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𝐅or some reason, something made Cloud meditate on the top of the island when she woke up the next day. The sun had barely gone up when she walked up the hill, but enjoyed the peaceful air, breathing in the breezy morning air. The flying bison around her made everything much better. Their presence was light and comforting. She sat with her legs crisscrossed, staring at the horizon before letting out a deep breath, and closing her eyes.
She tried to calm her raging thoughts, her restless actions, and her racing heart, ending up in the perfect world that she used to dream of. She thought of her father. Commander Bumi has always been the light of her darkest days. Every time she felt even a little sad, she would always go to him and everything would feel better instantly. Little Cloud thought it was his superpower. Even now.
She thought of her days in the United Forces, ever since she was young, she was surrounded by older people who served to protect the world. They were the reason she worked so hard when she was younger to be able to do the same thing. She made a lot of friends in her time there, and an old flame who made her feel important every time she doubted herself and shared her passion for protecting those who needed to be protected.
But then again, Cloud was always smiling that no one could even imagine the girl being sad and alone.
Cloud was left in a mellow state after her meditation, which she often doesn't do. She left the top of the hill after being called for dinner. Truthfully, she was starting to prefer hanging out with the flying bison rather than the people around her. Their descendant made her feel more at peace than the world and the people could.
When she arrived at the dinner table with a soft smile on her face unlike her usual signature grin━Tenzin and Pema stared at her like she had just grown two heads. Cloud simply ignored their stares and sat down at the end of the table. Meelo grinned at her as he raised his small hand for a high-five which she returned. After bowing their heads and praying, she definitely did not expect someone to barge on their sweet dinner uninvited.
There stood near the door hole was none other than Tarrlok, one of the council members that Cloud might have disliked a little. His face just irritated her, and every time he opened his mouth, Cloud wanted to put a sock in it.
"I'm not interrupting, am I?" Tarrlok asked although she doubted that he was actually genuine. He had always been a two-faced git.
"Actually you are━" Cloud quipped but she was cut off by her uncle, although that didn't seem to stop her from narrowing her airy blue eyes at the councilman.
"This is my home, Tarrlok." Tenzin stood up and faced his fellow council member. He wasn't too happy to see him either. "We're about to eat dinner."
"Good, because I am absolutely famished." Tarrlok smiled fakely, which made Tenzin narrow his eyes, sporting the same glare as his niece now. "Airbenders never turn away a hungry guest, am I right?"
Cloud discreetly rolled her eyes and looked at the children to see they weren't too happy about it either. I mean, who would? Sometimes she wished the airbenders weren't too kind, but they were practically honed to the word. Cloud knew it was only a matter of time before it changed. I mean, there was Yangchen, who strayed a bit far from the usual Air Nomads beliefs, but still, the former Avatar was actually one of the people Cloud looked up to when she was younger.
Tenzin sighed in defeat. "I suppose."
The brunette almost choked on her spit, and she glanced at Pema who shared the same disagreement as her. Pema looked at her husband, scowling at him. She never liked the councilman. Tenzin raised his hands, palms facing forward in defense, shrugging as he sent her a helpless look.
Tarrlok walked towards Korra, bowing at her. "Ah, you must be the famous Avatar Korra. It is truly an honor. I am Councilman Tarrlok, representative from the Northern Water Tribe."
The Avatar stood up and bowed in acknowledgment. "Nice to meet you."
Both of them kneeled in a sitting position, facing the others when Ikki suddenly leaned over the table toward Tarrlok. "Why do you have three ponytails?" She questioned before starting to sniff the air. "And how come you smell like a lady? You're weird."
Cloud snickered under her breath, the long-haired man briefly glaring at her but she couldn't care less as she sent him a gratingly sweet smile.
"Well, aren't you... precocious," Tarrlok said carefully, and then directed his attention to Korra, although Ikki continued to glare at him after noticing that he glared at her older cousin. "So, I've been reading all about your adventures in the papers. Infiltrating Amon's rally, now that took some real initiative."
"Oh, thanks. I think you're the first authority figure in the city who's happy I'm here."
"Republic City is much better off now that you've arrived."
Cloud rolled his eyes at the man, she knew what he was hinting at. He clearly wanted something from the Avatar. Besides, the man barely steps a foot on the island before Korra arrives.
"Enough with the flattery, Tarrlok," Tenzin demanded with a protective tone in his voice. "What do you want from Korra?"
Tarrlok held a hand up. "Patience, Tenzin. I'm getting to that." He looked at Korra once while Tenzin continued to stare at him. "As you may have heard, I am assembling a task force that will strike at the heart of the revolution and I want you to join me."
This time, Cloud almost spat out the broccoli in her mouth when she heard his proposition. Jinora didn't even need to look at her as she held out her hand behind her back and tapped her dorsum so she would stop choking. Hiding the distaste on her face, Cloud grabbed a glass of water and drank it in one go, blinking with wide eyes. Thankfully, Korra only decided to train with Tenzin rather than join a stupid task force that she could end up losing her bending or worse, killed.
Ikki stood up and waved at the man as he decided to leave. "Bye-bye, ponytail man!"
Councilman Tarrlok scowled at her farewell and grunted in distaste as he walked out, and a certain airbender scoffed loudly at his audacity. Cloud only calmed down and celebrated the loss of his presence when he was far gone from her sight. No one even wanted him there in the first place. She shook her head lightly, sharing a knowing look with her uncle Tenzin.
