and seemed off-put by her chilly attitude, but this was the way it had to be.

Valen didn't know what he'd done wrong. They'd been having a nice chat, catching up, finally actually talking for once…and then she completely clammed up.

Kyori, help me out here, he begged the ghost that refused to fade away. I can't believe I've actually got people here in my home. It's weird. I've forgotten how to be civilized. Is this right? Offering tea? I think it's right. But why is Kiriko– I mean Koko acting like I've offended her? You always told me before that she was just like that, but it seems worse now.

'Don't push her,' Kyori warned. 'She could be dangerous.'

Part of him wanted to go check on Zenya, make sure she wasn't too freaked out, but she usually preferred to shut herself away for a little while after coming back from being outside.

Instead, he sat down and turned his attention to the girl in front of him. "So. I think I've figured out who you are. You're Sapphire, right?"

Oddly, she looked at Koko—who gave a short nod—before responding. "It's Saph."

Asking permission? Was that what that was? Obedient kid. "You look like your mom."

He regretted the comment as soon as it was out of his mouth, fearing the worst, but Saph merely rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, I've been getting that a lot lately. Apparently, everyone knows her."

"Well, aside from the fact that I lived in Zaofu at the time, you and your parents made the news."

Those memories hit him all at once. The events had been heartbreaking to watch unfold; his own experiences sharpened that feeling now. On the verge of offering his sympathies, his gaze involuntarily jumped to Koko, whose eyes—all three of them—were boring fiery holes into him. Was it possible Saph didn't know about her twin? Best to be vague, just in case.

"It was a sad situation they were in, young as they were, and orphaned," he managed. "But I'm glad to see you thriving. How are they faring these days?" I think I'm getting the hang of this 'polite conversation' thing. How am I doing, Kyori?

"Alright, I guess," Saph said as if she were answering his silent question. "I haven't seen them in a few weeks."

Having survived that treacherous conversation, Valen moved on to the boy so he wouldn't feel ignored. "And what about you? I don't have any theories."

"I'm Shylo. I'm just along for the ride, really."

"And what ride is that?"

"Oh, well– Koko's doing some stuff—she keeps it to herself and we're not allowed to ask too many questions—and I came along to help."

That certainly piqued Valen's curiosity. So mysterious. He glanced between Shylo and Saph. What in the world was Koko doing with them? A hopeful thought shot through his mind: They were the right age to be potential Avatars. And Saph's mother was an earthbender, if memory served…

"You two seem awfully young for such a mission," he said to test the waters. "Are you benders?"

"Enough with the third degree," Koko snapped. "Our business is our own."

Valen blinked, taken aback by her sudden hostility. The tattoo was all he could see at the moment, ugly blue eye glaring at him. Spirits, but he hated it so much. What did it represent but anger and hatred? And her face currently mirrored those emotions.

'I told you not to push her,' Kyori chided.

After so many years of answering her aloud, Valen struggled to keep his mouth shut. But he knew she was right and decided to back off, letting them ask the questions instead. Koko had no visible reaction to him explaining—as quickly and vaguely as possible—what had happened to Kyori and the others.

See, I'm not crazy, he said, specifically to himself. I know she's dead. Obviously. But she's still here, too. She doesn't want to move on. Doesn't want to leave me behind. And I'm glad. I wouldn't have survived the last fourteen years without her help.

There was no expected retort from her, which was a little disconcerting.

"They're not buried in that glade," he told the others. "It's just a memorial. You caught us by surprise when you came in. I guess it was my own fault for leaving the tunnel open. The campsite you picked was an excellent choice. I use it as an entrance to the glade for the same reason you probably chose it. I didn't expect anyone to be nearby."

"I'm surprised you didn't attack first and ask questions later," Koko said with a grimace.

"I admit, my curiosity got the better of me when I saw your interest in the names on the stones. For the record, I didn't see your tattoo until after I got your attention." And I may have killed you if I had.

Again, morbid curiosity nearly overwhelmed him. What in the world had happened to her? He knew some things about blue sages. More than he wanted to know, less than he needed to know. There would be a mark on her left wrist—a number—underneath the wraps. The visible parts of her hands were inexplicably covered in tiny scars.

