[color=DeepSkyBlue]”Come on, at least let me walk! Where am I going to run off? The [i]other[/i] side of the island?”[/color] An all too dramatic sigh left Kailani’s lips, playing up her carefree attitude. In truth her heart was pounding in her chest, and every couple of feet she scrambled to try and get her feet underneath her, especially as the sand and loose foliage turned to the harder packed dirt of the jungle. This ... was not good. Their island wasn’t a tiny spec of land, it was decent sized, but that didn’t mean that her new friend would be able to find her quickly.

“Your future wife is talkative,” Was the feminine reply, almost sing-song in nature. Kailani hated her a little.

[color=DeepSkyBlue]”So confident! Are you not trying out, Lua?”[/color] Rather than address the female Kailani instead tilted her head to look to the male of the two siblings, the bulky man shrugging.

“Sure am. Ain’t gonna win against Ywa’n, though.”

[color=DeepSkyBlue]”Aw, I believe in you, big guy! Plus you’d make a great husband!”[/color] He snorted in response to her words.

“Yeah, but I doubt you’d be a great wife!” Both Lua and his sister laughed, birds startling from the trees above them. Despite herself, Kailani couldn’t help but pout.

[color=DeepSkyBlue]”...Rude.”[/color] As they passed by a particularly large tree Kailani used a root to push herself up as they moved, wrenching her arm from Lua’s grip to turn forward. He immediately went to grab her again, and she just waved her arm. [color=DeepSkyBlue]”Don’t worry so much! You got me, I just don’t like being dragged!”[/color] For a moment he seemed uncertain, eyes flicking to Ywa’n’s back ahead of them. His silver gaze turned back, giving a slight nod.

Kailani gave a silent cheer as her arms were released, stretching them high above her head.

[color=DeepSkyBlue]”Great! I knew we could be friends.”[/color] Kailani shot a beaming grin to the cousins, getting an eye roll and grunt in response. Turning her gaze forward, she quickly began examining her surroundings, looking for any way to leave a path for Siobhan. Her fingers nervously ghosted across her torso, and the wicked scars laid white against her bronze skin. She’d come get her, right? ... Maybe. She [i]did[/i] say she needed a ship. Well, the important part right now was at least giving Siobhan the chance to catch up, and probably scare the hell off these three – no one else knew there was an outsider, after all.

... Actually ...

“Hey!” Lua’s sister’s voice called out with no small amount of anger as Kailani drew something from her belt.

[color=DeepSkyBlue]”Calm down, you big baby, it’s just my carving knife – you people are boring conversationalists.”[/color] As though to emphasis her words Kailani let her hand drop, letting the blade scrape across the bark of a passing tree. It left a little groove, a line in the tree. Then the next. Kailani whistled cheerfully as she continued to walk.

The two cousins gave her dubious looks, but as Ywa’n didn’t seem to care as long as she was following, they let the matter drop.

After all, why would anyone on Pekelo Island suspect she was leading someone?

[hr]
“Kailani.”

[color=DeepSkyBlue]”Hello mother! You know, you’re the second person today to say my name in that tone, I’m starting to think-”[/color]

“Sit. We’ll commence immediately, before you delay us further.”

[color=DeepSkyBlue]”Yes ma’am!”[/color] Kailani’s words were accompanied by a jaunty little bow before she sat demurely on the seat beside her mother. The Chieftain eyed her daughter, almost suspiciously that she gave in so easily, before nodding to Ywa’n and his cousins. All three bowed, and backed off.

“Now that we are no longer missing any key pieces,” The Chieftain raised her head high, letting her intense gaze roam along those gathered on the expanse of grass and stone before them. At her back was the carved stone that made up their village, large and roaming – the area for the Tournament was dead center, where celebrations and gatherings were held. It seemed the whole village was in attendance.

As her mother continued to talk, Kailani couldn’t help but drone her out. The premise was very simple after all – don’t permanently harm someone, hit each other until only one person was left, marry person. She didn’t need to listen to grand speeches of honoring the tribe, something about Ka Li’Ai’s raging storm, it didn’t matter. Instead Kailani kept her gaze along the gaps in the homes, even on the horizon looking for a geyser. Siobhan needed a ship, so Siobhan needed her.

... Right?