CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: INFORMATION

Lewa looked at Gali as she laughed in front of him. "Blue-sister," he said, slightly annoyed, "I'm serious."

Gali looked up in shock, "What?"

Lewa leaned against a tree, "I know you… sorta… and I can tell you just don't know how to convince Kopaka to like you enough to stay, right?"

Gali was almost unwilling to admit that Lewa had hit the proverbial nail on the head, but nodded silently. Lewa's face broke into his trademark wide smile. "That's what I'm here for, Gali."

She stood up and folded her arms, "And you think you know both Kopaka and myself well enough to pull off this… elaborate scheme?" she asked, gesturing toward herself and the ice cave with one hand.

Lewa smiled and nodded, his smile never faltering. "Blue-sister, I know lots of things."

She shook her head, "I don't know why I'm letting myself get roped into this, but I'll let you try. If you pull this off…" she thought for a moment, but Lewa beat her to an acceptable trade offer.

"I need you to teach some Le-Matoran to swim. The swamps have risen thanks to those spirit-cursed Rahkshi, and they've had to try to swim across."

Gali nodded exuberantly, "Deal."

Lewa smiled and pushed himself off the tree. "The first thing you want to do is prove-show you like him, sister," he said, "Try giving him a gift-present."

"Like what?" spluttered Gali, shocked, "I don't even know what he likes!"

Lewa grinned, "On the few times I've been up snow-mountain, Kopaka keeps a bottle of Firespitter Ale in his cabinet."

"Ta-Koronan Ale…?" she asked, curiously, "Why?"

Lewa shrugged, "Beats me, sister," he said, honestly, "But I know he like-loves the stuff."

Gali nodded, "Okay, so there's one object I can get him. Is there anything else?"

Lewa grinned, "I can quick-help with this one, but I know he's got a soft spot-place for ice sculptures."

Gali brightened at that idea, and the beginnings of a rather elaborate gift formed on the edges of her mind. "Okay, anything else?"

Lewa thought for a moment. "White-brother is a hard Toa to give things-stuff to," he admitted, "He's modest."

Gali decided to leave it at two objects for now, "Thank you, Lewa. Can you bring a bottle of Ta-Koronan Ale to Ga-Koro later? I'll pick it up from there. Just leave it at my hut."

Lewa nodded, "Will do, blue-sister."

She turned and knocked on the ice cave, and was rewarded with the door opening. She scooted inside, and Kopaka looked up at her. He had been using his sword to carve a block of ice into something. Right now it still looked shapeless.

"Have a nice chat?" he asked, dryly.

Gali nodded, "The others are worried about you."

Kopaka put on his Miru and did a cruel, but accurate, impression of Lewa.

"White-brother can't think-speak his mind. Be better if he didn't think-speak at all!"

Gali smiled, "Lewa didn't mean that. Right now, the other Toa are running rampant trying to figure out what to do."

Kopaka snorted and went back to carving. "I'll bet you a Muaka's ear that Tahu isn't."

Gali had to acquiesce on that one, and sat down, defeated. "Kopaka?"

The pale Toa looked up, "Yes?"

"Can I ask you something?"

He braced for the worst, but nodded anyway.

"What are you carving?"