CHAPTER 5

The Hunter

The hooded stranger glared down at Korii, keeping his knife steady despite his struggling. Korii was the larger of the two, but he was out of his element. The forests became pitch-black at night, but the attacker knew them like the back of his hands.
"What in Karzahni do you want from me? I'm not exactly flush with supplies!" Korii shouted, trying desperately to wrestle the blade free from the hunter's grip.
"I call these tree-fields home. I leave the people of Bota Metru by their lonesome, and all I hunt-kill is Rahi. In ever-spite of this, I get every Turaga this far-side of the planet sendin' Glatorian to root me out. I'm tired-done askin' you to get lost. You want to take me down? Go ahead and quick-try, brawler."
The figure glared down at Korii who matched his gaze, his own hands beginning to heat up as his frustration grew.
"By the Great Spirit, if I get attacked and called a damned Glatorian one more time today!" Korii shouted, his hands beginning to glow and spark before igniting. The sudden burst of fire caught the vagrant off guard, allowing Korii to land a fiery punch square in the side of his face. Dark as it was, Korii saw three of his "eyes" suddenly blink out, leaving only a single red light to mark his attacker's position as they stumbled backward and allowed him to jump to his feet. Quickly regaining his composure, the figure took a moment to try and size Korii up now he was partially visible from the flames. Many Glatorian had come for him before, but this one looked different.
He was tall enough to fit the bill, but this one was much more bulky. Clad in almost pristine crimson-orange armor unlike any he'd seen the mercenaries wear with shoddy steel plates covering his shins. His unusually broad shoulders gave way to dense forearms, and his eyes shone blue in a way he'd only seen on Matoran. His chest was emblazoned in mirror-like Protodermis almost resembling wings, with a bright blue light glowing where his heart would likely be. His helmet... if the hunter knew any better, he'd think this Glatorian was wearing a Kanohi. And why was he unarmed? Setting his confusion aside, he took a ready stance and braced himself for another hit from his visitor's fiery paws.
"First one's free, sell-sword. Next time you'd better pray-hope it puts me down."
"I didn't come here for you, Glatorian, nor do I wish to spill either of our blood. You want these oh-so-comfortable trees to yourself? Take them. I only stopped to rest, I couldn't give a pile of scrap about what goes on here. Lower your weapons and walk away, and I'll do the same." Korii shouted, readying the dropped knife as the stranger produced a second.
"Nice try, you aren't the first to weave me that yarn. Minute I turn my back you'd use whatever fancy trick that is again. Now if you're done yap-talkin', get on with gettin' yourself killed."
Groaning in frustration, Korii lunged for his opponent only to fall flat on his face. In the moments before making contact, the stranger had somehow leapt from the ground all the way up to the distant treetops and concealed himself.
"Big talk for someone so keen on running and hiding!" Korii shouted out, almost immediately being struck in the shoulder by another lightning-fast bolt. His armor was thick enough to prevent any lasting damage, but the force with which he was hit knocked him off balance. Grasping the opportunity, the hidden assailant dived onto him from above, knocking both to the ground.
Before he could draw his knife again, Korii grappled with the stranger trying to free himself. Due to the building panic he was experiencing, his hands once more ignited and caused the attacker's cloak to catch fire. In response, the figure returned the previous attack and punched Korii with enough force to knock the Kanohi off his face before leaping to his feet and quickly discarding his shroud. As it was engulfed in flames, Korii got a proper look at his attacker for the first time.
He stood slightly taller than Korii, but was much thinner. Clad from head to toe in dark colours, Korii could still make out the countless scars and scratches across his body. Before he could identify the fifth red light that had appeared, the hunter proceeded to kick Korii in the face again before drawing another knife.
Scrambling to retrieve his mask and ready himself, Korii grabbed his stolen knife and used his powers to ignite it. Not even flinching, the figure simply scoffed.
