BZPRPG: Le-Wahi

IC: Dehkaz

The Toa of Magnetism was glad to see Rynekk's expression soften a bit, even though the gunmental-armored Toa didn't show it. Focusing on the past would do nothing for the future, or atleast, when Dehkaz focused on the past it stopped him from moving forward. One can't walk through life by looking back along the path. Unfortunately, when one had a past like Dehkaz, and apparently Rynekk, looking forward was harder than it sounded. Besides, the Toa of Magnetism was living proof of Naona's statement.

Here he was, former bounty hunter and killer, now Major in the Po-Koro Guard and captain of one of the heaviest armed warships on the island. Before, he would kill in cold blood without a second thought, now he would lay his life down to protect the villages. Before he had been a wanderer, a lost soul, now he had a sense of purpose in life. The gap left had been filled, atleast partly.

It would have to do.

"Exactly. Thankfully for me, previous records don't hold here."

OOC: "Fehlan" and Skyra from Ga-Wahi.

IC: "Fehlan"

Le-Wahi.

Swamp.

Jungle.

Damp.

Three words that Onuzek thought summed up the region of air quite well. The fact that he was carrying a unconscious Toa didn't help much, but the Ba-Toa continued to play the hero. Atleast for a bit longer. His armored boots stuck into the mud, and at times he had to resort to his elemental power to move through particularly muddy areas. It was better than flying, expecially when he wanted to conserve elemental power. One of downsides of a Ba-Toa, you couldn't just absorb gravity to get energy, unlike other elemental powers.

Le-Koro was just up ahead, and it was time for Sleeping Beauty to wake up. "Fehlan" gently shook Skyra's shoulder, trying to wake her up. "Hey," he said, looking down at the Le-Toa, his eyes fixed on her closed ones. "Almost there, wake-y wak-y time."

IC: KehuriSuddenly feeling less confident, he added, "Sorry for making so many requests of you, Naru... Really, feel free to turn me down. It's not like you owe me anything." Saying that felt awkward. He was the one who always gave without asking for anything in return, and in his life, he had asked for very few favors, and always from those he was familiar with. Here he was asking for a second favor from a Toa he'd met less than 24 hours before and never done anything for in that time. And what was he doing expecting a Toa he'd know for less than 15 minutes to give him acrobatics lessons? He was getting ahead of himself again. Whatever boost of confidence he'd had in discussing tactics with the ILF's leader suddenly drained from him, and for a moment he was Kehuri the Miner again as a familiar thought creeped into his mind. The baseless insecurity that he was unlikeable and that people only put up with him. He'd been plagued with that worry for as long as he could remember, and it would always sneak up on him. His friends smiled and laughed with him, but every once in a while that thought returned. And now that he was possibly considering Naru to be a friend, it broke through the invincibility he had felt before. He wanted to ask her now if she might consider him a friend, but fear held him back. A little voice inside him told him it was too early. To wait a few more days.He'd thought he was different now. That his newfound responsibility had brought more changes. And while it had certainly brought some, at heart, he was still his old self. Before Naru answered, he forced two names to the front of his mind: Ambages... And Kyju. The two beings he hated most on the island. He'd promised himself he would be worthy of the title of Toa. He just knew that Mata Nui must have made him one for a reason. He swallowed down the insecurity once more, but the fear that it would return, that he would regress back to his old self, lingered.

IC: Skyra - Approaching Le-koro from the jungle floors, Le-Wahi -

"Five more minutes Mom..." I groaned a bit as felt myself being shook. Groggily I opened my eyes, blinking them a bit as I looked at Fehlan briefly for a moment or two, then I turned my attention to our surroundings. I immediately knew where I was, there was only one jungle that looked like this, Le-Wahi. I was home.

I looked toward the direction Fehlan was carrying me, I could see Le-koro from here. Wait a minute...Fehlan was carrying me!? My mask started to get a little red around the cheeks, once again I was getting carried around like some damsel, this wouldn't do. "Um...I think I can walk now..." I said hastily, trying not to sound rude to the guy, it wasn't his fault after all. There just was no way in karz I was gonna be seen in a bridal carry by my fellow Le-korans, wasn't happening. It was bad enough that I was gonna have to explain to them all why I was a girl. I knew well enough I could prove I was Skyra, that wasn't the hard part. The hard part was well, the fact they would all know I was now a girl, no end of awkwardness for me it seemed.

I wished once again that I had my old body, and not for the last time.

OOC: Okay LET'S MOVE!

IC: I started to walk into the woods, following the call of whatever that thing was.

IC: Naru

"No, its okay," the Toa of Plasma replied, realised that Kehuri was kind of... awkward at the moment. It reminded her a lot of Zauk for some reason, but she pushed the thought aside. Something in the back of her mind told her that he probably wasn't used to situations like this. Actually, she couldn't imagine what it must've been like for him, having only recently been transformed.

"Don't worry about it," she continued, placing a hand on his shoulder momentarily, "I'll help."

IC: "Fehlan"

"Are you sure?" was the Toa of Gravity's reply, glancing at Skyra with a concerned expression on his face. Karz, after this was over, he was going to kill something. Slowly. Satisfyingly. However, he didn't let his emotions take hold on him or his plan. The plan is what mattered at the moment, his personal needs were backseat.

IC: KehuriThe young Toa gave Naru an earnest smile, the kind only his close friends back in Onu-Koro ever got to see. "Thanks. I owe you one. Of two, I guess." He wobbled as they rose in the elevator, gripping the side nervously. He was used to heights, having drilled over empty space before, just not above ground, or with just a couple vines holding him up. As they neared the Turaga's hut, he jogged ahead to get the door. It wasn't until it swung freely at his touch that it struck him as odd that it hadn't been locked. Holding it open, he gave the elder his most welcoming smile, "Welcome home, Turaga Matau."OOC: just a quick reminder in case you forgot, Joske and his team are still "inside".

IC: Le-Wahi Jungles

"It doesn't really matter if you screwed up in the past," Naona said. "Just focus on the now and do your best to help others."

Maybe Naona thought she was incredibly bad at comforting people. Maybe she was, in general, who knows. But somehow, through whatever miracle Mata Nui was handing out that day, her words helped fuel something deep inside Rynekk, something that had been dying for the past months now.

Hope.

Perhaps it was because Rynekk had always respected Naona that her words had a deeper effect on him than usual. More likely, it was because when he looked at the lieutenant, he saw something of himself; an dutiful introvert, who was determined to fight for peace and justice.

