Disclaimer: Bionicle isn't mine but the Ihar are.

Bad News

Takua stared at the bridge in horror. He had just heard a piece of it fall deep down, and he had heard what Nairof had just said. Where was he? He couldn't tell the direction because he was speaking in thought-speak, and even if he had, he didn't know how large the bridge was or where it was. In fact he could have as well been walking in the air, if it hadn't felt so solid.

Rocks started falling in the cave, he had to help them! But how? There wasn't even a lightstone here, and he couldn't see a thing. Apart from a weird black glower from a corner...

Hoping that there wasn't another crevasse between the glower and him, he ran off until he could touch the strange, glowing stone. As soon as his fingers closed upon it, something happened.

He could see.

He could see! And really good, he could see where the crevasse started, every falling stone and the bridge...

He gasped as his eyes landed on it. It was so narrow that Nairof couldn't turn! If he had, he would have fallen in the darkness... and he had just ridden across it at high speed!

He started running back, hand still clutched on the black stone, then he started crossing the bridge, trying not to fall. He had nearly reached the gap... and Nairof jumped.

Takua stared in horror as Nairof started falling, way before the stone. Somehow, incredibly, he managed to grasp the other side of the bridge with his paws. His claws trying to dig inside the stone, eyes full of panic and determination. On his back, Pohatu was holding on for dear life.

In all this, Takua had forgotten about the falling rocks, and only remembered them as one fell right next to him, nearly hitting the bridge. Without thinking, he shot forwards and grasped Nairof's collar with his free hand.

Collar?

There wasn't enough time to think about it. He started pulling on it, trying to help Nairof climb on. But he was too heavy.

-Move out of the way, little one!- said a voice behind him. For a moment, Takua thought it was Lewa that somehow had stayed a Toa. Then he realized it was speaking in thought-speak. He turned around to face another cat, a green one.

-I said, move out of the way!-

A roar that sounded more like a meow came from the edge of the bridge. The new Ihar answered with the same sound.

-Get out of the way or I won't be able to help!-

"How?" shouted Takua to be heard over the falling rocks.

-Uuuuh... jump on my back!-

Takua let go of Nairof, grabbed the new Ihar's collar and pulled himself up. The Ihar jumped forwards and started tuggin on Nairof's collar with it's sharp teeth, and for a moment, Takua was afraid it might rip. Instead, Nairof started moving upwards, step after step. Slowly at first, then, suddenly, he shot up with a jump.

"Pohatu! Are you alright?" asked Takua.

"Yes, kind of. I'm still alive at least."

Takua looked down at his Ihar.

"Uh, how are you going to turn?"

-I was thinking of...this- said the Ihar, raised himself on his back legs and twirled around. Takua hadn't been ready for it, and was nearly thrown off. Then the Ihar shot off to the edge of the cliff. This time, Takua could see. So he could also see where the Ihar was running. Namely dangerously near the edge.

Suddenly, there was the sound of an explosion, and the piece of the bridge where Nairof had been standing on a second before crashed into the darkness. Takua heard Pohatu gasp. A second later, he saw why.

So much of the ceiling had fallen that it was now possible to see normally. Only that, strangely, everything was becoming too bright to see. But it was probably only because of the long time they had been in the dark.

Suddenly, the bridge started to crumble under Nairof's paws, who meowed to his Ihar. The smart animal seemed to think about it for a split second, then he just jumped forwards and into safety. A second later, Nairof followed him.

-Quick! Away from here!- shouted the Onu-Ihar and shot down a tunnel, shortly followed by Takua's Ihar.

Takua heard the two Ihar meow and roar as they ran down the tunnel. He had no idea what they were talking about.

Finally, Nairof came to a halt, stopping so quickly that Pohatu fell off. His Ihar did it a bit slower, luckily.

They stayed there until the place stopped shaking, and the rumbling quieted. Then his Ihar literally threw him off and ran back to the cavern.

"Ow, what's up with him?" asked Takua. Nairof stared at him.

-I could answer you that he is always like that. But this time it's because he was with two other guys-

Takua suddenly realized that now that is was darker, he could see better. Huh? That didn't make sense!

"With who was he?" grumbled Pohatu, rubbing his head. "With some friends of yours?"

-No, with two Matoran. Onua and Lewa, if I understood correctly-

"Onua and Lewa?" repeated Takua.

-Yes, you know them?-

"Y-yes!" stuttered Pohatu. "They were Toa, like us!"

-Toa?-

"It's a long story." saighed Takua.

-Then wait until we reach Hoti. Then maybe you don't have to tell it so many times-

"Alright," said Pohatu. "But what about our friends? Are they..."

-Let's put it this way. Onua is an Onu-Matoran, right? So, unless Lewa is like Kishro, and I hope not, then they'll be alright-

"Kishro?" asked Pohatu.

