The Forsaken Hero

We talked for another hour, but no one had any ideas to overcome to the problem a hero presented to my plan. Eventually, I finally finished eating and rose to go, taking only Sarra and Korra with me.

As Sarra led the way to the tent where Sari was staying, I began to tremble. My words had been brave, but now, as I approached the foxkin child, I began to have second thoughts. Would she hate me? My chest tightened, restricting my breathing, as the thought sent a shiver down my tail.

There was no doubt that she had been hurt because of me. If I hadn’t befriended them in Westfall Village, Alverin never would have targeted her. He only hurt her to try and break me, to whittle down my will until he could engrave the slave crest on my chest again. It was impossible, I would never submit to him, yet in some twisted world, he thought hurting those I loved would bring me back into the ’fold’.

We arrived at the tent far too quickly, and I hesitated outside, gripping my skirt tightly. Korra laid a hand on my shoulder and gave me a comforting squeeze.

”You can do this,” she whispered. ”You have to.”

I nodded and tried to ignore the heavy ball of dread in my gut, pushing forward into the tent. It was dim, the only lighting coming from what little sunlight filtered through the heavy canvas. The scent of blood and fear nearly overwhelmed my delicate senses, and I stumbled as images of dark dungeons and torture chambers rose in my mind. I pressed a hand to my head and groaned, forcing back the memories. It took a few seconds, but at last, the darkness of my past cleared and I laid eyes on the sole occupants of the room.

Elinore knelt beside a small cot, her hands hovering inches above a limp foxkin child. Green life magic emanated from her palms, settling on Sari like dust and sinking into her skin. The mage looked up as we drew close, her lips drawn in a tight, worried frown.

”You’re here,” she said with a dip of her head. ”I think I’ll give you some space.

She withdrew her hands and the flow of magic ceased. Elinore bowed her head respectfully as she passed, slipping out of Sarra and leaving the three of us alone.

”Sari...” My voice broke as I dropped to my knees beside the bed. Sari’s chest rose and fell shallowly and her eyes were open, but they stared upwards, dead and lifeless. Her only response was a slight twitch in her ears as the lingering power of the life magic faded, and her muscles tensed slightly in pain.

Tears gathered in my eyes as I observed the foxkin. She was eleven now, maybe even twelve, only a year or two younger than mine when I was summoned to this world, yet was so small and frail she looked as though she’d break apart if I so much as touched her. She wore a simple white dress made for someone half her age, yet it clung to her body, emaciated body loosely. Thin black veins snaked across her skin, which was so sallow and gray it seemed translucent. One of her ears had a jagged notch in it, half-healed to a scar, and her body was covered in countless stripes and lacerations from whips and other instruments of discipline.

I reached forward tentatively, barely holding back a sob, and touched her face. She flinched away and let out a small whimper, her eyes wet with fear. She refused to meet my gaze, and after a moment, even the fear faded back into dull, tormented apathy.

The ball of dread in my stomach tightened, growing hot and spreading through my entire body. My tail shuddered and my hands closed into fists. It was like looking into a mirror, at myself after I stumbled into Heartland’s woods almost a year ago.

”Korra, I...I think I understand,” I said softly, my voice trembling with anger.

Korra looked at me and nodded. ”The moment I realized this is what had happened to you, I no longer cared to hold back. This world...no, the church, has betrayed the people it’s supposed to protect. I don’t give a damn how many I have to kill to protect those dear to me. I hope you don’t, either.”

I shook my head, too overwhelmed to respond. I had resolved myself to the path I chose, but seeing Sari like this drove any lingering doubts from my mind.

”S-starlight?”

Sari’s voice was barely a whisper, cracked with fear and pain. It touched something deep within my heart and, Without caring that Sari cried out in fear, I pulled her into my arms. She struggled for a few seconds, whimpering at the pain of having her body moved so suddenly, but I didn’t care. Having lived the hell she was experiencing, I knew the pain of her body was nothing compared to the agony of being alone and in the darkness. No matter how much pain I was in, it was in the arms of my friends that I found light and hope.

