The Island

[slowandeasy]

Jacques

Jacques was begining to feel that he was a fifth wheel in this converation. To be sure he hadn't spoken for a while and he was standing somewhat to the side of and behind the others, but still he wondered if he was one of the foursome Messilinda was talking about or had been nominated to keep the homefires burning.

When Kit spoke in her outloud voice her thoughts about a firemarshal being on board his thoughts to went back to the plane, He had something to say but not relative to who might have been on board, but what. From what he gathered from the previous conversations they would be here for a while. But to think of the possiblility of the rest of their lives was too much for him to handle right now. The immediate future and their potential for survival was more than enough.

"My idea for survival dosn't concern the possibility of someone else occupying the Island but of food and clean water. Containers to cook in and eat out of, tools to fish and hunt for food. Any wreckage that might be fashioned into tools or cooking and eating utensils, should be salvaged now as well as blankets pillows. any cloth that could be fashioned into clothes when the ones we are wearing wear out. Cleanliness is important to keep, us from becoming sick. Comfort and convenience will keep us from going crazy and turning on each other for what little we have with us. But we have to do this now, soon the sun would turn the scene around the plane into a inhospitable arena of decay and putrifaction that would make it impossible for us to even think of venturing near."

Only after he had finished, had he realized that he too had been thinking out loud. He shrugged his shoulders and smiled, a rather weak and apologetic.
smile and then added "But then what do I know I'm just a humble artist, And if I painted an ugly and despairing picture, I apologize."

 

[Maid of Marvels]

Kapa'a-he'o

~Leilani~​

Leilani stood quietly beside Makani's grave as clods of earth covered her over. She knew that she shouldn't be sad, that her friend would come back to Kapa'a-he'o, but there would be many who would miss the sounds of her lighthearted laughter and her off-key singing -- not to mention her boldness and constant resistance to what she called narrow-minded, old-fashioned traditions that concerned women.

"A hui hou kakou (Until we meet again), Makani," Leilani whispered softly. Inclining her head toward the Kahuna, Mako'a, a reverent mahalo (thank you) for the care he had taken.

Walking slowly toward the edge of the village, Leilani broke into a run once she had stepped beyond its perimeters, not stopping until she reached a small clearing where she had often gone with her friend. There, she let the tears flow freely until there were no more.

******

She woke sometime later, the day star high in the sky and the scent of pua kaunu permeating the air around her. One of her favorite flowers, just as Makani's had been lehua, Leilani had no one special now to share her delight with. Well, perhaps there was... one. With him in mind, she began to pick the most perfect blooms within her reach.

Working meticulously, Leilani began to fashion a lei, her nimble fingers interweaving bright green leaves among the pink and purple flowers. She had nearly finished when she heard the snapping of a twig, as if underfoot. Looking up, she smiled brightly. Both surprised and greatly pleased to see who it was, Leilani felt a flush spread slowly over her face.

"Aloha auinala (good afternoon), Leilani. I thought perhaps I would find you here."

His remark alarmed her at first. Had she done something wrong? Why would he be looking for her? Leilani relaxed once she saw that the smile on his face extended to his eyes, though she quickly returned to her kui flustered by the memory of his hand on her shoulder the evening before.

"Nani (beautiful)... " he said quietly, kneeling beside her.

"Mahalo. I was making this for... "

"Aah. You have someone mea i wae 'ia (special)." he stated brusquely without waiting for her to finish.

"No. Well, yes. It is meant to be a makana (gift) for... " Leilani didn't meet his eyes right away, choosing instead to take the moment to finish. Pleased with her work, she held the lei up and grinned. "You."

 

[Steiner]

"Oh, I know what you're thinking. No, no Air Marshal. Too small a flight, I'm afraid. We're not even on the list of flights they alternate between."

Robert turned to follow the rest as they trudged down the side of the hill. He nodded at the blonde artist.

"Jacque's right you know. Anything we want to get from the plane we had better do so quite soon. Not only will the stench get bad - but the odds of it being discovered will get higher."

 

[Drinking Cap]

Kawaihae

Kawaihae smiled greatly as he took the lei from Leilani. It was a humbling gesture, he realized, for her to be thinking of him, to be crafting such a beautiful makana for him so soon after they'd laid one of her best friends to rest. Her words had also struck a chord within him. Did she consider him to be mea i wae 'ia? He'd had thoughts of her in that manner as well. He took the soft wreath of flowers in his hands and inspected the work. It was beautiful, yes, but also skillfully and delicately made. He lowered his head as he put the lei around his neck.

"Thank you greatly, Leilani. It is a makana I'm pleased to accept." Kawaihae said as he sat down on the grass of the clearing. Kawaihae had been informed of Leilani's absence during the Women's evening meal and had set out to find her. He greatly wanted to be a source of comfort to her in this trying time. True, he felt a responsibility to all of his tribe but with Leilani he couldn't deny that he felt something stronger than that. Earlier, at the ritual, the sight of tears in her eyes had been like daggers in his heart. He couldn't bear the sight of seeing her in such pain.

