Howaru sat necklaced in ceremonial lei, wearing a fresh lavalava, Totokona resting beside him. He was seated centre of a dais on the western side of the giant meeting fale 'Matalagi', or 'beautiful cloud,' for how the fale rested comfortably on the hill overlooking the bay. The fale was wallless, with a thatched, domed-roof, supported by twenty or more beams lashed together tightly with sennet.

  Did they have me in mind when they made Matalagi? Faturaki had suggested as much on the trip back, the fale built during his absence from his adopted island. Another of his whispers to console and entice. He was right, he thought, I like its size, just proper for me. Fatu spoke of the fale, in awe of its construction under the direction of the Chief himself, to 'house Feke's mightiest,' as Taumatafiti was known to repeat. Instead of a beautiful cloud, it should have been called 'Howaru's nest,' or something, to acknowledge me.

  To the left and right of Howaru sat the ariki of Feke Motu, faced towards a growing gathering of villagers spilling out beyond the pillars of the fale and onto mats, temporarily placed over the surrounding grassed area. Children had been pulled close and hushed into silence. Utterances whispered by threats to behave, but more importantly, explanations about who he must be - he had heard his named repeated again and again as the villagers arranged themselves. Howaru, their island hero. Alive, after ten years in exile. Back to save Matavai from disaster and about to kill another monster. At least that's what he hoped they were whispering.

  Chief Taumatafiti to his right, nudged him, introducing one of his three wives. She leaned back and eyebrowed the Chief before he indicated beside her, two of his beautiful daughters, ignoring three more of his other children. And then he pointed to more village elders, reciting names and histories Howaru forgot immediately. Prominent warriors, including his escort - Galiaga, Tufukia, and the young Toru - sat beyond, and finally, Faturaki at the edge of the dais leaned back on a pillar, all to himself.

  Pakuu, the ancient Feke tohunga, mostly spirit and as see-through as jellyfish, stood, dressed in a simple loincloth, imploring the crowds to take their seats and for the children to quiet down. He began the ceremonies with a long prayer, "Takaroa our god, Feke, our saviour, we thank you for returning Howaru to his tribe…" and immediately Howaru yawned, the crowd quietly sniggering their approval.

  While Pakuu spoke of the despair of the tribe in the ten years Howaru was absent, a feast was laid on the fale floor between ariki and the rest of the village. Three pigs, a dozen fish, baskets of steamed shellfish, kumara and taro dishes prepared in coconut milk. The centre-piece was a giant moa, presented personally by three of the sons of the Autara Chief. A gift in recognition of Howaru's return. His mouth watered at the sight of it.

  Howaru then tried to listen respectfully to Pakuu, "...so say the descendants of Takaroa down through the unbroken chiefly cord of Taumatafiti. Takaroa's winds breath over the surface of Feke protecting his sleep..."

  But soon Howaru's stomach rumbled in protest. A couple of the children nearest Howaru began to giggle. He made ugly faces at them, and they returned them and laughed even harder. The Chief frowned at kids, shaking his head a warning to be quiet before pointing up at Pakuu and then to his ears, 'listen.'

  "...a sleep only Takali Foto the volcano could waken. All tribes of Kafiki Motu will be forced into movement: Tumutumu, Unusi, Ahukai, Autara, Matavai, even the first men of Kafiki and the Makateāns of Rapa-Iti. As foretold by my ancestor Tu'ialaangao, known for eating only ripened banana, that when..."

  A couple of the old women in the crowd banged their walking sticks on the wooden floor, tiring of Pakuu's rambling prophecies.

  "...when matariki ends on the sixty-sixth summer a comet will appear off the coast of Kafiki Motu. If the harvest is poor again and if the star ________ is at its zenith, only then, once the last act of Watea, the god of the cosmos, has played out in the heavens, a foreshadowing of events on Kafiki Motu…"

  It doesn't make any sense to anyone here au Pakuu, Howaru complained to himself. They were all bored by warnings 'of destruction on the horizon.' He looked out at the people, restless all of them. If Kafiki was about to be destroyed, where's the enemy? As far as he could tell, it looked like paradise.

  BANG! BANG! BANG! A series of thumps rang out from the crowd. An old woman probably smashing her cane on the floor to hurry it up.

