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“That mission was a bust,” Jay groaned as he landed clumsily in the stables, brushing straw from his sleeve and dust from his face.
Kai, who had already dismounted and was tending to Flame’s saddle, rolled his eyes hard enough to make Zane glance over. “Oh, really? You don’t say,” he muttered under his breath before turning to glare at Jay, his voice rising. “Maybe because someone decided it was the perfect time to start singing in the middle of a stealth mission?”
Jay flinched, his mouth falling open. “I didn’t know they were right there! It was a nervous hum!”
“Nervous hum?” Kai repeated incredulously, stepping toward him. “Jay, you sang half a verse of that stupid ‘Lightning Baby’ song before they even spotted us!”
“It’s catchy!” Jay squeaked defensively, taking a step back. “You yell all the time and no one says anything!”
Kai pointed a finger at him like it was a blade. “At least when I yell, it’s at the enemy, not in the middle of sneaking through their hideout!”
Zane raised a brow but didn’t interfere. He was well aware of the tension that usually exploded between these two after any mission that didn’t go according to plan.
Kai let out a frustrated huff and turned sharply on his heel, walking out of the stable and heading toward the monastery. His boots hit the ground like drumbeats.
The others trailed behind him, a quiet wave of tension following them.
Inside, Kai stomped through the hallway with clenched fists, his aura practically flaring with heat. Cole caught up with him and placed a firm hand on his shoulder.
“Kai, hey—just calm down a second—”
“Don’t tell me to calm down!” Kai snapped, spinning around. His eyes blazed, more with frustration than actual anger. “If he hadn’t screwed around, we would’ve been done with that mission! But no—now they know we were spying on them! Now they know we’re onto them!”
Cole held up both hands defensively. “I get it, alright? I do. But you yelling at him isn’t gonna change what happened.”
Kai exhaled sharply through his nose. “Maybe not, but it might knock some sense into him,” he muttered.
Jay, who had followed in behind, crossed his arms. “Oh yeah? Well, you weren’t exactly silent either. You knocked over a crate with your sword—which, by the way, is like five feet long. Maybe that’s what tipped them off.”
Kai whipped around so fast that Zane tensed instinctively.
“You—imbecile!” he snarled, surging toward Jay.
Jay’s eyes widened, and before Kai could tackle him, Cole threw an arm around Kai’s waist from behind, dragging him back as the fire ninja struggled furiously in his hold.
“I’M GONNA END YOU!” Kai yelled, flailing in Cole’s grasp.
“Would love to see you try!” Jay called out from behind Zane, now safely shielded by the nindroid. “You’d have to catch me first!”
Zane gave a very long, mechanical sigh. “Childish. Both of you.”
“I swear—let me go, Cole—” Kai growled, still kicking wildly. Cole grunted as he tightened his grip, holding him firm.
“Yeah, sure, so you can incinerate Jay into a pile of ashes? No thanks,” Cole muttered under his breath, pinning Kai like a pro wrestler.
That was when Nya entered from the side hallway, drawn by the noise. She stopped at the entrance, taking in the chaos: Kai being physically restrained by Cole, Jay crouched behind Zane like a scared cat, and everyone else watching with either confusion or resignation.
She pinched the bridge of her nose. “Okay. What did I miss?”
“This idiot ruined our mission!” Kai snapped before anyone could answer. “And now he’s acting like it’s my fault!”
“I didn’t ruin it!” Jay insisted from behind Zane. “I was improvising!”
Nya looked between them, clearly exhausted. “You were singing,” she said flatly.
Jay shrugged. “Improvisational morale boosting?”
Kai lunged again and Cole grunted. “Nope. Noooope—stay down, hothead.”
Nya raised her hands. “Alright. Enough. I made food. It’s still hot. You’re all cranky and starving and probably mildly traumatized. So eat first, fight later.”
Kai stopped struggling, his chest heaving as he stood locked in Cole’s grasp. His face was flushed—not just from fury, but from the sheer emotional overload of the night. Then Cole bent slightly, whispering something low into Kai’s ear. Whatever it was, it worked.
Kai’s tense muscles finally slumped, and with a grunt, he shoved Cole’s arms off him and stepped back. “Fine,” he muttered, brushing himself off. “I’m going to feed the dragons and bring them water. They actually appreciate me.”
He turned and walked off toward the lower courtyard without looking back.
Cole watched him go, his brows drawn in concern. He turned slowly to Jay, who was now creeping cautiously toward the kitchen.
“Seriously, man,” Cole said, voice low but firm. “Why do you always have to push his buttons? Do you like being throttled?”
Jay blinked at him innocently. “What? I was just being—me.”
“That’s the problem,” Cole muttered darkly.
Jay shrugged. “He’ll cool off. He always does.”
Zane followed Nya quietly into the kitchen. “The odds of this cycle continuing are approximately ninety-four percent.”
“Don’t jinx it,” Nya said tiredly as she handed him a plate.
One by one, the others trickled into the kitchen, sitting down at the long table and beginning to eat. The only empty seat was Kai’s. It sat quietly at the end of the table, untouched—his plate still waiting, as always, with extra spice.
_____
Back at the stables, the world was quieter—calmer. Kai carried two heavy buckets of water in each hand, the metal sloshing with each step as he made his way down the stone steps that led to the dragon pens. The sky above was gray, but he didn’t think much of it. The silence here was a blessing after the chaos of the mission—and Jay.
With practiced ease, Kai began setting out the bowls of food along the feeding stations. One by one, the dragons padded forward, their massive heads lowering to eat, their scales glinting faintly even under the overcast sky. The sounds of munching, snorting, and the occasional satisfied growl filled the air, grounding Kai more than any meditation ever could.
“There you go,” Kai muttered, wiping his hands on his pants. “Eat up, you big lugs.”
He paused at Flame’s station and gave the fire dragon an affectionate rub along the jawline. Flame leaned into it, rumbling deep in his chest like a giant cat.
Kai let out a breath and rested his forehead against Flame’s warm, sturdy neck. “Jay is being an idiot,” he muttered, voice muffled by the dragon’s scales. “Again. Why is it always me who has to deal with it?”
Flame huffed gently through his nostrils, the heat from his breath ruffling Kai’s hair. The sound alone comforted him. Kai closed his eyes and let himself sink into the stillness, the only sounds around him being the rhythmic chewing of dragons and the rustle of straw beneath clawed feet.
From the corner of his eye, he saw a flicker of motion—blue and light, like a streak of lightning. Wisp, Jay’s dragon, ambled closer to Flame’s side, nosing around for a better angle at the food.
Kai smirked and turned his head toward the pale dragon. “You know your owner is an idiot, right?”
Wisp raised his head and made a soft gurgling sound, a wet snort that somehow sounded like a laugh. His glowing eyes blinked once, almost in amusement.
Kai let out a soft chuckle. “Yeah, I thought so.”
He reached up and scratched gently behind Wisp’s frilled ear. The dragon leaned into his touch with a pleased purr. Kai slowly lowered himself onto a bale of hay, letting his limbs relax as he watched them eat. It was rare, this kind of moment—where no one was yelling, no one was throwing blame, and nothing was on fire.
He refilled the water troughs carefully, one at a time, making sure each dragon got what they needed. He knew their preferences—Flame liked his water slightly warmer, Wisp was a picky eater and preferred his fish at the bottom of the bowl, not floating. Kai was more at ease with the dragons than he was with most people.
But that peace didn’t last long.
A low rumble echoed from the sky, and the wind picked up sharply. The temperature dropped suddenly, and the gray clouds above had thickened into a swirling, angry mass.
Kai looked up. “Storm?”
He set the bucket down and stood, watching as the sky darkened like ink spreading across parchment. The first sharp crack of thunder exploded overhead, and the dragons immediately reacted. Flame snorted and stamped his foot, his wings rustling uneasily. The others raised their heads, shifting restlessly, emitting low growls of concern.
“Hey, hey—it’s alright,” Kai said quickly, lifting his hands in a calming gesture. “Just a little thunder. Nothing we haven’t dealt with before.”
The wind whipped at his jacket now, tugging it back as if trying to drag him into the storm. His voice strained to rise over the howl of the wind.
