Chapter Seven

Lesovikk watched as the first rays of light returned to the world. He had kept watch over the village all night and had seen and heard nothing except for the calls of small Rahi, but that was no guarantee that the creatures were not coming back. He turned his attention back to the village as the Matoran began to wake up. Once they were awake, Lesovikk called another meeting in the village center.

“Right now, I am going to go scout the shore of the island to see if any of the creatures came back in the night. I am not sure when I will be back, so if there is a problem you will need to contact me. Do you have any kind of horn that is loud enough to reach all of the island?”

“We have a shell horn,” said a Ga-Matoran, who then ran into one of the nearby huts. She returned a minute later carrying a large spiral shell. She gave it a blow, and it produced a low-pitched, but very loud, call.

“Excellent,” said Lesovikk when the noise subsided, “blow that in case there is any trouble. From wherever I am on the island I will come back as fast as I can. If you leave the village, travel in pairs or groups. I will be back later.” With that he left and started walking towards the main western exit that led to the forest and the coast.

“Wait!” said a voice behind him. Lesovikk sighed, and didn’t even bother looking back. He knew who it was.

“I don’t need help, Kualus,” he said as the Ko-Matoran ran towards him. “I don’t want help.”

“Yes, I kind of got that idea,” said Kualus, panting slightly, “but where are you going?”

“I just told you. I am going to check the shore to see if the creatures came back.”

“But why are you going this way?”

“Because this is the easiest way to get to the shore,” said Lesovikk, rapidly losing his patience.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” said Kualus as he realized his mistake, “I forgot that you don’t know this island. There is a much easier way to check the shore than walking all around. Come with me, I’ll show you!”

With that Kualus started walking back towards the village, and beckoned him to follow. Lesovikk sighed again and followed Kualus. They passed many of the side passages up into the hills that Lesovikk had thought they might take, and continued further into the village. When they were almost at the back Kualus stopped short and looked back at Lesovikk.

“Have you actually had any food since you first got here?”

“Uh, no,” said Lesovikk, slightly taken aback by the question, “but I’m—”

“I’ll be right back,” Kualus interrupted, and started to run towards one of the huts. “Stay there!”

Lesovikk looked on in disbelief as Kualus disappeared into one of the huts. He returned a moment later carrying a small bag. When he reached Lesovikk he rummaged in it and pulled out a small green berry.

“Would you like a bula berry?” he asked, holding it up. Lesovikk wanted to refuse, but he felt that Kualus would keep asking if he did. He took the berry and held it, absorbing its energy. Immediately he felt some of his strength returning. Kualus smiled as Lesovikk ate it.

“We are not far from the entrance,” he said as he started walking again, with Lesovikk following. As they got closer it was clear that they were heading for the spire of stone. Lesovikk had never seen it up close in the daylight before. It seemed to be a single huge structure of rock. Its surface was smooth, and exposed from top to bottom, like some giant stone building jutting out of the hills. However, Kualus instead led him to the right of the spire, to a small passage that was barely visible. It was carved into the hill, and looked like it wound up and up.

“After you,” said Kualus, gesturing to the path. Lesovikk started up it, with Kualus following behind. The passage was cramped, with dirt walls on both sides, and the only light came from above. It had obviously been made for Matoran-sized beings, not Toa. However, the path did indeed climb upwards in a gradual slope, and slowly turned to the left.

They didn’t talk for a few minutes, until Kualus broke the silence.

“What happened to you?”

“What?” said Lesovikk.

“When we were walking through the hills,” Kualus continued, “you said you were not a Toa. But when you were in the village you said that you were. I also asked you if there were Matoran where you came from, and you said there once were. You also said that you had been wandering, and in the village when you were talking about those crab-Rahi you said they were stopping you from getting to your friends. So, what happened to you?”

Lesovikk sighed, and looked at the ground. “A long time ago,” he began, “I was once part of a team.”

“I didn’t know that Toa work in teams,” said Kualus.

“We were the first,” Lesovikk continued. “We defended our home island from many threats. But one day we encountered a band of murderous creatures called Zyglak. They killed all my teammates, all because I did not act sooner.” Kualus was too shocked to respond, so Lesovikk continued. “If you thought it could not get any worse than that,” he said, his voice low and full of sadness, “you would be wrong. When I went back to my village I found that all of the Matoran that had been living there were gone, sent away to the realm of Karzahni.”

“I thought that was a myth,” said Kualus, even more shocked.

“No, it’s real, and terrible. When I tried to get my friends back from that place I was stopped by the Manas. So now I am wandering the universe, hoping to find a way to get past them.”

“I am so sorry,” said Kualus, “but why do you not want to be called a Toa?”

“Because I am not worthy of the title.”

“I think that what you did yesterday makes you worthy.”

“It’s not enough. No amount is enough.”

As they continued walking, the path started to open up.

“When you leave tomorrow, are you going to continue wandering?”

“Yes,” said Lesovikk.

“For what it’s worth,” said Kualus, “I think you will be able to get them back. Judging from what you did yesterday, no Rahi can defeat you.”

“You have never seen the Manas.”

“That’s true,” said Kualus, “but I still think you can do it.” The path had now opened up almost completely.

“On a different topic,” said Kualus, “we are here.” As they rounded a small bend in the path they came to a large flat platform made of wood that had been built onto the spire of rock. It was situated at the very top of the hill that the rock was embedded in. From its vantage point you could see the whole island.

Lesovikk walked out and surveyed his surroundings. It was quite beautiful. He could see the beach where he had first landed, the rocky shoreline that made up the southern part of the island, and even the steep hill and small grassy area that were behind the spire. Even though they were quite high up, the tower of rock still extended above them.

From his vantage point he could also see that there were no other islands on the horizon. If the two chains of islands really do exist, thought Lesovikk, then I still have a long way to go.

Then something caught Lesovikk’s eye. “My boat is gone.” It should have been resting on the beach, but it was nowhere to be seen.

“What?” said Kualus, walking up to Lesovikk. “Where could it have gone?”

“Could it have been stolen?” said Lesovikk, thinking back to how almost everyone in the village had objected to him leaving.

“I don’t think so,” said Kualus. “I’ll go back down and check to see if anyone has seen it. If not, we will make you a new boat. I promise.” With that Kualus started down the path again, but paused.

“Look, I am sorry, Lesovikk, for asking about your past. I was just curious.”

“It’s okay.”

“Kualus,” Lesovikk said as the Ko-Matoran started to leave again, “could I have that bag of berries?” Kualus smiled and threw him the small bag, then turned and walked down the path.