Chapter Seven

Under the cover of night and dense Le-Wahi trees, several inanimate Boxor vehicles stood as silent sentries around a makeshift camp. Two Matoran emerged from the dense overgrowth and made their way stealthily to the well-lit tent. There was no telling if any Bohrok were passing nearby, but it wasn’t worth taking the chance.

As the Matoran stepped into the camp, the light of the lightstone — and the fireflyers buzzing around it — illuminated their Kanohi, revealing them to be Tamaru and Kongu of Le-Koro. Takua and Nuparu stood as they entered.

“It is ever-good to see-know you,” Tamaru greeted them grimly. “If only it were not dark-time again.”

Takua clasped both hands with Tamaru’s, looking from one Matoran to the other. “I am glad you are both safe. How many are left?”

Tamaru looked at Kongu.

“None,” Kongu answered. “Tamaru and I alone away-escaped and avoided our village’s fate-end.” He hung and shook his head. “Le-Koro is lost! Mighty Toa Lewa is fallen!” He heaved a heavy sigh.

Takua’s features lit up. “No, Kongu!” Lewa is safe!”

Both Le-Matoran started at that, exchanging confused glances.

“Onua saved him, but they had to join the other Toa,” Takua explained. “They’ve sent us back to help Le-Koro!” He gestured over his shoulder to Nuparu and the dark silhouettes outside. “These Boxors can defeat the Bohrok!”

Nuparu eagerly nodded twice to show his confidence.

“Not Nuhvok,” Kongu frowned. “Oak-new machines Boxors are, but Nuhvok invincible in dense jungle!” He peered at the machines outside where Damek and Taipu were making repairs and performing maintenance checks. “Only baldland, maybe, Boxors stand a chance!”

Nuparu looked at Takua. “‘Baldland’?” he asked.

“He means open country,” Takua explained, pointing, “outside the jungle. The Nuhvok are earth-dwellers; they’re at home in tight quarters.”

“Well, he’s right about our chances,” Nuparu replied with a small shrug. “The Boxors are good but we can’t maneuver in these trees.”

Takua nodded. “Hm…maybe I have an idea. Okay, here’s the plan…”

✴        ✴        ✴

The next peaceful morning awoke in Le-Wahi like it had for many centuries, but it continued like it had in the last several days. Here and there above the canopy, one could watch trees fall as the Bohrok cleared them away underneath the canopy. But this was not organized Bohrok destruction.

This was a frenzied Bohrok chase.

Kongu landed onto a springy leaf and jumped off, Tamaru right behind him. Both swung from one tree branch to another, swinging along vines and bouncing off leaves. Far below them on the forest floor, Nuhvok pursued, barreling through every tree in their path.

Kongu landed and almost casually leaned against the tree. Tamaru lighted next to him. “Destroyers!” Kongu yelled down at the black Bohrok. “You cannot defeat Le-Koro!”

“Slowthink Nuhvok!” Tamaru added. He removed his mask and made silly faces, calling, “Oldbone and bogfoot! Yaa!” He slapped his mask back on to see the effect.

The Nuhvok in the lead did not understand the language, but it recognized the tone. With its mighty strength, it slammed its earth shields into the trunk of the tree the Matoran were in. With the earth suddenly too loose to hold its massive bulk, the tree plunged for the ground below.

“Windsprint Kongu!” Tamaru exclaimed, leaping clear.

Before the tree hit the ground, the two were on the move again, spinning around tree branches, swinging on vines, and jumping from tree to tree. Kongu landed and jumped, then Tamaru landed and jumped…then a third Matoran too, right behind them, matching their agility and skill.

At the zenith of their flight Le-Matoran propelled themselves into the air, hurtling from the forest into the open plains, landing acrobatically on their hands and flipped to their feet. They turned to look backwards. Nuhvok appeared out of the tree line and stalked into the clearing.

Directly between them, another figure flung himself out of the trees, landing smoothly before them. Kongu inhaled.

It was Turaga Matau.

At his back, the enslaved population of Le-Koro also landed in the clearing.

“Ah…Kongu…Tamaru…” the air elder said, in a sickly, flat voice. “I am glad you could join us. There is much work to be done.”

The Nuhvok opened their headplates, rearing back to launch the krana. With the last two Le-Matoran enslaved, and Le-Wahi subdued, the rest of the island would fall in short order.

“NOW!!!” Kongu shouted, raising his arm.

A krana-possessed Matoran cocked his head, confused, but before he could do anything, the ground tore open beneath him and he plunged into it. All around Matau, the villagers of Le-Koro fell into the earth as Onu-Matoran collapsed tunnel supports. Matau could scarcely react before he himself fell through a fake grass floor into a shallow underground pit and the awaiting arms of Nuparu and Takua.

On the surface and behind Kongu and Tamaru, Damek’s and Taipu’s Boxors burst out of the ground below, marching ominously toward the Nuhvok swarm and remaining Matoran.

“Onward!” Kongu shouted. “For Le-Koro!”