Chapter 9- “Smug Bug”
Lewa decides to go for a walk after being thrown out from Camp Cobrales to think things over, not like him. He trudges the forest for about fifteen minutes, starting to near home, then pauses and flinches when he hears his name being called. He squints and dashes for the voice, grabbing onto a vine and swinging till the sound gets closer.
Suddenly Tahu can be seen down below. “Lewa!” he yells out again, cuffing his hands to his mouth.
Lewa lands right in front of him. “Brother, what are you doing out in the jungle-forest at such a past-late hour?” he says while lifting a brow.
Tahu pauses and shakes his head. “I came here to give you something you forgot at my home. I was wondering where you were. When I went to your house I didn't find you obviously, and then when I went to your village the Le Matoran were all panicked about some kind of large bug. So I came to find you...Some Matoran named Jocon said I might find you in this direction.”
Lewa cocks his head. “Large-big bug huh? Nothing we haven't hard-handled before.” he shrugs, confidence eminent in his care free tone. “And yeah...Jocon, spoke-talk with him today...”
Tahu steps back for a moment, noticing Lewa is still dripping slightly. “Yeah, you look a little drowned out...Fall into a swamp puddle?” he smirks.
Lewa's smile droops to a comedic frown, his face going blank. “No I...uh. It's nothing.”
Tahu folds his arms, “Jocon also mentioned you went to woo that Junti named Venimbus. I get the feeling that's why you're wet. Look out Lewa, she knows your weakness.” he chuckles. “I warned you not to try that...Did you get into a fight?”.
Lewa grumbles, “No... I just got fruit cover-smothered and then drip-wet, nothing bad-serious.” he snorts, ignoring Tahu's tease warning and starting to head for his village.
Tahu follows close behind. “Mm hm, so she threw fruit at you, and then pushed you into the water?”
Lewa sighs. “No...She...” he puffs and starts to smirk slightly. “She toss-threw fruit at my back to safe-protect me from some male Junti who was going to hard-whack me for being there. Then I was wash-scrubbed after....” he says in a slight grumble near the end of the sentence, hiding who he was scrubbed down by.
Tahu chuckles and shakes his head. “That's what you get for sticking your nose where you shouldn't, Lewa....”
Lewa rolls his eyes, flying off ahead towards his village, knowing Tahu would catch up eventually.
Tahu rolls his eyes and dashes to Nu-Le-Koro, making his way up the crank elevator right before Lewa lands in town and looks over at him as he steps out.
Lewa comes over. “Wow, knew you could fast-make it...more speed-fast than usually too.” he says while nodding in approval.
Tahu fold his arms. “Lewa, seriously...there are faster things on this planet; catching up to you now days isn't so bad...”
Lewa grins, “Oh, I wasn't even going that speed-fast, just being kind-nice to wait for you.” he chuckles.
Tahu rolls his eyes. “Okay, maybe we should get back to the subject of--”. Suddenly Tahu is cut short by a Le Matoran who runs over to Lewa and taps his leg.
“Toa Lewa, come quickly. Turaga Matau wishes to speak-talk with you about a recent problem...” he says in a half edgy tone.
Lewa nods and looks at Tahu with a half confused, yet concerned look. “Well, guess we know where to fast-head. I'm sure Turaga Matau won't half-mind your company as well as mine.” he shrugs.
Tahu shrugs back in agreement and follows along through the village platforms towards Matau's hut located in the middle of town in Nu-Le-Koro.
Lewa stops at the door and knocks. “Matau, you wished to speak-talk with me?” he states lightly.
Matau scuffs to the door and opens it. “Yes, Lewa...and Tahu. Come in...I have some sorry-bad news...”.
The two Toa head in and sit on the floor before Matau, who slumps into a chair and sighs. “Okay, so I assume you heard about some large-big bug causing problems to the village. It's said to be bigger than any gukko, supposedly female, and fast-shoots stingers which cause some kind of sleep-drop when they hit the villagers during high-tree exploration and happy-swing times.
I've also heard it's black and green, and has blade like wings, low-swooping to brush-lands and trying to snatch any Matoran it can. The matter has been leaving Le Koro's tree-villagers in a terrible-bad panic.”
