Chapter 2 *-A Storm Stirs-*
Four years have passed since Moana's journey to Te Fiti. Motunui's people have discovered four new islands under Moana's wayfinding guidance and have colonized them all successfully. Moana is now approaching her 20th birthday.
Maui has been lending his wayfinding expertise to the people of Motunui, teaching them how to sail more efficiently, read the stars and also how to more effectively live off the land wherever they go. Between travelling around Oceania to keep the monsters and demons in check, and his people safe as they travel throughout Oceania, Maui was finding fulfilment he had never experienced before.
Motunui is his home now. The people are his loving family. He no longer has to wander and drift from island to island without a place to sleep at night. He has his own fale, his own hammock, his own little niche in the community. His strength and skill are greatly valuable to them and he is more than happy to help. With Chief Tui's direction and the vision of the people, the village has become even more beautiful and efficient with Maui's assistance.
It is now the start of the wet season of Moana's 20th year. The village is preparing for the coming rains by adding extra palm fronds to fale roofs, and tightening all the bindings in the rafters. They have harvested as many coconuts as were ready, and prepared the taro fields to prevent flooding The larger travelling canoes have been stored in the cave behind the waterfall to protect them from the foul weather and the smaller ones pulled further inshore and secured to trees. The island is ready for the coming storms.
And the storms arrive only days after Moana and Maui help put the final touches on the largest community fale: the fale tele. Moana and Maui are walking back to the village when a cold wind hits the island quite suddenly.
"Hmm, feel that drop in pressure? Rain's coming soon." Maui muses in a low tone as he looks to the sky, out past the reef. Sure enough, there is a vast and dark thundercloud looming on the horizon.
Moana follows her friend's gaze out past the reef to assess the building storm. She sees lightning flash bright and angry within the roiling thunderhead and the back of her neck prickles. "We need to warn the village. That storm looks nasty, seems Tawhirimatea is in a baleful mood today." Moana tucks a wayward clump of hair behind her ear and smooths her hair back a bit against the stiff breeze.
Maui let's out a distracted grunt of agreement and gives his hook a flick as his gaze remains fixed on the dark foreboding clouds. His body flashes bright blue and he changes form into the giant hawk. "Go ahead and head back to your fale and warn whoever you pass, I'll fly around and spread the word to the rest of the village, it's faster. Looks like that storm is really moving quick." He shakes his tail feathers and shifts his wings in an almost uncomfortable manner.
"Right," Moana replies and heads up the hill to her fale as Maui takes flight.
Moana makes it to the first step of her fale when she feels the first raindrop hit her shoulder. She looks back over her shoulder to see the darkened clouds almost above her village. The wind has picked up and the thunder has become louder and more frequent. Looking down to her village, she watches as her people as they scurry back to the relative safety of their fales just as the first raindrops really begin to fall. She hears the semi-distant screech of a hawk, she instantly recognizes it as Maui. Moana scans for the demigod. A loud and close by lightning strike temporarily blinds her as the thunderous crack makes her ears ring. Startled, Moana drops to her knees and covers her ears with a yelp. She recovers quickly and scrambles into her fale. The tapa drapes fall in place and her fale is plunged into semi-darkness. More lightning illuminates the outside for a split second. Thunder follows a second later.
Moana hears the sky open up and an almighty deluge of rain now pummels the roof of her fale. "Wow…" she whispers.
The wind makes the tapa flap against their binding ropes. A sudden commotion startles her as a huge shape tumbles through the doorway and hits the wooden floor with a wet thud. Moana lets out a yelp and backs away involuntarily. The big shape stands and is backlit by a flash of lightning.
"Moana?"
Moana lets out a startled squeak and wheels around to face the voice. Moana droops with relief when she realizes it's her mother holding a torch.
"Are you alright? What was that noise, has something fallen?" Sina continues, craning her neck and trying to see what made the crash.
Moana starts to mumble in confusion when a bright flash of blue reveals Maui, sopping wet and looking rather disheveled. Both women gasp in shock.
"Sorry! Sorry!"
Moana rushes over, "Maui! You alright?" she looks him over for any evidence of injury.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I sorta lost control, feathers were soaked… didn't mean to scare you two…" Maui trails off as Sina leaps into action. She gives Moana the torch and gestures to the other unlit torches as she scurries off to get dry clothes and a blanket for the dripping demigod.
Moana obeys, lighting the torches around her family fale as Sina returns with a blanket and a change of clothes. She leads Maui to the back area of the fale that is closed off with a rudimentary sort of wall screen made of more hanging tapa. He changes and dries off as Sina hangs his wet vestments to drip dry. Lightning flashes regularly as thunder rumbles angrily outside. The whole fale creaks and groans under the heavy winds.
Once Maui has changed, the three of them gather in the middle of the fale on the thick tapa mats on the floor and listen to the storm rage on outside.
After a short while, the storm seems to come to a momentary lull and the rain dies down. That's when Tui bursts into the fale. His hair is tied back in a sloppy bun and he is completely drenched. He looks very much on edge. Maui stands up immediately, "what's wrong, Tui?"
"Down palm tree on the Ahi'i family fale, they are all trapped inside!" Tui says, a little louder than necessary as he gestures generally behind him with his left hand. The urgency is plain on his face.
Without hesitation, Maui slips the lavalava he just put on right back off, leaving him in his loincloth. "Take me to them." Maui says with a sobering tone in his voice.
