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“I’m firm-certain I’m strapped in proper, Tamaru,” said Matau, who was uncharacteristically restless that day. He was not known for his impatience, but the Turaga was just raring to get started.

Tamaru nodded. “Yes, Turaga. You’ll be air-bound in a moment. I just need to do a few more study-checks on our feathered-friend here.”

Matau caressed the Kahu bird’s neck. It had been a long time since he had flown, but the Elder of Le-Koro had complete faith in his own experience. Certainly, more faith than his beloved Matoran.

Kongu, commander of the Gukko-Force, spoke to Tamaru. “Is the harness reinforced?”

“Yes, Commander. Four-times tight-latched as per your request.”

Kongu nodded. “And the leather belts tight-fastened?”

“True-certainly, Commander.”

“Good, good,” Kongu said before turning to his Elder. “Turaga, remember not to far-reach beyond Le-Wahi air-borders. I strong-urge you to keep close to air above low-forest for less turbulence.”

The Elder of Le-Koro laughed. “Surely, you would trust your Leaf-Elder on matters of Wind-Flying, Gukko-Leader?”

Kongu sighed. This was not the first time he was left to worry over his Elder’s safety. “Point taken, Turaga. All the same, be safe in Wahi-Skies.”

“Of course.”

Preparations were almost complete. Cautiously, the Matoran stepped back. One last inspection of the fortified harness would do the trick, but before Tamaru could step forward, Sanso noticed something amiss.

The young musician cocked his head. “Look-see, brothers. Rope near hitching post has an ugly-knot. I’ll just get that-“

“Sanso, wait!” Tamaru cried, dashing towards his friend.

It was too late. The moment Sanso had untied the knot, the rope was detached from the post. The Kahu, mistaking that he was free to take off, shot straight into the air, taking Matau with him.

The Le-Matoran scrambled in a panic. Shouts were thrown across the platform as the Gukko-Force warriors rushed to mount their flying steeds. Kongu barked some orders back and forth and was about to mount his own Gukko bird until Toa Lewa, the Spirit of Air, appeared before them. He looked like he had just woken up from a long sleep.

“Toa Lewa!” Kongu said, with a hasty bow. “Matau is in grave-danger!”

“Danger?”

Tamaru and Sanso pointed to the skies. Lewa looked up, then smiled.

“Toa! What are you so joy-happy about!?” Kongu bellowed.

Lewa pointed above him. The Matoran turned to see the Kahu bird soar gracefully in the air, leaving fresh arcs in its wake as Matau indulged himself in some aerial acrobatics; maneuvers that the Le-Matoran had not seen before. They could only stare at their Turaga's impressive display. All the while, Matau’s laugher could be heard across the Le-Wahi treetops.

Kongu’s jaw dropped. “Mata-Nui, above.”

“Has Air-Elder always been able to wind-fly like that?” Sanso whispered to Tamaru.

“Turaga has talked about pilot-days in past-age, but I always thought he was fun-joking,” said Tamaru, scratching his head. “I guess I was sore-wrong.”

Toa Lewa said nothing and continued to watch as Matau had the time of his life. In a way, he was comforted by the fact that his mentor was not beyond having some fun.

The villagers continued to observe in wonder as their Turaga relished his flight, until Lewa finally said, “Rest easy, Leaf-Brothers. I will go and check on Air-Elder.”

Lewa leaped off the platform and summoned his Elemental powers of air, commanding the wind to carry him towards the sky above and towards his Turaga.

Just below the low-hanging clouds, Toa and Turaga finally met.

“Wise-Elder! Don’t have all the joy-fun for yourself,” said Lewa, happily. “That is my job!”

“To have joy-fun every now and then is everyone’s job, Air-Toa,” remarked Matau. “To live fearlessly is the sharp-thorn in the Evil One’s side!”

“I will not bicker-argue with that, Turaga!”

The pair watched the clouds roll above them. Mata-Nui was generous in his gifts, but the open sky was perhaps the greatest gift of all to their people. The sky had no corners or boundaries; it carried only promises of freedom.

Suddenly, Lewa asked, “Turaga, I still dear-wish to know about your time as a wind-flyer.”

Matau chuckled. “Perhaps one day, Lewa. Past-age is important, but it has full-served its purpose. Future is far-distant, full of things beyond our hand-grasp. Now, we embrace present-day and fight for victory against wicked Makuta.”

Lewa smiled, albeit a bit sadly. “Of course, Turaga. Forgive me.”

Matau steered the Kahu towards Lewa. “Well, I’ve had a stellar-good time. Fast-race you back to Le-Koro?”

At this, Lewa immediately perked up. Nothing cheered him up more than a contest. “Ha! With respect, Turaga, you cannot out-best a Toa!”

“Watch your tongue, young-one,” said Matau with a grin. “These are not the only skies I’ve flown!”

