Kora: Mata Nui

Chapter Fourteen:

A spirit

"Holy-" The Kora of stone said a very bad word in a Toa sub dialect that, thankfully, the Matoran didn't know. They could guess since Turaga Onewa had said the same thing several times over the years, a few even herd Tahu bark it out once or twice.

Currently she was bouncing on one foot, muttering under her breath until she caught sight of three other humans... no, Kora. The three were across a clearing from where Telem had stubbed her bare toes, on Hewkii metal foot, and in one of the many bodies of water of this Wahi. They were evidently having the time of their lives as well as being in a full fledged water fight. It was pointless fun, and by the time Telem got nearer with her group a few Ga-Matoran and a male Matoran with a blue Kanohi but red coloration in the body had leapt in the hip-high stream and the water fight had become more of a water war.

Watching over the enthusiastic splashing was the keen copper and yellow gaze of a being Telem knew at once was another Toa. She wasn't nearly as tall or as big in mass than Pohatu, but still taller than the Matoran and Kora, and had a different kind of grace to her slender frame. The Toa of water, for that who Telem was guessing she was not just by the blue and silver armor but the matching descriptions from the Kora's stone brother as well as the Matoran.

Telem's gaze shifted away from the water-war as she spotted movement from the corner of her eye. Turning the young stone elemental smiled as she recognized the brown skinned Kora that she was only a few months older than, "Storm!"

The twenty year old (going be the looks and 'age' of the human disguise) looked up from her intended target, just managing to hide the clear water ball in her hand, before Tahu turned around. Storm was crouched on a ledge of the Great Temple's side, and when she saw Telem, the fire elemental's grin widen, altering from 'I'm going to get into so much trouble!' to 'I know you!'

"Rocky!"

Splat!

"Oy!"

Pohatu and Tahu both gave an impressive synchronized snort, the two elder spirits watching as the two oldest Kora basically moved to tackle each other. Storm sliding down the curved wall of the Kini Nui and Telem hopping over, at the same time the other three Kora were wading over to great Telem as well. It had been a while side coming to Mata Nui and a tad longer since they had seen each other.

The Toa moved too, Pohatu thumped his closed fist against Tahu's, "Brother!" The stone Toa laughed, "It's been too long. And you own me a game."

Tahu chuckled, "That I do brother." He agreed, clapping Pohatu's arm before stepping back a little.

"Don't think I forgot about those widgets either."

"Frag it."

Gali rolled her multi-colored eyes at her bothers before the water elemental was enveloped into a powerful hug. She smiled and wrapped her arms around Pohatu's middle as much as she could, the taller Toa's permanently hunched form added to the 'I'll protect you' feeling of his hug. Gali had long since accepted that her two oldest brother Toa would almost always embrace her if they could, it just seemed engrained into Pohatu and Onua. Not that she minded, besides technically Gali was the second youngest of the Nuva.

"It's good to see you as well Ga-gi." Pohatu said, putting Gali back down on her feet, "But you're as bad about visiting as Tahu and Kopaka!" The stone giant paused, doing a head count on Kora and Turaga, "Hmm... mentioning that, where are...?"

"Onua is in the Kini resting," Tahu said as he motioned to his left and slightly behind, "And our Le-tu is hunting at the moment for an evening meal." Mostly the food would be for the Matoran, elders and the younger elementals, who were still growling back into their true Bionicle bodies. And thus like any 'teenager' were near bottomless pits. Tahu shook his head at that thought, he had been hunting himself almost twice as much as before and guessed it was the same with his brothers.

"Kopaka, Turaga Nuju and their group have yet to arrive." Gali added as she walked to one side, she had hold of a red and tan hand to get the other two Toa to move out of the way of the knee-high Matoran that rushed passed in a Kholii like game.

Tahu gave another snort, "Surprising since he is the one who insists on always being 'on time.'"

"Many things can happen on a trip of any length brother." The waiter spirit chastised with a small frown.

"Besides," Pohatu smirked as he flopped gracelessly onto the ground, making a small tremor that got a few yelps. He gave the nearer Ga-Matoran an apologetic look as he continued, "I heard from some of the traders in Po-Koro that Ko-tu has both hands full with our new Kora of ice."

