It's been a while since I did an update and I felt like editing something so here is the next edited chapter.

My eye twitched and my jaw dropped slowly, hanging open as if it were a broken door hinge.

What just happened?

Gradually, the mosquito dropped to the ground with a thud, spraying a load of dust and swamp water into the air. I paid no attention to the water splashing on my clothes and the dust overlaying it. Instead, I stood in place; stalk still, looking at my hands. A thin layer of ice was still smeared over the skin, but I didn't feel its biting chill.

"What is . . . ?" I said to myself. "What is going on?!

"Whoa!" Lewa's voice drifted down along with him. The look on his mask said that he was just as surprised as I was. "How did you action-do that?"

I shook my head, trying to make sense of it all. "I . . . . don't know."

"Can you do it again-twice?" he asked, looking at the slush dripping from my hands.

"Do what 'again-twice'?" I nearly jumped out of my skin when heard that cool, collected voice that masked an undying rage. I didn't want to turn around, but I had to face him sooner or later. I hid my hands behind my back and put on a tight smile.

"H-Hey, Kopaka," I said, backing away from the Toa of Ice. "Uh, what're you doing here?"

"No," he said, "what're you doing here?"

I pursed my lips, eyes flicking to the trees, the mushy ground, anywhere but Kopaka. "Well, last time I checked you invited me here." He stuck a finger in my face and I shut up, blood draining from my face.

"Don't be smart," he chided, frowning. His one blue eye narrowed and I swallowed. "Why are you here and not with me like you were supposed to be?"

I shifted uncomfortably and stood up at full height. "See, what had happened at first was . . ."

Kopaka merely shifted his weight over to his left side, crossing his arms over his chest as he did so, shaking his head, not buying my attempted excuses. "Had I known you would be this much trouble I -" He paused, frowning even further - "what happened to you?" He reached out and stroked the scabs on my face. "You're bleeding."

"Uh . . ." I brushed his fingers away from my skin, spots of bright red blood smearing over the white armor of his fingertips. "I got scratched."

"I can see that," he replied with a sigh. "My question is, by what?" At that moment, he looked behind me at the defrosting mosquito, eye narrowing even more until it was a slit. "A Nui-Rama?"

"Is that what those things are called?" I asked, pointing over to the bug. It was beginning to stir and I began to worry, wondering when it would break out. "Nasty suckers, and huge! The ones I normally see are about this big." I created a small space with my forefinger and thumb.

Nodding, Kopaka crossed his arms over his chest. "You're lucky scratching you was all it did," he stated. "You could be lying still on the ground now if it had really gotten its claws on you."

As unsettling as the probability was, I couldn't bother to worry about it. The point was that it didn't kill me and I had beaten it all by myself.

I blinked, suddenly raising up my palm so he could see. "Do you know anything about this?"

Kopaka tilted his head to the side, gazing at my palm awkwardly. "See what? There's nothing there."

"Huh? what you mean there's - ?" My brow crumpled as I was faced with my palm. It was as dry as a bone with no trace of any of the ice that had once been smeared all over it. There wasn't even so much as a drop of water! "No way . . ." I moaned, touching it with my opposite hand. "This doesn't make sense. There was ice on it!"

"Do not lie to me," Kopaka scolded.

"I'm not lying," I cried. "There was ice on my hand, both of them! That Nui- Raman or whatever came at me and I just stuck out my hands. Next thing I know the thing is one big popsicle." I stared clear into his eye. "It really happened, honest."

What happened next never would have crossed my mind in a million years - Toa Kopaka, our favorite icicle, burst out laughing! It was a wonderful sound, like the jingling of icicles just before they fall. I looked over at Lewa who was just as taken aback, eyes wide and jaw hanging open.

"That is ridiculous!" Kopaka exclaimed finally, wiping tears of mirth from his blue eyes. "I have never heard anything of the sort! You are still too young to control any form of ice power." With a cleansing sigh, he straightened up again, usual cold front appearing once more. "I had a good laugh, as hard as that is to earn, and you have amused me."

Now it was my turn to cross my arms. "I have a feeling you're not taking me seriously, Kopaka."

"It's real-true, brother!" Lewa piped in. "I saw-witnessed the whole thing! One hand-clap and 'whoosh!' ice-cold!"

