They could tell she was scrambling to understand what they were talking about but neither of them had ever had to make these introductions to an outsider. Anyone from the tribe grew up knowing their heritage. It was just part of their lives. But Kairi hadn't had that. Like the rest of the world, she would likely see the notion of gods and spirits and part animal hybrids as a laughable and fantastical idea. But thankfully, despite the injury it had resulted in, she had been given pretty undeniable evidence.<br/><br/>"How else do you explain breathing underwater?" Jango asked diplomatically.<br/><br/>Frankie had taken the bottle from Kairi and was sipping it as she leaned on the bar. Her tattoos were dark in the dim light, depicting ocean scenes with a heavy great white shark motif in classical and more stylized fashion. "It's complicated," she began as Kairi asked if they weren't human. She needed to choose her words carefully though since a misstep would cause Kairi to think they were crazy. She probably already did. And showing her more evidence would likely scare the crap out of her. Still, it might be their only option. "Jango and I are part of a native tribe from this island that worshiped a shark god called Nakiki. The stories state that the god favored us so he blessed us by allowing his chosen people to emulate the ferocity and spirit of various species of sharks. Whether that's true or not, I don't know. But what is true is that we're not quite human. We breath under water. We're stronger under water. We have impeccable senses underwater. And to an extent, we can manifest those same characteristics on land too." She gestured at Jango. "Show her. Your teeth aren't as scary as mine."<br/><br/>"I don't know about that..." Jango said with a shrug. Sure, great whites had some pretty impressive pearly whites but makos had mouths that looked like they were full of knives. Or shards of glass. A childhood friend of his had once stated that makos were like the wood-chippers of the Malie.<br/><br/>Jango met Kairi's eyes. "It's gonna be kind of scary but just... bare with me," he warned before closing his mouth. His jaw seemed to widen a bit and when he opened his mouth again, his teeth had turned into tiny knives in several rows and his eyes flared silver. He quickly closed his mouth, willing his face to return to normal. Frankie slid the bottle back toward Kairi in case she needed to take a drink.<br/><br/>"You're one of us, girl," said Frankie, crossing her arms. "It's why you were called here. Any Malie who leave the island are always called back. Anyone with family from here is always called back too. Some people are just deemed worthy of the mantle by Nakiki even if neither they or any of their family have ever been here."