Jay's Wild Transformation

The sun was beginning to set as the group of four ninjas left the Mega Amusement Park, a large smile etched onto Nya's face. Jay had done well today, and as they wandered down the street towards their apartment, he felt even better about himself. He was walking next to Nya, his arm wrapped around her waist as she leaned into him. Behind them Kai and Zane walked side by side, talking about some game they played in high school that Jay didn't have any idea what they were talking about. They'd all decided to take a break from saving the world after defeating Samukai and his army of ghosts who had taken over Ninjago City.

"Well guys, we're almost home," Kai said as they turned onto their street. The park was only a couple blocks away from their apartment, so it would be easy for Jay to walk home alone afterwards. They watched as Nya pulled away from Jay and started walking with Kai and Zane, leaving him behind to walk home by himself. He smiled at her retreating form before turning around, walking up his building, and stepping inside. As he ascended the stairs to his floor, he couldn't stop smiling. If this is how I'm going to feel every time I go on a date with Nya, then this is something I can do every day! He thought happily as he reached his door and stepped inside. His smile immediately dropped when he saw Nya sitting on the couch, tears streaming down her face as she looked at something in her hands.

"N-N-N-Ny-y-y-y-a?" He asked hesitantly, trying not to startle her as he stared at her back. Her body went rigid at his voice before she turned around and looked at him with tear-filled eyes. She stood up and walked towards him slowly with outstretched arms; Jay immediately wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close to him as she buried her face into his chest.

"Jay? Oh gods! Can you ever forgive me? I just don't know what happened!" She said through sobs as she held onto him tightly, afraid that he might disappear if she let go. He felt his heart breaking in two as he heard her words; guilt flooded through him as he realized that whatever it was she thought happened while they were out may not be entirely wrong.

"It's okay... It's okay... Just tell me what happened." He whispered in her ear; pulling back slightly so he could look down at her. Tears still streamed down her cheeks, but there was a small smile on her lips now which gave him hope that whatever it was wasn't too bad. She took a deep breath before stepping back from him slightly, wiping at her face with the sleeve of her shirt before taking another deep breath. She opened her mouth to speak but stopped herself halfway through when she noticed Jay's neck; eyes widening in shock when she saw a small bite mark on the base of his neck near where his shirt collar ended that was encrusted with dried blood that had bled down onto his shirt collar. She looked up at him with wide eyes before bending over slightly and examining the bite further.

"I think this bite mark looks... Familiar," she said slowly, squinting at the small wound as though it revealed critical information about their day at the park. "Can you show me the rest of your chest?" She asked suddenly, startling Jay badly enough for him to jump backward and knock over a lamp before running for cover under his bed, scared out of his mind. Nya ignored his strange reaction and focused on the bite mark, considering its implications.

As Jay lay under the bed, his thoughts raced in a panicked loop, throwing him into an anxious haze. The chaotic thoughts continued to spiral until he was yanked back to reality by Nya's voice yelling his name. Startled, he looked over and saw her standing there, looking concerned.

"I don't know what happened either, but we'll figure it out together," she reassured him as he emerged from under the bed and they embraced once more. The couple knew that they might be facing something dangerous, but they took solace in the fact that they were together, and as a team, they could overcome any challenge.