CHAPTER FORTY-NINE: SHRINE OF THE SPIRITS

"Damn!" cursed Kopaka, wincing as a small stone pinged off of his mask. He'd been climbing for almost an hour, Gali clinging to his back, and was still not even close to the top. The azure Toa had fallen asleep on his back, and his shoulders were completely numb.

Stupid… he muttered, considering his offer to climb the wall. He heaved himself up another inch or two, marveling at how easy Gali made this look, and hung there. After a brief period of rest, he swung the axe she'd lent him up a ways, sinking it into the rock and pulling himself up. All he could think was that this trip had better be worth it.

After what seemed like eons, Kopaka saw the edge of the cliff above him. With renewed vigor, he shimmied up the cliff until he was seated comfortably on the edge of the precipice. He gently laid Gali on the ground, stretching as his back popped unnaturally.

"Have a nice climb?"

"Why don't you make someone happy and mind your own business, Malak," retorted Kopaka, turning to face the ebony Toa. Malak laughed slightly, walking toward the pair of Toa.

"A sharp tongue does not equal a quick mind, Kopaka," he countered, standing face to face with his old friend.

Kopaka drew himself up to his full height, "You would know all about that, wouldn't you?"

Malak leaned against the remnants of a small dead tree, folding his arms. "This constant tit-for-tat will get us nowhere, Kopaka. What will, however, is a deal I've come up with."

Kopaka braced himself; any deal of Malak's was bound to go horribly wrong. Malak noticed his stance and smiled sadly.

"Don't you trust me?" he asked companionably.

"Not as far as I could throw your ass on a rainy day, Malak."

"Touché, I am at a loss."

Kopaka folded his pale arms across his chest. "Name your deal, and do it quickly."

Malak pointed at the top of the mountain they were climbing. "I'll get you up there, if you give me your spear and sword."

"No, Kopaka, don't do it!" shrieked Gali, jumping up from her half-sleep daze, "It's a trick."

Malak snapped his hand sideways, knocking Gali to the ground. Kopaka growled as Malak inspected his hand. "A hard head, I see…"

Kopaka drew his spear and shield, "If you add one more piece to the table, Malak."

The dark Toa strode over to Kopaka, running a finger down the length of the spear. "Name your price."

"Leave Gali alone – and for good, Malak!"

Malak took the weapons from his old friend's hands, "Done."

Instantly, Kopaka found himself facing a shrine not unlike the Suvas back on Mata Nui. A massive carving of a Toa Geni was standing atop it, looking proudly down at the world below. Kopaka gazed in awe at it before realizing something. It had a small doorway in the toe of its foot.

"Gali?" he asked her, turning to her. It seemed Malak had sent her up with him. She looked at him, "Yes?"

"You game to head through that door?"

He found himself on the ground, Gali standing over him. "You gave up your weapons and are still considering continuing this insanity? What the hell is wrong with you! I said I didn't want anything to happen to you!"

Kopaka stood up, nursing his jaw. "I won't get hurt, Gali. I'm not ready to die yet."

She kicked the doorway hard enough to knock the blockage clear. "Let's go, Kopaka. If you get hurt, I'll kill you!"