Lies Of The Serpent: A Ninjago AU

Chapter 43: The Destructive Power Of Rumors

Zane's POV

"Friends, enemies, and enemies who pretend to be friends," Pythor said.

"The last one sounds like all serpentine. Other than me of course," Hebi whispered.

After a minute of the serpentine laughing Pythor continued.

"I welcome you."

"What are we gonna do?" Jay asked.

"I have an idea. Follow my lead," Cole said. Cole began to tell us his plan. We all listened intently.

Except Kai, whose focus was on the serpentine. Although we had assured him what he was seeing was merely an effect of the venomari venom, Kai was still terrified. I wondered what could be so terrifying that none of our assurance could comfort him.

I noticed Hebi sneaking off.

"Where are you going?" I asked.

"To, ummm, look for Lloyd! This has absolutely nothing to do with the plan! I definitely want to help, but friends come first!" Hebi said. I sighed, realizing the real reason she wanted to leave.

How had I not noticed? She had always made a remark whenever we insulted the serpentine. She obviously did not like hearing us insult her own kind. It made perfect sense that she would not want to participate in this.

"You may leave. It is perfectly understandable," I said. She smiled.

"Thanks! Bye!"

"And what is with the constrictai and there vicelike grip. Let it go already," Pythor said. The serpentine laughed.

"Heh, but in all seriousness the reason why I called this gathering is because.... The good people of Ninjago imprisoned us in those insidious tombs, and I want to return them the favor." The serpentine cheered.

"That sounds like a great plan, but you know the hypnobrai will screw it all up," Kai said.

"Those buck teeth can bite my rear end," Jay said.

"I bet they're drinking their own venom," Cole said.

"All that digging must have given them dirt for brains," I said. We continued to insult the serpentine.

I noticed Hebi pushing people. She was spreading the chaos too. Just not in a way that was insulting her own kind.

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"Kai, now that we are somewhere private may you please explain what you are so afraid of?" I asked. Kai chuckled.

"I-It's nothing. I just don't particularly like-" Kai began, but something grabbed him before he could finish.

"Aww! I wanted to hear what he was going to say!" a female voice said. I turned to see Hebi.

"Ahh! How do you manage to hide like that?" I asked.

"Years of practice. I spent a lot of my time hiding," she replied.

"How come?"

"To spy on people, not get hit, prank people, have five seconds to mysel-"

"They hit you?"

"No............... Why were you so mad at Cole?" I stared at her confused.

"What? What are you talking about?"

"The constrictai. Back at the constrictai's tomb."

"Why are we talking about this now?"

"Because......... It's weird. Who randomly gets mad at someone for no reason, then freezes while mumbling no over and over?"