There Are Many Paths To Tread- Chapter 12


Chapter Soundtrack:


Guardian Angel


Copyrighted by:


Elias Nilsson (feat.Claudie Mackula)


Disclaimer:


The movie, 'Moana', is copyrighted by Walt Disney Animation Studio. It was directed by Ron Clements and John Musker and the co-directors were Don Hall and Chris William. It was released by Walt Disney Pictures in 2017.

I only claim copyright to the characters, and some of the elements of the story, that are of my own creation.


Summary:


A young woman, seemingly ordinary, is deserted on an island that is void of life but is then confronted by a man who completely baffles her with his words and actions. He couldn't really be a demigod now, could he? There was no such thing as real gods. Or was she the one mistaken? Could she trust in his friendship after all the heartbreak and disappointment in her life?

...


Chapter 12



A familiar wall of muscle, tattoos and long curly hair casually stepped forward to pluck me out of the air just before I hit the shoreline.

I ended up in Maui's arms in bridal-style and I blushed faintly when I looked up into the guy's widely grinning face.


'' Welcome back to the upper-world, sweetheart. What kept you down the- Aaugh!''


A missile of white, chirping crustacean came flying seemingly out of nowhere and struck Maui in the face with enough force to knock the guy off his feet onto the sand with me still held in his arms.

The poor crab bounced off Maui's face and back into the air before she landed on the sand with a breathless gasp as she landed on her back.


'' Peara, what are you... why didn't you let go of the line as I told you to do?'' I gasped out as I scrambled off of the demigod who grunted as my elbow pressed into his solar plexus for a moment.

Maui's grip on me had slackened from the shock of seeing the small crustacean on the shoreline.


'' S-sorry, I forgot to let go,'' Peara chirped out weakly.


I carefully lifted her back onto her feet and left a supporting hand on her shell to keep the still dizzy crab from collapsing onto the sand.


'' You forgot?'' I asked incredulously as I started unstrapping my rod with my free hand before setting it down beside me.


'' S-sorry, Maija,'' Peara muttered quietly as she glanced up at Maui with slight apprehension as the guy scrambled to his feet.


His expression was incredulous and grim as he peered down at Peara, then at me as I knelt before my friend. 


Then Maui's eyes eventually strayed to 'the tattoo' in clear view of his eyes.


Slow realization started showing on his face.


I could only give a sigh as Maui flung his hands up in the air and practically bellowed: '' Typical, now I'm beginning to understand why you were so hesitant to explain the story behind your tattoo! She's the crustacean, isn't she?''


Peara flinched violently and pressed against me, but her voice was strong as she retorted:'' My name is Peara!''


I smiled at the pout on my friend's face, and Moana giggled as she ventured to my side kneeled onto the sand.


'' I don't know why you are getting so aggravated about this. She is actually very cute.''


She sent my friend a gentle look when the crab looked up at the Motunui girl with curiosity in her eyes.


'' WHY am I aggravated? The last time you thought something was cute we were attacked by the Kakamora fleet! Now, can we just climb back up the stupid tower and chuck the small critter back where she belongs and leave this accursed island?!'' Maui exclaimed in frustration.


Peara uttered a frightened chirp and pressed closer to me.


I glared up at Maui in disappointment as I drew slow, comforting circles over the back of my friend's neck.


'' Returning her to Lalotai, yes, but chucking her down the tower entrance is a definite 'NO'! She could hurt herself badly from the fall and she'd be by herself for who knows how long. She might even get eaten before she was to get back onto her feet.''


'' I agree with Maija. Peara's but a child,'' Moana said determinately as she stood up to face the demigod with her arms crossed over her chest.


'' Children grow up! And that small crab will grow up to be just as humongous and bloodthirsty as...!''


''HIS FATHER?!'' I snapped out with some anger in my voice.'' You don't know for sure what she'll be like in a hundred and fifty, a hundred or even in fifty years time! And neither will I as I likely won't be here in fifty years.''


Peara jolted at my words, pressing her head against my side. I could feel her trembling and I winced inwardly, realizing that my friend had never truly taken it in on how short my mortal life truly was.

