Chapter Seven

If he was to travel to all the Turaga, he would need to do so quickly. Taking out the flute from Le-Koro, he played the new flutesong, and looked to the skies. As promised, a Kahu bird soon appeared, ready to fly him anywhere on the island. He decided to start with Turaga Vakama in Ta-Koro. But first, he had to deliver some bad news to a friend.

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As Takua stepped inside Jala’s headquarters, the Captain’s eyes narrowed. “Have you found the way to North March? What news do you have of it?”

As quickly as he was able, Takua relayed what he had learned. The Captain’s eyes betrayed only hardened resolve.

“So,” said Jala. “It is as I feared. My North March scouts have been taken by the Makuta. There may still be hope for them. They will not be forgotten. If I can maneuver my forces shrewdly, there may be hope for us all.”

Leaving a somber Jala, Takua hiked over to Vakama’s chamber to deliver Nuju’s note. “Thank you, adventurer, for showing this to me,” the Turaga said after the Chronicler showed him the message. “You are as noble as your reputation, and as resourceful.”

Flying across the island, Takua delivered the message to every other Turaga, each of whom told him the same thing when he presented them with Nuju’s message. With all six Turaga alerted, Takua headed back to Ko-Koro to tell Nuju it was so.

As he was on his way back, however, he came suddenly upon Kapura, who greeted him. “Hello. You are the Chronicler. I have been looking for you. Vakama wishes to speak with you.”

“Where is Vakama?” Takua asked.

“Vakama is in Ta-Koro,” Kapura replied.

Takua frowned. He had just been in Ta-Koro delivering Nuju’s message. Why had the Turaga not told him then? Perhaps it was necessary to Nuju’s message to the other Turaga first. “What does Vakama want?” Takua asked.

“I know only that it is a matter of great urgency,” said Kapura.

“How did you get here?” Takua queried.

“It is as Vakama said. I practiced, and became skilled. I now know the secret art of traveling great distances by moving very slowly. It is a small matter for me to be wherever I am not. It is a useful skill. You should go to Vakama now,” he urged. “It is important.”

“Thank you,” Takua replied.

“I am to accompany you,” said Kapura. “Let us go together.”

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Together the pair made their way quickly to Ta-Koro and then into Vakama’s hut.

Vakama greeted them warmly. “Chronicler, it is good of you to come. And thank you, Kapura, for fulfilling your mission so quickly. I see that you have indeed gained skill.”

He turned his attention fully to Takua. “The Toa have left for the Kini-Nui, to begin their final quest. We must help them, but our villages are beset by Rahi on all sides. I ask that you pursue a mission of grave importance.”

“What are the Toa doing?” Takua asked.

“The Toa have begun their quest to destroy the Makuta, and bring light and happiness back to Mata Nui. They have recovered the Golden Kanohi, and are en route to Kini-Nui. In the temple is a passage through which they will enter the Makuta’s dark realm. Once inside, the Makuta will attempt to destroy them, and they will be beset by Manas: unimaginable horrors that guard his domain. They will face these fearsome challenges as the Toa Kaita, and there will be great battle.”

“The Toa are much stronger than I!” Takua protested. “How can I be of help to them?”

“The Makuta is treacherous,” said Vakama. “I believe he knows the Toa are coming, and is massing Rahi to attack the Kini-Nui after the Toa have passed through. I fear he will attempt to seal the Toa in his underworld, imprisoning them there forever. Or, worse, should the Toa attempt to flee, he will set the Rahi to ambush them as they emerge through the passage. With the horrible Manas in front and the Rahi behind, the Toa are caught in a vice that will assuredly crush them.”

Takua pondered this for a moment, and then asked reluctantly, “What is my mission?”

“You must defend the Kini-Nui against the Rahi while the Toa are underground,” replied Vakama. “I know you are brave and resourceful, but even you cannot do this alone. You must assemble a fellowship. Of my left and right hands, Jala should remain here to command his Guard and defend Ta-Koro. My left hand is Kapura, who is with you now. He will go. He may seem slow and strange to you, but his simple words often carry a hidden wisdom.”

