**** “Since you seem to fear for how we and our warriors can handle these new frontal battles against humans, I invite you to join me to the village a group of our cats overtook yesterday.” She used one of her tails to gesture to Mist Rise. “Our battle leader returned to us soon after the attack to report that it was an enormous success. Wasn’t it, Mist Rise?” The longhaired tom straightened. “We defeated what little resistance there was and took control of the village easily. Every human there is either gone or a prisoner. There were no casualties on our side.” “You see?” Black Blood purred lightheartedly. “And this village was equipped with a police force—small though it was. Please, come down with me and Mist Rise to see our work. Then maybe you’ll have more faith in your tribe.” “Ah— well, um— you know what? I believe you. Yeah,” Talon stammered. “So, uh, I’d rather pass on that. I’ll just take your word for it—”
Several dozen rows of bulky motorcycles were lined up together—although “motorcycles” didn’t quite seem to fit the description. They looked more like weapons on wheels than bikes. The frames were large and bulky, fenders thick with green and brown-patterned armor. The wheels were enormous, obviously made for rough terrain. Zane felt his stomach sink when his gaze roved over the sleek rocket launchers equipped to the sides of each bike. “What is it?” Little Leaf joined him. “I thought we were— oh.” She stared at the motorcycles. “Apparently your tribe has been evolving in its technology,” Zane murmured. She cast him a startled look. “I— I didn’t know. I don’t think any cats knew—or many, anyway…” “It seems that Black Blood keeps many secrets from her tribe when convenient,” he muttered. Something rustled from the hangar. On instinct, Zane whipped around and crouched down behind a couple of fuel barrels. Hastily Leaf joined him. Carefully, they both peered at the hangar from their hiding place. A tuxedo-pelted nekomata entered the hangar from an outer door. As he walked in, he transformed into a human state: a young man with dark eyes and a short mop of black hair. The werecat turned to a workbench and—to Zane’s puzzlement—tied a leather work apron over his outfit and slid matching goggles over his head with remarkable familiarity. As far as Zane knew, none of the Moon Tribe had ever taken to wearing human clothing, aside from Eagle Talon when he’d been disguised. He and Leaf watched as the man brought out a tool box and began rummaging through it. Whereas the Moon Tribe guards acted stiff and irritable nearby, this one acted comfortable in his environment—clearly, he’d been here for a while. “Do you know who that is?” Zane whispered. Leaf’s eyes narrowed in concentration. “No… wait— no, yes! I think I do. Spark… Pelt. Spark Pelt. Yeah.” She blinked. “Wow. I haven’t seen him in a while. I almost didn’t recognize his scent. He was one of the cats who’d been sent away seasons ago for some ‘special duties’ that no cat would tell us kits about.”
Several dozen rows of bulky motorcycles were lined up together—although “motorcycles” didn’t quite seem to fit the description. They looked more like weapons on wheels than bikes. The frames were large and bulky, fenders thick with green and brown-patterned armor. The wheels were enormous, obviously made for rough terrain. Zane felt his stomach sink when his gaze roved over the sleek rocket launchers equipped to the sides of each bike. “What is it?” Little Leaf joined him. “I thought we were— oh.” She stared at the motorcycles. “Apparently your tribe has been evolving in its technology,” Zane murmured. She cast him a startled look. “I— I didn’t know. I don’t think any cats knew—or many, anyway…” “It seems that Black Blood keeps many secrets from her tribe when convenient,” he muttered. Something rustled from the hangar. On instinct, Zane whipped around and crouched down behind a couple of fuel barrels. Hastily Leaf joined him. Carefully, they both peered at the hangar from their hiding place. A tuxedo-pelted nekomata entered the hangar from an outer door. As he walked in, he transformed into a human state: a young man with dark eyes and a short mop of black hair. The werecat turned to a workbench and—to Zane’s puzzlement—tied a leather work apron over his outfit and slid matching goggles over his head with remarkable familiarity. As far as Zane knew, none of the Moon Tribe had ever taken to wearing human clothing, aside from Eagle Talon when he’d been disguised. He and Leaf watched as the man brought out a tool box and began rummaging through it. Whereas the Moon Tribe guards acted stiff and irritable nearby, this one acted comfortable in his environment—clearly, he’d been here for a while. “Do you know who that is?” Zane whispered. Leaf’s eyes narrowed in concentration. “No… wait— no, yes! I think I do. Spark… Pelt. Spark Pelt. Yeah.” She blinked. “Wow. I haven’t seen him in a while. I almost didn’t recognize his scent. He was one of the cats who’d been sent away seasons ago for some ‘special duties’ that no cat would tell us kits about.”
