Under The Same Moon Ch4

Chapter 4: The Confrontation

Location: Southern Water Tribe-Guest House


Mako paced himself back and forth in the living room while he muttered incoherent words only to scowl after words. Bolin was on the couch, watching how deeply troubled and hurt his big brother was and was trying to think of ways to call him down. Nothing seemed to work. Asami, who was in the kitchen, decided to make some tea and settle everyone's nerves.

"This wasn't supposed to happen…" Mako finally stated as he stopped in front of a wall. "I just don't get it."

Bolin stood up from the couch and rubbed his neck. "Bro, I understand you are beyond confused and angry but please try to calm down.-"

"Calm down?" Mako mocked as he clenched his teeth. "How on earth am I supposed to calm down? I just found out today that not only is Korra the future heir of the Southern Water Tribe but now she is also engaged to another man. She is going to marry another man.  Tell me, Bolin. If Asami was in Korra's place, would you "Calm down?" I don't think so. "

Bolin sighed since he knew what he said was true but still refused to give up.

"Mako…"

"I brought tea!"

Asami interrupted as she brought in a tray filled with a teapot and three teacups. She poured some tea for her and Bolin. She poured some tea into the third cup and offered it to Mako.

"Here drink this. It's cold and it'll help you relax." Asami stated as she placed the cup near his direction.

Mako snorted. "Relax? Calm Down? Listen to yourselves. Don't you care about Korra at all? Don't you care that Korra isn't herself anymore! Don't you care that she's going to marry that-that-that Northern Tribe  show off of a prince!?"

"Whoa. Time out. " Bolin started as he shook his head. "Of course we care about Korra, Mako. You know we love her. It's just that right now, we are all in a state of shock and we all want to figure out what's going on with Korra."

The firebender sighed and then rubbed his neck. "I'm sorry Bolin. I didn't mean to snap at you and Asami…It's just that-"

Asami smiled. "It's just that we know how much you love Korra and it's obvious how you're the one who's hurt by the news the most."

Mako nodded and faced at the wall. "I just don't understand anything anymore. I just don't know why she accepted his proposal. You saw her up there. She put on her brave face but her eyes were so watery. Why would she agree to marry someone she clearly doesn't want as her husband."

"Perhaps it wasn't her decision." Asami stated as she sipped the tea.

The two brothers looked at each other and then at Asami. "What are you talking about?"

She placed the tea onto the saucer softly as she closed her eyes. "Maybe it was an arranged marriage."

"It couldn't have been." The young earthbender replied as he scratched his forehead. "We saw Korra's parents. They looked just as upset as she was up there."

"I never said it was Korra's parents who made the decision." Asami stated as she opened her eyes as she now twisted a strand of her curly hair. "I believe someone else is behind this."

Mako absorbed all of Asami's words and then narrowed his eyes. "You don't think the White Lotus forced her into this marriage, do you?"

"Could be…Think about it. Ever since we met Korra, those White Lotus members in Republic City always surrounded her. She would always have to sneak off to meet us sometimes and we met some of them before. You remember what that one man said when we asked why they follow her around. They stated it was their duty and purpose to protect Korra.  They were all trained to protect her during the avatar state since it is the Avatar's most powerful yet vulnerable state of being."

Bolin scratches his head. "But why would the White Lotus force this marriage upon Korra? It doesn't make sense."

"That's the problem but there's also another thing to consider." Asami pointed out as she bit her lip. "The members of the White Lotus are not just elite warriors or benders. Like every organization, there is always a council or the head members who rule the organization. "

Mako scowled. "The elders in the White Lotus group."

"Bingo." Asami replied as she now crossed her arms. "Remember what Korra stated to us about a year ago? These elders were the same ones who decided to shelter her here in the Southern Water Tribe seventeen years. They wouldn't even let her move with Master Tenzin and his family, which is why she ran away to republic city a year ago. I understand the White Lotus were trying to protect her and were doing things they thought was best for her, but Korra wasn't having it. Now this suspiciously looks familiar and reeks of something of their doing. Only difference now is that-"

"-Now she's accepting it with no intention with fighting back or running away…" Bolin finished as he and Asami watched a tense Mako. He clenched his teeth as he punched the wall while he breathed heavily.

Bolin laid his hand on his brother's shoulder while giving him a hopeful look. "You need to talk to her alone Mako. It's the only way to find out the truth and straighten things out."