Moana feels her face burn with a blush as she quickly turns her eyes away from the powerfully sculpted demigod. She is a little perturbed by the lack of modesty from the demigod, thankful he lingers only a breath after removing the lavalava. She looks up to see the tapa fall back into place, but her mind is buzzing. She shakes her head a little to clear the fog and turns to her mother. "We should prepare in case someone is injured."
Moana can't quite read her mom's expression before the older woman tilts her head just a touch and smiles softly. "A wise suggestion, my minnow. Draw some water and I will gather my supplies."
Moana nods and goes to get the large carved wooden bowl and takes it just down the hill to fill it with water from the spring. She walks slowly, but purposefully. In her mind, she watches Maui stand, his back to her, and pull the lavalava off. She huffs, squeezing her eyes shut and shaking her head to dispel the image. She opens her eyes and promptly slips on a large wet banana leaf. She falls heavily on her bum and the bowl is jarred from her grasp, landing heavily on her stomach, forcing a harsh grunt from Moana's lips. Moana takes a moment to gather her thoughts and heaves a mildly exasperated sigh, rolling her eyes at the dark clouds above. She picks herself up and finishes her task, returning to the fale with a full bowl and no further accidents.
Meanwhile, Maui has followed at a run behind the sprinting Chief, through scattered debris from the storm. Branches, palm fronds, sticks and torn leaves litter the ground. Up ahead by the treeline, Maui spots the downed palm tree. It has toppled half of a fale and he can hear small children crying from beneath the tangled mess of palm leaves and timber. Heart in his throat, he rushes over and starts lifting and removing huge handfuls of debris. Tui jumps in and takes armfuls of palm fronds off to the side.
Maui's fingernails scrape against a roof beam and he grunts, reaching around the thick log and lifting it effortlessly away. He tosses it to his right into the open field. Tui has uncovered another beam.
"Please… help… I'm scared." a child whimpers from under the sodden mess.
"Just hang on, little one! We're gonna get you out of there! Be strong!" Tui says loudly over the sound of them moving debris and the rain falling heavier.
"Tui! Over here! I can see one!" Maui shouts and the chief scrambles over and Maui hefts another trashed beam covered in palm fronds up high enough for Tui to slide closer to the opening and scoop two small children from the mess. Quickly he takes them away from the wreckage and undoes his lavalava and drapes it around both children's shoulders.
"Now stay here, we will get the others, alright… you are both so very brave!" Tui gives the small children each a tender and quick honi to comfort them. He wipes tears and dirt from their frightened faces before he returns to Maui's side, now clad only in his loincloth as well.
Maui has removed half of the debris, and lifts another complex part of the roof structure to reveal a teen and the bottom half of one of the parents' legs. Tui grabs the young man's hand and helps him climb from the hole. The boy quickly runs to his younger siblings to comfort them.
Tui helps Maui shift more broken beams and they finally uncover the parents. They are pinned beneath the intricately carved ridgepole of the fale. The wife is better off than the husband, whose leg seems to be painfully pinned under the heavy beam. Maui lifts it carefully, making sure nothing will shift and crush them and Tui quickly slips into the opening and hefts the woman in his arms and carries her to her children, setting her on the ground to sit before he returns for her husband. Tui climbs down and kneels beside the man, examining his leg. It is bleeding and swollen. He gingerly lifts the man and carries him from the wrecked fale. "Come with me, this way!" Tui urges the woman, and she stands and picks up her children, wrapped in Tui's lavalava. She and her teenage son follow Tui up the hill to his fale.
"I'll catch up shortly," Maui shouts to Tui as he turns and jogs deeper into the village.
"Okay, Maui!" Tui shouts in reply as he crests the hill near his fale. He takes the four steps two at a time and enters his fale. He carries the man to the center and gently sets him on a fala mat by the small fire.
Sina is already by his side with the bowl of water and a washcloth and she starts to clean his leg. "Moana, please get blankets and tend to the children." Sina instructs as she carefully removes splinters and washes the man's leg.
Moana silently obeys, quickly climbing aloft and grabbing an armful of tapa. She carefully lowers herself to the floor just as she hears the rain start absolutely pouring again.
Tui has already dried off and put on dry clothes. He has just started boiling water with hot rocks in a large stone bowl so that Sina can make her herbal tea for everyone. Moana gently looks the children over for injuries, but aside from their share of small scrapes and bruises, they fared very well. The teen has a cut on his cheek, but is otherwise fine and the mother is somewhat banged up, especially her legs and arms, which are scraped pretty bad.
Thunder rumbles deeply in the distance as rain continues to pour outside. Sina spreads a salve made from a root that contains an anti-inflammatory agent across the husband's leg.
"Water is ready for tea, darling." Tui announces and Sina acknowledges him with a loving smile. She turns to address Moana but her daughter is already running to the dry storage basket for the satchel filled with her secret blend of flowers and herbs for tea. She brings it to her mother who carefully measures the tea into each of the five coconut shell cups. Then Sina carefully scoops cupfulls of the steaming water from the bowl into each cup and hands it to Moana. Moana passes out the tea one cup at a time. She is handing the mother the last cup when Maui enters the fale.
Everyone looks over at the demigod. Silence grips the fale for a span before Tui speaks up, "Are there any others?"
Maui sweeps his huge hand over his dripping face to move his hair, which hangs in sodden pieces from a falling apart bun. "No, the village is safe. I checked every fale."
Moana watches the demigod breathe heavily. He's soaking wet, and cold, she can see his goosebumps in the warm torchlight. She leaps into action, bringing him a blanket that she drapes over his shoulders. Moana then grabs the dry lavalava from earlier and hands it to him. The smile he gives her is thankful, but tired. His brow is furrowed, which worries Moana, but she forces that feeling back down. She has people to tend to. Satisfied that the demigod can handle things from here, Moana returns her attention to the twin girls.
