A/n; this may suck cause I was going through a lot of drama in my life and decided to write this to forget it all, but yeah. Enjoy.

~Chapter 3~

Cole couldn't sleep that night. He was too worried that something might happen to Zane. Zane was shivering violently and Cole couldn't do anything about it. He held Zane closer, hoping his body heat would warm him. Cole eventually gave up and fell asleep hugging Zane.

When Zane awoke, he didn't know where he was. The pain in his abdomen and chest was unbearable. It felt like ten thousand tiny knives stabbing him over and over again. The room was dark and Zane could hear voices.

"Isssss the white one awake yet?" said a voice Zane knew all too well; Skales. "Not yet, Sssskalessss," said another serpentine. "But I can go wake him, if you wish." "No. Leave him. What about the black one?"Skales asked. "Yesssss. He issss demanding to sssssee the white one." The other serpentine replied. "Get Zeenoomoriahnekin." Skales ordered. The serpentine left.

Zane could feel the stabbing pain return. He screamed in the pain he was caused. He lay back down and breathed heavily. He saw a young serpentine with first aid kit. "Hello, Zane." said the serpentine. "H-how do you know who I am?" Zane asked. "Don't fear, I will not hurt you." She replied. "Who... a-are you?" Zane asked. "Hush, Zane. My name issss Zeenoomoriahnekin. I'm going to help you." She stated. "Zeenoomoriahnekin? But... you're a Quillidian. Aren't you supposed to... ya know..." Zane asked. "Yeah, but I can do whatever I want. I rule the Quillidian tribe." She sighed. Zane shivered suddenly.

"Here," she wrapped a blanket around him. "Keep this on." Zane nodded. "Th-thank you." He weakly smiled. "Were you quilled?" She asked, noticing the bandage wrapped around his waist and to his upper chest. He nodded once more. "Rest. You need it." She ordered. "I have a request," Zane allowed Zeenoomoriahnekin to lay him down in a comfortable way. "Please check on Cole and if he desires to see me, allow it." Zane fell asleep.

Zeenoomoriahnekin sighed and left to find Skales. "Ssskalesss, he'ssss asssleep now." She said. "Good. Thissss issss going a lot ssssmoother than I thought it would..." Skales looked off into the distance dramatically. "What are you looking at?" Zeenoomoriahnekin asked. "Nothing." He left. She rolled her eyes and went to do whatever it is that Quillidian serpentine do in their spare time.

Cole was sitting against an old wall. He had been drawing pictures in the dirt to pass time. He had been hoping Zane would wake up soon so he could take him and run. Cole hated being in the hospitality of a serpentine. He couldn't trust them. Besides, they had tried to take over Ninjago on multiple different occasions.

"Cole?" said a voice. Cole turned around. Tessi was standing by a tree. At first, Cole didn't recognize her. She was wearing a black leather jacket with torn grey jeans and a dark grey shirt. She wore no shoes. "T-Tessi?" Cole stuttered. She nodded. "Hello. I promise I won't bring you to Fangpriannah against your will, but I was wondering why you left." she stated. Cole sighed. "Rage." Cole didn't need to say any more than that four-letter-word. "Well, at least let me help. I know a place you and Zane can go." Tessi said. Cole nodded. He trusted Tessi. She seemed worthy of trust. "Thanks, Tessi." Cole said. She nodded.

"Let's get Zane." She ran inside. "Tessi, wait!" Cole followed her into the room. Zane was peacefully sleeping on a bed. Cole gently picked him up, and the trio headed off without thanking their serpentine caretakers.

A few hours later...

"The sun is setting. We should take shelter." Tessi suggested. Cole sighed in relief. Trekking through a forest carrying a human being close to you was not easy. Rather than bridal style, Cole held Zane sorta like a toddler. Zane had his head resting on Coles shoulder and his arms were wrapped around Coles neck. "Good, I need a break," Cole walked up to a spot. "This looks like a good place." "Ok. I'll get firewood." Tessi ran off. Cole lay Zane down against a tree, then sat next to him.

"Zane, do you feel ok?" Cole asked. Zane shook his head again. "What's wrong?" Cole asked. "The pain... it's unbearable... it feels like it'll never come to an end, then when it does cease to a stop, it comes back in another place." Zane whispered. Cole hugged Zane.

"Sorry." Cole replied. "For what?" Zane asked. "Not protecting you. I could've prevented your injuries." Cole stated. "Cole, it isn't your fault. If I had stayed with Lloyd and the others we wouldn't be in this mess." Zane admitted. "But still." Cole sighed. "Dong blame yourself. It isn't anyone's fault but my own." Zane stated. Cole wasn't satisfied. "Zane, this isn't your fault." "Nor yours." Zane added. Cole rolled his eyes. "Fine, you win." Cole sighed. Zane smiled weakly and leaned against Cole.

Tessi returned with firewood. "This'll help keep you two warm." She set up the wood and started the fire. It crackled with life and it glowed with strength. Cole sighed. "Is something wrong again?" Zane asked. "No." Cole replied. Zane fell asleep leaning against Cole. Cole sighed and covered Zane and himself with the blanket. "'night, Cole." Tessi smiled. "Goodnight, Tess..." Cole drifted off to sleep.

To be continued...