CHAPTER THREE: CONVERSATION

Kopaka slept in an ice cave that night, tossing and turning as the wind howled outside. For some reason, he just couldn't compel himself to return to Ko-Koro. He just wasn't needed there at the moment.

For the first time in a long while, Kopaka actually woke up tired. He wanted to drop off to sleep again, but his body wouldn't allow it. Finally, after lying on a shelf of ice for a few more minutes, he arose.

He stepped out into the bright sunshine, donning his pale white Miru Nuva as he went. With the power of levitation, he soared into the air until Mata-Nui was spread out like an atlas before him.

Kopaka relished moments like this, and sometimes found himself secretly envying Lewa for his ability to see this every day. Up in the atmosphere, it was cold… actually frigid. Being the Toa of Ice, Kopaka was immune to the cold, but it still refreshed his mind.

He turned a few loops in the air, making sure he could still control the mask in case Rahi attacked, and then swooped down toward Onu-Koro's tunnel entrance. He landed outside, pondering his decision.

Why Onu-Koro… he mused …Oh yes, Onua and I get along splendidly…

He trudged inside the cave, switching back to his Akaku as he went. Onua, sensing his brother Toa entering his domain, tunneled out of one of the walls. He grinned broadly at Kopaka, who merely regarded his friend with the usual cold stare.

"Hello brother," welcomed the Toa of Earth, nodding toward Kopaka. For the nod, Kopaka was unduly grateful – the other Toa didn't seem to understand how much he disliked physical contact. Onua, however, seemed to find this perfectly fine.

"How goes your day?" returned Kopaka, falling into step beside his brother as they began to walk toward the underground city of Onu-Koro, "Are the Rahi still at bay?"

Onua smiled at Kopaka, "I doubt that's the reason you came here, Kopaka."

Kopaka looked at Onua slightly perturbed. Did the Earth Toa read minds as well as dig tunnels that would make an Ussal blush?

"What was your clue?" he asked, keeping his eyes affixed to the profile of the darker Toa.

"You do not seem yourself," answered Onua, leaning against a wall nonchalantly, "You seem more preoccupied with something other than the Rahi… feel like sharing?"

Kopaka leaned on the wall across from Onua, giving him one of his trademark cold stares. "You vow to keep it between us?"

Onua shifted from one foot to the other, "Unless it jeopardizes the well-being of the Toa, I do."

Kopaka relaxed slightly, "Yesterday, Lewa met up with me as I came down from Mount Ihu," he said, calmly watching the lightstones twinkle in the darkness.

Onua snorted derisively, "There's nothing new."

"I concur," nodded the Toa of Ice, "But it was what he said that bothers me."

Onua was instantly alert. If Lewa had said something that bothered the usually emotionless Ice Guardian, it had to be big. "What did he say? Is it about the Makuta?"

Kopaka shook his head, "No… something that is normally simple, I thought."

Now Onua was severely confused. Something that was simple and now was not… what could that be?

Kopaka looked up at Onua, hesitating for a moment, "He asked me if I liked Gali…"

Onua scoffed slightly, "What did you say?"

Kopaka looked down at the tunnel floor, which was alive with young Fikou spiders, "I had no answer…"

He looked up at Onua, and was not surprised to see a slight twinge of uncertainty and surprise in his deep green eyes.

"You mean…"

Kopaka nodded, answering the question before it was spoken. Onua let out a low whistle.

"This, my friend, is going to be a problem."