Darkness from Within #1: Twisted Paths (A Ninjago Fanfiction)

Chapter 8

Zane coughed as he roused back into consciousness. Blinking smoke from his eyes, he glanced around to see nothing but red and orange. Gasping, he scrambled to his feet, finding himself in the middle of a fire. All around him were broken parts of the Bounty, but the worse part was the flaming trees of the forest fire surrounding him.

He looked around, peering through the smoke and fire. Where are the others?

Just then, he heard a voice call his name. "Zane!"

Zane turned around as Wu came up behind him. "There you are! Come on, we have to get out of here!" the sensei told him. He nodded forward. "There's a river up ahead—our only chance is to cross it."

Zane nodded in understanding and began to follow him as he raced onward.

"Zane!"

Zane halted again at the weak cry. Squinting to see better, he spotted Jay lying on the ground a little ways from him, trapped underneath a plank of wood. "Jay!" Zane gasped, rushing over to the blue ninja.

Jay's face was clenched with pain and he let out a violent cough. "Hang on," Zane breathed, crouching beside him. Grunting, he pushed his back against the wood and heaved it off of Jay. Then he let it go with a jolt as it began to pick up flames.

He grabbed Jay's hand and helped him to his feet. The blue ninja gasped and stumbled before Zane put his arm around him and allowed him to lean on his shoulder. Jay's gaze traveled downward. "It's my leg," he hissed out. Then he groaned. "I-I think it's broken."

"You'll have to hold out a little longer," Zane said, guiding him forward. "The fire's only getting worse."

The two struggled onward, Jay's coughing getting worse and worse. Zane tried to pick up the pace, knowing the blue ninja couldn't survive that long without oxygen.

Finally, they came to the river Wu had spoken about. Cole and Pixal were already on the other side and they were helping Nya across. Wu and Garmadon were still on the fire's side, watching the forest intently for the others.

As Zane and Jay joined them, Wu's eyes flashed with alarm. "What happened?"

When Jay didn't reply, Zane answered, "Jay's got a broken leg from the crash."

Wu rubbed his beard, then jumped as the fire behind them suddenly shot higher. "Help Jay across the river," he told Zane. Zane nodded and led the blue ninja toward the water as Wu went back over to Garmadon. He looked around. "Where's Kai?"

"I'm here!"

The senseis turned toward the trees as Kai staggered out toward them. He stumbled to a halt beside Wu, coughing.

"You okay?" Wu pressed.

"Yeah," Kai spluttered, straightening up again.

As he headed to help Zane, Wu scanned the clearing and gave a head-count. Garmadon did the same, only realizing someone was still missing slightly faster than his brother.

"Wait," he gasped. "Where's Lloyd?"

Wu's eyes widened and he looked over the ninja again, but Lloyd was definitely not present. He turned back to the fire. "He's still in there."

Garmadon's heart started to pound. "We have to go back!"

Kai and Zane rushed back over to the senseis. "We'll find him," Kai promised.

Wu gazed at them solemnly. "Be careful," he told them. "And take your communication devices with you just in case."

"Wait for me!" Cole called as he joined the other two.