Hanu {Moana X Reader} [HIATUS]

Chapter IV: Rough Waves

"Absolutely not." The chief, Tui, stated with a prompt shake of his head.

"But Dad, if this Poseidon controls the ocean, then perhaps he can help us cure it of whatever is making it sick."

"Tangaroa controls the sea." Tui remarked, gesturing to a large ornately woven tapestry depicting the deity nearby. "And if he has allowed the ocean to be ill... all we can do is pray that he cures it soon." The chief's words were hesitant, as if he himself disliked the thought of doing nothing.

Moana huffed, placing her hands on her hips.

"We can't just sit around and hope for the best!" She argued. "Aukai and I already agreed to find Maui again, to see what he knows about him. Then we-"

"Enough!" Tui barked, waving his hand to the side. The chief shot a suspicious glare at me, and it was then that I knew why he was "hesitant" about Moana's proposed voyage.

Moana held her breath, and for but a moment, she seemed to falter. She quickly regained her composure, however, and looked determinedly at her father.

"I am grown now, father, and our people are in danger again. I have to do something." She said, her voice surprisingly calm. Tui glanced between her and myself, holding his breath in contempt. Glancing at his daughter once more, he finally let out an audible sigh, his eyes now pleading. Tui beckoned Moana closer, and the two embraced each other. I almost felt like leaving the hale, or at the very least looking away.

I then watched as Moana and Tui pressed their noses and foreheads together, their faces calm and serene, though the chief's brow was still furrowed in worry. For some reason, I had always found myself in awe when watching it. Hongi, it was called. It meant "shared breath," and seemed to be just like shaking hands among these people. Though, according to Moana, it was also a very intimate moment of affection, one that (according to legend) birthed the first woman. She had told me that most family members and lovers perform it with one another, and that should a visitor of the island receive it, they were considered one of the people, now sharing the duties and responsibilities of the other villagers.

That notion, however... an outsider as one of the people... it was always bittersweet to me, for reasons that should have been obvious. It always made me wonder. I helped around the island where I could, and most of the people were friendly enough, but I soon learned to recognise their words and motions. Their sideways glances and hushed tones within my presence. I received nothing but the kindness given to strangers, but nothing more. If I was lucky, it was the kindness of a distant acquaintance. And that was always a very small chance. I always ate alone during the night (save when Moana's mother would sneak food for me, and watch me curiously), and I wasn't allowed to keep anything that I was given or found, regardless of its use. The only reason I was able to keep the cutlass was because the warriors knew not how to use a sword (or perhaps they were too afraid to try and take it). It was not as difficult to adapt as most would think, but then again, I had always been able to rely on my fellow shipmates. The thought of them stung my heart, and I began to remember with trembling hands the storm, and the foolishness of my captain...

My mind must have wandered further than I thought, because I suddenly felt my arm been shaken.

"Hey, lolo, you awake in there?" Moana asked, her brow raised in a teasing manner. I promptly shook out of my daze, and nodded to her.

"Good. Come on!" she exclaimed, grabbing my arm and tugging me away. I glanced back at the chief and his furrowed brow, but whether it was out of concern for his daughter or disdain for me, I couldn't tell. Maybe it was both.

~ ~ ~

It did not take us very long to prepare, although the intricately simple swirl upon the sturdy boat mesmerised me more than a few times. A modest stock of food we packed into the compartment below the "deck," as well as a few bundles of rope and other miscellaneous supplies. I had managed to craft a small bow to fish with, which was now strapped to my chest, and the cutlass (which I had managed to clean just a little) nestled within a makeshift sheath I had woven from palm fronds.

It wasn't long before many of the villagers began to flock to the boat, giving Moana words of encouragement and cheer. She thanked them repeatedly, reassuring them that she would return safely and successful on her quest. I couldn't help but smile, leaning against the mast of the boat as I watched the mob of adoring fans wish her luck. Unsurprisingly, only a few of the villagers even made a passing glance in my direction. Not exactly much of a wound for my pride, but I couldn't help but feel just a slight sting.

Letting out a breath, I turned around to face the sea, and the rising sun just over the horizon. Keeping a gentle grip on the mast of the boat, I let myself lean forward slightly, and saw myself as a great bird soaring across the sky. My eyes drifted close for a moment, and I felt the feathers upon my wings rustle in the wind, and my tail rocking lazily side to side, guiding me over the invisible hills and valleys of the heavens. The salt of the sea splashed me every so often, leaving me with a satisfied smile.

Opening my eyes once more, I allowed that bird to fly off, losing itself in the clouds on its way to wherever it so desired. The thought made me grip the mast of the boat a bit more endearingly. I was finally leaving. I couldn't objectively say I was here for very long, but I had never spent so much time anywhere else, save the ocean.

I felt a strong hand on my shoulder.

Spinning on my heel, I faced Chief Tui. The glare he gave me was all too familiar: a lecture was coming.

"I still do not trust you, outsider." He said, releasing me and crossing his arms over his chest. "I do not know what my daughter sees in you, but I trust her judgement. I will say this."

Tui then leaned forward, and I noticed that his tone was much more sinister than the last few times he had spoken to me.

"If anything happens to Moana, I will track you to every corner of the sea, bind your legs together, and drag you behind the boat for the entire return voyage. Do I make myself clear?"

I held my breath. Never had I heard the chief threaten me so harshly. He had been wary of me during my entire time here on the island, of course, but not to this extent. That being said, I was not going to let a few dark words put me down.

"You'd best get that image out of your head, sir." I replied in a stark tone. "I do not intend on letting any harm come to Moana. I'd sooner stab myself with the trident of Poseidon."

Tui's eyes flared, and he let out a huff of breath, before storming off. He joined his wife, whom I now saw shared breath with Moana, sharing a few words with his daughter before sharing breath as well. They embraced one last time, and Moana made her way toward me.

"Okay, sorry about that!" She said, chuckling and exhaling deeply. "I almost forget how many people are in the village... anyway, let's go!"

She smiled and punched my arm, and I had to allow a smile of my own to present itself. We both promptly shoved the boat forward, its hull dipping into the water, before hopping on as it left the shore. The two of us immediately grabbed an oar, and soon the reef glided past us, and the winds soon filled our sail and heaved us forward.

Moana began to hum a song to herself, one that I remember her singing all too often whilst on the island. A song of adventure, of chasing the horizon, of answering the call of the sea. I listened in contemplative silence. With any luck, this Maui character will know where to find Poseidon, so that we can find out what's making the ocean so ill. If not, then...

No, it wasn't the time to be thinking such grim thoughts so early. Our voyage had just begun, and there was no way I would give up now.

~ ~ ~

Author's Note: Oh, look, this book still exists. I know I announced this chapter about a week or so ago, so allow me to apologise for that delay. I know this is a bit of a shorter chapter, but now the tale shall finally kick off. I have a few interesting ideas that I would like to execute, and I hope you all find them as enjoyable as I do. Thank you all again so much for your continued support for this story, and I hope to share a lot more of it soon.

Cheers,
Raven Athanos