Kopaka adopted a skeptical look, glancing from Lewa to me. I knew he wasn't going to believe us without proof - even with the frozen Nui-Rama in the background. I tilted my head back to look up at Lewa, who returned my glance. I knew he was thinking the same thing.

"Go on . . . human," he said, settling on a title for me.

"Cheryl," I replied. "My name is Cheryl."

"Oh," Lewa said. "Okay, Cheryl, go and demonstrate-show Ice-brother Kopaka how you froze-stopped that Rahi-bug."

I groaned, rolling my eyes. "Seriously, learn to talk correctly."

I walked away from the Air Toa's side, making sure to stay clear of Kopaka. I already tested his patience once and barely escaped punishment; the last thing I wanted to do was push my luck.

I made my way over to my knife still embedded in the ground. It had been all but forgotten in the chaos and seemed unharmed as far as I could tell. Grasping the handle, which was quite warm from being exposed in a shaft of sunlight, I gave a forceful tug, pulling it free. Wiping a bit of dirt from the blade, I stuck it in the holster at my belt. Then, I crossed to the Nui-Rama.

As I got closer, I became increasingly nervous. The Nui-Rama was nearly half-defrosted by now and was now regaining motion of its limbs. I swallowed and gripped the handle of my knife, as if hoping it would bring some comfort. I tried to get that burning ice feeling again, doing all I could to somehow bring it out, but I didn't know how to control it: it came on spontaneously, whenever it wanted. I tried to recall something, some tiny detail that could give me a hint, but I could remember nothing.

I was only a few inches away from the Nui-Rama and my legs felt as solid as jelly. I took in a shuddering breath and gave the insect a glance over, finally looking at it for the first time. It was light green in color with patches of blue. Its eyes were as orange as a sunset and twice as bright.

I grimaced and looked back at the two Toa waiting to see a reenactment of my newly learned skill. My dignity and word were riding on this one act . . . I just hoped it somehow worked. Biting my lip, I turned back to the Nui-Rama. I took in a deep breath and positioned my feet at shoulder's length. My heart pounded and my breathing was heavy. I wouldn't be able to do anything without fully relaxing, but no matter how hard I tried to ease the tension in my shoulders, I could never let go of the tension. No, I decided, it was best to get it over quickly, like a band-aid. With a war cry, I planted both palms firmly against the Nui-Rama's wing joint, hoping to re-freeze it again. I had closed my eyes and only dared to open them when nothing moved beneath my hands. I was disappointed at what I saw - it wasn't re-frozen!

"Okay," I sighed, repeating the steps again. "Maybe this time."

Nothing.

"This time!"

Nothing.

"This time! This time! This time! This time! Work already!" By about the fifth time my hands landed on the insect, it was completely defrosted. It spun around like a whirlwind, smacking me in the face and tossing me several feet away. I landed hard on my back where a bruise was already forming. I knew I was going to feel that in an hour. Lewa hopped over to me and offered me a hand up. When I got to my feet, the Nui-Rama was completely frozen solid, inside and out, with Kopaka walking towards us.

"Like I said," Kopaka said, leaning close that I could feel his smirk, "an amusing excuse."

My mouth hung open in disbelief. "But I'm telling the truth!" I cried. "I really did freeze it. Lewa's testimony should be proof enough."

Still Kopaka shook his head. "I can appreciate enthusiasm," he said calmly, "however never get ahead of yourself. While it's good to have confidence, it can go to your head and that's a very critical mistake, especially if you're a Toa." He gazed at me pointedly and I found myself paying more attention that usual. "A cocky Toa is a dead Toa. Allow things to come to you naturally and don't force them."

My tongue was itching for a retort, but I held it back. What he said was true and he was right. There must have been a reason why I couldn't release my ice powers at will, but still it was a comfort to know I had such powers. I wasn't so ordinary after all.

"Okay," I sighed.

A chuckle, strong and warm, off in the greenery of the forest caught out attention. "Don't listen to that icicle," a fiery red Toa said as he emerged from the foliage. The air around us suddenly became warmer, but even then I found cause to shiver. Every aspect of this Toa rippled with strength and energy and power. There was dashing confidence in his bright orange eyes and just by being near him I couldn't help but stand a little taller.

"Fire-brother Tahu!" Lewa exclaimed as he knocked fists with him.

"Tahu," Kopaka mumbled with a stiff nod. The temperature suddenly dropped a fraction and I shuddered.

"Kopaka," Tahu replied, repeating the gesture.

