The Only Hope

Book 4: Chapter 14

Then

Dear Grandfather, and Aunt Izumi,

By the time you all find this letter I will be well on my way. I hope you do not view me as impulsive or following in my mother’s footsteps- because I am not. Kwon’s death has left me facing quite large, looming questions, and before I answer them I am taking some time for myself. I have taken Leza, and am going on a trip. My first stop will be to Air Temple Island, where I will leave my bison in the caring hands of the Acolytes. From there, I do not know where I shall go. I have no planned path, and do not know where I am going or when I shall return. I promise to remain safe, though I shall not write. I am cutting everyone off. I heard you both talking last night, and while I thank you for your concern over me I shall take my time of mourning alone.

I love you both dearly,

Zabri.

Even though the note had been written on a whim, and it had been well over a week since I had written it, I could recite it word to word.  And I was staying true to my promise. I had dropped off Leza, leaving her in the stables in the dead of night with a note for the care takers, and I had cut off contact with everyone.

I felt bad for leaving Leza, but it would be too much trouble to hide my beloved beast during my trip. But I would never leave in her the hands of someone incapable of loving and caring for her properly. And while the stable hands of the palace were kind to her, they would be lost without me in her caretaking. So I gathered a small bag, wrote the note for my family, and saddled her up. She had protested, and gave me a look of wonder as I packed my things on her.

“We’re going on a little trip little girl, nothing more.”

She took the answer, and we were off. It was a few hours till dawn when we arrived at the Island. Though the city was bright, and the continuous soft buzz of noise filled the air; the island was still. I placed her in her stall, removed her saddle and took my bags. Looking up as I sat them down, her gaze was on me. With a small sigh, I hugged the side of her face, burying my head into her fur.

“Littler girl, I’m leaving in a few hours, and you’re staying here.” I pulled my head back slightly. “There’s just… so many voices… and I don’t know what to do… I don’t know what to do…” Leaning back into her fur, I gave her a kiss. “I promise to come back to you.”

 I would be lying if I said I didn’t shed I tear as I left the stable- because I did. Her soft groans for me as I left her echoed in my ear long after I had left. I spent the next few hours in my old bedroom- sneaking in through the window as I had when I was young teenager slipping in from a Pro Bending match. Upon entering, I was hit with a wave of… Kwon. Everywhere I looked- there he was. He was on my walls, my desk, a few letters of his were scattered on my bed, and half-finished letters of my own to him littered the floor.

Most people would break down at the sight, to be surrounded by all the good in the wake of bad.

I did not.

Shoving my small back in the corner, I opened my wardrobe. Tossing aside clothes into a pile beside me, I stopped when I found what I was looking for. It took a few tugs to loosen it, but I was able to pull the suitcase out with ease afterwards. Placing it next to the pile of closes, I clicked it open. Inside were years of memories, photos, letters, knickknacks, scattered about yet so condensed in one spot. I glided my fingers over a few random trinkets, before pushing the suit case to the middle of the room. It was then I realized I would need more space. So I took a dress box that had been sitting under the suit case and dumped out the dress- ironically it was the gorgeous one I wore to my first gala with Korra. I placed everything in the suit case in the dress box, closed it and stuffed it back into the bottom of my wardrobe. Standing I then begun working.