DiabloCat: I am REALLY sorry about my horrendous updating habits. I've been swamped in work lately. I'll try to write more quickly, but I don't guarantee anything.

Tahalli: Uh – who is Sykes? Never mind. Thanks for reviewing, and I'm glad I've actually managed to inspire someone!

Shadowed Suit: Aw, stop, you're making me blush! And yeah, you can go into games. Starcraft, Halo – that sort of thing, right?

Feline Freak: Okay, so you're Jade and Jade is you...I think I've got it...

Chessrook44: Again, thanks for the tips. The Le-Koro speaking thingo on the 'net was very handy.

And now...CHAPTER THREE: TREE-LOVER'S HEAVEN

If you have never flown through the air on the back of a Toa – which I doubt you have – you have missed out on one of the WILDEST rides ever.

Think of the scariest theme park you know of. Then triple the thrill. Then add the fact there's no seatbelts – the only thing holding you on is your arms.

Put all that together, and I was about an inch away from wetting my pants.

Not to say it wasn't fun. There's definitely something cool about flying through the air, the wind smacking into your face, wispy bits of cloud tickling your ears.

And the scenery! When I finally screwed up the courage to look down, it took my breath away. Which wasn't so great because I was having enough trouble breathing already. Flying does that to you. Anyway, the view was stunning. It was easy to see which parts of it certain Toa occupied – it was the same colour as them.

Suddenly Lewa tilted, and we headed for the ground. I couldn't stop a startled yelp escaping as we dove downwards. A flock of brightly coloured birds whirled around us, chattering indignantly as we invaded their privacy.

With a neat twist, turn and tumble that nearly threw me off, Lewa landed. I dropped to the ground rather ungracefully. Great, more bruises.

The large green Toa was grinning at me. "Did you muchlike quicksoaring?"

I dragged in a deep breath and answered him. "Oh yeah. I muchlike it a LOT!" I looked around. It was green. Really green. I just loved the ways rainforests and such had so many different shades of the colour.

"Where's Le-Koro?" I asked, unable to see it anywhere close by.

"Through there," he said, pointing. I peered where his green finger indicated – and saw a wall of green.

"Er...I don't wish to seem rude or anything – but there's nothing there."

Lewa's eyes glittered with amusement. He walked over to the wall of tangled vines, and did something I couldn't quite catch. All I knew was that he'd somehow opened a gap in the wall, big enough to walk through.

I followed Lewa closely, not wishing to get lost. I had distinctly heard a growl earlier, and didn't want to meet the creature who had made it.

My first impression of Le-Koro was one of playful activity.

Matorans were everywhere, leaping from tree to tree with a nimble ease I envied. Some were building, carrying pieces off wood and vine with them. An elderly Matoran seemed to be schooling a bunch of younger ones. Several were playing tag in the tree-tops.

The elderly Matoran looked up and saw us standing there and broke into a broad smile.

"Toa Lewa!" he cried, and waddled over. The group of young ones trailed along behind him, smiling at Lewa, and staring at me with innocent curiosity.

"Turaga Matau," Lewa said warmly. He placed one hand behind my back and scooted me forwards slightly. I found myself staring into the eyes of the wizened Matoran. "This is Carleigh. It – she says she is from..." He paused and looked at me questioningly.

"Um...another dimension." I said lamely. Mentally I groaned. It sounded so stupid!

Thankfully, the Turaga either didn't pick up on the lameness, or chose to ignore it. He merely scrutinised me slowly, from head to toe. Apparently I wasn't too evil or anything, because he gave me a smile and offered a tour.

I accepted with genuine enthusiasm. This place was fascinating. Besides, what's the point of going to a world if you don't get to do a bit of sight-seeing along the way?

Matau called over another Matoran, who introduced himself as Tamaru. Tamaru listened to the request, and agreed to show me round.

I watched Lewa walk off with Matau, and then turned back to my guide. It was much easier talking to a Matoran. For one thing, you don't have to crane your neck back to look into their faces. They were roughly the same height as me, some a little taller, some a little shorter.

Tamaru led me over to a tree, easily as big as a skyscraper. I tilted my head all the way back and still couldn't see the top.

"Come on!" said Tamaru, and bounded up the enormous tree to a branch without the slightest hint of difficulty. I just gawped. There was no way I could do that.

Tamaru saw me still on the ground, and dropped back down again.

"What is the matter?" he asked, puzzled.

I found my voice. "I don't think I can climb as well as you."

"It's mucheasy," he said. "You simply highjump." He leapt back up onto his branch as an example.

I shook my head. "Don't think I can do that either."

He cocked his head. "You are treebound?"

"Yeah."

He thought for a moment, a frown furrowing his brow, then his face suddenly lit up.

"Wait here. I'll be back everquick."

I waited, relatively patiently, for his return. As I rested, back against the impossibly tall tree, another Matoran approached me. It seemed quite nervous – not that I blamed it – so I gave a friendly smile.

The Matoran smiled shyly back, and edged forwards.

"Hey," I said. "Who are you?"

"Kulani," said the Matoran. "You are the strangeweird creature?"

"Uh, yeah, I guess so."

"And Tamarubrother is with you?"

It took me a while to work out what Kulani was saying. Why did the Lewa Clan Guys have to speak so fast? "Tamarubrother...oh! Is Tamaru your brother?"

Kulani nodded.

"I'm not sure where he is right now. He went to get something to help me climb."

Kulani looked at me with pity. "It is much hardluck to be treebound."

"Oh, I dunno. I've survived this long being treebound, I doubt a little longer will kill me."

"But how can you stand not going topleaf, or even highbranch?"

I shrugged. "Where I come from, it's not that important as it is here."

My new Matoran friend was about to reply when Tamaru returned, trailing a bunch of vines alongside him. His face lit up when he saw Kulani.

"Kulanisister! Can you help me get Carleighcreature highbranch?"

Kulani grinned, and caught the end of the vine Tamaru tossed to her. With quick deft movements, they weaved and knotted, creating a kind of ladder for me to climb.

Kulani leapt up the tree, even faster than Tamaru had done. "She is a great leaf-runner," he explained proudly. Obviously, being a leaf-runner had something to do with moving fast through the trees.

Once Kulani was perched on her branch securely, Tamaru skilfully threw the ladder up to her, and she knotted it around the branch. He then handed the end of the ladder to me.

I looked at the tree, and gulped. Oh well. Nothing for it. With a resigned sigh I put my foot in the first rung and began to climb.

DiabloCat: And that's all for now. But have no fear, I will get round to writing the next chapter eventually.