Chapter 1
Korra sat at her desk staring at the blank computer screen. It had been 3 years since she had published her first novel. She had always loved writing but it wasn't until her best friend Opal convinced her to send it to a publisher that she had any idea that she could make a living writing.
Her fingers started clacking the keys and soon she had the beginnings of her next novel flowing through her fingertips. In the three years since Korra published "Winter's Tribe," she had written two more books on the series. Each one hitting the best seller's list for the Republic City Times.
Korra looked down at her phone and noticed she had been sitting at her desk for three hours. She checked the word count of her latest installment - 14,567. Not bad for playing off an idea that she had dreamt about the previous night. She looked back at her phone as it lit up with a notification.
Opal: Hey, you okay? Our coffee meetup was 30 min ago.
Korra looked back at the time and realized she had gotten carried away with her plot. Picking up the phone she dialed Opal's number.
"Well, it's good to know you aren't dead Korra," Opal said as she answered.
"I'm so sorry," Korra sulked into her phone. "I wanted to get some ideas on paper and lost track of time. Are you still there? I'll head over now."
"It's okay," Opal replied. "I know how you get when you're writing. I'm actually getting ready to head over to my parents. My mom will be happy to hear you are starting on your next book."
Opal's mother Suyin Beifong was an editor at Lion Turtle publishers and the only other person besides Opal Korra had shared her writing with. After the mother/daughter duo had read her first book they made sure she had everything she needed to publish. Opal had even become her agent in the following years assuring Korra remained busy with book signings and talk show interviews.
"Well, let her know I've got a few chapters knocked out," Korra said looking at the words on her screen. "I think I am almost done with this story though. I can't envision anything past the next book."
"I think it's great Winter's Tribe will be ending, especially after how long it took to get you to want to publish it in the first place. But hey, why don't I swing by and get you. It's Wing and Wei's birthday and I'm sure everyone would love to see you."
"Oh, I don't want to intrude on a family thing though," Korra said.
"Intruding?!" Opal exclaimed. "Even before the book stuff, you were family. Besides Bolin is coming and where there is Bolin…"
"There is Mako," Korra said, finishing Opal's sentence.
"Besides I'm pretty sure Mako has the hots for you," Opal teased.
"Ha, Mako has had the hots for me since we hooked up at the New Year's party two years ago. He just is a little too brooding for me, but he is a good lay."
"Well," Opal said. "Worst case scenario he continues to brood, best case you get laid."
"True," Korra said. "You know who I wouldn't mind seeing is Kuvira again. Think she will show?"
"Kuvira is such a wild card with family functions anymore," Opal said. "Ever since she joined the National Guard she and mom haven't completely seen eye to eye, you know my hippie mom."
"True," Korra replied. "I shouldn't use your family functions to hook up anyway, the last thing I need is to piss off my publisher and agent."
"Hahaha," Opal laughed. "You are ever the wise woman Korra. Anyway, I'm heading to my parent's house now but the party doesn't start for another few hours. I can grab you or you're welcome to come whenever."
"Sounds great," Korra said. "I'll find a good stopping point, clean up, and head over. Mind if I bring Naga?"
"Not at all," Opal said.
"Sounds great. I'll see you soon then," Korra said hanging up.
She looked at the words that filled her screen and reread the last few paragraphs she had typed out.
Katara stood beside Aang and Toph as they watched Sokka head toward the swordmaster. She mumbled a brief prayer that the master would be the answer Sokka was looking for. While she had always looked to her brother as the one to protect her she understood why he felt so out of place within their group. She couldn't imagine what life would be without bending, and so she knew he yearned for a skill to master himself. Soon he would disappear over the horizon.
Korra saved what she was writing and turned towards Naga. She scratched the Samoyed behind her ears and pulled out the brush. She ran the brush over Naga several times before she cleaned the hair from the teeth. She sat there patiently brushing Naga until she fluffed up with no mats. As she threw the shed hair away she looked into her kitchen for a gift for the twins. She settled at what she had in her bar that was unopened. She spotted a bottle that had been a gift from a fan - Lagavulin 11 Year aged single malt scotch. While Korra knew regifting was a bit tacky she knew she would never touch the bottle. She was more of a beer drinker and the twins would never know the hundred dollar bottle was regifted. And while it was a single gift they were never without the other and shared everything. It made sense to get them both a semi-expensive gift to share rather than two ok gifts.
Korra grabbed the bottle from the cabinet and set to wrapping it. She glanced at the clock and decided she should head over sooner rather than later so she could speak with Suyin about her upcoming book. She also wanted to keep an eye out for Mako or Kuvira. While she hated herself for seeking out intimacy with either two she knew she missed sharing her bed with someone else too. It had been several months since her last one nightstand.
She hopped in the shower and let the water run down her body. While she didn't consider herself an athlete anymore she still strived to maintain an athlete's body. She watched as the water ran down her breasts and over her abs. Soon she lathered herself up and rinsed. There was nothing better in the world than post-shower chills.
Korra had grown up in Harbor City in the South Pole. She was accustomed to freezing temperatures year-round. Moving to Republic City was something she never dreamed of being able to do until Republic City University offered a rugby scholarship. Ever since then her life had been a whirlwind. By far the best thing to happen was having Opal as a roommate.
Opal, while not from Republic City originally, moved there with her parents when she was 14. Her mom had taken the job as an editor at a big publisher while her dad was given an architect job at Future Industries. Opal's aunt Lin was Police Chief for Republic City so it was an easy transition for her from Zaofu.
Their first year Korra and Opal were roommates they met Bolin, who was working as a waiter at their favorite ramen place. He was working his way through college himself. Then came Bolin's brother Mako who was working his way through community college preparing to apply for the police academy. The four of them ended up sharing an apartment the following school year.
All of that seemed so long ago whenever Korra thought about it, but she, Opal, and the two brothers had been friends for going on six years now. It wasn't until New Year's two years ago when the four crossed a line they never thought they would.
The four had just returned home from bar hopping and celebrating the new year when Opal had loudly proclaimed she didn't have a new years kiss. Bolin grabbed her and pulled her into a deep kiss at that moment. It felt like minutes passed before the two surfaced for air. Bolin smiled and said
"I've wanted to do that for years."
Opal blushed and they both went up to Bolin's room to "talk."
"He really has waited for years," Mako replied as he began making his way towards his room. "Looks like one of us grew balls tonight."
"Wait, one of you?" Korra questioned trying to work out what he was saying in her drunk fog.
Mako walked up to Korra and pressed his lips to hers. Before she knew it they were in her bedroom and clothes fell to the floor
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Korra got out of the shower and dried herself off. Heading to her closet she settled on jeans and a v-cut t-shirt. Simple. That had been Korra's wardrobe as long as she could remember.
"Naga!" She called as she grabbed a leash and some treats from the side table near her door. Naga bounded to her, happy to see the leash in her human's hand.
"Ok girl," Korra said, kneeling to Naga's level and fastening the leash to her collar. "Best behavior tonight."
In an almost human way, Naga looked back at Korra with excited and understanding eyes. Korra stood up and they were out the door.