"What're you doing here?" Lewa asked, his friendly grin unwavering.

"An urgent message from Turaga Vakama," Tahu muttered urgently and all attention was drawn to him. "He wants you in Ta-Koro immediately.

"Why?" Lewa inquired with a tilt of his head.

"Jaller didn't tell me for what reason," Tahu admitted with as shrug. "Only that you are needed." His warm eyes then fell upon me, a curious expression on his bright red mask, but at the same time there was uncertainty, as if I were not to be trusted. "Who's that?"

I opened my mouth to reply, but Kopaka's voice said the words for me. "My new apprentice."

Tahu's expression became hard, eyes narrowing. "Human?" he asked gruffly and Kopaka nodded. "Mata Nui! Why, after all that you know?!"

Tensions settled in Kopaka's shoulders and he tightened his fists, a harsh frown perched upon his lips. "My own reasons, be them selfish or otherwise. It doesn't concern you regardless."

"I concerns me and everyone around us!" Tahu roared, sparks flickering dangerously behind his eyes. He pointed an accusing finger at me. "Return it. Now."

"No."

Tahu bristled. "What?"

"There is no way I can return her now." The Ice Toa moved to stand in front of me protectively, unlimbering his sword. "Not at this point in time."

"And why -?!"

"Makuta already knows about her," Kopaka cut him off, tone as calm and level as ever but held an undertone of warning so cold it would make a blizzard seem warm. "I caught him chasing after her and if I hadn't intervened then he would have slaughtered her."

A quiet gasp arose from both Lewa and Tahu and both their eyes fell upon me. My face suddenly became very warm with embarrassment and I couldn't help but look from one person to another. The situation suddenly became very weird and I had to find answers. "What? What's up?"

Tahu released a heavy sigh and even Lewa had to steady himself against a tree. "So he knows already . . ." the Fire Toa muttered as if a heavy burden lay upon his shoulders. "Then perhaps we don't have much time as we thought." He glanced to Kopaka. "What would you have us do?"

"I plan to continue on with destiny," he answered. "Train her to become a full-fledged Toa and succeed me should something happen . . . and perhaps increase our numbers as well."

Tahu raised a brow. "But seriously, Kopaka, a human? Haven't we already gone through enough of them to know they prove no worth?"

"That's not true!" I suddenly interrupted, brow furrowed. "I am of some use, at least I can be."

Kopaka shot a harsh glance my way. "Hold your tongue!"

"Is that so?" Tahu strode towards me but when Kopaka moved between us he brushed him away. The Fire Toa towered over me by a good two and a half feet and stared down as if he held all the power in the world. I stared back. "What's your name?"

I blinked, confused, but answered anyway. "Cheryl."

"How old are you?"

"Twleve."

A brief flicker of a smirk quirked the lip of his mask. "How tall are you?"

Inwardly I growled, matching his frown and narrowing my eyes before standing as straight as I could, even daring to lift up a bit on my toes. "Five and still growing." He chuckled and shook his head, awarding me a pat on the head but it was mocking.

"You don't stand a chance," he determined. "I give you perhaps a week, maybe two if you're lucky, but you won't survive here. Only the strong and able-bodied grow to be true Toa, like my own apprentice."

Lewa and Kopaka bristled and Kopaka crossed his arms over his chest. "And you give me heat about taking a human apprentice?"

"Unlike yours, I have confidence in mine," Tahu boasted. "He is strong and daring and fears nothing. The best of the best." His eyes glistened with challenge. "Not some cheap knock-off of the first model."

Kopaka's eyes widened a fraction then scowled. Tahu only laughed and looked back at me. "If you wish to prove your worth, then perhaps a showdown with my apprentice. Let's see just how you can stand the heat."

"Tahu!" Kopaka roared.

"Fire-brither, let's not quick-jump into things," Lewa warned hesitantly.

"No, I can do it," I spoke, head raised high. "If he thinks I'm weak, then let him think that. I'll only prove him wrong and then he'll see how much of an ass he is."

"Cheryl!" Lewa warned. Kopaka only smirked.

"It means 'donkey', relax," I huffed.

The forest suddenly became very humid and as I stood beside Tahu, I began to sweat, the heat radiating off him like a sun. Tahu snorted, steam shooting from his nose like a bull. "Now," he stated roughly, "Ta-koro. Be there."

"I will."