Finally getting some well-deserved rest, Hana stood, perched on the tip of the floating island, looking out over the landscape - or lack thereof. The steady rock where she stood seemed to float for more than a hundred bio, from her estimation. It would be a long way down, and she wasn’t keen on falling. She activated her mask, searching for the quickest path out of this strange place. The Kanohi Fokunu, Mask of Direction, was known to cause tunnel vision in the Toa who used it, but she took great caution to not lose her awareness in this unfamiliar, unnatural environment. She leapt onto a floating rock above her, and scrambled on top of it to continue her journey forward.
“Unnatural” was truly the only word she could use to describe the place she explored. The stones that flew in the air were nothing like the world that she was used to, with surfaces that were at once rough yet fresh, as if it were created from whole protodermis a few days ago. As she leapt from rock to rock, they grew larger, and the miniature islands turned into shelves of stone, signs of civilization began to rear their heads. She crouched down to look at what stuck out from the monochrome stone that made up the landscape. What caught her eye were rusted metal spikes, attached to a simple assembly loaded by some sort of spring. Where there were Rahi traps, there were sentients. But Matoran didn’t tend to be trappers. If this place was dangerous enough to need traps, then it wasn’t safe for them. As she looked across the wild landscape, her heart sank. What could have happened here?
As she stood and began her walk forwards, she heard a scream ring through the air. The instincts of every Toa to protect the weak kicked in instantly, and she ran towards the source. As she leapt up the rocks, she looked over to see the source - a small figure cowered as a Rahi swept down to attack them! She grabbed her blade, and leapt into the air towards the Rahi. Ready to handle the landing this time, she rolled into it, gracefully moving into a run at breakneck speed.
“Have at you!” Hana shouted, rushing towards the figure that laid on the ground, cowering from the beast’s attack. The flying lizard-like Rahi let out a screeching hiss as her shout caught its attention, and it decided on its next target. In turn, she raised her blade and skidded to a halt, bracing herself for an assault. The Rahi slammed against her blade, shrieking and seizing as the charge in Hana’s blade coursed through its form, the distraction of the pain enough for her to toss it off of her. The beast flapped its wings as it quickly regained its balance, sharp talons now facing forward as it readied for another strike. “Come on!” She goaded the Rahi, waiting for it to slam into her once more.
As it leaned forwards to strike again, Hana heard a loud clang. Suddenly, a spiked projectile slammed into its head, causing it to spin and fall down, down past the clouds. With the threat gone, she looked over to the source. The figure that she had rescued weakly held a weapon in their outstretched arm, before letting it drop to the ground. There was one thing Hana instantly recognized about this figure: they were no Matoran. “Who… are you?” The strange being asked, through labored breaths. “Thanks for… saving me.” Hana’s words left her for a moment, shocked at the bravery of this being. She regained her composure to reply. “...My name is Hana. I am a Toa.” She said with a gentle, deliberate tone. She kneeled down next to the being, and offered her hand. “And who are you?”
“A Toa…” The being trailed off before she sat up. “My name is Coryia. Why are you out here?” She asked, clearly wincing from pain as she adjusted herself.
“To protect the Matoran.” She said, giving a half-truth, not keen to admit her doubts about her mission to a stranger. This “Coryia” did strongly resemble a Matoran, but she wore no mask. Instead, she wore a helmet to protect her soft facial features, and in place of mechanical extremities, she wore tightly-fit armor made of metal and strange, unfamiliar materials. As her eyes ran down the body of this strange being, she noticed something clearly wrong with her leg. A claw mark cut through a seemingly softer part of her armor, oozing some sort of unfamiliar substance. “You’re hurt, aren’t you?” “Yeah.” Coryia winced. “I’ll skip over asking why you’re here… and ask you to go get help.” She looked up to Hana, her eyes glowing much more softly than the Matoran that Hana knew. “A Hunter lodge is close by. Send one of them back for me, would you?”
