Chapter 314: Among Allies
The Last Light Company had expanded since the fight in the Ice Gate, forced to take on and train recruits to replace the armies they had lost. All in the camp I awoke in were fresh recruits, but they had all heard the stories. The soldiers who greeted me after I stepped outside the tent were no exception, eager to catch a glimpse of the hero who had quelled a sixth-level gate.
When I suddenly broke down and began sobbing, they reacted rather awkwardly, shifting about, not exactly sure where to look. Undoubtedly, in their experience, heroes were stalwart personifications of righteousness, utterly incapable of things like sorrow or relief. But after hearing Korra had survived, I couldn’t help it and broke down sobbing.
"Lady..." one said, reaching out tentatively, his brow creased in concern.
"I-I’m fine," I stammered. Conscious of their gaze, I blushed and scrubbed my eyes, a futile gesture as more tears immediately welled up. "Just...relieved."
Fable pressed against my side, giving me a silver shoulder to lean on. Feeling an overwhelming urge to hug something, I wrapped my arms around his neck and buried my face in his fur. It didn’t matter what the soldiers thought. Korra was alive.
Eventually, Fable shifted beneath me, gently prodding me with his paw. I squirmed against him, reluctant to part. The circle of strangers felt a lot more real, all of a sudden, and I didn’t have the heart to face their excitement or enthusiasm, especially after the emotional scene I just presented.
Somehow, Fable wormed his way out of my grip, circling around me quickly and pushing me to my feet. Slowly, I turned and faced the soldiers, gripping the hem of my skirt at the thought of meeting their disdainful expressions. Surprisingly, they were all looking somewhere else, studying their boots, the ground, or even nearby tents. I smiled softly as my heart warmed with gratitude, relaxing my hands and clasping them together.
The moment they felt my gaze, they snapped to attention, pressing their right hands to their chests. My tail flicked in surprise, but I simply nodded, graciously accepting their salute. They had shown me such dignity; the least I could was return it.
"Thank you. Please, take me to Korra."