Ninjago: Heart of the Storm (Slow Editing) (Re-Write)

Chapter Nine: Cave of Storms

At that, Lloyd and Audra both had arrived to the cave that's partly lit with some unlit torches hanging from the cave walls. They walked into the cave silence, the glowing orb of energy pulsing and casting wavering shadows across the craggy walls of the cave tunnel. Lloyd sensed Audra's discomfort and took her hand, his fingers settling cosily between her own. They eventually reached an end to the tunnel. It opened into a large cavern that stretched further than Lloyd's energy sphere could light. He expanded it further and drifted it toward the ceiling, casting an illumination upon the place they'd ended up in.
There were many carvings and paintings on the cave walls from the past. On the ground was many pieces of humankind supplies: treasure, jugs, weapons, and much more all over the place. A few glowing crystals can be seen growing from the rocks. As they both went deeper into the cave, there was towering stone pillars entwined with more wooden beams rose to support the cave's ceiling in the darkness, casting long shadows through the fiery green glow that filled the place.
"Whoa," Lloyd said, his voice hushed. "What are these?"
"Murals." Audra gingerly touched her hand to the rock and traced an ancient depiction of a figure made of cosmos. "It's telling someone's story."
Her brows knotted as a strange sensation settled over her. There was something weird about the cosmos-coloured person, something that tickled in the back of my head. Lloyd's footsteps, usually so silent, echoed softly amongst the great chamber they'd found themselves in. Audra followed him as they ambled slowly about the space, taking in the ancient art and painted engravings, trying to piece the story together. Audra stopped on a block of ancient text with the rock half-way crumbled and tilted her head.
She raised her brows. "Home of Storms, huh?" Sounded like a weather TV report. Audra looked around the cavern and pursed her lips in confusion. "Weird name for a place like this."
"I think it's a person," Lloyd said. He pointed out at an area so dim Audra could barely see it. "That looks like some kind of ancient sleeping area. I think this is literally the home of your namesake."
Audra peered into the gloom in vain. "Don't tell me you have night vision too." She looked over at Lloyd when he didn't answer. He caught her gaze and, sheepishly pinched his fingers together. Audra shook her head with amused exasperation.
A home, huh? There could be so much to be learnt in here, materials to carbon date, fragments of pottery to re-build, bones to find. They could put together a glimpse of a life led thousands and thousands of years ago. Audra was beginning to grow excited — the enormity of this place was almost overwhelming.
Before Audra could venture to where Lloyd claimed to be evidence of human history, he abruptly halted. Audra stumbled trying not to careen into his back. Her hurtling train of thought was deftly swept away like smoke as she rightened herself and followed his captured attention.
"Huh..." Lloyd tilted his head with a frown. "Is this supposed to be my grandfather?"
For the most part, the impressive painting before them was a depiction of the First Spinjitzu Master quite common — of him in the center of seven spheres of elements, and painted between him and the ring of powers were the four Golden Weapons. But there was something different about him too, something that made Lloyd uneasy. Lloyd glanced at Audra and back at the moral, still uneasy about something.
Audra noticed Lloyd's uneasiness. "Are you okay, Lloyd?"
"I-I'm fine," said Lloyd nervously.
She hummed thoughtfully, but she decided not to push the matter. She knew that Lloyd is a sworn protector, but he's not usually so nervous before around others. "Lloyd." Audra took Lloyd's hands in mine and squeezed them tight until he met her gaze. "It doesn't matter who or what you are, as long as you're a good person. You're better than good, Lloyd. You could be descended from the worst thing imaginable and it still wouldn't stop you from being the kindest person I know."
Lloyd sent her a soft-eyed smiled. "Thanks, Sunshine." Audra blinked in surprise at the given nickname. Lloyd blushed fiercely once he realized that he had given her a new nickname. "I'm sorry Audra."
"It's okay." Audra then gave Lloyd an endearing smile as she looked at the boy she cared for so much, his presence giving her an instant sense of happiness. Lloyd couldn't help, but feel himself melt a bit under such a loving expression from his crush, and not just that, his cheeks began to heat up again as well.
A low, beastly growl resonating through the cave made the two Ninja to let go each other's hands and became assertive. She'd almost forgotten the real reason they'd ventured inside the mountain. Audra turned toward the green-tinged gloom, suddenly uncomfortable with having her back to the open space. Lloyd pulled her slightly behind him protectively.
