Sea Wolves

Chapter one - Run

Akumu had seen ships before. Mainly the small trading ships that sold things like salt, metals and beads but never a Viking ship. It was noon when the ship arrived. The day was warm and breezy when Heketoro arrived in the village of Tufuenga out of breath. The trees swayed in the wind above the thatched wood huts and buildings and the women bustled around the village, cleaning and cooking while the men were out hunting. As Heketoro drew closer to the village people started to notice him and gathered at the edge of the village to await him. He stopped suddenly in front of the nervous women and bent his head, breathing heavily. He stood up then took a great breath and started to speak. 

"big ship, with red and white sails," he said breathlessly. "Vikings. They're heading towards the island." The woman clapped their hands to their mouths and started muttering to each other until an old man who was too frail to go hunting with the other men stepped forward. 

"Ladies please," he said forcefully. "Heketoro, run and find the men and warn them of the ship. Ladies collect you and your husband's things and gather on the North shore of the Island. We will have to flee to another island while the Vikings are here. No one spoke but Akumu could tell that nobody believed in the plan. If the Vikings really were just off the shore they would be paddling towards the island in about fifteen minutes. Viking ships were the fastest in the world, or so everyone in Tefuenga said. 

About five minutes later Heketoro and the other men arrived in the village out of breath and worried. The ship had drawn a lot closer since its first sighting and people everywhere were concerned that it would reach the island before we had even begun to gather the canoes together. The men sprinted to the huts to make sure they had all their belongings then rushed to the cave where the canoes were kept while the women carried their belongings to the north shore. Akumu walked to the north shore with the other women but she could feel a sinking feeling in her stomach. as they rounded the next bend they got a clear view of the West shore where the Viking ship was clearly visible with it's vibrant red and white sail. It had stopped and half a dozen little boats, much like canoes were being hauled over the railings of the ship with men cramped inside them. Akumu clutched her little sister's hand and lead her down to the beach. Maybe she thought, the Vikings would leave once they realised there was nobody there. Maybe they could stay hidden in one of the caves  in the cliffs that lined the coast. 

"Akumu, what will happen if the Vikings find us?" said her little sister Moana.

"I don't know, but they won't find us. Don't worry Moana." Akumu said the words but she didn't believe in them. It would be a miracle if they escaped now. The women continued on their way down the steep and rocky path. They tripped and stumbled and cut their hands on the rock but they did not stop. They could not stop. As the sandy beach drew closer they felt the soft sand on their feet and the warm sun on their aching backs. But their relief was cut short by the shouts that reached their ears from the west coast. The Vikings had landed. 

They could hear the shouts getting louder as they stood stock still, petrified. Someone screamed then they began to run. Run they did around the beach and up the cliffs on the East coast but all the while they could hear footsteps behind them. The clash of metal on metal piercing their ears and sending shivers down their spines until they saw the Vikings round a bend. There were around a dozen of them visible but surely more behind them. They were rough looking with most of them having filthy, unkempt beards and metal helmets on their heads. They carried gigantic battle axes that they waved in the air as they shouted their battle cries. She spun around in time to see one of the men strike down an old woman who could not run as fast as the others. Many people around her screamed. Moana started to cry. Akumu grabbed her hand and dragged her away from the Vikings who were gaining on them with ever second. They ran and ran and did not stop. An idea popped into Akumu's head. She picked up her sister and clung onto the cliff. She started to climb up and away from the Vikings. They stood below her waving their axes and grinning with their yellow teeth. Then without warning one started to climb. Akumu's heart sank. She climbed higher but she could see the man following her. as she reached the top she put down her sister and whispered to her,

"Run Moana. Find the men and stay with them," she let go. Moana looked into Akumu's face then turned her back and ran as fast as she could and did not look back. Akumu hauled herself up onto the grass at the top of the cliff but as she scrambles up she felt a hand close around her ankle. The Viking had reached her.