But whatever the reason, at that moment, a little of the weight on Rynekk Simul's shoulders vanished.

"Exactly. Thankfully for me, previous records don't hold here."

The Po-Toa smiled, "Thanks, sirs. Means a lot."

IC: Hospital

The Toa paused, analyzing the words that Ril had said. Interacting with others? Acting is the actions which you perform, so you have to act with others to learn? And absorbing? What's that? The way he said it, it would seem that you take it, so maybe "absorb" is another word for "learn"? So I would learn how to be with people by being with people?"

"So," he began, "I learn how to interact with people by interacting with people?"

-Void

IC. Le-Wahi.A master and his student walked through the forest. One tall, and one short. Both Toa. Both lightning-casters. Both martial artists. One was armed to the teeth (literally) while one wielded a simple chain and hook. Neither truly needed these armaments, but both put them to extraordinary use. The master could tell a story in the way he swung his blades. The student could finish it in the twirling of his chain. They were deadly together, and powerful apart. Together, however, they stayed close, for one was slightly hurt.Exactly two tears- no more, and no less -ran down Sucogu's face. One for his two fallen comrades, and one for Kriigata. The girl who had changed his life in a week. He was protective over Hau, but he had been overly protective over her. Was that why she'd left? "Hau. I have something new to teach you."

IC: Skyra - Below Le-koro -

Instead of simply answering Fehlan, I leaped up and out of his arms and landed on my two feet firmly, I wasn't a hundred percent at full strength to be sure, I was still a bit dehydrated after all, but I was well enough to walk on my own, at least till we got to Le-koro, which was now just above us.

"Yeah I'm sure...let's go." And with that I began walk toward the elevator, which looked completely brand new. I sighed, once again someone had managed to break the old one, this like, happened all the time, at least when I had been around. It had been quite nearly a year since I gone on leave from Le-koro, for my own reasons.

In my head I was already sorting out what I was going to do, and in what order. First of all, I was going to get a drink, secondly, summon Destiny here, I had realized by now that the poor Kahu was horribly confused as to my whereabouts by now, plus I needed her for my third task, reporting to Kongu.

That was gonna be the most annoying task, I wasn't sure how Kongu had felt about me running off from the Force when I did, I mean I had explained that I was hunting down Tamaru's killers, but then I never came back, at least not officially. Plus, I'd have a lot of other things to explain as well. And naturally I'd want to be brought up to speed on what had been happening in my absence.

Yes, there was much to do, and little time to do it.

IC:

Once dawn arrived and spread its pink fingers through the green filter of the trees, Reordin and the rest of the company awoke (either shaking themselves or being shaken), packed their bags again quickly, and were on their way. Le-Koro was far off from their path, but even despite their isolation, the travelers avoided using the well-worn road for fear of having to explain their business. Leah and Lepiran knew the jungle best, so based on where Lewa's Stone was indicated to be on the map, they agreed on the safest, quickest route to it, and tried not to move too fast lest they would lose Reordin and Sulov.

The sun rose higher and higher, and the insects buzzed and the birds called. The company trekked ahead, pushing aside low-branched shrubbery that was dwarfed by the massive trees intertwining above their heads. As they drew closer to the stone, the forest changed from the proud trees typically bordering the cold of Ko-Wahi into the dank swamp nearer to the Mangai Volcano and Kini-Nui. The company balanced on top of fallen trees to avoid walking into thick mud or treacherous sinkholes. Below them, stagnant pools were undisturbed by the ripples of fish or the company of Rahi, save that of some long-legged birds that pecked into the damp earth to eat insects. Weeds sprouted from the marsh.

This was a dangerous region of the jungle, but they knew its geography made sense - Takua had placed Lewa's stone close to their final destination. Takua must have intended to almost taunt Makuta by putting something his dark enemy desired so much on his own doorstep; the Chronicler had clearly been confident about Makuta's overconfidence. The company all felt reassured and at once saddened by this subtle trace of the Chronicler's spirit, and they continued onward in silence broken only by the sounds of the swamp.

Interspersed in the swamp were a number of islets of high ground, and therefore of dryness, from which warp-rooted trees took tenacious hold of what little solid ground they were afforded. These trees were knotted like old Turaga, with wrinkled canopies and hard bark. The "L" on the map indicated one of these tree-filled islets, so the company reached it. They circled the small bit of safe land, no wider around than the Kini-Nui temple, and saw only these resilient trees. Some of the trees had wide slits cut into their faces, some straight, some rounded, but they were incomprehensible to the company.

Leah had very perceptive eyes, though, and by looking at the islet from one angle, she was able to make these prominent slits on different trees line up to make a cohesive design:

[iC] Petorgas was tiring from his work, so he deemed the time fit for a bean respite. A Bean Respite is when one makes a caffeinated drink(usually coffee of some sort), walks over to a wall, and watches the forces of good and evil while drinking their beverage. And Petorgas did just that.

OOC: Part 2. Readers who don't wish to see character development can skip to the bottom for actual action in the company.

IC: I open my eyes.

Above me are black clouds. This isn't home, with defense against weather , it's open. Everything's a bit dark. There's some fires away, off a little from me, so that it's not totally black. Not close enough to hear...Everything's silent, no moving. My body hurts everywhere. Something squishy is on either side of me. And then there's this scent.

I examine these last senses more. The scent's metallic as rust. Tangy. Mata Nui, it's powerful like a drug. Makes me stagger a little in the haze, it chokes the air, like those dangerous cave gases I've gone through in the force, and I want to swoon. I focus and keep my mind on the task at hand. This is what a battlefield smells like. Blood.

Where? I look around for the source. Nothing above, nothing from the fire. Then I look right at my side. Where the squishy stuff is.

That's the answer.

Heads, limbs. All red. Bodies upon bodies. And weapons upon weapons with them. Swords, disks, saperka, spears, guns, shields. The mess of dead goes on and on to the edge of what I can see. Something tells me it goes past that to the edge of what is real in this world. It's a giant battlefield.

The pain hits me again. I glance at myself to find the other big answer.

The weapons aren't just in the dead. They're in me.

One thigh holds that knife I found on the field of the Hive. My stomach's got the Panrahk staff stuck in it. The pistol has been etched into my chest. Left hand is back, but Kol's saperka is through the wrist. I know that I have nothing but these in the same way I knew that the field of corpses doesn't end. And my body itself is different, taller but proportionally more skinny. I stink like the field of iron.

