Work in Progress/ Previews

Chapter 1: Leashed 2 Preview (Lycan au)

Chapter Text

Her eyes opened to the star-covered world. “That medicine works, wow.” She hummed and then eyes the blue lights of a gate.

“Jay, what are you dreaming about?” She smirks, lifting a brow as she swam closer to the spark-like entrance. She places her transparent hands into the blob, and nearly lets herself enter.

*Wobble*

“Huh?” Her body floats around, spinning till her eyes catch sight of a red blob, flaring.

“Kai.” She glances back to Jay's and sighs.

“Probably should check this out, though I wish I could ignore this.” She grumbles and swims through the cold till she then reaches the red light, which emitted bubbles under the heat. Her blue eyes moved to the bubbles and the flaring entrance. She moved her hand forward, and her eyes soon grew at the sight of her own arm warbling with bubbles!

She pulled it back. “Kai, what the heck?” Her head tilted with closed eyes and she opened them again to eye white sheets shining above?

“What the-”

“Come up, I can aid you.” A warped feminine voice came from above. Nya's brows furrow, but she listens, might as well, so many other things have happened here after all. She swims up and breeches, to instantly shiver and curl her arms to her chest.

“I apologize, I'm not used to using my powers, I shouldn't also be here, let alone speaking to you, but he seems troubled.” Her head raises to the voice and the girl.

“Troubled is an understatement if you're talking about Kai.”

The little girl giggles softly, her light purple eyes brimming. “I know, uncle Kai has problems. Apparently that has a negative effect on the other pups, like yours… .But that's also just my mom's theory… .It's mostly Nicholas and Ja-” She pauses her close whispers as Nya looks up at her with some wide eyes.

“I followed the time Lycan, she spoke about current events here, but before she comes for me… .Don't tell on me, please, I just know this is about to get… .Really bad for you and the pack.” She looks away with her semi-dark patchy skin, and flexes her hands, creating ice crystals. The older teen swims back.

The little girl's blue eyes moved back. “Sorry aunt Nya, don't tell my dad about me, please, it raises questions, he told me before.” She lowered her hooded head, little bits of light brown hair fell. Nya looks at the light blue tips, similar to Zane's in his wolf form.

Nya's eyes stayed locked and the girl placed the ice shard in her hand “Ice and water are very connected to the future.” She then turned around.

“Wait!” Nya makes the girl turn around. Nya looks down for a moment and up.

“I'm just curious-”

“If you and uncle Jay are good for each other or about uncle Kai?” The girl asks, her purple eyes reflecting on her glasses.

Nya looks back and sees bubbles coming from where Kai's dream entrance is. “Can you tell me about Kai, you came here for him, right?” Nya shows the ice crystal.

The girl glances back at ice and at Nya. “I did, aunt Nya. But I can't reveal the future.The time Lycan will also be speaking to him in a few days. That's what Wylde told me, but she informed me it was important to tell you, as you know the time lycan in this year.”

Nya's eyes glance at the bubbles. “How much trouble does he get himself into for the future to come? Is the time Lycan going to kill him?”

The girl hums. “I was told this leads to an island far out by a dark island and I know that is the good outcome.” The girl's eyes glow bright blue for a split second as she speaks.

Nya looks at the ice in her hand, rolling it around her hands. “A dark island is a good outcome?”

“Only for the prophecy, although the Eclipse ends.” The girl's voice goes shaky.

Nya's eyes go up instantly. “Can you tell me more-”

The girl was gone. Nya's brows furrow and she peers far from the ice's edge. Seeing a taller figure and the girl. The taller figure's head moves, revealing only something akin to her hunter suit. A mask and dark hood, only showing bright, practically glowing, purple eyes. That somehow blinded Nya, only letting her look deeper as water stills.

“Do not worry, you were not supposed to see me today. My apologies for showing up this early.”

Nya stared at the figure with shaky eyes as they turned around and the water began bubbling and sloshing again as they vanished along with the girl.

Nya then lets out a deep fatigued breath and swims up to Kai's flaring dream entrance. Her hands still quivering slightly as she can still see the purple eyes glowing.

“Alright… .let's see how this works.” She places the ice shard in front of the entrance and watches as the bubbles begin slowing and eyes the ice.

“Alright Kai, apparently the future came to me for this, so this better be important.”

She floats in, and lands herself in the middle of the old shop. Her lips gleamed with a sigh. She stepped around a bit, eyeing the inconsistent weapons that either were upside down, mismatched, or just vanishing and reappearing. She then headed down a hallway… .Full of… .Full of wolf heads mounted on the walls.

She stood there, her eyes locked on what is her pack. “Right, his fears of losing us.” She mumbles and keeps walking, looking around more. She spots cages, and many in a long hallway?

“Where is this?” She then shudders as she sees red liquid dripping upwards in front of her.

She walks to the side of it and watches it drip to the marble floor “Kai, where are you, and what the fuck did you do for the future to-?” Her eyes go around, now with the sight of an underground bone castle?

“Ok, either he is dreaming of Garmadon or these are memories.” She glances behind her at some stairs that pour lava down them. She then looks back at the castle, her head faltering a bit.

“I'm sorry!” Her head lifts at the voice.

“Kai!” She sprints straight through a new path, jumping over floating rocks, till suddenly a black wolf crosses her path. It's red eyes making her halt on the dusty path. Its spiky tails fell, its ears went back. Nya meanwhile just glances at it more, till finally she sees other wolves. One with a black coat too, but with orange paws, and an auburn wolf. The fully black wolf goes sprinting again, his whimpers filling the air.

“COME BACK HERE, TRAITOR!” The wolf Cole yells at the top of his lungs.

Nya's eyes widened, her eyes moving to the fully black wolf. “Kai.” She watched as he kept avoiding the other wolves. Jumping to each plateau, his whimpers echoing in the cave-like area. The sounds of claws scratching against the rocks, Cole's scratchy snarls, Jay's little sizzles of electricity, and Kai's whines. She lifted her shoulders.

“Why is it everytime he dreams, they attack him?” She whispers in a groan and goes after her brother too, hopefully she can wake him up. She shifts, padding her way around the floating rocks. Her ears then lift as Jay leaps over her, landing on Kai's back, stopping him with one bite down on his back.

She falters.

“Jay!” She barked, and aggressively shook her head.

“Not real, not real.” She mumbles and sprints up to her brother, who was pinned under Jay's snarling form.

“I AM STRONGER THAN YOU, KAI, WE ALL ARE!” Kai whimpers as the auburn pup starts dragging him by the scruff. Digging his jaws further in, Nya begins to see red staining her brother's fur.