"This again? Can you at least do some acrobatics? What's a circus otherwise?" Korii glared in response his advancing foe, who was raising his empty hand.
"You're not the only one with a few fancy tricks." The attacker added bluntly, before gesturing toward Korii. As he did so, an intense gust of wind blew in, once again knocking Korii onto his back.
"What in Karzahni was that?!" Korii yelled. Noticing it had gotten much brighter, he noticed the flaming cloak had caused fire to spread into the nearby trees behind the hunter. The flames aiding his sight, Korii finally figured out where the extra red light was coming from; a glowing red stone set into the stranger's chest, much like his own heartlight. As his eyes widened, he once again looked his attacker in the eyes and saw his face... or at least, the Kanohi Akaku upon it. At the same time, the attacker paused and noticed Korii's own Kakama.
"Wait... you're a Toa-hero?" The stranger asked.
"I was about to ask you the same thing." Korii responded, equally confused. As he got back up to his feet, the pair looked each other up and down.
"So I'm not the only one. Not sure what to make-think of that." The figure muttered.
"You must be the Toa I was sent to find." Korii responded. Before the other Toa could respond, the pair both noticed the fires spreading quickly through the forest.
"Oops.." Korii mumbled.
"Outstandin' move, fire-spitter. Sit down and keep shut-quiet, I've got work to do." The figure yelled, leaping into the flames and trying to use his own powers to extinguish the growing inferno.
"Vulcanus will freeze over before I take orders from someone who tries to kill me!" Korii called back, using his Kakama to race after him. Noticing Korii trying to fight the fire, the Toa tried to blow him back out.
"You've done enough damage, smelt-head. Leave this to someone who knows what he's doin'!"
Clutching a nearby tree to hold his position, Korii stared at him in disbelief.
"I started this, I'll put it out!"
"First other Toa-hero I've seen and you're already quick-gettin' in my way. Typical." The Toa yelled. Both ended up unintentionally resuming their battle in the flames, with Korii deflecting attacks and absorbing what fire he could while his attacker simultaneously used his Air powers to extinguish others. Soon enough, the flames were dying down, and Korii noticed a burnt tree beginning to topple, and would likely land on his newfound brother. Accessing his Kakama's powers, Korii darted forward and knocked him clear of the falling tree, sending the Toa down to the ground and knocking the Akaku from his face. Keeping his footing, Korii used his own abilities to absorb the remaining flames. Calling forth just enough fire in his hands to provide light, Korii picked up the figure's mask and offered to help him up.
"My name's Korii. I think I was sent here to find you. Since I just saved your life, do you feel like telling me your name?"
The figure simply stared at Korii's extended hand until he lowered it, before pulling himself up and snatching his Akaku back. In the warm light of the flames, Korii could see that his visitor was missing an eye as he once again donned his mask.
"Hopu." he muttered, suddenly pulling the lodged bolt from Korii's shoulder and returning it to his quiver. "So they're sendin' Toa-heroes after me now? Am I that infamous?"
"I was sent to find another Toa. They said I'd find them in Tesara, but I guess you found me first."
"Never been to Tesara." Hopu responded instantly. "I stay out of the villages. Too much unwanted attention, as you may have guessed."
"So... you aren't the Toa she was talking about?" Korii mused, as Hopu briefly froze.
"She?" He asked.
"Yeah, the voice we've been hearing. I've only met one other Toa before you, and he hears the same voice. She guided me to him, and then sent me to Tesara."
"So just to do a quick recap; you started hearin' a voice in your head, immediately started listenin' to it without question, without knowin' who it was or if it was even real? Bet you've got a dungeon way-back in the slum-furnaces just littered with Agori remains." Hopu scoffed.
"I hear it too, I'm just big-smart enough to ignore it."
"Suppose I can't argue with that. What did she tell you?" Korii asked, feeling perplexed in a way he hadn't felt since he became a Toa.
