Yeyah! Chapter two: SUSPENSE! Read and FEAR!
Wakato treaded carefully through the tunnels he had stumbled upon while following his sister's trail. It had been all but impossible for him to follow her unconscious body being carried by his former brothers.
What Nidhiki had become was almost tolerable, but for Krekka the stone Toa felt a slight trace of pity.
The once giddy and playful Nidhiki, Toa of Air, had become something resembling more Rahi than Toa. Four thin spider-like legs clicked across the hard rock underfoot. His mask was now adorned with sharp, jagged edges on the back and sides. In place of arms, two vicious scorpion-like claws protruded from his shoulders. Wakato had heard his voice--in place of the high-pitched, happy sing-song tone, there was now a harsh, uncomfortable sound that reminded the Toa of a handful of rocks being grinded together. The creature looked weak but fast, and retained his intelligence.
Krekka, on the other hand, was at the other end of the spectrum. He walked upright, though slightly hunched. His mask still retained its characteristic eyepiece, though his intelligence was something to be questioned for one who was once a resident of Ko-Metru, supposedly the smartest of the residents of the island. His body was large and strong, and his mask had been mutilated into a beast-like form. He was carrying Katarii in his massive claws.
Thankfully, the tunnel was rough and jagged, with protrusions and footholds made of Mata-Nui-knows-what lining the stone walls, and Wakato was climbing along these, staying a good hundred yards or so away from his sisters' captors.
His plan was to memorize every twist and turn of this path until they reached their lair, then return to the surface to find his brothers, Lhikan and Onawe. They would then come back down the tunnels and attempt to free the Water Toa.
There was no possible way for Wakato to release her on his own. His former brothers had grown considerably stronger through whatever foul process Makuta had put them through.
"I trust you were successful in your undertaking?"
The voice instantly froze Wakato with fear. He sank into an opening in the wall, and hoped this would make him invisible.
"Makuta," he whispered breathlessly.
"We lost Lhikan in the fray, Lord Makuta," Nidhiki said nervously. "And Onawe was badly injured in our incursion of Onu-Metru. I believe he was damaged beyond help. He would not have been any use to us."
Wakato's insides turned to ice. He prayed to the Spirit that what the abomination had said was wrong, that somehow his Earth brother was still alive, could still join him in battle.
The Toa of Stone dared peak from out of his hiding spot and muffled a surprised gasp. The turn before him had been an illusion, the stone walls were now completely gone, they and the ceiling curved outward to form a monstrous cavern shrouded in fog. There was a third, more menacing creature with its back turned to his two servants, red and black armor barely glinting in the dim light from the large, red protodermis-filled cylinder before him.
The creature shifted, his head turned slightly so that one eye was visible. "Really?" He inquired, gaze piercing straight through the two frightened followers.
Nidhiki gulped. Krekka stepped forward, indicating the limp blue female in his arms.
"But look, Master! We brought you the Water Toa! She will be useful to us, right?"
Makuta's head now turned completely around. "Indeed."
Wakato turned away from the scene and hid himself once more against the stone walls. He prayed that Makuta could not see him. And thought he could no longer see them, he could still hear their conversation.
"So you think that would redeem you of your faults?" The voice threatened. It sounded a bit closer with each word. Wakato could picture Makuta walking toward the two nervous traitors, drawing closer to them.
Drawing closer to his sister.
He tightened his grip on his pick-shaped weapon, willing himself to be calm.
"Though she will submit to us in time, you have lost the other Toa I requested, and even destroyed a third. Not to mention that you do not know the whereabouts of the Stone Toa, do you?"
"B-but, lord, we are not sure of Onawe's condition. H-He could s-still be alive! Please, allow us to return to Onu-Metru and search for him! We might be able to--Aack!"
Nidhiki's yelp was quickly followed by the distinctive sound of armor hitting stone.
There was silence for a long moment. Wakato could hear scrabbling, like Nidhiki was struggling to stand.
"You, Krekka, do not join your brother on the ground because you still hold the next piece to the plan. A plan which may now fail because of your incompetence. You loose three Toa, bring back but one, and she is too badly injured. The process may be unsuccessful." His voice suddenly sounded calmer. "Not only that…"
A shadow, a silhouette was all the Stone Toa saw, before he was whisked out of his hiding spot by an invisible entity, Makuta's strong hand wrapped around his neck, pulling him off of his feet. He dangled helplessly from the monster's grasp, staring straight into his demon-red eyes.
"You allowed yourselves to be followed."
NYAAAA! More cliffhanger-ness! Stay tuned for the next chapter! And, as always, REVIEW!