Maya and Ray weren't sure what to make of their kids.

They were lovely, healthy babies, there wasn't a doubt about that.

Yet they seemed to be quite... peculiar.

Nya was a very fussy baby, she didn't like to be held a lot and would cry constantly, she seemed to prefer being held by Ray (Much to Maya's dismay).

Kai on the contrary was a very calm baby, eerie calm, if they were honest it would sometimes scare them, was he okay?

But he would always light up whenever Nya was close, so they made the mental note to keep them close.

Kai seemed to prefer spending time with his Maya, Ray didn't mind too much, but he wished he could spend a bit more time with his Son.

That was fine, they were still young, and they would have time to spend with them.

The Twins started teething at 9 months old, both of them. The teeth were pointy and sharp.

Maya had mentioned it reminded her of shark teeth, Ray said they looked like dragon fangs. Maybe it was a mix of both.

Both decide is not an important thing to note.

Nya is two so Kai is two too.

The children are prone to wandering around so there's usually someone behind them, Maya jokes Ray looks like a dragon tailing its cubs, that's how menacing he must seem to others.

The neighbors are used to them by now, they love to hear bedtime stories.

Ray is the one with countless stories to tell, he usually talks about dragons and their fire.

He talks about dragons, snakes, and a lot of travel around the region.

Maya has fewer stories to tell, but hers are equally enthralling.

She speaks of water kingdoms, fish people, and the sky.

They take the twins to stargaze when they can.

The stars shine in their eyes.

Kai and Nya have a secret language.

Is made mostly of growls and snarls, but there are some signs mixed in too.

They're three, they don't talk a lot, but they're able to communicate their needs if necessary.

They don't think it is, Kai knows what Nya wants and Nya knows what Kai wants. that's enough.

They're better at being apart too.

Sometimes Ray would go to the village, which is a 2-hour trip, and he would take on a twin with him, usually Kai since managing two toddlers while also carrying weapons and selling around the market was just too much.

It helped them bond more with their kids too, Kai had started to develop a more "stubborn and hot-headed" personality, much to Ray's dismay, Nya had seemed to calm down a bit.

Maya sees a bit of herself in Nya, the same way she sees some of Ray in Kai (the personality, is the personality)

She cradles her daughter in her arms for an afternoon nap, idly combing her hands through her daughter's short hair while she gazes at the blue, bright sky.

She enjoys these slow days, she wishes they could last forever.

"You're the brother Kai, and you're the oldest, you need to keep your sister safe"

Kai is four, Nya had gotten hurt in one of their games, he was the one that hurt her.

It had been an accident.

In insight, it was probably a bad idea to leave two daring four-year-olds to free roam in a setting they didn't know completely.

They had gone to the market, in the town that's two hours away from their smaller village.

All four had gone, Ray had been busy offering his craft, Maya had been helping carry and talking around, and the twins had run off to a nearby clear.

The children being children had decided to climb some trees, there were other kids too so everyone figured it was fine, it wasn't as if they had never gone before.

It wasn't fine.

Kai had climbed the highest tree and was above Nya who was trying to catch up. He hadn't been careful enough.

A branch had cracked, he fell, he hit Nya on the way down, there had been a "pop" sound and his sister had started to cry.

It happened too fast, Kai was scared, and their parents rushed in.

He felt tears sting his eyes.

Turns out her arm had dislocated, it would be fine and it wasn't a broken bone, but it had been painful, and the boy felt so so guilty.

He wouldn't look anyone in the eyes.

Ray had pulled the young kid aside, telling him that while it was an accident he should be more careful, they're siblings, and they should look out for each other.

He had nodded, but wouldn't come close to his sister.

Eventually, It seemed to feed up Nya, as after hours of Kai sulking in the living room she ended up climbing onto Kai, hugging him tightly (minding her arm of course).

"Nya,"

"Uhm"

"Get off"

"No"

"Move"

He had growled, trying to get free from her embrace, but she would just hug tighter.

Eventually, he had given up, his sister's hair ticking his chin.

"Sorry"

"Why?"