"Same as you. Wind-fly my way over to Tesara. Didn't give me a reason though, I guess our shared insanity picks favourites." Hopu paused, adjusting his mask's eyepiece until the lenses reactivated.
"Either way, Tesara's not my favourite place. The Bo-Matoran are a little too fun-happy for my taste. Last thing I need is a thousand random questions and a parade with flowers in honour of the grand Toa-hero, here to save the world-globe from whatever's about to kick off."
"You sure think highly of yourself, brother." Korii replied, rolling his eyes as he set up a campfire.
"I'm not your brother. I'm assumin' you got your glow-stone the same way I did, and from that I can assume neither of us chose this. I had no interest in playin' Toa-Hero, and havin' it quick-thrust upon me doesn't change the fact. I was just fine as a Matoran out here by myself, and I will continue to be fine out here by myself as a Toa. Only upside is the masks and fancy powers make hunting a little easier." Hopu snapped back.
"Aren't you at least a little curious why the Great Spirit... or at least why that weird old traveller chose you? Or why Toa are even needed? That's the reason I'm doing this; I may now have to live a hero's life, but I want answers if that's the case."
Hopu paused, before sitting by the fire across from Korii.
"Interestin' point, fire-spitter. With the Makuta gone and Mata Nui havin' better things to do, I can only assume whoever left that stone for me to find just wants Toa-Heroes around to raise morale. Marendar did a number in these parts, I can only assume how the big-cities down south fared. If I kept money I'd happily put a large bag of shinies on the fact that this was a fluke, and there's nothin' on it's way. But nonetheless as little I care, I'd at least like to know what this whole stunt is about." Hopu muttered, halfway between contemplation and actually responding.
"So you'll come with me to Tesara?" Korii asked, holding his hands over the fire to restore his energy.
"Tesara. That's as far as I go. You seem to be more out in the clear-open than I am, and I've been able to pass myself off as a Glatorian thus far. A Toa-Hero dies out here, they'll assume the crazy hunter got him. They'll gather their torches and tridents and march out here, lay the trees low and drag me to a cell, realise what I am, then the Turaga will be up in arms. You've surely heard about the cold-white Turaga up in Iconox? Still follows that precious code like he can still walk faster than a one-legged Shore Turtle. I'd get hauled off to Mata Nui knows where. It's in my interest to keep you alive while you're in here, Toa." Hopu replied bluntly.
"Y'know, for one so antisocial, you seem really fond of using twenty words where just one would do the trick. Either way, I'll take it." Korii chuckled.
"Regardless wether I'm given to the company, this is still one of the first long-talks I've had in years. Besides a band of Matoran some days back I can't recall last time I said anything to another big-clever being that wasn't a death threat. Kinda opened the floodgates, so to speak."
"...Are you wholly sure you're a Toa of Air?" Korii asked flatly, getting a cold glare in response.

Chapter 5: Text

Ferrun awoke shivering after some hours, relieved that the streets were still dark and empty. The cold had set in, to a point that even his mostly-mechanical form felt as if it were frozen. Collecting himself, he attempted to stand up and resume his journey only to find that his hands and feet had been encased in ice, leaving him stuck on the ground. Pausing before he could free himself, Ferrun looked down at his predicament with perplexion.
"That's not something you see in the middle of summer..." Ferrun thought to himself.
"I couldn't agree more, big guy."
The sudden response made Ferrun jump, as frost built up all over the alleyway.
"Who's there?" He shouted out. Noticing the frost beginning to build up heavily against the wall in front of him, Ferrun's eyes widened as a bone-white figure emerged from the ice. From their height, Ferrun initially made the usual Glatorian assumption but their hooded cowl they wore prevented him from knowing for sure. Even then, that wouldn't explain how they appeared as if from nowhere, nor the seeming arrival of an early winter. Whatever they were, the scythe they held didn't help his confidence.
"I'll be taking that mask, friend." The pale guest said confidently.
