The native language of Lehana Amare and her tribe is an African language called Nyanja.
The only sound that comforted her now was the sound of her birds. She would sit there, giving them free-range, would just watch them move as graceful as ever, feel their beautiful feathers brush against her skin, listen to the sounds they made. The birds were at total peace with her presence. To them she was just another strange looking bird apart of the roost.
"Elsa!" The roosters flew up clucking in a panic at the sudden intrusion. Elsa shielded her face to not risk being scratched on any sharp talons.
When the birds settled she looked up and glared at her older brother.
"Pa says you better quite fucking around with these damn birds and come finish your lessons." Hans rushed out his face was covered in sweat making his red bangs stick to his forehead. Elsa shook her head, her Pa didn't say it like that.
"Tell pa I'll be there in a few I just have to put my birds away." She stood up and dusted off her pants.
"Of course... Ladycock." Elsa rolled her eyes at the horrid nickname bestowed upon her by Hans, ever since she hit puberty at age twelve and her family figured out that their little Ezra was actually a little Elsa. It also didn't help that she was an expert in caring for cockerels.
It was hard coping with the idea that she was a girl for everyone especially her father. The man loved her as a son and not wanting Elsa to feel like an anomaly (even though she knew she was) gave her more love and special attention as his daughter. Agnarr's affections for his daughter doubled when her mother died of a miscarriage because he wanted to compensate for Idunna's missing care. Elsa knew her father loved all three of his children but to him Elsa was special.
Dusting all of the black feathers off of her navy blue trousers and white shirt Elsa began picking up her black roosters with care and ease. They never ran from her because she had been there when every one of them hatched.
She always had a passion for birds ever since Agnarr took her to her first cock fight were he had lost against a close friend. They laughed it off with drinks and food while little Elsa ran off to see the birds up close and from then on she was hooked on them.
Her father fed her obsession by buying her a clutch of expensive Indonesian ayam cemani eggs. Many other neighbors and friends envied her roost of black roosters, hens, and chicks.
Rushing out of the hen house she ran to the main manor taking care to not bump into anyone.
Finally making it to the study she spotted her baby sister Anna dozing off while attempting to read a book on Greek architecture and her father gazing at her with a soft scowl.
"I know, I know I'm late again." Elsa droned heading to her desk but was stopped by a firm hand on her shoulder.
With a sigh her father started his lecture. "Elsa you have to understand that there's more to life than your birds. I'm starting to worry for you."
"But I do-" Before she could start to argue he put his hand up dismissively.
"Before you say anything I have arranged for you to go with Anna to a gathering of some of her friends." Elsa slowly closed her eyes as if what her father just told her was painful.
"I think it would be good for you. I don't want to hear any excuses or rebuttals understood?"
Elsa hung her head at the finalization. "Yes sir."
Agnarr gently lifted her chin and placed a tender kiss upon her forehead. With his lips lingering upon her skin he whispered. "I only want the best for you Frosty." Elsa blushed at use of the pet name her parents used for her sometimes since she was born during the worst blizzard Mississippi had seen in twenty years.
Ending his embrace Agnarr left his children to their studies.
Elsa went towards the sleeping ginger who was using the book as a support for her napping.
Using her forearm she smacked the book out from under her sister causing the girl to hit her head on the desk hard.
"Ouch! Dang it!" When she rose Elsa noticed the red welt that formed on her forehead.
When Anna looked up to see who the asshole was she scowled. "Stinker what did you do that for? Now I have a headache." She whined. The blonde took a seat on the desk.
"Soooo you can't do your lessons with a headache."
Anna scoffed. "Yeah obviously." She pointed out. Getting perplexed from the knowing smirk her sister gave off.
"And you're complaining?" The tone Elsa used hinted what Anna was missing from her reasoning.
"Oooooh." She said finally catching on. They both stood up and ran out of study to only bump into May.
"And where do you two think you're racing off to? Master gave me strict instructions to make sure you complete all of the lesson plans." But the girls were already on the large staircase that led to their rooms.
"I-uh I have a headache!" Anna rushed out.
