The laughs and shouts of the women and young ones was what woke Fraus from the deep slumber. and when she did wake, she wondered why she slept in.
waking up to the noise was one thing, but hoping for the warm body of Akaya was another.
The day for Fraus to hatch her plan was coming really close. she stood up from the wooden bed they gave her and went to freshen up. she managed to wash her face and do her business, then she sneakily used her powers of deceit on herself to make her look much more beautiful than the maiden.
She already had plans for the maiden acolyte but for now, she was going to make sure Akaya was distraught - conflicted even.
"You are up early," one of the women said to Fraus as she stepped out of the room she was given. Fraus looked at the woman. she was beautiful and she wondered who her husband was. she saw her yesterday and she could not imagine the number of kids she has. 'does her husband rest at all?' she asked herself but since she never could have gotten a question. she kept her mouth shut and looked around.
everyone looked happy and joyful, they were doing so many things at the same time. cutting through meat, firewoods, men going hunting and women doing the cooking. she figured the day was going to be filled with food planning and sacrificial plans but she made no note of it all, instead she went to look for Akaya against anyone's better judgement.
"There you are," she said out loud when she saw him.
Akaya sighed deeply, he didn't want to see her today, not after what happened last night, what he did as he thought of her.
"hey, you, hi and what are you doing out here? shouldn't you be with the others?" he replied to her without smiling.
"You don't look happy to see me, and I wonder why," she said the last part in a sing song tone before she continued to say, "besides, I'm a guest. I don't know how these things work, what if I mess things up?"
Akaya thought about it and just shook his head. he realised he didn't have to say anything to her, she was getting on his nerves and even he didn't know why. he could only assume it was because of what he did yesterday and somehow, he could get the feeling that she knew.
"Well, that's good and all, but you should be with the females. the males are all going to hunt and having a female around won't do."
"Hunting?" she asked, obviously excited and began to jump, "can I come with?" she asked again.
"No, females are not allowed." Akaya dismissed her and went off to join the others.
Fraus looked at him and smiled to herself. he was definitely playing hard to get. that or he just was ashamed about what he did yesterday.
she turned and then went back to where the females were busy giggling and laughing.
***
the preparations were being made diligently in the shrine by the acolytes and none of them paid heed to the noise outside and that was if they could hear it. the high priestess watched from afar and could see that acolyte that shone brighter than the rest. she knew immediately that that was her, the chosen one but she could not say a word to her or anyone yet.
"Finally, the prophesy has come to fulfilment, or it will if no harm comes to her," she said to herself with a smile.
***
Akaya had made his preparations to go hunting with the rest. in his mind, he recited a mantra to show the others he was a really good hunter and no one can compare. he even taunted his father when he saw how he dressed up for the hunt.
They went deep into the forest for their preys. his father, on their way, couldn't help but talk about his glory days, when he was the greatest hunter anyone could talk about.
"the kills I made then made your mother fall for me. she liked the way I was so strong and it just made the other maidens angry and jealous of her," his father, Aaravov said to him.
Akaya just smiled and nodded, "well, it won't be a suprise if I make the biggest kill this time, I wonder who would fall for me?" he said out loud to his father.
his father just shook his head and laughed, "hunting is not about impressing women, well, partly but..." as he said that, everyone burst into laughter and then they heard a crack. they were not alone, something, someone or perhaps a prey was lurking in the shadows.
signalling to the other men, Aaravov silenced all of them and made them all crouch down low ans walk on their belly towards the sound.
they all did as silently as they could and made quiet moves to where the sound came from, there they saw a herd of stag moving along the path that led to the stream up ahead.
Aaravov once again signalled to his hunting party to disperse and they did so silently. Akaya knew his father would want him to stay but he also has to impress him, so he walked away from him too silently only he didn't know when. he got lost from the party and somehow he was deep in the forest and face to face with a boar.
"what is a boar doing here?" he thought to himself holding his hunting spear tightly. he looked back and around and saw that he was the only one. he couldn't shout for help, as that might startle the boar, so he crouched low and went into a defensive position. the boar noticed this and snorted the. started to his hoof on the ground, ready to attack him.
Akaya had his spear out and when the boar saw this, it felt threatened and with a loud noise, it ran with all its speed towards him, to kill. However for someone like Akaya, he stood firm and readied himself.
It was either he killed the wild boar, or it killed him and he knew the answer to that, without question.