Chapter 376: Escape through the City
Fable let out a low warning growl as another explosion rocked the inn. The innkeeper paused his polishing and glanced toward the door, then to us.
"It’s bout time you move out, ain’t it?" he prodded respectfully, no doubt aware of our identities. "I’ll be leaving myself shortly, and I’d like to lock up the inn before it’s too late. Don’t know if those demon bastards are going to take the city, and I’d like someplace to return to if they don’t. Can’t trust looters these days."
Korra and Grace exchanged a glance, then stood at the same time. I was half a beat behind them but failed to hide my wince as the mere effort of standing sent a thrill of pain through my side. In the intervening hours since the battle for the shard began, the sunpurge had crept almost a half inch higher up my side than where it began, now halfway between my naval and the lower ridge of my ribcage. Fortunately, it hadn’t spread any further since I detached my link with the shard, but just tilting my body to the side stretched the glowing scars along with my skin.
Korra’s brow wrinkled with worry and she was around the table before I could react, her hand pulling mine away as I tried to shield my side from her prying eyes. The harsh, angry glow permeated the thin, silky fabric of my dress, and she gasped.
"That’s...not good. Wasn’t it only here before?" she asked, softly touching my side just above my hip.
I shuddered as even that light touch sent another thrill of pain shooting through my system. "N-no, it’s always been like this," I replied when the pain subsided. Worrying about wouldn’t do any good, and would only slow us down.
She stared at me hard until I looked away, the tip of my tail flicking nervously. I snatched it out of the air, but the motion only served to draw her attention to it even more, and I flushed red.
"Let’s just go," I said, pushing past her. I was aware of her and Grace’s eyes on me, but it didn’t matter. Worrying about it now would only slow us down, and despite the condition I found the two in, I still had faith in the Oracle of Eternity. It hadn’t been wrong before, and with the approaching presence of the demons, I didn’t want to find out just why Korra might need me so badly.
Korra’s lips drew together in a thin, worried line, but she reluctantly let it go. "Fine, but don’t think this is the end of it. I’m taking you straight to Elinore the moment we get to the camp, and that’s final."