"I made your arm "pop""

Nya blinked, confused, before frowning.

"Not your fault"

"But I did it"

She shrugged.

"'s an accident"

Is just a mumble and she didn't seem to bother talking more, instead just lying her head down, eventually drifting off to sleep above him.

Maya found them sleeping on the kitchen floor when it was bedtime, both sleeping soundly.

She had just thrown a couple of sheets over them, trying to not disturb them, they were gonna wake them up later at night anyway.

Nya is five, and she cries herself to sleep for days. Kai is five, he doesn't cry, and he looks out for Nya.

She's too engrossed in her grief to notice, but something seems to shift inside her brother, something shifts inside her too.

Kai seems a bit more... serious, as serious as a five year old can be.

He tells her everything will be alright and that their parents will be back soon, she tries to believe, she really does.

But he doesn't believe in his own words so how can Nya?

Nya spends most of the time sleeping, Kai makes her some food (How?), he cleans after her and just... waits.

They're five when someone knocks on the door, Nya isn't sure how long it's been, but it's been long enough her tears had finally run dry.

There's a spark of something in Kai eyes.

He rushes to the door.

He opens it.

There's someone there, she knows it, she doesn't look up to see who is it.

But Nya is sure of one thing.

It's not their parents.

Six-year-old Nya sniffed as she sat down on the dirt road beside the doctor's house.

Kai had come down with a fever, not an unusual thing if she was honest, it was quite common for him to get fevers, yet it always seemed to get better after a nap.

This time Kai wouldn't wake up.

She tried, she really did, it was a school day so both woke up (Kai more sluggish than usual), ate and she left for school.

She figured he would nap, like he usually does whenever he's sick, and then go out to do some work and errands at the nearby rice farms.

He didn't.

She came back, already chatting about her day and ready to explain to Kai all the new things he would technically be learning too when she noticed the house was... quiet.

It was eerie, a feeling of restlessness took over her as she silently walked around.

It wasn't unusual for her to arrive and have Kai not be here, but the feeling this time was different.

It made her shiver.

She found him passed out on there, not in a sleeping position, it seemed he had been getting ready to go work around when he just... fell.

She tried to wake him, but he would only half-respond to her pleas.

That's how she ended up crying outside on the dirt road, alone.

It hurt, it hurt so much.

She felt cold, and couldn't help but think about everything.

It's been like a year since their parents have just... disappeared.

And it had been fine.

They had each other after all.

But now? Kai was sick, he might even be dying and she was alone.

She cried harder.

She was just six, and she didn't want to be left alone, anything but her brother, the only family she had left.

Please.

She will do anything.

Just...

Don't leave her alone.

Nya is seven so the logical conclusion is that Kai is seven too.

Nya had started to go to school, which is a two-hour trip to the town, then she had to come back, so another two hours of walking.

Is tiring, and she has to get up pretty early, Kai gets up at the same time, he goes to work on a nearby rice farm, when she comes back he sometimes is not at home, but there's food and the house is clean.

It bothers her that he seems to just do everything around the house.

So, she resolves to try her best at school, she will be the best, and she will give themselves a better shot at life.

There's a very small library, and she sometimes spends afternoons there.

Better education gives better opportunities in life, that's how it works... right?

If only they could leave the village then they might have a better shot at life.

Nya is a stubborn girl, that's something she does remember hearing, either from their parents, Ms. Grumbmiller, or someone else that she can't tell.

But what she does know is that Kai is trying to shoulder everything, taking advantage of the time she spends at school.

It doesn't help this year is being harsher than usual.

She tries to help Kai but she refuses. So she starts to just, ignore his stubbornness.

Fight stubbornness with stubbornness.

She sometimes wakes up when he has gone to sleep (Why the fuck is he sleeping so little to be with? He's the one working outside not her)

She cleans and prepares the food (usually rice or beans).

Admittedly she's not that good at cooking, more than once they've had to eat burnt food for a couple of days.

But the way Kai seems to sigh with relief every time he notes there's less stuff to do after an exhausting day makes it worth trying again and again.

Nya holds the scissors in front of the mirror.

