Jewel of the Jungle

Chapter 5

Everfree Forest, Equestria

I felt reasonably confident that our hunt would be a success. Despite our lack of attire, we both carried a leather satchel over our shoulder that held any supplies we might need. They contained dried fruits and meat in case we could not find suitable forage along the way, medicines, and sleeping skins. Starting a fire was not an issue. Long ago, I purchased a flint striker from a traveling merchant that I always took with me whenever I traversed the wilderness.

Tracking the lion had proven less difficult than I first surmised as well. The creature was the apex predator of its environs, thus it had little need to conceal its footprints. As one might imagine, we had little to worry about…right? Unfortunately, Macintosh and I had issues between us that could not be remedied by base comforts alone.

Judging by his awkward gait, I quickly came to realize that Macintosh was nervous and uncomfortable. I expected as much, considering that he had little experience hunting and even less so while in the nude. I certainly had not helped to alleviate any of his anxiety.

Shame burned deep within the pit of my stomach. This was a serious situation, in which lives were potentially at risk. And I let my own selfish desires get the better of me! What must he think of me now? After I stopped, I turned around and looked Macintosh in the eyes.

“Macintosh, I apologize for what happened earlier. What I did was inappropriate and you have every right to be angry with me.”

“I’m not angry. I’m just a bit surprised.”

“Surprised? What exactly do you mean by that?”

Mac’s face flushed. “W-well it’s just that ah had no idea ya liked how ah looked. I’m sorry about not talkin’ to ya for such a long time, but ah just didn’t know what else ta say!”

“Thank goodness! I too was unsure of what to say. But if we are being honest, I admit that I find your physique quite…appealing.”

“Heh, ain’t that somethin’? Just so ya know, ah think you’re…beautiful too.”

I am not entirely certain what compelled me to place my hand upon his shoulder. I imagine it was the feeling of relief that he was not angry with me or the knowledge that we shared mutual feelings of attraction towards one another. One thing that I do know is that it felt so very right to do so.

Afterwards, I reached into my satchel and pulled out my precious tiger tooth necklace. It had served me well during past hunts. The teeth of the fierce beasts channeled their spirits through it, which brought me strength and stamina while prowling the woods. My skills were honed enough at this point that I felt like I no longer needed it. Macintosh had greater use for it far more than I. He was but a novice hunter and needed every advantage he could muster.

The necklace was also a token of my affection for him. It was tradition amongst my people that a courting couple exchanged objects of great value between themselves as a contract of betrothal. I knew that he would not understand the significance or intention of my gift, but I wanted to give it to him anyway. Perhaps later, when the beast is finally slain, I will make my feelings known to him. But for now, my heart and mind must remain focused on protecting my new friends.

I placed the totem upon his neck. “I want you to have this. The tiger spirits imbued in this necklace will help to give you the extra strength you need when we face the mountain lion.”

“Zecora, are ya sure ya want me ta have this?”

“I am certain. I have come to the point in my life where I feel that I no longer need it to give me strength. May it serve you well, Macintosh Apple.”

Mac rubbed one of the teeth. “Ah don’t know what ta say. This must’ve taken ya years ta make. Ah just don’t feel right takin’ it from ya…”

“All you need to do is thank me. That is all I require.”

“Thanks, Zecora. I’ll treasure it.”

A few more hours passed as we continued to trek through the forest. It was more difficult to judge the amount of daylight left within the cycle whilst covered by a canopy of trees, but I had done so many times before so it was not an issue. By my own reckoning, it was evening already, most likely a bit past dining hour.

As if on que, my stomach rumbled in response to my thoughts. Luckily, it was quiet enough that Macintosh could not hear it. Otherwise, I would have been quite embarrassed. When I turned around, I noticed that my companion was in a similar state. With an undignified groan, he plopped upon the ground and rubbed his forehead.

“Ah don’t mean ta slow ya down, but could we possibly take a dinner break? I’m hungrier than a starved hog waitin’ at the slop trough!”