Asami nodded. "You should go find her now."


Mako stared at the two and felt a smidgen of relief. "I plan too. I made up that decision right before I left the party. Problem is…Korra's heavily guarded by guards and surrounded by servants. I need to talk to her face-to-face and completely alone. Some place where we can't be interrupted or heard."

"Oh I see your point." Bolin agreed as he tilted his face while Asami rubbed her chin with her index and thumb fingers.  

Suddenly a knock was heard at the door, which alarmed the trio. Mako and opened the front door, only find Master Katara wearing her trademark warm smile.

"Master Katara?"

"Hello Mako. May I come in?"

He blinked for a moment and coughed. "Sure. Of-Of course."

The elderly waterbender walked in and politely greeted Bolin and Asami and sat down in a chair.

"I shall get to the point. I know you all finally saw yourselves how Korra has changed and now what she's gotten herself into too." Katara gently announced as she shook her head sadly.

"Master Katara…" Mako started as he awkwardly sat next to her. "I want to ask you something...Is the reason why you invited us here was-"

Katara turned her attention to the blushing firebender. "Yes, Mako. This is why I invited all of you here. From quite sometime I knew about this arranged marriage that the White Lotus elders arranged. I was always against the idea from the beginning but in the end I was outnumbered with votes. During the time, I and along with Korra's parents, and Tenzin and his family, have been trying to convince Korra to go back to Republic City to see all of you. "

Asami scoffed. "I knew it. How typical of the White Lotus leaders to arrange such a thing. "

She then blushed and then added. "Of course, Master Katara I don't mean you. I'm glad you were against it."

Katara smiled. " Thank you dear.  I understand what you meant. But as you can see, Korra refused to go back to Republic City at all. "

"But why?" Bolin asked as he pouted. "Why didn't Korra want to see us? "

Mako stood up as guilty knots were forming in his stomach. "Was it because of…"

His golden eyes moved straight into Katara's but before he could finish his sentence,  she shook her head.

"The reason behind her refusal to go and see you, is something I can not tell you Mako. You must find the answer yourself." Katara softly replied and added. "I am not certain what happened but she clearly is still hurt by the action. So hurt that she's lost and confused about everything. So much so, to the point she is going to marry someone she does not wish to marry."

Mako closed his eyes as he took in her words.

"But…I do believe that whatever the action was, that one of you can fix the problem as well as make amends. Most importantly, I do believe one of you will be able to get Korra to come back to her senses again before it's too late."


The firebender's eyes peered down on the floor, while Bolin and Asami looked at each other and then at Master Katara.


"Is there anyway to get a hold of Korra now?" Asami asked.

Bolin nodded as he optimistically added, "Alone, too! Without having any guards or servants around her if that's not too much trouble. "



Master Katara smiled. "In about one hour from now, Korra will go retrieve Naga, and go out for her nightly run out by the blue gates. Only one guard is out by that time, but I already requested for a night off with him and go "another replacement" to take over shift."

Everyone then turned to Mako, who realized what they meant. He was trying to keep his already pink face from turning red.

Mako dusted some imaginary dust off his black trench coat and coughed. "Do I have to dress as one of the White Lotus or…"

Katara shook her head. "Not at all. I arranged everything so that you two would meet outside the village. You two will have more than enough privacy without anyone in sight. "

The firebender nodded seriously while attempting to not roll his eyes at Bolin and Asami, who were trying so hard to suppress their huge grins into high-pitched laughs.

"Alright Master Katara. Tell me the plan…"

---------------------

Location: Southern Water Tribe-The Outskirts of the village

"Naga!" Korra loudly whispered as she sprinted towards her polar bear dog who was nuzzling her.

It was two hours after the celebration was over and Korra felt extremely exhausted. Not physically exhausted but rather emotionally and mentally. She just came back from the most emotionally stressed day she's had in a while. Apart from waking up and helping out set up the celebration, she had to try on about twenty dresses, stay still for two hours of putting on makeup and fixing her hair. She then had to wait in one of her room in order to be summoned out in her own party.

She wasn't however prepared to see her old friends, entering the room. The worst was she wasn't prepared to see the man she once loved Mako. The moment she did, Korra immediately felt all her old feelings rushing back into her head and heart. But then a sharp pain spread through her chest as she remembered how hurt she was when she saw the kiss between Asami and him.

