Waiting out the storm took longer than Pohatu had expected it to, though he wasn't entirely bothered by it. If anything, it gave him an easier time making Kopaka sit and rest, something he'd always felt his Brother needed to do more of. While Kopaka grudgingly sat and slept, Pohatu idly paced the cave, occasionally stopping to look out through the cave mouth or to investigate the supplies. A few times he even paused to make sure the campfire remained burning; Kopaka may not have needed it but the Stone Toa couldn't go without it. He was used to hot, arid climates, and to seeing nothing but sand and rock for miles around. Being up near the top of an ice-laden mountain was far from being anywhere in his element. "The sooner we can get down from here, the better..."

He didn't like complaining. Not personally, at least. Pohatu had always been fairly laid back and content, and he liked to keep it that way. Even when he and his teammates had lost their elemental power, he hadn't raised much of a fuss. But every now and then, the Stone Toa made an exception.

"Brr... It's biting right through this coat..."

Exceptions such as right now.

"Brother, how do you intend on letting me sleep when you continue to grumble?"

Pohatu turned from staring into the fire so he could regard his best friend. "Aren't you supposed to be sleeping?"

"I was." Kopaka replied calmly. "But the weather shifted; the storm will be ending soon."

"Praise Mata Nui!"

"And then you get to carry me back to Ko-Koro."

"... Drat. Remind me why you decided to pick a fight with something nasty?"

The Toa of Ice frowned at him. "He picked the fight with me; I wouldn't have deliberately gone chasing the psychopath that murdered my family."

Pohatu blinked. How was that even possible? Hadn't that person died? "Are you sure that is who you saw?"

"I didn't get a good look at him." The pale one admitted. "But I would recognize that voice anywhere."

The Toa of Stone had never been given reason to doubt his Brother's judgement before, but this was making him wonder if he should. "Kopaka... Mihkoro died thirteen years ago, and he was sane when it happened. It couldn't have been him."

Kopaka frowned. "And did anyone look for a body? Did anyone find any proof?"

"Well, no, but if he lived he would have come back, wouldn't he?"

"It wouldn't be the first time he disappeared on us, Pohatu, and you know that the Makuta would probably jump at the chance to have a powerhouse like that at his disposal." The Ice Toa shook his head grimly. "And Mihkoro was never really purged of the darkness; he used it all the time."

The doubt Pohatu had was caving under the dread that was seeping in. Kopaka's defense made too much sense to ignore or pass off as lingering delirium from his wounds. "But... what are we going to tell the others? The Turaga? Jaller?"

"We don't tell anyone." Kopaka replied. "Not until we can back it up with more than my theory and the logic of the past. If Mihkoro reveals himself, it's going to initially be his play to make."

Pohatu didn't like the sounds of that. "Uh, Kopaka? Remember the last time we kept a secret from the Turaga? Nuju got really upset."

"Then let him."

"... Are you sure you didn't hit your head too hard on something?"

"Stop arguing and let's leave; the storm is gone and you're still shivering. Leave Nuju to me and just focus on getting back to Ko-Koro. The sooner you're off this mountain, the better for all of us."

True to his word, the storm had faded during their conversation and with it gone it was much easier to return to the ice-layered village of the Ko-Matoran. Pohatu didn't linger long afterward either; no sooner had he gotten Kopaka to Nuju's house than he made a hasty retreat and almost-mad-dash for the nearest Onu-Koro Highway tunnel he could find. Even as he drew closer to it, he could hear Nuju's angry bird calls as he no doubt berated Kopaka for trying to withhold information from him.

"I tried warning him... Maybe I should move faster so he doesn't try catching ME next."

The Toa of Stone quickened his pace. He had enough of a hassle with Turaga Onewa as it was without adding Nuju and his bird sounds to the mix. Besides, the sooner he could get rid of his winter coat - he had a knack for leaving it all over the place and inevitably racing around the island to find it again - the happier he'd be.

"Wonder if Onua has any good stories to share..."

It wasn't long before Pohatu had located the tunnel and plunged into the darkness of Onu-Wahi. The path was scarcely luminated, the only light being shed by small lightstone shards embedded in the walls and a few bioluminescent plants growing up from the cave floor. Even in the poor light, however, Pohatu was starting to relax; he could 'feel' the rock walls around him, taking comfort in more or less returning to his own element. Now if only he could shake off being so cold.

