Taking Control. (a Ninjago fanfic)

Chapter 87- Lingering

R U E

The fire was gone.

But the forest didn't really feel relieved.

It felt hollow. Searing. Like something had been carved out of its chest and left to smolder and rot and die.

I could feel it in my veins still — the ache, the way they burned and pulsed like molten threads, binding me too tightly to move. Every breath was work. Every heartbeat throbbed against the jungle's pain. Every muscle spasmed and stood out prominent against my skin, even with the slightest movement.

Kai was worse.

Well, he certainly looked it.

We staggered into the clearing, Jay and Nya dragging him between them, their grip ever-changing due to how hot he was. His head lolled against Jay's shoulder, tanned skin ashen except for the angry heat rolling off of him in waves. His gi was singed, his chest still streaked with soot and glowing faintly from where the fire had torn into him.

The children froze when they saw him. The tribe stilled. Misha tried to rush forward but was held back by a stern elder. A hush fell over the clearing, broken only by the crackle of dying embers clinging to his body.

Zane was the first to move. He swept across the circle, clothes streaked with ash, his eyebrows furrowed in concentration and his movements precise. "Lay him down," he ordered, his voice steady but clipped.

Jay and Nya obeyed, lowering Kai gently into the grass.

I forced my legs forward, clutching my arms where the glow of my veins still pulsed. It hurt to move. It hurt to breathe.

But the forest was still screaming inside me, and if I didn't stay upright, I thought it might drown me.

Zane pressed two fingers to Kai's throat, then his chest. His brow furrowed even more. "Pulse is weak. He's severely overheated."

"No kidding," Jay snapped, but his voice cracked. His hands shook as he scrubbed them through his hair, leaving streaks of soot behind. His eyes darted, wild and terrified. "What do we do, Zane?"

Nya was already on her knees, clutching Kai's hand like it wasn't burning hers. Her face was streaked with mud and ash and tears, but her jaw was set. "He took a lot of it," she whispered. "Of the fire. I saw it. It slammed into him— I've never seen him do something like this before— FSM, I—" Her voice broke, and she ducked her head against his arm.

Zane looked up at me. His blue eyes, usually so calm, were tinged with panic.

"Where's the closest water source that Nya might not have depleted?" He asked calmly but briskly, looking at me intently for an answer.

"I—uh-" I stuttered, mind still fuzzy and throbbing. "Probably Ferntail lake, n-north from here,"

Zane barked toward the crowd: "Water! From Ferntail lake— Bring cloths—cool cloths, fresh water. Now!"

The Sunbearers scattered, moving as one. Buckets were seized, cloth was torn from robes, and hands moved faster than thought. In minutes, a group had ran out to the lake nearby and returned with wet fabric that was pressed against Kai's skin, steam rising from the contact.

Jay flinched like he could feel it too. His hands hovered uselessly above Kai, twitching, restless. "Is it enough?"

"It's keeping him alive," Zane said firmly, his hands never stopping. "He's strong. He's endured worse."

Jay's breath stuttered, like he wanted to argue, but then he swallowed hard and gripped Kai's wrist instead. His knuckles were white.

The children clung to their mothers, wide-eyed, whispering. Some of the elders murmured prayers. I stood stiff, my arms trembling under the pain that still lingered in my veins, but I couldn't look away.

Because it wasn't just Kai.

The forest was still writhing. Still shuddering with agony. And every pulse of it dragged through me like shards of glass.

Zane worked silently, efficiently, pressing fresh cloths, checking Kai's breathing. Jay muttered under his breath the whole time — half-prayers, half-rants, his voice cracking with each one. And Nya never once let go of her brother's hand, whispering too low for me to hear, like she could keep him tethered by sheer force of will.

My knees buckled.

I dropped to the grass a few feet away, clutching at the earth as the burn tore through my arms again. It seemed to come in waves, and made my veins stick out more, feeling like glass was being dragged underneath my skin. My teeth dug into my lip hard enough to draw blood, but I refused to make a sound.

Not when they needed strength. Not when they had bigger problems to sort out.

Still—Jay noticed.

He glanced up, eyes catching on my damaged arms and the tears forming in my eyes. For a second his panic fractured — into something like recognition. Then, without a word, he shifted closer, bracing his other hand on my shoulder.

"You're not doing this alone either," he muttered hoarsely, voice rough but firm.

"I know." I answered quietly. "But it's Kai's time to shine right now, not mine-" I tried to joke, but I finished it with a coughing fit that made Jay raise a sympathetic eyebrow.

"Rue, if you ever need Zane's help, just ask, ok? You're a friend, an ally. We'll always help you."

"Thanks Jay." I responded, not wanting to speak much because it really hurt my throat. Spirits, I've never felt the Jungle scream so painfully. I've never seen destruction on this scale before. And I know that I definitely don't want to see it again.

Wild curls and a worried face came scurrying into view, her words slightly muffled and her face slightly blurred— no, I was fine.

Spirits, I need Pan. The tribe is hurting, the houses are destroyed, the animals—

No.

"Kiri," I managed to rasp, clutching the little girls hand softly and snapping her out of her worried rambling. "Kiri, I'm ok. I need you to do something for me, alright?" She nodded, eyes wide and scared, but also glimmering with determination. "I need you- you to tell everyone that I've ordered them to rebuild and—" I coughed weakly, my throat scratching and arms burning.

"And to herd up the livestock. The last thing we need is for people to be worrying, ok? They need something—something to do."

She nodded as I finished, intertwining her fingers into mine gently for a moment before rushing off. I slumped down onto the grass and closed my eyes.

The air smelt like smoke and burnt wood. I could hear the tribe members worried mutterings and Zane's slightly panicked voice nearby.

This was supposed to be a relaxing, enjoyable trip for the ninja.

I've failed them.