A/N: Wanted to add so much more and wrap up the New World storyline in this chapter but when I realised how much I still had left, the choice became obvious and so I had to split the chapter in two. You won't have to wait too long for that one. Also I received a guest review (which I cannae reply to alas) for Paved With Gold saying they couldn't wait for the sequel. I'm incredibly appreciative of that and while this would be considered as a sequel of sorts (or sidequel more accurately) I understand the eagerness to see what fate Luna and the others have in store. She doesn't appear in these stories so it feels like I've put her on ice haha, but I've wanted to explore Riku and Kairi within this universe as well so I'll ask for a bit of patience from me on the actual sequel. Until then, I hope you enjoy this story just as much.
Chapter 8
The Moon Wolf
Over the next couple of days, Pocahontas and Nakoma tried their best to make Riku forget about his other worries. The latter taught him how to weave baskets and though Riku was sure there was an ulterior motive in this, he was glad anyway to have his mind distracted by something. But even this– which it turned out he was quite clumsy at– Nakoma somehow found a way to make flirtations, teasing him at his ineptitude.
Even Kocoum, the strongest warrior in the village and Chief Powhatan's confidant, tried to help, bringing Riku along with him a group of other men to catch wild boar. While he could have easily used magic or his Keyblade, he preferred doing anything that didn't involve using these things. After wielding his Keyblade with what felt like only anger as of late, he wanted to separate those two things as much as possible, and so he needed time and distance from them.
"The best time to hunt a boar is at evening or night," Kocoum explained. "when they themselves are out hunting for food. That is not without its own troubles however."
"Right, I imagine it's harder to see in the dark," Riku said.
One of the other men gave a toothy grin and thumbed in Kocoum's direction. "Not for this guy. He's a real night owl, this one."
"Only honed through experience and trial and error," Kocoum replied. His voice was stoic, almost as if he hadn't realized that his fellow huntsman was joking. He looked back to Riku. "The next thing…" he said as he reached behind him and drew an arrow from his quiver. "Is the arrow you use. This weighs quite a bit and usually you'll want more weight in the front half of the arrow so that it gets lodged in deeper."
Riku felt a hand placed on shoulder. He turned around to face another of the men. "You have my condolences in advance. Now you've got him talking about hunting and weapons, he won't want to stop."
"If only he could get Pocahontas to be this interested!" piped in another man, and they all exchanged laughter. Kocoum simply shook his head and kept his head straight.
Soon they came across their first sighting. Not too far away they spotted a small black figure in the distance, hard to spot in the darkness but unmistakably an animal of some kind.
The air around them suddenly seemed to dissipate and Riku could only watch and mimic their steps as they stooped low and strode quietly through the forest floor, wiry steps adopted. They were like spiders, legs extending, landing ball of foot first as they moved behind trees to assume a closer position.
"Move along with the forest. Sight, sound, touch, smell, taste– they are your allies here," Kocoum advised Riku in an almost whisper.
Experience had taught them when close was too close and when they stopped, Riku knew they could not proceed any further without the boar detecting some change in its environs. Being within a team also meant being able to communicate with one another without saying a single word. He almost felt as though he were intruding on something intimate and sacred. He could really only watch in awe the whole time as they assumed their positions, making as little noise as possible. Kocoum peered out from his cover, Riku behind him, and drew his arrow back on his bow until it was taut.
"Aim for its shoulder and keep in mind your breathing, but try not to be too aware lest that be all that your mind focuses on," he advised in a whisper as he showed Riku the way. A few seconds passed before the arrow left its point of origin. Riku could hardly see it moving in the darkness, but it must have left its mark because not long after he heard a squeal up ahead.
"Hmph, didn't finish it," Kocoum murmured.
"You can tell? In this darkness?" asked a baffled Riku.
"Oh, he can tell. He almost never misses a clean one," said one of the men from a nearby tree.
"But that leads us to another good lesson. Tracking. Are you familiar with the basics?" Kocoum asked Riku.
When he shook his head, Kocoum was all too willing to launch into a full explanation on the ins and outs of tracking. In fact, he talked so much Riku wouldn't have been surprised if the boar was halfway across the world by now.
As they began moving again, Riku began to put theory to practice. He was able to pick up on the little details, disturbances in otherwise naturally unbroken soil. It led them right back to their target that had not gone as far as Riku had feared. It seemed to be struggling on its hind. Riku felt pity for the creature. Outside of fish, he had never really had to hunt for food and fish didn't exactly squeal in the way this boar had when it had been hit. Still, he supposed the only mercy it could be granted now was a quick easing of its pain.
