Maliha

Maliha was up just as the sun begun to kiss the sky. The early morning chill caressed her skin with gentle fingers. The cool breeze pulling the last remnants of sleep from her groggy mind.

Leaning over Enzo, she stared at his features. The dark, curly hair that lay haphazardly across his chubby cheeks. His delicate lips and dark lashes that were shuttered in sleep. A smile grazed her lips when his nose puckered up at the gentle caress of her fingers as she pushed the hair from his face.

Her ears perked up at the sound of heavy footfalls, the boots thundering against the softened earth.

Maliha hurriedly threw on some fresh clothes and put her night clothes in a woven basket by the door. Her tent had come a long way from the plain canvas it had once been. Every corner was full of purpose and life, it was their safe haven.

Quickly slipping on her worn out sandals, Maliha made a mental note to start making new ones once she had finished everything else she was working on. Before she could work on new shoes she needed to finish the final pieces of their home and gather some Lahi flowers that lived at the foot of the Ary tree, deep in the forest.

Maliha made her way through the slumberous tribe lands and headed towards the training grounds.

To Maliha’s surprise, no one was there but she knew without a doubt that Kamir would arrive soon. Huffing a sigh, she made her way over to a lone tree beside the sandpit where the warriors trained. She sunk to the the floor and rearranged her clothes, so she could be comfortable.

Her eyes began to drift shut, the sounds of the retreating night life and the waking birds humming her to sleep. She tried to fight her need but as the time drew on and no one appeared at the training grounds, Maliha’s determination wavered. Slowly her eyes drooped closed, darkness washing over her mind as she fell into a deep slumber.

A mighty howl had her jerking awake. Her head smacking into the tree at her back. Her pulse raced in fear that she was being attacked. Her hand automatically reached for the knife at her hip and for the chain that hung on her neck to find it gone.

Sweat beaded at her skin in apprehension and then realisation struck. She wasn’t in the desert alone any longer and her chain no longer lay along her neck. No, it was beneath her pillow where it had been since she had first come to this tribe.

She rubbed at her groggy eyes trying to figure out what had woken her from her sleep. The guttural howl tore through the air again, causing the hairs on Maliha’s skin to rise.

Her Disorientation melted away as she took in her surroundings. The sun had peaked through the sky and the tribe would be waking fully now.

Roars and pulverised skin filled the air as bodies clashed in an angry and viscous dance. Dusting off the sand that clung to her skin, Maliha made her way into the sand pit where Kamir was fighting with a ferocity that had Maliha’s heart thudding in fear.

Not fear of Kamir, but fear of what his emotions were doing to him. He was beyond angry, a thick cloud of darkness exuded from his body as he fought brutally. His once controlled and precise moves, were sloppy and full of unbridled anger. All of his training was used for one thing and that was to annihilate his opponent.

From the way Abazz face was contorted, Maliha could see that he was frustrated by Kamir’s performance. The man was receiving blows that he would usually dodge but each blow only served to add to Kamir’s rage. He was dragging out the fight, absorbing each blow into his being and then throwing them back at the young man with a barbarity that had sparks of fire flying from his fists.

Hazel eyes full of worry met Maliha’s equally worried gaze over the heads of the two fighting warriors. Shock registered throughout her being as the sparks of fire began to spread up Kamir’s arm until he was submerged in an impenetrable haze of spitting orange and red.

“T’la” shouted Abazz.

The young warrior stopped at their Desir’s call but Kamir did not. Maliha watched in horror as the fire scalded at the man’s arm, the smell of charred flesh singed her nostrils but Kamir didn’t stop. His arm pulled back to punch the howling man, his face devoid of emotion.

“I said stop.” Bellowed Abazz.

He charged so fast Maliha struggled to follow his movements. One-minute Abazz stood behind the small circle of warriors and the next, he was hunched over Kamir’s combatant as Kamir’s fist lay into Abazz back.

Instead of crumpling to the floor under the force, Abazz rocked into the blow and combatted Kamir’s punch with one of his own. He twisted on his feet, one hand extending out and pushing the warrior out of the circle and the other curling into a fist.

