As they passed through the portal, the scenery around them changed.
Stormy skies faded into bright shining blue ones with clouds scattered around. It was open calm ocean now instead of swirling water for miles. Plenty of islands could be seen too, all a bit of distance away from them but still in view.
The sphere around the dissipated and as did the monsters, bringing the surfboard to a standstill in the water.
"Could you stand like you usually do when you ride on waves? It'll get us moving again. My servants can only take us this far before the light destroys them."
"But what good will that do without a wave to push me along?" Walan asked.
"Just stand and direct the surfboard with movement like you would if you were on a wave."
Walani shrugged, getting up, a bit wobbly before getting her balance back. She waited a few minutes, turning to tell Maxwell it wasn't working when they shot forward, eliciting a shriek from her.
"I told you." Was all he said with a grin.
Walani shrugged, getting back into position, shifting her weight to move the board onto the next wave.
"Hey, Max, you know how to ride one of these?"
"Not really. I'm more of a ship person." Maxwell shrugged, hanging into the board. "Not that I've tired surfing."
"Come on, stand up! It'll make the riding easier!"
Maxwell sighed before doing as told, though finding it hard to keep his balance at first.
"G-Gah!"
"Hang on tight!" Walani laughed, shifting her weight again as the surfboard swerved on a rather large wave. Maxwell held onto her shoulders.
"You know I'm beginning to regret not creating a boat."
"Nah! Where's the fun in that? Hang loose dude!"
Walani laughed as she surfed along the surface of the water, Maxwell hanging on tightly as they went but was slowly getting used to balancing himself like Walani was. They soon came up to and island, both hopping onto the sand shore.
"Ah, that felt great!" Walani said, twirling around. "I like this place already!"
Maxwell was composing himself, trying to recover from all the surfing.
"I guess that wasn't so bad but next time, I'm sitting in a boat while you surf." He dusted himself off, looking around. "Hm… Looks like this island has plenty of vegetation, crabbit holes and if I had to guess, probably a source of freshwater somewhere that could you work from. Seems like a good place to start."
"Sounds like it to me." Walani looked around her, taking the sight of it all in. "I could get used to this."
"You could make a humble abode. Even that hammock you wanted. Though, do be careful during the rainy season. It could flood if you're not high up on ground."
"So, like flooding back home-that place. Got it."
Maxwell nodded.
"Not to get off subject but could I have my coat back now?"
Walani had forgotten she even had the coat still on. She hadn't even noticed she tied the sleeves around her neck, almost wearing it like a cape.
"Woops, my bad." Walani undid the knot, handing it back. "Here ya go."
Maxwell nodded, taking it back, slipping it back on.
"Thank you."
"No prob. Anything else I should know?"
"Hm… There are dangerous animals that are similar to sharks and other predatory creatures but if you have a weapon you should be fine. Be careful during fire season since the volcanoes around here tend to get a little trigger happy and… Oh, do respect the trees and make sure to plant seeds after chopping any down."
"Why?"
"They'll un plant themselves and attack you." He replied as if he was talking about the weather. Walani gave the tree she was standing next to a weary look.
"You're kidding me."
"I'm not. Don't anger the tree guards."
Walani shrugged.
"Alright then. Any locals I should know about?"
"Probably not on this island but there are pigmen who live around the area along with things called merms but they don't really speak much." Maxwell hummed in thought. "And… that's all I can think of off the top of my head besides the annoying monkeys. Do mind those brutes if you happen to see them, they like to steal things."
"Noted." Walani stretched. "Well, I'm ready to get started with my new life. You gonna hang around?"
"I actually have other needs to tend to but I'll check in here and there." Maxwell dug into his coat pocket, producing a necklace that had a red gem attached into it. "As a small island warming gift, you may have this. It'll come in handy for emergencies."
Walani took it, giving him a grateful look.
"Thank you so much. I promise I'll make it."
"I have no doubt."
Maxwell gave a wave before conjuring up a boat with magic, sailing off. Walani watched him go till she couldn't see him anymore. She turned around, putting the necklace on around her neck.
"Alright." She rubbed her hands together. "Let's start making an awesome home."
ooooo
It took a few days to get the right materials together but before long she had a small camp set up in the center of the island, surrounded by the jungle. It was right next to a tidal pool so she had an endless supply of fresh water.
Walani sighed a bit, leaning back against one of the trees. She still had more work to do but it was easy so far.
At least it seemed easy.
"Hissss…"
Huh?
She hurried over to her tool rack, grabbing a spear, keeping it in the ready position.
"W-Who goes there?" She asked. "Show yourself!"
A viney bush next to her shook before a few heads poked out of it as she backed up. Two red and black striped snakes…
And one large yellow and black one.
