Hey, everybody. This chapter had various sources of inspiration. But as you can probably tell, the last part came from thoughts about the Florida shooting. I just wanted to have a little tribute to the lives lost there. I can't even imagine the pain the parents are feeling, the pain and fear of the students. So please just keep them all in your thoughts, be praying for them. I hope you enjoy this chapter, as well as take the time to appreciate the fact that you just get time to read it. Every life is fragile enough to lose in the blink of an eye. But every life is precious enough to fight for. Thanks for being awesome, guys. Love you all. 3

Chapter 11: Determination

("Heroes aren't always the ones

who win.

They're the ones

who lose

sometimes, too.

But they keep fighting,

they keep coming back.

That's what makes them heroes.

~ Cassandra Clare)

Cole's POV

I unfurled my fingers from the Bounty rail, taking one last look up at the stars. They were especially bright tonight; I didn't know if I should be bitter or appreciative, so I ended up being neither. Just...whatever.

My gaze traveled across the deck, then up the dark silhouette of the lookout post. I had seen Jay come out here earlier and quietly followed him a few minutes later, both for him and myself. In all honesty, I was lowkey trying to keep a tight watch on two certain masters of fire and lightning. I was scared to think of what they might do in their grief. But I also wanted to be on deck, out in the cool, open night air. It was peaceful here, and quiet. Though my heart still ached, at least my mind could be clear.

I debated whether or not to call Jay down to come to bed. He probably wouldn't be able to sleep, but I knew he needed it, and I decided it was the responsible leader-like thing to do. When I was closer to the post, I softly called up,

"Jay."

At first, he didn't move. I tried again.

"Hey, buddy, it's cold outside. I'm going in, wanna come?"

His head popped over the ledge, and he gazed down at me, before pulling back. I thought I heard a soft, "Not really."

I sighed. Gonna make me do this the hard way, huh, buddy? I grabbed one of the ropes that led up to the sails and swiftly used it to climb up the post. Jay didn't make a sound as I sank down next to him. He just turned his face away from me and pulled his knees close to his chest.

"Come on, Jay," I said gently. "You should get some sleep. Or even don't sleep if you want to, just come inside, okay?"

He didn't respond.

"Bro, please. Just talk to me. Like you always do when you have a problem." That didn't have the intended effect I was hoping for, but at least it got him talking. Jay had suddenly whirled around to face me.

"But this isn't just some everyday problem, Cole! This is serious! Nya is gone, and she's not coming back! The love of my life is dead, and you can't just use your "perfect leadership skills" to bring her back! Everything is going to be different from here on out. I don't even know if I can be a ninja anymore."

With that, he grabbed the rope and slid safely to the ground before I could even say a word. I sat for a moment, soaking in his words. His oh-too-true, too painful, words. Nya was gone, my friends were breaking, and I didn't know if even I wanted to be a ninja anymore.

A deep groan came from my throat, and I buried my face in my hands. Why did this have to happen? Why does anything like this ever have to happen?

I didn't know the answer to this. But I did remember something. I remembered why I became a ninja in the first place, why I trained and worked my butt off and risked my skin everyday of my life. What happened to Nya wasn't just something that happened to powerful ninja and samurai like us. Kids in school were losing their lives to people abusing the power of weapons, the power of guns. I didn't understand the evil in the world; all I knew as I wanted to stop it.

With this in mind, I stood up, pain still embedded in my heart, but determination coursing through me. This wouldn't get the best of us. Whatever happened, I would get my team through this. We would keep on fighting to save ourselves, so we could save the world like we had before. So we could save lives as precious as the one we lost.