Chapter Three

The Source of Protection

Darran had just woken up well after dawn broke. Normally he would have been at work already. He had become extremely tired from last night, and had decided to sleep in. the lava channel at his feet kept him warm. He was so glad that he had it, other wise he would probably freeze at night. He was just beginning to drift off into sleep when he felt his foot get hot. He jumped to feet yelling

"Ouch!" he yelled, looking down at his foot. Lava had bubbled up in the channel and one of them had pooped, sending a blob of the molten rock on to his foot. He clutched it hopping up and down around the room. He sat down in his chair and began fanning his foot with a piece of parchment. When the pain had receded, he looked around his room.

Sunlight filtered through a small circular window onto an ashen floor. The room was a small round hut, built from cooled lava. Next to him, there was a large cushion that served as his bed. Next to that, a lava channel flowed into his hut, providing it with heat. He walked over to the wall behind his bed and slid a protodermis dam into the flow of the lava. Soon the lava began to empty out of the channel, and the room began to cool.

He looked down at his desk where he had spent the majority of the other night at. Scrolls, tablets, charcoal, a hammer and chisel littered the surface, while a small tablet with a mask stood on one of the desk's back corners.

He looked across to the other side of the room. Two large shelves were placed there. One was holding several bula berry fruits, while the other was filled to the top with scrolls and clear tablets. A kohli stick and pads were propped against the wall next to the scroll shelf, along with a lava board and his other work tools.

Now feeling wide awake, he walked over to the window and gazed out it. The sky was clear today, but there was no wind at all. Normally the local volcano, Mount Sekamu, would be covering the sky in a massive ash cloud. These ash clouds blocked the sun and cooled the surrounding lands. However, strong winds had been know to blow these clouds away, but today there was no trace of even a breeze.

A knock on his door made him forget all about the weather. He walked over and opened it to see a very tired, but at the same time wide awake Ralara. Darran gave her a displeasing look.

"I finished the translations." She said breathing hard.

"I told you not to stay up all night." He said

"It only took me a little while to finish, but after I did, I couldn't fall asleep."

Darran let her inside. Ralara collapsed into his chair, while he went over and grabbed two fruits off their shelf. He walked back over and handed on to Ralara.

"Thanks." She said, and began to drain the energy. When she had finished, she looked much better and turned back to Darran.

"What did the scripture say?" asked Darran.

"Well this is what I was able to translate." She said withdrawing a tablet and handing it to Darran, who read the scripture aloud.

"To find the hero's,

That you will need,

Journey to the place,

Of fire and heat.

Go to the mountain,

That breaths fire and ash.

For it's life giving flame,

Is the hero's first task.

That source of life,

That feeds this land

Will soon become

The hero's first stand."

"What does it mean?" asked Darran, looking up at her.

"That's what I was trying to figure out. It's definitely talking about a volcano, but which one? There are so many around the island. It could be anyone."

"Well, it says that it 'Will soon become the hero's first stand.' So that probably means it going to be a big threat. But if we wait till then, it would be too late."

The two sat in silence for a moment. Both were trying to think of a volcano that would threaten the whole island, when there was a knock at the door. Darran got up and answered it. His boss, Tarak was standing there.

"Where have you been? You need to come and see the volcano. Its stopped its lava production!"

"What? How could it stop producing lava?"

"I don't know. I have never seen anything like it before. You need to come down and see it right away."

Darran turned back to Ralara.

"I've got to go. You can stay here if you want." he said, gabbing his tools and lava board.

"I'm coming with you." She said, putting the tablet away.

They began to walk out the door, when Ralara stopped.

"Darran, the mountain the scripture talked about. It's Mount Sekamu!" The revelation hit Darran like a blow to the gut.

"You mean..." he trailed off. She nodded. Darran turned around. Mount Sekamu, it all made since now. He looked up at Tarak. He looked completely lost.

"We'll explain on the way," he said. "Come on! We need to get there as soon as possible." He cried, and with that, the group began speeding toward the volcano.

About ten minutes later, the group reached the volcano. All around Matoran of all Mythas were gather. Most were talking in low voices. Tarak lead them over to a space right in the center of the volcano. Darran had not set his eyes on a more depressing sight.

