Saving Cole's yesterdays (Ninjago, angst and comedy)

The rescue mission and the army of robots

Jay and Zane walked up the mountain they thought Cole would be on, keeping an eye out for their black hooded friend, their red one, slumping along behind them, shoulders hunched and face down.

Kai did NOT understand what all the fuss was about. "Face it Jay! We're wasting our time out here! Cole's probably already back at the monastery by now, and here we are still getting covered in mud! I vote we just go home and take a shower!"

It stopped raining a while ago, but there was still plenty of mud on the ground. It didn't help that they were walking up a very steep slope. Kai tripped multiple times on the way up, making his gi very dirty. Jay and Zane also had their falls, but not as much. Jay because he's got balance like a cat, and Zane because he has night vision.
Oh yeah and it was one in the morning!

Kai didn't usually get up until it was six!

Well eight these days... He just didn't feel that motivated after it started happening.
He tripped again; Jay tusked "No Kai! We can't go back! I really have a bad feeling about what happened to Cole! We have to find him!!" Kai rolled his eyes, "How? We don't even know if he's up here! It's not like there's a sign that says, 'big jerk ninja this way' He could be anywhere!"

Jay sighed and was about to comment but Zane beat him to it, "actually Kai, I believe we may have found something." He said matter of fact.
Kai grumbled something about conspiracies but walked a little faster towards Zane anyway.

Oh

He saw what Zane was talking about

"Footprints!!!" Jay yelled excitedly! "And they're definitely Cole's! Nobody else's shoe size is that big!"

So, they kept walking

And walking

And walking

While Kai kept sulking

And moping

And whining

It just wasn't fair! It wasn't Kai's fault Cole took off! And in his opinion, it was very rude of Cole to just wait until they came looking for him at one in the morning! He was just wasting Kai's time.

Like other things did.

The ground levelled out and instead of climbing up a slope, they were now just walking normally.
Much to the burnet's relief.

Unfortunately, the universe really seemed to dislike Kai that day, because he tripped and fell into a mud puddle AGAIN!
"JAY, COME ON! I'm tired, hungry and smell like socks! I just want to go HOME!" He yelled, punching the ground.

Jay groaned, "Stop with the whining Kai! It's like you don't even care that Cole could be lost or hurt or kidnapped for that matter!"

Kai growled, "How could anyone kidnap Cole! He's a ninja for goodness sake!"

"I don't know it's happened before!"
"Once Jay ONCE!"
"I'm still worried, ok?"
"You shouldn't be"
"Why!!"
"BECAUSE HE-"

"ENOUGH YOU TWO!!" Zane yelled.

Wait

Zane yelled?!??!?
Zane never raised his voice.

But at least they stopped. Jay crossed his arms, and Kai puffed out spoke from his nostrils.

Zane sighed, "Look here brothers, I found something."

Jay walked over to the nindroid, Kai following grumpily.
There, hanging from a tree, was a very tangled piece of rope. "What is it?" Jay asked, Zane moved closer to examine it better, "It seems to be a trap." Jay got visibly more nervous. Kai rolled his eyes, "Relax, it's probably just poachers." Jay deflated a bit, that is until Zane said, "I don't think so Kai, poachers would not set up snares like this, it looks to be designed for man."