Flying Bisons [2] Bolin

Chapter 52

I inhale deeply and as soon as I do, I start coughing, forcing my eyes to open. I cough a couple of times and instantly I feel how raw my throat is with each cough. I guess it makes sense after how much I screamed yesterday. I take a moment to catch my breath and when I do my body yells out in pain causing me to groan. I didn't realise I would be in this much pain after yesterday, I knew my neck would be sore, but every muscle seems to shout out in agony.

"Bo, everything hurts." I whine as I roll onto my back. I know that he won't be able to heal me, but I really just want his comfort right now. However, as I turn I soon notice that he isn't here with me and I frown. Where is he?

I sit up and straight away my aching muscles burn causing me to grit my teeth. I slowly move my legs off the bed and I look down to see that the small shoes that were once on my feet are now on the floor, leaving me barefoot. I smile slightly, Bo must have taken them off for me after I fell asleep. My eyes stay down and my heart sinks when I see the scars on my feet. I know I told the others that I don't care about it, but looking at them now I can't help but feel saddened by how ugly they look.

"Bo?" I call out as I stand up and walk towards the door. I groan and wrap an arm around my torso as the pain spreads up my side and I grip onto the door frame. I open the door and look down the airship to see everyone gathered around Mako and a large map. I watch them all for a moment before pushing myself off the wall and walking towards them. My gaze locks onto Bolin who kneels down next to Mako as they point at the map, but as soon as I get closer, he looks up and meets my eye. Straight away he is on his feet and moving to my side.

"Ula, you're awake. How are you feeling?" Bo asks as he takes my hand that's hanging by my side.

"Sore. Everything seems to ache this morning." I reply quietly, not wanting to announce to everyone how much pain I am in.

"We're trying to find Korra, hopefully we can find her soon so she can heal you." Bo says with a reassuring smile. I smile back to him as I squeeze his hand. He walks me towards the group and as soon as I get close, Yin stands up from her chair and moves away from it.

"Princess Ulazu, please, take my seat." She says and I give her a small smile.

"Thank you, but I'd prefer for you to have the chair." I reply and my body naturally leans into Bo's side.

"You're hurt, please." Yin tries again.

"Yin, thank you, but I assure you I'm okay." I say. I really don't want to take her chair. It might hurt to stand and my body may be begging me to get off my aching legs, but that doesn't mean I'm going to stop her from sitting.

"Okay." She says and she purses her lips. "Then may I redo your hair?" She asks. My free hand lifts up to my hair to feel it hanging loose against my head. I sigh knowing that she isn't going to stop insisting. I look up to Bolin and he gives me a nod as if to tell me to sit, and so I do. I walk over to the chair with Bo close to my side, and I sit down.

Yin immediately starts pulling my hair back into place, and I feel Bo let go of my hand to stand behind me. Was he watching how his grandmother is doing my hair? No, he's just giving me some space. Though, I kinda wish he didn't leave my side. I want to hold him as much as possible.

"So, what's going on?" I ask trying to take my mind away from Bolin. Mako looks up from the map and smiles to me before returning to his serious expression.

"We're retracing Korra's route back to the military base near the Misty Palms Oasis. I'm thinking that Korra must have gone down somewhere in the desert." Mako explains and I frown.

"Wait, what? They didn't get away?" I ask in confusion and Mako shakes his head.

"No, Zaheer said they were under the Earth Queen's custody but never made it to Ba Sing Se." Mako says. I look at him for a moment and stay quiet. If I hadn't have held back the Dai Li, I could have been with them right now. I wouldn't have had to go through everything I did. I should have stayed with them. I look away from him and gaze out of the window to see the desert spreading across the horizon. Maybe it was actually for the best that I did give Asami a chance to get away. If I hadn't then maybe they would have made it back to Ba Sing Se with me and there's no doubt in my mind that Zaheer would have been able to get her easily if that were the case.