Maui makes his way back to the closed off area to dry off and change. Maui grumbles inwardly as he pulls off the soaked loincloth and towels his groin dry. He is soaked to the bone, chilled and exhausted. He shivers as a drop of ice cold water drips down his back from his hair. He growls, rubbing the towel over his back to dry it before he wraps the towel around his head and squeezes as much water from his hair as he can. He lets it down and gathers it all to one side and wrings it out. He shakes it back into place before gathering it back into a tidy and snug bun. 'I'll deal with you later.' He huffs and finishes drying his body off, then covers himself in a nice dry loincloth. He gets goosebumps and shivers as he pulls the lavalava around his waist and secures it snugly before heading to the warmth of the fire.
When he emerges, everyone is gathered around the fire, someone has brought out some salted cured fish and they are eating. Sina notices his approach and starts to prepare him a hot cup of tea. He can't stop the smile that forms at her wordless gesture of love. His heart swells with his feelings for this, his adoptive family.
Maui strolls over and takes the cup of lovely smelling herbal tea Sina hands him. "Thank you, Sina." They exchange warm smiles and Maui takes a seat between her and Moana in front of the fire. Already the warmth from the cup is seeping into his hands as they wrap around it. The plate of fish enters his field of vision and he looks down at it. Moana is looking up at him with her warm brown eyes as she urges him silently with her gaze to eat. He takes a quick sip of tea and sets it on the ground in front of him before taking a side of fish, "Thanks, Curly." he says softly as he takes a bite of the fish. His stomach growls loudly and both he and Moana stifle giggles. Across the fire, the twins start giggling. One mimics Maui's stomach growls and the other erupts in a fit of extremely contagious laughter. After a good laugh, an easy silence returns in the meditative quiet brought by the rain.
The fish is finished and everyone has had another cup of tea. The twins, Kaia and Hana fall asleep on their mother Anahera's lap and the father, Taika is asleep as well. The teen, Ihaka has reclined beside his father and is losing the battle to stay awake. Moana and Sina have retired to the back of the fale to sleep.
Tui gets to his feet after tending the fire a little and Maui jerks at the sound, blinking out of a light doze he didn't even realize he had slipped into. Maui looks up at him as Tui steps over. Maui's brows arch inquisitively. "Come," Tui starts, "I'll get you a mat and pillow. You are exhausted. You need some sleep."
Maui nods with a soft chuckle, "Guess you're right," and gets to his feet. Every part of him aches. He quietly follows Tui as the chief gets fresh bedding and hands it to Maui.
"Thank you very much." Maui says softly as he places his mats on the floor opposite Moana.
"No Maui, the thanks go to you. You saved these people's lives today." Tui says as he indicates the rescued family with a sweeping gesture of his hand. Looking back at Maui he offers a warm smile, "we are all in your debt. Now, get some sleep. A good rest to you, Maui."
Maui's face heats up, he doesn't feel like he deserves such high praise. He simply felt it was the right thing to do. He lowers his head in gratitude, "Please, Tui. No one owes me anything. I mean, of course you're welcome, but I am the one that owes everyone here on Motunui my thanks. You let me live here, after all." Maui replies as he takes a seat on his sleeping mat and looks up at Tui.
"And we are all happy to have you here. And it is my personal wish that you continue to stay. Now, I insist that you get some rest. You certainly earned it. Good night, Maui." Tui says with a smile.
"Alright. Same to you, Tui." Maui replies. Tui dips his head in acknowledgement as he turns towards his wife and walks quietly over to his sleeping mat to lie down.
Maui sighs contentedly and reclines with a groan. He settles in and covers himself with a blanket and closes his eyes. Sleep swiftly takes him as the rain pours down outside and the wind batters the walls.
x
Maui slowly returns to consciousness. He groggily blinks his eyes open and takes a deep breath, triggering a mighty yawn and satisfying full body stretch. Relaxing back against the mats he gazes around the quiet fale, taking stock of everything around him. Taika is snoring quietly beside his wife as the twins girls, Kaia and Hana sleep between them. Ihaka sleeps on the other side of his mother. Tui and Sina are on the other side of the fale, and Moana is between them and Maui.
Maui listens, the rain has lessened considerably, but continues to fall.
Maui sighs, the blue-grey light of pre-dawn still wraps the fale in cool semi-darkness. He shifts a little and closes his eyes, dozing back off.
x
Movement in the fale wakes Maui. He cracks an eye open. It's lighter out now, closer to sunrise. He tilts his head enough to see Tui leaving. With a deeper breath, Maui's eyes slide closed and he falls back to sleep.
x
At the beckoning of the rising sun, Maui wakes again. He feels much better rested and watches as everyone else starts waking up from the morning sun shining through a break in the clouds. Sina rises first to start breakfast. After about ten minutes, everyone is awake and has tea. Sina has started preparing breakfast, roasted plantain and fish with fresh mango and breadfruit.
Mid morning brings Tui's return and news of a shipwrecked canoe with four travellers aboard. Maui hangs his hook over his shoulder and Moana walks with him to the fale tele go greet the shipwrecked is coughing hoarsely when they arrive. They have been brought dry clothes and food and now drink water as they warm by the fire.
"What is the name of your island?" Moana asks politely as she kneels to sit beside one of the strangers.
The man looks up at her after a sip water, "Vanuatu."
Moana furrows her brow, trying to mentally list off islands she knows and where they are relative to Motunui.
