by Natavia
*************
Hours later, Lupe came into the kitchen half-asleep.
“Go to bed, Asha,” he said.
“Mekah is still not home,” I replied.
“He’s an animal, he’ll find his way home. He’s a smart kid,” Lupe said.
“Can you go look for him?” I asked and he huffed.
“Fine, but I’m going to discipline him if he crosses the line,” he said and stormed out of the house. I ran to the window above the sink and watched Lupe disappear into the dark woods. Moments later, I heard growls and roars coming from the woods. Fearing Lupe might hurt Mekah, I ran out of the house and into the woods.
“MEKAH!” I screamed as the growls got louder.
“MEKAH!” I yelled again.
A few feet away from me, I heard a branch snap behind the bushes. When I got closer, a female lioness jumped out and hissed at me. She was a young lioness, I could tell by her petite snout. She trembled with fear when my eyes glowed, alarming her that I’d challenge her if I had to.
“What are you doing here?” I asked and she shifted into her human form.
“Me and my sister are lost. I can’t find her,” she whimpered.
“What tribe are you from?” I asked.
“Y’kiki’s forest, the lost world. We were exiled because of our distaste for the king and queen,” she said.
“Sy’noba is your queen?” I asked.
“You know her?” she replied.
“She’s my sister,” I spat.
“She killed my mother and her mate killed my father and brother. Me and my sister were split up when a male lion chased us away,” she said, referring to Lupe.
“You are on our territory. You must leave,” I replied. She grabbed my arm when I walked away from her and I hissed.
“Please help us. We don’t know this world,” she begged. Lupe came from behind a tree with an older female lioness following behind him. The young lioness ran to her sister and hugged her.
“I found her while looking for Mekah. They need a place to stay,” Lupe said with lust-filled eyes.
“They cannot stay with us!” I spat.
“This is my pride and if I want them to stay so be it. Our pride will eventually expand,” he replied. He walked out of my face and headed towards the cabin. The female lionesses followed him. Instead of returning to the cabin, I went deeper into the woods to look for Mekah. Hours flew by and my legs grew tired. I headed back towards the cabin. The lionesses were sitting in the kitchen eating the meat I butchered for my family.
“You’re eating my cub’s food,” I said and the older one looked at me.
“The king said we could have it,” she spat rudely.
“Bitch,” I said and her eyes glowed at me.
“Stop it, Lila. The king was kind enough to let us stay, so respect his mate,” the younger one said.
“I don’t respect anyone who doesn’t respect me. Our father taught us that, so act like it,” she said.
“Our father is also the reason for Naji’s death. He taught us how to hate,” the younger one said.
“You should’ve stayed in the forest with the rest of the lion traitors,” Lila said.
“They don’t want us there! You heard what the saber king said, everyone who shares blood with Karu must leave. The rest of our family is dead, we are the only survivors,” the young one replied.
“How old are you?” I asked the young one.
“Sixteen,” she said.
“What’s your name?” I asked.
“Conda,” she replied.
“Don’t talk to her. We only talk to the king,” Lila said. Watching the two reminded me of Sy’noba and myself. When she was younger, she always wanted to be under me even when I made her mad.
“Don’t tell me what to do. You’re always being a bitch. She’s the king’s mate so we will respect her,” Conda said and Lila rolled her eyes.
“I’m going to bed,” Lila said and walked out of the kitchen. I sat across from Conda and watched her. She was prettier than her sister. She had smooth brown skin and long locs that stopped at her petite waist.
“What is Sy’noba like as a goddess?” I asked.
“She cared for us, but Lila doesn’t think so. My family says she’s a traitor but I can’t make myself believe what they believe. Not all lions are bad,” Conda replied.
“Most of us are bad. This I know for a fact. We are territorial and being that way makes us vicious. It’s in our genes and it’s also a way to survive,” I said.
“That’s not true. We can survive by being peaceful. Lions are supposed to be free-spirited animals. Sy’noba was pure, she’s the real definition of a lioness. If you believe in Y’kiki, you will understand. I can teach you the tradition if you want, it will give you some peace. It will also replace the hatred in your heart with love,” she replied and I wiped tears from my eyes.
“What will happen to me if I believe in her?” I asked.
“Your sins will be cleansed and your soul will be pure in the afterlife. Tomorrow night while everyone is asleep, we will pray to her. I’ll show you,” Conda said.
“Who taught you this?” I asked.
“Ockbutu. I used to sneak off to the village of Tiban. They are true free-spirited believers. My father caught me one day and punished me. He tied me to a tree for a week without food or water. I stopped visiting Tiban but I prayed to her every night,” she replied.