Hana extended her hand once more. “If it’s close by, you may as well let me carry you.” Perhaps once she gained Coryia’s trust, she could try and figure out where they were. Hesitant, Coryia grabbed Hana's hand, accepting the offer as Hana pulled her onto her back.
"Tell me where to go, Coryia." Hana said, softly. She adjusted the lady on her back, giving her a better view while she gently strapped her to her armor, ensuring she would be secure.
"My lodge is straight in that direction. You'll see a bunch of... small huts similar to it as we get closer." Coryia pointed, her hand wavering with heavy breaths.
Making their way through a floating rocky terrain divided by fog, Coryia often warned Hana of traps she had set nearby for dangerous Rahi. With Coryia's help, Hana managed to hide themselves from the rest of the Rahi they came across, avoiding any more conflict that would otherwise put them both in danger. Hana had her fill of fighting, anyway. In between warnings of traps or route suggestions, the thin air was full of awkward silence.
"Pardon the intrusive question, but I must ask you-- you're no Matoran; what are you?" Asked Hana, ever politely.
"I'm an Agori. My small village of Hunters does include a few Matoran, though." Replied Coryia with a tinge of shock and concern that the Toa did not recognize what an Agori looked like.
"You are a Toa."
"That is correct."
"Why are you here? Toa aren’t just someplace without a reason. We should have known about you before you were coming."
"I’m here to protect the Matoran." Hana said, plainly.
“We already have 'protectors.'” Coriya said, her voice growing more skeptical by the moment. "And they do a fine job fulfilling that duty." Remarked Coryia with clear sarcasm. "But that still doesn't answer my question. What exactly is your duty, Hana?”
Hana, still walking with the Agori on her back, grew silent as she sensed the growing tension.
"It’s… safer for you if you don’t know. Telling you my mission would compromise it. I am here to protect the Matoran. That is all I can say to you for now."
An awkward silence filled the air between the two.
"My village... may not be as welcoming to you, I must warn. Whether or not you share that information, I don't think they'll let you stay for long."
“That’s fine.” Hana’s heart sank as she told a white lie. She hoped she’d find something more before they arrived, in case the Matoran she was no doubt sent to protect were hostile to her. The thought alone weighed on her, far more than Coriya’s wounded body. “Let’s get you there so you can be helped.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~
The sun was still high, with no sign of nightfall. The two had reached the small village in no time. The floating islands faded from view, as the two drew closer to more solid, stable land. It was as if the village was in an entirely different region.
"This area… This is still…?"
"Ce-Wahi. The energy around our village is too weak to move our compact land compared to the floating mountain region we came from. Welcome to the Ce-Wahi Hunter's Lodge." Coryia answered without hesitation, tone as cold as before.
As Hana walked along a rocky path that connected multiple ramshackle buildings, she was met by emotionless gazes of Matoran and Agori alike. Some even seemed hostile, gripping their weapons tightly as Hana made her way through the small village. The rest, ever subtle, slowly fled from the scene.
The huts seemed to be made of wood, taken from trees that topped the floating islands. Hana realized her gut feeling to build a temporary shelter earlier was right, as each of these structures were beaten down by the elements, despite the relatively unweathered rock, implying that civilization had not been here for long.
"There. That one on the right is mine."
Hana took Coryia inside and helped her onto a small bed of tree branches held together by vines. Taking a look around, Hana noticed all the tools and simple furniture. It was clear to her that the locals here lived in the rough - something she could certainly respect. Tending to her wounds, Coryia spoke to Hana once more.
"Where do you go from here, Toa?" She said through her teeth, grabbing some more of the loose material that she was clad in, along with some herbs.
"I… don't know. I didn't come alone, and I'd like to find a way to contact my fellow Toa, but I don't know where to start. Have you Agori any tools I may borrow to help me accomplish such a task?"
"I know. You came with five others, didn't you? You six were the falling stars… Here, help me with this cloth.” Coryia asked as Hana nodded quietly, helping her pull this ‘cloth’ taut. Finishing up tending to her wounds, Coryia let out a sigh and smiled at Hana. "I guess I owe you, don't I? You saved me and I'm grateful, but-"
The conversation was cut short as the two were interrupted by a loud banging on Coryia's thin, worn door, followed by an angry, shouting voice.
