Thank you for your patience! Life has gotten busy again, but hopefully I can edit the rest of the story and submit it soon! I hope you enjoy!
"Done!"
Taianui slid from the canoe mast and landed deftly on his feet. He brushed his hands together and walked the short distance to Maui, who stood staring at the large moon in the night sky.
"The sails are all fixed and tied up, exactly as you ordered." He clapped his friend on the shoulder. "Now, you ready to tell me who this mysterious 'she' is?"
Maui chuckled softly but didn't rise to the bait. His serious gaze never strayed from the moon as it rose over the dark ocean. Taianui shrugged, not offended by Maui's silence, and moved to sit near the back of the canoe, enjoying the peaceful moment. Though his friend looked less than peaceful. Taianui kept a respectful silence, knowing that the trip was not pleasant for Maui. Taianui couldn't even begin to imagine the strain Maui must be experiencing.
For the past few days Maui had kept them on a relentless pace, barely even giving them time to sleep. It had taken two days to get to Lalotai, then another day inside talking to the crab and getting the canoe ready for voyage again. They had hit a storm on their way from the realm of monsters, which slowed them down greatly. Taianui had never seen such large waves or strong wind; storms must be much more violent here in the open ocean than closer to their island home.
Throughout it all Taianui tried not to complain, knowing that it was important to find Moana as quickly as possible. And honestly, he didn't mind; he knew before joining the voyage that it would be an intense rescue mission and that he would be returning home with more bumps and bruises than ever before. But Maui was his friend, and friends helped one another, no matter how dangerous the situation.
Taianui gave an involuntary shudder and broke out in a cold sweat just thinking of how many times he had almost died on the trip so far. The monsters, the storm, the giant crab that tried to eat him. He would have nightmares about that for months. He glanced at Maui, who now sat on the edge of the canoe.
Though Taianui would never admit it to his friend, he wasn't sure how many more near-death experiences he could handle. He was only a fisherman-turned-wayfinder after all. True, he could throw a spear with the rest of them, and he was stronger than most, if he did say so himself, but he was mortal, had been mortal his entire life. He could never measure up to his friend's ex-demi god status.
His heart hammered in his chest and he ducked his head, breathing deeply and trying to fight off the wave of panic rising within him. They were facing a giant eel, a demon of the sea, larger than even Tamatoa. And all Taianui had to fight with was a measly spear. He rested his head on his raised knees, heart still pounding. He closed his eyes, trying to calm down before Maui noticed. Images filtered through his panic filled mind, focusing his thoughts away from the rising fear. He would never forget the look on Maui's face when that beast drug Moana under the ocean, or Moana's wide, terrified eyes.
NO!
Taianui lifted his head, forcing aside the fear. The gods curse him if he allowed fear to rule his body, to render him helpless and unable to help the needs of his friends. He would fight, even if he only had a spear, even if it cost him his life. And if his stomach still flipped at the mere thought, well, nobody had to know.
Suddenly Maui jumped to his feet with a loud chuckle, casing Taianui to startle and almost fall overboard.
"Hey, what was that for?" he demanded, jumping to his feet.
Maui clapped his hands and grinned. "I finally figured out how to get our help."
"What are you talking about?"
Taianui grunted when Maui clapped him on the shoulder. "Ready to meet Hina?"
"Wait, who's-"
"Hey Taianui!" Maui shouted, looking up at the full moon. Taianui clamped his hands over his ears, the stillness of the ocean making Maui's voice much louder than normal.
"What are you-"
"Did I ever tell you about the time Hina tried to ride a rainbow?"
Taianui glanced at the moon, and back to Maui. His friend had officially gone mad.
"So Hina," Maui continued to shout, "she's trying to make some cloth, but it keeps messing up, getting wet or something I can't exactly remember. Anyway, all of us are laughing at her, because she can't take a joke, and she got so mad that she packed up her cloth and stomped off, but tripped on the gourds drying on the ground."
The ocean started to churn, causing their boat to rock on the waves. Taianui stared at the rippling water.
