Chapter Text
Kotu peered over the rocky ledge. Even if he could survive the fall, and even then if he could swim, there were maybe ten or fifteen sea monsters crackling with purple energy waiting eagerly below. Running forward still wasn't an option either; Moni would never be able to weave past the small group of taniwha crowding before them, weapons drawn and teeth gnashing.
Separated from the others, it would be up to Kotu to protect Moni from these creatures as best he could, though he had to admit that the chances of them surviving long enough for a rescue were growing slim.
"So, what do we have here?" A hush descended over the creatures and the crowd parted. "A human, and a little kakamora?"
A human-looking man came into the small clearing, with glowing purple eyes and golden markings decorating his skin. He smiled down on the pair wickedly, towering even above Moni in height.
Nalo.
The God of storms sighed, "Oh, it really has been a while since I've seen- well- either of your species, really." He continued to walk forward, ignoring Kotu's brandished knife and simply leaning over him to stare Moni in the eye. The poor human was shaking.
"I remember when the humans first separated. I think you were one of the most diverse group of mortals to come of that little experiment. Countless tribes, cultures, clans, whatever you want to call yourselves; you really were the biggest success."
Lightning flickered across Nalo's skin, grazing Moni with its proximity and making him flinch.
God or not, Kotu wouldn't let that stand. Knife still in hand, he watched the storm God's gaze turn from haughty to disgusted as Kotu drummed a challenge on his shell with a angry chitter.
Rather than rise to his challenge, Nalo scoffed. "And then there's you lot. Scraping together and turning against every other living thing on the ocean, even interfering with the realm of monsters. I'd almost be annoyed that one of you even managed to make it into my domain, but I'll enjoy watching you and the human get torn apart by my eels enough to let it slide," he winked, "Just this once."
Kotu practically growled in anger. He would defend Moni and himself against anyone who stood to harm them; it was the way of his people, and he would live and die by it.
"On second thought, how about I just crush you myself?"
Quicker than should be possible, a large handful wrapped itself around Kotu's shell and lifted him from the ground. He heard Moni yell and be tackled to the ground by the taniwha that rushed past, but couldn't see him. Through Nalo's fingers he watched the God smirk, purple streaks dancing in his eyes.
Then he began to squeeze.
On instinct, Kotu tried to tuck his limbs into his shell as the pressure increased, but Nalo's grip on him made it impossible to do so. He felt his knife slip and clatter to the rock below. Squirming and hissing, he tried to claw at the hand that held him.
But it was no use. While his body was protected for now, his arms and legs must already have been bruising if the pain was anything to go by. His battle mask gave out first, shattering the fish bone and leaving the almost bare rope that had held it together hanging down over his face. Right now though, that hardly mattered; Kotu knew his shell wasn't strong enough to withstand the power of a God, and only hoped the others would arrive in time to rescue Moni.
Even as his angered hisses gave way to pain, Kotu didn't give up. His knife was lost, and his blow pipe useless, but just maybe he could reach his darts and stab one into the God's hand. If they worked well enough on a demi-god, there was a slight chance they might do something, anything, to Nalo. He scrambled for purchase on the bright feathers of his darts, claws scratching on his own shell. Nalo seemed too preoccupied with his victory to notice Kotu's change in plan, so when he finally found purchase on a dart Kotu swung it forward and into the wrist of the storm God without delay.
Still, it wasn't quick enough. Time slowed down as a sharp crack reverberated in Kotu's ears, the shock encompassing him just as Nalo registered the dart making impact. The God's eyes widened and a second- an eternity- a moment later Kotu felt himself falling. As the cracking sound echoed over and over and over all Kotu could feel was biting cold air whistle through his shell in a thin line between his left eye and mouth, then he hit the floor and his head hit the back of his shell and he felt nothing except a fog descending over his senses.
Distantly, Kotu saw Nalo recoiling, shaking out his hand with disbelief before quickly turning to anger. Seemingly in slow motion he raised one foot, surely intending to crush Kotu beneath it.
For the second time in as many days, Kotu accepted his end. The world went dark.
---
For the second time in, presumably, as many days, Kotu found himself alive when he least expected it.
Someone, something, was carrying him. Whimpering with the effort and the pain of moving as he weakly scraped his claws over the thing that held him. It might still be Nalo, or maybe the God had let the taniwha have him and Moni. Moni. Where the hell was Moni? The need to keep his promise to protect the human pushed Kotu to his limit, struggling against his captor's hold.
Whatever the thing was, it only held him tighter in retaliation, shushing him with sickening gentleness. How could any being stand to humiliate their enemies this way? The kakamora may be pirates but even they had some honour, as all living things above beasts should.
Kotu was jostled and the whimpered again, ignoring more soft noises from his captor.
He had no weapons, a broken mask and even a broken shell; it was a wonder he hadn't yet a broken mind. And now he would have a broken vow- two if the gods would hold him accountable to the responsibility of restoring the kakamora's island by helping Moana and her crew defeat Nalo. Was that fair? Was any of this even fair? Hadn't he done enough? When would it be enough? Kotu wanted to go home. He wanted to know for certain he had a home to go back to.
Vertigo swept over Kotu as his captor landed particularly hard after a short drop, and sent him back into the darkness with only his failures for company.
--
"Is he alright?"
Kele was by Moana's side before she'd even touched the ship, trying to get a look at the kakamora in her arms.
"I don't know, but he's alive, and we really have to go."
"Here, let me." Carefully, Kele took Kotu from her so Moana could push the boat the final stretch into the water with Loto. She then ran straight for the sails, turning them so the wind hit at just the right angle to send the boat speeding over the turbulent waters. Maui caught up not a moment later, gently releasing Moni from the talons of his hawk form before transforming back and moving to the rudder without a word.
Moana could not afford to be distracted, not when Nalo's serpents could be back on their tail at any second, but she couldn't help but spare a glance over her crew. Both Moni and the kakamora were badly injured, Kele was exhausted, Loto at her limit, and Maui nearing his. A darkness rose within her: you're no leader, it said, they'll all die because of you. Moana believed for so long she could be a good leader - great, even - to her people, but here she was struggling to protect one crew, leading them into danger, into the unknown.
Maybe Matangi-
The ship bucked, hitting the waves at an odd angle.
"Moana," Maui's voice was stern, but his face was filled with worry. Could he see the cracks in her facade? Did he know worried she was that he had been right? "The sail."
Moana pulled the rope taught again, feeling the slight sting of the rope on her palm. She hadn't noticed it go slack.
No distractions.
They'd be fine. Everything was going to be fine. Dawn was soon approaching, which would give them some reprieve. They could rest, take stock of their supplies and their injuries. Regroup and recover.
Not to say she that was losing hope, but when dawn finally came, Moana swore she had never been so happy to see the sun rise.