Chapter Text
'...And well, I'm here now. Sorry I didn't say hi last night, I saw you guys were sleeping and well.. I didn't want to disturb.' Riyu said, rotating a claw in the small gouge he carved into the stone over the course of his retelling.
'Not a disturbance.' Glacier lightly chuffed after some moments of silence, shaking her head at the very idea. Though she did raise a claw to draw a line inside his circle, her mark deeper than his. 'Never one.'
'I... dunno, Glacier. Ever since I failed to..." He stared dejectedly at the eye the Ice Dragon carved within the circle, the dark slit looking back at him. 'Ever since I failed to prevent Kai from being sucked into the Nether Space, prevented Mother Lupine from being killed and Arin's depature I've just.."
Spreading his wings, Riyu looked at the yellow-blue that faded into his more slate colored scales and near silver streaks on his wing membranes. 'I've felt small and big at the same time, strong and weak. Especially when I looked at you guys or the Ninja and... well, anyone really.'
Riyu's eyes fell, and the Ice Dragon readjusted in her position. A gentle growl telling him to continue as she nudged his claws with her own ice-blue ones.
After the next few moments passed in silence, He snarled. Claws curling which created a new set of gouges in the stone. 'I'm not old enough to use fire yet, I'm always hesitant to really hurt anyone! I don't even know how to do Spinjitzu! All I have are- are all these stupid scars on me to prove I can't fight and dodge like the Ninja or take the hits like you!"
Dropping his wings, he stared at his claws in frustration. Snout scrunching up into a low hiss, teeth flashed as he slammed his thagomizer to the ground.
Glacier's mouth pulled tightly, her head ducking for a moment. After a breath, she reached out and pressed the tip of her snout against the crown of Riyu's head.
Expelling a soft cloud of frost that coated his plates and sent a shiver down his spine, the Mountain Dragon stilled. His eyes widening at the action.
'You're young. Not fair to compare with grown-ups.' She murmured, her lower jaw lightly tapping against his head. 'Definitely not weak. Others would disagree.'
'But.. I.. but I could hurt one of the Ninja if I'm not careful with training.' Swallowing down the lump that caught in his throat, he blinked rapidly. No. He'd cried enough. No more. He needs to be stronger than that.
'I could hurt Sora or Wyldfyre or Nya.' He added, the two teenagers just like him strong yet frail in comparison.
Huffing out another puff of frost, the Ice Dragon lightly glided her snout to his chipped plates and scales. 'You know strength. You use it to aid. Not hurt.'
"There is aggression and protection. You protect." Glacier pulled away after a moment, much too soon if you asked him. Maybe Sora's touch tendencies were rubbing off on him but he had to refrain from following the touch.
'I'm terrible at any kind of fighting though –'
'Fighting is not always teeth, claws or elemental breath. ' Glacier stated, rising from her seat to sit beside him on the ledge. Albeit keeping some distance between them now, she ducked her head shyly.
The two sat in another round of silence, Riyu failing to understand what she meant until she scratched a set of symbols into the stone. 'It's mind and heart. I think. Heatwave, Jiro and Zanth know fighting better than I do.'
'I can't ask them about that, they're still out...' Riyu said, reminding himself more than he was reminding her. He hung his head, wings laying at his sides. 'I hope they're safe.'
Looking up at the ceiling entrance, Glacier cocked her head. A set of roars breaking the silence that the cavern had been drenched in for the past few hours. 'You can ask them now.'
Riyu followed her gaze, seeing the familiar shapes of Zanth and Heatwave leaping on opposite ends of the gap. Claws digging into the stone and adding fresh grooves to the collection as they slid down.
Heatwave came down like a rock, landing with an impact that made the ground tremble even at their distance.
Zanth however, slowed her descent by gliding. Using a simple spell that allowed to to "fly" or a short period of time, her landing much more graceful than Heatwave's.
The Djinnjagan Drake turned around, rearing up to briefly call whoever else was up there with a roar. Telling them to come in. Heatwave bellowing secondarily after that to get them to hurry up.
