Book 1: Fire

Chapter 9- A Wounded Soul

Korra woke up the next morning to a burning agony that had been her companion for what seemed like an eternity already. Lying on her stomach, she felt like her back was on fire. Two Fire Nation medics were working on her, using salve to heal her burn marks, although that didn't make breathing much easier. Every twitch, every breath, seemed to stretch out the scars that were undoubtedly on her back and rewarded her with a fresh sting of pain. The sweet smelling, gooey medicine had a nice cooling effect on her back, and she relaxed slightly as they applied it across the breadth of her shoulders, where the gashes had been the worst.

Although their touches were gentle and the medicine had been relieving, there was no real compassion in their work. During one of her bouts of consciousness, she even thanked them for healing her, but the medic scoffed at it.

"Don't flatter yourself Water Tribe, I'm just doing my job." The man sneered.

She groaned inwardly. It was a response that she was growing accustomed to during her time in the prison, but for some reason, it upset her more than usual. Even when they were helping her, they despised her.

Maybe they always will.

The medics continued their work, and Korra flinched involuntarily as they applied a fresh layer of bandages over her back.

Spirits. it hurts...

Korra shut her eyes as the pain throbbed even more intensely. She couldn't imagine what her shoulders and back would look like now, all burned and scarred. She would carry it with her for the rest of her life; like a mark of shame, forever a sign of her failure.

As the medics finished their work, Korra looked up and felt her heartbeat jump as she saw the man she had known for most of her life, and had come to fear the most.

No...Not now...

"Private Korra. What am I to do with you?" The warden said in a surprisingly paternal tone as he walked up to her bed, examining the bandaged wounds with a detached interest. The anger he had shown yesterday was replaced with a quiet calm, but she could detect the venom in his words.

"You've cost me a lot, you know. More than you can ever imagine." The warden gripped his fist around a sheathed jian, which Korra recognized was the one Mako gave her.

Korra wanted to speak up, to defend herself, to even explain about the new kind of bending that Water Tribe raider was using, but as soon as she opened her mouth to speak, the warden quieted her by pressing the scabbard of the jian into the wound on her back, causing her to hiss in pain.

"This isn't a conversation my dear." The man spoke bluntly.

"I've come to let you know that your parents have been transferred back to the prison. I've had my men pick them up this morning." He said flatly.

Korra's heart skipped a beat, horrified at the prospect of her parents returning to the prison. "But I-" Korra protested.

"You failed me, my dear." The warden immediately interrupted her.

"Worse." he added menacingly. "You failed me in front of the Grand Admiral, one of the most powerful officials in the empire. You've shamed me in front of our allies and enemies alike!" The warden almost shouted, as if physically trying to control his temper.

He sighed, clasping his hands behind his back as he stared out the window to regain his composure, as well as letting that last thought sink in. Korra sunk her head down, not daring to look at the man.

"The Admiral has forbidden my prison guards to interfere in recapturing the prisoners." The warden commented.

"Luckily for you, the Southern Raiders are a separate force from my guards. And your friend Sergeant Mako was most eager to cut a deal with me."