Chapter 9: Lair of Tangaroa

"Maui?"

Moana carefully poked her head into the cooks shack that night, pulling a borrowed skin cape around her shoulders to keep the cold away as she slipped through the doorway, "Maui? Are you in here?"

Moana shifted along the dirt floor with great caution, shifting with bare feet farther into the cottage. It was dimly illuminated by the glow of a dying ember, and was filled with hanging fish cages and herbs. Rapa Nui was vastly different then Motunui. It's climate was different for one thing, as Moana actually had to cover up in order to keep warm. And the food consisted mainly of fish and other meats such as sea bird. It wouldn't surprise Moana one bit of Maui the giant hawk was a feast to these people, which made it all the more necessary to get him free.

Rounding one of the large wooden posts keeping up the ceiling, Moana inhaled sharply as her eyes caught a giant shadow hung up on the wall across from her. Hurrying forward, the young chief ignored the feeling of soft feathers around her ankles as she reached the demigod. The cooks has already bugun to pluck him, hence the feathers. But other then that, Maui looked generally unharmed,

"Maui?" Moana questioned, reaching out to brush a hand against one of his outstretched wings. It felt similar to his muscular bicep, gently curving and marked with dark blotches on the feathers. Shaking out of the thought, Moana frowned at her mindset as she poked the hawk again, "Maui, wake up,"

There was a slight movement as the bird shifted on the wall, it's dark eyes opening as it's head twisted downward slightly. Moana stared back up at him innocently, painted face glowing in the emberlight as her dark curls fell weakly around her cheeks, "are you ok?"

There was a small pull from the giant bird as a small noise of irritation came from his throat. Frowning, Moana followed the curve of his wings with her eyes, until she stopped on the nail driven through the primary feathers. Grasping onto it with her hands, Moana yanked slightly, wincing as Maui cried out softly in discomfort, "I'm sorry. Just...hold still,"

There was another angry noise as Moana pulled and wiggled the nail out of place, ignoring the blood seeping onto her hands as the metal instrument finally came loose. Folding one wing tightly against himself, Maui motioned to the other with his eyes. Getting the message, Moana began to work at the other nail, stumbling backwards as it flew loose and sent Maui tumbling to the floor. Immediately he transformed back into himself,

"Well, who's the chicken now?"

Moana smiled slightly as Maui grumbled an incoherent phrase and sat on his haunches, poking at the twin holes now in his biceps,

"You aren't supposed to be here,"

"Yeah, and you would have been eaten if I wasn't here. Take your pick,"

Moana folded her arms as Maui stared at her from the floor, groaned and nodded his head in defeat. On his chest, Mini Maui had the scoreboard out. There were two slashes on Maui's side, and one on Moana's,

"I know it's the second time she's saved me, ok? Go talk to your girlfriend or something,"

Maui flicked his miniature out of his tattoo as the little man appeared on Moana's shoulder, hauling up beside Mini Mo as the way finder rolled her eyes,

"Come on, get up,"

"Why?"

"One, because if anyone finds us in here there's going to be hell to pay. And two, you obviously came to Rapa Nui for a reason. Now you have help. So what happened anyway?"

Slinging one of Maui's large arms over her shoulders, Moana hoisted the demigod to his feet,

"Ugh, I was looking for Rehua,"

"Rehua? Why would he be here?"

"Because, princess, Rehua and Tangaroa have been rivaling entities for ages. If Rehua isn't lounging it up on his cloud, he's down here fighting it out with Tangaroa,"

Moana didn't have anything else to say as she assisted Maui from the Cook's hut. The sun was just barely rising on the horizon as Moana held out a hand, her oar slamming into her open palm with a slight rattle,

"How did you get here? Wait, let me guess, the ocean told you?"

"Uh, no, not exactly," Moana laughed weakly, holding out her arm to reveal the water monster tattoo, "I had a little...encounter with Tangaroa. Some dolphins helped me out,"

"And you still want to go free jumping into his lair? Even demigods have their limits, Moana,"

"It's not like he managed to hurt me. Besides, I'm sure he wants this," Moana opened up her necklace to reveal the glowing blue heart, "back where it belongs. That, or I strike up a deal with Rehua to take his stars back-"

"Woah, woah, hold on,"

Maui stood on his own two feet again as they rounded a large grassy knoll, resting under the careful watch of a moai, "you aren't thinking of betraying Tangaroa?"

