The Origin of Roh-Shan

North Pole (Epilogue)

By the time Roh got back to the igloo, the falling snow had accumulated a bit over the mouth of the igloo. She carved it away with her mittens and pushed aside the crumbling layers of snow. She pulled out the snowbag and crawled into the small space, turning around to pull the snowbag back in place behind her. It was slightly warmer already inside the tunnel, and she rounded the corner and pushed aside the last snowbag.

She could already see Kota inside, still sitting on the bed in her heavy outdoor coat, just as she'd left her an hour ago before dinner.

Roh replaced the snowbag and started removing her own outer coats on the lower level. "You haven't moved?"

Kota just shook her head quickly. "S'cold."

"It's not that bad in here."

Kota just watched her. "Maybe for you, f-firebender." Her teeth chattered.

Roh finished removing her outdoor layers and was a bit cold for a moment, too. She instinctually started heating herself up, and hoped it might heat the room up too. "Oh." She stopped in front of Kota. "Well, the blankets are very insulating. Take your outdoor layers off and get under the covers. You can use me for heat."

She thought that might make Kota smile but she must've been truly freezing because she just shook quickly and stood up to take off the layers. Jumping from the impossible cold and shaking in her underlayers, Kota stripped down to her shorts and chestwrap, then dove under the thick, animal-skin-insulated covers of the soft bed. "It's still freaking c-c-coooold!" Kota complained.

Roh started stripping her extensive layers off too, and setting her mittens next to the fire to dry. "Well, it needs body heat first, give it a few minutes. What did everyone else do while I was meeting with the chiefs?"

"A bison came in this morning carrying a few other airbenders. They've set up a temporary Air Embassy in the Fire Nation Capital to help Dagon and Maita try and keep the peace and sort shit out. Sounds like hell if you ask me. Anyways, they came here to drop off a few more criticals for the master healers to deal with. They said Dagon and Maita are teaming up with the Fire Lord's estranged daughter, since she's technically the heir to the throne, if they decide to give the monarchy a second chance." Kota rolled her eyes. "Five healers volunteered to go back to the Fire Nation to help more survivors. The bison left this afternoon so they'll be there by morning. Oh, and the airbenders left you that." She pointed to a tall wooden staff leaning against the wall, among the other Water Tribe décor that already adorned the small space. The waterbenders had pulled out all the stops when they learned the Avatar would be coming to train with them.

"A new glider!" Roh picked it up and looked it over, snapping out the wings happily, making Kota duck.

"Watch that thing."

"Sorry. How's everyone else?"

"Haider really enjoyed the collection of Water Tribe weapons, and got caught trying to steal a priceless whalebone knife. He's pissed that he has to share an igloo with two other guys because, and I quote, "That's gay""

Roh paused. "I guess it is."

"Yeah I wasn't any help in proving him wrong." Kota laughed. "Ennis is having the absolute time of his life, with the snow and cold water, and cold air, and cold buildings, and cold icebergs, and cold food--"

"Oh, are you cold?"

"Shut up. The healers said they could probably get Iden's legs back to full function with a few healing sessions, and Ara's staying with her in the meantime. And I think that's everyone."

Roh noted her exclusion of one person, and made a note to ask about that. She set the glider back down, took nearly everything off and blew out the lantern above them, still leaving the small flickering fireplace casting warm shadows across the room. Kota whined again when Roh had to lift the covers to get in.

Their lack of layers paid off though, and soon their body heat brought the environment under the covers to a tolerable level, along with Roh's extra firebender heat.

Kota wrapped her arms around Roh from behind, trying to get even warmer. She kissed Roh's shoulder softly. "You master waterbending yet or what?"

Roh laughed. "I've been here one day. How's Jaso doing?"

Kota grew somber. "Stable, for now. He's probably not going to suddenly get worse overnight, but he's also not going to magically get better. The focused healers can work on the parts of his brain that the lack of oxygen damaged, and the airway that was damaged by smoke."

Roh covered Kota's hand with her own. "I'm really lucky you're not in the same place right now." She used her free hand to lightly trace some of the swirl patterns on her girlfriend's arm.

"I wouldn't be." Kota said softly. "The spirit took me ashore and that's when I saw Jaso, and got him. If that spirit hadn't gotten me... we would've both stayed in the water."

Roh tried really hard to care more about Jaso. She really tried. It was hard to feel bad about anything with her girl pressed against her back. "So the healers think the firebending thing is permanent?"

"Small price to pay for not dying. But yeah. Like they said, probably one of the effects of the spirit that took over me. I inherited the trait of being a non-bender. And some cool swirl tattoos."

"They are pretty cool."

"Just in time to freeze my ass off in the freaking arctic."

"I'll keep you warm." Roh let her fingertips graze the pattern on her arm again, forcing her mind back into the moment. She'd drifted off for a moment, thinking about the Chief's meeting today. The one guy who seemed to be starting trouble on purpose. Whom everyone was annoyed by. Instigated a fight earlier. Served no purpose to the board or the community. Such a shame he'd been too close to the riverside earlier, alone in the dark. Accidents happen. Like how he'd accidentally gotten the air sucked out of his lungs. Accidentally had some heavy rocks tied to his body and went for a swim. Based on the end of the last meeting, it really seemed like he was ready to abandon the tribes.

Roh grinned. That must be what happened.

Just as the moment seemed peaceful, in bed with no worries and the girl she loved, there was a scratching from inside the tunnel.

Roh sat up halfway, reaching for the staff and warming up her hands, ready to fireblast whatever came in. Kota stayed behind her but was already reaching for a spear near the bed, ready to put up a fight with whatever animal was crawling in.

The inner snowbag was pushed aside and Kautil, one of the tribe officials, poked his head through. "Avatar. Sorry to interru-- oh, I didn't realize you were alone. Sorry to wake you, but we need you. Quickly."

"Whoever's missing, I'm sure we can look for them in the morning." Roh said quickly.

"Nobody's missing." He caught his breath. "There's a fire. Quickly, please!" He turned and scurried back down the tunnel, not bothering to replace the snowbag.

Roh turned around. "Kota?"

"Why did you assume someone's missing?"

"Kota." Roh picked up her hand and looked at it.

"What?"

"Do that again."

"Do what?"

"Whatever you just did when Kautil walked in on us half-naked."

Kota blushed again, embarrassed, and it happened again right before Roh's eyes.

"What? Why do you keep staring at--"

Roh held Kota's arm up in front of her, and Kota realized what just happened. She could see the swirling pattern glowing softly. Only the pattern.

"You... disappeared."

~//~