Lloyd glances at the shifters walking behind them. They had their spears down, pointing them at the ninja, making sure they moved forward. He turned back to Ashlynn. "Is this a good or bad thing?"
"We'll find out." Ashlynn kept a stern look and voice, but Lloyd could hear the nervousness in her voice. "She's nervous...about what?" "I do not know...perhaps she has a rivalry with these...flightless?" "That would explain the group...this feels different though. I mean, these guys look like they're from a different era...We need to get to the bottom of this..."
Luckily that didn't take long, because the one leading them stopped. "We're here." He turned to them. "I ask one thing. Do not tell anyone of this place. I am speaking to you, humans." He said it with venom in his voice. "If word of this place gets out, we will kill you to silence you." He turned and separated a vine curtain, that kinda looked like it wasn't there before. They stepped through and Lloyd looked out.
It was built like the Village Styx, but smelled WAY better. The houses were lower, but they stayed elevated above the marsh. It was foggy and humid, but he could see the lights and people moving around. No, shifters. Other flightless. They looked like they were doing well for themselves. The leader led them through, on a straight path through the huts. Other stopped and stared, muttering and whispering. In the crowds of adults, a bunch of kids were looking at them. They're faces are lit up with excitement and wonder.
"I'm guessing you don't get a lot of humans around here, do you?" Lloyd asked.
"No ,we do not." He glared back at Lloyd. "Some of them have never seen a human, so please. Leave them alone." He turned back and they walked.
Jay gulped and waved. A few kids waved back, but were quickly stopped by adults. "Geez, they act like we're here to hurt them..."
"They're worried. New people in their homes surrounded by guards..." Cole stated. "I don't blame them..."
They walked across the platform that led to this big hut in the back. Two guards stood in front. Lloyd looked it over. It was built like the smaller ones, but obviously bigger. A royal house maybe? "Do you feel it? The power of this place? This is the home of an Alpha. Be on your behavior..." "Why are you telling me this? I know..." They went inside and Lloyd felt it.
It was a power, but...comforting. Kind of like a heavy blanket. Heavy, but secure. Lloyd looked around. For a place of power, it was homey. It was warm and smelled like...sage? Lloyd wasn't sure. He looked and found the source of power.
Sitting on a throne of stone and rods, was a man, or dragon shifter. He wore a leather cloak that was old and raggedy, ending with claws as tassels on the end. He had a leather tunic and pants, but no shoes. His eyes looked old, but his face only looked about a year or two older than Lloyd. His skin and hair were a dark brown, but his eyes lit up to a dark green.
"He's a living element of the bog..." Lloyd thought. Ashlynn walked forward and knelt.
"Alpha Duni...It is my honor to be in your presence..." He stood up, then Lloyd saw it. Because of his skin, it was hard to make out, but he saw the same wingless dragon on his arm. It didn't look any different, but there was no doubt he was the leader. Lloyd followed suit and kneeled down. The ninja took a hint and knelt down.
"...You bring humans to my territory?" His voice was deep and gravely, but strong.
"Forgive me. It was a coincidence that we ran into your group..." Ashlynn looked up at him. "I mean no harm by trespassing."
The Alpha looked at Lloyd. "What is he? I can sense his blood. Human, dragon..." His eyes glowed, and it was strange. The eyes turned to this deep orange, much different from the green a second ago. "Oni." The other shifters stiffened and growled. Lloyd gulped.
Ashlynn stood up. "Duni, he is no harm." The flightless pointed their spears at her.
"Lower them, now." They all lowered them with no hesitation. Lloyd was baffled.
"The power of the Alpha. Able to command his subjects at will." "Then I guess we be on his good side, cause he can make the whole...territory attack us..." Lloyd swallowed, but stayed down. "Your...Alpha. Please, my friends and I mean you no harm. You see, we are looking for-"
"The Cloaks I assume. I can tell." Duni's eyes dimmed down back to green and looked at Ashlynn. "The cloak of concealment..."
Ashlynn blushed, then took a deep breath. "There is an...issue, that I am sure you are aware of. There are a group of rouge flightless, trying to steal the cloaks. I...I'm trying to gather them and protect them..."
That got their attention. The guards all looked at each other with worry and concern. The leader of the guards looked at Duni. "Father...is this...true?"
He sighed. "Yes, Devilli...It is. I was hoping my gut was wrong, and that i was just being paranoid. But...it seemed my fear has be confirmed."
"Alpha Duni, if I may ask...why let them go?" Ashlynn asked. "something isn't right...Normally an Alpha doesn't just release their members..." "I think this is something else-"
"I didn't..." Ashlynn could see it. Duni looked defeated, and...sad. "I felt them one day, cut away from the pack. It was outside the territory, so my worst fear was that...they died. But it did not feel like death...it felt as if...they were taken..." He sat back down in his throne, rubbing his face. "I was worried...but with no way to find them...I gave up..."
"You gave up on finding your own people?" Kai asked. "That's kind of selfish." No sooner had he said that, three spears pointed at him.
"I'd watch your mouth, human!" Devilli yelled. "You're in no position to judge my father's actions!"
"Easy, son." Duni sighed. "It's not like I wanted them gone. I had to think about the safety of my people. If something had taken them away...I did not want to send anyone else out to be stolen as well..." He looked at them and LLoyd saw the tiredness in his eyes. "I do wish to save them though, if they are under someone else's control..."
