Disclaimer: The only characters I own are Kit, Darcius, and the dragon-creature.
Agni paced back and forth in front of the gate to Ta-Koro, standing guard. He was just thinking that his shift was almost over when he caught sight of some kind of movement in the steam. "Halt!" he called, aiming his blade. "Who goes there?" But no answer came. "Halt!" he repeated. "Identify yourself." Still no reply and the figure was coming closer. Agni narrowed his eyes and prepared himself, gripping his weapon tighter. Soon, though, he was able to make out a familiar yellow mask. "Captain Jaller!" he exclaimed and his composure relaxed immediately. He was about to announce to the guard on the rampart to lower the portcullis, when he stole another look at the Captain of the Guard. His mouth practically dropped and his eyes widened in shock. Jaller was clutching his left shoulder, his mask was badly scratched up, and there were additional scratches and cuts all over his body. On top of that, he appeared and sounded exhausted; he could barely hold his head up let alone walk. Dropping his weapon, Agni rushed over to him and slipped an arm across his shoulders.
"Va . . . kama," Jaller groaned. "Got to . . . see . . . Vakama."
"Open the gate and inform Turaga Vakama," Agni called to the guard above. "Captain Jaller's hurt."
A guard peeked over the edge, saluted, and disappeared. A few moments later, the slab began to lower and, supporting the weight of his Captain, Agni walked in. Kapura came running and was about to slip on Jaller's other arm when Agni stopped him. "No don't. It might make the injury worse."
Nodding, Kapura instead grabbed hold of Jaller's waist and the two guided him toward Vakama's hut.
Vakama was talking to a visiting Nokama when a guard member walked in. "Forgive the interruption, Turaga," the guard saluted, "but there's an emergency."
"What sort of emergency?" asked the Turaga of Fire.
"It's Captain Jaller, Turaga. He's badly hurt; he looks like he had a run-in with a Rahi."
"Bring him in."
The guard saluted and signaled Kapura and Agni to enter.
Outside, Kit, who had come with Nokama, was browsing among the trading posts. She came with the turaga hoping to visit with Jaller and Takua, only to find out that they had not returned from their scouting yet. Some movement by Vakama's hut caught her attention and she turned to find two guard members ushering a familiar and beaten-up looking Ta-Matoran inside. 'Jaller!' she thought and ran toward the group.
Vakama couldn't remember ever seeing the proud Captain so thrashed, not even from when he got shocked from the Tahnok-Kal. "Set him down over there," he instructed as he pointed to spare cot in the back. Kapura and Agni obeyed and, as gently as possible, laid him down. Carefully and skillfully, Vakama examined the Matoran's wounds. The turaga frowned when he saw that a lot of them had bits of dirt and charred tree bark in them. "Nokama, could you grab me that flask over there, please?" he asked pointing to a shelf. The Turaga of Water nodded and went to retrieve the item while Vakama left to fetch some cloth. After wetting the cloths with the water from the flask, both turaga started dabbing them on Jaller's wounds to rinse away any infection. The Captain slightly hissed from the stinging pain, but otherwise didn't protest. It was at that moment Kit let herself in.
"What happened?" she asked, now seeing up close the intensity of Jaller's wounds.
"That's what we'd like to know," answered Agni.
Vakama had left to get some ointment when Jaller finally found his voice. "Vakama," he called weakly.
"I'm here, Jaller," the Turaga said comfortingly.
"Quickly," said Jaller. "You've got to send for Toa Tahu. Takua . . ."
"Where is he, Jaller?" asked Vakama. "What happened?"
Jaller told the turaga about the creature, Takua's abduction, and his fall as they tended to his injuries.
"Judging from what you've just told us and these wounds, it's a miracle that you're still alive let alone that you managed to find the strength to get here," commented Nokama as she started putting the Matoran's shoulder in a splint.
"How did you survive a fall like that, anyway?" asked Kit.
