Story Co-Authored by Omicron the IceQueen and Sinead Rivka

Love in the Light

Chapter Six:

Turaga Vakama

Holding onto Tahu's back, booted feet wedged just right into the footholds in his armor, River looked over his shoulder at the lava flow before them. She trembled once before catching hold of herself, and trying not to panic. Her first time doing this sort of thing hadn't been so fantastic.

The red Toa snorted in amusement, well aware of the motions of his passenger even as his eyes were on Takanuva out on a barrowed board in the flow, "He's very good." Tahu was a bit surprised as he dropped his joined swords on the surface of the glowing, liquid rock and stepped onto it before it could float away. "You don't need to hide like that little one." He added over his shoulder as he glided more to the center of the flow.

"Instinctual fear and self-preservation instincts kicking in," she replied, wincing at the water-like lava flow. "My people don't ever get this close to lava. The fumes alone would kill them. Gali, however, had been kind enough to make sure that death by magma fumes wouldn't kill me."

"Silver water?" Tahu asked as he picked up speed, but was still standing relaxed on his 'bored,' "She has her lungs filled with it, doesn't surprise me."

"It doesn't make sense, but I know that it works." She rested her head upon his shoulder, watching the landscape flow past.

"You are young," Tahu said as he shifted his stance, glancing up at hearing Takua and Lewa laughing in the air as his brother circled to keep pace, "There is many things you have yet to learn."

"And how old are you, then?" River teased gently as she watched the flying Toa for a moment. Maybe she'd try that next time.

"...around six thousand that I can remember." Tahu admitted after a moment's pause to think about it. "But my brothers and I were in stasis off and on so it's hard to really tell now exactly."

She hadn't expected that one. "Really? Wow. Honestly, how can you tell age with your kind? Because I wouldn't have thought that you would be quite that old."

Tahu had an interesting face as he gave an indignant huff, "I am not that old Meka." he snorted, body heat always changing with his emotions and state of mind and right now added heat spread out through him, and in turn through his passenger.

Instant warmth, even though one would be very hot this close to lava.

"Easy, I meant no harm or foul by my words, Fire Toa," River murmured as soothingly as she could. "I'm finding that I'm almost as curious about you and your kind as your Chronicler is about me and mine." She leaned closer to him, despite the heat.

"Hmm," Tahu rumbled, shifting into a turn as he dismissed the sight-seeing rout and headed straight for Ta-Koro. Unlike Takanuva who had to stay in the moving flow Tahu could will the lava to move him in the right way.

He was a challenge to know, and that ...was fun. River was intrigued by him and his personality. "Am I forgiven?"

"You have done no wrong little one." Tahu looked over his shoulder surprised. He built up enough speed so that when he hit the 'beach' just in front of the outer wall Tahu could flip his board up and split it into his swords again. He stored them on his back, moving automatically but before the glowing blades came to close to River they shimmered and vanished into subspace.

"Hold on," Tahu warned, though as he jumped for hand holds on the wall not BEFORE like Takanuva had...

Yelping, but the sound turning into a bright laugh as she looked up at the wall before them, then down and then back up again, "You know, it's more fun when I don't feel like I'm about to die!"

"Gee, thanks!" Takanuva's voice drifted up from below as Tahu gave an amused growl.

"What else do you expect from me! I was dragged through a portal, half-drowned, breathed water that didn't drown me, which is against all instincts that I am in possession of, and then you bring me lava-boarding through rapids!" Huffing, River grinned at Takanuva. "Need more to that list, or can I leave it at that before I reiterate your lack of a note of where you went when I woke up?"

"You were with the Second of the Ta-Koro Guard." Takanuva yelled back up, "Short of within a Toa's grasp there's not that much of a safer place to be!"

Tahu smiled as he topped the wall, straightening in pride of his people that even the dimension hopper knew of the famous Ta-Koro Guard.

"As much as you know about the Ta-Koro Guard, I have no idea what that means! My education is incomplete, Takanuva!" River was, however, grinning and taking everything in better the second time around.