I giggled. “I was just thinking the same thing. This clearing is a good a place as any to set up shelter for the night. After we dine, I shall build the hut and you can go gather firewood.”

Dinner was about as exciting as one might imagine. Jerky and dried berries again. But at least I was in the presence of a warm fire and an excellent hunting companion. In all honesty, I was quite proud of myself for crafting such a fine shelter. The forest here was rich with pine boughs and ferns, which made for a sturdy hut and comfortable bedding.

The hut was still going to be somewhat cozy though. It was just big enough to fit the both of us side by side, with only a small gap between us. I hoped that Macintosh would not mind. Even if he did, there was little else I could do about it. Making a large shelter was time consuming and wasteful.

Despite the mild temperature of the season, it was not wise to sleep on the bare ground. It sapped one of body heat, which could lead to hypothermia. There were also countless insects that liked to scurry about on the ground, many of which that could bite and leave painful sores. So yes, both of us would have to sleep in the hut.

One thing that I was thankful for was the small stream nearby. Not only did it provide a source of drinking water, but it also allowed us to bathe. Is it vain to want to keep fresh and clean even in the middle of the woods? I suppose it is.

But that did not stop me from bringing along a few toiletries to keep myself free of odor and filth. After all, I was sharing my living space with a man and had no desire to smell like some unwashed savage around him. It was simply too embarrassing for me to even comprehend.

I imagine it was also embarrassing for Macintosh to use a woman’s toiletries to cleanse his body. Much to his credit though, he did not seem to argue at all when I offered him a chance to bathe. It seemed that he too put great value on personal hygiene, despite the nature his profession.

That got me thinking. What exactly do men aspire to smell like? Was it pine and smoke or perhaps…meat? For the life of me, I have no idea. But I do know that the combination of lilacs and rose hips is not exactly the most masculine scent one should desire to have. I did not mind though. He smelled wonderful to me and that was all that mattered.

Now that we were clean and fed, there was little else to do but sit around the fire and gaze at the stars. I was just about to get lost in the majesty of the night sky, when I heard Macintosh ask me a question. His voice was barely audible over the chorus of cicadas and tree frogs.

“Pardon me, Macintosh. Did you say something?”

“Ah was just wonderin’ why ya decided ta leave your homeland. If it’s somethin’ ya don’t wanna talk about ya don’t have ta answer.”

I sighed. “That is a question which deserves a complicated answer. It is not something I mind talking about so much as I do not wish to burden you with my…familial issues.”

“Zecora, it ain’t a burden! If it’ll make ya feel better ta get some things off your chest, then ah don’t mind bein’ the one ta listen.”

“Please make yourself comfortable then. It is a long story.”

Village of Kimawa’tu, Zebrica (Six Months Prior)

After eating a light dinner of roasted goat and vegetables, I proceeded to practice my Engolo stances as I always did before retiring to my hut for tea and reading. However, I barely got the chance to wipe the sweat from my brow before a trio of my father’s underlings approached me.

I did not recognize the two of them that carried spears and shields. That was not a surprise though. I never ventured to my father’s complex anymore, thus I had little reason to know any of his current henchmen. They stared at me for a short time, most likely confused by my nudity. But less than a moment later, their gazes shifted back to indifference.

The third man, however, I did recognize. His name was Boka and he was essentially my father’s right hand. Boka and I…we had never gotten along well. I always thought him to be more of an opportunistic weasel than a man, but he was exceedingly intelligent. Perhaps that was why my father valued his counsel so much. With an oily grin, he bowed before me.

“I bid you warm greetings, daughter of Zecoomba the Lion!”

I crossed my arms. “What is it you want, Boka? I cannot imagine you are here to exchange mere pleasantries with me.”

“What a pity. I was hoping we could at least be civil about this. In any case, your father has sent me to request your presence at the longhouse.”

“Then he shall be sorely disappointed! I have much reading to catch up on.”

Boka waggled his finger. “Did I say request? I meant to say that your father demands your presence. That is why I brought along a few guards, just in case you were of a different opinion.”

