Moana: World Darkness

Deal?

Moana's triumphant cry, "Yeah! Wooo! We did it!" echoed across the waves as they burst through the gap created by the whale. Relief washed over her, momentarily erasing the memory of the chaotic escape. But as quickly as it came, the joy vanished. A frantic scan of the horizon revealed a single, unsettling truth: Kai was nowhere to be seen. "Wait, hold on, where's Kai?" she gasped, a tremor of fear creeping into her voice. Maui, who had been steering the canoe with renewed vigour, followed her gaze, his brow furrowing in concern. Just as worry began to gnaw at Moana, a sound cut through the tense silence. A muffled cry for help came from the side of the canoe.

Moana scrambled to the edge, peering over the gunwale. There, clinging precariously to the outrigger, was Kai. His face was a mask of exhaustion, and his grip on the wood seemed tenuous at best.

Relief flooded Moana's system. "Oh, there you are!" she exclaimed, a hint of exasperation lacing her voice. "Here, let me help." She leaned down, extending a hand to pull him aboard. Kai, with a grateful grunt, grasped her hand and heaved himself onto the canoe. He slumped down onto the deck, panting heavily. Moana, once he was settled, couldn't contain her curiosity. "So," she began, her hands on her hips and a playful glint in her eyes, "where were you while we were being chased by a fleet of coconut-headed pirates?"

Kai, still catching his breath, shot her a wry smile. "Obviously," he said with a hint of sarcasm, "I was creating a diversion. You wouldn't have escaped without a little help, would you?"

"So that whale was you? That explains a lot," Moana concluded, a mixture of surprise and awe colouring her voice. The image of the colossal creature breaching the surface was still vivid in her mind.

Kai, his breathing finally under control, met her gaze with a vulnerability that surprised Moana. A mix of determination and nervousness flickered in his eyes. "Hey listen," he began hesitantly, "um, since you guys were headed to... wherever you were going, to restore Te Fiti's heart, can I come with you?" He cleared his throat, the sound rough. "I'm kinda tired of being on my own all the time, and frankly, I'm curious about who this Te Fiti is."

Maui, who had been silently observing the exchange, finally spoke up. "Hold on a minute," he rumbled, a hint of suspicion in his voice. "Who are you exactly, and why should we trust you with Te Fiti's heart?"

Kai squared his shoulders, meeting Maui's gaze with a steady look. "Look," he said calmly, "I know I'm a stranger, but I saw what you were up against. Those Kakamoras were relentless. Besides," he added, a hint of a smile playing on his lips, "who else can shapeshift into a giant whale on a whim?"

Moana bit her lip, torn between her desire for help and a lingering sense of caution. "Maui has a point, Kai," she said finally. "We don't know you. But if you're offering to help restore Te Fiti, then tell us, why are you so interested?"

Kai chuckled. "Let's just say I have my ways of getting around. As for trusting me with the heart," he paused, his expression turning serious, "the heart is yours, I don't care. I just wanted to do something for a change,"

Moana raises an eyebrow, intrigued by Kai's nonchalant attitude towards the heart. "Doing something for a change, huh?" she says, her voice laced with a hint of suspicion. "That's a mighty broad statement. Especially considering the dangers involved in restoring Te Fiti. Why not just stay on your island and be bored?"

Kai's smile faltered for a brief moment, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his features. "My island?" he echoed, his voice losing its playful lilt. "I don't recall," He shrugged, the gesture seeming forced. "And as for staying put," he continued, his gaze meeting Moana's squarely, "let's just say my presence here isn't entirely a coincidence. Te Fiti's fate is more intertwined with mine than you might think... I think..."