I muttered a quiet 'I'm sorry' to her as Maui looked down at me with a glare.


'' Don't remind me of your age,'' he gritted out between clenched teeth.'' And don't we have other important matters to attend to that are more important than one measly crab's life?''


'' A crab I've known since I was nine years old,'' I retorted with ice in my voice.'' Besides I promised his father I'd not be responsible for harm coming to his daughter.''


'' You mean Tamatoa, the beady-eyed bottom feeder that almost killed us all? '' Maui asked me incredulously.'' Why should you hold your word to that monster?''


'' Because I don't break promises or forget friendships, Maui. No matter how far ago we'd last seen each other. Peara trusts me and I'll do all to be worthy of her trust.''


Maui seemed to struggle with my adamance to helping Peara, which was evident when he said:'' Well, I'm not going back down there with my hook acting cuckoo on me.''


'' Oh, and I'm not about to go down that opening a second time in one day,'' I replied sarcastically before rubbing stressfully at my forehead.'' But we may not need to fully enter Lalotai. Peara, please tell me my earlier plan worked? I had to keep my eyes closed when the geyser exploded around me.''


'' It worked, but now my daddy is likely worried about me. Again, I might add,'' Peara answered with a rueful smile.


'' Oh, so you helped Tamatoa back onto his feet?'' Moana asked me, pointing at the rod beside me.


I nodded at her.


'' I couldn't just leave him like so. Not when it would have meant Peara would have had to be on her lonesome,'' I muttered out.


'' So that's why you had that rod attached to you, '' Moana stated in a quiet voice, looking down at peara who was still firmly attached to my side as if looking for protection.


'' Yeah, but let's not do such a thing again in a hurry. Tamatoa is bloody heavy.''


For emphasis, I rubbed at my lower back which, quite frankly, did hurt slightly from the line snapping tight.


A laugh of amusement escaped Maui's lips before he commented: '' Ah yes, that crab needs a massive diet for sure. But going back to your words on not needing to fully enter Lalotai, I think I'm catching on to your new plan. Looks like we're gonna be doing a bit of fishing before leaving this island.''


He turned to leave the beachside.

'' You guys wait here and I'll go fetch the boat from the other side of the island,'' he threw over his shoulder and Moana sprang to her feet immediately.


'' Oh no, I'm coming with you!'' she exclaimed as she hurriedly followed after the large man's long strides.


I could only shake my head at the quickness of Moana stepping into following after the demigod on his mission to fetch the boat.

It seemed she hadn't gotten over how determinately Maui had tried to get rid of her on his island.


And to be quite truthful these recent days had made me ever so slightly suspicious of Maui's motives sometimes.

It wasn't that he was evil, by any means, but recently he'd shown me just how careless he could be about others lives if it meant helping his own cause.

And this worried me slightly.


I sighed out a long gust of breath before holding my arm out to Peara, who took the hint and scrambled up my arm to my shoulder.


She was much heavier than twenty years ago and her legs tickled my skin.


I had to suppress a twitch and a laugh at the feel as she adjusted herself onto a piggy-back style perch over my shoulders.

I glanced at her half hidden form behind my back length hair for a moment before beginning to search for loose, heavy rocks that we could use as a weighted anchor for a quick plunge into the depth of the ocean.


We would have to dive rather quickly to avoid Peara from having to feel unnecessary discomfort and panic for having to hold her breath until the air of Lalotai was breached.


'' S-so I'm going to be lowered underwater by your fishing- line?'' Peara whimpered into my ear. '' Y-you know I canät breath underwater.''


'' I'm supposing we'll use a mooring line for this plan,'' I answered, reaching out to pat the crab's dangling claw assuringly.'' And I'm going to be lowered down there with you, so don't you worry.''


I could feel Peara sag against me in obvious relief.


'' Thank you, Maija,'' she uttered before abruptly flinching when she caught sight of the small sailboat arriving around the corner of a rock formation on one end of the island.


'' You'll be alright, Peara,'' I said comfortingly and patted her claw a second time as Moana's boat hit the beach- sand and Maui jumped off the deck.

