Glancing around when they left the remote chute station, Onewa and Anuenue walked to where the Kikanalo herd rested, on the way they switched to their Rau.
"The colours in the rocks never fail to amaze me." Anuenue muttered gazing around at the rock formations, "Yes, they are beautiful and soothing to look at." the Turaga of Stone chuckled.
The Kikanalo chief glanced round as he stretched and rumbled a greeting, *Would you be so kind as to give us a lift to Keetongu's cavern?* Anuenue enquired, after the young calf energetically butted her, nearly knocking her over before going to wash Onewa's mask before his dam had a chance to call him back. *Just as well our green friend isn't here* Anuenue's friend rumbled with amusement, while letting the Turaga settle on her back, *Oh look* Onewa laughed, the calf was now bouncing around with excitement.
"Wish I had that kind of energy." Onewa murmured softly while the herd travelled across the Po-metru desert landscape. "But you do brother." Anuenue replied, glancing back at him, "Once maybe." The brown hued Turaga smiled at his rainbow hued sister's confusion then distracted her by pointing out they were nearly at Keetongu's. "And so it begins." Onewa thought sadly, while Anuenue turned and watched the healing rahi's cavern come into sight.
As the herd drew closer, a orange/gold figure jumped up and ran into the cavern while the pale green/gold one waved happily to those on the Kikanalo's back.
Having dismounted, Anuenue was turning to help Onewa down when she found herself being hugged by the delighted cub, "You're back to visit." Keliana giggled happily when she finally let go.
By then Keetongu had joined them and assisted Onewa down while rumbling softly at his daughter before greeting the Turaga and inviting them into the cavern.
*We'll be back later* the chief called to Keetongu, the golden rahi nodded then watched the herd depart to find shade, as they did, the calf tried to stay with the healing rahi until his dam caught hold of him and carried the protesting calf away.
Entering the cavern to join his family and friends, Keetongu smiled, watching as Keliana tugged Anuenue's hand excitedly, while Naneki led Onewa over to where Notegeku sat, "It's good to see you again." she rumbled, helping the brown hued Turaga onto the seat.
While they talked about what the Toa were doing, Anuenue glanced in the direction of the built up areas of Po-metru then smiled, "Aikane, Kokua and Solis are coming." she remarked, then chuckled as Naneki was dragged by Keliana into a bouncing dance around the cavern, both grinning broadly.
"Calm now younglings." Notegeku growled softly, after several minutes of amusement and badly stifled laughter from the Turaga.
The cubs stopped their whirlwind dance and hurried over to hug their dam, who softly said something in their tongue, nodding, the cubs replied the Naneki glanced to where Turaga Onewa was stifling a yawn.
"How long before they arrive?" Keetongu enquired after watching Onewa blinking drowsily, glancing up from where she was making Keliana's feather bird float, Anuenue smiled, "Roughly an hour." the rainbow hued Turaga replied as the bird 'landed' in Keliana's palm.
"Nap time." the pale green/gold cub chirped, her free hand catching and tugging Anuenue's. Surprised, the Turaga of Colour allowed Keliana to lead her over to a pile of moss and, at the young rahi's insistence, settled down beside her.
As Keliana snuggled against Anuenue, the rainbow hued Turaga glanced round, Naneki and Onewa were settled nearby, both sound asleep, then up at the dark green/gold rahi watching with amusement. "They haven't done that for a while." Notegeku rumbled softly, smiling in reply, Anuenue watched the sunlight move slowly across the floor and quietly meditated.
Moving to join her mate as their cubs and the Turaga rested, Notegeku lent against Keetongu and they waited for the arrival of Aikane, Kokua and Solisha, while they stood there, the golden rahi glanced again at where Onewa slept beside Naneki.
…
A gentle shake roused the Turaga of Colour and she glanced up at Notegeku, who whispered, "Your sisters have arrived."
Smiling up at her dark green/gold friend, Anuenue then attempted to disentangle Keliana's arms from around her neck.
Finally Notegeku chuckled and lifted up the pair then carried them over to the log seat, "She's got quite a grip on her." Solisha giggled as they joined her, Kokua and Aikane.
"Feathers." came a sleepy whisper as Keliana finally let go of Anuenue and reached out to Kokua, "Indeed." Keetongu rumbled while Onewa and Naneki, rubbing sleep from their eyes, joined the group.
"Onua asked us to pass on a message, sis." Aikane said while Keetongu passed some beakers to them and Kokua began tickling Keliana, finally waking the young rahi up.
The Turaga of Colour raised an eyebrow as she swallowed the water, "Mmm, what about?" Anuenue enquired curiously, before everyone glanced round as Wanimua and Makeo flew into the cavern and landed nearby, "Wani!" Keliana crowed happily, as he and the feathered serpent joined the group.
Watching as the young healing rahi shifted closer to their friends, Aikane passed on the message. "Turaga Whenua wants to finish discussing the differences between the rahi of this world and yours."
While Anuenue chuckled quietly, the cubs glanced at each other puzzled by what the violet hued Toa had said, then Naneki shifted to sit beside the Turaga of Colour.
"Your world?" he chirped fascinated, Anuenue nodded, "It's a long story." she replied, smiling at the orange/gold rahi, "You tell us?" Keliana piped up while everyone stood up to leave the cavern.
