A Young girl held her training spear and looked at the older bunch of girls. Their incessant ughter and giggling stirred something in Aphiwe’s heart. Sister Melokuhle spoke that what had happened to Big Sister was not Aphiwe’s fault. That she would not be bmed for anything that had happened.

  Aphiwe didn’t understand though, why had the hero of the cn been banished? Sister Melokuhle would not speak on it. The tears in her eyes and softness in her heart made it difficult to talk about. Lethabo said that Aphiwe could learn the truth, if she worked hard enough.

  Hunger ate at her stomach. She could smell the test sve being roasted, the forbidden food that Big Sister had asked Aphiwe not to eat. She was hungry, Lethabo and Melokuhle worked and earned non kin blood, meat, and bones. They funneled them to the little girl. While they waited for the proper meals to return. Still it wasn’t like when Big Sister was in charge.

  Aphiwe knelt and went into the form that she had been taught. Thrust, move, trip, stab, repeat. Imagine someone fighting against you, someone your size. Only shoot for vital areas. In the third repeat someone shoved at her shoulder. Thankfully the training kept her from spilling on her face as she turned and looked up.

  The bully was there. “If it isn’t the traitor’s little bitch!” The ughter started. Rage boiled in Aphiwe’s heart.

  “She wasn’t a traitor! She was a hero! She stopped the lion kin. She was going to bring more food back!” Aphiwe brandished her training spear and shook with anger.

  “You’re half my size runt! If you’re lucky I’ll choose you for my ascension ceremony. I’ll show you what real woman are like, not like the traitor!” The bully grabbed her waist wrap and shook her groin teasingly. It was the prefect target.

  Aphiwe lunged her body following the full forms that she was taught as her entire body powered a thrust straight at the bully’s hand. The impact was powerful and the audible crunch of bone could be heard as it smacked home. The bully howled in anger and pain. Aphiwe aimed and thrust smacking the older girl in the throat causing her to choke.

  The girl staggered back clutching at her throat as her broken hand was cradled against her stomach. Aphiwe screamed and shoulder checked the girl onto her back. Primal fury burned in the little girl’s heart as she assaulted the fallen girl. Right until a hand grabbed her by the hair and ears and pulled her away from the bully. Aphiwe pulled and wanted to lunge, beating the girl into her pce.

  Next thing Aphiwe knew she was being tossed through the dirt. She rolled and sprang to her feet brandishing the spear she hadn’t dared let go of. She looked up at one of the many warriors who was smiling down at Aphiwe.

  “Little ember, you burn bright. Where did a runt learn to fight like that?” The warrior crossed her arms and nodded at me.

  “Big Sister showed me, said it was the basics and I had to perfect them!” Aphiwe lunged, attacking the warrior only for it to be smacked away. Aphiwe didn’t catch the foot rocketing into her guts. The wind knocked out her of as she sank to her knees and clutched her stomach.

  “So strong! Most would be vomiting from such a blow!” Aphiwe was hauled back into the air and set back on her feet. She stumbled and was about to fall again as she took shallow breaths. “No! Don’t be weak now, fierce embers need to be stoked and built into great fires!”

  Aphiwe looked at her hands still gripping the shaft, she used it to keep herself from falling over. She looked with hatred at the older warrior. “Only… Big… Sister trains Aphiwe!”

  “You know, she won’t be gone forever. Do you really want to be exactly as you are now when she returns? Do you not want to show her you’ve gotten strong?” The warrior bent down and looked Aphiwe in the eyes. “Let me show you,” She reached out a hand. “Come little ember. Take my hand.”

  Aphiwe felt confused as she looked at one of the people that had helped get rid of Big Sister. “She will come back?” Aphiwe asked with hope in her voice, “When?”

  The warrior smiled, “In more moons that we can count. But don’t worry, I’m sure she won’t forget you. I bet she’ll have high expectations. Come on. Listen to Fezile.”

  Aphiwe reached out a hand, If she takes too long I’ll go find her myself.