#Toph gives the brutal honesty with no sugarcoating while beating Korra up with mudbending

[thatonebirdwrites]

So what if my hands hurt and I want to scream at the pain? Dammit, I'm editing my writings because ... because! Take that pain!

Anyway, I finally updated it. Book 3.5 is almost done actually. Then it's on to book 4.

EXCERPT:

Each agonizing step infuriated her. Katara and Asami celebrated, but Korra fumed. She hobbled like a baby. Toppled like a toddler. Bended like a child. None of it was Avatar-worthy. She glared at the bars and the crutches that lay next to her. Today served as a reminder of how aggravating slow this process was. She still needed to master these poles and then came the dreaded stairs.

“You walked its length —” Asami started to say with a smile. 

Korra crossed her arms over her chest. “I fell. That’s pathetic.” 

Asami leaned back on her heels, and clenched her knees. She ducked her head to try to meet Korra’s gaze, her black hair falling like a sheath around her face. “Not pathetic. You tripped, that’s all. You still reached the—” 

Korra scowled. “That’s not good enough.” 

Asami sighed. “All right. Fine.” She grabbed the bar and leveraged herself to her feet. “Mope. I’ll celebrate with Naga your progress.” Her prosthetic clinked against the floor as she walked over to Naga and ruffled the fur between Naga’s ears. “Isn’t that right, girl?”

Naga barked and tried to lick Asami’s face. She ducked and covered her head with a laugh. Turning, she led Naga away from Korra toward the healing pool area.

Watching them took the breath right out of Korra. Tears stung her eyes. Asami had worked so hard with her prosthetic, to the point she could now walk, and jump out of Naga’s tongue’s range. Sure, she still fell when she attempted a run, but she worked hard to fix that too.

“She’s come far,” Katara said, quietly. She walked around the poles, the thump of her cane a steady beat. She stopped next to Korra.

Korra grimaced. “I haven’t.” 

Katara sighed. “Tell me, what do you see right now?” 

Confused, Korra looked up at her healer. “Uh, Asami playing with Naga?”

“Beyond that? Look deeper. Feel with your senses.” Katara dropped a hand on her shoulder and carefully lowered herself to the ground next to Korra. 

Frowning, Korra looked back at Naga and Asami. She had her arms around Naga, her face in her fur, and Naga curled around Asami as if to shield her. Which with her massive bulk, she’d definitely shield Asami from the brisk, cold winds if they were outside. “Naga’s trying to protect her from the wind. That’s the shielding pose she likes to do.” 

“But there’s no wind in here.” 

“No, they’re safe.” She tilted her head and realized Asami’s shoulders trembled. “Her shoulders only tremble if she’s laughing or crying,” Korra whispered. She slumped, her hands in her lap. Her legs splayed in front of her, like useless logs. “I did that, didn’t I?”

“Maybe. Maybe not.” Katara spoke softly. She gently bumped her shoulder against Korra’s. “What else do you see?”