Wild Girl Chapter 5

a fishing trip to the coast

Sun was hot on Koa’s head as she rode Star along the stony arc of Waimalia Bay’s beach. Most of the valley people did their fishing earlier or later in the day. Noon was best for her visits there, if not optimal for catching fish.

Immense cliffs streaked with black lava towered close to a mile in height on either end of the beach. A white curtain of waterfall tumbled from one side, fluttering as it fell to the sea. Waves beat the stones of the beach, pushing them forward and growling as they retreated, rolling and grinding the lava to pebbles over time. The sound was unique music punctuated by the click and clack of Star’s hooves on the rocks. 

Ella had told Koa that there was a place on the right side at the top of the cliff where outsiders gathered and looked down at the beach. But all they would see was a lone woman on horseback; nothing to be concerned about. No one could reach nor recognize her at that distance. 

Koa kneed Star toward the fallen log. She stored extra tackle in the hollow underneath, along with knots of tangled line that she carefully retrieved when other fishers discarded it. A palm frond hat was stashed there too, and as she donned it, Koa sighed with relief both at the cessation of sun on her head and the added layer of anonymity. Star stood quietly beside the log, nosing about, and Koa rewarded her with another guava, and hopped on again. 

Up ahead, Koa spotted a couple of ulua poles set up on the beach. She glanced quickly around.