Faye didn't know exactly how long it had been since she regained her senses from crying on Nathan's shoulder and walking around to find a way back. All she knew was she had been trailing him in silence under the rain for a very long time. She was thankful that the rain didn't get into her eyes too much. The canopies were finally doing their job of protecting her from the drops, but they did no good to shield her from the chill she was feeling creeping through her bones. She was thankful she had Minty to hold and get heat from but it wasn't enough. Her flimsy shirt was torn where it wasn't wet and her jeans felt heavier and tighter, tiring her out quickly.

Nathan's face was a mystery to her but she was sure he was cold too. He was shivering and constantly putting his hands in front of his face and that only meant he was doing everything he could to keep himself warm.

From the corner of her eye, she saw a beaten path that wound into the canopies off to her right, but they passed it. She didn't know if he saw it or not, but if it was a chance at meeting other people who could provide them something, even prison, she would take it.

"Nathan..." She realized that her voice was weak and shaky and she had to call him twice before he turned to her. He looked a little pale, but he set his face with a strong front. "There's a path over there. I don't think we can really go back with this rain."

"The natives might not be friendly. It's dangerous. We have to keep going."

"If we don't get out of this, we'll die from hypothermia."

He shook his head stubbornly. "If that's your only concern, then we can either find a place for shelter or I can make one. But I can't make a fire, so..." he paused to blow into his hands and keep himself from shivering, "-we'll just have to share body heat."

She blushed for a second and thought of considering it, but made her decision quickly as if she didn't really think about it. "I'll take my chances with the natives."

"Are you crazy?"

"No. I'm cold, wet, hungry and desperate. If the natives are cannibals who have other people for lunch, then when the rains are over, they'll be able to see us and eat us anyway. Might as well get it over with."

"You're not taking this seriously, are you?"

"There aren't any documented cannibals in Hawaii, Nathan." She turned around and headed for the path she saw, not waiting to see if he followed. And she didn't need to. His footfalls and his mutterings served as a sign she made better sense than he did and that he was reluctant to admit it.

Soon, the path led to a clearing where there were clusters of crude wooden houses shielded by gigantic trees that formed a natural wall around the village, shielding the flimsy houses from the harsh winds of the stormy months. From one of the houses nearest the path, a head came out and quickly ducked in.

"Hello? Excuse me?" Faye called out, her steps turning more cautious and deliberate.

"Have you ever thought that they might not understand English?"

"Do you speak Hawaiian?"

"No."

"So there."

"What's the point if they can't understand you?"

"At least, I'm trying to communicate." She glared at him. "It's better than just barging in and taking shelter uninvited if that's your game plan."

Two men came out of the house to watch them while another one dashed off further into the village and disappeared in another one of the houses. She stopped on her tracks waiting to see if they would move, but they didn't. Their curious action brought her to stop and made her unsure of what she was doing.

"If we die here," Nathan hissed behind her, "I blame you."

"Shut up," she hissed back. She turned to the natives and cleared her throat. "Hi. Can you help us? We're lost and we need just a little fire and maybe a shelter?"

The men were as unmoving as the beefeaters in London, which meant that they were unwelcome and/or, they did not understand a word. She paused for a while in consideration and when she decided to speak again, she stopped as a young man ran from the village to where the two men were.

He smiled toward Faye and Nathan. "You speak English?"

She made no efforts to hide her relief. "Yes! Oh, yes! Thank you baby Jesus! We're so sorry about this, but we're lost and we need help."

"Ah. Maybe we can help. Come with me. You explain to chief. I will translate." He talked to the two men who were standing guard in their own language and motioned for them to follow him.

"So," she whispered smugly to Nathan, "Barbarian cannibals, huh?"

He only snorted in reply.

"Very odd that you are lost," the young man spoke to them as they walked. "Don't be afraid. The village only likes peace. Very different from other tribes of Hawaii. That is why we are small. Our chief will help. He is a very kind man."

"Thank you uh..."

"Oh! Call me Chinook, And you are?"

"I'm Faye and he's Nathan. How did you learn English?"

"I study in the big island of Hawaii. To learn and see how our tribe can survive." He said as he stopped in front of one of the houses. "I get chief. Please wait for a while."

She nodded as he disappeared into the house and she looked at Nathan from the corner of her eye. "It would help if you were more gentlemanly like him."

He just rolled his eyes at this. "So, it's gentlemanly to leave a lady – assuming that you are one – out in the rain. Hmph! Some knight in shining armor you have in mind."

"Shut up." She slapped his arm in annoyance.

"You started it."

Before she could say anything, Chinook's head came out and he invited them in. She quickly followed and was so relieved that there was a fire in the middle of the small, crude house. There were very little furnishings; only a small low table off to one side and some hunting implements on the other.

He gave them both a huge blanket apiece and set down a bowl of soup for them. "Chief's wife says you must remove your clothes and wear those. You will get very sick if not. Chief and his wife will come out soon. I will get them. Please drink the soup. It will be good for you." And with that, he disappeared into a curtained portal at the end of the house.

She looked at the cloth, thanking God for her luck. In impulse she looked at Nathan's way and squeaked as he discarded his shirt to the floor.

"What?" He cocked his eyebrows at her. "I'd be taking his advice if I were you, and quickly."

She turned away, her face flushed. He was right and she knew it, but it was not going to be easy as she let Minty down. Not only was he in the room, but there were also the two natives who were standing watching over them.

She was still in her thoughts when his voice broke out. "What are you waiting for? Come on, change before you catch cold."

She juggled between covering herself, keeping the cloth from getting wet and removing her drenched clothing. Despite all her attempts she wasn't able to tie the string on her back. Suddenly, she felt warm fingers touching her back.