He didn't realize he'd taken off in a flurry of wingbeats and scrabbling limbs until he just about crashed into Zanth's leg. Pressing his face into her shoulder and reaching his wings as far they could reach.
The brief snarl of surprise that Zanth loosened faded into a low rumble, soothing him as it vibrated through his bones and muscles. Hooking her chin over his shoulder she pressed her cheek into his scarred back.
'Firstbourne's fangs you have no idea how glad I am to see you and Heatwave are safe!' Riyu hiccuped, her scales warm and smoother than Glacier's. 'I know you went out to look for Arin but I'm just glad you came back.'
'Wyldfyre demanded we don't go outside of Ninjago and Imperium's borders.' Zanth chuckled, nudging him with her snout. 'Or else she'd hit us with wyldmelons full something she called a scrakunk gas?'
'Horrible smellin' critter. Looks like Rapton with the same attitude t'match.' Heatwave growled, grinning at Riyu despite his usual monotone. 'Nice t'see ya in one shape, kid.'
Pulling away from Zanth, he barreled into the flock leader of the Monastery of Spinjitzu. The Lava Drake returning it by rubbing his snout inbetween Riyu's neck and wings. A breathless laughing left him.
They were home, and safe. Though that left him with some questions. The worry wasn't over yet. 'Where's Jiro, Rockslide and Torchspark?'
'Right there.' Zanth motioned with her chin, Riyu tilted his head when he watched the Fire, Earth and Lightning Dragon hover down carefully some ways away from them, engaged in a quiet conversation.
His eyes went from one dragon to the other, making sure none of them had any other injuries that looked to be caused by blunt force trauma or slashing. when he noticed none of them did, he released the breath he'd been holding.
Okay. They were all safe and home. Except for Vigor but Vigor was with the peak right now, so he should be safe too. As long they didn't wander too far or wander from each other.
'I swear he and Torchspark always need t'have dramatic entrances.' Heatwave snorted, shaking his head. His frils lightly swaying at the movement.
'Heatwave, you had fire and smoke billowing out of your mouth and snout last time you came in.' Zanth rolled her eyes, walking over to the trough and taking a drink.
'Touché.' Heatwave huffed, stepping out of the way so Riyu could pass. 'We better go give Glacier the update. Earlier heads up would do her some good.'
Zanth nodded in agreement, a low hum at the back of her throat. 'Both of us asking would be better.'
'True.'
'Oh, wait, I need to thank her. She gave me company while you guys were out –' pivoting in a circle, he turned to the ledge where she had been – only to see that she had disappeared from her ledge.
'Oh.' His wings drooped, the Ice Dragon having most likely vanished into her den. 'Did- did I do something wrong?'
Zanth laughed lightly, batting his tail with hers. 'No; you haven't. she's shy around larger groups. She still isn't really used to being around this many dragons, even when celebrating.'
'I thought Ice Dragons lived in blizzards?' Riyu scrapped the ground, trotting over to pick up the basket. Still semi-full of fruits the other preferred.
'Hers doesn't like most of the others. Which is a shame as she's pretty sweet. She sounds blunt but she tries her hardest.' Zanth's eyes softened around the edges before diverting her view to the basket sitting over there.
'What's that?'
'The basket came in a box today, one I had help ordering and stuff. It was going to be my way of saying thanks, you all are appreciated, but Glacier and I already ate our shares.'
'The rest we can have for dinner. ' Heatwave promised, eyeing the selection with great interest. 'Torchspark scored some wallopers and Rockslide got us a basket full of fruits an' veggies. At least I'm pretty sure Lloyd an' Frake said walloper.'
'They did. ' Zanth mused. 'Should be used to it but walloper is such a funny name to give a yak. Very on the nose too.'
'Frak and Lloyd were with you?' Riyu questioned, eyeridge furrowing, walking around Heatwave. 'I thought Torchspark and Rockslide went hunting somewhere else. That's what Glacier said.'
'Torchspark and Rockslide got waved down by them before I and the other two left.' Heatwave said. 'So Glacier wouldn't know about it.'