“Easy, Flame. Easy,” Kai said, reaching out to place a hand on his dragon’s chest. Flame calmed a little at his touch, but his eyes were still darting toward the skies.
That’s when Wisp shrieked.
The pale-blue dragon launched suddenly into the air, his wings spreading wide as he tore away from the ground with a sharp cry.
“Wisp! No!” Kai shouted, stumbling a few steps forward. “Get back down here—it’s not safe!”
The wind slammed into him like a wave. He shielded his face as dust and leaves blew past, squinting up at the streak of blue above. Wisp disappeared into the stormclouds.
“Damn it,” Kai breathed. “Jay’s gonna kill me.”
Another thunderclap cracked through the air—and then, out of nowhere, a searing bolt of lightning came down like the wrath of the skies. It struck the ground directly in front of him, blinding white, deafening, and too close.
The force of the strike blasted Kai off his feet.
He was weightless for a moment, before slamming into the dirt several feet back, skidding across the ground. Everything spun—his ears rang, his skin stung, and for a terrifying second, he couldn’t breathe.
He tried to move, but his limbs were sluggish. Heavy. Like they didn’t belong to him.
He heard his name—he thought—faint and panicked.
A deep, echoing roar followed. Flame.
Kai’s vision blurred as his dragon roared desperately, circling him once before leaping into the air after Wisp, his massive wings kicking up a wave of dust and straw.
Kai’s eyes fluttered halfway open, just enough to catch Flame’s silhouette vanishing into the clouds—then everything faded to black.
The last thing he registered was the uneasy sound of the dragons crying out in fear as the storm swallowed them all.
____
The sound of laughter and quiet clinking of dishes filled the monastery dining room as the team gathered around the table, finally relaxing after the failed mission. Nya was spooning out more rice onto Zane’s plate while Jay made another exaggerated comment about how his voice might’ve “actually boosted morale” during the mission, earning groans from both Cole and Nya.
Then—
CRACK.
A bolt of lightning tore through the sky so close that it lit up the room with a blinding flash and rattled the wooden frames of the monastery. Everyone flinched.
“Whoa,” Jay muttered, blinking. “That… felt close.”
Zane stood up immediately, his eyes narrowing as he approached the window. He paused.
“That’s… strange,” he said, his voice unnervingly flat. “The dragons— They’re flying.”
“What?” Nya asked, getting up beside him. “Why would they—?”
Jay leaned over to get a better look out the window—and then he froze. His fork clattered onto the floor.
“Uh, guys?” he said, his voice climbing into a pitch of panic. “The stables are on fire!”
The entire table erupted into motion.
“Fire?!” Cole’s chair scraped loudly against the floor as he shot to his feet, heart dropping into his stomach. “Wait—isn’t Kai down there?!”
Without waiting for a response, Cole bolted out of the room, his footsteps thundering down the hall and out into the rain-drenched courtyard. The storm had rolled in violently fast, soaking the earth, wind lashing at the trees and walls like an angry tide. Flames flickered from the corner of the stables, consuming the edges of the structure as smoke poured into the dark sky.
Cole’s eyes swept the area—his heart hammering in his chest—until he spotted the one dragon who hadn’t flown off.
Rocky.
The earth dragon was pacing in tight circles, letting out deep, mournful sounds that cut straight into Cole’s soul. His massive body hovered protectively over something on the ground.
“Rocky?” Cole called, cautiously approaching. “What’s wrong, buddy—what are you—”
Then he saw it.
A sliver of red cloth.
His breath caught.
“Kai—?”
Cole’s stomach dropped as he raced over. Kai was sprawled on the soaked ground, crumpled like a ragdoll. His skin was streaked with soot, and his hair was tangled and singed. His face—normally flushed with emotion—was pale and still.
“Shit,” Cole gasped, dropping to his knees beside him.
Rocky let out another low, distressed rumble and gently nudged Kai’s limp body with his snout.
“I’ve got him,” Cole whispered, scooping Kai into his arms, supporting his head carefully. “You did good, Rocky. You stayed with him.”
But Rocky didn’t stop. He continued nudging Kai, whimpering as he followed Cole step-for-step, never taking his eyes off his fallen rider.
Back inside the monastery, the others were waiting anxiously near the front when Cole finally burst in, soaked to the bone, with Kai limp in his arms.
“He’s unconscious,” Cole said urgently, voice tight with worry. “Smoke everywhere—he was lying there like—he didn’t move—”
“Set him down!” Nya snapped, already rushing over. “Put him on the couch—there—get a pillow under his head!”
Cole gently laid Kai down on the sofa, slipping a cushion beneath his head. His hands were trembling as he brushed wet hair from Kai’s soot-streaked forehead.
Rocky nudged Kai’s side again with a rumble that sounded more like a sob than anything else. He was almost too big for the monastery halls but stayed close, his tail curled around him protectively.
“Shit, is he okay?” Nya asked, kneeling beside her brother, brushing a shaking hand over his face.
Zane was already beside them, checking Kai’s pulse and vitals with practiced precision. He placed two fingers at Kai’s wrist, then pressed gently against his neck.
Jay stood frozen near the wall, eyes wide. “Is… is he—?” He swallowed. “Is he dead?”
Cole’s head snapped toward him, his glare sharp enough to slice through glass.
Jay raised his hands. “Okay, okay—poor choice of words!”
“He’s not dead,” Zane said quickly, reaching for a cloth and dipping it into a nearby bowl of water. “Pulse is steady, breathing shallow. He’s alive—he just fainted. Likely from the shock and smoke inhalation.”
He gently wiped at Kai’s face, clearing away the soot, his movements methodical but gentle.
Still, Rocky wouldn’t stop nudging. He pressed his nose to Kai’s side again, breathing over him, even giving his cheek a slow, sorrowful lick.
“Why’s Rocky acting like that?” Nya asked, watching the dragon with concern. “He looks—terrified.”
Cole frowned deeply. “He knows something’s wrong. He’s not just worried. It’s like… he’s mourning.”
Just then, Kai stirred.
A soft groan escaped his lips. His fingers twitched. His head turned slightly, then again.
“Wait—he’s waking up!” Nya exclaimed.
Everyone leaned in.
“Kai?” Zane called softly, leaning closer. “Can you hear me?”
Kai’s eyes opened slowly. His gaze flicked around in confusion—then darted from face to face, unfocused.
“Kai?” Nya asked gently, brushing her fingers over his brow.
He flinched, startled, and turned his head in Zane’s direction. “Zane?” His voice was hoarse, cracked. “Are you… are you here?”
Zane blinked. “Yes. I’m right here. We all are.”
Nya nodded. “You’re safe, Kai. We brought you back.”
“Can you guys… turn on the lights?” Kai asked suddenly, squinting at the space in front of him. His hand reached out, fingers blindly searching. “Why’s it… so dark?”
The room went still.
Everyone exchanged alarmed glances.
“Kai,” Cole said softly, taking one of his hands in his own. “The lights are on.”
Kai’s brow furrowed. “No, they’re not. It’s pitch black. I can’t see anything.”
He waved his other hand in the air again, disoriented.
“Kai…” Nya breathed, the edge of fear creeping into her voice.
“What?” Kai asked, his panic rising now. “You guys are scaring me—why are you acting like—what’s going on?!”
Zane swallowed hard and looked at him gently, regret weighing on every syllable.
“Kai… I think you’re blind.”
Everything in Kai’s body went still.
The words didn’t register at first—then they did. They echoed in his skull, breaking like glass across his thoughts. He blinked rapidly, then squeezed his eyes shut as if that would somehow turn the world back on.
“No—no, I’m not—I just need to blink it out—it’s the smoke—maybe it’s temporary, maybe—maybe the lights are actually off, and you guys are messing with me—”
“Kai…” Nya whispered. “I’m so sorry.”
Thunder cracked again outside, rolling across the mountains like a drumbeat of dread.
And behind it, Rocky let out another low, guttural roar—mournful, aching—as he curled tighter beside Kai’s form and laid his head against him.
Kai trembled.
“…I can’t see,” he said, barely a whisper now. His hands tightened around Cole’s. “I can’t see.”
And no one knew what to say.
