Ochre lifted his head, nose up, sniffing deeply. His ears pricked. He turned his head to his Master, who slept beside him. Helooked back in the direction of the smell.
Licking his lips, he stood up, then nuzzled his Master's face. He'd be back. Right now, food was calling.
Garmadon jerked awake, gasping. He stared up into the trees, blinking, trying to calm his breathing down.
It was only a dream.
He sighed, shutting his eye tightly. After taking a couple deep breaths, he slowly sat up, glancing around. Ichor wasn't here. He sighed again. Why did he have to haunt—
His thoughts were abruptly cut off. He was alone. "Ochre…?"
A few birds chirped, and leaves rustled in a soft breeze. The creek trickled gently.
He slowly stood, looking around. The dog was nowhere in sight. Maybe he'd went searching for food, or something…
No…he usually only left when Garmadon was awake. He never left when he was sleeping. Or at least, he didn't think so… "Ochre?"
He was met with silence once again, only hearing the sounds of the forest. Garmadon shook his head. He…he'd come back…he just had to wait for him.
Then why did he have this awful, nagging feeling that Ochre was in danger?
Garmadon bit his lip. He'd be fine.
No. Shaking his head, he stood, looking around. His eye landed on the faint, barely visible paw prints—they were headed east. Frowning, Garmadon started walking.
The dog had sure wandered far, he soon realized thirty minutes later. Garmadon winced, leaning against a tree. His leg and ribs were aching, burning. They still weren't healed, and Garmadon was pretty sure it was because he never sat still for very long.
But if he sat still, he'd go insane. So he supposed it was an okay price to pay. Besides, he was used to pain, anyway.
He'd be fine.
"Ochre?" Garmadon bit his lip. How far had the dog gone…?
He continued on, this time at a slower pace. He had to find him soon. He was still coming across the occasional paw print, and he could tell something had gone through here by the snapped twigs, branches, semi-pressed moss, and moved blades of grass.
Ochre had definitely gone this way. Though why was the question.
About ten minutes later, Garmadon abruptly stopped. The tracks had changed. Ochre had quickened his pace…to a sprint. A feeling of uneasiness came over him. He bent down to take a closer look. Glancing up, he narrowed his eye in the direction the dog had been going. The way the grass was, and the prints—he was being pursued. These tracks weren't just him going after a rabbit, or something. They had a panicked feel.
Garmadon's jaw clenched. "Ochre…?" His stomach was suddenly tightening, a cold feeling coming over his chest. No. He would not—
He was not going to lose Ochre. He would not lose someone else! Ochre—
He was all he had—
Garmadon choked, sucking in a breath. Blinking, he continued on, this time keeping an eye out for danger. He didn't want to run into whatever had been chasing his dog.
Though at the same time…he did so he could blast it to bits—
He shook his head, jerking to a stop. No! He was not evil.
Focus. Ochre was in danger.
He sucked in another breath. He had to focus. He was all Ochre had. His only chance.
I'm coming. Just hold on.
It didn't take Garmadon long to figure out what had been pursuing his dog—he'd discovered a boot track implanted in mud.
It was a someone after his dog. Not a something.
A faint growl escaped under his breath. Why would someone even be after his dog? Unless they thought Ochre was a wolf? Maybe his dog had gotten into someone's farm? And maybe—whoever this was—wanted the wolf gone?
A chill came over him.
"No—" Garmadon quickened his pace.
About twenty minutes later, he stumbled to a stop, eye widening. The tracks…they led up a snow-capped mountain, leading to…Jamanakai village.
Where there were people.
Possibly spies, or lookouts, for Ichor.
Or maybe people who just didn't like him and wanted to get revenge and—
Garmadon shuddered, blinking. He'd be fine…this was for Ochre. He…he had to rescue Ochre.
He bit his lip, then glanced around, confirming that Ochre's tracks did indeed lead to Jamanakai. "Why did you go to Jamanakai…? Why not stay in the woods?" Shaking his head, he reluctantly started up the mountain.
Ochre needed him.
Garmadon slowed once he neared the village. Anxiety clenched at him. He…he didn't want anyone to see him. He couldn't let anyone see him. He wanted to lie low. If someone saw him…they may come after him.
