Chapter Text
“Come on!” Moana shouted, running towards the va’a on the shore. “We are going to miss the land breeze!”
Tiare laughed as she trotted towards the girl, jumping into the ocean. “You know that we can always leave later, you know? We don’t actually need the land breeze to set sail.”
Moana scoffed. “You have no idea what you are talking about! Rowing against the wind is the worst thing in the world.” She said even as she jumped onto the ship and grabbed one of the oars. “Besides, we are going to have to row enough as it is when we reach the coral reef. Let's keep the work as light as we can.”
Tiare giggled, but she jumped onto the ship, pushing themselves off the shore.
The girls had finally reached their twelve summers, so they could finally be left to sail alone and go on fishing duty by themselves. The kids on the island were no strangers to the ocean, and since very young they had joined their parents in their work, learning all kinds of trades. But this time, they would get to actually get to be on the ships on their own.
Tiare didn’t actually get what was so special about fishing duty. It was just as exhausting as almost any other work and the sun shining on their backs just made it harder. But Moana’s radiant smile was worth the sore muscles and the headaches. Moana’s smile was worth anything. Even if it was getting up earlier than everyone to catch good wind.
So, Tiare grabbed the second oar and started rowing towards the reef.
Once they had rowed enough, the girls hoisted the sail and let the wind guide them while they set up the traps for the fish. The water was cold and this year the oceans had been good to them. Hopefully they would be able to bring back as much food as the actual fishermen.
Tiare layed down on the va’a, closing her eyes as the gentle rock of the wakes and the sun caressing her skin soothed her into a slumber on the ship.
Despite all of her complaints when Moana had signed them up for the duty, half of the work was pretty much done by now. All they had to do now was wait for a while and then go back home with the fish in the traps. For now, the girls could rest.
Tiare opened her eyes, although just barely. Moana had sat down too, with her back leaning on the mast. The shadow of the sail covered her face from the burning sun and the water drew patterns on her dark skiing with its reflection. Her head turned towards the horizon, as if trying to reach beyond the horizon.
“What are you thinking about?” She asked curiously.
Moana smiled at her. “One day I am going to sail past the reef.”
Tiare quickly sat up, blinking the sleep away.
“What? What do you mean?”
Moana shrugged “Just that, I guess. One day, I will be strong and old enough to sail on my own. And on that day, I am going to sail past the reef.”
“Why on earth would you want to sail past the reef?” the girl asked. “We have anything we could possibly want on our island. Food, shelter, peace. What could lay beyond that that you would want to see?”
“I don’t know,” she answered. “But there must be something more. There have to be more islands, more people, more places to visit. There must be something worth leaving for.” Her sight went once more back to the horizon, to all the places she described.
Tiare blinked towards the floor of the va’a. “And if there is nothing more?” she said tentatively. “What if there is nothing more than just water and sky”.
Moana looked at her with confusion.
“The Ocean is out there. Even if there were nothing else, what more could I possibly need.”
And Tiare, she didn’t understand. She couldn’t understand. What was so special about the water that was so worth leaving for? What was lacking on their own island that it wasn’t worth staying for?
And yet, as she turned to ask more questions, she looked at Moana. The girl smiled towards the ocean beneath her feet, at the small waves crashing against their sailboat, gisleting in the sun. At the deep colors of the ocean, which changed slightly with every place their eyes touched. At the hundreds of animals of vibrant colours she knew were below them, just waiting to be seen.
And maybe, maybe she did understand. Because maybe, she could recognize that the way Moana smiled at the ocean was the same way that Tiare smiled at her. And maybe, maybe she did get why you would leave for something you yearned for.
The two girls didn’t say anything more for the rest of their shift. But there weren't any more words needed.
Deep down Tiare knew that Moana was right. One day she would leave the island and sail past the reef. There was no way to deny the longing on her face or the soft yearning for the places far beyond.
But she also knew that until then, she would still be here.
And perhaps, given time, she could also learn to love the Ocean. After all, why wouldn’t she learn to like that which Moana had fallen in love with?