"Should have known the rivier would do that. Nia and my dad always told us to be careful around the river when we were growing up," Kai said.
"I was doing what I felt was best at the time. It never occurred to me that the rain would make it slippery," Zane said.
"The important thing was that we got to him in time," said Cole.
"And that he was finally ready to be open with us again," Jay added "I had no reason to continue to hide anything.
Those two had done what no one had ever done for me before...They came to find me," Zane continued.
When Zane awoke it was already dark. He sat up slowly and looked towards the others relieved that they were still there.
His companions turned as Zane began to cough again. They came close and sat around him to talk.
"Do you feel any better?" Cole asked.
Zane shook his head.
"Then stay wrapped up," said Cole wrapping the large kimono around him.
"Thanks," said Zane, "How did...AH-TCHOO! AH-TCHOO!...excuse me. How did you two find me?"
"After training we went to your room to see if you needed anything. We saw all your things gone and realized you'd left," said Jay, "It was already raining hard so you were leaving footprints everywhere you went. We followed the footprints until we saw where you'd slipped. from there we followed the river until we found you. Looks like we got there just in time. I mean if we hadn't shown up, you'd probably have drowned."
"Now for the important question," Cole said sternly, "Why did you run away? Jay and I have been worried sick...no joke intended."
"I was afraid," Zane said quietly.
"Of what?" Cole asked.
"Of what you guys would think of me with my sixth sense gone. AH-TCHOO! It's never been treated with kindness before. No one has ever believed me when I've...AH-TCHOO! AH-TCHOO!...I've told them getting sick makes it hard for me to sense things, but they don't believe me, and it's always been met with anger...I...AH-TCHOO! I've always had to run when it was found out. I thought it would be the same here." Zane admitted sneezing quite a bit.
"Zane, we'd never think that," Jay told him, "When we saw that something was wrong with your sixth sense we were more worried than anything else. And for a good reason it turned out. You've got the worst cold I've ever seen! I know the rain didn't help, and neither did the river, but still-"
"What Jay is trying to say Zane," Cole interrupted, "That we would rather try to find a way to fix your power than get angry about it. And in this case that means helping you get over your cold."
"I see that now...I'm sorry," said Zane before coughing hard again.
"It okay, Zane. We'll get you back to the dojo when the rain stops. You just keep resting until then," Cole instructed.
Zane nodded and lay down again.
"There's not much more to tell," Zane concluded, "The next day the rain stopped and they helped me back to the dojo. I rested there for several days trying to shake off the damage I'd done by running off in the rain and getting stuck in the river."
"We helped out whenever we weren't training. We brought him healing herbs, tea, meals, made sure he was warm enough, talked to keep him company, anything we could do." Jay said.
"And his sixth sense did come back obviously," Kai said.
Zane nodded. "About 10 days later I was well enough to answer Sensei's question correctly and allowed to train again."
"Anyway the story is finished. Who's turn is it to do dishes?" Cole asked.
"Mine" Kai said standing and gathering the platters, "but afterwards Jay better be ready to tell me his story."