This was not originally our home. As the story goes all five of our tribes originated as one, led by one of the strongest and bravest Chief's our kind has ever seen. At least, that's what we were told. The land we originally came from was overrun by beings we call Shades, a human shape shifter during the day and a black flaming shadow by night, they plagued our tribe and threatened our existence. Every attempt at fighting against them led to more death and despair. They had no known weakness, and none of our weapons were affective against them in their shadow state. They never attacked us in human form, hiding during the day and immerging when they once again became invulnerable. While we gained a few victories through day time assaults on their camps, the losses we had suffered were so severe that we were almost wiped away. Taking his best men and women, the tribe moved away, to a land far away from any threats, and came to inhabit a new land, the lands we know now. The journey was taxing, and only five women remained, whom the Chief gave to his five most seasoned and proclaimed warriors. After clearing a space for the tribe to settle down, the Spirit of the Land rebelled against the tribe and cursed the Chief, filling him with greed. As he had no wife of his own, his greed overtook him and he bonded with all five of the women through force, leaving them with child. Shortly after the warriors rebelled, killing the Chief in his sleep. All five couples split away, signing a pact with the Spirit of the Lands that they chose and creating the five tribes as we know them today.315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8V7uLViM1F
To safeguard the tribe and ensure that the guardian spirits were never angered again, our ancestors agreed to offer a woman to the Spirit every twenty years, a virgin, never bonded or touched. This woman was to be chosen by the Spirit, and would often have contact with the Guardian within the first couple years of life. When the chosen received her blood moon and was able to bear children, she would perform the ritual that started her service to the Spirit. This ritual included strict prayer and solitude, where the Spirit would test her mind and then appear before her to check her body for any signs of penetration. No help could be offered during this time, and if the girl survived and passed she would return to the village to receive her Blessing. After her ten years were concluded, the Spirit would appear again in human form and bond with the woman in front of the entire tribe, destroying her human body and devouring her soul. Their sacrifice would ensure the tribe was safeguarded from any threats, and guaranteed protection and stability were all our ancestors ever wanted. These chosen women have come to be known as Priestesses. For a Priestess to abandon her duty and bond to a human would mean destruction for her entire tribe, and result in her agonizing death.
This was the origin story we all came to know. But no other information was ever offered to us. Any inquiries about Shades, or these Spirits that were suppose to protect us, often gained us a scolding instead of answers. Leaving entire generations in the dark...
... and unprepared.
* * *
The day had been perfectly mild with a dismal beauty that hugged every smile and every shadow. The weather remained overcast with an occasional ray of hope peeking through the wall of gray until the sun's slow decent into twilight when the clouds finally dispersed. A melody of oranges and reds sprang across the sky like fingers yearning for the darker more secluded corners of the universe.
He stood on the outlook surveying the valley that was laid out below him. In the place where their village once stood was a lush green open field over growing with wild flowers. There was no sign of the ash or burnt structures that he remembered as if it were yesterday. The valley had recovered so well it seemed as if no one had ever lived there. Just a normal spring day.
He turned to look into the cave he had found perfectly hidden on the side of the nearest mountain, and his eyes laid to rest on Taiga's motionless body. When he had finally gotten her to a place he deemed safe, she had fallen so deep into death that even his very life essence almost didn't save her. Her body had been burned so badly he had had to rebuild her. The process only took him maybe 6 months, and only because he was so picky about making sure he built her back to look like the Taiga he loved, with a few modifications. A rebuilt body never aged or grew and he couldn't bare the thought of her soul being trapped in the body of a girl, so he made her into a woman. He deemed her body's age to be around 23 years, with her beautiful dark mocha skin and black luscious curls, now equip with a perfect hour glass shape and fully developed breasts. A soft smile consumed his face and he sighed, turning back to the rays of the disappearing sun. His body began to flake off the flesh and it disappeared into mid air half way to the ground, giving way to a wide shouldered, seven foot tall translucent body of black flame with no face.
It had been two years.... two whole years and she still refused to wake. Two years into what he feared would be an eternity of loneliness. It was enough to make anyone go insane. He refused to give up hope. She was strong. She could get through it.
The cold wind flew through his body into the cave and he sighed, letting his shadowed body disappear completely, pretending for a moment he didn't exist at all. .
* * *
Her eyes opened slowly, adjusting to the light that was streaming in from the cave entrance. Unable to focus, she blinked over and over again until the curves of the cave ceiling became clearer. When she moved her head slowly to the right she spotted his frame standing poised against the case wall. His muscular build, square face, dark hair and beautiful light brown skin were all familiar but she couldn't place him. He was gorgeous and she wanted to watch him forever, admiring his body while he guarded the cave, guarded her. His hair had grown out quite a bit and sat right above his shoulders, a black wavy mess.
Closing her eyes she relaxed, attempting to move parts of her body one by one. Legs, arms, fingers, toes, all still intact. When she attempted to sit up, she was surprised how well she moved. It was effortless despite feeling stiff. Bringing her knees up to her chest she forced herself to recall everything that had happened. Koda, his betrayal, the destruction of her village, and how she had let her body burn. Her hands opened and closed at her sides, and she brought them up as her eyes focused on her palms. There weren't any burns anywhere on her body. Not a single one. Then her hands moved to her chest and she squeezed her boobs softly. They hadn't always been this big, had they? She couldn't quite remember. Her head throbbed softly when she attempted to remember. The pain contributed to a small moan, alerting the figure in the entrance way.
When he turned to face her and their eyes met, she knew exactly who he was. Koda. Wait. No. That wasn't his name. He wasn't Koda. Anger rose too quickly in her chest and she attempted to quell it. His face contained a look of mixed shock, admiration, and love, and he stood rooted to the spot as he held her gaze. When he took a step forward, Taiga jumped to her feet and backed away. He took another step towards her, only for her to back away further. When she hit the back wall of the cave she poised herself to attack him. He moved half the distance towards her and then stopped, watching her carefully.
"Don't... Don't come anywhere... near me," Taiga growled at him, her words strained and hoarse from years of no speech.
"Taiga. You woke up." His words were full of happiness and she hated him for being happy. How could he be HAPPY. After all he did he didn't deserve to be happy.
"Shut up." She spat, launching herself at him. A solid punch into his abdomen knocked the wind out of him. He had forgotten about her strength, and was about to dodge her incoming kick when she lost her balance. His arms were immediately around her, catching her before she hit the ground.
"Let go of me. LET GO!" She screamed struggling against his grasp and beating against his muscular chest. He loosened his hold on her but he didn't release her. Exhaustion overtook her within minutes and her struggling turned into a harsh wheezing and the inability to move her suddenly heavy body. Her eyes were wide in fear as he held her close, asking him for answers.
"Taiga, you've been in a coma for two years. You are weak, you can't push yourself this hard yet." His voice was warm and calming and she relaxed against him, his familiar smell flooding her nostrils. The nostalgia of their ten years of friendship made her heart ache. Two years. Two whole years. How? How did she survive? How did she eat? There was no logical reason for her to be alive right now. When the wheezing calmed down a bit he laid her back down on her bed of leaves.
"Rest, Taiga. I'll go hunt for some solid food."
She nodded briefly. Food. Yes.... yes she was starving.
Tomorrow.... tomorrow I will end this.
When she closed her eyes she fell asleep within seconds.315Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvWRE9hceE
