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Her kiss was sweet as nectarine. He felt dazed as her lips touched every bruise upon his body, replacing painful memories with something sweeter. It was an indulgence Tad knew he shouldn’t allow but one thing had led to another faster than he could have anticipated. But deep down, he had hoped for this. Misha was kind and loving and the complete opposite of her younger brother. He had sought her out in the night, when his own family had gone to sleep. Now the two fawned over one another deep in the grass of their hilly home, far from prying eyes. But now it was coming to the difficult part, the one he had been dreading.
“Did you know?” He asked when their lips finally came apart. Misha’s face was flushed, the daze in her eyes being blinked away with each flutter of her eyelids.
“Know? Know what?” She asked.
“Me, my sisters, my mother… We are being cast out.” he said, staring at her expression. There was a flicker of recognition but Misha quickly furrowed her brow.
“I…” she began but Tad took her hand within his.
“Just tell me, please.” he gave a gentle squeeze and rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand.
Misha looked away from him.
“Yes… but I tried to stop it. Believe me Tad, please.” She looked back up at him with pleading eyes. “I have never had a problem with you or your family unlike others in the tribe. I begged my mother but fear has grown in her heart. She is scared for the future.”
Now it was Tad who looked away. “I do believe you, Misha.” he sighed, “But why did you not tell me sooner?”
“I wanted to. I just didn’t know how.” Tad felt her hand upon his chin, guiding him to look at her. She smiled but the corners did not reach her eyes. “I could not bear to see that smile fade from the lips I’ve claimed. Or the way your eyes crinkle when you laugh. How you make me giggle like a child. I did not want it to end. I thought if I could prolong this, then it wouldn’t have to happen. Selfish, I know.”
“It doesn’t have to end, Misha. I feel the same about you. I love the way you smile and the way you make me feel wanted and seen. How many adventures have we been on? Why does it need to end? You could come with us! We could be together. Please. I know it would be a step, one fraught with danger but you wouldn’t be alone. I’d be with you and so would my family. ” Tad said, grabbing both her hands as he searched her eyes for an answer he needed to see. Instead, he found the opposite and he felt a piece of his heart shatter.
Misha deflated a little and she glanced away from him. “It’s a whimsical thought, Tad. But I can’t do that. I have responsibilities here. When my mother passes I am to become chieftess, you know.”
He let go of Misha’s hands and stood. The mix of emotions welling inside was confusing to Tad Anger, sadness, anger, sadness- on and on. It was hard to even look at her.
Misha looked up at him though. “Tad, please. You have to understand.” Her voice was firm now, the playful quaintness gone. “I don’t… I can’t betray my family and the people. I have a destiny I have to follow.”
“I understand Misha. I think I always have. I loved you and you only adored me. Like some mutt pet.” His voice now brimming with ice, just on the cusp of anger. Tad looked down at her, a look of shock now etched on her perfect face, then he turned and walked away.
Misha did not follow nor did she speak again but before Tad went too far, he stopped to listen in a fool’s hope. As stupid as it was, he would have gone back if only she had called his name. If he had heard her crying for what could be.
Silence reigned.
So Tad went back to his family's tent.
A few days had passed since their mother’s announcement. Their coming exile, because that’s what it really felt like, would be soon. Just after they had gathered what they could, stocked up on water skins and dried food stuffs. There was now an air of anticipation in the tribe. Once friendly smiles were now replaced with slight nods and words of guidance. Many were glad that their family had been chosen instead of their own but many more were greatly saddened by this upcoming exodus.
Upon the dawn of the final day, Ina had tasked Teefee and Toffee with scrounging up some herbs on the outskirts of their territory. Tad seemed to be in a haze of some sort. The two sisters had never seen their third triplet act in such a way and it was slightly alarming to them. But their mother bade them not to worry and that Tad would be helping her pack what they could.
So Teefee and Toffee went off when the starlight was low. They chatted for a time about the future. Toffee was uncertain about where’d they go, or who’d they find and Teefee was just excited to see new lands and meet new friends.
When they arrived at the forest, Toffee stretched using her spear to twist her back with her arms wide.
“Well no use in sticking together. We’ll find more of the herbs mama wants if we split up.” Toffee looked at her sister, who was already huddled on the ground, watching a line of ants carrying seeds. She wasn’t paying attention, of course.
“Teefee!” Toffee said, snapping her fingers. Her white haired sister looked up at Toffee, her ears slightly bending back and down as if she had been scolded by mother. “Find herbs, remember? I won’t be far away. Just yell for me if you need help.”
“Got it sis!” Teefee exclaimed, all smiles now, her ears erect as ever.
Toffee began to walk off when she paused and looked back at Teefee. “And stay away from any sap! You know it made you sick last time you tried some.”
Teefee grimaced, then gave a toothy smile. “But before that it tasted very yummy!”
“I am not dragging you home again!” Toffee put her hands on her hips. “No sap!”
“Ugh, fine.” Teefee muttered.
Satisfied, Toffee began her hunt.
Teefee, meanwhile, stuck her tongue out at her sister and watched as she vanished into the trees.
Birds chirped now and again, the wind ruffled her hair and the scents upon the air were normal. The musk of earth and old trees. The occasional flower here and there. Teefee gave a contended sigh and began her search.
A while later she had managed to collect a bag full of the herbs and leaves her mother liked to use for cooking, healing and drinking. Teefee, of course, had lost track of the time and the whereabouts of Toffee but she was certain her sister would find her, for she hadn’t gone very far into the woods from where they started.
