Legends of Ninjago: Book 3: The Four Fangs

Chapter 8: Bitter Work

It would seem that Keaton hadn't been the only one feeling a little uprooted. The following morning, everyone eventually succumbed to a grouchy, sullen, or otherwise unpleasant mood as they all tried (less than gracefully) to repair the ship. The ocean made sure they were constantly damp and freezing so they had to make many trips to the tepee over the course of the day to dry off and keep warm. Jay attempted, several times, to lighten the mood with a joke, but more often than not, it ended with a groan or a glare from Ann.
Dinner was planned out more strategically this time around, and it went more or less smoothly (compared to last night, that is) though the plain fish was hardly a distraction from the long, cold, tiresome day.
This grizzly reality continued on for three more days while Jay made absolutely sure that there were no leaks whatsoever on the ship. They did this primarily by harvesting the pine sap from the few trees growing on the island and turning it into a kind of tar they could use to waterproof the wooden boards. It didn't turn out as perfectly as they would have liked, and there ended up not being enough to coat all of the patches, but hopefully it wouldn't be that big of a deal. Or so Jay said, at least.
Finally, on the fifth day of being stuck on that tiny island, they were ready to head back to the mainland. They collapsed the tepee, climbed aboard their ship, and set sail. Or at least, they would have if the ship still had any intact sails. Ann used her nautical know-how and water powers to help steer them north, toward Brookeside, but she made sure to keep them hidden in a bank of fog as they went. The closer they got to the cities, the more attention they would draw; the very last thing she was prepared to let happen.
Nya held on to one of the railings, trying not to get splinters stuck in her jacket sleeves, and stared out into the fog. It was kinda creepy not being able to see for very far like this. Just one more reason she didn't like the ocean. The colder parts of the ocean, where fog was common place, anyway.
She noticed Cole sitting nearby, eyes closed. He was probably grateful for the calm seas today, considering how nauseous he had seemed the other day. Kai had gone below deck, trying desperately to keep warm, as he always seemed to do. (On the island, he had practically been a permanent attachment to the fireplace.) She supposed it all had to do with him being a "master of fire" or whatever they were called.
A breath of her's suddenly puffed away into the cold air. What she wouldn't give to have a jacuzzi or hot spring right now. That sounded heavenly.
Then an ocean wave cropped up and splashed her in the face as if to say, "oops, sorry, were you too warm? Let me fix that." She spat out the salty taste and tried not to think about how many fish had peed in that water over the hundreds of years it had existed.
She decided she would move to higher ground and went up to where Ann was, steering the ship. "Hey," she said, trying to sound casual.
"Hey," Ann replied, glancing her way.
Nya leaned against the railing again and watched the water beneath them rush past. It was impossible to tell how deep that water went, or what was lurking there, just out of sight. With how cold it was, it was all too easy for a chill to ride up her spine.
"How long do you think it'll take before we reach Brookeside?" She asked, trying to get her mind out of the water.
"A few days. Maybe."
Nya thought for a moment. "So, by a few, do you mean two or three, or maybe four...?"
"I'm not one hundred percent sure. We'll find out soon enough." She didn't so much as turn around to face her as she spoke. Just kept her eyes on the blank, white nothingness ahead of them.
"So what's your deal?" Nya blurted. She crossed her arms and tilted her head. "Do you just enjoy being an ice queen, or is it in your blood?"
That got her to turn around. She wasn't glaring, per say, but it was something very similar. Maybe more of a scowl.
"Ice is Zane's department, so either go ask him, or keep quiet."
She turned back to her work.
Nya felt the urge to squeeze something. Ever since they had first met, she had always been such an uptight, bossy, grouchy, gremlin. Especially toward her. Especially regarding her sister. And especially whenever anyone mentioned having fun. It's like she was allergic to the very idea of being a normal teenager.
"It's not my fault you don't know how to have fun, you know," she muttered.
"Excuse me?" Ann started, and it looked as though the bags under her eyes were getting darker. Nya shrugged. "I could have you locked up for insubordination like that, you know."
"Maybe if we were in the army," Nya countered, with just the slightest hint of snark. "But we're not in the army, are we?"
"We're running a military operation here." Ann was narrowing her eyes more and more with each sentence, and gradually she turned around to face her fully.
Nya threw up her arms. "Seven teenagers on an old boat. Sure sounds like peak military operation to me!"
Ann rolled her eyes and went back to her steering. "You wouldn't understand. You're the one who's too much of a baby to handle a simple mission. That's why you chickened out of becoming a ninja."
Nya seared a hole into the back of Ann's head with her withering gaze and had to resist saying something far more mean. "Well, I wouldn't expect you to understand. You were raised since birth to be a mindless killing machine."
"I was raised to protect Ninjago," Ann snapped, suddenly standing very close to Nya. "I was raised to stop evil people from hurting innocent lives. It's my sworn duty as a ninja and as a student of Sensei Wu. I put others' needs before my own. That is what I don't expect you to understand." Her glare might have been intimidating if Nya didn't find it so arrogant.
As she began to turn away, Nya couldn't help but slip out one last comment. "You can't seem to put Keaton's needs before your own."
Ann stopped cold. Figuratively, and literally. "You leave my sister alone. Do you understand?"
Nya simply met her scowl and not another word was spoken between the two of them.
"Rawr, cat fight!" Came a voice from the deck below them. Then Ann waved her hand. There was a loud DONK, and then an "Ow!" Which sounded very much like Jay.

* * *