"Want to give it a try?" Kocoum asked him upon their second sighting. Riku nodded and held out his hand to receive Kocoum's bow and a single arrow. Thinking back to the way Kocoum approached the first shot, he widened his stance and placed the arrow's nock on the bowstring, pulling back until the tension was just right. If there was any time to find out if having one good eye hindered him in any way, it was now. He let out a deep sigh and with it soared the proof of his conviction.
As they headed back through the forest, a boar being dragged behind by one of the men behind them, one of the others put a supportive hand on Riku's shoulder.
"Good try. You'll get it next time for sure," he said with a sympathetic smile. "Why, it took me nine shots before my arrows actually hit one of the dastardly things. Another one almost killed me."
Despite his comforting words, Riku was still a bit glum. A part of him had been pretty hopeful that he would actually land the hit.
Kocoum suddenly stopped, glanced at Riku quickly as though nervous about something. Riku was taken aback by it. Kocoum, nervous? Surely his only eye couldn't be failing as well?
"The rest of you go on ahead. I need to talk with Riku," he announced. No objection was raised, and the others left the two of them behind, leaving Riku to suddenly believe that he was about to get some kind of scolding by Mr. Perfect.
"Riku…" Kocoum began.
"You missed the first arrow on purpose, didn't you?" Riku tried to get ahead of him. "I don't think you'd miss that shot."
Kocoum let out a small smile and looked to the side. "We learn best by doing. At least, that was how I learned. I remember my father, who is not here with us now, would throw me in the lake at a young age to teach me how to swim."
"Throw you? That is… a way, I suppose," Riku murmured, an image of someone much like Kocoum picking a younger Kocoum up and chucking him into watery depths suddenly entering his mind. "So, er… what did you want to talk about?"
"It's about Pocahontas. You, um, seem to be very close to her?" Kocoum asked.
"Yes," Riku answered slowly. "We are friends."
"Just friends?"
"Last time I checked anyway," Riku said with a shrug. He suspected he knew where this was going but if it was then one of them would be coming out of this conversation sorely disappointed.
"Has she… said anything about me?" Kocoum asked. Riku had to stifle a laugh, the teenage sheepishness that was suddenly being displayed was perhaps a side of Kocoum that he did not display often, if ever. If so, then Riku was perhaps one of the first to see this boyish side of him.
"I…" Riku started. What was the best way to lie? "Think it would be better to ask Nakoma, no? We don't exactly talk about crushes or anything."
In reality, Pocahontas had brought up her grievances about Kocoum to him, if only one time. She had mentioned something about him being too stiff. Upon seeing the slight look of disappointment on Kocoum's face, he quickly added, "Although, I think if you want to know her better, maybe try asking Pocahontas about the things she likes? Sorry… not exactly good with this kind of subject."
"That makes two of us," Kocoum replied. He looked off in the direction the others had gone in. "It's just that… despite being here she feels worlds away. No matter how hard I try to see, I don't know if I'll ever be able to see what she sees. Not truly, at least… No matter. Let's head back."
On their way back, Riku thought long and hard about their conversation, and even more so its strangeness. To be adored by everyone in the village– everyone except the one girl he desired adoration from most was to him what solving a complex jigsaw puzzle was to anyone else. If Kocoum and Pocahontas were worlds apart, then it was no more due to her being in touch with her emotions than it was he who found it hard to express his. For what was want and desire where two hearts failed to communicate?
The next evening proved even more joyous. Riku sat, watching as the women danced and sang with baskets on their heads to celebrate the corn and harvest, while the elders brought their hands to the drums again and again to create the rhythm and overall flow of the dance.
In light of golden rays we gather,
Full of thanks, we come together,
Our Mother has blessed us, the seeds have grown,
From her soil, the fruits of labor shown
The corn stands tall, in fields so wide,
The squash and beans, here by our side,
We feel the pull of our ancestors near,
Their wisdom and strength, forever here
Oh, Mother Earth, we sing your praise,
For the bounty you've given, these harvest days.
With joy abound and strength compound,
We honor these gifts with heartfelt sound
Riku could only watch transfixed by the scene in front of him, at least until Nakoma danced up to him anyway and offered him some corn. He gratefully accepted it and looked down at its golden gleam. He held it up to the setting sun, observing its otherworldly orange glow before taking a bite out of it. He wasn't sure if it was simply drowning in the sentimentality of the moment but out of the corn he had eaten since coming here, this one had tasted the best.
