Her name was being screamed behind her as she bolted out of the hut and down the path to the shore. The hot rain pelted her in the face, wind gusting at her and knocking her over but she scrambled back up mud and leaves caked on her skin.
Maui needed her.
Moana had not seen another flash of light from where his hawk form crashed into the sea, and her mind began to race. Was he stuck in the reefs? Did he lose his hook? The waves were as tall as she was near the shore and she stood in the sleeting rain looking up the length of the shore for a large figure.
"MAUI!" Moana screamed in the wind, her words thrown back in her face and towards the village. Lightening split the sky and thunder quickly followed, a loud boom that shook the ground and made her cover her ears. Moana screwed her eyes shut, the ringing in her ears deafening. When she finally opened them, she saw him.
He was crawling out of the water on hands and knees, one hand on his hook he used it to straighten his staggering bulk. Moana ran up to him, the wind pushing her a long and she slammed into the wall of Maui, knocking him back over in time for them to both be drenched by a large wave crashing onto shore.
"Maui?!" Moana yelled, her hands grabbing him by he shoulders, pushing his hair out of his face and checking to make sure he wasn't hurt.
"I can't float. That was rough," he coughed out the words with a gush of water from his lungs.
Moana was stared at him, wondering if this was real, but the loud thunder and lightening caused her to wince and when she looked back at Maui he was staring up at the sky with anger on his face.
"We need to get you out of this storm, Maui," Moana said earnestly throwing his arm over her shoulder she stood up, letting him use her as a crutch. She forgot how heavy he was, grateful that adrenaline had kicked in and the weight of him wasn't too much of a burden.
"I'm sorry Moana," Maui said to her as they walked up the path, the rain beating them in the face. Looking at him, Moana saw the sincerity in his eyes. The true sadness that etched his face and the frown that sealed his apology. Moana looked away, set her eyes on the fala where she saw everyone staring.
"You can explain later, first we need to get you safe."
When they finally reached the fala after a few slips in the mud, Moana laid Maui down in the middle of the hut with an oof. Holding her back she sat down next to him and tilted her head back to try and breath easier. She heard everyone around her muttering, 'is that Maui?' 'What is he doing here?'
Kekoa rushed up to Moana and slid in the pool of water she was in. His knees slammed down on the ground and he held her face in her hands, "Moana? Are you okay?" His voice was stern but frantic, he tilted her this way and that, before she finally swatted his hands away.
"I'm not the one you should be looking over, he is!" Moana shot Kekoa a stare and she crawled over to the giant that lay next to her.
Maui was laying with his eyes closed, his breathing ragged, and every once in awhile a wet cough cane out of his chest. Brushing the thick curl locks from his forehead Moana patted his cheek, where he responded with a groan. Good at least he was semi conscious.
"Maui? Can you hear me? Are you okay?" Moana urged quietly, her hands on his shoulders and shaking him slightly.
The grip on his hook tightened and Maui let out a groan before rolling to the side slightly and quickly propping himself up with his hand. Moana helped him sit up, and watched as he opened his eyes, and looked up at her.
He really was here. Yet her mind told her to be angry, punch him, hit him, tell him how much it hurt that he was gone for so long, and how dare he just show up at the worst time. But her heart told her to be still, and wait for him to talk, telling her to be patient and that the argument could wait.
"Great way to make an entrance," Maui chuckled, flashing a smile. Moana's deep frown turned into a ragged sucking of air and she flung herself against him, holding herself tight against his neck until she felt his muscular arms wrap around her.
"You came back," she muttered into his shoulder, her tears mixing into the rain water. Maui patted her back and gave her a squeeze.
"Of course, I can't let the Chosen One have too much fun without me," Maui spoke warmly, a deep sigh emitting from his nose before he continued, "though I do think I need to be introduced."
Moana's eyes snapped open and she pushed herself away from Maui who was looking st her with a mischievous grin. She cleared her throats and pushed her hair back out of her face.
"People of Motunui," Moana held her hands out wide, talking to everyone. They all stared at her, and occasionally back at the hulk of a man in their presence. However when she spotted Kekoa his eyes never left the demigod that sat next to him. Moana continued, " Maui, shapeshifter, Demigod of the Wind and Sea, Hero to All, has decided to grace us with his presence."
The people clapped, whooped and cheered, mostly out of respect. Maui used his hook to help him stand and he exuberantly bowed, waved, and took a few steps back to stand next to Moana.
"Lovely mortals," Maui laughed and placed a hand on Moana's shoulder speaking as if he didn't almost drown, "I would love to have a chat with all of you but in the mean time please be patient! There is much I need to discuss with your Chieftess and council." He added a small laugh, but squeezed Moana on the shoulder.
