Chapter 14

Nya

    It must have been early morning when we surfaced because it felt like years once the sun started going down. They swerved east, towards the Black River. Though most of the sky was covered by dense, overgrown trees, the sun peeked through small openings, dappling the jungle floor.     Nya couldn't help but to smile when she looked back, her brother, the one who hated showing his emotions, was holding hands with the person he loved for a long time. Jay was confused, but when Nya nudged her head backwards, the two boys had their hands occupied with weapons.      Oops. I hope they didn't notice me looking back.    By the time they decided to settle for the night, it was pitch black. The place they rested in was clear open to the sky, so Nya could see the shining stars up ahead. Way too many to count, but they were still beautiful.     Everyone else was asleep, except for her and Kai. Nya volunteered to take the first watch but Kai just had trouble sleeping; she always knew that. When they were young, sometimes she'd sleep with her brother, to help her deal with nightmares at night. Multiple times she'd hear him wake up and read a comic, or open the door to get water. Only when he had a rough day did he actually lay down and sleep for the entire night.     "Stars are beautiful tonight." Kai's comment jolted her away from her thoughts. Kai sat next to her with a red blanket, of course, wrapped around himself.    "Yeah." she wove her arms around her knees, bringing them up towards her chest in hopes to get warm. She felt a warm cloth draped over her shoulders as Kai slid closer to her side.     "Thanks."    "Yep."     Silence.     "Y'know, we're lucky to see the stars this bright. People in Ninjago City would never be able to, considering the lights never go out," Kai laid down and put his hands behind his head. Nya copied him, but rested her tired neck on his chest. "makes you kinda think about how lucky we are."    Nya let a breath out. "Yeah. Makes me appreciate how lucky I was to have you as a brother. Without you, I have no idea where I would be." she could hear the sound of crickets in the background. It was nice; spending time with her brother, relaxing underneath the stars on a peaceful night.     Kai laughed that sounded like a breath. "And If you weren't in my life, I dunno where I'd be either." Kai twisted Nya's soft, black hair between his fingers.      "Uh Nya?" he seemed to hesitate, the rhythm of his heart beating faster. She knew it must be serious, because when they had a normal conversation, he usually called her sis.     "Yeah?"     "C-can I ask you for... advice?"     The water ninja turned her head so that her chin rested on top of Kai.      "Sure."     Her brother took a deep breath before resuming.      "Erm, it's about Cole..."      Nya's heart did a little leap. Finally he felt open enough to talk about his feelings.       Kai recognized Nya's sudden jump of energy and addressed her before continuing. "And please don't start going crazy. It's just a crush okay?" Nya made a high pitched squeal in the back of her throat while Kai rolled his eyes. "Sorry bro it's just-" she squealed again, this time rolling over on her side so that she was no longer on top of her brother. "Nya..." Kai warned through gritted teeth as he looked around, making sure everyone was asleep. Nya took a deep breath and sat up. "I'm just so happy for you. I mean, Cole's a really good guy, truly he is. I know you both love each other very much, and it's hard for you guys to admit, but it was nice seeing you so happy when you held hands today," Kai opened his mouth to explain himself, propping his elbows against the soft ground, but Nya put her finger to his lips. "and it's not just a crush. It's love." Kai scrunched his face and stuck his tongue out, but despite the darkness, Nya could sense Kai was blushing. His body temperature rose so that he was practically a human heater (which he kinda is).      "Oh my gosh Nya that was so cheesy." The water ninja shrugged. Kai continued. "I just don't know how I'm gonna to tell him. What if he really doesn't like me back and things get awkward and because of me I ruined our friendship?" her usual confident brother seemed nervous and worried.       "No, Cole's very understanding. He wouldn't judge others based on small qualities. He makes sure to understand them first."       Kai mumbled something Nya was unable to hear.      "What?"     "I said, that's another reason why I, love him." he paused before saying love. Nya understood how hard it was to admit love, so she was able to sympathize with Kai. Back when Jay and Cole fought for her heart, she couldn't choose which one, but when she did choose Jay, even then it was hard to admit she loved him despite he loved her back.       "Kai, it's okay to love someone, whether that's your family or someone who isn't."        The red ninja sighed. "I know. But it's... complicated." Nya snuggled closer to Kai's side, pulling the other half of the blanket over him.       "It is, but you have to be honest with one another, that is, if you trust him."        "Which I do." Nya smiled.        "Then you should talk it out. Actually listen to each other's feelings before jumping to conclusions."        "I hope you weren't referring to that one time where I interrupted mom and dad to get the reversal blade."       Nya laughed. "I kinda was."       "Well I'm getting better, right?"      "Not really."        Kai groaned. Nya patted his hand. "Let's just go to bed and deal with this after our mission. I know it puts a lot of pressure on you." "K' goodnight sis." "Good night." and she laid down in her previous position, closing her eyes.