She sighed as she remembered about the proposal before the ceremony speeches.

Flashback

Nothing prepared for the worst to come for Korra. The White Lotus members summoned her and she found herself in the presence of the Northern Water Tribe Prince, Haku. He arrived and was awaiting her there in the room along with her parents and some of the White Lotus elites.

To her both shock and horror, Haku kindly greeted her and cut straight to the chase as he quickly presented her with a betrothal necklace. She was in a state of pure shock as the White Lotus explained the situation to her. Haku was the second prince of the Southern Water Tribe. His older brother was the destined heir to rule the Northern Tribe.  Seeing, as Haku was not only an honorable and extremely skilled warrior and single, the White Lotus decided to take the opportunity to offer Haku to become the future chief of the Southern Water Tribe in the condition he marries the Avatar. Naturally, Haku accepted without any compliments and traveled very far to meet her.

Korra immediately was upset and shouted at the White Lotus for secretly planning this and keeping this from her. The White Lotus members simply explained that her tribe wanted to see her settled down with a husband and in time, with children. They also pointed out as seeing that she shown no interest to any of the men in the Southern Water Tribe and she was single, it would work out for both her and Haku.


The Avatar has heard about some great things about Haku from some of the Northern Water Tribe tourists in Republic City. Despite his warrior wounds on his face, he was not only handsome but he was also a very outgoing, brave, and very kind fellow. When she met him face to face, she saw no hint of arrogance or a darkly hidden personality. He showered her with compliments and even stated, regardless of how fast everything was moving, he was happy to meet her and is excited to share his life with her.

One would think this would make things easier. But it wasn't the case for Korra. In fact, she felt the fact that he was likeable made it all the more reason to not hate him. At least if he was cocky or arrogant she could call him out on it and have an excuse not to marry him. The fact he wasn't any of those things, made it more difficult for Korra to refuse. Besides, the White Lotus members were right. She was single and so was Haku. Both have high positions and come from the sister tribes. This was match was more than perfect. She also knew that if she rejected, her family would lose their position and she would be letting her people, who all agreed for her to lead their tribe, down.

She noticed that Haku placed the necklace near a table in front of her clearly leaving her to have some time to think about the decision. She glanced over to find him, only to see that Prince Haku, was bringing her parents precious and rare gifts from the Northern Water Tribe. Her parents were being kind to him but knew they felt this was marriage situation was completely rushed. Yet, even with holding the title as the royal Southern Water Tribe family, Korra's parents new the White Lotus outranked them. There was nothing they could do.

So she accepted the necklace without any further complaint. She noticed a water drop shaped carved into the necklace. She wanted to give an empty laugh at the irony of the shape. To her, the carving resembled more of a tear than a water drop. Clearly she felt fate was playing some sick ironic joke on her. She sighed gently as she asked if he could put the necklace around her neck.  

Haku was thrilled and did so while hugging her and whispering to her of the happy life that was to come for both of them.


But perfect wasn't what Korra wanted. Her thoughts immediately went to Mako as he embraced her and immediately felt like she was being stabbed and electrocuted at the same time.  She coughed, trying to not choke and sob. Her eyes watered but she refused to cry in front of her fiancée or her family. She turned and ran toward a near by washroom and began to huddle in a corner and wept  for the man she realized she still truly loved.

Flashback End

Korra gave a sad sigh as Naga licked her to cheer her up.

"Don't worry Naga…. I'm just a little tired…I think I need some fresh air. Can we go to our usual spot by the cliff?" Korra asked as she patted her best friend's white fur.

Naga shot up and wagged her tail happily as her tongue hung in and out in excitement. Korra smiled at this. For the longest time, Korra only sees Naga at night since she has been swamped with training and learning how to reign the Southern Water Tribe. The arrangement she made with the White Lotus is she gets to visit Naga at night and can go explore outside the village as long as one escort goes with her. It was an annoying rule, but it was better than nothing.

She climbed on her friend and instantly headed towards their favorite snowy cliff. As Naga was running in full speed, Korra gazed at the sky and noticed how lightly it was snowing instead of the usual harsh blizzards they have been experiencing for weeks.

Immediately, Naga stopped which snapped Korra out of her thoughts.

