"Don't worry," Onewa says quietly so as not to attract the beast, "Kikanalo don't attack unless provoked, even when they're not in the best of moods, as long you keep your distance." But, Nokama was somehow getting the feeling that something was not right. She uses her mask's power of translation in hopes of finding out what's going on. What she learns makes her both feel sorry for the Rahi, and more fearful for her brother. Out of reflex, she places her hands to her chest. Nuju sees this and, seeing the expression on Nokama's mask, knows at once that something's very wrong.
"What is it?"
"That Kikanalo's going to attack Matau, no matter what."
Her remaining brothers turn to face her with fear in their eyes. "What do mean?" asks Whenua.
"That Kikanalo's been starved. Starved to the point where it's practically gone mad. Which means it'll view anything it sees as either an enemy or-"
"Food?" Vakama asks wearily, and Nokama nods. Onewa runs to the window, grabs hold of a couple of bars, and activates his mask power to get into the Rahi's mind.
"Leave him alone," he commands. The beast's eyes begin to glow, a sign that his invasion into its head was successful, but just for a minute. Just then, the Kikanalo starts tossing its head, bucks twice, and roars loudly. Onewa, meanwhile, feels that he's losing his hold on the Rahi's mind. Try as he might, he can't maintain it and is forced to give up. Head aching, he drops to his knees as Whenua grabs hold of his right arm.
"What happened?" asks the historian, a hint of concern in his tone.
"I couldn't grab hold of its thoughts," Onewa explains as he gets back on his feet, "It's too crazed." Deciding to go to Plan B, Onewa once again grabs hold of the bars and starts pulling. One by one, the other Toa aid him, now more desperate than ever to help Matau. In the arena, the Kikanalo takes a moment to reevaluate its surroundings. Ahead, it discovers an intruder, and, roaring, it charges. 'If my hands weren't tied-bound behind me,' he says to himself, 'I could summon a tornado to send that dumb beast high-flying over the horizon.' Feeling his heart starting to beat faster, Matau instinctively struggles to get his hands free, but the rope is good and tight. He can't even move. Meanwhile, the Kikanalo lowers its head, preparing to gouge Matau with its huge, long horn. As it gets closer to the target, its features become more clear. It's biomechanical, like itself, green, appears to walk on two legs, and--it looks familiar somehow. In fact, it looks like a Matoran, but taller, and it can't shake the feeling that it has seen this creature before. Realizing how close it's getting, the Kikanalo digs its feet into the ground as it puts on the brakes, sliding from the momentum it gained.
In their cell, the rest of the Toa, after Nuju's ice, and even a combination of Vakama's and Nokama's fire and water powers hadn't produced any results, are now shaking the bar-window so hard, it's rattling.
The Kikanalo manages to stop about thirteen feet away from Matau, and, in a few steps, comes closer. It eyes the Toa of Air for a minute, then takes a tiny step further with a snort. Matau immediately recoils by turning his head away and closing his eyes, then feels a blast of warm air followed by a breeze rushing past him from the opposite direction. When he dares to look, he discovers that the source of the blasts and breezes is the Rahi's nose. The Kikanalo is sniffing him. The Rahi immediately recognizes the smell of fear, but it also recognizes something else--a familiar scent. Instantly, memories start flooding into its mind, memories of a friend who looked like a tall, green Matoran--the very same creature that is right before it right now. The Kikanalo grunts in a happy manner gives the Toa a lick with its long tongue.
"Ew," says Matau, disgusted. Then, something clicks inside his head. He remembers the time when he, Vakama, and Nokama were guided to the Place of Unending Whispers by a group of Kikanalo. Just before they departed, his Kikanalo licked him in the exact same way and spot that this Kikanalo just did. 'Could it be?' he asks as he returns to the present to find the Kikanalo looking at him as wonderingly.