"Do you think it knows we're here?" Audra whispered.
Lloyd titled his head in wary affirmation. "If you can hear them, dragons tend to be able to hear you, too."
Something big was in the cavern with them. Audra could just make out the shape of it in the gloom, a creature so massive that she felt her fight or flight discard her into freeze. The form shifted, and one large head seemed to rise through the gloaming.
"Who goes there?"
Her heart beat came to a startled halt. Was that a voice? Audra found Lloyd's amazed gaze in the darkness, holding just as much fear.
The rumbling, growling voice spoke again. "Do not ignore me, trespassers. What are the names of those whom dare set foot within my Mistress' sanctuary?"
Impatient, the dragons rose to his talons with a defiant snarl and let loose a torrent of flames upon the walls, dragging it along until the crystals glowed with intense light till the two of them could see the dragon. She could see that the dragon is a silvery-blue bipedal wyvern with sharp sky-blue eyes.
With a shred of defiant courage, Audra stepped forward to the dragon and gave a respectful bow to the dragon. "I apologize for our intrusion." She soon remembered that this dragon must be legendary Wind Dragon, Cyclo.
The dragon turned away, wiping at his nose with a paw. He paused. When his head slowly turned to them, Lloyd's strong grip landed on Audra's shoulder. "I know the scent of this power." The dragon stalked back towards them, towering above them. His shining eyes were squinted with accusation. "You are familiar, yet I have never seen you before." Audra thought he was talking to Lloyd at first, but his unwavering gaze on her told me otherwise. She went to speak, but all that escaped her was a breathy tumble. The dragon stood tall. "Yes, I know you well. My Lady, why have you taken such a form?" It hit her with stunned realization, a last piece of the riddle showing the answer. The cosmos painting that drew her in, the ancient remains of a bedroom. This wasn't a shrine. This has been her ancestor's home.
Mustering what little courage she had, Audra turned to the dragon. "I'm sorry. I'm not who you think I am." Cyclo tilted his head. "Your Lady... My ancestor—" Audra glanced at the painting of her ancestor. "She's been gone for a very long time."
He took a step back until he was sitting on his scarred haunches. He stared at the ground, his eyes glimmering in the light of the iridescent crystals. He searched along the cracks of the floor for a long, silent while. "I see. I thought she had forgotten me."
"How did you two meet?" Lloyd asked.
"It has been so long... My memory has grown hazy," said Cyclo, with a sigh. "I do recall that my mistress was already here when we travelled to join the First Spinjitzu Master in this realm. However, I do not know of her origin." Cyclo turned to look at the tapestry of scars that crossed the scales on his side. "Some bands of humans grew more violent than others. One such attempted to capture and harness me, and my mistress was the one who rescued me. I pledged my undying loyalty to her that very day, though she became more of a friend than I her servant."
"You must have been close," Audra murmured.
Cyclo bowed his head. "I have keenly felt her absence. And with all this commotion outside, the racket and the heavy beasts they use — it has made my sorrows soar."
"We'll ask them to stop," Lloyd said.
"I don't think it's that easy," Audra disagreed.
Lloyd looked at her with a frown. "Audra, I know you're excited—"
"I'm not saying this because I like archeology, I'm saying this because it's true," Audra stated firmly. "They have permits. Legally, they're allowed to dig. The owner of this land has already given their consent and the documents are signed."
Lloyd's expression turned aghast. "We can't just give up!"
"No," Audra said thoughtfully. "But we need to be smart about it. We can't just ask them nicely and we can't bully them into stopping. There's a grey area in the middle where we need to operate."
Cyclo laid down and watched them with warily curiosity. Lloyd paced a section of the wall, rubbing his chin in thought.
"What do you think we should do?" he asked.
In all honesty, Audra didn't have the faintest clue. She could only give a measly shrug. "Ask your mum for help?" She was the expert, after all.
Lloyd stared at Audra for a beat, considering, before nodding in agreement.
"I thank you," Cyclo spoke up warmly. "And I apologize for attacking. It has been many years since I have last interracted with humans." He sent them a knowing look. "Or those that resemble them."
"It was nice to meet you," Audra said gently. More questions than she could handle crowded in her mind. Lloyd and Audra said their farewells before departing for their mission and fix the mess that has been done.