Work Text:
Cole made sure that he closed all of the windows, put his hood on and left the house. This time he brought a bigger basket, so all of the berries would've fit in it, unlike it was the previous time. He had to carry most of the berries in his hands because of how small the basket was. Once he checked the door was closed, he smiled to himself and was about to leave when he heard a weird noise. Only when it became louder, the boy realised it was a cat.
"Hey there, buddy. You came back?" the cat leaned into his touch when Cole kneeled in front of it and started petting its head. The cat then fell on his back, making the ninja in front of him laugh. "You can come with me, pal. What do you say?"
Although the cat didn't really understand what his owner was saying, he still jumped on the boy's shoulder. "That's better. Lets get some food," with that, they started leaving into the depth of the forest.
Cole didn't really have an idea how did he end up in such place, considering that he had never been here before. The last thing he remembered was him and his friends trying to stop the merge, or whatever this thing was called, and then there was a loud crash. After that, Cole woke up. All alone, surrounded by trees, the black ninja was terrified. He didn't know where his friends were and were they even okay. He tried to get out of this place, but with each step the only thing he could find was more and more trees. The boy was starving, didn't have a proper shower and a normal sleep for a few days. He was tired and some self-care would be really nice if you asked him.
He was so close to giving up when he finally saw something that looked like an actual house. Without any hesitation, Cole ran up to it and started knocking in, however, he didn't get any answer. Once he realised there was no one inside, he tried to open the door by himself, but to his surprise it wasn't even locked. Anyone could come in here.
The black ninja hummed but still stepped inside, due to the lack of strength. He looked around. The first thing he noticed was how empty it was in here. There was no sign that this place belonged to someone. After he checked all the rooms and didn't find anyone, Cole thought he could've stayed here for a while, at least until he got enough sleep.
He grabbed some new clothes that he found in the wardrobe, being surprised it was even his size, and decided to first fix the lock on the front door. Despite being sure that no one will come inside because there was no soul around, a little safety never harmed anyone. With that, Cole got to work. He was done in less than fifteen minutes. Thanks to years of repairing the vehicles for their battles, it didn't take him too long to fix something like that. Cole felt his own eyes slowly closing, which was a great excuse to finally fall asleep. He didn't know anything about the place he woke up in, where were his friends and how could he possibly get out of here, so he thought that he could think about all of it when he wakes up. Little did Black know he wouldn't go anywhere after his well-deserved sleep.
He didn't know how long he has been sleeping, he kind of lost the track of time and couldn't tell the difference between day and night anymore, however, he still woke up after hearing some weird noise. It was so close that Cole could tell it was somewhere in this room. Although he checked literally everything, he still couldn't tell where did the noise come from. Only when it repeated again, the master of earth froze and turned to the window. He slowly walked up to it and looked on the outside, his eyes immediately widening at what he saw. On the roof was a little scared cat. Cole couldn't tell how old it was, but he would give it few days at last.
The black ninja quickly climbed on the top of the roof, trying not to scare the poor thing that looked like it was fighting for his life. "Hey there, little fella," Cole smiled and held out his hand. It seemed to confuse the cat. "I'm not here to hurt you, I promise. You can trust me. C'mon, lets get out of here, okay?"
The animal still seemed to not trust him enough, however, the kitten finally jumped on Cole's hand, the boy immediately petted his head gently to show that he was no threat. After it finally stopped shaking in his hand, Cole got back into the house. The noriette didn't really know what cats ate, and he wasn't sure he could've found the right food in here, but the black ninja thought that the cat wouldn't mind any type of food as long as it was something eatable. The poor thing must've been really hungry.
Watching the kitten slowly getting back his strength while eating vegetables Cole cut for it, the ninja sat next to him and smiled at it. He wanted it to stay. "How about you will be my new family, huh? I'm struggling to find my actual family, and I don't think I'll ever find them, but maybe you could've kept me company? It's always nice to have someone around, you know."
Sure thing, the cat didn't understand a single word and just kept eating. Though Cole doubted he would want to leave this place. "Then it's a deal, Cole Jr."
Since then, Cole and his so-called son were stuck to each other like glue. Whenever Cole was training, the cat was immediately here, running around or just lying next to the place were Cole was training. When Cole ate or went to sleep, the kitten always laid next to him. If we are talking about cleaning the entire house, Cole Jr. was following the noriette around like a tail. Of course, Cole had never dared to complain.
Right now the two of them were picking the berries. Cole found this place not a long time ago. The berries here were growing by themselves, and even tho he didn't really know the consequences of eating something like this, the ninja didn't really have much of a choice when it came to food. Surprisingly, he felt nothing weird after eating them, so he decided to just go with it and kept coming back here from time to time.
