That night, after Tim took his guard turn, Moana went to sleep a little, or at least tried, as the atmosphere and innumerable dangers of this island made her nervous. But fatigue taking over, the young woman had finally fallen asleep, lulled by the soft and reassuring heat of the campfire. However, Moana's sleep was not peaceful as she hoped.

When her eyes opened, she was reassured to see herself back on the beaches of Motunui, feeling the warm sand again under her feet and enjoying the lush vegetation, and beyond, her village, not having changed at all.

_ "Mother, father, I am back!" she called, rushing to her village with great haste to see everyone again. But as she approached the first huts, the whole island floor began to shake, more and more violently, making Moana almost stumbling. Many trees fell with a crash under the shaking, as the huts. Then, with horror, Moana saw the ground suddenly explode a few meters ahead, lifting a huge column of dirt and dust in the air. She screamed in horror. From the smoke of the crater emerged a giant creature, reptilian, resembling to the one that Kong had killed at the lake, but much larger and intimidating. The creature roared with a deafening roar, revealing rows of sharp teeth and an undulating tongue almost like that of a snake, and taking a step forward, crushed two huts with one of his giant paws.

_ "Moana!!" suddenly shouted a voice she recognized immediately. Her parents, panicked, were desperately trying to get out of their big hut. Seeing them, Moana began to run toward them, but was horrified when the creature's giant paw crashed down on the parents' hut, crushing them with one swift blow.

_ "NOOOOOOOO!!" shouted Moana in tears and helpless, falling to her knees, her hand outstretched toward the ruined hut. The shadow of the creature covered her completely, and the powerful roar echoed in her ears. Raising her eyes, she saw the gigantic jaw with its sharp teeth and the breath of blood and flesh getting closer to her, to devour her. Knowing that she had no chance of escaping, Moana seemed to resign herself, lowering her head and closing her eyes to receive her fate.

_"Moana? Moana, wake up...."

The young woman, her mind still clouded, opened her eyes with difficulty and moaned. She saw the figure of Princess Rapunzel, leaning over her, and shaking her gently by one shoulder. The princess of Corona showed a rather worried face. Rubbing her still sleepy eyes, Moana stood up, catching sight of Tim and Flynn, looking around, watching closely all around. The light of the campfire brought a zone of light, encircled by an immense dark and frightening territory, in which resounded the wild sounds of this terrifying island. Tim had his rifle in hand, while Flynn was armed with a tip burning wood and seemed to light up in front of him to try to see something.

_"What is going on?" Moana asked, puzzled.

_ "I've heard strange noises all around us, and they're getting closer and closer." Tim answered, still watching in front, not at all reassured.

_ "He's right, I heard them too, footsteps all around us ... we're not alone." confirmed Flynn, also on the lookout and ready to use his fiery brand as a weapon. Moana stayed at Rapunzel's side, near the reassuring fire, and listened attentively. Except the sound of the wind and the animals in the distance, another sound was heard, much closer ..... Fast noises and regular ..... Sounds of footsteps, indeed, and also curious grunt sounds ..... The heart of Moana started beating hard, and the nightmare she had just made, the fear was all the greater..... Catching a wooden stick in fire in the campfire, Moana handed another to the princess, who took it. Each being armed to defend himself in case, the small group formed a circle around the campfire, each looking in one direction.

_ "Oh shit ..... look ....." Tim said in his trembling voice. Everyone heard it and looked in his direction. A dozen meters away, in the dark, had suddenly appeared several pairs of reptilian eyes, shining in the darkness, and dispersing slowly around the small group, still emitting these hungry grunts. Because of the dark night, the group could not see the shapes of these creatures, or precisely where they could be. Rapunzel snuggled up against Flynn, and they both stayed close to each other with their wooden sticks in fire in their hands and ready to defend themselves.

_ "Let's stay together, maybe they'll be hesitant to come closer." Moana suggested, and all agreed with the idea.

_ "And let's keep the flaming torches in front of us, that's surely what intimidates them." Flynn said. He was probably right, but they still had to be careful. The creatures' eyes continued to move in the night, getting closer to their preys.

Suddenly, a reptilian and biped creature, measuring a little over a meter long, leaped forward roaring in the flames, but Tim was faster and managed to shoot him with the rifle. The detonation sounded in the air as the animal was hit in the chest and fell to the ground, dead. At once surprised and terrified, the group could see against what he had to deal. These biped reptiles had a long muzzle filled with sharp teeth, as well as large claws bent on their hind legs. Moana and the others shivered with anguish, none of them having ever seen such a creature before. This island was definitely a real reservoir of living nightmares. Even the underwater kingdom of monsters with Tamatoa was less terrifying than this place.

But Flynn had dropped his guard for a moment and suddenly fell forward violently, feeling a sharp pain that made him scream. Another creature grabbed his foot between her teeth and tried to bring him with her in the darkness.

_"Help me!!" Flynn called, struggling and trying to kick the creature back.

_ "My love, hold on!" Rapunzel shouted as she rushed and waved her flaming torch toward the animal to make him run away, but he seemed to ignore the flames. Moana came to their aid and grabbed Flynn's hands to hold him back. Rapunzel did the same.

