“Lewa — Toa of Air”

“This sturdy clingtwiner will do, I expect,” the bright green figure murmured to himself, stretching to grab a thick vine that was hanging down in front of him. He glanced into the canyon below, then shook his head and grinned:

“No secondthink, just go…!”

He didn’t give himself time to ponder over what he was going to do. He leaped off the tree banch overhanging the canyon. He swung himself halfway across, then let go. Momentum carried him in a graceful arc over and past the gorge, to the thick jungle canopy on the other side. His arms outstretched, he soared effortlessly on the air currents, aiming for a sizable madu tree.

He laughed with delight as he landed cleanly on a tweedy branch. Though it had bent under his weight, his nimble feet have found solid footing.

“Now that was fun,” he exclaimed into the open air.

He hadn’t been sure that he could make such a leap — a sudden thought was urging him to take his chances, rather than waste his time climbing down into the gorge and back up on the other side. But now he knew at least one thing: The air was his friend!

He didn’t know much else since he had woken up in a frosty area. He knew his name was Lewa. At least he thought so. He liked the name — it sounded strong and mysterious.

Lewa, mysteryking of know-nothingness, he thought with a smile. That’s me!

He glanced down at himself, at his strong limbs the color of the jungle leaves. In one hand he carried an axlike blade, perfect for slicing through thick underbrush or twining foliage. On his other hand, there were two strong, dexterous fingers capable of grasping the branches and vines firmly. Though he couldn’t see it, he knew that his bright green mask swept back in a streamlined shape perfect for cutting through the air.

His smile faded as his mind flashed back to the dreams. Was that all they were? Dreams? He hoped so — for they had been dark and chaotic, filled with heavy knowledge which he was, however, unable to remember. They started spinning in his mind when he had placed the mask onto his face. But now he could only recall fragments: cries in the darkness, a giant, black figure, a strangling mask…

“Never mind,” he muttered to drive the disjointed memories away. “Time enough for darkthought later. It’s time for some answerfinding.”

Lewa had immediately found himself drawn to the lush, dripping jungle. Now that he was here, he felt at home. Even the screeches of the unseen creatures had felt comforting, and they sounded strangely familiar, though he was sure he had never set foot in this place before.

Jumping from tree to tree, he progressed deeper into the jungle, heading south. Even he didn’t know why he had chosen this direction — he was prompted by an intuition — but he was happy to follow the urge.

He cried out in dismay, realizing that he had just ejected a baby Taku out of its nest. Without thought, he flung one arm upward through the air in the direction of the falling chick.

“Up you go!” he cried, the words bursting out of him, though even he was surprised by what he was doing.

For a moment he thought that the baby bird was flying away. Then he gasped when he realized the truth.

No, not flying — the wind had caught it and carried it aloft.

Leaping across to a closer branch, Lewa reached up and caught the chick gently in one hand. He placed it carefully back in its nest and sighed with relief.

“Now, what kind of happyluck was that?” he murmured. “Or — or was it?”

Struck with a sudden impulse, he flung up his arm as he had done with the little bird a moment earlier. Once again, a quick gust swooped up from below with a swirl of leaves.

“It was me!” Lewa breathed in amazement. “I did it. The wind answers to me!”

He stretched out both of his arms to test this theory. But then, he glimpsed something in the corner of his eye. As he turned towards it, he spotted a small figure staring at him from a lower branch on a nearby tree.

“Hello there, littlefriend!” Lewa shouted, lowering his arms and looking at him curiously. “Are there others in this jungle too?”

Maybe he could answer his questions… He leaped effortlessly to the lower branch and landed softly beside the other being. The small figure was weakly shaking, regarding Lewa with fear.

“Could this be?” the person yelled. “We thought this dawnhope would never come. Could it be that the Toa have arrived?”

“Toa?” Lewa tasted the word on his tongue. He found it pleasant and worthy. “What’s a Toa?”

“What? Why, you!” the other one shouted. “The Turaga will explain, betterunderstanding than me. Come with me to the village!”

“Does the Turaga you speak of know the answers to my questions?” Lewa asked eagerly.

When the other one nodded, Lewa began smiling. “Then show me the way, little one! Show me the goodway!”