“JAY!”

The pup places his claws down on Kai's trembling chest.

Kai's whimpers filled the cave.“See she is better without you, just like the rest of us, traitor.” Jay laughs, his claws sparking.

“JAY!” Nya bashes into the auburn pup. Making him roll over to the edge. His claws clung to the stone as Nya approached her bleeding brother.

“Kai.” The black wolf's red eyes quivered as they stared at her.

“TRAITOR!” Cole's wolf form hurled itself to Nya, and she instantly curls up as another black wolf clashes with Cole's wolf. Nya unfurls and watches his blood drip to the ground.

Jay climbs back up. “Take the TRAITOR down, Cole!”

Nya's ears fell. (I need to do something, right?) She steps back and watches Cole shift, and pick up Kai's bleeding form by his neck!

Kai gagged. “Co-Co!”

“You're done talking, we all know what you did!”

*Cracks*

Nya's eyes darted at Kai, her mouth agape. “Why is he dreaming this!?”

Cole's eyes illuminated red. “You stole my mom's book, used a page to curse my pack! And you are now getting punished!” Cole starts leaning his hand out to the void. Jay jumped beside Nya with a wagging tail.

“What the fuck?” Her eyes clenched as suddenly a bunch of burning papers rain down. Jay kept wagging his tail and Nya looked upon the pages.

“Did he, Kai, did you?” She looks up at the scene before her. Jay cheering, Cole dropping Kai, and finally her brother falling before her eyes. Into a deep dark pit. His eyes vanished from her and Nya looked at the two figures, fading away rapidly as she suddenly only saw the dots.

She floated.

“He was dreaming about taking Cole's mom's book and cursing us?” She whispers in the starry darkness, she feels the warblers of the water under her shaking hands.

“... .Maybe he didn't curse me, but Jay, Jay attacked him, UGH… .Is that why that fucking kid was here!” The water pushed away from her as the red light faded behind her.

“This has to be Garmadon! I can't figure out why Kai of all people would mess with me! Maybe Jay, maybe he is so against him, he did that. But how would Kai get a curse, he's Kai, Kai doesn't have magical powers right?!” She lowers her head and floats, her arms crossing.

“Maybe it's just a dumb dream, about what he fears… .Or he thinks he is the cause of all our issues.” She sighs, but thinks back… .Thinks about how her brother was absent. Absent just before everyone was cursed with their splitting of wolves, and how he was gone all day too.

“He came back injured too.” She whispers.

“And he wasn't affected by that curse yesterday.”

Her eyes turned to where his dream bubble was.

“Kai… .Wouldn't, at least not to me, he wouldn't hurt me… .Right?” The water wobbles around her.

“Nya”

Her form began dissolving. “Nya.”

And suddenly she opened her eyes to the room light and rolled over to see a staff. “It's time to train.” The man looks down at her and Nya soon starts up, and immediately stares at Jay nearby. Sleeping still, well until Wu bonked him with his staff.

“What the fuck!” He sat up instantly and rubs his head.

Wu gleams slightly. “Get ready, we're heading to the desert to train with fellow lycans in five minutes.” And with that the old man left and Jay laid back down.

“I was having a good dream.” He whimpers, still rubbing his head.

Nya meanwhile just gets a shirt over her crop top and covers her stitches. “Guess we should get up… .Though it's not even dawn.” She eyes the window.

Jay grumbles more. “But it all still hurts, why do we have to train, didn't I train him to shift?” He whimpers flopping to his back with closed eyes. Nya shakes her head.

“Sorry Jay, but apparently we gotta hurry.”

Jay's eyes opened to her lovely face. “Ok, but just because you said it.” Her eyes rolled as he sat up and stared at his own stitches.

“That curse really did a number.” He nervously chuckles and she hands him his shirt.

“Thank you.”

Nya sighs. “Your welcome…”

Jay's phantoms twitch as her face fades. “Something wrong?”

Nya's eyes quivered. She gives a deep breath. “No… .But we should hurry.” She smiles with a crooked grin at him. Jay frowned.

“If you say so, but if you're still hurting too, I'll gladly take Zane's pills, or find that old lady. Oh maybe I could do some moves from that movie where the master uses pressure points… .Wait would that hurt?” He ponders, stroking his chin.

“Thanks, but no thanks, Jay.” She turns around to the door as Jay gets his shoes on. Zane stepped in, with a brunette. Nya glances at her brother's face… .Seeing black veins.

“Whoa, what happened to you?” Jay stood up and looked at Kai.

“He was paralyzed by Seilel's powers, but Wu is requiring us to leave right now.” Zane informs and Nya's eyes don't leave the sight of her brother as they all head downstairs.

Wu looks at the teens as they come down. And Kai's eyes go to the sight of Lloyd's Nunne form… .Being held by the elderly women. Lloyd squirmed a lot and even mewed, but the women kept his hold of him.

“Are you all ready?” Wu asked, going straight to the door.

“Erm, can me and Nya have a break?” Jay tilts his head, and Wu's eyes scan him.

“No.” And out the door the old man went. Jay lowered his wounded face.

“Here.” Nya's hand goes in front of his eyes, and presents a mask.

“Oh.”

“Yeah, I have a bunch from the Hunter outfit.” Nya smirks, under a mask of her own. Jay gladly takes it and places it on as they all step out into the nighttime city.

Wu taps his staff as lights around begin shutting off.

“Are you doing that?” Zane whispers to Jay.

“Why would I do that, we're alone?” Jay looks around and watches as some from afar turn off.

“Is it Lloyd?” Nya butts in and all three stare at the Nunne, still trying to escape Mystake's grasp.

“He's not giving off energy.” Zane mentions, turning his attention back to Wu.

“Excuse me, Wu, but we are noticing that the lights are shutting off.”

Wu looks back. “It's fine, do not worry about it, Zane.”

“How reassuring.” Kai frowns and looks at Lloyd's defeated face. The young kit stopped squirming, his head on Mystake's shoulder. His ears were flat against his head. Kai's phantoms in return are lower.

(I'll stop this, don't worry, Lloyd)

And his sister peered at her brother, her body stepping besides him. Her analytical eyes illuminated as lights shut off. Kai meanwhile stepped with stiff legs, which were weirdly still nearly numb enough to drop him. But he remained locked onto Lloyd, his head slightly tilted in numbness.

