I was tired I always was really, after Lu started to root everything fell to me I had to care for the clan, had to protect our part of The Dream Forest, I had to grow up and live on my own, I was older yes, but only by three years at the end of the day it was always Me, Luca, and The Monarch.
But now, it's just me.
Shaking my head I rubbed my claw were the unicorn had ripped a chunk out of my arm, sneering I dropped my hand, and twisted the ring on my still slightly screwed up claw, the ring contained the raw materiel of said unicorn, leaving it at the boundary would be a waste especially since it coat can be made into a defensive clothing item,the broken horn could be grounded or crushed into shards or dust for alchemy or even used as it is to boost crafted items also it's meat was also really nutritious.
The sun had set once already and passed on till it was noon, the unicorn hide taking quite a bite of time to one keep it intact and two separate from the bits that I wanted, sighing I just continued to walk toward the nearby town, I had to pass through the rolling grasslands, the home of a herd of elephant centaurs, although placid were liable to snap your femur if spooked or if you get cocky enough to go near the young within their herd, which I was neither, as i was smart enough to send a day messenger ahead of time.
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As his thoughts wondered, Lucius's foot got caught in a gopher hole, his eyes widened as he fell face first into ground, hair spilling around his face, slamming his nose on a particularly large but flat rock.
"FUCK!"
And beyond the ridge near this very embarrassing situation stood a little black girl, curly hair tied into two puffs on either side of her head, tilting her head gray strands of hair falling into her face, the girl stepped closer making it possible to see her chunky elephant lower half, the young calf began to giggle as she watched Lucius fumble around.
"Hey mister! Are you okay? Do you need help? I can go get my ubabe?" She spoke a slight lilt to her voice as small giggles left her mouth.
Grunting Lucius finally found his balance, pushing himself up with one black clawed arm his other clutching his bloody nose, mouth agape, as hair caught on sharp teeth, Lucius looked at the young centaur before looking around his surroundings, spitting hair out of his mouth.
"Hey, kid, where's your herd?" The man's voice muffled and nasally, tip of his tongue poking out of his mouth.
The girl immediately stopped giggling, stepping back in trepidation, her brown earthy eyes full of caution.
"They're nearby, why'd you ask mister?" As she spoke she stood to her full height of 3-4 feet, her tail whisking about behind her.
"Cool it kid, I'm not here to hurt you" huffing Lucius continued "before I'm even able to get close to you, your umama would have crushed my legs, and I actually like using my legs I'll have you know" the girl just watched him for a second before breathing in.
"Oi, kid what are you doing, wait a second there!" Lucius spoke blood spilling down his chin as he stretched his bloody claw out, the girl ignored him, breathing out, a deafening trumpeting sound left the little girl's mouth, and before long the ground began to vibrate and far off you could hear the stomping of dozens of feet.
"… fuck"
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I sat there, staring up at the huge centaur, dark brown burly body covered in short gray curly hair, long gray hair pulled into a tight high ponytail, the tight curls falling just above large sturdy shoulders.
"Mandlenkosi, buddy! It's been what 5, 6 years since we've last met!" Awkwardness tinging my voice, the man just looked at me before reaching down and pulling me up, my feet dangling as he turned me every which way, before nodding, his hazelnut colored eyes sparked with realization.
"Lucius, kid, what brings you here? Where's Luca? Also it's been 6 years" He spoke his voice smooth and deep, reminding me of rich dark chocolate.
"You got my messenger hawk right? Kinda going on a adventure! Gotta find my brother's true love and stuff y'know, I didn't wanna walk through your tribe and get stomped and stuff sir" I spoke out, rambling slightly, I can't lie to myself, this man intimidated the actual shit out of me, what with being 13 something feet tall, he was, as most elephant centaurs were, jacked, being packed with tight and lean muscles he could without a doubt snap my spine, although I knew him since I was I small, like his oldest kid, Atiena, who should be 25 this year was the first person I met when the Monarch brought Luca and I for a visit what with being bosom buddies or something with leader Mandlenkosi mom, Ms.Nonandla. Me being 6 then and Lu 3 it was sister Atiena and brother Amana who watched us when we visited.
"We received the day messenger, we were waiting for your arrival actually, when this sneaky girl ran off" a smooth, mellifluous voice spoke up.
"Ms.Nobantu! I've missed you! I didn't possible know but you look even more beautiful then you did 6 years ago!" My feet swung in the air as I waved at the beautiful women standing behind the tribe leader, long loose curls fell in waves over slender shoulders, gold bands wrapped strong wrists and biceps, even her lower half was decorated, intricate markings painted onto gray skin, black, white and orange lines ran around her body, the markings mimicking her face paint, what with her eyes being painted in orange and black vertical lines painted above and underneath, white and orange painted off the sides like falling feathers and white moon cycles painted along her collarbone.
"Did you get all pretty for me!" I called out to the older woman before continuing "See I knew we should have ran away together~" I spoke wistfully, rolling her eyes she began to speak.
"You have no right to flirt with me boy, after not visiting for years" huffing she continued "Did you, even know I had two more kids" her honeyed voiced dyed in disappointment, as she looked at me with those sad eyes I immediately felt bad.
"I'm sorry M'am, I really didn't mean not to come, something had happened in the clan and I couldn't leave" I stopped flailing my arms as I spoke head dipping in shame, our clan and the tribe were very close but the Monarch got sick, nothing really bad, but for awhile things were in a panic and as I was older I took up the mantle and started caring for the clan, but that was no excuse, my little sister or bother were born and they don't even know me, god they don't even know Luca and they'll never know the Monarch.
As I looked at them, these two strong and beautiful people, I felt like crying, they were family and they don't even know what really happened in the clan, after everything that happened, being held by the strongest man I knew, I broke down.
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As Mandlenkosi hugged the young man in his arms patting the small of his back, Lucius sobbed, his face covered in dried blood from his nose, Nobantu sighed stepping forward to circle in front of her husband she hummed a lullaby as she wrapped her arms around them rocking her body in comfort, soon the young man fell asleep, not before muttering "I'm only 19"
Nobantu looked up to her husband as he shifted Lucius into a comfortable position, Mandlenkosi looked down at his wife, then they both sighed.
"Come now Melokule, it's time to return to the tribe" Nobantu spoke to her little daughter, whose been quietly standing off to the side and out of the way, the little girl walked forward and held her mother's tail.
The family began to walk back to the tribe, worry marring the elders face and curiosity on the little girls.