Time To Heal

chapter 15

Korra awoke to the smell of food being prepared, her stomach letting out a low gurgle that caused her to groan in embarrassment.

"Hey...How do you feel?" Tonraq asked from where he sat nearby.

"Like I got ran over by a herd of Buffalo yak." she answered, wincing as she sat up before adding

"I'm so sore...and stiff."

"No wonder. There were some nerve and muscle damage due to the mercury." Desna stated as he entered the room   from outside, carrying a load of firewood.

"You must be sick...You're actually doing something that is remotely work." Korra stated, moving so that she was sitting up.

"You must be feeling better cousin, your snarky sarcasm is returning." the slightly younger teen retorted though he otherwise ignored the statement.

"What is up with you and calling me 'cousin?' seriously I have a name!" The avatar growled, earning an amused look from Tonraq who just shook his head.

"You are Eska and I's cousin. Why should we not call you as such?' the northerner quipped, raising an eyebrow as he turned to look at Korra.

"You know what....Never mind. Do you think you could help me into my chair?" the avatar retorted, directing the last part at her father who was just listening to their banter with amusement.

Meanwhile in the Kitchen the girl's where helping Senna. Eska by water bending steaming tea into cups while her aunt and Asami finished setting the table.

"Thanks’ for the help girls. But honestly I could have managed....you're both guests after all." Senna stated.

"It's no trouble. I mean you're letting me stay here." Asami replied, though Eska did not respond for a while.

"I know how difficult it was when mother became ill.....We were really young but I remember that father had to hire extra servants." She admitted, her tone emotionless despite the faraway look in her eyes.

"May I ask what is wrong with your mother?" Asami questioned, earning a sigh.

"She has a form of sever depression.....she takes spells that she will not take sustenance or even speak with anyone." the other girl answered before turning her back toward them.

"Pardon me."

With that she left, though Desna appeared in the doorway. 

"I'm sorry....I..." Asami began though he stopped her.

"No....It is alright. It is only that Mother was the one who did most for us growing up, when she became ill and turned to other means of dealing with her stressors we were forced to rear ourselves." he explained, his voice actually warming slightly. 

"I still shouldn't have asked." The engineer replied, mentally kicking herself.

"Eska had the ability to not reveal it to you. I will go speak with her now.... But this is not of your causing." He cut her off before leaving the room.