"And I have to help her with it." Elsa quickly added.
May shook her head at their antics. "I guess I'll alert the master of the convenient turn of health."
Giggling they ran into Anna's room.
"So now we have to find something for you to wear to the party." Anna said while Elsa sat on the bed, the blonde didn't seem too pleased with the idea but deep down Anna was ecstatic. Then Elsa thought about how Anna had overheard her conversation with their father.
She and Elsa had the best times together and she knew that this party would be even better with her sister present. She just needed help coming out of her shell is all.
Anna was aware that most of Elsa's insecurities came from her extra appendage and she always felt like a freak but to Anna her sister was amazing.
"So I was thinking you could barrow one of my dresses since you know you don't own any." Anna trailed on walking to her wardrobe looking through the selection.
"Anna?" Elsa called but her sister began to ramble and there was no stopping her.
"Now most of my dresses are green and purple.."
"Anna?"
"...but I have two blue ones and since I don't think purple or green are your colors I think this really narrows the choice."
"Anna?!"
"So you'll have to choose..."
Elsa knew she wasn't going to get a word in so she stood up and pinched her butt.
"Oh!.." Anna's hand flew to her rear. "Elsa what did you do that for?!" She whined.
Taking the opportunity Elsa spoke up. "Anna I'm not wearing a dress."
Anna opened her mouth but it was covered by Elsa's hand. "You know why remember the last time I wore a dress?"
Anna thought back to when Elsa was thirteen and she was ten. The family went to church and poor Elsa hid behind her mother in embarrassment. During service her and the pastor's daughter, Nelly, made eye contact. Nelly sent a flirtatious smile Elsa's way making the other girl blush.
Elsa's overactive mind began imagining kissing her. Remembering a book her mother gave her about the development of both girls and boys made Elsa begin to think about certain images she had seen, certain words she had read...and Nelly.
After service everyone headed outside for the after service brunch. When Elsa went outside everyone gasped including her parents. Perplexed at what everyone was staring at Elsa looked down to see that her unusual member had expanded noticeably. Hans just simply snickered uncontrollably while Anna attempted to poke it but was stopped by her father.
Idunna took off her shawl and wrapped it around Elsa's waist who was just frozen in place by morbid terror. Ushering her daughter away they overheard her father trying to ease the situation by explaining to the other offended church goers that Elsa was just different.
Elsa shuddered at the awful memory from that day on she never step foot in a church ever again. She felt some guilt but May told her that their Lord was understanding and wouldn't have created Elsa the way he did without a plan that just wasn't his way. So guilt placated itself. Some locals still judge the Arendelle family and saw her as a freak.
"Well at least let me pick you out a suit. Please?" Anna begged folding her hands.
Sighing Elsa nodded making her younger sister squeek then rush to get what she had in mind into an outfit.
Elsa decided to lay down on Anna's bed while the younger girl made herself busy.
"You're going to break your neck!" Lehana Amare ignored her older cousin as she continued to climb what he and her brother stupidly called Monster Peak.
She was determined to do what none of the other children had accomplished ever.
She looked over her shoulder and carefully placed her foot on the next stone.
She had nearly slipped three times giving Mapenze and Chilufya anxiety.
Finally she reached the top of the peaks and waved down at the boys who were gaping like fish.
When she climbed back down her brother began laughing clamping his hand over her shoulder firmly. He couldn't have been prouder of anyone besides the girl who brightened his life every day.
He helped her fix her tunic of gold and blue skirt then her sea blue and green head shawl. In their tribe any unmarried female had to keep her hair hidden as it was considered a sexual aspect of their character and was a treasure only to be seen by family and mates.
Walking back into the village Mapenze scowls were so sour that Lehana Amare turned around and stood on the tips of her toes and ruffled his curly light brown short hair.
"What is the matter cousin? You are making the air hard to breath in with your mood." She jested while skipping backwards.
Instead of answering his cousin, Mapenze turned to Chilufya. "We are going to be men soon and should not encourage irresponsible behavior. She could have hurt herself."