Tahu leaded down to grasp one of the golden Toa's arm and helped him up even though his brother didn't need it. At the same time shrugging the human off his back and guiding her onto the ground one arm like he would for an Matoran, "Then you can learn as you go, best way." Tahu said over his shoulder as he led the way to one of the larger huts.

River trotted behind the larger 'cousins' of the Matoran, grinning. Tahu was truly wonderful in a very subtle fashion. He wasn't as impulsive as Takanuva, but she could see that his temper ran hot.

He was wonderful.

Lewa thudded down, flipping the long blades he was holding so they were now attached to his forearm armor. The green Toa crouched low to let Takua hop off and his movements, now that he wasn't relaxing in Tahu's Suva; Lewa's movements were quick and alert, vaguely bird or reptile-like. Lewa stepped, or crabbed walked away before standing respectfully to let the oldest Bionicle being River have yet seen walk over. Not limping but moving with stiffness of an ancient age, leaning on his staff and his tribal like cloak swaying with his stamps.

This was Turaga Vakama.

The human stared respectfully at the elder, unsure whether she should bow, nod, or do something else. So she just stood and watched him move closer. This had to be the Turaga. He just seemed to radiate wisdom. Tahu shifted and the broad side of his foot and lower leg pushed River firmly, but carefully forward (having done this enough times with Takua to have experance) and stepped back after as the elder waved all three Toa away.

"Come with me young one." Vakama said his voice surprisingly smooth, rich in tone and pitch. It didn't seemed as aged as the rest of him, it was the kind of voice of a true story teller that could weave magic with his words.

Looking to the Toa, then back to the Turaga, River nodded and walked forward. Doubtless, he already knew who she was, who she had come with, and for all she knew, heknew why she was here. Nodding, trusting him because Takanuva didn't look worried at all in the least, River walked forward to follow the elder wherever he wished her to go with him.

With staff in his left hand, Vakama placed his right on River's shoulder to guide her to walk with him. Up close the Turaga was taller than the average size of the Ta-Matoran running around even though he was hunched over. Had he be straight back the elder would be looking over Kapura's head.

Vakama chuckled as he watched the youth of the village 'attack' Tahu the moment the elder was away with the guest, "You have quite a destiny ahead of you River."

Smiling, but unsure of his words, River murmured, "I... I feel like I should disagree with you surely because you haven't seen my life thus far, elder." She smiled apologetically. She really couldn't see much of a great anything about herself.

"I know you much better than you can imagine right now." Vakama chuckled, patting the human's shoulder, still walking in a seeming aimless walk around Ta-Koro. "Your story has only just started my little Meka."

This... was interesting. He didn't seem to be like any of the old folks who would decidedly tell strange tales. "Wait. Waaait, wait wait." Shaking her head, she looked at the Turaga, then around them before leaning in and asking, "Is there somewhere that I can sit and talk with you about some things where we won't be overheard?" She had some questions that would cause lesser people to wonder at her own sanity.

"Here," Turaga Vakama motioned to the open flap of hide covering his home. It was one of two larger 'cabins' in the Koro, the other belonged to Takua and his massive library he was charged with. Chuckling, the elder pushed River gently inside. It was like and unlike Kapura's home, with wider windows that were currently closed by wooden shutters yet were big enough that one of the Toa could crouch or lay down just outside and be able to talk with the elder.

The sunken pit was filled with sand and not for a fire. Yet the whole place was as filled with assorted things from carvings to masks, to weapons and just so many things to investigate. But, again, no chairs, though the elder's cushions were thicker and more comfy looking than Kapura's.

"Sit, and we shall talk with some tea." Vakama urged as he let the hide flap fall, meaning to those outside that he wished to be left alone.

Nodding, she looked to the elder and asked, "Did you wish for me to help you with anything?" Despite not having much of a family, she did respect those who had been before her in age.

"I have two aids who insist on that all the time, and they already have a place made." Vakama waved the offer away as he moved to the back, away from the hide door. He was used to Takua after all, and eased his person down using his staff on one cushion before tapping the other across him with the glowing end of his staff. "There are some things I and my brothers cannot tell you. At least not yet. But ask the questions that fill you so much that make you hop around like that."

