The morning had finally arrived, the bright, golden star lighting up the entire world that began to rise from the clouds. The natives had all woken up, as it was a custom that they must do so before the full sun rose above the horizon. Star, who was still asleep after finding it hard to do so, struggled to rise; the memories of that strange, childish woman felt like a dream, but something about the whole thing felt so real.
Cracking the bones on her hand, she could finally start the day by finding where the Flame was kept. Since her injuries no longer burned, she was certain that he was doing well. Before she rose from the bed, made from the furs of big, brown animals, the elder had arrived just in time to attend to the young lady.
"It is very good to see that you are awake," he said with a relaxed tone, relieved that no other harm was done to her because of her injuries. "Come, child, I believe the leader of the tribe seeks you"
The leader? Who was this leader? When they had first met, from the way this elder was adorned, she had thought he was the only one with high authority, but it seemed that there was a higher one. Taking the elder's stretched out hand, she was helped up on her feet as she followed him from behind, leaving the room she was forced to sleep in back to the curious glances of the native tribes.
Stepping into the bright sunlight, Star felt a strange sensation in her body; it was surreal but peaceful, her lungs opening up as the effect of this area enabled her to breathe in and out with no trouble. As she stepped forward, the feeling of a small, soft and warm hand tapped her wrist, glancing to her right where the feeling came from, one of the many male children stood, his innocent eyes glaring into Star's heart. Taking a small object from his pouch, he held Star's hand, slipping it in; it looked like jewellery, consisting of various precious stones with many colours.
"A sign of friendship, courtesy of our tribe," the elder mentioned.
Star couldn't hold back a thoughtful smile. The tribe was a peaceful place, filled with beauty, and this sudden feeling filled her with a type of pleasure that the beasts could not give her after she had slain them. Continuing her walk, not before expressing her gratitude with a kiss on the child's forehead, she followed the elder, leaving the young one's heart beating rapidly, only to be teased by his friends.
Arriving at what the natives called the 'Great Fortress, ' the structure that stood low from the others, the elder walked up to it, taking each step on the platform as it creaked. Star hesitated, her demeanour displaying uncertainty. Who was this leader of theirs? What could they need from someone as common as her? But it was quite important that she must be acknowledged by him, seeing that she was a stranger in the eyes of the natives.
Swallowing every drop of saliva in her mouth, she walked forward, taking her first step into the wooden platforms that advanced her forward to the entrance leading into what would be considered the throne room. The elder who waited patiently pushed the door open, causing it to creak. Star couldn't hold back the anxiety she felt just as she gazed into the room.
Inside this room, many ornaments were hung, a wooden throne at the end of it shrouded in blackness, and beside this throne, making a path in the middle were seats which could be for the elders. Gazing at the throne, Star could spot a pair of hardened legs, but the torso and face of this person were shrouded in black.
"She is here," the elder muttered out loud.
The Star jerked back as he said this, because this had caused the leader to rise from his seat and approach the young woman. The man was tall, his figure quite imposing, filling the young woman with a fear that most men had never felt. In that moment, she felt like she wanted to run, maybe escape the fate of facing such a creature.
The figure stretched out his hand, placing it on the young woman's shoulder. It was soft and feminine, but the face was what would frighten her, so she thought. Bending into the light, the true identity of the leader was revealed, and Star couldn't believe her eyes.
Sharing the same thoughtful but eerie smile while being adorned with a crown made of flowers on her head and a cloak to cover her dishevelled attire, and the tattoos embedded on her thighs and arm were none other than the Rain, her tall form being far too overwhelming than the last time they had met.
"It seems we meet again, little one, thank the goddess of the rain," she said, taking her hand from the young woman and putting both together as though she was praying, but her demeanour was quite playful.
The Star was shocked by what she witnessed, though she was calmed; the shock remained as she never knew this was possible. In many tribes, the women were considered slaves, wives and workers while the men were given great responsibilities. Freedom wasn't something that every woman had, since the beginning, the first woman was bound to the first man, forged from his bone; therefore, she was to listen and be under him.
But what had taken her aback was the fact that such a playful woman could possess such authority, "It is you!" she said, her eyes widened, and her lips parted as she pointed at the Rain.
The elder, who was new to this information, raised an eyebrow, "You know this woman, my queen?" he inquired, gazing at the two women, his focus mostly on the leader, who smiled proudly, her eyes slightly squinted.
"Well, I must say we go way back to the time when she stepped foot into this tribe," the Rain replied before laughing loudly, her tone quite irritating, but the joke was catchy on her side.
The elder sighed, "There you go with your jokes again," he muttered with a nod, sharing his utmost disapproval when it came to playing around. Being the leader of a tribe, such as the natives, was a big responsibility, and the elder was the only one who took it seriously.
Introducing the two, the elder did so with a subtle formality in his speech; he had introduced the Star first as he had learned of her name in one of their travels when they made way for the tribe. He then introduced the Rain, the esteemed leader of the native tribe that had been expanding for years. She was a woman who had just reached her thirtieth year, fifteen days before their meeting, clearly the same age as the Flame but fifteen days older.
Though ages weren't important, it was quite important when it came to knowing who was above and below, and the Star was below in every aspect, though she was not sure when it came to brute strength and will. The answer to that question was quite evident, but she wanted to know for herself, and she was to think of that after she found her forced husband and fill her stomach with something edible after a day of starvation.
Grumbling like the volcanic mountains, the Star's entrails twisted with undying hunger and thirst, the Rain laughed at this but she understood what situation the young woman was in, "It seems you have been starving, it is glad to know you came at the right time," she said, her laughter slowly dying as she wiped a tear from her right eye.
Seeing that his presence was no longer needed, the elder had left the room, leaving both women to face each other, hoping that a bond between them would be made.
Facing a pathway in her throne room covered with dried leaves and vines, she gestured for the young woman to come, "Well, the meal was just prepared, that man of yours already had his fill, now it is your turn," she said.
The Star's eyes widened as she heard this, "Which man?" she said, hoping whom the Rain spoke of was indeed the Flame.
The Rain jerked back, confused by her reaction, "Well, he did possess some strange, fiery aura, and he had bandages all over his torso", she said, hoping the Star would know who this man was. The Star did know, as it was indeed the Flame who had approached the leader, being sent to her before she was.
Gripping the cloak that shielded her provocative attire, the Star demanded, "Please, may I know where this man is?" she pleaded, her eyes tearing up with worry in her tone. The Rain nodded, her lips parted in utter shock as she accepted this young woman's request.