Chapter Two: Desire and Sensibility
"Wake up! Wake up!"
The sound of over excitement roused the remaining women from the tents. Zyra watched curiously from a tree as the girls exchanged ribbons and quickly stoked a fire to prepare a light morning meal. "I don't understand what they're all so happy about," she grunted.
She pulled off a fruit from the tree and bit into it. It crunched and the sweet juice dribbled down her chin. Why consort with men when one could consort with fruit?
Her eyes darted to a brown-headed girl rushing toward her tree and she considered running.
"Don't you dare!" Ginger shouted. "You come down right now and eat! We have a long day ahead of us!" She winked as Zyra slid down the tree. "And I do mean
long
."
Zyra rolled her eyes, "Oh spare me."
After the meal, the women swiftly went to choose which outfits would be best for the celebration. Ginger had made a beautiful white and blue dress that she adorned with black beads and seashells. She saved some fabric to put her long hair in a complicated bun. Her sister who had already mothered a daughter would be wearing her long traditional chieftain garb. The elderly were moving the children into their lodgings as of tonight. It would not be appropriate to let them near such adult matters.
Speaking of which, Zyra looked down. Tiny arms had encircled her leg, a brown smiling face appearing below her. Her niece Nima was a pretty and quite timid that greeted her with a smile instead of words.
"Now Nima," she scolded lightly. "You must go with your aunties."
The child squeezed her leg once more, then ran to the other children. To be truthful very few of them were related. People had forgotten all the ties that the old world had on color or creed. One could always accepted blood bonds to make them sisters. Kyzu and Zyra were a rare exception being true sisters born of the same mother. Ginger was her blood sister.
"What will you wear Zyra?" Ginger asked smiling. "I have a wonderful green and tan dress that would look wonderful on you."
Zyra looked down at her current garb.
The creatures of this land were fast. She wore soft hide boots that laced up all the way to her upper thighs and ended on a curve instead of straight up and down. That way when she knelt and crouched they would not tighten upon her. She wore tan leather hide pants, and a simple hide shirt that had no sleeves lest they get caught in the nature. Her fingerless gloves were also hide and dirty, extending into bracers made of turtle shell to protect her forearm. If she lost her weapon she could use it to help her fight.
She shrugged.
"This?"
"No," Ginger said.
"But why?"
"There's still blood from your kill on your boots."
Zyra looked down and saw the blue stains and frowned.
"I'll wash it."
"Absolutely not!" Ginger commanded taking out a red dress. "What about this?"
"I will wear pants and boots only," Zyra stated firmly.
"Trying to block the entrance huh?" Ginger said a matter-of-factly.
Zyra found it pointless to lie and simply said, "Initially."
Ginger shook her head and went deep into the pile and pulled out a pair of black wool leggings, and a delicate white tunic that was embroidered with blue vines. It was prettier than Zyra preferred, but perfect for what she needed. Her hands stretched out towards them but Ginger pulled away giving her a hard look.
"I will lend you this only if you promise to unbind your breasts tomorrow."
Zyra rolled her eyes and stuck her pinky at her as a sign of annoyance. "You are intolerable...I will bind them loosely."
"Not at all," Ginger sniffed.
"Loosely."
"How many rolls?"
"Three."
"You get one."
"Two."
"You get one."
"...Agreed," Zyra said holding out her arms in resignation.
Ginger smiled in triumph and handed her the clothes.
"I will also lend you my blue earth stone earrings. They shimmer in the light and will make your eyes look like emeralds."
Zyra could see that Ginger truly was looking out for her, so she patted her on the head.
"Thank you."
She planted a soft kiss in her hair and she felt Ginger tremble, pulling back from her grip.
"Goodness Zyra," Ginger said shaking her head with a laugh. "You truly are much too masculine for your own good. I may just have to have my way with you."
Zyra laughed and proceeded to leave the tent. "It is good that I am stronger than you."
She entered her tent and disrobed before deciding with defiance to wear her hunter paint as well. The man who could handle her spirit could have her.
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"YIIIIIEEEE!"
The eve preparation call shot like an arrow across the sky. The women emerged in their garb to quickly consume the middle meal, anxious from an afternoon of purifications and dressing. Instead of tending to herself, Zyra helped her niece by braiding her long soft hair. Kyzu was having her hair tamed into the large Rovian Chieftain headdress by and Elder. It threaded through her locks and made her hair a long silken cape behind her.
"Really Nima," Zyra said to the girl once again on her knee. "You must stop clinging while I brush your hair."
The girl loosened her grip but still held her leg.
Zyra sighed. Nima was such a sweet child only in her sixth year, but she was making things difficult.
"Perhaps she mistakes you for her father and misses you," Kyzu chuckled. "You have been gone on hunts for some time."
Her sister came to stand beside her dressed already, and one of the only two women in the village whom had chosen leg pants.
