At long last, I am continuing the Chronicles of the Past series. You may remember that last time, we followed the Le-Matoran Quilani as he was hunted by Makuta Umarak. Now, we flash forward a few thousand years and travel to the Southern Highlands, the Southern Continent’s extremely mountainous south coast.
Unfortunately there has been very little snow so this is the best photo I can get
Toa Muini knelt on a precipice overlooking Nuvaniq. Smoke wafted from the chimneys of small wood cabins and into the clear, starry sky. A blanket of quiet hung heavy over the rooftops and snow-covered streets. Even the wind, which normally howled and wailed through the town, was little more than a whisper. By all accounts, it was a peaceful, picturesque view. Muini, though, was worried.
The Southern Highlands were, as a rule, inhospitable. The combination of tree-snapping winds, temperatures low enough to flash-freeze water, and vicious predatory Rahi made life in the mountains a constant struggle. Days without snowfall were rare, and clear skies were even rarer. Recently, Nuvaniq had enjoyed nearly a week of calm, sunny days. There hadn’t even been any Rahi attacks. The Matoran, especially the farmers, were practically rejoicing. But as Muini looked up to the stars, his fists clenched. Something was wrong.
The Toa of Ice stood up and tossed his shield onto the frozen ground. He stepped onto it, and with a push, he hurtled down the edge of the precipice down into the village. Cold wind whipped his face as he slid, knocking his Kanohi Pakari askew. His momentum carried him all the way to the town square, where he finally dismounted and kicked his shield back into his hand. The square was small and compact, like most of the town. In its center was a frozen pond in the shape of the Three Virtues symbol. Standing on the central circle was a stone statue of the two Toa who had founded the town. The statue faced north, towards the town’s gate. Behind it was a small hut made from stone bricks reinforced by wood pillars. It was certainly the most modest structure in the town square.
Muini stalked past the statue until he reached the hut. He rapped his knuckles across its wooden door and waited for a response.
“Come in,” a low, muffled voice replied.
The Toa pushed open the door and stepped inside, crouching so he didn’t hit his head. The hut’s interior was very simple, the only furniture being a bed and a small table. A roaring fireplace provided the only illumination, casting orange and yellow lights that danced along the bare walls. Kneeling in front of the fire was a small, hunched figure who did not appear to acknowledge Muini’s entrance in any way.
“Turaga Nilak,” Muini murmured, bowing his head.
“Toa Muini,” the Turaga replied, not looking away from the fireplace. “What troubles you?”
“It’s this weather.”
“Why? It has been very pleasant as of late.”
“It’s wrong.”
Nilak’s head tilted. “Is that so?”
“You’ve lived here longer than me. You know what life in the Highlands is supposed to be like.”
“I do, yes.”
“We’ve had six days without a snowstorm. Days where it’s been warm. Days where we’ve seen the sky.”
“And this is wrong?”
Why don’t you get it? “Yes, it is. The villagers are already starting to grow complacent.”
Nilak chuckled. “I see your old master has worn off on you.”
Muini crossed his arms. “Don’t compare me to him.”
“He was unhinged, yes, but you have taken many of his ideas to heart.”
The Toa of Ice scoffed. “Enough. You must have seen something - some omen or prophecy in the snowdrifts and winds.”
“I have.” Nilak stood up, groaning from the effort. “I am told that change is coming.”
“That’s maddeningly vague.”
“Perhaps,” the Turaga agreed with a shrug.
Muini waited a few moments for Nilak to continue. When he didn’t, Muini prodded him. “Well, what do you think it means?”
A small smirk crossed the Turaga’s face. “Well, what do you think it means?”
Putting his frustration with the Turaga aside, Muini knit his eyebrows and thought. Was the “change” Nilak referred to this pleasant weather? It seemed to be the most logical explanation, but at the same time it was too easy. “It’s… not the nice weather.” He glanced at Nilak to see the elder’s reaction.
“Yes, go on.”
“It’s not just the nice weather,” Muini continued, “but the weather is a symptom of it.”
Nilak smiled and nodded. “Yes, you are exactly right.”
“The change is being caused by something, isn’t it?”
The Turaga said nothing, but gazed expectantly at Muini.
“Caused by someone,” he corrected himself.
Now Nilak was positively beaming. “Exactly! And who around here would have the power to alter the weather?”
Muini stiffened, almost hitting his head on the ceiling. “Makuta.”
Nilak said nothing, only grinning and rocking slightly on his heels.
“Thank you, Turaga.” Muini turned and stalked out of the hut.
“Use caution,” Nilak called after him as he ducked through the door. “You know better than most what he is capable of.”
The words echoed in Muini’s mind as he stepped into the cold. Yes, he did. He knew all too much about the Makuta. Taking a deep breath of frigid air, Muini steeled himself for what was to come. The Makuta shouldn’t have even been alive… but if he was, Muini doubted this would be a mission he’d come back from.