"If it'll save my people," Moana insisted, leaning against the statue with her oar as she pushed some hair behind her ear, "I won't have any other choice,"

"But he's a god! All of them are gods. And trust me, you don't get on the wrong side of a god,"

"You aren't getting it," Moana seethed slightly, "and I guess you wouldn't, since you don't care about anything but yourself. But my people are dying,"

Moana was reminded of their still afternoon on the canoe two years before, and pointed at the horizon, "my island is dying. I'll travel to Tē Fiti, and jump head first into Lalotai one thousand times over to keep them safe. This," Moana opened up her necklace again and removed the stone, holding it up for Maui to see, "doesn't make any difference, as long as my people are safe,"

"That's foolish," Maui complained, jaw tight as if he were ready to explode. But his eyes held something else. Longing? Grief? Love? Moana shook her head and tuned to the Moai, resting her forehead against its cold surface as a deep, throaty sigh escaped her lips. She barely noticed how the blue stone still clutched in her hand pulsed and buzzed with activity. It wasn't till the earth physically began to shake that Moana jumped and pulled the blue heart to her chest,

"What is that?"

"The entrance to the Ocean," Maui breathed, stepping back and holding an arm across Moana's chest as a large circle of grass on the ground parted, revealing the glowing, crystal portal underneath, "if Rehua is anywhere, it's down there,"

"So, what? Do we just jump in?"

"That's the plan. CHEEHOOO!"

Gasping as Maui transformed into a shark and disappeared into the crystalline water, Moana scrambled to the edge of the pool. Far below, she should barely see Maui's figure disappearing from view. Sighing deeply and standing herself, Moana took a few steps and clutched her oar tightly,

"It's now or never. AEEEEE!"

Moana hurdled at the water before diving in face first, surprised at how cold the water actually was. It felt like ice on her skin as the paint was ripped away and colored the water around her eyes, and the current was dragging her farther and farther down. The descent was like a narrow tunnel, twisting and turning in many different directions as Moana's lungs struggled to keep her sustained. When they were ready to give up, the young wayfinder was suddenly spat into even colder air.

Smacking into a sand floor with a wince and a grunt, Moana felt the pulling of Mini Mo on her skin as she hissed and held her forehead,

"I'm fine, Mo. Ouch,"

Mo didn't back down though and continued to pull at her human as Moana frowned and sat up. Unfortunately, a spear was pointed directly in her face, causing her breath to catch. Glancing past the sharp, barbed tip of the spear, Moana saw several faceless figures surrounding her. They were crystalline and flowing like glass, and looked to be made out of the cleanest water,

"W-woah," holding up her hands, Moana stood up slowly as the spear point followed her every move, "I just want to see the god who lives here,"

There was nothing from the figure as it made a gurgling noise, and its comrades answered. Smiling weakly, Moana reached to her necklace, "I'm just here to return this,"

Removing the sparkling blue heart from around her neck, the spears immediately dropped to the sand as the water figures dropped into deep kneels,

"I need to see Tangaroa," Moana insisted again, "can you take me to him?"

There was nothing but gurgling as the figures remained bowed. Rolling her eyes, Moana replaced the stone in her necklace and jerked up her hand,

"I order you to rise,"

The figures obeyed without question as Moana held her oar out, like she would attack at any moment, "you," Moana pointed to the lead water figure, who bowed deeply at the waist, "take me to Tangaroa,"

There was a gurgle as the figure nodded and motioned with its arms towards a glowing cave entrance. Following behind him, Moana ignored the group of other figures following behind them as they walked through the cave. It was tall and cavernous, made of sandy seastone and smelling of salt. The walls were dancing with the reflection of the water above, and occasionally a shadow appeared and disappeared.

Walking along with the water creatures, Moana could hear loud arguing in the distance. Tangaroa and Rahua were already together, she supposed. Swallowing thickly as they approached a flowing water curtain, the servant ducked aside and motioned for Moana to enter the room,

"Dismissed,"

The water creature nodded and vanished with a wet plop as Moana turned back to the waterfall, reaching out a hand and taking hold of it. To her astonishment, it moved aside like any cloth would. Puffing out her chest and lifting her chin, Moana entered the room. Inside, two large figures in flowing robes of water and stars stood face to face, glaring straight at one another. Off to the side, Maui sat against one wall, watching the argument under guard as Moana bit her lip and cleared her throat.

Two pairs of eyes immediately trained on her as she lifted a hand weakly,

"Uh...hi?"