He didn't want to hurt anyone. Staying in the woods, out of sight, was the best option. That way, nothing could happen.
He just needed to find Ochre.
Garmadon's eyes scanned the village, searching. The snow topped the village buildings and here and there along the roads and stalls. He swallowed, ducking behind a rock. Villagers were wandering about, talking, shopping, or selling their goods. He couldn't go out into the open.
He sucked in a breath, looking around. Behind the buildings would work. Though he needed to find Ochre's tracks…
He started along the rocks, keeping his eye trained on the ground. After a little searching, he managed to locate his dog's prints—they led behind the buildings.
Good.
Garmadon carefully followed them, careful to keep out of sight. The snow crunched softly under his feet, though he tried his best to walk silently.
Arriving at the village now, Garmadon kept behind boulders, finally making it behind a small building. Looking down again, he started following Ochre's tracks.
It was a few minutes later that he suddenly stopped. The tracks—they'd vanished.
He whipped around, going in a slow circle, but the tracks just…stopped. He knelt on the ground, running his hand across the thin snow. The snow brushed away at his fingers, revealing the smooth, gray-tiled rock underneath.
Garmadon frowned. He stood back up, looking around. Glancing down again, he wondered if the snow had been blown over by the wind, erasing the tracks. Looking to his right, he saw that he was in an alleyway. Two building's sat to the sides. The wind could have blown in and erased them…but the tracks didn't continue behind the building over.
Ochre may have gone down the alleyway, then. But…
That led to the marketplace, and the people.
Garmadon winced. He could see a few villagers walking around, talking and chatting. Some were buying food, and others just continued on past. It was too busy. He couldn't go out there—
But, Ochre had gone that way. And he was in trouble.
Garmadon paused uncertainly, swallowing. He would just…he only needed a peak. Then he'd go back to behind the buildings, back to the alleyways.
He'd be fine. He just had to hide his face.
Garmadon shook his head, lowering it, and closed his eye. He'd be fine. Glancing up, he stared at the people. They weren't looking at him.
He took a breath. Then he cautiously started forward, putting a hand to the left side of his face, turning his head so it was mostly hidden by the shadow cast by the building. Of course, now he could hardly see. His right eye was gone, replaced by the metal Ichor had nailed into his face. And with his left hand mostly obscuring his vision…
He didn't have a choice, though. The building's shadow was being projected towards his left. So the right side of his face would already be mostly hidden. It worked, though he'd have a harder time locating Ochre like—
The light almost blinded him. The snow shown brightly, and even with his limited vision, it hurt. Garmadon blinked, squinting. He'd just left the shadow of the building since it didn't stretch all the way down the alleyway. He looked around for Ochre.
The dog was nowhere in sight.
And he couldn't see to his right, either. He turned his head, but still, noth—
He suddenly spotted a flash of black.
Ochre!
Before he could think, or even consider what he was doing or if it was even his dog, he was taking a stumbling step into the bustling village and out of the safety of the alleyway.
The black vanished between some villagers.
No! Garmadon's eye widened. He bolted—then slammed into something.
There was a startled yelp.
No. It was someone.
The figure took a couple steps back.
No no no— Garmadon hurriedly backed away, trying to hide his face, trying to breathe—
Why couldn't he breathe?!
"Garmadon?"
Wait…he knew that voice. He looked up, his hand lowering enough to see. His other one he kept raised in front of him protectively.
Then his mouth dropped open. Of all—
Caught. Run.
No no nO NO NO—
Garmadon stumbled back, tripping, eye wide. No, this wasn't supposed to happen, he didn't want to hURT ANYONE.
Wu took a step towards him, frowning disbelievingly. "Garmadon…?"
He sucked in a strangled breath, mouth going dry. And now he was makiNG A SCENE. He could feel the heads turning, the burning stares—
Wu stepped closer. "Garmadon, what…what are you doing here? What happened to you?"
He realized he was still gaping. He quickly shut his mouth, then glanced in the direction of the alley, careful to avoid any eyes—
Ichor would find him.
Wu glanced at the staring crowd, and then put a hand on his arm.
