Zane's Origin Story:

He woke up in the middle of Birchwood Forest with no memories. After spending months traveling through the land, he met them. They gave him purpose in life…

A tall teen with stiff, snowy blonde hair, pale skin, and icy blue eyes, slipped silently through the woods, his eyes trained on the small village on his left. Stopping, he stared at a hill that appeared to have a disheveled family owned shop on top of it. A sigh escaped him as he leaned against a tree. "I wonder what my family is like? Would I have any siblings….or am I an only child? And I'm talking to myself again." He shook his head wryly, as if that was amusing to him. Glancing around the slowly darkening area, he spotted a falcon resting on a branch near him. "Everywhere I go; there is always one of your majestic species nearby. I am very lucky in that regard."

The falcon screeched loudly suddenly, snapping its head up to stare at something in the village. Confused, the teen turned around to look at the village once again…this time noticing something moving out of the store on the top of the hill. Even as he watched, whatever it was started heading straight his way. Not wanting to get caught again, he still had nightmares about last time, he shrunk into the shadows, holding his breath. A minute later, a large mostly pitch black with some splotches of medium brown dog came into view, dragging a winter sled behind him. Two small children sat on the sled, nibbling at a couple of sandwiches.

Concerned at the fact they had stuff with them indicating they weren't planning on coming back anytime soon, he silently followed them at a distance. He could pick up on the fact that the bigger of the two kids was talking to the smaller one about something as he pulled out a couple of blankets while they ate. Settling back down, they finished eating their sandwiches. After awhile the smaller one fell asleep, even as the bigger kid slipped down, wrapping his blanket tightly around him. The teen noted the long shadows that the woods were casting, and the fact the temperature was rapidly dropping. Knowing he needed to stop for the night soon, he began glancing around for a good campsite. Up ahead, the dog was doing the exact same thing.

Deciding he better separate himself from the children, he took one small step back…and cringed as the loud snap of a branch breaking filled the air. The dog stopped pulling the sled, a growl escaping its throat. The teen froze, even as the bigger kid bolted upright, grabbing something off of the sled. Climbing out of the sled, the child, who the teen could now see was a boy of about five years of age, looked around his surroundings warily as he slowly moved away from the sled.

Alarmed, and not really wanting a wild animal to find the other one alone, Zane stepped into a patch of moonlight for the child to see him. "I would not advise leaving your companion alone."

A startled yelp escaped the boy as he promptly shoved what it was he was holding into his face. "Stay back!"

The teen arched one of his eyebrows upwards in surprise, before looking at the young boy. "That would be a toy sword…made out of…oak."

The boy wrinkled his nose in annoyance, lowering the toy wooden sword fractionally. "Who you?"

"The correct way to ask that question is who are you. I am Zane." Zane pressed his fingers together, then turned them inward so as to point at himself.

The boy frowned, lowering his toy sword once more. "You sound like a robot."

Zane frowned at that, no one had told him he sounded like a robot before, before shaking his head ruefully at the child. "I told you my name. It only makes sense for you to tell me yours."

"My name's Kai Garmadon Wu Smith! Nice to meet you Zane." The now named Kai stuck his free hand out, dropping his toy sword to his side all the way now.

Zane accepted the handshake, amazed that he didn't question anything. Tilting his head to the side, Kai nodded to the sled. "That's my baby sissy; her name is Nya Maya Misako Smith. And that's Daddy's dog, Marcher."

Zane nodded in understanding as he held his hand out to the still growling softly dog. "Does your father know you're out here?"

Kai's shoulders slumped forward as he shuffled his feet. "That's the problem. Daddy and Mommy are missing. No one comes to the shop anymore, and we're running out of food."

"So, you're running away from all your problems." Zane concluded as he looked calmly at the young boy.

Kai scoffed loudly, folding his arms against the frigid night air. "No…I'm gettin' a better life for us."

Zane sighed as he rubbed is face. "You are doing so by running away. Do you want me to help you set up the tent?"

Kai shook his head, clearly more confused now than he was earlier. "I'm using it as a seat. Why do you want me to set it up?"

Zane felt his left eye twitch with annoyance as he stood up. "Nothing…just thought you would like some shelter for the night. You'll stay warmer inside of the tent than outside it."

"Daddy always whined that the tent leaks and needs thrown out." Kai stubbornly informed Zane.

Zane looked to the now pitch dark night sky, only the sliver of moon and twinkling stars providing light for them to see by. "Ok…how about this. I help you set it up for tonight; then when we get to the next village I'll buy you a new one. Do we have a deal?"

Kai carefully thought it over, patting Marcher on the side. Zane felt his stomach clench as he realized that the dog went past his own hip, stopping at mid-stomach. Kai finally nodded in agreement. A smile crossing his face. "You have a deal! Um, do you know how to make breakfast?"

Zane sighed as he walked over and scooped the tent up into his arms. "How about I stay with you until your older?"

A loud gasp escaped Kai as he followed Zane around. "Like a big brother? I always wanted one of those but Mommy and Daddy got me first. Say, did you know that I was named after Daddy's best friend and his older brother? And Nya is named after Mommy and her best friend. Can I help!?" The last part was in Zane's ear as he sorted through the jumbled mess in the tent's bag.

Zane gritted his teeth together as he turned to face Kai. "Why yes…can you help Marcher bring the sled over here? That would be a big help for me."

"You got it, big brother!" Kai ran off, Marcher hard on his heels.

Zane shook his head at the energy that boy had, before turning back to the tent. A few minutes later, he had the tent set up and noticed why it leaked. The flysheet was missing…and the instructions mentioned that it was supposed to have one. Zane amusedly noted this, filing it away for later. Turning around, he found Kai standing in his space, his face inches from Zane's own. Marcher panted loudly as he stood at attention with the sled's rope in his mouth. Nya was still asleep. Reaching back, he unzipped the tent door, pulling it up for Kai. "Into bed you go. I'll stay out and keep watch. I'm sure Marcher would love to sleep with you…" Zane wasn't entirely sure if Marcher was allowed into bedrooms or not.

"God idea. Marcher does love to sleep in our room, instead of with Mommy and Daddy like he's supposed to." Kai nodded in agreement, before climbing into the tent.

Zane carefully scooped Nya and her blanket up, before ducking into the tent. Laying her down next to the dog, who was already completely out of it, he smoothed out her blanket. "Goodnight Kai, Nya."

"Night Zane, big brother." Kai yawned loudly as he succumbed to his exhaustion.

Zane ducked back outside, zipping the tent shut behind him to keep the bugs and cold air out. Settling down, he prepared himself for several hours of mediation.

A/N: Done! They'll survive fine…they have Zane with them now. Next chapter is…ooh Cole! I am trying to go with the whole still has amnesia, humor switch off, Zane in this chapter. Did I succeed?

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SkyTalon