Morning Light and Gentle Farewells
The first rays of dawn filtered through the window, painting Korra's room in soft golden hues. She stirred slowly, consciousness returning gradually as the events of the previous night reassembled themselves in her memory. The warmth beside her felt familiar and comforting, but as full awareness dawned, so did the realization of her situation.
She was curled up against Tohra, her head resting on his shoulder, one arm draped across his chest. He had somehow managed to position himself in the chair beside her bed while still allowing her to maintain contact, though at some point during the night she had clearly pulled him closer. His breathing was deep and even, suggesting he was still asleep.
Heat rushed to Korra's face as embarrassment flooded through her. She remembered clinging to him the night before, remembered breaking down in his arms, but waking up essentially snuggled against him was something else entirely. What must he think of her? What would others think if they saw them like this?
Moving with the careful precision of someone trying not to disturb a sleeping lion-bear, Korra slowly began to disentangle herself. Every movement was calculated, every shift deliberate and gentle. Tohra's expression remained peaceful, undisturbed by her careful extraction.
As she finally freed herself and stood beside the bed, looking down at him, something tender welled up in her chest. Despite her embarrassment, she couldn't deny the sense of safety and comfort his presence had provided. Even now, seeing him there, she felt protected in a way that had nothing to do with his physical strength.
Unable to simply leave without acknowledgment, Korra leaned down carefully. She wrapped her arms around him in a gentle hug, mindful not to wake him, then pressed a soft, grateful kiss to his cheek.
"Thank you," she whispered, so quietly the words were barely audible.
Tohra's breathing remained steady, though something that might have been a smile briefly crossed his features.
Korra gathered her training clothes quietly and slipped from the room, closing the door with barely a sound. As she made her way through the temple's corridors toward the dock, she tried to process the complex emotions swirling within her. Gratitude, certainly. Embarrassment, absolutely. But underneath it all was something else – something warm and complicated that she wasn't quite ready to examine too closely.
The morning air was crisp as she prepared to head to the pro-bending arena for practice with the Fire Ferrets. Mako and Bolin would be expecting her, and the familiar routine of training would help clear her head. But as she climbed into the boat, she found herself touching her fingertips to her lips, still feeling the warmth where they had brushed against Tohra's cheek.
Some things, she decided, were worth the embarrassment.
Ripples and Revelations
The pro-bending arena hummed with its usual morning energy as Korra arrived, her boat cutting through the harbor waters with determined strokes. The physical exertion helped clear some of the emotional fog from the night before, though her fingertips still tingled with the memory of that gentle kiss she'd left on Tohra's cheek.
"Korra! You're late!" Bolin's voice boomed across the training space as she climbed through the arena entrance. "Mako's been pacing like a saber-tooth moose lion for the past hour."
Indeed, Mako stood in the center of the ring, his arms crossed and expression stern. But Korra could see the concern beneath his irritation. News of her challenge to Amon had spread through the city like wildfire, and while the details of what had actually transpired on the island remained private, speculation was rampant.
"Where were you last night?" Mako demanded as she approached. "The whole city's talking about your challenge to Amon. People are saying you never showed up, others claim there was some kind of battle—"
"I was there," Korra interrupted quietly, beginning to stretch her muscles. "Amon wasn't."
The simple statement hung in the air between them. Bolin's usual cheerful demeanor faltered as he studied her face, noting the tired lines around her eyes, the way she moved with slightly less of her usual confident energy.
"But something happened," he said, not quite a question.
Korra nodded, then began moving through her bending forms. Fire, water, earth, air – each element responding to her call, but Mako noticed something different in her technique. There was a fluidity there that hadn't been present before, a kind of harmony between the elements that spoke of recent intense experience.
"You weren't alone," Mako observed, his detective instincts picking up on subtle clues. "Someone was with you."
Heat crept up Korra's neck. "I handled it."
"That's not what I asked."
Before she could respond, the arena's main doors opened with a resonant creak. Winter entered with her characteristic grace, carrying a tray with what appeared to be tea and light breakfast items. Her timing was, as always, impeccable.
