Challenge: Something about Wu and Garmadon, back when they were little kids and Garmadon hadn't yet been bitten by the Devourer.
Wu sat on the red wavy tiled roof and bumped his heels against the little ruts. His head tilted toward the gray sky, his little brown eyes squinting at the wind. The whole world smelled metallic promising an enormous storm.
His mop of blond hair flew about, his little pink hands clutched the bumps in the roof with excitement.
Below him came the scratching, thump, tak tak of the wooden window opening and Garmadon's irritated voice. "Get down from there! You'll fall!" The little boy just kicked his feet and focused again on the sky. Garmadon stuck his head out the window and called some more.
Only a few years older Garmadon still felt much bigger and responsible for everything Wu did wrong, like climbing up onto the roof in a hurricane. Storms were new and when they got this bad, it was dangerous to be out!
The wind picked up, dancing a violent wild dash across the sky and hair and leafs and branches alike were whipped in all directions! Wu shouted with glee and got to his feet. Garmadon yelled at him to get down but was ignored.
Above them the clouds parted like pearly sentries and let louse black snarling hounds of the storm barking thunder. A flash of yellow lightning broke the sky spiting purple sparks, there was a loud crack as Garmadon jumped in surprise and smacked his head into the frame.
The sky cracked opened and water poured forth. Both boys were soaked in seconds!
Garmadon shouted but was drowned out by the wind and the rush of rain. Wu cheered and bounced in excitement, his older brother called warning but it was too late, little Wu slipped on the wet red tiles and fell. He screamed and Garmadon scrambled, trying to get through the window. He couldn't fit! Was Wu really that small?
His little brother tried to keep hold of the lip of the roof but his tiny fingers were slipping. Garmadon reached, reached, reached and got hold of his small brother's ankle and pulled.
The young boy fell in through the window and they both hit the floor with a wet slap. Garmadon was up and had the other boy by the ear, "What have I said before?" Wu struggled, "Ow! Ow! Don that hurts!" "What have I said! What do I always tell you!" His grip tightened and Wu bite Garmadon's other hand. Hard.
It hurt! The skin broke and he yanked both hands away and held them gingerly.
Garmadon let go and jumped back, he tasted rage! Why did anger take him so fast! "Hey!"
The rain still roared outside and the floor was getting soggier by the second.
Wu sniffed and wiped water from his face with his arms, he sat down on the sodden wood floor and started to cry. He hugged himself and shook, from the cold as well as the fright of falling.
Watching tears stream down Wu's face struck something in him and Garmadon felt the anger wash away with the raging storm.
He felt responsible for the mistakes as well as the care of his littler brother.
The future Lord of darkness sighed and stood there in his chafing white robes. He looked at his miserable brother and felt his 'big brother' awareness click into place. He sat down next to Wu and hugged him.
"Shh~ It's okay. I've got you."
Wu sobbed, "You won't tell Father will you?"
He patted the blond head and tried not to scold. "Don't worry okay? Just don't go up there again." Little Wu's bottom lip trembled and he nodded.
Garmadon stood up, "Lets close the window and go down stairs." Wu rubbed his puffy eyes and nodded miserably.
He also felt responsible for the safety of Wu. How strange the passage of time can change and wear away conviction. But Garmadon didn't know that and the two boys walked down the stairs the sound of rain, the smell of wet leafs, and the taste of a lesson on their minds.