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I awoke to the rising sun shining into my hut. I sat up, excited for the day ahead. Hopping out of bed I quickly checked in the mirror to be sure my mask was straight and looked over my metallic parts and joints for scrapes or scuffs before zipping toward the door. I grabbed my pack, which was waiting for me there, and my bamboo pole and throwing disk, just as the usual precautionary defenses. I strolled eagerly toward the village gate of Ta-Koro. It was very early and hardly anyone was up, but the guard questioned me and my business before letting me out. I crossed the bridge and soon reached the outer edge of the volcano, where I continued on at a brisk trot, heading inland. I made way through the sunlit forest and admired the beautiful trees and scenery. Soon I reached my destination: A small river, one that ran through the middle of the forest on its way to the sea. I set my pack on the ground and heaved a contented sigh. I found a nice spot to sit beside the river, and set down my bamboo pole and throwing disk there. Then I retrieved my fishing pole and line from the pack, grabbing some bait as well. The critters won't know what hit them. I tossed a determined and confident expression at the river. I wound up my line, attached the bait, and swung the line into the river. Then I sat back to wait. And wait. And wait. Ah, the joy of the hunt. Matoran versus wild, I thought as I began to nod off. My pole was wedged firmly between a stone and my leg, my fingers still coiled around it. After a fine little nap, I awoke feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. Soon I also felt unsuccessful. No tugs on the pole had awaken me, but I drew in the line to be sure. Nothing. The bait was still there. By now it was all soggy, though, so I replaced it before tossing in the line again. Now I sat, wide awake, pole grasped with both hands, and waited eagerly for my first bite. I waited patiently. And waited. And waited. Nothing. I leaned forward and looked into the water, but try as I might I couldn't even catch the glimmer of scales nor a splash of any kind. I sat back. They just aren't out and about today, I suppose. I reeled in the line and cast it again. The minutes passed. There, a ripple! I leaned forward eagerly, only to see a small nut floating in the river. Evidently it had fallen from a tree. I sat back in disappointment. Waiting, and more waiting. Well, that's what these sorts of days are for, right? The minutes stretched into hours, and soon it was mid-afternoon. I sighed. Well, that's a fine day, then. Time to go home, I guess. But just as I was about to reel in the line, I thought I felt a tug. It was so faint, and lasted so short a time, that I thought I must have imagined it. But there it came again, and then again with more force. I slowly reeled in my line, and the force of the tug grew. A grin crossed my mask. This one's putting up a fight! The intensity of the pull grew still more, and soon it was a full-on battle between me and my quarry. I patiently worked the line, struggling to bring it in but taking care not to break it. The minutes stretched on, and I felt that the day hadn't been such a waste, after all. Oh, the exhileration and excitement of the hunt! Slowly, inch by painstaking inch, I dragged the line closer to shore. Finally the creature began to weaken, and I reeled him in with more speed. Finally, to my incredible gratification and delight, I just about had him. With a final great big yank on the line, something large erupted from the water and flew into the air! A fish! A beautiful, scaly fish that was bigger than my head! I reveled in the beauty of it as it sailed through the air, glistening water droplets flying alongside it. What a beautiful sight, and what a beautiful dinner it would make. What happened next still baffles me. Even looking back on it now it causes me to shake my head in wonder. A bird came along, a big raptor with wide wings and sharp claws. It swooped down out of nowhere and grabbed the fish, my fish, right out of the air. My shock then was no small thing. I stood there dumb for several moments before I regained my composure enough to shake my fist and yell at the bird, who passed on without even acknowledging my presence. Nor did I give up. That fish was mine by right, and I would have it back! I instantly grabbed my throwing disk and ran after the bird. I had a hard time following him through the forest, and several times I feared I'd lost him, but finally I tracked him to a sizeable spire of rock at the edge of the forest. I watched, frustrated, as he set the fish down on the very top of