"Good morning, everyone," she said warmly, setting the tray down on a nearby bench. "I thought you might be hungry after your... eventful evening, Korra."
The knowing look in Winter's eyes made Korra's blush deepen. If Winter was here, it meant she knew exactly what had happened – and more importantly, how the night had ended.
"Your brother—" Korra began.
"Is still resting," Winter finished with a gentle smile. "Though I suspect he'll be up soon. He's not one to sleep in, even after keeping vigil all night."
Mako's eyebrows rose. "Brother? You mean that guy who's been hanging around the temple? The one who fought alongside us against the Equalists?"
"Tohra," Bolin added helpfully, then paused. "Wait, you two are siblings? But you look nothing alike."
Winter's laugh was musical. "Adopted family, you could say. We've been together for a very long time." She turned to Korra with an expression that was both knowing and kind. "He cares about you deeply, you know. More than he usually allows himself to care about anyone."
The admission sent a flutter through Korra's chest that she tried to suppress. She grabbed one of the tea cups from Winter's tray, using the action to hide her expression.
"We're just friends," she said, though the words felt inadequate even as she spoke them.
"Of course you are," Winter agreed, though her tone suggested she saw much more than simple friendship in the dynamics she'd observed. "The very best kind of friends – the kind who show up when it matters most."
Mako was studying the exchange with growing interest. As someone who'd developed feelings for Korra himself, he was perhaps more attuned to the subtle shifts in her demeanor when Tohra was mentioned. The slight softening of her expression, the way her voice changed when she spoke about him – these were things he recognized because he'd hoped to inspire them himself.
"So," he said carefully, "this Tohra. He was on the island with you last night."
"He was nearby," Korra corrected. "He... he kept his promise to let me handle it myself."
"Until you needed help," Winter added gently.
The admission hung in the air. Korra had needed help, and Tohra had been there to provide it. Not by taking over or diminishing her strength, but by supporting her when the odds became impossible.
Bolin, ever the optimist, beamed. "That's what friends do! They've got your back when things get tough." He paused, then added with characteristic enthusiasm, "Though it sounds like this guy's maybe a little more than just a regular friend, if you know what I mean."
"Bolin," Korra warned, but there was no real heat in it.
"I'm just saying," he continued, undeterred, "the way Winter talks about him, the way you get all flustered when his name comes up – sounds like someone's got it bad."
Before Korra could respond, the arena doors opened again. This time, it was Tohra himself who entered, moving with his characteristic silent grace. He'd clearly taken time to clean up and change clothes, showing no signs of the night's events or his unconventional sleeping arrangements.
His eyes found Korra immediately, and for a moment, something passed between them – a wordless communication that spoke of shared experience and mutual understanding. Then his gaze shifted to include Mako and Bolin, and his expression became more neutral, though still friendly.
"I hope I'm not interrupting," he said, his voice carrying that same calm quality that had anchored Korra through her breakdown the night before.
"Not at all," Winter said, gesturing to the remaining tea. "I brought enough for everyone."
As Tohra approached, Korra found herself hyper-aware of his presence. The memory of waking up in his arms, of the safety and comfort she'd felt, made her skin tingle with awareness. When he settled beside her on the bench, maintaining a respectful distance but close enough that she could feel his warmth, she had to focus on her breathing to keep from blushing again.
"How are you feeling?" he asked quietly, the question meant for her alone despite the others' presence.
"Better," she answered truthfully. "Thank you for... for everything."
The look he gave her was gentle, understanding. "You don't need to thank me. We're partners, remember?"
Partners. The word carried weight beyond its simple meaning, encompassing everything they'd shared and everything they were still discovering about their connection to each other.
Mako watched this exchange with growing certainty about what he was witnessing. The way they looked at each other, the careful consideration in their every interaction, the obvious care that flowed between them – it was unmistakable. And despite the pang of his own disappointment, he found himself genuinely glad that Korra had found someone who could offer her that kind of support.
"So," he said, breaking the moment, "what's our next move? Amon's still out there, and last night proved he's not interested in fair fights."
