Chapter 2

Horrible Scene

"W-what do you mean?" stuttered Gali hopping that she had heard wrong, that this hadn't happened.

"He has gone missing," said Turaga Nokama stepping next to the fire Turaga with a grim expression on her mask.

"How can fire brother be gone-missing?" asked Lewa not wanting to believe this. He had considered Tahu very much his brother even with his flares of anger and them being practically opposites.

"Last night," started Vakama looking to the Toa "Tahu was seeming to be unsettled and when I came to him he had wished to talk about the matter, but seeing as how we were going into the meeting I had told him to take a walk till the meeting was over. After the meeting did end he was not here so I waited but he never came back. Jaller said he never came back as well, so they went down the path he took to look for him. They didn't find him, but …" Vakama stopped, pondering if he should show them what was found. He didn't know if showing them might hurt them at what they saw, for what was found was very difficult to take in for him and the other Turaga.

The Toa looked at Vakama as he fell silent the look of doubt on his mask. Gali had never seen doubt on the fire Turaga's mask before. Gali felt now more than ever that something had happened, but feeling even more scared that it had to deal with Tahu.

Vakama looked to all the Toa, his gaze lingering on Gali for just a second longer then looked to the ground again. He finally came to a decision. "We will show you," he said his voice with a hint with sadness. "No Vakama!" said Whenua stepping behind Vakama as he turned to him. "There is nothing there they need to see."

"Yes they do, they need to see what is there to find him," said Vakama sternly to his friend.

"No there isn't besides Takanuva has already seen it, he can do it," stated Whenua looking hopeful.

"I don't think I could lead them," said Takanuva. The Turaga and Toa turned to him. "I have only been a Toa for a month now and don't think I have the skills to be a leader even if I could it would be better for the others to see it as well."

Nuju released some clicks and whistles. Everyone turned to Matoro next to Nuju and waited for the translation. "He said he is right in his disision and agrees to having to show the Toa."

Vakama looked to all the Turaga looking to see what everyone might be thinking of the situation. He looked to Whenua to see that he no doubly knew the Toa had to see it. Vakama knew he didn't want the Toa to see for fear that if they did it might hurt them in some way. Vakama turned to the Toa and said, "It is decided. We will show you what we found." He turned still feeling grim as he walk out the hut.

He looked to the sky seeing the clouds roll by with sad yellow eyes. Then a green hand came to rest on his shoulder and turned to see Nokama and Matau, "I'm sure everything will be okay. They are strong and will handle anything that comes at them," said Nokama trying to comfort him. Matau shook his head and gave a gentle squeeze to Vakama's shoulder. They saw him give a small sad smile then turn back and start walking again. Matau and Nokama both knew that this was hurting Vakama a lot seeing as Tahu was of Ta-Koro and felt responsible for him. They would have loved to have seen a smile on his mask again, but knew that they could only try and comfort him.

As everyone had moved out of the hut, Jaller along with Hahli, and Takanuva noticed all the expressions on the Toa's mask. Kopaka's icy shield had slipped and now showed worry in his ice blue eyes. Takanuva knew that even though Kopaka and Tahu always fought with each other they still considered the other a brother. Lewa was very much showing his worry for Tahu with a frown on his green mask. Him and Tahu did consider each other brothers. Pohatu and Onua wore grim expressions on their mask. They were worried too and they always were able to smile in some dark times. Gali's face showed so much worry and fear that they thought she would break down right then and there, but she kept walking on. Takanuva placed his hand on her shoulder as he walked beside her. She turned her head and tried to looked comforted by him, but just really couldn't.

As they reached the gates Jaller and Hahli looked on ahead seeing the trees of the forest. Before they left through the gates they looked to the Toa and then the sky. There was an awful feeling in the pit of Gali's stomach, but she continued on along with the others into the forest.

!#$&()

The Toa walked down the path that Tahu had taken last night. The Turaga along with Jaller lead the way through the forest brush. Everyone was silent mainly having his or her minds focused on the missing fire Toa.

The sunlight peaked through the leaves of the forest as they trekked even further into the forest. Gali looked through most of the brush hoping to find Tahu, but had no such luck. What she had been hoping not to be real ended up being true.

Takanuva and Kopaka looked to Gali and saw bits of fear laced in her eyes. They both knew of the connection between the two was strong even though they fought most of the time. Every one had a connection to Tahu, but not as strong as Gali's. It didn't take just Gali alone to know that Tahu was seriously in trouble because all the Toa could feel it in the pit of their stomachs.

The Turaga and Jaller slowed down to some plants that covered the path and stopped. When the Toa stopped Gali could smell the faint scent of something being burnt, but saw no smoke. Jaller went through the plants and then came back seeming to confirm with the Turaga on what was on the other side of the plants.

"Why is it that we stopped?" ask Pohata looking at the Turaga.

"It's what was found on the search for Tahu," said Takanuva looking down to the earth.

The Toa stared at the plants then to Takanuva. He had a frown on his gold mask and didn't make eye contact with anyone. Gali stared at the plants and suck in some breath. Then Kopaka stepped toward the plants and put his hand to move them away and walked through. Gali heard Kopaka take in a sharp breath then went through before anyone else could move.

Kopaka was not one that you could get a reaction out of, but when Gali and the others came through the plants they saw why. What they saw almost made Gali sick to look at.

They were in a clearing with a horrific scene. Scorch marks were on all the trees and some of the trees were knocked down. There was a path of knocked down trees that left the clearing headed towards Mount. Ihu, but what put the most fear in Gali and the others was all the blood splattered on the ground and trees.

"What in Mata Nui happened?" asked Pohatu eyes wide at the sight.

"T-there is b-blood everywhere," stuttered Gali looking at all the smeared and dried blood her mouth a gap.

"There are claw marks in the area as well," said Kopaka stooping down to the ground to examine a set in a blotch of dried blood. His ice blue eyes showing shock from the scene in front of him.

Gali walked to the middle of the clearing and started to shack visibly. This was just too hard for her to take in, but she was still standing. Lewa came up behind her again and rest both his hands on her shoulders trying to stop her shaking. This was plain horrible. This had never happened before.

"What could have done this and where is Tahu?" asked Pohatu kneeling down to some blood that looked fresher when he saw a glint come from a spot near where the Turaga moved.

"We don't know, but indeed Tahu is in terrible trouble," said Vakama grimly. "Come look at this."

The Toa walked over and looked to see leaves covering a puddle of blood and saw a red glint from underneath them. The Toa looked at the leaves then placed their hands on all the leaves. Once the leaves were pulled away every one took a step back and Gali let out a gasp.

There on the ground laid….

Ok good, or bad? Take a guess at what they find.

Sorry but the cliffhanger was needed.