***Welcome to "Untamed", all! This book has a playlist, just like the Kailor story. For new readers, I give you a possible music cue within each chapter. Um...that should be all. Hope ya like ;) ***

***(Lloyd's POV)***

Two Months Earlier

Nya sits beside me in the Earth Drill, looking out her window miserably. I can't help but laugh.

"Cheer up, Nya. I'm sure you're not missing much at this party." I mean, seriously, she's so sheltered by Kai. She wouldn't believe half the stuff that goes on at these shindigs.

She buries her face in her hands. "But Skylor said it would be fun. And I've never been to a party, Lloyd, so I personally think I'm missing out on a lot."

"Not really. Unless you want to see kids shimmying down a Slip n' Slide greased with alcohol, that is." Okay, that's a bit dramatic, but somebody's got to protect this girl's innocence.

***Music Cue***

The music blares a new tune, and Nya perks up. "Skylor let me listen to this song the other day," she says excitedly.

"I honestly don't know how you haven't heard it before." I mean, it's a classic.

She unlatches her seatbelt, and I grab her arm.

"Where do you think you're going?" I ask cautiously.

"Well, Jay showed me this cool dance game when he and Cole went out with me the other day."

I frown. "I still can't believe you essentially went on a double-date."

"I did not!" she blushes. "We just hung out. But the point is, Lloyd, I'm dying to try some of my new moves out."

"Bad idea," I warn her. "If Kai sees you, he'll kill you." Not to mention, she probably will be scarred for life when she sees a couple making out or something.

"Oh, come on! I'll just be in and out." She wrenches out of my grip and throws open her door.

"Nya, wait up!" I call, struggling to get out of the car. "Stupid...seatbelt!"

By the time I make it out of the Earth Drill, she has a huge lead on me. I see her run for a group of people, and I know there's no possible way I'll find her in the intoxicated, sweaty throng of dancing teenagers.

"Nya, stop!" I yell.

Too late.

She's gone.

"Great," I sigh, following her trail.

I try to look over the crowd. It's not hard, given that I'm six foot two.

I spot Cole talking with someone off in the corner. Is that...Kai?

Oh, great. He's going to kill me and the team for letting her get away.

If I could only find out where –

Everything stops in my head when I see a small crowd gathering. In the center is Nya, who's dancing...really well. Like, I'm her best friend, and I had no idea she could be so...weirdly cute.

I am not okay with this.

Kai makes eye contact with me across the crowd, and I nod slightly. We're going to get her out of here.

I worm my way toward the front of the group. That's when I hear a piercing scream and the one word that always sets me in action.

"Help!"

I look back. If someone really needs my help...I guess there are more pressing matters than Nya shaking her butt in front of a bunch of teenage boys.

Kai yells something to me across the crowd, and even though I can't hear him, I know he's asking what in Ninjago I'm doing.

"Someone's in trouble!" I call back.

Without waiting for a response, I duck back between the mass of bodies and gravitate toward the screams. Once I finally worm my way out, I break into a run.

The cries are coming from the water.

Somebody's drowning.

I rush into the ocean, slowed by the gentle lapping of the waves. The distress calls sound like they're about twenty-five feet out. Who would be stupid enough to go swimming that far out at night, without training or any sort of a good reason?

As soon as the water's deep enough, I swim toward the feminine cries. They become quieter and quieter, and it's harder and harder for me to locate the source.

"Is anyone out here?" I shout, trying not to panic.

There's a splash just a few feet away.

Whoever it is, is going under.

I immediately reach for the source, and my hands connect with flesh. The person weakly grabs at my arm.

If the victim had any more strength, she might pull us both under.

I wrap my hands around her shoulders and try to pull her head above water, but she struggles against me. She ends up pulling herself further under.

She takes me with her.

I hold my breath, wrapping my arms around her torso. I keep her arms captive so she can't flail around so much.

Then, I kick my legs and rise toward the surface.

She goes limp in my arms.

Oh, no.

It only takes a moment for us to reach the top, and I grasp her arms, suspending her head so she doesn't breathe more saltwater. I clutch her to me as I paddle back toward shore.