"I landed through a thick patch of trees," answered Jaller. "My guess is they somehow cushioned me enough to survive the landing and they're where I got most of these cuts and scratches."
"Still, the landing was hard enough to give you a ruptured shoulder," Vakama pointed out.
Finally, with his arm placed in a splint to allow his shoulder to heal, Jaller was allowed to rest and the group moved outside.
"Does anyone know where Tahu is?" asked Vakama.
"I believe I saw him heading for the Tren Krom Break," replied Agni. "He said he was going to do some lava surfing there."
"Kapura, find him and tell he's needed at the village immediately," the Turaga instructed.
"Yes Turaga Vakama," the Ta-Matoran saluted and, in a flash, was gone.
About a half an hour later, Tahu arrived at the village. "Welcome back Toa," Vakama greeted. "Sorry to have cut your lava surfing short."
"No apologies needed, Turaga," Tahu waved dismissively. "I came as soon as Kapura delivered your message."
The Turaga motioned for the Toa of Fire to follow him into his hut. Tahu followed and his eyes immediately fell on Jaller, who was being tended to by Nokama and Kit. "How is he?"
"Resting," replied Nokama, "but he'll be fine."
"What happened to him?"
"Would you believe some kind of dragon creature?" Kit asked.
When the red Toa gave her a questioning look, Kit and the turaga repeated Jaller's story to him. Once they had finished, Tahu's eyes burned with determination. "What are we waiting for? Takua needs our help."
"I'm afraid there's nothing you can do at the moment, Toa," said Vakama.
"Why not?"
"Because we don't have the slightest clue where that thing took him," answered Kit.
Tahu grumbled in frustration; he knew they were right. Suddenly, a screech was heard outside. Everyone ran out to the courtyard where they discovered Kongu on his Gukko, Ka. "Turaga Vakama!" the Captain of the Gukko Patrol waved once he spotted Ta-Koro's elder and hopped off of his bird.
"What brings you here to our fiery village, Kongu?" asked Vakama.
"Scary-bad news, I'm afraid," the Matoran responded. "Ka and I were wind-flying back to tree-bright Le-Koro. Rather good-well conditions for sun-soaring actually . . ."
Kit rolled her eyes with a slight smile. She had nearly forgotten that the Le-Matoran idea of storytelling was including every single possible detail, no matter how miniscule, thus causing them to get off track.
"Kongu," Tahu interrupted, "the news?"
"Yes, Toa Tahu," Kongu bowed. "Anyway, Ka and I were wind-flying back to Le-Koro when we sight-spotted this huge-big dragon-like creature."
Everyone's eyes widened as they exchanged glances at each other.
"We quickly cover-hid in the trees," Kongu continued. "When I noticed-saw it had Takua-friend, we snuck-followed it."
"Were you able to find out where it took him?" Vakama asked.
Kongu nodded. "It carry-took him to a ground-cave on the south-east side of that small mountain-hill." He pointed in the direction of the border land between Ta-Wahi and Le-Wahi.
"What are we waiting for now?" asked Kit. "Let's go," and she headed for the gate.
However, before even Tahu could follow her, she was stopped suddenly when Vakama grabbed her forearm. "What?" she asked with a hint of impatience.
"This is not the time or situation to be making hasty decisions, Kit."
"But--"
"Kongu, send word to all of the Toa that they are needed," Nokama instructed. "Tell them to meet us at the Kini Nui as quickly as possible."
The Le-Matoran saluted, bid farewell, and, on Ka's back, took off.
"Vakama?" Kit inquired.
"If you are to save the Chronicler, you're going to need the strength of all of the Toa," the Turaga of Fire answered.
Kit wanted to protest but she noticed the look in the Turaga's eyes. It was a firm look that told her that his decision was final and there was no discussing it any further, and she dejectedly dropped her head. Vakama let go of her arm and walked with Nokama back into his hut. "This really bites, huh?" she said both to herself as well as to Tahu.
