Chapter Text
It started after an intense nightmare.
A dream he could never remember.
It left him with a racing heart and panting breath and an ache in his hands and feet.
Glancing down at them sent a paralyzing chill racing up his spine.
Lloyd kicked up his blankets and scrambled away from the curled white talons and inky black skin seeping up his legs. “No, no no no!” He tangled in his bedsheets and fell with a loud thump, crushing his hand under his chest where sharp claws pressed into still-human skin.
“Lloyd?”
The blonde’s head shot up with alarm at the sleepy voice that called from down the hall. There was no way he could let the others see him like this – he clenched his jaw and gulped in deep breaths. Maybe, if he could just slow his heartrate down…to his relief, the black began to leech out of his skin, and the claws and talons receded into normal limbs.
He examined his now human hand just as Kai stumbled into his room, still half asleep.
“Y’kay?”
Lloyd stood on human legs. “Y-yeah, sorry – nightmare.”
Kai leaned against the doorway with closed eyes. “Y’need ‘nything?”
He took in another deep breath. It was still late, and he was starting to feel sleep creeping up on him again. “No, I,” he yawned. “I’m fine.” Kai didn’t respond, and Lloyd wondered if he’d gone back to bed – only to jump at the snore from his doorway.
“Psst. Kai!” He stage whispered.
Kai jolted. “Y’kay?”
“Go to bed.”
“M’kay. Night.”
Lloyd crawled back into bed, staring in concern at the punctures in his sheets. He turned over and pulled his blanket closer.
That was a problem for tomorrow.
It got worse during training.
His breath whooshed out of him with a huff, leaving him dazed on the training mat.
“You gotta be quicker than that, Greenie!” Jay danced above him on the balls of his feet. He’d sent the younger ninja sprawling with ease this morning; Lloyd was running slow and it was showing.
He shook off his frustration and rose to his feet. “One more round, Jay. I’ll get you this time.”
Jay let out a signature cackle. “Bring it on, Green Bean.”
The two took fighting stances, and a signal from Cole sent them into faux combat. Lloyd dodged and ducked Jay’s first two kicks, then dove in with strikes of his own – only to hit air as the lightning ninja moved effortlessly around him.
A cocky grin flashed in his face before a cackle hit his ears and a leg swept his own from under him, knocking him breathless again.
Jay taunted him with something that didn’t register over the rush of blood in his ears.
He saw red.
There’s a roar. And shouting. And then – he’d never heard Jay’s voice that quiet.
“Lloyd?”
Wide blue eyes stare up at him. Up?
Lloyd blinked. He was on the ground, right? Jay was above him, he’d been teasing him, what had –
“Lloyd!”
Cole’s voice drew his attention away from Jay. Strong arms wrenched him off of the brown-haired boy – why was his gi that color?
Bile rose in his throat.
That was blood.
He shakily looked down at his hands. No. Gleaming white claws shined at him, one of them dipped in red.
He looked up at where Cole had grabbed Jay. He was shouting something, and Jay – oh god, he’d never seen Jay that pale.
“What did I,”
“What happened?!” Kai had slid next to him, he grabbed Lloyd’s shoulder only to rear back like he’d been burned.
He looked up at the fire ninja with watery eyes. “Kai, I,” He blinked. “Kai?” His heart was racing again.
“Lloyd, your eyes…”
Blood racing in his ears.
Nya’s voice sounded shaken. “Your eyes are red, Lloyd.”
The air felt thin. Too thin. He couldn’t – it wasn’t – he wasn’t breathing – he
“Help me,” he choked out.
The world went dark.