"Coryia! Out here, this instant!"
Looking past Hana, Coryia shot up from her bed. She glanced towards Hana again, and winced.
"Like I said, your kind might not be too welcome here."
Hana opened the door to the lodge and walked out, only to be greeted by another Agori. He was clad in black armor, and had two blades on his back. Noticing the other locals nearby starting to gather with seemingly disgusted and angry looks on their faces, Hana spoke quietly.
"Fellow Agori. I mean you no harm. I have no quarrel with your villa-"
"You don't get to speak first here, Toa." Rudely exclaimed the black clad Agori. "You don’t belong here, simply put. Whatever business you have, you take it elsewhere."
“We've had our fill of Toa. You can’t even protect us. Leave.” Added a Matoran who stood nearby, as the locals who gathered began to chatter as well. Hana, calm as a cloud, spoke once more.
"I came here with one of your own after rescuing her from a Rahi."
"She’s not lying." Added Coryia, walking out of her shelter, holding the cloth to her wounded leg. “I think she means well...” She trailed off, looking at the others.
“Please. I do not wish to cause any harm or disrupt your way of living. I need your help, in fact. Favor for favo-” Hana was rudely cut off by the incensed Agori.
"Our fellow Hunter Agori is safe in our village now." Interrupted the black clad Agori. "That means you’ve fulfilled your business with us. We owe you nothing. Don't make me say it again, Toa. Get out." His arm whipped out of his cloak to point her out of the area, his finger as unwavering as his glare.
The Agori's tone was harsh and cold, enough to cut through even Hana’s spirit. As Hana stayed silent, she noticed that several Agori and Matoran had their hands gripping weapons, as if they were ready to attack. She looked to Coryia, who stood behind her.
"Thank you anyway, Hana…” Coryia murmured, recognizing that no minds would be changed today. She nodded sadly to Hana, signaling it was time for her to leave.
"So be it. Thank you for your hospitality." Calmly, the noble Toa thanked the Agori as she slowly walked away from the village.
"A Toa? Really, Coryia?" Exclaimed the black clad Agori in a repulsed tone, as the crowd dispersed and made their way back to their own lodges.
"She saved my life, you bonehead. You didn't need to threaten her so much. Would you prefer your 'best Hunter' had died instead?" Angrily replied Coryia. The black clad Agori merely scoffed and walked away, talking over his shoulder back at her.
“You should know better than to accept help from a Toa.” His voice dripped with venom as he disappeared into a larger structure, leaving her alone with the scowling expressions of her village. She sighed deeply as she turned back into her hut.
I'm so sorry, Hana, She thought to herself. If only you knew what it meant to be a Toa around these parts...
~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Do you wanna tell him together?" The uniformed Agori asked the taller, grumpier one that walked with him.
"Nice try. It's your turn today." He scoffed, his nose held up in the air, his body language demonstrating his air of self-superiority.
"C'mon, we both received the same order!"
"Your. Turn."
"Who's there?" A deep, loud voice boomed through the wooden door. The two bickering Agori looked at each other, momentarily frozen, before the taller of the two spoke up on his compatriot's behalf.
"It's Four and Six, sire!"
"Enter." The voice echoed slightly, the tinge of annoyed disinterest haunting the hall.
The wimpy Agori shrugged with a chuckle, and with an exasperated sigh, his comrade punched him in the shoulder. Both Agori entered the wooden hut to be greeted by a tall hooded figure standing in front of a map on the wall, arms crossed, and back turned to the Agori.
"Report." He said, curtly, without turning.
"S-Sire we d-didn't-" Four stammered, his limbs shaking in the presence of their guardian. He was only half a bio shorter than him, but simply being in the same room as him made Four feel like he was smaller than a sand mite.