Maui chuckles at her intensely concentrated expression, "West. First Tonga, and then Fiji lie between us. That is an old island that has seen many generations walk upon it."
Moana looks up at Maui with wide eyes, amazed at his knowledge of Oceania and her many islands. "How…" her question trails off as Maui smirks at her and gives her a wink.
"You still have quite a bit to learn, don't worry Moana. As for how, I remember pulling it up out of the ocean, of course." Maui says nonchalantly. "I also remember pulling up Motunui from the ocean floor too, you know…" Maui winks at her with a laugh as Moana shakes herself out of her awestruck daze.
"Right… of course you do… know it all." Moana shoots a glare at the snarky demigod. Maui playfully sticks his tongue out at her and she just rolls her eyes.
Moana turns back to look at the man she was just talking to, "So, what brings you so far East? And during storm season no less. Is there trouble in Vanuatu?" Moana asks as she worries the fringe of her lavalava between the pads of her nimble fingers.
"Not trouble, just … I dunno, this-" the first man starts, but is then cut off by the man beside him.
"Feeling. An urge to go and see more," the second man says, with a real sparkle in his eye. He clearly has the longing to explore and discover.
"But we are new to wayfinding, I've been practicing the longest. Three months..." The third man speaks now, his voice a touch hoarse from the coughing he has been doing. Moana reasons that he must have caught cold from exposure, being the obvious oldest amongst the four men. After clearing his throat, he continues, "So, turns out we left in the wrong season. Got blown way off course by this huge storm…" he pauses and coughs.
The fourth man finishes the story for his elder, "We were sailing for Samoa. We had heard it is beautiful there and the fruit is to die for."
Maui let's out a deep, belly laugh that makes all four men look at him, "They have a lot of delicious fruits there, yes." The demigod briefly looks to the sky out past the reef. There is a glimpse of sky beyond this storm. By his estimate, it will be clear by morning.
Tui speaks from behind Maui, "Once this storm passes, we will send you off in the proper heading with more than enough supplies to make it."
The men talk quietly amongst themselves for a moment, then the eldest addresses Tui, "We would be deeply grateful."
Loa, an adventurous 26 year old warrior-in-training, steps forward from the small throng of villagers that has amassed to see the strangers. "If the chief will allow it, I would like to open my fale to you four for shelter and accommodations. I would be honored to have you as my guests."
The men mumble amongst themselves again, then the eldest stands and clasps Loa's extended hands warmly, "We would gladly take your offer."
Tui steps up beside Maui and the villagers fall quiet and look to their chief. "Then it is my pleasure to welcome you to Motunui. Another storm is rolling in as we speak, and as such, the reef will likely be impassable till daybreak. What is ours is yours. We will have a communal dinner at the fale tele at sundown. Please, make yourselves at home." Tui steps up to each man and exchanges a welcoming honi, and finishes with the eldest man, who coughs a couple times and apologizes before he leans in for his honi.
As one, the village disperses to their morning tasks, trying to accomplish what they can before the storm picks back up.
Maui walks over to Moana and puts a big hand on her sturdy shoulder. She looks up at the smiling demigod and he gives her his trademark eyebrow raise. "What do you say we hike up the mountain before this storm rolls in? Take a day to ourselves?"
Moana cocks an incredulous eyebrow of her own, "in this weather? Really Maui?"
Maui lets out a laugh, "why not?"
Now it's Moana's turn to laugh, "fair enough, let's go!" Moana wants to go to the cave where the canoes are stored now to protect them from the storms. So, she silently leads Maui up the meandering secluded mountain trail. They take their time, enjoying the feeling of the light misting rain. They enjoy the scent of petrichor and sea spray. The singing of the segavao(blue-crowned lorikeet).
Two thirds of the way up the mountain, Moana decides to ask him if he even wants to go to the cave. The sudden recollection of him having spent 1000 years living in one make her second-guess the whole trip up the mountain. She nervously looks up at Maui and they stop walking.
Maui notices her subtle unease, and he is instantly hyper alert, "What's up, Moana? Something on your mind?" A warm, swirling breeze surrounds them. The corner of Maui's lip twitches. Of course. That protective streak is there alright. He supposes he can't always keep his emotions in check, sometimes he just... accidentally affects the air or water around him. He just hopes she doesn't notice it. Not that it means anything, of course. Nah, just being a protective guy, like always.
"Can we go to the cave?" her voice drags him from his distracted thoughts.
"What… The cave? Why? You mean where the vaka are being stored? Why would you want to go there, it's dark and dank and stale…" Maui pulls a face just thinking about smelly damp caves. He is not particularly fond of them if he's honest. But he also doesn't understand why she looks so worried, if all she wanted to ask was if he wanted to hang out in a boat cave. It can't be too bad, can it? He cocks a curious, prying eyebrow.
"Can I talk about it when we get there?" Moana is being very reserved and avoids eye contact.
Well, that's… vague. Vague and rather unsettling, especially considering her weird expression. Better further the plot then. Maui muses to himself briefly before looking at Moana properly, "Well… I mean sure. Yeah… Are… you okay, Moana?" Maui makes a curious expression, his brow furrowed a bit as he turns to fully face Moana and regard her seriously.
Moana's eyes lift to his and she gives him a small smile and a sure nod, sweeping her hair together into an effortless bun. Then she tosses her head in the direction of the cave and leads the way. Maui follows with a chuckle and an easy smile. Okay then, princess.
Moana and Maui at last reach the rear entrance to the cave. Maui pushes aside the mass of overgrown vines to allow entrance into the lava tube.
