She looked at him strangely, seeming unsure of herself. “I— I don’t know.” She eased some weight on the injured foot and immediately winced. “Maybe.” He saw a large, flat rock nearby and helped her seat herself upon it. While he did so, he couldn’t help but look at her. Upon closer inspection, he realized that her clothes were made of deerskin, and a bit torn and ragged at the tips and seams. Her top had sleeves that reached her elbows, but exposed her pale shoulders and her slim midriff. Whoever she was, she was definitely not from his village, for no girl was allowed to be dressed as scantily as she. Aside from that, a necklace matching her bracelet was wound about her neck. Her blue eyes were bright against her thick golden hair, and her face unblemished except for the few smudges of dirt. The boy realized that he was staring at her, and she was giving him a curious look. Embarrassed, he coughed and tried to think of something to say. The girl, however, beat him to it. “Why were you hiding in the bushes?” She asked the question plainly. The boy felt heat rise to his face. “Oh. Umm…” He tried to find something to do with his hands, and settled for shoving one in his pocket and running the other through his hair. “Well… I was listening to you singing.” “That’s it?” She continued to stare at him warily. “Well—of course.” Did she think him to be some kind of creep? “I— I couldn’t help it. I just heard your voice, and I wanted to know who was singing, so I just followed the sound and— Yeah. Just… there you were.” “Oh.” She held his gaze for a moment longer, as if searching for something. Then she seemed to relax a little, and turned to inspect the injury on her leg. “It’s not nice to sneak up on others.” “I know. I’m sorry.” An awkward silence followed. Then, before he could stop himself, he blurted, “You have a beautiful voice.” Surprised, she looked back up at him. “I do?”
Then came doubt: But in the end, it’s the right thing to do, right? I protected Black Blood, and most of our warriors got away in time before it could get any worse. I got the sixth moonstone. I saved my sister. My loyalty is with my tribe—they’re my family! Nothing else should matter… Right? It doesn’t change the fact, Cole’s voice, an unwelcome memory, croaked in his ear, that I’m your brother. “Shut up.” Talon said the words out loud as if Cole were standing there. His hands dropped to his sides, and he refused to look at them. He’d clean and groom himself later. Right now he almost felt too tired to sit down. “It’s the Sister of Darkness!” a voice cried. Startled, Talon swung around and scanned the crowd gathered by the trees. Tribe-mates in cat and human bodies alike were standing and crowding around something, exchanging surprised exclamations. With several dozen warriors, it was impossible to see what they were looking at from where Talon stood. Thus he went over and joined the crowd. “How did they capture her?” “Not so powerful now without her fancy stick!” “Why don’t they end her now?” Finally Talon pushed and jostled his way through enough muscular nekomata, tall human-forms, (and stepped on enough irritated bakenekos’ tails), to see what the commotion was about—and when he did, his blood froze cold. Matilda lay crumpled on the ground in the center of the large, furry crowd. Her hat was gone, leaving her shaggy brown, white-streaked hair to lay splayed out on the damp grass. Her arms had been tied behind her back. Over the woman stood Broken Fang, Rip Claw, and Lion Claw, all in their human bodies wearing triumphant expressions on their faces—although Broken Fang did have a black eye and had lost her cloak. Without warning, Black Blood strode forward from the crowd. The great big black cat padded up to the limp figure, then paused, staring at her with surprise. The crowd fell to a hush—as it always did whenever the Moon Tribe queen made an appearance. Talon held his breath and watched. Black Blood took a paw step forward and bent her head down to sniff the witch’s head.