Garmadon flinched, jerking away from him.
"Garmadon…? Are you alright?"
He stared at Wu. He wore the same clothes as when he'd last seen him—the white gi, the brown bamboo hat, staff in one hand.
Wu glanced around, then bent, grabbing some tea bags that now sat on the snowy ground, which he must have dropped when Garmadon stupidly ran into him. "Garmadon, can you come with me?"
He blinked uncomprehendingly.
Wu gestured towards the alley. "So we can talk…?"
He shook his head, shooting a quick glance at the crowd, searching for anyone that looked like they worked for Ichor—
Wu gestured again. "Please…?"
Garmadon swallowed, then slowly nodded, eyeing Wu's hands. He started into the alleyway, keeping Wu in sight, making sure to keep him to his left so he could see him.
It grew darker in the alleyway, the sun no longer shining brightly in his eye. Wu stopped when they were out of earshot of the villagers, turning to him. The noise of the village had grown fainter.
Garmadon looked at him warily, tense.
Wu cleared his throat. "Garmadon…could you…explain?" He gestured to him.
Garmadon stiffened, realizing that he was indicating the metal in his face.
Wu frowned. "And why aren't you…evil-looking?"
He looked away, jaw clenching.
"Dad, please! You can change!"
He shook his head, blinking rapidly.
Wu's eyes narrowed. "What are you doing here?"
Ochre. Garmadon stiffened even more, head snapping to look out of the alleyway. Ochre! He'd forgotten about Ochre!A pit of guilt clenched him.
"Garmadon?"
He looked at Wu, mouth opening, but nothing came out.
"Are you…alright?"
He looked out of the alley again, seeing villagers pass by. He needed to leave.
Wu let out a breath quietly, watching him.
Garmadon hesitated, then started towards the open village. He Wu's light footsteps follow him. "Garmadon, where are you going? You seem to be in a hurry somewhere."
He put a hand over the left side of his face again, this time being careful to stay in the shadow of the building. He heard Wu come up on his right—his blind spot. Garmadon started, turning to look at him.
Wu frowned. "Why do you keep doing that?"
He stared at him, then turned to look into the street of Jamanakai.
"Garmadon, what's going on? You're starting to worry me."
His jaw clenched. He needed to find Ochre, not get mixed up in this again, he couldn't get involved again, he couldn't hurt anyone anymore, not Lloyd—
He sucked in a strained breath, blinking. No no no— He shook his head, squinting out at the street. Ochre was nowhere in sight. Where had that black thing gone?
Wu stepped in front of him. "Are you alright? Are you looking for something? Please, answer me, Garmadon. You're really starting to concern me!"
He blinked, backing away, his right arm slightly rising to his chest. He shook his head, swallowing. "Sorry…"
Wu rose an eyebrow, but his face relaxed slightly. "It's alright… Do you mind telling me what you're doing?"
"Um…I, uh…nothing."
Wu's eyebrow rose further. "Nothing?"
He looked away, searching for Ochre again.
"What are you doing out here?"
He swallowed, glancing at him. "Nothing. What do you want?"
Wu blinked. "Well…I wanted to know if you were alright."
He squinted. "Why?"
"Um…because you're acting a little strange?"
Garmadon shook his head, breaking his gaze. "No."
"No? What does that mean?"
Garmadon shrugged. "I don't know…"
"Alright… Where are you headed?"
I don't have time for this.
Garmadon looked at him. "I have to go…" He turned, walking deeper into the alleyway. He needed to find Ochre, not dillydally with Wu.
But Wu followed him. "Garmadon, where are you going?"
He turned right to continue down the alleyway behind the buildings.
Wu grabbed his arm.
The right one. The robotic one. Garmadon yelped, jumping, and stumbled away from him.
Wu let go. "Garmadon…?"
He backed away, rigid.
Wu partly opened his mouth, as if to say something, but all he did was silently stare. A few seconds later he took a step towards him. "Garmadon…will you please tell me what you're doing? Or at the very least, would you consider coming back to the monastery? Where have you been all this time?"
Garmadon shook his head, his mouth dry. He took a step back.