Moana leads the way and Maui quietly follows. He glances around cautiously, still wary of caves. Moana heads straight to the edge of the calm lake inside the huge cavern. Maui walks beside her, taking the place in. He notices that is it actually not as dark and dank as he thought, and is actually quite beautiful. Definitely less of a cave and more of a cavern. Which are cool. Much cooler than caves. And drier... which is nice. Maui thinks to himself as he assesses the cavern. He concludes that this cavern is an acceptable place to chill. Only then does he all of the voyaging vaka liked up near the lake. Oh, then there's those. Okay, this is officially an awesome cave... Shit. Cavern. Maui chuckles to himself as he walks over to Moana.
They stop and listen to the waterfall at the far end of the cavern across the lake. "This is beautiful, Moana. I've never actually seen the inside of this place. It's incredible!"
Moana looks back over her shoulder and smiles a cute little smile, like she's almost bashful. Maui closes the distance between them and she turns to face him, "I like it here too."
Moana makes her way over to one of the bigger canoes and Maui follows. He watches as she runs her hand across the smooth carved wood of the hull, a reverent expression on her face. She then climbs aboard and Maui happily tags along.
Moana looks so at home on the deck of the enormous vaka and Maui smiles at that thought as he strides over to the mainmast. He runs his palm over the smooth wood, gazing up to to the top before he easily scales it. When he reaches the large fork at the top he leans out, holding on with just one hand, one foot dangling in the open air, completely comfortable and sure-footed.
Moana watches, giggling as Maui just hangs there and looks down at her with a comfortable smile. "I've always loved the bigger vaka, they are just so incredible to me for some reason. Strong and sturdy... They are always the first to appear on the horizon. I knew I had pulled a good island when I saw the huge sails in the distance…" Maui muses softly aloud as he climbs nimbly down from aloft. Tossing his hair back over his shoulders, he walks to the bow and plops down, dangling his feet off the deck and staring out to the thundering curtain of water at the mouth of the cave. Moana strides lazily over and takes a seat beside him.
"Must have been spectacular to see…" Moana remarks quietly, her voice echoing in the cavernous space.
"mhh" Maui grunts distractedly and lies back on the deck with a huff, "honestly kid, I miss those days sometimes, back when I was really makin' a difference."
"But Maui," Moana giggles, poking the demigod in the ribs and making him squirm and chuckle, "you're still making a difference! Here, on Motunui, every day! Yesterday is a great example! You saved five people, Maui. They could have been horribly injured or killed."
Maui lowers his face, his cheeks hot. "Nah, there are plenty strong men here that could… and would have helped. Trust me… I wouldn't trade this life for anything, but sometimes I just feel like I'm not doing enough…" Maui lets out a wistful, almost dejected sigh.
"You're wrong." Moana's rebuttal is so stern, Maui rolls onto his side and props himself up on his elbow to look at her properly. His eyes are widened and he is taken aback by her certainty.
"My father told me what happened, Maui. You lifted half of the fale and kept the family from being crushed. It would have taken ten of our strongest to lift that ridgepole. Don't be foolish Maui. Every little thing you do, from digging taro and harvesting coconuts, to fishing and repairing our fale and vaka. All of it is priceless and immensely valuable to the whole village. You are an integral member of my village."
Maui blinks a few times as he considers everything she said. He feels a shift in his own perspective of what he has done and he sits quietly for a long time. "I guess you're right." Suddenly, Maui sits up and faces Moana, a very concerned… serious expression on his ageless face. "Moana," he pauses and fills his lungs with an enormous breath that he releases in a big sigh, "sorry, not to abruptly change the subject, but you said you would talk to me about this place... I saw something in your eyes when you asked me if I wanted to come to this cave. You wanted to come but you were... worried about something. Moana, what happened here?"
Moana is silent for a span and Maui begins to worry that he may have overstepped his bounds. Then she looks up into his eyes with a thoughtful expression that instantly calms his thoughts. "Well… a lot… It's where I really realized who I am… who my people were. I discovered… well, rediscovered our heritage here. All the yearning to be on the sea, my whole life, the need for more, the nagging certainty that there's such a big wide world out there to see… it made sense as soon as I banged the to'ere. My culture and it's rich history of voyage and discovery washed over me like a wave crashing on the shore. It was unforgettable." Moana's eyes cast downwards suddenly and Maui shifts to lean closer, his concern welling back up.
"Moana?" he breathes, barely above a whisper, worried by her demeanor change. She looks up at him for a moment, her normally thick lips are pressed to a thin frown.
"Right after I ran out of the cave shouting about how we were voyagers, Gramma Tala took me down to the water's edge. That's when she gave me the heart of Te Fiti. That's when I learned that I was chosen by the ocean." Moana's eyes well with tears and she hangs her head and wipes her eyes. Maui' s brow furrows as she continues, "Gramma Tala died just hours later." Maui's heart plummets at her words. She rarely speaks of her grandmother's death, only her lessons in life and all the wonderful time spent together. Typical Moana, always focusing on the positive. He furrows his brow and looks into Moana's downcast face. Her gaze slowly rises to meet his and Maui presses his lips into a thin, downturned line in sympathy. "She showed me this place." Moana continues, looking around the cavern and softly gesturing to their surroundings. "She had been guiding me and teaching me so much, all in preparation for that day. That day, my whole life changed forever. So yes, maybe it is dark and dank and secluded. But I come because it means a lot to me. I come here to think and be at peace when I just need quiet."