"I will later, I promise." The rainbow hued Turaga kindly replied, grinning as the cubs squeaked happily and squeezed her hands excitedly.
"Here comes mischief." Solisha giggled, before waving to the Kikanalo herd as it came into sight, the calf racing ahead eager to reach his playmates and peacock hued herd member.
While the calf and cubs chased around, the rest of the herd reached where the Toa, rahi, Torahka and Turaga, all laughing at the young rahi's antics.
*Greetings peacock one, how is your lifemate?* the chief enquired, growling softly with amusement when Keliana broke from the chase and came to rub his nose.
*He is fine thank you, herd leader* Solisha politely replied before deftly avoiding being knocked over by the calf as he shot past, *Enough young one. You might hurt someone* the chief growled softly, while his dam moved to intercept him, reluctantly the calf slowed down then nudged his dam, who rumbled softly.
While the Kikanalo decided who would give Kokua and Aikane a lift, the chief nudged Solisha and Anuenue's friend insisted on taking the Turaga back, by the time they were settled the suns were beginning to lower in the sky.
"Farewell." Keetongu rumbled as the herd started back to the remote chute station, then watched as they moved out of sight.
*What's wrong with 'raga Onewa?* Naneki asked, gazing up at his sire, Keliana listening, also concerned by how tired the Turaga of Stone had been. Sighing deeply, the golden rahi scooped the cubs up and quietly began explaining as they re-entered the cavern.
xXx
Reaching the remote chute station as afternoon shifted to evening, everyone thanked the Kikanalo and watched the herd as they went to rest, then as Kokua took flight towards Onu-metru, the others headed back to the Po-metru main station.
"I wonder why Onewa said that?" Anuenue mused as they journeyed through the chute, Aikane glancing over to where her rainbow hued sister was gazing into space. "Hey colour-sis, lighten up." Aikane's 'voice' roused Anuenue as they began to see the chutes converging on the main station, "Sorry mio away." the Turaga of Colour 'laughed' shifting closer to Onewa and linking arms with him.
On leaving the chute, they were met by Onua, Pohatu and Tahu, "Have a good day Turaga?" Pohatu asked as the group headed for the chute leading past Onu-metru.
"It was a very interesting day." Onewa replied, stifling a yawn, "Rest well brother." Anuenue grinned, hugging the Turaga of Stone before she entered the chute with Solisha, their brother and sister having gone ahead.
Turaga Onewa watched quietly as his sisters disappeared towards Onu-metru, then he and Pohatu headed for their homes, "I'll be going to visit Nuju in the next few days." the Turaga of Stone replied when Pohatu asked what his plans were.
The brown hued Toa then bid his friend pleasant dreams and watched as the weary Turaga entered his home.
Closing the door, Onewa yawned while glancing round at the familiar surroundings then made his way to the couch, for a few minutes he quietly read, then placed the book back on the table and retired to bed.
xXx
When they reached the Onu-metru main station, the Toa and Turaga were met by Kokua and Barda, who were laughing about what Rei and Wotzit had been getting up. "Turaga Whenua said to meet him at the archives, Turaga Anuenue." the matoran explained while wiping tears of mirth away as they headed there, "Bit late for working isn't it?" Aikane commented as they walked along while replying to the greetings called out by the matoran heading to their homes as the stars brightened the sky.
"I don't think Whenua has work on his mind." Onua chuckled as the archives came into view, the Toa of Earth then invited the others to stay at his, "That would be nice." Kokua absently replied while watching their rainbow hued sister walking along side Barda, both still laughing about Rei's antics.
"We'll catch up with you later, sis." Aikane silently called while linking arms with Tahu then whispering something that made him blush, and grinned as Kokua and Solisha snickered at the fiery Toa's embarrassment. "Alright sis." came the laughing reply as Turaga and matoran reached the archives, Anuenue turning to wave before they entered.
"Good evening sister, Barda." Whenua said as he glanced up from what he'd been studying and smiled as they entered the small room, which the Turaga of Colour noticed now had two camp beds set up and supper sitting on the table.
"Thank you Turaga but I want to have a chat with Kokua." Barda politely replied when Whenua invited him to join them for supper, nodding, both Turaga smiled as he bowed and headed off to join the Torahka.
…
When she'd finished eating, Anuenue picked up the sheet her brother had been reading when she and Barda arrived, "Ah yes. We're up to reptiles." the rainbow hued Turaga grinned while her brother sat on one of the beds. "Yes, we've covered the ones that are similar like lizards, snakes and turtles. So what's next?" he asked, wondering on how to give a hint on what was going to happen.
Anuenue settled on the second bed, deep in thought then chuckled, "How about crocodiles?"
"Sound interesting, can't wait." Whenua yawned, pulling the blanket over himself as the need for sleep became overwhelming. Glancing to where her brother rested, Anuenue smiled then dimmed the lightstone and got comfortable, drifting into sleep soon after.
Halfway through the night, the Turaga of Colour sat up suddenly and drowsily peered round the room, "Could have sworn someone called my name." she thought as she settled back and returned to sleep.
xXx
Over in Ko-metru, Matoro sleepily peered around the Turaga of Ice's bedroom door, wondering what he'd been dreaming about to have called out his closefriend's name.