Korra looked down Polar Dog. "Naga? What's wrong girl? "

She looked up and that's when she felt as if like a huge aching lump in her throat. There in the cliff spot was a young firebender wearing his signature red scarf and was standing there, with his hands on his pockets staring directly at her. Korra noticed he was still wearing his fancy attire from the party. She could not deny how truly stunningly handsome he still was. She cursed at the fact that he was still able to make her have butterflies in her stomach.

She closed her eyes slowly and took a deep breath for a moment. She knew if she ran now, that she would only be making things worse. Knowing Mako, he'd find some way to talk to her sooner or later. It was better to face the music now and to just get it over with.  

She slowly got off of Naga and patted her to follow her. As they walked, Mako made sure he never took his gaze away from hers. When they were finally about six feet apart, Korra stopped and randomly gave out a nervous laugh as she scratched her left arm.

"Funny running into you here, city boy." She calmly stated. "…How'd you know I'd be here right now?" "

"It wasn't that hard to figure out." Mako simply stated. "After all, I came here about a year ago for a little while and I remember you said something about a certain spot. I asked and it wasn't that hard to find."

She raised her eyebrows at him and then directed her attention towards the floor. "I see your still in your party outfit…"

He nodded. "I see your still in yours. Only it's not much of a party outfit now is it? "

She turned to face him while he continued.

"It's your engagement dress…"

He began to walk towards her as he held that stern look. But Korra stood her ground and refused to let him know he secretly intimidated her a little right now. Finally when he was close enough to her, he glanced at her neck to see carved necklace.

"And a matching betrothal necklace to match," he dryly stated as he now gave an empty smirk. "Now isn't that nice?"

Korra blushed as her eyes drifted away from his amber ones. "Mako..."

He lifted his hand to touch that necklace. His fingers were tracing along the detailed waterdrop carving and he gave a broken smile.

"How very pretty…" He taunted as he pulled his hand away.  

Her blue eyes pulled away from his golden ones.

"Stop acting this way Mako."

"What way, Avatar Korra?

"Don't you dare talk to me in that tone. "

"Don't you dare look away from me."

She refused his order until she felt his hands grabbing her shoulders as he repeated. "Just look at me…If you have something to say, then say it to me face."

Korra shook her head. "I don't want too."

"Why?"

She narrowed her eyes. "I just don't okay."

"That's not a reason." Mako argued as still held her shoulders.

"So?" Korra countered. "I don't have to look at you if I don't want too."

His patience was running thin now. "Look at me. You owe me that much. Seeing as I apparently had to sneak off to meet you here. You know what they say, it's not proper for a engaged woman to be seen with another man."

Her eyes widen and now she was filled with anger at his comment. "I owe you? You're joking right?"

There was tense moment of silence until Korra swiftly turned and was heading towards Naga but before she could have the chance to take the second step, Mako gently grabbed her hand.

"Let go of me."

"No."

"Mako, I'm serious."

"So am I."

"Let go!"

"No."

She gave out an annoyed sigh as she faced him. "You have some nerve Mako. Telling me I owe you and refusing to let go of me. I mean really Mako, We haven't seen each other for like what? Almost a year now? And now you're trying to tell me what to do again? In case you haven't noticed, we are not a pro bending team anymore. You're not the captain anymore so don't you dare think you can tell me what to do. Then again it's not like I ever obeyed your orders but I least I listened back then. What makes you think I'd ever consider such a request now? I owe you absolutely nothing. "

Mako scoffed. "I admit. You're right about that. Still, I think you do owe me considering everything that has happened today."

"How in the world am to blame here!?" Korra scornfully asked as she shook her head in disbelief.

Mako now glared at her. "Oh I don't know…Maybe the fact that I traveled all the way here to see you, only to find out that you are engaged!"

She bit her lip. "So what if I am? It's not like we were anything. I wasn't yours and You weren't mine. We had no claim in each other, so why are you acting like this?"

The firebender gave out a bitter laugh. "Not like we were anything? That's nothing but a lie and you know it."

"Oh that's right, " She practically snarled as she continued. " I remember kissing you once and you never said anything for months. Then I remember walking in on you and Asami kissing when it was pretty obvious about my feelings for you back then!"