Admittedly she isn't sure about this, is just a haircut, but what if she messes it up?

...

Well, it can't look worse than already is.

She knows that's a lie, it can look way worse, but well, she's getting tired of having long hair.

And she's not about to ask Kai to cut it, Kai does a lot of things, but he tends to fuck up haircuts.

So, she had been letting her get too long, except now is just too long to ignore.

So here she is, in their bathroom, their barely functioning electricity making the room quite dim. (She really should have a look at that old generator)

She thinks about letting him cut her hair, but while he's not that horrible (Like leaving her bald kind of horrible) he tends to cut it in a way that instead of hair it seems there are porcupine quills in the head.

Yeah no, she better do it herself.

"You know, you could've told me"

Nya, nine years old is sitting in the kitchen, brother with scissors on hand behind her.

She's sulking, embarrassed.

"I know, I just wanted to try it for myself, it was a miscalculation"

"Yeah, I noticed" He's not laughing, at least not now, he already had his laughing fit when he first found his sister cutting her hair so asymmetrically Kai couldn't figure out what the process of choosing what to cut and what not was.

Well, laughing at his distressed sister was probably a bad idea, he was sure that kick he received was gonna bruise badly.

"Is not that bad Nya, I'll make sure to salvage whatever is left of your hair"

"Ha ha, you're so funny"

"Aw, don't be like that, I'm not the one that made a mess here"

"I thought it would be easier"

"Uhm"

They stay in comfortable silence until Kai finishes with a proud "Ta-da".

He has gotten the bathroom mirror down, just to show Nya how she looks.

Honestly, she doesn't know what to think, her hair is the shortest she has seen, disheveled and very, very familiar.

She looks up at her brother who is grinning at her behind the mirror.

"I look like you"

And she does, if it weren't for the hair color and the very slight skin tone difference she knows they would be identical.

He keeps his smile up, but there's a certain uncertainty in his face as if that was the wrong thing to say, but she grins at him.

"I like it"

And she means it, her brother is a great person, they're siblings, she's happy they look that part.

She's happy to look like him.

"Thank you"

"Motherfuckers!"

Nya looked up from her homework, unimpressed, as a ten-year-old Kai stormed inside the house, fuming as he put the bags of rice he had gotten from one of the nearby farms.

He didn't know Nya besides a hand gesture before moving to the stove, turning it on, and putting one of the pots in so he could cook rice.

Nya hummed in knowledge before looking down at her homework, frowning slightly.

Things have been... on edge, recently. Nya assumed it was partially because after that girl, the stylist Kai had worked with during the summer went back to Ninjago city, making Kai go back to work on the rice farms.

Turns out that was just a small thing, things have been getting more expensive, and apparently, the old man that managed the main farm Kai worked at had passed away.

Nya felt sorry for the man and his family, truly, losing someone loved is always hard, and she would know about it.

But she was also sure they were down one job from the new management, something about keeping things between family.

Yeah right.

One less source of money and one less source of food.

Good thing she likes beans.

She couldn't help but feel the same annoyance her brother was probably feeling bubbling inside.

...

Actually no, Kai had been working on that farm for years, he surely was more pissed than her.

Still...

"Kai, are you okay?"

Nya was sure if her brother had a tail he would've slammed it onto the floor in annoyance, instead, he exhaled, trying to get his bad mood under control (was that smoke?) before turning around to address her.

"Yeah, just a difficult day"

He smiled like he always did, and it seemed genuine.

But she knew better, they were twins after all, she knew the smile didn't reach his eyes.

"Okay"

He turned around.

She was tempted to drop the subject right there, but she was a stubborn one, she tried again, with a slightly different approach.

"... You know you can talk to me, right?"

The tone was slightly accusatory but she hoped it would get the message across.

He didn't turn around this time.

"Yes Nya, I know"

He went back to cooking.

Nya swallowed a snarl. Looking down at her work again.

"Liar"

Their biggest fight occurs before they're eleven.

Is one chilly afternoon, Kai is coming back from his current work at a small construction site, they're trying to put up a small brick house, so he's around helping with the mix and all that.

