The Forbidden Island ✔

Terms to be used in this chapter :

① Sagamor⇒ Chieftain

② Ka he ⇒ Wildcat

③ Misun⇒ little brother

④ E do da ⇒ Father

⑤ Oginalii ⇒ My friend

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Aku (The New Chieftain's POV)

"Misun, all the food has been stored for another 6 month. Waya is helping your father,to safe guard the area. Women and children sent inside the cave with Haki. Anything else."said Baku,my right hand. He is also my brother-in-law and brother's best friend,so he calls me younger brother,like him. After E do da, Nanna,my elder brother was supposed to take the new Sagamor

position but when he died protecting our people,I was made the new head of the tribe. I have been the new Chieftain of my people for last ten years. They love and respect me,just like E do da.

"No, Oginalii, that would be all. What about the people,who went for the last minute fishing? If they are not back yet,send someone for them. The storm will hit any minute now."

I know we need to gather as much food as possible. But I'll not risk the safety of any of my clan members for that. "They are back Misun. Helping the others to gather the dry woods inside the cave." I nod my head and pat his shoulder, for his help. If it was not for him,I would have drowned in the sorrow of losing my brother. No one could replace Nanna,but Baku has filled the gap and the pain now, is bearable.

"Let's gather everyone else and go inside. Haki would be worried for us."I said and we started running towards the others. When I reached there, E do da was barking orders for everyone to carry the boats inside. Even after the death of Nanna and my Mother,he did not break down. Our people really admire him. He is still strong for his people. They say, I'm just like my father. I never show my pain nor care for it. I never cried in my entire life. Not even,when my brother or mother died. I had to be strong for my tribe. And tears makes you weak. I am anything but weak.

"Aku,you are here. Take everyone and go inside. I'll check the perimeter one last time and come back."E do da said.

"No,Nanna said the same thing to me, before he went alone to secure the entrance and never came back. I'm not letting the past repeat itself. I will not let the sea take away,anybody else from me anymore. The area is secured. Let's head back to the cave." I said pulling him with me. He sighed but didn't resist me. After sometimes me and all of my men entered the cave. Few of them stayed near the cave opening to make sure it is secured.

"Aku, I...I...Didn't check the graves. You could have let me secure it."E do da said,absend mindedly and walked toward the wall of the cave and slide down to sit, resting his head on it. I know I have carved his unhealed wound,but my fear got the best of me.

I have lost a lot in the past. I can't lose him to. So I put my guilt aside and went to check if everyone is fine. I saw Waya,my nephew is being pushed by his friends towards Nina,

my neice. What are they up to? I thought I'll go and check, but Baku hold me back.

"Let's see if my son is man enough to put his claim on his woman." He said smirking. I shaked my head in amusement but both of us leaned against the wall, to see the drama about to take place. Baku Chuckled,

when he saw Waya gulped before taking a step forward, towards Nina.

Feeling eyes on her, Nina turned back to see Waya standing behind her. He panicked and turned back to walk away,but didn't move when his friends glared at him."What you want Waya?"asked Nina, irritated. "Nina, I'm... I want to... I mean.."Baku barked out a laugh.

This caught his attention and he glared at his father. I nudge him to behave. He was laughing historically. "Did you forget your time?"he told his father. This made him stop laughing. I chuckled. When Baku was proposing Haki,I remember him getting drunk to gather his courage. At least his son is sober. He turned to Nina once again "Nina, I want to claim you." he said in one breath. She gave him a death glare. If looks could kill. But he didn't bulge. "I don't accept your claim." she said. This caught everyone's attention.

Waya looked hurt,but he didn't let it go.

"Why?"he asked. "Everybody knows,I like you and want to claim you. Why are you against it?"he not only looked hurt but venerable too. I would talk to them personally later, but we are not supposed to interrupt,when they are in the process of proposing or putting a claim. It's very serious matter. Nina

Scoffed and folded her hands infront.

"Because,I don't trust you. When I said,I like you,years back,you pushed me away to go kiss another girl infront of me. I hated you from that moment. Even if you are the last man alive in the planet, I will not take you as my man."she said angryly.

