"They're coming!" Cole cried, tears of fear threatening to fall. "Row!"
That's exactly what they were doing, and frantically. They practically stabbed rocks to push the boat away, and to stay in the rapids.
The Turan's roars were deafening compared to the silence that had previously filled the air. It made the four's hearts pound and their stomachs hurt with anxiety.
Cole's eyes widened as he turned to look behind him. It looked as if the entire Turan tribe was after them. They flooded the woods, and the land beside the rapids. The Turans stared at the children with their bright purple eyes, only making the chase more unnerving. It was a sight the four had trouble looking at, and trouble looking away from.
The rapids were becoming more violent. Water sloshed into the boat, soaking them all, and blinding their eyes. Their hearts beat heavily, fearfully, and all that filled their minds was getting away, getting to safety, and getting to the Dark Island. To their families.
Roars reverberated throughout the forest, echoing, filled with anger. Their steps thundered off of the ground on the land beside the four, who were frantically trying to row across the rapids.
A splash. Then two. Then growls.
Nya looked to her side, and gasped when she saw the horrifying purple eyes of the Turans looking at them above the water. The creatures seemed unaffected from the rushing rapids, and swam closer to the boat.
"Go! They're coming into the water!" Nya cried, and clutching her oar, she attempted to stab at one of them. They drew back, and ducked below the water. But Nya could see their black shape swimming under the water and around the boat.
But while Nya was looking at the water, there was a deafening growl above her, and she looked up. There was a thud, and the boat rocked violently, making it a challenge for the four to keep their bodies on the boat.
Nya looked up, and screamed as she realized that the only thing staring back at her was a Turan. It roared fiercely, air blowing at Nya, and she shut her eyes. Jay, who was beside her, pushed the Turan into the water with his shoulder, away from Nya.
But then before the Turan could fall, it's long talons cut a hole in Nya's already slightly ripped pocket.
The pocket holding the sapphire.
Nya and Jay watched with horror as the blue gem clattered on the edge of the boat before falling into the water, sinking below the rapids.
"NO!" Nya cried, and before Jay could stop her, she hopped out of the boat and into the rocky and shallow water. Nya frantically tried to find it, looking for it's signature blue hue, and found it underneath a rock.
Just as the girl reached for it, she felt a force push her into the water, and felt her skin cut against the rocks. Above her stood another angry Turan, who had pushed her, and it growled, baring it's talons.
Nya growled back and hopped back up, before nailing a punch to the Turan's face, making the creature slip and fall.
Then hurriedly Nya grabbed the gem and raced towards the boat, which was racing away with the current.
Nya's heart beat like a drum as she used the energy that she had left to get to the boat with the sapphire clutched in her hand. Jay was staring at her from the back with an unreadable look, but from what she could tell, he was not happy.
Finally reaching the boat, Nya hopped back in and shoved the gem into her unripped pocket.
"Nya!" Kai yelled from the front. "Are you okay? What the hell were you thinking?"
"We'll talk about this later!" Nya respond, grabbing the oar. She noticed how Jay didn't even bother to look at her. "We have to go! I can see the end!"
The rapids cut off at sharp rocks ahead, which couldn't be more than a hundred yards away. Nya paddled in the shallow water, trying desperately to get away.
And then...
It was over.
The boat went over the falls, off the rapids, and then landed roughly in the ocean below. The four could hear the angry yells and groans of their enemies, who hadn't been able to complete their mission.
The four never stopped rowing. None of them said a word. All that they knew was that they still were not safe. The Turans could still jump over the falls and come after them. It wasn't over until they reached the Dark Island, and they knew that.
But somehow, the Turans never came. Perhaps the creatures believed there would be other times to capture their enemies.
By this time Ninjago was far behind them, sinking from view.
It was then that Jay grabbed the sapphire from Nya and began to yell.
"What the hell is this?" he asked, making his brother and Kai turn around. Jay held the gem to Nya's face, inches from her eyes.
"It's..." Nya began, unable to find words. She had hoped this moment had never come.
"Guys, what's going on?" Kai demanded.
Jay swerved toward Cole and Kai with an infuriated look on his face. He held it up to them for the two to inspect. "Look familiar?" he asked, and both he and Nya watched as Kai and Cole's eyes widened with recognition.
"...is that..." Cole asked, before his brother cut him off.
"Yes," Jay fumed. "The gem. The sapphire, that supposedly slipped off of Nya's finger that day, at the pond. The sapphire that I left my brother for. And the sapphire that put us on the island in the first place. This gem was the reason that we were stuck there."
Then Jay corrected himself. "No." He turned to Nya with a look of anger, one that broke Nya' heart. "No, SHE is the one responsible! She was the one who stranded us! Alone! Away from our families! Away from safety! Away from the Dark Island! Nya, this is ALL YOUR FAULT! Everything is all of your fault! IT'S YOUR FAULT THAT ZANE IS DEAD!"
Nya audibly gasped, and tears came to her eyes. Her heart stopped as she looked into Jay's eyes.
They were obviously not Jay.
"I-I'm sorry..." Nya said, barely audible. "I'm so, so sorry..."
"Nya..." Kai spoke up. He looked at Nya not with anger, but with hurt. "Nya, is this true? Did you...did you hide this?"
Nya said nothing.
Then Jay rolled up his sleeve and showed his arm to Nya. She widened her eyes at the sight.
There was a horrible cut on Jay's arm, puss beginning to overflow from it, and dried blood accumulated around it. It was obvious Jay tried to apply Gamot on it, but it had not helped.
"This, too!" Jay said. "This is your fault. I went back for the gem, Nya. I went back for you. I wanted you to remember me with the gem. I wanted you to think I was a hero. Well while I was looking for it, I fell into that trap, and I scratched my arm. I've been in pain ever since. And still. You said nothing."
Nya cast her eyes downward, squeezing them shut, not daring to look at neither her brother or her two friends. And she noticed how Cole said nothing.
Because Jay was right.
It was her fault that Cole, an innocent boy, went through what he had. It was her fault that Jay had that horrible gash on his arm. It was her fault that they were all away from their families. And yes, she was responsible for Zane's death.
If she had just told them she had had it, all those months ago, they would be with their families, and Zane would be alive.
None of the boys met Nya's eye. Even Cole looked away, and only stared at the dark ocean water beneath the boat as it sailed. Not a word was said.
How were they ever going to forgive her?