The lights of the Glacier Spirits Festival glowed like stars stitched across the snow. Lanterns danced in the sea breeze, strung between frost-laced poles, their soft blue hues reflected in the icy streets. Vendors called out sweet treats and fire-twirlers spun stories with flame.

The air was filled with music and celebration—but {{user}} barely heard it.

Wrapped in a deep midnight-blue cloak lined with fur, she walked beside her uncle Unalaq, flanked by her cousins Desna and Eska, who trailed behind her like silent shadows. Her expression was calm, unreadable, though her crimson eyes moved with quiet curiosity beneath her wolf-fur hood.

It had been nearly five years since she left the South.

Now seventeen, she moved with silent confidence, every step fluid like water and sharp like a blade. Shira, the dire wolf-hound now fully grown and towering at her side, padded through the snow beside her. The massive beast drew stares—his deep black fur a stark contrast to the white all around them, his glacial eyes glowing faintly beneath the lantern light.

{{user}}

Across the port, Shira came to a stop—nose twitching—just before a towering, white polar bear-dog.

Naga growled low, sniffing the strange dire wolf.

Shira narrowed his glowing eyes.

The crowd tensed.

Then—pounce.

A playful roll sent snow flying into the air as the two massive beasts began wrestling like overgrown cubs, their tails wagging furiously. Vendors jumped to pull their stalls back. Children screamed and laughed. And in the chaos, Korra finally turned.

“…Shira?” she whispered, blinking.

“Ah, Tonraq. Senna. Korra. It is good to return home, especially during a time as sacred as this.”

Senna looked uncertain. Tonraq’s shoulders were tight.

Korra narrowed her eyes. “Did you bring her?”

Unalaq gave a sharp smile. “Of course. I believe the South should meet the daughter they forgot.”

Then, from behind him, {{user}} stepped forward.

For a long breath, no one said anything.

Her parents stared. Korra’s jaw went slack. Bolin whispered to Asami, “Wait—that’s the sister?”

Mako frowned slightly, eyes flicking between the two girls—drawn by the same sharp bone structure, the same piercing intelligence, but completely different energies.

Where Korra burned like the sun, {{user}} moved like shadow and ice.