Chapter 10: Chasing Shadows

Zephyr was actually very comfortable when she woke. She was so comfortable that she didn't want to wake or move. She sighed and moved slightly into a more comfortable position. That's when she noticed she wasn't on a bed or in her hammock, but on something harder, and warmer. She opened her eyes and saw it was late afternoon, and where there seagulls calling outside?

"Where am I?" She asked herself as she looked around. That's when her eyes caught the light of Tahu's heartlight.

She looked up at Tahu's masked face. The Toa of fire was sleeping soundly, his eyes closed, and he had an arm over her like a warm blanket.

Zephyr looked at the Toa curiously. Was it only a month ago when she came to this island? And was it only a month ago that Tahu wouldn't let her near any of the villages? Let alone show her any comfort whatsoever. She wondered what changed him.

Soon Tahu stirred and his eyes opened. Zephyr was stiff for a moment but continued to look at him. He looked back at her before almost smiling. But just as it started to appear, it vanished.

"You okay?" Tahu asked her.

Zephyr nodded. "A little sore, but I'm okay. Are you and Onua?"

Tahu also nodded. "Everyone's alright, Mata-Nui be thanked."

Zephyr smiled and relaxed a little.

"Your burns alright?" Tahu asked.

Zephyr looked at where they were, but they were gone. She blinked and nodded. "They're healed. Did Gali heal me?"

Tahu nodded and explained what had happened, and that the Rahkshi-Kal had escaped. Zephyr's heart sank for a moment before her eyes lit up. "Well, now we have a trail to follow."

Tahu looked down at her. "A trail?"

Zephyr nodded. "I used to track Rahi all over the place back home. I can easily tack that Rahkshi down."

Tahu's mood seemed to brighten. "Can you walk?"

Zephyr carefully got up and stretched, a joint or two popping back into place from sleeping in an odd position. She then tested her legs by walking around the hut. She took careful steps at first, but then bolder steps. Once she ran from one end to the other and slid to a stop. "I'm as good as new." She reported.

"Are we sure this is a good idea?" Gali asked.

"I'm in perfect health Gali." Zephyr assured her. "Thanks to your healing and Tahu's warmth I'm as good as new."

Gali still looked unsure as they walked back to the sight of the battle. The rahkshi where still strewn over it, showing how fierce the fight was. Kopaka watch Zephyr as she ignored the fallen rahkshi and picked out the largest set of prints, no more than indentations in the grass.

"It went…." Zephyr said, following the tracks a ways. "That way!" She pointed at toward the mountains.

Kopaka came forward and looked at the tracks, memorizing them for future reference.

"What are we waiting for then?" Onua asked. "Lets get going already, it's heading for Onu-Koro!"

With that he started forward toward the mountains. Zephyr and the other Toa quickly followed him, but Takanuva had to pick Zephyr up so she could keep up easier.

Zephyr wrapped her arms around Taka's neck and watched as the world flew past her. The colors almost burred together, but then realized it was the wind pulling tears from her eyes. She closed them, letting the tears fall.

Lewa saw the tears and tilted his head at her. "Are you alright-fine Zephyr-friend?" He had to raise his voice slightly.

"Yeah!" Zephyr replied. "I'm okay!"

They finally stopped at a cave. Zephyr looked down into it, never seeing a cave before. It looked more like a mouth into darkness itself. She backed into Takanuva.

He smiled at her and put a hand on her shoulder. "It's okay," he said. "I am a Toa of Light after all."

Zephyr looked at him and drew in a breath as he started to glow, not bright enough that it blinded them, but enough so it drove back the shadows. She felt a little better, but she stayed close to the Toa.

Onua led the way with Takanuva, Gali was beind them with Kopaka, Zephyr walked behind them with Tahu, Lewa and Pohatu. A glimmer caught Zephyr's eye and she looked at it. "Are there gems in here?"

"No." Onua said from ahead. "That's Protodermis, one of the strongest substances on Mata-Nui. We found several uses for it, like making armor and weapons if we can get it stabled right."

Zephyr hummed at this, looking at a chunk and picking it up. It was silver in color and was like a smooth pebble. She rubbed it in her hands, the cool surface feeling good against her fingers.

Pohatu grinned at her. She sure was a strange creature, she seemed to enjoy looking at details, and she was good at finding them. But the fact that she survived both a storm at sea and an electric blast from a Rahkshi-Kal had him thinking.

"We'll check on Onu-Koro first." Onua said. "Then we'll hunt the Rahkshi-Kal down."

Tahu nodded, but Gali could tell he wasn't happy with the choice. Zephyr didn't notice due to the uncomfortable feeling of being under ground. In the stories, Makuta was always in a deep, dark cave waiting for humans to wander inside never to be seen again.

