Deep in the western woodland, three Toa could be seen walking. One, a Toa of Fire, lead the group, his face hard and grim. A Toa of Stone walked behind him, using his power to play with the pebbles that dotted the dirt path. And behind him, a Toa of Lightning trudged down the path, with a face that said she had no more tears to cry.
The Toa of Fire looked up at the sky; it was getting dark.
"We'll stop here," he said, as he stepped off the path. He quickly made a small clearing by means of his Kanohi Matatu and turned to the Stone Toa.
"Koth, go find some fire wood."
The Toa of Stone nodded, activated his Kanohi Kakama, and zoomed off into the woods.
The Fire Toa reached into his pack and removed his mat.
After rolling it out on the ground, he looked at his other companion, he asked, "Lestra, do you "
"No," she replied as she sat on a log, "I don't feel 'better.' Nothing is wrong with me. Nothing was ever wrong with me. And if you ask me that one more time, so help me Onric, I'll " Her voice trailed off. "He wasn't evil," she said.
Onric's face slowly clinched even as his fists began to glow with flames. "I don't know how much more of this I can take, Lestra," he said, his voice muffled by his clinched teeth. "Either snap out of it, or I'll do it for you."
"Whoa, easy there, fire-spitter," said Koth as he walked back into the clearing. "Let's think like a Ko-Matoran for just a moment. She's not trying to run off, so we'll get her back to Tedra Nui." He set the wood in a pile. "If something is wrong with her," he continued, "and she doesn't snap out of it before we get home, then Turaga Uren can look into her mind and figure out what's wrong. And if nothing is wrong with her, then all the arguing in the world won't fix her."
Onric set the wood ablaze. "But he was a Skakdi," he said, seemingly oblivious to Lestra's presence, "everyone knows they can't be trusted."
"If everyone 'knew' that the sky was made of stone, would that make it true?" asked Lestra. "You never talked to him, you never listened to him. You just rushed in -"
"Enough!" cried Onric, the fire leaping even higher. "I can't take this anymore. I'm not having this conversation again. What's done is done. Deal with it!"
With a huff, he rolled over on his mat.
Lestra rolled out her mat and lay down for the night. She closed her eyes, hoping sleep could give her rest from the emptiness she felt inside. But as she drifted off to sleep, she found no such rest in the realm of dreams.
She stood in a void; all around her, darkness swirled in a silent storm. As she looked on, she saw a light. It grew bigger and brighter, and as she stared into the glow, she saw a figure sitting on a stone.
At first, she could not tell who it was, but soon, it became clear.
"Cedrak!" she cried. The figure looked up, as though unsure if he was truly hearing correctly.
"Cedrak! I'm over here!" she called. He got up, looking around, as though he could not tell from where the voice came.
Suddenly, she felt herself being pulled backwards. She looked back and saw a monster, wreathed in flame, dragging her away.
"Cedrak, help me!" she cried. Still, he seemed unable to tell where she was.
"Cedrak, help!" she called again, struggling against the monster.
At last, she saw him begin to run. But no matter how fast he ran, he seemed only to get farther away.
"Cedrak, please!" she cried, desperation on her voice.
"Cedrak!" Her voice seemed distant to her now, as though her voice was coming from somewhere else.
"Cedrak, help!" Suddenly, she felt her captor let her go. As she collapsed to the ground, she saw him running towards Cedrak, his fiery sword held high.
"No!" she cried, as the Skakdi stumbled and fell. "Nooo!"
Lestra sat up, breathing heavily. In the dim light of the dying fire, she could see her two brothers, both still asleep. Lestra lay back down as new tears dripped down her mask.
"Cedrak," she whispered, "Why? Why?"
As he and his companions continued down the path, Cedrak looked up at the sky. The suns were rising over the eastern mountains, and the shadow of twilight was quickly vanishing. He turned to the two Matoran.
"I think it's time we rested," he said.
"I agree," Zorkek yawned, "I haven't been this tired since the time Trell and I stayed up all night trying to catch glow-frogs."
"I can still feel the places where they squirted me," said Trell. "Sometimes, I can't figure out why I listen to you."
The three travelers moved off the path and into the woods. They lit no fire, for they did not want to be discovered, and besides, the air was getting warmer by the minute.
Zorkek quickly dozed off in a patch of sunlight, while Cedrak and Trell lay awake, staring at the sky.
After a while, Trell spoke up. "Cedrak?" he asked.
"Hmm?"
"You know, you still haven't told us why you're following these Toa."
"They're my...they're my friends. I'm just trying to catch up with them."
"Somehow I don't believe you. Every time you call them your friends, you hesitate, as though there's something about them you'd rather forget."
Trell raised himself up on his elbows. "Why are you following them?"
Cedrak stared back up at the clouds.
After a moment, he replied, "Well, you came with me without knowing why, it's only fair that I tell you." He sighed and said, "I'm in love."
Trell's eyes widened in surprise. "In love?" he asked.
"Yes, I'm in love with a Toa, and I'm trying to find her."
Trell lay back down in the grass, a look of astonishment on his face. Finally, he asked, "Then why is she going with those other Toa?"
"Because she thinks I'm dead."
Trell sat up, growing more confused by the moment. "Why would she think that?"
"Because she saw her brother kill me."
Trell shook his head, trying to make sense of what he was hearing. "Maybe you should start at the beginning."
Cedrak slowly sat up and rested his head on his knees. "If you insist, the beginning it is."
"I, like every other Skakdi, came from Zakaz. But when Spiriah showed up, I wanted nothing to do with him. My friend Arina and I ran from the island, but she was captured before we could make it out. No doubt she doesn't even remember me now," he sighed.
"I escaped and lived with a team of Toa on an island called Veta Nui, but after a few years, I was kidnapped by Skakdi and forced into one of the warlord's service. They would have made me like one of them, had the Toa Veta not broken me out.
"I stayed with them again for a little while, but I knew the Skakdi would be back for me, so I left. Since then, I've been travelling, trying to do good, and stay hidden at the same time.
"Then, just a few days ago, I met Lestra. She was being attacked by blood wolves, so I saved her, and we ended up travelling together for a couple of days. I realized there was something special about her, but I couldn't tell just what. Then, on the night we kissed, I knew what it was. I had found someone who could fill the empty place in my heart.
"But the next morning, her brothers, who she had been spent fifty years searching for, stumbled upon us. It was terrible; Onric tried to kill me, and Koth just stood by and watched. Finally, Onric dealt me a mortal wound, and left me for dead.
"I could feel myself slipping away, but something brought me back. I don't know how long I was unconscious, but when I woke up, there was no one around. That night, I found my way to Anzer Rhun. Since it was the closest town around, I knew they would be going through there. Then, I met you and Zorkek, and here we are."
Cedrak's orange eyes rested on Trell's astonished face. "Still want to come with me?" he asked.
"Do I? Well That is I, uh Yes, yes I do. Look," Trell shifted his gaze, away from the Skakdi, "I might seem like a typical Ko-Matoran. You know, logical, stuffy, unexciting. But you know why I get along with Zorkek so well? It's because I've dreamed of something like this all my life, a chance for adventure, a chance to see the world. When you came along, I saw you as a ticket out of the daily grind. But now " he sighed, "I guess what I mean is, you are my friend, and I want to help you. For better or worse, I'll be here."
"Thanks, Trell," said Cedrak, "I'm glad I kidnapped you."
The two of them burst out laughing and inadvertently awakened Zorkek.
"What's so funny?" he asked, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
Still chuckling, Trell turned to his friend and said, "Oh nothing."