BC4 - Scan

It was then that Kopaka heard his name shouted again. That was no dream. It was Pohatu, still searching through the snow for his brother Toa. Better still, it was enough to distract the Muaka just long enough for Kopaka to roll away, grab his blade, and sprint toward the mountainside.

The Muaka bellowed and pursued, its long legs easily making up the ground between them. Kopaka could just see a narrow ledge high on the rock face. If he could reach it, he would be safe, since it was too high for the Muaka to reach. But somehow he doubted the Rahi would give him the chance to climb.

There was no time to plan. Kopaka broke into a dead run, holding his ice blade in both hands. He could feel the Muaka’s breath on his back. His feet were slipping underneath him, and he knew any fall would be his last.

Eyes locked on the mountain, Kopaka counted down the seconds. He would get one chance to make this work. If he failed, Ko-Koro would need another protector. So I will not fail, he said to himself.

Before the Muaka could react, Kopaka planted one end of his ice blade into the ground and vaulted high into the air. He struck the mountain hard and began to slide down the ice-covered rock. He was slipping off the ledge, with the Muaka waiting below, jaws open wide.

Something whizzed past him, burying itself in the rock with a loud metallic sound. Kopaka reached out and grabbed it. It was one of Pohatu’s climbing claws! Down below, the Muaka snapped at the Toa’s heels. With his last bit of strength, Kopaka hauled himself onto the ledge.

The Muaka snarled and leaped, scrambling in vain to hold on and then sliding back down to the snow. It was preparing for another try when the sharp crack of rock striking rock caught its attention. The sound repeated three times before the Muaka decided it might mean easier prey and loped off to investigate.

As soon as it was gone, Pohatu appeared. “I might not still command the rock,” he said, “but at least I can still toss one.”

Kopaka yanked the climbing claw free and tossed it to the Toa of Stone. “I thought you had turned back, Pohatu.”

“I was going to,” the Toa said, shrugging, “but mask hunting alone is like playing the sport of kolhii alone — good practice, but not much fun.”

Kopaka slid down into a snowbank and approached. When he spoke, his voice had a bit less ice in it than usual. “You should go home, Pohatu. This is no place for you… perhaps not even for me, anymore.”

“Turaga Onewa said something to me before I left Po-Koro,” replied Pohatu. “He said it’s easy to be a hero when you have plenty of power and your only worry is whatever enemy is fool enough to challenge you. It’s not so easy when all you have is your wits and your biggest enemy is yourself.”

The eyepiece of Kopaka’s mask extended and whirred as he scanned the mountainside. “That sounds like Onewa. You two are much like the stone you represent. Solid. Practical. Down-to-earth.”

“Well, thanks, I —”

“Dense. Hardheaded,” Kopaka continued. “And stubborn.”

“You’re welcome, Kopaka,” Pohatu snapped. “Oh, no, rescuing you was my pleasure.”

Kopaka glared at his brother Toa. “If your trick had failed, the Muaka might have had us both. The strength of the Toa would have been reduced by one-third and our villages would be in peril. Foolish risks are a luxury we cannot afford.”

Pohatu pointed up the mountain. “Then maybe we should get out of the way of the avalanche!”

It was too late to react. A wall of white slammed into the two Toa, knocking them both off their feet and carrying them along in its wake. Helpless, they tumbled end over end down Mount Ihu, bashing into rocks and almost losing their Kanohi. Kopaka made a desperate effort to will the avalanche away, but not even the slightest trace of his powers remained.

Toa of Ice and Stone wound up sprawled in a heap at the base of the mountain, half buried in snow. Long minutes passed before they staggered to their feet, exhausted and aching. “I hate winter,” Pohatu growled.

“The Mask of Shielding would have protected us from that,” Kopaka said. “We need to find the Kanohi Nuva now. As long as you are here, Pohatu… you might as well travel with me.”

“It’s certainly been fun so far,” the Toa of Stone replied, brushing snow from his arms and legs. “Onewa mentioned a Mask of Shielding in an ice cave near here. Any idea where that might be?”


- BIONICLE Chronicles 4: Tales of the Masks, Chapter 1