Nya looks forward. (He's still watching Lloyd) She blinks and eventually starts walking slower to get by the other teens. Zane was behind Jay, his head down. But Jay was watching the street lights shut off with a lifted brow. He sparks his hands, creating tiny sparks.

“Could I light them back up?” He murmured, and placed his bandaged hands to the pole, but nothing lit.

“Aw.”

Nya moves to his side. “Trying to light them back up?”

“Yeah! I mean, it's weird they are turning off, normally one can do that, not a whole block. Maybe some short circuit in the main power source, or something is being done manually for the migrating season? Is it the migrating season for birds?” He looks back at Zane, who kept his head low.

“Zane?”

Zane lifts his head slightly. “I am unsure, Jay.”

Jay's head tilts.

“You good, Zane?” Nya asked and Zane kept his head low and Jay again sparks his hands.

“Need a charge?”

“I require nothing of lightning, Jay.”

Jay's sparks disperse. “Well what's wrong?” Nya asks and Zane suddenly walks past them to the front with Wu.

“Guess he is ok, maybe the lights did it?” Jay says, and Nya sighs.

“Everyone is losing their minds.”

“What?” Jay turns to her.

“Nothing, just too much is going on.” Nya stares at him tiredly and Jay just gives her a smile under his mask.

“Well, at least we're all still moving.” He rubs the back of his head.

“Yeah, and that's what we gotta keep doing now.” Nya frowns, staring in front of herself at her brother and cousin both staggering. Even Jay made slight flinches in clear pain. She then just got closer to her brother again, this time Jay joining her as Kai eyed him. But soon his red eyes go back to Lloyd.

_________________

Zane slumps as he steps into the sand.

“Finally!” Kai falls to the sand with an exhausted Jay and Wu glances around. Mystake meanwhile just lowers herself into the sand on a cushion and pours a glass of tea.

“Where are the other lycans?” She says and Lloyd reluctantly looks at her, ears low.

“They'll be here soon, I informed them to rush as we don't have much time left to train.” Wu explains, sitting down by Mystake, who held Lloyd in her arms still.

Lloyd lowered his head and ears. (Can I just leave?)

Kai looks at Lloyd from his position in the sand and then Jay. The fellow lycan burying himself in the sand. “Why are you doing that zappy?”

Jay's half-lidded eyes turn to him. “Might as well bury myself so no one has to.”

Kai turns his head to the now blue sky. “Well that's dramatic.”

Jay sighs. “Maybe, but effective, this pain is making me debate.” He whispers and Nya eyes both boys, then takes Jay's sandy arm.

“Jay get out of the sand, it's gonna get in the mask.”

*Whines*

Nya's eye scrunched as Jay then got up.

Jay rubbed the sand from his hair. “Sorry this is a lot more pain than I'm used to.”

Kai then sat up, as Nya glanced at him with a poignant face and instantly looked back at Jay as Kai felt his face contort into confusion.

Zane slumps into the sand, and freezes the ground he sat on.

“Why did you give me that stare?” Kai steps up to Nya, who only steps back with her head lowered.

“What stare?”

Jay looks at both of them and Kai's scowl. “The fucking one you just gave me, Nya.”

Nya just returns her eyes to her brother's red eyes. “Why would you be so worried about a stare, Kai?”

Kai looks at his sister with a slight scowl, and turns away in hast. “Where is Cole at?” He asks the adults and Jay again lifts a brow.

“So he just got upset at a stare?” He murmured to Nya, who sighs.

“Don't worry about it.”

*Vrrrooom*

Everyone's head turned as dust rushed into the air and a helmeted biker appeared, skidding her bike in front of them.

Nya's smile returned as the orange helmet was removed to reveal a red-head. “Sky!”

Kai's head turns sharply from Lloyd to stare and instantly just felt his cheeks burn.

“Where have you been for the last two days?” Nya chatted with a bright grin.

Skylor put her helmet on the bike. “I saw some vampires trying to kill people and had a small adventure with Morro as he tried to steal my book again.” Skylor wobbled her head in annoyance and turns to the group.

Kai turned his red face away.

“So what we doing Creation wolf? I know you called me here for training, but is it in combat?”

Nya looks at the older man, walking up. “Yes, I noticed how little time we had and I need to ensure of a victory, so can you help by mimicking the powers of the branches?”

Skylor smiles. “Sure thing, I just need to know which ones so I can-” She brings her book out.

He pushes the book down with his staff. “I brought fangs of other branches, and I'm aware you know of the different ones, right?” His eyes her straight in the eyes, making Skylor hold the book tighter.

“Yes… .Yes creation wolf.”

Nya looks at Wu. “Wait so she can't use her-”

“This is an exercise for elements.” Wu responded and Skylor only stared him down when he turned away. Kai meanwhile just watches Wu go to Mystake.

The old man petted Lloyd's hissing head. “Now as we wait, we shall begin.” Wu brings his staff and points to Nya.

“You and Zane, Kai and Skylor, and Jay you will battle against Seilel when she arrives with Cole.”

Jay frowned. “Who is Seilel?”

Kai looks at Wu, who now reached into his robes and pulled out a satchel. “I dont think I can battle her!” He whispers to the old man, who only grins.

“Kai, you are distracted by her, it's only smart to learn not to be distracted.”

Kai's face scrunched up. “Then make Jay fight Nya!” He throws his arms out.

Nya looks over at him and then at Zane's emotionless face. “Well, ready for a training session?” Zane nods to her words, his eyes peering down, both still as images pass through his sensors.

Skylor stretched and laid her book in her bike. “So which element?” Kai's eyes go to her lovely form, and wags his phantoms.

(Kai, focus!) He stood upright as Wu hands the female a fang. Which then lights up as fire comes from Skylor's hand, enflaming her whole hand.

Kai's heart skipped and he silently glared at Wu sitting down besides Mystake. His eyes then return to see bright flames in his face and throws himself right into the sand.

Skylor smiles. “Sorry, but you aren't focused!”

Kai's mouth stayed agape. (Did she just-)

He stands, and looks at her determined amber eyes. Both nearly appear yellow in the sunlight.

His phantoms twitch. “You ready?” She asks, with a red-lipped smile. Kai's red face nods and gains a training face.

Nya looks at Zane, who on the other side slumped. Do you need a moment?” Zane's robotic eyes stilled, but looked at her.

“Zane?” Nya glances at him, then peers at ice appearing under Zane.

“I am fine, but please stand over there as I prep myself.”

“Ok?” She stood away, and silently looks at the ice master's face glitching.

“Woah, maybe it isn't a good idea for us to train after all.” Jay looks at Wu, who only glanced at him and the others.