:c Talon...What he has to go through these past several chapters is just so unbelievably painful and cruel. Poor dude needs a break
Matilda popped her head up. “Boo.” Black Blood bristled and flinched backwards, but just as soon regained her composure. Forked tails lashing, she glared at the other three sorcerers. “What is she doing here? You should have ended her.” Lion Claw and Rip Claw, both looking so proud before, suddenly took a step backwards anxiously, and simultaneously they pointed at Broken Fang and chorused: “She did it.” Broken Fang met Black Blood’s green gaze with her own amber-eyed one. “I defeated her in battle. I claimed her as my captive. Now I claim her as my Dark Sleep subject.” Another murmur rippled through the gathering, but none dared speak up loudly. Black Blood’s ear flicked. “Raven Frost won’t be too happy about that. He has a bone to pick with that one.” Broken Fang smirked. “Raven Frost didn’t defeat the Sister of Darkness. I did. I am her rightful persecutor.” “Perhaps,” Black Blood acceded, only to add coldly, “But you risk the whole tribe by not only keeping her alive, but by bringing her along with us. Some humans are simply better off for us gone.” “Not this one,” Broken Fang gave a mirthless smile, exposing her inhuman teeth. “We could use her for bait. Ransom. An example to give those stinking, spinning Sons and Daughters of the Elements once and for all—” Her words were cut off by a startled shriek when Matilda jumped to her feet and seemingly ripped herself free of her bonds with her bare hands. In one hand she gripped her wand, the tip glowing a dull yellow. The woman cackled gleefully and shot a spell at Lion Claw with an obscure mix of syllables. In a flash of bright orange light, Lion Claw disappeared— —and a fat, startled-looking toad stood in his place on the grass. “It’ll take more than a stupid Nap Attack to keep me down, Broken Fang!” Matilda sneered.
Matilda is awesome! xD I love how even Black Blood, this almighty Moon Tribe Queen with a thirst for familial vengeance and destruction of all humanity, can get startled by something so small so easily
I've always wanted to see the results of isekai protagonists being thrown back into their home world after their adventures and having to deal with the change. I think Chronicles of Narnia is the only "isekai" that's done this.
Sword Art Online does it too. The main characters had to have medical treatment, go to a special school where they can catch up on the high school they missed, and be watched for any signs of mental problems due to being trapped there so long. As well as having to get used to living normal lives again and reconnecting with their families. Except in that case it's a video game they were trapped in, but it's still considered an isekai. ( SAO has got some sketchy stuff in it though, so if you do ever watch it there's definitely some parts you are going to want to skip... ) Also it always puts a smile on my face whenever I think about how the Chronicles of Narnia is an isekai. In fact, there was really many instances of isekai happening throughout the series. Is the only book that doesn't have it The Horse and His Boy? Ironically that one is my favorite. XD
Really! Wow, that's cool! Tsk, I'd really like to watch it, but knowing me, I'd be much better off avoiding the sketchy things. Same... xD HA, why am I not surprised? XD I think that one's my mom's favorite, too. I have good memories with those books. :3
Come to think of it, there's one books series, Beyonders, by Brandon Mull, that explores this concept a little... but honestly, not as much as I would have liked. Perhaps one day I should write myself a proper isekai story where I play with all the concepts I wanted all the anime and books to explore.
Thank you! To be honest, writing these chapters I found myself more interested by what was going on in Ninjago rather than Kai's isekai adventure, but I tried to make his parts as interesting as I could.
Then came doubt: But in the end, it’s the right thing to do, right? I protected Black Blood, and most of our warriors got away in time before it could get any worse. I got the sixth moonstone. I saved my sister. My loyalty is with my tribe—they’re my family! Nothing else should matter… Right? It doesn’t change the fact, Cole’s voice, an unwelcome memory, croaked in his ear, that I’m your brother. “Shut up.” Talon said the words out loud as if Cole were standing there. His hands dropped to his sides, and he refused to look at them. He’d clean and groom himself later. Right now he almost felt too tired to sit down. *snip*
:c Talon...What he has to go through these past several chapters is just so unbelievably painful and cruel. Poor dude needs a break
Matilda popped her head up. “Boo.” Black Blood bristled and flinched backwards, but just as soon regained her composure. Forked tails lashing, she glared at the other three sorcerers. “What is she doing here? You should have ended her.” *snip* —and a fat, startled-looking toad stood in his place on the grass. “It’ll take more than a stupid Nap Attack to keep me down, Broken Fang!” Matilda sneered.
