Chapter 384: Sari
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.