They just stayed there—gathered close, silent except for the occasional sniff, or the sound of Rocky’s breathing—as Kai’s whole world shifted to darkness.
____
The room was quiet now, save for the soft hum of the wind outside and the occasional rustle as someone shifted in place. They had gathered close—no one daring to leave just yet. Kai sat huddled on the sofa, knees drawn to his chest, head bowed. Cole sat right beside him, still holding Kai’s trembling hands, grounding him.
Rocky lay coiled protectively at the foot of the couch, his large body pressed close, emitting a low and steady rumble that almost sounded like a lullaby.
Zane broke the silence softly. “Kai,” he said gently. “What’s the last thing you remember seeing?”
Kai slowly turned his head toward the voice. There was a pause—long, tense—before he finally spoke, voice barely above a whisper.
“Lightning,” he said. “It was a huge strike—right in front of me. So close I felt it burn the air. Then… nothing. Just black.”
His hands tightened in Cole’s grasp again, knuckles white, and Cole instinctively adjusted his hold—gentle, steady pressure.
Zane nodded slowly, though he knew Kai couldn’t see it. “There are documented cases,” he said. “Direct exposure to high-voltage lightning can lead to temporary or even permanent retinal damage. It’s rare, but it happens.”
Kai didn’t respond. He just buried his face into his knees, pressing his forehead against them like he wanted to disappear into himself. His shoulders quivered with barely held-in emotion.
“Alright,” Nya said after a beat, her voice quiet but firm. “We should give him space. Let’s all get some rest.”
“But—” Jay opened his mouth, eyes wide with uncertainty.
Nya turned toward him sharply and shot him a look that could burn steel.
Jay coughed. “Right. Sleep. That’s… that’s smart.”
Zane stood up smoothly. “I’ll bring Kai’s food before I go,” he offered. He disappeared into the kitchen.
No one had dared bring up the idea of Kai eating until now—not with the fear still thick in the room—but the moment Zane returned with a warm tray of food, Kai slowly uncurled himself, face still damp.
Cole helped him sit up.
Kai looked hesitant, reaching forward with uncertain hands. “Where—?”
“I’ve got it,” Cole said softly. “Here, it’s right in front of you.” He guided Kai’s hands gently to the tray, letting him feel the edges and the weight of the bowl.
Rocky gave a soft rumble, adjusting his head to nudge the side of Kai’s leg. Kai smiled weakly, his fingers brushing over Rocky’s scaled cheek.
“Thanks, bud,” he whispered.
Nya lingered a moment longer before walking over to brush her fingers gently through her brother’s hair. “Get some rest when you can,” she said. “You’re strong. You’ll get through this.”
Kai gave her a faint nod, not trusting his voice.
Zane offered a last glance and then followed Nya and Jay out, the room growing quiet again.
Kai reached out clumsily, hand fumbling over the tray.
“I can’t… find the spoon,” he muttered under his breath, more to himself than anyone else. He was frustrated, even angry, that something so simple had suddenly become a challenge.
Cole was already there. He silently picked up the spoon and gently pressed it into Kai’s hand.
Kai froze. “…Thanks.”
“Of course,” Cole murmured, brushing his thumb softly over the back of Kai’s hand before letting go. “You don’t have to act like you’re okay right now.”
“I’m not,” Kai admitted, his voice cracking. “I don’t even know how to be okay when I can’t… see anything.”
Cole didn’t speak immediately. Instead, he just stayed there, close and quiet, offering his presence like a warm blanket. After a long silence, Kai finally brought the spoon to his mouth with shaky hands. It was slow, awkward, and there was a moment where he nearly dropped the bowl—but Cole steadied it without a word.
Even then, Kai’s throat tightened.
By the time he was halfway through the meal, tears began slipping down his cheeks—silent, hot, and full of grief. He didn’t sob. He didn’t wail. But they were there, and he didn’t hide them.
Cole reached out again, this time just resting his hand on Kai’s knee.
“You’re not useless,” he said, voice low and firm. “You’re still you, Kai. And we’ve got you. Every step.”
Kai gave a wet laugh that cracked. “I couldn’t even find a spoon.”
Cole’s voice dropped to a near whisper, soft but certain. “You found your way through fire once. You’ll find your way through this.”
Kai looked in his direction, though his gaze couldn’t land on him. “I’m scared,” he said, finally voicing the raw truth twisting inside him.
“I know,” Cole replied. “But you’re not alone. Not for one second.”
Kai turned his face slightly, trying to blink back more tears. He shifted back down on the sofa, finally laying his head on the cushion with a sigh of exhaustion.
He felt Rocky rise and move beside him. The dragon curled up tightly, then gently rested his massive head across Kai’s stomach. The warmth of him, the low heartbeat-like hum, comforted Kai more than words ever could.
“Is he gonna stay there all night?” Kai asked quietly.
Cole smiled faintly. “Yeah. I think he’s claiming you.”
Kai gave a tiny smile. “Good. He can have me.”
Cole moved to lie down on the other side of Rocky. The floor was hard, the storm still echoed faintly in the distance, but none of that mattered. He kept his eyes on Kai, watching his chest rise and fall as he slowly drifted to sleep, his hand resting gently in Rocky’s furred mane.
Cole didn’t lie down completely. He stayed sitting up, leaning his back against the wall. One hand remained resting close to Kai’s, just in case he reached out again.
And though exhaustion tugged at his eyes, he stayed awake for a long time—just watching over him. Until eventually, his own body gave in, and he nodded off with the faint image of Kai’s peaceful sleeping face still behind his eyes.
____
The next morning, tension was thick in the air—even thicker than the relentless downpour that hammered against the roof. The wind howled outside the wooden walls of the cabin, rattling windows and whipping branches like angry claws. The storm hadn't let up. If anything, it had gotten worse overnight.
Inside, everyone was gathered around the table. Maps, charts, and hand-drawn notes lay sprawled out—some partially soaked from earlier attempts to bring them in dry. Their eyes were tired, their expressions anxious. And despite everything, Kai sat quietly to the side in a chair, his hands folded in his lap, head tilted slightly to catch the direction of every voice.
Cole stood at the center, serious and focused, one hand planted on the island map. “Alright. The good news is—I don’t think the dragons left the island. They're probably still here somewhere, just spooked and waiting the storm out. But the island's huge, and we need to spread out to find them.”
Rocky let out a deep, low rumble from his place on the floor beside Kai, nuzzling gently against his leg. He hadn't left Kai’s side once since the lightning strike. Even now, the dragon looked restless, as if he was torn between staying close and wanting to take off to search himself.
“I think we should head south,” Zane offered, tapping the map with precision. “The radar shows a small break in the clouds down there—if we’re lucky, the visibility will be better.”
“I don’t know…” Kai said quietly from his seat, breaking his silence. He raised his head slightly. “I think my dragon would’ve headed north.”
There was a brief pause as everyone looked over.
Jay frowned. “Why north? The storm’s worse there. Doesn’t make sense. If she was scared, she would’ve flown toward shelter.”
Kai didn’t hesitate. “Flame was raised in the north. Her original nesting grounds are up there. It’s where she feels safe—it’s her instinct. If she was scared, she’d go home. I know her. She’d go north.”
His voice was calm, firm, not angry—but there was a quiet certainty behind every word that made even Jay bite back the next thing he was going to say.
Cole rubbed the back of his neck, exhaling slowly as he glanced between the others. “Alright then… sounds like we have a plan.” He pointed again at the map. “We’re more on the southern edge, so Zane and Jay—you guys check the southwest quadrant. I’ll head north for Flame. Rocky and I should be able to cover enough ground.” He looked down at the dragon, who gave a small huff of agreement.
“I’m coming too,” Kai said suddenly, rising from his chair.
Heads turned.
Cole’s brows furrowed instantly. “Wait—what? No. You’re staying here.”
Kai squared his shoulders. “I’m not. You just said we’re going to look for Flame, and she’s my dragon. No one knows her better than I do. I’m coming.”
“You can’t see, Kai,” Cole replied, a touch of disbelief in his voice. “You’ll be walking into a storm blind. Literally. If anything happens—if someone attacks—you’ll be a target. You’re safer here.”
