Chapter Four

Hafu turned slowly and beheld it. The Tahnok towered over him, a nimbus of flames surrounding it. Though Bohrok had assaulted the region already, Hafu had never been so close to one. At the time, Hafu had directed the catapults while Huki and the defenders rode out with Pohatu. But this time Pohatu was away on mission, and now Huki was trapped inside the village.

The small hammer in his hands trembled.

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In the lookout post far above, Onewa, Huki, Piatra, and the sentinel could no longer see through the fire and smoke. But they could imagine the Bohrok advancing upon the helpless Matoran.

“Onewa, let me go!” Huki requested.

The Turaga of Stone shook his head. “I’m sorry, Huki. It is too late. We cannot save him.”

Huki couldn’t have watched even if he wanted to. Yet somehow his imagination proved to be even worse. The Bohrok could easily incinerate his friend, or it could enslave Hafu with its krana.

It was only a matter of time.

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Something similar was running through Hafu’s mind as he awaited his fate. Through the haze, more Bohrok were approaching.

The Tahnok’s headplate flipped down.

Hafu knew what was coming.

The fire Bohrok launched its krana, but Hafu vanished, only a gust of wind in his place. Some distance away, Pohatu skidded to a stop. His golden Kanohi gleamed in the sunlight, and in his arms — Hafu.

Pohatu smiled at the Matoran. “I can’t leave you guys alone for a minute, can I?” he winked.

Hafu’s mouth fell open, unable to find any words. He glanced back to the Bohrok, which had noticed the new arrival and were advancing.

“Hm. Maybe I should have thought this one through a little better,” Pohatu mused. He looked around. Five Tahnok surrounded them, with more close behind. Behind them, toward the village, a long flat rock balanced atop two others, a shorter one near the middle and a taller one closer to the village. Pohatu evaluated the risk, before realizing it was their only hope.

Pohatu changed masks to his Noble Kanohi Komau, a weaker Mask of Mind Control. Most of the Toa had turned theirs over to their Turaga, but Pohatu hadn’t yet surrendered his. And a good thing, too, Pohatu thought. “Help us, Huki…” he mumbled as cascaded his thoughts to the wall far above, establishing a link.

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Far above, Huki stirred and shook his head, sensing the mental impulse. The Po-Matoran scrambled from his ledge and darted around in search of the right size boulder. Finding one suitable enough, he dropped it onto the ledge and climbed up.

“What is it?” Onewa asked, as the other two Matoran looked on.

“Must…concentrate,” Huki murmured. He looked at the stone, then back at Pohatu and Hafu below. “Relax and focus. Just like on the field.” He backed up a few steps. “No…”

He ran forward and kicked with all his might.

“…PROBLEM!”

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Pohatu changed masks back to his golden Kakama. “Time to go!” he yelled to Hafu, grabbing the Matoran once again and stepping onto the rock. Huki’s flying stone shattered the larger of the supporting rocks, sending the heavier side near the village to plummet while hurling the Toa and Matoran through the air, up and over the wall of Po-Koro. Onewa, Piatra, Huki, and the sentinel watched as the pair levitated through the air toward them, courtesy again of Pohatu’s Miru.

Huki sprinted over, overjoyed.

“Nice shot!” Pohatu grinned down at him. As Huki and Hafu embraced, the Toa of Stone made his way to the others. “But…now what?” he asked.

Far below, the Tahnok were advancing once more. They would have their day.