The kitten jumped off his shoulder and started chasing the butterflies, which made Cole chuckle. Such an adorable sight, he thought. The noriette kept picking the berries, the basket in his hand was slowly becoming full. He didn't even notice how in few minutes he was surrounded by bunch of different birds, squirrels and bunnies. He looked up, blinking at the sight. They all looked curious while staring at him, though Cole doubt he looked different himself. He had no idea so many animals lived in here, he had a thought that this place was kind of dead.
"I think the universe just doesn't want me to go nuts and isn't a fan of me talking to myself, so it sends me different creatures I can talk to, doesn't it?" the black ninja chuckled and looked at the basket. It was already full of strawberries, blueberries and other different kind of berries. He sighed and sat on the big rock, noticing a little brooklet.
The animals all around him just kept staring at the ninja. He chuckled again and tightened the grip of the hairpin that held his bun. "You know, you kinda remind me of my friends. Or I'm just slowly losing my mind by being here alone for so long," Cole sighed and threw the rock in the brooklet, making few birds fly away. "Sorry."
He looked on his right side, noticing a red bird. One of her eyes was scarred. Cole held out his hand, letting the bird climb on it, as he smiled. "You remind me of one of my friends. Kai Smith. He had the same scar on his eyebrow and had a bandaid on his forehead. He never told me how did he get it though, but I assume it's because of some of his impulsive decisions that he used to make," the black ninja laughed at the thought of an old friend.
Ever since he got here, he had never stopped thinking about his friends. Furthermore, he wanted to know where they were. he wanted to see them all again. He missed the times when they all lived in the monastery and were safe and sound. Cole tried to learn more about the merge and the whole thing, but he had no idea how when there was no books about it. He tried to find a way out from this place but each time ended with a disappointment. Cole was stuck in here, and he had no idea if he ever gonna see his family again.
Black wondered how his dad was doing. Was he even alive? He already lost his mother, he wouldn't be able to live with a thought that he lost his dad, too. He would never forgive himself for not saving him.
Cole shook his head to get away from sad thoughts when he felt something or someone punching him in the back. Only then he realised that the birds and other animals were pushing the boy somewhere. He raised an eyebrow in question while still standing up on his legs. "And what do you all think you are doing?"
But of course, he didn't get any answer. However, the noriette had nothing to lose, so he obeyed and followed the crowd full of animals that seemed to lead him somewhere. By that time, the cat was already back on Cole's shoulder as the two of them were going after birds. Cole was about to question the sudden change of plans again when he spotted something. The place looked like a field, full of so many different flowers. The noriette swore he had never seen a place like this.
The animals all around him started nudging him to come closer and take a better look, so Cole obeyed once again. As he was stepping closer, the earth elemental couldn't help but gasp at the sight. It was indeed the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. To his own surprise, there was no trees. Only flowers.
The black ninja flopped on the ground and giggled when he was once again surrounded by animals that took him here. An idea came to his mind, so the boy started collecting different flowers.
"Hey! Drop it! It's not eatable!" Cole frowned as he talked to the cat who only proudly looked away and continued eating. When the animal coughed and spitted the flower out, the black ninja rolled his eyes. He continued picking flowers until he got the amount he needed.
Without realising, Cole started singing a song. Being ashamed of his vocal skills and his failed musical past, Cole never dared to sing in front of other people. However, right now he was all alone, the only ones who were around him were animals. Out of everyone, they would never judge him for the way he sang. At least he hoped so.
The ninja was humming at first that soon turned into a song his mother used to sing to him when he was younger. Cole couldn't help the smile that was dancing in the corner of his lips as he kept singing. Meanwhile, the boy was weaving a wreath of flowers. Another thing his mother taught him when he was a kid. Cole kept picking more and more flowers, in the end taking a look at the thing he created. It may looked a bit weird in some places, but overall he did a good job.
He suddenly remembered the time when he and Kai escaped from the monastery at night not a long time ago and went to the field. They didn't know exactly what they were doing, but it felt like a right thing to do. They have just defeated Overlord and were slowly getting his powers back. Cole smiled at the memory, a single tear escaped from him that he quickly wiped away. The world should've stopped separating them from each other. It's been so long.
Being too drown in his thoughts, Cole didn't even notice how the wreath was put on his head by few birds. The noriette giggled. He felt like one of those Disney princesses from the movies he used to watch as a kid. He had never really thought of himself as a princess too, but it was a nice reference.
Cole leaned into the touch of the cat that was now back on his shoulder. He was still surrounded by birds and other animals. It made him smile a lot. Even tho he was separated from his actual family, having some company, especially now, was really nice. Ninja never quit, and so won't he.