CHAPTER 1 - Xin's Unpleasant Surprise
Xin leaned against a large stone by the road, her arms skeptically folded across her chest. She watched Trader's Pass like a hungry Rahi, holding back only because she hadn't spotted the particular flavor she fancied. Most of the few travelers passing this way were oblivious to her presence, but those who noticed her became uncomfortable and hurried on their way- Matoran mainly.
Unlike Agori, Matoran seemed to possess the innate ability to detect when one had ill intentions, as indeed Xin did, and toward Matoran in particular too. The tall warrior did not really intend to eat any of them, in fact she had been told specifically not to so much as harm her target, but she was on the hunt:
The target's name was Crystal.
On the outside, there wasn't anything impressive about her. She was just a Matoran like so many others in the world. A fairly sweet disposition from what Xin had heard; calm, sweet, reserved, and small... Maybe her mask was an unusual color, but since when did lifeless grey mean someone was special? Xin had a grey arm, but she wasn't special. Why did Makute Doom want this particular Matoran so bad?
Xin turned around to face the giant spider monster behind her. The creature was getting restless.
"Shhh.. Easy Octina. It shouldn't be much longer." she said, carefully laying one of her hooks sideways across the creature's head and rubbing it in a soothing way. It was hard to stroke something when one did not have hands, but Xin and Octina both were used to it by now..
As if summoned by her words, Xin suddenly became aware of a strong aura field drawing near. With a shove, she urged her pet deeper into the shadows and crouched out of sight herself. She recognized the strength of this aura as belonging to a Toa-- Guardians they were said to be, blessed with elemental power, and yet so much alike Glatorians in every other aspect that they could hide in plain sight... But not from Xin.
Makute Doom hated Toa. He had hunted them himself for years, and afterward sent hunters like Xin to finish the remainder. The few that were allowed to live were exiled in the wilderness, unable to come near any Metru or Koro for fear of being seen, and absolutely forbidden to unite with other Toa.. It was unexpected because Toa were so rare now days, but this was what she had been trained for. This was why Makute Doom felt she was of any use: Xin could detect the presence of a Toa and had strength enough to match them. That was why she was Makute Doom's lead hunter!
Xin lifted her arms and readied her hooks as the aura grew stronger.
'This foolish Toa won't know what hit him!' She thought.
The tall green warrior was just passing the stone, and Xin moved to strike, when she suddenly became aware of more auras and froze. Two more Toa... Three... And another aura Xin didn't recognize that was twice as powerful as them all combined! Xin slunk back into the shadows, choosing to wait and watch rather than risk a fight she would undoubtedly lose-- She could take one Toa easily enough, maybe three if she wanted a challenge.. But four? There was no way! Not even with Octina's help... And what was this other aura?
Xin could scarcely believe her eyes when the three other Toa came into view, and with them, her target: little Crystal herself!
But.. Crystal was the one emanating the stronger aura... How was that possible? A Matoran had no such power. All at once, Xin's confidence in her ability to complete this mission crumbled. She waited until the Toa and their Matoran had gone by and were a safe distance away, then quickly mounted Octina and rode up the steep wall of the cliff, heading in the opposite direction. She had chickened out, but she would not return to her master a complete failure. She understood his reasons now, and even better, she had new information to bring to him:
Unlike Agori, Matoran seemed to possess the innate ability to detect when one had ill intentions, as indeed Xin did, and toward Matoran in particular too. The tall warrior did not really intend to eat any of them, in fact she had been told specifically not to so much as harm her target, but she was on the hunt:
The target's name was Crystal.
On the outside, there wasn't anything impressive about her. She was just a Matoran like so many others in the world. A fairly sweet disposition from what Xin had heard; calm, sweet, reserved, and small... Maybe her mask was an unusual color, but since when did lifeless grey mean someone was special? Xin had a grey arm, but she wasn't special. Why did Makute Doom want this particular Matoran so bad?
*HISSSSS*
"Shhh.. Easy Octina. It shouldn't be much longer." she said, carefully laying one of her hooks sideways across the creature's head and rubbing it in a soothing way. It was hard to stroke something when one did not have hands, but Xin and Octina both were used to it by now..
As if summoned by her words, Xin suddenly became aware of a strong aura field drawing near. With a shove, she urged her pet deeper into the shadows and crouched out of sight herself. She recognized the strength of this aura as belonging to a Toa-- Guardians they were said to be, blessed with elemental power, and yet so much alike Glatorians in every other aspect that they could hide in plain sight... But not from Xin.
Makute Doom hated Toa. He had hunted them himself for years, and afterward sent hunters like Xin to finish the remainder. The few that were allowed to live were exiled in the wilderness, unable to come near any Metru or Koro for fear of being seen, and absolutely forbidden to unite with other Toa.. It was unexpected because Toa were so rare now days, but this was what she had been trained for. This was why Makute Doom felt she was of any use: Xin could detect the presence of a Toa and had strength enough to match them. That was why she was Makute Doom's lead hunter!
Xin lifted her arms and readied her hooks as the aura grew stronger.
'This foolish Toa won't know what hit him!' She thought.
The tall green warrior was just passing the stone, and Xin moved to strike, when she suddenly became aware of more auras and froze. Two more Toa... Three... And another aura Xin didn't recognize that was twice as powerful as them all combined! Xin slunk back into the shadows, choosing to wait and watch rather than risk a fight she would undoubtedly lose-- She could take one Toa easily enough, maybe three if she wanted a challenge.. But four? There was no way! Not even with Octina's help... And what was this other aura?
Xin could scarcely believe her eyes when the three other Toa came into view, and with them, her target: little Crystal herself!
But.. Crystal was the one emanating the stronger aura... How was that possible? A Matoran had no such power. All at once, Xin's confidence in her ability to complete this mission crumbled. She waited until the Toa and their Matoran had gone by and were a safe distance away, then quickly mounted Octina and rode up the steep wall of the cliff, heading in the opposite direction. She had chickened out, but she would not return to her master a complete failure. She understood his reasons now, and even better, she had new information to bring to him:
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