I woke up before the two I was with and stared at them long and hard. A myriad of fates awaited me. I was the gazelle that angered the lion and now I would have to face the cws and teeth. I could hear people waking up all around the vilge so I gently roused Aphiwe and Melokuhle. I stared into my mate’s eyes. “Aphiwe, you’re going on an adventure today. I want you to find a rare bird, one that only the quickest of children can catch. Melokuhle will take you out of the vilge until you find it or the sun goes down.”

  Aphiwe looked up at me with bright eyes and I met her gaze. “What’s it called. I’ve never heard of something like this.”

  “It is called the Wackogee. It has bright red feathers and dances amongst the roots of trees. This bird cannot fly but is quick on its feet. Catch us one and it will bring us all great fortune.” I rubbed her ears and head for what could be the st time and smiled down at her. “Behave for your Sister.” My heart called and I bent down and pced a kiss upon her head.

  We got ready and the two I cherished most left. Headed out of the vilge so they would not be witness to what was going to happen to me. I steeled myself and turned, meeting the two warriors that hid in the shade of my home. “Of course the breeder is soft on her little sister. You should have let her see your punishment so she understands where her pce will be.”

  “She will be a greater warrior than either of you. I am ready, bring me to my judgement.” I stood proud and tall. I wiped away any doubt or regret I had in my chest and walked forward. One walked behind, spear pointed at my back as the other guided me to Ade’s tent. I thought of Hathor, I do not yet follow your practices. But please, look over Aphiwe and Melokuhle. Even if I shall fall today.

  More warriors were waiting for me and formed a circle. In the center of them stood my mother, Ade. She looked resplendent in her regalia. Her eyes were hard and measuring as I walked up to her and stared her in the eyes unflinchingly. I promised myself I would show no fear this day.

  Ade raised and smmed her spear and the others followed. She beat out a rhythm leading the women to meet her pace. Then with one final sm the grounds went silent. I could feel the eyes of a dozen more women outside the warriors fall upon me with pity and worry.

  “Aphelele, you have rebelled against your Queen. You have denied your orders and sought to shirk your duty to produce children. You have taken other women’s mates against the wishes of their mistresses. How do you respond to these accusations?” Her eyes were cold and hard, daring me to lie.

  “I have done these things. My pride has been wounded by the decision of my queen. I instead have followed the ways of a warrior, like I was born to do. I took the mates, they desired me. I took the cud, for a warrior carries no children. I secured a mate and male to produce my offspring. In three summers time I will carry a litter as all warriors do.” I straightened my back. “The women can always challenge me for my mates in return, but I will break them.”

  Ade smirked at me and tapped her staff twice on the ground. “Women who are wronged. Who will step forth and cim Aphelele’s mates via combat. Step forth.” Three women stepped into the ring with spears at the ready. None of them moved to lower their weapons for the battle. “These three challenge you. For your transgressions I deem that you are not allowed a weapon. You are allowed no quarter and your life is forfeit should you lose.” Ade smiled as the ring grew and my challengers stayed where they were. “Begin.”

  I was ready, I called forth my magic. I demanded the vines grasp not ankles but weapons. The first of my targets was behind me. I snapped one leg back aimed at the stomach of the biggest threat. It impacted with a suddenness that the warriors did not expect, sending her flying back with her spear cttering and getting gripped by vines. I was far stronger than the st time I had been seen in a fight. I burned another burst of mana releasing a fsh of light to blind my other two attackers.

  Each of them stumbled as their thrusts were disrupted by my magic. Grabbing one spear I shattered it in half and threw the tip to the hungry grasp of my vines. My back was turned to two of my enemies with my focus on one. My ears twitched and swiveled as I listened to everything around me. To my dismay the calls and screams of our watchers made it impossible to hear my attackers. Grabbing my current target I yanked her around in a spin and sent her tumbling to the ground.

  It was just in time to see a thrust that was headed towards my guts. It was foolish to think I could step back quick enough to save myself. I swept one arm down while stepping forward and to the opposite direction to close the distance and eliminate the next attack. From the corner of my eyes I could see my two fallen enemies recovering faster than I would like. Grabbing my enemies elbow I opened her side up for my follow up blow. She attempted to step away, but my grip was too powerful. I spiked a rising hook into her armpit and could feel a sickening pop as the arm suddenly loosened with a scream of pain. I stepped forward with a stomping kick on the side of her front knee and colpsed it inward. She crumpled in pain screaming and holding her shoulder.