"Nina,it was 9 years back. We were kids then. How could you consider that a reason to reject me." I have

Never seen him angry before. But she didn't care. "I have been waiting for you to come of age,for our union. I have never touched or accepted any other women till now. How could you do this to me?" He said. "I don't need to take a holy bath in the cave to find out that you are my mate. I already feel the connection with you and I know, you feel it too. Then why this act Nina?"She took few warning steps towards Waya and stopped in front of him

"This is not an act. What part do you not understand,when I said, I hate you. You kissed her,not me. You gave her flowers,not me,you made her sit on your lap and hugged her,not me.

If you are claiming that you like me,you would have done those to me,not her. I don't want to hear from others,that I was your second choice.

You can go ahead and claim anyone you want. But I will not accept you claim ever."she said pushing him out of her way and walked away. Waya stood there,unmoved. He reminds me of myself,when I got up that morning,20 years back and found that Jaci was gone.

I know,she was or is my mate. I never felt that kind of pull towards any other woman in my clan. Everyone is asking me to claim Malia,after her mate died. But,my heart and mind doesn't recognize her as my mate. I don't want to claim her or anyone,as a matter of fact. I think the moon god wants me to be mateless. I better be mateless, than claiming someone,I don't like. I was bought out of my thought,when I heard Baku chuckling and laughing,making some jokes with his son.

"Hey,you are my son. Don't give up on your woman ever. Do you know,how many times I got my ass kicked by your mother, before she finally accepted me."he said ruffling Waya's hair. "You still get you ass kicked by my sister."I said lighting the mood. Both of them looked up at me,from their crouching position."The women in your family are hard headed....

..Headed your way, Haki. I mean, was heading your way actually."he changed his words,when he saw my sister coming. Both Waya and me Chuckled, seeing,how whipped he was.

"Yes,yes, I heard clearly,what you said. Keep keokuk with you for a while. I'm going to help the women,in cooking." She said handing, her youngest child to him. They have three in total. Her daughter Nokomis,

name was given after my mother,is with other children,playing. I love children. I always had a dream to have lots of them,but...."You know that,you can also have them,once you claim a woman,right?Said Baku. I smiled and took his 1 year son from him. He always sleeps immediately,as soon as I hold him. I think he feels secure around me.

I always prey to the moon god to bless my clan with health and prosperity,

but I never asked for a mate, because if there was someone made for me,

she would come to me, naturally. If not,then be it. "Uncle Aku,why haven't you claim a woman yet?"

asked Waya.How to explain to him that,I lost my Mate. I sighed but Baku answered him."Your Uncle thinks that,he lost his Mate or was taken away from him before,he even recognized her as his."Waya looked at me with a sad face. Baku put his hand on my shoulder and said.

"She is there somewhere,Misun. Don't worry. Or you can claim my daughter,

when she grows up."All of us started laughing, including keokuk. Nokomis,

is 5 years old,sweet little girl. But she fights like a Kahe,when she finds me talking to any other women. She wants to claim me. She has literally scratched Malia,when she was standing too close to me,for my likings. Our laughing halted,when we felt the vibration beneath us. The earthquake has started. I stood up,along with others. We all have to help the others to secure the main entrance of the cave.

Grandma said,it was going to be stronger than the last one. Women and children are sitting in one corner, praying. Men are all gathered around the entrance,even before I reach their. My grandmother is the oldest and the seer of the tribe. She is directly connected to our ensesters and warns us from danger,time to time. We have survived many dangers in the past, because of her. Before Nanna died,she has warned us to avoid this storm,no matter what. But it was too late, before her message could reach the men on the entrance. My brother was gone.

"Aku..Aku,my child",called grandma.

"What is it grandma?"I ran towards her. Everyone was panicking, because this is how she reacted last time,when Nanna left. She took hold my hand, pulled me towards her. "Save her"she said. "Save the child,with moon mark. If she dies, we are doomed."who is she taking about? "Your moon,your soulmate. The spirits are bringing her here. Save her. She needs us. You need her. Save her."she said and then started chanting again. Everyone heard what she said. My soulmate?

