For approximately two weeks following their return to Motunui, Moana barely saw Keoni, if at all, as she eased back into her duties as acting chief. She didn't forget about him, promising herself she would visit him once she had a spare moment for herself.
Luckily for her, today would be that day.
After a couple of hours helping some farmers survey some new farmland, Moana headed towards the healer's fale, eager to see her friend.
She did get sidetracked by a few villagers stopping her to ask questions or just have a friendly chat, but finally, she arrived at the healer's fale. Upon approaching the front steps, she could already hear some casual chatter inside. She parted the tapa curtain aside, gently knocking on a wooden pillar.
Inside, Keoni was sitting down cross-legged as Alaula worked on his shoulder, a variety of wooden and bone instruments nearby, along with medicinal plants and a coconut bowl filled with water. The healer looked up when she noticed the curtain parted to the side, a wide smile on her face.
"Ah! Chief Moana! Come come! Onosaʻi, please fetch Moana a mat," The healer directed one of her assistants.
"Thank you, Alaula." Onosaʻi returned with a mat and set it across from Keoni and Moana took a seat.
Despite Moana's presence in front of him, Keoni remained quiet, grimacing slightly as Alaula worked on stitching up his back.
"So, how is the shoulder doing?" Moana asked, mainly directing the question to Keoni, but also to Alaula, who happily informed the young chief that the shoulder was healing quite nicely.
"Despite your inexperience with treating major wounds, I must commend you for what you were able to do with limited resources," Alaula smiled, "the stitching was a bit sloppy, but not bad. I know you mentioned Maui had apparently set his shoulder back in, though it was a bit rough. So we properly set it back, and readjusted the sling." Moana nodded.
"All that said, it is going to take quite some time for everything to heal, though I worry there may be further fractures that I myself cannot feel for."
"So… what're you saying?"
"What I'm saying is that even with all the time he needs to heal, and with everything being properly set, Keoni will not have complete movement in his shoulder again. Once I'm certain most of the bone has fused back together and the wound has mostly healed, we will move forward with physical therapy to help him retain as much movement as possible. But he will not have complete function or use of it again in the future."
Oh.
Moana's face visibly fell as she processed Alaula's prognosis for Keoni. The guilt ate away at her, knowing it was her fault Keoni would never have complete use over his left arm again. No wonder he was so quiet.
"Keoni, I-" He held up his right hand, motioning her to stop.
"Don't. I don't need your sympathy, it is what it is." He replied firmly, barely concealing the slight shakiness. Moana blinked, surprised by the tone.
She glanced up at Alaula and Onosa'i, both of whom bore tightened expressions. Onosa'i shrugged, unsure of what to say.
Deciding her visit was over, Moana stood and began to exit the fale, Onosa'i walking with her. The assistant closed the tapa curtain behind her.
"Moana," Onosa'i said. Moana turned to her from the bottom of the short staircase, "Do not take offense to Keoni's attitude. He is exhausted and stressed from all the changes going on. He needs time and the space to readjust." Moana nodded, fighting the tightness in her throat.
"Yes, of course." She turned on her heel to begin leaving, but Onosa'i wasn't done.
"He does speak of you, quite fondly in fact," Moana froze.
"Really?" Onosa'i nodded.
"Mhm! He speaks nothing but praise and admiration. And he misses you a great deal." Butterflies suddenly swirled around in Moana's stomach, and she could not hide her beaming smile.
"I'm really happy to hear that, thank you! By the way, where is his sister? I would like to speak to her."
"She is with her host family at the moment. Though she may be out weaving baskets, go check the fale first."
"Thank you Onosa'i. And please tell Keoni I promise I'll try to visit as soon as I can." Onosa'i nodded and went back inside the fale. With that, Moana made her way to the residential fale where she was told Huihana was currently living.
Making her way through the winding paths and shortcuts through the village, Moana soon arrived at the fale where Huihana was living.
Upon her initial arrival on Motunui, Huihana was sent to live with a farmer and his family. The head of the family, Ikaika, and his wife Kalei, and their son and daughter; Enele and Apikaila.
Enele, the eldest, was a few years older than Moana, and only two years older than Huihana, and Apikaila was only one year older than Moana. The two siblings were very sweet and friendly. Though, like any sibling, they would often be seen and heard bickering with one another, always in good fun.
Moana knew Enele to be patient and open-minded, and willing to take on any challenge. He had stayed behind during Motunui's first voyages to help his parents care for their small farm, which demonstrated his loyalty and love for his family. He was on the tall side, maybe an inch or two shy of Tui. He bore broad shoulders and a stocky build, with two extensive sleeve tattoos on both arms, the tattoo on his right arm extending onto his chest. With his beaming smile, and the twinkle in his eye, he had always been a catch with other women in the village.
As Moana approached the property, she saw Apikaila was outside the fale clearing weeds from a small bed of taro root plants.
Apikaila glanced up from her work as Moana came up.
"Chief! Hello! What do we owe for the pleasure of this visit?" She greeted with a smile.
"Hello, Apikaila. I was wondering if Huihana was here still?"
"She is. She's inside with my mother and brother."
"Thank you!" With the direction, Moana made her way to the fale entrance, parting the curtain aside, also knocking on the post.
"Come in!" Kalei's voice came. As Moana entered, she saw that Kalei and Huihana were treating a new tattoo on Enele's back. His long hair was pulled up in a bun to keep it away from the healing skin.
"Oh, have I come at a bad time?" Moana asked, and Huihana shook her head.
"Not at all! Hello, Chief Moana." She greeted, but Moana just shrugged off the formality.
"No need to call me 'chief', Huihana. It's just Moana." Huihana grinned awkwardly, happy to know she didn't need to be so formal around her chief.
Kalei allowed Huihana to go with Moana, and the latter led herself and Huihana on a walk around the village.
"So what do I owe this visit?" Huihana inquired, fumbling with her hands, something that Moana realized was a nervous tic that both siblings shared.
"Nothing! I just wanted to come and check on you and see how you're doing. I already went to go see Keoni, though he was pretty quiet…"
"I see, well… I've been doing, alright… I suppose. Like my brother, I still feel out of place, and even though I've been living with Enele… and his family, I haven't quite felt at home, yet." She slowly admitted, struggling to formulate her words, not wanting to offend Moana.
"I see. That's okay, though. I know you and your brother have been through a lot, I don't expect things to go smoothly in the beginning. But, if you or Keoni need anything, don't hesitate to find me, no matter how busy I am."
"Really? That's so kind of you. I'm sure Keoni knows that."
"I hope he does. I feel bad that I haven't been able to go see him recently."
"Hey, I understand. You have duties to attend to. I know he's exhausted with the treatment for his shoulder."
"I suppose so. I'll be sure to see him more often. I assume you go visit a lot?" Huihana nodded.
"Of course! I try to go see him every day if I have the time. And y'know," suddenly Huihana had a grin and a certain twinkle in her eye, "whenever I've gone to see him, and Alaula isn't busy with him, he tells me how fond he is of you. He speaks of you like you put the moon and stars in the sky." Moana felt her cheeks warm, and she was sure they were as bright red as she pictured them to be.
"R-really?" Huihana nodded.
"Oh yeah! If I didn't know any better, I would dare say my little brother has a crush on you!"
"Oh… oh wow… okay." Knowing she'd said enough, Huihana bid Moana bye for the day, heading back to Enele's house, leaving Moana to ponder on what her friend had said.
Keoni had a crush on her?