CHAPTER THIRTEEN: MORE REPERCUSSIONS

Kopaka winced slightly as Akopi tied a small bandage around his arm. All the while, Gali was pacing back and forth, chewing him out.

"Kopaka you are so STUPID sometimes," she was saying, "You could have been KILLED!"

Kopaka shrugged, "I told you I would always be alright, didn't I?"

She walked over and slapped him hard enough to jar his Akaku slightly loose, "You call almost having your left arm severed 'alright', Kopaka?" she yelled, and Kopaka merely shrugged.

"Ugg, you're so infuriating sometimes!" she moaned, resting her forehead in her palm. Kopaka allowed himself a ghost of a smile. "You know you love me for it," he replied dryly, and then quickly began thinking of things to call himself. Gali fixed him with an odd look, and Kopaka wished he could open the ground like Onua and just slip into it.

"That's not something you'd usually say, Kopaka. What's wrong?" she asked, sitting down on a rock opposite him.

Kopaka shook his head, "A trivial matter back in Ko-Koro," he lied, "A few Matoran suddenly found their tools missing, and I'm confused as to where they went. If it's Dalak playing more jokes, I'm going to kill him."

Gali smiled, that was the Kopaka she knew. "I'm sure they'll turn up."

Before he could reply, Lewa walked into the glen, the look on his mask unpleasant. "Sorry-bad news, Toa-friends," he announced, "Wise-Turaga want quick-fast talk-speak with us."

Kopaka massaged his forehead with a fist, "Where?"

"Back at the holy-sacred Kini-Nui," Lewa muttered, and Gali had to smile at his expression. Of all the things Lewa hated, chats with the Turaga were at the top of his list.

"Come on, then, let's go."

The three of them arrived to find all six Turaga already present. Four of the other Toa (Tahu, Onua, Pohatu, and Takanuva) were present as well. Vakama, the Turaga of Fire, stepped forward. "Sit!" he commanded, pointing to a log. In compliance with his orders, the three remaining Toa sat.

"It has come to our attention," Onewa said, stepping forward, "That there has been dissention among the Toa."

Nokama, Turaga of Water, stepped forward as well. "Would someone be so kind as to relate the cause of the problem?"

Kopaka prayed for the other Toa to keep their mouths shut, but (of course) one had to open his.

"I believe," Tahu stated, "That Kopaka has feelings for Gali."

Kopaka, for the second time that day, wanted to sink into the ground. All eyes in the clearing were on him, and he heard a snicker from somewhere behind Tahu. He glared at Pohatu, who was fighting vainly to contain his laughter.

Gali, on the other hand, was staring at him in complete shock. "Kopaka…?"

Kopaka knew he had only one choice left. He focused all his power on drawing forth and activating his Huna mask of Invisibility at the same time. It worked, and Kopaka gave the illusion of vanishing into thin air. The remaining six Toa stood up with angry shouts, and Vakama pounded the ground with his staff.

"Toa!" he bellowed, causing the clamor to subside, "This is not how Toa behave. I want you to split up, find Kopaka, and bring him back here. He must be present for this issue to be resolved."

Tahu bared his teeth, "You all better pray I don't find him first," he snarled.

Vakama walked over and slammed his staff against Tahu's head, causing the red Toa to yelp and clutch his skull. "You've caused enough damage, Tahu," he stated flatly, "You're going to stay here."

The remainder of the five Toa departed into the woods surrounding the Kini-Nui, leaving the six Turaga with Tahu and a pair of bored Matoran.

"What do you make of this?" asked Whenua, stepping forward and tapping Vakama on the shoulder.

"It isn't our place to interfere with their love-lives," stated the orange Turaga, "But I don't want it to jeopardize their unity."

Matau shook his head, "You've been there, haven't you fire-spitter?"

Vakama glared at him, and Nuju let out a collective string of whistles and barks.

"Oh shut up," mumbled Vakama, glaring at him now, "That isn't true."