Family Troubles

Vines and Hoods

No one's POV

Jay walked into the game room, snacks in his hand and a determination to beat his own high score that couldn't be snuffed out. Only to find the Earth Ninja curled up on one of the seats, sketching.

Claudia was so engrossed in her work that she didn't notice the Lightning Elemental enter the room, nor did she hear the packet in his hand crackle as he sat down next to her. Only when he called her name did she react.

"C?" Jay didn't speak very loud, yet it caused the Oni to jump, falling onto the wooden floor with a sharp yelp.

"Warn a person before you do that, Motormouth," She half-yelled, half-joked as Blue cackled wholeheartedly. Still laughing, he stuck out his free hand for her to grab, which she accepted, using him as an anchor to pull herself up.

As Jay set up the console, he noticed that Claudia had gone back to her drawing. "What are you working on now?" He asked, starting up his game.

"Drawing the person on the bridge when... y'know, the incident happened," She mumbled. Leaning over, Jay could see a perfectly drawn image of a hooded figure in all black.

"Huh, got any ideas who it could've been?"

"At first I thought it was the Nature Elemental- I think his name is Bolobo- but the figure doesn't match him at all," She explained. "Whoever they are, I owe them my life. I can't believe I was ready to throw it- throw all of you guys- away, just because of him."

A single tear dropped onto the page, but she quickly brushed it off before it smudged the drawing. Jay looked at his best friend sympathetically. She gave him a watery smile.

"They gave me another chance at living, I need them to know how thankful I am," She explained. Jay returned the smile.

"Well, I think they already know, and if you do manage to find them, it won't matter what you say." Claudia laughed.

"Thanks Jay, when did you get so good at this?"

"I take notes from the best; you're amazing at comforting people." He knocked her shoulder, causing her to push right back.

"Alright, you play your game-" Claudia abruptly stood up- "I'm gonna eat Kai's leftovers."

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{Few hours later}

The alarm went off, and everyone dropped what they were doing and headed to the bunker. Pixal stood by the screens with Lilly, listening to the story her niece was telling her as she waited for the team to arrive.

"Alright, we've got a disturbance in the city; someone has reported vines shooting out of the ground at random." Cole's expression shifted slightly. "It could be a threat, but I can't say for sure."

The team nodded, before jumping into their vehicles.

As they drove to the spot, Lloyd told them the plan. "We're just investigating; there's no need to rush straight into action."

"Kai," Nya added, causing Red to yell in protest as the others laughed.

"Friends, we've arrived," Zane informed them, and they all slowed to a stop. Cole was the first to get out, mostly because he was riding a motorbike and didn't have any doors to open. He walked up to a vine, taking in the unnatural speed it was growing at, just like the vine the figure used to save him.

Once again, he didn't feel scared by the plant, yet he was confused why the power used on it felt so familiar.

"Cole?" He turned to see Lloyd next to him, also inspecting the vine.