CN4 - 5 - Shared Mask of Speed

She pointed to a second wall of fire that had appeared behind them. “We cannot go forward, and back is not looking very appealing, either!”

“Up?” suggested Kopaka.

“At the speed these fires move, we would never make the climb in time, brother,” said Tahu. Waves of heat washed over Gali and the world began to spin around her. She reached out to steady herself on Tahu’s shoulder. “Brothers... the heat... too much...”

Kopaka looked at Tahu. “You know the ways of fire. If we cannot go over or under...”

“Then we go through,” agreed Tahu. “Gali! We need the powers of the Mask of Speed!”

“Yes... of course...” Gali said, struggling to stay conscious. With great effort, she summoned forth the Kanohi Kakama Nuva.

Tahu took her left hand, and Kopaka her right. With a final glance at one another, the three Toa launched themselves at the fire at top speed. Running so fast their feet barely touched the ground, they broke through the flames and emerged on the other side, unharmed.

“You see? At such speed, even the fire could not touch us,” said Tahu proudly.

“No... no, there is something wrong here,” Gali muttered. She stumbled back toward the fire, reaching out to touch it. Kopaka rushed forward to stop her, but she brushed him aside.

“Gali! No!”

Tahu’s cry came too late. Without a moment of hesitation, Gali plunged her hand into the flames. But no cry escaped her lips, and when she drew it out again, it was not even scorched. “It’s not real. None of it. It’s a trick.”