Chapter 14: How Far We'll Go

As the years passed, Hina mourned for her beloved's death. The other males in the village attempted to court he priestess but she refused them all. She would never again marry. Hina promised herself to never let her heart go down that road again. So Hina spent her time with her mother, dancing at the water edge. She learnt, studied and practiced until she mastered her skills.

One such morning, Hina was harvesting the coconuts when she felt a strange breeze in the air. "What's wrong Hina?" Sina asked.

"Something is wrong." Hina turned, seeing Tui and Moana talking to some of the village woman who were also harvesting coconuts. Hina jumped out of the tree and ran over to Moana, "What's wrong?"

"The coconuts are turning black." Moana answered as she showed them. Hina and Tui shared a look. He knew what they were talking about. She had been showing him for years and now, this was even beyond her skills. "And they are not finding fish anywhere in the reef."

"I will investigate this." Hina walked towards the beach, finding mother was dancing in the waves, as always. "Mother, the blackness is spreading to the food."

"I know." Tala said, finishing her dance. "My coconut-headed son has had his head buried in the sand for far to long. We must to something now."

Hina agreed and set out to the top of the island. There was a shrine at the top of the mountain where every chief laid a stone. She took one of her sacred arrows and placed it at the base of the mountain.

She breathed in and let her power flow into the arrow. This would protect the island community a little longer until she could find a solution, but at a cost, it would drain her power until she regained it.

As she finished, Hina came back to the family hut. Her sister-in-law opened the flap, with tears in her eyes. Hina stopped, her heart pounded in her chest. "Hina." Sina called out, "You don't have much time."

"What do you mean?"

"Tala. She is not long for this world."

The air left her lungs as she ran into the hut. Her mother laid in the center of the room, candles lit all around her. "Hina." She breathed in. "My daughter."

Hina felt tears rolling down her cheek, as she took Tala's hand into hers. "You need to get your rest. You need to get better."

Tala cupped Hina's face. "I am not long for this world, but I will live on through you and our family."

"You can't leave me."

"There is nowhere you will go that I won't follow you." She took out a necklace and handed it to Hina. It was decorated with pink sea shells. "There inside is my heart for you and who you are. Wear it, and never forget."

Hina took the necklace and tied it around her neck. "Go." Tala said. "You need to be with Moana. Restore the heart and free us all from the darkness." Tala squeezed her hand again, before Hina stood up.

She ran to the doorway, before looking back at her mother. Tala' smiled, before Hina wiped the fresh tears off her face. She turned away from her dying mother and set out down the hill to Moana. Inside, Moana was packing food. She stopped as she saw Hina come inside. "I am going with you." Hina said, already packing up some food who her own.

'It will be dangerous." Moana said.

"This is me you're talking too." Hina smiled. "I am defeated that eel twice. You should be asking me to come." Sina came to the hut next, watching her sister and daughter pack food. She took some more and handed it to them.

They all said their goodbyes, as Moana and Hina took off to the cave that held the old boats. Both hurried to prepare the boat and push it out into the open sea. Hina tied down a rope before turning around, feeling a breath of magic. The hut that held her mother, the candles went out, but a giant blue fish followed, sweeping underneath them.

"Soon we'll know, how far we can go."

Has it been really 7 months since my last update. I can't believe it! In my defense, I have had major writers block, just nothing following out into the pages. Well enjoy and I will try to get the next chapter out as soon as I can.