She was a firebender, but surely she hadn't been put through the trials of a combustionbender. What little he knew of that horrific process was enough to turn even the strongest stomach; the whole truth was probably much worse. Anyone who managed to survive something like that couldn't help but emerge as a monster.

The way she had jumped in to protect Saph… Such selflessness. No, she certainly wasn't a monster. Surely, they'd just forced her into servitude, manipulated her, and then she somehow escaped as soon as she could.

When the silence stretched on long enough to become uncomfortable, Valen got up and pretended to be busy with the tea, though all that was left to do was wait for the kettle.

"I don't know what your plans are, and I won't pry, but you're welcome to stay here while you're in the area. It's no trouble for me to earthbend an extra room or two, though I'm afraid I don't have any spare mattresses."

"We have somewhere to be," Koko said tersely.

Of course you do. You're on a dire mission with two mysterious teenagers and refuse to tell me anything. But I'm not stupid. I can see that there's something going on.

Still, he couldn't find it in himself to be annoyed by her cold attitude. His mind was too full of hope: Hope of potentially reconnecting with what remained of Zenya's family. Hope of no longer having to raise her alone, with only a ghost to help him. And most importantly, hope that his darkest fear wasn't true.

Please, Spirits, don't let Zenya be the Avatar. Let her just be a special girl, a natural prodigy like her ancestor.

He turned to Koko and managed to catch her eye, hoping she'd stick around long enough for him to work up the nerve to leave this cave behind. "Well, at least stay the night. I'd really appreciate someone being here with Zenya so I can make a supply run into town in the morning."

She held his gaze for once, though now it was much worse than when she avoided it. What was her problem?

"Fine," Koko said finally. "We'll sleep here tonight. Then I will go with you into town tomorrow."

For the life of him, he couldn't shake the idea that the offer was actually a threat. A sliver of doubt and mistrust wriggled its way into his mind. After all, she did have a dark past.

'Do you really want to leave Zenya alone with her, anyway?' Kyori asked.

Well, not anymore…

For half the night, Valen thought about what Koko had told him earlier that evening, after dinner. Some of the Beifongs were alive and well, including Kyori's parents. Zenya's grandparents. But so far away. Dangerously far.

No windows made it easier to sleep but harder to wake up. Give and take. His entire adulthood had been give, give, give. What had he taken from life? Not much. Was it time to be a little selfish? Take risks?

Morning brought a bit of optimism. The fact that Koko had covered her tattoo with makeup contributed to that feeling. She looked much more like the young woman from his past. And as much as he didn't want to admit it, he was glad she was coming with him. That seed of mistrust hadn't gone away; better to keep an eye on her, just in case.

Saph and Shylo didn't concern him. In fact, Zenya had done something remarkable the night before in gifting Saph one of her special rocks. That did a lot to bolster his confidence.

"We'll be back in a couple of hours," he told them.

"I'm sure this goes without saying," Koko said sternly, arms crossed over her chest, "but stay here."

The whole thing felt a little absurd. Valen had a sneaking suspicion that the mistrust was mutual, and that she was coming along to make sure he didn't do anything shady. But them standing there telling the kids to behave made the situation feel oddly…domestic.

As they left the volcano in silence, he let Kyori tease him.

'Look at you, playing house with your new girlfriend.'

Shut up.

'You always did like her.'

Not after you and I got serious. Anyway, it was purely superficial. I barely knew her. I know her even less now.

Once they were out into the open air, he decided to fix that, if only to help ease the uncomfortable tension between them. Maybe if he could get her to talk again, she would relax a little.

"So," he began. "How have you been?"

They walked side by side so he didn't know what her face was doing, but a faint scoff did give a hint about how she felt about the question before her response confirmed it a second later.

"Small talk? Really?"

"Well, it's going to take the better part of an hour to get there. Figured we might as well catch up while we walk. How long has it been since we last saw each other?"

When she continued to silently brood, he inwardly groaned. C'mon, I'm really trying here. Give me something!

"Think it must've been my wedding, huh?" he continued, making it sound as if he were unsure. But he wasn't. He could picture that day clearly and knew they hadn't crossed paths since. "Which was fifteen years ago."

"I guess so."

"You were drunk as a skunk bear."

"Was I?"

