Wisps: Recollection (Ninjago X Reader)

48. The Way Back

A chill frosted the wind the higher this piece of land ascended to the city. Is what you would like to believe. The coldness you felt wasn't from the climate. What cleaved its frozen blade into you was– "It's not too late to turn back."

"Huh?" Griffin was confused. Skylor had enough of it, sick of it. He laughed, the very idea a joke. "We're not going anywhere, we got a city to save!"

"You need all the help you can get right now." A grim frown took Skylor's features. "Plus... You heard my answer at the noodle house. We're not backing out." She lessened her glare as you looked away. Their valor stole the words from your mouth.

'You guys work well together.' It was a sorry attempt to steer them from the threat anyway. "Keep that up when we get there."

"We'll do boss!" Griffin parodied a salute, Skylor easing a stifled giggle.

"Ugh, you're not listening to me." You pinched the bridge of your nose. "Be careful. You guys get hurt and I want you out of here. Okay?"

"Jeez, okay, I promise. Cross my heart and hope to die." Griffin crossed his arms with a quiet laugh, trying to keep it to himself as you worked to bury him with your scowl. "Oh, we're getting closer!" He brought the group's attention to the city they were drifting nearer to.

"Get ready, everyone!" Jay cried out. You followed them, gathered at a corner, sneaking inside a building in case pirates were coming. Chime laid low, lurking between buildings until the clouds became denser for her to creep in. Which apparently won't be for a good chunk of time– the clouds were thinning. But that wasn't at the front of your mind at the minute. Two pirates casually strolled the street, monitoring for stowaways.

"...indifferent about the whole thing, isn't he? Especially when there's a little less than forty of us here now."

"You still have your breeches up in your ass over that? You saw when they came back, they practically gave the lady up."

"I'm not worried about that. It's just a little strange how the captain moved on so fast, taking that sadness and turning it into a rage for revenge... I sort of envy him for that."

"Aye, it's alright, I miss them too..."

'Where's Griffin?' You looked around, catching Skylor doing the same, before facepalming. You saw it too and chewed back a curse. Griffin was idling for the perfect time to ambush.

"Oh, I-I-I sh-sh-ouldn't be weeping. Don't look at me! That ceremony is about to start soon too-" Griffin struck fast behind them, taking the two pirates out in surprise, and their emotional outburst. He stood there, his hands still retaining their chop form where he had hit their napes. He slowly looked back down at the unconscious pirates.

"Whoa! My practicing worked- did you guys see that?!" He was satisfied by his attack, flaunting his fists like a mighty weapon.

"Yeah, now shut up before someone hears you!" Jay hushed him.

"But there's no one else here."

"You don't know that!" You hissed at the idiot, keeping it low.

"Sticking around is just going to put us more at risk of being caught." Skylor quipped, tying the pirates up with the rope they were carrying on their persons. "Right, Jay... Jay?"

Jay was already ahead, ever more determined to arrive there faster. "Yeah, let's get a move on people."

With plenty of floating land, you guess it would be challenging for the sky pirates to decently spread the workload of standing guard. It was only when you progressed deeper was there a noticeable increase in security and a change in scenery.