Work Text:
The harsh winds whipped around the grey barren land, ash and soot caked the trees, whispers being louder than life. The sun never breaking the murky textureless clouds, colors stripped from the land like a curse befallen the realm itself.
Kai trailed along the muddy beaten ground, his tabi caked in filth, the ends of his furry cloak dripping mud and paste at the bottom, his sandogasa covering his face from the harsh winds, his red bandana resting above his eyes
The land of monsters was ... off today. Kai felt it as soon as he woke up that morning. The monsters were still oh so present, eyes still watching from every place, rational or not, something was always watching. But something was. Different.
The day started as depressingly normal as it had for the last... year? Years? Decade? Kai had woken up at what could almost be called 'dawn', the sun was never visible but the rays still traveled enough through the realm to light it up more than at night. Once awake he moved his sandogasa from its resting spot on his face to sit properly on his head, acting as a slight "shield" tying the twine just under his chin. After a while he added some scrap twine to keep the hat on after spending day after day adjusting it to stay on.
He lifted his cloak from under him to rest back on his shoulders, the weight now more comfortable on him then a lack thereof, the constant presence grounding. He moved his sword from out of his grasp back into the sheath that sat over his left leg.
He long since learned to not light fires unless absolutely necessary or when Daidan was traveling along with him again. Being the elemental master of fire made it easier to go without fire, learning how to regulate and heat his own body whilst still asleep.
Quickly he wrapped up the scrap of fabrics he used as a sheet under him back into the pack he found a few weeks ago? Months ago? He removed any and all traces of his presence from the area. Footprints melted into the ground, and breakage hidden away made it look much older than it was.
Still. The day felt off, no changes in routine, no Rusty, no extra monsters, no family, no less. But he had a feeling. Whatever that meant.
The day continued on like normal. Wandering aimlessly while scavenging whatever he could. Kai passed an old farming village long since destroyed.
‘Good for supplies’
After searching a few dilapidated houses Kai had found a few extra supplies, an empty but remarkably clean canteen, a small knife with very few dents and dings, and a bar of unscented soap.
‘Oh dear FSM finally, I haven't found soap in so long’
Once he was done looting the small section of houses he headed to a small lake side, carefully checking shore after the incident with Rusty. Kai spent a few moments searching the shore and tossing a small stone into the water. A few moments passed with nothing changing in the waters. He took off his sandogasa first, using the interior of the hat to place his things on. He took off his fur cloak, placing his pack down onto his hat along with his tabi, and the outer layer of his gi. Kai made sure to keep his base clothes underneath, his torso and upper thighs being the only parts of him covered, letting all his scars showcased.
Due to his time in the land of monsters most of his body was riddled with scars and open to half healed wounds. The scars varied, from faded lightly colored slash marks, to harsh red gashes.
He was a lot thinner than last he looked.
After washing off in a nearby lake Kai went to head back to the village only to stop dead in his tracks. Some grotesque creatures crawled and hunted their way through the buildings, reptilian creatures tore apart roof shingles with sharp claws clearly looking for whatever was there just a few moments ago.
Kai turned around and sped off silently in the other direction. No point fighting a frivolous battle with no reward. Fighting was only to live or eat now. No honor or justice in a land like this.
After a little while of running away from the ruined village Kai decided to rest. Looking up at the clouds he saw the sunlight dimming, he'd need to make 'camp' for the night now. After searching the area a bit he found a small dried up swamp with some thick trees. Looking around, no monsters seemed to lurk nearby. Kai took off his cloak once more and removed his sword from its sheath and set them down beside him, sword hilt still touching his leg. He'd never let himself get too far from his sword. He'd never make that mistake again.
Dragging his hand down his face he grumbled, tired once again from an endless loop of walking and searching.
‘FSM, am I ever going to leave this place? Surely it's been years now.’
Kai pulled out his journal, a new one with a brown leather cover he got as a 'gift' from Daidan on one of there last meet ups she told him to try to write everyday for a sense of 'normalcy'. He had made daily entries since he got the accursed book and was already at 600 days.
Thankfully his reading and writing had drastically improved from before he met the ninja, Zane used to sit with him some nights, helping him practice reading and writing more than what he learned the short time he was in school, thankfully Nya never struggled with that given Kai made sure she still went to school until she was old enough to legally drop out, though that never stopped her from studying and teaching herself anything extra she could find.
Although his writing skills had improved a lot he still had a habit of drawing some things he wanted to say instead. His journal typically had 1-2 drawings a page, normally some interesting scenery or a new monster he wanted to take notes on or keep as warnings to stay away from. Today he drew of the farming village he found and made a small note that it clearly had some type of monstrous inhabitants. Once he was done with his daily entry he put his journal back into his pack. He reached into a side pouch and pulled out some dried meat from the day before, he had gotten it from a shockingly normal looking wolf.
Well, as normal as a wolf with dark blue horns and deep green fur and black spots can get. As he ate the dry unseasoned chunks of meat, he finished off his canteen reminding himself that he’d have to go and get some more water the next day. He placed the canteen back into its slot in the pack when he heard it.
Whispers.
Not howls, screeches or yells. The quiet sounds of talking, actual talking.
Kai sat straight up immediately. Very few talked in the land of monsters, and most were far from safe. Then the sounds of talking got closer.
"..ai” What?
Again he heard it.
"..AI!” He knew that voice. But it couldn't be her, she wasn't here. None of them were here. He had no idea where they were. Or where he was.
"Kai!"
Nya. It's Nya.
"Kai! Where are you!" Nya shouted out nearby.
"Kai please! If you're here, tell us!” Lloyd. Lloyd is here too. "We’re here!”
He stood up from where he was sitting. Feet planted in the ground and sword hilt gripped tightly in his right hand. He turned to move just as they walked past the tree he had just laid upon. Nya, his beautiful baby sister right in front of him, she looked older now, her hair tied up with a cyan bandana right at her hairline, just like his. To her left was Lloyd, his wonderful baby brother, he looked older, not just from his features and typical aging, he looked tired, like he had been busy for a whole other lifetime. To the right of Nya was Jay, his hair a bit longer, eyes a slight red than the bright blue and gold they once were, he looked tired too.
Behind those three was Cole, his face a bit rougher than the last time, his hair longer and into a loose bun. Zane stood beside him, no more than his outfit seemed to have changed. As expected for a nindroid.
They stood still, expressions ranging from confused, relieved, nervous, shocked and… scared? Nya's hands covering her mouth, Lloyd had his hands outstretched, Jay and Cole's hands moved around like they weren’t sure what to do. Zane stood there, waiting, maybe processing the absurdity of what he saw, his friend, his brother, in such a terrible state.
The fire master stood still, shaking slightly. “Are…are you all real?” He questioned, no longer trusting what he saw in this hellscape of a realm. “Are you actually here I-I don't..” He trailed off, not knowing what to say.
They all stood silently, eyes darting around to each other in some silent conversation. Nya took a hesitant step forward, Kai tried (and failed) to hide a flinch. Nya slowly outstretched her arms, waiting and hoping for an embrace.
Kai glanced around, observing and cataloging the legitimacy of the moment. After a few moments he decided.
I'm not making this mistake again.
Not after Rusty. Daidan won’t be here to save me this time.
Kai turned around and did what he learned in this realm best.
Not listening to the screams and begging to stay from his teammates,
He ran.