-That Ihar that just saved our tails. No, wait, you don't have a tail... Oh, whatever-

"Then you have to worry, because Lewa is a lot like Kishro" answered Takua.

Nairof didn't answer, he just kept staring at the tunnel, green eyes fixed on the entrance. Pohatu kept looking over too. But he probably couldn't see much. There wasn't any light except the one from the cave. Takua, instead, could see as well as an Onu-Matoran.

-There he is!-

Takua could see him too, he was trotting towards them with a grim look on his face.

"So?" asked Pohatu. Kishro's lime-green eyes shone in the darkness.

"Pohatu!" shouted a voice. Pohatu turned around to come face to face with Onua. Lewa was just behind him.

The four chatted for some time before Nairof told them they had to move on. The rest of the journey went on without problems, and soon they were out of the cave, in a desert.

As soon as they were outside the sun blended Takua, and once again everything seemed too bright. What was going on with him?

-Hey! What do you have there?- asked Kishro. Takua stared down at his hand. It was the stone. He hadn't realized that he still had it.

It was a normal, shiny black stone, kind of flat. A hole went through the middle, and a leather band passed through it. Pohatu reached out and grabbed it. The second Takua's fingers left it, he could see everything normally again. Why?

"Aagh! My eyes!" screamed Pohatu, covering his eyes. Nairof shot forwards and grabbed the stone from him.

-Nothing dangerous,- he laughed. -It's because you were holding the Ringlu. The Ilsao of Earth. It makes you see like an Onu-Matoran-

Lewa pointed at the flat stone. "That is an Ilsao?" he asked, incredulous.

-No, it's just a Rakshi piece,- said Kishro sarcastically. -It's better if Onua keeps it-

Onua nodded and let the leather string pass over his head, like it was a pendant. Then, they set off to meet Hoti.

XXXXX

Soon, they had reached a place full of rocks that looked like rests of ruins. There was no sign of life there.

They were at the edge of the desert now, a small waterfall trickled down a rock between two columns, to end in a large, but shallow river. On the other side of this river were some trees, and further on, the jungle.

-I was hoping to find Kal here and instead even that rock-head of Hoti is missing!- said Kishro.

"Who is Kal?" Takua wanted to know.

"Someone that can help us" answered Onua. "Or at least that's what he says."

-Yeah,- said Kishro. -But there's no one here. Only a wet river, some rocks and a Kolhii ball rolling this way-

They had just seen the ball when a roar echoed in the valley, shortly followed by a set of barks. Then a cat-like brown Ihar jumped down the rock. Seeing the Matoran, he changed to thought-speak.

-Get that ball!-

Pohatu ran to the ball and kicked it to the brown Ihar, but before he could catch it, a blue streak shot up from the river and closed it's teeth on it. Then she turned around and started running away from the brown Ihar.

"Hey Kida!" yelled Takua. "Pass it over here."

The blue Ihar tuned around to face Takua, a confused look on her face. Takua could hear the brown one chuckling in thought-speak. Kida trotted over to Takua, and as she came nearer, Takua realized that it wasn't Kida. She was a Ga-Ihar, like Kida, but she was older, and somehow... wilder.

-What did you just call me?- the Ihar asked. Takua started excusing himself but the Ihar shook her head.

-It's alright. Kida is my sister- she said.

The brown Ihar trotted next to Kida's sister, turned to Nairof and growled, Nairof growled back.

"You must be Hoti." said Pohatu, as the brown Ihar started playing around with the ball again.

-Yes, I'm Hotiku. How about a match? Three against three?-

Takua wanted to answer that of course they wanted to play, but Onua cut him off.

"Sorry, but we don't have any time! We have to turn back into Toa and find a way to get back to Metru Nui. Kishro told us that a certain Kal can help us, but we didn't find him anywhere."

To his surprise Hotiku started to laugh. Behind him, Kishro's eyes glinted and Nairof too looked amused.

-So they didn't tell you?- asked the blue Ihar, her tone was amused too.

They all shook their heads. Told them what?

-Guys, this Kal. Kida's sister- said Kishro.

"What?" asked Lewa.

"But Kal is a boy's name!" protested Takua.

-I never said that she's a female!- said Kishro. Kal flashed her eyes at him, then she turned to the four Matoran.

-Kal isn't, but Kalythia is. That's my real name-

"So can you help us?" asked Onua. Kalythia... or whatever she was called, cocked her head to one side.

-Maybe... but do you have other friends here?- she asked.

"I, don't know." said Takua. "Tahu and Kopaka were with us...and Gali too."

The Ihar all looked at each other at those names, but they didn't ask questions.

-Let's see if our brotherfriends found them- said Kishro. Then he raised his ears and stayed quiet, Kal did the smae.

"Uh," said Lewa. "What are they doing?"