He's crossing the bridge that leads to the area with more causes when he sees her.

Nya has been waiting for him, she's furious.

Kai has a vague idea why. He stops, not that far from the bridge and the river.

She catches up.

"Damnit it, Kai! "

She shoves him hard, but he doesn't shove back.

"Why, why are you doing this?!"

There's a paper in her hands.

Ah.

This is about a loan he got some months ago when they needed money badly.

And quick.

He fucked up.

She has found out (of course she did, idiot!) that he had been trying to pay back behind her back, he should've known better.

Kai doesn't answer, he just looks at her. This is pissing her off.

Why isn't he answering?!

"Why do you think you can act like the adult around here?!"

She turns around walking in circles

"You're eleven! Like me! Why do you hide things?!"

She looks at him.

"You behave as if you have to do everything alone! As if you're my parent!"

She snarls.

"You're not my parent Kai!"

She gets closer.

"Stop looking at me like that!" She can feel a growl coming out of her mouth.

Her brother's eyes are shiny, but he isn't crying. Not yet at least.

"Why do you have to do everything by yourself?!"

She pushes him again. There's a sniffle, she isn't sure if it's hers or his.

"Why do you treat me as if I'm useless?!"

Another.

"I'm your sister damn it!"

Another.

"Your sister Kai! You're not my parent, you're my brother!"

Another.

"Let me help you!"

And another.

" Fuck you! "

She shoves him one last time. He's pushed back, his feet get tangled and he falters, he's falling.

Kai has barely any time to react, and so does Nya, he instinctively tries to grab onto something, and she instinctively tries to catch him.

There's a loud splash.

And now both are in the cold rapids of the river.

The twins are lying down on the bank of the river, several meters away from their initial fall point.

Nya has her back against the dirt, besides Kai is on his side, back to Nya, he's shivering.

There's only pants and sniffles and they stay like that under the cold afternoon of November.

Nya sits down, casting a glance at her brother who seems to still be ignoring her, she bites her lips, oh she messed up, didn't she?

She knows well enough her brother isn't a fan of water, what was she thinking confronting him in the river in the first place?!

Nya decides is best to avoid contact for now, she doesn't leave, instead, she looks at the orange and brownish tints around her, hugging her knees, she can't help but lose herself in the sounds around her, especially the river.

She isn't sure how long they stay there until Kai finally shifts, by now both of them are shivering a bit

None utter a word as they miserably get up, soaked, they look like wet cats.

They're still silent when they start walking towards their home, climbing up the hill to their house.

Nya never lets go of Kai's shirt.

As the sky became dark and the moon and stars replaced their brother the sun both kids finally arrived at the top of the hill.

Chilled, silent, with a vague sense of sadness and awkwardness.

Nya maintained her gaze on the grass, kicking the dirt and waiting for something.

Kai sighed, the boy combing a hand through his messy, wet, long hair.

They weren't sure what to say.

After a few more moments and a chill air that made them shiver Nya let go of Kai and started walking towards the house, eyes still avoiding.

Without thinking Kai took her by the sleeve, finally making her look up.

"L... Let's go warm up on the forge"

Nya almost seemed disappointed.

"... We can just use the generator"

"We're out of wood Nya"

"Ah, right"

Slowly, she made her way to the forge while Kai muttered a quick "I'll go fetch our clothes"

Nya just nodded, sitting down and waiting for Kai to come back so he could warm up the place.

She probably could've done it herself but... She just hugged her legs, resting her head on her knees, waiting.

Soon enough Kai came back with some of their clean clothes, leaving them in a closed chair and moving to start the fire.

Nya looked at him, seeing how he skillfully lit the fire before sitting beside her, not making a movement to get up and change or move somewhere.

They didn't look at each other, they just... waited. She licked her lips nervously.

...

"I'm sorry"

"I'm sorry"

Both looked at each other, startled, before smiling, scoffing at the ridiculousness, and dissolving in an almost silently giggle fit.

Kai was the first to compose himself.

"I'm really sorry Nya"

He looked at her, brown eyes shining under the flickering fire.

