She awakens before the door opens. The bed muffles the quickened footsteps, but she can still feel the ground beneath it. The floors of Zaofu hold few secrets to a metal bender, and none to a Beifong. She stands, covering herself before they can arrive. Her husband stirs as the door opens, but the guards aren't greeted by Su, but by the Matriarch of Zaofu.

"What happened," she asks though she knows the answer.

If they are shocked she is ready for them, they don't show it.

"Its Kuvira, she's gone."

Her heart tightens in worry. If anything were to happen...

"Find her. Quickly but quietly. I'll be there shortly."

They leave as she turns to Baatar. He registered everything of course. Tiredness had never slowed him down.

"Go, I'll look after the children. You might be the only one who can stop her."

She smiles slightly. This is why she married him. She never had to say a word, he just knew.

"I'll be back soon, my love" she replies softly, before turning and walking out the room.

The Captain is waiting for her. An old man, experience but still going strong. Su trusts him like she trust everyone is her city.

"A crash was reported about 30 minutes ago, but no one realised where from until it was too late. We had hoped to find her without waking you but-"

She waves her hand cutting him off.

"Its fine, you did the right thing. The domes are sealed so she shouldn't be able to leave, but search for openings just in case. I don't want her getting out."

He nods

Bare feet meet the cold floor as Su left the house, but she is used to it. Zaofu is her home, the cold is nothing but comforting. Besides, shoes would only hinder her at this. It would be faster without them.

A dull thud echoes through the dome as she slams her foot down, but it not those echoes she listening to. Eyes closed she can feel every movement in this part of the city. She may not have her mothers precision but she doesn't need it tonight. She just needs to find one soul, wondering alone. Her eyes snap open. Kuvira was at the dome. Not wasting anymore time, she sets off at a run.

Su can feel Kuvira scrambling against the wall, desperately trying to crack the egg that encased them, but obviously still too weak to do so. Slowing down as too not alert Kuvira to her presence she walks quickly down the final alleyway.

"Kuvira," she calls out softly. "It's Suyin.

Kuvira was slumped against the wall, shivering in her thin pyjamas the girl didn't look at Su, even as she sat down next to her.

"What are you doing Kuvira?" She asks but Kuvira didn't say anything instead just shivering and fidgeting with her braid.

"You know you aren't supposed to go out this late."

More silence.

"Kuvira, answer me."

Her voice is small when she finally speaks.

"I wanted to find them. To ask..." her voice fades too nothing and Su doesn't know what to say. How do you tell a child their parents don't want them? That they aren't coming back.

"I know Kuvira," she says finally trying to sound comforting, hoping that the girl doesn't realise how hollow the words are.

The eight year old remains stone faced, her face dry. Kuvira hadn't cried since Suyin had met her six months ago. Su doubted she ever would again. It must be easier not to feel.

"Come on Kuvira, we should get you inside before you catch-"She stops as she realise, there is wind blowing against her hair. Zaofu didn't have wind at night.

She looked up in shock as she notices the hole in the dome just big enough for a child to crawl through.

"Kuvira... did you do this?"

"I'm sorry, I tired to fix it but..."

Su has stopped listening. She knew metal benders double Kuvira's age who couldn't make a scratch in this dome. This was incredible. She knew Kuvira had potential, but she hadn't imagined anything like this.

"It's alright. I'll have it fixed in the morning."

She picked up the girl, holding her against her chest and started the walk back home.

Suyin woke with a start. Heart racing, she stared at the door, waiting for it to open.

It remained closed. No one was coming

She lay back down, as Baatar stirred.

"Su are you are alright."

"I'm fine dear. It was just a dream. Go back to sleep."

She didnt sleep for the rest of the night. Memories of the past racing round her mind.

Miles away Kuvira sat in her prison. A wooden island in the middle of the ocean. Ghazan's old prison she assumed or one similar. It didnt matter.

A storm raged battering against her and rocking the rig even more harshly than usual. She grimaced trying to calm herself. She hated the ocean. Earth was strong and trustworthy, metal even more so. It would not move without help and persuasion. Water would work with you, but the moment you stopped bending, it had a will of its own. It had no loyalty. It was why it was the most divided of the four nations.

Su had taught her this, when Kuvira had been trying to overcome her fear of water, she had tried to rationalize it for her. Stop her from being afraid. A leader could not be afraid.

What was worse she wondered, that Su had forgotten her fear, or she remembered and put her here anyway. Was it an extra punishment?

It didn't matter she supposed. Avatar Korra had beaten her and made her see what she had done. She may deserve this prison. She may deserve worse. Soon they would decide. The nations that had stood by and done nothing while her nation burned.

They were wrong. None of them care about the Earth Kingdom. They let the Earth Queen destroy your people and they would have let that fool Wu do the same.

The thoughts had been with her ever since her last stand. She closed her eyes trying to calm her heart and ease her mind. Avatar Korra was there now. She would keep the balance.

Keep the balance you brought. She did not bring balance to the Earth Kingdom. You did. You beat her once. You could do it again.

A wave crashed agaisnt the supports, chasing the thoughts from her, leaving only her fear. She gritted her teeth, forcing the whimper of fear back. Kuvira may be scared, but a leader could not.

Kuvira shivered as the rain ran down her back. Spirits when would this storm end.

"Kuvira." she looked up to see a guard holding a blanket. "Here."

Two words. The most directed at her in six months. She nodded her thanks before wrapping herself. The guard waited a moment before walking back to the shelter, leaving the Great Uniter alone again.

Six months. Her trial would be soon, she thought. Zaheer hadn't gotten one, so she supposed she should count herself lucky. Soon she would know where she would spend the rest of her life. And how long the rest of her life would be.

The prison rocked again and a tear fell down her face.

A leader could not be afraid, but Kuvira was no longer a leader and Kuvira was scared.