The spirits are bringing her to me.

Then it hit me.'The child with the moon mark.' 'My moon' 'Jaci'. After 20 years? How? But,the real question is,how would I go out to save her in this storm? Even if I want to,my people will never let me go."I'll come with you." said Waya. "No. Are you Crazy. No one is going out."said Haki. "I'll go alone." I said and started walking toward the cave's entrance. E do da caught my hands. He shakes his head. "No, don't go. The storm is very strong Aku. We can't even save ourselves. How are you going to save her? This is madeness."I slipped my hands out of his.

"The sprits are bringing her to me. They want me to protect her. She's my mate,E do da. I'll protect her,or shall die trying." I said and walked toward the mouth of the cave. I could hear footsteps behind me. Almost ten of my people were following me with ropes and weapons,including Baku and Waya. "If she's your future wife,then, she's our responsibility too."said Baku. We put hands on each other's shoulder,a sign of unity. Then we turned our heads to look at the people behind us.

We may or may not come back. This might be our last meeting. Haki came with teary eyes and hugged me,then her son and Baku. Other men with females did the same. E do da walked toward me and took his bracelet out,that was gifted by my mother. He smiled. "May your mother's soul be with you."he said catching my nape and joining our foreheads. I took a deep breath and walked away, followed by my best men. While they were opening the entrance,Waya looked back at Nina. For some reason,she was looking at him too.

"If I come back alive,No even moon god can stop me from claiming you."yelled Waya. Her expression was blank. Maybe she's regretting their last fight. Baku patted his shoulder and we stepped out in the storm. The earthquake was making the waves high and mighty. O spirits please show us the path. I prayed. "Oginalii,you are with me?"I asked Baku. "Always" he said smiling. We all caught each other's hand and walked closer towards the shore. "O my moon god. What on earth is this?"said one of my man,when we saw the terrifying sight in front of us.

The quickly elevated waves by the earthquake, and the increased speed of waves, had destroyed everything nearby. I can't see a single tree. The shore is gone. We are literally standing in the water. There are dead see creatures scattered everywhere. No sign of life. "Hold on tite. Don't let go,my people. May the spirit protect us all." I said. "May the spirit protect us all"they repeated after me. We all looked around but I can't see a single human being. O moon god, please lead me to my other half. I called,to my deity. "There" shouted Waya.

We all turned,to where he was pointing. There was this big fish,I have never seen,it is still alive. And over it,there is a woman. I can't see her face,but I'm sure it's a woman. "Let's go slowly" I asked my men. They nod and after a lot of struggling,in the storm,we all reached

Near that woman. "Baku, I'm letting my hand go. Catch me from my waist. Come here, carefully." We all formed a line and I tried to reach the woman,

but could only catch her sack,she was wearing,on her back. So I pulled her by it and my man pulled me by my body.

We went backwards,the way we came. After almost getting hit by a big fish and rescuing,one of our man from flying away in the storm,we reached the cave entrance,with the woman, but we don't know if she is alive. The cave door opened and we were rushed inside immediately. As soon as we were all in,along with the woman,they secured the entrance. All of my people came rushing towards us to make sure,we are unharmed. I saw E do da in a distance. He looked happy,after a long time and cheering every men,who returned.

When his eyes met mine. I saw his happy tears for the first time. Then my eyes fell on the woman,we saved just now. Grandmother,Haki,

Makawee and few other women were tending to her. "Aku come here"said grandma. I walked toward her. They have already changed her wet clothes and wiped her body. The cave went quite,all of a sudden, everyone was gathered around her to see. I can hear wishpering. 'She is beautiful''she is so white, like a dove''her skin is so soft' 'look at her hair.its like gold'.

When I finally saw her face,my heart stopped beating. O moon god,Is she really my Jaci?

Hope you like the introduction chapter for Aku and his tribe. Please let me know with comment. And don't forget to vote for me. 💕