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Never before had Rewi had any reason to travel alone. He barely traveled at all, nevermind without the aid of someone older and more experienced to show him the way. He was the youngest child, and was accustomed to being well-protected. Anytime his parents or siblings had wanted him to go somewhere, they'd gone with him to ensure his safety. That was how Rewi liked it. It was easier that way, and meant less work on his part.

Whatever was happening now was another matter entirely. For the first time, he'd been sent out on his own, with no one to help him trek the distance between Naele and Salicora.

The distance wasn't a long one, and it certainly wasn't the same stress and strain that would accompany being sent to Kaha'iko territory, as Rewi's father wanted to do. But just this distance was difficult enough under the circumstances. And frankly, the young Menehune wasn't one to stick to a goal that seemed impossible.

Rewi had no idea how close he'd made it to the market. He'd been tasked with journeying to Salicora's larger settlement to pick up supplies that weren't readily available in Naele, but he'd gotten lost along the way. Rather than fret or look for someone to help with directions, Rewi lingered in the water, piddling about in its warmth as though he had not a care in the world...

As far as Rewi understood, the trail between Naele and Salicora was not unoften traveled. It shouldn't have been a surprise to see another on the way- or hear another, as the case would have it. But the voice was small and undeniably young. Rewi twisted about to blink at the younger Menehune and tipped his head. As the youngest in his family, he didn't often have to deal with children...

Was someone this young supposed to be out on her own? He hardly thought he should be out without supervision, and he was older than she was...

This one kinda looked uncertain, herself. "Mmm, yes," he responded just as hesitantly. "I'm fine, thanks for asking. I was on my way to the market to get some things, and I-" He would've gone on, but she didn't need his life story, and he didn't care to give it. "Well, it looks like I didn't quite make it, though." he scratched the back of his head and glanced in the direction that town might be. "Are you from around here?"

Things always had a way of working themselves out. Yeah, he could be offended and upset that he didn't know where he was or where he was going, but how often did that make anything better? This way was easier. This way was more relaxing. And look at that, this young Menehune was going to market too. Things worked out. Rewi grinned. "What a lucky coincidence."

He still didn't like the idea of sending children this young off on their own, but if she'd lived here for so long, maybe it was fine. At least it meant she knew where she was headed, and Salicora wasn't as small as Rewi's own lifelong home in Naele.

"Do you like it?" He questioned as the air set off toward market. "I don't live very far away, but it's far enough. Farther than I'd like to go, anyway. I think it's nice to live in and stay one spot your whole life. It's... relaxing, don't you think?" If it were up to him, he wouldn't ever leave his hometown. It was small, but familiar and peaceful in its familiarity. Unfortunately, it wasn't much up to him, anymore. But that wasn't the worst that could happen, he supposed.

As the younger girl set off, Rewi took up a comfortable pace behind her. She seemed like she knew where she was going, so there was no harm in giving her the lead. It was easier to sway at a more leisurely pace behind her, and Rewi did so enjoy leisurely, besides, he hadn't likely gotten so turned around that they were very far from his intended destination... And he still strongly believed no respectable parent would send a girl so young any great distance. They were close, he was sure of it, and she could get him there-

She... Hm. He hadn't asked her name.

"I do have a pretty large family," Rewi agreed with a little nod. "Our farm is already established in Naele, so it would be rather strenuous to try and start over again anywhere else. I suppose I wouldn't mind leaving them if I had to, but..." But Rewi wasn't fond of much anything that was 'strenuous,' and he already had a guaranteed livelihood so long as he stayed where he was. That felt more important than the uncertainty of adventure and even the comfort of his loved ones.

Naele was his home. He'd rarely even been anywhere else to even have a passing interest in the other settlements.

"My name is Rewi, by the way," he offered. "And I should probably thank you for showing me the way, and be grateful that you grew up here instead of in Po'onua! I might have drifted eternally, if not for you."

Rewi let out a short bout of laughter at the younger girl's claim. If she could help, she should. He supposed that was he nice way to go about it, and in a perfect world, perhaps everyone would think that way, but Rewi wasn't so sure he liked to help. He didn't mind being friendly, but helping sometimes seemed as though it may take a decent amount of effort, and it wasn't often that he wanted to put much work into someone he didn't know. Still, he wasn't going to be the one to tell Malea otherwise. "You're probably right," he admitted with a nod. "Maybe one day, I could be more like you."

"Malea is a pretty name," Rewi told her with a smile. "I like the names that don't have any too-hard sounds. Yours kind of reminds me of ripples." He raised his arm, and made a waving motion with his hand, dipping down on each new syllable. "Mah-Ley-Ah. Like that, you know?" He wasn't sure she would know what he was talking about, but he'd always thought girl names were especially pretty. I's and R's were kind of harsh sounds, not really suited to Rewi, as far as he thought. But it was his, and there was no changing it now.

But more important than names was the task ahead. One that he'd never done on his own and admittedly wasn't entirely sure how to go about it...