"Nonsense," Zyra said taking the child's hair and securing the braids with a large wooded clamp. "She simply loves her aunt. Don't you Nima?"
Nima gave her a joyful smile and nodded.
Kyzu laughed and smiled kindly at her daughter. "Ah my sweet mute Nima. When will we hear your innocent voice?"
Zyra lifted her onto her leg and smiled at her handiwork. "She will speak when she is ready."
Nima simply traced down a hunter line on her cheek and nose before giggling and sprinting off to play with a group of children. Zyra shook her head in amusement and proceeded to make sure preparations were complete.
"Oh and Zyra?" her sister called.
"Yes?" she asked turning.
"You look beautiful."
This did not necessarily make Zyra happy, but she responded in kind by nodding respectfully and exiting the tent.
Beautiful...huh.
The earrings were heavy, but she didn't dare take them off with Ginger around.
Idle and restless, she retraced her hunter marks carefully and brushed her hair to flare out imposingly. Then she grabbed a long spear that had a notch for every beast she had killed this month. So far she was up to 23 on this spear.
She tied on a leather head band and walked out to see the women lining up in the center of the village. Ginger stood near the center and took one look at her threw her hands up in exasperation.
"I don't even know why I try! You had to wear the paint?"
"Because you love me?" Zyra suggested.
Ginger rolled her eyes, "There isn't that much love in the world. Well, you will represent us warrior women quite well."
Zyra smirked, sitting beside her sister at the Grand Table. Two others from her troop retrieved their spears as well. She was the only warrior not standing, but she felt no need to stand in the presence of a man. They had no reason to mistrust the Ursie, but if new leadership had taken over, tests of power would be needed. They waited but a moment when they saw the burning torch smoke from the Ursies.
As the smoke drew closer, she could feel herself panicking. Zyra tried to stifle the spikes of fear that stabbed at her heart. She knew of the processes of lovemaking, she knew the touch of pleasure, but the idea of being touched by another frightened her.
What if she did not enjoy the touch? What if her strength failed her and she was forced to endure pain in her most sacred of places? And which among them would be so bold? To view her as prey? The warrior in her wanted blood.
She looked upon the group with feral eyes daring any of them to attempt to harm her. She would wear their bones as a necklace.
"GREAT SISTER TRIBE!" the Chief of the Ursies stepped forward, adorned in fine red and blue robes, shimmering stones on his fingers.
"WE HAVE TRAVELED LONG TO GAZE UPON YOUR BEAUTIFUL FACES!"
The Chief was about 50 years or so, but he was fit and strong. He had strong chiseled features, Native American, he had told them once as he remembered the heritage of his great grandfather. His long flowing black and silver hair seemed more majestic than last time.
Beside him looked to be his sons. One was a skinny nervous looking boy who Zyra did not recognize. Granted, she rarely showed up to these things. He had a decent figure, a blonde with scared looking deep blue eyes.
The other one carried an air of overconfidence and had dark brown eyes that looked a lot less naive that his brother. He was muscular, tall, baring his father's handsome features. But he carried an air of recklessness that had Zyra stiffening and on alert.
"We welcome you with open arms brothers," Kyzu said gently, her soft voice carrying beyond the sound of the crowds.
Zyra could tell many of the men were already smitten with her sister's beauty.
"We thank you," the Chief said softer as though he was calmed by Kyzu's presence.
Then he looked at Zyra with mild amusement. "And who is this one who gazes upon us so fiercely?"
Zyra was startled at being addressed but did not show it.
"She is Zyra. Our lead hunter and..." Kyzu shook her head with a light smile. "My blood sister. She is often away during these festivities."
"Ah," the Chief said regarding Zyra whom simply stared back. "She has your blood's beauty."
Zyra's eyes widen in shock and the Chief simply smiled at her.
Why was everyone saying she was beautiful all of a sudden?
The men looked at her now and she saw they too seemed drawn, if even by word of mouth. She rid herself of her bewildered look and glared icily at anyone who dared look upon her.
Most dropped their gaze but she noticed that the dark eyed son looked at her with amusement. Her mouth set into a deep line and here eyes narrowed, unwilling to be the first to look away. Seeing the staring contest the chief put his hand on his son, forcing him to turn.
"These are my adopted sons Hanto and Rell. They are to be the Ursie tribes leaders when I am gone."
Rell was the blonde one. She noticed he kept his eyes down. She glanced at Ginger whom looked at him like he was food. Yeah, that was her type.
Feeling a pinch she saw Kyzu's hand retreating, her expression never changing. Apparently she needed to play nice.
"Our greetings to your tribe," she said stepping down from her table. She lowered her spear in a sweeping movement.
"We are grateful for this alliance, and beckon you to enter for refreshment and hospitality."
"We are eager to accept your