“We have not spoken in years and now, out of nowhere, he demands to see me?! Ridiculous! And I assure you that I am quite capable of taking those guards out on my own. So why should I come with you?”

Boka clicked his tongue. “It is more of a formality than anything else. Your father insisted I bring a few. However, they aren’t here to coerce you. I thought of something else for that.”

“What did you do?”

“Tell me, Zecora. Do you care about your mentor? What was her name again? Oh yes, I believe it was Nimwae the shamaness. It would be such a shame if any harm were to come to such a dear and noble woman…”

I attempted to throttle Boka by the neck, but the guards quickly took hold of my arms before I could do anything. Since they were both much stronger than I was, there was little I could do to break away from their grasp. With a sigh of defeat, I looked Boka directly in the eyes.

“Please…do not harm her! I will do as you say. Just leave her out of this.”

Boka smiled. “Good. I’m glad we could come to an understanding. Let us proceed to the longhouse.”

The sun painted the horizon in a beautiful palette of orange, purple, and red as it set behind the mountains. Under any other circumstance I would have found the sight comforting, but not this evening. I had far more important things on my mind as I entered my father’s longhouse.

Once inside, my nose was assailed by the scents of cooked meat, spirits, and the exotic Tabaco my father so heartily enjoyed smoking. Personally, I did not understand why anyone would want to willfully inhale smoke. It could not possibly be healthy, despite the pleasurable effects it produced.

Sure enough, my father was seated on his throne, pipe in one hand and a chicken leg in the other. After taking a few more bites of his dinner, he waved away the young servant girl at his side and motioned for his guards to close the doors behind me. Much to my surprise, the guards stayed outside, which left my father and I the sole occupants of the throne room. He took a puff from his pipe and sighed.

“It has been quite some time, Zecora.”

“Hello, Father.”

“I’m quite certain you are curious as to why I asked you to come here.”

I snorted. “Coerced would be a more apt term, I believe.”

“I had to get you here somehow and threatening that old shamaness was the only way. It is funny you know. You are so very defiant. Just like your mother!”

“How would I know? She died just after I was born.”

Zecoomba chuckled. “So you have been told. I had the servants tell you that because you didn’t need to know the truth. But now that you are older, I think it is time for you to find out.”

“The truth?”

“Your mother used to be princess. She was from a faraway kingdom we used to trade with. That was why she married me, to cement an alliance. Our marriage went smoothly for a few years, until just after she gave birth to you.”

“What happened then?”

Zecoomba slammed his fist against the wall. “That insufferable whore decided to sleep with my guard captain! Do you know what I did? DO YOU?!”

“N-no.”

“I made her watch as I beat the man she slept with to death with my bare hands. But her punishment did not end there, oh no. After that, I sold her into slavery. If she could not serve me faithfully, then she would serve others for the rest of her miserable life!”

I felt my legs begin to shake. “I do not know what to say…”

“You, my daughter, do not have to say anything. The fault is not yours.”

“Did you call me here simply to tell me about a mother I never knew? If that is all, then I shall take my leave.”

Zecoomba shook his head. “The story was simply a warning. Tread lightly when you deal with me, daughter.”

“I must confess that I am confused. You and I have not spoken in years and now I am suddenly important to you? What do you want from me? Have I failed some test of yours? Am I to be punished?”

“No, nothing like that. I admit that I have been too lenient with you, Zecora. I wanted you to become strong, independent, intelligent, and warrior like. That is why I had the hunters train you. But you have become too ingrained in their ways. You no longer act like a proper chieftess should.”

“I have no desire to become a chieftess. That is why I do not act like one. All I want to do is start my own herb—”

My father struck me across the cheek. “What you want does not matter! You are my heir and you have a responsibility to rule these lands.”

“I-I…”

“Do you have any idea how difficult it was to arrange your marriage? Many of the neighboring tribes know of your strange living habits. What self-respecting suitor wants to marry a woman who wanders about the jungle, naked, looking for weeds? But luckily for you, I found one.”

