Where did it all go Wrong?

Chapter 17

(888 reads?!?!! WhY aRe YoU pEoPlE rEaDiNg ThIs XD
It makes me so happy though :')
Have another chapter)

Jay winced as he looked to Ranger. Since Ranger had been attacked, he had said very little and continued to push himself a lot harder than an injured teenager should.

Purple welts adorned Ranger's skin, which was even paler than usual - if that was possible. The lilac smudges had spread over his battered body like a disease, blotches of yellow beginning to surface and worsen his appearance. His eyes were sunken and the icy blue orbs that darted here and there seemed to have less of a spark. Ranger's breaths were sharp and ragged, and his face would contort in pain with every step, but he was persistent.

Jay knew if he had been in his situation, he wouldn't have moved from the place he had been sleeping the previous night, but yet, here Ranger was, going strong and still walking fourteenhours later.

Even without the bruises, Jay felt ready to collapse. His body was running on reserves, consuming the last of his energy to simply keep him putting one foot after the other. Jay tilted his head back and released a small moan from his parched lips,

"We've been walking for so long," Jay felt his knees quake slightly beneath him, "When are we going to rest? I'm exhausted, I feel like I've been hit by a bus!" Ranger turned to face Jay and gave him a withering stare. He saw Ranger visibly look over Jay's perfectly undamaged skin and then his own. The lightning ninja grimaced and scratched his head, attempting to laugh it off.

Ranger head snapped back in front, ignoring the ninja and looking to the boundless fields before them.

Jay and the group were currently advancing through a wheat field. The sea of wheat moved gently in the unseen breeze, the golden ears basking in the last rays of light, devouring it hungrily. Jay could hear the slight rustle the crops made when they touched, and he could hear the scuttle of creatures that hid in the undergrowth.

The sight of the perpetual and ceaseless fields calmed Jay, but also made him become daunted for what was to come. The brunette feared that they would never be able to find Zane, and it would be all his fault. Jay wondered if Zane was okay, Jay could imagine Zane leant over a desk, his face illuminated by candle light as he sat hunched over blueprints in his father's treehouse. He could imagine the surprise that graced Zane's features and the warm expression he held, his silver lips curving up into a smile as he was greeted warmly back into the family.

Unfortunately, he couldn't stop thinking what bad things could also happen. Jay could imagine himself running towards the treehouse, he would pry open the wooden door, the bark rough against his fingers. He would clamber down the rickety staircase, the metal creaking as he bounced excitedly down. He would look over to see diagrams scattered over the floor, books and manuals lying open, he would follow the trail to the side of the room. Zane would be laying on the mattress of a metal framed bed. His metallic hair whisked wildly about his head, his face a blank canvas and his body still. Jay could imagine Zane's chest opened up to reveal his control panel, the silver fingers still lingering on the 'off' switch.
The lightning ninja shook his head, swallowing the lump that had been forming in his throat. Jay pushed back the tears, he was sure Zane would never commit a nindroid's version of suicide. That TinCan was stronger than he looked, Zane had been through a lot more and could handle a small argument without trying to destroy himself. 'Although, come to think of it, every time an adventure doesn't go right, Zane seems to always find a way to blow himself up.'
Whether intentional or not, it was true. When things took a turn for the worst with the digital overlord, Zane jumped straight into the jaws of death without hesitation, then again with Nadakhan, he didn't need to make his three wishes. Zane actually had admitted early on that his programming didn't allow himself to understand the full extent and meaning of a wish, but he still managed to get himself sucked into the blade. It happened again and again. Even more recently he had jumped in front of Master Wu to save him from Aspheera's blast, then again when he was practically used as a battery to open up the Prime Empire Portal in order to let the mechanic spare Sensei's life. Jay chewed his cheek nervously, could all these events be linked? Could they all lead back to a saddened, neglected droid? Was that why he had run, had he finally had enough?

Jay tried to get rid of such awful thought, but he simply could not. The freckled ninja welled up with tears, droplets sliding down his cheek as the sun began to sink below the horizon. Jay could taste the saltiness of his tears as they slid down his cheeks.

"Jay, if this is about walking again-" Nya looked at him, unamused. The brunette stayed silent, continuing to plough through the field as buckets of tears splashed onto nearby plants.

Ranger's gaze softened and his brows crinkled in concern, Jay watched as he approached him, lifting up his chin and inspected his tear streaked face,

"Are you feeling well, Jay?" Jay snivelled in response, "Would you like to stop walking until you feel better?" Ranger put a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"N-no. I w-want to continue walking." Jay answered as he wiped away the droplets of water.

Ranger looked like he was having none of it, "Tell me what's wrong."

"It's not anything," Jay said stubbornly as he crossed his arms, "I - Uh - I'm just a bit cold." It was half the truth. He did feel freezing, especially in just his shorts and shirt.

Ranger gasped slightly, "I didn't realise how cold it was," Ranger shedded his cloak and placed it around Jay's shoulders, "Better?"

Jay gave him a slightly watery smile, "A lot better, thank you."

The furs felt extremely soft and warm, he could easily curl up and let himself be devoured by the immense amount of fur. He pulled the cloak tighter around himself and smirked slightly, despite his saddened state, at the sight on the ninja's envious faces. They looked like they would fight tooth and nail in order to acquire the fluffy cloak, Jay nervously picked up the pace, scooting closer to Ranger's side.

Jay looked over Ranger's softly smiling face, then moved his gaze to Ranger's hair, where two small vibrant ears were sticking out, obvious against Ranger's pale hair.

Jay squinted and opened his mouth slightly,
"Ranger, are you an animal hybrid?"

Ranger giggled, "No, Jay."

"Then-"

"It's just Rhea."

"Rhea?"

Ranger reached his hands up to his untameable curls, reaching into his the locks and pulling out an orange creature. Jay's eyes widened as Ranger placed the bundle of fluff into Jay's arms. The brunette watched as a tiny black snout nuzzled his chest.

"She's wonderful!" Jay exclaimed as he scratched the cub behind the ears, "Is she your pet?"

Both the fox and Ranger looked at Jay like they were insane, Rhea nipped at Jay's fingers in warning,

"Rhea does not belong to me, we are friends, just as me and you are, Jay Walker."

Rhea leaped from Jay's arms and landed gracefully on Ranger's shoulders, then manoeuvred up onto his head by using Ranger's ear as a foothold. The fox completely disappeared into the jungle of hair soon after.

"Sorry if I offended you," Jay mumbled, "and Rhea." He added hastily.

"No matter, It was an easy mistake to make, and it's in the past now. As they say in Ninjago, The past is the past," Ranger paused for dramatic effect, "and the future is the future."

Jay nodded numbly, he hadn't heard that saying since - If Jay could recall correctly - when Zane had found his father in the lighthouse prison.

'You always have a way to bring back Zane somehow,' Jay sighed internally, 'It's like his shadow is following us around!'