Minutes later Kari was huddled under a warm towel in Pemma’s kitchen, along with Mako and Korra would had either bent water off themselves or evaporated it off with heat. Joining them were, Bolin and Tenzin’s children. Pemma pushed a cup of warm tea into Kari’s hands. As she was about to take a sip, she jerked her head up to flash her amber eyes at the surrounding party.
“I don’ like bein’ stared at!”
“My apologies, Kari, but to us you are a bit of a relic”
“-Tenzin, please!” interjected his wife.
“What was that about on the cliff? Mako angrily added.
“-what my brother means to say is; ‘only a crazy person would jump off a cliff like that’” at this Korra lost her temper and earthbent a small handful of pebbles she had been emptying from her shoe at Mako and Bolin.
“Enough! She’s can’t answer your questions if you never stop asking them. Kari, if you want to answer…”
Kari stared at Kora and pointed at the pebbles.
“you-you’re the avatar. Then, that means Aang is…” her voice wobbled
“Aang joined the spirit realm 17 years ago”
Some White Lotus guards came to the door; one coughed to get Tenzin’s attention. He motioned to them and they heaved a very large heavy trunk into the room. A fire nation seal held the lid closed.
“We found this in the cave with you, Kari. It’s yours.”
“Zuko, you didn’t…” she mumbled
Without looking she grabbed Mako’s hand and dragged him to the floor, bringing his amber eyes to match hers.
“As I’m still too weak for bending- I don’t know if I’ll ever bend again…I’ll need help opening this.”
Mako knelt next to her by the trunk and she placed his hand over the seal.
“Heat it until the seal glows.”
When he did they heard a click and the trunk popped open. Inside were several scrolls and sacks of gold, a picture of her old friends, including Tenzin’s father, some clothes, and a firenation guard uniform. Tenzin picked up a scroll and began to read.
Kari,
None of us know when or if you will come back to us. Aang has suggested that you might come back with the next avatar. If you ever wake up, we all wanted you to be provided for. My uncle insisted on leaving you a large sum of money from the royal treasury. We all come back to your cave as often as we can. I’ve left you you’re guard uniform for old time’s sake. Maybe it took your accident for me to realize how loyal you were. The royal guard is at a loss without you. Katara made sure all you old clothes were mended to get in here. I’m not sure what Aang or Toph have added but I’m sure you’ll find it later.
Signed Zuko
Kari wiped a tear from her eye, the last thing she wanted was to be seen crying in front of these strangers.
"how many of them remain, Tenzin?" he looked shocked and couldn't choke out an answer.
"didn't think I'd know you, huh? You were just a little boy when I left. Are any of my friends still alive? didn't even see your father get this old..." again he was flummoxed and reached over to his new child in Pemma's arms and produced a small metal rattle.
"You gave this to me when I was a baby,"
"three days before that curse hit me..." she looked away, her face greying.
The White Lotus guards parts and allowed Lin Beifong into the kitchen. Kari instantly got to her feet, eyes narrowing to match Lin's cold gaze.
"So the rumors are true. And even better that she's back on her feet...I'm the chief of police here. Lin Beifong."
"I know"
"What?"
"I knew your mother and had I been blind like her, your voice is enough identification. That you were chief of police, I didn't know. I suppose apologies are on order for missing you childhoods." She added with a smirk.
"What do you need, Lin." Tenzin interjected, trying to get to the point.
"News of her arrival has reached the council, and they want to meet, but there's been an upset in the local triads so I've got a few of my men to escort you."
"Thank you, Lin, but that's hardly necessary. Kari, you don't need to come if you don't want to. You can stay here or go with the Korra and her friends while they practice for their upcoming competition."
"That's right, Kari! You can observe the greatest new pastime of the new age, PROBENDING!!!" Bolin said, swinging an arm around Kari's shoulders, "a pastime where benders and nonbenders come far and wide, to see other benders beat each other up!"
"Sounds like Toph's old job," they just stared, "you didn't tell them? ha! When Aang first met Toph, she was secretly competing in an earthbender only fighting competition just like that. Even better that they let the other elements join in." she jabbed a fist in the air expecting to see a spirt of flame. Korra took her other shoulder, "I'm sure your bending will come back soon, you're probably just tired"
"Well, if we're going we better go now. I rented the exercise hall for ten minutes from now." Mako added all business.
"Alright, alright. I'm coming. Just let me grab some money, just in case." Kari scooped a handful of gold coins and stuffed them in the pocket of some clothes she also took from the trunk. "I'll be right out. Where do I find you?"
"Just take a left at the cliff until you find the stairs to the ferry."
"Alright, I be out soon. I won't keep you waiting."
as Kari departed to change, one of the brothers added, "with how fast she runs, I wouldn't be surprised to find her waiting for us."
