The Sea Calls Me Home

Untitled Part 6

Lloyd really should know better than to expect a dreamless night's sleep after eating chocolate right before bed. Even being completely exhausted after yesterday's mission hadn't prevented him from having... weird dreams as a result of his choice in dessert. From what his foggy, half awake brain can piece together, last night's saga of bizarre dreams had featured Nya standing next to his bed, calling him a traitor for stealing her stuffed dolphin. Which is an oddly specific scenario, to be honest.

It's not like he feels guilty for stealing Sparkles to begin with. Nya sure isn't using him right now anyway. She's off being the ocean. Living her best life – Lloyd hopes. He finds it easier to assume she's still out there somewhere. Happy.

Losing Nya has taken a toll on his family. None of them are particularly good at coping with loss. Including himself. Over the years, they've experienced loss many times. It never gets any easier. Hearts heal with time, yes, and life goes on, but he can see the scars they all bear. Jay hides behind his anger. Kai uses Skylor as a distraction. And Lloyd... Well, Lloyd himself just tries his best to lean on the knowledge that she's not truly dead-and-gone. Just... gone.

"I miss her, too, Sparkles," Lloyd tells the stuffed animal. He stares up at the ceiling, debating whether or not he should try to go back to sleep. Everyone else is still fast asleep, no doubt. He wishes he were, too, but unfortunately, his body seems to have decided otherwise. Though he tries valiantly, his eyes refuse to remain shut.

"Welp," Lloyd addresses Sparkles once more, "might as well go find some breakfast."

He stretches, yawning one last time before leaving his mound of blankets – and Sparkles – behind.

As he makes his way out into the hall, Lloyd can't shake the feeling that something is out of place. There's a strange sort of presence here. It's not the carpet – the mud stains were cleaned up last night. If anything, the carpet looks more put together than usual. It's not the tacky classical art that Uncle Wu insists on hanging on the walls, either. The bargain versions of Starry Night and The Sleeping Dragon still hang in their usual locations. What could be....?

And then he sees it. Nya's door is cracked open. Unusual, considering that everyone agreed to keep her room closed off so that Mrs. Benedict couldn't claim it as her latest nesting place. Maybe Jay had a rough night and snuck in? It wouldn't be the first time.

Deciding it's best to find out for sure, Lloyd quietly approaches the door. A strange scent – briny, yet surprisingly calming – permeates the air as he draws closer. He peers into Nya's room with caution, not wanting to be accosted by a homicidal chicken or angsty elemental master. Neither would be fun. Lloyd knows this from personal experience.

Much to his relief, Mrs. Benedict does not seem to be lurking within. Nor is Jay. There is, however, someone curled up on Nya's bed, blissfully unaware of Lloyd's presence.

"Oh. My-" he starts, but then...

"Quiet, Green One. Your friend is sleeping," an unfamiliar voice whispers from the corner of the room.