I know the field. I know myself. But why? How did this happen?

I turn around and look for the answer. And as before, it comes, and I don't like it.

There is a path of narrow open space, shadowed on both sides by the walls of dead, through the field. It rises and falls with the inclines and declines of terrain. On either side of it are people I know. There's Kol with his face frozen in a grimace, there's Daylah with arm stuck reaching for me, there's Aurax slumped just as he was against the rock of Ta-Wahi when he died. The further ones away were the earliest ones I lost and the nearest recent. Away from them stretch the faceless, the ones I could have devoted energy to saving who I didn't know but didn't. This isn't just a battlefield. It's the battlefield of my life, these are the people I've killed, and I'm on the path I made hacking through it. And my form is a toa's because I judged each kill as a toa.

This is my wake. Hundreds dead. Some I knew, some I didn't. It doesn't matter. This is the price of the way I live life.

I look at the field. It's like the weight of all those weapons and all those bodies hits my shoulders, and I stagger a little.

Is it worth it? Am I just adding to the tally of net deaths? How can what I do now--ever--outweigh all this?

But before I ask another question, something catches my eye. I turn to give it a glance and stop.

Stop questioning. Stop starting to doubt. Stop wondering if there's a better way.

Because there it is. The last, and most important, answer.

A little bit off on the path are people. Not bodies, living and breathing people. There's the others, Reordin smirking as he calls up to me about how long it took for me to get here. There's 7th Squadron with Gavarm and Tarnok smiling. There's even Hiemalis, who's saying sorry because he's killed, but it's okay because I know he didn't understand what he was doing and he won't do it again and he's a person so he deserves this, right, he's a person. It's peace. Doesn't matter where they are, it's peace. The peace I've always fought for. Oh, Mata Nui, it's the Dream.

I feel so happy, I want to cry. But I don't. A servant of people does not cry; that would hurt people by making them concerned or sad too.

Instead, I look around. Trouble's behind me, yes. I had always struggled up the hills of the field where the fighting was thickest, leaving behind burned buildings as I looked for the end of my journey over the next peak, just beyond the next bend. It didn't come. I almost wanted to stop. But I didn't.

I fought on. I carved my way up each incline again and again. Hard work took me through it all, even if fate didn't help me. And now I stand on the last beaten obstacle, looking down at my destination.

The road is clear before me. I'm on top of a hill, and the Dream is at the bottom.

I can take it easy.

It's all downhill from here.

I start running. And just like that, I'm flying across the ground. Twists and turns in the path don't slow me down. I leap over any bumps or holes. The earth itself moves with me, pushes me on to the end.

It doesn't matter how much the weapons in me hurt. It doesn't matter how many dead there are. It doesn't matter that I've had to make a path here that tired me so. Everything's gonna be okay.

Because I'm gonna win. I'm gonna reach the Dream.

Each step is one step closer to peace. Each leap a bound. It gets closer, slowly but steadily. One hundred meters is fifty. Then ten. Then five. Then one.

And then my eyes open.

Peace fills me. I lie there for a second, a little warm on the insides, and just think about that dream. I'm certain, happy, calm at last.

That was about my life.

I've fought a lot. Gaining and losing. That exchange. I've lost people, and I've done things I don't like. I'm so tired. I've always tried to make the Dream happen, to win peace with hard work. It's just cost so much and taken so long. Every time I fought I'd think it'd be just after this, yet it wasn't. There was always more.

But I'm almost there. Almost at my Dream. Here, I'll find the power in the essence stone so that I can finally bring peace. I can get past all that fighting, go beyond the past and make the world a good place. I know it. And if I do as I've done so far, keep on keeping on with work, then I'll get there and the Dream will be real. Everything will be fine. None of the bad stuff will matter.

Almost there. Almost to the place without fighting.

And so I get up. I train. I make breakfast and then follow everyone, guard the back as always, and watch the jungle for any sign of danger. What I don't do is thinking again about whether or not we can or can't do it.

Because I'm gonna win.

IC: [Ril]

"Exactly."

IC: Hospital

There was a long moment of silence, where the Toa stood with an increasingly familiar expression of processing on his face. Ril had just given him the Key. The Key was a wonderful thing. It didn't light the world around them, but it offered them a path towards doing so. A path of risk, of reward with the flames of Karzanhi licking at heels, and light of Artakha shining down on faces.

In short, a path worth taking.

Now, to go and follow it.

"Then I should go interact with some people," he said, voice filled with determination, yellow eyes shining with hope, before turning and beginning for the door, ready to begin his new life--

--but not before he asked one last question.

Looking back at Ril, the Toa asked, "Would you like to come?"

-Void

IC: [Ril]

"Eh, sure. Ribs should have healed by now. Hopefully."

IC: [Naona]

Naona smiled. "You're welcome, Rynekk."

OOC: Onuzek post... Meh when I have more time.

IC: Dehkaz

The Toa of Magnetism clapped Rynekk on the back. The well-being of the guards under his command was his business. "Good. We don't care what you did, only what you do now," Dehkaz said, a small part of him wonder really what happened to Rynekk. Whatever it was, the Toa of Stone must have fallen, but now, he was already rising. The gunmetal-armored Toa clapped his hands, the sharp sound breaking through his headache as well as the momentary silence. "Now, we've got work to do," he said, knowing that it would be good for Rynekk to get his mind off things.

And get Dehkaz's mind off his throbbing head.

IC: Hau grinned. "Yeah?"

IC GennoConfused, Genno started walking towards Le-Koro. "What am I going to do there?" he thought.

IC. Forest.He noticed the Toa twitching his chain, and put a hand up to stop him. "This is a concept session. So let's conceptualize. To start, have you ever thought about how thieves can be good, or even lawful?"

IC (Cael)

The Toa of Water watched as Joske and Agni struggled to piece together the final riddle. It surprised her to see them so completely baffled; they had two charms left, but it was obvious to her that neither of them would fit in the carved notch, the last one in the lock.

Strength of Numbers. The riddle referred to neither Courage nor Strength. Nor was it Faith, nor Accuracy. No... it was a different Virtue altogether, one whose meaning was lost on the Toa of Fire.

A slight smile crossed Cael's face. How would a team of Ta-Toa know of this clue? Of all the elements, fire was a solitary force. It burned brightest by itself, without the presence of water or ice. How could a Toa of Fire possibly understand the power that came through strength of numbers?