Chilufya shrugged. "And if she did hurt herself she would have learned from her mistake. As father says our role is to not protect her from life but prepare her."
"Still that doesn't mean we have to encourage reckless behavior. She's only of fourteen years. Do not forget we must also protect her." Mapenze argued as they entered the royal halls.
The guards opened the enormous double doors for the trio as they entered the small court. Chilufya and Mapenze stood tall and proud as they approached the king and queen who were seated upon the thrones. However Lehana Amare ran to her parents and jumped upon her father's lap while her brother and cousin knelt down on their knees in a respective bow.
"Chilufya as custom for your last acceptance ceremony during your name day you and I will go and hunt the meal for the celebration." Maliro instructed. He paid no heed to his daughter playing with his greying beard.
"May I come along too uncle?" Mapenze asked a hopeful ring in his voice.
"I'm sorry Mapenze but this something for Chilufya and I to do alone." The disappointment evident on his features Mapenze nodded.
"When will we leave father?"
"Tonight."
Lehana Amare turned in his lap with a pout on her young pretty, delicate, features using the big kitten eyes that her parents often fell victim to.
"May I come?" She asked in her light melodious voice.
"I'm sorry my flower but you must stay here it could be dangerous." Maliro had to look away from the girl in fear of caving in to her will.
Amai chuckled then stood. "Come on Lehana Amare it's time to start getting ready for sleep."
Lehana kissed her father tenderly and followed after her mother.
That night Chilufya followed his father through the thick bush expertly stalking a buck.
Maliro signaled to his son to strike. The other man nodded and threw his spear that soared through the air silently striking the deer in the haunch.
The animal cried out and ran off with speed the two warriors could never match.
Maliro and Chilufya tracked the deer to the end of their territory border.
"Perhaps we could turn back father." Chilufya suggested but Maliro shook his head.
"No we must be home before sunrise to prepare for your ceremony. This territory belongs to the Small Lawi tribe they will not trouble us we have an agreement." with that Maliro moved forward after the injured animal with his son in trail.
When they were deep in the Small Lawi's territory Chilufya spotted the target and raised his spear slowly to strike but his father put a stern hand on his arm.
"Why did you do that it got awa-" Chilufya was about to protest but he was shushed.
"Hush something isn't right..." slowly Maliro figured out that they were not the hunters but the hunted.
An arrow shot at him cutting the air a breaths width away from Maliro's face instead penetrating a tree.
Six armed men came charging through the bush. Chilufya examined their attire and noticed it didn't match Small Lawi or their colors.
Instead it was their more savage rival tribe Chiphe Mikondo. Maliro looked to his son who looked back lowering their spears.
"What do you think you are doing False King? Hunting on our lands without permission." A lanky dark skinned man with a half shaven head stepped forward. His harsher dialect and ancient was apparent.
"Moyo Wankhanza this land belongs to the Small Lawi tribe." Maliro confirmed crossing his powerful arms over his chest.
"Ha! That is where you are wrong the weak tribe is now a conquered tribe and this land belongs to Chiphe Mikondo now." Moyo growled out.
"And when did this happen?" Chilufya finally spoke up trying to keep his voice strong.
"Yesterday night." Moyo confirmed.
"And how were we supposed to know that?" Maliro sharply looked to Chilufya, the boy had to keep his sarcasm which he got from his mother in check especially when talking to a rival tribe.
"That is your problem not ours. Know now that I have every right to kill the both of you right here where you stand." The air thickened ominously.
"Well then I can't just let you sit there and kill me so I would have to point out that I have the right to challenge you so I will...I Mfumu Maliro amphamvu bambo of the Ambuye Wa ndi Zouluka Madzi tribe challenge you Moyo Wankhanza of the Chiphe Mikondo tribe to a duel of death. May our souls give us strength."
Maliro wanted nothing more than to get his son away from this place and back home. He gave Moyo a choice, he could refuse and look like a coward and have a great disgrace over his head for all his days or he could accept but Maliro was no fool. If Moyo did accept then it would not be a fair fight considering Maliro himself was bigger, stronger and a better warrior, probably an arrow from one of his men to his back while they fought and they would most definitely kill his son.
