"We should still explore this place, it's not that big, we could check out the caves!" Moana suggested, eager to explore.

"Nuh uh, we should stay on the beach, away from the caves." Maui insisted.

"Scared of the Taniwha?" Moana teased.

"No! Just, cautious."

"Mhm." Moana walked off to explore the island despite Maui's warning. Maui just groaned.

"Curly never listens." The demigod mumbled to himself, and Keoni wondered whether he should stay or follow. He glanced around the beach, there was nothing of much interest, unless you counted the grumpy Demigod. After taking it into consideration, he decided that it wouldn't hurt to check out the place while they were here.

"Hey Moana! Wait up!" Keoni called out, running after her. He kept his club with him in case there were any wild animals. She turned when she heard her name and grinned.

"Would you consider yourself the curious type?" Moana asked as she carefully stepped into one of the caves, ducking low due to the low ceiling, holding a newly lit torch in front of her.

Keoni wasn't sure, "I dunno, I never really took any opportunities to explore unless necessary."

"Did you ever go past your village while you still lived there?"

"Nope. My mom used to warn my sister and I to never go into the woods by ourselves. She was a pretty protective mother. But she had a good reason to be, after my father died, she just wanted to make sure nothing bad happened to us." Moana frowned.

"How are you handling being so far away from your home?" Moana asked this out of concern, considering all he'd been through, she didn't want to push him too much.

"On high alert, more than usual," He replied honestly, "I've always been pretty aware of my surroundings, but, even though I'm no longer by myself anymore, I still feel the need to be focused on what's going on around me."

"I get it…" Moana trailed off when she noticed something on the wall illuminated by her torch. Ancient carvings… and the stretched the length of the cave, however deep it went. Moana shared a look with Keoni.

"Someone definitely lived here." He remarked.

"A long time ago…" Excitedly, Moana ran ahead to see how far the carvings went, to the point where Keoni couldn't see her torch anymore, he began to freak out a little bit but attempted to keep his cool as he ran after her.

"Moana? Moana!" He called out, he heard noises, but he couldn't tell where it was coming from. But he cautiously went further into the cave, and began to hear the noise again, but louder, it was the sound of water! He followed it and the cave led to a huge opening. Upon walking in he got a whiff of the sea air, then something more foul.

"KEONI!" He jumped hearing Moana call his name and frantically scanned the room searching for her. He saw her scramble out of the water onto an isolated rock in the middle of the pool. The rock was slippery and she couldn't maintain her balance. In the water, was a horrifying eel-like creature furiously circled the rock, rearing its head several times, waiting for the right time to strike.

A Taniwha. A very real monster. How could things have gone wrong so quickly?!

Keoni had to act quick. He looked around for a way to distract the Taniwha and then get Moana out of there, but he didn't have many options.

"Keoni! Your club! Use it!" Moana exclaimed. He looked at his waist where his club was tied. With a sigh, he untied it and using all his strength, launched it at the Taniwha's head, striking it in the eye. It roared in pain and thrashed around in the water. With it distracted, Keoni then gestured for Moana to act quick, jump into the water and swim like hell to get to the other side. Keoni reached his arm out for her to grab.

"I almost got you!" Keoni shouted over the sound of the Taniwha roaring and the splashing of water. One final stretch and he grabbed her hand.

"Yes!" But before Keoni could pull her up, he lost his footing and fell into the water. The Taniwha had dislodged Keoni's club from its eye and surged in their direction.

"DUCK!" Moana shouted as she dove under, Keoni following suit. The pair frantically searched for a way out and Keoni spied his club and turned to go for it, but Moana shook her head no, already knowing that would likely kill him. She pulled him to the surface.

"Keoni don't! If you go for it, the Taniwha will kill you!"

"I'll die defending myself!" Moana looked at Keoni in the eye and sighed. She didn't get much time to talk him out of a suicide mission.

"Keoni, look-"

K.

In the blink of an eye, Moana watched in horror as Keoni was violently smacked by the Taniwha's tail into the wall of the natural pool. She heard an ugly crack and soon blood filled the water. Moana began to panic now.

"Oh no no no no no... KEONI!" She screamed as loudly as her lungs could bear as she dove to rescue him. She pulled him up, and saw Maui leaning over the edge.

"MAUI!" The demigod picked the two of them out and Moana was already trying to frantically stand. Maui grabbed her shoulder.

"Kid! Calm down!" She pulled away and pointed to the cave which she and Keoni came through.

"Take Keoni! We have to get out of here!"

"What happened?!"

"The Taniwha hit him! I don't know what his injuries are but we need to leave now!" Maui didn't need any more instruction. He picked up the young adult and the pair sprinted out of the cave to the beach as fast as their legs could carry them.