Unbidden, Cael's mind flew back to a moment in the distant past, far away from the green, leafy, sunlit treetops of Le-Koro. A memory flashed before her, of a lonely beach, bleached of colour in the before-sunrise light, and a solitary Toa sitting cross-legged on the sand.

Toa Gali was meditating, but she awoke in an instant at Cael's approach, her beautiful yellow eyes blinking open at the sound of the Matoran's footsteps.

She turned her head, and Cael froze, caught red-handed in the act of almost-silently spying on her hero. She dared not move, not knowing what to expect, but then the Toa of Water smiled, and patted the sand beside her.

“Come, little one.”

Her voice was soft, musical almost, like the laughing of a brook as it rushes over stones. But it was also deep, though not in a masculine way, but in a way that suggested the untold mysteries of the vast ocean depths, teeming with unknown life and secrets that no land-dweller could ever know.

It was a lovely voice.

Cael obeyed, slowly stepping closer and taking a seat beside the Toa she had always admired, though only, until now, from a distance.

“What brings you here?”

The Matoran swallowed nervously. “I... I was watching you.”

Gali laughed; her laugh was as beautiful as sunlight through a waterfall.

“And what makes me interesting enough to spy on, little one?”

Cael was silent as she worked over her answer, trying to produce something profound and eloquent enough to deserve Gali's attention. At last, she spoke.

“You... you're so strong, and beautiful. We've waited so long for a protector to come, and, finally, you've come.”

Her words came faster now, tumbling out like a spilt glass of water, almost before she could think about what she was saying.

“And you embody the ocean, and you're so peaceful but you're also so strong, and brave, and you're just one person but you can stand against anything and win, and you're everything we hoped for, and...”

She trailed off, her usually blue mask now turning scarlet.

The First Toa laughed again. “You flatter me, my friend. Tell me, what is your name?”

“C-Cael.”

“I am grateful for your kind words, but listen to me, Cael.” The Toa of Water looked thoughtful as she turned her gaze away from the Matoran and looked out over the still, quiet sea; the sun had not yet risen, but the horizon was beginning to turn pink.

“I am not strong, nor brave, by myself. None of us are. We can all pretend, but when destiny's moment comes, only those who stand together will pass through the fire.”

Gali's expression darkened slightly. “It is a lesson that all of us, even supposedly great and heroic Toa, must learn: the poison of the Makuta is at its most potent when we work alone.”

She looked back at Cael, and smiled. “Remember, Cael: the greatest strength is not found in one's courage or power; it is found in Unity. When a number of individuals are united in mind and purpose, they become like One, and the strength of that One far outpaces that of any single hero, no matter how mighty she might claim to be.”

Cael opened her eyes, hardly aware that she had closed them in the first place. The sight and sounds and smells of Le-Koro assaulted her in a wave, bringing her back to the present. And she had brought the answer with her.

The Toa of Water stepped up behind Joske and Agni.

“Unity,” she said quietly. “Strength in Numbers refers to the virtue of Unity. For a number of individuals to be strong like one, they must be united in mind and purpose.”

For a moment, she considered telling the source of her knowledge, but instead settled with, “It's... it's a cornerstone of my village and my people.”

This knowledge shocked the other Toa; the conclusion was now as obvious to them as it had been to Cael: they were missing a Charm.

What would they do? Was the Charm here, or would they have to return to Ga-Koro to find it?

Joske decided for them. Shouting some treespeak gibberish over his shoulder, he scuttled up the tree, leaving the Toa of Water and Fire below in stunned silence.

IC

How... how did they DO this?!

I pulled myself up over yet another branch, gasping and wheezing for breath. I was almost to the top, but I was exhausted. Jumping branch to branch, swinging on vines... I was in the best shape of my life, yet I was near my limit. An athlete, a physical specimen of speed and endurance, a master of the art of the body, aaaaand I couldn't climb a single tree.

Little Le-Matoran did this all day.

I was starting to become a tad jealous.

With a heave I pulled myself to a standing position, balancing on the thin branch that seemed to barely hold my weight. Between heaves and the wiping of my sweaty eyes I could see sky, proof that I was close to the top. So close, yet so very far away. How long I had been climbing I didn't know; ten minutes? Half hour? Several? More? Impossible to tell. All I could tell was that I was close, and from there hopefully a solution.

Ever-remember answer always up-tree

Right. No, gotta have faith, gotta have faith...

Finally my head broke through the crown as I willed myself to the top, the entirety of the Le-Wahi jungle spanning before my vision, a sea of brilliant shades of green. I was so high that the mountain actually looked closer, not so high and menacing from ground or even sea level. In every direction I saw nothing but trees, a vast swamp lurking underneath the living canopy, broken only by the flight of birds dashing between the treetops. The air was so crisp, so clean up here, if not a little thin, again reminding me of the mountain in the distance I was up so high. Thin enough in fact that it took longer than usual for me to catch my breath. At least it gave me time to take in the sights.

It truly was a sight to behold.

Good thing I wasn't afraid if heights.

Looking down, I noted two things: one, just how far down the top of the Temple roof looked from here, and two... I couldn't see a way down. Despite having spent the better part of the afternoon climbing a tree, getting to know it's every branch, bark, and leaf to an almost intimate level, I could not see the path down. From this angle everything looked different, and with a sinking realization I saw I was not getting down in any conventional method. The path way down would be impossible from this point, I barely had the stamina to climb up, let alone let myself down. I had gone off on this crazy stunt in hopes of finding some sort of roof access, but instead I had climbed an adjacent tree. With no way down. Besides the obvious.

And after jumping from a glacier I had no plans to repeat the experience.

Playing with a leaf I sat there, contemplating my situation. I was atop one of the highest trees in Le-Wahi, below me the Temple of Faith. I had to get from here to there without killing myself, and in a timely fashion. Sooner or later my friends would come searching for me, and they would end up just like me. So I just sat, hoping something, anything, would give me insight. I sighed in frustration, seeing no bolt of lightning. I tossed the leaf down in a fit, watching it float through the treetop-

Wait, what?

Pulling back a couple of thin branches I saw something black on the trunk by my feet. Maneuvering my body down and into a better angle I finally saw what had gathered my attention: a series of runes carved into the living wood. Matoran runes.

Only the truly Faithful will find it.

That's... that's what the message in the Temple of Courage said.