Ashlynn nodded. "I agree. Had we known, I'd have done something sooner...I am sorry..."
Duni nodded. "...Ashlynn, if I may speak with you and...the mixture, alone."
"Why did that feel like an insult?" "I'd take it. You are one of a kind, he probably has no other word for you...that is not offensive." "Mm, fair enough." 'Will you make sure my friends are safe?" Lloyd asked.
Duni nodded. "They will be safe, as long as they do not try anything to disrupt our peace."
"We promise, sir. We will be on our best behavior." Cole told him. Duni nodded, and they all stood up. They were guided out. Lloyd got up.
Duni straightened in his throne. "I have information to share with you. I feel as if...you're right, Ashlynn. About protecting the cloaks."
"I...am?" Ashlynn sounded unsure of herself.
He nodded. "I am going to tell you the location of the the cloak of knowledge."
Zane looked around the small cottage they were in. "Incredible. This looks to be early Ninjago era architect..."
"With the absence of humans, I think they kinda had to...stray from modern civilization." Nya stated.
Kai crossed his arms. "I don't like this...I don't like being shoved away like this."
"It felt less like...being pushed away, more like...information we can't know." Nya said. "Ashlynn, and now Lloyd, are shifters. He might be more comfortable talking to them."
"You are correct." Devilli and his group came back with bowls of water and plates with these...brown lumps on them. A bowl and plate was settled in front of each ninja.
Jay poked the lump. "Um...what is it?"
"A mud slug. High in protein, very filling. A delicacy here." He took one and slurped it down. Jay gagged and lightly pushed it away.
"I'm not one to be picky." Cole picked one up and slurped it down. "Hm...he's right. Could use some garlic though...oh well." He ate another one.
Nya swallowed hard and picked up her bowl. "This must be...an experience to you all."
He nodded. "This is indeed. Humans don't often travel here in these parts. When we saw you and the beast you came in on, we didn't know what to do."
"Oh, that wasn't a beast." Jay said. "It was our ship! the Destiny's Bounty!" They all looked at him confused. "Um...You, do know what a ship is, right?"
"We've...only ever seen the ones on water. Never one fly." Devilli stated, bewildered.
"yep, that's us. Ninja and their flying ship." Kai stated, smiling.
"Nin..ja?" Devilli tilted his head.
"Yeah. We're warriors of stealth~" Jay said. "We hide in the shadows, and strike our enemies when they least expect it."
"...I guess we are not enemies, since you made a very loud appearance earlier." Devilli stated. Nya snickered and Cole chuckled.
"Yeah. We do apologize for startling you." Cole said. "It wasn't our plan, really."
"The ground was closer than we thought..." Nya said.
"No one was hurt, so...I can let this be." Devilli crossed his arms. "You humans...you're...interesting. Not what I expected."
Kai raised an eyebrow. "How did you expect us?"
"Eh...Stories depicted you as brainless beasts, slaying anything in your way." Devilli looked at the ninja, who were frozen. "What?"
"That's not humans at all! who told you that?!" Nya asked.
Cole pointed a thumb at Jay. "Does that look like a mindless beast?"
"Exactly-Hey! Don't use me as an example!" Jay yelled.
"My apologies...as I said, they were only stories." Devili explained.
Zane rubbed his chin. "Ashlynn did state that you all hid because of humans, but...it was more so fear than power."
"Well, we promise! Not...all humans are terrible." Jay told him.
Devilli smiled. "Hopefully I get to see it with my own eyes one day..."
"You know the location of the cloak?" Ashlynn asked.
Duni nodded. "It was entrusted to us when they first hid them. The whereabouts have been passed down from leader to leader.
"! that's it..." Lloyd muttered. "Generation to Generation. Eye to eye. A pact must be made, trust must rise. Hidden by a home, by neither friend nor foe. Only a dragon heart may be the one to know. Ashlynn...it's talking about the flightless."
"You're right..." Ashlynn looked at Duni. "Alpha Duni...we thank you for this, but...why?"
He crossed his arms. "I believe you are right to bring the cloaks together...With the flightless helping, perhaps this will form a pact as you said." He sighed. "I am tired of my people scrounging like this...I want to have allies with the other territories and Alphas...perhaps this will open their eyes."
"Wait...other territories...are...the shifters at war with themselves?" "It does not seem that way, more like...a seperation." "Hm...Wonder if Ashlynn knows anything about it." Lloyd though.
"Duni..." Ashlynn knelt and Lloyd followed suit. "Thank you. You are right, this should stop the feuding."
He nodded. "Thank you. I will have Devilli escort you there. The two of you should be able to get inside the temple."
"Wait..you're not coming with us?" Lloyd asked.
Duni shook his head. "My place is here, protecting our people. If you are right, that rogue group could be coming here to get the information, or worse, hurt us. I need to be able to fight them off. Devilli is my son, and already knows the location, being next of kin. He is just as valuable, and I do not want him hurt."
Ashlynn nodded. "I understand. Thank you." Ashlynn Stood up. "Come on, let's go get Devilli." Lloyd nodded and left. Ashlynn turned to leave.
"...I hope you know what you are doing, Ashlynn. Let us hope you can change his mind..." Duni said.
Ashlynn sighed. "Its not his mind I'm trying to change...It's his past, and the minds around him..." she left.
Duni sighed. "I hope...but I fear we know the same person that will not let this pass..."