I watched as he strode over to the fishing-rod and picked it up to hand it to me before hauling up the rocks I'd piled on the sand.


He seemed to be quite in tune with my rein of mind as he hadn't stopped to question over the rocks I'd gathered.

He then gestured for me to get on the boat, eyeing Peara's position with a raised eyebrow as I boarded the boat with as much agility as I could muster with my aching limb.


I stumbled slightly on the deck and Peara grasped tighter onto me with a yelp, when Maui jumped heavily onto the boat after pushing it off the shore.


'' Thanks,'' I thought sarcastically, glowering at the demigod who sauntered past me to fetch an extra mooring line from the storage compartment.


'' You sure this is gonna work?'' Moana asked me as our boat bobbed on the water over Lalotai.


I was pretty sure we were just over the place where I'd been flung out of the water, so I didn't see the plan as a potential failure.

I looked up from tying the rocks to the mooring line to see Moana watching me tying each knot in a way that they were easy to open with a firm tug when it was time for Maui to pull me back up to the surface.


'' We will use these rocks to first assess where the breach is between water and air,'' I answered as I gestured to Maui that I was finished.


Maui easily swung the heavy rocks up and over his head into the water where they hit the sea with a heavy 'SPLASH'.


I turned to attach the last rocks with what was my own mooring line scavenged from my shipwrecked boat, before tying the other end into several circles around my waist.

Lastly, I carefully tied the other end around a shaking Peara who was staring fixedly down into the water with wide eyes.


'' W-wait, you're going down into the water?'' Moana gasped out, looking a little concernedly at me.


'' That's the plan. I'm considering my friend's fear of drowning in deep water,'' I answered before shooting Maui a glare when he scoffed at my words.


He was still reeling the mooring line deeper into the ocean. And deeper, and...


''We HAVE a breach!'' Maui exclaimed all of a sudden.


The rest of us jumped at his overly loud voice.


'' Any louder and you'll wake the dead, '' I grumbled out inwardly, glowering at the demigod before turning my attention back to Peara who had uttered a nervous chirp at Maui's words.


'' It's gonna be okay, trust me,'' I said to the crab and scratched at the base behind my friend's eye stocks.


She hummed at the feel and raised her gaze from the waves lapping the side of the boat.

I looked up myself when I heard footsteps approaching and Moana kneeled down beside us.


'' Hey, I'm Moana, '' she told Peara as she slowly reached out with her hand to run a few fingers over Peara's softer head and neck area where my hand was already resting.


I almost wanted to laugh out loud at the teenager's curiosity towards this young monster crab.


Tamatoa hadn't exactly been cute or cuddly. Or something to be touched without getting one's head bitten off.

Peara, on the other hand, was quite docile if you didn't try to harm her, or if she knew you well.

The fact that she willingly came to my side for protection must have raised the Motunui girl's curiosity.


I lifted my own hand off Peara's head and shifted away a few paces to see how she would react to Moana's touch when I wasn't near her.


Peara shifted a little uneasily, but when Moana gently scratched the same area I'd scratched just moments ago I was relieved to see that she wasn't opposing her curiosity.


Peara lifted her eye stocks and peered at the chief's daughter with less cautiousness then before.


BWAAKKKK


''AGH!'' I exclaimed and grabbed Heihei into my arms before the kooky chicken could storm between Moana and Peara.


He really had looked like he was gonna try to peck at my crab-friend.


I held Heihei in front of me with a stern expression on my face and said:'' Listen, you, I'm not gonna be happy if you try and peck at my friend's eye stocks...''


''BWAAACKKK!'' Hey Hey squawked at me, looking like a pet that was feeling jealous towards its owner paying attention to another pet.


I held a finger in front of his beak to emphasize my words and growled: '' Yeah, yeah your jealous of the attention your owner is paying towards Peara, but that doesn't mean you can... OUCH!''


'' HAH HAH HAH!''


'' So NOT funny,'' I seethed out as Maui had hunched over himself, laughing the second Heihei had clamped down hard on my finger.


