Chapter 2
Claire's POV
When people sleep... they dream. Dreams of all the happy things in the world. Or they dream of the darkness. Their nightmares reflect their worst fears. Their darkest memories.
But when I sleep... I fall into a dark, everlasting hole. I do not dream or have nightmares. My mind simply lets me take a break.
Except now. Tonight I dream of Wu. How he found me. How he trained me. How I discovered my powers. I had been prepared to stay there forever. But why didn't I?
Simple answer... the Ninja. Difficult answer... my death.
Once upon a time, I was happy, wasn't I. I was going to be the Silver Ninja. Did I know at that time that meant preparing myself for an ultimate battle that would end in my demise? Definitely not.
Tonight I am reminded of my selfish decision to leave what I promised at the start that I would fulfill. And I dream of what Wu will say when I find him. Will he hate me? Will he even want to help? I don't know.
However, dreams end too soon, and I am lifted out of my memories and fears to rejoin the real world. It is then that I realize, without even opening my eyes, that I am not alone in the shelter I found.
I guess Wu found me before I found him. Great.
"Sleep peacefully, Claire?"
Should I answer and have to answer all the questions I don't want to answer... or pretend to still be sleeping?
Wu already knows I'm awake. There's no avoiding the questions and answers at this point.
Groaning, I start the wake-up routine. Flutter your eyes open and start to stretch. Maybe he'll feel guilty that he woke me up.
"Obviously the most wonderful sleep I've had... Wu. I'm sleeping on rocks."
Wu stares at me, something I've always known him to do when he's thinking rather intently. I can see his eyes taking all of me in, wondering why I'm here, why I look different... and most importantly... noting that I'm homeless.
"You've changed... quite a bit." He finally mutters. His eyes then return to mine, searching for an answer.
I shrug it off. "Tomorrow's tea. And you haven't changed a bit."
"Hmmm." He continues to stare, and as he does so, I can feel myself crack under the pressure. I have to admit... this is strangely awkward. Someone I haven't seen in forever, finding me like this. I know why I was trying to find him... it's just a matter of asking.
"Look Wu. I-I know that you might be mad... and are confused... but if me leaving hurt you in any way... I'm sorry, okay?" I manage to say.
"I'm not mad."
I look up at him. He's not? He doesn't hate me?
"But I am confused." Confused, he says. It's a rather funny thought. Somehow... I know that he'll find the answer. I don't even have to say it. "It was because of the Ninja... wasn't it?"
No... far from that. Something you lied to me about... not that you're aware.
I can only nod, even though he hasn't guessed the truth. Feeling slightly guilty for not being honest, I give him an explanation he'll believe. "You were looking for the ninja like your life depended on it. You forgot that I wasn't in that prophecy. I didn't want that Wu. I'm sorry if I left in a hurry, I just thought it'd be better."
"No need to apologize. You were no prisoner. Leaving the monastery was always up to you. And although I wish you could have told me... I understand why you did what you did." I wipe away some tears I didn't know were there.
"I need help."
"I know. And just know that my home... is still your home. If you want to come back... you still can." His eyes are pleading. He wants me to come back.
I wrap him in a ridiculously childish hug and to my relief, he hugs me back. "Come on Claire... let's go home." With that, he stands up and starts to make his way out of the cave. And I... I gladly follow. Here I go. Into the unknown.
Lloyd's POV
The daily routine starts at six, where we start to wake up. We then have thirty minutes to get ready. Training goes until eleven, and then we have our break. At two we train some more, and when four comes around... we're done.
It's seven in the morning right now... and I'm still in bed. Letting Wu go on that mysterious mission was probably the best thing ever. No training, just sleeping in and enjoying the good life.
That is until a voice is heard on the decks of the bounty.
"I'm home!"
It seems that the good life only lasts for 12 hours. Oh, if only I were normal.
"Are you serious?!" Kai asks no one in particular, sitting up groggily.
"the guy was hardly gooonnnneee," Jay groans, pulling his blanket up to cover his entire body. I myself sit up, yawning.
"Boys!? I'm home!" Wu yells again.
"Well we better get ready fast... or all that yelling will be directed at us."
My words make them all whine, but they reluctantly get up nonetheless. We all hobble around in attempts to pull on our gi, grabbing weapons on the way out, and running to the decks.
But before we make it all the way down a figure catches my eye, standing beside Wu. I suddenly stop, which causes the guys to run into me. So instead of running down the stairs like graceful Ninja... we tumble down the stairs in a giant ninja group.
"Ow." We say in unison.
"Sorry about that guys," I say to them as we recover.
"Yeah, no kidding Lloyd."
"Boys..." We all turn to Wu and bow. "I'd like you to meet someone." Wu gestures toward the figure beside him. It has a brown cloak on with the hood casting a shadow over the face. I'm not sure if I'm the only one... but the presence sends a shiver down my spine. Their aura strikes me as hostile, and already I take note to watch their every move before coming to a safe conclusion about whether they're trustworthy.
