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 Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2024 1:15 pm
After exploring more of the islands, they were now in Malie. It was the last settlement along the border that the family would visit before venturing into Po’lua where Nanami’s family lived. Since it was their last day in the area the others had decided to venture out into town to do some last minute shopping, several of the family enjoying the chance to experience the new culture and gather souvenirs. While Noelani and her parents were watching over the rest of the children, Nanami had taken the morning to spend time with Kailani since neither of them had felt like venturing into town today. Thankfully she had plenty of things to organize while they waited, Ami not being one to take long naps even when the others had tried to reinforce the idea of resting to the Kawena who hadn’t been able to sleep well ever since the trip was announced. How could she? There was just so much up in the air with her own family and seeing her homelands again had kept her from relaxing, if anything it had put her more on alert as she navigated her family through the islands she had grown up in. It was admittedly exciting seeing those crystal clear waters and familiar sights again, but she couldn’t help worrying about her family’s reaction. Would they even let her come home for a visit? Nervousness kept her on the move, Ami even leaving the bed at night to go on walks around their inns or around their encampment whenever they were staying in the wilderness. It hadn’t gone without notice of course and so she had been gently encouraged by Noelani to stay behind today with Kailani, the pair being left behind with some crafting materials to pass the afternoon while the others explored.
“Kailani?” Ami finished spreading out their supplies, a variety of shells and such from the beach, copper wires, string and beads so that they could make some jewelry together which her daughter enjoyed doing. “Am I missing anything?” She asked, looking across the room towards the window where the youngling was looking out towards the surrounding town and swampy terrain.
[Nanami 1]
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Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2024 1:15 pm
Everything here was so different. Kailani had never seen such a large lake before with so many reeds and strange plants growing next to it! She had enjoyed exploring their first day here but the prospect of another day of shopping in a crowded town had sent her into a bit of a panic and the youngling was more than willing to stay behind with her Makuahine today. Her pale gaze was somber, guilt crossing her features as she continued staring out of the window for a moment more before turning back towards Nanami. “It’s…fine.” She managed after a moment, looking over the various crafting supplies her Makuahine had set up for them to work with. “Do…do you think everything is alright?”” She asked after another moment, slowly walking over towards Nanami so that she could sit down next to her at the table. The room at least had plenty of room for the family, a main room here with space for eating and three connected bedrooms for them to share at the inn. She crowded in with her siblings while her parents and grandparents had their own rooms to retire in for the night, Kailani not minding since she felt more comfortable with someone else in the room with her. Though some nights she even crawled in between Nanami and Noelani, the youngling just wanted to find some comfort whenever she heard things bumping throughout the night as visitors roamed the halls or patrons gathered in the tavern downstairs. At least it was quieter during the daytime, most being out in the town like the rest of her family at the moment.
[Kailani 1]
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Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2024 1:15 pm
“Everything is alright.” Nanami smiled warmly at her daughter, realizing she was worried about her family while they were exploring and also worried about how they would take to her staying behind today. “I’m sure they’ll come back with lots of stories, maybe you can make enough jewelry for their return.” The Kawena reached over to pat her daughter’s shoulder comfortingly. “I’m sure they’ll be happy with whatever you make for them.” Her gaze drifted over towards some of the shells, Nanami moving to pick up a shell that had bright green splotches across it. That one was nice, right? She peeked towards Kailanai, curious about what she thought on the matter.
[Nanami 2]
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Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2024 1:15 pm
Kailani nodded at her Makuahine, trying her hardest to stay positive despite her worries. “I’ll do my best.” She replied with a small smile, her expression still hesitant even as she held out her hands to accept the shell that her Makuahine had chosen. “May I have that one?” She could make a bracelet for DeeDee with it, that would match the sparkly glitter that she added to her hair! Kailani adored how it looked but she was always too shy to stand out much herself and so she never dared to try it. But at least she could make a bracelet to match! There were some beads that had shiny paint as well, she could make a bright blue and green bracelet with some darker colors like gray and black to make it truly pop.
[Kailani 2]
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Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2024 1:15 pm
“Of course.” Nanami handed the shell over and watched as her daughter began gathering matching pieces to go along with it. “That one will be really pretty.” She mused lightly, picking another shell for herself so that she could begin working on a small hole along the top to thread a wire through. It was rare that she crafted, but it was nice to relax after spending so much time stressing over the final part of their journey to her home. Nanami gathered a few beads, opting to go with a more subtle arrangement of pale colors, and started threading them together with some smaller shells in between. “What do you think?” She held up the piece after a moment, the little bracelet dangling from her fingertips for her daughter’s inspection.
[Nanami 3]
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Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2024 1:16 pm
Kailani pursed her lips together as she twisted some metal wires to hold the beads in place, the bracelet quickly taking form with the beads surrounding the shell as a centerpiece. She only looked up once her Makuahine addressed her, the girl smiling brightly as she looked over the piece. “It’s really pretty.” She replied, looking over it and praising Nanami's work. “Is it for mother?” Some of the shells had speckles of red which her mother liked to splash into her outfits and so it made Kailani think about her.
[Kailani 3]
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Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2024 1:16 pm
“Am I so obvious?” Teased Nanami lightly as she twisted the bracelet in the light for a moment longer before placing it on the table. “Yes, it is. If you think it’s pretty then I’m sure she’ll like it.” As usual she was trying to encourage Kailani, building up her daughter’s confidence in whatever way she could. It was definitely worth it especially when Nanami noticed how her daughter’s expression brightened at the comment. “What about your piece? Is that for DeeDee?” The bright green and blues made her think of her oldest daughter, a small smile curving on her lips at the realization. It wouldn’t surprise her then if Kailani’s sister was indeed the inspiration for that piece.