'' Alas for jealous animals,'' I muttered under my breath and yanked my finger out of Heihei's beak.

Hissing, I shook the smarting limb in the air for a moment before shoving the quacking chicken at Moana whom was desperately trying to hold back her own laughter as she took him and moved several steps backwards from Peara.


The little crab was now glancing warily at the skinny chicken.


I moved forward until I was at a touching distance of my friend whom immediately relaxed her stance.


'' Sorry about all that trouble,'' Moana said with a tint of amusement in her voice.'' It's just that I was curious; I've never seen a white crab before.''


Peara's wary expression melted at the Moana's words and she said proudly:'' You should see me when the lights go out.''


'' As true as Lalotai is real,'' I cut in with a grin to my lips.'' For I was there on the ledge with Peara the whole time. All those myriads of colours brought in mind the shiny inside of a clam. It was mesmerizing.''


Maui scoffed lightly at my words but Peara barely heard him. Instead, she preened at Moana's and my compliments for a moment before concern appeared on her face.


'' W-will I see you again, Maija?'' she asked me out of the blue.


I was left floundering for an answer.


Moana uttered a quiet gasp as her brown eyes were turned towards the back of my neck where the tattoo, of my friendship shared between this crab, was proudly displayed.

I so wanted to return to see my friend in better circumstances, but the whole notion of jumping into Lalotai for the third time was touch and go.

And with someone like Tamatoa not truly trusting anyone that walked on two legs, it was not something I could go for without a 'god-like presence' to protect me.


'' Oh, Peara, I do want to see you again, but remember the conversation down at Lalotai? '' I finally stuttered out. '' Your father has deep grievances towards humankind and it wouldn't be safe for me to try and enter without protection.''


'' Then I'll come and see you!'' Peara insisted, voice trembling slightly.'' Y-you could always fish me up from Lalotai and return me. I'll be looking up for a boat that bobs on the surface without moving forwards, okay?''


I thought it over for a couple of minutes. '' True, it could be a sound plan as long as I'm careful in assessing whether I'm reeling in something much heavier than my friend. I could always cut the line if I ever feel that I'm in danger of being attacked,'' I thought inwardly before saying: '' I'll return when I can, Peara. And that is a promise.''


I then reached up with my hand to open the driftwood-locket with the small gold crab, and wave-shaped ornaments impeded into the smooth- polished wood surface.

The driftwood was about the size of my splayed palm, but as light as a feather.

I unclasped one side of the clasp and removed the driftwood to reveal what was hidden inside the locket.


Moana was gaping at the small conch nestled against my sternum before she turned her eyes to Peara who gave a small, sad chitter as she looked upon the conch.

I smiled sadly as I pulled one of the fibre- strings over my head and slid it through holes in the locket before closing the clasps.

I adjusted the fibre- string to make it shorter before reaching over to put the jewellery over Peara's neck.


She looked down at it with confusion before looking up at me expectantly.


'' I found you laying on a floating piece of driftwood on the beach of 'Wanaka'. This locket is made from that very same driftwood,'' I said softly as Peara gasped and reverently touched the polished surface


'' What of this?'' she asked, pointing at the golden waves and crab impeded onto the wood.


'' That is an image of you, Peara. My parents had the locket made as my graduation gift,'' I answered with a rueful smile even as tears started to prick at my eyes.


Despite coming to the belief that I'd never see my parents, or any of my relatives again, it didn't stop me from remembering all those precious moments of my life.

I sniffled slightly before wiping away the tears threatening to show.


'' I'm leaving this with you, okay, as a promise that I'll return to see you here. That I'll 'fish' you out of Lalotai and then return you to your father after the visit. And hopefully one day I'll get Maui to bring me down to Lalotai so I could explore your world, too.''


I shot an imploring look at Maui who groaned in exasperation and gave me a' you can hope' expression.


I smirked at him before showing Peara a ring on my finger.

The ring was made out of the same driftwood as the locket and it was carved in the shape of a coconut crab. A shiny pearl was impeded into the wood to make it look like a crab's shell.


'' Remember this pearl?'' I asked with a smile as Peara gasped in wonder.


