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Kaimana was adapting to being back in Matori after traveling for so many years. Even though technically he was only visiting the area for a few months while waiting on the next job location, the Matori had the feeling that his bigger overseas journeys were over for the time being. So he was trying to adjust to having a break, but it was hard for the once relaxed man who had changed so much to actually relax. Kaimana lasted almost three days before finding himself in a local tavern at the edge of his current town, the whispered conversations of some less savory looking folk easily catching his interest. When the group left back towards the docks the Matori finished his drink, waiting a good minute or two to appear more natural about his own departure, before paying his tab and heading out the door behind them. Maybe he was just looking for trouble to blow off steam, but either way Kaimana had the feeling that these guys weren't up to any good and so he was determined to stop them. Did it matter if following them was to simply ease his own boredom when it could be used for the good of others?

Slipping behind some crates along the outer areas of the docks, Kaimana frowned as he watched the men starting to carry things around. The sudden sound of a cry though made him start, the Matori nearly jumping into action before thinking better about it and hunkering down once more. Thankfully though the men carrying things were ahead of him so surely they wouldn't see him, but anyone else higher up perhaps would have...not that Kaimana expected anyone to be there.

Kaimana's whole body instantly tensed when he realized that there was someone else suddenly next to him. The Matori's hands tightened around his trident, the weapon low and out of view, but when he slowly turned to study his companion he realized that the female voice didn't match those from the tavern. "We'll be just fine?" He repeated in a shushed tone, his amber gaze alert as he tried to make certain there weren't any others sliding down rooftops to join them. Where had this masked crusader even come from and actually...why a mask in the first place? He was fresh back in the area that was true, but there had been no one like this back in the day before he left on his travels. So when did this one appear? And why?

"What are you doing here? I'm assuming that you aren't with them." Kaimana jerked his head towards the docks where the last of the cargo was being carried onto the ship. Honestly, well if she wasn't with them and was against them the Matori wouldn't be opposed to joining up if the cause was good.

"I was questioning your reassurance because I was confused by your intentions." Kaimana repeated with a frown before letting the matter drop. He didn't even want to know what the stranger had been thinking. Also, was she a Matori hybrid or was this actually someone from Kahi? Even though he had been overseas and explored those strange islands it was startling to see anyone from Kahi actually in Matori. Let alone someone dressed in a mask and hiding from what he believed was a group of smugglers. Whatever the case was it looked like they were on the same side at least and Kaimana couldn't help the soft laughter that escaped. "No worries, I'm not any actor or smuggler. Do you even know what they're up to?"

He was genuinely curious since that cry from their cargo hadn't seemed completely normal. What type of creature was in that crate being carried on board? "I simply followed a few of them from the tavern before they joined up with the rest of the group. I'm mostly in the dark here, but something didn't feel right." The Matori gave a slight shrug as if to say, why not investigate?

Kaimana's grip tightened around his weapon as the stranger explained the ship's purpose. "Well that explains the noises." He whispered back, his expression grim as he thought about how many beasts had been mistreated by these smugglers. Well, he had been looking for a good reason to burn some extra energy and it wouldn't hurt to put this particular group in their place.

"Impressive though that you've already stopped them once." Kaimana shook his head at the question for the guard. "Not me, I'm just a wandering artist." He joked with a faint grin. "I just also happen to know how to fight smugglers. Even if you cannot stop the whole fleet in one night, why not try to free some beasts and cause them a bit of havok?" He gave a slight shrug. "Get some paperwork, set some sails on fire and mysteriously leave behind the paperwork for the real guard though....maybe then they can do something about the actual operation."

"I see." Kaimana nodded as he pondered the overall situation. Was he simply going to trust a strange foreigner and go after her into a ship full of smugglers? Well, he had done more reckless things before....so why not? Giving a slight shrug, Kaimana made his decision as soon as the noise and commotion began towards the ship. I guess that works in our favor. He mused before sticking close to the shadows, the Matori following the stranger along before pausing as they got towards the final set of crates that would block them from sight.

"Kai, by the way. In case you needed a name to yell later." He whispered quietly, opting for a nickname to save them time. The Matori glanced around to survey the area to make certain that no one else was nearby before tossing a pebble in the opposite direction of them to try and bait out anyone who was actually surveying from the shadows on the other side. The pebble bounced and rolled along the dock, but it didn't look like anyone was there to be distracted thanks to the earlier commotion. Whatever the thing had been must have needed all hands on deck and so Kaimana pushed his new friend to urge her forward so that they could dart across the opening and towards the hidden edges along the ship where they could climb up without being noticed.

"No need to worry." Kaimana grinned back towards Hokulua with confidence. "A run in with smugglers is easy enough, we'll be fine." The cry did make him wince, the Matori wondering what in the world could make such an agonizing sound but he had not time to ponder since it was the perfect opportunity for them to climb up. His fingers dug into the crevices of the old wood, Kaimana eventually finding some roping that was along the edges of the ship that he used to pull himself up over the edge. Thankfully there were crates that had been abandoned on the upper deck, the crew distracted by whatever was making the ruckus, and Kaimana used them as a cover when he got onto the deck. Checking on Hokulua, the Matori offered a helping hand to get her over the final stretch of the climb.

"It looks like they're on the other side of the deck or below us." Kaimana murmured as he tried to survey everything. "Do we go ahead to the captain's quarters to try to find some useful documents or rush straight into opening some cages?" His golden gaze narrowed thoughtfully as he noticed some of the crates along the other side having breathing holes in them. What type of creatures were anxiously trapped inside?

Kaimana pursed his lips thoughtfully before nodding. "A distraction it is. We'll definitely want a party, not just one. I think we should just open them as we pass them and let the animals do the rest to escape." He agreed before taking a moment to study the area again, the Matori crouching and crossing the deck as quickly as possible so that he could get tot he three crates in question. It was best to let them out now when the dock was right there and the crew was already mostly distracted by the other noise. The creatures that could swim like snaptrotters could easily slip into the water while anything that couldn't swim could try to get to the docks in the chaos.

Another cry bellowed out from below and Kaimana used that moment to slam his trident into the first crate, the impact knocking the lock to the side and releasing the first of the animals which was a groggy snaptrotter that slowly started waking up now that it was exposed to light and fresh air. Kaimana backed a few steps away to keep out of its sight before starting to work on the second crate, hoping that his new Kahi friend would move quickly as they prepared for the chaos.