*snip* “Do you know who that is?” Zane whispered. Leaf’s eyes narrowed in concentration. “No… wait— no, yes! I think I do. Spark… Pelt. Spark Pelt. Yeah.” She blinked. “Wow. I haven’t seen him in a while. I almost didn’t recognize his scent. He was one of the cats who’d been sent away seasons ago for some ‘special duties’ that no cat would tell us kits about.”
“Hm.” Zane’s gaze roved away from the hangar and to the side door. It was so close… if only Spark Pelt would turn his back to the entrance for a few seconds. “Hi, Spark Pelt!” a new voice called cheerfully. Zane ducked again when another werecat entered, this time from the entrance by which Zane and Leaf were hiding. This one was in the shape of a lean teenage girl whose dark brown hair reached only to her shoulders. A thick leather baldric was slung over her shoulders from which a sleek clearstone sword dangled at her back. A couple of dainty bracelets were wrapped around her wrists, from which hung some small gray objects that looked suspiciously like animal bones. The young man looked up from the toolbox. “Hello, Wolf Paw,” he responded with a smile. “Done with your patrol?” “It’s so boring,” the girl groaned, although Zane thought he detected good humor in her tone. Her back was to him and Little Leaf. “I decided to quit early. Don’t tell my mentor, though.” Spark Pelt chuckled. “Your secret’s safe with me.” He continued rummaging through the toolbox. Wolf Paw tilted her head and joined him at the wooden table. “What’cha doin’?” “Looking for the socket wrench. Loud Bird was being a mouse-brain and decided to try to ride one of these bikes off a ramp he made out of cardboard boxes,” Spark Pelt muttered, still pushing things around in the box. “He ended up halfway through the kitchen wall with one wheel nearly wrenched out of the front fender. I just spent the whole afternoon trying to put that bike back together.” Wolf Paw laughed. “I saw that happen. That was so funny, Loud Bird stumbling out of that wreck with his fur all bristled up and dusty from tearing down the wall!” She tilted her head again. “I didn’t really understand the rest of what you said, though.” “You’ll get used to the human terms we use around here.” He glanced up at her. “How long have you been here?” “About a month.” “Thought so.” Spark Pelt seemed to be stifling a grin. “You’re as small as a kit.” “Am not! You’re not even much taller than me!” Her amber eyes widened indignantly.
“I’m kidding!” He held out his gloved hands in a defensive state, smiling gently. “It’s not often we get young cats here, though. Especially students.” “Black Blood herself chose me for this assignment.” Wolf Paw straightened up proudly. “She told my mentor that my hunting and stamina would do really well here, what with keeping the humans in line.” “I’ve seen you with the sword. You’re pretty handy with it,” he remarked. The two werecats continued talking idly. Zane found himself wishing he could stay so he could learn more about the werecat who seemed to know enough about the human world to repair a damaged motorcycle, but they didn’t have time for that. They are distracted. If I am going to get to the door, now is the time. Slowly, he stood up, keeping his eyes on the young werecats. Their backs were to him. Stepping lightly, Zane stepped into the light and started for the door that stood a mere ten feet away. Little Leaf followed. “Hey!” He whirled around to find Wolf Paw glaring at him. “What are you doing? Get back to work—!” She peered closer at him, then gasped. “Wha—? He’s made of metal!” A startled voice rumbled from the catwalks. Zane felt his heart sink—but he wasn’t about to back down so easily. “Ice!” He shot a blast into the hangar. Wolf Paw’s eyes bulged in astonishment, yet she reacted quickly and dodged out of the way. Spark Pelt, on the other hand, was struck in the shoulder and thrown off his feet. The force flung him against the motorcycle closest to him with a loud crash added by his yowl of shock. He struggled to pick himself up, but found ice completely encasing his shoulder to his elbow. “Help!” The word itself was pleading, but the way it came out of Wolf Paw was in a furious snarl. She yanked her sword out of her sheath and got into a fighting stance, amber eyes narrowed at Zane. “We’re being attacked!” Shouts rang above them. Feline figures raced toward them, growling. Within seconds they were becoming surrounded by the Moon Tribe warriors. Zane and Little Leaf shared a look of dismay. “Ohh, mouse dung,” they chorused together.