"Uh, Maui?" He glanced at his friend but froze when he saw the moon pulsing with light and seeming to get closer.
Maui grinned and winked at Taianui. "It's working," Maui whispered before shouting again. "So after Hina tripped, she was livid and found this rainbow. She got this crazy thought in her head that she could ride it all the way to the sun, but everyone," he drew out the word, still shouting, "knows you can't ride a rainbow!"
A burst of light shot from the moon, spreading across the night sky like a ripple in a pond. The ocean rose and fell, the waves pouring over the sides of the canoe. Taianui rushed to the mast and held tight, trying to keep his balance on the rocking canoe.
"Maui! What are you doing?"
"Getting us some help?"
"It doesn't seem like it!"
"Trust me, I know what I'm doing."
Taianui flinched as a wave crashed over him. Whatever idea Maui had, he had better be done soon or they would both be in the water.
"So the rainbow bucks her off on the sun, but of course the sun is too hot for our delicate flower, so guess who had to come save her, huh?"
A loud explosion rippedthrough the air, seeming to shatter the moon into tiny fragments. The pieces shone and sparkled, heading down towards the canoe at an alarming speed. They landed on the deck with a crash and Taianui shielded his eyes against the blinding light. The canoe shook from the impact, throwing him onto the floor.
"MAUI!"
The blinding light slowly faded, revealing a woman standing toe-to-toe with Maui, yelling as far up into his face as her shorter stature could allow.
"How many times do I have to tell you? NEVER MENTION THAT STORY TO ANYONE! Especially to a mortal!"
The woman turned and threw a seething glare at Taianui, as if he was the one who instigated Maui's crazy plan.
The moment the woman's eyes met his, Taianui's heart stopped. Before him stood the most stunningly beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her long hair fell past her knees, pulled back into a thick braid. Her skin shone in the moonlight and was the color of warm sand, her clothing made from starlight. But her eyes. Taianui sat, entranced. He could stare at them forever and drown in their silvery depths.
The woman turned her sneer back to Maui and Taianui blinked, breaking the spell that held him captive.
"Did you tell him why my bark cloth kept getting ruined? Did you? No! That's because SOMEBODY-"she poked Maui in the chest with a slender finger, "kept DUMPING WATER ON IT!"
A wave splashed onto the side of the boat, but Taianui paid it no mind as he studied the angry woman shouting at Maui.
"Why is everyone yelling? And while I was finally resting, too."
Taianui yelped at the voice that magically appeared next to him. A dripping wet man sat beside him on the deck, giving Maui and the woman a hard look. Taianui leaned back in shock, wondering where the man had come from.
"Ahh, Tangaroa, how kind of you to stop by! I'd been wondering where you've been!" Maui lifted the man by his arm and hurled him to his feet, enveloping the much smaller man in a tight hug.
Taianui slowly got to his feet, thankful that he had thought to bring the bigger canoe. He took several steps backwards and watched the drama unfold.
"Oh yes, so kind. Considering he was drug into your little scheme, Maui!"
"What set her off this time? She's wreaking havoc on my tides," the strange man whispered loudly to Maui.
"Who knows," Maui chuckled, "you know how Hina gets."
Taianui whipped his head back and forth, staring first at the grinning men, then to the seething woman, and back to the men again. This was the Hina who was supposed to help them? Her eyes sparked silver fire and she looked more ready to kill Maui than to help.
"Um, Maui?" he asked quietly, flinching when the woman's glare turned to him. He cleared his throat. "Maui, wh-whats going on?"
"Oh of course, of course, where are my manners?"
The woman snorted and rolled her eyes, crossing her arms and staring at Maui while he walked over. Taianui grimaced when Maui clapped his hands on his shoulders and pushed him forwards towards the group.
"Taianui, this is Tangaroa." Maui turned towards the strange, small man. "Keeper of the sea and a very old friend of mine."
The man inclined his head at Taianui. Taianui could only give a small smile in return before Maui dropped his hands, almost making Taianui fall, and rushed to the woman's side. Maui drew her close, holding her arms and expertly avoiding the kicks she threw his way.