The question brought them back to the larger reality they were all facing. The Equalist threat, the political tensions in the city, the weight of expectation on Korra's shoulders – all of it was still there, waiting for them beyond the arena's walls.
But something had changed. As they began to discuss strategy and next steps, there was a new dynamic in the group. Tohra's presence added a stability that hadn't been there before, and Korra moved with a confidence that came from knowing she truly wasn't alone.
The real test was still ahead of them. But for the first time since arriving in Republic City, Korra felt like she had the foundation she needed to face whatever was coming.
The morning sun streamed through the arena's windows, painting everything in golden light, and for a moment, despite all the challenges ahead, the future felt bright with possibility.
Training and Observations
Snow had begun to fall outside the arena, dusting the harbor in pristine white as the Fire Ferrets moved through their practice routine. What had started as a strategy discussion had naturally evolved into training, the familiar rhythm of pro-bending helping to center them all after the previous night's intensity.
Korra stood at the center of the ring, her stance fluid and confident as she manipulated a large water blob between her hands. The conversation with Winter and Tohra's arrival seemed to have sharpened her focus rather than distracted her. With a swift motion, she split the water in two, launching each smaller projectile in opposite directions with deadly precision.
Bolin raised his right arm defensively, an earth disk materializing and hovering protectively in front of his face. The water bullet struck with enough force to shove him backward slightly, his feet sliding across the ring's surface as he absorbed the impact.
"Nice power behind that one!" he called out, grinning despite being pushed back.
Mako, meanwhile, demonstrated the agility that made him such a formidable pro-bender. As Korra's second water blast approached, he moved back and twisted around in one fluid motion, vaporizing the incoming projectile with a perfectly timed fire arc. Without missing a beat, he immediately retaliated with two rapid fire punches aimed at both his teammates.
The gym erupted into organized chaos. Bolin's earth disk crumbled under Mako's assault, the fragments scattering across the ring. Korra launched another rapid water blast at Mako, who demonstrated his acrobatic skills by jumping clear over the attack. Simultaneously, Bolin sent an earth disk spinning toward Korra, forcing her to raise a water shield drawn from a nearby tank.
From their position at the edge of the training area, Tohra and Winter watched the display with interest. Winter sipped her tea contemplatively while Tohra stood with his arms crossed, his enhanced senses tracking every movement, every shift in energy and technique.
"They work well together," he observed quietly.
"They do," Winter agreed. "Though I notice Korra's form has improved since yesterday. More integrated. Less reliance on raw power."
Tohra's eyes remained fixed on Korra as she moved through the exercises. "She's learning to trust herself. And to trust others."
In the ring, Mako fired blasts at both his teammates, which they blocked with practiced ease. But his follow-up proved more successful – a second fire blast caught Bolin square in the stomach, launching him backward with enough force to send him tumbling.
Even as he fell, Bolin managed to raise and launch one final earth disk, his competitive spirit refusing to give up. The projectile flew true, striking Korra in the stomach just as she deflected another of Mako's water attacks. She grunted as the impact knocked her back, but her own redirected water blast found its mark, hitting Mako straight in the face and sending him sliding several meters across the ring.
For a moment, all three Fire Ferrets lay scattered across the training area. Then, almost simultaneously, they began to laugh – the genuine, breathless laughter that comes after intense physical exertion and good-natured competition.
Mako was the first to sit up, pulling off his helmet and resting his left hand on his hip as he caught his breath. "Not bad," he said, though his tone carried approval. "Korra, your precision's getting scary good."
"Thanks," she replied, still lying on her back and staring up at the arena's ceiling. "I've been working on control over power."
"It shows," Bolin added, finally rolling over and pushing himself upright. "That water blast felt like it had my name on it."
As the three of them gradually made their way to their feet, Winter approached with towels. "Impressive display," she said warmly. "You've all grown considerably stronger since I first observed you."
Tohra moved closer as well, his gaze meeting Korra's as she accepted a towel. "Your bending has more harmony now," he said simply. "Less fighting against the elements, more working with them."
