When the sun sank below the tallest palms he lit torches and made his way back to the eastern shore in time to see four men dressed in malo pull a good sized sailing waka onto shore. A fifth man, cloaked in dog fur, remained in the vessel urging the rest to hurry. He recognised the terrible growl of Faturaki, the ancient Tohunga and his adoptive father, and rushed towards the waka intending to help pull, but Faturaki spotted him first and leaped from the side into the shallows.

  “My boy!” Faturaki hobbled towards him.

  “Slow down old man! You’ve only got one good leg!”

  Howaru stopped a foot or two away from him before placing his right hand on Faturaki’s left shoulder, leaning in. Faturaki did the same and the two men pressed noses.

  “We are are alive to share breath again,” added Faturaki and stepped back. “It truly is you son. I was worried for a bit we had sailed to the wrong island. I remember you said before you left you wanted to head northwest chasing the Manōkalanipō star.”

  Howaru looked out to sea pointing, “there are many small atolls on the Ko’olau bearing but I chose this one because it lay directly under. I knew it would be the easiest way to find me should anyone come looking.”

  “So you weren’t trying to escape for good then?”

  “Never was my intention to be gone forever,” said Howaru. “Just didn’t want to be found so easily anymore.”

  Faturaki nodded. “It took some time after you left to understand your decision. Many people were devastated. Entire villages went into mourning. Your adoptive tribe Feke almost went to war over you.”

  Howaru raised his eyebrows. “Because I left?”

  “Because the champion of Kafiki abandoned his island. The son of Takaroa.”

  By now the crew had also arrived to greet him, three men and a woman, and he noticed they were all marked in the style of Feke, tattoo patterned across their thighs with bands on the ankle and wrists, wearing either malo or skirt.

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  Faturaki leaned back and observed him further, and for the benefit of the crew proclaimed, “He looks and sounds like Howaru! A bit starved and beaten but he has the stature of the man. Larger than all but the gods themselves. I don’t think you’re a taniwha in disguise? Are you?”

  A couple of the crew laughed and Faturaki smiled and continued, “I was right wasn’t I? All that Matavai gossip had you all convinced. Even the rest of the island. Nine tribes deluded by the chatter of noble parrots. Fools, all of you.”

  Howaru frowned, unsure what his father was saying so asked, “what has happened for you to come out all this way?”

  “We have much to discuss but not now son.”

  Howaru turned to the crew, the nearest of which had stepped to greet him. Howaru recognised the man immediately - short and round with a wide nose and smile to match - his old friend and fellow warrior Galaiga. “Gala!”

  They pressed noses. “When they asked for men to hoe to find you I was first to stand brother!”

  The next two were Tufukia and Tu’unaga, brothers and middle sons of the Matavai chief Kuanua. Both young men were built as top heavy as their father and with the same curled red hair leading to yellow on top, and blue eyes. Last to greet him was a young woman of slight build. She introduced herself as Sinakoa who after pressing noses said with surety, “Faturaki knew you were here all along and I believed him. It was the rest of the island who were listening to the cries of the Matavai ariki, blaming you for their stolen children.”

  “Me?” Howaru turned to Faturaki. “Then your arrival is to ensure I am still out here and that is all?”

  Faturaki’s grin flattened and he replied, “It’s more than that boy. You will need to keep your ears open and your attention fixed on my words.” Smiling again he added, “But that’s for after we feast. You look starved like a palm after a storm, nothing left on you. What have you been eating? I hardly recognised you with the beard and all that bone showing.” Now turning back to the crew he barked, “You four, bring the mats and the provisions set aside! Make sure you bless and bleed it right! Do it on the shore before bringing it past the beach and use Takaroa and Tawhiri! We should try and get the gods ears while we’re back on land. Go!”

  Howaru watched the crew race towards the waka hoping to catch sight of the whatever was set aside. Faturaki waited until they were out of earshot and said, “you are alive and that is all that counts right now!" Faturaki slapped Howaru hard on the back.

  Howaru “now addressed the ocean. “Takaroa! You have sustained me. You have saved me o great ocean! My mana grows stronger!"

  Faturaki followed Howaru in a prayer to the ocean and then the sky, and finally his ancestors guiding him, thanking them for assisting him on his voyage to find Howaru. When the men had finished their prayers and the rest of the crew had returned carrying kete loaded with food, Howaru led them towards his shelter, excited to finally be among people again.