'Oh, okay.' Riyu swayed his tail, wrinkling his nose.
Heatwave nudged Riyu with his snout reassuringly, though there was apology in his eyes. 'Sorry to cut the time short, but Zanth an' I have some stuff to talk about, too. We'll let y'all know if we need to have a flock meeting sooner than later.'
Riyu nodded, albeit not really wanting to leave their company, he trusted them enough to tell him later. It wasn't in eithers nature to keep things away from the flock.
Trotting up to Jiro, Torchspark and Rockslide, he could pinpoint the telltale scent of spring and blooming flowers he'd come to associate with Lloyd.
Though he was a little less familiar with the scents of the others. It was hard to commit this many to memory, especially as the Finders and Jordana were part of the mix now.
If he remembered right, the metallic rust sort of smell combined with cattails belonged to the duck Formling, Fritz. Spitz had that same mix of metallic rust though it was accompanied by the smell of sand.
He came to a stop, tilting his head quizzically. The last one was Bonzle, he was pretty sure. Only she managed to smell like both waterfall and a mountain range at the same time.
He winced, memories of before the Merge coming to light of his home previous to it with his peak. Quickly beating those back he focused on the last one to distract himself.
Smelling deeply, his eye ridges raised. Wait – pie?
He quickly sped after it, only to slow down immediately unless he wanted to crash into Jiro like he did Zanth. Regret bloomed in his chest and his face contorting painfully when he thought a bit further. Right. That was Frak's scent. Not.. Arin's.
The snowberry scent was the same as the boy's, the additional smell of apples and a bit of cinnamon. But whereas Arin had the slight scent of machinery on him due to being around Sora, Frak smelled more like dishevelled stones.
Riyu noticed Rockslide shake his head in disagreement or amusement, splitting off from the larger dragons and went towards the center of the cavern. A yawn leaving his mouth
Waving a wing at Rockslide, the Earth Wyvern nodding in greeting with a low grunt as he trudged past. The wet earthy smell of fruits and veggies wafting from the basket he carried atop his horns.
Riyu smiled in memory of the exorcise. He, Wyldfyre, Sora and Arin tasked with creating large baskets for the dragons to carry food from their hunts and forages.
He and Arin had worked on that one Rockslide was carrying, a small pang of longing when he recognized the boys doodles.
Shaking his head, he approached Torchspark and Jiro who were conversing quietly, soon feeling a blast of heat erupt when the resident Fire Dragon poured his flame into the coals of the heating systems that snaked around the cave.
'Was there anything strange at The Crossroads?' Jiro inquired, horns illuminated by the sift glow of the fires. 'The smell of... rot and wolves, if you've ever smelled one.'
'Can't say that I have. All I know is that he herds are preparing to move southwest, if you mean strange.' Torchspark responded, inhaling a breath of air before pushing forth another burst of flame. His tail club and horns glowing slightly from his usage of fire.
'I more so mean were there any new arrivals, at all?'
Quietly taking a seat off to Jiro's right, he looked up at the Lighting Dragon that wasn't much older than Heatwave. Yet his scars gave him a weathered appearance for a dragon too young.
Torchspark shook his head, cutting off his stream of fire. 'None in the recent days. Maybe some more Serpentine who've found their way, but that's about it. No luck looking for Arin?'
Riyu remained silent, not wanting to be rude and interrupt as the two adults conversed with each other. Though he felt bad for listening in on them like this, he wasn't sure how to say hello...
Jiro shivered his jaw, a loe buzzing growl eminating from his throat. 'I loathe the fact we could not search further, but I respect Wyldfyre's wishes for us to remain close to home.'
'It's rough, losing somebody close. I can imagine what it feels like to lose a close friend like that, especially one you've known for that long.' Torchspark said, lightly beating his wings so that the fire would spread futher through the system.
'Why I wish we looked harder. Riyu and Sora are still growing, and Arin is a major being in their lives. They deserve to be happy.'
Riyu peered around Jiro's leg gingerly, catching the attention of the largest flock member. The pale yellow-nearly white pupiless eyes catching on to him, eyes narrowing before relaxing.