Lewa put an arm around Zephyer to comfort her. "Have faith little one. No badharm will come."

Zephyr looked up at him. "How are you so sure?"

Lewa grinned. "Because I hearttrust it."

Zephyr wasn't sure if she understood, but she found Lewa's words rather comforting and smiled. "Thanks Lewa."

Lewa grinned at her. "You're much welcome Zephyr-friend."

Little did they know that Pahrahk-Kal was waiting for them at a bridge, staying perfectly still and hardly breathing.

Zephyr stopped, feeling a foreboding in front of her. The same foreboding that she felt the night before that sent her to Tahu looking for comfort.

Pohatu saw her stop and looked at her. "You okay kiddo?"

Zephyr looked at him and nodded. "Yeah, I'm okay." Was her reply.

Gali thought otherwise. Zephyr was timid sometimes, but she was always up for an adventure. Maybe she just didn't like the feeling of being underground.

Zephyr carefully walked out onto the bridge. It looked solid enough, and the toa crossed it themselves, but something was telling her not to go. She looked up and met Tahu's eyes. They were a mix of confusion and disappointment.

Tahu looked back, wondering what had made her stop. Maybe she is just a frightened child. He thought. One that shouldn't be on a quest like this one.

Takanuva was the one that went back for her. He walked up to her with a curious look in his warm eyes. "You sure Zeff? You look scared stiff."

Zephyr nodded. "I just don't trust that bridge…"

"We all crossed it without a problem."

"I know… I just don't trust it for some reason."

Taka looked at her for a moment longer before nodding. "Alright. I'll walk with you over it then."

Zephyr smiled and nodded. "Thanks Taka." She said, staying close to him as they walked.

It was another hour before they made it to Onu-Koro. Zephyr was exhausted, she hadn't been this exhausted since she came to this island. She just had to rest for a bit. Kopaka looked at her, wondering if she was still feeling the affects of the Rahkshi-Kal.

The Onu-Matoran were soon gathering around Zephyr to look at her. Onua had to shoo them off so Zephyr could at least get to a hut to rest.

"Thanks Onua…" She said, sounding as tired as she looked.

"No problem Zeff." Onua said. "We'll be out there if you need anything."

Zephyr nodded and layed down on a pallet. Remembering that she didn't have any means of keeping warm, Onua got a quilt and covered her. Zephy was already quickly falling asleep so she just snuggled into the blanket.

Onua smiled and walked out to where the others were waiting. They were starting a meeting. And they all knew the topic.

Tahu looked at each of his teamates. "Well, what do we think of her?"

There was a long silence.

"She's brave." Gali said. "Considering what she's been through."

"And what she's deed-done." Lewa chimed in. "Quick-saving Jallar from the Makuta-son, and Ice-brother from the Rahkshi-Kal. Even leaf-dragging him village-bound."

"Then you leaving her alone in the jungle at night." Kopaka added.

"Hey, I had to quick-fly you to Water-Sister." Lewa said defensively.

"Back on subject…" Pohatu said. "She's also good with the Matoran. She told me she was playing Kohli with the Ta-Matoran."

"Yet," Tahu said. "She's on her own too early. She shouldn't be in these situations. Sure she's taken out a Rahkshi-Kal and took on a Rahkshi, but I don't think she's ready for a real fight."

"What makes you say that?" Taka asked.

Tahu then explained the other night when Zephyr had wondered into his Suva for comfort. "She seemed spooked at something, she wouldn't say what it was though."

"Turaga Vakama said that as the bonds grow," Gali said. "That her strength grows. Maybe she felt something you didn't?"

"Or," Kopaka chimed in. "She's missing home and she felt safer with Tahu."

"And she saved his life." Onua added.

Gali looked at her brothers. That would make two Toa that she had saved in the months she's been here.

"But her needing to be comforted bothers me." Tahu said. "I have a feeling that she may not have what it takes in the end. I'm thinking we leave her here."

"Tahu!" Gali said.

"I mean it Gali!" Tahu said. "What if we have to face Makuta again? I doubt she can stand up to him."

A small sound was behind him. Tahu slowly turned and saw Zephyr standing there. Her eyes were leaking water in drops. She was staring at Tahu. The look in those strange eyes told Lewa she was mad. She started to back away.

"Zeff," Tahu started, but Zephyr took off.

Sorry for the delayed update on this story. Having major writers blocks on it. So just as a warning, the next chapters might come a little slower. But, any ideas are more than welcome! Send a comment or a PM with any idea that might help the story along :) Thanks!

~Kayla