  I was halfway to stomping on her jaw when I was tackled from behind knocking us both to the ground as someone took my back with a mounting position and grabbed at my eyes and ears. I snatched her arm and pulled trying to roll us both to unseat her as my ear was gripped viciously sending a spike of pain through my scalp. I ignored it as we tumbled once more. In the tussle I was able to lodge one forearm between my throat and my enemy’s headlock.

  I finally got a glimpse of my other standing opponent and saw her tugging and trying to free her spear to attack me once more. She was making too quick of progress for my own taste. The noose of my enemy’s arms was tightening as I rained elbow after elbow into her gut. Knowing I could not hold back I grasped her cock with an iron grip and twisted. My ears rang with her scream. She released my neck and gripped my arm with all her might trying to free her cock.

  I rolled and mounted her pinning her arms to her side and started to pound her face with my fists. Two solid blows and she was out but rage burned as I shattered her nose and broke her jaw. Teeth spttered out the side of her mouth when I was interrupted by a spear sinking into my shoulder. My arm locked in pce from the metal that was lodged in my shoulder bde and I roared. I lunged forward to avoid the follow up thrust that would have ended me.

  My blood flowed hot down my back as I scrambled away from the dozen or so thrusts that chased me. Three slits along my side, leg, and forearm opened up. I channeled the little mana I could into healing that sealed the blood from flowing so freely before I finally got to my feet. My arm was still useless and hung at my side as I took deep breaths.

  As my opponent closed I kicked up a bunch of dust into her face causing her to splutter and cover her eyes. I was on her in an instant grabbing at her spear and wrenching it aside. I kneed her in the gut but it was a gncing blow that only made her huff hard. I kicked and kneed as I held her spear from her. She danced and twisted out of the way of the blows and capitalized on my one mistake. Missing a kick I was off bance and she suddenly shoved, knocking me on my back. With her leverage she forced the point to my throat and started to push. I fought with all my strength. My one arm was shaking and quivering against her full weight.

  Desperation filled me and I shed out at one of her legs knocking it free. Her weight came down on me and I deflected just enough of the spear to keep me from dying. A rge gash opened up on the side of my neck as it cut deep into my flesh. Ignoring my wound I twisted up and wrapped my legs around my opponent’s neck and squeezed. She fought trying to stand but how she was bent didn’t give her enough strength.

  I tightened my legs with ankles locked together. My one good arm held the spear in pce so she couldn’t stab at me anymore. Her eyes rolled back in her head as she slowly went limp slumping down bonelessly. I continued to squeeze as bloodlust filled me. Until Ade stood above me, speartip lowered to my throat. “Release her, or die.”

  Growling, I let her go and kicked her away. Leaving her limp and barely breathing. I looked at Ade and cmped one hand around my bleeding throat. I kept myself calm as I waited for a single point of mana to return so I could channel it into stopping the blood loss.

  Ade smirked once more, “You have succeeded in the first trial. Your mates shall stay cimed by you. Kneel.”

  I pushed myself to one knee and looked upon Ade. I felt exhausted and tired from the short but brutal fight and the amount of blood I had shed. “What else must I do Ade.”

  She sank her spear into my thighs, cutting the muscle to uselessness as I roared in pain. To my surprise no blood came from the blows but I fell to my stomach. She stabbed my calves next, making them useless. I shuddered in pain as I growled in my throat. “You will be banished for sixty five moon cycles. Bring forth her male.”

  Bongani was brought to the ring. He was beaten and bloody as they threw him on the ground before me. “As is custom a banished woman can cim one of her mates to bring along into exile. I forbid you from bringing one of our women. You have one choice. Take the male, or see him killed before your eyes.”

  My heart hammered, “I will take the male.” I could not see him die. Not when he surrendered himself to me. “You said my mates will be uncimed. What happens to my female mate?”

  Ade smiled and pushed me onto my side as she met my eyes. “The hunter Lethabo has id cim to her and the child. It will be her discretion while she leads the hunting caste on when they will bear children. It is her reward, for the lionkin. Your reward is to live. Do not heal your wounds my daughter, not until you have crawled out of town. The male may assist you, if he is strong enough.”

  Bongani pushed himself to me and tried to lift me up only to fall, his left knee bruised and swollen. I ground my teeth and pced one arm in front of the other. I pulled. The women ughed at what I was reduced to. That mocking high ugh of my people.

  I crawled, banishing the shame in my heart. I had survived, and in five years. I would come back and sy Ade. I had to get stronger.

  (Hello readers! This ends act 1 of Against My Nature. This will be known as the Cn arc. Next we will watch as our Heroine and her subservient male travel the world to find a pce where they will grow stronger. I hope you have enjoyed the writing so far. Please leave a review of my work. All the encouragement helps.)