'Are you alright?' Jiro asked.
Clearing his throat, Torchspark motioned a wing talon past Jiro, the Lightning Dragon turning his head to see what he was pointing at- suprise over taking his face when he noticed Riyu.
'Oh, good evening, Riyu. I am sorry for not seeing you earlier.' Jiro said, ducking his head in apology to Torchspark. The Fire Dragon chuffed softly in ressurance.
'I- um, sorry to interupt- I mean I didn't want to break into the conversation-'
Heat flushed to Riyu's face. Flustered, he formed a tent over his face using his wings, wishing the earth would swallow him whole then and there. Oh, he hadn't meant to be rude!
He felt a wing brushed against his own, peeking out from under it to see Torchspark offering him a small , toothy grin. 'Glad to see you back. Now Jiro can stop moping now that you and Sora are here with the rest of the team.'
Jiro buzzed in protest, his wings flaring with a hiss. 'I was not moping! I will have you know I was preoccupied over their safety.'
Torchspark winked at him, and Riyu gave a shy smile back from his tent. Jiro's hisses turning into small grumbling growls, the Lightning Dragon huffing in embarassment.
Riyu couldn't help the pang of regret that flickered in his stomach, watching Torchspark pick up the basket with the wallopers and move off towards Rockslide where he was conversing with Heatwave- Zanth's tail whisking into Glacier's tunnel.
Jiro and Riyu broke into silence, the only thing really filling the silence being the soft chattering of the others within the cave.
'I am sorry we- I could not find a scent, Little Mountain.' Jiro murmured, tail curling carefully around Riyu, his tail plates laying flat against the ground.
'It's fine. It's not your fault.' Laying his tail on one of Jiro's plates, he slowly peeled back his wings to stare at the fire burning behind the bars that kept it from flickering a stray ember.
'...How is she?'
Rolling his shoulders, he averted his gaze. Eyes landing on the yellow chipped tail plates that glowed with the firelight. 'Not... great. All of them are taking it pretty hard, her especially.'
Jiro sighed, laying fully on the ground and spreading a wing to act as a blanket over Riyu. Laying fully on the ground with a low croon. 'And you?'
'Glacier was a really big help.' Riyu smiled, reminding himself to thank the Ice Dragon later when she was available. 'Though I... I miss him, a lot.'
'I am certain he misses you and the others more than he thinks.' Jiro said, peering down at him, adjusting his wing. 'I used to get mad at my sister, Squallfang many times. Like Kai and Nya do with each other.'
'We would fight, with our teeth and claws. We would strike hardest with our words until they turned into stings that neither of us could ignore.' Jiro continued, eyes softening in memory. 'Even over petty things such as who had the biggest rocks or elephant tusks.'
'Did... did you two ever have big fights?'
Riyu watched Jiro falter, his claws trembling. 'Many times. I and her had.. not left off on the best terms, I believed she was being selfish by wanting to leave and seek her own home. Her own future. Away from us.'
'How some of my other cousins felt when I said I wanted to help the Ninja...' Riyu murmured, looking at his claws.
'Family is a double edged... sword.' Jiro said quietly. 'It can hurt, but it can defend you.'
'How soon did you miss your sister?'
'Not long after. I still do. I miss her, very much. I wish I had not said what I said, but I know she misses me as much I miss her. My mother and father too.'
'How... do you deal with the hurt? Does it ever.. get easier? Or does it go away?'
'Family never forgets each other, Riyu.' Jiro said, looking over his shoulder when a short roar called everyone to eat- Torchspark and Rockslide no doubt having gotten everything ready. 'We endure for those we love. We fight and show weakness to them, even if we hate it.'
Getting up with some help from the teenage Mountain Dragon, Jiro rose to his feet. Wings stretching out then folding back in to their neutral position.
He nudged Riyu with his head, the rugged and chipped scales brushing against his shoulder. 'We will find him, that I promise. But for now, as much as I wish we could continue to search, we need you to rest. So you have the energy.'