“Sy’noba has Y’kiki’s spirit,” I said.
“I know, but the others think she’s an imposter,” she replied.
“Get some rest,” I said.
“Thank you for everything,” she smiled.
I checked up on my daughters before I went to my room. The small house had two bedrooms so me and Lupe slept together. When I walked into our room, he was on the floor doing sit-ups.
“Lila has to go,” I replied and he chuckled.
“Why? Because you see yourself in her?” he asked.
“I’m nothing like her,” I replied and he sat up.
“Keep lying to yourself. I’m going to bed,” he said and stood up.
“Lila is staying. She’s a strong female and let’s face it, Asha. You’re still a beautiful lioness but you’re not young and you have three cubs. If you don’t like the rules, you can leave and take your bad ass cubs with you,” Lupe said.
“You told me you wouldn’t treat me the same way Koja treated me,” I replied.
“I’m not, I’ll build another cabin close by for Lila when I mate with her. Having you all in the same house will drain me,” he said.
“How do you know she wants you?” I asked.
“She doesn’t have to want me. When she goes in heat, she will give herself to me. Goodnight,” he said and turned his back to me. Lila being in a different cabin was something I could live with. Honestly, I didn’t love Lupe enough to get jealous. I was doing what I had to do to keep my cubs safe. Love was no longer a feeling I craved. Now, it was all about survival.
Sy’noba
E ze sat me on a fur rug inside his cave in Camden after we climbed up the high mountain. My body shivered from the cold as he made a fire for us. After he was finished, he grabbed a bucket of snow and held it over the fire so it could melt. He filled up a stone tub with the warm water so we could bathe.
“The water in the forest is already warm,” I said and he chuckled.
“The cold weather is like heaven,” he replied. He helped me into the tub after he filled it up. The water wasn’t hot enough but it managed to warm my body. Eze stepped in behind me and I rested on his broad chest.
“Tomorrow we’ll take an oath in front of the cats. The villagers from Tiban will be here, too,” he said.
“My last name will be Saber?” I replied and he nodded his head.
“We’re going to be husband and wife in the outside world,” he replied.
Eze cupped my breasts then kissed my neck. Instantly, my nipples and clit swelled. I’d been waiting to
become intimate ever since we left the forest. His hand slid down my stomach and between my legs. His tongue glided across the back of my neck and I moaned his name.
“Let’s hurry up with this bath,” I said.
“I’m trying to seduce you,” he chuckled.
“You did enough of that already. I’m in heat and I’ve waited long enough. The walk here was torture,” I complained. We took a quick bath before getting out of the tub. Eze laid across the fur rug in the center of the cave with his dick standing up like a spear.
“Come here, Sy,” he said. He stopped me when I straddled him.
“I mean come up here,” he said, pointing to his face. He gripped my hips when my pussy sat on his lips.
“UMMMM,” I moaned when his tongue spread my lips and entered me. Eze massaged my buttocks with his rough hands as he feasted on my fruit. I gripped his head and slowly rocked my hips, feeling pure bliss. My nipples ached from swelling again. He slurped on my spillings as I climaxed in his mouth. His nails pricked my skin as he tasted me.
You taste better than milk! he thought.
His tongue curved into me like a scoop and made me squirt. He gripped my legs and rolled me onto my back, still eating me out. With my legs pinned to my shoulders, he used his tongue the same way he used his shaft. Eze’s tongue darted in and out of me while poking at my walls, touching my spot.
I’m so hungry, Sy, he thought.
My body convulsed from intensifying orgasms. When Eze pulled away from me, his face and chest were drenched from my center. He pulled me towards him then picked me up. With my legs wrapped around his waist, my arms around his neck, his dick eased inside me. Eze moaned into my neck while pounding into me. My stomach cramped from his size but it didn’t stop me from bouncing on him. He threw his head back and groaned my name. Our medallions clanked together as our bodies rubbed against each other’s. He laid on the floor still inside of me so I could ride him.
“DAMMMMNNNNN!” he said when I bounced on him. My breasts slapped together and sweat dripped down my body although it was freezing. I was more aroused and it sent me into a frenzy. My nails clawed at his chest as I wildly bucked my hips and he roared. With every stroke, I came. Eze sat up and grabbed ahold of my hair. He pulled my head back and bit my neck. His nails scratched at my back as our bodies moved like a wave. He rolled me back over and slammed into me, the stone floor soothing the scratches on my back. Eze growled and roared as he fucked me. I gasped and tears fell from my eyes when his dick hooked inside of me. He went deeper and my screams echoed throughout the mountains. Eze was hooked to my womb to impregnate me. It was the worse pain I ever felt but my body still reacted in a form of ecstasy. It was painful for him, too, because he bit my shoulder and drew blood. Tears welled in his eyes as they glowed. When he moved, he hit my g-spot and I came harder than before. His roars rang in my eardrums when his semen shot into me. We were stuck for a few minutes before his dick softened and he was able to pull out. I passed out from exhaustion.