Kai’s jaw clenched. “Flame’s safety is more important to me than mine. I’m not just going to sit here and do nothing.”
Cole’s voice dropped slightly, firm but more personal now. “It’s not doing nothing. We need you to stay alive, Kai. She needs you alive too. You don’t have to prove anything.”
Kai looked away, lips pressing into a thin line. “It’s not about proving anything. I just… I can’t stay here not knowing. She’s probably scared, alone. I have to go.”
Cole took a step forward, visibly frustrated. “And I said you’re not going. I’m putting my foot down.”
Kai turned sharply toward the sound of his voice. Even blind, the motion was sharp, defiant, precise.
____
They were flying through the storm, the sky a boiling sea of black and grey above and below. Rain lashed against their backs like needles. Wind tore through the trees and screeched between the cliffs, making Rocky’s wings tremble as he glided carefully through the turbulence. Kai clung tightly behind Cole, soaked through, his hair whipping wildly in the wind.
Cole’s knuckles were white on Rocky’s reins. His jaw clenched, and the look on his face was a unique mix of gritted patience and deep-seated dread.
“Remind me to never put my foot down again, bud,” Cole muttered under his breath, patting Rocky’s soaked neck. “This is what I get.”
Rocky gave a gurgle in response—a sound that unmistakably sounded like a laugh, if dragons could laugh.
Kai snorted softly behind him. “Ha ha. Very funny. Maybe next time don’t try to win an argument with someone who literally bursts into flames when emotional.”
Cole rolled his eyes but chuckled anyway. “Oh, believe me, I’ve learned. Kai logic is its own dangerous magic.”
“Exactly,” Kai said, smug despite the storm, “You’re lucky I don’t make you walk back.”
“Please,” Cole shot back, “you wouldn’t last five seconds out here without me. You’re blind, soaking wet, and your dragon is off playing hide-and-seek in a thunderstorm.”
Before Kai could retort, a jagged bolt of lightning tore through the sky, hitting the trees not too far from them. The boom that followed was enough to make Rocky flinch sharply. His wings tilted for a split second, and Kai’s grip slipped.
“Woah—!” Kai’s body lurched sideways.
Without thinking, Cole reached back, grabbing Kai’s waist in one swift, practiced motion. He pulled him flush against his back.
“Hold on,” Cole barked over the wind. His voice wasn’t angry—it was firm, protective, tinged with fear.
Kai didn’t argue this time. He obeyed. His arms wrapped tight around Cole’s torso, and he rested his forehead between Cole’s shoulder blades, breathing in sync with him. For a moment, just a fleeting second, everything quieted.
Cole’s lips tugged upward, the smallest of smiles. “Told you,” he said softly. “Can’t go anywhere without me.”
“Shut up,” Kai murmured, his voice muffled by Cole’s back.
They found an empty clearing tucked between cliffs and trees, slightly sheltered from the harshest winds. Cole guided Rocky down, who landed with a graceful thud and shook the rain off his wings. Cole swung down first, his boots hitting the wet ground with a squish. He turned and reached up, helping Kai down.
Kai slid down slowly, gripping Cole’s arms. Their eyes didn’t meet—Kai couldn’t see him—but for some reason, Cole held onto him a second longer than needed.
Rocky sniffed the air, then released a low rumble and began pacing the clearing, head low, searching.
“Flame!” Kai called out, stepping forward, his boots squelching in the mud. “Flame, where are you?”
He moved forward blindly, sweeping his arm in front of him, determined but disoriented. His voice was filled with a fragile desperation.
“Flame!” Kai called again, louder this time, his voice cracking slightly.
He unknowingly stepped closer to the edge of a steep drop—a rocky slope that ended in a fast-moving river below. His foot slipped slightly on the slick ground.
“Kai—!” Cole shouted.
He lunged forward, grabbing Kai’s waist again and pulling him back just in time. Kai stumbled into him, gasping in shock.
“Are you okay?” Cole asked, his voice low and tight, eyes flicking over Kai’s face.
Kai’s breathing was shallow, and he instinctively reached for Cole’s chest with one hand to steady himself. “Yeah,” he whispered. “I’m… I’m fine.”
“You didn’t even hear that drop, did you?” Cole said, still not letting go of him. His voice was both chastising and full of panic. “You were one step away from falling in.”
Kai slowly turned his head in Cole’s direction. He couldn’t see him, but his expression was tight with nerves, with adrenaline. “I didn’t know,” he admitted, quietly. “It just… it all sounds like water now.”
Cole stared at him. There was something raw in Kai’s expression—vulnerability, helplessness—but also an unwavering need to keep going.
Cole’s gaze dropped to his lips.
He leaned in. Not fast, not reckless—just a slow, unsure lean, his hand still around Kai’s waist, unsure whether to kiss him or comfort him.
But before he could make contact, Kai turned his head sharply to the right. His whole body straightened. “Flame?” he gasped.
Cole froze. “Huh?”
Kai broke free from Cole’s grasp. “That’s Flame—I heard him!” And without another word, he took off running, stumbling over the uneven ground, using his hearing and instinct to guide him.
Cole cursed under his breath and ran after him. “Kai—! Slow down, for once in your life!”
Rocky galloped behind them through the muddy terrain. Kai skidded to a stop and tilted his head toward a massive rock formation.
“Flame!” he called again, his voice stronger now, more certain.
Then came the answering roar. A familiar, deep, rumbling bellow that made Cole’s heart thud in his chest.
Above them, perched dramatically on top of the rock like a king on his throne, was Flame.
He roared again, a powerful echo through the trees. The storm didn’t seem to matter anymore.
“Flame!” Kai shouted joyfully, opening his arms as Flame dove down.
The dragon landed with a heavy thud, sliding slightly in the mud. Without hesitation, Flame pressed his head against Kai’s chest, wrapping his body protectively around his rider.
Kai laughed, loud and breathless, holding onto his dragon’s snout. “Oh Flame—I missed you. Are you okay? Did the storm scare you?” he whispered, running his hands all over Flame’s head.
Flame gurgled in response—his voice soft and content.
Rocky came up behind them and gave Flame a friendly nudge. Flame turned and leapt onto Rocky playfully, the two dragons tumbling around like puppies reunited.
Cole finally stopped next to Kai, panting lightly. He watched the reunion in silence.
“You were right,” Cole said eventually, watching Flame roll around with Rocky in the muddy clearing. “North was the right call.”
Kai smirked, wiping rain off his face. “I told you,” he said with smug pride. “You should stop doubting me.”
“I try,” Cole muttered. “But then you go and walk off cliffs and start running through lightning storms. Makes it a little hard.”
Kai turned toward him with a tilted grin. “You still followed me, though.”
Cole just sighed, and looked at him with exasperation, affection, and something else tangled in the middle.
“You’re lucky you’re cute,” he muttered under his breath.
Kai didn’t quite catch it. “What?”
“Nothing,” Cole said, quickly looking away. “Just… remind me to never argue with you again.”
“I’ll get that in writing,” Kai said, a cocky smirk growing on his lips.
Cole turned to him, and despite the teasing, he couldn’t help but stare at him a moment longer—soaked hair, flushed cheeks, his blind gaze still somehow piercing straight through him.
_____
“The rain stopped pouring,” Kai murmured softly, lifting his trembling hand into the air. Cold droplets still clung to his skin, but the sound of heavy rain had faded. His head tilted upward toward the grey sky, where thick clouds still rolled and churned ominously above them.
Cole glanced up, then back at Kai. The sight of Kai—so small and quiet, his face turned upward with a kind of soft hopefulness—made something tighten in his chest.
“Yeah,” Cole said, his voice low. “It did. But it’s still storming. We’re not in the clear yet.”
Before Kai could respond, a sharp whistling sound cut through the wind—fast, precise, and unmistakably deadly.
Cole’s eyes widened. “Kai—!” he shouted, lunging forward.
An arrow flew toward them with terrifying speed.
Cole tackled Kai to the ground just in time.
Kai yelped, a startled sound that caught in his throat as he hit the muddy ground hard, Cole’s weight over him like a protective shield. His arms instinctively wrapped around Cole’s jacket, gripping tightly, his breathing rapid.