''Is it the one I found in a clam at the beach?'' she asked quietly.


'' Yes, my parents had this made, too. But it's yours to keep, now. I hope you like the wooden ornament,'' I answered as I pulled the ring off my finger and held it out to Peara who grasped it with a slightly shaking claw.


'' It's gorgeous! Thank you, Maija,'' Peara laughed out and scrambled unhesitantly into my lap for a hug that I returned with a tight one.


'' Your welcome, '' I said softly as I ran one finger over Peara's antennae that I knew were very sensitive.


I felt he jerk slightly and give a chittery laugh at the tickling touch.


'' Stop that!'' she squeaked out, snapping very lightly at my finger that moved towards her antennae again.'' You know that tickles.''


'' That's why I did it,'' I spoke with amusement in my tone.'' Remember those tickle fights we used to have at my parents' house?''


'' Yes! But do you remember what happened that morning when you decided to wake me up by touching my antennae without knowing how sensitive they are?'' Peara chuckled out.


'' Your squeal made me fall over onto the floor in shock and my parents to 'thunder' into the room to ask what was going on,'' I answered before the both of us dissolved into laughter at the memory of my parents' expressions when they had arrived at my doorway.


I hugged Peara against me for another minute, before our moment was disturbed by Maui's exasperated groan and the violent rocking motion he was doing to the boat.

Moana, Peara and I all shrieked and scuffled to right ourselves before we were all flung into the waters overlooking Lalotai.

I certainly didn't want to end up in the water with the rocks strapped to my belt without the safety line.


'' Enough with the sappiness or I'm gonna throw up,'' Maui drawled out.


Moana, Peara and I all glared up at him.


'' And let's get on with returning the little critter to Lalotai,'' Maui continued, seemingly oblivious, or not caring about the less than pleased expressions on the faces of the others on the boat.


'' You didn't have to rock the boat to get our attention,'' I grumbled as I stood up with Peara clinging onto my torso and staring down at the water with apprehension.


I walked closer to Maui and grabbed the mooring line loosely between my fingers to allow the necessary underneath the water. I then clambered onto Maui's shoulders and balanced on top them.


'' This is it, Peara,'' I said as I bent my knees for the jump.'' Take a deep breath and then hold it when I say the word 'now', okay?''


'' I- I'm scared. I don't like going into the water,'' Peara muttered with a wince.


''I think I'm more scared of your father's reaction than the actual descent to Lalotai,'' I answered with a nervous laugh.'' But yeah, I'm scared, too.''


'' Be careful, Maija,'' Moana exclaimed from where she stood with Heihei still held in her arms.'' And goodbye, and good luck to you, Peara.''


'' T-thanks, Moana,'' Peara stuttered nervously when she felt me shift on my feet again.


'' Take a deep breath and hold it,'' I said after a moment of pause. '' NOW!''


We both heaved in deep breaths at the same time and once I'd heard Peara clamp her mouth loudly with her pincer I made the leap off Maui's shoulders.


SPLASHHH


I hit the water with my feet and legs held tightly together, my hand on the rope guiding us downwards. Both my eyes were trained downwards to where lurked the world of Lalotai.


And it was quickly approaching.


As soon as I felt my legs breach the air of Lalotai I quickly slowed our descent until my head breached it too and I tightened my grip to the point where we halted altogether.

I took my first breath of Lalotai's breathable air and heard Peara heave in and out air frantically for a moment before she calmed down.

There we were, suspended in the air and gently swaying from side to side.


'' Oh Gods, I definitely hate doing that,'' Peara breathed out shakily.


'' Why, that was incredibly fun?!'' I chuckled out as I planted my feet onto the rocks suspended in the air and heaved myself on top them.


'' FUN?!'' '' Peara snapped at me before gulping at the long way down.'' S-so how will I get down to father? He is waiting for me.''


'' He is what?'' I startled, glancing down to see the gargantuan decapod standing upright below our swaying rope with a tense expression on his face as he peered exclusively up at his daughter.


It was my turn to give a nervous gulp before I stuttered:'' Ummm... I'll just lower you down, Peara. You can let go of me.''


