Chapter Five

As Hahli departed from Ko-Koro along the rocky path, she noticed another path beside it that was not visible before. Following it, Hahli eventually arrived at the outskirts of the jungle of Le-Wahi. Hahli entered the jungle and discovered a simplistic ladder made of vines and branches trailing along the jungle floor. She climbed it and passed through a natural arch in the tree into the Le-Koro Town Square. There were two Le-Matoran here, but Hahli continued straight towards an adjacent tree attached to the main square by a bridge made of wooden planks. Entering a hollow in the tree, Hahli discovered a brightly lit chamber with yet another smaller tree growing inside the larger tree’s trunk. A figure at the smaller tree’s base turned to speak to her.

“Welcome, water-lady!” he said. “Long is the groundpath from seabright Ga-Koro to deepwood Le-Koro. Take rest here if you tire, for you shall need it. Kongu and Tamaru have practiced long and hard, and are ready to face you at the Kolhii Tree.”

“Who are you?” Hahli asked.

“I am Matau, Turaga of Le-Koro,” he replied.

“Le-Koro?” she repeated.

“Deepwood Le-Koro is town of leaf and branch, home of highflying Windriders!” Matau exclaimed. “Hear you, the wind in the trees? It is jungle-song. Hightree whispers are the flute of Virtue!”

“Virtue?” Hahli asked.

“As other Turaga, so speak I of Mata Nui’s care, and things both forward and back,” Matau said. “Listen well to the song of the forest, and to its singers Makani and Sanso.”

“Windriders?” she inquired.

“As Ga-Koro sailors ride waves by seacraft, in boat and under sail: so Le-Koro pilots sail clouds, on Gukko wings!” explained Matau.

“Goodbye,” Hahli said cheerfully.

“Goodbye!” Matau replied.

✴        ✴        ✴

Hahli returned to the town square where the two Le-Matoran could still be found. Hahli approached the Matoran wearing a green noble Kanohi Matatu first.

“Hello, Ga-Matoran,” he said. “Have you come to hear our song?”

“Who are you?” Hahli asked.

“I am Makani the musician!” he replied.

“Song?” she asked.

“With song we honor the Virtue of Le-Koro!” Makani replied.

“Virtue?” Hahli questioned.

“Listen and heed the Virtue sung by Mata Nui to Le-Koro!” Makani elaborated. “Who can walk silent in the Wood? Taku-cry and Fikou-chirp, windhorn and trunkdrum, all around is the ceaseless junglesong, dawn, highsun and night! To unite their voice with this music is the duty of all Le-Matoran. In Le-Koro our song praises Unity and Duty, and from this comes our Principle!”

“Principle?” she asked.

“Seek sing-song Sanso to learn of our principle!” Makani advised.

“Goodbye,” Hahli smiled at him.

“Goodbye!”

Now Hahli approached the other Matoran.

“Hello, Ga-Matoran,” he greeted her. “Are you here to play us in Kolhii? Kahu and Taku sing of your coming!”

“Who are you?” Hahli asked.

“I am Sanso the musician!” he answered.

“Sing?” she asked.

“It is a song of Faith!” Sanso declared.

“Faith?” Hahli repeated.

“In Le-Koro we live our lives according to the principle of Faith,” the Matoran explained. “Faith is what holds aloft the feet of our leaf-runners! Faith is the wind that lifts our Gukko-riders from the trees! Faith is the hand that guides our discs to their marks! Without Faith, no Le-Matoran could sail the skies, or run across the treetrops.”

“Principle?” she enquired.

“From the principle of Faith comes our skill. Talk to Tamaru, for he knows more of it!” Sanso advised.

Hahli nodded, “Goodbye.”

“Goodbye!”

✴        ✴        ✴

Now Hahli investigated the contents of two huts attached to branches on either end of the town square. In one, a Le-Matoran Trader named Tuuli is selling his wares.

“Welcome to my shop!” he said courteously. “If you see anything you like, let me know. Also, I buy Bamboo Poles, Rope, Sailcloth, Nets, Rigging, Ore, Protodermis, Lightstones, and Bladders, if you have any.”

In the other hut, another Le-Matoran turned to address Hahli.

“Welcome, Hahli of Ga-Koro,” he said. “Tamaru and I are ready to face you on the Kolhii field, whenever you are ready!”

“Who are you?” Hahli asked.

“Highfly pilot Kongu!” he introduced himself. “All Gukko pilots are under my command.”

“Gukko pilots?” she asked.

“Boreas, Taiki, Vira, Shu and Orkan are on patrol by my order!” Kongu explained.

“Goodbye,” Hahli said.

“Goodbye!” Kongu replied.

Before she returned to the town square, Hahli spotted a small item on the floor of Kongu’s hut. Discovering it to be the Charm of Faith, she placed it in her satchel.

✴        ✴        ✴

Climbing a third branch off the town square, Hahli arrived at a vine dangling from the upper levels of the village. She ascended the vine until she reached a platform made of stretched fiber near which a hut was suspended. Hahli entered the hut and a Le-Matoran turned to speak to her.

“Hello, Ga-Matoran. It is a long road from Ga-Koro,” he commented. “Are you here to trade?”