Standing up as best I could I stared down, gazing at the tiny pinprick of tan that was the top of the Temple of Faith. It would take Faith to enter this temple, as if would take Courage to enter the previous one. But to enter this one, the individual must have also mastered Courage, for what it was suggesting was suicidal. This quest was no longer I realized a simple snatch-and-grab; it was a pillar, an ever-constructing principle built on the lesson before. I... I would have to put my new-found faith to practice, trusting not only in myself and my abilities, but also in the wisdom of others who came before.

I can't believe I was actually considering this.

Taking a deep breath, I let my hands burst into flame. Either I would do it now, or I would be forever trapped up here. Might as well go down with a blaze of glory.

Literally.

"YYYEEEEEEEEHHHAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!"

I jumped.

* * *

The experience... it could never be truly described.

The releasing of the branches... the feeling of weightlessness... the rush of air past your mask... the blur of color and shapes as you raced past them... the knowledge that you were dropping and neck-breaking speed and so much as a single degree off would be lethal... the adrenaline coursing through the veins... the image of the Temple roof rushing right at your face-

And then everything pulling, yanking, jerking, and otherwise coming to a sudden halt, only to be released into one of the two small windows.

When my vision cleared the first thing that I noticed was the dust - the shafts of light illuminated the vast armies that my fall had kicked up. The second was my inability to move, mainly due to the fact that I was completely entangled in vines. Unbeknownst to me there were a series of net-like vines next to the tree and above the roof, a series that would slow to a near stop a person, even one the size of a toa, if they fell from the correct position, completely hidden from view way high up but now obvious from my new vantage point. Still, I could use my hands a little, and with them I began the slow process of removing and burning the living, green ropes from by body. The effort, however, was cut short as I felt something dig into my back. Rolling over onto my chest I felt my hands grasp something smooth, angular, and sharp. I looked down in utter surprise.

I was laying on the dais, the Crystal of Faith firmly in my grasp. I sighed contentedly, my efforts for the day bearing fruit. As I opened my eyes once more I saw more writing, this time scrawled on the floor. I craned my head to take a better look at it, this time recognizing it as Takua's handwriting.

Beware Matau's Revenge

"Beware Matau's ReWHHAAAAAAAAAAA... ?"

My heartlight was lost in my throat as the dais suddenly sunk and gave way, revealing a trap door that I fell through, landing heavily on Matau's hut floor with a loud and heavy noise, so much so that Kongu who had been patiently waiting there had a spooked look on his mask. Before any other words could be spoken though there was a small crack, the clacking of gears, and a second trapdoor released... right under me.

"AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"

Once again I was flying through space, doing everything toaly possible to hang on to this rock, only to stop suddenly in a very awkward position. I was upside-down and folded up in what seemed to be a basket of some sort-

The winding of gears made me correct that last assumption. No, it was the cradle of a catapult-like contraption... the very one it was rumored Tuaraga Matau used to get rid of unwanted guests.

Click.

Oh no-

FWAHPANGGG!

"WHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!"

I felt like a rag doll as I careened through the trees, launching right by my team-mates in a screaming blur of gold and red, the g-forces having a field day with me as I took yet another flying lesson, courtesy of Turaga Matau Airways, branches and leaves doing wonders to my complexion. There was a sudden lack of foliage, the sensation of falling, followed by a very hard impact. And blackness.

The next memory I had was Angi shaking me to consciousness, many people's faces pressed in around me as I lay entangled in vines in the Koro main Square. As he rolled me over he noticed my hands clutching something, and with an exasperate smile I relaxed.

"Got... it... " I mumbled to no-one in particular. It would look like Turaga Matau really did in the end get the last laugh. Figured. Two down, four to go.

If I lived that long.

IC: Kehuri"WHA--?" The Toa of Earth craned his neck to peer into the hut just in time to see a red blur vanish from his sight up through the ceiling. Propping the door open for the rest to enter, he stepped inside, surprised to see Kongu there. "What was that just now? Oh, Turaga Matau is here, by the way." He wasn't quite sure what to focus on at the moment, so he glance from the door to the Matoran to the hole in the ceiling repeatedly.

IC GennoThe massive toa of fire walked into Le-Koro. Had he had a better mind to think about it, he would have been contemplating the future of the island and his role in it. But right now, all he was thinking about was food. And rest. Man, was he tired. Walking into Le-Koro, he blankly walked straight ahead, unknowingly headed for Matau's hut, hoping he would find some food. Or a bed. Or both.

IC: Onuzek

"I suppose its not much of my business, but, uh, where are we going?" the Toa of Gravity asked, following Skyra onto the elevator.

IC: (Hari) -Fowadi

A slender and athletic Toa of the Green appeared to the group, recently she had found herself busy helping the villagers repair, a duty she had decided to fulfill before returning to the Fowadi. Rynekk seemed to be recovering from something, but she came in on the tale end of this discussion. She turned to Naona and then to Dehkaz.

"Sorry ma'am and sir I had to handle a few things," Hari smiled, it ate away at her that she hadn't been much help. She felt distant and Krayn, well it seemed like he had been busy, so she wasn't spending as much time as she would like with him. Of course though she had that warming smile she was almost always found with. Here she was on the team with Naona and her crew and she felt like dead weight. A load that was just being dragged around. Shifting from unit to unit cemented this idea in the head of Hari. That while she was friendly, and bubbly and that could liven things up. More than once she had been unprepared, she had screwed up, she had imposed on others. Hari refused to wear these feelings on her sleeve. Frown and everyone asked how you were feeling. The field she was studying, the person she wanted to be, did not show their own problems. They simply helped others with theirs'. Hari smiled and spoke again.

"What are our next orders, ma'am?" Hari asked, her arms crossed as she waited for the answer.

OOC: Well this is awkward post, but I've been out of the game for a bit.

IC. Le-Koro."You, sir, look like you could use a drink."Of the people standing around Joske Nimil in that moment, one of the most remarkable was Liacada. With twin katana handle poking over her shoulders, she could've easily passed off as a Le-Koroan, or maybe a Ta-Koroan, had she not shared the rugged, jewel-in-the-sand type of looks with other Xa-Koroan Toa. Being one of the few native survivors left, this made her stand out. Not near as much as falling from the sky and landing in the middle of a densely populated village. That was, after all, what had caught her attention. What kept it was his familiarity. Even islanders of the Kumu Islets got news every once in awhile. Things like popular athletes becoming Toa tended to bleed through. This Toa fit the descriptions she'd heard fairly well. He was certainly built like an athlete. It was funny to think that she could go from hearing about someone to seeing them fall into a village. Well, that wasn't funny, really, just rather absurd. She looked about him another time, and made her decision: this was definitely the Joske she'd heard about. That was a chance to make a day out of what had merely been twenty-four hours.As it was, she'd been wandering around Le-Koro, where she had heard the Turaga had last been. Whenua likely wasn't back to his hole yet, and as such she couldn't really assassinate him as discreetly as she wanted. So, she had been looking for some momentary entertainment. The young Toa had looked like a golden opportunity. Reaching down, she wrenched him up onto his feet with a good bit of force."From one Toa of fire to another, take my word for it when I say that we were not meant to fly."

