Story Co-Authored by Omicron the IceQueen and Sinead Rivka
Love in the Light
Chapter Seven:
Highflying
Lewa was the first to spot the human when she and the Turaga of fire, the smile of living elemental of air widen at first. He had been entertaining several Matoran in an impromptu game of leaping off this or that high point and being caught by either his mask power or a swirl of air. But as he was setting down a Matoran child his keen eyes seemed to pick out the distress in River that she had expressed in Vakama's hut. Saying something that must be 'sorry games are over' for there was a collective "Awwwwww!" he came over.
Toa, despite being littoral giants were very adapted to interacting with Matoran sized things. Lewa gracefully dropped into push-up position that put him at River's level, the Toa's glowing white, yellow and red eyes were frowning, "What has happed wise one? Why is the little Meka hurtsad?"
Up on the wall Takua's blue mask and a yellow one both peeked over at those words.
Smiling at his earnest behavior, River replied with a word that Vakama had taught her, "Just... old heartpain that hasn't really left in many years." She liked the Le-Koro way of speaking. More concepts could be gotten across that way, even if it wasn't a proper way of speaking.
Lewa flinched a little at the term 'heartpain' and his gaze softened at once. Vakama side stepped, knowing from experience what was about to happen, and in the next instant River was being lifted up as the Toa stood, pressing his mask to the top of her head carefully. A thrumming hum, more purr coming out of his chest.
"Oh little one...here! You will windfly with Toa Lewa to the village of air!" Lewa announced to one and all, and the world at large.
Eyes closing and all but melting into the Toa's embrace, River smiled and felt for the first time that the Mask of Paths had brought her to the right place. She nodded, smiling up at him. "Just no trick flying until I'm sure that I won't throw up!"
"Or have a Matoran's help," Takanuva said coming over with Tahu, both inclining their heads to the Turaga.
"I'll help!" Takua yelled, to no one's real surprise as the Chronicle scrambled down a ladder- after hugging the yellow masked Ta-Matoran caption. "I'll tell you all about this Jaller! Promise!"
Hearing the name and looking at the tall Matoran, River couldn't help but grin. "Oh, so... you're the Captain of the Guard, hm?" she asked from Lewa's arms.
Jaller puffed up in as much in pride as wanting to look impressive for the Toa, "Yes I am miss. I hope Kapura and Takua have been taking good care of you." Without looking he reached over and ther-waped the shorter Takua who was trying to poke Jaller's side.
"They have indeed. I learned a lot from both of them." She leaned her head against Lewa's arm (or was it his chest?) and replied, "I'm so thankful for the hospitality of your village, and for your help coming back down the lava river, Toa Tahu."
Tahu chuckled as Lewa ever so faintly twitched as he shifted the human, only to have her come unexpectedly close to his heart-light. He guessed the girl would be able to feel the tri-pulse being so close, "Ta-Koro has never turned away those in need."
River had felt the triple beat, smiling as for the first time in years, a song had started to rise into her heart.
"Nor any other Koro," Turaga Vakama said pointedly. Than motioned to Takua and Lewa, and then Takanuva, "Away to the skies with you, and you had best meet them at Le-Koro, Toa of light, using the teleportation system."
"Yes Turaga!" Takua said at once, rapping his fist to Jaller's before scrambling up to Lewa's back with the ease of doing such a thing many times. He waited to help River as the Toa boosted her up to one shoulder.
Using the helping hand up over Lewa's shoulder, she turned to look at Tahu. "Are you coming with us?"
Tahu shook his head, "I must patrol for any more tainted masks on Rahi here."
"I am sure you will meet Toa Tahu again young one." Vakama said as he walked over to Jaller, leaning on the Guard as much as his staff for support.
At the same time Takua was arranging both himself and River until she was between him and Lewa's back. The Matoran grasped handholds that were a part of the Toa's armor, like Takanuva. Did all Toa have this seemingly build in Matoran spot? But once Takua had his grip there was nearly nothing that could break it.
"Ready!"
It was interesting to be gently sandwiched between the Matoran and the Toa, and a strange thought occurred to her. So this was what an ornament on a Christmas tree felt like.
"I will take finegood care of her Av-tu." Lewa assured after Takanuva said something, the words not making it to River. Then the Toa's mask had a faint glow and he 'stepped' up into the air, blades detaching from forearms and flipping into hands, "Griptight!"
Takua squeakedin repressed excitement.
Shoving her feet into where it seemed perfectly logical for feet to go, River looked over her shoulder at the Chronicler with a broad grin before calling out to Takanuva, "See you in Le-Koro! Thank you, Turaga Vakama!"
If something was said in return from either it was drowned out by the sudden rush of wind that became a roar. But only for a few seconds before dropping back into the first level as Lewa broke into that curtain presser that he liked, fast enough to travel but not enough that he would no longer have passengers.
