Carried over from the Test Drive, Open!

[motheroffaces]

[A pool has formed in the Spirit Wilds. Probably it used to be a fountain, but seems to have been taken over by something else, the center lopped off and away. The water is absolutely clear, but also absolutely deeper than it should be; one can no longer see the bottom of it. For anyone spiritually sensitive, the place is flush with spiritual energy.]

In the center of the pool stands a figure, body almost human, but not quite. Her body is gaunt, too long, wrapped in layer upon layer of vines and roots. Her arms and hands hang far longer than any human's, tipped with claws. And her head . . . a slim neck supports a head that is many-branched like the upended roots of a tree. Between and below each branch, there is a human face, exquisitely formed but blanched of all color.]

[No eyes are visible, hidden behind loops of vines and roots, but if anyone enters the clearing, they will find that immediately she is aware of their presence.]


((ooc: All other conversations that didn't happen on the Test Drive will take place after MoF meets with Aang.))

Comments

[motheroffaces]

"When the Avatar chose to close the portal, he came to me to persuade me to leave." The Mother's voice retains its sharp note, and the water of the fountain ripples in response. "I chose not to. I remained here, in the human world. Out of . . . what? Perhaps some sense of duty. I remember how it was before the Convergence -- humans in their cities, clinging to the lion turtles like fearful children, lashing out at the spirits whenever they came into contact. I remember what came after -- the spirits slowly being all but forgotten, reduced to figments to frighten children in their beds. Humans spreading throughout the world, claiming it in its entirety. What do you believe happens when human beings discover that their nightmares are reality?"

The water lashes suddenly against the stone, and all voices are speaking again in a trumpet of harmony and rage. "Perhaps more than that, why is it a single human who decides our fates in a whim that cannot be undone for ten thousand more years?"

[braavado]

She understands the spirit's reservations about this. Seeing Wan's memories had given her some insight about the old relationships between the spirits and humans, and Korra only hopes that she can keep things from escalating to that level.

"I never said it would be easy," Korra says quietly. "Yes, people might think badly of spirits, but that's only because they don't have any knowledge of them besides what gets passed around. I'm not going to shirk my duties on this--I might not be the bridge between the two worlds anymore, but can be the bridge between the spirits and humans. At least, until they learn to get along.

The more we let them assume things on their own, the worse it'll probably get."

She sighs. "I'm sorry if you think this causes more trouble for you, but the fact is that the Avatar exists. And if everyone's going to be pushing the responsibility onto me anyway, then I might as well do things the way I think will be best for everyone."