IC Genno (Eating)The smell of food reached Genno's nose. He saw a burger joint nearby; it was very busy. "Mata Nui has blessed me," he said aloud as he entered the restaurant. "I want combo 7 please," he said nonchalantly, putting the widgets on the counter. Getting his food, he sat down in a corner table and started to eat. "Why do I eat so much?" the toa thought as he ate. "Is this because of the transformation? Wait, no, it's always been like this."

IC: Skyra - Le-koro -

The elevator reached to the very top I could hear throughout the village what sounded like some sort of commotion, probably from the village square, I decided to ignore this for the moment and went straight to a vendor who was selling Bula juice, the non-alcoholic kind, as tempting as getting a little tipsy was that was hardly the wisest course of action, I simply needed something for my dry throat.

Fehlan was waiting for me to stop chugging my drink, tapping his foot, I raised the index finger of my free hand to tell him to hold his Gukko. Finally I put the mug down, it was empty. "For one thing, I needed a drink, secondly I need to do this." I pulled out my flute from somewhere underneath my armor. I put the mouth piece to my lips and played a short melody, and then promptly stopped and put the flute away, Fehlan looked perplexed.

"I was calling my Kahu." I explained, "She never fails to hear it." I knew it wouldn't be much longer than a few minutes before we'd hear the shrill cry of a Kahu, Ga-Wahi was where I last saw her, but for a Kahu even such a distance wouldn't take long at the speed they could fly, especially without any riders. Destiny would be here soon enough, I began to walk toward the village square, Fehlan following, he was probably a little miffed that I had really answered his question, but I felt it was easier just to show him.

As we went into the very heart of my koro I got more than just passing glances from pretty much everyone who was a permanent resident of Le-koro. They most certainly recognized the way I presented myself, my stature, my Kanohi Hau (Even if it wasn't black in color anymore.), and especially my twin katanas, which were one of a kind in appearance as they glimmered into the sunlight that came through the cracks between the branches, sheathed and strapped to my back.

They all looked very confused, why was a female Toa of Air wielding the blades of a well-known Gukko Force Officer? I sighed, missing my original body more than ever before, and not for the last time.

I didn't waste time trying to explain myself to anyone, all I had to do was find Kongu and explain everything to him. I was in fact heading toward where he usually resided, the Gukko Force HQ.

Only problem was, there was some sorta of commotion in my way. Some Rahi-for-brains fire spitter lying in the middle of the square, tangled up in vines, though he was being helped up by some other Toa of Fire, seriously I was seeing a whole lot of red today, was there some kind of fire spitter meeting going on or something?. Obviously he hadn't know about Matau's Revenge. Tourists...

As we got closer I recognized him, as well as the group of Toa standing around him. It was Joske Nimil...of all the impudent...what was he doing in my koro? Probably trying to show off or something. Oh yes, I remembered Joske Nimil just fine. If I recalled correctly, he was the newest Toa on the block, I had come across him in Ga-koro, around that healing Toa's place, Cael I believe was her name. He'd practically just become a Toa, I had offered to help him out, even offered to let him borrow one of my precious katanas, he had quite rudely declined. It didn't bother me that he declined so much as how rude and arrogant he'd been.

Well, now he was looking like a complete doofus in the middle of Le-koro, I decided I might as well find out what he was doing here, and have a little fun while I was at it. "Well well...if it isn't Joske Nimil, you seem to be a little tied up."

If Joske glanced at me, he most likely would be confused, I'd probably look familiar but at the same time not. Having a new body tended cause that reaction toward me. But I didn't really care, let him try to figure out who I was, it would just be all the more amusing. The crowd around him was certainly looking at me with strange looks, if they bothered to look at all.

"Let me ask you something firespitter...why are you causing shenanigans in the middle of my village? I mean really did you think you could just waltz into Turaga Matau's quarters and not expect...this?" I grinned as leaned my head toward his face, I noticed he was clutching something in his hand...some sorta of crystal. My expression changed from a humorous one to much more serious. "Okay did you seriously just steal that from my Turaga's home? Come on now, answer me." My insignia, the one that recognized me as an officer of the Gukko Force, was particularly in view on my chest.

OOC: Sorry Tuck, but this opportunity to torment Joske a bit was something I couldn't resist. Plus it's an excellent time for Skyra to actually use her authority for once. =P

IC: [Kunitu]

"My colleague-senses are tingling."

IC: [Naona]

"We're staying put until Matau is successfully escorted back to Le-Koro," replied the guard, turning to face her subordinate. "Once he is, we shall set off for the other villages to return the rest of the Turaga."

IC: Kehaga - Hut -

"And this means what exactly? That it's time for that reunion party you have annually with everyone you graduated boot camp with?" He asked Kunitu, she always said the strangest things at unexpected moments.

IC: [Kunitu]

"I feel the need to annoy an underling. Come, 'Haga. I must find this underling and annoy him/her."

IC: Kehaga - Hut -

"Well okay then." Kehaga said, leaping out of his bed and landing on his two feet on the wooden floor. As they began to walk out he looked slightly perplexed, he turned to Kunitu. "How on earth do you get Colleague-senses?"

IC: [Kunitu]

"I detect the flow of narrative casualty throughout the universe until it corresponds with a certain energy signature belonging to a colleague of mine, and my mind homes in onto their planar location within three dimensions," she replied. "So basically, it's a hunch."

IC:

"What do you think is keeping him so long?" Agni asked Cael. The Toa of water shrugged. It was a small gesture but just like she had deciphered the last riddle - unity - it now displayed the patience the bolder Ta-Koronans often lacked.

Thinking back on it, it really was a no-brainer, the Toa of fire realized. Strength of numbers. Now there was a term a guardsmen should be familiar with if there ever was one.

He leaned his neck back and looked up again. But just like climbing up to the temple itself, there was too much green in the way to see Joske.

"What is he hoping to find up there anyway?" Agni tried Cael again. "You were with him all morning, what is he after?"