“Carry on. “

Jay's eyes shut in a flinch as Zane suddenly moves towards Nya. “Dodge Nya!”

She slides to the right and sees Zane sliding on ice further away. “I'm on it Jay!” Then Zane comes back, spinning his blade, and trembling.

*FWOOSH*

Kai looks at the redhead who had doged his flames with a roll. “Wow, you got sick skills.”

“Thanks, I was trained a lot in fire.” She then runs at him and uses the flames on her arms to do a few punches, sending Kai back with a pained face.

(Wow, she's good) And he groans but stands up and at last hits his arms together to ignite his flames.

Skylor smiles at the flames and bandages melting clean off. “Can you stop going easy on me?”

“You want to see my full power?” Kai lifts both arms up and releases flames out as Nya glanced from her dodging to the blocking of the sun and the sight of her brother.

Jay meanwhile slipped his jacket off, and peered upwards with Wu. Lloyd's eyes widen into a shimmering sight.

Skylor looks at Kai inside the fire wall. “Impressive, but you failed to use it on your opponent.”

“Did I?”

And suddenly fire spurts come down from the fire sky. Skylor leaped to the side and again as fire rained down.

Kai gleams, his red eyes glowing. “Not going easy, like you suggested.”

Sky beams. “Bring it on, Kai!”

Kai's face turns red as his whole body ignites for a moment, but he just lifts his flaming fists with a wide smirk. “You'll love this.” And races up to her with flaming fist and tries to land a punch and only gets his arm grabbed.

*Thud!*

Kai looks up at her soft skin and amber eyes, glowing form under the flames. “So are you just weak, or not ready to fight?” She asks pinning him. Kai meanwhile just feels his whole face burning as he takes in this moment.

“I-I” She then grabs his torso and lifts him right up and threw him down to the ground. And happily shoots out fire to encase him in a fire-made cage.

“Hm, guess you weren't ready for a fight.”

*Claps*

And the sun comes back out as the flames fall into pathetic embers. Kai looks at the cage he was in now and instantly to who was laughing.

“Shut it, Jay!”

The blue-cladded teen though just thought kept laughing a little. Wu side-eyes him.

“You have to admit that's funny.” Jay grins, and the man leaves him standing there and heads up to Kai.

“Thank you Skylor for your contribution to his training.”

“Yeah just leave me, when is Cole gonna get here?” Jay mutters as a pale hands land on his shoulder.

Skylor smiles to Wu and releases Kai from his imprisonment. He then reluctantly looks up at her as she hands back the fang.

“AAAA!”

The group turns, and Nya just jumps away from Zane's glitching form to stare. Zane then pauses too to look, his face gaining a somehow darker sense.

*CRACKS*

*BOOM*

Wu held his hat as sparks littered the fleeing dust.

“Jay, what the fuck!” Kai yelled, removing his sand-covered arm from his face. He then stiffens as he sees the maroon haired women emerge from a dark orb behind Jay's snarls.

“I heard I have to train a fellow lightning lycan.” She grins to Jay, who immediately looks at Cole, walking up with an energy bar in his hand.

“Where have you been?”

“Getting a snack.” Cole munched as Jay then stepped closer.

“Do you have more? We didn't get breakfast.” Jay lowers his head and looks up at Cole.

Cole got off his bag. “Here, but it's all vegan.”

“Yes—Wait, why do you have a bag full if you're just getting a snack, Cole?”

Cole munched. “Are you gonna question or take one?”

“Alright.” Jay rolls his eyes and grabs a bar or two.

Seilel meanwhile targeted her eyes straight to the redhead. Who proceeded to instantly grab her book from the motorcycle and flip around in it.

“Don't worry, I'm not planning on killing your fake ass, just Ronin's, besides I'm sure the cores will get ya.” Seilel chuckles, now leaning on the motorcycle's seat. Skylor stepped back alongside Kai.

Kai looks at the women and Wu, now coming up. “Seilel, that isn't important right now, what is important is that they get trained for the final battle, do you understand?”

Seilel looks at Skylor, grins and sends black bolts through the cycle. “Yeah, I understand creation wolf.” She gets up leaving Skylor to leer at her as Seilel fades into darkness.

“This is why I kicked you out, Seilel!”

Seilel reappears behind Jay. “I kicked myself out cause you had Ronin use me.” She huffs and looks at Wu.

“Train the lightning pup here?” She smirks.

Jay fumbles around, and swallows his snack. “Huh?”

“Yes, Seilel, and may I offer you a fang of portal to train?” Wu holds out the fang and Seilel instantly runs up, nearly shoving Jay, and grabs the fang right from Wu.

Her dark blue eyes glowed. “How did you get this, old man, thought I was the only one who knows of this one's location?” Her eyes squinted into a yellow color towards the old man.

“That is no concern to you, now aid in training, please.” Wu thumps his staff into the sand, and Seilel just looks to Jay.

“I will, but remember…” She gets closer to Wu's face. “I'm no idiot old lupirio, and I threatened your brother last night as he had one of my branch's fangs, and was using one of your ‘precious’ students. So you better not be doing what he is by using us or these other pups, especially Nick and the Lightning one… .Got it?” She whispers to Wu, who, she then pinches his neck, sending out a small set of black veins. Wu's eyes dilated.

Lloyd meanwhile looks as Mystake places him down and Seilel steps away from Wu with the widest grin. “Well, time to go train.” She sprints to Jay, who with everyone else froze at the sight of Wu shaking.

Seilel beams at him. “Let's go, and I'll bring him back later tonight!”

“What!” She grabs Jay by the torso and opens a purple sparked port.

“WHAT THE-”

*Ping*

Cole looks at where the portal was and Mystake with Wu. “And there goes Jay.”

Wu then soon sits down, the veins growing along his face. “I'll get you a lightning fang, Wu.”

“Thank you Mystake.” Wu quietly spoke.

Kai looks over at Cole. “Is she gonna kill, Jay?”

Cole reluctantly steps forward. “I don't think so.” He shrugged.

Nya meanwhile then rushes to the group. “Did she just take Jay!”

Skylor turns away from her dead bike. “Seilel is like that, she is more bark than bite, don't worry.” She tells Nya, turns back around, and pulls out a tool. Nya watches Wu get up.

“Let's continue training, lupirion.”

Cole sees the man glare at him and then shows Kai and Nya his bag full of treats.

“Well, where is Zane?” Kai asks Nya as he reaches into the bag.

