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Lloyd crept through the undergrowth, silent to anything that might be around. He checked his surroundings again, aware that they were tracking a dangerous criminal. They had split up, trying to cover as much ground as possible before the sun set, reluctant to let Lloyd go on his own, but the urgency had forced them to relent.
Since the incident with Tomorrow's Tea, the team had been slowly letting him participate more and been increasingly relaxed with his presence on the team proper. They'd been against Lloyd helping them today, what was their problem, he wasn't a little kid anymore. He could take care of himself.
He scanned the endless trees again, wondering if he would find anything. Honestly, he didn't even know who he was looking for, just that the police wanted them to check out these woods for something. He hadn't exactly been listening to Zane's brief earlier.
There was a flicker of movement ahead and he ducked behind some cover. It was a figure. Lloyd paused, eyes meeting with someone else's dead ahead of him. He stiffened, wondering if they'd seen him, ready to spring into action, but they turned and sprinted away through the trees.
"Hey—Stop!" Lloyd burst out from cover, running after them. Whoever it was, they were fast. He was just barely keeping sight of the figure, flitting in and out of the trees, almost like they were one of them. He pushed harder, losing them for a second and continuing to barrel in the direction he had last seen them.
He burst out into a clearing, slowing to a halt as he tried to figure out which way they had gone. Wait, where the hell am I, Lloyd wondered. He had been running for some time, only now realising he no longer knew where he was.
"Lost, are we?"
He spun round, drawing the katana strapped across his back and pointing it at where the voice had come from. Leaning against a tree trunk, only a few meters behind him, was woman. She smiled, "It's dangerous to go alone."
Lloyd stood completely still, mind reeling. How had she gotten so close behind him? He was a ninja, even the others struggled to sneak up on him. He stayed silent, assessing the situation for possible threats. She didn't seem bothered by him pointing a weapon at her, arms crossed gently, still with that sickening smile on her face. She pushed off the tree trunk, and Lloyd took a single step back, startled by the sudden movement.
She beckoned him, glancing down at his weapon with raised eyebrows, before walking off into the trees, "Come on, I'll show you the way out."
He watched her retreating form, before following, keeping his katana drawn. They trudged through the forest, Lloyd never quite letting down his guard. He was pretty sure this was the way he'd come from, but not certain. Trees all look the same.
The woman sauntered ahead, seeming completely at ease. She spoke again, "Are you from around here?"
"No."
"Travelling with family?"
"My team." He replied, hopping carefully over a large cluster of roots. "How much further is it?"
"Not long now," She answered airily, "We're almost to the stream."
He frowned. Lloyd hadn't seen a stream or any kind of water, but maybe he missed it while running. It's not like he was paying much attention anyway; he wasn't even sure he'd seen anything at all.
They walked in silence for a few minutes, reaching a small bubbling stream. She really did know these woods, he thought, clambering across a rock in the water. She hadn't looked back at him once, seeming to simply know he was following, even though his footsteps were silent.
"Your team must be worried about you."
"They know I can handle myself." He bristled slightly, why did everyone seem to think he was incompetent. He was the green ninja, FSM sake.
Lloyd could hear her smile when she spoke again, "I'm sure they do."
He was silent for a few more steps.
"The one with the scar probably worries anyway."
That got his attention. He slowed, ever so slightly increasing the distance between them before asking innocently, "What do you mean?"
"He has the look of someone who worries."
This was getting weird. But if she lived around here, maybe she'd spotted them earlier, before they split up. Lloyd hadn't been alone that long, so it wasn't unreasonable. They walked further, and he started to think everything through.
She hadn't looked around once, simply continuing forwards. He was still just as lost as before, not recognising anything around him. She didn't ask where he was going, just said she knew the way out. The Bounty was anchored at the edge of the forest, if she was taking him near that it would be impossible to miss, so why hadn't she mentioned seeing a two-hundred-year-old flying pirate ship. It wasn't exactly normal.
He glanced down at his still drawn katana, civilians weren't normally comfortable with the fact he even had a weapon, much less it if was pointed at them.
"How much further?" He asked again.
"Not far."
She slowed her pace, and he slowed to match it. They picked their way through a dense tangle of bushes. How had she known Kai had a scar, they'd all had their hoods on the moment they entered the woods, and it wasn't that noticeable with his hood up. Not unless you were basically right in front of him. Lloyd's limbs started to buzz, getting jittery with all the silent walking.
"You really shouldn't have gone off alone."
He stopped in his tracks, stomach sinking at the sudden shift in her tone. She paused a few moments later, slowing turning to face him. Her head was bowed, and she raised it slowly, smiling widely but her eyes, they were manic.
"You should run now, little ninja."
Something clicked inside his head, and Lloyd bolted. He didn't even choose to run, simply reacted. He panted harshly, stumbling over tree roots and slipping in patches of mud. He shoved his katana back into its sheath, freeing his arms for balance, pumping them harder as he sprinted onwards.
His heart beat frantically in his chest, adrenaline surging through his limbs. Whoever that woman was, she meant him harm. He knew that now. Running as fast as he could through a strange forest, he cursed himself for being so stupid. He leaped across the small stream, and veered sideways, hoping to lose her.
Glancing back over his shoulder, he saw something move, but couldn't tell if it was a shadow, or something more sinister. Suddenly he collided with something, bouncing backwards and falling, hands grabbed his shoulder, preventing him from crashing down.
"Lloyd?"
It was Kai, the red fabric of his Gi appeared in Lloyd's vision, calming his terror slightly.
"We need to go." He shoved the words out, righting himself fully, "Now."
"Why—what happened?"
He gasped for breath, trying to get the words out. "There—there was, someone—a woman. She-she—"
He looked up at Kai, whose hazel eyes were blown wide with concern. Lloyd gestured behind him, and Kai pushed him behind, and drew one of his own katanas. Lloyd turned to peer over the older boy's shoulder, scanning the treeline. No one was there.
Kai began to walk forward, Lloyd following close behind, one hand fisted in the back of the red Gi. They walked a few meters out towards where Lloyd had appeared from and found nothing. No woman, no tracks, no evidence of anyone but Lloyd.
He shivered, as Kai turned to face him, glancing furtively into the trees, a distinct feeling they were being watched.
"Buddy, you're sure you saw someone?" Lloyd nodded violently, green eyes wide.
"I, I was talking to her. I got lost an-and she said she knew the way out—I know it was dumb and I shouldn't trust strangers in the woods but—"
"Woah, slow down," Kai placed both his hands on the smaller boy's shoulders, "Okay, I believe you. Look—it's almost dark, let's go back to the bounty and tell the others what you saw okay? We can all come look again in the morning."
Lloyd agreed, ready to be out of this forest and back aboard their home.
"And—Lloyd?" He looked up at Kai, "That was a bit dumb. Tomorrow we'll search in pairs, okay?"
They began to walk back, Kai leading the way, seemingly not as turned around a Lloyd had been. He spotted the Bounty above the trees, relief washing over him. They approached the anchor. He cast one last glance around before beginning to climb, certain he'd seen the shadows move.