My suspicion falters for a moment, as the face of a lovely girl is revealed under her hood. I first notice her eyes, and how incredibly warm the brown settles, even as she begins to analyze us. The rest of her face is complete with slim lips, and pale face to give her features a delicate feel. And her hair is an unusual shade, but no less striking; a ginger color, pulled up into a long ponytail.
"Claire... these are my students. This is Nya, Kai, Jay, Zane, Cole... and Lloyd." Her brown eyes land on me last and I try hard not to seduce to the awkwardness. Having Nya around was one thing... she is like a sister to everyone. But here is another girl who I know nothing about, and she is staring at me.
I decide to smile, just slightly, still secretly cautious.
The girl, Claire, hesitates but finally gives us a shy wave before turning back to Wu, who immediately sighs. "Claire is in need of a home, and will be residing with us for a while..."
"Is this who you left for, Sensei?" Zane asks, seeming unsurprised by the news.
"Yes." Wu smiles, looking towards the girl fondly. "Claire is an old student of mine. And I expect the rest of my students to be on their best behavior."
There is a bitter warning in his voice, probably referring to all the times that we screw up when it comes to manners. We all stare, hesitantly nodding.
"Yes, Wu."
Wu leaves the deck, and Claire hesitates to follow, looks back at us, and opens her mouth like she wants to say something. "This is weird... for me..."
"So..." Jay starts, a little awkwardly. "An old student, huh? Like... how experienced are we talking?"
Claire gives him an odd look, seeming to think through the answer, before asking "You guys have any food?"
"I think that my friend asked you a question that you completely ignored," Kai points out, rather unamused.
"And I believe that information is on a need to know basis," Claire speaks simply. "I'm not here to get comfortable with you people."
"The kitchen will be down that hallway to the first right," Zane says, politely.
Claire grins, giving him a playful salute in response. We watch as she begins to leave before Jay painfully adds something that will definitely not help our cases.
"I have a bad feeling about her."
As abruptly as when she arrived, Claire stops and looks at the wall as if she's sighing, before turning back around.
"In case none of us got the memo; I don't like you guys either, to be frank."
"What a lovely welcome," Cole sarcastically says, crossing his arms.
"Yeah, I'm pretty great at those," Claire answers, just as sarcastically.
"And apparently making yourself right at home." Kai mumbles.
Daer First Spinjitzu master, this is escalating way too fast.
This definitely isn't what Wu had in mind when he thought to let Claire into our home. And though I'm not too fond of her attitude, I decide to honor my master's wishes, by attempting to maintain a level of peace.
"We're not looking for fights," I start, wanting to smack Kai for rolling his eyes, "You just go your way, and we'll go ours."
"The Green Ninja," She smiles, as though entertaining the thought. "I always wondered who it'd turn out to be..."
"Well, you're pretty lucky it's me and not any of them. I'm usually the more welcoming type."
"Interesting. That's rather mature of you to say," She raises an eyebrow.
"Don't get me wrong. You're sort of on the verge of making me an enemy."
Smugly, she smiles again. "And we wouldn't want that." before turning back around to continue her first task. We wait in bitter silence as the girl starts to leave again, and once she's out of sight, the guys explode.
"Who does she think she is?!" Cole asks.
"Ughhhhh, this is the worst. She's so rude!" Jay whines.
"What did you think, Lloyd?" All of my friends turn to me.
Honestly, I was a little overwhelmed. Claire strikes me as someone who could be potentially dangerous... but also fun. I'm usually good at figuring people out... but for her... I need more time.
"I don't trust her. There's just something about her that's off." I reply. "I'm not going to pick a fight with her until I know more."
"Lloyd is correct. It would be very unwise to fight with her until we know more information. Sensei wants to treat her as a guest, and I believe it would be wise to do just that."
"Forget what Wu says!" Kai responds to Zane.
"Guys, come on," Nya steps in. "I'm sure she's not that bad."
"You say probably because she's a girl," Cole grumbles.
"No." She scoffs. "I'm just the only one willing to give her a shot! She's probably never had a chance to make friends her age. This could be new for her."
"Or she's secretly evil and brainwashed Wu to take her to us so she can take us down from the inside! Like in Starfarer!" Jay yells, appearing behind Nya, and shaking her shoulders. She smacks his hands away, frowning.
"Claire is not evil. This isn't like some comics, guys..."
"All the same... let's keep our eyes open," I conclude.
And it isn't until Master Wu starts yelling, that I start to feel as though Claire might be more of a curse than a blessing to our lives. And it seems I'm not the only one who thinks so.
"BOOOOYYYYYSSSS! CHORES! ALL OF YOU!"
"Wonder who the snitch is," Kai grumbles, taking off his ninja hood and smacking it on the ground.
