Nanami stood in front of the gate that marked her family’s home within Hota. While the rest of the community sprawled out before the deeper caverns, the forest protecting their homes but also allowing outsiders to travel through far easier than any of the darker tunnels running below the island, Nanami’s family home felt just as imposing as the darkest cavern. The manor was more than a simple one story building like others in the area, the twisting stone part of the natural caverns that made up their island with a lower level connected directly to a cave. Even the iron key in her hand felt elegant, something that most would not even bother with but that her family insisted upon to establish their higher rankings within the community. It was all part of her Makuahine’s obsession with wealth and power, the fact not lost on Ami even as she appreciated the craftsmanship of everything. Their family had been leaders in the community for generations, helping to guide others while teaching the healing arts and establishing guidelines over decades. Nanami could only shake her head, the Kawena having learned long ago that other aspects of life mattered far more than anything power could provide. She would have never had Noelani or her children if she had stayed true to the course that her Makuahine wanted for her future. It had taken courage to leave all of this behind and now it took more courage, more growth to come back and confront it all once more. And so Nanami swung the gate open once it was unlocked, the Kawena tucking the key back into her belongings as she walked past gardens of perfectly placed herbs and crystals towards the main doors.

The interior of her home was as she remembered it, the grand staircase, the open hallways leading towards a meeting room, the kitchen and guest rooms also on the ground floor with the private bedrooms for their family nestled upstairs out of sight. There were a couple of newer art pieces, her mother always wanting to collect ceramics and paintings, and it was those that Nanami looked over as she waited. Though she perhaps got a bit too lost in thought, her hands gently cradling a small figure of a kahk, the sharp teeth ivory with the scales layered as delicate pieces of gemstones, and while the actual creature was tough as iron the fragile piece didn’t stay together when her Makuahine’s sudden appearance startled Nanami. While she had tried to be prepared to face her mother, the Kawena still couldn’t stop the small jolt of surprise and the figure tumbled from her hands and towards the ground. Surprisingly enough it was only the tail that shattered into pieces, the tail breaking while the rest remained and Nanami had to stop herself from scurrying to pick up the pieces. Still, she did move to crouch and pick up each piece slowly and carefully while trying to form the words to apologize to her mother.

“Don’t hurt yourself.” Her Makuahine’s voice was surprisingly softer than Nanami had expected and she found the older Kawena joining her in an attempt to pick up all the pieces of the broken tail. “It’s not worth you injuring your fingers.”

“Still…I’m sorry.” Nanami managed, her hands shaking from more than the accident and mostly from the fact that her mother was crouched right across from her while gathering the pieces. To come home and immediately break something? What a mess! Shame decorated her cheeks as she finally scooped up the final pieces and placed them back on the shelf, pushing them together to inspect later. “I can repair that.” She offered, finally looking over towards her mother as the Kawena stood and dusted off her dress. “Just give me a couple of hours tonight and it’ll be better by morning.” She could study the figure, make certain the pieces were together and then with the help of magic there would be nothing even remotely like a crack remaining…Nanami was confident in that even as her stomach twisted at the sight of her Makuahine.

“I believe you.” Her Makuahine managed after a moment. “You’ll have time to fix it. You’re staying here, correct?” As prompt as ever, like she was scheduling a meeting or something, the very realization making Nanami’s lips curve downwards even more. Somehow it felt like she was being chastised, not comforted. “It sounds like we’ll be quite busy. Your brother mentioned that your family is fairly large now.” Nanami couldn’t piece together what she felt in those words, but her mother’s standoffish attitude definitely made her want to go back to the tavern. Why had she accepted this challenge again? Rotui… She cursed her brother before straightening her shoulders and studying her mother. She looked a bit more worn by the years but still kept a perfect appearance with her tightly twisted bun, elegant pearls, the dress that seemingly had no room for wrinkles and the flawless touch of makeup along her glowing scales to make her violet gaze pop even more.

“They are, but if it’s a hassle then I can get lodgings elsewhere.” Replied Nanami finally, raising her gaze to try to stay strong even though the child inside of her wanted to run far away once more. “I didn’t mean to impose, but Kane insisted upon us staying here. Just say the word and we’ll go. I refuse to be a burden.”

“I suppose it’s only fair that you stay here. They are our family too, aren’t they? So don’t bother.” Her mother nodded, her expression shifting for a moment before resuming her cool exterior as a sudden crashing of thunder echoed outside of the forest. “As it is, you probably should get comfortable. I don’t think either of us will be leaving the house for the next couple of hours.” And as if even the weather listened to her Makuahine for fear of disappointing the firm Kawena otherwise, the skies started to open and the downpour of rain began.


[1014]