Elemental Animals: Ninja Born

Chapter 12: The map to Cabaro's Cliff

The desert land was best described as hot. Jay knew this for a fact. Back where he lived it was warm during spring and summer but the former vast land of ocean was boiling hot. He could get why Cole was unfazed by the heat. He had grown up in sun, his hands covered in rough skin but the more Jay thought about it the more curious he got. Sensei Wu had introduced them and he used both their last names. Jay had been thinking about it for the few days he knew the dark skinned twelve year old 'Where did I hear that name from before?' Jay thought.

As the four trekked through the heat of the sun. Jay kept thinking about it. Zane walked beside as Essix soared through the air with ease. Jay bounced "Hey Zane, can I ask you something?" he said.

Zane hummed "Alright," he replied.

Jay glanced to Cole, who was talking to Sensei Gramadon "Who is Brookstone?" he asked.

Zane took a moment before responding. He was looking up at Essix "Brookstone is the last name of one of the founders of the Royal blacksmiths dance group. They're extremely popular in places near Ninjago City and out here in the desert. Lou Brookstone is the fourth son to have taken over the dance group, not many people are sure about his only son taking over," he replied almost rattling off with ease.

Jay blinked "Wow, how did you know that?" he asked.

Zane shrugged "News travels around the town quickly," he replied.

Jay and Zane caught up with Cole and Sensei Gramadon. They stood before the entrance of a small village, Cole sighed and Garamdon spoke "Welcome to Okaihee, if you want to find the route to Cabaro's Cliff this is where she lives," he said.

Jay looked at the small town "Who's this she we're talking about?" he asked.

"One of the few people who knows where Cabaro's Cliff is located."

Zane hummed to himself as they wondered the small town. He had heard about Okaihee before but never had a chance to visit it. The town was known for having the last remaining person who knew where the cliff and the Scythe of Quakes. The knowledge was passed from person to person but only for those who had a spirit animals.

Cole knocked on a door that had a weird symbol carved into it. As they stood there the door opened, a woman in her late fifties stood in the door way "Hello, how may I help you?" she greeted in a calm down.

Zane watched as Sensei Garamdon changed his posture by the slightest inch. He stood straighter and held his hands in front of him "These three boys and I would like to discuss about... S'azaru  ehtycs," he said, switching to another language quickly.

The woman smiled "Its good to see you again Garamdon, well come in all of you, this is an important matter for private," she said moving aside for them to enter.

Before they entered Zane noticed Cole do something. He slipped his shoes off and placed them near a wall by the door. Zane nudged Jay when the smaller had tired to enter the house. When Sensei Garamdon had done the same thing, Zane slipped his off and placed them to the wall "Take keep your shoes off before you get inside," he said.

Jay stopped and took his shoes off with some complaints to himself about it.

Zane sat on the floor next to Cole while their host fetched a book. Jay sat next to Sensei Garamdon and the woman returned. The book she had was thick, possibly filled with knowledge of the past. On the cover off the book was the symbol again and the woman brushed her fingers over it "I'd never thought I'd be passing this on to anyone after my last student had left," she said.

Cole had straightened up "Who was that?" he asked, his accent rose for a moment like he was letting show more.

The dark skinned woman smiled "Your father, he was very excited when he had summoned his spirit animal," she replied.

A small smile quirked on Cole's face "Dad had told be about you before but never really spoke much about what he did when he was younger," he said.

The woman smiled "Lou was good with hiding secrets, well let's not dwindle if you are looking for the scythe of quakes there will be one problem, Uraza made a deal," she countered.

Cole looked unsure "What kind of deal?" he asked.

When she opened the book dusted rose from the pages. For a moment Zane was going to cough until the dust filled his senses.

His wings stretched out, watching as a leopard with something in its mouth approached a lion. 'This must have been before the four had fallen.' Zane thought.

He dipped his wings and flew lower to the ground. Uraza placed the item down "Cabaro, I bring something before I go to war," she said.

The great lion shook his mane "What is it?" he asked, his voice booming.

Uraza uncovered the hidden item. It was a scythe made of gold; its blade curved like a mountain rising from the ground; on its handle was carvings of rocks, cliffs, and blouders.

Cabaro roared "Why do you bring your weapon to me?" he asked in anger.

Uraza remained calm "I am going to fight against the devourer, if I am to fall in battle against Kovo and Gerathon or these humans, I leave my weapon with you so that nobody shall steal it," she replied.

Cabaro growled but didn't speak as Zane landed on Uraza's back "This is true. Uraza, Jhi, Briggan, and I shall be going into battle against this threat. We have all given our weapons to another beast for them to watch over and guard," he said but his voice wasn't his and he did not speak these words himself.

Uraza covered the weapon again and slid it to Cabaro "I have told a small group of humans where my weapon is if I ever return to Ninjago when I am needed again."

Cabaro pulled the weapon to him "I will only give this to you, if you do fall in battle and somehow return it will only be you who will receive the golden weapon," he said.

Uraza nodded and Zane started to take flight. He heard one thing before he flew away "So be it."

After the vision stopped Zane sneezed. He felt like somebody had thrown flour at his face. The woman flipped the book and a drawing of Uraza's scythe in all its detail was on the page "That was the deal Uraza made with Cabaro when he became the protector of her weapon, so unless you know where Uraza is you'll be unable to get it," The woman said.

Zane watched as Cole slid his sleeve up. Just as the area next to Cole was empty, it was taken by a leopard with violet eyes. Uraza yawned as the woman was shocked with surprise.  A flapping cane to the open window and Zane looked over to see Essix. The woman still had surprise in her eyes but she had a cool demeanor "Since you have Uraza wit you, I will give you the map to Cabaro's cliff but do not ever lose this book," she said in a stern voice.

She gave the book to Sensei Garamdon "Tell Wu I said hello," she told him.

The older man smiled "I'll tell him after this travel is over," he replied.

As they were leaving the woman stopped Cole "Take this with you Summoner of Uraza, never take it off and never give it to anyone else," she said. She pressed something into Cole's hand. The woman close her front door and Cole opened his hand.
It was a small stone on a chain with the shape of an animal inside the stone, the thing confused Cole cause he had never seen a creature like it before. Doing as the woman said, Cole clipped the necklace around his neck and hid the charm inside his shirt.
He ran to catch up with the others as they discussed about getting to the next town before dark and hopefully finding an Inn to stay the night and veiw the map that'll lead to where Cabaro's Cliff was located.