Description
“I’m firm-certain I’m strapped in proper, Tamaru,” said Matau, who was uncharacteristically restless that day. He was not known for his impatience, but the Turaga was just raring to get started.

Tamaru nodded. “Yes, Turaga. You’ll be air-bound in a moment. I just need to do a few more study-checks on our feathered-friend here.”

Matau caressed the Kahu bird’s neck. It had been a long time since he had flown, but the Elder of Le-Koro had complete faith in his own experience. Certainly, more faith than his beloved Matoran.

Kongu, commander of the Gukko-Force, spoke to Tamaru. “Is the harness reinforced?”

“Yes, Commander. Four-times tight-latched as per your request.”

Kongu nodded. “And the leather belts tight-fastened?”

“True-certainly, Commander.”

“Good, good,” Kongu said before turning to his Elder. “Turaga, remember not to far-reach beyond Le-Wahi air-borders. I strong-urge you to keep close to air above low-forest for less turbulence.”

The Elder of Le-Koro laughed. “Surely, you would trust your Leaf-Elder on matters of Wind-Flying, Gukko-Leader?”

Kongu sighed. This was not the first time he was left to worry over his Elder’s safety. “Point taken, Turaga. All the same, be safe in Wahi-Skies.”

“Of course.”

Preparations were almost complete. Cautiously, the Matoran stepped back. One last inspection of the fortified harness would do the trick, but before Tamaru could step forward, Sanso noticed something amiss.

The young musician cocked his head. “Look-see, brothers. Rope near hitching post has an ugly-knot. I’ll just get that-“

“Sanso, wait!” Tamaru cried, dashing towards his friend.

It was too late. The moment Sanso had untied the knot, the rope was detached from the post. The Kahu, mistaking that he was free to take off, shot straight into the air, taking Matau with him.

The Le-Matoran scrambled in a panic. Shouts were thrown across the platform as the Gukko-Force warriors rushed to mount their flying steeds. Kongu barked some orders back and forth and was about to mount his own Gukko bird until Toa Lewa, the Spirit of Air, appeared before them. He looked like he had just woken up from a long sleep.

“Toa Lewa!” Kongu said, with a hasty bow. “Matau is in grave-danger!”

“Danger?”

Tamaru and Sanso pointed to the skies. Lewa looked up, then smiled.

“Toa! What are you so joy-happy about!?” Kongu bellowed.

Lewa pointed above him. The Matoran turned to see the Kahu bird soar gracefully in the air, leaving fresh arcs in its wake as Matau indulged himself in some aerial acrobatics; maneuvers that the Le-Matoran had not seen before. They could only stare at their Turaga's impressive display. All the while, Matau’s laugher could be heard across the Le-Wahi treetops.

Kongu’s jaw dropped. “Mata-Nui, above.”

“Has Air-Elder always been able to wind-fly like that?” Sanso whispered to Tamaru.

“Turaga has talked about pilot-days in past-age, but I always thought he was fun-joking,” said Tamaru, scratching his head. “I guess I was sore-wrong.”

Toa Lewa said nothing and continued to watch as Matau had the time of his life. In a way, he was comforted by the fact that his mentor was not beyond having some fun.

The villagers continued to observe in wonder as their Turaga relished his flight, until Lewa finally said, “Rest easy, Leaf-Brothers. I will go and check on Air-Elder.”

Lewa leaped off the platform and summoned his Elemental powers of air, commanding the wind to carry him towards the sky above and towards his Turaga.

Just below the low-hanging clouds, Toa and Turaga finally met.

“Wise-Elder! Don’t have all the joy-fun for yourself,” said Lewa, happily. “That is my job!”

“To have joy-fun every now and then is everyone’s job, Air-Toa,” remarked Matau. “To live fearlessly is the sharp-thorn in the Evil One’s side!”

“I will not bicker-argue with that, Turaga!”

The pair watched the clouds roll above them. Mata-Nui was generous in his gifts, but the open sky was perhaps the greatest gift of all to their people. The sky had no corners or boundaries; it carried only promises of freedom.

Suddenly, Lewa asked, “Turaga, I still dear-wish to know about your time as a wind-flyer.”

Matau chuckled. “Perhaps one day, Lewa. Past-age is important, but it has full-served its purpose. Future is far-distant, full of things beyond our hand-grasp. Now, we embrace present-day and fight for victory against wicked Makuta.”

Lewa smiled, albeit a bit sadly. “Of course, Turaga. Forgive me.”

Matau steered the Kahu towards Lewa. “Well, I’ve had a stellar-good time. Fast-race you back to Le-Koro?”

At this, Lewa immediately perked up. Nothing cheered him up more than a contest. “Ha! With respect, Turaga, you cannot out-best a Toa!”

“Watch your tongue, young-one,” said Matau with a grin. “These are not the only skies I’ve flown!”