#winter resting

Kai woke up and sat up from his bed. He was feeling a little itchy but ignored it. He got up, and he changed into his gi. He went to the kitchen, made himself toast, ate it, and went outside to the training yard. The others were already there. "Took you long enough sleepy head." Nya said. "What do you mean?" Kai asked. "You missed breakfast," Zane answered. "We tried to wake you up, but you didn't respond to anything." "You even slept through Jay's screams." Cole added. "Never mind that now," Wu said. "It's time for training, and you will have to do a few extra minutes here, Kai." "Yes, Master Wu." Kai sighed. Training began. After some time, Kai started to feel itchy again. It was more irritated this time, and it was distracting Kai. He tried to ignore it, but he eventually gave in. He stepped out of the training yard and went inside. "Why am I so itchy?" Kai asked. "Is there something in my gi?" He took off the top part of his gi, but he still felt itchy. The others walked in. "Kai, is there a reason you walked out of training right now?" Wu asked. "I'll do it soon, I'm just trying to find out why I'm itchy." "Itchy?" Nya raised an eyebrow. Kai started to scratch the back and front of his torso. His whole body was itching now. "FSM, what is wrong with me?" Kai asked. "I'll get itching cream." Zane said and went to look for some. Nya bit her lip. She remembered Kai saying that dad would get itchy all over on certain days. Maybe he could help understand what's happening. "I'm going to call mom and dad." Nya said. Sometime later, Ray and Maya came over. "What's wrong with Kai?" Ray asked. "Well, he's super itchy right now, and I remember him telling me how you  get itchy everywhere on certain days." Nya explained. Ray, Maya, and Nya entered the medical room. The other guys were there along with Wu. "Why isn't the cream working?" Kai asked. "I don't know." Zane answered. "You're not feeling less itchy?" Jay asked. "No, Jay, I feel itchier." Kai responded. "Kai," Nya jumped in. "Mom and Dad are here." Kai looked at Maya and Ray. "Hi, Mom," Kai waved. "Hi, Dad." "How are you feeling?" Ray asked as he came over to Kai. "Really itchy and irritated that the stupid itch cream isn't working." Ray thought for a moment then chuckled. "Well, itching cream doesn't work for this kind of situation." "Situation?" You know. Winter Resting. It's one week away before it officially starts, but we half-serpentine always start a week early." Kai blinked. "I'm half serpentine!?" "Wait, you didn't know?" "No!" "I thought Wu told you." "Told me what?" "About Great Grandpa Aarush being serpentine." "What!" Maya looked at Wu then at Ray. "I think we should leave you two to talk about this while I talk with your sister and friends." Maya suggested. Ray nodded, and the others left. Kai looked down. "I'm sorry we didn't tell you sooner," Ray apologized. "I just thought you already knew." "Why didn't anyone say anything?" Kai asked. "Well, you and Nya saw me transform into a serpentine during Winter Resting and shedding. But that is a terrible excuse because granted you both were five and three when we..." Ray sighed. "I don't know why Wu didn't say anything, and you have every right to be mad at me, Wu and your mom." Ray said. "You're letting me be mad at Wu?" Kai questioned. "We didn't tell you neither did he, so you have that right." Kai chuckled then sighed. "I'm scared," Kai said. "What if my friends hate me? What's going to happen to me?" Ray hugged Kai. "You still have us. We're going to help you get through this." Meanwhile, Maya is having a talk with the others after yelling at Wu. "I know this is sudden news," Maya said. "Kai is going to need more care right now, and he needs all of your support." "Of course, we'll support him." Zane said. "You all promise?" Everyone nodded. "Okay," Maya sighed with relief. "So first things first is what is going to happen during the week. Today, Kai will be very itchy. By tomorrow, he'll stop itching but start to slowly turn into serpentine. You'll also have to take him to the Serpentine Market tomorrow." "Why the Serpentine Market?" Cole asked. "Kai is going to need a nest for the rest of winter along with something to do. The nest is a warming bed to him. After tomorrow, he'll work on his nest for the day. Then you have to bring him back to the Serpentine Market for recipes that he wants to eat. After that, the rest of the week is him getting ready for the winter. That means he will be more sleepy." "Is there anything else we should know?" Zane asked. "You might want to write down a few things." So Maya explained Winter Resting and what happens after that. Ray explains the same thing to Kai. "I know it's a lot to take in, especially now," Ray told Kai. "But you always have your mom and me. Plus, we will facetime you every Sunday." Kai nodded. "I'll try to convince Wu to let you take the rest of the week off for training." Ray added. "Thanks, Dad." Kai smiled and hugged Ray. Ray was able to convince Wu to take a break from training, so Kai went to his room. He fell on the bed, sighing. "This is going to be a long winter." Kai told himself.