Cole didn’t move right away. He hovered over Kai, his chest heaving, heart pounding from the near miss. He looked down at Kai beneath him—startled, blinking blindly, his hands still trembling. Cole reached up and cupped the back of Kai’s head instinctively, protectively.
“You okay?” Cole asked, voice husky and close.
Kai nodded, barely, his fingers tightening in the fabric of Cole’s coat. “Y-Yeah. That was—close.”
“Too close,” Cole muttered, eyes scanning the treeline.
Flame and Rocky had frozen in their tracks, growling low. The air suddenly shifted—an unnatural cold creeping in like a shadow.
And then, from the fog and brush ahead of them, the figures emerged.
Hollow. Grey. Soulless.
Undead soldiers.
Dozens of them.
Cole’s face twisted in a snarl as he rose to his feet, pulling Kai up with him. He immediately stepped in front of him, shielding him with his body as he drew his weapon in one smooth, practiced motion.
“Stay behind me,” he growled.
“I can help,” Kai said quietly, though even he knew it sounded hollow. He fumbled, his hand searching for the hilt of his sword, but he knew he wouldn’t be able to use it properly. Not like this. Not blind.
Cole glanced back at him, eyes softening for just a second. He didn’t say anything—just looked at Kai like he wanted to believe that too.
But then he looked past Kai and locked eyes with Rocky.
With only a nod, Rocky understood.
In the blink of an eye, Rocky bounded forward, scooping Kai up gently with his claws. Kai let out a startled sound, reaching for anything to hold onto, but before he could react much more, Rocky had flown a few meters back and deposited him behind a large boulder.
Kai slumped down behind the rock, breath catching in his throat. He clenched his fists, his head lowering as he pressed his back against the cool stone. Rocky let out a small, almost apologetic rumble before turning and leaping back into the fray beside Cole.
Kai sat in the mud, jaw tight, chest heaving with frustration.
“Useless,” he muttered bitterly. “So damn useless. A fire ninja… hiding behind a rock.”
His voice cracked.
He could hear the clash of steel, the growls of dragons, the inhuman screeches of the undead. He wanted to help. He needed to help. But all he could do was sit there, behind a rock, waiting.
“Useless,” he whispered again, voice small now. The tears threatened behind his eyes, but he blinked them away fiercely, refusing to let them fall. Not now. Not when Cole was fighting for his life.
Meanwhile, Cole fought like a man possessed.
His sword clashed against broken armor and rotting limbs. He dodged, rolled, and countered as the undead lunged at him with jerky, unnatural movements. For every one he cut down, two more rose.
“These things just don’t stay down!” Cole shouted, frustration building.
Flame roared beside him, letting out a wide burst of flame that engulfed half the battlefield. The undead burned—but still, they moved. Smoldering and broken, yet relentless.
Rocky lashed his tail, sweeping several off their feet. His wings beat wildly, kicking up gusts of wind to disorient the enemy, but they kept coming.
And then Flame lifted his head and let out a massive, echoing roar—a signal. A burst of fire exploded into the sky in a spiral, a clear flare for help.
Cole gritted his teeth. He glanced back toward the rock where Kai was hidden, just barely visible. His chest ached.
He knew how Kai must be feeling. Knew how much Kai hated being sidelined. The helplessness. The shame. The fear. And he knew that, no matter how brave Kai tried to act, inside he was falling apart.
He fought harder.
_____
Jay stomped through the underbrush like a storm in sneakers, swatting at leaves and muttering under his breath. “Why do dragons even run off in the first place? They’ve got wings. You’d think that’d be enough.”
Behind him, Zane walked with precise, measured steps, hands calmly behind his back, scanning the forest with cool eyes. “Perhaps they were startled. Or maybe they simply need time to themselves.”
“Great. Just what I need. A dragon with commitment issues,” Jay groaned. “Wisp! Where are you!?”
Zane paused beside a tree and glanced toward the canopy. “Shard tends to be drawn to higher elevations. We should split up—cover more ground efficiently.”
Jay turned to argue, but Zane had already vanished soundlessly into the brush like a ninja ghost. Jay threw his arms up. “Sure, yeah, let’s split up and get eaten separately. Brilliant plan.”
He veered left through a thick patch of undergrowth, mumbling curses and pushing branches aside. “Wisp! You oversized flying battery! I’ve got marshmallows waiting if you just—” He paused mid-sentence, squinting at a familiar glimmer of icy blue just beyond the trees. “Wait... that’s not Wisp.”
Jay stepped through the final bush and came face-to-face with Shard—Zane’s dragon. Cold, sleek, and glaring at him like he was an unfortunate stain on fresh snow.
“Oh, no,” Jay muttered. “Of course it’s you.”
Shard didn’t blink. Instead, his frigid gaze narrowed. Jay felt the temperature around him drop several degrees.
“Hey, buddy,” Jay said slowly, inching forward. “Let’s get you back to your slightly terrifying, refrigerator-tempered owner.”
Shard responded by conjuring a flurry of ice shards and flinging them with deadly precision. Jay yelped and dove to the side, crashing into a bush. “Okay! That’s fair! I electrocuted Zane once! One time! And it was barely fatal!”
Shard snorted, clearly not over it.
Jay dusted off his jacket and stood, arms out. “Look, I get it. You’re mad. But think about what Zane would say. He’d be proud of you if you didn’t commit dragon-murder today.”
Shard growled low in his throat, but he didn’t attack again. Instead, he turned and began trotting away, swishing his tail in annoyance.
Jay exhaled dramatically. “Alright, fine. I’ll follow you. I don’t trust you not to freeze the next unlucky traveler, anyway.”
He jogged after Shard, muttering all the while. “I should’ve just stayed at the monastery. Or joined a band. No one in bands has to deal with dragon drama.”
Then—just as Jay started to think maybe the day couldn’t get worse—a burst of flame lit up the sky in the distance. Bright, red, and urgent.
Jay stared at the signal and groaned. “Of course. Trouble. Again.”
He turned toward Shard, who had also stopped and was staring at the signal with unblinking eyes. “Okay, listen up, Elsa. I know we’re not exactly besties, but that—” he pointed at the sky, “—means our friends are in danger. So you can either hold a grudge, or you can grow up and help.”
Shard hissed and stomped his claw, but Jay didn’t back down.
“I’m not scared of you,” he said, puffing out his chest. “Okay, that’s a lie, I am a little. But not enough to let you walk away. So you’re gonna take me where we need to go, or so help me I will duct-tape myself to your back.”
For a long moment, Shard just stared.
Then, with a reluctant snort, he knelt slightly—just enough for Jay to scramble on.
“Yes! Victory!” Jay whooped, clambering on and holding tight. “Okay, go, go, go! No freezing me mid-air!”
_____
Meanwhile, on the other side of the forest, Zane was carefully making his way through the trees, his sensors attuned to subtle movements.
“Wisp?” he called gently. “It’s Zane. You’re safe.”
He finally found the dragon crouched behind a thick bush, nervously nibbling on pinecones like they were stress snacks. Wisp’s usually bright eyes were dimmed with anxiety.
Zane approached cautiously, hands visible. “It’s alright. I’m here now.”
Wisp gave a nervous trill and looked away.
Zane crouched down beside him, setting a hand on his snout. “You are not weak for being frightened. You are loyal and brave. But now… we must go.”
Wisp didn’t move.
Zane frowned slightly and tried coaxing him, tugging lightly. “Come now. There’s no reason to—”
Wisp immediately planted himself firmer into the earth like a stubborn toddler. Zane tugged harder. “You weigh more than a sedan.”
He tried pushing instead, but Wisp refused to budge. After several failed attempts, Zane finally sighed and flopped onto the grass beside him, looking up at the trees.
“This is incredibly inefficient.”
Then, a flash of red blazed across the sky. Zane’s eyes widened at the unmistakable shape of Flame’s distress signal.
He sat up sharply, scanning the horizon. Wisp had seen it too—and his eyes were wide, nervous.
Zane turned to him. “I know you’re scared. But our friends need us.”
Wisp whimpered softly, hesitating.
Zane reached up and placed a hand over Wisp’s heart. “You are not alone. I will protect you, and you will protect them. Together.”
