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Pounamu was the result of a deep love between two spirits from different worlds Akoni’s family resided in Elikopeka and their names were well known for their crafting skills. Many fine pieces of art, especially jewelry, came from Akoni’s family and it was no surprise that many expected her like her sisters to continue the legacy of the family name. Not everything would go to plan as Akoni was a Hapuna who wasn’t content just sunbathing and playing around the colorful reefs of her home.

She did not hate crafting yet her love for the arts was not simply satisfied with the materials found so commonly near her own home. Instead the flirtatious spirit would venture towards the edges of the ocean depths, curious about the darker world of the Moakai. What could she find there if given the chance? It was a question she often pondered before being reigned in by her family once more.

On the opposite side of the waters existed Faer. Faer was a Moakai who had lost everything and rather than staying in the darkness had wandered with the ocean currents to find new reason, new purpose. Faer was the name that they had taken for themself to leave behind the past as they truly embraced the spirit of traveler. At first they had bounced between the settlements of Hu’i, Kalama and Elekawa but eventually even that was not enough and the darkness dweller swam towards the edge of their world to Akamu.

It was in Akamu that they first saw Akoni. Akoni had left Elikopeka behind for her adventures into the deeper waters. She sought the perfect materials to craft the most amazing piece for her parents’ anniversary - a feat she hoped would show how her own style could indeed bloom if they would only give her the chance.

Of course she would keep the next part of her adventures on the downlow as her parents would be aghast to find that their baby daughter had indeed found trouble and only with the help of Faer did she manage to escape. For Faer the terrifying moment had been a magical one, a revelation of the purpose that the Mother Ocean had given them. Akoni was shimmering there, her body a brilliant representation of the warmth they had sought for so long. A flicker of the memories that they had left behind flashed through their mind and a determined longing rather than apathy filled their spirit.

Swimming like never before he had reached out a hand to her, pulling her from the dangerous crevice and away from the beast swimming beneath them. After a day of rest she had recovered enough to wander about with him and with time Faer showed her how their world was. Rather than finding the lights shimmering in the depths creepy Akoni adored them and found inspiration for her crafts. It was only two weeks of their time but once Faer returned with her to the waters of Haukea it seemed an eternity had passed. From that point on the two of them were inseparable. Akoni’s family recognized her art and with Faer at her side the Hapuna was allowed to wander more and more away from home so she could discover new things and bring that beauty into her pieces for others to enjoy. Even if other Hapuna didn’t dare to venture far from the safety of their colorful coral reefs she could at least show them pieces of the world through these treasures that she brought home.

As time passed the two lovers found that they desired an adventure different from all the ones they had taken before. Akoni wanted a family and Faer was more than delighted to oblige. Fate, however, took its toll on the pair as they found it hard to hatch an egg. Yet in the darkness of their despair hope finally bloomed as an egg hatched and they finally received their precious treasure, Pounamu.

“A manifestation of our love. She’s the most precious of treasures, Faer.”

It was no surprise that Pounamu was showered in love since birth. Her parents spoiled her and she blossomed under their attention. Her mother’s blunt honesty and overflowing energy manifested in the girl as did Faer’s strength and loyalty. Her parents adored how bright and happy Pounamu was and did everything for the first five years of her life to teach her what they knew. And for the longest time everyone began to believe that the pair would finally settle and stay at home in Elikopeka. Yet nothing could completely curb their drive for exploring the unknown and so the pair eventually found themselves preparing to travel again. Yet Pounamu was never truly alone as she had her aunt Halia to watch over her. After all her parents knew that they couldn’t bring a child so young along with them. Instead they would leave for days, maybe even weeks, if not months at a time and then return with gifts for their daughter.