“They are not weeds! They are herbs and they help heal people! And what right do you have to criticize how I choose to live my life and who I shall marry? You never cared before!”

“Because it is time that you start looking at the bigger picture. I am marrying you to the son of the southern tribe’s chief because it is in our best interest.”

“You mean your best interest! I do not wish to marry a man who I have never met just because you get a hefty dowry from it. What of love and romance? Am I to never experience such things?”

Zecoomba laughed bitterly. “Such childish fantasies you entertain! Like most marriages, you will come to love him eventually. That is how real life is, Zecora. The ceremony is to be conducted in five months. I expect to see you there without a single complain. Otherwise…Nimwae will suffer.”

“Yes, father.”

Everfree Forest, Equestria

I am uncertain how long I had been crying. Once I started recounting my tale, it consumed all of my being. Everything around me became indistinct, nothing more than a raindrop in the ocean. My throat was raw and my eyes felt irritated and sore. However, I did notice one more thing. I felt a rough but warm hand gently caressing my back. When I opened my eyes, I found Macintosh by my side with a sad smile on his face.

“I apologize, Macintosh. I had not realized how much my past still pained me.” I croaked.

“It’s alright. I’m sorry that ya had ta go through all that. Ah can’t say ah really understand since ah had pretty decent parents. But I’ll do mah damnedest ta help ya feel better.”

“Thank you. It means a lot to me that you are here. C-could you…possibly continue what you were doing before? It felt rather nice…”

Macintosh blushed. “Oh, yeah ah reckon ah can do that.”

“What of your parents? Do you have any issues with them?”

“Not exactly, on account of the fact that they ain’t alive anymore.”

I covered my mouth. “Forgive me! I meant not offence! I had no idea they were deceased.”

“Don’t worry about it. Ah made peace with their passing a long time ago. But AJ…she still gets torn up about it sometimes.”

“What of Apple Bloom? How does she handle it?”

Macintosh sighed. “She was too young ta really remember ‘em. They died in a car accident when she was barely a toddler.”

“Then it is fortunate that she has such loving siblings to take care of her.”

“Can’t deny that AJ and ah love her ta bits. But good grief does that girl get into a heap o’ trouble! Why, just last week she and her friends got covered in tree sap while tryin’ ta figure out how ta make syrup. Funny thing is: they were doin’ it with pine trees instead o’ maple.”

I giggled. “The follies of youth, I suppose.”

“Eeyup. They’re always tryin’ out new things so they find somethin’ they’re good at. Fancy themselves “The Career Maker Crusaders” aka CMC. There ain’t nothin’ wrong with it, but sometimes ah think they should just enjoy what little childhood they’ve got left.”

“Have you ever wanted any children of your own?”

Macintosh rubbed his neck. “Ah reckon that’s a possibility. Ah just haven’t found the right woman ta settle down with yet.”

“And what, in your opinion, constitutes the right woman?”

“I’d like her ta be smart, in decent shape, a-and ah suppose it wouldn’t hurt if she were…beautiful. But at the end o’ the day, the most important thing is bein’ able ta talk with her like an old friend.”

I smiled coyly. “Is that so? I imagine such a woman would be difficult to find.”

“Not as difficult as ya might think…”

“It is refreshing to see that you are optimistic about it. Who knows? You might just find your ideal woman in the not so distant future. But for now, I think we should both focus on more immediate concerns. Like sleep, for instance. We will need to rise early to track the beast.”

“Yeah, that’s a good idea.”

Not much else really needed to be said. It was getting rather late, judging by how far the moon had traveled across the sky. I could not be certain as to what time it was exactly, but it was likely around midnight. After I put out the fire, I nestled into my sleeping bag and began to fall asleep.

I felt Macintosh settle in next to me a few seconds later. Since it was somewhat chilly without the fire, I decided that the extra warmth was more than welcome. So I decided to snuggle next to him a bit closer. He tensed for a moment, but relaxed once I kissed his cheek.

“Pleasant dreams, Macintosh.”

“Night, Zecora.”