“He didn't follow me?” She looks out and sees the Droid standing still a bit away.

“That isn't normal.” Cole says, munching still.

Kai and Nya turn to him.

“Are, are, you on something?” Kai scowls.

“What, no? Why do you think that?”

“Cause your really fucking calm, Cole!” Kai shouts and Cole just swallows the rest of his treat.

“We may have had some brownies before coming here-but that isn't normal, Kai.” Cole retorts and heads off to Zane's frozen state.

“Aren't we all allergic to chocolate?” Nya mutters, moving, and glances to Wu, who now was just sitting by Mystake. Who had a fang, which zapped him slightly.

Kai meanwhile stayed back, watching as Mystake made the black veins disappear on Wu's neck.

His head tilts. (So that's how that works… .Wait, Jay could have removed those from me!)

Kai scowled whilst a cougar-sized cat strolled up to him. “Kai.”

The teen looks down at the blonde creature. “Lloyd.” He then crouched down to his brother.

“Are you ok, I saw Mystake holding you tight back there.”

Lloyd scoffs. “She's been doing that all day! But I need your help.” Lloyd then starts heading away from the training area, Kai following with a lifted brow.

“I thought you liked training.”

Lloyd looks up at him and instantly snarls into the opposite direction. “I did! But then these stupid curses occurred and I guess I didn't get trained enough cause Wu's dumbass said none of us were ready!”

Kai halts his steps.

“He said what?”

“He said we weren't ready and fucking of course I'm not at where I'm supposed to be!” The nunne's tail poofed outwards as Kai stood there… .Till he sharply turned to look at Wu from a distance.

“What did he say about me?”

_______________________

Cole waved his hand over Zane's static face.

“Wu, I don't think Zane is able to train.” Cole looks at the man walking up to them. He then stares at Zane's still, but snow-like eyes.

“Where is his bird?”

Cole glances at Zane and Nya. “How is that supposed to help?” Nya leered, to then get a slight bonk from Wu's staff.

“Think with your head, Nya.”

Nya, though, just walked away from the older man. “Nya!” Cole called out, but only got a middle finger in response.

Wu shakes his head. “Come on, let's go train, I'll have Mystake handle Zane.”

Cole furrowed his brows. “Was that necessary?”

Wu does not answer, remaining quiet as he walks away. Cole looks back at Zane's still state, and sees his head lift.

“You good, Zane?”

Zane's eyes move around, glowing as his body stands up in a robotic motion. Cole steps up. “Zane, pal, you good?” Zane's eyes peer at him, and turn on a scanner, scanning Cole.

“Um, ye-yeah it's me… .I'll go get Jay, he'll fix you up.” Cole turns to then feel an icy breeze blow his hair.

*Swish*

Cole's eyes dilated. “ZANE!”

_________________________

Kai's smokey snarls swirl one last time as the rough scream rang out, making the boy's phantoms turn.

“COLE!?” Lloyd begins rushing, only to get grabbed by Kai's arm. Kai looks out and at the sudden ice blasts occurring. Wu dodged as he spun his staff in front of him and Mystake.

Kai's eyes widened and instantly he sent his flames around in a spin with just one arm, melting the ice that shot at him into steam.

Chapter 2: Crumbled Feathers (Myth au) Preview

Notes:

Ok. Rich text test. Hmm. But yeah, there's a lot of themes in myth when this one finally comes out you all have no idea besides Killua. On what is going to happen after that last bit there's more there but I didn't reveal it. Hehe.

Literally had to edit this one multiple times as i test out rich text

Chapter Text

*Click*

*Clonk*

His notched brow furrowed as he hand cranked the bolt in.

“Come on, you better stay on this time.” He lifts the frame up and shakes it lightly.

He turns around in the wobbly chair. “Good, now for the don't fall apart test.” He stands, and looks at the closed blinds and locked door.

“Test, erm…”

“40… .I think? of the helpers of human flight take 3… .Heh.” His smile crooked as his bagged eyes closed slightly at placing the pack on.

“Now to employ the wings…”

*Swish*

His eyes turned to the mirror where a human greeted his gaze. Brown, nearly to his scalp hair, elongated cold ears, bursting blue and zapping yellow eyes, and a face… .A face that had purple bags underneath the shaking eyes. But he quickly averted that and glanced at the silver shining.

“And now to find a location where I won't be seen.” He whispers to himself, leaning back into his desk, he stares at a map of a city. He puts his sharp hand near his face and rubs it slightly.

“Now… .if I just avoid the campus, and likely every building in this damn city, I should be free to test… .And maybe experience what flying is like.” He sketched onto the paper, and then turned to a closet. A simple one, a brown squared one. With only three, well, two outfits in it.

His half-lidded eyes eye the grey outfit with a disassociate face.

!Beeeep!

“Good morning students, it's time to get up, get to the luncheon for daily nutrients.”

!Beeeep!

His shoulders sag. “Right… .Still have to fucking figure out when I can leave, which doesn't mean testing this with others around!” He grabs his mouth as his ear twitches at noises of shoes clanking on the floor. He grabs his grey outfit swiftly and quickly shoves the pack off his back.

“Kcufkcufkuf.” He whispers rapidly, taking off his stained-with-oil and only gods know at this point, shirt off. He throws it at his tattered bed and stretches a bit, moving his arms up and stares at the mirror. The wings… .He noticed the feathers were uneven, and slightly flinched at an itch.

-CreEeEe-

His ears twitch to the shoes outside his door and nearly flings himself to his drawer to grab the thick bandages. He unrolls them and instantly locks up as he swiftly wraps them all over his torso. The bandages dug underneath his warm back and he rolled them across the uneven feathers, losing an occasional feather or two.

He then looks at his mirror and moves his arms slightly to feel the tug to his flesh. “Good”

And he grabs his grey uniform, places it on, swiftly buttoning it with shaky talons. He gives a tight breath out of his trembling mouth, it almost coming out as a form of chirp, but held his breath before it dared to come out. He changes his pants to a more grey color, and grabs his shoes, gloves and beanie. He stares at the silver bracelet trapped on his arm, its tightness leaving an indent. He places the black gloves and soon slips his shoes on and ties them. He then moves the silver wings away, closing the silver away from the world and places it under the bed… .In the wooden floor. A small compartment, his glowing eyes blink at the sight of a photo sticking out and nearly slams the board down over their photo.

-TaPPing!

His back twitched underneath, but he just grabbed a grey overcoat, slipping it on as he gave his tiny white room a look over… .He sees a blue feather on the floor and quietly grabs it, placing it in his pocket and finally unlocks the door.