Lucky for him, Pohatu soon reached Onu-Koro and shed his coat in favor of warming up without it. Now the trick would be locating his Brother; as far as he knew, Onua could be in the mines helping out. "Well... drat."

"Pohatu!"

The solid impact of a hand on his shoulder was all it took for the Stone Toa to know that scouring the village would be unnecessary. "Onua!" He exclaimed, a boisterous grin spreading across his face as he turned to regard his Brother, all previously grim thoughts fading from his mind upon seeing the other Toa's own jovial expression.

Onua hadn't changed much over the last thirteen years; his hair was still in a ponytail -albeit a bit shorter than it used to be - , his hands were still wrapped, and he was still as vertically challenged as ever. But Pohatu was okay with this; of all the members of his team, Onua was the last one he wanted to see change. Time and time again, the Toa of Earth had been the strongest pillar of support, sometimes the only one, and it had always been enough to pull everyone back together, no matter what else was happening around them. And Pohatu had a feeling they would need that stability more than ever before now that new problems were stirring up.

"It's been a while since you came to visit, Brother." Onua pointed out with a small laugh. "The Turaga haven't been using you as a messenger again, have they?" That was when the Earth Toa noticed something that the brunette had missed, and his tone became concerned. "Why are there stains on your coat that look like bad news?"

Pohatu blinked before looking at the jacket in his hands and grimacing. He hadn't even thought about that. "Ehm... I found Kopaka bleeding out and somewhat delirious in Ko-Wahi."

Needless to say, Onua was surprised by these tidings and grimaced, not to mention pressed Pohatu for the details, which he more than willingly shared. By the end of it, the Earth Toa was considerably uncertain. "And you're sure it was Mihkoro?" He asked quietly as he ushered Pohatu towards his house. "You said Kopaka was at least somewhat incoherent; he could have made a mistake."

Pohatu shook his head. "I doubt he could make a mistake that big." He confessed grimly. "He said he recognized his attacker's voice, and I doubt he could ever forget Mihkoro's after what happened. Besides, he also said we never really found his body either, and if the Makuta really did catch him, he's had thirteen years to dominate his mind again. I don't like admitting it, but I fear that Kopaka may be right."

The silence between them lasted until they reached Onua's house and were inside with the door shut behind them. "So... he really is back then." Onua murmured. "I can hardly believe it."

Pohatu blinked at this. "You knew already?"

The older Toa nodded slowly. "Remember when that tunnel collapsed a few months ago? The one that nearly flooded part of the highway with magma?"

"I do." Pohatu replied. "You said it nearly killed you as well as several matoran." He grimaced. "You think Mihkoro did it?"

"I know he did it." Onua corrected. "I'd thought it was a trick of the light at first, but I saw him down there. He must have been watching to see if I would die, because shortly after I spotted him, he disappeared."

"He must have been at the kolhii match too then." The Stone Toa said. "Tahu, Gali, and I, all saw a shrouded figure in the stands for a second or two before disappearing. It makes me wonder if he was there for the match, or for something else..."

"Oh?" Onua inquired. "What else could have brought him to the arena? I'd have thought seeing his son compete would've been the biggest deal there.

"It probably was," Pohatu agreed. "but if it really is Mihkoro and the Makuta is controlling him, I doubt that's fully why he was there. Takua found something in the volcano before the match, and if I were the Makuta I would want it gone."

"And what exactly did Takua find?"

"A kanohi; the Avohkii. Which means the Seventh Toa has to be found." Pohatu grimaced further. "Onua, what if Mihkoro attacks Jaller and Takua while they search?"

Onua hesitated a moment before answering. "I don't think he can, actually."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"I don't think Mihkoro would let himself hurt his own son, which means Takua and that kanohi are safe as long as Jaller is nearby."

It was a promising theory, Pohatu had to admit, but if his Brother was right it also opened up a lot more problems. Takua hadn't wanted to go with Jaller, and Jaller didn't want to go at all. Sure, they had left together...

But what would happen if they split up?