CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN: THE JUNGLE

Kopaka swatted at what had to be the seven millionth bug that day. The damn things wouldn't leave him alone, and insisted upon landing on him. Gali merely created a shell of water to drive them away, but the cursed things seemed immune to ice.

"Let's go through the jungle…" he mimicked, punching at a particularly nasty bug the size of his hand, "…take the scenic route…"

Gali shrugged, "I just wanted to see more of the island."

He looked back over his shoulder, "You're lucky I like you."

Gali tried to determine what kind of 'like' he was referring to in the ambiguous comment, but had no luck.

Finally, after what seemed like forever, the jungle began to thin. Kopaka jammed his spear into the ground and turned to face Gali. "I've got an idea, if I may."

She nodded, and he gestured toward a pathway that led off into the depths of the jungle. "We could go visit Le-Ara and take one of their transports to Ta-Ara. How would that sound?"

Gali gulped visibly, "Won't there be another Guardian?"

Kopaka nodded solemnly, "But we'll have an advantage, I believe. Ice is a dominant element over Air. The Guardian should be little or no problem." Famous last words…

Gali smiled, "Let's go, then."

Kopaka walked ahead of her, slashing at the underbrush as he went to clear a path. While he envied Lewa's ability to fly, he did NOT envy the fact that he lived in an area where every bush, tree and shrub could attack you with more-than-a-little venomous thorns.

After a good hour's worth of walking, Kopaka and Gali walked to the opening of Le-Ara. The first word spoken between either of them was "wow".

All of Le-Ara was built on a floating landmass that hovered above the ground. The conical piece of land was festooned with pieces of ivy and other plants that hung down like hair from its jagged gray sides. Massive towers built from similar material to Nui-Rama Hives jutted into the sky like proud sentinels; their openings staring ahead like sightless eyes.

Kopaka activated his Miru, floating into the air and moving toward the island, "Coming, Gali?"

She followed suit, and the pair of Toa floated toward the island. It dwarfed them in size, and Gali felt a twinge of fear as she got closer. She could practically feel the Air Guardian on the island. She could tell Kopaka felt it too.

Kopaka landed on the edge of the floating island, marveling at the spires that rose majestically from its surface. He motioned toward the nearest tower, "Let's go."

Something, however, felt wrong. While Ko-Ara had been destroyed, Le-Ara seemed intact. Still, Matoran were a missing commodity in the area, and the same, sinister pillar rose from the center of the abandoned village.

"Not good…" murmured Kopaka, kicking the pillar with enough force to create a vibration, "Where the hell have all the Matoran gone?"

He was surprised when his question was answered for him. "The Matoran belong to my Master now."

He whirled around to face Malak, his blue eye blazing. Gali could see he was fighting to keep himself from entering bloodlust again.

"YOU!" he snarled, "What do you think you're doing here?"

Malak shrugged nonchalantly, "I'm here on my Master's request," he explained, "He's quite interested in your little friend."

Gali frowned, "Me?"

Malak laughed, but his laughter carried no mirth. "No, foolish Toa, not you…" he raised a midnight-black finger and pointed at Kopaka.

"He's interested in your little demon."