Finally, he turned his head to look at her, though kept walking. Was she being deliberately aloof? Or was her memory just that bad? "You don't remember? I didn't think you were that drunk."

Her only response was an impassive shrug, and Valen sighed with weary frustration.

Alright. I'm officially tired of this. "Did I do something wrong?"

She actually looked at him that time, though only briefly, and even seemed vaguely surprised by the question. None of her expressions were strong enough to erase what appeared to be chronic resting bitch face, but there was something in the way her eyebrows relaxed that tipped him off.

"What do you mean?"

Valen shrugged, uncomfortable now that they were actually having a serious talk. He very nearly said 'never mind' and dropped it. But he couldn't. "I don't know… I get the impression you don't like me very much. Not just now, but before. Years ago. Did I do something to offend you at some point? Is it because I was friends with Nik?"

"I never held that against you. This is just the way I am."

Bullshit. "It wasn't always—at least, not around other people," he pressed, his determination rapidly growing as old memories of her flooded in. "I remember you being so full of life. Ambitious. You used to smile and laugh with your friends. Go out drinking and dancing with them."

But he knew he'd gone too far when her next words came out through clenched teeth.

"That was a long time ago."

"Yeah. I guess so." I was wrong before. You have changed. Not for the better, it seems.

Still, as annoyed as he was by her attitude, he couldn't help but feel sorry for her. Whatever she'd been through had clearly traumatized her. Hardened her. That protective shell was rough and spiky, but he suspected it still covered a gentle soul. Were memories of a happy past really so painful for her? To the point that she'd even abandoned her own name?

He decided to settle on friendly diplomacy, at least as much as she would let him. "In any case, I'm really glad we ran into each other. It's changed my life. Everything's different now that I know Kyori's parents are alive and well. Zenya should know her family. I know it's a long way, but I've made up my mind. I'm going to make the journey."

"I'm sure they'll be happy to see you both," Koko said blandly. At least she still appeared to remember some social niceties, even if she didn't put much effort into them.

Valen already knew the answer to his next question, but he asked it anyway. "Any chance of a guide?"

"Sorry, but we're not going that way."

Yeah. I figured as much. "I'm sure you won't tell me, so I won't ask where you're going, but you should know that I'm incredibly suspicious that one of the children of a certain age in your company could possibly be significant. Why else would you be on some secret mission with two teenagers?"

He didn't mean to say it at all. In his head, Kyori snorted.

'Are you trying to make her mad?'

Fortunately, Koko's answer was far more sarcastic than angry. "Believe it or not, I understand the subtle implication you're trying to make. But you can forget about it. Saph's a firebender and Shylo's an airbender."

Valen turned to her, genuinely surprised by the unexpected information. Or was she lying just to throw him off…? "A firebender? I figured she was an earthbender. I'm sure I remember her mother being an earthbender, and she mentioned her sister is one, too."

"Her abusive, piece-of-shit grandfather was a firebender. Jojin's father."

"Oh."

'I think I remember Raniq saying that,' Kyori said. 'I don't think she's lying.'

"Zenya, on the other hand…" Koko mused. "She's an earthbender. Fourteen. Powerful and learns with ease. Makes a person wonder."

Guess I should've expected her to reach that conclusion. "Believe me, it's crossed my mind. But I don't see how it could be true, with the way she is. And I hope it's not. I don't want that for her."

"What parent would? It's a brutal, dangerous burden."

Valen's heart swelled to hear someone say aloud what he'd felt all this time but never had anyone validate. He was a parent, as far as he was concerned, but now she had actually said it. Spoken the words and made them real.

Thank you, he said silently, not willing to explain that particular insecurity.

The rest of their journey passed quietly. Just as he was beginning to feel slightly more at ease with her, they arrived in Makapu and she put the hood of her cloak on to hide her face in its shadows. Why would she do that when her tattoo was already covered?

The question was soon answered when he saw her unmistakable likeness on a wanted poster.

Reward for information regarding her whereabouts
Extremely dangerous!
Do not attempt to engage

He glanced at her, wary and curious, but all she did was pull the hood down further. Obviously, she knew people were looking for her. It only deepened the unsettling mystery that surrounded her.

Extremely dangerous, huh? To who?

