From the rapidly encroaching darkness, Kohala's voice rang out calling for her honored guest. Loa grumbled something in Native Hawaiian which was not complimentary but she stepped aside to allow Interceptor through. The brig tilted his head, and slowly sailed in. Kohala was leaning heavily on a dock but she was upright. The places where she had been bleeding earlier were now scabbed gray. Her eyes were noticeably dimmer than they were but she offered him a warm smile. "I apologize if I scared you earlier." She said. "I wasn't scared for my well being but for yours." he sighed, "I hope you're okay now?" "Interceptor you have much to learn about my kind. The biggest thing you need to understand is we are creatures of the earth. We are affected by even the slightest change that is beyond our control. We are never, okay. Just, not erupting. Sometimes I can't decide which is worse." She said with a small smile. "I really wish I could help. I want to." he approached sadly. He was shocked at how comfortable he felt. This was all so new, so deadly, and yet, he felt at ease, almost like he belonged. "So kind." She murmured. "But it's okay my friend. Your mortality is more of a privilege than a hindrance." "Perhaps so, but that doesn't mean I can't make life easier. I can. I just, need to understand how." "Interceptor, I am old even for my breed. There is nothing you can do. But I find your way of life fascinating." She murmured. "I strive to protect everyone important in my life." "I can see that quality about you. Tell me, what is this "pirate's life" about?" She asked. "Freedom. A life where anyone can do as they please, to an extent. Where if they work hard enough, they'll achieve the riches we can only dream of." "All illegally of course. With navies around the world seeking you out." "Just for now. Until we can get a nation of our own." he sighed. "I see." She closed her eyes. "To enjoy such freedom, to be able to go where you want when you want. That must be, exhilarating." "I wish it was. Hunters are chasing me and my family. One nasty one has chased me into the Pacific. I think I lost him...but he's not easy to escape. He's dedicated to his contracts." "We will, keep an eye out of course. And if he comes within our radius well, we're due a sacrifice." She rasped. "Thank you. Is there anything I can do? Truly, I am happy to do anything." "You can go with Loa tomorrow and let her show you around. Please don't beat her up. She can be insufferable at times but her attitude just hides a big heart." "I saw that earlier." he smiled, "I will." "Thank you..." Her voice faded away as her eyes glazed over once more before closing. "Kohala...?" She cracked open one eye before shifting over, making room for him. He slipped in beside her. "What do you call this harbor?" "We don't have a name for it. That's one thing you foreigners are useful for. You decide." "May I name it in honor of the one person in my life who means everything to me?" "It would be an honor to live here if you did." She replied. He smiled, and looked to the stars above. "Pearl Harbor. This place will be named Pearl Harbor." "Lovely name." She murmured, eyes closing again. Interceptor's eyes never once left the stars above. The nebula above reflected in his golden eyes. "Black Pearl...my precious, beloved Pearl...I'll be back to you soon...I love you."
When he woke in the morning he found Kohala spread over him, her higher than mortal average body temperature keeping him warm. He would have tried to gingerly slip out but was afraid of waking her. Not to mention, this was...actually quite comfortable. She shifted as she began to stir from her slumber, muzzle rubbing his shoulder. He purred gently, nudging her gently as she woke. "Good morning." "Mm, morning." She yawned, lifting her head off him. He wiggled his way out and stretched, booms creaking and sails fluffing out. He shivered with goosebumps. "Mmph, that's a relief." She nosed him, worried he was cold. "Hmm?" he turned to look back at her, only to squeak in surprise when he found himself being huddled to her warm flank. "You're freezing!" She murmured. "No, I'm quite alright." he chuckled, though didn't protest. There was something about the warmth of a volcano's hull that just seemed so alluring and cozy!
She did eventually have to let him go and Loa took over. "Behave!" Kohala told her. "I will." Loa rolled her eyes. "Honestly, do as you please while we're out, I don't mind. I'd rather get to know the real you as opposed to a forced kindness." Interceptor smiled up at her. "Don't test me boy." Loa bared her teeth, leading the way out. "I'm not testing, I'm truthful." he continued once they had left the harbor and were out to sea.
"Hmph." She sniffed. She made a turn west. "There are 6 main islands forming a chain running SE-NW. We are on the second island. The main island is our home. Where we are linked to our mountains." "Each and every island is a volcano?" he asked, looking at all of the tall peaks along the chain, quite taken aback by the lethal beauty each one was. "They were once. But their fire has long since faded. Diamond Head, which overlooks the harbor, has been dead for centuries. I am the eldest still alive." "That is...both sad and impressive. So there must be vents on the sea bed, which lava pours out from, making new islands and mountains, I assume? Growing more of your family?" "Yes. There is one other below the surface. But she is far too young to be exposed in any form just yet." "How do your mountains come about creating...well, you? At what point does one get a ship? And how does it?" "We choose to exist this way. We could just not come out of our mountain shell. All volcanoes are alive but only a select few decide to emerge like this and interact with mortals." "What made you decide?" "Our desire to learn. You experience things we never can but by living among you perhaps we can come to understand." She replied. "Well, a bit hard to understand when you kill all the mortals you meet, aye?" he chuckled, "Sorry, bad attempt at a joke. That's truly remarkable. So you are your mountain, not just connected, but you are? So...for instance, let's say a rock falls and crushes something against your mountain. Would you feel that? If someone hiked? Mined? Or is it specific?" "I feel everything that occurs on my flanks. Inside and out. Any time an islander wonders up my slopes I feel it. Any time a tree falls, I feel it." "I am, I'm amazed. I truly don't know how else to describe this. It's beyond my wildest imagination. I'm talking to a rock full of molten Earth! Err, no offense. It's just insane! Incredible!" "Perhaps but I wonder if there is one thing we share." She mused. "Well there is a number of things we share. Which are you referring to?" "A soul." "Every living being has a soul. Why would you not?" "All the things I have done." "That doesn't mean you have no soul. It's...I was perhaps being hard on you before. I did not understand your ways. But the more I've learned, the more I've realized...it's not bad what you have done. It's just your nature. Your purpose in life was to destroy and kill, mercilessly. Your desires, what you've done, it's nothing to be ashamed of. It's just who you are. Part of what you are." She sighed. "Thank you Interceptor." He frowned, "That tone tells me something different than your words. I'm not saying this to make you feel better. I honestly believe it. In truth, it makes sense. In nature, larger animals hunt and kill smaller and weaker ones all the time. It's no different here. We're just more civilized. And that's why it feels wrong." "Kohala was right about your kindness." She murmured. He shrugged gingerly, "You call it kindness, I call it being genuine." She looked at him and for once her gaze was gentle. "Come, there is something you must see." "Lead on, then." he nodded, sticking to her stern like a moth to a lantern.