Turning to see the other dragons seated beside each other, Riyu noticed that Glacier was next to Zanth- the second largest member of the flock ducking her head so that she could hear the Djinnjagan Drake.
Jiro nudged Riyu once more to show his support before walking over to the rest of the flock, taking a seat inbetween Zanth and Heatwave. Joining their conversation.
Rockslide and Torchspark seemed engaged over a conversation over what part of the walloper was better to eat first, considering how the Fire Dragon placed a claw over the leg and the Earth Wyvern poked a horn into the stomach.
He wondered why they weren't eating yet, but he got his answer when a blur of red and green burst from the elevator- Wyldfyre crashing into him, having loped the short distance.
'Hi Riyu!' She beamed, arms tight around around his neck and chin hooked over his shoulder. 'You're eating dinner with us tonight!? Ooh I wonder what Torchspark and Rockslide brought!
Returning the embrace by doing the same but with his wings, Riyu grinned. Unable to fight the red heads infectious energy. '...yeah, yeah. I'm eating with you guys tonight.'
'That means I get to show you my awesome Spinjitzu stance Cole's been teaching me all day! Oh you'll find it so cool! Come on I can tell you about it-' Forgetting that she was deceptively strong, Wyldfyre pulled Riyu by his wing talons. Fingers curled around his digit.
She only let go to hug Heatwave, who greated her by taping the top of her head with his snout and offering him a kind smile, moving over to provide extra space.
The others began to dig in once she lifted a half broken wyldmelon and began to dig in. Recounting the events of the day to her father and him through her mouthfuls of good.
Taking his own share, Riyu began to chew on a large potato. The way the others were talking and acting reminding him of the Ninja above, though he smiled back at Jiro when he rolled him a large carrot.
He... he hoped Jiro was right, that Arin missed him and Sora and Wyldyfre and the other Ninja alongside everyone else who lived in the Monastery.
He hoped he was safe.
Pursing his lips, Zane sighed in resignation as he went over his data banks for the third time in the last thirty minutes. Just to make sure he was not deceiving himself.
Wearily rubbing his temples at the information present, perhaps doing the task of updating the map of Ninjago should have been held off- or he should've passed it on to somebody else.
He wished he was wrong, very wrong about the information he amassed as he outlined where Stiix, Domu and Shintaro used to be.
Both city and kingdom were destroyed by The Merge's effect, if not even more so by the Mergequakes that had struck nearly a year ago now.
How the time had flown, without him as he had been put into stasis.
His eyes trailed to where Ninjago City and Ignacia stood, Lloyd's outline of Borg Industries showing where it was on the map southwest of Imperium.
Leaning back in his chair, Zane stared at the icon that once meant defiance and hope in the face of uncertainty. The tower stubbornly remaining in the heart of Ninjago City through all the events they had faced.
Yet now, as he pulled up the latest image of it- he would be met with it covered in vegetation. The very top broken in a manner akin to a bone having been snapped in twine.
It baffled him how the plant growth had grown so drastically in only five years, when by his calculations it should have taken a minimum of thirty-five for any sort of beginning. Considering the state Ninjago City was in, it was as if the city had aged fifty years.
He forced himself to stop questioning the Merge World again, for all the answers he could ask his brothers and sister- the answers would be largely the same.
The Merge's... weirdness.
Furthermore, he remembered the trip he and Glacier had taken to Borg Tower- only to find it empty. Lifeless. Not a single person or other nindroid present, save for the empty husks of the ones too far gone to be repaired.
Gliding his fingers inbetween the control panels, he swallowed thickly. Thanking everything dear that Pixal hadn't been one of those bodies he and the Ice Dragon had uncovered inside.
He exhaled a wisp of frost, the trail disappearing in seconds as it floated upwards. He needed to focus, to update the map so he could at least do something worth while for his family and their friends.
Zane's lips pulled tightly in dismay when he had to cross off Jamanakai Village off of the map- the entre mountain range that the settlement had lived in gone, replaced by the Wyldness' jungle.