She did as told and I started to quickly lower the small crab down using the extra mooring line belted to my fishing belt.

I could hear Peara give a relieved laugh once she realized what was happening before she cried:'' Goodbye, Maija.''


'' Goodbye, Peara!'' I called back just as Tamatoa reached up to pluck his daughter gently in his claw.


This prompted me to loosen the rope even faster than earlier, but then the rope was pulled taut, constricting air into my lungs and threatening to pull me down to where the monster was waiting.

I increased my hold on the main rope and felt it tightening, too, (as Maui dug down deep up on the surface to avoid falling into the ocean himself).


It had become a 'tug of war' between a demigod and a Monster-crab and I was in the middle of it!


'' AGH!'' I yelped as my hands started to slide downwards and my feet slipped off the rocks.

My elbows slammed against them with bruising force and I was practically gasping for breath as I anchored my elbows against the stones despite the intense pressure digging into my sides.


'' Oh, I'm done for, '' I thought as I closed my eyes, still fighting despite knowing I'd lose the fight in a moment.


But then the pull loosened and I could finally breathe normally again.


Huge heaves of breath were pulled into my lungs and I almost wanted to sob out a 'thank you' to the Gods for Tamatoa having second thoughts on eating me.

I changed a glance downwards to see the monster crab looking up at me thoughtfully.


'' Is it because he is thankful for me having helped his daughter that he'd not pulled me down into his mouth? Or is it because he realized he would cause his daughter emotional agony if he were responsible for my demise?'' I thought with a frown.'' Or maybe it's simply that he can't be bothered to waste his time on me with everything that had happened prior to me bringing Peara back to him.''


SCREEECCCHHH


I whipped my head up towards the noise and immediately blanched when I saw a few bat-like creatures flying towards me from whatever direction they'd been prior to this moment.


I shakily heaved myself back onto the rocks.


It was like you were in a movie, looking at the flying dinosaurs of 'Jurassic Park 3' arriving to attack the two people flying on the parachute.

Except that what was happening was very real indeed.

And these were real monsters with gaping mouths filled with sharp fangs, eight eyes, massive furry bodies, claws like razors and their bat wings swinging up and down powerfully as they flew straight towards me.


I could hear Peara scream out my name but all I could do was crouch on the rocks (my self-preservation failing me), hold on tight to the rope and to wait for the impact of those claws on my soft human body.


They were close! So very close...


WHAMMM


[there was the sound of something huge ramming against flesh]


SCREEECCCHHH


[followed by creatures screeching in pain]


THUMPPP


[and ending with the sound of bodies striking the ground]


I slowly opened my eyes when I felt no claws digging into my flesh, my interest having been piqued by all the kerfuffle I'd overheard.

I looked down to see the 'bats' crumpled forms on the sand, a massive boulder on its side nearby. It looked like it had been thrown at the bat- like Monsters.


By something massive!


''Tamatoa?!'' I gasped inwardly, glancing down to see the gargantuan crab still standing in the exact spot as earlier.


But he was breathing a little more strained, and I could see Peara peeking worriedly up at me from the hold her father had around her.


'' Get OUT of here now, before more of them return,'' Tamatoa growled out as he snapped the mooring rope still around Peara's waist so cautiously and dexterously, that I couldn't help but gape at how delicate he could be with such huge claws.


Shaking my head to clear my buzzing thoughts I eased myself lower until my elbows touched the rocks tide to the mooring lines and gripped the knot to release the extra weight.


'' AND... thank you!'' Tamatoa's voice sounded out all of a sudden.


His words surprised me enough that I almost let go of the rope.


'' I... I THANK YOU, too!'' I squeaked out rather shrilly in wide-eyed shock, looking down at the crab as he nodded at me once before turning and scuttling back towards his lair without another word to me.


I breathed in a shaky breath before finally getting to untying the rocks around the mooring line suspended in the air. Then I yanked at the rope thrice before taking a deep breath and holding it in.


As soon as I'd done this, the rope began to move.