Wisp blinked. Then, with a slow huff of determination, he lowered his body and allowed Zane to mount.
Zane smiled faintly. “Good choice.”
With a gust of wind and the shimmer of frost trailing behind them, they lifted off into the sky toward the signal.
____
Kai was still crouched low behind the massive boulder, its rough, damp surface digging into his back. He hugged his knees to his chest, his breath coming out in quick, shallow bursts as he tried to listen over the chaos. The roars of dragons, the clash of swords, the screeching of undead—it was a storm of noise, and he was just a speck, hidden behind a rock, doing absolutely nothing. Useless.
His fingers curled tighter into his pants. His heart thumped angrily in his chest. Do something, he told himself. But what? You can’t even see…
The sound of two massive somethings thundering toward the battlefield made him flinch hard, his head snapping up instinctively though his eyes could see nothing but darkness. “Cole!” he called out, panic lacing his voice. “Be careful! Something big is coming this way!”
Cole heard the warning and snapped his head to the side just in time to brace himself. But what charged into view wasn’t more undead—it was help.
Zane rode in swiftly on Wisp, the ice dragon landing with surgical precision. The moment Zane’s feet hit the ground, he assessed the situation with one quick sweep of his eyes—Kai behind the boulder, undead soldiers regenerating, Cole surrounded. He moved like a shadow, leaping into the fray beside Cole without a word.
From the other direction came a scream—not of fear, but of absolute frustration.
“Wha—ow! Shard! Are you serious?!”
Jay hit the ground face-first, having been unceremoniously thrown by Zane’s own dragon. Shard let out a snort that almost sounded like laughter as he flapped to a landing.
Jay sat up, spitting grass. “You absolute menace, I’m gonna—oh crap!”
An undead soldier lunged toward him, cutting off his threat. Jay scrambled to his feet and whipped out his sword, engaging the enemy.
Despite the reinforcements, the tide of battle didn’t shift. The undead didn’t slow. They were relentless, regenerating after every blow. Even fire, even ice—nothing seemed to stop them. The dragons were doing everything they could—Flame torching groups of them at once, Rocky swinging his tail with brutal force, Wisp pinning them under ice—but they always got up again.
Kai’s brow furrowed as he listened, every sound sharpening in his mind. The ringing of blades, the heavy thud of dragon wings, the groan of the undead—and something else. Something subtle. A small, rhythmic sound.
Click.
His head tilted slightly.
Click-click.
He squinted into the darkness, as if that would help. His ears strained.
Click-click-click.
His heart skipped.
They weren’t attacking randomly. It was too synchronized. Too… controlled.
And those clicks—he was hearing patterns. Repeated ones. Commands.
His fingers twitched.
“One click…” he whispered. “They go berserk. Two... only some move. Three—they pause in between. Four… they stop. Five… they retreat.”
His mouth went dry. They’re being controlled. And now that he knew the pattern, he could do something about it.
Even blind, he wasn’t useless.
He rose slowly, feeling the muscles in his legs protest after crouching so long. He steadied himself with a palm against the cold boulder. Then he stepped out into the open.
The battlefield was chaos. Flame swooped above, breathing fire across the horde. Wisp leapt, claws flashing in the dark. Cole was in the thick of it, fighting off three soldiers at once, gritting his teeth, sword flashing. Zane ducked under a swinging blade, countered with ice. Jay yelled as he ran across the field, swinging wildly.
And Kai stepped forward, slow, deliberate, blind.
“Kai?!”
Cole’s voice was sharp and panicked.
“Kai! Go back!” he shouted, hacking down another soldier. “It’s not safe!”
Kai didn’t stop.
“Please, get back behind the rock!” Cole barked again, desperation in his voice now.
Kai’s chin lifted. “I’m not hiding again.”
Cole swore under his breath, blocked another swing, and cursed louder when he couldn’t go after Kai. “Damn it—Zane!”
“I see him!” Zane called, already pivoting.
“Kai! Be careful!” Zane warned, worry thick in his voice.
Even the dragons hesitated. They turned to look at him, sensing something off. They weren’t just looking at him—they were realizing something.
He was walking out blindly. Feeling his way. His eyes didn’t focus. They weren’t glowing with power. They were just… blank.
Kai crouched low, trying to feel around the ground for something—anything. He remembered the ice.
“Shard!” he called, voice steady despite the fear clawing inside him. “Throw some ice shards in front of me!”
The dragon huffed but complied. With a flick of his tail, he sent a scatter of jagged ice sliding across the ground.
Kai reached forward, his hands trembling. The first shard he touched sliced into his palm. He winced but didn’t pull away. He grasped it, then grabbed another. Blood dripped down his fingers, but he had what he needed.
Click-click-click.
He listened. He raised one of the shards and tapped it against the other. Once. Twice. Three times. Then a fourth.
The field shifted.
The soldiers paused.
Cole stopped mid-swing, blinking. “What the hell?”
Jay froze with a soldier in a headlock. “Uh… did we win?”
Zane narrowed his eyes at the undead, still alert. “No. They’re confused. Something interrupted the command.”
Kai waited.
Click.
He responded with three sharp taps.
The soldiers began to fidget, then froze again.
Click-click.
He tapped three times.
The horde began to… back away.
Cole stared at Kai, stunned. “He’s controlling them...”
Zane’s voice dropped. “He’s responding to the signal…”
Kai turned toward where the clicking had originated. His ears twitched. Two different sources.
“Wisp,” he said softly, pointing toward the right hill. “There’s someone there.”
Without hesitation, Wisp soared off.
Kai turned his head slightly, listening again.
“Rocky,” he said, pointing left. “Someone’s over there too.”
The earth dragon rumbled and took off toward the small rise.
Moments later, both dragons returned, each one dragging a struggling figure by the collar. The two cloaked strangers were dumped unceremoniously in front of the group. They scrambled backward, eyes wide with fear.
Zane stepped forward first, calm and deadly. “Who are you?”
Jay stood with his sword lowered but ready. “You better talk fast.”
Cole didn’t speak. His eyes weren’t on the attackers.
They were on Kai.
Kai had stepped away from the center, staggering slightly as he went. His hands were still gripping the shards. Blood trailed from his palms, dripping steadily. The ice had cut deep. He hadn’t let go until now.
The shards slipped from his fingers and hit the ground with a soft clink.
Flame was the first to reach him, nosing at his hands with a worried, low whine.
Kai blinked, looking down. “It’s okay,” he whispered, brushing Flame’s snout with shaking fingers.
Rocky plodded over next and didn’t stop until his large head was in Kai’s lap. He huffed out a warm breath and nudged Kai gently.
Kai chuckled quietly, a raw, tired sound. He let his hand rest on Rocky’s snout.
“You’re warm,” he mumbled. “Better than ice shards…”
And he sat there, petting Rocky with bloodied hands, listening to the murmurs of interrogation behind him, surrounded by warmth, dragons, and the lingering thrum of battle.
And for a moment… he didn’t feel so useless anymore.
The two dragons growled low in their throats as they returned, glaring at the two trembling captives they had dropped off moments earlier. Wisp’s wings twitched with restrained fury, and Rocky's tail thumped the ground behind him like a warning drumbeat. The prisoners shrank under the intensity of the dragons’ eyes, and even from where he stood, Kai could hear the crunch of their boots on the gravel as they stumbled backward, trying to put distance between themselves and the dragons.
Kai exhaled slowly and turned his head slightly, focusing on the vibrations around him. The air shifted—a soft rustle, almost like a hand brushing through tall grass. His brows furrowed. That didn’t come from the prisoners. It was behind him.
Then he heard it.
The sharp swish of movement.
Kai barely had time to reach for his sword before a heavy force slammed into him from behind, knocking him flat on his back. Cold metal pressed hard against his throat. The blade had caught him just enough to nick skin—warm blood trickled slowly down his neck. He stilled.
His body tensed, instincts flaring, but he couldn’t see the attacker—only hear their breath, short and panicked. His heartbeat pounded in his ears, louder than everything else. He couldn’t see. He couldn’t tell what weapon they held, how close the others were, or if help was coming.
Then came the roar.
