Queen's Notes: This chapter was co-written with In The Light. And is anyone reading this story?

Fire From The Past

"Macku should be okay," Takua said coming out of his large home slash library, "Its cooler inside so she can nap there." The story keeper sat by Lhikan where he was sitting on one of the cluster of benches outside of his home odd library like home, "What did you think of lava boarding?"

The other Ta-Matoran looked to the Chronicler with a smile. "I enjoyed it very much. Too bad we don't have a river of lava back home or I'd be lava boarding whenever I could get the chance!" He grinned.

Takua grinned, "Well, there's water I guess."

"Yeah, there is," Lhikan laughed but it slowed as he noticed that the smaller Ta-Matoran all but wriggled in place as his attention was caught elsewhere and he perked up. "Hm?" Lhikan watched the excited Matoran for a moment before following his captured gaze and seeing a glint of crimson red. Then an essential giant strode into the village, burdened down with a heavy load.

"Toa Tahu's back," Takua shamelessly climbed up onto Lhikan's back to see better, "And he's been hunting!"

Lhikan grunted slightly and shifted under Takua to keep from falling over, "Really?" He craned his neck to see better as well, though he was stuck in place at the moment.

"Yeah, looks like he got lava swimmer!" Takua shifted and did a controlled fall into the other's lap, rolled off from there and bounced to his feet, "Looks like you're really eating good these next few days." He grinned.

"Heh," Lhikan gave a grin as well and stood to his feet, thinking about Takua being too flexible for a moment before rolling his eyes and dismissing the thought. There was a Toa to see for crying out loud!

The Chronicler turned partly, "Come on! I can get us some of the best cuts! Toa Tahu likes me." Even though he did sometimes annoy Tahu...

Lhikan smiled. "I suppose that's always a bonus for any Matoran. I guess there are Matoran he doesn't like then, huh?" It was meant as a tease as he followed Takua.

"Well, the Toa don't seem to not like any Matoran," Takua said thoughtfully, "Mata Nui knows I've annoyed some of them up Mt. Inu sometimes."

"You're not that annoying," was Lhikan's reassuring reply. "In fact, everyone's annoying at some point, in their own ways. Trust me."

"Wait until you see him with a new story." A deeper, somewhat rough voice said from above the two Matoran. Takua stopped at once and craned his head up to see the large red and black form of Toa Tahu. He was balancing a rather large Rahi beast- minus the head, but it was the kind of rahi that was somehow more organic. This Toa didn't seem to mind getting dirty, seeing as he had dirt, grit, ash, blood of the Rahi and Mata Nui knows what else all over him from the elemental's hunt. This was no Toa from Metru Nui or other larger cities.

This fact was one of the first things that came into Lhikan's mind, how much different this Toa appeared from all the others he had seen. Something told him this Toa wasn't going to be anything like Toa Dume. Lhikan wasn't exactly disgusted at the slaughtered Rahi, having done some 'hunting' himself in the past, though with small game.

The two Matoran glanced at each other then looked up at the one and only Toa of Fire. "Toa Tahu," Lhikan breathed as he suddenly completely believed the few stories Takua had told on their trip to Ta-Koro.

"You," Tahu said focusing his gaze un-wavering on the taller of the two Matoran, shifting the dead weight that was about as big as him, "Are not one of my villagers."

The Toa's eyes were a blazing mix of red and orange, but it was the power behind his gaze that held attention. One could see the rolling, flexing elemental power of fire in Tahu. It wasn't set, but... moving somehow. Like a live fire this Tahu was a true, raw, living elemental. Lhikan was silently amazed at this, but whether he was intimidated by Toa Tahu or not did not show through. He was a rather brave Matoran, though he never considered himself like that.

"No I am not, Toa," he said shaking his head, "Merely a visiting Matoran on a quest to return home."

"Hmm," Tahu gave a long growl, but from the shear lack of reaction from Takua (who was eyeing the dead rahi with an 'I want!' look), it was possible that that growl was actually a neutral sound and apparently something normal, "And of course this one has attached himself to you." The Toa shifted his load again, "I can hear the story in full at dinner, but for now... you are still a Ta-Matoran, and thus in my protection. Relax little one, I won't eat you."

"Wasn't expecting to be eaten, Toa," Lhikan grinned sheepishly. He recalled the rest of Tahu's words as well. "And I'll be glad to tell you all about the past few days later, with help from the Chronicler too, of course," He nudged the semi-dazed Matoran eying the dead Rahi.

Takua snapped out of it, "I am the story keeper after all!"

"That I know all too well," Tahu gave a rumbling chuckle, then mock scowled at the two, "Now, move or this swimmer might fall on you, I have another two to carry in as well."

The Chronicler gave a slight non-masculine like giggle at that before darting to one side out of the way, but he didn't go away. In fact he fallowed after almost too close to Tahu's heals. Lhikan laughed quietly and followed along, shaking his head at Takua's silliness... or maybe because the gold-masked Matoran was feeling oddly happy besides the fact he was stuck on the wrong island home; and the fact that there was something wrong with everything as well...

A though struck him suddenly, with enough shock to make him wonder where the thought had come from in the first place. He slowed for a moment and paused, thinking. Was it possible?

...what was possible?

"Come on Lhikan!" Takua called, oblivious to the other Matoran's inner thoughts, "Toa Tahu, are you going to carve that swimmer up before you get the other kills?"

