[ Author's note: I just wanted to say happy valentines day to all my readers! I also wanted to note that I know valentines day can be lonely and depressing. Especially for those in the LGBTQ community. I wanted you to know you are loved and appreciated and if anyone needs anyone to talk to, my private messages are open =) Celebrate yourself today and how great you are! ]


"So your Arendelle princess girlfriend has ice powers and is an elemental spirit? Well shit. When you get in deep, you get in deep." Jarrah whistled, smacking a branch out of the way which only came back to smack him in the face.

Keahi scowled and looked behind her for a moment before jumping over a log and pushing away a branch with a spider web. "I don't mean to brag or anything but she is pretty amazing." Keahi grinned, coming to a stop and putting her hands on her hips and scratching the back of her head.

"And your fire powers aren't fire ejaculating at all?" Jarrah stumbled into Keahi, causing her to lurch forward. She shoved him, though he didn't budge. The man was like a brick wall.

"That's...not the right word and don't say it like that." Keahi groaned, marching forward as she swatted at a few bugs that annoyingly buzzed around.

They came from the forest into a small channel of the beach. On the other side, a small decrepit hut sat on the rocky outcrop.

"Did we find it?" Jarrah complained, "I'm not built for walking through forests. EEE!" He screeched, leaping up and grabbing Keahi like a rag doll.

She swatted at him until he put her down and she used a stick to shoo the lizard that caused Jarrahs horrid screeching. "Jarrah, really?"

He let out an iffy laugh. "So why didn't you come visit this voodoo lady years ago if it was possible to make Crow not so...insane?"

Keahi started down the hill towards the hut. "Well, I guess when you are used to living a certain way. You become comfortable in it, no matter how dark it can be." She looked up at the sky, the clear stars twinkling overhead. "It isn't until someone shows you the light that you realize how far in the darkness you've strayed."

"Awe, and here I thought I was the poet."

Keahi scowled, "Where is your lute, by the way?"

"Back on the ship!" He whined.

Keahi rolled her eyes. Once they got to the hut, they eyed each other, unsure. The hut was built of old, decaying wood. Spider webs and dust collected over random items that were strewn about the porch. Old glass jars, different colored bottles, beads, odd shaped miniature figures.

Keahi pushed open the lopsided, deteriorated door and it creaked slowly until it was fully open on its hinges. Keahi stepped in, the floorboard letting out a moan under her weight. Jarrah had to duck to get into the small building and crouch over so his head didn't hit whatever was dangling from the ceiling. Old cloth, gems and feathers consisted of most of the dangling ceiling items. His head brushed against something and the pieces clattered together. It didn't take them long to realize it was bones.

Jarrah went to yell and Keahi stood on her tiptoes to clamp a hand over his mouth, her other hand putting an index finger to her lips to shush him. Once she was sure he wasn't going to scream, she gingerly removed her hand and shook her head. "Since when did you become so jumpy?" she whispered harshly.

"Since we started trolloping through the forest like a bunch of woodland fairies!" He shot back.

When they both were done bickering, they started forward. But someone blocked them. Keahi jumped, holding up her hands into fists as sparks of fire started but died out.

Jarrah assumed the same position, looking at Keahi out of his peripheral. "Man, get it together, your fireworks are what save our asses all the time."

"Im trying." Keahi seethed back, shaking her hands. A bit of red glowed around them until it faded.

The woman in front of them didn't move, and Keahi realized she was much older and dropped her hands to her side. The woman's eyes were a milky blue, deep wrinkled on her face as her chapped lips pulled inward to show she probably had only a few, or no, teeth.

Her back hunched over and her dreads were pulled back and contained with a colorful bandana. Large bracelets startled along her thin wrists and she stomped the cane against the floorboard which dragged Keahi back to the present.

"What are you doing here?" The old woman rasped, a rattling cough shaking her shoulders as she gradually turned and went back further into the mountains of random objects.

Keahi cleared her throat, "Are you Mama Erzulie the voodoo queen?" Keahi edged hesitantly.

She paused and glanced back, scoffing. "And what of it, child?"

