Unleashed Destiny

The fog was thick, making it difficult to see through the dense vegetation.

Hinepare trod carefully. Tamati was a few steps ahead, searching and alert for signs of human life. Their hunger was getting unbearable and they had moved deeper into the forest to search for food before dawn.

They had been walking all night, guided by the starlight that revealed their path through the trees. The moon had long set when they stopped to rest and eat a little from their supplies. They were now on their way back, but the fog made it hard to find the way back to where they started from.

“I see a light over there!” Tamati called out after a few minutes, pointing at something that seemed like daylight in the distance. He quickened his pace and Hinepare followed him with enthusiasm, though she was cautious as well, knowing that humans might be around. It was better to be safe than sorry. She kept her knife ready and held her breath as they descended down towards the source of light. Then she heard voices: some were heavy and deep while others were higher pitched. The language sounded strange — unfamiliar — but they didn’t sound angry or violent; actually, they sounded very cheerful and cheery.

“Wait here, I’ll go check it out first,” Tamati whispered as he walked down a slope towards a cluster of wooden huts surrounded by pools of water underneath a tall rock formation that reached high up into the sky like a wall of stone.

The voices grew louder as he approached them until he could make out what they were saying distinctly: “This is great, isn’t it? This is just what we needed! Now we can have our festival more conveniently!”

Tamati turned back to look at Hinepare who nodded at him encouragingly before he continued forward towards the huts. As he drew closer to them, he realized that what he thought were huts were actually shelters made of sticks stuck vertically into holes in the ground surrounded by low walls built of small stones covered with grasses; each one had one entrance facing east with a hearth and chimney outside that rose above its roof. A strange smell lingered in the air around these structures: it smelt like wood burning as well as something else — something sweet... apples?

Tamati stopped when he reached a structure that looked slightly different from the rest: instead of an opening in front of it, there was door made of white cloth hanging from two large poles between which a smaller pole was situated; next to it was another pole with some kind of cloth wrapped around it so tightly that nothing could get through it — not even smoke or wind it seemed;  there were also several pointed sticks fixed into the ground nearby... spears? He looked back at Hinepare again and noticed several other structures with similar doors facing east too — except these ones had some kind of shadowy figures behind them... people? Why would someone close themselves up inside if they wanted someone to talk to them? And why would they want anyone to enter such an enclosed space when they weren't even behind them?

Tamati slowly peered into the dark interior of this structure cautiously before he finally took his courage in both hands and entered fully into this strange building — just before someone yelled out: "Hey! Who are you?" Tamati froze immediately and turned around slowly — only to stare down the sharp end of one those pointed spears! The person holding it wore nothing but some animal skins wrapped around his body (which reminded Tamati of a kiwi) except for this hat on his head shaped like an egg shell with two long strands hanging from either side (like ears?). This man stood up straight and walked confidently towards him holding this spear ready as if he meant business!

Hinepare couldn't contain herself any longer: she rushed forward and pushed Tamati away from this dangerous looking person just as another voice called out: "What's going on here?" Another person emerged from behind this strange hut-like structure carrying in his hand something which looked like a stick with several twigs attached around its bottom half; everyone else seemed surprised too because everyone including Tamati turned to face him instead... except for Hinepare who remained on guard facing off against this armed stranger whose eyes were already locked onto her while his mouth hung open ever so slightly!