the spire. I may be too late. . . But all of a sudden he took to the air again, flying out over the forest again. What caused him to leave I would never know, but I didn't stop to wonder. I began to climb the spire, which wasn't too terribly steep. A few perilous slips and much physical exertion later, I reached the top. Panting, I heaved myself up the last foot and beheld my beautiful fish, looking just as wonderful as ever, flopping limply on the rock. Then two things happened that made me stop dead: First I heard growling, then right in front of me I saw the angry face of an Ash Bear. My heart-light skipped a flash, and we stared across at each other. The bear's claws clung perilously to the stone. But this was still my fish, and neither bird of prey nor Ash Bear would have it from me! He growled again and heaved himself still higher up. In that instant I made my move, and with the flash of an arm the fish was in my grasp. In the next instant I turned and the bear leaped towards me. I was too slow, but the bear was clumsy and he crashed headlong into me. Before either of us knew what was happening we were tumbling down the side of the spire, and as we tumbled the fish flew from my grasp. The bear eagerly snapped at it with his jaws, but from his back I was able to grab it before he could get his teeth into it. Then with a kick to the stomach he loosened my grip again. This continued all along our bumpy ride down the spire, each of us struggling vainly not only to slow our fall, but first and foremost, to get that fish! Finally we landed in a heap at the bottom, he on top of me. There, on the ground in front of us, sat the fish. In an instant we were racing for it. Before either of us could grab it, though, another Ash Bear suddenly appeared from the foliage and grasped it in his jaws. With a growl that sounded to me like a laugh, he ran back into the forest, but the first Ash Bear and I were hard on his heels. Soon we reached a small clearing, where the fish-stealing bear was tackled to the ground by the larger bear. The fish flew from his mouth and into the air, where I leaped and grabbed it before landing and dashing off into the forest. Only, now I had two ash bears after me. Oh, Taku, how do you get yourself into these things. . . ? I sought the only way of escape that I could see, and leaped for a low-hanging branch. But I was too late, the bears were upon me. The leader crashed into both me and the tree just as I grasped the branch, which snapped off under the bear's weight. Upon hitting the ground I realized with a start that the ground here began to decline, and I tumbled head over heels down the hillside. The bears tumbled after me. Again the fish slipped from my grasp and a bear snapped at it, only to be shoved aside by the other bear, who swiped at it with a paw. He hit it but couldn't grasp it, instead sending it high into the air. I then lost sight of it and began to wonder if I cared anymore. The world refused to stop spinning, no matter how many times I asked. . . The bullying trees and rocks were no help, either, who seemed to take delight in beating on me. Finally, though, the three of us came to a stop at the edge of another clearing. In that moment my only thought was escape, but just then we all caught sight of the fish again as it came sailing down out of the air and landed in the middle of the clearing. It flopped helplessly. Suddenly many tooth-lined maws and sniffing noses stuck out of the surrounding foliage. In an instant, no less than twelve more ash bears were madly converging on the fish. My own two friends included. In their crazed charge they shoved me along, and I found myself unable to escape. The circle of bears closed in, and the first ash bear I had met that day dragged me screaming into the mix. Finally I fell to the side just as a larger bear crashed into mine, then I was forced to roll aside as two giant paws slammed into the ground. Another bear kicked me with its hind leg, and I found myself in the middle of a knot of bears, like the eye of a hurricane. To my incredible wonderment, the fish suddenly plopped out of the sky and into my lap. I laughed a giddy laugh of amazement. But then dozens of furious eyes converged on me, and with a terrible cry of fear I flung the fish from my person. Rolling away desperately, I sought to escape the claws, limbs, and bodies that entangled me. How long this continued I am not now certain, but finally I found myself flying through the air, after which I landed on the back of one of the beasts. As he turned to snarl at me, I recognized the first bear I had met that day, and I thought I saw a flash of recognition in his eyes