"Remember, Walani, red on black, not venomous. Yellow and black, run or kill it and don't get bitten."
One useful piece of info that jerk who raised me taught me.
Walani narrowed her eyes, grabbing a heavy rock, lobbing it at the yellow snake in question.
"GET BACK!"
It took a blow to the head before letting out a hiss, the snakes quickly swiveling their way towards her. Walani dance around them, slicing at them with her spear.
"Die you stupid things!"
She hit a red one in the head, the other red one in the mid section. The yellow one was still moving around, trying to nip at her but to no avail. Walani gave a mighty swing before decapitating the creature, the hissing noises ceasing as they faded away, leaving some forms of items behind.
She noted one snake had left behind some kind of purple meat, the other a shriveled up piece of skin… and the yellow one..
Some kind of gland that looked just as yellow as its owner had been.
"... Eww… What is this place!?"
Walani kicked the gland away, disgusted.
"Tck, Max could've told me about that… Then again he did say off the top of his head but still." Walani shook her head and soon grimaced as she heard her stomach growl. "Guh… all that battling made me hungry."
She set down her spear, going over to an area where she had some fruit stacked up. She took a banana of the pile, peeling it before biting right into it.
"Really should find some meat soon." She eyed the purple meat one of the snakes have dropped. "... Probably not that kind since something about that is giving me shivers just looking at it."
Then again he said there was crabbit holes - whatever crabbits are.
She walked out towards the beach to see dozens of blue crab creatures scuttling about on the sand, occasionally bumping into one another and moving along.
She went close to one, giving it an experimental poke with her spear. It shrieked at her before burying itself in the sand.
"... Oh, do NOT make me feel guilty." Walani growled a bit, digging into the sand.
The crabbit, however, had a different idea when she got ahold of it. It pinched her hand with one of its claws as she dropped it, cursing under her breath.
"Oh that is IT! I'll get you!"
Instead of chasing after them, however, she stormed off back to her camp, muttering under her breath as she gathered up twigs and grass along the way.
"We could trap lobsters, trapping crabs should be similar…"
She quickly put a trap together before setting it down in front of one of the holes. She lied down on the sand on her belly, spear ready as she waited in silence. After a few minutes, a crabbit came out and fell right into the trap.
"Ha!" She hurried over, opening the trap and quickly stabbing the creature, it turning into a piece of meat shortly after. She threw her head back, laughing. "Success!"
Crunch!
"... Huh?"
She looked down, seeing other crabbits had come up and had taken the meat away before she could grab it.
"... You… You…" She let out a frustrated scream. "YOU CANNIBALS! THAT WAS MINE DARN IT!"
Oh, they wanna play that game huh? Walani can play that game. Walani likes that game.
Once again, she stormed off to her camp, retrieving the odd looking meat the snakes had left behind and throwing it into a large cluster of crabs as they started biting it.
That's when she struck, bringing her spear down.
"YAAAAAAHH!"
It was rapid fire from the young woman as she stabbed as many crabbits as she could, batting them away when they tried to steal the meat that was produced. The frenzy soon ended, a nice armful of meat in Walani's possession.
"Ah, this is gonna be great to roast over a fire." She said to herself, her mouth watering. "I can't wait."
She turned to head back to her camp but then stopped as she smelled something.
Something… rich and warm.
That smell… it's… like smoked fish.
She hurried back to her camp, putting the meat into a safe place and where it would stay fresh as she went to go investigate. She followed the smell, paying attention to the strength as she tried to find the source. She got lost a few times but quickly corrected herself.
The smell got stronger and stronger till she could actually hear the crackling of flames. She parted some bushes, her eyes widening at the sight of a small camp set up. It wasn't much. A small little siesta made of bamboo with a blanket draped over it, a fire pit, some drying racks and some kind of crockpot that was currently cooking something, probably whatever Walani had been smelling.
She tilted her head in confusion. Far as she was concerned she was the only one on this island.
If someone else was here you would think I would've noticed by now.
Before another thought could cross her mind she heard someone humming. She ducked down in the bushes as the humming got louder. Out from another set of bushes from the left side of the camp came an older man, probably about early thirties if Walani had to guess. He had extra curly gray hair that was pulled into a bun along with a beard to match.
He hummed to himself as he set down some supplies before hurrying over to the crockpot, lifting up the lid to check the content.
"Mmm… Almost perfection. Just need to wait a few more minutes."
Walani's stomach growled loudly upon seeing the food… and also drew the man's attention.
Walani swallowed hard, ducking down further, hoping maybe he hadn't seen her. It was eerily quiet till she heard footsteps come her way… and they soon stopped as the man was standing right over her.
"You know, if you want a meal, all you have to do is ask."
"... Eh?"