The observation made Korra pause in her toweling off. It was true – something had shifted in her technique, though she hadn't consciously recognized it until he pointed it out. The elements felt more responsive, more willing to follow her lead rather than requiring her to force them into compliance.
"Must be all that meditation Tenzin keeps making me do," she said, though something in her expression suggested she knew there was more to it than that.
Mako noticed the look that passed between Korra and Tohra – subtle, but unmistakable. There was a communication there that went beyond words, a understanding that spoke of shared experience and growing connection.
"Well, whatever it is," he said, deliberately keeping his tone light, "keep it up. We're going to need every advantage we can get."
The mention of their larger challenges brought a more serious mood back to the group. Despite the successful training session, despite the growing bonds between them all, the threat of Amon and the Equalists still loomed over Republic City like a storm cloud.
But as they gathered their equipment and prepared to leave the arena, there was a sense of readiness that hadn't been there before. They were stronger individually and as a team. And perhaps most importantly, they trusted each other – not just as teammates, but as friends willing to face whatever challenges lay ahead together.
The snow continued to fall outside, blanketing the city in quiet beauty, but inside the arena, the Fire Ferrets and their allies had found something even more valuable than perfect technique: they had found unity.
New Faces and Old Feelings
As they finished cleaning up their equipment, the arena's main doors opened once again. This time, two new figures entered – both carrying themselves with the same fluid grace that marked Tohra and Winter's movements, though each had their own distinct presence.
The first was a young woman with striking features and an aura of barely contained energy. Her dark hair was pulled back in a practical style, and her eyes held an intensity that seemed to take in everything at once. Beside her walked a tall man whose demeanor was more reserved, his expression thoughtful as he surveyed the training area.
"Jinjer, Eleryc," Winter called out warmly, moving to greet the newcomers. "Perfect timing."
Tohra's expression brightened as he saw the pair. "I wasn't expecting you so soon."
"We made good time," the woman – Jinjer – replied with a grin that transformed her intense features into something more approachable. "Besides, we heard there was excitement in Republic City. Couldn't miss that."
The man, Eleryc, nodded to Tohra with quiet familiarity. "The situation with the Equalists has reached even our remote locations. We thought additional support might be useful."
Korra found herself studying the newcomers with interest. Like Tohra and Winter, there was something about them that spoke of hidden depths, of capabilities that went beyond the ordinary. Family, she realized – or at least, people who shared the same mysterious background.
"Everyone," Tohra said, gesturing toward the Fire Ferrets, "these are our cousins, Jinjer and Eleryc. Jinjer, Eleryc – meet Korra, Mako, and Bolin."
The introductions were interrupted by Mako's voice, carrying a warmth that hadn't been there during their earlier strategy discussions.
"It's been great having you at so many back-to-back practices, Korra," he said, smiling genuinely.
Korra's response was immediate and upbeat. "Feels good to be back, although—" She raised her hand slightly to emphasize her point, still smiling. "Tarrlok isn't too happy about my leave of absence."
"Hey, you joined the Fire Ferrets before you joined his task force," Bolin pointed out with characteristic loyalty.
Mako clapped his hands together. "Okay, come on, team huddle time!"
The three Fire Ferrets moved into their familiar formation, the easy camaraderie between them evident as they smiled at each other. Tohra, Winter, and their newly arrived cousins watched with interest, noting the genuine bond that had formed between the teammates.
"It's our first match of the tournament tonight," Mako continued, his voice carrying both excitement and determination. "I know the three of us haven't been a team for very long, but even so, the Fire Ferrets have never been this good. Are we ready?"
"We're ready!" Korra and Bolin responded in unison, their voices ringing with confidence.
The moment was interrupted by the sound of the arena doors opening yet again. This time, a young woman with sleek black hair and an elegant bearing entered, carrying what appeared to be team gear. Her presence immediately shifted the energy in the room, though not everyone seemed pleased by the change.
"Not quite, you'll need these," the newcomer said, holding up a shirt emblazoned with the Future Industries logo.
"Hey, Asami," Mako said, his tone warming considerably.