[Nanami 4]
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Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2024 1:16 pm
Even Kailani couldn’t help the soft giggle that escaped her lips at her mother’s reaction. Of course doing such a thing immediately made her cheeks flush, the youngling feeling embarrassed and guilty by her action instantly, but the gentle expression from her Makuahine made her relax once more. “Ju-just a bit.” She replied before looking down at her own piece and nodding. “It is!” So maybe they were both obvious together then. The very thought brought a smile back to her lips. “I think I’ll make one for Zoicite next and then Gin Ae.” After that she could make some for her grandparents, Kailani determined to finish them all before evening when everyone should be back for dinner.
[Kailani 4]
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Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2024 1:16 pm
“Is that so?” Nanami quietly laughed, the Kawena looking around at their options again before settling on a smaller starfish piece. “I think I’ll make one for you then. What do you think about this? It matches your eyes.” Then she could put silver and blue beads around it with smaller shells woven in between. She thought about the pearls that they had found, but everyone had decided to save those for the return home while today’s craft used the easier to work with materials.
[Nanami 5]
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Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2024 1:16 pm
“I’ll be happy with whatever you make me.” Replied Kailani without any hesitation. She was always delighted whenever her family thought about her and willingly took any gifts from them. She nodded at the starfish, adoring the shape of anything related to the stars that her Makuahine loved so much. They had all been taught about the night sky and its constellations, the topic very dear to Nanami who wanted to share such things with her children. “Should…should we make more just in case of others?” She mused after a moment, finally daring to approach the fact that her Makuahine had mentioned family before. They had recently met their aunt and so Kailani was bracing herself for any other newcomers into their life, the girl thinking about making some extra pieces just in case. Would that be acceptable? To create gifts for those they had not yet met? It was something far easier for her to do, the girl always too shy to really talk much during these introductions as she hid behind the rest of her family members.
[Kailani 5]
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Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2024 1:16 pm
Nanami paused. The Kawena’s fingers tightened slightly on the beads that she was currently threading as she thought about Kailani’s question. Should they create pieces for others? Like her own family? The very thought brought back a wave of apprehension, Nanami trying her best to not show it so as to not worry her daughter. “Maybe we should. I think that’s probably a good idea.” She replied after a moment with a smile as she forced her fingers to move again. “There’s some tan beads left that we could mix with the green and yellows, right? I think that could be a good start especially if you add in some shells.” She offered while trying to focus more on colors and less on the way her heart tightened in her chest. Was she truly prepared to go home again despite sending some letters? It was one thing to send letters to her Makuakane, but another thing entirely to think about how her Makuahine would react. Her mother had been so fierce with her upbringing and so strict in everything that to return…well it was slightly fear inducing to think about. Even though Nanami had grown over the years, becoming a strong explorer and such, it was still daunting to think about her mother’s judgment. She just prayed that her children would be welcomed despite their differences, Nanami wanting them to at least experience the home she had grown up in once before returning to Matori.
[Nanami 6]
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Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2024 1:16 pm
Despite being shy, Kailani did see the way that her Makuahine’s fingers tensed around the bracelet she was working on. Had her question upset her somehow? She opened her mouth to apologize before stopping at the sight of that smile, the youngling simply nodding her head as Nanami instead directed her towards the beads. “Those are pretty.” She agreed after a moment, scooting a small pile to the side to work with after finishing up the jewelry for her brothers. “Kahi is also really pretty.” She added quietly, trying to shift the subject to avoid troubling her mother further. “I’m happy we’re exploring it.”
[Kailani 6]
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Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2024 1:16 pm
A thankful expression crossed Nanami’s features as she continued working on the bracelet for Kailani. “I’m glad you think so. The caves will be different, but beautiful. There’s one in particular I want to show you all, an underwater cave that I took your mother to visit a long time ago.” Now that she thought about it the experience had been their first date, of sorts. It was definitely a quiet time compared to hunting wild creatures or fighting off villains together while exploring Kahi for those few weeks. That memory had left such a deep impression that she had finally chased after Noelani, crossing the ocean into the unknown of Matori, just to see where their paths could go together. She had even defied her family, leaving behind everything for a gamble because of her heart. Now she had a wonderful family and so many more wonderful memories with Noel, Nanami so thankful she had taken that risk even if it brought her anxiety today to return home.
[Nanami 7]
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Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2024 1:16 pm
“Underwater caves?” Kailani’s expression brightened with interest. “I can’t wait! What are they like here?” They had found some in Matori before but she had the feeling things would be different in Kahi. Already the tropical ocean waters had shown them so many unfamiliar things, the vibrant colors a contrast to the darker waters back home. Not that their home ocean was bad, it just had a different type of beauty from the brightly colored coasts that they had visited so far. She wondered if the caves would be different then from the ones that they had explored near home.
[Kailani 7]
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Posted: Sun Mar 10, 2024 1:16 pm
“Mmmhmm.” Nanami nodded as she started working on the shells, adding in some white and blue ones for the bracelet. “The cave I visited your mother with had a ceiling like stars. There’s some glowing fauna and creatures that light the paths here, it’s truly like finding the night sky underwater.” She mused, her expression thoughtful as she reflected on the past and told Kailani a few things about the caves, preparing her for the upcoming part of the trip. She was certain that her family would love it, she simply had to stock up on some supplies first at the next town to make the longer underwater trip possible for those without Kahi blood.
[Nanami 8]
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