A/N: I really hated writing this chapter. SWB (Summer Writer's Block) has taken over my house and everything I write goes wrong! AUGH!!!! Oh well. Here goes!

Chapter 10

"I can't do this."

"Sure you can."

"No, I can't."

"Scaredy-Hoi!"

"I'm not scared. I'm just smart."

"C'mon…!"

"No! If Takanuva caught us, he'd…"

"…Probably join right in. Come on!"

Sharli sighed. "You know, the movies make you so much more sensible, Jaller."

"The…what?"

"Oh, never mind!"

"Stop changing the subject! Just do it!"

"Okay, okay! Just give me a minute!"

Sharli glanced down at the wild Dikapi herd beneath them in the cavern. The two-legged Rahi strongly reminded her of an ostrich…only bigger. Even though they were supposedly rather tame, Sharli didn't like the aggressive way the dominant leader kept watch.

"Remind me how to play again?"

Jaller settled snugly against a rock beside him and began sharpening his blade. "Simple. Sneak down the mountain and get really close to the Dikapi you want. Wait until the Dominant has turned away, then jump out, slip the harness over the Rahi's neck, jump aboard, and saddle up for a bumpy ride!"

Sharli sighed again. "That simple, huh?"

"Yep. What are you waiting for?"

"A rescue." She muttered, crawling off before Jaller could argue.

"Sneak, wait, and pounce. Sneak, wait, and pounce. Sneak…" Sharli groaned.

Why am I doing this? It's so stupid! Takanuva will not approve…if he ever finds out that is… How did Jaller talk me into this!?

Actually, it had been fairly simple. The Toa of light had traveled to Po-Koro to ask Onewa to look at his staff. Due to a rather unfortunate incident involving a rather grouchy Kane-Ra Bull, it had acquired a substantial dent. So, Takanuva had rode to Po-Koro, left Sharli with Jaller (her 'bodyguard"), and rushed off to see the Turaga. So of course, Jaller had hooked up with some kolhii pals and dared her to play an old game of theirs. She accepted.

Roughly thirty five minutes later she was learning how to kill herself riding Dikapi.

Sharli pressed herself to the canyon floor. Scarcely two meters away a young male was showing off for a group of females who in turn were ignoring him. The arrogant way he removed reminded Sharli of the class bully at her old school and she immediately decided he was the one. She eased herself into a crouch…and froze.

The leader was looking right at her. Her breath leapt into her throat and stopped there. Her arms broke out in sweat. She could swear she heard Jaller curse on the ridge above her. She dropped her eyes.

I'm gonna die. I'mgonnadieI'mgonnadieI'mgonnadieohmygoshI'mgonnadie…

She slowly raised her head…and gasped. It had turned away. It hadn't noticed! Without another hesitation she leapt up and raced towards the young male, knowing it was her last chance. A burst of adrenaline filled her lungs as she leaped.

"Take this Shane Knight!!!" She screamed at the startled bird as she leaped onto its back.

Meanwhile, up on the ridge, Jaller was enjoying the show. The captain of the guard was shouting all kinds of unhelpful encouragement to the helpless girl as she struggled to stay on the Rahi's back.

"That's it!"

"Watch out for the beak!"

"You forgot the rope!"

"Turn left! Left! You're OTHER left!"

"SHUT UP, JALLER!!!!!"

Jaller fell back laughing as the bird gave one final buck and threw the screeching girl off. Giggling, the red matoran clambered quickly down and shooed the last birds away before coming over to help Sharli up.

"That was brilliant! I've never seen someone ride a Dikapi before!"

Sharli glared at him as she pushed dust-covered hair out of her face. "I thought you did this all the time!"

"Mata Nui, no." Jaller huffed back. "No Ta-Matoran's stupid enough to ride a wild Nikapi!"

In the end, both had a good laugh. Right after Jaller stepped in some inconspicuous brown goo that he later insisted was mud.

When the two finally returned to Po-Koro, Takanuva was looking for them.

"Sharli! Jaller! Where have you two been?"

"Well, we, uh…that is…" Jaller stammered before Takanuva cut him off.

"Never mind. We need to get back to Ta-Koro."

"Why?" Sharli pressed, watching him pace worriedly.

Takanuva stopped and turned to her.

"Something terrible has happened. Matau…has been kidnapped."

Sharli stared at him. "That wasn't in the book."

Takanuva nodded dejectedly. "I was afraid of that."

A/N A Hoi is a flying turtle. I just liked the name.

This turned out far better than I expected! R/R! R/R! R/R! R/R! R/R!