As soon as daylight crept over her window, Holoh’s eyes snapped open. The Ko-Matoran threw off her blankets and practically leapt out of bed. Her eyes darted around her small room. Bed, table, chair, rug, window, fireplace, weapon rack, cabinet. Everything was in its place. She hurried over to the cabinet, flung the door open, and withdrew a round, green fruit. Scarfing it down in only a handful of seconds, she ran over to her weapon rack, grabbed her two Frost Katanas, and flew out the door.
Holoh’s cabin was the closest one to Nilak Gate, the town’s main entrance. The trek took less than a minute. Normally snowdrifts that reached her waist made the short trip take over five, but only a dusting of white powder covered the path today. The gate, sitting on a gap between two cliff faces, consisted of a three-foot stone wall running from cliff to cliff with a wooden arch in the center. As Holoh approached, she saw two Ko-Matoran standing on either side of the arch, each equipped with a shield and a spear. They stood with straight backs and eyes firmly fixed on the horizon. Exactly as they should be.
One of them turned slightly as she arrived. “Captain!” he greeted her curtly, stamping his spear on the ground in salute. The other Matoran followed suit.
“Tarati,” Holoh greeted back, crossing her swords to reciprocate the salute. “At ease. What is your report?”
“Quiet all night. Kiro spotted a Mountain Wolf far down the slope, but it didn’t approach.”
“Hm. Noted.” Holoh glanced around. Along with the two night guards, there should have been a third person here to meet her. “Where is Toa Muini?”
The two guards exchanged glances. “We’re not sure,” Tarati explained. “He apparently hasn’t checked in with any of the night watch.”
Holoh frowned. That was unlike him. Muini always, always checked in with the night watch. Even when it was windy or snowy enough to uproot houses, Muini managed his rounds. If he hadn’t… something was wrong.
“Go. Tell Turaga. If he knows nothing, organize a search party.”
One of the guards nodded and hurried off. Tarati, though, hesitated. “What are you going to do?”
“I will not abandon my post. Someone must watch Nilak Gate. In my absence, Auma is captain.”
“Yes, sir.” Tarati stamped his spear and followed his partner.
Holoh watched the guardsman run off with a sigh. She took up her position just in front of the gate, swords sheathed and at the ready. Although the news of Muini’s absence made her stomach churn, she focused intently on her own job. Nilak certainly would know of the Toa’s disappearance, and it was not nearly as big an issue as Holoh was dreading. But if he didn’t…
Holoh shook her head to clear it. No use worrying about a future that may or may not be. Better to focus on the here and now. And right here, right now, the town needed guarding - possibly more than ever, if her chief defender was missing.
The day passed by quickly. Holoh stood by the gate until sundown, barely moving a muscle. The only break she took was for fifteen minutes at noon, when she returned to her cabin for a brief meal while another guard covered for her. On her break, she had learned that Turaga Nilak knew of and was responsible for Muini’s disappearance, which soothed her worries. Obviously the Toa was on an important mission, which is why he couldn’t check in this morning. Holoh returned to her post feeling relieved and perhaps slightly frustrated with herself for assuming the worst.
As the blue sky turned to swathes of brilliant pinks and oranges, Holoh yawned. As soon as the two night watchmen got here, she could sleep. Just as she heard footsteps approaching from behind, a tiny flash of movement in the distance caught her eye. It was just a spot of black silhouetted against the horizon, no larger than a speck of dust. But it was moving, and it was getting bigger. Holoh leaned forward and squinted. What is that?
“Captain!” Tarati’s familiar voice shouted. “What-”
Holoh held up a single finger, silencing him. Her eyes narrowed further. The approaching object was larger now, its features almost visible. A sudden pang of dread shook her.
“Prepare defenses,” she uttered, almost breathless.
“Captain?”
Her head whipped around. “Prepare defenses!”
Tarati and his partner stamped their spears, then ran off to sound the alarm.
Holoh turned back to see a creature flying right towards the town like an arrow. The Ko-Matoran drew her swords and crouched slightly, taking deep and even breaths as the world around her faded. The only things in existence were her, the enemy, and the cold ground.
As the creature approached, Holoh could make out some of its features. Its head was small and serpentine, with two tiny pinpricks of light for eyes. A row of spikes protruded from a smooth, hunched back. It appeared to have two arms and two legs, and in one hand it gripped some kind of weapon. Whatever this creature was, it was completely foreign to the Ko-Matoran. Not that it mattered - Blizzard Guard would send it back where it came from regardless.
The creature’s weapon glowed for a second, and a blast of red light shot out from it. The beam raced right at Holoh, and she barely brought her sword up in time to deflect. The laser bounced off her blade and struck a tree, leaving a smoldering black mark. Holoh lowered her weapon just in time to see the creature land on the ground, sending up a cloud of steam as the snow it stood on vaporized instantly.
Before the cloud dissipated, two more blasts of light shot out from it. One struck the stone wall, while Holoh had to duck and roll to avoid the other. As she got back to her feet, she saw the creature step into the light. Its head and back gleamed red, while its arms and legs were a bright yellow.
Holoh’s eyes narrowed. This thing was clearly dangerous. As Nuvaniq’s first line of defense, it was her job to ensure it didn’t pass through the gate.
