The Good and the Bad: Kainora

Chapter 2: Reflection

"We're going to the Earth Kingdom!" Ikki burst through the door into Jinora's room. 

Jinora looked up from the book she was reading. "Really? When?" She had always wanted to visit the Earth Kingdom, especially Ba Sing Se, the seat of its power. 

"We're going soon! Like really really soon! Like now! There are airbenders in the Earth Kingdom! We gotta go get them! We gotta go now!" With that, Ikki ran out of the room like a maniac, hollering nonsense. Jinora sighed and shook her head. Ever since Korra decided to leave the spirit portals open after Harmonic Convergence, incidents of non-bending people suddenly discovering the ability to airbend have popped up in all sorts of places.Even Bumi had acquired the skill as well, albeit only exhibiting it in life-threatening situations. Tenzin was delighted; it represented an opportunity to rebuild the Air Nomads and keep the culture alive.

"Is it true, dad?" Jinora hurried over to her father. "Airbenders were spotted in the Earth Kingdom?" 

"Yes, and we will teach them the ways of the Air Nomads!" Tenzin said with enthusiasm. He pulled her into a hug and Jinora warmly returned it. "Aang would be so proud of this moment."

"Yes, he would've loved to meet them," Jinora replied. She was well-versed on the burdens her grandfather carried, being the sole survivor of a nation wiped out nearly two hundred years ago. With the newly found airbenders, it seemed as if the Air Nation was poised to make a comeback. 

Jinora, Tenzin, and the others waved goodbye to Kya, Pema, Ikki, Meelo, and the Air Acolytes as Asami's Future Industries airship lifted off on their mission to find the airbenders in the Earth Kingdom. Meelo and Ikki were particularly mad that they weren't allowed to go, but they were needed at Air Temple Island to introduce the new airbenders to the ways of the Air Nation. As Air Temple Island shrinked in the distance, the task force gathered around a large table within the spacious galley to see what lay ahead of them. Mako unrolled a large map with several X'es in the Earth Kingdom. 

"My contacts in the Earth Kingdom have given me the locations in which at least one incident of airbending occurred," Mako began in a professional tone. "As of now, these are the towns where we've gotten reports about airbenders." He paused as he did some quick calculations in his head. "It looks like we can hit up most of them before we get to Ba Sing Se." 

"We're going to bring the Air Nation back from the brink of extinction after nearly two hundred years!" Korra said excitedly. "This going to be wonderful!"

"An it's all because of you, Korra," Tenzin said graciously. While the group began brainstorming on ways to get the new airbenders to join them at the temples, Jinora suddenly found the table stuffy and crowded, even with the tall ceilings and generously wide body of the airship. Without anyone really noticing, she quietly slipped out and climbed the stairs to the top of the airship. 

The wind blew in her face as she reached the top. Naga and Oogi were sleepily lounging, quietly absorbing the heat from the dying sun. 

"Hey Oogi." He grumbled a greeting in reply. Jinora ruffled his hair. "I suppose you couldn't help me out with a little problem I have, can you?" She murmured. Oogi grumbled again. She walked to the side of the airship and leaned out towards the sunset. Not that she was afraid of falling. 

She was about to spill everything to a big, furry flying bison when she heard footsteps behind her.
"Korra?" Jinora was surprised that the Avatar would even personally come talk to her. 

"You okay up here? I saw you walking off on your own." Korra came over and stood next to Jinora, looking at the sunset. 

"Yeah, I'm okay," Jinora responded. However, there was a tinge of sadness to her voice that might have slipped. The Avatar pounced on it immediately.