"There wasn't a-anyth-" Six chose to try and cover for him, his own anxiety bubbling over in the cloaked figure's shadow.
"Out with it already!" Roared the hooded figure.
"It was a canister, Sire…"
"But it was empty when we got there…"
The hooded figure slowly turned his head to the side, exposing his glowing red eyes through the shadows of his hood, much to the two Agori's frightened expressions.
Looking around out of panic, the two Agori noticed the objects and furniture around the small hut starting to shake. Smaller objects even started to float.
A canister… Can it be? The hooded figure thought. The mere inkling of what was inside incensed him.
"Then find what was inside. Lah, go with these two. Make sure they bring something back to me, or else you'll have your dinner earlier than usual." The hooded figure commanded, turning to the Raptor resting on a carved, decorated perch near the door.
With a rumbling snarl, the Raptor escorted the two frightened Agori out of the hut. As they trembled and disappeared through the door, the figure looked back to the map, tracing a finger across the points marked within. They were no longer alone, and he knew exactly what was in those fallen canisters. Under his breath, he whispered to himself in silent repulse.
...Toa.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
The tense air of the situation put everyone on edge, even the Raptor. The beast fidgeted impatiently as he perched upon a decaying tree. His eyes scanned the air, searching for anything interesting at all. Suddenly, a scent caught his nose. In an instant, he became highly attentive, his body shifting to a ready position to leap into the sky. The slightest sound could evoke the swiftest reaction from him. Lah the Raptor had found something.
"Four! He's picked up a scent!" Six barked, waving him close to the Raptor.
"H-He's looking off into the distance… Lah, is it far?" Four stammered, looking to Six for guidance, before looking back to Lah for his reaction. Lah let out a loud, grating screech in response, the tip of his tail thrashing in the air with a bloodthirsty excitement. The beast was ready to hunt.
"Hey, Lah. You wouldn't mind perhaps showing us-"
Four couldn't complete his thought as the Raptor sped off. Letting out a sigh of exhaustion, Six slapped the disheartened Agori on the back, signaling that they follow suit.
After a great deal of running on rocky terrain, jumping over misty gaps, and dodging under the low-hanging branches of barren trees to catch up to the Raptor, Four and Six finally came to a stop to see Lah with his snout pointed at a tree. Lah was growling softly as his talons anchored into the soil, preparing to pounce.
"What is it, Lah? It's just a tree." Confusingly asked Four, scratching his head.
"If it was ‘just a tree’, we wouldn’t be here." Six grumbled. "Show yourself!" Shouted Six as he readied his small blade.
As prompted, a lone Matoran revealed herself, coming out from behind a tree with hands in the air, indicating surrender. She dropped a rusty dagger on the rocks, leaving herself defenseless.
"I-I mean no quarrel... and I have information." Mumbled the Matoran, trying to mask her fear in front of the hungry Raptor. A Hunter’s garb was draped over her armor, tears in the fabric corresponding to gashes in the metal plates underneath. “If you agree to help me, I’ll tell you.”
"It had better be good information, Hunter." Replied Six, without lowering his blade one bit. “Speak up.”
"I’m from one of the village outskirts, the Hunters Lodge. Rid us of the Toa that just arrived. Someone in our village let her in. She entered one of the lodges with one of our own." Pleaded the Matoran, with a hint of resentment in her tone. The Matoran had no idea that Hana had already left the village, being one of the few who fled at first sight of the Toa. “Please. I don’t know what she’s planning.”
The information the Matoran had shared brought sinister smiles to the faces of the two Agori. And with a deafening screech, Lah ran off once again, as his target had been made clear.
"I think we’ve found our target." Six grinned.
"Let’s go."
The two Agori quickly remarked as they sped off behind Lah, leaving the Matoran in the dust.
In no time, the two Agori and the Raptor reached the Ce-Wahi Hunters Lodge. Greeted at the entrance by a Hunter Matoran, the two Agori stood fierce and spoke with a serious tone.