The thing’s face split open, revealing a writing mass of tendrils, and it released a terrible hissing screech. For a split second, Holoh felt a wave of terror wash over her. When its face returned to its sleek, snakelike form, the creature began advancing. It took its time, just stomping towards the gate one step at a time. It was almost arrogant, seeming so sure of its victory that it could take its time - something that made Holoh’s fear turn to anger.
Letting loose a roaring battlecry, Holoh charged forward. The creature didn’t flinch. Instead, it just pointed its staff at her and fired another laser. She deflected it easily. The creature pulled its staff back and swung it, forcing Holoh to stop her charge and block. The staff clanged against her two katanas, almost knocking them out of her hands. As both sides pushed against the other, Holoh’s gaze was locked on her opponent’s. For the briefest of moments, she could have sword the thing’s eyes widened in surprise.
With a hiss, the creature stepped back, causing Holoh to stumble forward. Taking advantage of its foe’s weakness, it lashed out with a kick, sending the Ko-Matoran sprawling onto the snow. It hissed again, sounding like a mix between satisfaction and anger, and stomped away.
Holoh lay there, dazed, for what felt like hours. There were sounds of conflict in the distance, but they were soft and muffled. Throbbing pain racked her head, and the snow felt so good… surely whatever was happening could wait a little longer. Slowly, Holoh’s eyes began to close, the world around her dropping away into darkness…
Wait. The villagers!
Though her head practically screamed in protest, Holoh forced her eyes open. The sounds of battle were clearer now - screams, shouts, hissing, and… crackling?! Heart racing, Holoh propped herself up with an elbow and looked out at the village. The blurry shapes of cabins and panicked Matoran came into focus, all bathed in dancing orange light.
“No,” Holoh groaned, pushing herself to her feet. “No!”
Coming back to her senses, Holoh saw bright orange flames consuming half the town. Most Matoran were running and screaming, while some were engaging the creature in combat. Holoh watched as it blasted Tarati and sent him flying.
Shouting another battlecry to psych herself up, Holoh sprinted through Nilak Gate. As she ran, two more Matoran joined up. One was a silver-armored Ko-Matoran wielding steel gauntlets and the other was a Bo-Matoran with a glider and two buzzsaws.
“Morou!” Holoh barked, briefly turning her head towards the Bo-Matoran, “Get to Torch and hit beast from above!”
“On it!” Morou veered away, heading across town towards a tall stone tower topped by an observatory.
“Ilur!” Holoh then looked at the Ko-Matoran. “With me. We attack it directly!”
Ilur nodded, grinning. “You don’t even have to ask, Cap!”
“Captain. Where’s Tiaro?”
Just as she said that, a loud crack pierced the air, and something struck the creature’s shoulder. Holoh traced the projectile’s arc back to the ramparts of a two-story guardhouse. Standing just in view was a Ga-Matoran reloading a handheld cannon.
“Let’s just hope he doesn’t hit us,” joked Ilur.
The two Matoran finally reached the creature, which was tied up battling two other guards. Holoh leapt into the air and brought one katana onto its back. At the same time, Ilur threw a powerful punch at the back of its knee. The creature was brought to its knees at the same time the blade cleaved into its back.
Before any of the guards could capitalize on its weakness, the creature jumped back up with an ear-splitting screech. It smacked Ilum away with its spear and threw a punch of its own at Holoh, though she managed to roll out of the way. Sword still lodged in its back, it hissed again and started limping away - right towards the town square.
“Get up!” Holoh ordered Ilum, grabbing the Matoran’s arm and heaving him to his feet. “It is going for Nilak!”
Another crack rang through the sky, and the creature’s other knee suddenly buckled. Not a few seconds later, Morou glided past, striking the beast with her saws twice as she passed it.
Hissing in anger, the creature reared back and fired a laser at Morou. The beam struck the Bo-Matoran dead-on, sending her spiraling to the snowy ground. Letting out another hiss, it then whirled around and peppered the guardhouse with blasts. One of the beams just barely skimmed Tiaro’s mask, leaving a glowing red mark across it.
While the beast was occupied with Tiaro, Holoh and Ilur charged in. Holoh swung her sword at its damaged knee, forcing it to stop its barrage to block. At the same time, Ilur landed a hit on its other shin, knocking loose its armor. It kicked the Ko-Matoran away, but while its attention was focused on him Holoh jabbed her sword through its armpit. It screeched in pain and smashed her face with its fist, the impact knocking her away and shattering part of her mask.
As Holoh lay sprawled on the snow, her vision once again blurry and contorted, she could make out the creature tearing the sword out of its body and continuing on its rampage. Try though she might to will herself back into action, she couldn’t muster the energy to get back up, even as explosions and shouts rang out around her.
Just as the darkness in the corner of her vision began creeping in, something whizzed by in the air above her - a red blur holding a white blur. “It’s got the Turaga!” came a muffled scream from somewhere far-off.
No… no…
The last thing going through Holoh’s mind as the darkness consumed her was the knowledge that she could’ve done better.