He jabbed Kamir in the stomach, halting his friends attack and then Abazz decked him in the face. Kamir’s face swung back, blood and drool splattering into the air.

The chilling grin that spread across Kamir’s bloody face had Maliha screaming for them to stop but both males were conversing with their fists before she could even move.

Her feet slapped against the earth as she sprinted into the circle, ducking arms and legs as the flames of fire churned higher and kindled in angry currents.

“Enough.” She cried.

“Abazz stop it.” She flinched away as Abazz hammer like fist spun Kamir’s jaw.

Kamir shook off the blow, blood splattering onto Maliha’s skin as she watched his dazed eyes turn a deep amber. Spikes of fire shot from his skin in sharp shards, flying towards Abazz swaying body. Abazz arm swung up and a shield of fire covered his face and body, absorbing Kamir’s shards of fire.

“Both of you stop.” Maliha shouted.

They moved so fast that she could barely keep track of who was doing what. Fire was everywhere, licking at their feet and arms. The flames scorched the earth and soared into the sky, all the while the few warriors that were up at this hour, stood on watching with abated breaths.

A painful wail screeched from Abazz as a large ball of fire rocked into his side and sent him flying back. He stumbled to his feet, bloody hands clasping at his charred side, but he wouldn’t stop.

“This is madness.”

Her head shook in disbelief as Abazz readied himself for another attack.

She couldn’t take anymore.

Her eardrums rung as she ran into the centre of the circle. Her hands extended outwards as she called for them to stop but they were like two large Rak’haan fighting for mating rights.

Abject horror coated Abazz’ face but he could not stop the momentum. His feet were still moving as his battered body charged towards Kamir. Maliha felt the heat of the flames licking at her skin as they stampeded towards her. Her eyes shuttered closed just as they collided. Maliha’s head rocked back as flames engulfed her and a bloody snog white light exuded from her body. Then she saw no more.

There was a sharp ringing in her ears as a cool mist of water trickled over skin. Her lashes flickered open and shut as she desperately sucked in the cool air.

A smile grazed her lips as she extended her fingers outwards and reached for the mist that longed to kiss her skin. It was as the water touched her hands that she felt the eyes watching her.

Yanking her eyes open, Maliha took in her surroundings. She was crouching on the floor, her hands extended outwards as the sandpit that had once been scorched was damp with water and sprouts of grass peeking through.

The ring of warriors was sprawled on the floor in disorientation. Some lay with mouths wide open whilst others slowly climbed to their feet, but none approached her.

Maliha yanked her hands from their outstretched position and rose to her feet. Movement behind her had Maliha snapping around.

“You didn’t have to blast me to hell and back, I would have stopped.” Abazz grumbled.

“I didn’t-”

“I’m glad she did.” Croaked Kamir, “You would have made me a crippled man if we had continued.”

“Yes, well you should have stopped when I told you to.” Growled Abazz. Stepping towards the man with malice.

“That’s enough you two.” Maliha, interjected, her hands outstretching between them

“Woah there.” Flinched Kamir, stumbling away from her.

“Easy with those weapons.”

Maliha’s head shook in confusion but she lowered her hands. A deep sigh of relief tumbled from both males.

“What are you doing here Maliha?”

Her head twisted towards the other warriors who stood by watching with interest.

“Training is done for the day.”

They retreated away from the trio at Abazz’ command and disappeared into the sandy terrain as if they were wind.

Abazz turned back to Maliha and Kamir once he was sure they were all gone.

“I don’t know what that was about Kamir, nor do I even want to understand what you just did Maliha. But I want it dealt with before either of you return home. Do I make myself clear?”

Maliha’s throat bobbed at the commanding tone. Abazz had never been so authoritative with her before but he was the Drezir and Ujarak was away. These circumstances were not normal and quite frankly his tone was needed. Maliha held no doubt that Kamir would have disappeared with the warriors if he had been given the chance to.

“Sort it.” Abazz snapped before marching off into the sand. She waited for him to disappear before focussing on Kamir.