The next morning they set off. Luckily, her leg was mostly healed, thanks to Sensei Wu's healing tea, but she was still unable to run.     Longing for the chill of the tomb, Nya was unhappy with the heat on the Dark Island. Not only that, but the bugs and the humidity; it makes you want to plunge into water and stay there forever.     The walk to the river was in silence. Since they've been doing this for basically more than a week, talking seemed boring. It was as if everyone ran out of ideas to talk about, which was true. Nya had nothing better to do than count her steps and listen to the chirps of tropical birds. It wasn't until Jay pulled her by the waist, closer to his side, interrupting the water ninja from her meditative trance.     "Someone's feeling cuddly," Nya smirked at Jay who didn't respond, his eyes peeled and fully alert. "Jay? What's wrong?"     His grip tightened, telling her to be quiet. The others' facial expressions read the same, fearful and vigilant.     A shadow flashed by. The wind stirred suddenly, cold and unwelcoming, in contrast from the usual warm, moist breeze. Jay's curly hair brushed her ear as he whispered with panic, his voice shaky and sounding almost too soft it scared her: they're back.    Nya instantly understood. They didn't have to stick around long before they were fully surrounded, wispy shadows lurking  around them. Nightmares from the last meeting still played vividly in her mind. Her breaths came in and out desperately, like she could feel the cold tendril on her neck again.     Jay let go of Nya's waist and slipped his hand into hers. "Stay by me at all times." she nodded.    The water ninja drew her trident. She hadn't used it, yet, but she was going to now. It's handle was four feet long, wrapped in dark grey and forest green leather. The three blades shined wickedly in the dim sunlight, the word "water" engrained in maroon on the middle blade. When the sun hit it, a rainbow of colors sprouted outwards like a light show, vibrant shades of reds, blues, and yellows.    The shadow figures lunged. Nya side stepped and jabbed at the stomach, but her weapon just passed right through it. Forming an inky black dagger in its hand, the tendril swiped to land a blow to Nya's neck, but she was quicker. Their blades clashed, sending sparks flying in all directions. Her arms trembled against the amount of strength being pushed down on her, and right as she was going to give away, Jay, her knight in shining armor sent a blast of blue lightning to its head. Nya's opponent screamed an ear piercing note, exploding into black dust.     "Thanks." Nya breathed. Jay winked and went back to back with his fiancée.     "You have to aim for the head, it's the only way to kill them." Nya had to strain her ears around the battle to listen to Jay.    As she turned around, Nya came face to face with another shadowy figure. The mist curled around her face, cold and chilly. She hoped to never feel it again, and it gave her a sense of deja vu, like she's felt something similar. And no, it wasn't when the shadow figure attacked her and Jay, it was something before that...    The duo kept battling for which seemed like hours. Nya's leg started to ache, which was not helpful in this situation.     Her team didn't look the best either; they were all drained, mentally and physically. The shadow figures kept reforming and striking again, fully energized without a scratch.    Again, they were surrounded, black daggers pointed towards their throats. Nya gulped as the sickly blade touched her skin, sending shivers down her spine.    This was it. She was going to die like this, in the middle of a jungle by smoke, very powerful smoke. At least she was with the people she cared most about, back to back, ready to face death. Jay slipped his hand into hers and squeezed it tight, as if saying his last goodbye. Tears swelled in Nya's eyes while she returned the grip, looping her fingers around Jay's so that they were intwined together. She desperately tried to hold back a sob, for she had to stay strong for those around her. In unison, the figures raised their smoky tendrils to strike. Jay squeezed Nya's hand even tighter, making both their knuckles go white, closing her eyes and letting the tears silently fall. She braced herself for impact, but it never came. Screams echoed through the jungle, but it wasn't her teammates. Nya dared to open one eye, then another, when she realized the figures were gone, turned to dust. Silver arrows punctured the ground in front of her, but where did they come from?      