"Good morning, sweetie," Asami replied, her attention focused entirely on Mako.
From her position slightly behind the team huddle, Korra's expression tightened almost imperceptibly. The easy joy from moments before dimmed as she watched the interaction between Mako and the newcomer.
Tohra, with his enhanced senses, noticed the shift immediately. The change in Korra's emotional state was subtle but unmistakable – disappointment mixed with something that might have been jealousy, quickly suppressed but not entirely hidden.
"These new uniforms look great!" Mako said, examining the gear Asami had brought.
"You look great, champ!" Asami responded, moving closer to him.
What followed was an intimate gesture between the pair – a gentle touch of foreheads that spoke of established affection. The display drew different reactions from the observers: Bolin looked vaguely uncomfortable, his expression clearly conveying a "Really?" sentiment, while Korra's face showed open disgust before she quickly composed herself as Mako turned back toward the group.
Winter caught Tohra's eye, her expression knowing. She had observed the entire interaction and drawn the same conclusions about Korra's feelings that he had.
"Well, teammates," Mako said, oblivious to the undercurrents his romantic display had created, "I'll see you before the match tonight. Asami and I have a lunch date."
"Okay, we'll check you guys later," Bolin said, waving at the couple. "You know, we'll see you when we see ya."
Korra said nothing, instead picking up her bag with perhaps more force than necessary. The silence stretched as Mako and Asami made their way toward the exit, their quiet conversation and obvious affection creating a bubble that seemed to exclude everyone else.
As the doors closed behind them, the atmosphere in the arena shifted. Jinjer and Eleryc exchanged glances, their newcomer status making them particularly attuned to the emotional dynamics they'd just witnessed.
"So," Jinjer said carefully, "that was... interesting."
Bolin sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, Mako and Asami have been... yeah. For a while now."
Korra remained silent, shouldering her bag and clearly preparing to leave herself. But Tohra stepped forward, his voice gentle but firm.
"The tournament tonight," he said, addressing her directly. "You're going to be brilliant."
The simple statement of confidence, delivered without any reference to the awkward romantic situation they'd all just witnessed, seemed to reach her. Some of the tension left her shoulders, and she managed a small smile.
"Thanks," she said quietly. "It means a lot, having you all there."
"We wouldn't miss it," Winter added warmly. "Any of us."
As they all began to gather their things and prepare to leave the arena, the group dynamic had shifted once again. The arrival of Jinjer and Eleryc had added new elements to consider, while the reminder of Mako's relationship with Asami had highlighted feelings that perhaps hadn't been fully resolved.
But underneath it all, the bonds of friendship and loyalty remained strong. Whatever challenges the tournament – and life – might bring, they would face them together.
elsewhere...
The scene cuts to the brothers' attic, where Mako is preparing dinner while Bolin is preparing a bath for Pabu. The animal protests his owner's act, but Bolin finally manages to dip Pabu into the tub of water, who subsequently rises from it, shaking off water from his body with a look of defeat.
Brothers' Talk
Later that afternoon, in the Fire Ferrets' locker room beneath the arena, Bolin struggled with Pabu's tiny uniform while his mind clearly wrestled with more pressing matters. The fire ferret squirmed in his hands, less than enthusiastic about being dressed up for the evening's match.
"Work with me here, Pabu! You wanna look spic and span in your new uniform, don't you?" Bolin coaxed, finally managing to get one small arm through the appropriate hole. He glanced up at Mako, who was methodically checking his own gear. "So, what do you think of Korra, in a 'girlfriend' sort of way?"
Mako looked up from his equipment, his expression thoughtful. "She's great! But I think it makes more sense for me to go for Asami."
Bolin's face fell slightly, annoyance creeping into his voice. "I was talking about a girlfriend for me! Leave some ladies for the rest of us!"
"I know, that's what I thought you meant," Mako replied, though his tone suggested he was perhaps being less than entirely honest.
"Well...?" Bolin pressed, finally succeeding in getting Pabu properly dressed, though the fire ferret looked decidedly unimpressed with his new outfit.