His stomach tightened with guilt when he wrote on a seperate bank that Jamanakai had collided with the mountain ranges of the Never Realm's northern territories.
Blinking rapidly, he hoped the ice that formed on his hands was simply and illusion. Though he made sure by clenching them and unclenching them, relieved that there were no shards covering his hands.
Still, he quickly grabbing the plush of the monastery's assistant keeper, he thumbed his hands over the fabric gently. Bumping it against the vials, badges and sash with his nail.
"I believe now would be a good time to take a break, sir." Mr. Frohicky commented, coming to stand beside him. "Perhaps a break could help?"
Startled, Zane placed down the plushie from where he grabbed it. Turning to look at the frog-man, ignoring the feel of heat spreading across his face."I.. did not think I had been down here this long."
Rolling his sleeve to check his watch, Mr. Frohicky's expression said otherwise with how he winced. "You've been down here for about six hours now."
Zane blinked blankly, reaching a hand to check outside via control panel. Realizing with a sick twist of his stomach that Mr.Frohicky was correct when he saw twilight just barely descending upon the Sea of Sand.
He then swapped it back go the map of Ninjago's continent, his work only half way done on the areas he had concretely labeled earlier. His eyes trailed to where his work began to fade and become sloppy- distracted.
"I... suppose I could use a break." He admitted quietly, reaching back for the plush of the man standing beside him. "Is there something required of me?"
"Oh, no." Mr.Frohicky reassured, shaking his head feverently. "I had finished cleaning out the dust where it was required alongside the shattered peices of the crates left behind by the others."
Zane hummed, arms crossed across the plush. "Is... is Skylor still here?"
Nodding, Mr. Frohicky turned to look at the elevator that would take them to the monastery's living room. "Kai and Nya adamantly requested she stay to have dinner at least."
A small smile pulled at his lips, glad that things had gone decently. "I suppose I should head on up. Make sure Cole does not burn down the kitchen again."
"I beg your pardon?"
"An old story from before The Merge," Zane replied easily, hesitantly looking over his shoulder at the map. That is, before he felt the tiredness fill him as be continued to stare.
Never mind. He could continue this later. Powering down the control panel, he rose from his seat, hand gripping the plush as he followed Mr. Frohicky back to the elevator.
"I would think you'd have many stories to tell about Ninjago before The Merge?"
"Many, yes." Zane said, shaking his head in fond exasperation as the memories from before that day came back. "From the end of the year to the new year, there was never quite a dull moment. Even in our quieter days."
Frohicky hummed in consideration, opening the door to the elevator and allowing Zane to enter first. "I.. suppose you know of how The Crossroads came to be?"
"Partially. I am aware of the various peoples coming in differing intervals. Though I know the residents of Ninjago City and the Serpentine were the first. I can say I recognize all of them save for a few."
He carefully made sure not to betray the waver in his voice at the admission, the few Formlings he'd seen present reminding him all too much of his time in the Never Realm.
Squeezing the plush tighter, he cleared his throat. "Why do you ask?"
Pressing the button to take them up, Mr. Frohicky suddenly turned apprehensive, his mouth thinning. "I thought you knew that Skylor was one of the leaders, aside from the Serpentine ex-generals."
"That... part of the story alluded me." Zane said, brows furrowing. "How much of a role did she play in the city's revival?"
"Large enough to where needed to create a small chaij of resturants she goes inbetween." He replied. The elevator hummed softly, rising upwards at a moderate pace. "About three or four restaurants, I've heard. Arin used to tell me about his work whenever I'd stop by."
At the mention of the boy, Mr. Frohicky's face fell. His sleeves flexed, the frog-man gripping his hands tighter. "I.. apologize, I'm not entirely sure how to feel about his.."
"I understand." Zane reassured, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You and Sora have known him the longest, it is only sensible that you both would be grieving in different ways."
His mind lingered to Cole and Nya before he promptly shut down that trail of thought, refusing to think about it as he smiled instead. Hoping it wasn't as pained as he felt currently.
"I hope the scamp is alright."