What could be so urgent she wondered, that would cause him to come in the middle of a storm like this? She eyed him, trying to read through the act that he was putting on to her village, until he interrupted her chain of thought by turning her towards the head of the fala where Sina and Tui stared.
"Those your parents?" Maui spoke softly as he followed Moana through the small throng of people.
"I am the daughter of the chief," she responded curtly, her frustrations and worry bubbling to the surface.
"No need to get angry I'm just asking," Maui raised his hands defensively against his chests Moana shot him a glare from under dark lashes and held a hand out to her mother before she began the introductions. Sina's hand trembled slightly, and her eyes never left the demigod.
"Maui, these are my parents, head of council until I fully take over the village," Moana gestured to her mother, "Sina," then to her father, "Chief Tui of Motunui." Sina bowed her head and while Tui bowed his head as well, when he stood upright again Moana could see him trying to pull himself tall and wide to somehow combat with the stature of the man in front of him.
Maui bowed his head, and held his hands out flat and wide in front of him, "It is wonderful to meet the parents of such a strong headed, soon-to-be-Chieftess." He smiled at Moana, who turned away feigning to look for the council members but was really hiding her blush in her cheeks. Maui and Tui kept talking, their murmurs just extra background noise until she saw Kekoa walking up to her.
"And you must be the famed Maui." Kekoa came forward with his arms held exuberantly in the air. Dramatically he came forward to Moana and placed his forehead to hers, holding her shoulders in an uncomfortable grip. She stared at Kekoa, her eyes wide as if asking him what he thought he was doing. Moana was now under Kekoa's arm resting firmly and almost vice Like over her shoulders before she glanced up at Maui.
Maui looked at him, unimpressed, his eyes flat and uncaring. "And you are?"
Kekoa nudged Moana slightly, a fake wide smile beaming off of his normally attractive face. Now, in light of this new behavior she found herself extremely disgusted by him. Where did this stupid display of self entitlement come front. Moana's lip curled in distaste and she turned to Maui, but was interrupted by his large hand in front of her face.
"I didn't ask her, I asked," he pointed his fish hook at Kekoa, Maui now at his full height stared the young man down, "you."
Moana raised her brows and stared up at Maui, Kekoa, then to her mother and father whose eyes were nervously dancing between the two. Just from the way the air felt between the two, it felt like the storm had managed to find its way inside the fala. Moana knew that Maui saw what was going on. Why else would this boy come up to him and address him in such a spiteful, almost equal manner.
"I am Kekoa of Motunui, second cousin to the chief, and courter of Moana," Kekoa puffed out his chest, trying to make himself appear taller, broader, and more confident, but the clammy sweat that was beading under his hand onto Moana's shoulder gave him away.
"Uh-huh," Maui eyed the boy in front of him and then shot Moana a look, " you agree to…this?" He gestured pathetically at Kekoa.
"Maui? Really? Can we save this conversation for later. Why are you here?" Moana slid out of Kekoa's grasp, and hit his hand away when he went to grab hers. Why would it matter to Maui who she was being courted by. What could he do about it.
Would he do?
Moana clamped her mouth shut and stared at Maui who seemed to be gathering his thoughts. Sina and Tui looked at the demigod but were obviously more interested by the tattoos that adorned his tan skin.
"I went to see Tamatoa," Maui began, putting the hook between his feet and twirling it between his palms like he was making a fire? " Which is in Lalotai." He injected the missing link of info to Sina and Tui whose confused looks turned to wide eyed stares.
"Trying to finish the job?" Moana replied smugly, "one leg not enough?"
Maui laughed and smiled at her. She felt her insides jolt and her heart re start, a blush was rising on her cheeks but she pretended to dab her forehead from sweat.
"You know me, Curly. Anyways. Tamatoa is gone, and when I went to his lair there were thousands of coconut crabs that escaped." He gestured to the size of the crabs with his own mighty hands.
"Wait," Sina held up a hand and looked between Moana and Maui, " The amount of that type of crab has exploded in the last few months. They are even becoming aggressive," she gestured to Lani, who was as pale as the tapa cloth she wore but was finally resting.
"Maui, what could this mean?" Tui said while he held Sina's shoulders, "they are crabs, they cannot be that much harm."
Kekoa laughed slightly, "We eat them. They can be killed," he wore a smug look on his face while he stared at Maui.
"You don't get it do you littler fisher boy." Maui took two steps toward Kekoa and towered over him. "They are his eyes, ears, and hands. They bring him everything they think he would like as a treasure and if the item is too big they let him know so he can come get it himself." His words were harsh and powerful. It was quiet in the fala, perfect time for eavesdropping. Turning to Moana Maui looked down at her and spoke quietly, "and if he's out, monsters come out. We have to protect your people Moana."
"What could he want Maui?" Moana stared up at him, once again scared for what lay before her.
"Revenge."
Thank you for being so patient! Please enjoy!
