The woods were deep in darkness. The trees stretched on for what seemed an eternity. Cedrak sat by his fire, warming his hands.
"Cedrak." A voice floated in through the trees. He looked up, unsure if it was not just some trick of his mind.
"Cedrak! I'm over here!" There it was again. He walked away from the fire, trying to find the source.
"Cedrak, help me!" He looked this way and that; the voice seemed to be coming from everywhere.
"Cedrak, help!" Then he realized, it was her.
He broke into a run. "Cedrak, please!" He ran as though a thousand Visorak were behind him.
"Cedrak!" The voice was louder now, but still, it came from everywhere.
"Cedrak, help!" The voice echoed through the trees.
"Cedrak, help me!" The night reverberated with the voice, its echoes coming from everywhere.
Cedrak tripped and fell into the dirt. He jerked his head upright, whirling it back and forth. Finally, as the echoes continued to call to him, he lay his head down and cried.
Suddenly, the echoes stopped. He looked up and saw a figure lying before him. He crawled over to it and rolled the body over.
"No," he said, "no, it can't be! NO!"
Cedrak awoke screaming. He stopped, his breathing coming in ragged gasps. Tahlis jumped up onto his master's lap and looked up at him, concern written on his features. Cedrak stroked his back, and the monkey purred contentedly.
"It's alright, Tahlis," whispered Cedrak. "Just a bad dream."
"Cedrak?" came a voice from behind him. He turned and saw Trell standing on the stairs.
"Are you alright?" asked the Matoran.
"Yeah, just had a bad dream," said Cedrak.
"Care to tell me what it was about?" asked Trell as he sat in the other chair. "I'm no seer, but I've interpreted some dreams before."
Cedrak shook his head. "No thanks, I think I know what "
A knock at the door interrupted him. The two beings exchanged glances and jumped into action. Cedrak grabbed Tahlis and threw on his invisibility cloak. Trell waited until Cedrak was completely transparent before opening the door.
"Hey Trell," said a voice on the outside. Cedrak could not see who it was, due to the light streaming in, but as Trell's face visibly relaxed, he knew that he probably had nothing to worry about.
"Hi Zorkek," said Trell, "what brings you here?"
"Well, after you left last night, I found a couple chehs pieces you left behind. I thought I'd bring them by on my way to work."
"Thanks, I -"
"Hey!" said the other voice, "where'd you get that?"
As Cedrak watched, a Pakari-wearing Po-Matoran darted into the room and, to his horror, made straight for his bow.
Cedrak cursed under his breath as Zorkek began examining the weapon that leaned against the chair he had slept in.
"Oh, uh..." Trell's Komau showed that he was equally as dismayed as Cedrak.
But before the Ko-Matoran could say anything, Cedrak had picked up Zorkek by the back of his neck, turned visible, and said, "That's my bow, thank you very much. And I'd appreciate if you left it alone."
Zorkek yelped as he dropped the bow and hid behind one of the chairs. "What's he doing here?" asked the startled Matoran.
Trell looked at Cedrak, who nodded, and said, "Zorkek, this is Cedrak. He's a friend of mine."
"Really, wow!" said Zorkek as he hopped out from behind the chair. "I'm Zorkek," he said, extending his fist, "and any friend of Trell's is a friend of mine."
"Zorkek's the trusting sort," said Trell, a knowing look in his eyes, "perhaps a bit too trusting."
"Hey, if it weren't for me, we never would have gotten that old Vortixx to take us into those ruins," said Zorkek.
"Yes," Trell replied, "and we also wouldn't have gotten our packs ransacked by our guide and then abandoned in a nest of Nui-Jaga."
"Hey, we got some cool carvings out of the deal, didn't we?"
Trell rolled his eyes and sighed.
"Sorry for startling you like that," said Cedrak.
"Hey, I've been scared much worse than that before. There was one time, when we went up into the mountains -"
"Let's not go there," Trell interrupted.
Cedrak chuckled as the two friends bickered.
"So anyway," Cedrak butted in, ending the heated discussion, "Trell and I were about to go out and look for some friends of mine. Actually, to try to find where they went."
"Well, actually Cedrak, I have to go to work," said Trell. "I was thinking we could look this evening, after I'm back."
"Oh come on, Trell," said Zorkek, "you haven't taken a sick day in 400 years. You deserve a break."
After a bit of thought, Trell replied, "Well, okay, I guess one more day off can't hurt."
"So," said Cedrak, "where would we go to find out where someone went?"
"Simple," said Trell, as he headed for the door, "customs."