The silver-haired man stood there, in his hand was a clipboard, and he wrote something down. “Mr. Walker, you are yet again running behind.”

“It was five-”

“Quiet, Walker!” The boy lowered his covered head, and stepped from the room, the man's eyes looked behind him… .And the boy feels his breath choke.

“Now you better get nutrients for today.”

“Y-yes, Cryptor Sir.” And the boy leaves, the man now heading out to other tardies. The boy stepped forward, his steps quickened slightly as the color-less walls but colorful posters caught his attention. The same ones he saw his first day here, and again. Reds, blues, even orange posters. The only colors that stand out besides the electric wires attached to the walls. He eyes those wires a lot, seeing the occasional zap was the reward after all. Haha, no, he ain't losing it?

He stepped down the stairs, where more banners rang.

Green and gold, “Dragons the gold stealers”

Orange, “Nagas those ruthless leviathans”

A weirdly light blue, almost grey, “Vampires the first serial killers”

But one stood out, a bright blue one. It had a bird on it. Blue, he always liked that color. But that banner.

“Thunderbird our false hope”

He keeps moving, cameras moving forward to stare. “Thunderbird, our false hope.” He whispers. He recalls a way distant memory. His mo- When she took him to see the old statue. It was so shiny! His little hidden wings almost gave him away so much. She said it used to protect this city, defeated the Naga king and everything wonderful.

His feet echoed the hall as he listened to cameras zooming on him. Yet he kept walking till he reached the luncheon and turned to face the person at the door. Showed his silver bracelet, letting the man scan it, and went to get nutrients.

Zane looks up at the swirling clouds as they begin to spark and cascade water.

He looked at Wu. “Wasn't it just sunny this morning?”

Wu meets his gaze. “Yes, but perhaps it's a good sign we have found a place for tea.” Wu smiles as he heads in below the teapot. Zane nose flares at the smells of lemon, cinnamon, thyme, and rosemary.

rings!

Zane then stiffens at the sight of a child with bruises at the counter. “Is the herbalist here, young man?” Wu softly spoke to the brunette.

“Yes, Sensei Wu. In the back.” The kid beamed, showing off a missing tooth.

Zane steps up. “I'm sorry, but are you ok?” The little boy, though, just felt his eyes expand with his smile.

“Are you a myth!”

Zane looks down at him.

“What makes you think I am a myth?”

The boy's mouth drops. “Pale skin, fangs, you're also really tall.”

Zane's head tilts with a small confused smile. “Can I ask if you are a myth or did those damages to you,”

The boy scoffs. “I am a human, but I might as well be a myth like you.”

“He's cursed with bad luck, and you are?” Zane turns around back to the doorway, and hears a click. The redhead brings her hand from the doorknob and hits some lever, sending blinds down over the shop.

“I believe we met earlier.” Zane bows, and the woman looks at the kid.

“Is Sensei here?”

“Yep!”

And Sky went through the beads. Zane glances at the kid, who proceeded to play with a set of toy myths… .A kitsune, bird? And snakes.

“You are cursed?”

The boy nodded. “Yep, but I'm strong like a myth, so I'm fine. Name's Nelson.”

Zane smiles. “Zane, but please make sure no harm comes from this curse.”

“I'm fine, it only makes me stronger and more ready to battle if I need to.” The boy's head moves with a growing smile.

Zane reviews his eyes at the smile and bruises. And then he walked to the beads. “I'll see you after this, and will ensure you are safe.”

“Nice try, but I'm a soldier like my mom told me.” The kid's smile he noticed had no wrinkles nor did his eyes.

(“Fake smile”)

And Zane retreats to the beads, avoiding the thoughts now threading his mind. But that soon was nearly replaced with his surroundings. Grassy fields, a pond, a bridge that lead to a house that looked like the ones he has laid eyes on before.

“Zane, come and join us.” He sees Wu next to a pink cat. The cat beckoned like a baneko so Zane came over, bowing before entering, and took off his shoes.

“Oh he's polite, how nice.” The pink cat spoke, laying down on a pillow next to Skylor. Zane joined the table and Wu sat next to him. Then Zane sees an elderly woman step in with a tray of hot beverages and bowls.

“Thank you Mystake.” Wu greets and Zane sees Skylor hand the cat a bowl of presumably fish.

“My pleasure Wu, but why did you call for this meeting?”

Wu sips a glass of tea and gently places it down. “My task was to come to 4 locations with shrines, this location has no such thing, at least not anymore and I feel a presence here, I fear this may not be my task I was assigned too. And I brought Lloyd with me.”

Zane looks at the woman, who only glanced into her cup, covering her face with her hat. “You are right Wu, but I can not share information about your task, all I can say is that it is going well.” She says, eyeing Zane.

She then frowned. “The presence in the town you came from is older than me, it isn't a myth to mess with, do not risk Lloyd or your new horde with him as you are here.

Wu nods. “Do you know where I'm supposed to bless?”

Mystake shook her head. “Afraid not, Ms. Chen, do you know any Shrines?”

Skylor swallows and wipes her mouth. “All of them were taken down when Borg arrived here, but I do know that someone is placing little money and bird-shaped figures where the Thunderbird statue stood.”

“Guess someone remembers her more.” Wu closes his eyes.

“Oh yeah.”

His eyes open to see the cat pushing a little file close to him. “We found this on Ms. Borg's computer.”

Zane looks at the paper. “It says they have located a Thunderbird in the city.” The cat states, going back to her cushion.

Skylor pats her head. “Sora got the information as she hacked into the computers to turn off more trackers for myths, and they found one sensei Wu.”

Zane's eyes peer at Wu reading, to watch the old man's face dampen.

“Future source for their city.” He closes the folder swiftly and with a deep sigh.

“Thunderbirds are protectors of the West, why is one in Asia?” Zane acquires.

“Oh we had a snake problem from the sea, one came over and handled it, simple.” Sora flicked her tails.

“She is right, I don't know where you are from, but this area used to be a massive attack area for the nagas, territorial war.” Skylor lays her head on her hand.

“Oh, well I guess that makes sense given the Thunderbird is related to Rocs.” Zane mentions and Skylor lifts her head.

She then gets up. “I have an idea, Sensei, would you mind if we take this vampire to our campus?”

Wu meets Mystake's gaze. “They will be using a Thunderbird for energy, but if we find it, we can put out the power for once and free the myths and humans taken.” Skylor explained, walking around. Sora leaped up to the table.