Lewa pauses and squints, then glances at Tahu. “Sounds most nasty-bad...But, oddly familiar, don't you think, brother?”
Tahu scratches his chin and grumbles a questioning sound, nodding in agreement. “Doesn't sound like your average bug, unless it's some Makuta trick. You know how it is...like the old days with infected masks and rogue rahi”.
Lewa nods and stands, looking down at Matau. “We'll take care of this, Turaga. No hard-worries, we'll make sure to fast-stop this thing and keep the village safe-protected.” he says with confidence.
Matau stands and smirks, “Yeah, the past-old days, funny how you should mention that, Tahu. The new villages, Nuva Le Koro included, are quite different from our old island homes. I miss those days, but hey, we have more than we could ever ask for now...plenty of food and supplies for everyone as of late.” he grins, his eyes half way in thought and stuck in past reflection.
Tahu tries not to give Matau a funny look, and nods slowly, glancing at Lewa who chuckles and pats his shoulder. “Come on brother, no time to waste-toss.”
Matau pauses. “Oh, and one more thing, the creature was said to have been spot-seen toward the north part of town...”.
Lewa tilts his head, “Thank you Turaga, we'll head there now.” he smiles.
The two Toa leave and head towards the north. Tahu folds his arms and shakes his head. “Matau, has he ever not been like that?”
Lewa snickers, “Aye...., he may past-old, but he still has a strength-strong spirit to him. And it's true, our island home was a nice-good place---But now we have this place, which is filled with great-wonderful things, despite the occasional danger; nothing we can't handle, right?” he smirks, nudging Tahu's arm with his elbow.
Tahu lightly chuckles. “Yeah Lewa, a large bug shouldn't be any problem...We've fought creatures like this before. Thinking about trouble, you plan on telling Matau about your little attraction?” he teases.
Lewa blushes and putters for a moment. “Eh eh eh...*scoff*. Look, I told you I was safe-fine today...And no, I don't plan on fast-telling Matau. Knowing him he would spread the information and it would become local village news like a wild fire on crisp-dry grass”. He slightly grumbles.
Tahu is loving the opportunity of being able to tease Lewa for once, and snickers. “And you thought you didn't have it in you. Careful though, women can be as hard to deal with as battle...I've watched this.”
Lewa glances at him and squints, a grin spreading on his face. “Yeah....especially when it comes to water types.” he hints, teasing Tahu back and twitching his eyebrows playfully.
Tahu rolls his eyes and picks up pace, Lewa starting to laugh at him.
Suddenly the two's playful bantering and teasing is abruptly stopped by the sound of panicked screams and the patter of many small feet, followed by an odd sharp sound and wood being hit.
Tahu and Lewa shoot each other a concerned look, both getting furrowed brows and running for the sound of panic, only to have multiple Matoran zip past them screaming, “Run, the bug is back!”
Tahu growls and pulls out his swords, and Lewa prepares for a fight, looking around for the threat. Silence hangs in the air for a moment after the Matoran are gone and safely hidden in their huts. Leaves rustle and a few fall.
Lewa squints and glances from tree to tree, and briefly peeks at Tahu who grips his swords tighter.
Chuckling of a menacing quality softly echoes from above, and Tahu takes in a sharp breath, diving out of the way as two stinger darts hit to the wood of the platform where he once stood. “Lewa, it's an ambush!”
Lewa goes wide eyed and shoots his head around, hearing the loud buzz of a large set of wings. He swings his blades around, ready to attack the creature, and sees her dark form zip past from above.
He chases after her swiftly, but much to his surprise, just as he thinks he has her, and reaches out for her foot, she kicks him in the head and sends him flying into a tangled mess of vines just off the platform.
Tahu gets to his feet quickly and looks around, seeing Lewa had chased after this creature, and got himself into trouble. “Lewa!?” he shouts confused, trying to spot him in the green of the forest.
Lewa struggles, and much to his surprise sees he's tangled up in the vines, his swords out of reach and flopped on the platform. He looks around panting, trying to reach for his spare knife, but as he does, he hears the wings again, and goes wide eyed.
The creature zips by, laughing, her red eyes flashing as she directs her gaze at the tangled Lewa. She grins and gets ready to shoot him with a few stingers, suddenly to zip around when she hears Tahu yell out Lewa's name again.