“I wanted to talk to you about Xiuri.”

“I gathered.” Kamir muttered dryly.

“Why have you not spoken to her, Kamir?”

He didn’t respond. Instead he stared blankly off into the distance.

“Kamir! Do you even care that you are hurting her?”

His jaw clenched at Maliha’s words but still he refused to speak. His silence hurt her more than his absence. She could understand why he would take time for himself. He needed time to deal with his emotions but Maliha could not understand why he would not speak to her. Were they not friends?

“Talk to me.” She pleaded.

His lips pursed in annoyance before he graced her with a sardonic smile.

“Hello.” He grunted sarcastically.

Her patience snapped.

“You piece of Kaku.”

She screamed, her hands smacking into his chest and sending him flying backwards in a ball of blue flames.

“Oh, my goddess.” She cried, sprinting towards his crumpled form.

“What the hell Maliha?” Kamir spat, wiping the debris from his shredded clothes.

“I am sorry but goddess, Kamir, you are driving me crazy!”

The deep sigh that rattled his chest was so profound that Maliha knew he was about to crumble. He was ripping at the seams. All the anger that he had clung to out of guilt, was tumbling out of him and all that was left was his self-disgust.

“I do care about Xiuri, so much. That is why I am like this Maliha.”

Maliha lay her hand on his arm in comfort.

“I know what she told you Kamir. I understand how that could drive you crazy, but she needs you now more than ever.”

She implored him to understand, to accept that the past was something that could not be changed but the future, the future was open to such possibility if only he could just learn to live with the past.

“Xiuri has never experienced happiness or-” Maliha hesitated for a moment, gaging her words before deciding full honesty would be the only thing that broke through to Kamir.

“Or love until you and now that you have left, the pain is too much.”

“You don’t understand Maliha.” He growled as he jerked away from her and climbed to his feet.

“I do, she told me what her husband did to her, what they all did, and I wanted to kill-”

“I was there.” He howled, his hand thumping on the ground as he crumpled to the floor.

“What?” Maliha rasped.

“I was there.”

His freckled face was creased with derision as tears gathered in his soulful eyes.

“I was part of the small hunting party that came across Ciur. I saw Xiuri’s bloody body. No one thought she would survive that much blood loss.”

He tried to remain detached, but the imagery was too hard for anyone to stay emotionless about. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she watched Kamir snap and break apart.

“I was there! I saw those cowards run away and we didn’t give chase because we had to get Xiuri to a healer.”

His voice climbed with each chocking word.

“Those men still live, and I could have killed them. I Could have stopped them from hurting anyone else.”

He gripped his red hair in his hands, tugging the strands as if doing so would pull those haunting memories from his mind.

“I was there, and I didn’t meet out justice for her.”

Maliha’s heart broke at the despair that wracked his body. He was a man full of guilt, guilt that had been festering inside him for years. It hadn’t been until Xiuri had confided in him that he had truly understood the depths of the Svolik depravity. They had to be sick to harm an innocent like Xiuri.

“Kamir.” She sniffled.

“I understand your pain, but you have to understand the bigger picture.”

“What picture Maliha? What bigger picture is there other than I did not protect her! I didn’t finish them!” He spat. “I should have killed them.”

“Kamir.”

Maliha gripped his crumpled form to her chest, rocking him as the sobs engulfed them both. It was hard to see someone you love hurting but to know that those who did them harm still lived was even harder because the need for revenge would eat away at you. It would eat away at Kamir until he understood.

“Kamir.” Maliha hummed.

“If you had gone after them, Xiuri would not be alive.”

His head shook as he tried to pull his chin out of her hands, but she merely gripped him tighter. Pulling his face closer until he was forced to stare directly into her eyes and see the truth in her words.

“You would have fought a battle and for every moment you and the warriors spent killing those filth, Xiuri’s life would have been slipping away.”

Maliha had seen the scars that littered Xiuri’s body, the ones on her face were minuscule compared to the depth and length of the scarring on her body. There was no doubt in Maliha’s mind that Xiuri would not have survived if they had not acted so swiftly and Kamir knew it to be true.

