Hey everyone, happy Friday again. It's time for another update plus soundtrack. I thought that this one was perfect for this chapter. Look up the link, watch?v=cGOgzmatsgA and when you see the link,*, enjoy.
Chapter 23: My Home
Two days after the Serpentine attack on the village, Mystake had come to her decision to let me stay and work without contacting my father of my whereabouts. I am grateful for her on that so I don't have to face my father or his ninjas. Logan was thrilled that I was staying and as long he and the others keep my secret safe, I won't be going. They like it when I stay. They can pet Storm when he's near and he doesn't mind them at all. I play my flute to them when it's my break. They find me the fun older brother to them as I let them listen and be with Storm.
But my mind kept wondering about Lloyd. The kid I helped from the ninja was now with a dangerous legend of the snake people of our ancestors. The Serpentine. What was he getting himself into? They're dangerous. As long one tribe was alive, that meant the others were alive, but hopefully sealed and hidden. But I kept wondering about the strange presence I sensed in him. It felt strong than the other ninjas elemental powers. He maybe 'evil' as he wants to be, I can sense power in him and it was bright as light. What could that mean?
I finished checking on the leaves of green tea and pulled down a box of sage leaves to check on how well they survived through winter. They seem to survive well, but almost a bushel of leaves were dead. I grabbed my clipboard and wrote down what leaves I needed to search for tomorrow as the day was almost over. Along with ginseng, mint, and rosemary. I have to be careful on rosemary though. Logan as an allergy to them along with chives, basil, and cilantro. So I wonder how Mystake tends to use these herbs when they're not normal tea leaves, but she always has a way. Like an alchemist would. So Logan and I have to be careful in the back or else we'll be dealing with shock and a life-death situation.
After checking on the sage leaves and putting the good leaves in jars, I heard the clock ringing as it was five o'clock and put the jars away for the night. "We're done today, Logan." I called out. "The back have better been swept or else we'll be dealing with the shouts."
"Don't worry, Lucas." he called back. "It has been." and he came back with the broom and dustpan. "And it's your turn to take out the trash."
"Yeah I know. I was putting my things away." I grabbed the trash bag and tied it close and headed for the back door with Logan behind me. I heard giggles coming down the pain that lead away from the shop and saw the kids playing with Storm while he let them use his wings as a slide. I chuckled to their fun and tossed the trash bag in the metal garbage can and walked over to him. "Hey big guy, having fun?" I asked him. Storm nuzzled his snout to my chest and gave me a wet kiss. I can tell he was having fun.
"Hey Lucas, when do you think you can give us a ride on Storm?" Kat asked.
"Yeah can you?" Tyler agreed.
I looked at them and tapped my chin in thought. They've been asking me to take them on a ride with Storm. I can tell they were eager to ride Storm. And I should at least take them on one ride before my uncle ever returns. "Uh...have you asked your parents yet to see if it's alright with them?" I asked them. They shook their heads in response. Figures. "Well maybe you should ask for their permission. I can say it's alright, but we need to know if it's alright with them." They nodded as they understood. I looked around for Logan and spotted him hiding behind a cherry blossom tree. "Logan, why do you come and meet Storm?"
Logan poked his head out and shook it quickly. "No I'm good." he replied while voice cracked a little in fear. I can understand his encounter with Storm. He reminds me when I was thirteen and met Storm.
I chuckled. "It's alright." I said to coax to come near. "He's gentle with kids." I felt my shoulder being weighed and knew Storm was laying his head by mine. I smiled and stroked his snout. "I know what it's like when encountering a dragon at your age. When I was thirteen, I was scared to see him, but he wasn't at all mean when he has a soft spot to his rider. But in one day, we became best friends. Just come up and pet him. I promise he won't scare you. Will you, Storm." Storm snuffed with his nostrils and lowered his head and body for Logan to pet him. "Come on. He's fine."
Logan slowly walked up to me and Storm and backed up a little. I watched him build up the courage again and slowly reached out and petted his snout. I smiled that he did it and patted his back to congratulate him on courage. I saw his smile and watched him look up to squint his eyes at something. I looked up to see what it was and saw a trail of thick black smoke coming from west. And it looked like it was near somewhere I knew. I quickly hopped onto Storm's saddle. "I'll be right back." I said quickly and grabbed the reins. "Clear the area." The kids hopped off of Storm and stepped back. I whipped the reins and Storm extended his wings and took flight.
I felt the sunset on my neck as the evening was growing near. Storm flapped his wings hard as I wanted to see the source of the smoke and hoped it wasn't what I thought it was. I couldn't bear the thoughts. I looked through the clouds and watched the ninja fly south. But there were three of them. Where was the ice ninja? We broke through a thin cloud and I gasp to what was below.
My home.
It was gone.
*Storm landed us in the courtyard and I slowly slid off his back to step on my home that I haven't been on in seven years. Smoke filled the air with ash clinging above and falling like snow. Ice covered the charred beams as embers still seared the wood. The surrounding stone walls were still intact but everything was gone. I cautiously walked up to the East Wing steps and in the exposed walls of the hallways to my room. The paper door was gone and so was everything else in my room. My bed, bookshelf, bathroom, everything was gone. My home was gone and my heart ached to the pain of sorrow and I looked down to spot something.
I slowly picked up the thin paper and flipped it over. My heart ached as it was a picture of me, my mother, and my father when I was nine before she passed away. I was glad it was still here for me at least to remember my home. I brushed off the ash and embers and carefully placed it in my pocket to avoid damaging it further. I looked at my room one last time and slowly headed back to Storm.
Before I could reach him, I fell to my knees and screamed in pain and broke into tears. My home was gone. The one I grew up and lived with both parents. Now in ashes and smoke as it was gone. I couldn't stop crying as it was all gone and only have it in my memories to where everything once was. I felt something touch my shoulders and tearfully turned to see Storm placing a comforting hand -or in his case- a wing on my shoulders to comfort me. I looked at him and hugged his snout as I needed the comfort from him. I'm glad that he was with me when I needed it.
I looked away as I saw something in the courtyard near the West Wing and knelt next to it. I held my right hand out and sprayed mist to wash the black ash away to reveal glossy grey granite stone and a name. Stella Wu. Loving mother and wife. I broke into more tears as I was looking into the memorial of my mother while my home was gone. I felt my eyes turn fuzzy and knew what was happening. It was about to rain down due to my powers. But my question was: who could've done this? And why?
I looked away from the stone to cry still while rain poured down. I opened my eyes to stare at something blue and slowly picked it up. I studied the thin blue paper and realized it wasn't paper. It was rough and dry. It was a reptile scale. And the only things that were blue with scales were an ancient tribe. The Hypnobrai. And I may know who started it all. Skales.
I stopped crying to feel my blood boil in anger and crushed the dry scale in my hand. I looked up to see the brewing storm clouds I'm conjuring to my powers and held my hand up. The clouds began shaking and rubble with thunder and lightning and began to contract in size until it was in my palm. The clouds looked like they were a mini hurricane brewing and crushed it in my palm. I no longer felt pain of sorrow in my heart. I felt anger and wanted to scream in anger to the tribe that has cause me pain. And when I encounter them, I will avenge for my home. Even if I try, I will get my revenge.
A storm has risen.
Now we see how much Lucas hates the Serpentine, especially a certain Hypnobrai general. I honestly grinned to the soundtrack has it fitted in so well with this hard moment for Lucas. Especially when it's home. Anyway, I hoped you enjoyed it, can't wait to see the reviews, and see you all next week. Have a wonderful weekend. :)