"Remember, answer always uptree..." she replied, with a soft smile. Behind his mask, Agni's forehead wrinkled up in a confused frown. "What?"

Cael explained quickly. How the two of them had met the young Le-Matoran, how he had challenged Joske to a disk throw-off and how the Toa of fire had won another charm from him.

"And then the young one just disappeared. Hopped into a tree and was gone. But that tip was the last thing he said."

Agni nodded his head slowly. "Well...that explains it. Thank you." he said. And made a mental note never to ask a Le-Matoran when it came to riddles unless absolutely necessary.

He was just about to finish the thought when they were suddenly all startled by a scream from overhead. Joske's scream. It rapidly grew louder, branches and leaves rustling overhead and suddenly it was past them, the cracking and tearing of wood somewhere below letting them fear the worst.

Agni looked at Cael and the others, all of their eyes wide in surprise and fear. They stared at each other for a second, nobody wanting to ask the obvious. Was Joske injured? Dead even?

And as they stared, a little voice in the back of Agni's head couldn't help but wonder if after tackling a Tarakava in Ga-Koro, Jumping off a glacier in Ko-Wahi and facing off against three dark Toa alone and angering the one Toa of fire you absolutely never should, Joske had developed some weird habit of trying to find the absolutely most ridiculous way to die in each Koro.

But before they could shake off the surprise and head back down to the Turaga's hut, there was another scream from the young Toa of fire. So he was a live. And just a second later there was another. And then another....that grew louder again. Agni took a step back from the edge of the branch as something red and gold hurled past them, screaming and flailing around helplessly, headed for impact somewhere in the village.

Now the Toa of fire didn't waste another second. Within the blink of an eye he was back at the vine they had come up, reaching down to it to get back down to the village itself. "Come on!" he called to the others and started to glide down. He slid down and down, almost to the point where it became reckless. But he was worried. As soon as he caught a glimpse of Le-Koro through the foliage of the large tree, he used his mask to teleport the rest of the way.

He landed on his feet in front of a few huts, but not where Joske was. But the shouting from nearby told him all he needed to. He broke into a run, past Le-Matoran going about their daily business or carrying materials to repair the village, until he reached the central platform where the elevators arrived.

A small crowd had gathered around his friend, who aside from a few bruises looked relatively fine. Agni pushed past the gather Matoran and knelt by Joske's side, shaking him. He felt the Toa stir and so he pulled on his shoulder, rolling him on his back.

Joske managed a tired grin and glanced down at his hand. Agni followed his eyes and saw the crystal clutched in the Toa's hand. "Got...it..." he mumbled. Agni started to nod, smiling a little as well, happy to know that his friend had not fallen to an early death, but before he could say anything else, more people that had gathered around started to speak up.

"You sir, look like you could use a drink." one said. Looking up, Agni noticed it was another Toa of fire, but not from Ta-Koro. He'd never seen her before. She did have a local accent though. That left the late Xa-Koro. "From one Toa of fire to another, take my word for it when I say we were not meant to fly." The words were meant for Joske, but Agni had to chuckled at that. Joske always was one to try the unorthodox. You'll believe a Toa of fire can fly.

He smiled and looked up, only to see another femal Toa enter the scene. He thought there was something familiar about her, but...no, he must have been thinking of somebody else. Then he spotted the guard-insignia on her. His eyes moved up to her face, where he noticed an amused grin, looking as if it had been born out of both annoyance and schadenfreude.

"Let me ask you something firespitter...why are you causing shenanigans in the middle of my village? I mean really did you think you could just waltz into Turaga Matau's quarters and not expect...this?"

Seeing as Joske was pretty out of it, Agni wanted to answer, but his smile dried up as soon as the Le-Toa continued speaking, leaning over him to look at Joske, her eyes spotting the crystal in his hand and her expression getting far more serious. "Okay did you seriously just steal that from my Turaga's home? Come on now, answer me." she demanded to know.

Agni stood up to his full height in front of her, pushing the nosy Toa back two steps. One did not simply accuse another village's guardmember of stealing. Gukko-Force or not.

"Ease off, officer." he said, looking Skyra in the eyes, strictly, but not aggressive. "Nothing was stolen from the Turaga's home. Go ask your captain, we're here by his leave."

Had they been in a private location, Agni might have explained more, but right now, they were in a village square, at the center of a commotion with all eyes on them. And he'd rather kiss a Makuta-fish than to explain their quest here. He had to get Joske out of here and probably out of the village. Time was of the essence and there were definitely too many eyes here now. And the Le-Koronans around were still gathered in a tight crowd. He started to help Joske up.

"Now, be a good Toa of air and give my colleague some room to breathe."

IC: "Fehlan"

Interesting...

The Infected Toa of Gravity stood back and watched, analyzing the situation before him. The crowd was starting to move back a bit, giving him a better view of the situation. In the center of the crowd was an overabundance of Ta-Toa, something that was slightly out of place in the village of Air. Someone seemed to have triggered the trap built by Matau, used to stop an invasion by a group of Mystix, if he remembered correctly. The being the sprung the trap, Onuzek was able to see more clearly once the crowd move away, was a red and gold Toa, probably Fire too. Immeadiately, he went through possible identities, but none jumped out at him.

Well, no matter, Skyra definitely seemed to know the Toa, wait, there was the name. Joske. He knew that name. Kohlii star, recently transformed into a Toa. Why such a being was chosen to become a Toa was beyond him, none the less, he was here. And he was holding something. Onuzek only got the briefest of glances, but the gold-armored Ta-Toa was definitely holding something. Skyra seemed to have noticed too. Wait, there was another Toa of Fire, this one wearing black armor not that uncommon to the Koro of Fire. Guard, most likely, judging by what he said to Skyra.

This was getting more interesting by the second.

He would have to make note of this. He couldn' afford to follow, his plans were already in motion and they could not be stopped so easily. Even by him. And so, the Toa of Gravity just stood by and watched it unfold.

IC: Tuara - Le-KoroThey needed to clear the area better than this. Now, Joske wasn't in danger of suffocation, but this was a Guard's mission, and it was to be kept clean. And half the village crowding around Joske's body was not efficient. Tuara stepped forwards, "Alright friends! Tuara Drigton, Deputy of the Ta-Koro Guard," she flashed her badge, "Show's over! Go home," she started waving people away, "Yes, leave. Thank you."She stopped in front of the Toa of air, not recognizing her friend and ally, placing a hand on her shoulder, "Sorry ma'am, but we're going to have to ask you to head out," she started to push the Toa gently, guiding her away from the center of the circle, "If you're concerned with our actions, I suggest you check with your Captain."