He looked back to the villagers again. He didn't want to leave. But he knew he had to. He didn't belong here and the more he stayed, the more he risked the lives of everyone here. But also here, Janus didn't exist. The world seemed less complicated. He was sure there would be bad times, of course, but those times no matter how bad could never compare to the outside world. The outside world was… scary. He looked down at the corn again. Scary? This was fear. He feared losing a life that was never really his to begin with.
No, that wasn't quite true. He did have a simple life once, back on the islands. He couldn't go back to that life, it was simply impossible, but could he start again somewhere else? For a moment, he considered the future. He considered throwing away everything about him and starting again. Surely he would be tired of fighting once it was all over? And then when all was done and there was peace, who would he be?
He needed to leave, he realized. If he stayed, he truly feared he would never want to leave. Just as these thoughts creeped up, he spotted Chief Powhatan making his way towards him. Pocahontas' father stood next to him, and Riku rose to meet him.
"Thank you so much for your hospitality, really," Riku said as they watched the harvest dance continue.
"For the young man who befriended my daughter and this entire village? Think nothing of it. In fact, my daughter says she wants to give you a name befitting of our ways," Powhatan replied.
Riku's voice caught in his throat for a second, forcing him to gulp. "Oh, that's not necessary-"
"Nonsense! I agree with her. It is the least you deserve."
Riku closed his eyes and swallowed even harder. Please don't do this. I can't…
"I'm honored. Thank you," he replied instead, though his face was more pained than he cared to show, thus he cast his head downwards. "Look, I… won't be able to stay for much longer. I appreciate what you've done for me and these have been some of the happiest days I've had in a long time. But I think I need to move on now."
"Heh, then let us at least give you our blessings before you leave," Powhatan said. He walked to the center of and held up his hands, the joyous atmosphere soon dissipating into silence as everyone listened in.
"My daughter, young though she may be, has the sensibilities of her mother. And that includes her judgment. I am proud to know one such as you. A friend of hers is a friend of ours, and so today we welcome a new member to our tribe. We assign names to our little ones depending on what they might grow to be or the intrinsic qualities the parents may have seen in the baby. From this day forth, you shall be known among us as Mahingan Kizis. Welcome, Moon Wolf."
"Mahingan Kizis!" There was a collective unison among the tribe as they all moved their hands through the air at Riku.
"And though he may already be set to leave for his next journey, he will never truly leave us. We will go forth with him in his endeavors. May the ancestors protect and guide him, teach him right from wrong, that he can find his way back to us when the time comes and that we shall meet again."
There was a collective agreement, murmurs and nods. His eyes finally met Pocahontas, a small smile on her face that he felt concealed a brotherhood of emotions more than she was letting on in that moment, but if he had to put one to it, it would have been pride. Riku looked down at the half eaten corn in his hand. Somehow he got the feeling it would taste a lot saltier than earlier.
The next day, Riku had set off with one final destination in mind before leaving. Seeing the waterfall again was immensely calming to him. The sound of rushing water, all things pooling to a single source…
"This has certainly become a favorite spot of yours."
Riku turned his head to see Pocahontas, her movement ebbing side to side with long strides until she was by his side. He noticed her almost pensive smile as she looked outwards to the water below. By her side also were Flit and Meeko, the former seamlessly evading the latter's attempts to grab the piece of food trapped between his beak.
"Not that I can blame you," Pocahontas continued. "It's my favorite place here too. It saddens me to know that it can't be forever though."
Riku looked at her in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"Eventually the soil here will become uninhabitable for growing crops and we'll have to move. Farther and farther we move and so too increases the distance to travel."
"Oh, I see," Riku said. "Still, you're right along the river, right? So coming back shouldn't be too much of a problem."
Pocahontas nodded. "This land is plenty and full of opportunity. It will also take years for the quality of the soil to deteriorate… I suppose I'm not just worried about that though, but what comes after."
"I'm not following you."
"Well, when I and you are gone, can we say that those that come after will look at this land with the same love and care that those who came before them did? Will they see what we see? Feel what we feel? Or will the colors we paint with now become muted and dulled to time and ignorance?"
"That is… huh," Riku could only say. Suddenly he couldn't help but feel as though he had been dragged right back down to earth. "Well, I won't lie, that has kind of soured the mood."