All Moyo had to do was answer in the customary way. "May our souls give us strength."
"Chilufya run home." Maliro said with so much strength to intimidate his son that Moyo's men could have sworn the ground shook.
"Bu-" Before his said anything Maliro sent him a look. His mother and sister would need him.
So before the other men could react Chilufya turned and ran as fast as his feet would carry him. He prayed for strength as he heard the sound of Moyo's warriors behind him.
"Bind him." Moyo ordered to the others that stayed behind. When they hesitated he turned to them with a gleam in his eye. "If anyone asks I defeated him in combat. Now bind him and you will be rewarded with riches and more women then you can count."
Persuaded the warriors overtook Maliro and made him kneel before Moyo. The king looked at them disgusted then to the stars. "Ancestors accept me into your heaven. Bless my son's legs and protect my family." He closed his eyes as his soul hummed ready to be set free of this world.
Chilufya felt a surge of energy pushing him forward as he thought of his family and where he was running to. Home.
He come to face a high cliff that contained a waterfall. He couldn't count how many times he and Mapenze jumped off of the great falls back home like most of the adrenaline filled young men wanting to prove themselves so without hesitation he jumped diving down.
His pursuers halted in their tracks as the Prince disappeared under the surface. They waited for forty seconds before returning to their supposed king.
Lehana Amare hummed with delight as her mother combed her fingers through her curly dark brown hair. She had some difficulties with how thick her daughter's hair was.
Once it was untangle Amai hugged her from behind. "Mmmm you're so beautiful...absolutely gorgeous..." Amai kissed Lehana Amare's neck.
Then after some silence the queen broke it. "You take after your mother."
Lehana Amare chuckled and smacked her arm away. Her mother and she were like twins. Her best friend.
"How was your lessons with Dalisto today?" Amai asked sitting on her daughter's bedding.
"Mm good. He says I am a very fast learner but I don't see why I have to learn different languages." Lehana Amarem joined her mother on her bed.
"Because he says the ancestors said it is crucial for your future." Amai answered wrapping an arm around Lehana Amare's shoulders.
"How does he know them?"
"He had to learn them along with other important information for the tribe like all Mneneri on their ulendo." Lehana Amare thought hard looking out her window to the stars wondering what her ancestors had in store for her.
"What languages have you been doing the best in?" Amai asked breaking Lehana Amare's train of thought.
"Spanish, English, and Latin." she confirmed.
Before Amai could ask how to pronouce a few words in Latin a servant busted through the doors. The queen stood up furious at the intrusion.
"Your majesty please forgive me but it's Prince Chilufya!" The servant panted.
The queen and princess ran down the corridor hall to Chilufya's room to find him bruised with bloody gashes being tended to by a healer.
"Chilufya!" they both yelled simultaneously rushing to his side. His mother lifted his chin to see tears in his dark brown eyes.
"What happened?" Amai questioned.
"Where is papa?" the younger girl noticed her father's absence.
"We were hunting and wandered into the Small Lawi territory to only find out they were conquered by the Chiphe Mikondo..." Amai gasped as a lump settled in her stomach.
"Moyo accused us of trespassing so father challenged him, he accepted but they would have killed us in cold blood so father to me leave and I ran as fast as I could...like a coward." Lehana Amare shook her head at his self-accusation.
"If father said run then you run. What good have you been to us dead?"
Their mother nodded turning back to her son. "Your sister is right what good would you have been dead."
He nodded still feeling like he abandoned his father.
"Is there a chance papa is still alive?" Lehana Amare innocently asked.
Her mother wanted nothing more than to comfort her child and say Maliro was alive even to convince herself, it would feel so good but for how long? No this was reality and she would not protect her daughter from it.
"Moyo would not have spared your father no matter what..I'm afraid he.." Her voice cracked as tears fell from her face.
Lehana Amare watched as both her brother and mother broke down in pain. She held her sorrow back to comfort theirs. She could mourn in private but right now they needed her.