"And this wonderful, sweet, even tempered woman is Hina, Keeper of the Moon and my beloved, cherished, adored elder sister." He stroked her hair and planted a loud kiss to her cheek. Hina jerked out of his hold and punched him on the shoulder.
"Beloved? Ha! Don't try to wiggle your way into my good graces Little Brother. You know that never works." She swung at Maui again.
They're demi-gods, all of them. I am in the presence of three demi-gods!
Taianui swallowed, his head becoming light. His mother had told him the stories of the demi-gods of old since before he could walk, so overwhelmed or not he knew the proper etiquette that was required of him.
He turned towards Hina and bowed, plastering on his best smile. "I am honored to meet you. Your beauty is legendary among my people, though I can see that the stories have not done you justice."
He heard Maui snort and Tangaroa mutter something under his breath, but Taianui paid them no mind, being held captive by Hina's radiant smile.
"Well! At least one of you men on this boat has some decent manners!"
She shot a dark look to her brother and walked to Taianui. He couldn't help but stare, amazed by how graceful and elegant she was. He was vaguely aware of Maui now glaring at him, but Hina stopped in front of him and he stood paralyzed, rendered powerless by her captivating eyes.
"Now, what did you say your name was?" Hina practically purred.
"Ta-Taianui."
"Ahh, meaning 'Great Respect.' A noble and ancient name."
She trailed her finger along his arm, tracing the canoe tattoo on his bicep. Taianui swallowed, his mouth suddenly dry.
"Now tell me, Taianui. Why are you, a mortal man, traveling with my exasperating prankster of a brother?"
Her bright eyes peered up at him from beneath long, dark lashes, and it took him several attempts to find his voice.
"Uhh, well um, you see, Moana was kidnapped during their wedding ceremony. And uhh-"
"And why does that concern you?" Hina interrupted, beginning to trace the sun tattoo below his collar bone.
Taianui coughed and crossed his arms, forcing her to lower her hand when he took a few steps backwards. "Well, you see, because he's um, Maui is my, um friend." he stumbled over his words, silently calling himself a fool. His face felt on fire, yet his skin felt strangely cold.
"Your friend?"
"Yes, Maui is my friend. And I'll help find, ahem, find his wife, no matter, no matter what."
He finally got the correct words from his mouth. Hina started at him, her face thoughtful.
"Tuna kidnapped Moana during our wedding," Maui called from his side of the canoe, "and I was hoping you might have an idea of where he went. Not that anyone is asking me for the story."
"You're right, we're not." Hina dismissed her brother with a wave, never taking her eyes off Taianui. "So you are willing to potentially sacrifice yourself to help your friend? Tuna-roa is a formidable opponent, even my brother did not defeat him the last time they fought. You could very well lose your life. Are you prepared for that?" She spoke truthfully, but gently, her eyes going soft as she saw the answer reflected in his own. She stepped forward and placed her hands gently on his chest.
"Yes," Taianui nodded, looking down at her and praying she couldn't feel his heart racing. "I'm willing to take that risk."
"Well, that is heroic." A soft smile played on her lips and Taianui saw stars dancing in the corners of his vision. "And before battle, every hero needs a token from his fair lady."
Taianui felt her pull gently on his shoulders, lowering his head to hers. She rose up on her toes, lightly pressing her lips to his. Taianui was overwhelmed. The scent of rain and clouds in her hair, her lips warm and soft as they moved over his. He'd never kissed anyone like this, had never been kissed like this, and he never wanted it to end. Hina gave a final, small kiss to the side of his mouth, pulling away and gently settling back onto her feet.
Taianui leaned forward slightly, not ready for her to leave and wanting to prolong their kiss, before remembering where he was and righting himself. His ears were ringing and his knees were weak. Hina gave him a knowing smirk, which Taianui returned with a smile of his own. Then his vision went white and he fell into the stars.
Got to say, this was my favorite chapter! And I hope you enjoyed reading it just as much as I did writing it! I figured the story needed a little bit of fluff between all these "character development" chapters :)