“Hm.” Zane’s gaze roved away from the hangar and to the side door. It was so close… if only Spark Pelt would turn his back to the entrance for a few seconds. “Hi, Spark Pelt!” a new voice called cheerfully. Zane ducked again when another werecat entered, this time from the entrance by which Zane and Leaf were hiding. This one was in the shape of a lean teenage girl whose dark brown hair reached only to her shoulders. A thick leather baldric was slung over her shoulders from which a sleek clearstone sword dangled at her back. A couple of dainty bracelets were wrapped around her wrists, from which hung some small gray objects that looked suspiciously like animal bones. The young man looked up from the toolbox. “Hello, Wolf Paw,” he responded with a smile. “Done with your patrol?” “It’s so boring,” the girl groaned, although Zane thought he detected good humor in her tone. Her back was to him and Little Leaf. “I decided to quit early. Don’t tell my mentor, though.” Spark Pelt chuckled. “Your secret’s safe with me.” He continued rummaging through the toolbox. Wolf Paw tilted her head and joined him at the wooden table. “What’cha doin’?” “Looking for the socket wrench. Loud Bird was being a mouse-brain and decided to try to ride one of these bikes off a ramp he made out of cardboard boxes,” Spark Pelt muttered, still pushing things around in the box. “He ended up halfway through the kitchen wall with one wheel nearly wrenched out of the front fender. I just spent the whole afternoon trying to put that bike back together.” Wolf Paw laughed. “I saw that happen. That was so funny, Loud Bird stumbling out of that wreck with his fur all bristled up and dusty from tearing down the wall!” She tilted her head again. “I didn’t really understand the rest of what you said, though.” “You’ll get used to the human terms we use around here.” He glanced up at her. “How long have you been here?” “About a month.” “Thought so.” Spark Pelt seemed to be stifling a grin. “You’re as small as a kit.” “Am not! You’re not even much taller than me!” Her amber eyes widened indignantly.
Hol' up a second. Wolf Paw? I think I know who she is.
“Hm.” Zane’s gaze roved away from the hangar and to the side door. It was so close… if only Spark Pelt would turn his back to the entrance for a few seconds. “Hi, Spark Pelt!” a new voice called cheerfully. Zane ducked again when another werecat entered, this time from the entrance by which Zane and Leaf were hiding. This one was in the shape of a lean teenage girl whose dark brown hair reached only to her shoulders. A thick leather baldric was slung over her shoulders from which a sleek clearstone sword dangled at her back. A couple of dainty bracelets were wrapped around her wrists, from which hung some small gray objects that looked suspiciously like animal bones. The young man looked up from the toolbox. “Hello, Wolf Paw,” he responded with a smile. “Done with your patrol?” *snip*
Hol' up a second. Wolf Paw? I think I know who she is.
Lloyd, Nya, Jay, Cole, and Liana were gathered atop a rocky hill that overlooked the dark quarry. It was there when they heard the commotion: people yelling, cats growling. There was a clash of metal against metal, and human voices began to scream. Jay’s eyes quirked above his half-mask. He turned to Lloyd. “That sounds like our cue.” Lloyd groaned, “Great. This wasn’t the plan! It was supposed to be a stealth mission! First Zane and Little Leaf find a way to let us inside, then we’d—!” “We don’t have time to whine about the plan!” Cole exclaimed beside him. “We have to find a way to get inside!” “But how?” Lloyd demanded. “There are still guards running around outside! If they slow us down, we could be too late!” “We’d also be too late if we do nothing but stand up here arguing about what we should do!” Nya snapped. “Oh, so you have an idea?” Cole retorted. “No, but—!” she sputtered. Jay broke in. “There’re some skylights there!” He pointed to the rooftop of the largest warehouse; sure enough, when the other ninja peered through the darkness, they could make out a few pale, square shapes standing out against the black silhouette. Before anyone could say anything, Jay leapt off of the cliffside with a loud whoop; a bright blue Airjitzu vortex appeared around him and lifted him into the sky. “Ninjaaa, go!” Cole and Nya looked to Lloyd, who gave them a nod. Lloyd and Nya summoned their Airjitzu vortexes at the same time with echoing cries of “Ninjaaa—GO!” Meanwhile Cole took Liana’s hand and asked her, “Ready?” Without a word, Liana let him heft her into his arms. Hoping her weight wouldn’t imbalance him, Cole ran off the ground and flew into the air behind his teammates; he and Liana were quickly enveloped in his dark gold and amber-colored Airjitzu vortex and thrust into the night sky.
