Melokuhle sat in the hut of Lethabo. Pushing a bone needle through hides to prepare for the leather strips that would secure them together. She had been set to tasks most lesser breeding partners or exceptionally skilled males would do. Her heart was heavy as she thought of her love, out there in the world.
Fingers aching and covered in dozens of microcuts from the sharp edges of the blasted bone Melokuhle closed her eyes and swallowed down the sobs that wanted to escape her throat and cause her to call out for her love Aphelele.
Picking up the cud that would prevent a breeding week she tucked it in her cheek to suck on it until it was softer for chewing. It was her weekly dose of the sacred root, Lethabo giving up her own so that she could fall into a breeding week and carry her first set of pups. Lethabo had become far more important in the clan now that she was the last fully trained hunter. Ade lavished her with allowances of freedom and choice.
It was a trick in Melokuhle’s eyes. If the wrong thing was chosen it would come down hard like a dropped stone to crush the scarred woman. But Ade had also denied all challenges for Melokuhle’s body. Many of the warriors who wanted to spite Aphelele wanted to claim and take her by force. Ruin her for the inevitable and pitiful return of Aphelele. It was causing a mixture of emotions that roiled inside the poor woman’s heart.
With the final pierced section Melokuhle pulled the leather thong out and began to thread it through the holes she had made. It was a longer, more protective wrap for her current mistress. It was made to stretch up over her stomach and cup just under the woman’s breasts to protect her vitals.
Aphiwe had grown distant with her. It was another ache in her heart. A warrior had taken the young girl under her arm and was showing her more ways of the warrior. Something that she knew Aphelele wouldn’t approve of in her final hours before the banishment. The small child had been more studious and if possible more hard working. Sighing Melokuhle looked around the hut at the other women under Lethabo, they were getting ready to see their mistress be bred. There was an excitement for the breeding week as in the hut the huntress had changed.
Finishing the chest wrap with just enough room to slide into before being tied fully into place Melokuhle brought the thick hides out onto the rack that she had built outside of the hut. Task after mindless task was needed to keep her from thinking too much about being forced not to watch the last moments her love had been allowed in the clan.
Slipping the sharp knife from her waist she began to scrape at the hair still on the hides so that it wouldn’t make her mistress too hot to survive while hunting. Each slow swipe down pulled a pocket of hair away.
“Melokuhle,” It was one of the other females. She looked at the work of the celebate woman and nodded to herself. “I’m surprised at your skill, you were trained to fight to be a warrior were you not?”
Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath Melokuhle nodded slowly, “It never felt like it would be my place. My mother had me practice the ways of the maker whenever I wasn’t training with the other girls.”
The woman circled the work looking closely at every tie and stitch. “I hope it fits the mistress. She will be pleased by your work.”
“I must earn the cud, she doesn’t sacrifice it to me because I sit around doing nothing.” Melokuhle shifted the work up to get at more of the surface to continue the trimming.
“A caravan is getting ready to head out with the slaves. I’m glad to be eating more regular meats,” The woman casually talked about the slaughter and consumption of other kin. It had smelled so delicious in the depths of hunger but Aphiwe and Melokuhle had kept strong against it all.
“It will be nice not to have to keep those blasted crocodilekin around with their rumbling and crying out in the night.” Melokuhle felt a gorge rise in her mouth as she contemplated the horrors of what she had seen.
The woman sat down on a stump nearby and propped her chin on one arm. “One of the males and I will be going with them. I’ll have to rely on you to keep an eye on Lethabo and her breeding. It’ll take a few weeks to get to the southern cities and to offload the creatures.”
Not wanting to talk, Melokuhle began to chew on the now soft root and swallow the bitter thick juice that made her face sour. Witnessing the madness of a breeding week was not something she was looking forward to. To remain celebate amongst those moments was going to promise to be difficult as the musk would almost be maddening.
It took hours of the day to shave off the hair and have it ready for Lethabo. All the while she ignored the lazy sitting of her fellow follower of the hunter. She lounged, having a small power of their mistress now that they knew to feed the scarred hunter the reassurance of her being desirable. Aphelele might have changed their dynamic for the worse. At least in Melokuhle’s eyes.
The scarred huntress came back with her fellow hunters all of them carrying the most satisfying sight. A large, fat, and delicious buffalo. The hunting grounds had expanded now that the signs of the lionkin pride had migrated to a different area. Though the clan could no longer poach the beasts they followed, the area they left behind had other beasts that could be reaped.
Melokuhle’s fellow grabbed her skinning knife and walked away. No longer able to shirk her duty now that their mistress had returned. The cry of the recent born infants rang out through the village. Melokuhle took a deep breath as she thought of what it would have been like to see Aphelele secretly take the feat that would let her impregnate women. To carry her love’s seed and children into the world. She could ignore all the mounting and fucking of other people if it meant that eventually she would be the one to carry her children.
Bloody Lethabo came around the hut and looked at Melokuhle straightening the armored leather and they locked eyes. The huntress also missed Aphelele, everyone that had been touched by that magnificent aura that enhanced every touch and feeling felt that craving for it to return.
Lethabo approached and ran her fingers over the leathers. “It will be hot to wear this. Is it worth the protection to need that much more water.”
“It is the will of Ade that you be protected the best we can. No one is as skilled in hunting and tracking than you. The warriors and former breeders seem to be slow in growing. I’d rather not anger Ade again.” Melokuhle took the armor and pressed it against her mistress and started to see if it would fit properly. She had measured three times to make sure it fit properly.
Sighing, Lethabo lifted her arms as it was cinched in place. The guards around her shins and thighs pinched lightly and the two discussed how to make it better. Minutes passed as the conversation went on. Lethabo telling the story of the hunt. “Have you had your cud for the week?”
“Yes, any signs of your breeding week coming?” Melokuhle stood and wiped her hands down on her waist.
“No,” Lethabo deflated, “Ade forced me to take a cud in front of her to delay it until the hunters are fully ready. She… is too strong to deny.”
Both of them stood in silence knowing the power of the leader. “I should find Aphiwe. I’ve arranged for her to receive some lessons from the elders on the Gods. Aphelele wished for her to expand her mind. It is the least I can do.”
“That child, she is being bent by the warriors to be harsher than before. She had been willing to be so gentle before Aphelele was banished. The clan is not a place for such a thing though.” Lethabo placed a calloused hand on Melokuhle’s shoulder and nodded, “Let’s hope you can keep a little of that alive.”
Nodding they separated. One to show the armor off and the other to try and nurture a small girl who had changed so much in such a short time.