Matilda is awesome! xD I love how even Black Blood, this almighty Moon Tribe Queen with a thirst for familial vengeance and destruction of all humanity, can get startled by something so small so easily
Me, knowing what else happens to Eagle Talon in this episode: *nervous sweating* OwO'
“Yeah,” Kai responded distantly. Of course he was quiet—he was thinking. Something about what Kaeden said of Lord Hälogen being able to “see into other worlds” sat with him. Did those “other worlds” include Ninjago? Could Hälogen travel between realms as well as see into them? Maybe—just maybe… there could be a way for Kai to get back to Ninjago. Of course, he was basing this theory from mere rumors Jukeni and Kaeden had shared, but he didn’t care. If there was even the slightest chance of being able to get back to Ninjago—or even finding the realm where Skylor was and rescuing her—nothing would stop him. Despite the recent days spent idly, Kai’s main goal was still to get back home. He wanted to ask Jukeni more about Lord Hälogen and his magic, but he never got the chance. Jukeni found himself working late outside, and Nama told Kai to leave him alone so he would get the job done quicker, and in the meantime sent him to bed. Feeling frustrated and reluctant, Kai shut himself in his room and dressed from his Pawreles tunic and leggings to loose-fitting pants and a white undershirt. Night had fallen by this time, and he was forced to use a candle for light as he dressed. This candle he placed on the nightstand by his bed. For a few minutes, Kai crouched on the bed and played with the small flame. He had begun to worry that somehow he’d lost his power. It wouldn’t be the first time it happened. Thus he breathed a deep sigh of relief when, quickly running his fingers through the tiny tongue of fire, a piece of the heat leapt onto the back of his hand. He felt its warmth, but was not burnt—a pro to being the Elemental Master of Fire. Smiling, he rolled his hand and fingers around, making the flame run this way and that over his skin. It scurried and skipped, flickering and burning faintly, like a little animal.
So his power was not gone—not completely, at least. Kai attempted to summon more heat from his palm, to make the flame bigger. It hissed and grew a little. He held his hand a little further away from his face for caution’s sake, out of habit. Slowly, tentatively, he added more heat to the flame, and it grew and grew, until it was the size of an apple. As the tongue of fire grew, so did Kai’s spirits and his smile. Finally, he flicked his hand and put out the flame. It went out with a mournful hiss and Kai found himself shrouded in darkness. It took a few minutes for his eyes to adjust and see the moonlight shining faintly through the window. Sighing contentedly, he slipped beneath the covers and mashed his face into the pillow. Its scent of pine needles and cotton was beginning to be overpowered by the stale odor of his own body. He really needed a shower. At least I’ve got my power back, even just a little, Kai thought to himself as he slowly drifted off into a—thankfully—dreamless sleep.
* * *
Bang, boom. Kai awoke with a jolt. His room was dark. The angle of the slant of moonlight had shifted in the hours that had passed. His heart hammered against his ribs. Dazedly, he cast his gaze around the shadows of the bedroom. “What—?” he started to mutter. The door to his right slammed open with a loud bang, followed by a crash as it was knocked off its hinges. Two figures stood there, bearing spears and armor. “There’s another one in here!” a man’s voice shouted brashly. Kai’s was instantly alert. Instinctively he whipped off the bedcovers and leapt to his feet. “Who are you—?” “Grab him!” Both men lunged for him. Kai leapt backwards off the mattress and landed gracefully on his feet. He dodged to one side as a spearhead jabbed at him, rolling his hands into fists and sliding into a fighting stance. One of the armed men snarled at him from across the bed. “Surrender, it’ll be easier for you that way.”
