Disclaimer: The steed-lizards that the soldiers ride and the creature are not my creations (the steeds are based on the dragonsfrom 'Dragon Booster' and the creature is the monster from the movie, 'Relic'. I forgot to put the disclaimer for the dragon-steeds on an earlier chapter). And, of course, I don't own Bionicle, but I do own the other characters (unless noted otherwise).


As the hours go by, the travelers slowly, but surely make their way across the vast desert to the crystalgate, with Nuju studying the map with occasional help from Nokama. Following Manor's advice, they carefully monitor their food rations, eating only a few bites every two to three days. The water, however, doesn't prove to be much of a problem. Nokama simply uses her water powers to summon a small rain cloud to fill it up whenever it gets low. Of course, they have their run-ins with the local wildlife in the area. One day, a pack of creatures that the Toa recognize as what the palace guards used as their steeds surround them, thinking they could be prey. The fight that follows makes them think again. That night, Vakama's almost eaten by a carnivorous plant, but his fire powers scare it off. After that, several days pass without too much incident.

One evening, the group finds a spot at the bottom of a canyon and makes camp. Turning to the Kikanalo, Onewa tells the creature, "Move, big fella. Find your own spot." With a snort and low rumble, the Rahi moves further down the canyon.

Walking up to him, Nokama asks, "Did you really have to drive him off?"

"He'll be fine," is all Onewa has to say.

After they have a fire going, the Toa gather around and take a few more bites of food. Vakama takes another look into the bag to check on their rations. "At the rate we're going, this bag's going to be empty within the end of the week," he estimates, "Nuju, how much further do we have to go?" The scholar takes out the map and studies it, then he gives the group his best guess.

"According to my calculations, if we keep going at the speed we're going, we should reach the crystalgate within the next three to four days." Sighs of relief can be heard from every member of the group, they all can't wait to get back to familiar territory. They had all realized by now that as long as they remained here on this island, they would never be safe.

"Well, we'd best call it a night," says Vakama, "Another long day awaits us tomorrow," and they all went to sleep.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the canyoned valley, a monstrous creature is on the prowl. About half the size of a Kikanalo, with long, huge claws on all four of its feet, powerful legs built for delivering savage blows, a long tail that could break a man's back with a single swipe, muscularly hunched shoulders, a pair of mandibles that house a row of jagged sharp teeth, it scans the area with its beady yellow eyes. Along with the insect-like nature of its jaws, its scaly skin's that of a reptile. As it searches for prey, its nose picks up a scent unlike any it's smelled before. And so, it decides to investigate.

Back at the campsite, Nokama's awakened by animal calls. Looking up, she discovers a small group of the lizard-steeds on top of the cliff, running. She can tell that something has disturbed them, in fact, they sound as if they're frightened. 'What could be so dangerous, that just the feeling of its presence would scare those things away?' she wonders and, figuring that whatever the animals are running from isn't anything good, she goes to Vakama. "Vakama, wake up," she whispers as she gently shakes his shoulder.

"Wha-What is it?" Vakama groans as he rubs his eyes.

"Something's wrong; I think something dangerous is near," Nokama explains, when suddenly a roar is heard down the path, wakening the remaining Toa Metru. The creature had located the source of the scent and decided it was going to have dinner. It charges in a bounding-like fashion. Thinking quickly, Whenua turns on his night vision power, stopping the creature in its tracks and blinding it with the huge blast of light. It backs away as it paws at its closed eyes, as if trying to cover them.

"C'mon," waves Whenua, "now's our chance," and they run while the creature's distracted. However, Onewa trips over a rock, and, just then, the creature regains its bearings. Spotting Onewa, it pounces. Onewa, however, is able to slip away just in time. He locates a hole in the canyon wall just big enough for him to hide in. With the beast snapping at his heels, he climbs in, and the creature's unable to pursue its prey any further. The Toa of Stone looks back out to see the monster's gnashing jaws, it's obvious that it's far from giving up. It lunges its mandibles into the little cave in an attempt to grab its quarry, but Onewa dodges them. Mask glowing, he tries to command the beast to leave, but there's a problem. Just like with Kikanalo, for a minute, its eyes glow, but somehow the creature's able to fight off Onewa's thoughts. Unable to grab one of his proto pitons or call upon his power over stone, Onewa's totally at the mercy of the beast.

"Guys, help!" he calls out. Behind some rocks, Nokama hears her brother and is horrified to discover his predicament. She's about to sprint back when Whenua grabs her by the arms and holds her back.

"We've got to help him," she pleads, struggling to get free.

"We will, Nokama," Nuju agrees, "but we've got to come up with a plan first, or that monster will take us all out."

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the canyon, the Kikanalo wakes up hearing screams. It recognizes them as the Toa and judges from the commotion that they're in danger. Wasting no time, it jumps to its feet and bounds back to the campsite.