“Who are you?” Hahli asked.

“I am Kumo the crafter!” he replied.

“Trade?” she enquired.

“I make Throwing Discs,” Kumo explained. “If you bring me 5 Bamboo Wood, I can make a disc for you.”

Taking him up on his offer, Hahli traded some of her Bamboo Wood for Throwing Discs. “Great, here you go,” Kumo said, handing them to her.

“Goodbye.”

“Goodbye!”

✴        ✴        ✴

Hahli returned to the platform and crossed a short bridge of wooden planks to get to an adjoining platform. This platform had a vine leading downwards and a branch attached to it leading toward another tree, to which the branch was attached. Hahli walked along this branch until she arrived at the tree, where a Le-Matoran was waiting.

“Hello, Hahli,” he called to her. “Are you here to play us in Kolhii? Just tell Turaga Matau when you are ready. In the game that comes you must beware our keenshot skill!”

“Who are you?” Hahli asked.

“I am Tamaru, of Le-Koro!” he said. “I am leafrunner and left hand of Turaga Matau. I do not Gukko-fly, though. Instead I tend the Disc Range.”

“Skill?” she asked.

“Here in Le-Koro our principle grants us great Accuracy,” Tamaru explained. “If you train long and hard, you can gain Accuracy too!”

“I would like to train in Accuracy,” Hahli told him.

“Then let us begin!” he agreed.

The task, Hahli learned, was to strike a certain number of flying contraptions made in the likeness of Nui-Rama with her Discs within a small amount of time. After training with Tamaru for a while, she said, “Goodbye.”

“Goodbye!” Tamaru replied.

Before Hahli left the Disc Range, she noticed a small object in the middle of the tree trunk. Discovering it to be the Charm of Accuracy, Hahli placed it in her satchel.

✴        ✴        ✴

As she was making her way back to Turaga Matau’s chamber, Hahli noticed movement and shuffling among the tree canopy. There were no paths or platforms over, so she climbed down to the forest floor and made her way over on foot.

Following along a path cut through the trees, Hahli emerged at a large clearing filled with more plants than she had ever seen. At the center was a purple-armored Matoran with a lime-green Miru standing beside a circle of bushes and a large, glowing tree. At his side were two Le-Matoran mounted on two large birds that were perched on the ground.

The Ga-Matoran approached the purple-armored Matoran first.

“The Bula Bushes are looking as bright as ever,” he remarked. “And the Vuata Maca Tree crystals are flourishing.”

“Who are you?” Hahli asked.

“I am Henji, the Wizard,” the Matoran responded. “I travel between villages and tend to the Vuata Maca Trees. But mostly I care for the Wall of Life.”

“Wall of Life?” Hahli inquired.

“You are standing in it,” Henji responded. “This is a garden containing every living plant known to them. It is guarded closely, for if any of the forest should burn or die off, the seeds grown in this Wall will help them restore it. Rather simple compared to some, like Onu-Wahi’s Wall of Geography.”

“Vuata Maca Trees?” Hahli asked.

Henji nodded. “Not long ago, this six Vuata Maca Trees of the six villages came under attack by Makuta’s Rahi. It was only thanks to the bravery of Takua, who is now the Chronicler, that they were saved. I had to entreat him and enlist his aid.”

“Bula Bushes?” the Ga-Matoran pressed.

“I tend to them too. There is not a plant under the sun that I have not studied and cannot care for.”

Hahli nodded. “Goodbye.”

“May you flourish like the oldest trees in this forest.” Henji bowed.

To the side, one of the Gukko riders stirred as Hahli approached him. “Peaceful, isn’t it? Many travel here to admire the work of the Wizard, and to relish the gifts Mata Nui has given us.”

“Who are you?” Hahli asked.

“I am namecalled Boreas,” the Le-Matoran smiled.

The Ga-Matoran nodded. “Gifts?”

Boreas gestured. “Every plant you see before you is from every stretch of Mata Nui. Not all of them are native to this stretch of jungle, but the Wizard has perfected the environment to suit each of them. This place is so precious that we must guard it.”

“Guard?” Hahli asked.

Boreas shifted in his saddle. “The Gukko Force is always on guard here, even in peacetime.”

“Gukko Force?” The phrase was new to her.

Boreas nodded. “The leafrunners and Le-Koro defense. To fight the Rahi, we flew on the subspecies of the Gukko birds, the Kahu hawks who were capable of evading them. For sport we ride their other subspecies, Kewa vultures, or Goko-Kahu. But for all other things we ride the Gukko hummingbirds.”

“Le-Koro defense?” Hahli inquired.

Boreas’ chest swelled slightly. “Kongu appointed me Second Commander after the struggle at the Gukko Nest. It is not an appointment I take lightly.”

The two Matoran exchanged a “Goodbye,” and Hahli walked over to the other Le-Matoran Gukko rider.

“Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz,” the rider snored.

“What are you doing?” Hahli asked.

The rider started and sat upright. “Huh? Wha? Who? Oh… It’s too peaceful here. Always puts me to sleep.”

“Who are you?” Hahli asked.

