(There will be a small NTR arc. It’s not permanent and is just for character growth.)

  Bongani and I made it to the collection of supplies he was able to pull together. I looked at him. “How did they catch you?”

  Bongani limped heavily as I matched the pace next to him. I had been able to start healing when I got to the edge of the town. Though the scars did not diminish. They would st. “I w-w-was c-coming for m-m-more w-water.”

  Nodding to myself I pulled my trophy back on and stroked the mane. Thoughts of my love filled my mind and the work she put into this. There were two bags of roots, berries, and mushrooms. Three waterskins sloshed full.

  “W-w-where do w-we go?” Asked my male. I took a deep breath looking off into the distance and gauging which direction we should go in.

  “North up the river is the stripped cn. We will trade what we can for hunting supplies. Find out what else we can do about the nds and where we might get stronger.” I started to walk towards the river. It would be a lot more safe than before thanks to the cleansing of the crocodilekin cns.

  My scars itched with the healing as I decided I would stop healing them for now. They would be my marks of shame while I was banished. Instinct told me that Ade had done something with those blows. Something with her feats that would keep me from healing perfectly like I should.

  I waited letting Bongai keep us slow as my heart burned with rage that I had been so weak. I struggled to fight against three normal women. When I would come back I would be a demigod and smite Ade. I grew frustrated with the slow pace Bongani was forcing upon me. Do I waste the healing on him? Relenting I grabbed Bongani and channeled a few points into him and watched as the swelling in his knee faded.

  “Th-th-thank you, m-my Q-q-q-” I grabbed his mouth, silencing him.

  “I am no queen. Do not call me one. You will call me Aphelele. Call me queen I will make you crawl as we walk.” I thrust his face away making him stumble slightly.

  Bongani did not answer but simply nodded. Bowing his head he started walking behind me as I carved north along the river. I took deep breaths trying to calm my smming heart. My pn to have both my mates with me was shattered and now I only had a male to sate me. No matter how much I cared for him, it wasn’t the same.

  We walked well into the night, my ears and eyes on high alert as Bongani began to fg behind. But it was not safe to stop along the path. We would expose ourselves to danger and might as well damn ourselves to a death.

  Haloor can shelter us. I can trade some work in order to get supplies. Maybe see what male she has deemed worthy. I grew so tired when I saw the vilge on the horizon. Bongani stumbled and fell onto his stomach with exhaustion.

  Kneeling down I pulled his arms over my shoulder and hauled him to his feet. “Another few hours and we will be there. Then you can rest. Match male, don’t make me leave you behind.” I could feel him whimper as he moved his feet carrying his weight as best as he could.

  We were met by warriors and not friendly faces. Bows were drawn back and spears brandished as I dropped Bongani to the ground and stood proud on shaking legs. “I was known as Aphelele, I come now as a banished one from the spotted cn seeking refuge and work for a small amount of time before I go forward and find my destiny. I ask for Haloor to vouch for me.”

  Voices whispered through the vilge as rumor of my coming spread like wildfire through the dry grass. Bongani huffed as I looked at the vilge that was our sister cn. Their homes were triangur tall collections of mud and thatch. No doors y upon them. I could see great collections of furs in each of them for a floor. Males walked amongst them, barely smaller than their women. All of them wore waist and chest wraps hiding their god’s gifts from the sky. Men even wore clothes much to my disgust that they would be given such things.

  Haloor pushed her way through the crowd and looked upon me standing there. I could see heat flush her cheeks as her breath caught. A male walked behind her, barely shorter than herself and built well with muscles. He even carried her weapon for her. “Aphelele they said you’ve been banished.”

  I nodded resolutely. “In the time of need I defied our Queen and have been banished from the cn. I ask not for temporary refuge while I prepare for a journey. I head to the north, to the city around the dungeon of the savannah. I will seek a life there for now.”

  Everyone whispered to one another at my statement. One of them stepped forward, “We do not want to bring the wrath of the spotted cn upon us. Turn away and continue.” Half the crowd hupped in agreement.

  Haloor stepped forward, “I say we give her one day. Such a thing will not incur the wrath of the spotted cn. I will shelter her for the night. Her and her male, from my home they will take clothes for the north.” The other half of the group called in their agreement.

  “Bring it to our Chieftess, she can decide.” Said a wizened old woman leaning out of her hut. Two warriors from each side of the argument came and stood beside me.