Pocahontas chuckled. "Sorry."
"No, it's okay. I guess my answer to that would be, it's not up to us how others see the world in the future. We can only make sure we preserve it so that they can interpret it how they will."
Pocahontas nodded but still seemed unsatisfied by this. "I think so too… but also surely there must be something we can do? Could you imagine a generation that preserves, a generation that forgets, and then a generation that remembers again? It's not just what comes after us. It's what comes after them too, because they might rediscover and understand what we knew."
"Or maybe discover something new," Riku suggested as he looked up at skies cloudy and gray.
Pocahontas clasped her hands together. "Yes! And, well, if it isn't there…"
"I guess that's why we leave things behind. Documents, letters, poetry, music… so that they can have the chance to see the world the way we do. What they do with that knowledge is anyone's guess, but at least we gave them the chance."
Pocahontas gave him a wistful smile. "It's just that I've been having dreams, ones I would gladly dismiss, had it not been recurring several times over."
"What do you dream about?" Riku asked.
"Well I'm running through a field of maize, unsure of which direction I'm headed in. Suddenly, I emerge out of the maize to see the open sky– a sky bigger and wider than I have ever seen, stretching on for miles and miles and a horizon on fire at its end. It truly feels like I could go anywhere, except that in the sky is a spinning arrow. It never stops. It just spins and spins, and as it does so my ears sharpen and I hear the sound of drums in the distance, faint and dull at first, but getting louder and louder until I can no longer ignore it. I whirl around and before I know it I see human figures dancing, and they're engulfed in flame. Some of these people fall and their flames die out while others remain who keep dancing. I look up and the sky is on fire. Then I wake up."
Riku frowned as he tried to make sense of what he had heard. It was exactly as Grandmother Willow had told him, only he was now hearing it directly. "I can't say I'm an oneirocritic but I've seen things to know that if you're repeatedly having the same dream, it probably means something."
Pocahontas nodded. "I think so too. Nakoma was the first person I told but she said I was worrying too much. Grandmother Willow seems to agree with you that it's more than just a dream."
Riku grinded his teeth against his upper lip. While he was not willing to be as dismissive, dreams could also mean myriad things. If it indicated something, Pocahontas would likely find out sooner or later. "Dreams are probably our heart's way of telling us things. Some subconscious link. Our desires, our fears, the past, maybe even the future."
"Do you think that my heart is warning me about something then?" Pocahontas asked.
"Warning. Or-" But Riku didn't get to finish. He heard the sound of footsteps before the loud clearing of the throat. He and Pocahontas spun around to see four figures. It was immediately obvious, if not from their skin tones then from their clothes, that they were not locals. The fabric of their clothing seemed more akin to Riku's own rather than the buckskin chiefly worn by the Powhatans. Immediately, this sent red flags and without a second thought, Riku summoned his Keyblade.
"Ah, well that there solves that, eh? Didn't do ya any good to duck and dive from us for long," said one in a loud cockney accent. "Lookie here, fellas! It's one-eyed Pete."
"Who are you?" Riku asked.
"Master Janus sends his regards," spoke the girl to the left of the boys with a sneer. "Surely you didn't think you could just run out on us? Oh, but we had so much fun."
"Oh, you remember that time with him and that girl… what was her name again?"
"Xion," another boy answered the cockney sounding boy's question.
"Of course you'd remember, you and your skeevy eyes. I remember you were like, 'Not Xion! Please not her. Take me instead!' Like I could care less what you want, mate, but obviously Janus thought different."
"It's couldn't."
"What?"
"I couldn't care less."
"Shut up."
"Oh, to-may-toes, to-mah-toes, big whoop."
"It's not a big whoop. It's generally different-"
"SHUT UP!" Riku let out an angry howl. Whatever thoughts of rationality that had been there before were gone. Instead, the only thing he could do was lash out at the people in front of him. If he had been rational, he would have heard Pocahontas pleading with him, but she wasn't there. Her voice was drowned out and the only thing that remained was red hot fury.
But before Riku could make his way fully forward to attack them, something unexpected happened. His anger dissipated, seemingly replaced by confusion. Now in front of him, unexpectedly, was Pocahontas. He didn't even have much time to ascertain the look on her face before he found himself falling backwards, and he didn't hit the ground as he expected either. Instead he found himself falling, falling through the air, the cliff face became the only view he knew and soon, not even that, for he was soon swallowed by depths of deep blue.
