Chapter 2: Blossoming Against Cold
Termina had given the group a set of riddles and rhymes. There were twelve in all. Each one was a clue to where the gems were hidden.
For the first six clues, they had to "match elements" - one Toa with one Vahki. Keyok with Vakama. Shane with Onewa. Keika with Matau. Haidie with Nokama. Ronin with Whenua. Laney with Nuju. Cairos decided to help Keyok and Vakama.
Nuju wasn't too keen on being teamed up with Laney. In his opinion, Laney crossed the line between Vahki and Toa too often. Not to mention, she didn't always take her Duty seriously. She'd rather do community outreach than canal rescues. Then there was the fact she was so... cuddly... with Shane. That disgusted him.
Laney wasn't particularly happy with the arrangement either. Nuju rarely, if ever, smiled. He was too serious. And unless he was criticizing her for cuddling instead of helping, he never had a decent conversation with her.
"So what's the clue?" asked Nuju.
Laney rolled up the right sleeve of her thermal jumpsuit. Fighting off a shiver, she read the clue.
"Summer flower, blossoming against the winter's cold
Overcome the memories of what you had been told."
She rolled her sleeve back down. They had crossed the border of Ko-Metru, and it was getting colder with every step.
At that moment, Laney came to an unpleasant realization. "My name - well, my real name anyway - means magnolia. Magnolias bloom in the summer. So that means…" She shuddered. "That means I have to go swimming in the Ko-Metru canals."
"I still don't understand your aversion to the Ko-Metru canals."
"You want to get pushed in and find out?" Laney threatened, slide-stepping to Nuju's side and shoving him off balance. Unfortunately, she had put all her weight into the push. Nuju grabbed her arm and pulled back, then let go. Laney fell - down, down, down - SPLASH!
Laney popped up and took a big gulp of air. Then she gritted her teeth and dove beneath the surface. She had to show Nuju that she wasn't a wimp about the canals. As she went deeper and deeper, the cold started playing tricks on her mind.
"You may look like a bride! But you will NEVER bring your family honor!"
"Disgrace… she's a disgrace…"
"I know my place! It is time you learned yours!"
Laney snapped out of her memories. She saw something sharp and silvery at the bottom of the canal. A sword? With that image, the cold started with more nasty mind games…
"Pack up, go home, you're through!"
"High treason! Ultimate dishonor!"
"A life for a life. My debt is repaid."
No, it was in a cluster… they were gems! That was a piece of the hearts! She grabbed the gems, stuffed them in a pouch of her tool belt, and began her ascent.
Nuju began to worry. Laney had been down there a long time, with no supply of oxygen except her lungs. He paced back and forth, hoping she was going to break the surface soon. Finally, he bent over the edge and reached out.
"If she doesn't emerge, I'm going in after her."
Just then, Laney's head broke the surface. She completely ignored Nuju's outstretched hand and climbed up a maintenance ladder. Her legs wobbled from the exertion and lack of oxygen. But it wasn't just that. She looked tired in a different way, as if she had fought a battle within her own mind.
"I found the gems." she wheezed.
Nuju suddenly felt concerned for Laney. He got even more concerned when she collapsed into his arms - not just for Laney, but for himself. He felt a heat come through his face. It would have been a warm blush to anyone else, but on an Ice Toa, it was uncomfortably hot!
He tried not to focus on the new discomfort, and what it could mean. There was no way he was developing a crush on her! She annoyed him too much! Plus, she was bonded to Shane! Of all the people Nuju could possibly be attracted to…
"No. I am not attracted to her. I don't like her. I really don't!"
Then, out of nowhere: "Who are you talking to?"