"Strange, every species on Spherus Magna calls this city home, but I didn't think the population had any ghosts." Ferrun quipped in response.
"Don't be ridiculous. Ghosts aren't real. That'd be crazy." The figure replied, matching Ferrun's sarcasm with his own.
"Whatever you are, ghost will fit the bill if you even try taking this mask." Ferrun growled, his mask beginning to glow.
"Fancy light show. Nothing I haven't seen before though, Toa."
Almost immediately, Ferrun tapped into the powers of his Pakari to break free from the ice, immediately lunging toward his would-be mugger to throw a punch. In the split second before making contact, Ferrun saw a faint orange glow from beneath the figure's hood, before completely passing through and smashing through the wall behind them and falling flat on his face. He heard the figure striding toward him, carrying Helryx's mask.
"You dropped this, stranger." He muttered, casually throwing the mask to the floor at Ferrun's feet. Wondering why they were discarding what they came to steal, Ferrun deployed his shield to counter the stranger's incoming scythe. The weapon collided with a loud clang, before causing a thick layer of ice to envelop the shield and wrench it free from Ferrun's grip. Realising the figure was now tangible, Ferrun took the opportunity to use his Iron powers, stopping them in place before sending them hurtling back into the alley and through another wall. Jumping to his feet, Ferrun retrieved Helryx's mask and sprinted towards his attacker.
"You call me Toa as if I'm not the only one. You're creative, but the Ice powers give you away, brother!" Ferrun stopped in front of the figure as they stood back up, both fighters sizing each other up.
"Thought you looked funny for a Glatorian." They scoffed.
"There are more of us, Toa of Ice. We all answered her call. Come with me, this smoke and mirrors routine is a waste of your destiny!" Ferrun pleaded, not wanting to fight his fellow Toa.
"Good to know, Toa of... whatever you are. She can speak to me all she wants, there's only one voice in this world I listen to; my own."
The hooded stranger dashed towards Ferrun, phasing directly through him before rematerialising behind him, kicking his feet out from under him and knocking him to the ground. Raising his scythe once more to finish Ferrun off, he stopped mid-swing, once again frozen by Ferrun's powers. Unable to move or access his own mask power, the figure simply stood and watched as Ferrun stood back up and approached him.
"Toa of Iron. A title you will show some respect, brother." Ferrun shouted, snatching the mask from the stranger's face before taking his scythe.
"A Kanohi Onweku? Bold of you to wear the same mask as a Matoran-killer." Ferrun snarled, tossing the mask aside and examining the scythe.
"Not bad, a little edgy for my taste though. I wonder if it's Protodermis..."
The inset lightstones along the scythe's blade changed from orange to green as Ferrun channeled his Iron powers through it, throwing the other Toa against the wall and manipulating the metal foundations to hold him in place. The stranger struggled as the rebar fused to his own armor, as Ferrun smirked. Using the scythe to call his shield back before throwing the weapon at his opponent's feet, Ferrun drew his spear.
"You won't kill me, it's against your code." The figure scoffed.
"If I wanted you dead, you'd be dead already." Ferrun responded flatly, calling upon every remaining mote of his power to destabilize the building they were in. As he stowed his equipment, Ferrun kicked the Onweku to the stranger's feet.
"Next time we cross paths, you WILL be coming with me; it's your choice as to wether or not it's voluntarily or in chains made from your own fingers." With that, Ferrun turned to leave the crumbling structure, freeing the Toa of Ice from his restraints as he walked out of the hole in the wall. As the stranger scrambled to retrieve their mask, the building collapsed down on them.
"Such a waste. I trust her entirely, but I would love to know her thought process on this one." Ferrun muttered to himself, shaking his head before taking his leave as the rubble settled. As he walked, Ferrun double-checked his bag to ensure he still had Helryx's mask, only to realise his Mahiki was gone.
"Yeah, that's about right."