“I am unsure if I want to put Zane in a position that unholy place offers.” Wu says and Zane ponders.

“If I go there and get caught by hunters, what do they do to me, a human?”

Sora looks at Zane. “You're not a hu-” Sky plucks her from the table.

“They don't act as cruel with ‘humans’ but they will place you in a room for hours with a video that basically says to follow the rules… .But mess with the rules a lot more…” Skylor's eyes move back and forth.

“People vanish around here sometimes… .Into my dad's factories, they get slashed, sold if they have valuable myths in disguise, or, or they use… .I'm sorry, but I can't.” Skylor blinks away tears.

Wu's head lowers. “It is quite a risk, they cut off all access to the outside world, we'd have to find our myth and get out.”

Zane looks at Skylor's shaking form. “I sense there's more to your explanation.”

“There is, but unfortunately my dad runs a part of the slavery areas of this mess, so I saw it all. Humans and myths being ruined by overwork or… .Well some things are worse than death I'll say… .I guess it's better than the experiments or seeing cut up myths.” She mumbles and Zane's face contort to that of scowl.

“I heard what you said, but they didn't, surely humans are better than this, right? Someone once told me that humans can be bad, but-”

Skylor only stared at him and instantly Zane stood up.

“I have one option here, and that's to help the suffering… .I have studied medicine, care, and on many myths, seeing them torn apart has no effect on me unless they are living.”

Skylor lifts a brow as Wu nods to Mystake about something. “Protect those who can protect themselves” He glances at Sky.

“Sometimes it is a little dirty work, but I will aid in any way I can as long as I'm here.” He bows, Wu watching him with nostalgic gleam.

Mystake motions her hands forward and Wu goes up to the vampire. “You may try to help, Zane, but remember in helping, something is always lost.”

Zane looks at the Sensei. “I understand that more than I remember, I know I once helped someone close to me and he died, but let's not repeat the past and look forward, Sensei.”

Wu nods. “Very well, let us begin the process of getting him in first.”

*click*

Skylor, Zane, and Wu look to see a pink-haired girl with purple cat headphones. She looked from the orange laptop. Which Zane stared at with such curiosity.

Her tails swayed behind her. “What, I need hands for this?”

Skylor sighs. “Try not to use my laptop next time, and bring yours, but anyway. Zane, so you have last name and year of birth right?”

Zane blinks. “Yes, Zane Julien is my first and last name. I was born in the year of the Rat 1804.”

Sora snickered. “I'll just put in 2004, figures a vampire would be ancient.”

Zane makes no comment and looks at Skylor. “What else must we do to get in and save our fellow humans and myths?”

He scans his silver bracelet and enters the crowded room, and sits at his number. People filed in as he sat there, feeling his back ache, wings itching. But he remained locked into a sitting position. Chin up, hands on the table, keep eyes forward. No posters were in this room, except the front, where it's the main monsters of this region's history. All colored in different colors than the walls.

Naga again, avians, kitsune, and even the occasional Tanuki. But anyway his eyes remained front and center… .Cause if not. Well, he hates rulers now. It always stings too, especially when he was younger. He almost would swear they did double on him whenever he fidgeted. So best not to move, unless told to.

He kept his head forward and his neck stung and his eyes then moved as more people entered. Some of the regulars. Skylor Chen, Dareth, of course Pixel Borg, the damn girl who answers everything. He wishes he could roll his eyes at her smiling face. More regulars came in, but then he noticed a new one. Pale skin, blonde hair.

(“Must not get out much, but not really any of us do”)

The guy then just got closer and sat by him! What luck, it's not a joy to see someone get broken, but having the eyes off him would be nice, right?

“Welcome students to your class on the study of Myths, now keep your heads up to not fall asleep.” The man puts up his hands and then brings out his bayonet, smacking it in his hand as the room desaturates in color. All wires zapping to the screen, and lighting it up to show a picture of some creatures with snouts and claws.

“Pull up your digital screens to see the many types of lycanthropy out there.”

The boy instantly pushes the button on the side of the desk, summoning a hologram just like everyone else… .Except for the new guy.

(“Oh no”)

Nobody turned their heads, but he luckily could watch from his view. But the guy raised his hand… .(“Where is he from? No one does that!”)

The teacher carried on the lesson, the new guy's hand eventually falling as he tried to then ask around, but no one answered his whispers.

The boy watched. (“How the fuck is he getting a way with this? They literally dragged me out in the hallway and cornered me when I began!”) He meanwhile turned the pages as the teacher spoke.

Hours passed.

The new guy still didn't have his hologram on but sat there, listening? (“Yeah probably, you're not allowed to sleep in here or they drag you out, or use a ruler, sometimes the bayonet if they really want to.”)

“Lycanthropy is a transmitted disease like any animal-like issue.” The professor says, pointing his bayonet to the screen.

“You see here, the teeth are the main cause for infection in lycanthropy cases, but the claws are also infectious. Which is why you must carry things that harm all lycanthropes at all times.”

The screen changes to a white screen, showing off silver bricks, bracelets, and some kind of purple flower?

(“Ok, that's new, what is that?”)

“Silver, you all know from the introduction classes and from our bracelets that keep wonderful care in keeping you all safe… .But it also keeps you safe from many myths that wish to harm you, such as lycanthropes, those horrible blood-sucking beasts known as vampires, and even more like tricky Kitsune.”

The man steps around the stage and grabs sheets of paper. Students turn off the holograms, and the quiet buzzing greets the boy as he watches the man hand the papers to a set of drones.

“File these, explain why silver is important and answer questions on lycanthropy.”

The papers are placed down in front of all students along with pens. The boy moves his numb, cold, gloved hands, gripping the pen and begins.

“What are the signs of someone being a lycanthropy? Check off all that apply.”

□ Consumption of Meat/Blood/Organs

□ A hairy/scaly/feathery aspects that appear as unibrows, webbed feet, curved fingernails, and sharp teeth.

□ Behavioral aspects to heathens and wards that are Beast like. Canine, feline, aquatic, avian.

□ Being absolutely immune to forms of typical machinery/ Tanks, bayonets, silver.

The boy's eyes go half-lidded and checks the last one.

“What is the method to deal with attacks or assaults by lycanthropes?”

■ Inform the nearest person in charge of locating and trapping those affected.

What about in case you are attacked and infected?

■ Take self out of city limits and call for hunters for yourself and inform of the situation so they can clean up the area after you are eradicated.

“What is the cause for lycanthropy?”

■ A mutated strain of DNA of animals that has corrupted the human race.