"I really didn't mean to make you feel useless, is just..."

El makes a face, before scratching the back of his head, trying to come up with the correct words.

Nya elbowed him lightly, attaining his attention.

"I get you, I think I do at least." She shrugs. "But it's not fair for you to bear all the work, I want to help you, Kai, you're my brother, we're equals, let me help you, please"

Her tone as she finished seemed almost... Pleading.

Kai sighed, looking up.

"Okay..."

Nya perks up.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, I'll try"

His sister smiled, poking him in the cheek.

"I guess that's the best I can ask for, thank you"

Kai looked at her, returning the smile.

"Thank you too"

Yawning he got up, stretching, before looking back at her.

"I'll step out so you can change, don't wanna get sick"

And with that, he left.

After Nya changed she stepped out, letting Kai know it was his turn, once he was done both hung out their clothes before going back to warm at the forge.

They sat in a way more comfortable silence this time around.

Kai looked out of one of the windows, seeing the moon at its peak.

"Oh," His voice came out soft, almost a whisper.

Nya, who had her head on his shoulder didn't move.

"Uhm?"

"Is Midnight"

This time Nya did move, enough so she could see the moon too. She groaned.

"You're right"

He moved, eyes locked onto hers. Serious expression. She frowned, was he still mad?

"Nya"

"Uhm?"

He broke into the brightest smile he had seen in a long time, eyes shining.

"Happy Birthday"

Nya looked at him, dumbfounded.

"You. Jerk"

She shoves him, hard, but without malice.

The girl rubs her eyes, tired. "I can't believe I forgot."

Her brother just chuckles.

"'s fine"

"...Hey"

Still smiling, Kai looks at her.

"Happy Birthday"

Kai blushes, looking at the ground, Nya grins beside him, rice sack in her arms.

"Awwwww"

"Shut up"

They're at the market, running on a small shopping trip since they're out of food for next week. They're thirteen.

"But, you two looked so cute~"

Kai doesn't need to look up to know what face his sister is making.

He rolls his eyes, walking again.

"He's just an... acquaintance"

"Yeah sure"

"I'm serious!"

He bristles, trying to elbow his sister, but she dodges the attack.

"Really? He seemed very happy to see you around"

"You think so? I've only talked with him whenever we come down to buy stuff"

"Oh, I guess you two are only acquaintances"

"Told you"

Nya looks back, rice sack held above her head, before looking back at her brother who is carrying a bag of beans and some raw vegetables.

"Well... I think he looks cute"

"Oh, really?"

"Yeah"

"Who is the one here having a crush?"

"Not me, idiot!"

She kicks dirt at him and he jumps, almost falling over.

She snickers, and he huffs at her.

"Hey, you're gonna make me drop this!"

"Then I would be more careful if it were me"

Kai shoves her, gently, as they keep on walking, bantering about everything and nothing.

Is just a shopping trip but Kai is happy to be able to "hang out" with his sister like this since both of them are usually busy.

The older kids who tend to bully them aren't around either.

Is a good afternoon.

He hopes she feels as happy.

"Have you thought about it?"

"Uhm"

"Y'know, your future"

"Future?"

"Yeah"

"...What future is there for us?"

"Us?"

"Well, you and I have always been together haven't we?"

"...Yeah"

"I like to think we will always be together"

"You think?"

"Ye"

"..."

"Kai?"

"... Do you see the stars?"

"...The stars?"

"Yeah, look up"

"... 'k"

"So, I like to think we're like comets'"

"Comets"

"Yeah, comets"

"?"

"So like, imagine you and I are a comet, and we travel together through space"

"I'm guessin' the space is like... life?"

"Yeah, something like that, so, now we're together, but think we hit something, and we split, and each part of us end up following different paths, but we're still one, don't you think?"

"Uhm..."

"Uh, well, I mean, I'm trying to say, that you don't have to stick with me forever"

"But what if I want to?"

"... How can you be so sure?"

"You're my brother"

"And you're my sister"

"..."

"Nya, I've seen what you're capable of, we're the same age but here you're doing machines!"