But there was a problem. The sky had grown dark with roiling clouds and the wind had shifted, bringing with it the scent of rain. It was a nice smell but Teefee preferred it when she was inside the family tent, not soaked through. A little water was fine when it came to bathing but being unable to get dry was the part she didn’t like.
So Teefee had found herself underneath a tree, the forest behind her, and the hills of her home before her. She twiddled her thumbs as she waited for Toffee. She would have gone looking for her but the last time she had tried, she had gotten so turned around she became the one needing rescued. Tad had been the one to find her and he still gave her grief for it.
So she would wait.
It began to rain.
Then a shape began to form in the tall grass and Teefee felt an uneasiness wash over her. As she watched the shape coming closer, she placed her back against the tree and squinted. The shape had gotten close enough for Teefee to make out that it was someone from the village. Her unease washed away. Perhaps Tad had come to check in on them? Or someone had gotten caught out in the rain and sought shelter?
So Teefee stepped away from the tree and raised her hand before shouting, “Hello!”
The figure stopped for a second and then raised their own hand but did not speak as they drew closer. It was only when she could make them out did Teefee’s uneasiness return. It wasn’t Tad or anyone with a friendly face from the village. No, it was Malac. His long russet brown hair was dripping down the sides of his face. When he saw her, his normal sneer turned up into a smile.
“Well, well, well. Look who it is!” he said, coming to a stop just outside the protection of the tree’s canopy. “You’re that one named Teefee, right? What a surprise bumping into you here of all places.”
Teefee’s ears twitched. She didn’t want to appear rude by not speaking so she said, “You are Malac right? Son of the chieftess?”
“Yes. That’s me. I know your brother, somewhat well.” he smiled and it made Teefee shiver.
Teefee only nodded. She knew Malac was trouble but didn’t really know what to do. Maybe if she just placated him he would leave her alone?
“It’s funny, really.” Malac said, crossing her arms. “I’ve been meaning to speak to one of his sisters.”
“You have?” Teefee said, clutching her bag of herbs and trying not to fidget.
“Yeah. I just thought, since he’s been putting his filthy hands all over my own sister, I might return the favor. Give him a taste of his own medicine.” Malac’s smile turned sinister, his dark eyes full of something Teefee could not describe. But his words, it took her a few seconds to fully grasp what he meant and then she began to back up.
She gulped. “That’s not… That isn’t right Malac. You’re just kidding right? J-Just trying to scare m-me?”
He did not respond as he took a step closer.
Panic blossomed in Teefee’s heart with each step of Malac. The smile on his face never dimmed, not in the slightest so Teefee bolted.
It was a short pursuit, for in moments, Malac had grabbed her hair and gave a nasty tug. Teefee cried out as she was yanked to the ground. Pain shot through her scalp as she struggled to keep her eyes open as rain pelted her in the face. A heavy weight pressed down upon her and Teefee squirmed as she tried to free herself. She could now see Malac above her, a sneer on his face. He reached out and touched her right ear before Teefee was able to press it flat against her head. She gave him a hiss that only invoked Malac to laugh. What made him stop laughing was when her sharper-than-the-average ur-human nails tore across his cheek. He cursed and Teefee was able to escape from under him. She struggled to her feet as she ran out into the tall grass.
Her feet squelched into a patch of mud and she slipped, sprawling out into the grass. Malac was upon her again and this time Teefee screamed as loud as she could for help. They tussled in the grass for a moment before Malac whipped her around to face him.
She was silenced when Malac slapped her across the face. Her ear rang as the sting of pain made her cheek warm and tingly. She blinked hard and noticed Malac had produced a bone knife.
“Be quiet you filthy mutt.” he growled.
Teefee reluctantly shut her lips but looked up at him with a scowl.
“Try anything again and I’ll send you back to your mongrel father.” Once again he fell to his knees, locking them around her torso.
Teefee’s breathing sped up as Malac loomed over her. Blood dribbled down his cheek where she had slashed him and combined with the wild look in his eyes, Teefee felt true genuine fear for the first time in her life.
“P-Please.” She said in a very quiet voice, “D-Don’t hurt me.”
He only licked his lips as his head drew closer and closer.
But then there was a sharp THWACK and Malac grunted, his hot fetid breath washing over her before he slid off to the side.
“Get away from her!” Toffee screamed.
Malac didn’t have time to avoid the second hit, straight to his shoulder blade. He screamed out in pain as Toffee followed up with a kick, distancing him from Teefee, who scrambled away from Malac. She got behind Toffee, who loomed over the man like some terrible spirit of vengeance.
“How dare you touch her!” Toffee bellowed, raising her spear to thwack him again, but this time Malac rolled to the side and she hit the ground. Malac then lunged with his knife and managed to cut Toffee, who let out a hiss of pain as she backed away. Blood ran down her face.
Malac got to his feet on shaky legs as the blood on his knife was washed away by the rain.
“What are you going to do mutt, fight me?” he challenged, arms spread wide. “Going to protect your little mongrel of a sister? How cute!”
Teefee saw it before Toffee even knew what she herself was doing. It was that look one gave on the precipice rage. Where thought lost all reason. And she only knew this, because she had seen it before.
“No!” Teefee screamed but it was too late.
In a flash, Toffee had hefted her spear and thrown it right at Malac with a furious roar. It impacted with a sickening squelch, followed by a boom of distant thunder. Teefee’s eyes went wide as she saw Malac’s sneer fade into one of horror. Then, slowly, like a feather in a gentle breeze, he began to fall backwards before his body impacted all at once and crimson flowed like a geyser.
“W-What have you done, Toffee?” Teefee asked in a shaky voice.