She always adored their stories and gave them as much love as possible in return when they came home. However, a few moons shy of two years have passed since the pair left home and Pounamu is still waiting on their return. Over time their disappearances altered the carefree, loud child into someone quieter, more reserved girl. Halia was constantly busy with her work as her parents had passed soon after the birth of Pounamu leaving her to continue their trade. When her sister had been with her Pounamu’s aunt had more time but with both Akoni and Faer away she was constantly swimming about the reefs doing her best for herself and the small child they had left behind.

And what the small child didn’t tell her aunt was how the whispers now caught her attention, how the gossip of those in the area grew with each passing month that her parents stayed missing. Perhaps if she had been born and raised in Ka’lei her dark colorations could have helped her to stay more hidden but here she was an obvious blot of shadow against the bright reefs and its inhabitants. It was so obvious that no one could help staring once they realized that not only did she appear more Maokai, that she still had features from the Hapuna. A strange mismatch of traits from two different seas and without her parents constant presence the girl was more exposed to others, especially children her age, who whispered behind her. Some would talk and point directly at Pounamu without shame as they discussed her strangeness. Her eyes, especially, caught the most attention and some dared to gossip that her creation could have breached some laws of nature that resulted in her parents’ disappearances. Was it possible that her parents had sacrificed themselves to allow her to continue to exist as this anomaly?

Her parents would say that it was silly gossip and worthless teasing of children yet Pounamu didn’t know what to believe. Her parents had left and they still hadn’t come back. At first she had strong protests and held her head high just as her parents would have had her do but time wore on her and soon she retreated inside of herself. Her voice softened, her gaze darted towards the ocean floor rather than those speaking with her and she rarely offered to play with others. It was best to just focus on teaching herself how to create beautiful things as her mother had. Even if she couldn’t control how she was born and her own appearance she could at least control what she crafted. Crafting became her solace in a world where she didn’t know the fate of her parents.

She also became less demanding, more obedient and did her best to do whatever chore her aunt had for her. As a result of her parents’ disappearance Pounamu found herself maturer than most her age. She was terrified after all of losing her last family member, Halia. Her aunt was the anchor to this world and she was determined not to lose it.

Halia at first didn’t recognize the pain that Pounamu was feeling for the child hid it well. She always had a smile when her aunt was near and she told stories about the things she saw in the reefs. Eventually Halia realized that these stories involved less and less of other children and more about the natural things, the animals and the weather for the day for example highlighted many stories.

“Pounamu, I’m sorry.” She dropped her crafts one night and went straight to the child who had been in mid-story about some strange creature darting in and out of the reefs. Rather than finishing the tale the girl finally dropped the facade and found herself weeping in her aunt’s arms. She was afraid of losing anyone again and was fearful that she had done something wrong by simply existing. With all the whispers about her surely the whole area hated her and why bother making friends if they too would leave her one day like her parents had?

Teary eyed Halia confronted her own agony over the loss of her sister and both aunt and niece stayed wrapped up in each others embrace for the rest of the night. The next day Halia swore she would do her best to help bring back the bright and social child who didn’t balk at the idea of abandonment and the disdain of others. It would be a long road to breaking open the shell Pounamu had hidden herself in but like any pearl Halia was certain her niece would eventually shine once revealed. Disgusted as she heard the rumors blaming Pounamu for her parents’ disappearance Halia assured the girl that she was like one of the finest crafts from the Ocean and that nature was proud to have created such a lovely child. Why punish two beings for their product of love? The rest were just jealous that Pounamu was so unique and beautiful!

While Pounamu wasn’t exactly certain of those words it still did something to help dissuade the guilt and the pressure of those whispers she had been shouldering alone for the past year. She knew that she would never be as carefree as before but maybe just maybe she could try to find some confidence again. If not for her own sake then for her aunt who was obviously hurting as well. It was the best that she could do for the one who had taken her in and dedicated so much time making certain they were taken care of. It would take time and a lot of effort but Pounamu promised Halia that she would try to start life anew and to make new connections. Even if her parents had left her it did not mean that everyone else in her life would do the same.