_ "Tim, shoot!!" Moana insisted loudly. The young man obeyed without tad, preparing a new cartridge with nervousness and eagerness. But as he was about to aim and shoot, another creature came up behind him, knocking him down. The animal scratched Tim in the shoulder, making him scream in pain. Seeing this, Moana rushed to his aid, while Rapunzel continued to help her husband in trouble. Taking her courage in her hands, Moana gave a war cry, and hit the creature's head with the flaming torch, just before this one could bit the neck of Tim. Burned, the creature grunted in pain and fled into the night, while Moana helped Tim to get back on his feet, but also saw the bloody scratch behind his shoulder.

_ "Tim ... your shoulder ..." Moana said, worried.

_ "This ..... It's nothing ..... thank you Moana." Tim was pretending to be fine, but he was suffering, it was obvious.

Meanwhile, Flynn had kicked several times into the creature's head, which still refused to let go. Rapunzel picked up her frying pan from the bag she had brought, and with all her might, hit the animal in the face. The face of the reptile became imbedded in the metal surface of the object. Flynn was able to free himself and stepped back, but limped a lot. Even if the leather of his boot was strong, the teeth had pierced and reached a little flesh of his ankle. Rapunzel helped Flynn come back to the others to regroup. Despite the resistance, the creatures did not give up, regrouping themselves to launch a new attack. This time, the creatures were going to attack all at the same time.

Seeing that Flynn and Tim were injured, Moana did not know if the group would manage to hold. Dawn was still far away and obviously, these creatures were in no hurry to go to sleep. Was it finished? Would they die here tonight on this nightmarish island?

The group of reptilian predators appeared out of the darkness, the glow of the flames reflected in their yellow eyes and on their scales. Emitting sneaky grunts, they began to form a new circle around the Moana group, to block them completely. Their big claws slammed, emitting distinctive sounds, as means of communication between them.

_ "Get ready ..." Moana said without a quick gesture, holding her flaming torch firmly in her hand. The others obeyed, ready to defend their lives dearly. The alpha creature, with a scar in one of her eyes, came forward a few feet away from Moana and stared straight into her eyes. Seeing the defiant look in the creature's eye, Moana had an idea and walked slowly, to everyone's astonishment. Brandishing her fiery torch forward, Moana gave the impression of openly defying the alpha, hoping to intimidate him with fire. The other creatures turned their eyes to their leader. The latter grunted ferociously, and unfortunately for Moana, was not intimidated. Scratching the ground with his claws, the alpha was gaining momentum, all claws and fangs ready, and preparing to pounce on the young woman to shred her.

Suddenly, the alpha was hit by something very fast and massive at the same time, which threw it several meters back. Moana's group was speechless, very surprised. Under their eyes, one by one, the creatures were struck and pushed back in the dark by this great and very fast human figure. In a few seconds, the group of predators had fled, leaving Moana and her group alone with this stranger hidden in the shadows that had just saved them.

_ "I don't know who you are, but thank you very much." said Moana in all sincerity.

_ "You don't know who I am? Coming from you, I'm rather disappointed," the stranger said wryly as he stepped out of the darkness, smiling to her. Moana's face brightened and a big smile appeared on her lips.

_ "Maui!!"

Her friend Demigod was there, alive and well. Moana could not restrain her joy and jumped into his arms, in a strong hug. Also very happy to see his dear friend, Maui also hugged her, lifting her from the ground like a feather, but taking care not to crush her in his strong arms. Moana could not hold back a tear from flowing from her cheek.

_ "I was so scared for you .... I was afraid you would be ..." she did not even dare to finish her sentence, but Maui understood it and reassured her.

_ "It takes more than that to kill me, you know it." the demigod said with a smile.

_ "Um ..." Rapunzel's voice said behind, causing Moana and Maui to turn to the others, a little puzzled by what was happening.

_ "Oh, that's right ..." Moana apologized, a little puzzled "Um... Tim. Prince Flynn. Princess Rapunzel. I present to you my friend Maui, shapeshifter, demigod of the wind and sea .... "

_ "And hero of men, don't forget." Maui reminded her with a wink, which made Moana smile. Maui had not changed at all, and that was what made his charm. Rapunzel, Flynn and Tim seemed speechless at the mention of the "demigod" word, but after what they had seen on this island, they were ready to believe Moana without problem. A little intimidated, Rapunzel greeted the demigod with a bow.

_ "On behalf of Corona, thank you, demigod, for your help."

_"You're welcome." Maui answered with a lot of assurance. Moana watched him, shaking his head nonchalantly, but still with a smile. Flynn wanted to move forward, but made a groan of pain as he fell to one knee. Seeing him, Rapunzel went to him. His ankle was still suffering from the bite of the reptile. Then, Tim, moaned too, before becoming pale and falling to the ground, half conscious.

_ "Tim!" Moana quickly knelt beside him, looking at his condition. The shoulder injury looked worse than expected. Tim was suffering and sweating heavily. Moana put her hand on his forehead.

_ "His forehead is hot. He needs heal, and fast!"

_ "But I have nothing in my bag that can help him." replied the Princess de Corona, a little panicked. Maui stepped forward, taking Tim into his arms. The demigod seemed sure of him.

_ "I know where to go. Follow me."