"I might story keeper..."

"Really?"

Lhikan jumped with a quiet gasp before blinking and shaking his head. "I'm coming," he called lowly, running to catch up to them. He smirked on hearing Takua's question and the answer the blue-masked Matoran gave.

They didn't go to the Kini- thank Mata Nui, but to a place that evidently was set up for this kind of large game. Several heads peeked out of doors, window or other places to take note of the return of their guardian, and there were also collective grins exchanged. However though most didn't mind what was going to happen next, they still had work to do, though there was some that started wandering over with baskets.

First come first serve, Lhikan remarked to himself, noting how anxious Takua was on staying close to Tahu, or the meat rather. It was obvious that there were some Matoran here that enjoyed this certain game very, very much.

"Only Tahu can skin the lava swimmers without damaging the useful hide, armor and supports." Takua explained as he stood back to let Tahu sling the Rahi onto a slab, "Before it took about ten strong Matoran to kill one of these and we couldn't bring it whole back to the village. Remember the bridge we came into the village on? The workings in the lava were made by swimmer parts."

Lhikan nodded with an 'oh I get it' look as he watched Tahu go to work. There some things that were much simpler for a Toa to do rather than a Matoran, one of many reasons to have a Toa around. Lhikan glanced at the other followers for a moment, momentarily remembering that one of the Matoran in Ta-Koro had a mask like his.

"Hey Jaller!" Takua yelled, spotting the form of his best friend on the heights, "Come down here!"

Lhikan, obviously hearing since Takua had yelled... right next to his ear, perked slightly and looked up, spotting another gold-masked form starting to come toward them.

"So this is who Kaprua was talking about." Jaller said once close enough, nodding to Lhikan. The term Macku used for this Matoran, 'Guard-ish' made sense now, Jaller stood taller than Takua (not that hard to do as most all Ta-Matoran were now that there was a gathering) and could look Lhikan in the eyes. He had a spear and shield strapped to his back, and seemed to march more than walk. Yet it was the familiar golden Hau on Jaller's face that had most of Lhikan's attention. Now he realized why so many people had made those remarks about his mask, and why Macku had mistaken him for Jaller in Le-Koro. The Hau was too much like his own... once again that sneaking thought came back to Lhikan.

What if that was his mask on Jaller's face?

Instead of voicing any of these thoughts, Lhikan simply nodded back. "I can see why everyone pointed out that I had a gold mask like you."

"Odd." Jaller said, and then shrugged, not letting it bother him. Of course he had no reason to let it bother him. Lhikan however could only think about this even more, and finally decided that he would ask some serious questions once alone with Turaga Vakama.

"Alright story keeper." Tahu's voice said as he set aside one of his swords that he'd been using, in his left hand he held a chunk of meat. Takua had taken an extra basket from another Matoran, holding it out for the choice cut.

"Thank you Toa!"

"Do you want some Jaller, Lhikan?" The Toa asked, glancing at the other two closer of the Ta-Matoran.

"Sure, why not?" Lhikan replied. If he didn't eat in while in Ta-Koro then he could always use it later on while looking for those stones Turaga Matau mentioned.

Jaller had picked up another basket and bowl; they were being set up near the work spot that Tahu was at, as the Village became aware of the new project. Handing the bowl to Lhikan, the Guard leader smiled, "Swimmers don't look like much, but they are good eating. Thank you Toa for the hunt."

Lhikan took the bowl thankfully. Of course he wasn't very familiar with eating a lava swimmer, but that was probably going to change soon, as he and the other Ta-Matoran got their cuts as well. "Thank you, Toa," he said as well.

Tahu nodded down at the Matoran, smiling at them, whiping off some of the splatter on his armor he stepped back, looking at the other gathering Matoran, "I'll bring in the other two lava swimmers before finishing." He told them, letting the Matoran have time to get ready to take the meat as well as sort the useful remains.

There was a good amount of Matoran gathered by now. Lhikan glanced around for a moment before turning to Takua and Jaller. "Do you think I'll be able to meet with Turaga Vakama soon? There is something I feel I should ask him."

"Turaga Vakama is still in the heart of the Mangai?" Jaller asked, surprised, and looking over at Takua.

"No one's apparently seen him." Takua reported, proving his skills at gathering up information in a short amount of time, even if that was a skill that included keen ears in a crowd, "You know he only goes down there if something's really troubling him."

"Something is troubling him?" Lhikan frowned slightly. Turaga Matau wasn't too well when he arrived at Le-Koro. And now Turaga Vakama seemed to be having his own problems as well. Could there possibly be a connection? It would make sense if that suspicion of Lhikan's was right.

"If you really need to speak to the Turaga, you can go down to the Mangai's heart." Jaller said, looking at Lhikan as he walked with the other two back to Takua's home, "There's a marked, safe trail that Vakama uses, and you look like you can stand the heat."

Lhikan thought for a moment with a hum. This might be a good chance to speak with the Turaga alone, without upsetting the general Matoran population with his thoughts. "Yes I think I should like to do that. Where do I find the trail?"

"Well, first let's get your dinner started," Takua cut in, "After that, you can use Pewku to take you."

"Alright," Lhikan nodded. Vakama could wait a little longer. After all, the thought of dinner sounded pretty good at the moment.