"Stand asi-"
"I already know what you two want." The Matoran said gruffly, looking up at the pair of Agori. The two were interrupted by the Hunter Matoran, who immediately pointed in a direction-- in the direction of Coryia's lodge. The face of the Matoran seemed to show compliance. Unhappy compliance, but such was the norm for those that Four and Six would go after.
"Lah, guard the door. Four? Get ready." Six ordered, just loud enough for Four to hear - the raptor’s hearing could pick up the snapping of a twig a mio away. Four fell in like behind him, grabbing a weapon from inside his cloak as the two approached the raggedy structure.
Coryia was roused from her mild trance as her door suddenly went flying in. Four and Six burst in, weapons raised. As they scanned the cabin’s interior, the two Agori’s gazes met, as they realized the Toa wasn't present.
"Speak, Hunter. Where is the Toa?" Demanded Six, pointing his blade at the injured Coryia who was sitting on her bed.
"You just missed her. The village scared her away after she rescued me." Her voice was cold, befitting her tribe. Coryia wasn’t in the mood to deal with questions, especially from the interloping Agori.
"I assume you two are... acquainted, then?" Six’s voice was loud and accusatory as he glared at her, his blade now pointed towards her. “Which way did she go?”
"More or less." She snarked, refusing to comply with their demands. “Pick a direction and start walking if you want to find her.”
The two Agori turned to the Raptor outside, growling over his shoulder at Six.
Bring something back to me. The guardian's reminder echoed in Six's head.
"Change of plans, Four. We'll find that Toa one way or another." He said, motioning to him to move toward her.
Agori and Matoran started to gather around Coryia's small lodge, before watching the two uniformed Agori walk out, pushing Coryia out the door as she fell to the rocky ground, hands bound by chains.
"What is the meaning of this?!" Demanded an incensed Agori who was clad in black armor - the same Agori who threatened Hana into fleeing.
"Business as usual, Baldrix. Your Hunter here has interfered with our business and compromised our mission by harbouring a wanted trespasser." Declared Four as he grabbed Coryia by the chain.
"You would be wise to stay out of our way this time... brother." Snarled Six.
"As chief of this village, I ask you to get on with your business and get out. That old tribe means nothing to me, 'Six', and neither do you." Baldrix barked back at his former Rock Tribe brother, much to the shock of some of the villagers gathered. The crowd murmured, but stood aside, as they watched their best Rahi Hunter get dragged away in chains by the two Agori.
"I d-did nothing wrong! Baldrix! Brothers! Anyone! D-do something!" Helplessly cried Coryia as she struggled.
Turning away, Baldrix walked slowly back to his own lodge, as the crowd merely watched, unable to move or speak up. Coryia's cries echoed but never ceased, as Four and Six forced her out of the village in bounds.
"Baldrix, you sold me out?!" A furious Coryia screamed as her voice cracked.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
A storm's coming. I can hear it. Thunder.
Hana slowly made her away through the thick forests that shifted in the wind as slow as the colossal rocks they rested on.
Stopping in front of a tree, Hana unsheathed her claymore, with her head hung.
"Back to square one."
Preparing to gather more wood, she ceased her swing of the sword, sensing something. Her Kanohi Fokunu began to glow in a pulsating pattern.
"That energy… can it be…?"
Coming to a realization, Hana ran off in the direction she sensed a particular energy-- a familiar energy. Full of hope, Hana ran past trees and jumped gaps, ignoring every obstacle that brushed her body as she sprinted. The glowing on her mask began to pulsate faster as she pursued the energy signature. In no time, Hana came to a stop, catching her breath as she locked her eyes onto something. The glow on her mask grew as bright as her lightning, ceased its pulse, and faded.
Thunder boomed across Ce-Wahi. Lightning flashed the gray skies. Rain as heavy as Hana's heart began to pour.
Hana's eyes remained locked onto the figure standing in front of her with arms crossed. The figure was cloaked by a dark, tattered hood. Beneath the hood-- glowing red eyes.
"And so we meet, Toa." Softly grumbled the hooded figure.