Webmaster: Lewaswingin

Pirihi stirred. He found himself in the musty sheets of the Onu-Koro Inn. He looked around, and using his Akaku he could see the other Chosen still asleep. Moana and Kaiwera were on the opposite sides of the room to each other. He gave a small sigh of relief. He was thirsty, and his sleep had left him stiff. He got out of the bed and walked out of the Inn, taking with him a small dagger from his pack. Whenua had warned them to be careful about Rahi attacks whilst their stay in Onu-Koro endured. Looking around he stepped into the town centre. The town was pretty impressive. A huge cavern in a dome shape, the roof lost to sight. It must have taken years to excavate. Then the huts underneath much to the same design as the ones in Po-Koro. The Inn was the only square building in the whole village.

There were a few fading light stones set in the torch holders around the area, but they were so dim now that all they really did was to emphasise the shadows. He saw an Onu-Koronan come out of hut near to him and called out.

“Hey! Why doesn’t someone change the lightstones over? People need to see, it’s almost morning.”

“Don’t you know Mr.? There’s a light stone ration. There’s a big lava break that’s sprung up as a result of one of our pressure machines going haywire blocking the “Cavern of Light”. That’s the cave where we get most of our lightstones from. We’re just using up what we had stored elsewhere now. We have a ration – one lamp set a day and a night, otherwise we’d run out pretty quick!”

The Onu-Koronan carried on. Pirihi looked up at one of the fading lightstones and sighed. He remembered a time when they had been bright…

He got there early so as to impress her. He looked around and saw everyone lit by the yellowy light of the lightstones set everywhere the eye could see. They sparkled with intensity and looked like fiery diamonds. Already people were starting to dance, in their couples. He wished she would turn up soon… he longed to hold her again. He was one of the only Ko-Koronans there. Nuju had persuaded him to go, he said it would help him to focus. Pirihi hadn’t argued. Then he felt a soft tapping on his shoulder, and turned round to look into the amber eyes of his love. She was wearing a pretty dress, as was the fashion at the time. She had a flower on her mask, it was beaded with droplets of dew that reflected the light into stars.

“You look beautiful…” It was all he could get out.

She blushed and flickered her eyelashes at him. Pirihi felt his body go limp, and he struggled to follow her over to the dance floor. The air was rich with the smell of newly dug earth, it was deep and powerful. They began to dance, there was a band from Le-Koro playing on a small stage at the head of the rink. As they twisted to a fro he smelt her perfume and she seemed to become lovelier as the lightstones began to fade. Soon he stopped dancing and held her out before him, scanning her and taking in every fine detail. She blushed again, and gave him a jaunty look.

“I’m so lucky to have you,” he said.
“As am I,” she replied, and drew him close and kissed him. Pirihi reeled in joy, but soon he felt her lips go limp. He pushed her away and felt wet on his hand, he brought it up to his face to see blood on it. He looked at her, there was a huge gash on her heart, and the life was pouring out of her. He held her close, but she drew cold and her tears did nothing to warm her.

“Gah!” Pirihi stumbled as he walked, and sat down against a lamp post. Why was he thinking of her again? He didn’t even know where she had come from…

He got up and tried to remember where he was going. As he did so, a large commotion came from the stables to the left of him. A huge purple Ussal crab erupted from the doors and scrabbled away down the highway to Ta-Koro and Le-Koro. An Onu-Koronan with a black Pakari rushed out of the stables and cried after the Ussal, who took no heed of his calls. He looked in shock.

“Are you OK? What happened?” he asked.

The Onu-Koronan looked up and jumped as he saw Pirihi, with a halo of light around his head from the lightstone behind him.

“Onepu’s gonna kill me!” he squeaked and ran back into the stables.

“Hey! Maybe I can help…” Pirihi started. Then he saw another Onu-Koronan come out of a smaller hut and into the stables.

“Pirihi!”

It was Moana’s voice, and she and Kaiwera were coming towards him. He quickly explained what he had seen.

“Hadn’t we better go in and see if we can help?” asked Kaiwera. Just then shouting was heard from within the stables. The Chosen entered, and saw the two Onu-Koronans bickering.

“What do you mean you lost her?!”

“I, uh, well I took her for a walk, and, um...”

“And what?”

“Um... A giant Rahi attacked me! And, I, uh...”

“Look, Kohuke, Nikki is my prize Ussal crab! If I don't have her, then I'm gonna lose the championship this year!”

“Hey guys, isn’t that the Chosen of Earth Whenua told us about last night? Kohuke?”

“Well yeah, duh,” snorted Kaiwera.

“Sorry? What did you just say to me?” said Moana, glaring at him.

“I said your thick,” he sneered.

“Kaiwera what on Mata Nui has gotten into you? You’ve been like his ever since Kikia took that infected mask away!” she hissed.

Kaiwera said nothing. The Onu-Koronans now filled his attention again.

“I'll get her back! Um, those three look like travellers, I'll go with them or something! I might see her somewhere on the island with them!”
“Alright, alright, but you had better find her, Kohuke.”

“Uh, sure I will!”

Kohuke came over to where the Chosen were standing.

“Hello travellers! Er, I suppose you heard what we were saying... Can I come with you?”

“It's funny you should ask that, because we need you to come with us, but for more than looking for an Ussal crab,” said Pirihi.

“Well, if it gets me away from Onepu's yelling, I'm pleased to follow you! I've always wanted to see the light of the outside anyway. I’m with you guys!”

“Great,” said Kaiwera, “but first we have to tell you a few things…”

Soon the tale of the Chosen was told to Kohuke.

“And I’m a Chosen? Whys that?”

“Well, because even though you don’t know it you share some of the soul of Toa Onua. You have some of his power in you. Do you have any special abilities you can think of?” said Moana.

“Well now… I’ve won the digging championship this year. And last year. And the year before that. In fact… I’ve a feeling I’ve never lost… erm…”

“Yeah that’ll do. See? You’re a born Chosen,” said Kaiwera.

“Koool,” Kohuke said, “So… um, Nikki? The Ussal? Anyone see where she went?”

“Look, Kohuke,” said Kaiwera, “we’re on an important quest, we have no time to look for Ussals-“

“She went down the highway. I saw her go as the escaped from the stables,” said Pirihi.

Kaiwera glared at him.

“Kaiwera if we find the Ussal maybe we Kohuke will let us ride it to the Earth Temple. It would save a lot of walking, and time.”

“Oh… alright. I hate it when your right Pirihi.”

“What?”

“Meh? Did I say that outloud? I’M SORRY!”

“Kaiwera there is something very wrong with you. Why do you pick fights with your own comrades? Are you still ill from your sleep-“

“No!” said Kaiwera, thinking of the dreams he had then. His will was renewed. “No I am not ill, but I had forgotten our purpose. I’m… sorry… Pirihi.”

Pirihi didn’t say anything, but looked a fraction smug. “We must get after that Ussal, before it gets too far away and we loose the trail.”