"So? You're a blacksmith, you make weapons"

"Yeah but like, your inventions are fantastic!"

"Of course they are, they're mine"

"Exactly! With that brain of yours, you could make it big in Ninjago City!"

"And leave you here? Why won't you come with me?"

"I can't"

"Of course you can, you just have to follow me"

"I can't"

"... Why?"

"The House"

"... The... house"

"This is our home Nya... well... at least is mine, I think so, I don't wanna leave it"

"..."

"Nya?"

"This is about them isn't it?"

"Is the only thing we've left"

"They left us"

"..."

"They left us Kai"

"... I know, but, I can't leave, not yet"

"... I guess we do have anyways"

"You can leave Nya"

"What?!"

"No no, you can just... you know, leave for Ninjago City, I know you aren't happy here"

"Oh, it isn't that bad"

"But"

"But?"

"Would you really spend your life in this small place?"

"..."

"I like it here I don't want to go to the city"

"..."

"But that's me if you wanna go then... go"

"... Kai"

"I'll be fine, you're amazing Nya, whatever you do you will excel at it"

"..."

"I'm sure that whatever you do is gonna be so amazing news is gonna reach even places like this"

"..."

"Nya?"

"Hey stop it! You're gonna make me cry"

"I'm serious though!"

"I know.. but, we still have time don't we?"

"That we do"

"Then, let's just... continue watching the stars"

"Okay"

"So, have you thought about it?"

Nya looks up from the generator, in front of her small workshop door Kai is leaning against the door, a smirk on his face.

"Uh, what?"

He tilts his head, looking at her eyes as if searching for something.

"What Kai?"

"Our talk"

"Which one"

She scoffs, they're literally the only live beings residing in this house, they've had many many talks.

"Ninjago City"

"-Ah"

That one, she would be lying if she hadn't thought about it, I mean, a big city? Where she could learn things she would never even encounter in such a small village like theirs?

But...

"Yeah, I think it can wait"

"Are you sure? We had enough saved up for the trip"

"Yeah, and then what? We would need a place to stay and all that"

"I'm sure we can find jobs and-"

"Kai, we're fourteen"

That seems to do it, he scratched the back of his head, bashfully.

"Why the sudden urge? I'm not against it but you hadn't had an interest in the city before"

"Well, I saw you the other day at the market questioning one of the city guys about his vehicle and all that"

"I appreciate the thought"

She leaves her tools on the floor, before sitting more comfortably.

"But we're not in a rush, I would love to go to the city, but I like living here, there's school, there's work around and we're together, I think life like this is good"

She smiles, hoping she's able to convey to Kai that yeah, the city is probably amazing and all but here's where their family and life are, if it were to continue like it she wouldn't mind.

It seems to work as Kai returns the smile with equal warmth.

"We've time don't we?"

"We do"

Nya thinks she might've gotten a concussion, which is why she's trying not to fall asleep, that would be bad.

She's been kidnapped (yay), and she can't help but think that the first time her brother and her are separated for so long has to be like this, how stupid.

She licks her lips, sharp teeth felt on her tongue, she wants to bite something.

She can't, but the moment she gets the opportunity she will bite the head off of one of those stupid bone guys, that's guaranteed.

Sure, okay, maybe she's not as strong to fight a whole army of skeletons but damn it if she won't try.

But for now she stays put, she needs rest, even if it's quite difficult to get it in her current situation.

Nya touches her back, the tattoo (or whatever the fuck it is) has started to burn ever since they've gotten to the place,

It's been so long she has almost forgotten she has it, she still doesn't know why they have it and she knows she won't be getting an answer anytime soon.

But for the first time since this bullshit went down it makes her feel not alone.

Unsure when she will be seeing her brother again, or if she ever will.

At least she knows he is fine, maybe a bit beaten up considering the last circumstances in which they saw each other, but he's alive, she can feel it on her chest.

Eventually, she starts to drift off to sleep, which makes sense, she's tired, but she tries not to.

Is futile and soon she's closing her eyes.

She dreams of forests and fire.

She swears she can hear voices around her as if her brother isn't alone now.

She really hopes he's not.