Maui finds himself rendered silent, the gravity of her words really resonate with him. A place of solitude and peace. A place where she communes with her ancestors.
"I… saw Matai Vasa," Moana says suddenly and Maui blinks confusedly at her.
"Pardon?" Maui is momentarily befuddled by her statement. He is pretty certain she knows good and well Matai Vasa is long dead.
"In a vision," Moana replies with a bit of uncertainty in her tone.
"A what? Sorry, I'm not sure I follow," Maui asks with confusion.
"I guess you could say I had a vision of my ancestors, sailing. Here. After I banged the to'ere, the torches lit up and suddenly… I was surrounded by the ocean on this huge vaka and we crested a huge wave and the sea spray splashed my face and I heard my ancestors singing. They were singing about how they navigated by the sun and stars, how they knew where and who they were and… and… oh gods Maui, it was so beautiful… I wish… I wish I could hear it again. Just one more time."
Maui notices the tears forming in her eyes and he'll be damned if it doesn't make his heart thud harder against his chest. He wants so bad to give her that song, somehow. Voyaging is part of her. It is in her blood. It sings in her soul and he wants so very bad to grant that wish, even if it is just a simple song. Maui knew Matai Vasa. He has heard the ancestral voyaging songs… sang them, and there were many. But the question is, which one did she hear? Now he has to figure out which one. "Moana… I… I think I can help."
Moana looks over at him so fast, the tears are flung from her wide eyes. His heart leaps at the hope in those eyes. He must deliver on this, he would never forgive himself if he couldn't. "Really?" she asks, almost desperate.
Maui nods, why is his heart beating so fast? "I used to know Matai Vasa." Maui didn't think it was possible for her eyes to get any wider, and yet, there they are. He has an idea, "Can you remember more of the song you heard? Even little parts?" he sits cross legged in front of Moana and encourages her to concentrate. He puts his hands gently on her shoulders, "Just relax, let it come to you. There is no rush."
Moana closes her eyes and tries to remember that evening. She tries to recall the beat of the to'ere as it echoed in the cave. How it felt as the sticks vibrated in her hands with each strike. One...one two… onetwothree… her mind dredges up a ghost of a rhythm and her body starts to sway to it. She sees flashes of her vision, the vaka, the wave, Matai Vasa at the rudder… he is singing… she can hear words, not her own tongue, but painfully close. Older. She tries to say what she hears. "Ta… tatou... o tan… tagata… umm, o tagata folau…" Moana half speaks half sings the words with her eyes closed tightly. She is trying so hard to recall more, but it was almost five years ago. She feels the panic set in. What if it's not enough…
Maui can feel the song rising up in his chest. He knows it. He remembers singing it with Matai. Oh gods, it was his favorite song the man would sing! His eyes close and he lets the song flow through him, take him right out into the sea. Now his heart is pounding… He opens his eyes and they search for the to'ere he knows is on this vaka, the one that Matai Vasa carved himself. There it is! Maui gets awkwardly to his feet in his haste and runs to it. Maui hesitates in front of the ancient log drum, his heartbeat singing in his ears the rhythm his hands must create. He picks up the drumsticks. He gets goosebumps as he feels the ancient mana they hold from the generations of hands that held them and banged them on this drum. He gives the drum a couple test hits before he plunges head first into the old, familiar rhythm that pounds in his chest.
Moana watches dumbstruck as the demigod scrambles over to the to'ere and starts to drum the exact rhythm from the song that has haunted her memories ever since that day. Her jaw drops when the first verse comes out of his mouth. Oh. My. Gods.
"Tatou o tagata folau
Vala'auina e le atua
O le sami tele e o mai!
Ia ava'e le lu'itau e lelei
Tapenapena!"
"Aue aue! Nuku i mua
Te manulele e tataki iei!
Aue aue te fenua te malie
Nae ko hakilia kaiga e!"
Moana has tears streaming down her face. He knows the song. Oh my gods he knows… he starts the third verse and she gets goosebumps, not only does he know the song, he sings it so well … Moana is caught up in the emotion of the song and she is suddenly remembering whole verses. She lifts her voice and joins it with Maui's, standing and walking over to stand in front of the toere as Maui drives the rhythm as though he has done it his whole life. Maui makes eye contact when he hears her voice and smiles brightly as he feels the music thrumming in his veins like pure mana.
"We read the wind and the sky when the sun is high!
We sail the length of the seas on the ocean breeze!
At night we name every star,
We know where we are.
We know who we are, who we are!"
"Aue aue!" They shout together, filled with the emotion of the song,
"We set a course to find
A brand new island everywhere we roam!
Aue aue! We keep our island in our mind,
And when it's time to find home,
We know the way!"
Moana's voice harmonizes perfectly with Maui as they reach the climax of the song.
"Aue aue! We are explorers reading every sign!
We tell the stories of our elders in a
Never-ending chain."
Moana cannot help the tears that run down her cheeks, but she pays them no mind. She is so caught up in the song Maui is singing with her.
"Aue aue! Te fenua te mali e
Nae no hakilia,
We know the waaaaaay!"
Both of them stare at each other across the toere. Maui is breathing heavily and he can feel his pulse thudding everywhere. Moana has tears streaking down her face and the brightest eyes and broadest smile he's ever seen. He swallows and blinks a few times, still reeling with the power of the song and the suddenness with which it washed over him. He can feel his arms shaking. He lets out a shaky breath. Woah.