Chapter 5: Text

A frigid cold swept effortlessly through the desert as night fell upon the dunes beyond the outskirts of Tajun, a feeling welcomed by Dekana and Kitamo. The walk from Tajun to Sandray Canyon was challenging as is, but one made somewhat easier without the scorching heat brought by Solis Magna's touch during the day. lowering their hooded shrouds, the two Toa resumed their journey.
"If we'd taken an Axalara we'd be there by now, sister. Even a Sand Stalker each would have done the trick." Dekana grumbled, trying to shake the sand from his joints.
"Funny, last time I was around Toa they didn't complain this much," Kitamo muttered.
"Besides, you're a Toa of Stone. I thought you'd be in your element out in the wastes."
"You're a Toa of Water, but would you spend your days at the bottom of an ocean?" Dekana rolled his eyes, dissapointed in himself that he was surprised at Kitamo's response.
"Mask of Adaptation, brother. That doesn't sound so unfomfortable at this point." Kitamo rebuffed, being sure to not let Dekana see her smirk.
"That was almost sarcasm, Kitamo! I'm impressed." Dekana chuckled.
"Deserts are fine, but the heat can be left for the Ta-Matoran. There's also that little fact that we've had all of a day to get aquainted with our new abilities, and so far I haven't managed to achieve the finesse required to stop sand getting everywhere it shouldn't be."
"You studied mask-making, right? You should at least know how to access your Kanohi power, we'll be able to fly most of the way and the time it takes to reach Sandray will be cut in half." Kitamo responded, tapping her Nakiri as she spoke.
Before Dekana could reply, Kitamo proceeded to sprint towards the nearest outcrop and dive off of it, activating her mask in mid-air. Within moments a leathery membrane had grown across her arms and waist, effectively turning her arms into makeshift wings and allowing her to glide freely through the air. Landing back in front of Dekana, she mockingly bowed with a smile.
"That's me covered. Fairly sure I'll fare a little better in the drylands now, too."
"Not bad, it's almost like someone's painted a Gukko bird blue and given it an attitude." Dekana smirked once more.
"I've made a few Kanohi Nakiri in my time; make sure that mask doesn't leave your face until you revert to your regular form, or the change will be permanent. Maybe tear some cloth from your shroud and use it to keep it fastened in place."
"Noted. Anyway, we should keep moving. Your turn." Kitamo replied.
"Yeah, about that... I don't think this mask is actually a Kadin."
"What do you mean?"
Dekana activated his own mask, causing it to glow with a faint cyan light. To Kitamo's surprise, Dekana didn't take flight. Instead his limbs briefly spasmed and he was rendered immobile, before the mask deactivated and freeing him.
"It isn't a Mask of Flight. It made my body lock up, kind of like I have to command my own limbs to do anything." Dekana sighed.
"Looks like we're on foot after all."
"A mask maker that doesn't know his own mask. This world truly is full of surprises today." Kitamo muttered.
"I studied mask-making at the Valley of the Maze, but I'm primarily a blacksmith. I made enough to know what I'm doing but I didn't forge my own. This mask is the one I was built with. I guess it's like Toa Krakua's Kanohi Suletu, just a different mask shaped like one I'm familiar with. It's not a common practice, since it causes confusion like this for unaware Toa." Dekana shook his head.
"Say what you want, the Great Beings had a sense of humour I guess."
Kitamo shrugged.
"Well, that kind of puts a dampener on the plan. Where is it we're headed?"
"My workshop, down the road from Arena Sandray. Has a carving of my mask above the door." Dekana replied. "Why do you ask?"
"No sense to slow us both down to a crawl, is there?"
Before Dekana could respond, Kitamo once more darted off the outcrop and soared off towards Sandray Canyon.
"You're joking, right...? Sister? Sister!"
Watching the Toa of Water glide off into the horizon, Dekana kicked at the sand in frustration.