"Yeah," the Toa of Fire nodded. "But, as much as I hate to admit it, I guess they have a point. Judging from what Jaller said, it's going to take more than just you and me to rescue Takua. Besides, you don't have your crystal anymore."
"Gee, thanks for stating the obvious," Kit said sarcastically.
She began to walk away when Tahu said, "You know, I'm not so sure you should even come with us anyway, Kit. You'd more than likely only get hurt; let us take care of it."
Kit stopped in her tracks. As he waited for he wasn't sure what, Tahu cocked his head. After a few moments, Kit spoke. "Let me ask you something, Tahu. When you lost your powers to the Bohrok-Kal, did you just sit around and do nothing?"
Tahu, left speechless, said nothing and Kit continued on her way. For some reason, she found herself walking into the chamber that housed the Wall of History. She let herself lean against the opposite wall, arms folded across her chest and frowning deeply. Deep inside, she knew the Toa was only concerned about her safety, but Tahu's suggestion hurt her and opened emotional wounds she was trying to heal. 'He probably thinks I can't do anything just because I don't have my crystal,' she thought. Angrily, she kicked a small pebble, which echoed as it bounced down the hall. She let out a frustrated sigh and, with no reason in mind, started to trace the Matoran letters with her fingers.
Later, Tahu and Vakama were getting ready to head out. All that remained was for Nokama to find Kit. "What could be taking them so long?" wondered Tahu impatiently. Vakama shrugged his shoulders just as Nokama appeared.
"Has anyone seen Kit?" she asked. "I can't find her anywhere."
Vakama and Tahu shook their heads and all three of them shared a feeling of dread. The Turaga and Toa of Fire knew Nokama would've been very thorough in her search. Therefore, that left only one possibility. "But Kit would never do anything so stupid," said Tahu. "Right, turaga?" Vakama and Nokama remained silent.
Meanwhile, near the borderland between Ta-Wahi and Le-Wahi, Kit stood at the mouth of a massive cave. It was so dark inside, she couldn't see anything farther than ten feet ahead of her. That alone was enough to unnerve her and, for a brief moment, she thought about either turning around or waiting until the others arrived. "No," she said shaking her head. "I've already come too far to chicken out now; I have to go in." And so, steeling herself, she tentatively walked into the cave with no idea of what to expect.
Further into the mountain, the large form of the dragon creature landed in a cavern. Grunting, Takua struggled in its grasp. "Let me go," he demanded, and it did. With a thud, the Ta-Matoran landed on the ground. Dazed, Takua looked to find a pair of black shoes in front of him. Shifting his gaze upward, he saw one of the last people he ever expected to see again—Darcius. Before Takua could react, the man had him in his hand.
"Well done," he praised the creature. "You may go now."
With a bow of its head, the creature vanished from sight, as if it just melded itself into the surrounding shadows. Then, Darcius dragged Takua toward a small stone pillar that was supposedly once a stalagmite. Once placed on top, Takua started struggling to get away, but Darcius kept hold of him with one hand to his chest. After some pushing and shoving, Darcius pinned Takua down and, the next thing he knew, black straps wrapped themselves around his wrists and waist. Once he was sure the little one was secure, Darcius left. "What do you want with me?" he asked as tugged at his restraints.
"You'll learn soon enough."
Meanwhile, Kit continued down the tunnel. The sound of pebbles falling somewhere made her stop. Even though she knew it wasn't really happening, she couldn't help but think that things that were not supposed to exist were either hiding in or trying to materialize out of the shadows. Memories of her encounter with Makuta and what he made her see flashed across her mind's eye. All of this, however, went through her head for only two seconds before she narrowed her eyes in determination. 'I can do this,' she told herself. 'I'm not a little kid afraid of the dark anymore.' Forcing her thoughts to keep focused on Takua, she continued to walk with her hand feeling the wall.