“Lewa?!....We don't have time to goof off.” Tahu puffs, suddenly to notice the form as her shadow casts on him. He lifts his chin slowly, his gaze directed at these red eyes which glow from the partial shadows of the evening.
“Well well, Tahu Nuva...I should have known you'd still be alive after all these years.” the creature hisses.
Tahu takes a step back and scoffs in utter confusion. “Do I know you?”.
“As a friend, no, as an enemy, yes.” She steps out into the clearing, slowly, her form becoming defined as she leaves the shadows of the trees and steps into the scattered light which glows on the platform.
Tahu's eyes grow wider still and he gasps. “GORAST?! But...how did you?--”
“Ah ah....” she snorts, lunging towards him in attempt to poke him with her main stinger.
Tahu grunts and rolls out of the way quickly, growling and bringing his blades up, trying not to use fire seeing he could destroy the village if he does.
Lewa squirms during Gorast's distraction, just as shocked and partially sick feeling to see that Makuta are still around, especially someone like Gorast.
He finally gets to his spare knife and cuts himself out of the vine mess, quietly floating to the trees above in hopes of making an aerial attack on her.
Tahu circles her, dodging her attacks as she lashes out and tries to tackle him again. Tahu almost gets a slice at her, right before she flies off and hides again, using her sneaky methods of attack as usual.
Tahu glances in all directions, anger boiling. “Gorast, you coward! And you Makuta had the nerve to call US weak!” he puffs, looking around in frantic concentration and noticing the vines which Lewa had been stuck in were now empty. He pauses, realizing Lewa was planning something, and sees keeping Gorast distracted may help in getting her caught.
He circles around and keeps on edge, looking around at every tree and panting. The sound of scuffling, followed by the sprinkle of leaves happens, and a low growl faintly echoes, the tension becoming more severe as the game of cat and mouse continues.
Tahu stops circling and stands still, trying to figure out if she left or not. Right as he starts letting his guard down, a loud buzzing follows and Tahu whips his head around, suddenly to see Gorast who tackles him and tries stinging him once more.
As the two struggle, Lewa hears Tahu's grunts from above and makes his move, swooping down and kicking Gorast off, skidding to a stop on the platform and thinking he got her.
Tahu nods in thanks and stands. “Well done, Lewa....” he says half sore.
Lewa nods and starts to near Gorast, keeping his weapons drawn, but as he does, she shoots around and hisses, shooting sleep stingers at him.
Lewa goes wide eyed, one second he thinks he's been hit, the next he notices Tahu had yanked him away just in time, the stingers sinking into the tree just near Lewa's head.
Lewa gulps and nods. “Thank you, brother...that was near-close....much too near-close.” he chuckles nervously.
Gorast flies up to a tree branch and looks down at them, taking a moment to observe them before attacking.
Tahu snorts and heatedly puffs, glaring at her. “Before we continue, I'd like to know how you survived...”. He growls.
Gorast pauses and sighs. “Oh fine, if you insist on knowing. It's true I almost died during the Karda Nui energy storm, no thanks to you. However, we Makuta had our own plans, and had it figured that Teridax was planning on leaving no loose ends or competition in his plans for power. With this hunch, we secretly formed our own teleportation devises and hid them under our own chest plates. Sure enough, when the core of Mata Nui exploded, we were prepared, and in the nick of time activated these one time use devises, thus escaping ultimate death, no sooner than to land on this planet.” She states in a somewhat unamused, dramatic tone.
Tahu frowns and Lewa mutters under his breath, “Great...nasty-bad Makuta of the core survived.” he pouts.
Tahu shakes his head, just as irritated, about to say something, but suddenly stopped by Lewa who scowls, “Okay, so you survived that dread-terrible explosion; why then are you here attack-scaring the people of Le Koro?”
Gorast rolls her eyes, standing up and folding her arms. “Why? Isn't it obvious? Ever since the time in Karda Nui I've been mutated by the waters of the place, stuck looking like an insect. I'm tired of looking this way, but with the right help, and a few Matoran for experiments, I hope to return to my normal form once more. So you see, I'm here to collect.”
