Chapter One

The nasally blare of a Ko-Matoran horn reverberated through the motionless drifts of Mount Ihu, echoing off the icy walls of glaciers, Matoran-made stairs and paths, and the famous Three Brothers Bridge to ring through the ice region. The horn called a tune, a recognizable melody of alert and alarm.

In the rear chamber of Ko-Koro’s Sanctum, the glow of torchlight illuminated the Matoran inscriptions covering the walls, flickering and dancing to eerie effect. Turaga Nuju stood deep in thought before finally speaking in his own unique language.

Beside the Turaga of Ice, Matoro translated. “Nuju respects and admires your sense of duty. He warns, though, that you are unprepared for a confrontation on the ice. While he appreciates your will to protect us, he fears it is you who may need protection.”

“With respect, Turaga, I must object,” Jala replied. “Although my guard and I have yet to fight in Ko-Wahi, we are prepared to face the Bohrok. Turaga Vakama sent us to ensure all of the villages remain safe.” The Ta-Matoran boldly raised a fist. “We will do all in our power to aid in the defense.”

Nuju sighed, then gave another answer. Matoro watched him, then turned back to Jala.

“So be it. Nuju implores you to use caution.”

Jala bowed and left.

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Outside the Sanctum in the main courtyard of Ko-Koro, Jala came upon three of his guard members—Kapura, Maglya, and Nuri—in conversation. Kapura and Nuri were long-time guard members, but Maglya was a temporary recruit; his true occupation was lava farming, but the Bohrok Wars had called for more hands to enlist in the military forces than ever before. The Captain greeted the three of them with a simple nod, and they returned the gesture.

Jala glanced up at the sun. “Night shall fall soon. We must be prepared. Kapura,” he pointed, “you must keep watch while we set up camp.”

Maglya and Nuri wandered off to set up a heatstone, even as Kapura bowed and started for the entryway to the clearing of snow they occupied.

Any other being would have grown bored after two minutes of staring down the same long stretch of trench. Its enclosing walls and winding path remained absolutely still and undisturbed as Kapura quietly beheld them. But the Ta-Matoran was a patient Matoran, one who appreciated the long and drawn-out quiet more than others. He stood dutifully with his forked guard spear, waiting for a sign of danger.

The Ta-Matoran felt a sudden alarm clutch him, as if his heart were rising in its chest. It was a nagging sensation, induced by the frigid air passing against its walls on its way in and out of his lungs. Finally, he couldn’t hold off the sharpness any more, and breathed in deep…

…to cough.

Well, his throat felt better, at least. But now the sound resounded throughout the canyon, disturbing the monotony.

Up high, a portion of snow fell with a rumble, knocking Kapura off his feet. That was close, he thought, relieved that the movement had come from snow, not Bohrok. I’d better head back to tell the others—they might think we are under attack.

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Back at the small camp of the Ta-Matoran guard, a heat stone had been placed in the center of a carry canister. Maglya, already close, edged ever closer to warm the back of his hands. Jala and Nuri stood next to him, taking in what heat they could.

Suddenly, a tremor rocked them all, nearly throwing Nuri off his feet. Maglya grabbed his spear and Jala readied his disk.

“An earthquake?” Nuri asked, righting his black Komau.

“Perhaps,” Jala replied, though he himself doubted it. He retrieved his disk. “Come, we must reunite with Kapura.”

“I am here.”

Jala turned to see Kapura. Cold, but unworried.

“I too felt the tremor, but no threat appeared at the gate,” Kapura reported. He neglected to mention the tremor’s source.

Jala nodded, his tension slowly evaporating. “Hm.” He shrugged. “Perhaps it was nothing then.”

“Noble Ta-Matoran!” came a shout from the Sanctum. Matoro was running in their direction. He skidded to a halt to their side with surprising ease on the ice.

“The time has come for your bravery to be tested,” he said, fear in his eyes. “The Bohrok swarm approaches!”

Jala shook his head. “It was only a small tremor. Kapura was at the gate, and no Bohrok appeared.”

Matoro answered, “They do not come through the gate. They come through—”

The snow and ice exploded beneath their feet, erupting from the center of the group and throwing the five Matoran off their feet.

Matoro, dizzy and coughing dirt, rolled over and picked himself up to see what was happening.

Standing amidst the smoke, dirt, and ice crystals, a black Bohrok eyed him sinisterly. It cocked its domed head at the Ko-Matoran, then reached toward him with one of its earth shields. Before it reached him, though, another tool of metal deflected it—Nuri’s guard staff. The Ta-Matoran now stood between Matoro and the Bohrok.

Kapura and Jala got back on their feet, regrouping. “Nuhvok,” the Captain stated. “Vakama spoke of their ability to tunnel beneath the earth.”

“What are we to do?” Kapura asked him.

Jala readied his disk. “A Bohrok can only be defeated by dislodging its krana.” His eyes narrowed, and then he let his projectile fly.

Distracted by Nuri and Matoro, the Nuhvok never saw it coming. The disk knocked the headplate open, stunning the Nuhvok. The enemy stood for a few minutes, dazed, before toppling to the ground.

Jala hurried over and collected his disk, attaching it to his back. Then he reached into the Bohrok and pulled its light green krana out.

He was about to rejoin the others, but, just a passing glance at the thing caught and held his gaze. It squirmed and squished in his hard grip on it, eager to escape this captivity. The alien eye holes stared back at him, inviting him, luring him… The Bohrok seem strong, he heard himself think. Maybe I could be, too… He stood unmoving, only blinking twice at the strange organism.

The Ta-Matoran’s absent thoughts were cut off by loud crack and another tremor that shook the mountains. Around him, Kapura, Maglya, Nuri, and Matoro could scarcely keep their footing on the unstable ground. Much more of this, Jala knew, and the very foundation of the village would be destroyed—along with its inhabitants.

Then, all around the Ko-Koro clearing, three, four, five more openings appeared in the icy sustenance, each of them crawling with Nuhvok clawing and climbing out to greet them.