  Howaru turned searching for Faturaki on his pillar, but his father was gone. Gone already? He couldn't even last 'til the food? He scanned the hall but quickly resigned his adopted father, with even less patience than him, took off for his mountain, his job now done. He probably didn't even care what happened to him from here. His work was done. 'Go get your boy Faturaki - the one who kills, cos we need him.' Howaru felt a tickling near his ear as if water was leaking out of it. He tugged on it, but nothing fell out.

  Without Faturaki around, Howaru had lost all patience too, that's it, I'm done, and interrupting Pakuu as respectfully as he could he said, "Hurry up Pakuu before you disappear for good. Can't you hear my stomach crying?"

  Pakuu, in the middle of another prayer, to his favourite goddess Marama, turned to Howaru with a look of surprise. "I'm sorry, Howaru, but I want to, at the very least, acknowledge all of the wonderful gods with us today."

  "With us?" he replied, "I think they left when you were going on about the fifty generations of Feke islanders who spent their lives scraping shit off a dead octopus. And it's still daylight so Marama won't arrive for an hour or two yet."

  Pakuu's face looked shocked, "Taboo! Howaru! You should know better. What you said is offensive to me, to all of us. I know you're an adopted son of Feke only, but you need to respect the history of your island. Mocking the gods is taboo..." then turning to the Chief asked, "What should we do now, Chief?" There was a long silence before Taumatafiti erupted into laughter followed by the entire hall.

  The Chief stood before ushering Pakuu down to the floor, to rest. "A joke. A joke Pakuu. Can't you see how funny Howaru is being? But we must keep in mind the importance of Howaru's return and the urgency,"

  Down the line, A'asaiga, one of the Chief's brothers from the East side of the island, spoke, "Pakuu let's speed this up. That moa is a precious gift from Autara."

  "One of last I'm sure." said another of the dignitaries, a fine-looking older woman.

  "Dogshit! There's plenty more, but those cannibals don't want to trade!" someone else called out, this time from the crowd.

  "Shhhh!" "Shut it!"

  "We have the son's of the Chief of Autara here with us today, stupid fool!"

  Howaru placed a hand on his clubaxe and thought about smashing it into the faces of the quarrelling villagers, before instead deciding to let his mind drift as if he was back on his atoll, riding the waves of his hunger into the sky.

  Chief Taumatafiti laughed again, "Now let's just keep the comments to ourselves," and nodding at Pakuu added, "remember, we need to be urgent because our friends in Matavai have lost a favoured son, stolen by the terrible monster Baby Eater."

  Pakuu, sat beside Howaru now, patted him on the knee. "You're right Chief. Let us feast and welcome back our champion. But remember, all of you, that we can only prepare for the future by understanding our past. Give me the conch."

  A young boy handed the ceremonial conch to Pakuu. Clearing his throat, Pakuu began whispering softly into the conch lip. To howaru's ear, it sounded like a very ancient chant in a tongue he didn't understand. Then, instead of blowing Pakuu simply breathed into the shell. A single note ascended through the fale, out past the surrounding village and eventually to the beach and beyond. Everything became quiet on the island. It felt as if time itself had slowed down. A calmness filled the air. I missed this type of magic, he thought.

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  Pakuu looked satisfied with the result and so too Chief Taumatafiti who declared, "Pakuu, most powerful Tohunga of Feke Motu! Thank you for your presence here today and powerful magic! Now let's eat!"

  Well into the feast, when the the goddess Marama had fully arrived, several beautifully formed Feke women began a dance. Room was made in front of the dais. The women, dressed in skirts made of tapa, swayed slowly in time with each other, following the rhythm of drummers sat along the side of the fale. Their dancers were lit in soft firelight. Shadows danced playfully across hips and chest, keeping the audience in rapt attention.

  Kura had no interest in the dance, and he'd barely touched his food too. He had an eye on the ariki. Howaru, Chief Taumatafiti, Pakuu, and a handful of other prominent Chiefs and warriors, were sat in a circle on the floor, drinking kava from a giant tortoiseshell.