"That one's on me, I overshared." He muttered aloud to nobody. Taking a moment to compose himself, Dekana looked back to see Tajun in the distance, before looking east to the seemingly endless desert standing between himself and Sandray. Briefly contemplating turning back to aquire transport, Dekana groaned.
"Damn it, may as well go on foot. Gives me time to practice at least." As he mused aloud, he examined his hammer.
"Just for pulling a fast one on me like that, I'm not improving Kitamo's trident when I get there."

Chapter 5: Text

"Damnit, help me!"
Struggling to maintain his grip on the flying Rahi he was trying to hunt, Hopu simply sat and watched from a nearby treetop.
"Mata Nui, it's just a Nui-Kopen! I fell-hurt twelve of these things whenever I eat lunch!" Hopu called out mockingly.
"Not a forest hermit, remember? Just shoot the damned thing, last thing we need is me accidentally torching the place again trying to take it down!" Korii yelled back.
Rolling his eye, Hopu simply sighed and drew his bow, nocking a heavier metal arrow and inhaling deeply. Holding his breath as he tracked the Nui-Kopen, Hopu lined up his target and exhaled, loosing the bolt as he did so. Whistling through the air, the arrow embedded itself into a nearby treetrunk some meters away from the Rahi.
"Seriously?! Let me guess, you missed on purpose-"
Before Korii could finish his mocking, the Nui-Kopen collided with the embedded arrow, causing it and Korii to fall to the ground. As he pulled himself up and prepared to face the creature again, a dagger spun rapidly towards it, lodging itself into the Rahi's head.
"There is something very wrong with you, brother." Korii muttered, as Hopu leapt down and approached the still-twitching insect.
"First guide-rule of huntin'; always size up your target." Hopu responded sternly, dislodging his dagger from the Rahi's body before finishing it off.
"Nui-Kopen are quick-fast, but that's also their weakness. Think of it like that scrappy old Toa-mask on your face. While you're runnin', you can't react as quickly. Quick-throw up an obstacle, it won't be able to stop in time. Crash, floor, done."
"I would've had it if all had gone to plan." Korii retorted, rolling his eyes as Hopu retrieved his arrow.
"What an ever-smart plan that was. Try to out-move a quick-flyin' Rahi in it's native forest-home environment and stick it with something pointy-sharp before it can fly away? Genius. You're buyin' me a new dagger, fire-spitter." Hopu muttered in his usual dry tone.
"To Karzahni with your daggers. If we go to New Atero there's a chance the Turaga will set us up with proper Toa Tools, no more basic bows, arrows and knives. Proper weaponry we can channel our powers through, just imagine!" Korii exclaimed.
"Temptin', I'll admit. Imagine the kind of trick-shots I could pull off focusin' my Toa-hero powers through one of these. I've half a mind to stick around long enough to get somethin' like that made." Hopu scoffed.
"With how long you've been out here, I'd say you've already got half a mind." Korii grumbled, as Hopu harvested meat and venom from the felled Rahi.
"Enough yappin' anyhow. Learn-lesson's over, we need to keep movin' if we want to make it to Tesara any time soon."
The two walked in silence for close to an hour before Hopu finally spoke.
"I should probably tell you somethin' fire-spitter."
"Be my guest, I know how fond of sharing you are." Korii joked.
"We've been movin' in circles for the past hour."
"What? Why?"
"Promise you won't panic-scream?" Hopu asked.
"Sure, just tell me." Korii answered, growing more annoyed at the Toa of Air's beating around the bush.
"We're bein' followed." Hopu responded casually.
"Followed? How can you tell?" Korii asked, trying to stay calm.
"Glatorian don't normally hunt in these parts, they prefer the dust-dunes down south. Good number of their livestock Rahi-likes prefer the deserts. They don't know how to stay undetected. Beautiful thing about havin' one eye; my hearing's gotten a lot better. Not sure how many just yet, but I'll assume they're after me. Or you, I've just been takin' your word that you're not a fugitive." Hopu muttered.