"Well," he scratched the back of his head. "My father and I are leaving for Noelani, to be close for the meeting with the Kaha'iko, when it happens. You know we've never traveled so far or out of our territory at all, so it definitely feels like we'll need, er, something. I'm just not too sure exactly what it is." Food, probably? Because surely what dwelled in the waters of Pale'iko would be different than what Rewi was accustomed to eating. Maybe some kind of shelter, just in case they didn't make it into a settlement each night...

"Stuff," Rewi decided at length. "I just know we'll need stuff."

'Strong sounding.' Rewi smiled in spite of himself. He would've liked to think that his name sounded strong, as though it belonged to someone who could overcome any obstacle, but really when he thought of it, it just reminded him of people who were exasperated and impatient. Maybe it was just because he didn't often say his name himself, and those who did usually exhibited such qualities when doing so... 'Are you even going to help, Rewi?' 'Hurry up, Rewi!' 'There's no time for lazing about, Rewi...' Those were the most familiar words he could think of, and when those people said his name, it always felt like they were looking at someone disdainful.

That's what his name sounded like to him: something disdainful.

Fortunately, he didn't mind. It was his and something few others had, at that. So it was special in that regard, even if he didn't think it sounded especially strong. He decided not to argue the point, though. If Malea thought it sounded nice, that was just an added boon for him.

"I imagine it is quite far," he admitted, though obviously he had never been. "My family doesn't have the time to allow everyone to commit to such a journey, when they should be working, but my father said he would go, so that we may learn our part in what to do next, and I am to accompany him." Since Rewi was basically useless on the farm. "I'm not sure I really want to leave, though... I like my home, and going any great distance must be very tiresome."

He couldn't help but shoot an almost-mischievous grin down at the younger girl as she admitted that she thought the trip would be 'pretty,' with the foreign Kaha'iko to see along they way. "Maybe if you went, you'd meet a very nice one- I think most of them are- who would think you were very pretty too. And they wouldn't be wrong at that, would they?"

Her voice was so soft and quiet... She must be quite a shy girl! Rewi could hardly imagine what someone like this little thing might do if she were left to be flustered at all the 'pretty' things in Pale'iko...

With a little laugh, he shook his head and turned back to the task at hand. "If you have the time and a hand to spare, I would my very grateful for your help."

"Uhm..." He didn't know the exact path they would take to Noelani, but Rewi couldn't imagine there wouldn't be any stops, regardless of how determined his father was to make it to the gathering quickly so that they'd be able to return home just as quickly. Noelani was way on the other side of Pale'iko. Travel there would take weeks at the very least, and struggling in foreign, unfamiliar waters would make the trip longer and harder. There would be stops, Rewi was sure. So, he glanced back to Malea and hesitantly said, "I suppose..."

There would be a lot of new places to see. Unfortunately, that just wasn't where Rewi's interests lay. He wasn't even sure he knew where his interests lay at all, but not travel. "I've hardly seen much of Elehun at all," he admitted with a shrug. "So if I was going to see anything, it might have been nice to start with that."

"And..." He scratched at his cheek, glancing upward toward the waterline. "I don't think I really want to be swept away. That sounds like an easy way to get lost." And tossed off course when he'd be lucky to know where he was going in the first place.

But if that was where the currents chose to take him, he wouldn't have any choice but to follow...

As they entered the market and came near enough to survey some of the wares being offered, Rewi's gaze skimmed down the stalls, curious at what all he might pick up. "Food will certainly be a necessity. I don't even know if I'll like anything that can be found in Pale'iko." Because it would surely be very different. "I should definitely stock up on food. And maybe some kind of something to keep any of their predators away... Do they have any, do you think? How do they keep themselves from drifting down the river at night? Maybe some kind of rope, in case I need to secure myself to a sleeping spot."

Really, anything Rewi thought might happen in Pale'iko was based purely on assumption. Though the Kaha'iko weren't particularly far off neighbors from his home in Naele, he'd still never done hardly any conversing with them, and any he had done hadn't been brought on due to concerns over the dangers of their homeland. Rewi was sure his father might know some about the river people, and even 'some' was more valuable than 'none,' but as far as Rewi was concerned, he was swimming blind here...

"It might be perfectly safe?" He tried to reason uncertainly, since there wasn't any point in alarming a young child about what might occur should she one day decide to travel.

And he could use a little reassurance, himself. The journey was bound to be tiring on its own, without the need to add worry or stress to the preparations beforehand. Though it did help to be reminded that there probably was a market in Ukupaia, the first village they'd swim through on the trip and one that wasn't even so far from the starting point in Naele. If he missed anything here (either because he'd forgotten, or simply because Rewi hadn't known it was a necessity), a Pale'iko village would surely carry anything needed to navigate their own waters.

Regardless, Rewi doubted he'd be able to handle anything that might try and eat him, even when prepared with knowledge and equipment... It was probably best not to dwell on it for too long.

He smiled. "Well, I won't worry too much about any Pale'iko predators that might be out there. I'll just pick up what seems like a good idea now. So, rope it is!" With a nod, Rewi skimmed through the water and deeper into the market, casting his emerald gaze around to try and determine which stall might have such an item.