"I need help with my brother. A witch stole his empathy years ago, and he's...well, I'm afraid he's fully drowned in darkness."

Mama Erzulie turned and jabbed her cane into Keahi's chest before stomping it on the floorboard. "You look like you've messed with a lot of magic and for the lack of better words, you've been burned by it."

Keahi was rubbing the sore spot where Erzulie had jabbed. The woman was stronger than she looked. "Yeah, but I've also been saved by it."

"Are you ready to make that gamble once more when many loved ones are expecting you?" Mama Erzulie asked, craning a frail look in Keahi's direction as she tossed dried crab claws and shells on the floor.

They rattled and landed, scattered across the floor. "You are no longer a wolf on the sea but a part of something bigger. Are you ready to gamble all that on cockiness?"

Erzulie threw a fine white powder onto the floor to mix with the shells and dried crab legs. A static cloud started above it, faces wavering in the mix until Elsa's face became clear as day within the cloud. "People are passing the seas for you and you are so quick to be reckless and mess with things that got your brother in his situation in the first place." Mama Erzulie whispered.

Keahi's heart hammered in her chest, "Elsa!" She whispered, without thinking, walking forward to touch her face.

But her hand just went through the cloud as it wavered.

Jarrah let out a long whistle. "That's Elsa? Wow. Think she'll let me serenade her with my lute?"

Keahi scowled and elbowed him before running her hands over her hair and tangling one there, placing her other hand on her hip as she tried to think passed the rampant beating of her heart.

Mama Erzulie was right. She was being selfish and irrational, going headlong into powers she didn't understand.

But what could she do? "He's my brother." Keahi whispered, arms hanging loosely to her side as her head dropped in defeat. She clenched her fists at her side. "He did this for me. And he's done a lot wrong. But I want him to have that chance to correct it."

"Sometimes darkness is a venom that does irreparable damage." Mama Erzulie murmured, shakily sitting in her rocking chair.

"If he would've just let me die when I was younger, this wouldn't be a problem. He could have his life that was taken from him, by me." Sadness didn't edge her voice but anger did.

Anger at herself.

Mama Erzulie clicked her tongue, motioning Keahi to come over. She did, leaning down when Erzulie motioned her to.

Mama Erzulie hit her on the head with her cane.

Keahi hissed and stumbled back, rubbing her head vigorously. "Hey!" She stammered, looking at her hand to be sure her head wasn't bleeding.

Mama Erzulie clicked her tongue again. "Life is precious and you should never wish it away. What is past is the past and there is nothing more than to move forward. I will tell you this: darkness can be lifted but insanity cannot. If he has not succumbed to his insanity, he has a chance to find his empathy and swim through his darkness. A moment of clarity and selfless sacrifice will be his saving grace. Now," she stood up, her arms trembling as she walked Keahi and Jarrah to the front. "It is time for you to protect those precious to you." She stomped her cane on the front porch. "And I don't like unsolicited visitors." She finished with a 'humph' as she slammed the door.

Keahi and Jarrah glanced at one another and Keahi just squared her shoulders as they started down the porch. Mama Erzulie was right. She had people to protect and she couldn't be reckless like she used to be.

A smile creased her lips as Elsa's face popped to mind. But she quickly panicked, grabbing Jarrah's arm. "Elsa is crossing the ocean to find me!" She exclaimed, but worry marred her words. "She's too good for everything she will find out here. I need to get to her before she gets hurt trying to find me."

Jarrah scratched his chin. "Eh, I wonder how her kind legs are doing on the sea. Can't be good. What are you going to do?"

Keahi rubbed her chin and tapped her foot rapidly on the ground as she thought before snapping. "Crow said we are heading to the land of fire past the Souther Isles. Whatever is down there he's solely focused on. If I can just get off this island without Crow noticing, I can intercept Elsa on one of the northern islands before she gets here and we can come up with something. Can you help me, Jarrah?" She looked back at him, hopeful.

He slapped his forehead, "Ugh, fine. But you have to let me attempt to serenade Elsa to give me a fair shot."

"I will chew your lute playing hand off, Jarrah, don't mess with me." She scoffed, but she was grinning as they left the beach and headed back to the main portion of town.