“Where did the disease originate?”

(The Canis strain)

■ Greece during the Classical Age

‘Label all under the lycanthropy category”

□ Kitsune

□ Selkie “No longer an answer students, they are extinct”

□ Berserker

□ Kelpies

□ Skinwalkers

□ Dragons

□ Bakeneko

□ Tanuki

□ Oni

□ Kappa

□ Jorōgumo

□ Vampire

□ Raiju

□ Avians

□ Wukupudgie

□ Wendigo

□ The fae

□ Golems

□ Unicorns

(“Easy”)

The boy lifts his pencil and prepares to finish his paper.

“Excuse me, sir.”

His eyes leave the paper and he immediately feels them expand at the sight. The new guy walks up to the professor with the paper.

“Excuse me sir, I am most apologetic, but the way you spoke about myths in the lycanthropy sector is not true.”

Heads rose from their papers, pencils halted their filling and writing, and then the boy watched the professor get up, holding his bayonet tightly.

“You are a new student, right?” The man asks the blonde, who bows.

“Yes, I am Zane Julien, I was born in 2004. I wish to speak about how you were speaking wrong of Myths.”

The professor steps closer towards Zane, his footsteps echoing in the choked-out room. The boy's heterochromatic eyes watched Zane not backing up. (“Is he stupid?”)

“Mr. Julien, I suggest you head back towards your seat and not question.” The man's face remained quiet and unchanging.

Zane though kept his blue eyes locked onto the man. “But not asking questions destroys any chance for learning, and I understand this is an institution for learning, am I not correct, sir-”

*Click*

*Clonk*

His notched brow furrowed as he hand cranked the bolt in.

“Come on, you better stay on this time.” He lifts the frame up and shakes it lightly.

He turns around in the wobbly chair. “Good, now for the don't fall apart test.” He stands, and looks at the closed blinds and locked door.

“Test, erm…”

“40… .I think? of the helpers of human flight take 3… .Heh.” His smile crooked as his bagged eyes closed slightly at placing the pack on.

“Now to employ the wings…”

*Swish*

His eyes turned to the mirror where a human greeted his gaze. Brown, nearly to his scalp hair, elongated cold ears, bursting blue and zapping yellow eyes, and a face… .A face that had purple bags underneath the shaking eyes. But he quickly averted that and glanced at the silver shining.

“And now to find a location where I won't be seen.” He whispers to himself, leaning back into his desk, he stares at a map of a city. He puts his sharp hand near his face and rubs it slightly.

“Now… .if I just avoid the campus, and likely every building in this damn city, I should be free to test… .And maybe experience what flying is like.” He sketched onto the paper, and then turned to a closet. A simple one, a brown squared one. With only three, well, two outfits in it.

His half-lidded eyes eye the grey outfit with a disassociate face.

!Beeeep!

“Good morning students, it's time to get up, get to the luncheon for daily nutrients.”

!Beeeep!

His shoulders sag. “Right… .Still have to fucking figure out when I can leave, which doesn't mean testing this with others around!” He grabs his mouth as his ear twitches at noises of shoes clanking on the floor. He grabs his grey outfit swiftly and quickly shoves the pack off his back.

“Kcufkcufkuf.” He whispers rapidly, taking off his stained-with-oil and only gods know at this point, shirt off. He throws it at his tattered bed and stretches a bit, moving his arms up and stares at the mirror. The wings… .He noticed the feathers were uneven, and slightly flinched at an itch.

-CreEeEe-

His ears twitch to the shoes outside his door and nearly flings himself to his drawer to grab the thick bandages. He unrolls them and instantly locks up as he swiftly wraps them all over his torso. The bandages dug underneath his warm back and he rolled them across the uneven feathers, losing an occasional feather or two.

He then looks at his mirror and moves his arms slightly to feel the tug to his flesh. “Good”

And he grabs his grey uniform, places it on, swiftly buttoning it with shaky talons. He gives a tight breath out of his trembling mouth, it almost coming out as a form of chirp, but held his breath before it dared to come out. He changes his pants to a more grey color, and grabs his shoes, gloves and beanie. He stares at the silver bracelet trapped on his arm, its tightness leaving an indent. He places the black gloves and soon slips his shoes on and ties them. He then moves the silver wings away, closing the silver away from the world and places it under the bed… .In the wooden floor. A small compartment, his glowing eyes blink at the sight of a photo sticking out and nearly slams the board down over their photo.

-TaPPing!

His back twitched underneath, but he just grabbed a grey overcoat, slipping it on as he gave his tiny white room a look over… .He sees a blue feather on the floor and quietly grabs it, placing it in his pocket and finally unlocks the door.

The silver-haired man stood there, in his hand was a clipboard, and he wrote something down. “Mr. Walker, you are yet again running behind.”

“It was five-”

“Quiet, Walker!” The boy lowered his covered head, and stepped from the room, the man's eyes looked behind him… .And the boy feels his breath choke.

“Now you better get nutrients for today.”

“Y-yes, Cryptor Sir.” And the boy leaves, the man now heading out to other tardies. The boy stepped forward, his steps quickened slightly as the color-less walls but colorful posters caught his attention. The same ones he saw his first day here, and again. Reds, blues, even orange posters. The only colors that stand out besides the electric wires attached to the walls. He eyes those wires a lot, seeing the occasional zap was the reward after all. Haha, no, he ain't losing it?

He stepped down the stairs, where more banners rang.

Green and gold, “Dragons the gold stealers”

Orange, “Nagas those ruthless leviathans”

A weirdly light blue, almost grey, “Vampires the first serial killers”

But one stood out, a bright blue one. It had a bird on it. Blue, he always liked that color. But that banner.

“Thunderbird our false hope”

He keeps moving, cameras moving forward to stare. “Thunderbird, our false hope.” He whispers. He recalls a way distant memory. His mo- When she took him to see the old statue. It was so shiny! His little hidden wings almost gave him away so much. She said it used to protect this city, defeated the Naga king and everything wonderful.

His feet echoed the hall as he listened to cameras zooming on him. Yet he kept walking till he reached the luncheon and turned to face the person at the door. Showed his silver bracelet, letting the man scan it, and went to get nutrients.

Zane looks up at the swirling clouds as they begin to spark and cascade water.

He looked at Wu. “Wasn't it just sunny this morning?”

Wu meets his gaze. “Yes, but perhaps it's a good sign we have found a place for tea.” Wu smiles as he heads in below the teapot. Zane nose flares at the smells of lemon, cinnamon, thyme, and rosemary.

rings!