“I don’t think this is a natural earthquake,” Unagami answered, trying to keep his balance. “I think the tribe may have put in some kind of trap to deal with ruin-robbers!”

“But we’re not robbing the tribe,” Jay protested. Then he realized. “Of course, they don’t know that.”

“We’d better—Oof!” Unagami said as a section of the cave’s ceiling came loose and struck him on the head. He fell to the ground, limp. More rocks continued to rain down around them.

“Hang on, buddy,” Jay said, shutting off the power in one of his hands and scooping up Unagami with it. Then he ran with his friend back to the main chamber, using his powered-up hand to blast away falling debris. Jay saw the stones were getting larger. It wouldn’t be long before the cavern was filled—and hopefully, not while Jay and Unagami were in it!

Jay started up the stairs, and as he did, he remembered just how many stairs there were. But all he could do was run up the steps toward distant daylight, firing lightning bolts that smashed large rocks into smaller rocks, then quickly blasting those rocks before they could injure him or Unagami.

It wasn’t easy. Jay had to keep track of all the falling stones while also maintaining his balance on the stairway, since there was no railing to keep him from falling off the side and taking the long, long drop back into the rock-choked caverns of the tribe! He slipped once or twice, coming perilously close to falling, and small rocks (some slightly bigger than small) that he hadn’t been able to blast pelted him. But he was almost to the surface. He and Unagami were two steps from safety when a massive slab of stone broke loose from the stairway’s ceiling and fell toward them at high speed! Hoping he had enough of a charge left from his lightning powers for a couple last blasts, he smashed the slab in two with one bolt, then pulverized every single piece of debris with a few more! He dashed up the last few steps and collapsed with Unagami in the small clearing. Behind him, he heard a terrible final roar, and when he turned back around, he saw that the entrance to the city was closed—forever.

Jay exhaled deeply…and realized he could still feel his Elemental Power surging through him. He swore to himself that he’d never let go of his True Potential again.

“J-Jay?” He heard a weak voice behind him and turned to see Unagami sitting up, blinking. “What happened?”

“We overstayed our welcome,” Jay replied, pointing to the rock-filled pit that had been the stairway. “But I followed your advice: I saw a flicker of possibility, so I didn’t give in to the darkness. Turns out that even though you’re a kid, you do know a few things. Anyway, I think you should have more than enough material for your game. Are you okay?”

“I think so.” He looked at Jay with delighted astonishment. “You saved me! Just like one brother would do for another…We’ve formed a bond, like I have with my dad! That makes us…family!”

He scampered over and embraced a startled Jay tightly.

Jay was touched, and his voice broke a little when he jokingly replied, “Aw, you’re just a kid. What do you know?”

“Am I interrupting something?” Nya asked, stepping into the clearing from the jungle wearing an amused smile.

Unagami, in mid-hug, turned to beam at her. “Jay and I are brothers!”

“Huh?” Nya became very confused when she realized it was Unagami who was hugging Jay.

Jay stood, gently separating himself from Unagami…but Unagami wouldn’t let go of his hand. Somehow, Jay didn’t really mind.

“It’s a long story…but it ends with me getting my Elemental Power back and feeling a whole lot better about my family”—he smiled down at Unagami—“biological and extended.”

“That’s—that’s great!” Nya said, still perplexed, but thrilled for Jay.

“I’m just glad to see you,” he said. “How did you find me, anyway?”

Nya smiled slyly as she reached around to pluck something off the back of his belt. Then she wiggled a small device in front of his eyes.

“I planted this little tracker on you when I hugged you goodbye,” she said. “I knew you had some things to work out, but I also knew you’d get lost the minute you walked out that door. Your sense of direction is really horrible…. The hotel is just back that way, not very far.”

“We all saved each other,” Unagami cried, turning to Nya. “Now we’re all family! Brother, brother, and sister! Welcome to the family, Nya!”

Nya smiled, still puzzled but happy. “Thank you,” she said. “It’s an honor.”

“This is great,” Unagami exclaimed, taking Nya’s hand. “My family is growing every day!”

As they walked toward the brush, Jay looked over Unagami’s head at Nya.

“Wait. Is my sense of direction really that bad?”

Nya smiled warmly in response. “It’s nice to have you back.”