If he did worship Gods, he had a different word for it. It wasn't surprising, really!
She looked up, alarmed, when he gasped -- but he seemed to be more interested in what she was doing than because he was in pain or choking again. Settling back to her makeshift bandage with a smile, she said, "You seemed friendly." Not vicious or violent, anyway. Falling back on his terms, she added with a grin, "You seemed good. I believe it's important we treat everyone and everything with respect." That concept, too, was probably mostly over his head.
"There," she said, flexing her hand a bit in the makeshift bandage. "I think that will do nicely." Movement from the beach caught her eye, then, and she half-turned to find half a dozen men and women on the shore, each of them armed. They had no doubt been drawn by the commotion in the water when Ha'aeho was choking.
"Step away from it, Akala!" their leader demanded, lifting up his spear.
Akala's face changed rapidly from the warm and cheerful expression to one of alarm, and she swiftly did precisely the opposite. She moved in front of the mershark with her arms extended to either side. She recognized him; it was one of the most celebrated hunters of the village. "Absolutely not, Kai! He's done nothing wrong!"
(OOC: Feel free to just jump in to harass Ha'aeho, love! Yay, plotses and things!)