Back in the cell, the Toa are not sure if the Kikanalo's no longer interested in their brother anymore, or if it has something else in mind. Using her mask, Nokama translates the Rahi's grunts and snorts. Breathing a sigh of relief, she announces, "It's alright, that Kikanalo's a friend." When the others turn to her in confusion, she asks, "Vakama, remember the herd of Kikanalo that took us to the Place of Unending Whispers back at home?"
"Yes," he replies, then he understands where Nokama's getting at. After looking at the Kikanalo out in the arena, back at Nokama, and back out again, he asks, "You mean-?", and the female Toa nods.
"Excuse me," says Onewa, "but would one of you mind telling us what in the world you're talking about?"
Stepping forward, Nokama replies, "That Kikanalo was one of our guides to the Place of Unending Whispers."
"And, apparently, it remembers Matau," adds Vakama.
"So that's one of those Kikanalo we heard so much about," says Whenua as he turns back to the window.
"Kikanalo?" Matau asks the beast, he can hardly believe that this is the same Kikanalo from back at Metru Nui. As if in response, the Rahi walks around to Matau's backside. Carefully, it grabs a piece of rope with its mouth, and, with a little toss of its head, rips the bonds off. Free of his restraints, Matau rubs his wrists. The Kikanalo walks to his side and Matau strokes the Rahi's massive muzzle, tentatively at first, then more relaxed. Meanwhile, as the Toa are relieved that their brother's safe, the audience can't believe what they're seeing. They start murmuring among themselves their disappointment both at the strange beast and at Daskus. Up on his throne, Daskus is looking really ticked off. This was not supposed to happen.
"General."
"My Lord?"
"Kill that worthless creature and seize the Outlander."
"Yes, my Lord."
The General lets out a whistle and throngs of soldiers come running into the arena. Matau blows some away while the Kikanalo swipes its tail at some more, but many more keep coming. "It's going to take more than the two of us to get out of here," Matau says to the Kikanalo, and the beast nods in agreement. Matau makes a break for the bar window while the Kikanalo covers him. "Everyone, get as far-deep into the corners as you can," Matau tells the Toa, and they do as their told. Matau gives the Kikanalo a thumbs up, and the Rahi charges at full speed. It rams its head right through the bars as if they were nothing and backs out with the Toa running out into the arena. Together, both beast and Toa fight their way through the soldiers. Seeing their chance, the Kikanalo nudges Matau's shoulder. "What is it?" asks Matau, and the Kikanalo starts barking.
Using her mask, Nokama translates, "Kikanalo wants us to follow it." Then, the Kikanalo rams through a pair of doors and the Toa tail it with the remaining soldiers after them. Inside, the Kikanalo leads the Toa Metru to where their weapons are being kept, then lowers itself down, and tosses its head toward its back. "He wants us to get on his back," translates Nokama. Needing no more encouragement, Matau's the first to lithely take a seat on the Rahi's back and the other Toa join him, although it's a bit of a tight squeeze. Hearing shouts down the hall, the Kikanalo takes off in a leap. As they near a corner, Nuju turns around and creates a sheet of ice on the floor. The pursuing men, unable to stop in time, bump into each other and slide into the wall while the Kikanalo rounds the corner.
"Slick, brother, very slick," laughs Whenua as he places an arm around the Ice Toa's shoulder, and they slam their fists together.
"Uh oh," says Matau.
"What do you mean 'uh oh'?"asks Onewa, and Matau points ahead. More guards have formed a barrier, blocking their way. They have their arrows and spears aimed and ready to strike. The Kikanalo, however, has other ideas. It picks up speed as it keeps moving forward. Then, when the arrows and spears fly towards it, the Rahi jumps into the air, soaring over the weapons and men. A little further ahead is the exit, the doors that lead to the outside of the palace. Matau turns to face the backside as best as he can, and summons a powerful gust of wind to take care of their pursuers. Just in time, he turns to the front to see the doors forced open and the desert ahead. Free at last, the Toa ride their Kikanalo friend out into the sunset.
There's chapter 4 for ya. Please tell me what you think.
Now, here's a little trivia question for you: Cananyone guess how I came up with the name, Emor? (just want to see if anyone can)
