An Ice Toa But Human [Book 1 of Ice Toa]

The Forgotten Lab

Chapter Eight: The Forgotten Lab
[Author's Note at end of chapter]

Sapphira walked next to Kiina who led the way to the caverns entrance, while Mata Nui and Ackar were behind the two females, Ackar had the unconscious Gresh on his back piggyback style while Mata Nui was walking alongside him.

Sapphira still held her arms as the frost on her hands went on her hoodie sleeves with her panic. Kiina noticed from the corner of her eye and rested her hand on Sapphira's shoulder, giving it a firm reassuring squeeze.

Sapphira looked up at her as Kiina gave her a warm smile making Sapphira nod in thanks feeling a little more calm but still not enough.

Kiina picked up the pace a bit when they were nearing it but Sapphira stayed behind a bit as she looked at her feet.

Suddenly someone lightly tapped Sapphira's left arm making the said bluette look up to see Mata Nui now at her side as he held a hand to her, offering his hand for the bluette to hold for some comfort.

Sapphira hesitated a bit but grabbed his hand which he held her hand back and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "Thanks..." Sapphira muttered and Mata Nui nodded in response as the two followed Kiina hand in hand.

It was quite easy to tell that Sapphira was not one for physical contact, so he was more prepared for Sapphira to reject holding his hand for comfort and willing to accept her choice.

So it was surprising when Sapphira took his hand, sure it was with hesitance but it was still something. Though that also said to Mata Nui that Sapphira felt so much fear and anxiety seeing the Bone Hunters and Skrall working together with how dangerous the two other worlders only heard of was coursing through her so much she was pushing aside her issues of touch for some type of comfort.

Soon the four made it to what looked like a dead end as Kiina took her trident off her back. "They won't find us in here." She said as she stood on her tip toes a bit while holding the very bottom of her trident and pressed it against a place in the flat rock wall pressing down on a pressure plate in the wall which the wall immediately began to pull away to the left.

Sapphira mouthed a wow as Ackar and Mata Nui stared in amazement. Kiina walked in the now open passageway a bit before she turned and jestered the three to follow her which they silently did.

Once they all were behind the pulled away wall, the said entryway began to close behind them, once again seamlessly blending into the wall behind them.

Kiina continued leading the way as Ackar carried Gresh, who was still unconscious, on his back and Sapphira and Mata Nui, who still held hands, followed after her.

Mata Nui suddenly stopped walking as they neared a light up ahead making Sapphira pull back a bit due to not registering he stopped moving. "Wait a minute, these glyphs." Sapphira immediately looked at the wall Mata Nui was staring at as well.