Mako narrowed his eyes and blush. "It wasn't what you thought it was Korra. You walked in the wrong moment and it wasn't what you thought it was. She kissed me Korra. You walked in when it happened. She caught me off guard. I didn't and still don't like her that way. "

"Oh really?" Korra said sarcastically and gave out a bitter laugh. "Could have fooled me! But whatever, it's in the past. What's done is done. Point is Mako. I don't know you'd be so angry as to why I'm getting married! It's not like you care or anything like that."

He gave out a bitter laugh. "Not care? NOT CARE!? I came all the way here to finally face you, to tell you many things. One of them was to apologize and explain to you I'm sorry. Now I find out that you are engaged to another man!"

He snarled as he clenched his fists. "Why? Tell me why? What did I ever do to deserve this? Why won't you even look at me? Are you still mad? What's the reason Korra!?"

" You want to know the real reason? FINE!? I'll tell you what you did!" Hot tears were threatening to spill out of Korra's eyes but she refused to let them fall.

She pointed at him as she continued.

"You did nothing. That's what you did Mako. Nothing!"

He gave a confused look as she continued.

"I ran away about one year ago and I expected you not to come after me right away. But then days quickly became weeks. Then weeks became months. I haven't heard one word from you since the day I ran away. You never once found anyway to contact to me at all. Now out of nowhere, you show up, acting offended and demanding reasons for my choices? That's really twisted and sick Mako. "

His eyes widened and guilt was forming. " Are you serious? Since the day you left Republic City, every passing day that you weren't there, it has been nothing like torture. I even wrote to you to see if you're okay. You didn't answer me once."

Her arms were crossed as she looked at him. "What are you talking about? What letters? "

He glanced at her shock face.  

"You never got them…Did you?"

She shook her head and snapped back. "Did it ever occur to you that if I didn't respond back that maybe something was wrong? "

He blinked and deeply sighed. "I didn't know. I thought—"

"Well you thought wrong Mako…" Korra interrupted as she tried so hard to stop crying. "I have been waiting here to see if you'd ever come.  By the third month, I left Republic City, I just gave up on you! "

The two held each other's gaze for one moment and Korra gave out a huge sigh.

"Mako...Listen. I don't want us to fight. I'm really exhausted. I just want us to be friends again. I really did miss you, Asami, and Bolin. You guys were and still are precious to me. Let's just start over and be friends aga-"

Before she could finish that sentence, she felt a pair of warm soft lips kissing her slightly damp ones. She opened her eyes to see Mako passionately kissing her and now embracing her closely as if he was trying to warm her up. Her lips began mimic his for a few seconds until it sank to her what she was doing. She quickly attempted to pull away from the kiss but Mako wasn't having it. His hands cupped her face from pulling away.  Her thoughts were at a jumble until she realized there was only one thing she could do. With one free arm she punched him in the face.  

He fell back, landing on the snow with a hard impact. He was breathing heavily from the kiss as he rubbed his right semi swollen cheek.

Korra  yanked his collar. "Are you nuts? I'm engaged! I'm engaged to another man!"

Mako only smirked as he teased. "You kissed me back."  

"That's not the-That's not fair! YOU KISSED ME!" She scowled as a light blush came across her face.

Mako stood up and loomed slightly over her with his rare cocky grin of his. "You still have feelings for me."

"I do not."

"Yes you do."

"Argh…You're so infuriating."

He now gave that deep chuckle that Korra secretly loved and started. "Well that's a relief."

"Huh?" She blinked. "What are you talking about?"

He gave her a weak small smile. "You haven't completely changed. You still have your quick temper. In fact…I think it's worse than ever."

She blushed and scowled. "Spirts! You're as annoying as ever!  No. I take that back. You are ten times more annoying than you were back then!"

He attempted to chuckle but was too entranced by the way she was flustering and now held his soft somber look she knew to well.

Korra closed her eyes. "Look Mako-"

"Don't say anything…" He whispered as his glowing eyes were locking into hers.

He was about to go in for another kiss and Korra was restraining herself from hugging and kissing the man in front of her.

"Mako, I can't…"

"Yes you can."

"No…I can't."

"Can't or won't?"

"Both! None…What's the difference!?"

"There's a big difference."

"I can't! I won't! It doesn't matter which one I pick!  Look Mako… Whatever happened just now doesn't matter because in one week I'm going to get married to Prince Haku." She blurted out all at once from anger.

She quickly regretted those words because a look of hurt and anger resisted on his face and it was too much for Korra. She turned away from him.

