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[h3]Moana Waialiki Hakaraia ~ Lake Tahoe ~ Present Day[/h3][/center]
Moana was bundled up head to toe when she and her family made their way into the large lodge. It was absolutely freezing outside, leaving her to be very thankful for the heated lobby. She slowly removed her scarf as she looked over at the man who had acted as her father for the last thirteen years, "He aha e whai tatou ki te haere vahi matao, Kauri?" She complained, her body slowly starting to feel warm again.

Kauri laughed and clapped his hand on her shoulder, "Hoki te kotiro e hiahia ana ki te kite i te ao, e kore koe e kite i te huringa"

Moana shook her head, "hiahia ana ahau ki te kite i te moana, e kore i roto i te hukarere," She couldn't help but laugh all the same though, as she stood behind Kauri, her 'mother' Roimata, and their two young children, Tama and Whetu. Her eyes gazed over the lobby, this place was beautiful... She had to give them that. Even if she wasn't a fan of having to wear seven layers just to step outside. Moana had never been inland, nor had the Hakaraia's which was the reason most likely they had chosen this place. Tama and Whetu seemed enthralled by it all, excited by the snow and new adventures, the thought of sliding down the side of a mountain on boards. Moana hadn't been as excited by the thought, she loved the ocean and didn't exactly love the idea of not being a short walk away from it... Something she knew had been true at every other moment of her life. However, she couldn't disrespect those that had brought her into their fold. The people who had cared for her so completely and entirely and insisted that she come because she was family. Even if she couldn't pay. She felt a pair of slender hands on her shoulders and looked behind herself as best she could to see, Roimata. The woman gave her a gentle squeeze, "He waka eke noa. You are meant to be here with us, Moana. I just know it."

"English?" Moana said, a little caught off guard by the switch in language. Together as a family, they often stuck to Maori. Life was easier that way, Moana understood it better as it was her first language and they could freely talk about whatever they want. Roimata laughed, "Yes, you should be speaking English here. I will be very surprised if anyone else speaks Maori."

"Ko te wai!" Moana said with a laugh, before she shook her head, "Whatever you say, Roimata."

The woman placed her hand on the girl's cheek and gave her a sad smile, which concerned Moana. Roimata always seemed to know things before everyone else, so the fact that she was giving Moana any kind of special look was reason to worry. Roimata patted Moana's cheek gently, "
Haere. Ka tangohia matou o koutou peke ki te ruma ... hanga hoa. e kore ahau e hiahia ana ki te kite i huna koutou i roto i tenei moemoea ra katoa e noho ana anake ... he taitamariki koe. Ko koe ki runga ki tau faafaaearaa ... Kia ngahau taku tamahine."

Roimata released Moana's shoulders and seemed to wave her arms in the air, as if to shoo Moana off before she walked over to her husband as they gathered their bags and headed to the room. Moana stood their in the lobby, a little dumbfounded and unsure of what to do. She sighed and removed her large jacket and draped it over her arm as she walked over to the large window in the lobby and stared down at the water. [/color]