Maui POV

I watched Moana as she fell asleep, Pua wrapped in her arms. I smiled to myself as the last rays of the sun disappeared below the horizon.

"Hey."

A voice behind me made me jump. "Oh, hi Aisake."

"Moana doesn't like to be watched while she sleeps," he said with a chuckle. "Trust me, I got a good slapping last time I did that."

I chuckled too. "She can slap me all she wants, she's to beautiful not to watch."

Aisake's smile turned to a frown. "You really love her, don't you?"

"With all my heart."

I could see guilt and regret cross his face. "Does she love you back?"

"Yes," I replied, confused. He smiled but I could tell it was fake.

"What's going on," I asked him.

He sighed and turned around. "If only you knew," he whispered. And with that he walked away, leaving me more confused than ever.

•*•

The next morning came quickly and Moana exited her hut looking much better than she did last night.

She sighed she got outside. "What's up?" I asked.

She jumped but smiled when she saw me. "It's nothing," she said with a fake smile. "Just my birthday."

I raised an eyebrow, not convinced. She sighed, "My seventeenth birthday means I'm one year away from having to marry. And I already have an idea of who."

"Who is it?"

"Oh, he didn't tell you?"

I shook my head. "No?"

She looked at the ground. "Aisake."

My eyes went wide. "He seemed to be uncomfortable last night when we spoke, that must have been why."

Moana looked unhappy and, to be honest, I couldn't blame her. "I don't want to marry Aisake. He's like a brother to me, it would just be plain awkward."

I wanted to comfort her but I couldn't find the words. When I looked up again she was already walking towards the village. I sighed and decided to go to the forest.

When I reached edge of the woods I heard a strange sound, like a mix between a whimper, a snarl, and a yelp.

I looked in the direction of the noise and followed it. Nothing. I didn't hear the noise again but I did hear a scream from nearby. I ran to the scream an found Moana tussling with a snake.

She had it firmly on the spot just below its head. She held it down and swiftly smashed its head with a rock. I just stood there, shocked at how well she'd handled that. She sat against a tree with a sigh of relief, examining her arm.

I stepped out of the bushes and saw two holes that were bleeding in her arm. She jumped when she saw me.

"You need to quit scaring me like that," she muttered.

"The snake bit you," I remarked.

"Well no duh," she snapped. I flinched at her cool voice. "It's not poisonous, by the way."

"Why are you so irritable," I asked.

"You try getting attacked, controlled, brainwashed, and bitten by a snake all in a matter of a few weeks and tell me how happy you are," she growled.

She stripped a piece of cloth from her skirt and wrapped her bite. "Do you want to see the healer," I asked.

She sighed. "No, the snake wasn't poisonous. The bite'll be sore but it's not life-threatening."

And with that she stood and began walking deeper into the forest.

"Where are we going?" I asked. "Not sure, just following where my feet take me," was her reply.

I sighed and just kept following her. We wondered aimlessly in the forest for a few hours, no words spoken between us.

I eventually grew tired and said, "I'm heading back to the village."

She jumped as though she was lost in thought, tripping over a root on the process. I wasn't fast enough to catch her and she landed on her back with a grunt.

She stood and winced. "You ok Curly?"

She merely nodded and continued to walk. I could see she was limping lightly, hardly noticeable. Probably just twisted, I thought as I made my way back to the village. I could tell something important was on her mind when I spoke. I sighed and made my way to my hut.

•*•

It was about midnight and I couldn't sleep. I decided to go check in on Moana. When I reached her hut I saw that her hammock was empty.

"She still hasn't returned from the woods," I murmured. I walked out into the woods and practically tripped over Moana. She didn't notice, she was string up at the sky, somehow managing to not trip.

I heard her muted something under her breath. I followed her to see exactly where she was going. We ended up at the shoreline. Moana sighed and looked up at the sky again.

"You can come out Maui," she said.

I was shocked for a moment before I gradually made my way out of the tree line.

I sat down next to her and picked her up, placing her in my lap. She fidgeted a little and muttered something under her breath again. She looked a little annoyed but she gradually relaxed.

"Why so tense," I asked. Se looked up at me with dimmed, emotionless eyes. My eyes widened in shock at her current state. It was only then that I realized how skinny she was, skinnier then after the attack.

She sighed and leaned her head back on my chest. "It's complicated," I heard her whisper as she closed her eyes.