The Turaga frowned. “Go first to the other villages. They are besieged, but I have talked with the Turaga. I’m certain that they can all spare at least one Matoran to aid in this task. Once your Company has been gathered, you must travel to the Kini-Nui. Its road begins where the river ends at Ga-Koro, and falls from a great height. This mission is vital. The Toa, and indeed all of Mata Nui, need you now.”

Although Takua was not eager to begin this task, he sensed that the conversation was over. He bid Vakama, “Goodbye.”

“May Mata Nui smile on you and your party, Chronicler,” Vakama said as the pair started off. “We shall face our own hardships here, but they will bear better knowing you have sped on your task.”

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The Matoran made their way to Ko-Koro to speak with Turaga Nuju. Takua only hoped Matoro was still at his side. To his great relief, he was.

“Nuju is pleased that you have delivered the messages, Chronicler,” the translator began. “Now Fate is upon us; Rahi have come out of the Drifts like a storm, and press against our walls! He sees that you are seeking a hero to join your Company. The Ko-Matoran try to stay out of the affairs of others, but this time they have no choice but to act.”

The Turaga banged his staff in the ground with a flurry of more noises, and Matoro spoke. “Nuju says to find Kopeke, his left hand. He dwells in a cave near the cablecar. Kopeke will not offer great company, for he is hard and likes solitude; but you will find that what he lacks in cheer is made up for with strength and skill. He is our greatest sportsman, and also the most skilled in ice-craft. In his hands, a block of ice can become like anything in imagination, from a delicate crystal flower to a gleaming statue of Kopaka, perfect in every detail.”

Takua thanked Nuju for his time, then started back toward the cablecar, for they had passed Kopeke on the way to the Sanctum. By the time they found him, the sentry was as silent as ever.

“Will you join my party and come to Kini-Nui?” Takua asked.

“I will come,” was his reply.

The new companions hurried back to the Sanctum to inform Nuju of Kopeke’s decision. Nuju nodded, and began speaking as Matoro translated: “Nuju is pleased that you have found Kopeke, Chronicler. He is skilled in ice-craft, and can fashion almost anything from the ice. He is also a valiant warrior. Your path to the Kini-Nui begins near Ga-Koro. But be cautious! Even here in the Drifts of Ihu, Rahi are threatening our walls!”

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At the bottom of the Le-Koro tree, the party encountered Tamaru stifling a sniff.

“Oh – hello,” he regarded the party sadly. “Matau Singer and Kongu Pilot, uptree they are. Rama-swarm threatens and all good Le-Matoran fly defense. Highbranch home locked and protected. Downtree guard am I, set here because… I fly not.”

With no way up to the top of the tree, Takua had no other choice than to seek help from him directly. “Will you join our Company?” he asked.

“Join I will!” he replied eagerly. “Highbranch home safely guarded, no Rahi approach through brush, only from sky! I am Tamaru, highfly Vinesman and deepwood Wayfinder! Of great help to you can I be!”

Takua was not so certain of that, as he recalled that Tamaru was the villager who had fallen out of the tree and onto his head when he first came to Le-Koro. Be that as it may, the Matoran started off again.

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“I have been expecting you, traveler,” Whenua greeted Takua. “You are here to find Matoran that might join your quest. It is a hard choice, since the Rahi have been massing underground, and will attack us at any moment! Onepu is brave and strong, and would be the best choice. But he and his Ussalry regiments are needed to defend the caves. Taipu, instead, should go. He is not, perhaps, the brightest Lightstone in Onu-Koro, but his strength is equaled only by his heart.”

Whenua shifted uncomfortably on his feet. “With all the work that goes on here, it is dangerous to let any go with you – let alone our strongest digger. But Taipu has spoken of nothing but you and adventure since his visit to Le-Koro, and so I feel it would be wrong to keep him here. You may take Taipu. He is in the Great Mine, hard at work, as usual.”

Taipu was indeed in the Great Mine, but he did not appear to be hard at work. His mind most certainly appeared to be elsewhere.

“It’s you!” exclaimed Taipu when he saw the Matoran approaching. “Are we to go on another adventure together? I would like that very much. Mata Nui is truly a wondrous place. I should like to see more of it!”

“Will you join our Company?” Takua asked.

“Yes, I will join you!” was his enthusiastic reply.