***********
When I woke up, I was inside of a house, lying next to a fireplace. Heavy blankets were wrapped around my body to keep me warm. My stomach growled from hunger and I ripped the blankets off of me to go hunt. My legs gave out and I crashed onto the floor. Eze came into the house and helped me up.
“Where are we?” I asked, looking around.
“We’re inside a hut. My great-aunt was taking care of you while I hunted,” he replied. He left out of the hut and brought back a dead zebra.
“I used the portal to Africa to catch this,” Eze said.
“You went out in the heat?” I asked.
“It only took me a minute to get it and bring it back,” he said. A woman came inside the hut dressed like an Eskimo. She said something to Eze and he responded back in their language. I could make out some of their words and she said I was carrying.
“What happened?” I asked when his aunt left the hut.
“You’re carrying one cub,” he replied.
I looked down at my stomach and it was the size of a coconut.
“How long have I been sleeping?” I asked.
“Four days. The villagers from Tiban arrived days ago. We have been waiting for you to wake up,” he said. The curtain to the hut opened and Toyi stepped inside wearing layers of clothes.
“You’re here, too?” I smiled.
“Eze came to the estate and told us to come here,” she said. She rubbed my stomach through my wool dress and smiled.
“Awwww, I’m getting emotional,” she said. Quanir came inside wearing sunglasses and swimming trunks.
“I don’t get it,” I giggled.
“I was swimming in the pool back at home when Eze came to get us. I’m too comfortable to change,” he said. Eze was only wearing a wrap and he was shirtless.
“This fool is going to be a father. Welcome to parenthood, bruh,” Quanir said to Eze.
“You beat me to it,” Eze said, referring to Toyi’s cubs.
“Let’s not put that responsibility on him,” Toyi said.
“I’m straight, I like the little munchkins,” Quanir replied and she blushed. Quanir’s mother came into the hut with Toyi’s cubs wrapped around her.
“They are so adorable. So, when are you two going to take an oath?” Riu asked Quanir and Toyi.
“Ma, it’s too soon for that,” Quanir said in embarrassment.
“Too soon doesn’t mean nothing to us,” Riu replied.
“Go ahead and eat, we will see you in a few,” Toyi said and rubbed her head against my face. Everyone left out of the hut except for Eze. He told me to sit down so he could feed me.
“I have to return to work after the ceremony but I will come right back. You can stay here with my family until I come back or you can come with me. It’s your choice,” he said.
“I’ll come with you,” I replied.
“I was hoping you’d said that. How do you feel?” he asked.
“Tired, bloated, and hungry,” I replied. He ripped a piece of meat from the zebra’s stomach with his teeth and gave it to me.
“Zebra tastes like deer,” I said.
“Lean meat is good for the cub,” he replied.
“I was hoping for cow fat,” I said.
Eze fed me until all that was left of the zebra was his head. I laid down on the padding because I was stuffed. He stared at me and his eyes glowed.
“You’re beautiful,” he said.
“You are, too,” I replied.
“I appreciate you for not turning into that tall lioness warrior. I don’t think I have enough semen to fill her up,” he joked and I pinched him.
“You won’t let that go, will you?” I laughed.
“Naw, you don’t have to worry about me ever fucking up,” he joked and I laughed harder until gas slipped out of me. I covered my face in embarrassment.
“Come on, baby. It doesn’t smell that bad. It happens when you eat an animal you haven’t ate before,” Eze said to make me feel better.
“This is so embarrassing,” I cried.
“Not the pregnancy hormones. Come on, Sy. It’s too early,” he said and rubbed my back but the tears kept coming. Riu came into the hut to check on us.
“This is only the beginning, Eze. Some days you might have to sleep on the floor or in the woods,” Riu said and he looked terrified.
“She’s tripping because she got gas,” Eze said.
“There will be a lot of that, too. It only lasts four months but it will be the longest four months of your life,” Riu replied. She kissed my forehead and walked out of the hut. Safari came in and my face lit up. I almost lost Safari; if I had been a minute later on healing her, she would’ve died.
“I have gifts for you two,” she said and went inside her knapsack. She pulled out a pair of snakeskin sandals with a dress to match. She gave Eze a pair of snakeskin loafers and a belt.
“You made this?” Eze asked, admiring the shoes.