Mako paused in his preparations, considering his words carefully. "I don't know, Bo. It doesn't seem like a good idea for you to date Korra."
"You just said she was great two seconds ago," Bolin pointed out, confusion evident in his voice.
"Yeah, Korra is a great athlete and Avatar and stuff, but I don't know if she's really 'girlfriend material'. She's more like a pal."
The words hung in the air, and from the observation area above the locker room, unseen by the brothers, Tohra's expression darkened slightly. He had come to check on the team's preparations and arrived in time to hear Mako's dismissive assessment of Korra. Winter, who had accompanied him, placed a gentle hand on his arm, sensing his reaction.
"Easy," she murmured quietly. "He doesn't know what he's saying."
Below, Bolin was gathering steam, his natural enthusiasm overriding his brother's skepticism. "Bro, you're nuts! Korra and I are perfect for each other: she's strong, I'm strong; she's fun, I'm fun; she's beautiful, I'm gorgeous!" He struck a small pose to emphasize his point before continuing with renewed determination, "Okay, I don't care what you think, I'm gonna ask Korra out."
Mako's response was immediate and firm. "Look, it just isn't smart to date a teammate, especially during the tournament. Keep your head out of the clouds and your priorities straight, okay?"
"Yeah, yeah, I know, gah," Bolin conceded with obvious reluctance. He turned to Pabu, who was now sitting in his tiny uniform looking thoroughly confused by the entire conversation. "You know what I'm talking about, Pabu, I'm talking about real love."
Pabu's expression, if a fire ferret could be said to have expressions, suggested he understood nothing about real love and would much prefer to be out of the uniform.
In the observation area, Tohra found himself caught between conflicting emotions. Part of him was irritated by Mako's casual dismissal of Korra's romantic potential – the young firebender clearly had no idea of the depth and complexity of the woman he was so easily categorizing as "pal material." But another part of him recognized an opportunity in Mako's emotional unavailability.
"Interesting," Winter observed quietly, noting her brother's internal struggle. "The firebender doesn't see what's right in front of him."
"His loss," Tohra replied, though his tone was carefully neutral.
"Indeed," Winter agreed, a small smile playing at her lips. "Though I suspect someone else might have a clearer perspective on Korra's... qualities."
Below them, the brothers continued their preparations, unaware that their conversation had been overheard. But the words had been spoken, the positions had been established, and the complex web of relationships surrounding the Fire Ferrets had gained another layer of complication.
As tournament time approached, it was becoming clear that the battles in the ring might prove to be simpler than the battles of the heart playing out around them.
Advice from Unexpected Sources
Meanwhile, on Air Temple Island, Korra found herself in an entirely different kind of uncomfortable situation. She knelt in the snow beside Jinora and Ikki, mechanically feeding fruit to the ring-tailed lemurs while her mind churned with thoughts she couldn't quite organize.
Ever since that night on Avatar Aang Memorial Island – since breaking down in Tohra's arms, since waking up curled against him, since that impulsive kiss she'd pressed to his cheek – something had shifted. She felt hyperaware of his presence in a way that made her stomach flutter and her cheeks warm. When he spoke to her, she found herself paying attention not just to his words but to the timber of his voice, the way his eyes crinkled slightly when he was amused, the careful way he moved through space.
It was ridiculous. She was the Avatar, for crying out loud. She had bigger things to worry about than... whatever this was.
But try as she might to focus on other things – the tournament, the Equalist threat, her airbending training – her thoughts kept drifting back to him. To the safety she'd felt in his arms, to the way he looked at her like she was more than just the Avatar, like she was someone worth protecting not because of her title but because of who she was.
Lost in these troubling thoughts, she barely noticed when Jinora and Ikki exchanged meaningful glances over her head.
"So," Jinora said casually, "how's it going with the tall, dreamy gentle giant? You've been spending a lot of time together lately."
Korra's hand froze halfway to offering a lemur a piece of fruit. Heat rushed to her face as she realized how obvious her preoccupation must have been.
"Oooh, yeah!" Ikki chimed in with characteristic enthusiasm. "Tell us all about the magical romance!"