“The humans’ warrior force?” Mist Rise responded. “We cut off all forms of communication. Thanks to a few spies, we’ve established what the humans use to contact for help these days. Our strongest warriors have taken down the power lines, stations, the vehicles, and even a few horses in order to keep any one of them from contacting Ninjago City.” “Well done, Mist Rise,” Black Blood spoke. Eagle Talon looked to see she had shifted into her human form. The wind blowing made her dark blue-green cloak wave in the breeze, as well as the matching robes pooling at her bare feet. She lifted her head to speak again, and the breeze played with a few locks of her ink-black hair as she did. “Very effective work. Continue like this, and you just might rank up to become my successor.” Successor? Surprised, Eagle Talon cast the other tom a quick glance. This rank meant that when Black Blood died, whoever she had appointed as her successor would be the next leader of the Moon Tribe. It was typically a cat the leader trusted very much and was rather close to. This was the first time since her crowning ceremony that she ever publicly mentioned appointing a successor. Mist Rise’s eyes widened slightly at this, but his expression otherwise was unreadable. He merely dipped his head low and replied, “Thank you, Black Blood.” For the first time, a small smile curled Black Blood’s red lips. “Well, let’s get this party started now, shall we?” With that, she started down the hill toward the little town. Swallowing, Eagle Talon made his body shift into his human form. When he stood up he glanced at Mist Rise to see if he too would shift, but the gray and brown tabby remained in his bakeneko body and followed Black Blood, ignoring Talon. Talon joined them, shivering in the breeze. It felt much colder without a fur coat covering one’s body.
No, not the horses! They really are evil. And I hope the police are ok.
Talon was sure he had never felt so sick in his life. Yet he readjusted his grip on the sword. He closed his eyes. Just do it, he told himself. You did it to Matilda, you can do it to them. Do it quickly, for their sake. He opened his eyes—and nearly dropped the sword. The two little boys had changed their physical appearance entirely. The hair on both their heads was longer and darker, ink-black now. Their wide frightened eyes were now a bright green color. When Talon gazed down at the older one, he felt as if he were looking into some mirror of the past. The older one looked like a copy of Talon himself when he was a small child. An electric shock seemed to run down Talon’s body. He whipped his gaze down at the younger boy, and felt his heart skip a beat. The younger boy closely resembled Cole. He blinked. Once, twice. He looked again. Without a sound nor movement, the human boys had returned to how they looked before. For a split second Talon wondered if they too were shape-shifters, until he realized how ridiculous that was. Besides, if they were shape-shifters, why would they look so much like himself and Cole when they were children? His heart was hammering against his ribcage. He looked upon them again. The human boys remained huddled before him. The older one had his arms wrapped protectively around his little brother. His expression was terrified, but he stared back up at Talon, as if daring him to do what Black Blood had ordered him to. Like a thin ray of sunlight peeping through mist, it finally dawned on Eagle Talon. It wasn’t a trick. It was a vision—a vision induced by fear of the moment or from sleepless nights of dark dreams, he couldn’t say. Yet it was a vision of Eagle Talon and Cole as children—or, more specifically, what they’d needed to be. Reminders of the importance of family from Silver Mist ran through Talon’s mind, and he nearly choked.
Wow, these past few parts have been absolutely chilling. O.O
Talon took a shuddering breath before speaking. “You talk about taking care of the tribe; making us stronger, making living easier. But you seem to always connect prosperity to vengeance.” He gestured at the half-destroyed buildings around them. “Is this making us stronger? Bullying innocent villagers? Murdering their children? Destroying their homes?” “It’s no less what the Sons and Daughters did to us in the Red Battle,” she retorted coldly. “This is justice. By taking vengeance, we are taking back our former strength and ensuring the next generations of warriors will have a home to fight for. To make us all happier, better warriors.” “This is making us better warriors? Destruction is making us better warriors?” Talon rolled his hands into fists. “You’re sending good warriors into more and more human villages and towns, where they’re wounded and sometimes destroyed, and they’re told it’s for the good of their tribe. You’ve been training students at a younger age than our ancestors’ laws decree, just so they can join their mentors in the battles—which the ancient laws never said they should do in the first place!” “Our numbers are growing few, so we need to train our students faster and more efficiently,” she said. “You train our kits to end humans in cold blood and to hate every creature outside our own tribe,” he argued, “when what you should be doing is training them how to find food for their weaker tribe-mates, and to find plentiful territory that doesn’t belong to anyone!” “There is no territory left!” Black Blood cried. “That is why we must hunt the humans. When we show all in Ninjago City our true strength, they will be too scared to take revenge, and justice will be ours. No more kittens will starve to death.” “But at what cost?” her brother pressed. “The end of hundreds of innocent humans?” Black Blood snarled, “They are not innocent! They almost destroyed us in the Red Battle, unfairly and outside any species’ law!” “No—that was the Sons and Daughters, the Elemental Masters who did that,” Talon snapped back. “But are you going after the ninja to take vengeance?” “Yes!” she snapped.
![[derp]](http://storage.proboards.com/6672327/images/YqNTPqyQUocVMYXZgUAI.png)
Wolf Paw? I think I know who she is. ![[lenny]](http://storage.proboards.com/6672327/images/7elNEqtPK2hcSAiIMFNh.png)
And I hope the police are ok. 