I could feel the intense pulls of the demigod bringing me up to the surface and I could only marvel at the rush of the whole experience as the surface came closer and closer, until I was catapulted into the air for a short moment.

Before free-falling for the third time this day.


But it was straight into the arms of Maui. I barely held in the sharp inhale as I felt a sharp pain in my lower ribs from the movement.


'' Well, well, well,'' I imitated Tamatoa in a bland, sarcastic tone of voice.'' Ain't this turning into a bit of a habit?''


Moana and Maui both laughed at my tone of voice and my stance, which was the usual hands on my hips.


Finally, I just sighed and slumped my head against Maui's shoulder. Gods, I was so tired and my leg was killing me. Adding to the pain was Tamatoa's latest assault.

The hurt in my sides and stomach was greatly increased from not being able to have a proper meal in ages.


'' Are you okay?'' Moana asked me nervously.'' What happened down there? Maui had to strain to keep himself from falling down into the ocean and I had to stop the boat from capsizing.''


I looked up at her when I felt her hand on my shoulder.'' Let's just say that Tamatoa was being a little crabby,'' I sighed out, before gasping as Maui started to unbuckle my belt from my waist with one hand.

His other hand was holding me up against his shoulder like I were a small child.


'' A little cranky, huh? '' Maui asked me incredulously (Moana gasped at my answer) as he dropped the belt onto the boat deck, exposing my tank-top that ended just over my belly-button.


He then settled me down on to the boat-deck and sat down beside me, allowing me to use his shoulder as a buttress and motioned for Moana to take over the steering.

But then it so happened, that the noise of simultaneous growling stomachs split the air. It had us all sharing sheepish glances.

It seemed we were all 'in the same boat', both graphically and literally.


I couldn't help the laugh that escaped my lips even as the motion of laughing aggravated whatever damage had been done by the gigantic Monster-father.


After a moment of just watching me, Maui and Moana joined in on the somewhat hysterical laughter.


'' Oh Gods, to think we still have Te Ka to challenge even after all the trouble we've already had to put up with. First the Kakamora and then the mortal dangers of the Realm of Monsters,'' I thought as my laughter eventually dried up and I slumped against Maui once more,


'' Maija, your bruising,'' Moana commented suddenly.'' What did Tamatoa do to you?''


'' Sigh... the crab was waiting at the bottom as I lowered Peara down to him,'' I answered tiredly.'' And as soon as Peara was close enough for him to reach her he plucked her from the air. Like I was gonna keep her from him...''


A frown crossed my face.


'' And then he started pulling on the rope, so you can imagine as to why I'm bruising up. I knew I had a reason to fear him, '' I continued with a groan.'' But then he showed mercy on me, saved me from a couple of bat Monsters coming to snatch me up for their dinner. And then he actually thanked me briefly before taking Peara back to the safety of his lair.''


'' He actually thanked you?'' Moana gasped out, looking shocked.'' He thanked you, and Maui and I got the mean treatment?!''


'' Oh come on, Moana, I wasn't spared the rough handling, either,'' I breathed out, wincing at the pain rippling through my bruised middle,


Moana glanced at where my belt had dug into the skin and bruised it.'' Yeah, your right,'' She answered before wincing and grabbing at her chest where she'd been rammed by Tamatoa's huge claw.


'' Are you okay? I asked sympathetically when I noticed her 'scrunching her face' in pain.


'' I think you won't be the only one bruising today,'' Moana sighed tiredly.


''I think all of us will be sore in one way or another,'' I grunted out.'' I just hope none of us has cracked a rib.''


Maui made a noise of affirmation and winced himself, before saying: '' I still have a hard time believing that crab-cake actually cares so much for that miniature brat. And when exactly was she conceived, anyway?''


'' A thousand years ago,'' I deadpanned, which had both Maui and Moana looking up at me in surprise.'' She got this big in the span of five hundred years. The first five hundred years she was but a larva inside an egg.''


'' R-really, Maija?'' Moana asked me, stunned.'' But what happened to the other larvae, her siblings? Were they... eaten by another monster?''