Kai didn’t bother answering. Why talk when you could kick butt? He lunged forward and delivered a swift underhand strike at the man’s jaw. The man staggered back with a startled groan, clutching his mouth. Two more men entered the room, and the three of them charged the teenager. Kai enjoyed their grunts of pain and looks of astonishment as he performed several graceful kicks and punches that sent his opponents either sprawling to the floor or edging back with grimaces. These people obviously had little experience in hand-to-hand martial arts. His eyes adjusted to the dim shadows quickly, and Kai recognized the bright maroon-colored uniforms, the metal cuirasses, and the round helmets glinting in the faint moonlight. Pingous soldiers. Two more joined in. Their numbers growing and with it the room shrinking, Kai knew that his chances were slim, but honestly, when did technical details like that ever stop him? Especially with a little thing called Spinjitzu… he barely suppressed his smile as he prepared to whip into a vortex. “Ninjaaa—!” Two of the soldiers jumped him from the side. Before he could react, they grabbed him and threw him down. His cheek smashed painfully against the floor. Spearheads poked him in the back. Hands grabbed him roughly, and he felt himself shoved to his feet. Someone snatched his arms and forced them behind his back. Kai snarled and struggled wildly against his captors. He succeeded in throwing his legs up and kicking two soldiers in the face, one of which whose bowl-shaped helmet went flying. Yet even with Kai’s vigorous attempt to avail himself, there were too many of them. A rough blow to the side of his side dazed him and sent his vision swimming. He was aware of them dragging him on his feet. They yanked him out of the bedroom and through the hall. The furniture, now toppled over and some of it crushed to splinters, flashed by his vision. Kai shook his head blearily, desperate to gain his bearings. Again he struggled, but a voice snapped “Keep still!” and cuffed him over the head once more. Then they took him outside.
Cool grass and dirt met Kai’s bare feet. The night air cooled his flushed face. He looked up and saw the glow of fire lighting up the yard around the house. At least two dozen maroon-clad soldiers stood in a half-circle before the cottage, surrounding Kai and his captors. Many of them held torches aloft, the sources of the firelight. The orange shadows danced menacingly against the inky black shadows of the trees and made the helmets and cuirasses glint. Beyond them Kai caught sight of several small, strange, somewhat rectangular-shaped vehicles in the background, but he couldn’t see them very well. Besides, something else caught his eye, and it made his stomach lurch with dread. Nama, Jukeni, and little Beenthina were in the clutches of soldiers as Kai was, standing in the middle of the lawn. Nama’s face was deathly pale against the firelight of the torches. One of Jukeni’s sleeves of his nightshirt was torn, presumably from a struggle when he had been apprehended, and he glared furiously at all the Pingousers around them. Contrary to her mother’s fright and her brother’s anger, Beenthina only looked sleepy and bewildered. The three of them stared at Kai as he was dragged outside. “What’s going on?!” he demanded. A familiar voice responded before Kai’s captor could deliver another hit to his head. “You should know what’s going on, Pawreles scum!” Kai stiffened when, from the small crowd of soldiers, a muscular young man pushed his way into view and sauntered up to Kai and the Krogersohn family. Kai recognized the squarish line of his jaw and the blond hair showing beneath his helmet. “Gesber,” he muttered. “You’re one of them, I bet!” Gesber Daigsohn declared sneeringly. “Boy, Spiky, you’re gonna pay! You’re gonna pay big time, especially when—!” “Gesber!” A tall man with a similar jawline and the beginnings of a blond beard scowled at the younger soldier. “Enough! Save your gloating for when they bring Enazsohn’s orphan over.” Chastened, Gesber pouted and glared at his feet. “Sorry, Dad,” he mumbled.
They didn’t have long to wait. More Pingous soldiers appeared from the forest path with Kaeden in tow. Even though he showed no sign of anger or want to struggle, his paw-like hands were tied around his back and a thick rope was around his furry neck, which a couple of men yanked on every once in a while, laughing and jeering. Kaeden grimaced, yet kept his head down and never once tried to snap at them or wrestle free. It was a humiliating spectacle, and Kai’s blood boiled at the sight. Then, Kaeden’s uncle appeared. This was the first time Kai set eyes on him. Initially, he thought Kaeden’s size was as big as any Pawreles dog-man (he didn’t know the technical term) could get, and Kai knew that Kaeden probably towered over Cole, the tallest member of the ninja team, by at least two heads, possibly more. His uncle, on the other hand, was enormous. He stood nearly three meters tall and looked like some kind of body-builder—a body-builder who was slightly plump at the middle, anyway. Unlike his nephew’s fine, light-colored gray hair, Drugu Enazsohn had thick, coarse fur that was a dark, smoky brown like a German Shepherd’s. A long beige robe had been thrown over his bare torso—bare except for all that fur, that is. The only thing aside from the robe he wore was a pair of pants. His big thick tail was lashing to and fro, his fur bristled, and a low growl kept rumbling from his throat. In other words, Kaeden’s uncle looked mad. “What is this?!” The dog-man’s voice boomed throughout the clearing. He strode into the clearing among the armored soldiers fearlessly and cast his canine glare at all who dared looked back at him. “An invasion of my home in the middle of the night, soldiers takin’ my brother’s boy without so much as an reason or a dang apology? I demand an explanation!” “You’re in no position for demands, mutt-man.” General Daigsohn curled his lip distastefully at Enazsohn. “Go back to your shack and let first-class handle this.”