"And you aren't worried?" Korii asked, exasperated.
"I can handle myself. They aren't the first to come lookin' for a tumble-fight, they won't be the last." Hopu paused, digging through his pack for something.
"I'll scout ahead, make sure they aren't surrounding us. Stay here, fire-spitter."
"So I'm supposed to just sit here with my thumb up my vent while you wonder off to Mata Nui knows where? In the middle of an unfamiliar forest, no idea how to escape, doing my best 'Big red target' impression with zero assurance or confidence that you'll come back for me?" Korii almost yelled, with Hopu quickly cutting him off.
"I don't leave things to die, case in point with that Nui-Kopen I just saved you from. If I had any intention of leavin' you in bad-danger, I'd be the one causing it." Hopu retorted, in that stern tone that Korii had come to believe was the only way he knew how to talk.
"I'm unarmed. What if they come for me? You could at least spare me a dagger."
Hopu sighed in annoyance, muttering a flurry of Agori curse words under his breath before retrieving what he was looking for from his pack.
"Put this on, and don't move from this spot. You know how to use masks, right? Wasn't just some luck-happy coincidence that you used that Kakama earlier? I'm not in the mood for more hand-holdin' than I'm already doin'." With that, Hopu handed Korii a mask, the design of which he had never seen before.
"No, I don't know how to use it. I just casually walked out of that arena, strolled into the Fire Tribe chambers, freed Ferrun, strolled back out and all those Vahki, Glatorian and guards just let me leave. I wear this mask for show." Korii bit back, scoffing. "What's this do?"
"It's a Nuronu. Long-wind story short, helps people with ever-poor attention spans stay alive. You may want to keep your eyes tight-shut, in case you're as dense as you look. I found it in a wrecked caravan just outside of Bota Metru a few weeks ago; figured it'd come in handy if my good eye gets any worse."
"Why do I need to shut my eyes?" Korii asked, having absorbed nothing from the monologue.
"It makes you quick-dodge most attacks, but won't work if you know where the attack is comin' from; think of it like a shield-Hau in reverse. Can't see them, can't know where the attack's comin' from and you'll stand more of a chance. All else fails you can rely on that city-guard trainin' to bail you out - like Karzahni I'm letting you lose another knife."
"I still feel like I should come with you, Hopu." Korii blunty replied as Hopu sighed and rubbed his temple in frustration.
"For someone wearin a Kakama - busted as it may be - you sure seem rock-slow. I'll say it for a final-time; Put this on. Stay put. Keep ever-quiet. You'd just get me spotted, and if I'm gettin' spotted, you bet your shiny red hide I'll make sure they get you first."
"Fine, just don't be gone too long. This place gives me the creeps."
As Hopu scaled a tree and climbed off out of sight, Korii perched himself on a rock and examined the mask Hopu gave him. It was almost entirely smooth, save for a series of raised lines forming the "mouth" of the mask, eventually giving way to a pair of wide angular eyes and a rounded gap in the forehead. Sighing to himself and praying that it worked, Korii removed his Kakama and replaced it with the new mask, which proceeded to turn orange in response to it's new wearer. Moments passed before Korii suddenly felt his body spasm and make him leap from his seat, sending him flat on his face on the ground nearby.
"What in Karzahni?!" He asked, visibly shaken. As he sat back up, he noticed an arrow sticking out of the soil. Had he not been forcibly moved, it would have struck him square in the back of the neck.
"See? It works. Now keep your eyes and mouth shut, I'll be back before you know it." Hopu called from the treetops, chuckling to himself. Dusting himself down, Korii sat back down on his rock and once again closed his eyes.
"If that airhead's any indicator, I have a bad feeling about the other Toa out there. I hope they're not all sociopaths."

Chapter 5: Text

Chapter 5: Text