"What the—"

"Just stay still and keep your voice low. I'm trying to help." His warm breath touched her ears and she squeezed her eyes tightly in anticipation and her breathing became heavier as she repeatedly pulled down her blouse, hoping that it would make it longer. All of a sudden he jerked her towards him by the strings and tied the ends of the fabric, his fingers touching her back teasingly, spreading tingles across her whole body.

"Umm-than-thank you," she was about to move away when his hands wrapped around her stark stomach, holding her still in her position, causing her to shriek in shock.

"What the hell are you trying to do right now?" She gritted through her teeth, her eyes still closed.

Ignoring her, he slowly turned her around, "Look at me." He said, blowing a hot breath to her face. She stopped the urge to moan in front of him, "Let me go you stu—"

"Just look at me, dammit." He yanked her closer by grasping her waist so tightly that it started to hurt. Her eyes snapped open at his roughness.

Again, she started pulling the blouse with restiveness. Dammit, his skin was directly in contact with her hips. There was nothing between them, not even a cloth.

His hands immediately slipped down from her hips to her hands and held them. She looked at their hands entwined together.

"Baby, I like this outfit, but I'd like it better if it were on a prettier girl."

This made her came back to her right senses and gave him a hard push but he was smarter and quicker than her as he turned her around holding her wrists tightly to her chest in a criss-crossed way jamming any movement by her. "Let go off me, you jerk!" She struggled against his hold but stopped as soon as his breath tickled her ear.

"I'd love to have this battle of wits with you but I don't like fighting an unarmed person." saying this he released her and moved away from her before she could attack him, maintaining a minimal distance between them. He couldn't stop his laughter seeing her potato red face. She looked hot with rage.

"Yo-you'll pay for this." She stomped her foot angrily, her hands fisted slowly turning white but she only gained a louder laugh from him.

She angrily took the bowl of soup that was given to her and sat down controlling her temper. Sweet baby Jesus! What the hell was wrong with him?

She did not have time to think further as the curtains opened to reveal an old man and an old woman, stopping any more friction to grow between Nathan and Faye. Chinook aided both of them as they sat down facing the foreigners.

She took a sip from the soup and sighed at the warmth that spread through her. Minty barked beside her and she took the dog and dried her with the edge of the cloth. "Thanks for keeping me warm," she whispered to it.

"More like thanks for getting us lost," Nathan muttered audibly.

"Oh, shut up."

"Chief would like to know what happened," Chinook directed the question at them and faye relayed their story with Nathan adding snatches here and there. After they spoke, Chinook and the elders talked among themselves and it seemed that the chief's wife was the one leading the discussion. Faye could make out that they had looks of surprise on their faces every now and then as if something was amiss or something was unexpected. At the end of their conversation, the elders looked thoughtful.

"Chief and his wife decided to help you, but there is no way out now. The river will rush too hard and we will not be able to cross until the rains stop. I will take you to my family and stay with us, if that is fine with you."

"How long will this rain last?" Faye asked.

"We do not know," Chinook admitted, "But we think it will last very long."

"And after the rain stops?" Nathan asked.

"We wait three days for the water to calm down."

Faye sighed. "I don't think we have a choice anyway. Thank you so much for your kindness and hospitality."

"Drink all your soup first, then you come follow me."

"I'm screwed..." Faye muttered as lowly as she could, but she knew it wasn't low enough when Nathan retorted grabbing her wrist and yanking her closer to him, "You should have just left the damn dog."

She glared at him. "Oh and I know that this will happen?"

"You only had thirty minutes. You should have told the boy to forget the dog and be off. His family is rich enough to get him a new one if they could afford the cruise."

"So why did you come if that's what you're thinking?"

"Because if my dad and your aunt found out that I lost you just like that and you died or something, I'm screwed."

"Still looking out for yourself. How selfish of you!" She tried to take her wrist back only to get his hold tightened.

"Oh, shut up. The chief is watching." She pried his fingers off her wrist and threw his hand away from her.

Faye resolved to keep quiet and finish her soup, giving a little of what's left to Minty. As soon as they were done, Chinook led them to his house where an old woman was sitting. He talked to her and she smiled at them when he was done and finally spoke.

"Grandmother welcomes you to our house. We will make you your meal, so please, sit," Chinook translated. "I will get you your clothes. I hope you do not mind traditional clothing."

Chinook's grandmother wore a cloth around her like a wrap-around tube that showed her stomach and a grass skirt. It wasn't so bad, but she could not help but stare at Chinook. On a native like him, the loincloth made of what looked like banana leaves, suited him. Looking at Nathan, she couldn't help but snicker. No matter what she did, imagining a loincloth on him brought nothing but funny, awkward images to her mind.

"A loincloth..." Nathan shivered.

"It's not so bad." Faye smirked.

He answered her with a glare as Chinook waited for him to follow. He stalled for a few seconds more before following his host.

Minty laid comfortably on Faye's lap as she petted her. In the background, she could hear Chinook instructing Nathan on how to wear his loincloth. For a while, she could not hear him until—

"Right...this is really umm- short."

"Not too short. Only a little short."

Not long after, he emerged with the large cloth still wrapped around him, likely because he was still susceptible to sickness just as she was. At least she did not have to worry about the clothes they will give her. She was only as tall as the average Hawaiian, unlike him who towered over them.

Faye couldn't help but titter dying to know what he looked from the inside. Only Chinook's grandmother's call stopped her tittering. It wouldn't be long before she could openly laugh at him and his costume.

Hey fellas!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

What are your plans for today? Haha, have a wonderful time with your mates ❤

How are you guys? Please do vote and comment on this chapter if you liked it. I would be really happy.

How was the chapter, my friends? Hot or not? Haha, the next update will depend upon your response and also if I get some some time from my studies.

Until then, take care of yourselves! I love you. ❤