i'm breathing in the chemicals

The thing about Bolin is that it's almost impossible to keep him to a schedule. He's too lively, too attuned towards every rise and fall of the earth around him, going with the slope of the ground and distracted by every bright flash of light around. Korra knows that complaining would be hypocritical, and with her taste for adventure, it's not like she minds. Sitting on Naga's back and going with the polar bear dog is just about the best way to work off her energy for a day.

It's just... usually, when Bolin finds something fun, something that keeps him away for hours, he lets her know.

He hasn't been back all day.

Before the sun sets, Korra goes searching. She takes Naga along the line of the beach, through the water, bounds through buildings and races out into the wilderness. It takes hours before Naga gives up, every bit as stubborn as her caretaker, but she does eventually cave, stalling in the middle of the forest and staring back at Korra, whimpering softly.

"We haven't searched everywhere yet," Korra says at once, voice tense and tight. "There's no way that we've searched this whole city, it's... it's huge, Naga. We have to keep looking. Bolin might be in trouble."

But Naga keeps whining, settling on the ground before lightly whimpering in the direction of the moon, and somehow, that's all the sign Korra needs. Her chest feels tight, her throat constricts, and she slides off of Naga's back to walk further out into the forest, tears hot in the corners of her eyes before she screams in frustration.

And in the wake of the sound, Korra breathes fire.