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“… … … uhgh? What on… Mata Nui?”

Turaga Onewa looked around. He was lying on the floor of his hut, surrounded by Kaiwera, Moana, Pirihi and Kikia.

“What has happened? I feel like I have just woke up from a dream...”

“Uh, a lot has happened Turaga. It will take a while to tell you though...” said Kaiwera.

He started to tell the tale of the Chosen, from when he had left Ta-Koro. The others chipped in bits he missed, and corrected the bits he didn’t seem to remember very well.

“It was only one Muaka Kaiwera, and we weren’t tied up…”

Eventually, as night fell, the Chosen reached the end of their tale.

“And so he ran off, we fought a Muaka, and... well, that's it,” finished Kaiwera.

“Incredible. Who would have thought it? So, four of the Chosen are together! This is a good day for all of Mata Nui!” cried Onewa.

“You know... I'm not even gonna ask what the 'Chosen' are. I've had enough for one day,” said Kikia wearily.

“Yes, you should rest here for the night at least. You can stay in my hut, and I'm sure that everything will be explained over dinner Kikia.”

The sun crept slowly over the rocky enclosure of Po-Koro, making the dew on the rocks steam. The sound of the stalls setting up drifted in through the doorway to Onewa’s hut. Kaiwera was oblivious to this…

This time the events were happening faster, in real time. He looked around, he could see the bodies, the blood seeping through the snow, the figure running, the sword – it was so close now, he could feel its keen edge touch his face, begin to penetrate his skin as it slid across it–

“Good morning Chosen! I hope you slept well, for you still have tasks to complete.”

Kaiwera’s eyes snapped open. Slowly the image of Onewa’s hut came into focus. The other Chosen were getting up, and going over to the table in the corner.

“C’mon lazy bones,” said Moana, giving him a nudge as she walked past.

Kaiwera didn’t move, he felt cold… the room drifted out of focus.

The scene took him again, it didn’t want to let him leave. This time he was not on the ground, but above where the figures were standing… fighting. There was a fight going on. A fight between the figures… the Toa! He recognised the Toa from all the villages. They were fighting strange beings… they were dark, evil. There were four of them, taking on the six Toa in groups of two or three. There was another figure there though… a red Tohunga, fighting with a long sword beside Tahu, against a putrid green being, with flies swarming him. He saw the Tohunga get knocked in the face with the butt end of it’s spear, who was thrown backwards into the trampled snow.

Then Kaiwera noticed the figures… his friends… dead. “But… why are they here? Why were they dead?! Is this a premonition of the future, or a recollection of the past?” he thought. He saw the red Tohunga… himself, he recognised, stand up. From behind him, the tall thin white being backed away from Onua, who was slashing at him with his claws. He turned round, and saw Kaiwera. The figure raised his sword, and as he did so Tahu saw what was happening and began to run towards the White one. Kaiwera saw himself standing there, doing nothing… why didn’t he move? The sword swished through the air, and an incredible stinging pain leapt up his cheek. Kaiwera looked up at the Toa of Death, and saw him strike him again. He was flung aside by the blow, and saw the blood splatter on the snow as he fell. The pain was intense… he had lost the vision of his left eye. He struggled to lift his head, and saw Tahu’s firesword emerge through the pale one’s chest, as the Toa of fire screamed with all his might in fury. The two halves of the pale Toa bubbled as they hit the ground, from the intensity of Tahu’s flame. Kaiwera felt the heat on his face, and with his last strength looked up to see Tahu’s fierce gaze upon him… then all was black, and there was nothing.

“What should we do?” said a faint voice.

“I don’t know. Dammit why doesn’t he wake up?! What wrong with him?” said another voice. It was female, and agitated.

“If we don’t go now we won’t be able to make Onu-Koro for another month, Onewa said the annual sand storm starts this afternoon,” said the first voice.

“But we can’t carry him! What if he needs help? Or gets worse in the desert – what then? He is out leader, Pirihi, we need him to carry on!”

The second speaker started sobbing.

“He’s been asleep for three days!”

“Yes… I know he has. We all want him back Moana, even I.”

Kaiwera felt tears land on his chest, softly. His eyes flickered, and winked on like a car engine starting.

“Mo… Moana?”

She looked up.

“KAIWERA! YOUR AWAKE!” With that, she threw herself upon him and gave him a hug.

Kaiwera heard Pirihi walk off, and when he returned Turaga Onewa and Kikia were with him.

“Are you alright, sleepy Ta-Koronan? We thought you might never wake up,” said Onewa.

“Yes… I am fine…” he looked around at their worried faces. “I don’t know what happened,” he lied, “could I have some water?”

Whilst Kikia went to the well with a bucket, Kaiwera sat up in his bed. He was still in the Turaga’s hut, and the sheets were soaked with cold sweat.

“What happened Kaiwera? What do you remember?” asked Moana in a quiet voice.

“I… I don’t remember. I’m sure it will come to me later. Are we set to leave for Onu-Koro?”

“What? You want to leave, now? But your sick!”

“I am not sick, I was simply tired. We must continue our quest.”

“Kaiwera,” said Onewa, “I really think it best if you stay here with us for a few days-“

“With all due respect Turaga, we must leave now if we hope to not delay our trip by a month, am I right?”

No-one said anything. Kikia returned with the bucket, which Kaiwera drank from deeply.

“I am refreshed. We shall go to Onu-Koro. Now.”

Kaiwera gazed fiercely at them. They appeared to not be able to look at his eyes. The Turaga broke the silence.

“Well Kikia, as you know you are the Chosen of Stone.”

“Yep,” said Kikia, puffing out his chest.

Kaiwera groaned. Onewa didn’t take any notice.

“Well, I wasn’t sure whether I should give it to you, what with your leader appearing to be lost… but now he is awake I think it is time to entrust you with… the Kanohi Kakama!”

Onewa brought it out from behind his back with a flourish, and handed it to Kikia.

“The Great Mask of Speed. Sorry about the mug rings, I’ve used it as a paperweight up until now. I’m sure they’ll come off with a bit of elbow grease. Use it well Kikia, for it is a sacred relic.”

“Oh yeah, I certainly made the right choice by going with you guys!” said Kikia, and put the mask on. There was a flash, which Kaiwera was expecting and closed his eyes for.

“Need some more water Kaiwera?” said Kikia, and a bucket appeared in his hands. And another. And another. There was a sloshing noise from the well each time one appeared.

“Kikia… did you move that… fast?!” asked Moana in wonder.

“Sure I did hunni, this is the Mask of Speed we’re talking about here!”

“Now Kikia has his toy, let us go,” said Kaiwera solemnly, and got up, grabbed his bag and sword from the wall and walked out of the hut. The other Chosen followed him from towards the exit of the village.

“Good luck Chosen, and fare well! Kikia will lead the way to Onu-Koro. Travel swiftly – for the storm will come in a few hours!” called Onewa from his doorway, and within seconds the Chosen were lost among the throng of traders. Po-Koro was soon left behind.