Sitting and formulating her question carefully, River looked at the Turaga. He knew much more than the Toa, and in turn, the Matoran as well. She drew in a breath, and then asked the first of many questions. "Do you know who Takanuva had been before he was Takanuva?"

"I have guessed and pieced together what I now think, when I found that one of my people does not hold true Ta-energy." Vakama nodded, "But do not talk to Takua of this. It is his destiny to find who he is, not ours."

That confirmed that suspicion. "I thought so. I wasn't going to say anything at all to him. But I'm curious if you're going to take the same approach to me." She allowed a small smile forth as she spoke. "Since you seem to know me."

"Destiny will play out as Mata Nui sees fit." Vakama's eyes crinkled a little to show his smile since his mask didn't really. "I am Turaga, as long as the Chronicle is a Ta-Matoran I will share my wisdom with him... if he will listen."

"I should take that as a 'find it out yourself,' shouldn't I?" River murmured, shaking her head and smiling as she picked up her tea and sipped it. "Should I try direct questions?" It was almost a tease, but not really.

"Ask what you will and if I can I will answer." the Turaga said as he rested his staff over his lap, sitting with feet together like the Toa and Matoran, and reached for his own cup.

"Have you met me in your timeline before this point?" Well, it was out there. And she just wanted to know how he knew she had a great destiny or whatever.

Vakama nodded, "I will not say when though."

She nodded in return. "I just wanted to know if you had or not." River frowned and thought for a moment, then asked, "Any indication how you know that I have a great destiny?"

Turaga Vakama was quite for a few thoughtful minutes as he considered how to answer that. Frowning for a moment he looked back up, "Experience. And a gifted vision from the great spirit."

That was intriguing. River pondered that for a moment before replying, "What's your Great Spirit like?"

The elder tilted his head a little, "Mata Nui, for whom our paradise, our island home is named for, watches over us all. He created our protectors and flows within us all." Vakama covered his heart-light.

Nodding, she sipped her tea before asking, "And he's the one who also tells you things through visions. But why?"

Memories seemed to surface in Vakama's mind's eye and he chuckled, "It would be too loud if he spoke." There, that didn't much away! And it was very true to boot.

"You're keeping secrets," River accused with a smile, leaning closer to the elder.

"Only those that will be reviled in time Meka," The Turaga reached over to pat River's closer knee. "Let this old one give you a few words to hold close to your heart-light."

Chuckling to show that she understood and would heed his advice to wait until a later day to find out what it was he was speaking of. Silencing herself quickly, she waited to hear what he was going to say.

"Let go of this tight hold on your spirit," the Turaga said his fingers brushing over the spot where, had River had a heart-light, it would be. "Let yourself heal and trust that not only the Toa will protect and stand by you."

Swallowing hard and willing herself not to cry at his kindness, River bowed her head and nodded. "It's... not easy. Parents didn't protect me, betrayed me... died on me... I... I don't know how I can trust someone anymore."

Staff set aside the Turaga shifted around and pulled the human closer, willing what elemental energy he had to focus and spread inner-warmth through the hand he had spread on River's back. "You have trusted already. I saw how you refused to let go of Takanuva even in sleep, you trusted the Chronicler and let the Toa Nuva of fire bring you into the heart of his domain. And family," Vakama added, "Is not just those who have made you. Take a close look at the Nuva, and the Matoran on a smaller scale in your trip here and else were."

Trying so very hard not to cry, and leaning into what comfort she could, glad to finally be able to even begin to release the burden that rested upon her shoulders, River closed her eyes. "I didn't let go of Taka?"

The elder gave a soft snort of amusement, "Not for a few hours. And it is alright to let out your grief. If Tahu, of all people, can; so can you young one."

She liked Takanuva and Tahu... they were really good people, if a bit strange. Sniffing and rubbing at the tears that had indeed escaped, River nodded. "Okay." Although just at the age of twenty-one, she was quite young in many aspects.

But this experience would do wonders for bringing her back up to speed, possibly even surpassing her peers.