The Voyager and the Rogue

Chapter 1

A perfect breeze in the sail, the current and waves were steady, and the sun was shining brilliantly overhead, with only a few sparse clouds to shield me from the intense rays of light.

Behind me, the hazy silhouette of Motunui, my home, slowly faded over the edge of the sea. Home was behind me, and the horizon was ahead.

For the first time, I was leading my own crew on a voyage on my own. I grew up waiting for this moment; my beloved mother, Moana, teaching me everything I needed to know. She taught me the signs of the sky, the sea, and everything in between.

And though this was my first independent voyage, it was only intended to be temporary. I was only going to be gone for about six months, with my main intention of finding the long-abandoned former home of my father and aunt. Decades ago, long before my parents even met, my father, aunt, and late grandmother were forced to leave their island alongside the rest of their village in a mass exodus. It led to my father and aunt being separated, and subsequently, my grandmother died of a broken heart in an unfamiliar village.

Ever since then, the island lay abandoned, and Mother Nature allowed to reclaim the remnants of the village. My father and aunt never journeyed back, due to painful memories.

But now, I felt the responsibility of finding that island and getting in touch with that part of my history. My father and aunt didn't have much to share about their childhood outside of the death of my grandfather after my father was born, and then the exodus of their village. So family history was very much mysterious.

So my father's former island was my first intended stop. After that, I would visit other villages which my mother had forged connections with. Being the eldest daughter of the chief, it was an additional responsibility of mine to maintain positive relations with other chieftains and their families.

And while I was out here, finding my own path, my little sister, Aihe, had stepped into the role I'd willingly let go. She was next to become Chief.

I was 18 upon leaving Motunui on my own, and my sister was 14; four years younger than me. So for right now, she wouldn't be immediately stepping into an overwhelming leadership role.

Now, with so much behind me, I had even more ahead.

***

My senses suddenly surged through my body as I opened my eyes.

Looking directly up, the sky was sort of cloudy, with sun peeking through gray clouds. Swallowing, I slowly sat up, painfully becoming aware of the soreness in my shoulders and thighs. I shook my head, feeling slightly light-headed.

As I refocused my sight and hearing, I heard what sounded like someone talking, a feminine-sounding voice... Blinking, I looked around in confusion. Before I could stand, when I turned my head to my left, I was startled upon seeing a pale face, dashed with freckles across her cheeks, brilliant sky blue eyes, and fiery red hair tied in twin braids.

She seemed equally surprised to see me staring at her.

I immediately became aware of how differently she was dressed; with most of her body completely covered, save for her bare arms. And then I realized how... cold it was. I began to shiver, my teeth chattering together as soon as I became aware of just how chilled I was. The last time I could ever faintly remember being cold was swimming in the ocean in the early morning before the sun rose back home, and that was rare for the water to be that cold.

It was a different kind of cold, though. Breezier, I suppose.

I looked around as I took in my surroundings. A towering cliff of rock and soil covered in moss behind me, and a brown beach beneath me. Wait...