Moana suddenly runs around the to'ere and collides with Maui's torso, squeezing her arms around him as tightly as she can manage. Maui takes an unbalanced step back and chuckles before he wraps his arms around her, the drumsticks still in his hands. She holds him for a long, silent span, and Maui closes his eyes and just revels in the emotions. He will hold her as long as she wants him to. He is happy here and this feels right. Maybe he is still riding an emotional high from the ancestral song, but he feels amazing.
Moana presses herself tightly to the demigod and squeezes her eyes shut against the flowing tears. She never thought she would hear that song again. It filled her with such wonder when first she heard it. Maui has once again surprised her. She can't believe he knew it, let alone well enough to play it on the actual to'ere that Matai Vasa once played it on. She lets out a huge contented sigh and just allows her senses to take over. Her ears are filled with Maui's slowing breathing, his steady heartbeat in her ear, the low rumble of the waterfall across the lake from them. She feels so complete. All of a sudden she jolts and pulls away from Maui, and he startles a bit but she smiles putting her hands on his forearms, "Sorry, I meant to thank you. That was so amazing. I still can't believe you knew the song! Thank you, Maui! Thank you so much." Moana's face is glowing and Maui feels his cheeks heat up. He smiles at her, then it turns into a smirk.
Maui laughs, "What can I say, except you're welcome!" he sing-songs and Moana bursts into laughter. He joins her in the laughter and carefully replaces the drumsticks in the to'ere. Then he turns around and picks Moana up from behind. Moana let's out a shocked sound as Maui spins in place and then lifts her over his head and plops her on his broad shoulders, his hands sliding from her waist to her thighs so she won't slip. "Guess that's just my way of being me!" he says softly as he peers up at her with a raised brow and she giggles.
Maui chuckles as he walks down from the platform where the to'ere sits to the main deck. He intends to walk out to the bow and takes only two steps when Moana covers his eyes with both her hands. Maui takes an awkward half step and stops, laughing, "Hey! I need those!"
Moana is giggling as she leans closer to his right ear and whispers, "Not if you have a master wayfinder on your shoulders!" She snickers and Maui chuckles.
"Oh yeah?" Moana can feel his eyes clench tighter and he puts his hands on his hips, leaving Moana to control her balance. "Well then, if that is the case, take me to the bow."
"No cheating, do you trust me?" Moana lightens her touch against his cheeks experimentally and Maui nods, eyes still clenched closed. Moana pulls her hands away from his face and leans forward, peering around the left of his face to see him beaming with his eyes clenched tightly closed. She giggles.
"What, did you think I wouldn't trust you?" Maui challenges, raising an eyebrow and keeping his eyes obediently closed.
Moana tries not to laugh again. Instead, she clears her throat and straightens. "Just checking," she says with confidence. She reaches forward with both hands to cup his jaw but hesitates, her hands clenching into loose fists just an inch from his cheeks. She is suddenly so nervous. She takes a steadying breath and extends her fingers again. Another soft breath before she closes the distance and gently cups her hands against Maui's jawline on both sides. She feels a jolt of adrenaline when her hands touch his skin. Then his head tilts ever-so slightly to the right before she feels his cheeks round out with his smile.
Maui laughs softly, "Clever. Let's see what you've got, master wayfinder."
Oh... His tone... "Ahem!" Moana reasserts her control over her swirling emotions and looks ahead. She scans her surroundings. The bow is perhaps thirteen of her own steps ahead and to the right about the length of her forearm held out horizontally at eye-level. "Okay, I will direct you mainly with my hands, here." She begins as she ever-so slightly presses her thumbs against his cheeks, and he smiles again. "And I will relay distance in steps. Please take one step, straight ahead."
"You got it, Curly." Maui says as he takes a step. Moana does a few quick mental calculations to transfer her steps to his steps and comes up with one of his steps for every two of hers.
"Okay," Moana turns Maui' s head to the right so he looks towards the bow, "take six and a half steps in this direction."
She feels his smirk before he aligns his body with his head and grabs her ankles gently. Then he starts confidently walking in the direction she gave him. She feels a jolt in her gut, he really trusts her. She carefully holds her arms still so that she does not cause him to deviate as he walks for the bow. Maui takes precisely six and a half steps and stops and Moana rejoices internally when his last half step stops him only an inch from the edge of the deck, dead center at the bow. Moana smiles and lets her hands fall from his jaw as she leans her elbows against her thighs. "How's that?" she asks, leaning over to see his face.
Maui opens his eyes and looks around for a moment before he looks down at his feet. His head jerks back in subtle shock before he looks over at Moana. The shock is plain on his face and his eyes dart to the edge of the deck once before he looks back at her, his expression quite impressed. "Damn."
Moana bites her lips to stifle a giggle and straightens with a proud smirk. Maui shakes his head, impressed as he turns around and lifts her from his shoulders and sets her on her feet. She turns to face him with a broad smile. Maui shakes his head again in mild disbelief.
"Didn't think I'd get you so close?" Moana asks, quite proud of herself.
"Didn't think you'd get me so close." Maui replies in a surprised tone. "You got what it takes, Curly. Color me impressed." Maui crosses his big arms and stands akimbo.
Moana blushes, but brushes him off, "Ha! Don't act so surprised, you knew what I was capable of."
Maui dramatically rolls his eyes and straightens, "Yeah, you see right through me, dontcha?" he smiles at her.
"Of course I do, I'm your best friend." Moana says with easy confidence.
Her statememt certainty makes his heart skip a beat. He still sometimes can't believe how lucky he is. After what he went through as a young child, it's nice to have real friends and people he can call family. "Yeah." Maui says thoughtfully, "yeah you are."