  From where Kura was sitting, Howaru was feeling the effects of the kava and having difficulty concentrating on the conversation. Kura thought he heard him say, "I have a new appetite." He turned to Sukey and Ngara, to relay what was spoken but both his friends were staring up at the dancers, along with the crowd, watching as the women now swung fire poi in wide circles around them.

  "Ooooo." Sukey and Ngara sighed.

  All three had spent most of the welcoming ceremony crawling through the fale to the front of the hall. On the way Kura received more than one threat from the adults to stop moving, else they get thumped, while Ngara got beaten on the legs by a Feke rival. Kura wasn't to be halted though, and slowly, while Pakuu made his proclamations, he'd made it to the edge of the dais just as the feast began. Now, a few steps away, he sat dumbstruck, staring at Howaru as if staring at a god itself.

  "Howaru lives! Hero in the flesh, with Totokono beside him!" he whispered to Ngara, once they had got a good view.

  "He must be here to kill the Baby Eater!" Ngara said, before shoving strips of moa into his mouth.

  "Hold on Teā! We're coming for you!" Kura said aloud his eyes lifted towards the ceiling as if offering a prayer.

  "Shhhhh!" Sukey hushed at him.

  Kura continued to ignore his food, as well as the dancers, studying the champion. Yes, he was as tall as they said, but he looked sick too. He was dark, way darker than any other Feke Islander with all those years under Ra. But too skinny for a champion, he thought, concluding, hardly any muscle left on him. I can see his ribs from here. He looks like a captive more than a hero. Will he even be able to pierce the skin of Baby Eater? Kura turned to his friends. "Do you think he could take Baby Eater?"

  Sukey barely shifted her eyes from the dancers, ignoring the question.

  "Ngara, do you think Howaru can win?" he repeated.

  Ngara picked up a chicken wing and bit into it. "Au? He'll smash him, bro."

  Sukey produced a comb from her waistband. "Shut up the both of you! Howaru will save Teā and that's that." She began combing her long black hair.

  Ngara shrugged and turned back to the to the dancers while Kura carried on watching Howaru. He could see Chief Taumatafiti beside him, shorter by a foot but broader. The Chief leaned close to Howaru for a private conversation and Howaru lowered his ear. Howaru smiled genially at what the Chief was saying. He looks wasted, thought Kura. Should a champion be able to get drunk? Kura nudged himself forward, leaning his elbows onto the dais, trying to get within earshot of the men.

  He felt a punch on his leg and heard Sukey warning, "Au. Stop staring at him."

  Kura turned his head back down to Sukey. "What?"

  Ngara shrugged his eyebrows at Kura adding, "You just wish Kura was staring at you aye Sukey?"

  Sukey, red-faced, punched Ngara in the shoulder this time. "Shut up, fatty! Eat your dinner fatty. That's all you're good for." She replied with venom.

  "I think they're talking about Teā." Kura said.

  Taumatafiti gestured subtly towards the dancers, continuing in Howaru's ear. Howaru nodded once before taking another drink of kava.

  "Or they're gonna gift a couple of girls to Howaru for the night," suggested Ngara.

  "Are they just going to waste time and drink all night, what about Teā?" Kura whispered in a disappointed tone.

  "Don't worry Kura," Sukey began, "They'll get to it as soon as Chief has had his fill."

  And by the time Sukey finished speaking Chief Taumatafiti had got up and made his was to the back of the dais, to his family, reclined on mats enjoying the meal and the show. Pakuu took the Chief's place soon after and again Howaru sunk down to listen. The talk looked serious. Pakuu began to gesture while Howaru looked confused by something, both Pakuu and Howaru turned to stare directly at him.

  "The runt over there?" Howaru asked.

  "Yes. His name is Kura. He is currently under my protection since Takali has shown signs of waking."

  "Why should I care tohunga?"

  "The boy was with Teā when he went missing. Kura said that there are caves on the second level of falls and that this is where we suspect Teā is now. We think this is a rhyming prophecy of the white Karuwai. The first of two of the same events."

  "I've heard this story already Pakuu, just some dogshit prophecy like all the rest, which never comes true. Another convenient lie to keep you and your ilk sitting above the rest of the villagers. Well-fed, the best food, kava, and women or whatever, without having to lift a finger for it!"

