A/N: chapter 3, guys! ^^ wanted to get this out before I went out today!

Disclaimer: I do not own ninjago! Only the plot :]

"Really? Was I...that beat?"

Kai nodded. "Yeah. Well, it wasn't good. What happened to you again?"

Jay looked away in slight embarrassment. "I...fell off the cliff and...got shocked with my own nunchukes..."

Kai blinked, looking at him and shook his head. "Okay, for your sake, I'm not even gonna get into that. Well, anyway, when I found you, I knew immediately you weren't in good condition and that I had to work fast. But I'll admit, I was already fearing the worst"

"Jay! Oh, no no no. Please don't let me be too late..." I muttered, already skidding down at Jay's side. I lifted his limp form slight to get him more or less out of the snow first.

It was then that I realized that might have been a bad choice considering I didn't know the extent of his injuries and that I could be making it worse, but there weren't too many options at the time.

He was deathly still...I wasn't even sure if he...was even still alive. The first thing I did was brush the fallen snow off of him and looked him over for any visual injuries. His skin was very pale and besides a few scrapes and scratches, I thought he might actually be fine.

I checked for a pulse on his wrist.

I didn't feel one.

Panicked, I bent down near his face and listened for breathing. Any sign was welcomed, gladly.

Much to my relief, I felt faint breathing coming from him. Momentarily my lingering fears subsided. I was so relieved and scared at the same time. For how long would he be alright? This isn't alright, he's almost-...no. I'm not going to even think like that.

I reminded myself to try and stay calm. I concentrated on moving him as slowly as I could allow myself, considering I wanted to just rush and get him out of there. But I had to keep cool so I could make a plan. Okay...

Putting his nunchuckes inside my backpack, I hoisted Jay up over my shoulder, for once appreciating the specified strength enhancing course Cole dragged- ahem, I meant took- us on every fall up in the mountains. That alone was another story...

Then I remembered a series of cave structures I'd seen the day before. It was about two miles or so from where I stood, or at least I guessed. That wasn't too bad. I figured if I took my time, I would make it before sunset. Man, I couldn't of been more dead wrong.

It turns out my estimating needed some work.

It was late noon now. I'd been walking with Jay's motionless form on my back(I had to shift him to make carrying everything a bit easier on my body) and I knew now that my definition of mile probably was a little off. I had been walking for several actual miles, signs of a bad snow storm were clear, and I was getting nowhere fast.

I had to pull up my hood to stay warm and I did the same for Jay, wishing I had a better way for transport.

All this being described in two simple words:

"Not good...really...not good"

I kept reminding myself this in between pants, as I trudged through the deepening snow. The flakes were getting more concentrated in the grey sky by the hour. It was getting later, and colder. The wind was picking up and the ominous sky was darkening alarmingly fast. Like I said. We really weren't in a good spot.

Or so I thought. My knees buckled and I had to take a break. If I tired myself, if I would collapse. Going up to a think tree, I dropped the pack I was dragging and then, more carefully, Jay. I flopped down next to him to rest a bit.

'Only five minutes' I told myself, 'only five minutes, then we would keep going'

I was exhausted from pushing on so long. All I wanted to do was lie here and sleep. To get away from it all and get out of the cold in a dream. That sounded great right about now.

I glanced around slowly, drifting into unconsciousness. Each time a closed my eyes and opened them again, the surroundings changed: it was colder and I couldn't see as well as the time before. I later found that I had been drifting for minutes at a time, in and out of sleep. Then something scared me back into reality.

I remembered I wasn't alone. Jay was counting on me. I sat up sharply and stood up which took effort.

The scene around us was terrifying. We were out at the threshold of a blizzard. I couldn't see five feet in front of me which was scary.

This really was not my element. In hindsight, maybe Zane should've gone instead of me for a number of reasons...

But too late for regretting now. I stumbled a lot now, every few feet tripping over things I could see under the snow which was up to my knees now. That was a lot of snow. If only gone a few feet, when I saw something. A large bumpy looking shadow in the distance. It wasn't moving and as I got closer, I started to recognize the site. This was the area the caves were! I'd only been several yards away at the tree.

I made my way to the cave as quickly as possible, dropping the heavy extra pack to move faster. I could come back for it, but we had to get there now, especially my brother.

I staggered into the dry, cool cave practically already falling asleep. I was so ecstatic I'd found this place and so amazed that I had actually done this, but I'll I could manage was a tired grin of accomplishment.

I laid Jay down past the curved entrance. It was dark inside as well damp, but the piercing cold wind wasn't there, so it was at least better.

I ran outside and grabbed my pack, dragging it back as well as snapping a few pieces of wood from the trees that surrounded the entire area. Once inside, I got a fire going made easier with my elemental powers and soon, the fire was blazing brightly, lighting up the chamber. I took out the roll up mat I'd been using and put Jay on it. I hoped being at least out of the direct cold would help him.

Even though I was dead tired, I couldn't stop there. I had to make sure he'd be okay. I checked him properly for injuries and it wasn't good. He had a bad mark on his torso and a gash on his upper arm. After cleaning and bandaging the wounds, I allowed imply self to sit back and relax, or at least as much as I could. I stared at Jay who was still out, and frowned.

"Come on Jay...if you let yourself get killed out here I'll never forgive you"

It was an empty and possibly desperate threat and I knew he wouldn't ever know. I didn't care. I blame him for...argh. I don't even know what I'm going to put on him for this. It almost made me mad at him.

"Jay, don't you leave us!" I yelled at him in agitation as if he heard. "Y-you are not allowed to just quit! We can't loose anybody else! Don't you dare leave me-..." I stopped myself in surprise at what I'd just subconsciously said.

It came to my attention that there was a reason that'd came out of my mouth. I realized...I needed Jay. We all did...Cole, Zane, Lloyd...all of Ninjago needed all the help and heroes they could get after...evil had practically one that last battle that determined the outcome of the war...the war between good and evil.

I stared at Jay, deep in thought. About what had happened.

Evil had prevailed.

The great suppose to be saviors of the city- no the world, lost. We had lost.

Evil took over after the victory as the forces of good had been weakened, kicking the good into hiding. Most fled the land. Those few that stayed, very brave or very stupid, tried to fight back...had everything destroyed.

Sensei and Nya, being innocent victims that paid for someone else's doing, Sensei paying an extremely high price for it.

But that was history that couldn't be undone. I forced my thoughts back to the present.

Jay...he was one of the fragile pieces that kept us all together. Everyone we had in the group was needed for a reason, but not just because of it.

Cole was like the base. He kept everyone on the same page and working together, like the leader he always was and much the oldest brother of the group mentally.

Zane was the eldest, but was still learning in a way. He was the calm one, someone you knew you could talk to about any and every thing.

Lloyd was the little relief that kept us from deciding to close ourselves away and give up. He definitely kept me going day after day.

And though I wasn't sure if I contributed to this special, balanced circle, I knew that we all needed Jay. He was the one that kept us sane, jokes and all. His light-hearted personality and easy going attitude was just helped ease us when things got tense.

I needed all the people I had left. And right now, Jay especially because without him, I didn't know if I'd let myself go back.

If I'd make it back.

A/N: hey guys! ^^ I wrote this in some pieces and had to place them together, so if it seems like I completely jumped a paragraph in some places, please let me know so I can fix it ^^ I didn't see anything though, so...review!