The ninja's scrambled to their feet, glaring wide-eyed at a group of archers that stood confidently in front of them. They looked tribal, red and black paint streaked underneath their eyes. The women wore leafed skirts and sleeveless tank tops, while the men were shirtless, exposing their well built figures. The sun made their tan skin glow, like in the skin commercials, but without the use of lighting and special effects.      Nya peeked at her brothers and sisters. They looked just as scared and confused as she was. Her hand as still linked with Jay's, and she couldn't help to notice her brother had his hand tightly woven into Cole's.      Lloyd stepped in front, standing a little taller so he looked more confident than he felt. "Thank you, for, saving us. Who are you exactly?"      The tallest male member mirrored Lloyd, stepping forward to show he was the leader.     "Tribe of the Dark Island. Who are you?" his English seemed incomplete, but his voice was proud and deep like the Endless Sea.      Lloyd looked uncertain. He glanced back at his uncle for reassurance. The wise man nodded. "We come from Ninjago, the land across the sea. We're the ninja."      A woman to the right of the leader spoke in a different language. The taller man nodded and looked back at the group.     "Yes, we have seen you before; the people in brightly colored sleeping attire."    Jay threw his other hand in the air. "Why is it always pajamas!" Nya nudged Jay with her elbow. The leader only smiled, his skin free of wrinkles showing his young age.    "Come. You must tell us all you know." the mysterious tribe turned around and marched deeper into the jungle. Nya looked at her teammates with uncertainty, and they looked back with the same light in their eyes. Reluctantly, the group of ninjas followed the tribe.

Unfamiliar people buzzed around the camp, carrying hand-made woven baskets and weapons. Some ducked into small tents made of banana leaves, while others went to tend to crops or talked to yellow birds that landed on their finger. Small children ran happily through the crowd of people, startling their elders and making them drop whatever they carried. A sense of nostalgia came to Nya. After their parents were captured, she and her brother tried to make the time pass by playing outside. Tall stalks of yellow flowers grew near their home, only down by the rice fields, and every morning she'd run contently on and on. Sometimes she'd play hide and seek with Kai, or they'd lay down and stare up at the stars. She wished she could go back to when life was simpler, but then again, she wouldn't have met Jay or the people she'd give her life for. The ninja followed the group of archers into a tent. It looked like the others but larger and more sturdy. Nya pushed the thick vines to the side and entered the surprisingly comfortable room. She guessed the inside would be made of leaves and wood, but instead of the moist dirt was the hide of an animal. Round pillows with various decorations scattered the floor, along with brightly colored blankets and small wooden tables. In the center was a slightly larger table, ink and papyrus paper spread on the smooth surface. An old tribe member sat cross-legged behind the desk, mumbling and scratching symbols on the paper. He had a grey beard, and his skin was tan, just like the other tribe members. He wore a crown made of colorful feathers, neatly sewn together in a decretive pattern. Now that Nya thought about it, the leader of the small group wore a headband with the same feathers, sewn in the same pattern.      The young man cleared his throat. "Father, we have very important guests with us." the old man raised his eyebrows as if not wanting to be disturbed. After finishing the last symbol, he raised his eyes so that he could make contact with his son. They almost startled Nya; bright blue against his dark skin. The dim light made it look like they glowed in the dark.      "I see. And who may they be?" his sounded like his son's, but wiser and more raspy.      "We're the ninja. We come from Ninjago, the land across the sea." Lloyd repeated. The father hummed. "Sit," he ordered. "there is much to discuss." So they told him everything: bringing Cole's mom back, retrieving the departed leaf from the elemental master of death, fighting off shadow figures, and what they intend to do: get the water from the Dark River and retrieve the  crystals from the temple of light. Cole felt comfortable to tell them the prophecy, but the old leader shook his head, saying a great danger has been released. They all introduced themselves of course, the son named Chaska and his father named Chief Akecheta. The others acquired themselves too, but they were names Nya couldn't pronounce nor remember. The chief ordered them to visit his daughter, Catori, to help them settle in and rest for a couple days before continuing on their journey. Cole seemed uneasy but Kai placed a warm hand on his shoulder. Chaska lead them across the clearing to another tent. Instead, it was decorated in flowers Nya would never find in Ninjago, absolutely stunning but crazy-looking at the same time. The son of the chief held his hand out, telling the ninja to stop and wait outside. He ducked into the tent, pushing giant banana leaves out of the way. Inside, the siblings chattered in the same mysterious language that sounded like mandarin. Even if it was an ancient language back in Ninjago, many people forgot about it and its roots, so hearing the confusing words was very rare.     Once Catori came out, Lloyd was awestruck. His eyes seemed glued to the chiefs daughter.     Nya smiled when she realized that Lloyd had a liking towards daughters of important figures. First it was Harumi, now Catori. She glowed like golden pigment was mixed in her melatonin. Her hair had a light, wavy curl, which naturally blended from dark chocolate brown to golden, extremely shiny like the moon itself was dusted on her head. Forest green eyes stood out against her tan skin and rosy red lips curled into a genuine smile, without the use of lipstick. A wooden bow with silver scratchings slung across her chest, as well as a quiver of silver arrows attached to her back. She waved welcomely at the ninja and guided them inside her tent, where she gave them towels made of wild cotton and a temporary change of clothes. She lead the group to the showers, towards the opposite way of the entrance. Apparently, an inventor who died last year created a system where the water from the Dark River could be transported to the camp. "So if we need the Black River water, why can't we just get it now?" Lloyd asked as he dropped back next to Catori. "The water's healing properties fade little by little every second, and become unusable after three days. It is wise to obtain the water right away, if you want to save your friend." "Mother." Cole tried not to be rude. Catori cleared her throat. "Yes, excuse me. Mother. Luckily, the Temple of Light is not far; only two days walking distance." she stopped in front of the showers. "I will leave you in privacy. Please return your clothes to me, and I will find someone to clean them for you." A series of "thanks" and "thank you's" jumbled together amongst the ninja. Catori smiled and turned around, quietly padding off towards the camp. Nya walked up to Lloyd and whispered in his ear. "Found something of interest?" The green ninja whipped around and faced Nya with an incredulous look in his eyes. "N-no! What makes you think that?" Nya rolled her eyes playfully. "You're a horrible liar." "Ok maybe I do like her just a little," he dropped his voice to a whisper. "but I just don't know if she's like... y'know." Nya rubbed his back for reassurance. "She may be different, you never know," Lloyd have her a half smile that she returned. "talk to her. Maybe things will be different this time." Lloyd nodded while looking at the ground. "Thanks." "Sure." Lloyd walked over to one of the unoccupied showers. Once the ninja were done, they threw their clothes in a pile. "Who's taking our clothes?" Jay asked his teammates. "Not it." Kai said right away. "I ain't taking it." Cole crossed his arms. Nya gave Lloyd a look and nudged her head in the direction of the camp. He couldn't read lips very well, but he knew she said, 'talk to her'. "I'll take the clothes to Catori." his teammates looked at Lloyd gratefully. Once he walked off, Kai turned to his siblings and smirked. "Guys, I think Lloyd likes Catori." Nya smacked him on the arm. "Of course he does! Leave him alone, he doesn't understand his feelings yet." "But Kai is correct. I sense his heart rate increases by 0.523 beats per second than normal when she is around him." Pixal, being the accurate nindroid she is analyzed. "Uh I don't mean to change the subject, but do y'all wanna go check out the camp?" Ethan awkwardly added. "Oh yeah, good idea." Nya agreed as she walked alongside her teammates. She was glad Lloyd found someone he liked. Hopefully, this time it'll be different, but if it wasn't, she had an excuse to beat someone up.

Lol. Typical Nya. Sorry for those who read this before I updated it. I swear I finished the chapter but it decided to be annoying and deleted the last 1000 words which was weird. Eh whatever next chapter will come soon! 🤗