'' No they were... crushed by a large pair of demigod feet, as said person was stealing the treasure for the humans,'' I answered tiredly, not wanting to voice out the name of the one responsible.


Maui likely would be able to realize it without me saying it out loud.


And I was all too correct...


I winced inwardly when I noticed Maui's expression darken slightly in realization to my unspoken words. There was also a tiny, underlying sliver of regret in his expression.


'' I didn't... know about the eggs,'' Maui muttered. '' All I did was wipe my feet when I felt something slimy on them! I didn't even fully glance at what I'd trodden on.''


Moana gasped quietly when she finally caught on to the implication of my unspoken words.


'' Then Tamatoa completely snapped and I couldn't get a coherent sentence from crab-cake. He tried to maim me to pieces so I defended myself, which caused the whole incident of Crab- cake's leg being ripped off.''


'' Can you blame him for having been overcome with fury and grief? Crabs can sense and hear very keenly, from what Peara told me, and Tamatoa must have heard and felt his children's lives being snuffed out in an instant,'' I sighed out tiredly, my eyes trailing to the tattoo of Maui and Tamatoa locked in a fierce battle.


As if sensing where my eyes had wandered, Maui turned his head to glance at the tattoo displayed on his back.


Silence fell between us.


Maui was glancing thoughtfully at his feet and Moana was looking uncomfortably at the horizon. She looked like she didn't know what to think.


'' Monster crabs hoard treasure. Likely the females do, too. But Peara told me that it is a great misconception that these 'animals', yes animals, don't care for their young,'' I added softly. ''I have a feeling that the male crabs hoard these treasures to make themselves look eligible to females. Making themselves presentable and eligible is what happens with almost all animals during mating season.''


'' So... the shinier you are, the more food you can attract for one's mate,'' Moana said slowly, a thoughtful expression on her face. '' So when Maui came to Tamatoa's lair...''


'' A female crab must have seen him as an eligible male to mate with and had laid eggs for him,'' I stated with sympathy towards the gargantuan crab's loss,''


'' And so in the end Peara was the only one from that clutch to have survived to the size she is right now,'' Moana said quietly, a small amount of pity noticeable on her face.


'' As I said, Monster crabs do care for their young. I'm pretty sure they teach them everything they have to know about survival. Like hunting and defending themselves until their old enough to survive on their own,'' I answered the future chief of Motunui.'' And I saw a hint of that care upon returning Peara back to Lalotai. Tamatoa hadn't left the area; he was waiting for something, perhaps he was hoping that his daughter wouldn't be stranded on the surface-world.''


'' Naw, the Crab-cake probably KNEW that there was a potential SOMEONE who wouldn't let his daughter be stranded on the surface of this island. Especially if you'd talked to him during those minutes you were waiting for the geyser to push you out,'' Maui concluded, rubbing a hand over his face tiredly.


I nodded silently.

I couldn't blame Maui's exhausted demeanour; he'd been punched around for several minutes by that gargantuan sized creature.

And we were all battered and bruised from our encounter.


'' You think it might be a good idea for all of us to rest for a while?'' I groaned out as my stomach gave another twinge of pain.


'' Perhaps that would do us all good,'' Maui sighed in answer, slumping against the post with me still leaning against his shoulder.


Moana sighed as she slackened the sails all the way, bringing the boat to a full stop.

She then got up and shuffled over to where Maui and I sat comfortably.


I smiled up at Moana when I heard her footsteps and grabbed her hand once she was close. I gently pulled her down to her knees on the deck and invitingly tugged her over to sit beside me.


Moana didn't even protest the motion, instead, she sunk her head against my shoulder and wrapped her arms lightly around me.


I patted her hand lightly and smiled to myself as her eyes fluttered shut, her breathing slowing as she started to fall asleep.

Beside me, on my other side, Maui was already snoring quietly.


As for me, sleep came slowly...


But eventually, my eyes began to flutter and droop on their own accord.


And yet, even as I believed I'd have been exhausted enough to not see any dreams, I found myself being pulled headlong into one that wasn't just a dream, but a memory of a sad day of my life.

....



End of Chapter 12

Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: AzTruyen.Top