Wisps: Recollection (Ninjago X Reader)

62. A Line in the Sand

Hisssss. Spooked out of sleepiness, you could've fallen off the building across from Skylor's. Pointing to it, you swore at the snake that snuck on you. It spiraled into itself, lowering its round noggin. It was the same one that followed you to Nya's cave. "Shit, just don't do that."

"Noted." Seconds ticked by in stupid silence.

"...you can talk?"

"Learning," it hissed, its tongue skulking between its fangs. Slithering away, it plunged down the side of the building. "Come." You glanced once more at the shop before you slid down the ladder. "Going home." If so, it'll be a long journey at the snake's pace. You gathered it up, cupping its upper body as it got comfy, its coiling scales chill on your wrist to your elbow. "Left." You accept its request, the manhole right there.

"Ugh, I'm tired of being a sewer rat," you groaned, raising the cover open, your metal joints scraping the rusted top. You stalled for a moment before you hopped into the dark pit. Back in the tunnels, you bring out your wisps immediately.

"Like serpentine. Sssssewer snake. HisssshiisssSSs." That sounded like it was cackling at its own late pun.

"Yeah, I should call you that-"

"No."

"Then, what should I call you?"

"Idea none." Its face squished back under your sleeve.

"Well, tell me when you have one."

"Other snakes' names?"

"The Serpentine?" The snake nodded as you hummed, "I met one named Pythor recently- he was a weird prick. And before that, I met Skales. He's kinda funny. He's with the others in their village underground. "

"Why?"

"I think it's because some humans are as scared of the Serpentine as they are of them... So they've cut themselves off."

"Us too?"

"They wouldn't. At least I don't think they would mind including you. If you change your ways."

"...what village like?"

"I wasn't there for long." You meet them so briefly, yet it wasn't hard to pull their voices out from a memory in deep depths. "Skales–he had this little kid named Skales Jr with his wife. I couldn't catch her name–she was nice. They looked like a happy family. When we first entered, there was this... wholesome lesson they were giving in the groves of moss. In the center, they had stone murals of their past and there was... there was this one Venomari. He knows a lot. A lot about legends..." You remembered him... 'Knowing who you are.'

"Close." As you hear the rushing of water the snake pointed in its direction, onward to go with the flow. Further ahead, a motorboat bobbed on the water, a pile of snakes idle in their wavy seats. They formed together at your arrival, the snake on your arm leaping across into one of the boats. As do you...

Water rippled, the drum of the motor's blade rapid against it for a steady echo. If you were calmer, you would've fallen into a slumber, flowing into the sway of the craft. Creaks snapped whenever salty waves would hit, saying loud and clear where you were... Heavily, you sucked in a humid breath. The motor switched off, the serpentine switching to paddling. The tunnel was coming to an end. Trees and tall grass framed the river swaddling the vermillion hatch. Pulses of its color glowed under the skin of their eggs. You couldn't count how many were bobbing on the murky surface. You'd be there for hours if you did, the eggs multiplying the deeper they rowed into the swamp. As the hatch bumped into the boat or the paddles, they brightened, the snake's shadow writhing in its shell. One of them cracked open. It swam, its scales disappearing into the water. You held on tighter to the railing, your tense body strung up tight with peril. Surrounded by vermillion, all alone in a watery swamp, you would've laughed at yourself.