“I ain’t going nowhere ‘till one of you blasted red-skirts tell me just what you’re planning to do with the pup!” Enazsohn’s teeth bared into a small snarl, and he planted his feet on the ground firmly with his arms crossed. “Fine.” The Pingous general smirked. “Your nephew has just been arrested in the name of King Yusrōn of Pingous. There is evidence pointing to him as a rebel against his rightful government, a spy and a thief. The same goes for his friend, Jukeni Krogersohn.” “A rebel? A spy? Wha—?” Enazsohn sputtered. “That’s ridiculous!” “A few nights ago, there was a break-in at the town’s main military base,” Daigsohn declared. “Several classified documents were stolen, and witnesses recognized Kaeden and Jukeni being the intruders. We suspect them of being part of cult organized by the man they call ‘Tinny Bird’.” “Impossible!” Enazsohn barked. “Preposterous! Pickle-headed! Kaeden, boy, you tell these dang red-skirts they’ve got the wrong kids and you’d never even dream of joining the rebellion!” Kaeden finally looked up. The expression on his face was pained and weary. “Actually, Uncle…” he sighed. “It’s true. Jukeni and I are part of the rebellion.” “There, you see?” Enazsohn exclaimed triumphantly. “Like I told you! Pure as a dove! Innocent as a infant kider— wait!” He swung his gaze around and stared at Kaeden. Then his voice broke into an enraged roar. “You WHAT?!?” Kai had no idea what was going on. He looked over at the Krogersohns. Nama’s face was ashen. She’d shut her eyes tight, and now murmured weakly, “Oh, our Star Guards… why? Why him? Why my son?” Beenthina seemed to finally snap out of her sleepiness, and now stared up at her older brother in awe. “Whoa,” she breathed. “You’re part of the rebellion?” Jukeni swallowed uneasily, but before he could reply, Gesber burst out again. “And I bet their friend is one of Bird’s rebels, too! He just showed up out of nowhere!” He gestured wildly to Kai. “He’s obviously some kind of foreign spy, maybe from Tëbkinz! I say we should—!” “No!” Jukeni cried out. “No, no! Kai has nothing to do with this! He doesn’t even know anything about the rebellion or any spies!”
“It’s true!” Kaeden joined in. He swept his gaze desperately from his uncle to Nama, Beenthina, and Kai. “Do what you want with us, but our families were never involved! Or Kai! It’s us you want, not them!” “Enough!” General Daigsohn snapped. “I’ll decide who and who isn’t guilty tonight! For now, Jukeni and Kaeden are arrested convicts and their relatives are suspected as accomplices to their crimes, hiding evidence and stolen documents. Speaking of which…” The tall man strode up to Kaeden. The half-canine teenager didn’t flinch when Daigsohn looked into his eyes and asked grimly, “Where are they?” Kaeden responded after a moment, in a quiet voice, “Where are what?” He didn’t make a noise when the human landed a hard blow to his face, but he jerked back and grimaced. A small cut stood out on his lower lip. Daigsohn demanded. “You know what I mean! The documents! The information and maps you stole! Where are they?” Kaeden was silent. Daigsohn whirled around and faced Jukeni standing a few yards away. “Where are the documents you stole?” Jukeni scowled, yet he too was wordless. Silence fell upon the clearing. There was only the low hiss of fire from the line of torches. The men holding Kaeden tied to the rope kept a firm grasp, as did those gripping the other prisoners by their arms. The soldiers, including Gesber, watched General Daigsohn as he looked between Kaeden and Jukeni. Neither one made any sign nor sound of fear. Their cold, stoic silence was all that met the man’s demanding glare. Eventually, he growled quietly, “A beating won’t get anything out of you, I suppose?” Nama clenched her jaw. Kaeden only looked at him with cool patience, but Jukeni snorted. “Huh! You can sure try.” Another pause. “Very well,” General Daigsohn finally said. “Gesber, you have my permission to punish Kai.” A simultaneous chorus of shock rose from Kaeden, Jukeni, and Kai’s lips: “What!” “You’re brave enough to give your own lives for your pitiful cause,” Daigsohn sneered. “But let’s see if we can loosen your tongues when your friend is forced to face what you have done. Maybe that will get you to be a little more talkative.”