as well. And then wouldn't you know it? I again saw that dratted fish flying through the air, and instinctively, though I can't imagine why I did it, my arms flashed out and grasped it. The bear and I now stood on the edge of the clearing, while the bears behind us were still fighting tooth and claw. After his initial glance at me he turned his attention to the woods and we were soon flying along between the trees. It took the other bears a few moments, but soon they were after us, their large bodies crashing a terrible swath through the undergrowth. On we ran, until suddenly we crashed headlong into something big, metal, and hard. The something growled in response. My steed inched back in fear as a great Muaka cat heaved his giant body and turned to see who had disturbed his afternoon nap. As he turned his head was opposite us, and he caught sight of our pursuers before us. With a roar of rage he charged them and sent them scurrying away in fear. My own bear lost no time in putting as much distance as possible between him and the other Rahi. On and on he ran, before finally coming to a stop beside the very river from which the fish had come. He panted and stood very still. For some reason I felt less afraid in that moment. I slipped quietly from his side and flopped into a sitting position, leaning against him and dropping the fish to the ground. Once my breath had returned, I laughed. I laughed loudly and heartily, amazed by what had happened. And to think we finally came out of it with the fish! It's a magical world, I realized. Somehow I was beginning to feel a little kinship toward this bear. In response to my laughing, he turned and I could have sworn that he began to laugh, too. We laughed for several moments in wonderment at our marvelous escapade before returning our attention to the helplessly flopping fish. Our eyes rested upon it just in time to see it flop back into the river. No! We both ran forward, but it was too late. The fish was gone. I couldn't believe it! After all that, the fish had finally escaped our grasp, right back into its own home. When suddenly with a flash of wings, a great bird of prey, the same one as before, I could have sworn, swooped out the sky and dove into the river. I watched in amazement as the strong claws dragged the great big fish right back out of the water. With a swoop of his great paw the bear felled the bird, who escaped with his life but lost the fish. The fish sat between us. I stared it. The bear stared at it. Then I took out a knife and set the tip against the fish. After a glance at the bear, I proceeded to cut the fish in half. Well, not quite half, the bear was more than twice my size, after all. He took his chunk and gulped it down in several large bites. I held my half and watched him as he ate. Once finished, he stared calmly at me for a few moments. Then with a farewell chuff, he turned and went off into the forest. After several more long moments I realized with a start that the woods could still be swarming with angry ash bears. I quickly retrieved my pack and gear, save the throwing disk which still lay at the foot of the spire, stored my share of the fish in the pack and made my way for Ta-Koro. Yes, it was quite a day.
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This is a songfic based on the music video Bionicle Hero. The funny thing is I envisioned this years ago, but the images stuck with me. Finally I got around to writing it just recently, and I think it turned out rather well, actually. Thankfully the forums are back online and I can post it. By the way, if you've never heard "Bionicle Hero", you'll want to look it up. Great song. Bionicle Hero As you're on your way back home, Something catch your eyes untold. One fine sunny day on the island of Mata Nui, I was taking a stroll down from Ga-Koro to my home in Ta-Koro. I'd just been doing some business in Ga-Koro and was now returning home. I am a Ta-Matoran, if you could not guess, and my name is Taku. The Bohrok swarms had just recently been defeated by our noble and heroic Toa, who were then transformed into Toa Nuva. All on the island was now peaceful, save the odd Rahi trouble. As I was saying, I was on my way down this path, when in a clump of bushes up ahead I saw something very strange. I couldn't tell quite what it was, but it sparkled in the sun. I drew closer, pushed my way through the bushes, and found myself in the center of a vegatative ring. In the center, protruding from the dirt, was a little sack of widgets. Well, what do you know? Who could have left these here? I supposed it did not matter, as there weren't very many widgets. But as I pulled it free, the