"What?" Korra laughed, but it came out higher-pitched than usual. "Listen to you two, I-I'm not interested in Ma—" She caught herself mid-word, her blush deepening. "Tohra, I mean... or any romantic stuff." She coughed awkwardly. "Besides, he's, I dunno, kinda quiet..."
Even as she said it, she realized how weak the excuse sounded. Tohra's quiet nature wasn't off-putting – if anything, it was one of the things she found most appealing about him. He didn't fill silences with unnecessary chatter, but when he did speak, his words carried weight.
"But let's just pretend for a second I am interested in him," she continued, unable to stop herself despite knowing she was walking into a trap. "What would I do?"
Jinora's eyes lit up with excitement. "Ooh! I just read a historical saga where the heroine fell in love with the enemy general's son, who's supposed to marry the princess. You should do what she did!"
"Tell me!" Korra said, leaning forward eagerly.
"She rode a dragon into battle and burned down the entire country," Jinora recounted dramatically. "Then she jumped into a volcano. It was so romantic!"
Korra's excitement deflated as quickly as it had risen. "Uhh..."
"No, no, no!" Ikki interrupted, speaking at her usual rapid pace. "The best way to win a boy's heart is to brew a love potion of rainbows and sunsets that makes true lovers sprout wings and fly into a magical castle in the sky, where they get married and eat clouds with spoons and use stars as ice cubes in their moonlight punch. Forever and ever and ever!" She airbended upward in a circular motion, her excitement literally lifting her off the ground.
"The volcano is starting to make more sense to me now," Korra muttered, while Pema's laughter drifted from somewhere behind them.
Korra turned around to see Pema approaching along the path, her expression warm and knowing. "Oh, hey Pema. Uh, how long were you standing there?"
"Long enough," Pema replied with a gentle smile. "But trust me, I know what you're going through. Years ago I was in the exact same situation, with Tenzin."
Ikki's eyes went wide with surprise. "Daddy was in love with someone else before you?"
"That's right," Pema confirmed.
"So what did you do?" Korra asked, genuinely curious now.
"Well, for the longest time, I did nothing. I was so shy and scared of rejection, but watching my soul mate spend his life with the wrong woman became too painful. So I hung my chin out there and I confessed my love to Tenzin. And the rest is history."
"Wooow!" Korra, Ikki, and Jinora exclaimed in unison.
As the girls continued to pepper Pema with questions about her romantic history, Korra found herself lost in thought again. The idea of confessing her feelings – if she even knew what those feelings were – to Tohra seemed both terrifying and oddly appealing. But what if she was misreading the situation? What if his kindness and protection were just friendship, nothing more?
Her internal debate was interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps. Turning toward the temple, she saw Tohra himself walking toward them, his expression peaceful as he took in the scene of the girls surrounded by lemurs in the snow.
"Avatar Korra," he said formally, though his eyes held that familiar warmth that made her stomach flutter. "Master Tenzin asked me to let you know that you have a visitor."
"A visitor?" Korra repeated, suddenly hyperaware of how close he was standing.
"Councilman Tarrlok," Tohra explained, his tone carefully neutral. "He's waiting in the main hall."
The mention of Tarrlok was enough to dampen any romantic thoughts Korra might have been entertaining. She sighed, pushing herself to her feet and brushing snow from her clothes.
"I suppose I should go see what he wants," she said reluctantly.
As she started toward the temple, Tohra fell into step beside her. "The tournament is tonight," he said quietly. "Are you ready?"
"As ready as I can be," she replied, then glanced at him sideways. "Will you... will you be there? Watching, I mean?"
"Of course," he said simply. "I wouldn't miss it."
The certainty in his voice, the way he said it like there was never any question, made Korra's heart skip a beat. As they walked toward whatever political maneuvering Tarrlok had in store for her, she found herself thinking that maybe, just maybe, Pema's advice about confessing feelings wasn't as impossible as it seemed.
But first, she had a tournament to win.
To be continued in Chapter 7: The Spirit of Competition part II