The volcano, which was normally over flowing with lava, was now empty. The many channels that had been craved into its side were as dry as Po-Mytha. Normally, these would have been filled with heat bearing lava, that has used to heat Ta-Matoran homes, but there was no trace that the great mountain before him had once been an unpredictable roaring volcano. He was snapped from his mourning when he heard a Matoran cry out. Though he had not heard what he had said, he turned around

The entire assembly of Matoran turned around to see several dark shapes moving toward the volcano. Darran strained his eyes to see what they were. As they moved closer, he could make out Matoran riding them. The creatures flew closer and Darran could make see that they were some kind of bird. The group was right over the assembled Matoran now. They flew towards the volcano and made a u-turn, coming back towards the congregation. They landed and quickly began dismounting their birds. Darran noticed that Turaga Valmek was one of the flyers. One of the pilots rushed up to their group. He was slightly taller then Darran with a dark green mask and armor.

"Who is in charge here?" he asked.

"I am." Said Tarak, raising his hand.

"The Turaga wants to speak with you. Follow me." He said. Tarak, Darran and Ralara began to follow him. When the pilot saw this he stopped.

"The Turaga asked only the person in charge to come and see him" he said to Darran and Ralara.

"We also need to see the Turaga." Said Ralara urgently.

"It's alright, they know more about what's going on then I do." Said Tarak.

The pilot shrugged, and led the group on without another word. They reached the Turaga, who was talking with a Ga-Matoran. They finished, and the Matoran ran off towards the mountain. The pilot spoke to the Turaga.

"Here are the Matoran you asked for, Turaga." He said to him.

"Thank you, Pirato." Said Valmek. Pirato gave a curt nod, and walked away from the group. Valmek turned toward Darran, Ralara and Darran.

"What have you discovered, Tarak?" he asked, leaning on his staff.

"Well, it was really Darran and Ralara who figured out what going on." He said. At this, he turned his gaze to them.

"Turaga, the day I went into Karzaki, I was searching for an artifact this old tablet mentioned I have found near the volcano here. I found this stone wrapped in parchment in a cave. I brought tit back to Ralara's house and she translated it."

"May I see these scriptures?" he asked. Darran and Ralara gave the Darran's original tablet and Ralara's translation tablet to Turaga Valmek. He read them over, muttering from time to time. When he was finished, he gave both of the scriptures back to them.

"Where is this stone, Darran?"

"I have it right here." he said.

"May I see it?" he asked softly. Darran withdrew the stone and handed it to Turaga Valmek. He examined it with a trained eye, going over every detail of it. Then there was a look of amazement on his face.

"Then it has happened." He whispered to himself.

"What has happened, Turaga?" asked Ralara.

"This stone, you found it in Karzaki, correct?" he said to Darran.

"Yes," replied Darran, "It was in a cave guarded by a strange Rahi I had never seen before." Turaga Valmek nodded.

"Years ago, when I was a Toa, I was asked to lead the people here on this island as a Turaga by Mata Nui. I of course, said yes. Mata Nui warned me that 'new shadows' would emerge on Mytha Nui, threatening to take it over. He said that the first sign of their coming was the appearance of a stone. This of course made no sense to me, but I trusted the Great Spirit. He also told me that the 'guardians of light' would be found in 'the place needed most.' Again I did not understand, but now, everything is becoming clear. These heroes the scriptures speak of are hidden in Mount Sekamu. And now that there is no lava, we have a chance to awaken them."

"Are you certain that's where they hidden?" asked Darran looking back at the Mount Sekamu.

"Mount Sekamu is the place that keeps Ta-Mytha inhabitable. Without, no Matoran would be able to live here."

"So then how are we going to get in to the volcano?' asked Ralara.

"We could climb down." Suggested Darran.

"No, that would be too risky. We have now way to do it for one, and second we don't know when that things going to erupt."

"May I suggest a thoughtplan?" asked Pirato.

"What's your idea Pirato?" asked Ralara.

"Well, it could be very dangerous, but it's the only thoughtplan I think that will work. I suggest we highfly my Gukko squad into the firemountian. That way when we find the heroes, we can escape everquick."

The Matoran nodded in agreement with this idea. Turaga Valmek did not respond, however. He continued to stare at the ground, apparently deep in thought.

"What do you think Turaga?" Asked Ralara.

"The heroes must be awakened. I see no other option." He looked up at the Matoran. When he spoke, his voice was very commanding "Pirato, you get the Gukko birds ready. Tarak, I want you to take Darran and Ralara down into the mountain. You know it better then any other Matoran here." The Matoran nodded. Turaga Valmek spoke again, but this time his voice was oft and caring. "Be careful. Remember the Three Virtues, and may the Great Spirit watch over you."

"We will, Turaga." Said Ralara, her usual smile fading. And with that, the Matoran took off for the Gukko birds. Turaga Valmek watched as the Matoran headed off, wondering if he had done the right thing.