Tahu shook his head, shifting his stance to keep facing the other two as Gali folded her legs under her and sit in the sun beside Pohatu. The fire elemental crossed his arms over his chest, under his orange shaded heartlight, "All the Kora are going to be-" The red a brown male didn't get to finish he prediction as a water ball impacted the back of his head, Tahu making a surprised sound that was partly a grunt.

Behind him was a scramble and more than a few giggles from Matoran and Kora alike.

There was a beat paused before several things happened at once.

Pohatu burst out laughing, a few Turaga doing so as well. Gali lifted a hand as if trying not to burst into giggles herself like several of her villagers were- but honestly the look and Tahu face...!

The fire Toa let his internal temp rise, spiking a moment to let the water evaporate. He spun around with a growl, and then let out a mock roar after the fleeing Ta- Le- and Po- Kora. Tahu loped off after the guilty younger spirits and Matoran, grinning. However neither he nor the other Toa saw the sharp looks and sudden alertness that came from the Turaga as they watched the chaise begin.

Vakama had to take a deep calming breath along with Matau and Onewa, easing the grip on his staff. The red elder exchanged looks with his brothers, silently confirming with the other Turaga that they too had seen that flash of 'killing fangs' that all Bionicle had. Though for most, mainly the Matoran, those hits of what the Bionicle evolved from stayed small and folded up on the roof of the mouth. Useless to a point for the modern Matoran.

But in this moment, for the elders see that blatant reminder that Toa did have sizeable fangs- and in turn found use for them, but more as a last as a last ditch effort. However, the combination of fangs and that roar, Tahu unknowingly hitting that 'right' tone to make a pure sound that was a throwback to his Hordika ancestors.

It brought to mind more than a few memories to the six elders of the island. Not all of those scenes of the past times were the best of things to see re-playing in one's mind's eye.

Turaga Whenua shifted in his spot, sitting in the shade cast from the Kini Nui. He was tilting his head and using his tongue to feel what was left of his own broken fangs. The elder sighed and shook his head, turning his attention to watching the Kora evade the bigger Tahu. For him at least, listening to the joy of the present peace lulled away the pain of his past.

"Only one element remains," Nokama spoke, to break any self created spells.

"Yes," Vakama nodded, "Nuju should be here soon, if not in the temple already knowing him."

"Would be like him." Onewa gave a snort as he along with Vakama helped Matau with his bad hip to stand up again.

Whenua chuckled softly as he walked beside Nokama, his shoulder just brushing hers to help him find his way in the glare of the sun as the elders made their way around the curved of the temple to the nearest entrance, "Indeed it would be," He agreed, "but we should ready ourselves for the no doubt endless questions that will be put to us."

The Turaga of fire hummed softly in thought, "I wish we could answer even most of them." Vakama glanced around to be sure the closest Matoran (and Toa) where distracted, "We only have the stories of old that Whenua saved from the Archives."

Several shrieks came from behind, along with Tahu's yelp, and the Turaga spun around to see most of those who had been playing in the water where evacuating the pool in a hurry. Tahu had been knee deep, getting ready to throw his fire sister and water brother into deeper water, the two Kora clinging to his arms to keep from going in the suddenly much cooler water.

Onewa's multi colored eyes landed on the new young elemental that was grinning. At the same time the large pale form of Kopaka came out of the greenery in front of the Ko-Koro contingent, the Nuva of ice looked over at what could only be his Kora. As he blinked and took in what was happening- Tahu with the two clinging awkwardly to him as he high-stepped out of the water wincing at the cold, Onewa could have sworn he saw a faint smile.

"ToaBrothers!" A light male voice called, a gust of wind proceeding the air Toa. Lewa flipped before landing, hocking his blades to his forearms as he did so. The glow of his Kanohi faded as the green and tan Toa landed, trotting over closer, shooing the gathered Matoran into the Kini Nui, "Brothers, you must fallow me everquick. Wiseold Turaga please getfetch Onua."

Lewa turned not waiting as he used his long legs to go back the way he came in but on the ground this time. Kopaka didn't hesitate, moving alarmingly slight as he fallowed his air brother. Gali gracefully rose with Pohatu heaving himself up, at the same time Tahu had to shrug off his clinger-ons.

"Brother?" Gali called after.

"Softhush Ga-gi," Lewa said motioning for the Toa not to ask as they were still in hearing range of the Matoran as he vanished into the Ga-Wahi forested wetlands. That instantly had the full attention of the other Nuva.

What would have Lewa worried that much?