Ninjago: This is Only the Beginning

Letting Go

Jay's POV

*meow! meow!* Shard began to call my attention. I smiled and went down to pet him.

" What do you want now Shard?" I sighed, as he began to purr. " Come on, I'll get you something to eat."

I got up and started to walk towards the kitchen, and once I got there I grabbed a bowl and the cat food. " Okay, Shard, I know you might had prefered fresh kill in the wild, but now you're stuck with this kind of food."

*Meow?* Shard looked at me, and then jumped on the table. His blue eyes seemed to fletcher for a second.

" What?" I asked, then I relized how silly it was to talk to a cat.

*Meow!* Shard jumped out of the window, which I totally forgot to close, and ran outside into the snow.

" Shard!" I quickly got to the door and ran to him, but I did notice that he seemed to wait for me; like he was waiting for me to follow him or something.

The white tom started running again, now heading straight into the woods. I ran after him trying to follow him. " Shard! Hey not so fast!"

The woods were thick and dark. Still, I knew this cat was trying to tell me something. " What do you want, Shard!" I yelled again, trying to see if it would talk to me again, but now we ended up in the middle of the forest.

The white sakura petals looked like falling snow, and they covered the ground with such beauty. That's when the area strikes me as familiar. " Shard, how do you know this place?"

The storm began to lighten up, and the white cat turned to face me. It's blue eyes glimmering now. The place that we were in was probably one of Zane's favorite hiding places, he loved coming here to see the trees, and also to meditate under the clearing where the stars could shine above him.

*Meow!* Shard meowed again, I knew he was trying to tell me something, but I was too confused and sad to listen.

" Zane....even when you're dead you're still trying to talk to us..." I whispered. " Brother, why are you doing this!" tears began to fall from my cheek and into the snow.

*Meow!* Shard called again, and wiping my tears I go to follow him, now we entered a white storm and the snow swirled around us, but only the space in between Shard and I was free from it.

" What do you want?!" I tried to ask the cat, and like before it's eyes changed to an icy blue the snow leopard spots appeared on it's fur, and his voice came back.

*Hello, Jay..This was quite fun now was it not?* Zane smiled.

More tears began to fall from my face. " Zane! It was you, but why...why are you a snow leopard?" I asked, walking up to him.

Zane smiled, *This is my spirit animal, but Jay..my time has been cut short, and I must now go.*

" No! Please don't go, there's so much I need to say before you leave, and...I don't want you to leave again.." I began to cry now.

Zane's eyes soften. *I know, that is why I have asked to come give you a proper goodbye.*

I fell on my knees, and hugged Zane. " You were always like a brother to me, you know that weird smart brother, and no one can ever replace you. I love you, Zane!" I cried.

*I love you too, Jay...you will always be remembered and I will wait for all of you when your time is done, but you still have a whole lifetime: settle down, get married, have kids. I could never had that, Jay*

I looked at him, tears still running. " Zane..."

* Please, do not grieve for me no longer. I am at a better place, and I am safe. Instead be happy for me, or your time of sadness is done.* The wind began to swirl around Zane.

" Not yet! Please not yet!" I cried.

Zane smiled softly and looked at me with his blue eyes one last time. * Let go, Jay...my time is done, but yours is just beginning. Goodbye, my fellow brother....*

He disappeared and soon I was left in the heap of snow. " Be safe, brother....I will never forget you, you can count on that!!!"

End of Stage one: Jay...