There in the hungry belly of darkness he slowly sank, and he had half a mind to accept the invitation. As he looked up and saw the light pooling at the surface, it too seemed inviting, but was he worthy of it? He couldn't seem to find it within himself to think so, for the darkness welcomed him and here at least he felt surprisingly safe, his emotions not pulled this way and that by forces beyond his control.
Indeed the water whispered sweet words to his ear. "Stay here with me and I will provide you succor. Never will you starve to the madness of the world above."
And Riku really wanted to scream, "But then I'll be dead!" but then he realized that was exactly the "succor" the voice was promising him. A world where he would not have to think, not have to be in pain, not have to be alive. It would be all so easy to say yes. All he had to do was surrender himself entirely to the will of the water.
But then he remembered. The dancing around the fire. A single word from Chief Powhatan's breath slowly becoming his own.
Mahingan Kizis.
With that, he rose. His arms fought for control even as the lake threatened to drag him ever downward. But still he resisted, thoughts of the villagers calling him by his new name. Of the look he and Pocahontas exchanged. It was the final push he needed. Riku fought, kicking his feet until at last he emerged into the light, gasping for air.
He looked up to the sheer cliff face where he had fallen from but there seemed to be no sign of human activity up there or anywhere nearby for that matter. He looked over to the shore and began to swim towards it. Blindsided by rage and Pocahontas could see where it was all going before it was too late. By pushing him off she hadn't just saved him from them, she had saved him from himself.
He reached the shore. He had no time to chide himself on his own recklessness in that situation, but it had created a new dilemma. They had most likely taken Pocahontas. Just the thought of it almost made him sick. She was in danger because of him.
He scanned the bank of the river. There was the chance that they may not have wandered too far from the cliff. He could absolutely catch up with them if he were quick. On the other hand, if they were moving fast, that wasn't necessarily a bad thing either. They were more likely to leave evidence behind of where they were going. Either way, the investigation started with returning to the so-called scene of the crime.
Getting back to the cliff wasn't too difficult, the forest was an incline, gradually getting steeper as he went and forcing him on all fours as he took the most direct path. Any effort involved in the ascent was insignificant compared to the safety of his friend. Eventually he reached the cliff he and Pocahontas had stood on and looked around. He didn't want to risk calling out in case one of Janus' people were nearby.
After a bit of searching, he crouched low and lowered his head to his clasped hands. He could imagine one of two scenarios, neither good. Either they had captured her or she had managed to escape and they had taken chase. Although he had no basis for this and he certainly didn't trust them enough to nail his theory down, he doubted they would let her come to harm. There was nothing to be gained from hurting her, but everything to be gained by using her as bait to lure in the true prize.
He stood up again just in time to feel the first few droplets of water land on his head. There was a sudden harsh chill in the air. He decided to head back into the forest. With every moment of hesitation, they grew farther away. As he took a few steps forward, the sound of an elegant hum entered his ears soon followed by the appearance of a pale green bird flying in front of him.
"Flit! Have you seen Pocahontas?" Riku asked. The hummingbird zipped about ecstatically before starting in the direction of the forest. Riku followed along promptly.
The rain began in earnest as they worked their way ever deeper through the dense belly of trees. The soil grew damp underneath Riku's feet and the distinctive smell of petrichor engulfed his senses. His eyes narrowed as the rain fell heavier. Flit seemed to struggle as he tried, and sometimes failed, to evade the pellets of rain falling from above. Riku could only imagine that it was the will to see Pocahontas safe that kept him going.
Branches lay hanging low, weighed down by the heavy downpour. Riku summoned his Keyblade and swung it back and forth, moving each branch aside as he made his way through. As he cut through one more, he saw blurred figures off in the distance. Riku shielded his face as the wind picked up. Not once though did his eyes leave the figures up ahead.
A/N: So because the Powhatans unfortunately never left much of their language in writing, it was somewhat hard coming up with the name for Riku. The closest thing I could go on was the Algonquinian words for wolf and moon. Interestingly enough, you could say Riku's journey hear starts at the Maison Des Lunes where he was held captive by Janus, and in french lune(s) means moon(s). Was this some sick sense of irony on my part, I wondered? Or maybe it was just utterly a coincidence. Something to think about, I suppose. But hopefully you've enjoyed and we'll see if Riku can find Pocahontas next time.