"From the time I have known her, she is resilient despite her mind saying otherwise." Zane said, wishing that he was the same. "Give her time. It is only the second day after the tournament."
Not to mention another day that Jay wanders the Merged Realms, angry and hateful. Another day that Pixal and Wu remain lost alongside countless others from Ninjago City and realms they have friends in.
His hand tightens on the doll, feeling a surge of guilt for nearly destroying the Never Realms northern lands- how much tragedy would those peoples need to go through? What could he do to atone for what he did-
He knew there was nothing that could be done, for it had been his orders to leave Krag as the last of his kin. Even through Vex messing with him.
Zane supposed his punishment came all these years later, as he was forced into stasis by whomever had put him in there. Robbed of time spent with his family.
"Sir?"
Snapped out of his focus, Zane blinked rapidly. Realizing his hand had rested upon Mr. Frohicky's shoulder for too long as he retracted it away.
"Ah, forgive me. I was... distracted." Apologizing, he made a note to try and be less distracted than he was.
"No problem."
The door would open and the two would step out from the elevator to see Kai and Skylor sitting on the couch shoulder to shoulder.
"Hey, Zane." Kai greeted, putting down a Chen's noodle house brochure. "Sight for sore eyes."
Confused, Zane quirked an eyebrow. "I didn't think I was down there for very long.. what's wrong?"
"We need a tie breaker." Skylor chimed in, lightly elbowing Kai.
"A.. tie breaker? For?"
Throwing his head back dramatically, the Madter of Fire stared at the ceiling. "Nya oh so graciously declared me as the chef for tonight, and I don't really wanna cook so..."
Lightly flicking him on the cheek she rolled her eyes. "I'm arguing for one of his homemade recipes."
Throwing his hands up, Kai snorted. "You're like Cole with Zane's pastry batter! You steal before it's even finished."
"I could help with the meat preparation?"
Kai froze, hands in the air as he slowly moved to stare at Zane. "Really?"
"I do not see a reason as to why I would be lying."
Kai said nothing more as he practically leapt off of the couch, pulling Skylor along with him as she laughed.
The Master of Fire dragged them both to the kitchen, though Zane could see the slight smile perking at the edges of his mouth.
He let them go so that he could tear through the fridge for the vegetables he needed, muttering to himself a string of curses that Zane was glad none of the children was present for.
"Hate you all." Kai grumbled, pulling out the cutting boards for him and Zane. Then went to grab the spare pork they had gotten from one of the dragons' hunting excursions.
"We know you love us." Skylor chimed back, tossing Zane's apron over his head. The elemental turned his head to no doubt give her a deadpan that was hidden underneath.
"If I may, can I help with the dishes?" Mr. Frohicky asked, and Kai nodded after taking off the apron- passing it to Zane.
"This is yours, buddy and yeah- we need a designated dishwasher." With that confirmation, Mr. Frohicky alligned himself at the sink, quietly humming a tune.
Blinking in surprise, Zane took fervently. Before putting it on. "You... got me another?"
Quirking an eyebrow Kai shrugged in response. "You like cooking the most out of all of us so I thought I'd pick one up. Its from... before this."
Zane nodded, catching on to what he meant as he moved to the drawer to retreive one of his knives then briefly sharpened it just in case. "Can you give this a wash please?"
"Of course." Whilst the assistant keeper busied himself with that, he began looking for all the spices and sauces he'd need. Pulling up some recipies with consideration.
Skylor's smile faded for a moment as she took a seat to the table, resting her chin on her arms. Going quiet before Kai reached out and lightly squeezed her hand.
The red head returned it with her own squeeze, the smile coming back as Kai went ahead and passed the vegetables so Mr. Frohicky could wash them too.
Zane could not fight off the slight pang of longing he felt, as Pixal would have joined them in the kitchen or been outside with the others to join their antics.
Though, he still kept a soft smile to his face at how she would react to Sora wanting to possibly be a protégé under both her and Nya.
Perhaps he should talk to one of the others about what to do next, but for now, focusing on dinner would the best step they could do without putting too much strain on themsleves.