Lewa snorts and gets angrier still. “You stay away from the Matoran! You deserve to look like a bug-pest.”
Tahu pauses, seeing Gorast is twitching, getting ready to jump on them, and he nudges Lewa, whispering something quickly. Lewa nods and smirks slightly, getting ready.
Gorast hisses and spreads her wings, growling and buzzing off the branch out into the slight clearing. “If I can't have Matoran, perhaps I'll just take one of you!!”.
Tahu grits his teeth, “Now!” he grunts, sending a quick wave of flame at her and setting her wings on fire, causing her to scream in a panic, giving Lewa the room to shoot a cyclone at her. “Have a happy wind-flight!” he says in a half care free tone, sending her shooting into the air and causing her to get tossed far away into another part of the jungle, her screams ringing through the sky as she plummets and yells, “I will return!”.
Tahu and Lewa pause, suddenly to laugh slightly and fist bump. “Good job, brother.”, Lewa joyfully pipes.
Tahu smirks, “That felt good, been wanting to burn something...”.
Lewa chuckles, glancing around and sighing in relief. “Yeah, hopefully Gorast will stay far-long from the tree-land for awhile.” he shutters, suddenly to eye the lodged stingers in the tree, getting a radical idea.
He grins and plucks them from the wood, smirking and looking off in slight thought. “Hmm, wonder if I could great-impress Venimbus with some joy-fun stories; show her my new trophies, proof that I can hard-fight Makuta.” he thinks to himself, his eyes starting to glint brightly.
Without hesitation he collects the stingers and rubs them on the tree bark to dull them, then finds a sharp thorn and some very fine vine thread, starting to poke holes into the stingers and string them on the vine.
Tahu lifts a brow, watching. “Lewa, what are you doing?” he squints.
Lewa grins, “Oh, making a fight-trophy from Gorast's stingers.” he chuckles.
Tahu pauses, “Uh huh...why?” he questions suspiciously.
Lewa grins awkwardly. “What, no heart-shame in making a trophy for myself....” he shrugs, clearly hiding his real reason.
Tahu blinks. “Let me guess, you want to show them to that female Junti?”
Lewa blushes, sputtering a bit. “Uh...uh...” he takes in a breath and stands up tall, putting his fists to his hips and confidentially nodding, “Yes, yes it is”.
Tahu face palms, dragging his hand down his face. “Oh Lewa...I guess all I can say is good luck, and don't do something stupid... not that you'll listen to me”.
Lewa chuckles and ties the strand of stingers around his neck, his mind drifting as he thinks about how to get near Venimbus again.
Tahu shakes his head, and decides to rest at the Cozy Cocoon inn of Nu-Le-Koro. “Well Lewa, I'll be seeing you. I need some rest, so I'm off”.
Lewa nods, “Right, get some nice rest-sleep.” he says while waving.
Once Tahu is out of sight, Lewa goes for a stroll through the village, his mind lingering as he fingers the necklace. He knows it's probably a bad idea, but he just can't help it, and decides to go and walk near the Junti gates of Colbrales again, figuring his chances may be better in the dark.
As he quietly lingers near the region after awhile, he thinks about what he should say to Venimbus if he gets the chance. Would she like his trophy, would she even notice him?
Suddenly his thoughts are broken by the sound of two voices, one that appears to be Venimbus's, the other Jujunwa's. Lewa freezes, slinking near the gates and straining to hear.
He has trouble understanding the whole of the conversation, his Junti still broken and his mind jumbled when he thinks he hears the term bird soup, but knows that can't possibly be what they're talking about.
The conversation turns into one of arguing, and gets very high strung and stressful, especially from Venimbus. Suddenly Jujunwa's voice grumbles and his tone becomes stern and aggravated, Venimbus suddenly sounding upset and sobbing slightly.
Lewa's heart sinks, and he looks at his feet feeling sad to hear Venimbus upset, wondering why she's crying.
His concerns continue growing even after the conversation goes silent, and he decides then and there that he would do all he could to comfort and understand Venimbus and all her woes, his hopes to try when morning comes, and possibly befriend the beauty of the forest.
Lewa climbs up a tree near to the front gates of the region, and falls asleep high up in the canopy where he's hidden.
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