“You saved her, Kamir, think of that and nothing else when you look at her.”

His eyes glistened with tears as he nodded in agreement.

Releasing his chin, Maliha climbed to her feet and stretched her hand out for him to grip.

“Think of what you could have lost if you had let the need for revenge claim you.”

Justice would be met out. The Svolik would pay but not at the expense of Xiuri or Kamir’s relationship.

“Thank you.” He muttered.

She nodded her head in acknowledgment before they both headed away from the training grounds that was now covered in small springs of grass. The barren sand was no more.

As they approached the camp, Kamir stuck his hand out to stop Maliha. He gnashed on his lower lip before speaking up, his steps picking back up where they had stopped. Maliha moved to walk beside him as she waited for Kamir to speak his mind.

“You have done so much for me and Xiuri already, but I would ask one last thing of you.”

“Ask.” Her hands twitched at her side in excitement.

“I need to speak to Xiuri and Saralec first, but once I do, could you help me-”

“It is done.” Maliha interrupted.

“Do you even know what I-”

“Yes, I will gather the rest of the ingredients today Kamir but the Mayam oil is made already.”

“You knew?” He gasped.

“I hoped.” She shrugged.

His lips wobbled as he failed to find words to explain his gratitude. Instead he settled for a hug, squeezing her body tight before kissing her forehead.

“Thank you, ouruha.” He chuckled before hugging her again.

“Now go.” She shoved him gruffly, but she could not hide the tears that lined her eyes.

He had called her sister.

A fully belly laugh tumbled from Kamir’s chest as he ran off into the camp, people stopping their morning rituals to look at him with incredulously and joy.

A happy sigh left Maliha as she watched him retreat before heading to her own tent. When she got there, her fire was already kindled, and a small pan had some honey bread slices frying on it. Next to it was a small pot of vegetables that were being softened in flavours and oil.

The flap of her tent gaped open and then Enzo appeared out of it, his small hands full with the teapot and mint leaves.

“V’adar.”

“V’adar Maliha.” He muttered shyly.

“We made food.”

His chest puffed out in pride as he pointed to the vegetables and the frying bread.

“Who is w-”

“V’adar Maliha”

Ray’et smiled as he encouraged her to take a seat. Once she was seated, Enzo and Ray’et tended to all of her needs. Filling her plate with food and her cup with drink.

Once the food was finished they even washed the dishes. This was Ray’et’s way of apologising for the silence that had been heavy between them

last night. It was an apology for all he did not say and was still not ready to share.

There was a tune of joy that was sung amongst the tribe’s people throughout the day. As Maliha washed clothes by the river and Enzo played with his friends, as she cooked their mid meal, even as she exited the forest, there was a song of festivity.

Perhaps Kamir had shared his news.

“Ray’et!”

Maliha’s basket of flowers and vegetables tumbled to the floor and she squealed in surprise as he clasped her body to his. He had appeared out of nowhere but the look on his face spoke of a purpose and determination.

Just when she thought Ray’et would finally speak, he clasped her face into his hands and kissed her deeply.

In the few weeks, she had known Ray’et, he had never kissed her like this. There was no caution or control, just pure longing. His tongue wrapped around hers as his fingers sunk into her hair. He smoothed down the strands that kissed the slope of her shoulders before yanking away.

The smile that rested upon his face was one that she had never seen before. The turmoil and longing did not ebb from his gaze but there was a finality that had Maliha’s heart quickening.

Stumbling away from him, she gathered her basket of flowers and headed to her tent.

The tribes jovial dancing and her disoriented state made the journey so long that by the time she entered her tent she did not notice the large figure that stood shrouded in the corner.

She jumped out of her skin as the flower headdress she had been working on was thrown onto her pallet and the large figure stepped from the cloak of darkness.

“What is this?”

Maliha’s mouth gaped open as a small sliver of sunlight kissed upon the hard angles of Ujarak’s furious face and fire spat from his eyes.