The leader of the Order of the White Lotus huffed as he disembarked from his airship at the small Earth Republic village.

"I have spent the last sixteen years since Avatar Korra died looking all over the country for the next Avatar! We have never found them! We never knew if, after Korra and Raava were separated at Harmonic Convergence, the Avatar spirit would even reincarnate! And yet, we have spent years investigating claims, none of them proving to be true!"

A young woman carrying water, presumably to her home, brushed against him. A small amount of water spilled out of her pot.

"Watch where you're going, girl!" He snapped at her.

"I'm- I'm sorry, sir. I'll- I'll be on my way," she replied. He turned away, and she waterbent the water from the ground back into the pot and continued .

"Humph. Young people these days. Something's wrong with people. Mark my words, this world is going downhill!"

"Sir-" One of the foot soldiers tried to interrupt.

"Silence, Lee! We need to go investigate this claim and get out of here as quickly as possible. I've been doing this for sixteen years! I don't have that much more time left!"

"But sir!" Lee interjected. "That girl who bumped into you, she waterbent water she spilled back into her pot!"

"Bah! Just a wife from the Water Tribe for some boy in this village."

"She didn't look Water Tribe, sir." 

"Inherited it from her mother then. I will hear no more of this. You!" he shouted, pointing at a vendor. "Tell me where Bumo's house is!" 

"Down the road a bit. There's a little vegetable garden in the front yard, and a white jade bush. You can't miss it. Oh, his girl's always out front, too," replied the vendor.

The leader stomped down the street, huffing and muttering to himself as he went. The soldiers that accompanied him everywhere followed, trudging along behind. 

"There it is, sir," a soldier named Muka said.

"Humph. So it is. Ugh. And the girl is her." The girl who had bumped into him in the marketplace was bent over, tending to the vegetable garden. "You! Girl!" 

The girl stood quickly and flinched, clearly shocked and intimidated by the man snapping at her.

"S-sir?"

"Where is your father?"

"He- he's in th-the house, sir."

"Get him. We need to speak."

She turned and scurried inside the house. A moment later, she re-emerged with a man, whom the leader assumed was her father. Both had green eyes slightly paler than the stereotypical eyes of people from the Earth Republic. The girl's deep tan skin was the same shade as her father's. Her hair was shoulder-length, black, and wavy. The girl's hair and eyes reminded him starkly of Asami Sato, the late Avatar's wife, who had passed away before Korra.

"Good afternoon, sir. I am the Grand Lotus of the Order of the White Lotus, Hong Oyaji. You reported that your daughter was the Avatar?"

"Oh, yes, yes. My daughter, Tora, has been able to bend water since she was a small child, and just recently has developed earthbending. I always thought she had inherited the waterbending from her mother and that was it, but two weeks ago, she moved a big rock without touching it clearing out an area for more vegetables!"

"Dad, why didn't you tell me you told these people? And you weren't there while I was clearing the garden," the young girl said quietly.

"I was sure you wouldn't want to meet them and I always check on you out the window whenever you're working on the garden!" 

"Can you two have this conversation later? I've been looking for the Avatar for sixteen years without any results, and I'd like to wrap this up."

"Of course, sir."

"So. Was your daughter born the same day Avatar Korra died from the long-term health implications from the residual mercury left inside of her after being poisoned by the Red Lotus?"

"Yes."

"About what time?"

"Isn't her being able to bend multiple elements enough proof for you?"

"Please just answer the questions. We're almost done." 

"Early in the morning the sun was barely up, and her mother was gone before noon." A tear slipped down Bumo's face.

"This all seems to be in order. Pack your things and join us on my airship to travel to the headquarters of the White Lotus to confirm that you are the Avatar and decide where your training will take place," Hong Oyagi said to Tora.

"What?"

"You're going to take her away? I can't let you take my little girl."

"Sir, listen to what you're saying. Your daughter may very well be the Avatar, and she is a young, capable woman, no longer your little girl. You don't know what your daughter will face, but the world hasn't provided anything for her to yet. She needs to train, so that she can save the world when the time comes."

"I insist that she train here."

"That is not possible. She must come with us to train in Republic City."

"Avatar Korra was trained at the South Pole until she snuck away to Air Temple Island. Why can't the same safety measures be set up here? It is customary for Avatars to train in their homes." 

"It is not. Avatars travel the world, visiting the different nations and mastering the four elements. Your daughter will come to Republic City, then learn from the most respected elemental masters on the planet. She will be guarded at all times by members of the White Lotus. You have nothing to worry about." 

"I- I suppose so. But I will come to Republic City and you cannot stop me." 

Oyaji clenched his jaw. This man was infuriating. "I cannot stop you, but you may not be transported in our airships. You will travel as a private civilian and on your own." 

"Of course." Bumo glared right back at Oyaji. "Tora, you should go pack your things." 

"Oh, the Avatar has no need of worldly possessions. You should say your goodbyes. Do you have an animal guide?" 

"Excuse me?" Tora asked.

"Do you have an animal guide? As Naga to Korra, Appa to Aang, Fang to Roku." 

"Oh, no, she doesn't," Bumo replied. "I'm allergic to all kinds of animals, you see-" 

"Does Heshi count?" Tora interjected. 

"Who's Heshi?" Oyaji inquired. Bumo looked at Tora quizzically. 

Tora whistled, and a fully grown eel hound bounded out from behind the house and knocked Tora over. Everyone surrounding her stepped backwards in surprise. Oyaji stumbled and fell.

"Who- how- what- how- when- how-" Tora's father spluttered. 

"Yes, I think Heshi counts," Oyaji said weakly. He returned to his feet. Once he had regained his composure, he continued in his businesslike tone. "Say your goodbyes. We should be on our way." 

Tora pushed Heshi off of her and stood. Her father hugged her tightly, almost too tightly. "Don't let anyone know who you are," he whispered in her ear. "Anyone."