Ninjago: Reversed Destinies

Chapter 35: Built to Protect

"Huff... Huff... I guess... good fortune is... really... really far away..." Jay panted, as the Ninja kept following the Falcon to wherever he was flying to. At the moment, the group was climbing a mountain. Zane was still leading the way, being followed easily by Cole while Nya and Jay were struggling to keep up.

"No kidding..." Nya sighed, stopping for a moment in a plainer area. "Where is that bird taking us?"

"Come on, guys!" Cole yelled up ahead. "We can't stop now!"

"Not everyone was blessed like you, you know?" Nya complained, going back to climbing again. "I'm starting to feel sore already..."

"What about you, Jay?" Cole asked, seeing that the freckled boy didn't moved from his position.

"Huff... Just... keep going." The blue ninja gasped. "I'll... I'll catch up with you guys later..." He said, pale.

"Are you sure?" Nya asked, looking with worry at him. The boy simply nodded, asking them to keep moving. "Fine, but... Watch out, okay?" Jay gave her a faint smile, which seemed enough to the red ninja.

Soon Cole was helping her get up from the cliff, as Zane kept moving and ignoring them, concerned with the fact he could lose the falcon if they stalled too much. A few kilometers away, Nya had to make a stop, too.

"So..." The girl sat on a tree trunk, exhausted. "Remember when Master Wu told us about our physical condition? Well, I need a break..."

"You're going to be okay?" Cole stopped for a moment, facing her from behind.

"Yeah..." She nodded. "Don't worry, I just need a breather, I'll be fine." The black ninja nodded, keeping following Zane and the falcon.

After some time of more running without a stop, the landscape had changed to a more snowy area. It wasn't that cold for Zane and Cole, since they were wearing their gis.

"Gosh, that bird just... keeps going and going, huh?" Cole panted, feeling that if this keeps up, maybe they'll have to call it a day.

The older boy stopped for a moment after glancing a sign attached in the snow. It was written "Beware of Treehorns in the forest!" in Ninjargon.
"Wait, hold on." Cole called for Zane, who stopped after that. The white ninja had a quick peek at the falcon, who just stopped by a branch. Sighing, he walked to where Cole was.

"What do you make of this?" The black ninja pointed at the sign, and Zane read the words on it.

"Hm." The blonde pondered for a moment. "That's curious. I am not familiar with a Treehorn." He shook his head. "And I don't remember reading anything about it on Master's scrolls."

"Then I guess it's not something we should be careful then...?" Cole said, a bit dubious. He looked to the Falcon, and the path behind their paths, trying to decide on what to do. "Okay, listen. You stay here with your bird, and I'll go back to fetch Jay and Nya. I don't like we going further in there without them."

"Seems right to me." Zane nodded. "I'll wait here for you then." Cole also nodded, sprinting away trough the path they had followed.

However, as soon as Cole had gone, the falcon decided that was a good moment to fly away, getting its wings ready and leaving Zane behind.

"Oh!" The white ninja exclaimed, conflicted. Should he follow the falcon to not lose its track, or he should stay put, just like he said he was going to?

"No, I came too far to stop right when I'm so close." The blonde shook his head, feeling a bit guilty for going against what was asked from him. "I'm sorry, everyone."

Zane had gone back to his pursuit, don't averting his eyes from the Falcon, who got pretty Far during his moment of doubt. "Where are we going, my mysterious friend?" The white ninja couldn't help but mumble to himself. He wasn't sure why, but something about this place felt... ominous to him.