The streets were bustling with Matoran as the three cohorts made their way down the streets. From the shops that lined the lane, voices could be heard, advertising the wares within.
"Fresh Ruki! Best in Anzer Rhun!"
"Jewelry, selling jewelry here!"
"Lightstones! Straight from the Great Kereph Mine!"
"New Kanohi! Buy a new Kanohi!"
"This is impressive," said the invisible Cedrak. "I had no idea Anzer Rhun was such a busy town."
"It's a merchant city," replied Zorkek. "We get a lot of travelers here."
"Which might make finding your friends more difficult, I'm afraid," continued Trell.
Eventually, they had found their way to Anzer Rhun's western gate.
"Are you sure they came through this gate?" asked Zorkek.
"If they came from the eastern woods like me," said Cedrak, "then they were headed in the opposite direction. So they went west."
Trell nodded in agreement as they entered the customs office. Cedrak stayed outside, not wanting to draw attention to himself.
He sat down on a crate, and thought, "I hope I'm right." He stared out over the wall and into the woodlands. "Lestra," he thought, "I promise I'll find you."
Within a few minutes, the Matoran emerged from the customs office.
"Good news," said Trell, "your hunch was right."
"You're sure it's them?" asked Cedrak.
"Positive," said Zorkek. He held up a slip of parchment. "Here's a copy of the official report. 'Third month, day 24, 8:43 BN, three Toa left at West Gate. Names: Onric, Lestra, Koth. Destination: Zeriger." He looked up from the parchment. "Why would they be going there?"
"They're going to their home island," replied Cedrak as they walked back the way they had come.
"So their islanders?" asked Trell. "We don't get many of those this far into the continent."
"Well, they've been traveling for a while. So they're a good ways from home."
"I see," replied Trell.
For the rest of the day, Cedrak and the Matoran got him ready to leave. They chatted and laughed as they filled Cedrak's pack. As evening approached, Cedrak found that he somewhat reluctant to leave. It had been a long time since anyone had shown him such genuine hospitality.
Finally, as darkness fell over Anzer Rhun, Cedrak peered out of Trell's house. The sky was dark and full of clouds.
"Perfect," he thought.
He was just about to leave, when he felt a hand on his arm. He turned and saw Trell and Zorkek dressed in cloaks of their own, with a set of bundles on their backs.
"Cedrak," said Trell, "we're coming with you."
"What?" asked the Skakdi.
"You heard right, pal," replied Zorkek. "Can't have you traipsing through the woods all on your own, can we?"
"It'll be dangerous," said Cedrak.
"We know," said Trell.
"It'll be rough."
"Uh huh," said Zorkek.
"And we might not come back for a long time."
"For a friend," said Trell, "we're willing to take that risk."
Cedrak's voice caught slightly as he said, "Thank you, my friends. Now, are you with me?" He held out his fists.
The Matoran returned the gesture. Zorkek smiled, "Let's go."
The three companions slipped through the streets of Anzer Rhun, keeping to the shadows and watching for any guards that might stop them.
Eventually, they arrived at the western wall. Cedrak pulled a rope from his pack and clicked to Tahlis.
The monkey climbed up onto his shoulder, grabbed one end of the rope, and clambered over the stone wall. A few moments later, his head reappeared over the top.
"Come on," said Cedrak. He grabbed the rope and began to climb. Once he reached the top of the wall, he let go and slid down the other side, rolling to a stop at the bottom. The Matoran quickly followed suit.
"Wait a second," said Trell, "how did the rope stay put?"
Cedrak moved to the base of a nearby tree to reveal the rope tied snugly around the trunk.
"Your monkey can tie knots?" asked Zorkek.
"Sure can," replied Cedrak, as he rolled up the rope. "You'd be amazed at some of the stuff he can do."
He picked Tahlis up and placed him on his shoulder. After making sure that his bow was still strung tightly, Cedrak motioned for them to get going.
After a moment, Cedrak said, "I forgot to ask you. What weapons did you bring?"
Zorkek produced a set of claws from his cloak. "I brought my shredder claws," he said.
"And I've got a launcher and some Kanoka," said Trell.
"Good," said Cedrak, "we might need them."
"So what's the plan?" asked Zorkek.
"We travel by night, rest by day," said Cedrak, "and hopefully, we'll catch up with the Toa."
"And what happens when we find them?" asked Trell.
Cedrak stopped walking as a look of uncertainty crossed his face. Finally, he looked at his companions and said, "I guess we'll figure that our when we get there."