CHAPTER TWO
The ocean waves crashed against the Ring of Ice that surrounded Voya Nui. Any wandering ship that attempted to reach the island would be given a nasty surprise; it would require a miracle for it to traverse the icy coastline and still remain intact.
Brutaka did not believe in miracles. Even if he had at some point in his life, he would have lost all faith in them by now... just like he had with the Great Spirit.
It had all started when a great tremor shook the earth and Voya Nui was sent rocketing skyward, breaking away from the Southern Continent. When the storm had ended, Voya Nui had ended up in a vast, endless sea. The Turaga elder and a number of Matoran had died during the catastrophe. And yet, not once did Mata Nui, whom the Matoran worshiped, come to their rescue.
Brutaka grimaced, his grip tightening around the double-edged blade that was his trusted weapon. For thousands of years had he devoted his life to serving the will of Mata Nui. Was this all the Great Spirit had to return: nothing?
He wanted to scream towards the heavens, cursing Mata Nui's name for betraying those he had promised to watch over and protect. However, he knew that doing so would give away his presence to the Matoran. Instead, he hurled a bolt of energy from his Rotating Blades, watching it soar across the sea.
"And just what could elicit such a gesture of frustration from you, old friend?"
Brutaka scowled as he turned around to face a being clad in silver and red armor. Peaceful green eyes were set behind a silver Kanohi mask and they seem to study Brutaka as Axonn stared at his comrade.
"It's nothing," Brutaka muttered as he turned back to the sea.
"It is useless to be dishonest with me," Axonn said. "You know that my mask power can see through all deceptions. Something is troubling you, Brutaka."
"Fine, so something is," the blue and gold being retorted. "But I don't have to tell you."
Axonn sighed. "Brutaka, we have been friends for a long time- a very long time. We've fought against Zyglak on the coasts of Artidax and clashed with rogue Skakdi warlords on the edge of the Tren Krom Peninsula." He walked over to his comrade and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I would think we'd have a mutual trust by now, enough so that we could tell the other what bothered us."
Brutaka was silent for a while. Though he almost hated to admit it, Axonn was right. With a sigh, he said, "It's Mata Nui."
"What about him?"
"Where has he gone? Why hasn't he fixed the damages done by that... that cataclysm?" Brutaka gestured widely to the sky. "Has he died? Has he abandoned us to our fate?"
"Don't say that," Axonn said sternly. "We should never doubt the Great Spirit's will, which is to provide peace, while we maintain it."
Brutaka scowled. "Then why isn't he giving us the peace we must maintain?"
Axonn shrugged. "Perhaps something has happened to him. Perhaps he has fallen ill like he did during the Great Disruption." He sighed. "Unfortunately, since we are separated from the rest of the world, we are helpless to do anything about it."
Without another word, the red titan left his life-long comrade and friend to his grim thoughts.
* * *
"Mallake? Does anyone know what that means?"
No one answered Garan's queries. Most of the Matoran had been ignoring Tahkon's ramblings and thus did not hear the mention of the name. Tahkon himself did not elaborate, instead looking pensive and acting oblivious to the world around him.
Growing impatient, Garan threw his arms up in exasperation. "Forget it. Whatever this storm is or whenever it's coming, we'll have the shelter to brave it."
"Right," Balta said. "So, about Piruk...."
Garan nodded. "Dezalk, go find Dalu and tell her to meet me and Balta by the Lake of Protodermis. Kazi, tell Dasan that if I'm not back by the next dawn, he is to lead the village."
Dezalk nodded while Kazi muttered something under his breath. As they set off, Garan turned to Balta and smiled.
"Shall we find our spy then?"
* * *
Piruk awoke to the sound of tapping. Opening his eyes, he was greeted by the green overcast of the forest. Whether it was day or night, he could not tell; the trees blocked out nearly all sunlight.
He sat up and heard a loud squawk. He looked over to see a Lava Hawk backing away from him. Apparently the tapping sound had been the bird tapping its beak against his mask. Piruk thought this was strange; normally Lava Hawks favored volcanic regions, given their name. What were they doing in the forest rather than near Mount Valmai, like others of its kind?
Suddenly, he heard a rustling of bushes. The Matoran of Air jumped to his feet and slowly backed away from the moving bushes, scraping his Shredder Claws together nervously.
Emerging from the bushes was a being unlike any he had seen before. Clad in black and yellow armor, he stood nearly eight feet tall. He walked with a limp, and Piruk noted that his right leg lacked a foot, with a cap of sorts replacing it. The Le-Matoran's eyes then drifted towards the being's left arm, which terminated with a wicked hook.
As Piruk continued his slow retreat, the being came to a stop and looked down at him. A black mask, shaped like a double-edged axe, covered the top half of his head while a respirator of sorts covered the bottom. When he spoke, his voice came out as a soft rasp.
"I see that you are awake."
Piruk froze in place. For some reason, his feet refused to take him anywhere further.
The stranger took a step forward and the Lava Hawk flew up to him, landing and resting itself on his shoulder.
"What is the last thing you remember?" the being then asked.
Piruk opened his mouth but no words came out. It was as if pure terror had completely paralyzed him.
The stranger let out a dry chuckle. His respirator made it sound more sinister than humorous.
"No matter. It's best you come with me; no sense in letting you tell your Matoran friends about your encounter with me."
Behind Piruk, dozens of Brakas monkeys jumped down from the trees. They all piled onto the Le-Matoran as consciousness abandoned him.
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