-There are three tipes of thought-speak- Nairof explained. -One is normal, one is like you are whispering to someone and one is to talk to someone if you are on the other side of the island, I think they're trying to reach Sirkul and...-

-Sirkul says he found two Matoran that haven't done anything except snap at each other the whole time- interrupted Kishro.

"Those must be Kopaka and Tahu." said Pohatu. "But what about Gali?"

-Dunno,- answered Kal. -Thau isn't talking to me-

"Who?" asked Takua.

-Thaukon, he's a Ta-Ihar, not to mention...- started Kal.

-That he is an Ashra- Nairof finished off for her.

"A what?" asked Onua.

-Ashra,- explained Hoti. -Something like your Turaga. He can decide to move the Kavi if he...-

"What?" interrupted Takua. Kal turned to him.

-It's like your Koro. It's where we live... or better, hunt. Let's pretend this island was divided in Wahi. One Wahi is too big for us, so we decide in which zone we hunt. That's the Kavi. The Ashra can decide to move the Kavi whenever he or she wants. It's all up to him-

-Our problem is that we have to Ashra in our small group. Namely Thau and Sirkul- explained Hoti. -And they don't exactly like each other.-

"How come I have the feeling I already heard this story?" mumbled Pohatu.

-I got Thau!- shouted Kal. Then her face darkened. -Haha, really funny. He's coming after he has defeated something, but he didn't tell me what.-

-Alright, he got in trouble with Kofo-Jaga again- laughed Kishro.

-So, anyone wants to play?- asked Hoti.

They played Kolhii with the Ihar until sunset, then Sirkul appeared, followed by Kopaka and Tahu, and after some time Thau also popped up...alone. But they didn't even get the chance to ask him where Gali was, because he immediately started barking at Sirkul, who barked back, and when Kal tried to stop them, she just started another fight with Thau.

Finally, Hoti jumped between the two and started hissing and slashing at them, until they stopped definetly. Then Thau turned to the Matoran.

-They tell me that you've come here with the Tikohl...-he started, but Kal interrupted him.

-That's not important now. Where is Gali?-

-Gali?- he asked, confused. -What do you mean Gali? I haven't seen her since she turned into a Toa...-

Everyone stared at him, who just looked at the Matoran, confused.

"Does that mean she has found a way to turn back into a Toa?" asked Tahu.

-Huh? What are you talking about?- asked Thau. Kal explained him with some quick barks, his eyes went wide. -No, I haven't seen her...if I had known...-

Kal looked at him. -Thau, are you sure you haven't seen her?-

Thau shook his head. Kal's eyes became worried, she barked something at him, he just shook his head. Then she turned to the Matoran.

"What's so important about one of you finding her?" asked Takua, Kal stared into his eyes.

-Do you know why Miko Nui is called Death Island?- she asked. Takua shook his head. -It's called like that because nobody, nobody, that has come here, ever survived.-

Takua looked at her shocked, nobody? Did that mean...

-Maybe she is still alive...- Kal continued. -But I doubt it, a whole day has passed since you came here, and if none of us found her...- she paused. Then she continued again. -I'm sorry, but I dan't think you'll ever see Gali alive again-


More Ihar Bios:

Hotiku:

Hotiku is a real Kolhii fanatic. He is always searching ways to turn it more interesting and to have fun. He would rather have a nice match instead of running away from whatever they've put themselves in trouble with, but when he really has to, then he doesn't pull back from anything. Unless "anything" involves water. Hotiku is called Hoti by almost everyone except Sirkul. Powers: Speed and Mind-Control.

Kalythia:

Kal, Lythia, Lyth, Aly... Nobody calls her by her real name. She is the only female of the group, even though Kishro sometimes says she is a "male Ga-Ihar". She doesn't care being teased as long as nobody thinks she is weak. Then she is ready to fight to show that she isn't second to anyone, something that often puts her in contrast with Thau who thinks that her powers are no good. She cares a lot for her younger sister Kida, who lives on Metru-Nui. Powers: Water Breathing and Translation.

Sirkul:

The most solitary of the Ihar gang. He is an Ashra and takes this job very seriously, like everything else, on the other hand. The only one who can really bring him to talk is Thau, even though not in the friendly way. But if the others need him, he doesn't leave them in trouble. He doesn't like Kishro's constant joking and talking, but it's always better than listening to Thau. Powers: Telekinesis and X-ray vision.

Thaukon:

Thau is a natural leader and an Ashra, something that often puts him against Sirkul, who doesn't want to see him as a "boss". Danger attracts him like a magnet attracts iron, he is always searching for adventure, even though this means he is always in trouble. He is very sure of himself... unless he is facing Kida. Powers: Invisibility and Shield


Sorry for the boring chapters, but I had to explain a few things so I didn't have to explain them during the rest of the story. It's going to get better. Don't worry.

Thanks to all those who reviewed.

Regrem Erutaerc: Thanks, but I can't see the name of the Web Site. (but you mean , right?)

nightbug08: You'll find out what happened to the others.