REALM OF MEN -
AZTLAN
That morn was like any other morn in the village of Aztlan, little lads were running up and down with their buttocks bare, young lasses were giggling over a certain topic while milking their cows, and the able bodied men were chopping woods just behind them. The atmosphere was just filled with a good morning spirit.
Meanwhile on the other side of the street were the two best friend of the cursed lass, reading the notice posted up by the town's constable about the upcoming festival that is going to take place at midnight.
"I'm so excited" Amberly remarked with a smile.
"Hmm, not as much as you, am not" Annika said.
Amberly flipped her hair before she spoke, "Do you know what this means for me?"
"Do I want to know?" Annika replied. Ignoring her sarcastic statement Amberly said, "Suitors, Annika it means suitors. I'll have thousands of them wanting my hand in marriage after I attend that festival"
"Thousands?" Annika repeated, "aren't you exaggerating"
"You will see when the time comes"
"Well I'm counting on that. Let's go, Aurora must be awaiting us" Annika said as she dragged Amberly along.
But nevertheless Annika knew that Amberly was not exaggerating at all. Because in Aztlan, every single young man is attracted to her - but who could blame them, she was beautiful and voluptuous, and so was Annika but the only difference between them was that Annika doesn't give ears to the flattery words of the village men, to be more precise she shuns them and constantly tells them to let her be. But Amberly's case was entirely different. She loves the flatter, the praises - infact it makes her feel like she's on top of the world and sometimes proud and bratty. It makes her feel like she is better than everyone else, prettier even.
They arrived at Aurora's cottage which was at the edge of the village, and Amberly was still up and talking about the festival. Annika sighed, sometimes she really wishes for deafness so that she wouldn't be listening to Amberly's constant silly chatter.
They entered inside the cottage, the door was agape. They called out for her but they got no reply.
"Where is she?" Amberly asked
"Perhaps she is outside" Annika suggested as they both went out. The morning breeze scattered front hairs as she glanced around.
But suddenly they heard movements in the shade of the huge mango tree. They both looked up, only to see their petite friend.
"Oh, hey" Aurora waved as she removed some loose branches from her face.
"What are you doing up there, Aurora?" Annika asked.
"By the gods, climbing trees can be very dangerous, considering your leg condition" Amberly informed.
Aurora sighed, "You two worry too much" she said as she dropped a basket filled with mangoes to the ground. Then slowly she climbed down.
"I'm alright" She said with a smile.
"We can see that now" Annika said and she carried the basket with her, as they went into the cottage.
Annika dropped the basket on top of the wooden table.
"Look at your hair, Aurora it's such a mess" Amberly said as she used her hand to carefully remove the dry leafs on her blonde hair.
"Better" Amberly remarked when she was done.
"Where were you two?" Aurora asked as she used her hands to strengthen out her blonde hair.
"At the market place" Annika replied
"And there we saw about the upcoming festival"
"Oh, well you two should go have fun then" Aurora said
"It's not until midnight" Annika informed
"Aye, and you are going with us this time around" Amberly said with her hand on her hips.
"Nay, I'm not" Aurora replied.
"Aye, you are. Aurora you need to catch an eye, mix and mingle" Amberly said.
"I don't want to mix or mingle, I hate the people of Aztlan as much as they do me" Aurora said.
"It's been five years already, am sure they have all gotten over that"
"They call me the cursed lass now, Amberly" Aurora reminded.
"Aye, they do" Annika added as she sought out a cup for herself and helped herself to a drink.
"Aurora you are being unreasonable," Amberly spoke, "sooner or later you are going to need a husband to care for you"
"And where am I to find that husband, here? Amberly that's never going to happen, and am sure you know that."
"You might, if you stop acting like an old maid"
"Amberly," Annika called out with annoyance, "that's enough."
Aurora carried up the basket before she said, "I'll be in the kitchen if you need me" and with that she went into her small kitchen.
Annika turned to Amberly. "What is wrong with you?" Annika asked with a deep frown.
"What do you mean by that. I am trying to help Aurora, something that you are obviously not doing"
"She didn't ask for your help..."
"Oh, please. Aurora is wasting, by the gods am I the only one who is seeing that" Amberly snapped.
"Perhaps you are. Just leave her alone, she's been through so much" Annika said, before she went also into the kitchen.
Amberly sighed harshly. "It's not like I care, I don't want a competitor anyway" she murmured before she tossed herself on the simple quilt laying on the ground.
Aurora Ashtin might bear the title of the cursed lass, but every single one in Aztlan both male and female, were aware of her stricking beauty, her exquisite beauty. Even with her small petite body she turns the head of many. To be more precise her wee size made her adorable. Her friends were voluptuous, with an average height but she was completely different from them.
Many man of Aztlan, secretly wants Aurora as their own - what male wouldn't want her. But each of them has been waiting for when her demented Papa would pass away, and then they will forcefully claim her, and she would serve as a exquisite beauty that satisfies their sexual urges - and that was exactly Aurora's nightmare. The last thing she wants is to be under the clutches of an abusive man who will constantly claim her body without her approval. That would be the death of her.
And she has sworn in her heart never to let herself end up that way - never.