Flame’s roar tore through the air like thunder, furious and primal. The wave of heat that followed was immediate and overwhelming—Kai flinched even from where he lay. The attacker shrieked and stumbled backward, the blade clattering to the dirt beside him.
Kai rolled to his side, feeling the sting in his neck intensify. He touched the wound gently—wet. Not deep. But close.
He was just starting to sit up when a voice cried out, frantic—
"KAI! Are you okay?!"
Kai opened his mouth to answer, but before he could, he was tackled.
A solid weight slammed into him and knocked him back into the dirt. Kai let out a winded grunt, the air punched from his lungs. He was pinned flat again, but this time he could smell earth, sweat, and something warm and familiar.
Cole.
“Shit—I’m sorry!” Cole said, his voice just above his head. “I didn’t mean to— I couldn’t control my speed!”
Kai blinked, slightly dazed. “You flattened me.”
“Yeah. I really did.”
They both lay there for a second, breathing hard. Cole was still straddling him, clearly too panicked to realize he hadn’t moved.
“It’s okay,” Kai said softly, tilting his head slightly, the tension in his limbs finally easing.
There was a pause.
Then Cole’s voice lowered. “Are you hurt?”
Kai hesitated. He didn’t want to lie. “Just a few… minor things.”
“What does that mean?” Cole’s tone was sharp now. Protective.
Kai raised a hand and gestured vaguely to his neck and both palms. “Nick on the neck. Hands are cut up. Nothing too serious.”
There was a long silence.
Kai could feel Cole staring at him. Not just glancing—staring. He could feel the intensity of it, even without seeing it. His face flushed slightly, not from embarrassment, but from the sheer weight of Cole’s attention.
“You’re bleeding,” Cole said quietly.
Kai laughed a little, trying to brush it off. “I’m always bleeding. Part of the job.”
“Not when I’m around.”
Kai’s heart did a strange flip at that. His voice caught a little before he forced a lighter tone. “Aren’t you still on top of me?”
“Oh—crap. Right.” Cole scrambled to get off him, mumbling apologies as he helped Kai sit up. His large, calloused hands lingered just a little too long on Kai’s arms, steadying him.
“Thanks,” Kai said quietly, dusting himself off. His fingers came away red, but he ignored it.
The other two prisoners were now being restrained by Zane and Jay, who had them firmly tied and gagged, and were already beginning their interrogation. But Cole didn’t move to join them just yet.
Instead, he crouched beside Kai, who had seated himself near the dragons.
Kai tilted his head slightly toward Cole, trying to listen for any lingering threats. The battlefield was quieter now—only the occasional crack of scorched earth or the metallic jingle of weapons being secured. But what grounded him most wasn’t the surroundings. It was the warmth of the dragons curling protectively around him, and the steady, solid presence of Cole beside him.
Flame nosed Kai’s side and whined low in his throat, brushing his snout against Kai’s wounded palms.
“It’s okay,” Kai murmured, running his fingers gently across Flame’s snout. The motion was slow, practiced—something he could do even with his vision gone.
Rocky rumbled a soft growl of concern and padded over, lowering his massive head into Kai’s lap with a weighty thud. Kai let out a small surprised laugh, one hand shifting to the earth dragon’s head, fingers brushing between Rocky’s horns with a familiarity that calmed them both.
“You’re really something, you know that?” Cole said quietly, still crouched near him.
Kai tilted his head toward the voice. “Is that your way of flirting or scolding?”
Cole snorted. “A little of both.”
Kai smiled faintly. “I’ll take it.”
They sat like that in the middle of the now-quiet battlefield—Kai surrounded by dragons, hands bleeding and neck nicked, but alive. Cole stayed nearby, shoulders tense, always glancing his way.
When the others had the three captives secured and ready, they regrouped.
“We’re heading back to the monastery,” Zane said, calm and firm. “We’ll interrogate them properly there.”
Jay grunted, hauling one of the prisoners up. “Yeah, this was too close. We need answers.”
As the others prepared for departure, Cole moved closer to Kai again, offering his hand.
Kai hesitated only a moment before taking it.
“Back to the monastery?” Kai asked.
“Yeah,” Cole said softly. “Together.”
Kai nodded. The dragons gathered around him in a protective formation, and the group began the journey back—scarred, exhausted, but united, with Kai surrounded by his team and the silent promise of answers waiting back at the monastery.
____
Back at the monastery, the dragons landed with a heavy gust of wind, their wings kicking up dust across the old training grounds. Cole jumped down first, immediately turning back to help Kai dismount. The fire ninja was sluggish, blinking through the lingering sting in his injured eyes, the wind tugging at his hair and cloak. Cole reached up, strong hands catching Kai by the waist and lowering him gently to the ground.
“You good?” Cole asked softly, his arm still around Kai even after his feet touched the earth.
Kai gave a shaky nod. “Yeah... just a little dizzy. And blind.”
Cole gave a dry chuckle. “Well, at least your sense of humor’s still intact.”
The others walked ahead, giving the two some space, but Cole remained close, just in case Kai’s knees gave out again. Their boots thudded gently against the stone path leading back to the monastery, the fading sunlight casting long shadows over them. As they entered the courtyard, the heavy wooden doors creaked open.
Nya came rushing out the moment she saw them.
“Kai?” she called out, her voice sharp with concern. “Why are you bleeding?!”
Kai instinctively tensed, raising his injured palms half-heartedly as if that might make her worry less. “It’s nothing, really,” he said with a sheepish smile. “Just a scratch… or five.”
But Nya had already reached him and was inspecting his hands. Her gaze darted up to his neck where blood had dried and crusted faintly beneath his ear. Her fingers ghosted over the wound, her lips tightening.
“They hurt you,” she muttered darkly.
“They were the ones who took the hostages,” Zane explained, gesturing behind them toward the group they’d brought back. “We intervened.”
Nya’s glare shifted toward the hostages with fury. “They laid a hand on my brother?”
“It’s fine,” Kai said quickly. “I rushed in. It’s not really their fault.”
“It never is, with you,” she grumbled. Then, her mood shifted entirely. “Come on! Wu’s back! I told him everything and—he said he knows how to fix your eyesight!”
“Wait, really?” Kai blinked, hope stirring in his chest.
“Yes! Now come on!” she beamed, grabbing his arm with a little hop of excitement and tugging him inside the monastery.
The tea room was quiet and peaceful, the scent of herbs and incense hanging in the air. Sensei Wu sat on a mat with a steaming cup of tea in hand, his expression calm but his eyes sharp and protective.
“Kai,” Wu greeted with a nod, “Welcome back. I see you are injured.”
Kai was about to respond, but Wu’s gaze shifted past him to Cole and the others. His voice dropped a degree colder. “The others couldn’t protect you?”
Jay, Zane, and Cole all looked away in silence, ashamed.
Kai quickly stepped in. “It’s not their fault. I ran in. It was me being reckless—again.” He gave a self-deprecating huff and rubbed his neck, only to flinch in pain.
Wu’s gaze softened. “I see,” he said simply, then gestured toward the table. “Sit.”
Kai obeyed without argument. Wu reached into a small box and pulled out a slender vial of eye drops and a clay container of steaming tea.
“Cole,” Wu said, “Could you put two drops in each of his eyes?”
Cole stepped forward without hesitation and took the vial from Wu’s hand.
Kai shifted nervously on the cushion. “Do I just… look up?”
“Yeah. Tilt your head back,” Cole said gently.
Kai obeyed, trusting. He leaned back, his sightless eyes turning up toward the ceiling. Cole came closer, one hand gently cradling the back of Kai’s head. His palm was warm and steady against Kai’s nape.
“You ready?” Cole asked, voice a low murmur.
“As I’ll ever be.”
Kai felt the light brush of Cole’s thumb against his cheek, angling his face just right. The first drop hit—cold, tingly—and then the second. Cole’s breath was soft against his cheek. For a moment, Kai imagined he could see the look on Cole’s face, the quiet focus, the way his eyes probably flicked down to his mouth.
Cole blinked and shook his head slightly, then repeated the process for the other eye.
“There,” he said quietly. “All done.”