sand under it started draining downwards, as if it were being sucked into the ground. I realized that indeed it was being sucked in and my heart stopped. Quicksand! The hole was widening at an alarming rate, so I turned to run. But too late. The sand under my feet was collapsing under me. I struggled, but in vain. I slid into the pit. When I reached bottom, however, I was surprised to find myself flying through space. The light of day disappeared above me and I sank into a dark void. Finally, I landed on my side with a terrible jolt. I rose slowly to my feet. Fear of darkness lingers here. Tremble as you get the fear... I looked about me and realized I was underground. Above me I could see a circle of light, but sand was still falling and I coughed and my vision was obscured. I retrieved a lightstone from my pack and looked about. I whistled. What a cave. It stretched in every direction farther than the lightstone could make clear to me, and made up an entire landscape in itself. There were pillars of stone rising high in the air, cliffs rising and falling, and a river cutting and winding its way through the place. I couldn't believe such a place existed down here, and one I'd never known of before. There was something strange about this cave, too. As my eyes began to adjust to the darkness, I noticed strange lights in the distance, at varying points, and the texture of the stone was almost. . . Creepy. The more I looked about, the more I began to feel strange twinges of fear. But why should I? I did not understand. It was just a cave, after all. But then, things often lurked in caves, did they not? All the same I knew there must be a way out somewhere. I retrieved the sack of widgets and placed it in my pack. Knowing there wasn't likely to be anyone along the road above at this time of day, and remembering the principal that says water always flows downwards, I set off to follow the river towards its point of origin. Now you're on the cornerstone, Fearing you'd be left alone. I followed the river as far as I could walk. It had taken me an hour to get there. The head of the river broke free from under the cavern wall, and there was no way to follow it without swimming. Being a Ta-Matoran I was natuarally averse to the idea, and besides that I still had an unnatural feeling of fear in this place, but there was nothing else for it. I would have to brave it and swim. A few long-held breaths and thorough soakings later I realized I would be unable to follow the river any farther. There were no air pockets within my reach of this point. Who will lose, who will prevail? Who will tell the final tale...? Suddenly, I shivered, and not just from the cold. The nagging feeling of fear suddenly came on me again, only stronger this time. In all the time I'd been in the cave it hadn't left me. Being a long-time member of the Ta-Koro Guard I liked to pride myself a bit on my instinct, and I wondered what manner of beasts might be lurking in here. I set off at perhaps a bit quick of a pace along the wall, praying I would find an exit. Suddenly I saw something out of the corner of my eye. I jerked my head in that direction. Had something just darted behind that pillar. . . ? My heart-rate quickened, as did my pace. There it goes, Again. Dust kicked up behind my pattering feet as I searched desperately for a way out. I could not understand what was causing me to behave so irrationally. But there! I saw movement again! I still could not make anything out when I turned to look, but I realized I was not alone in this cave. And something or someone was following me. There it goes, Again. I ran on, casting frequent glances over my shoulder, certain that something was after me. I didn't have long to wait before I discovered what it was. Something darted out in front of me. I skidded to a halt, and jumped back from the creature that had surprised me. It was a Bohrok. Oh, is that all? Mind you, they were quite dangerous, but I'd fought a good many Bohrok in the war alongside my fellow Guards, even with my bare hands. I didn't fear them any more than dangerous Rahi. Unless they were Lehvak. Lehvak sent shivers through even our noble Captain, Jaller. I stood my ground, setting my expression to that of defiance. The Bohrok stepped into the radius of light cast by my lightstone. Instantly I was taken aback. Something about this one, its sleeker, stronger body, the sickly patterns spread across it, made the feeling of horror return to me stronger than ever. I couldn't help myself. When it raised its shields and pointed them at me, I leaped to the side and ran off a few yards. Just as I did, the ground behind me exploded, bits