Fortunately, they made it back to the cave without incident. No one recognized her or tried to stop them. Makapu was a busy place. There was an unspoken rule to mind your own business if you wanted to keep out of trouble.

But trouble found them, anyway, once they got back. The cave was far too quiet.

"Saph?" Koko called, receiving no answer.

Valen kicked his boot off and stomped the ground so he could detect anyone moving around. There was nothing. "Oh, no… " he whispered, horrified and confused.

What started as nervous unease quickly ramped up to real concern.

Shit. Shit. I can't believe this is happening. Why would she leave?

Koko was bristling. Angry. Angry at him. They silently followed the tunnel as it wound through the mountain, eventually opening onto a wooded area. Valen had to blink a few times to adjust to the sudden light, which was much stronger than Koko's small flame. They both looked around frantically. Shouting. Calling. No one answered. No one was there.

Panic threatened to overwhelm him. Where would they have gone? Kyori, what do I do? What do I do?

For the first time in a very long time, she didn't answer. If that wasn't enough to push him over the edge, Koko's sudden fury certainly was.

"We were doing just fine until we ran into you!" she seethed with fire in her eyes. "They wouldn't have done this on their own! They know better! How could you ask them to watch her when you obviously have no control over her?!"

Temperance abandoned him in the face of her wild accusations."You're really gonna blame me?! It was your idea to come with me into town! Zenya never caused problems like this before! For all I know, Shylo could've abducted her. You refuse to tell me anything about him, not to mention the fact that you're the one with a blue sage tattoo on your forehead!"

Too many secrets. Too many unanswered questions. How could I have left her alone with strangers?

He reached out and grabbed Koko's wrist. There was no rational thought to it. 'Extremely dangerous.' The words kept playing in his mind. Before she could react, he yanked the wrappings down to see what was beneath them.

E101

That small black 'E' hurt more than the fist that connected with his face. The blow was nothing more than a minor distraction, a stinging pain that served as a backdrop for harsh reality.

"Don't ever touch me again," she growled in a poisonous voice that said much more. It said, 'I'll kill you if you do.'

And she could, he knew. She really was fully a blue sage. A cold-blooded killer. "You're–" He touched his cheek where she'd hit him. The warning shot seemed so tame compared to what she was actually capable of. "You're a combustionbender…?"

All his life, he'd lived with the burden of his deadly ability. Lavabending could easily kill and maim, so he rarely used it for anything but cooking. And yet, it had been such a comfort since the comet. There was something reassuring about having a last-resort move that almost no one could counter.

But he was afraid of combustionbenders. He was afraid of the kind of person who could go down that path—willingly or not—and survive it.

What are you?

Koko didn't respond to his earlier question, but her silence said more than words ever could. Instead, she shot him one more furious glance and started searching the ground for tracks.

"I think they stopped here," she said while he followed helplessly. Her sudden calm was unsettling. Eerie.

Push it all away. Focus on Zenya. "There's a pond over there," Valen muttered, looking around. "What… What were they doing?"

"They went this way." She was moving faster now. "I think Zenya tried to get away from them."

"Can you track them?" With the anger fading, desperation was creeping in. Please say yes. Please say yes.

"Yes."

His shoulders slumped with relief. "Surely they didn't go far…"

Koko was still scanning the ground, and what she said next killed that moment of hope. "They ran into others. I think– I think they were taken."

"Taken?!" Valen choked out. "By who? Oh, Spirits… I can't believe this is happening. How could I have lost her? She–" Many years had passed since he'd actually cried. Tears were usually elusive, even when he searched for that release, but there was now a crushing pressure behind his eyes that he tried to combat with his palms. "She's all I have, Kiriko. She's all I have. Please, help me find her. I'm sorry for what I said. I'm sorry. Please, help me."

"Let's get one thing straight," she said harshly. "Kiriko is gone. She died with the rest of her family. My name is Koko."

He knew it was the truth. That old name had slipped out of his mouth purely by accident. Old habits. He wanted to go back, before all of this mess. Before Kyori's death. Before the comet. Back to happy times.

But Koko clearly had another destination in mind. Her words seemed to echo his thoughts and corrupt them.

"We need to go back to your cave so I can get our bags, then I'll track them. It's going to be a long journey. If you can't keep up, I won't wait for you."