The Toa let out a laugh of pure enjoyment of his element all around as the world below dropped farther and farther away until there was open sky and thermals to duck in an out of. Shrieking in delight, River began to laugh as they leveled off and started to almost meander through the clouds and sky.
"It's this great?" Takua yelled seeing as he had his masked face full on into the 'worst' of the wind. Under them Lewa chuckled before turning into slow rolls.
"Having muchfun?" The Toa asked, his words should have been whipped away but were heard clear and strong as on the land below changed from lava fields to flat lands and then scattered blanked trees. Lewa dived to skim somebody lengths over the ground, beyond and ahead was an edge of a plato.
River was having a blast! It was beautiful, totally freeing as they dipped and dove, rolled and floated. Everything was simply brighter, faster, sharper, greener...
This was life as it was to be lived. Laughing and giggling as they dipped and dove, River wondered what she would be like at the end of her journey. But she only wondered that for a moment before reveling in flight.
"Hang on! And look down- I mean up!" Takua corrected himself as Lewa rolled to be upside-down as they past the edge of the plato that was half the border of Ta- and Le-Wahi.
Suddenly, everything changed. Ta-Wahi was in its way more than pretty, but the sudden explosion of life and color out shined the more rugged reds, gray, and brown shades of the fire regain. It was a jungle that was more than massive, putting those of earth to shame not only in the colors but size. The smallest trees were the height of old redwoods and rising up to tower with sky-scrapers.
Lewa inhale deeply, the air thick with scents and tastes before letting out a warbling cry that was a throwback to his Hordika ancestors in the pure joy of being home.
Feeling that bit of wildness in spirit, but not in action, about Lewa, River's grin returned and she tried to take in as much as she could. The air was heavier here, laden with moisture and scents. This smelled like something on Earth...
Takua shifted and used head to... well, headbut River's back for attention after he spotted the buildings in the trees of the old Koro. A moment later as Lewa wove between the massive branches the scattered hut/cabins became more in number. Yet many of these buildings weren't in the best of shape. From being half destroyed to being taken apart to the bare bones of the structures. There had once been many boardwalks crisscrossing around and once connecting all the buildings, now there were just rims.
The Toa swung close, flipped his blades onto his forearms and attached himself to the trunk. This was a reason he had sharp claws as well claws on his feet. Lewa's chest expanded and fell as he... not quite panting but still taking deep breaths as he started to climb. "Almost there, heartpromis little Meka."
River felt her hands slipping due to her palms sweating with nervous excitement. Drawing in a breath, she tightened one hand while shifting the other to pull closer and wipe her hand off on her chest, then grabbing on again while repeating the motion with her other hand.
Everything smelled so fresh, living, and wonderful here. She couldn't get over it.
"This is the old Koro," Takua said, making sure that the human wouldn't fall as Lewa deftly climbed up higher. "After the Bohrok attack. It's moved to two other great trees."
"Yes," Lewa jumped, snaring a hand on hanging vines that could support him and swung in a long ark to a branch he was just able to crouch on. Leaning forward the Toa tilted his head and shoulders down, feeling Takua free one hand to grab River to keep her from sliding off.
But it gave a clear view of two trees towering over all others, much like the one they were in. Le-Koro was more sprawled out then Ta-Koro by the looks of it, but then Ta-Koro was made to stream line work and life. Le-Koro was half way up and on two trees, connected by any number of different types of bridges from vines, ladders, nets and boardwalks. Compared to the ruins of the old village, this place was as vibrant as the air Toa that now launched himself into the air again.
"Wow," River breathed in awe, glad that Takua had held onto her while they had viewed the city. "It's so beautiful. How can you bear to leave this city, Toa Lewa?"
"Le-Koro is a place, it is my people- all Matoran, that have my heartlove." The Toa said as his keen eyes picked out his Kora launching into the air to meet them. "Though I dearlove trees and all of my Wahi, I am Toahero! And Toaheroes protect all. Galisister can keep the coldwet though."
Laughing at that, River had to tease. "You don't like the water? Why not? Without it, nothing grows!"
"Bah," Lewa made a face that the two on his back couldn't see, "We all need the different elements to live strong. But this Toahero doesn't like the coldwet."
Grinning, she held on tightly and asked, "So what do you do if you have to be a hero in the cold and wet?"
"Be a Toahero that has to get wet." Lewa chuckled as he rose higher to the village proper, "Looksee! Le-Koro! Village of the air and greatlife!"
Grinning, tendrils of hair whipping around her face, River took in the sights of the thriving-green city and landscape around them.
If there really was a heaven, this place was it.
The moment Lewa was spotted an instant cheer was heard and then word spread like wildfire in dry fields. The Toa was back home, and at the moment it just added more 'goodright-ness' to the fact that now three guardians were in the Koro. Lewa ducked and wove between some bridges and ladders before landing lightly on a wide boardwalk.
Takua hopped down as the Toa knelt and looked up, "You can let go now!" he said with a grin.