Bionicle G2: New Legends, New Heroes

Chapter 15: Cold Division

Not even a full day had passed, yet the hours dragged into eternity for Torren. From sundown, throughout the night, and up till first light, he remained in Hunarr's home. Other than the Protectors and the Toa, no one else was allowed in. Fortunately, almost everyone in Izotor's Glacier was asleep after cleaning up the damage and checking for any casualties. There were none, thank the elements. However, there didn't mean people didn't talk.

Helping to coordinate the relief effort, Torren heard guards and layman alike talk before going to bed. Out of everything, they shared the same three words. Those words brought the six Protectors to Hunarr's home, and Ignar spoke them on his way into Hunarr's house. "Uram is back... Uram is back..."

Holding in a sigh, Torren turned to find the other Protectors had taken the news differently. Ferra walked like she was balancing on a ball. She almost had, after stepping on the sphere of fused bullets. Hanu, having come with Ignar, hobbled behind in hollow steps. His calm expression almost cracked, as if hit by a tremor. Torren himself wasn't sure what to do, other than wait in the center of the lobby. Ruka, the last to arrive, voiced everyone's question after she hopped inside. "Is it true?"

"Uram is back... Uram is back..." Ignar said to the side with an almost haunted look.

"That should answer you," Ferra told Ruka, but a sliver of fear broke through her snark. Hanu stood beside Ferra, his silence often broken with tiny breaths.

Ruka's fear was more obvious as she quietly walked across the scarred floor. Avoiding the large hole, she stepped beside Torren. "What... what we do?" Ruka asked. "If it's Uram, then..."

"We'll think of something," Torren said patiently, which only made Ruka more impatient.

"But he's prob'ly the one who attacked my village! And Okil's missing since! I dunno if he's missin' or kidnapped!" Ruka almost shouted, gripping at Torren's cape like some lost child. "Torren, there is somethin' we gotta do now! Somethin' to stop Uram!"

At that, Ignar's muttering grew louder. "Uram is back... Uram is back..."

"We know, Ignar," Ferra sighed, stopping by the steps. "We've heard you the past fifteen times!"

Ignar, ignoring Ferra, focused his glare on Torren. "You..." the Fire Protector seethed, "How could you not have told us this?!"

The other three Protectors looked to Ignar, surprised. "Hey, don't put this on him," Ferra said to defend Torren. "He didn't know. How could he?!"

"Oh, he knew! He knew the entire time! Look at how he keeps his calm! He speaks of being honest, but Torren keeps the most important details to himself! He never tells you until it's too late!" Ignar shouted at Ferra, then he glared at Torren. "Just like Uram did with us."

All eyes fell on the Protector of Water. He had been silent, head hung down in fatigue and shame. "I suspected... I thought Uram had been involved in this somehow," Torren admitted quietly. "But I never knew it was like this..."

"Torren?" Ruka uttered to the Water Protector, letting go of his cape.

"It doesn't matter, now," Torren said more confidently as he looked to the others. "It doesn't change that we still need the Toa and-"

"No, Torren!" Ignar refused. "You saw what Uram did with just one Toa. And he has the Guardians under his control. He threatens every one of us and our people!"

"Ignar's right," Ferra said and frowned finding four surprised stares on her, including Ignar's. "I know, I know, but Uram being back will cause problems. He's clearly after Makuta's mask, and he'll make sure everyone knows about it. When they do, they too will want it. We can barely hold our people together if they're fighting each other."