CN1 - 6 - Skiing

He’ll just have to go with it, Kopaka told himself grimly, already pushing off smoothly and gathering speed as he skied downhill toward the fallen Toa. If he doesn’t, well...

There was no sense worrying.

“Here goes nothing,” he muttered.

SNORT! The beast made another leap forward. It lowered its head, aiming its horns directly at Pohatu. Pohatu took a step backward, almost falling again as his foot hit an icy patch.

Meanwhile, Kopaka skied toward him, gathering speed. This would be close...

“Heads up!” he shouted. “And arms OUT!”

Pohatu looked startled, but flung his arms out to his sides.

Just as the creature lunged forward, snorting eagerly, Kopaka whizzed past and grabbed Pohatu around the chest.

“OOOOF!” Pohatu grunted as Kopaka yanked him out of the beast’s path just as it lunged forward and buried its horns in the snow.

Kopaka wobbled, nearly losing his balance.

I have to straighten out, he thought. Otherwise we’ll never make it. Behind him, he could already hear the beast roaring with anger and charging after them.

“Where – are – we – going?” Pohatu panted. To Kopaka’s relief, the Stone Toa was hanging loosely in his arms, not struggling against his grip or trying to free himself.

Kopaka couldn’t have replied even if he’d wanted to. He was too busy willing his feet to obey him, in a desperate attempt to control the angle of their speedy downhill slide.

It worked. Just three or four lengths from the ravine now, his feet finally settled smoothly into an upright position on the icy snow. He bent as low as he could without dragging Pohatu’s legs in the snow.

Now there was no turning back...

“Hey!” Pohatu cried, suddenly looking forward and seeing the chasm directly in front of them.

“What are you – AAAAAAAAAAAAH!”

Kopaka held his breath as he felt his feet leave the cold, solid surface of the ice. He held on tightly to Pohatu as they flew up – up – up and over the canyon.

Pohatu was still screaming, but Kopaka didn’t let out his breath until he felt his feet slam down again on the far side of the gorge. He teetered and threw himself to the side, allowing himself and Pohatu to pitch face-first into the snow.

“What the – why did you do that?” Pohatu cried, spitting out a mouthful of snow. “You could
have gotten us killed!”

“That’s why.” Kopaka had already turned to stare back at the ravine. He pointed, and Pohatu turned to look just in time to see the snorting, squealing creature skid down the ice and tumble head over hooves into the depths of the fissure. A furious bellow drifted up toward them.

“Oh.” Pohatu was silent for a moment. Then he grinned weakly. “Er, thanks. Guess I owe you one – brother.”