The team hurried back to Turaga Whenua to inform him of Taipu’s decision. The Turaga brightened upon seeing the Matoran again. “Ah!” he said. “You have found Taipu. I wish you all good luck, and the strength of Onua in all tasks. The road to the Kini-Nui lies near Ga-Koro. Your journey should start there.”

Now they knew where they had to go, but there was one more stop they had to make along the way.

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“Hello again, Chronicler,” Onewa greeted the travelers. “It seems that dark times have fallen again across my village. Nui-Jaga, and worse, are secretly massing in the deserts outside town. I fear that even the great skill of our stone-workers cannot fashion walls high enough to defend us. But we must try.”

Before Takua could speak, Onewa raised his hand. “I have heard of your mission. You are seeking Matoran to join your Company. These are trying times, and it is hard to part with even my least able craftsmen, but nonetheless I know of the importance of your task.”

Onewa paced twice. “Huki I would send, but he is still recovering from his illness, and he is sorely needed here besides. So instead take my left-hand, Hafu. Hafu is very proud, and does not always listen to wise counsel, but his digging and stone-craft are matched by none in Po-Koro. Take him with you. Doubtless he is out in the desert, caring for the waysigns on the road, and seeing that no harm comes to his masterworks.”

Out in the desert, Hafu was indeed caring for the waysigns, and the team had already passed him on their way into the village. They headed back out to speak to him.

“I’m not giving any carving lessons today,” he said as he saw the party approaching. “Don’t you know there are Rahi about?”

He reconsidered. “If you want to see my artwork, you should do so in Po-Koro. It is safer there, although I do not know for how long. Please don’t bother me. I have to finish my masterpiece before the Rahi attack.”

We explain what we are doing and ask him to join our Company. “Will you join our Company?” asked Takua.

“So, you have need of my great skills,” Hafu boasts. “Who am I to deny fame and glory, even if I do not last to see it? I will join your Company.”

They hastened back to Onewa, and when he saw Hafu among the growing company, the Turaga smiled. “So, you found Hafu, and he was willing. That is good. If you are headed to the Kini-Nui, you must find some way other than the road from this village. That way is held by the Rahi, and none can pass there safely.”

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Two guards stood posted at the Ga-Koro gate. “You may pass,” one of them said on seeing Takua and his company.

“Hello again, adventurer,” said Nokama when she saw them. “It is nice to see you, even though trouble often walks alongside you. Even now, the waters are filled with horrible Rahi, bent on our destruction!”

She hesitated, then continued. “I confess I have feared your arrival. Kotu and Maku are very dear to me, so I am sorry to send them with you on such a dangerous mission. It is harder even to choose which one I would rather see go.”

The Turaga pondered a few moments, then decided. “Kotu, I think, needs to stay here with me and maintain the village’s defense. So it is Maku, my right hand, which you should take. She has been told to stay in her hut until now, and her love of Huki and adventure has made it a hard punishment. I fear her cheer at being allowed to go outside will blind her to the dangers of your task. Yet, she is good with boats, and her agility and acrobatic training makes her a valuable warrior!”

She moved over to the door and pointed at the Naho Falls beyond the gate. “The way to the Kini-Nui lies behind the waterfall near our village. It is likely that Maku can find a boat to get through the falls. You will find her in her hut.”

True enough, she had remained where Takua had last seen her, obedient to the Turaga’s wishes.

“Hello, Chronicler!” said Maku eagerly on seeing the new arrivals. “I heard Huki was sick, and that you helped him become better. Thank you! I mean… that is, I’m sure the Po-Matoran are glad to have him back.”

She frowned. “I wish Nokama would let me go visit Huki, but the Rahi are going to attack again, and everyone is building barricades around the village.”

“Will you join our party?” Takua asked.

“Yes, I will come with you!” was Maku’s eager reply. “It will be good to go out on adventures again!”

As the team returned to Nokama, the Turaga was hard at work, with Matoran rushing to and from her hut. But as Takua and his company entered, she turned to them and bowed in greeting.

“Hello again, adventurer. I see you have found Maku willing to join your Company! I would have been surprised if she did not; she has always been more adventurous than the others who dwell here. The way to the Kini-Nui lies behind the waterfall near our village. It is likely that Maku can find a boat to get through the falls. Take care! There are many Rahi gathering in the water, and they can attack at any moment!”