“You—!” Jukeni started. Gesber was on Kai in a second. His victim had no time to react. Before he knew it, an explosion of pain numbed his jaw and sent him staggering. Through the haze Kai felt instinct take control, and he reared up with a shout. Hands from behind grabbed him again. He felt himself forced down to his knees just before another blow came. More shock. His head swam. Punch after punch came. Kai wanted to retaliate, to fight back, to hurt Gesber—his anger boiled and raged within, an untamable force—but the other soldiers held him down, forcing him to stay bent on his knees in the grass as Gesber delightedly exacted his revenge on him. “Not so tough now, are you, Spiky?” He jeered as he delivered an uppercut. “You’re brave enough with your little friends to back you up! Typical Pawrelesers!” Bam. Whack. Bam. More fists to the face. More bursts of pain. Kai opened his mouth to snap something back, but another uppercut smashed his jaws together, making him bite his tongue painfully. “Boonca-faced coward!” Gesber laughed, and other soldiers sneered with him. “And you act like such a tough guy! I’ve seen sholohs fight better than you do!” Mocking laughs and jeers in his ears began to fade in the background as the pain continued on. His nose, his ears, the sides of his head, his jawline, his collarbone, his cheekbones; all became a target for those merciless scores. At first, it hurt like crazy. Then it numbed. He became desensitized to it. He continued to feel every blow, but it all faded into a hot haze. Beyond the senses of his own pain, he could hear distant voices in the background: Nama screaming something. Beenthina was beginning to cry. Jukeni shouted continuously, and some of the soldiers cried out and barked orders, presumably when he tried to break free and stop Kai’s persecution. Gesber didn’t stop. He just hit him again and again. Kai ducked his head by a few inches in a weak attempt to escape the worst of the other man’s vengeance. Yet even through all this, Kai’s anger only grew. His heart pounded for justice. His arms ached for action. His hands flushed with fury— —and fire.
![[derp]](http://storage.proboards.com/6672327/images/YqNTPqyQUocVMYXZgUAI.png)
It's been that long? I swear it doesn't feel like it's been that long! AAAAHHHH!!! O.O ![[h]](http://storage.proboards.com/6672327/images/hfSwWMIrqfbcVMuaJTst.png)
![[~]](http://storage.proboards.com/6672327/images/ozFsbNeZhKNyVxseYHGI.png)
WHAT AN ACHIEVEMENT!!!!!! OvO 
![[uni]](http://storage.proboards.com/6672327/images/mPKcREJAtrpeAXSOgaOH.png)
Matilda is awesome! xD I love how even Black Blood, this almighty Moon Tribe Queen with a thirst for familial vengeance and destruction of all humanity, can get startled by something so small so easily 
( SAO has got some sketchy stuff in it though, so if you do ever watch it there's definitely some parts you are going to want to skip... ) Also it always puts a smile on my face whenever I think about how the Chronicles of Narnia is an isekai. 
Ironically that one is my favorite. XD 
Tsk, I'd really like to watch it, but knowing me, I'd be much better off avoiding the sketchy things. 
Same... xD HA, why am I not surprised? XD I think that one's my mom's favorite, too. 
![[heart]](http://storage.proboards.com/6672327/images/SynFAxjClulYuSIRbDRN.png)
