y

G

recision that sends a jolt through me. "Aah...

sucks harder on my clit. My thighs clamp her head and my fingers dig into her

e and I can feel myself getting close. My hips move on their own ac

are loud as my body pulses, tightens, and trembles. But Sarai doesn't le

ust and her mouth and chin glistening with my juice

tuck a strand of hair behind her e

Hope you're feeling be

go talk to Maa now," I breathe out, swinging my legs off the bed and standing up. I pull my trousers up to my waist and

at me. "Al

on her cheek. "See you late

the forest. The evening air is cool and calming as I jog through th

nd my messenger parrots that are sat on t

et simultaneously

n in my muscles that Sarai helped me elevate returns. What

utside h

ll the parrots. They turn to e

a bear that Maa killed. Maa is... formidable. She is the leader of the two Matrikas who govern our islan

ve it is covered with all of my life accomplishments: drawings, medals and trophies-all hung

ves me very much. That has always been my biggest strength

now you want this. You have trained for this. You

in," M

mirror and is wrapping a mu

forms between her eyebrows, her nose scrunches ever so slightly, and her lips press

the muslin roll from her h

is it. This is m

my reflection

Nysa. "Can I

e replies in a clipped tone that normally would

en much better since then. You've

ays when I reach the e

watch her struggle to fasten its end to the rest of the bodice. I sigh, take the pin from her h

ehind her ears. She bunches it up, slices the ends with a pair of scissors and tosses the chopped-up

rowd my head. I bite

ll of damp soil after heavy rains envelops my senses. She rubs

se scents with woodsy or musky tones for th

n smell like? Th

fore placing the bottle of

es meet mine. "Curiosity about him

live and well. Two of the Matrikas journey back to Valoria twice a year during the night of the Muc, accompanied by a select six High Warriors-warriors they personally select and

h Warrior. Since then, I have trained tirelessly to become worthy of the title. But no matter how good I am, Maa n

s as men and go to Valoria twic

at the foot of her bed, she pulls out the clothes that I have long assumed the army of Valoria wear

ld we live in. You cannot shield eve

users down her waist and then hastily

part of life. He is the other half of th

rewing feeling in my stomach. Something is not right. I want to-no, I need to get to th

lams down on the

fear in them before it is overshadowed by

hade of forest green. Veins, like tendrils of darkness, trace intricate

n taking your med

s dying or worse. Thank goodness Maa figured it out and calmed me down. She concocted an herbal mix

preads. I look at Maa's reflection in the mirror. A ghost of a hand grips my throat and

u should ha

when I try to spea

ll make i

ow Maa out. She quickly pours some water into a pot and places it on the fire in the chimenea. While th

and pours some into the bowl. She mixes the concoction and

reath, and down the atrocious concoction. In a m

to make changes to your dosage. But I will ch

re is in the library on illnesses and found nothing. Only Maa seems to know

e tonight. It will be best if you don't come see us off in the evening." So that

rap my arms around her. "Take care of

Always," she says a

of going to the dock to see

tree above my head, its branches reaching out like an evil witch's fingers toward the ni

ey end up on the topics they

ey have short hair, lack breasts, and, from my observations of mammals, possess a penis instead of a vagina. They might also be larger than us. When I ask

on-replies are st

age is on the outskirts of town so it isn't uncommon for an animal to wander into the backya

wolves, a few mountain lions, and bears living in the forest. Although they usually

y weight would make a sound like that. My hand instinctively reaches for the bow that

h my veins. The possibility of getti

iver. I take a look. It is fully stocked. Perfect.

ly thicken the farther you venture from the cottage. The crunch I heard came from

one of the best huntresses of Nari. It isn't going to surprise me. I

nt. Then, a few leaves rustle and I spot a bush

y. A whimper. A

a deep grunt

animal makes th

ows of the woods and falls to its hands and knees on th

hat is wide and muscular, almost unnat

arrow has only

n a woman this big before. I di

covered in a thin layer of sweat and she is shivering. A bloodied rag is wrappe

in is burning hot. I don't know who she is or what has happene

her back. Her eyes are half o

d, defined abs. The piece of animal skin wrapped around her hips has come undone, dis

ga