Wu frowned. "Do… Where have you been?"
He looked away, jaw tightening. "I…nowhere."
"Nowhere? Do you have somewhere to stay?"
Garmadon glanced at him, eye narrowing, slightly suspicious. "I… Why?"
Wu blinked. "Why do I feel like that's a no… Where have you been staying this whole time?"
He shook his head again. "No. It doesn't matter." He started walking, turning away from him.
Wu hurried to catch up. "Garmadon, why did you leave?"
He stopped so abruptly Wu stumbled to avoid crashing into him. Garmadon grit his teeth, feeling his muscles tense. "It. Doesn't. Matter. Leave me alone."
"I…what? Why? You just up and left, and now you show up and want me to just…leave you?"
Garmadon closed his eye, fists clenching. "No. I accidentally crashed into you."
The faint chatter from the village was the only sound for a moment, the breeze whistling between the buildings, snow softly blowing.
"I see…but that doesn't answer my question," Wu said.
Garmadon turned around. "How? Will you please leave me alone?" His chest tightened. This was not good. He couldn't get mixed up with this again—
"Because you never said why you left. Or what you're doing here. Or why you seem to be in such a hurry." Wu's stare pierced into him, much like Ochre's often did.
Ochre. Right. He was supposed to be looking for his dog! "I don't…please, just leave me alone!" His chest tightened further, and he tried to suck in a breath. He turned away from Wu, heading the other direction.
"Garmadon, why? I may be more inclined to do so if you explained." He followed.
He shook his head, blinking rapidly. His vision blurred. Why would he not leave him alone?
Wu grabbed his arm again.
Garmadon flinched, trying to jerk away, pain flaring up—
He didn't let go this time, though his grip loosened. More gently, he said, "Garmadon, I want to help you. Please, tell me what's going on."
Garmadon's teeth gritted. He realized he was trembling now, stupid— He shook his head, biting his lip, and looked away. He shut his eye tightly. "What do you want?"
"I said, I want to help."
Garmadon almost scoffed. After what he'd done? No. He wanted something. He knew it.
"Can you come with me, back to the monastery?"
No no no—
That was exactly what he didn't want! He couldn't— He couldn't hurt anyone anymore! He couldn't get sucked into that again! Not again! Not—
"Garmadon?"
He shook his head. "No."
"Please? Just for a couple days?"
He swallowed, blinking.
"For Lloyd?"
Garmadon's head jerked towards him. "What?"
"He needs you."
His eye narrowed. He looked away, a bitterness rising in his throat. "No. He doesn't."
Wu's hand briefly squeezed his arm tighter, and Garmadon tensed. "Yes, he does. He needs his father. I can only do so much."
He jaw clenched tightly. Lloyd was better off without him. He only caused pain.
"Please, brother?"
His throat tightened, and he sucked in a strained breath. He shook his head, torn. He…he couldn't go back. It was too risky. He coULDN'T CAUSE ANYMORE PAIN.
Wu took a step closer, and Garmadon flinched away, glancing at him.
"Garmadon…please?"
He found his gaze locked with Wu's. He…almost looked pleading. He swallowed. He felt his hand still locked on his arm—he didn't have a choice, did he? Garmadon looked away, frowning.
"Is that a yes or a no?"
He let out a quiet exhale, closing his eye. Since he didn't have a choice anyway…he nodded. "Fine."
"Thank you." Wu sounded sincere, nodding back once.
"Can…you please let go of me now?"
Wu released him. "Of course. I'm sorry…"
Garmadon—almost subconsciously—took a step away from him, rubbing his arm, gripping it.
He was fine.
Wu walked past him, towards the alleyway they'd originally been in. "I'm heading back now. I already have my tea." He turned to look at him. "Are…you coming?"
Garmadon hesitated, then nodded, frowning. "Yes." He…would have to look for Ochre later. Guilt once again twisted his stomach.
"You abandoned them. Again. No wonder they all hate you."
Garmadon shook his head, shutting his eye. NO. He was not abandoning Ochre! He would return. He would.
He glanced back as they passed through the street, where he'd seen the black blur.
I'll be back, Ochre. I promise. I won't abandon you like everyone else.