Noelani wanted to get the perfect gift for her mother. It was her birthday or rather the day which she had appeared on the Matori shores over sixteen years ago and everyone was going out and about to celebrate the occasion. Noelani’s grandmother had bought supplies from the local village and was making her mother’s favorite cake, a light fluffy thing with whipped cream and berries, which Noelani was already eager to try. Her grandfather had carved a jewelry box and added in coral and other decorative pieces for her mother to store her finer catches in, jewels that even she didn’t want to part with at market, and her father had promised her mother a really nice outing over the next week which would surely be full of even more surprise gifts. They had even decorated the little cove that they called home with decorative shells tracing the path along the beach up to the wooden deck that made up their porch and wrapped around the house towards the gardens in the back. Noelani was proud of herself since she had given a special touch to the scene for tonight’s dinner by finding glass jars that were colored so that the candles flickering inside gave off soft colored lights that also decorated the path. It was a truly pretty sight and she was so excited for her parents to return home so that her mother could see it this evening. The pair had been out adventuring for the last three weeks and the girl could only hope that her father was still on schedule with their planned return.

“It would be a shame to waste all of this effort.” She mused with a soft laugh before placing the final jar and tucking a candle inside. Perfect! Now all that was left was to find the perfect gift for her mother. The young hybrid pursed her lips at the thought before walking back down the path, her skirts swishing around her ankles as she walked back towards the beach. Maybe the perfect gift wasn’t found on land? Noelani’s bright gaze narrowed as she thoughtfully studied the ocean. While her mother was a good land treasure hunter she still struggled with the ocean depths since she had not been raised to swim like Noelani’s father and her grandparents. Noelani had picked up the skills as well and could even dive for longer than her grandparents now! Maybe it was time to put those skills to the test? Noelani smiled at the thought before untying her skirts and laying them on the beach. She always had leggings beneath in case she needed to go diving and all that was left was for Noelani to remove her jewelry which she tucked in around her skirts along with her sandals. She would find the best pearl to give her mother! Her mother had always talked about finding a colored pearl so why couldn’t she find something like that as a present? Maybe a blue or pink one? Noelani knew it was risky and knew that there was a good chance she wouldn’t find one but she was determined to try. Everything else was set up for the day and she had several hours before the sun started to sink beneath the horizon. Surely she could find something! Noelani knew the perfect spot where she had seen some pearls before. Clutching a net in hand the girl prepared herself, her breathing evening out as she braced herself for the impact with the ocean. Once her heart seemed to slow the girl went into the ocean and started to swim downwards. Soon enough everything became murky, the darkness of the ocean floor greeting her. Rather than being scared though, Noelani found it comforting as she skimmed slowly along the bottom, her hands brushing along the sand and rocks. Eventually she found a good set of shelled mollusks and the girl cast out her net, catching them and dragging them back with her to the surface.

It was in that group of shells that she found the perfect gift. A breath left Noelani’s lips in amazement as she held the pink pearl towards the sun, the sunlight almost making flames dance across the surface with how it gleamed. It was beautiful! Noelani’s lips curved upwards into a happy smile as she clutched the prize in her hands. She would clean this off along with the other few pearls she found and use them as her gift to her mother. She truly hoped her mother would like her present!

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