He thought back to the times in his life when he'd lost someone he cared for. His Grandfather, who'd taught him to fish and to hunt. His grandmother, who'd taught him the ways of their people. As he sat in the clearing in silence he reflected that there were no words that could ease the pain. The pain was with you always. But there was an eventual comfort in the pain. Soon, over time, it was a reminder that the people you'd loved that you'd lost would always be with you, always be a part of you.

"I want you to know, Leilani, that I consider you very special to me as well." Kawaihae said, his eyes focused on hers. "And I consider it a great blessing that despite the sad events of today that I will still be able to see your smile cross your face."

At this Kawaihae gave his own smile although he tilted his head towards the ground, picking at a few spare blades of grass before tilting his head back up towards Leilani, pleased to see the smile had returned to her face.

 

[penprick]

The ceremony was over. The prayers and rituals were complete. The villagers had gone home to greive for the evening. The shaman had done his duty as he always had. He was a man of reason, calm and practicality. The villagers looked to him for stablility and he always gave it, willingly. He found it a very fulfilling duty.

All had gone well, for a funeral. Makani had many friends and family. The ceremony had been well-received and Mako'a had not seen so many lillies in quite some time, but what he remembered most was the lehua blossom from Leilani, and he wondered if she had caught on to the poetic reference in the burial prayer.

But why would he be thinking of her, a girl roughly half his age? What would she see in him? Why would he even be thinking of her in such a way in the first place? Such shameful thoughts had to be put out of his mind.

The sun began to set on another day for Mako'a. He stoked his pipe and lit it. Over the seasons the Kahuna had guided the villagers through their joys and hardships. He was there for them always, but ever since Kiele had passed, no one was there for him. He was terribly alone.

He inhaled long from the pipe, then laid his tired body down to rest and fall asleep.

 

[Lady_Kit]

Kit Duvall

"Oh, I know what you're thinking. No, no Air Marshal. Too small a flight, I'm afraid. We're not even on the list of flights they alternate between."

Kit sent Robert a rueful smile.

"Too bad, I'd be happier knowing that we had some way to protect ourselves just in case the locals decide that we're the wrong type for their neighborhood."

The news just kept getting better Kit thought, but kept it to herself. The people surrounding her were intelligent and knew just how much trouble they were in without her stating the obvious. Any indigenous people would be tribal, and territorial. It was doubtful they were going to be very welcoming to a group of pale skinned refugees from another time. God... "from another time" ...her new normal sounded like something from a sci-fi novel. Except that she couldn't close the book when the heroine got into trouble, this was real.

"Jacque's right you know. Anything we want to get from the plane we had better do so quite soon. Not only will the stench get bad - but the odds of it being discovered will get higher."

Roberts statement interrupted her thoughts and brought her back to the situation at hand.

“Then I guess we'd better split up. Jacques and I can go take a look at the crash site," Kit looked questioningly at the artist as she spoke. He nodded his agreement and she continued. "Maybe we can find something useful."

She doubted they would find anything, it was likely that most of the contents of the plane had either burned outright or been badly damaged in the fire. Before they went their separate ways, Kit turned to Messalina, looking to the attractive woman as their resident expert on the island.

“What about the locals, Messalina? How likely is it that we won't be welcome?"

 

[papillon24]

Angie mad her way quickly and eaily throught th dense juingl forrest. The terrain felt comfortable to her but still so foriegn. Even at this pace it would take a few hour to reach where the smoke as coming from.

She quickned her pace. She would b there soon. She hopped her modern dialect of Hawaiian would be understood once she got there.

 

[Messalina]

Messalina Bishop

"Truth, Kit? I'd hedge my bets and hope for the best. We aren't armed, so we pose no visible threat and the dissimilarity in our appearances may actually work in our favor." Messalina shrugged. "The main thing is to try not to disturb anything that might violate a kapu."

"Kapu? Taboo, right?"

"Yup. If what I think has happened is correct, we may find small shrines or statues along the way. Let's agree they are 'hands off'. Other than that, I guess we'll all find out soon enough. Ready?"

The others nodded, Trowbridge taking point with Messalina following while Robert drew up the rear behind Kit and Jacques. Once they hit the beach they could walk more openly, but on the path down there just wouldn't be enough room.

"The island is pretty big," she commented to no one in particular. "I read brochures!" Messa snapped when it looked like the Brit was going to chide her for being a know-it-all twice in the same day. "Besides, I think it's the Captain that really knows about this island."

Messa turned as they reached the beach and spread out again. "You do, don't you, Robert? I mean you found the cave as simply as... You've been there before, haven't you? Is it very different?"

She closed her eyes, wanting to bite back that last bit. She couldn't help it. Really. It was just... Messa rolled her eyes when Reg glared and then winked, his hand zipping out to tweak her boob surreptitiously. "Honestly... " she blurted without thought that others would hear. "I don't know what I see in you."

When Reg didn't retort, she eyed him suspiciously, following the line of his sight toward the treeline on the far end of the beach. There was something moving there... Or someone. "What is it... Who?"

Reg, Robert and Jacques were already running. It was someone from the wreck! Shrugging at Kit, Messa grinned and they quickly followed.

 

[papillon24]

sorry