of melting rock flying in every direction. If I hadn't moved, I would've been dead. The Bohrok turned slowly to look at me, then jerked its head at me. Chik! Chik! I quickly evaluated the best course of action. I fled for my life. Do you know, What it takes to be a Hero? When you're lost, A piece of love, a piece of you. I quickly realized that there was more than one Bohrok after me as I ran on, and the feelings of terror only grew worse. Glimpses of them told me they were part of the same elite group, as Elite Bohrok I realized they must be. I heard the crackle of an energy blast behind me. I leaped to the side, a pillar was struck and began to crumble. But it would lay in my path, if it landed in front of me they would catch me. I put on a short burst of speed and slid under just as it was about to squash me. I lay on my back, and was breathing hard. Which meant I wasn't dead. I slowly raised myself from the ground and looked back at the wall now lying between my pursurers and I. I laughed quietly to myself. Then two of them leaped to the top of the pillar and jerked thier heads down at me. Chik! Chik! Chik! Chik! With fresh vigour, I resumed my mad dash. Bursts of power struck the ground around me, clouds of shrapnel flying in the air. Just like the Tahnok invasion of Ta-Koro. One blast landed just shy of me and sent me flying. No, worse, worse! I quickly found my feet and ran on. During the midst of this I dropped my lightstone, and I was forced to run blindly in the dark. By now my eyes were more or less well-adjusted to the blackness, but I still found myself stumbling off small cliffs and nearly crashing into pillars. Do you have, What it takes to beat the Fearless? In your heart, To grow up strong, and undo wrong? One time I found myself floating in the air, feeling weightless, only to be sent flying, my body feeling as if different parts were being pulled in different directions. The Bohrok hissed at each other behind me as if they'd gotten in each other's way. A bolt of electrical energy surged past me and began forming itself into a wall, but I swerved aside it just before it could stretch far enough to block my path. I soon indentified several of their powers: Gravity, magnetism, electricity, and something very hot and explosive, but I couldn't tell quite what it was. Science lesson over, I kept moving. Bursts of energy checkered the vicinity, breaking pillars, sending rock flying through the air, even putting a few holes in the ceiling. Whatever these things were, they didn't strike me as discreet. To grow up strong, and undo wrong. The flashes of energy began to dwindle, until finally my pursuers seemed to give up the chase. I couldn't bear to stop running just yet. My legs bore me on a good distance farther before I stopped, panting very hard, behind a pillar. My body was used to terrible exertions, especially after everything in the the Bohrok War. Even so it took me a few minutes to regain my breath and my bearings. Finally I set off at a brisk pace, my every sense alert for the first sign of danger. I didn't know where I was going, but I wasn't going to find my way out by just sitting there, now was I? Walking down that well-worn road, Something changed but who would know? I walked along what seemed to be a defined path, with rows of well-spaced pillars running along either side, but for what point and purpose the road existed I could not fathom. As far as I knew no Matoran had ever set foot here, and I'd lived on this island for a millenium, so who in the world had built this? Then it hit me. Bohrok. Cave. This place must be connected to the Bohrok Hives. . . . Yes, that explained it. Although it didn't look quite like any hives I'd seen or had heard described, but I felt that that must be the explanation. Suddenly, I thought I heard a noise. A very, very small noise, and, I thought, from somewhere above me. Yet it was so faint that even with my senses on edge I thought I might have imagined it. I picked up the pace a bit regardless, wondering what possible strategy I could use against those monsters if they returned, and what environmental location would best suit it. The smile you get is poison-willed, The color you once knew is killed. Bam. A cloud of dust rose up in front of me, and I froze in terror. The dust cleared. One of the Bohrok turned slowly around to look at me. Close as it was, it seemed to be smiling with glee out of the darkness. And as you realize what's wrong, The dirt under your feet is gone. Bam. Bam. Bam. I turned from the first Bohrok only to find another one landing in that direction. Then another, and another. All six landed in a circle around me, and I