“I’m Orkan…” the rider mumbled.

Hahli frowned. “Goodbye.”

The Le-Matoran shook his head, trying to wake himself up. “Sorry, I’m still half-asleep.”

✴        ✴        ✴

The path continued beyond the Wall of Life, so Hahli followed it down. The path led to a giant cave marked “Le-Koro Highway.” Three more Le-Matoran were sitting outside it with their Gukko, although two were dismounted and playing with instruments. Hahli approached the one closest to the cave entrance, the one who remained mounted, although to her surprise, the cave entrance was caved in.

“No traveling along the Highway, I’m afraid,” the rider remarked. “It got caved in with the Bohrok attack, and the Onu-Matoran haven’t gotten to clearing it again yet.”

“Who are you?” Hahli asked.

“I am Vira,” the Le-Matoran replied. “I am a ramp attendant and Gukko high-rider.”

“Highway?” Hahli gestured.

“Sad, isn’t it?” Vira remarked. “So soon after they open it, and we’re back to going the long way. The stain left by the Bohrok persists.”

“Goodbye,” Hahli gestures.

“Take care,” Vira bows his head.

The Ga-Matoran turns to the other two Matoran, whom she saw before making music. The first one salutes casually.

“High-hello! Up-greeting, traveler,” he smiles. “You must have made quite a long journey to come here.”

“Who are you?” Hahli asked.

“The name’s Shu. That’s not ‘shoo,’ it’s ‘Shu.’ Taiki here and I are… musicians, but Kongu has us making the rounds.” Shu winked. “Promise not to tell him you saw us here?”

Hahli tilted her head. “Kongu?”

“Captain of the Gukko Force.” Shu grinned. “Very hard-stern with us. So stern Lewa’s always telling him to bright-lighten up.”

Hahli nodded her understanding. Then she asked, “Musicians?”

“Le-Koro is known for our music.” Shu replied. “Just pray you never have occasion to hear the drums ring a sorry-bad song.”

“Goodbye,” Hahli said.

“Goodbye!” Shu replied cheerfully.

“Hello, Ga-Matoran,” the other musician said. “Did the tune we played echo all the way to Le-Koro? If it has, Kongu will no doubt have a word with us later.”

“Who are you?” the Ga-Matoran wondered.

“I am Taiki the musician!” Taiki replied.

“Tune?” Hahli asked.

“The music of the Le-Matoran rings through the trees,” Taiki replied proudly. “And louder than every instrument rings the Singer.”

“The Singer?” Hahli inquired.

“Turaga Matau,” Taiki’s eyes twinkled. “It was I who fashioned that nickname for him. The other Turaga go by other names: Vakama the Legend-Keeper. Onewa the Referee. Nuju the Scholar. Whenua the Wayfarer. Nokama the Stargazer. They are the ones who have always guided us, together now with the Toa patrons.”

“Toa patrons,” Hahli asked.

“The six Toa are patrons for different things,” Taiki explained. “Lewa is the patron Toa of Virtue, for example. Tahu is the patron of Destiny, Gali is the patron Toa of Unity, and Onua is the patron of Duty. Pohatu is the patron of Kolhii. Kopaka is the patron of Principle.”

✴        ✴        ✴

Hahli made her way back to Matau’s chamber in the hollow of the tree.

“I am ready to face the team from Le-Koro,” she told him.

“Luck be with you and Macku,” Matau said kindly. “Go to the Kolhii tree and I shall call the match.”

Hahli traveled to the Le-Koro Kolhii Tree, which could be reached from the platform connected to the Disc Range by climbing down the hanging vine. There, she challenged the Le-Koro Kolhii Team. She and Macku were victorious.

After the match, Hahli could hear the Le-Matoran congratulating her and commenting on the game:

“Heartstrong and quick you are, Hahli!” Kongu praised. “I did not think you could best us. Against you our faith was shattered!”

“Shattered?” Hahli enquired.

“See this branch upon which we tread?” Kongu asked her. “See the trunks holding our village proud and tall? Faith keeps solid the leaves beneath our steps. But beware the rot that forms deep in the wood… it shatters, splinters, and Fragments. Even stout oak fears Fragmentation. Fragmentation is the enemy of Faith!”

“Ashamed am I, Hahli, that you have beaten us!” Tamaru admitted. “But I am glad you have won also. But if you seek skill I can aid you still.”

“Everquick and lucky are you, Ga-Matoran, for you have beaten our best Kolhii players,” Makani said. “I sing a song of bittercheer, for a great game played well but lost!”

“Heartstop and fastbreath you played against us, Hahli!” Sanso exclaimed. “It was a marvel to see. This is a song about Kolhii! I sing to honor the people of Ga-Koro and Le-Koro!”

“Keenshot and quickdodge are you, Hahli! Our team was skilled, yet you defeated them,” Kumo added, before asking, “Is there something I can trade with you?”

Turaga Matau congratulated Hahli last. “Proudstand you should, Ga-Matoran!” he reassured her. “Cunning and trueshot Kongu and Tamaru are, yet you have won the day. Take cheer in treebright Le-Koro, for champion of all Mata Nui you may one day be!”