Pyroa meets Kopaka

There was a soft crunch on the sand as the container was pushed onto the shores of Ta-wahi. The lid slowly unscrewed and fell to the ground. Gasping for fresh air, the being inside breathed deep, letting the ocean breeze fill her chest. Exhausted, she sank down onto the sand. Too much travel had taken its toll, she needed sleep. She shut her eyes, folding her wings and tail protectively about herself, and dozed off.
The next morning, Jaller and his wife, Hahli, walked down to the shore. They saw the being sprawled on the sand, breathing lightly. Jaller slowly approached it. Taking his weapon from his pack he nudged the being’s arm. Immediately, the silver-gray armor of the being glistened and some parts turned crimson and scarlet. She woke up and stared at Jaller. “Who are you?” she asked him. Jaller was speechless for a moment as she stood and spread her wings. “Who are you? WHERE am I?” The being asked again coldly. It reminded Jaller of Kopaka. Hahli came forward. “I am Hahli.” She said smiling, “Welcome to Ta-wahi.” The being smiled back and said, “Pyroa.” Pyroa looked puzzled for a moment.

“Does this place have anything to do with Tahu?” Pyroa asked.

“Yeah, he’s our toa.” Jaller said.

“Who are you?”

“Jaller, captain of the guard.”

“Can you take me to him?” Pyroa asked. Jaller nodded and began to hurry off when he saw Pyroa wouldn’t move. “Something wrong?” he asked. “Tired.” Pyroa muttered, yawning. Hahli looked at Jaller. “Bring Tahu here.” She said. Jaller ran off again towards the village.


Tahu ran alongside Jaller as they headed back towards the beach. “You can’t be serious?!” Tahu exclaimed as they neared their destination. “I AM!” Jaller yelled back. Tahu grinned and laughed. Jaller looked at him curiously. “Who is she?” Jaller asked. “You’ll find out.” Tahu said, grinning.
Hahli and Pyroa looked up when the Jaller and Tahu emerged. Tahu hailed Pyroa and she ran to him. “SISTER!” Tahu boomed, locking Pyroa in a giant hug. Pyroa hugged him back. “My brother.” Pyroa said, much more sedately. “Whoa, Tahu, you have a sister? An actual sister?” Jaller said. Pyroa looked down on Jaller. “Twin brother as a matter of fact.” Pyroa said.


Tahu lead his sister into the village. “So, sister, what has happened, where you have been?” he asked. Pyroa smiled. “Traveling, haven’t settled down for more then a few months. But now that I am here I would like to stay.” Pyroa told him.  Tahu smiled. “It will be wonderful for you to stay sister.”


Of course, settling down for Pyroa meant that she would only stay on the island. Tahu found that out within a few days. Pyroa constantly traveled around Mata Nui. “You are worse then Takanuva.” Tahu finally said to her one day. Pyroa merely gave him her usual sarcastic smirk and continue walking.


Once, Pyroa lay slumped over a rock dozing off near the Ta-wahi/ Ko-wahi border. She was thinking of the other toa she had met. Gali was nice, always up for a decent conversation. Lewa was likeable enough; he just needed to learn to shut up. Onua and Pohatu were pleasant company, both kind of quiet but could be loud a humorous. She adored spending time with them. Pyroa found out what her brother meant when she met Takanuva. He constantly seemed to be walking.


Pyroa had seen all of them except, Kopaka. She hadn’t built up enough courage to as much as fly over his wahi. Sure, her brother had told her about Kopaka, she was still nervous around that wahi.


A roar crashed through the air. Pyroa sat up sharply. A muaka cat was rushing forwards. It paused when it reached the lava barrier between the wahi and look nervously around. Pyroa took a deep breath and took off. She landed next to the cat. It was a young muaka, barely out of adolescence. “Tell me what’s wrong.” Pyroa asked it.


The startled cat lowered its head to growl at Pyroa. To Pyroa, it sounded more like a sentence. An enemy is after me is what it said to her.


“Who is the enemy?”


One like you, only, not like you


“Another toa? Have they hurt you?”

YES!!!

Pyroa leapt back and saw the muaka favoring his left paw. An icicle had pierced it. “Oh, you poor thing.” Pyroa mumbled. Pyroa sat down by the muaka’s paw and wrapped a warm hand around the icicle. The sharp spear started to melt when Kopaka appeared.


“What are you doing?” Kopaka snarled. Pyroa looked up. “Healing him.”

“He came too close to my village.”


“Did he try to kill anyone?”


“No.”


“Did he hurt anyone?”


“No.”


“Then why did you hurt him?”


Kopaka opened his mouth to speak but immediately shut it. She had him in a corner he couldn’t back out of. He just turned his back and stormed back to the village. Pyroa narrowed her eyes but turned her attention back to the rahi cat.


In a few moments, Pyroa had bound the cat’s paw and the rahi had galloped off. Pyroa herself flew towards Kopaka; she had some cross words to say to him.


Kopaka heard the crash of wings and turned to see the rahi toa standing on a rock behind him. “Just give it up will you?” he snarled.

“No, my friend, I will not! You never gave me an answer.” She whispered coldly in reply.  Kopaka turned and glared at her. ‘I was worried for my village’s safety.” He growled.

“Would it have hurt you to see the rahi’s intentions first? When I was healing him he told me of a full grown Kane- Ra bull blocking his usual route home. He had to bypass your village to avoid getting killed.”


“So, you’re that rahi speaker that arrived eh? You seem more like Tahu then anyone else.”


Pyroa glared at Kopaka, seeing as he was trying to change the subject. Pyroa opened her mouth when Kopaka asked, “You related to Tahu?” She then realized she wouldn’t be allowed to say anything till she answered his question. “Yes.”

“Heh, you act a lot like him.”


“How so?”


“Persistent, stubborn…”


“Like you aren’t?”


Kopaka was taken back by her icy reply. An awkward silence settled around them. “Pyroa.” Pyroa finally said, stretching out a hand in greeting. Kopaka looked at it distrust fully. “Kopaka.” He snarled.