”I’m here,” I murmured into her furry ear. ”It’s alright now, I’m here.”

Slowly, I could feel her relaxing, sinking further into my arms. She hid her head against my breast, beginning to weep softly. Soon, sobs should her frail shoulders, and her tears wet my dress, and I simply held her and stroked her hair softly, whispering whatever comforts I could think of into her ear. Even when she tried to return my embrace, and her hand dragged across the sunpurge, I refused to cry out. If I could comfort Sari, nothing else mattered.

.Korra settled onto the cot, sitting quietly so as not to disturb us. Her deep green eyes were sad and distant, and I wondered if she were remembering the first time she held me like this. I did. I remembered all of the people who had held me and shared their love. Elise, Tana, even Thron. It was only because of them that I managed to break free of the darkness, and I had to be there to do the same for Sari.

”Starlight...Starlight,” Sari whispered my name between sobs, her eyes squeezed tightly shut and body trembling. She was so small and vulnerable, clinging to me with child-like need.

I don’t know how long I held her, it didn’t matter. At some point, though, her tears slowed, and I allowed my grip to relax.

”Why?” I heard her whisper. ”Why is everything so dark? Why did they want to hurt me?”

I had to swallow the lump in my throat before responding. ”Some people are evil, Sari. They will hurt and break and make afraid just because they like it. I’m sorry, I should have protected you. I didn’t manage to save you in time, and you had to suffer at Alverin’s hands.”

”Master’s,” she corrected, looked around with wide, fearful eyes.

I cocked my head, and she lowered her voice to whisper, ”Call him master, or he...he...”

She broke into tears again, I pursed my lips into a thin, white line. ”Sari, he is not your master, not anymore. You are free. Free, do you hear me?”

She just continued to cry, and I could tell the words weren’t sinking it. I just sighed and continued rocking her gently. That was okay. It took me months to accept that I was finally free, and though she had been enslaved for much less time than I had, it would still take time. At least she had a real childhood to recall, and experience with happiness before she was cursed. That was more than I had, and even learning to smile was a challenge for me. Sari only needed to remember.

Korra and I stayed with Sari for almost an hour, until I was growing weak again. It was only mid-afternoon, yet I was exhausted. The sunpurge was a constant ache and every muscle in my body yearned for rest. Much longer and I wouldn’t even have the strength to walk back to my tent.

”I have to go now,” I said, giving Sari another squeeze. ”Elinore will get mad at me otherwise.”

”And whip you?” Sari asked, her eyes getting wide again.

”No, we don’t do that hear. Ever,” I said firmly. ”But I respect her opinion, and know it’s best for me, no matter what anyone says,” I said with a glare at Korra.

She shrugged. ”Don’t blame me, you wanted to come with me. It wasn’t my fault you got caught.”

”Whatever. Anyway,” I turned back to Sari, ”I’m going to come back tomorrow, okay?”

”Don’t go,” she said, shrinking against me. Her little hands clasped around my dress, tugging me even closer. ”Please, don’t go.”

I rubbed her head tenderly, letting the sides of my fingers run up over her drooping ears. ”I...I don’t want to, but... there are things I must do. To protect you.”

She sniffled a bit more before reluctantly nodding. ”Okay...just come back. Promise?”

”Promise.”

I gently lay her back in her bed, feeling a rush of tenderness in my heart. For the briefest moment, I understood what Soltair must have felt when he nursed me back to health. He had taken these same feelings and turned them into something twisted, a desire for people to need him, to need the perfect hero. I wanted to believe he was genuine at first, but it was impossible to know. All I knew was I refused to follow in his footsteps. Everything I did was for those I loved, regardless of what it cost me.

I winced as I stood, a hand flying to my side. Those sacrifices were growing harsher by the battle, it seemed.

”Come on,” I said to Korra, pushing out of the tent. ”I need to sleep a bit, then I’ve got a few things to show you.”