found myself face-to-face with the one resembling a Tahnok. I always liked to pride myself, just a bit, on my ability to stand firm in the face of terrible odds. But something about this cave. . . . It just wasn't natural, it did something to me. Something I'd never experienced to this degree before. In my shock and horror, I felt the ground shift under me. The dirt was gone from under my feet, and I found myself landing heavily on my side. The enemy looks in your eyes. Now it's time to make it right. Despite my trepidation, I looked up at the creature, intending to meet my fate bravely. The monster bent down to me and looked me in the eyes, seeming to radiate with malicious glee. My face fell. The emotions roiled inside me. I slowly rose into a kneeling position. I remembered the way I'd felt about the Bohrok during the war, I remembered the mad heart-stopping chase through this cavern, I could still see the smug face looking down on me. Then I did something very brave, and very, incredibly, foolish. But I had no intention of dying on my knees. I'd prefer to die fighting anyway. I pulled back my arm and focused all my energy into a terrific punch, delivered straight into the creature's triumphant countenance. The metal of my fist connected with the metal of the monster's face. To my incredible surprise, the Bohrok was thrown into the air, as if my strength had increased a hundred-fold. What? Do you know, What it takes to be a Hero? When you're lost, A piece of love, a piece of you. I was incredulous. My eyes must surely have deceived me. I couldn't have sent that Bohrok to where it lay, momentarily stunned, a dozen feet away. Then I heard a noise behind me and I turned. Chik! Chik! Chik! Chik! Chik! Chik! Chik! Chik! Chik! The creatures chittered like mad as a newcomer invaded their victory party. A Toa-sized figure landed beside me, pressed my head down, and spun in a circle. His sword of fire blazed as flames erupted in a circle, sending the creatures backward. He knelt beside me. "On my back, now!" Instantly I was on my feet and scrambling onto his back as he stood. He was indeed a Toa, and the red armor betrayed the identity of Toa Tahu. "Now hold on tight!" The Bohrok had gathered in front of us. Tahu leaped over their heads in a terrific somersault. A stream of energy flashed our way. A crescent of flame altered its course. We landed. He spun around. He sent a wall of fire toward the creatures. So began an epic battle of incredible power. Do you have, What it takes to beat the Fearless? In your heart, To grow up strong, and undo wrong? It was a terrific battle. Power lanced in both directions. Tahu's battle cries and exertion were terrific, matched as he was against six foes, each of power equal to his own. He sought to outrun them, dodging and deflecting all the way. A wall of sound struck us. I screamed and was nearly forced to loosen my hold to cover my ears, but a well-aimed firebolt came to the result of ending the noise. We ran on. A molten pit opened up before us, but my rescuer jumped clear and we ran on. Gravity was lessened. We found ourselves floating in the air. Tahu aimed his sword of flame behind us and jetted us forwards. Gravity increases. He aims the jet below to slow our fall, switching to his Mask of Strength, then runs on at normal speed. All was mindless action and reaction, with me hanging on for dear life as he fought. A pillar ahead of us is struck by a lightning bolt and begins to fall. It nearly crushes us, but we roll out of the way just in time. The pillar explodes behind us as we dash on. A cyclone strikes us and flings us through the air. Inside the cyclone, I find myself unable to breath. Worse, I can't even feel any wind. I can't breathe because there is no air in the cyclone, which really isn't a cyclone but a whirling mass of seeming nothiness. Then we're thrown clear of it, but I lose my grip and fall. I can't see Tahu, but a Bohrok is on me in an instant. Then I hear a defiant bellow behind me and a burst of flames sends the beast before me running for cover. The other Bohrok gather up, and I start running. Tahu runs over, picks me up and saddles me on my his back. I hold on for dear life once more as the mad chase continues. To grow up strong, and undo wrong. Finally, inexplicably, we find the entrance to a smaller cave. But somehow the Bohrok managed to reach it before us. Snarling, they leap at us. Tahu snarls back and leaps at them. After a brief but more direct skirmish, involving a lot of being jolted and jostled about on my part as we fly around with his sword flashing, along with fire, electricity, sound waves, gravity beams, magnetism and I didn't