The cave is suddenly lit up by a bright flash of light from outside the waterfall. Moana gasps and they turn to look as the rumble of distant thunder meets their ears.
"Uh-oh, looks like the storm is finally upon us." Maui says softly. He feels Moana step closer to his right side and he puts an arm behind her, his hand coming to rest above her hip. Moana leans into his side and Maui smiles.
"Guess we should at least get something to eat. Here, come with me." Moana says after squeezing Maui in a one armed hug. She steps away and walks to the edge of the vaka and jumps down to the sand. Moana looks back at Maui, who has not yet moved, and instead just watches her from the deck of the vaka. "Come on!"
"Oh… right, sorry. I was… thinking about... something." Maui mumbles as he steps up to the edge and jumps down.
Moana runs lightheartedly towards the back of the cave and waits at the opening of the lava tube for Maui. Maui jogs up the slight incline and stops beside Moana. "So, we headed back down the mountain?" he asks.
Moana shakes her head no, then smiles, "I have something to show you." it's such a small, innocent smile. He's gets that flutter in his chest.
Maui cocks a curious eyebrow at her, "Very well, lead the way, Master Wayfinder." Maui follows her as she quickly exits the cave and steps into the drizzle.
She glances around, then turns to face Maui as he stands in the mouth of the tube. "Can you boost me up there?" Moana indicates a small ledge above his head.
Maui cranes his head around to look where she pointed, "Oh! Yes, here!" Maui laces his fingers together to form a stirrup and he crouches so Moana can step into his hands. She grabs his shoulders to balance as he stands and lifts her foot up to his chest. She climbs easily into the ledge and they each turn to face one another. Moana looks suddenly embarrassed and apologetic, "Umm. I didn't really think this through… I can't lift you so…"
Maui laughs good-naturedly. "Oh, not to worry, Curly!" Maui reassures her as he effortlessly jumps up and grabs the ledge. Moana backs up to allow him adequate space as he pulls himself up onto the ledge with an easy smile.
"Right… okay this way!" Moana giggles and turns to start climbing up the steep narrow path that curves around the mountain and out of sight. Maui follows her quietly as the drizzle picks up to a light rain. They round the bend and the path leads to a grove of mango trees that are laden with ripe fruit.
Maui's eyes go wide. "Holy…"
"I know, right! We would harvest them, but it's quite a rough trail and it's pretty tight up here so we just let them go. But we get the seeds for the grove down the mountain from these trees." Moana explains as she walks up to a thick tree and leaps up to its lowest branch. She pulls herself up and climbs higher to get to the best fruit.
Maui stays close, just in case she slips. He hears a snap and his stomach instantly drops. He can't see her and he's getting anxious. "Moana!" he shouts in concern. In reply, three mangoes hit his face and chest and he stumbles back in shock. One of them was overripe and it split open on his chest when it hit him, spilling sticky sweet juice down his front. He wipes away most of the fruit and stands, stepping under the branches again, "Moana?"
"Sorry about those, here… these are perfect." Maui hears another couple small twigs snap before he hears a lot of rustling. Then he sees her climbing down with her lavalava turned up at the front and filled with fruit! She looks like she is holding the bottom of the lavalava in her teeth to free both hands for climbing.
"Holy… Woah!" Maui steps closer and reaches up to her as she takes a seat on the lowest branch.
"Catch!" She says and slides off the branch.
Maui gasps in shock as she falls into his outstretched arms and knocks him over with a loud grunt. Moana is laughing stitches in her side as Maui recovers. He sits up with her still in his arms and he blinks his wide eyes at her. He is totally shocked.
"Nice catch, Maui." Moana chuckles and dumps the mangoes on the ground between Maui's spread legs.
Finally, Maui finds his voice and he huffs, "Ugh, seriously Moana? You scared the shit out of me… felt like I was having a heart attack…"
Moana just smiles at him, "I knew you'd catch me." She pokes her finger against the tattoo of herself on his still heaving chest and smirks.
Maui frowns angrily at her, but can't stay mad with her smiling like she is. He heaves a heavy sigh and pulls her against his chest in a tight hug. "Please warn me if you plan on doing something like that again." He can still feel his pulse pounding against his throat. He closes his eyes and wills himself to relax.
Moana presses her lips against the side of his neck for a few beats. She pulls away, the thudding in her chest keeping pace with the bounding she can feel in his. She smiles a cheeky smile as he opens his eyes and looks at her. "I did." She says simply.
Maui's eyes first go wide then he quickly frowns playfully when he registers the snark, "Oh you little-!" he instantly digs his fingers into her ribs and tickles her mercilessly until she laughs tears in her eyes and begs for mercy.
Once they have caught their breath, Moana and Maui pick up the mangoes and Moana fills her lavalava again. They quickly return to the cave to eat as the rain begins pouring down outside.
x
The rain falls heavily until sunset, when it slows back to a light drizzle. But the wind has really picked up and the temperature has dropped.
Moana is leaning against Maui's shoulder with her eyes closed and Maui is leaning against the hull of the largest vaka. He watches the waterfall across the lake. He hears the rain let up and he looks down at Moana. "Hey, Curly. Ready to head down the mountain? There's a lull in the rain."
Moana looks up at the demigod and nods, "They are probably serving dinner soon. Let's go." Moana stands and walks up to the back entrance of the cave followed by Maui. Preparing for the chill, they hesitate before they walk out into the light rain and down the mountain. When they arrive at the fale tele, food is being brought out and so they take seats and enjoy dinner before retiring to their fales early and exhausted.
They dream of sailing and ancestral songs as the storm batters the reef.
