Hika helps Hina to her feet, making sure to position herself on Hina's bad side, just in case her ankle gives out again. The gathered members of Hika's family spread out to the edges of the lava flow. The sun is still rising, its bottom curve touching the horizon and painting the sky with yellow and orange, the colors of a lava flow.

The colors of Hika's flames and the darkest of her stars. She shivers at the sight, the feeling of something new quickly approaching that is too late to stop. Curling a tendril of starlight in her palm, Hika glances around at her family. They're all smiling at her, their dark skin glowing in the light from the rising sun. her mother touches her shoulder.

"It's time, Hika."

"What do I do?"

"Wait. When something happens, you will know."

The sound of soft chanting fills the air, familiar words swirling around Hika. The sound rises in volume, crescendoing and then shutting off all at once. Kāne steps forward, stretching his hands out towards Hika. She carefully places her hands in his, staring up into his face. Kāne smiles.

"Hi'ilani, do you wish to travel to the other pantheons, to travel the world and leave our shores?"

"I do." The words come out of her without thought, it's as if this is a tradition she's never known of, never experienced, but it is ingrained in her very being.

"You wish to leave us now, before you come of age?"

"I do."

"Do you have the blessing of your makuahine to do so?"

Hi'iaka steps forward, placing her hands on each of Hika's shoulders. "She has my blessing to go."

Kāne nods. "Very well. Our collective 'ohana gives you the same, but we have gifts before you leave us."

Hika's eyes widen slightly, she had known Pele was planning on giving her something, but more of the family too? Her oldest uncle releases her hands and cups his own hands together. A small figurine forms there, a tiny outrigger canoe.

"I know Nāmaka has already given you a honu for your travels, but she may not be able to provide much assistance everywhere, so I thought a canoe would be helpful. It will change to meet the circumstances you need it for."

Hika smiles at him. "Mahalo, 'Anakala."

"Don't worry about it breaking in your bag, either. The canoe isn't fragile."

Hika nods and Kāne steps back. Hina moves to stand in front of Hika from her nearby position in the circle. She leans lightly to the side, favoring her twisted foot as she pulls a piece of carefully rolled kapa cloth from behind her. One of the other family members must have been holding it for her because Hina didn't have it with her a few moments ago.

"It's for bedding, I'd suggest not unrolling it now. It's quite long."

Hika laughs. "Mahalo, makuahine makua. I'm sure it will be lovely."

Hina laughs brightly. "Good luck on your journey, little star."

She steps back for Pele to take her place. Pele is holding a stick in her hands, long and straight, shining both dark and light against her skin. Hika stares at her aunt with wide eyes.

"A pa'oa?"

Hika knows how to use one, but she's never been allowed to even touch her aunt's fire stick without Pele's presence in the room. Pele smiles down at Hika, her expression soft and full of joy.

"It's time you have one of your own, you've always been so skilled with mine."

Hika flushes. "It brings up new fire, in the form of lava or a flame itself. That's my gift, new flame."

"And so it shall be your title when the time comes, Hi'ilani. But until then, you are the spark of the flame you are yet to be. Take care of the pa'oa, will you? I'm sure you know the destruction it can cause."

Nāmaka snorts from across the circle. "Yes, don't go swallowing my waters with that flame."

Pele sighs and turns to her sister, fiery specks gleaming in her dark eyes. "You'll never let that go, will you? I was young! And you ripped me apart!"

Nāmaka shrugs. "You were hurting my seas and the fish."

"Ahem."

Both goddesses turn to see Hi'iaka watching them with a raised eyebrow. She dips her head towards Hika, who is trying to hold back laughter at the antics of her aunts. At the back of the crowd, Hika can actually see Poli'ahu laughing, a few other members of the family giving her slightly amused glances. Pele dips her head to her youngest sister.

"My apologies." She hands the fire stick to Hika and cups the girl's cheek for a moment. "We'll talk afterward, Hika."

Hika nods. "Of course, 'Anakē."

She turns the fire stick over in her hands and reverently slips it into her bag, careful to put it in a place where it can't slip out.

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'Aiwa = nine, when counting

makuahine = mother

'ohana = family

honu = turtle

'anakala = uncle

makuahine makua = older sister of a parent

'Anakē = aunt

What do you think of the gifts? What's do you think Hika will find on her travels? What's going to happen next? Tell me your thoughts!

Happy reading and I'll see you next chapter!

~ Goddess of Fate, signing out