IC: Angelus (Le-Koro)

"Wait, you have a last name?" Angelus asked from his spot at Tuara's right hand, turning, bewildered, to look at the Deputy. She didn't respond, her face all business as she started talking to some female Toa of Air, trying to push her away. Oh, well. File it along with the growing list of things he didn't know or understand about Tuara as of late...

-Tyler

IC: Kehuri (a little before now)The Toa of Earth stayed inside the hut for a while, until two Toa slid down a vine to ground level. His eyes widened as he got a look at the Toa of Water (Cael). Another girl. His heart automatically began pounding, which got worse once he actually saw her features. In a manner quite befitting his sheltered and somewhat isolated life, he thought she was the most stunning thing he had ever laid eyes on. His eyes immediately took in the Mask of Healing she wore. A healer. Though he tried to stop himself from getting ahead of himself, it seemed he was doomed to lose this time. He did succeed in shutting up, though. He wasn't about to rush up to her and introduce herself just like that. "Uh... Hi. What's going on here? What fell through the roof?" He asked the two Toa.

IC

[Le-Koro square, late afternoon]"You, sir, look like you could use a drink."

I felt my body being roughly lifted up to a standing position, my head now spinning even faster than before. I was dizzy, a tad bruised, still unable to breathe with the mass of vine wrapped around me, and the barrage of voices and hands were disorienting."From one Toa of fire to another, take my word for it when I say that we were not meant to fly."

"Uuuhhg."

"Well well...if it isn't Joske Nimil, you seem to be a little tied up. Let me ask you something fire-spitter... why are you causing shenanigans in the middle of my village? I mean really did you think you could just waltz into Turaga Matau's quarters and not expect...this?"

"Hhrrrmmmm... "

"Okay did you seriously just steal that from my Turaga's home? Come on now, answer me."

"Ease off, officer. Nothing was stolen from the Turaga's home. Go ask your captain, we're here by his leave."

"HRrrrrrrr... "

"Now, be a good Toa of air and give my colleague some room to breathe."

"Alright friends! Tuara Drigton, Deputy of the Ta-Koro Guard. Show's over! Go home, Yes, leave. Thank you."

"Wait, you have a last name?!"

"Sorry ma'am, but we're going to have to ask you to head out. If you're concerned with our actions, I suggest you check with your Captain."

"GRAH!"

FWOOOSH!

All commotion and speaking ceased as there was a minor explosion of fire and heat at the center of it all. Slowly I brought my chest and arms back in after rapidly expanding them, between my muscular strength and my elemental prowess the vines snapping and disintegrating, the now-black line that wrapped around my body falling off me in a shower of fine powder. With a satisfied snort I brushed off the ash on my shoulder, acting completely non-nonchalant as if I did this every day. Glancing down I noticed some burnt twine still clinging to the crystal, and with gentle fingers I unwrapped a piece of blackened parchment that had barely managed to survive, reading the fine handwriting of the absent Turaga Matau.

Only those at peace can enter here.

Great. Peace. There was only one Koro in the island that had THAT virtue, and it was the last place I would want to vacation... not to mention just the other day I was busy fighting off a small army and practically freezing myself to death. Looking up I broke my own thoughts, gazing at the still, stunned, and silent group of people that had gathered around me.

I guess dropping in announced had that effect. Still, we hadn't time to lose.

"Agni, we need to get tot he next temple and away from these people." I said, speaking very quietly out of the corner of my mouth, still eyeballing the crowd.

"No kidding, kid. Then again YOU were the one who decided to take flying lessons." His demeanor matched my own, speaking in the exact same manner I did, quietly and discretely. My mask flared.

"Yeah, well, how was I supposed to know that catapult was real!? I thought it was a rumor!"

All I got was a deadpan stare from him. I sighed, pocketing the crystal next to the other one, rolling my eyes. "Whatever. I'm thinking exit stage right. You in?"

Agni rarely, is ever, thought my ideas solid and worthwhile, let alone good. But at the mention of that the corner of his mouth twitched, a ghost of a smile on his face. One of the few things that he had impressed on me early in training was the art of escape, using my power to make a distraction while I fled the scene. I thought it cowardly, but the point was made until I was strong enough to hold my own I would need to learn to run and pick my battles, lest I end up dead from a bad encounter. There was a certain technique Agni himself taught me, and right now he knew I was thinking it.

And for once he seemed to be in agreement.

With practiced harmony we both drew our hands upwards, our actions mirroring one another as we stood face-to-face. The next instant we shot them down, a brilliant ball of heat and light exploding from out fingertips to the floor below, enough to momentarily blind and push back those closest to us, a thick cloud of smoke billowing out from the impact. When the dark grew cloud dissipated and everyone's eyes re-adjusted, where the five of us were standing there was now no-one.

We were gone.

* * *

"You should have seen the look on their faces!"

I was laughing heartily as I slid down the vine, my feet hitting the soft, swampy ground below. I was the last one of the group to arrive, taking up the rear as we had made our escape. Tuara and Angelus knew what we were doing, if not short on the details, and as soon as the smoke had hit he led them to a hole in the platform and showed them the vines, allowing them to escape quickly. Cael however didn't know what was going on, so I was forced to grab her and activate my Kakama, running to another section of the Koro and taking another vine down. Regardless we were all back together again on the jungle floor, surrounded by bugs and walking on a swamp. Still, it beat having to deal with everyone up-tree.

Up-tree. I was beginning to like treespeak.

"So what's the plan?" Tuara asked. With a start I realized that they didn't know where we were heading next, I hadn't read the note aloud.

"Ko-Wahi." I said quietly, the disdain in my voice obvious. If there was one thing in this world I hated most it was cold, and now I was venturing back to that frozen wasteland. "The glacier is nearby. If we move quickly we could get there by nightfall... granted no other distractions."

With that I took the lead, two crystals in my pockets and a third in my sights, heading for the path that led up the glacier.

Did I ever tell them how much I hated the cold?

OOC: Joske to Ko-Wahi. rest can follow at your leisure

[iC] Then Petorgas heard a faint, shrill howl from the north. A matoran walked up to him and attempted to say something, but before the first word left his lips, the Vortixx quickly whispered, "SHH! My common sense is tingling!" There it was again. A very distant, yet still audible, "Eaoaoaoaoaoaoaoaoaoaoa...."