know what else filling the air, we find ourselves next to the entrance. We dash into it. Spinning on his heel, Tahu unleashes a terrific wave of fire into the cave, washing over the Bohrok. Their chitterous whines and screams are heard scrambling off. Then he launches a fireball that strikes the roof of the entrance and sent huge boulders falling into the cave between us and the Bohrok. He waits a moment to listen. Yes, the Bohrok had definitely run off, if those screams attest anything. Or most of them. Nevertheless, panting heavily, Tahu turns on his heel once more and continues on at a reasonable trot. "Ugh, Bohrok-Kal", he spat. "Troublesome creatures, aren't they? And yet they do have their purpose." He seemed lost in thought for a moment. There was nothing I could say. I still panted heavily, I was numb, and the cave wouldn't stop spinning. "Hey, you alright back there? I was trying to save your life, and I, uh, hope I've succeeded." He shifted me off of his back to hold me in his arms. Normally I would have found it just a little bit awkard of a position, but under the circumstances the thought didn't even cross my mind. I stared up into his friendly Hau-bearing face. "I- I-" I gasped for breath. "I think I'm alright, Toa Tahu. That is if I'm just dizzy and this cave isn't actually spinning." He chuckled. "I'm afraid not. Regular old cave." "Well then, I'll live." "Thank Mata Nui for that! You seem to have a knack for getting yourself in trouble, little one." He looked at me, a flash of worry momentarily crossing his face as he looked aside. Then it passed and he smiled again. "Yes, well, being in the Ta-Koro Guard, that tends to happen." "Ah, yes, I suppose it does. Even so, you are too im- . . ." He shook his head. "Never mind. You've done great service to your people in the past, and I'm sure Mata Nui is proud of you." I smiled at that. Then I frowned. "Wait a moment. Toa Tahu, did you call those things 'Bohrok-Kal'? How do you know what they are? Were you told of them by the Turaga?" "How do I know?" He thought for a moment. "Well, that's what they are, aren't they?" His eyes twinkled, or so I assumed in the darkness. I raised an eyepiece. What was he talking about? Finally we reached the entrance to the cave and I forgot my confusion. I leapt from his arms, kissed the ground, and raised my arms to the sky from knee-position, thanking Mata Nui. "Daylight!" Tahu laughed and walked out beside me. I beamed at him, more fond of our brave hero now than ever, only to stop and gape. "Wait. . . wait a moment." That mask was a Hau alright, but it wasn't a Hau Nuva. But I'd seen Tahu several times since his transformation. He smiled at me. "No, it's not a Hau Nuva I'm wearing, is it?" I also noticed that the armor was all wrong. "You're. . . you're. . ." "No. I'm not Tahu." I waited a moment, digesting this information. "What? But then who. . . ?" He chuckled, then saw something behind me. Striding over, he reached down and picked up a Kakama off the ground. "For goodness' sake! There you are! I must have dropped you in my haste to get here." He groaned. "It would have been a lot easier in there if you had been there." He rolled his eyes and put the mask in his pack. "Well, anyway, it turned out alright, eh Taku?" Not only was he not Tahu, but some strange seventh Toa, when as far as I knew there'd only ever been six, and we Matoran had certainly never seen this being before, but he also knew my name. Suspicions nagged at the corners of my mind, but I pushed them off. He had, after all, just risked his neck to save mine. Then another realization hit me. "'On your way here?' How on earth did you know I was going to be down there?" He frowned, thinking. He glanced at me, then returned to thought. It seemed he hadn't intended to let that slip. I sighed, stood up, walked over, and grasped his arm. "Thank you." He smiled down at me. He raised his fist, as if in a friendly gesture, but then seeming to catch himself he lowered it and patted my on the top of the mask instead. "It's what we do, little one. But now I must go. No more getting mixed with these Bohrok-Kal creatures, understand? Take care, little one." He retrieved the Kakama, bore it, and was off, a cloud of dust speeding towards the horizon. What a strange Toa. . . . I turned and shook my head, then stopped. "Oh, shoot. I left my pack in the cave. I'd saved up a hundred widgets, too. Well, I've more at home and of course my life is worth a lot more than that anyway." I chuckled, still somewhat numb, and meandered off in the general direction of Ta-Koro, undecided as to whether I would report this strange occurence to the Turaga. What a day. . .