For probably the first time since becoming a Toa, Onewa's truly afraid. After the creature grew tired of not being able to grab him with its mandibles, it started clawing at the rock. It even tries reaching in to grab him with its claws, but Onewa is just out of its reach. Then, it prepares to try using its mandibles again. It's about to lunge when something pulls it back. It's Kikanalo, with the monster's tail in its mouth. Freeing its tail, the creature turns to the intruder. If it was frustrated that it was turning out to be quite a chore to grab its latest prey item, it is now furious that this strange animal had butted into its business. Onewa takes this opportunity to make his way out of the cave. The creature aims a swipe with its claws at the Kikanalo. The Kikanalo manages to dodge the brunt of the attack, but the blow still dazes it, and it backs away a few steps. Hearing a crunching sound behind it, the creature whirls around to discover Onewa trying to escape. Once again, Onewa finds himself face to face with the jagged, gnashing teeth. It's about to move in for the kill, when the Kikanalo rams it away with its shoulder. As the creature tumbles around on the ground, Onewa makes a break for the others. Getting back on its feet, the creature eyes Kikanalo with rage that would of killed it if it were a weapon. It's really mad and ready for a fight now. Both beasts roar at each other, then charge. They buck and slash through the air as they attempt to strike each other with their mighty claws and swing their tails to use as clubs. The creature snaps with its mandibles, while the Kikanalo tries to gouge it with its horn. As the fight continues, both beasts sustain some damage; cuts and bruises, or dents almost cover their bodies. Deciding to end this once and for all, the Kikanalo releases a tremendous roar. The roar produces a powerful gust of wind, powerful enough to blow away anything in its path. The creature, caught totally by surprise, doesn't have the time to dig its claws into the ground to use as hooks. Unable to stand its ground, the creature's blown against the canyon wall and collapses to the ground. Stunned it shakes its head and sees the Kikanalo charging at it. Before it can react, Kikanalo lifts the creature into the air with a mighty toss of its head towards its backside. The creature barely manages to land on its feet and lands in a fighting position, growling. The Kikanalo prepares for another charge, only this time its ready for it. The creature waits until the last possible moment to leap out of the way, and onto the canyon wall. Using its claws it climbs up to a ledge.

"Incredible," Whenua muses, "a creature of such size able to scale walls like a lizard or an insect."

"Well, it does look-appear to be, at least, part reptile," comments Matau.

The Kikanalo bellows at the creature, when suddenly, the creature leaps. It lands on a pillar of stone, then pounces onto the Kikanalo, pinning it to the ground. Using all of its strength to keep the struggling Rahi where it wants it, it rears up its head and opens its mandibles and mouth wide. At the last minute, Kikanalo's eyes catch sight of this, and unable to free itself, it knows what's coming. The creature chomps into the Kikanalo's lower neck with a massive bite. Kikanalo howls in agony.

The Toa are horrified. The creature had just seriously wounded their companion, and now he was in dire need of help. Their confidence restored, they come out of hiding, unsheath their weapons, and prepare for battle. The Rahi protected them; now it is their turn. Onewa throws a rock to get the creature's attention, then Vakama fires a disc from his launcher.

"Back, you foul creature," he commands.

"Get off of him," Nokama adds.

As if it understands them, probably made possible through the water Toa's mask power, the creature grabs the Kikanalo with its mandibles, and throws it like a ragdoll down the path, then turns its attention back to the Toa. This seems to enrage the Toa; how dare that monster just toss away their friend as if it was a discarded mask. They move in for the attack.

Down the canyon, the Kikanalo tries to get back up, but it can't. It feels so tired, so weak, and it can feel something in its neck leaking.

Back at the campsite, the Toa fight the creature with all they've got, including their newfound anger towards the creature. As the creature snaps its mandibles, the Toa use their agility and work as a team to overwhelm it. They pelt the creature with small earthquakes, landslides, hurricanes, ice darts, and water blasts. Finally, it's Vakama's turn. Focusing all of his energy, he unleashes a stream of fire. The flames lick at the creature's skin and it roars in surprise and fear. The Toa move in, continuing to drive off the creature until it's out of sight. Breathing a sigh of relief, Vakama asks, "Everyone alright?"

"Yeah," answers Nuju, "but where's Kikanalo?" A pained call answers the Toa of Ice's question, and the group goes the investigate.

"Kikanalo," Whenua calls.

"Over there," Nokama points, and the Rahi's laying on its stomach, moaning. Nokama, Nuju, Whenua immediately inspect the damage while Matau and Vakama try to keep the Rahi calm. When Vakama steals a glance at Nokama, she shakes her head. "H-he's badly hurt," she says sadly, and lowers her head in sorrow.

"No," Matau pleads, almost a little surprised at what he just said.

"Matau," Nuju places a hand on the green Toa's shoulder, "I'm truly sorry, but there's nothing we can do. We don't have what we need to heal him." All Matau can think to do is stroke the Kikanalo's muzzle with one hand while the left is placed near its mouth and look into its slowly dimming eyes. Suddenly, he feels a strange moisture on his left hand. Looking down, he finds the Kikanalo's tongue on his palm, and it retreats back into the Rahi's mouth. Matau can't help but crack a small smile. Just then, Onewa walks up and kneels in front of the Kikanalo. The Rahi's image is reflecting in his eyes.

"You saved my life," he murmurs as he pets the Kikanalo's nose, something he thought would never happen. All of his life, he viewed the Kikanalo as tools, something that made his job easier by locating and digging up the protodermis he needed for his projects and as a means of transport to cover more ground on this island. He never thought of them as creatures who would lay down their lives to protect anyone or anything, especially a former Po-Matoran carver who didn't think much of them, without a thought for their own safety. The Kikanalo gives Onewa's hand a lick, drops its head, and its eyes go dark. They all hang their heads, mourning the loss of a good companion and friend.