Wu handed Cole a clean bandage. “Wrap this around his eyes. He’ll need to keep them closed for an hour. After that, he should see again.”
Kai closed his eyes without question. Cole gently wrapped the cloth around his head, his fingers moving with careful precision, brushing against Kai’s cheeks and ears. He tied it at the back, not too tight.
Once done, the others filtered out one by one to rest. Jay gave a quick pat on Kai’s shoulder before retreating, and Zane murmured a wish for a speedy recovery. Soon, only Wu, Cole, and Kai remained in the quiet room.
Wu poured the herbal tea into a small cup and handed it to Cole. “Make sure he finishes all of it. No complaints.”
Cole nodded, then turned to Kai. “Alright, open up.”
Kai chuckled. “I’m not a baby, you know.”
“Just doing my job,” Cole said with a soft grin.
Kai tilted his head slightly as Cole guided the cup to his lips. The tea was warm, slightly bitter with an earthy tang, but Kai drank it all without complaint. Cole lowered the cup and set it aside, watching him closely.
“How do you feel?” he asked.
Kai gave a tiny shrug. “Like something’s gonna happen but hasn’t yet. I think I’m more nervous than anything else.”
Cole sat down beside him, the silence settling comfortably between them.
After a few moments, Cole stood again. “I’ll get the first aid kit.”
“You don’t have to—”
“I want to.”
Cole returned quickly and knelt in front of Kai. He opened the kit, took out the disinfectant, and gently unwrapped Kai’s palms. Blood had dried into the fabric. Cole hissed softly under his breath at the sight.
“You always throw yourself into danger like this?”
Kai smirked faintly. “Old habits.”
“You scared me today, you know.” Cole’s voice was quieter, his touch tender as he dabbed at the wounds.
Kai didn’t respond immediately. “I didn’t mean to.”
“I know.” Cole looked up briefly, meeting the space where Kai’s eyes were hidden behind the cloth. “Just… you matter to us. To me.”
Kai’s lips parted slightly, surprise flickering across his face. He was quiet as Cole wrapped his hands carefully, the bandage snug but not tight. Then Cole leaned closer and examined the wound on Kai’s neck.
“This one’s worse,” he muttered. “Hold still.”
Kai obeyed, still and trusting, as Cole cleaned and dressed the bite. His breath brushed over Kai’s collarbone, close enough to make his heart trip.
When he was done, Cole packed everything up and returned the kit. He came back and sat down beside Kai again.
“Thank you,” Kai said softly, his voice full of quiet sincerity. “For staying. For helping me. For... everything.”
Cole reached over, took Kai’s hands in his own, and squeezed them gently.
“Of course I would,” he said, his voice almost a whisper. “Always.”
Kai smiled faintly. Even without sight, he felt the warmth in Cole’s touch, in his voice, in the way he lingered close and didn’t pull away.
In the quiet of the monastery, the two of them sat side by side, their hands entwined, waiting for the hour to pass and for the light to return.
____
As the bandages were slowly, gently unwound from Kai’s eyes, his breath hitched.
“Alright,” Nya said softly. “Keep your eyes closed for now. Just... breathe.”
The last layer peeled off, and warm orange light bled through the darkness behind Kai’s eyelids. He could feel the wind brushing his face, the way it always did on the monastery cliffs during sunset. Something warm settled in his chest, like instinct, like memory. The air smelled like pine and smoke and safety.
“Okay,” came Cole’s voice—quiet, steady, right next to him. “You can open them.”
Kai hesitated, heart pounding. Then—he opened his eyes.
Everything was golden.
The sky was painted in streaks of amber and pink, melting across the clouds like a dream. He blinked rapidly, overwhelmed, and looked around him.
He could see.
His vision was still adjusting, but it was there—blurry at first, then sharper with every second. Shapes became faces.
Cole. Nya. Jay. Zane.
And behind them, standing proudly like living statues, were the dragons. Flame stomped his massive claw into the dirt, letting out a low, pleased rumble.
Kai’s eyes went wide. “I can see,” he breathed. Then louder, brighter, with a laugh bubbling out of his throat:
“I CAN SEE!”
He launched forward without thinking, wrapping his arms tightly around whoever was closest—Jay, who stumbled and laughed as he hugged him back.
Then Zane. Then Nya. Then even grumpy little Pixal, who had somehow wandered over.
And finally, Kai turned to the dragons—his eyes glistening as he ran to them, laughing freely. He hugged Flame’s massive claw, stroked Rocky’s scales, whispered something to Shard. The dragons leaned in, rumbling like a chorus of purring engines. His face was lit by pure, unfiltered joy.
Cole stood back, just watching.
Kai was glowing. That was the only way to describe it. His eyes were crinkled with genuine, unfiltered joy, his smile wider than Cole had seen in ages. It hit Cole then—hard—how much he’d missed this version of Kai. The one who lit up everything around him like firelight. The one who felt like home.
A soft nudge at his side pulled him from his thoughts. Nya. She didn't say anything more than a single word:
“Go.”
He didn’t hesitate.
Kai noticed him approaching, and without missing a beat, turned and wrapped his arms around him tightly. Cole stiffened for a second before melting into the hug, arms circling Kai’s waist, pulling him in like he never wanted to let go.
“You can see,” Cole murmured, his voice thick with emotion.
“I can,” Kai whispered, grinning up at him. “I missed your dumb face.”
Cole huffed a soft laugh. “You just got your eyesight back and that’s what you say?”
Kai smirked. “I call it like I see it.”
They both chuckled, and then Cole gently took Kai’s wrist and tugged him toward the edge of the cliff. They sat down, side by side, feet swinging off the edge. The last bit of sun was starting to dip beneath the horizon, casting long shadows and gilding everything it touched.
Kai was glowing again—this time from the sun’s kiss.
Cole stole a glance at him. The way Kai’s hair danced with the wind, how the light turned his amber eyes to molten gold. It was so soft, so unlike everything they’d been through lately. It made Cole ache.
“Kai,” he said, voice quieter than before.
Kai looked at him, head tilting slightly.
“I…” Cole looked down at his hands. “I’ve been trying to say this for a while, but I kept messing it up. And then, after everything that happened, I just—”
“Cole,” Kai said, more gently this time. “It’s okay.”
“No, I need to say it.” Cole took a breath. “I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you from getting hurt. Back in the woods… when that guy had you at knifepoint—I should’ve been faster, stronger, I—”
Kai didn’t let him finish.
Before Cole could spiral deeper into guilt, Kai reached out and cupped his face, pulling him in—close—and kissed him.
It was soft. Certain. A spark igniting in the fading twilight.
Cole froze for half a second, stunned, before Kai pulled back just slightly, looking at him with that teasing glint in his eyes.
“Isn’t that what you were trying to do back there?” Kai asked, voice light but warm.
Cole blinked, stunned. “I—well—I…”
Kai grinned, cheeks flushed, and was about to make another comment—but then Cole surged forward and kissed him again.
This time, it wasn’t a question.
He slipped one arm around Kai’s waist, the other hand cradling the back of his neck, pulling him close as the kiss deepened. Kai melted into it, one hand clutching the front of Cole’s shirt, the other curling around his shoulder.
The sunset was nearly gone, but neither of them noticed. Not with their hearts pounding like war drums and the taste of laughter between kisses.
When they finally broke apart, Kai’s nose was still brushing against Cole’s, both of them breathless and grinning like idiots.
“You’re such a sap,” Kai whispered.
“You kissed me first.”
“Yeah, but you’re the one who got all soft and romantic with your guilt speech.”
Cole chuckled and leaned his forehead against Kai’s. “Sue me.”
Kai smiled, and then quietly leaned his head on Cole’s shoulder, nestling in like it was the most natural thing in the world. Their hands found each other in the grass—fingers lacing together like puzzle pieces.
Neither of them said anything more.
They just sat there.
Watching the last light of the sun dip below the horizon, wrapped in gold and the quiet certainty of this—of what they had found in each other after everything.
Behind them, the dragons rested. The wind whispered. The monastery stood silent in reverence.
And in that moment, nothing else mattered.
Tomorrow, they would question the captives. Tomorrow, they’d face whatever came next.
But tonight?
Tonight, the fire burned gently. And they were home.