My Darling Girl *Disney fanfic*

26. Nothing to Fear

The Island of Lokelani was known for its beauty. Its multiple peaks were covered in palm trees above which the humid air rippled beneath the sun. The people of Lokelani built their homes to compliment their natural surroundings, designing staircases around trees rather then cutting them down. Fresh water ran through homes, allowed to flow uninterrupted over manner roofs and down natural rocky falls. No river course was altered but instead was allowed to take the smooth course it desired. The songs of birds were a constant chorus that the locals mimicked in their own music. It was a harmonious place and a peaceful one. That was, until there dusk was interrupted by the ominous sound of ticking.

Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock.

               Panic, confusion – some people denied it was happening. The mayor's manor sent out claims that the siren was a hoax by children.

"Return to your homes!" The town crier read out. "The guilty persons shall be dealt with. There is nothing to fear. Nothing to fear." The town crier smiled – in fact he did nothing but smile, his expression frozen oddly in place.

Many took the crier's advice. But they wished that the ticking didn't sound as if it were getting louder. The streets were only sparsely populated when a fast rider approached from the forest.

"No good people, it IS the Crocodile!" Shouted local legend, Keona, his horse kicking up a dust cloud as he galloped into the town. "I saw his ships on the horizon – they're coming at us from the east." He warned. "Every man needs to call to arms and defend the island!"

Keona's once handsome face was marred by a scar that claimed the left portion of his face. He allowed his long-braided hair to shield the deformity as best he could – the rest was tied up into a thick ponytail. The people of Lokelani all talked at once, anxious and uncertain – though even their combined voices didn't drown out the ticking. The town crier smiled up at Keona.

"Nothing to fear. Nothing to fear."

"Keona's lying. He just wants the chance to play the hero." Honi snidely remarked. He had an old grudge against Keona, who had always been more popular and successful than himself. Keona ignored him.

"We need to protect the children. Gather your young ones and head to the fort!" He commanded. Cries of hysteria filled the twilight as the islanders scrabbled to confusedly defend themselves.

Keona led the first wave of people to the fort where, to his dismay, he was greeted by a barricaded door.

"Open up!" He shouted up at the walls. The guards stared serenely down at him. "The people of this island need your protection!"

"Nothing to fear. Nothing to fear."

TICK TOCK, TICK TOCK, TICK TOCK

Keona was frustrated. Why weren't the mayor or soldiers taking this threat seriously? Families looked to him in dismay. What should they do? Where should they go? Keona sucked his teeth, trying to think. "Women and children should head into the forest and stay hidden. Men come with me and defend the dock."

But not every family had left the town. Many were going to sleep, naively believing the mayor's proclamation that the alarm was a hoax. Keona and his followers ran around the town, banging on doors to urge the occupants to stay awake and listen to them. And as precious time trickled by, the ticking grew louder still.