My mind goes over the steps for CPR again and again. Check her breathing when we get to shore. If she fails to breathe within ten seconds, begin chest compressions. After thirty of those, administer two rescue breaths, then see if she revives.

"Please don't give up on me," I huff. "We're almost to shore." In fact, we're close enough that I can touch the bottom. I stand in the waist-height water, holding her against me and sloshing toward the shore.

"Hold on just a moment more," I instruct. I have no idea if she can actually hear me, but it puts my mind at rest.

Just a few more feet...

We hit dry sand, and I dump her on shore, falling to my knees next to her. I press on her moist stomach, and water spews out of her mouth.

"Come on!" I yell. "Cough! Breathe!"

Oh, great. I place my hands at her breastbone and begin chest compressions.

"What happened?" someone asks. The question registers somewhere in the back of my head.

I don't respond to the inquiry. "Call for emergency help!" I yell.

"I'll do it, Lloyd," says the voice of Kai.

I tilt the girl's head back, pressing my lips to hers. I can taste the alcohol as I breathe for her.

I sit back after two breaths, listening for any sort of response from her lungs.

Nothing.

I repeat the cycle, focusing on only the girl below me and making sure she survives.

She doesn't react to my ministrations.

"You have to breathe!" I plead, starting over.

Nary a movement results.

"How is she?" Kai asks.

"Not breathing yet," I growl. "I seriously hope the emergency help gets here soon!"

Thirty compressions, tilt the head back, two breaths in, check for a –

Her chest rises and falls. Once, twice, three times.

She's alive.

I press my forehead against hers, sighing in relief. "You're okay," I whisper. "You're going to be just fine."

Kai's voice is horrified. "Do you need me to take a turn, Lloyd? We can't stop – "

"No," I pant. "It's okay. She started breathing again."

I comb my fingers through her stringy hair, styled by saltwater. It's as pale as the moon in the darkened sky.

She begins to cough a little.

"Can you hear me?" I ask.

She nods a little, lifting her head off the ground. "What happened?" she slurs.

"You were drowning," I explain. "Why were you out so far?"

She doesn't answer me, instead studying my face. "Who are you?"

"I'm Lloyd. And you are?"

"Harumi," she smiles softly, laying her head back down. "You're cute."

I shake my head, grinning. "Unimportant. Next time, just please don't go out swimming that far at night. Especially when you've had something to drink."

"I never resist a dare," she mumbles.

"Okay. Can you resist a dare, if it means you don't get killed?"

"I didn't get killed this time."

Sirens fill my ears, and she leaps off the beach. It's more of a stagger, and I steady her with a hand, helping her sit back down.

"No, not the police," she moans.

"Easy. Help is here to make sure you're okay."

She grasps my shirt collar, her brown eyes staring into mine. "They'll find out I've been drinking."

"I can't help that, Harumi. They need to assess you for injuries." I feel a little...off-balance when she's this close.

She looks angry, but her expression morphs into a coy smile. "Help me up?"

"Okay?" I extend my hands for her to take.

She tries, then dramatically falls back to the ground. "Carry me," she whines.

I roll my eyes, but can't help a small smile. "You're needy."

"And you're hot. You should give me your number."

"Thanks, but...I'm not really into that kind of thing." Boy, this girl has had a little too much alcohol.

She pouts her bottom lip. "But what if I need you to save me again?"

"That shouldn't happen unless you recklessly try night swimming while drunk again."

She shrugs. "You never know with me."

I sigh. If it'll get this girl to stop bothering me, and keep her from getting killed in the future...

"Fine, you can have my number. Only after you get checked out, though."

"What a bummer. But at least we can stay in touch. I'd like that." She exhales contentedly and nestles into my arms.

I chuckle. "You like playing games." Absently, my hand strays to tuck a pale lock behind her ear.

"You think I'm adorable, don't you?" she says, batting her eyelashes.

My eyes are drawn to the move. "Maybe, but that's not important. We need to make sure you're all right."

Her wink is slow. "I knew I liked you."

***Okay, that's all for now. Chapter 1 should either be out later today or tomorrow. Remember that chapter updates will average out to one per day for this fanfic; they may not necessarily be posted every day.

Lemme know what you think! :) Thanks for reading!***