"Don't do it Korra…" Mako whispered weakly.

"I have to…I gave him my word. I gave him my word to all my people." She whispered back.

"Korra…Let's run away…"

Her sapphire blue eyes widened. "What?"

He got up and intertwined his fingers into hers.  

"Let's go.  We can just run away right now to Republic City and not look back at this. You can be free from it all. You can stay with me and Bolin. We can pick up right were we left off!  Or if you want, we can start all over. We can get back all the lost time. "

He now came from behind her and wrapped his arms around her. " Just…Please don't go through with this. You don't have to do this. You can walk away right now."

"I can't."

"Yes. You can."

"It's not that simple, Mako."

He held her closer. "You don't love him."

She turned to him. " I have heard great things about Prince Haku. I met him today and he's everything that everyone said he was. He's very kind, gentle, as well as admirable. Everything a girl could want. Even though I don't love him now, I know I can grow to love him in time. It's for the best."

Mako stiffened at her words and withdrew his arms around her.

"So that's it huh?" The firebender stated as he formed a fist. "You are just gonna give up? You are going to give in and marry him?"

She sadly looked at him and muttered. "Yes."

He shouted as he began to lose whatever ounce of cool that was left in him.

"I can't believe you would still consider marrying him after that kiss we just shared. I understand if your feelings were gone but they're not. The fact you kissed me back proves that you still like me. That proves that you still have feelings for me but instead of backing down from the marriage you still want to go through with it?"

"I have to. I gave him my word to my entire tribe.  I can just runaway now! That's entirely selfish and disrespectful to my tribe, my family, and Haku!" She argued.

"I don't believe it Korra…" He stated as he pushed back his hair and angrily turned to her. "Is it because he's a prince? Is that why you are marrying him? Is that why you are refusing me now? Because I am nothing but a street rat?"

Korra gawked at his words. "Excuse me? "

He gave out an empty laugh. "Avatar Korra and Prince Haku. Has a nice ring to it, huh? You two will have a happy life together now! I can see it now. You and Haku! Ruling together, side by side. Then I can see you bearing his children and living happily ever after. Pfft. I was stupid enough you'd ever consider being with anyone from the streets like me."

Mako now gave her an uncharacteristic cynical smile.   

"Tell me Avatar Korra, what else did people say about Prince Haku? Is he super wealthy? A great fighter? A man with immense power?  Clearly the avatar must always deserve the best! You will always want and crave to be and have the best. Face it, Avatar! People will keep using you for the rest of your life if you allow them to push you around like you are doing now! "

She only gaped at him as her eyes widened in disbelief at the words that came out of his mouth.

If there was ever a time Mako felt like a bigger jerk and idiot, it was nothing compared to this. It took him all a whole minute and a few deep breathes to register what he just said to Korra. He not only offended her but he also blurted out one of Korra's most sensitive secret which was she told him a long time ago. The one where she admitted to him how being the Avatar terrified her secretly and how she was scared she was going to let people down. The same secret she told him that there were times she wished she wasn't the avatar because she was alienated because of her title and or used her for their own selfish purposes. The same secret she said where people always saw her as the Avatar and not Korra. The same secret where she told him that she sometimes just longed to be a normal teenager.

Suddenly both fury and pain began welling inside of Korra and she couldn't take it anymore. She quickly ran toward him and smacked him hard in the face as tears wear escaping her eyes.

Mako eyes widened as he slowly glanced at Korra, who was trembling with angry and sadness.

"That's not fair…That's not fair Mako. You know I didn't choose to be the Avatar…You know I never had a say in this…I can't believe you'd use that against me. The one thing I trusted you and not anyone else with!"

"I'm such an idiot." Mako whispered as he glanced at weeping Korra.

He and hugged her from behind. "I'm sorry…I'm so sorry Korra….I didn't mean it."

"Yeah…you did."

"No I didn't…I was just…It was my anger talking….Not me. I lost my cool Korra…I'm so sorry."

"Enough Mako…Enough."

She pushed him back and slowly backed away.

"Don't go…"

"It's too late…Mako.  It's far too late."

Her sapphire puffy red eyes were now burning into Mako's now wet amber ones. She walked away from him and climbed on Naga. Her head hung down as the polar bear dog rode away, leaving Mako frozen where he was standing. Standing and for the first time in years…Crying.