  “Haloor, can your male take Bongani, my male to rest. He was treated roughly and does not have the strength. If we cannot stay I will carry him out on my own.” I bowed my head to her with the request, trying to be humble.

  Haloor gnced over her shoulder and flicked her head in a silent demand to follow my request as I was escorted into the vilge. I towered a head over everyone that was present, my muscur build impressive amongst all those around me. I could feel eyes on me as the two dozen members of the stripped cn watched me enter the small vilge that paid tribute to my queen.

  I was brought before a young tall woman who was slicing meat away and feeding a collection of children and males. She wore a flowing soft dress not made of furs that swayed just above the dirt. It clung to her legs and outlined her hips nicely. She was telling a story about the creation of the savannah and how we should be grateful to the gods. I stood in silence as I waited to be addressed by who would decide the fate of my next few days.

  She gnced at us only once as we were waiting. She approached me and I followed everyone’s lead and kneel with them. “Great Oba, we thank you for your time.”

  She stood tall amongst them and I could feel a radiant presence ripple from her. An aura of some kind soothing my mind and telling me that she was a leader to be respected. One of wisdom and control over her people with a kind hand. “Haloor, it is pleasant to see you. How was your breeding week?”

  I gnced over at my one time lover who flushed deeply, “My mate performed his duty well. We will see if he succeeded if I don’t get my week next month.” I smiled to myself, the thoughts that they had different ways amongst their warriors, hunters, and breeders.

  “Now, what brings you here with a woman of the spotted cn?” Her voice was soft as she smiled kindly.

  “I have been banished from my cn for five years. I seek a day or two of refuge and a chance to earn supplies to hunt and gather in the wild while I head to the north towards the dungeon town.” I kept my hand bowed, “If you would provide this for me I would be eternally grateful.”

  She bent down and cupped my hand with a hand and brought me to meet her eyes. To my surprise hers were as blue as the sky. Her stripes on her face were barely visible as she kept her smile. “Why were you banished?”

  I swallowed, “I denied the judgement of my Queen. She had deemed me a breeder and I stole the cud and chewed it in her absence. I id with several cimed women without the permission of their mistresses. I assumed a position of leadership when one of my betters was still alive in the vilge.”

  “I appreciate you not lying. You may have a day, you will come with me and earn the supplies you so need.” She pulled me close and whispered something only I could hear. “I’ve never had a spotted woman. I hope the rumors are true.” She stood with a smile and looked down at us all.

  “Rest, get some sleep in Haloor’s home but at night you will come to me in my home. Bring your male with you. I wish to know more about the ways of the spotted cn.” She slid away back to the children who stared at me with an open mouth, my bare chest drawing the most looks.

  I looked at everyone and the constant need to cover up their bodies in a way the spotted cn would never imagine doing so. We were proud of the bodied given to us by the gods. Haloor motioned for me to follow her as we snaked through a collection of six huts and arrived at one that seemed more modest than the rest. Ducking inside I looked around the small quarters. Bongani y curled in the corner, his chest rising and falling quietly as he slept away his exhaustion. Haloor’s male sat as well, the spear set against one of the walls. His body was impressive and well fed.

  A yer of furs y across the ground providing a small amount of cushion for everyone to sit and y down in. Haloor took a spot next to her male and gently grasped his hand in her own. They shared a smile that turned my stomach. Such open affection with a male would be unheard of in my cn.

  I took a seat across from her. Sighing I leaned my head against the wall and felt a wave of exhaustion as Haloor cleared her throat. “Aphelele?”

  “Yes, I have left the cn. Banished, I seek some pce to prepare for a long journey.” I met her eyes feeling the sadness come back over me. The sense of loss and the need to be with Melokuhle and Aphiwe again.

  “Aphelele. You must don our clothes if you are to stay. Same with Bongani. It is not proper amongst our people to be so bare. Can you accept this?” She seemed so uncertain of herself but I nodded.

  “I will don the clothes of your people. If you could give me some I will wear it.” As I was handed a chest wrap I found myself struggling to figure out how to wear it properly. Haloor gently guided my hands and my bust nearly ready to burst from it when it was finally settled in pce. “I’m going to rest now, Haloor. I thank you for allowing me into your hut.”

  Haloor nodded and the sense of emptiness in my chest opened up. I crawled over to Bongani and gently pulled him into my arms. His back against my chest as I closed my eyes and let sleep take me. The exhaustion was too powerful for me to fight any longer.