  "Not unlike the warriors then?" Pakuu laughed and carried on. "This prophecy is different Howaru, listen. If this is the second occurrence, and Teā represents the Karuwai, the outcome of your battle with the Baby Eater will put into motion a chain of events the gods themselves planned."

  "Talk plainly tohunga. My thirst for more kava is making my patience wane."

  "The prophecy calls for an awakening. Feke itself could return to life, as too the volcano Takali Foto. And who knows what could be inside him waiting to be released. Do you understand?"

  "The gods are dead, dormant for twenty generations. You must have been at your mother's tit when they stopped moving. That's how old. And how many slaves have been offered up to wake them and still nothing?"

  Howaru was becoming increasingly hostile to Pakuu, tired of his softness. Still, he knew the ancient Tohunga was an ally and that his emotions were still raw, and that the kava wasn't helping. He wished Faturaki was nearby to caution him.

  Pakuu continued, "Yes, but this prophecy has been true so far. Listen:

  First Takali wakens

  Then Karuwai takes flight

  Stolen by a demon

  Into the glow of night

  A hero, captive born,

  Gifted son of Ahukai"

  "Wait." Interrupted Howaru, "I'm not from Ahukai, so the prophecy is already wrong."

  "Like all prophecy, the interpretation needs to fit the events of the situation. You might not be from Ahukai, but you are honoured there."

  Howaru grunted and shook his head. "Ha! Honoured. That's the best you can come up with? I'm getting tired of your prophecies jellyfish," He reached for his clubaxe and patted it like a favourite pet. "It won't matter to me. There is only one prophecy you need to listen to Tohunga, and that is this one, right here and now."

  Howaru rose to his feet wobbling and turned to the remaining crowds. The drummers stopped and soon the dancers. Matalagi was silent. Howaru called out:

  "Here me Feke! For I am Howaru your champion.

  My ancestral Islands are to the west.

  My lineage flows to Kute who snared Feke.

  My first god is Takaroa, the sea, and my second, Feke, the sea

  monster.

  My mana is the colour of the sun.

  I have killed a thousand Kafiki sons in battle..."

  Howaru scratched his head for a moment and smiled, "I'm still working on the rest. But know this! Totokona will carve up Baby Eater and bring peace to the Matavai and silence the cries of many mothers!"

  The crowd and remaining Ariki all cheered.

  Pakuu added, "Of course Howaru. Well said. You are indeed the greatest of all Kafiki warriors!"

  "And where is Faturaki? Shouldn't he be telling me all this?"

  "Faturaki has returned to Takali Foto Howaru."

  Howaru felt his stomach drop and the return of fear, he really did abandon me. A sensation in his made him pull it. Then, as if he'd removed a plug, he felt the black mist begin to creep out of his mind like a worm, floating upwards above his head and expanding into a cloud overhead. He could hear the laughter of the villagers and was sure it was directed at him because they could see his dark shadow. Howaru looked around searching the faces for Faturaki.

  Pakuu stepped towards him. "Faturaki left instructions Howaru." Then stepping closer, he added, "He has told me of your illness Champion. Of your battle with a dark shadow."

  Howaru felt like running. If Pakuu knew already-who else? He cursed his adopted father before scratching the top of his head as if plagued with bites. "Did Faturaki say if he was coming back?"

  Pakuu patted him on his shoulder. "Don't worry son. I have something that will help."

  Pakuu waved over to another boy, leaning on one of the middle pillars. "One more gift from the island of Rapa-Iti Motu and the tribe of Makateā. They have heard of your return and wish to offer you Puga, to aid in your search.

  The boy looked about fifteen, dressed in a hooded travelling cloak too warm for Feke's climate. He nodded at Pakuu before kneeling before Howaru. "Welcome home champion. I am Maqafu son of Matavea. You are welcome on Rapa-nui anytime you wish to travel south." Maqafu laid out a small ornamental box carved with Makateān tribal motifs and presented to him.

  Howaru flipped the lid, staring at the crushed coral known as Puga, collected from the back of the sleeping taniwha _______. It glowed like the algae from the reefs of _______. A smile spread across his face. "Thank you Maqafu. Pakuu. Tell the girls to meet me in my fale."