The monks sat in a large circle around a crackling fire. Occasionally a spark from the fire would fly quickly into the air lighting up a monk's face before extinguishing itself.
"I can still feel Jermaine's presence." Monk Tsu said pouring himself a small glass of tea.
"Do you think he'll have enough strength to escape the forest and assemble the dragons?" Monk Yi said addressing Master Fung.
"All FOUR of the dragons…" Monk Tsu butted back in as if the rest of the monks had forgotten there were more then just a few.
"I truly hope so," Master Fung replied. "The entire fate of our world lies in the power of the Xiaolin dragons."
Jermaine had just arrived at the edge of the forest with the injured monk Lao. He set Monk Lao behind a tree before slowly making sure his surroundings were safe. The forest now had small movements and sounds emerging from dark or far away areas. Whatever was lurking in the small brushes around him when he took a glance would quickly scurry away or become silent and still. Perhaps the sounds came from whatever surviving creatures still remained in the forest. Jermaine quickly ignored the annoyance of the noises. If they were from a threatening source it would have made its presence known by now.
"What shall we do?" Monk Lao asked.
As much as Jermaine refused to admit it, moving the injured monk was an extreme burden and had slowed him down immensely. The sun was beginning to set and if Jermaine remained in the forest he would surely die. Setting up camp would attract too much attention; he had to escape this forest before the sun set.
Jermaine reached for the Falcon's Eye in his pocket. He had regained enough energy to briefly scan the area and found several of the dark creatures roaming the very edge of the forest. He returned the Falcon's Eye to his pocket.
Jermaine thought to himself for a moment. It made sense. His travel in the forest had been almost a clean escape, it had been too easy. The dark creatures were roaming the outer edges of the forest to assure that no one would leave the forest alive. If he broke for the edge he would be able escape alone but he could not leave the injured monk behind. Attempting to slowly move for the exit would be too dangerous; if they were caught the both of them would likely perish. The only solution would be a diversion. He would need to be quick, very quick. Quick enough to allow Monk Lao the appropriate amount of time in order to escape the forest alive.
"I have a plan." Jermaine said crouching down to Monk Lao's level.
Monk Lao looked confused.
"I'll have to make a diversion. When I attract their attention you need to run."
"What?" Monk Lao still seem puzzled.
"Just keep running towards the sun until you're out of the forest."
The sunlight was quickly dwindling. Jermaine could feel the forest gradually becoming frigid as the rays of sun which usually brought warmth to the area began to disappear behind the mountains.
Jermaine brought Monk Lao to his feet. "Be ready."
Jermaine wasted no time and flipped the Mantis Flip Coin into the air with his thumb catching it in his right hand. The familiar lightness immediately rushed through his limbs and he leapt into the air catching a branch and flinging himself onto the side of a tree before leaping to another much larger branch.
The creatures quickly became aware of the noise and hovered above the ground in his direction. Leaping from branch to branch, the creatures ran below him making erratic sounds and noises as they managed to somehow keep up with Jermaine's pace.
With the Helmet of Jong, Jermaine could see the monk behind him. Monk Lao was not moving. Why wasn't he moving?
Jermaine flipped himself over a large branch landing carefully on another branch with his feet. He had gained some distance between himself and the creatures. Monk Lao stood crouched under the same tree. Was he scared? Was he too hurt to move? Jermaine realized he had forgotten to assess the situation before jumping into action. This plan may have just cost both of them their lives.
Jermaine retraced his steps giving the creatures below him an advantage in distance. The creatures would reach Monk Lao before they reached Jermaine. Surely, they would spot an easier target. With the small pocket of energy he had stored away he drew upon his remaining energy and threw forward a bolt of lightning hitting an enormous branch yards ahead of him. The large branch crashed to the ground crushing three of the creatures below him. Jermaine quickly leapt over them landing on the ground next to Monk Lao. Jermaine threw the monk over his shoulders and bolted towards the exit of the forest. The power of the Mantis Flip Coin had now faded. He was running on pure adrenaline. The vision behind him began to blur as the power fueling the Helmet of John slowly began to dissipate.
Jermaine was almost at the exit of the forest…Yards away…Feet away…He was almost there!
The sunlight immediately faded away and a chill ran down Jermaine's spine. A few more seconds and he would be clear! But a loud thud in front of Jermaine quickly stopped him in his tracks. One of the creatures had dropped down from the trees blocking his path, but this one was different, much larger than its smaller counterparts. Large, ape-like, scaly with blood-shot pupils. One by one the smaller creatures began to drop from the trees surrounding Jermaine in a circle, growling at their soon-to-be dinner.
He was completely surrounded. Any chance of escaping through the tree tops had eroded when he had ran out of energy to fuel the Mantis Flip Coin. He placed Monk Lao down on the ground. Jermaine moved into a fighting stance. Not a single ounce of chi remained in his body, but he would fight with courage and die honorably. The larger creature let out a slow, deep growl. Jermaine could feel his legs beginning to shake. Is this what the brief moments before a warrior's death felt like? Fear quickly overcame the sense of honor and courage he had previously felt. Jermaine could sense the creature's intentions, no pain, no remorse just pure rage. This creature was going to tear Jermaine to shreds.
Heaving heavily it roared aloud charging straight for Jermaine.
Fight with courage and honor, Jermaine reminded himself. Courage and honor.
It was a split second before reaching Jermaine that the creature was flung to the side crashing against a large tree. The smaller creatures which surrounded Jermaine immediately turned their heads searching for the unknown force which had sent their leader flying into the tree trunk yards away from Jermaine.
It was only a second later Jermaine found the answer. It was impossible. A tidal wave began to roar its way toward him.
A tidal wave? In the forest? There was no ocean for hundreds of miles away from this location.
But there it was, to Jermaine's disbelief, the small tidal wave rushed forward crashing into the creatures with an immense force. The tidal wave rushed forward heading straight towards Jermaine. There was no escape. He shielded himself with his arms preparing for the impact.
He clenched his eyes shut waiting for a large rush of cold forceful water to sweep him away with the rest of the creatures. Nothing. The sound of running water peaked Jermaine's curiosity. He slowly opened his eyes. The tidal wave had stopped only an inch from his face and now became a tall wall of water with the arms length of ten men. He could feel the cool mist from the wall of water tickling his skin.
Crashing to the ground, the wave dispersed sending large water drops flying into the air. A small stream of water formed into the ground before slowly sinking in the grass below him.
Jermaine looked before him. The creatures which had surrounded him remained still.
Dead still.
As if they were statues.
"Looks like I must have arrived just in time." A familiar voice from the shadows emerged.
Jermaine quickly turned. The figure from the shadows became clearer in the last ray of sunlight which slowly began to fade away and shine off the familiar figure's bald head.
"Omi!" Jermaine exclaimed.
"Your homey." Omi replied.
It had already been a relief to be saved from death but Jermaine could not help but chuckle after seeing Omi had retained some of his humor from their years at the Xiaolin temple.