Chapert 2

chapter 2

Tanekom laid on his pelt bed, unable to sleep, his body crawling with anticipation. When daylight broke, the biggest day of his life would begin. Tomorrow he will be recognized as a man in his tribe. He laid there, unable to drift into sleep with thousands of thoughts swarming in his mind like bees. "I must sleep, I can't afford to be exhausted for tomorrows battle." he grunted turning over and forcing his eyes shut, hopeful that sleep would clear his thoughts and that the woman would leave him alone. Unfortunately she would not. He dreamt he was in the midst of the same chaotic landscape that had been plaguing him for months. That's when he saw her again: the Equestrian woman that had been omnipresent in his dreams. She had long pink hair with streaks of violet and her skin was perfectly pale. "Who are you!?" Tanekom shouted at the woman. Just as before she did not take notice and kept her back to him. "Why do you torture me! Are you some sort of demon?" he shouted. The woman continued to ignore him. "If so, what do you want of me?" He pleaded one final time. The woman finally seemed to take notice of his calls and turned her head towards him. Tanekom could barely make out a face, only two purple eyes and pink lips. "Who are you?" he asked one final time. The specter gave only gentle smile before whispering his name then the sunlight shattered the dreamscape.

                Tanekom awoke with a start, sweat dripping from his brow and his heart jumping out of his chest. He slammed his fists in frustration on the pelts. Tanekom wiped the sweat with the back of his hand 'I must not let this phantom consume me.' he thought as he rose from his bed and over to his water bucket. He submerged his face into the cold liquid, clearing his mind of all thoughts before emerging gasping for air. "TANEKOM, UP, UP!" he heard the Kepala call into his hut. "I am up, Kepala!" he called back advancing to the doorway. The Kepala, or chief, was a giant of a man with tree trunk arms and legs, a chest of slated stone, and a hard weather-worn face. His long black hair stretched to his lower back, a symbol of his skill and power.  In his tribe before one has engaged in a battle they are to wear their hair in a pony tail and only after they have tasted war are they allowed to cut it. After cutting their tails they let their hair grow out and are not to cut it until they have lost in combat. The chief's long hair not only shows his experience and skill but also cements his place as Kepala. "Good, did you have pleasant dreams?" he asked. His face barely moved when he spoke, as if it were made of stone. "I wish." Tanekom replied walking outside the sun's piercing rays stinging his eyes and warming his face. "I am surprised you even slept. I remember I could not even hope to find sleep before my first battle." He said, "Far too excited. I wished we could have had it right then in the middle of the night." He joked. Despite being a hard and strong leader, he was not emotionless and was rather friendly. "Yes, kepala, now if I might be excused I need to say goodbye to mother." Tanekom said, "Of course you may go, but do not take long. We march to meet the Kanma's soon." The Kepala said giving Tanekom a pat on the back.

Tanekom began sprinting towards Zecora--his adopted mother's--hut. He had always known he was not her biological son; they shared no physical similarities. He had tanned, white skin, while hers was a sweet ebony. His eyes were a striking azure; hers were bright turquoise. He had crimson hair with streaks of indigo; her hair was white with black stripes. But she had taken care of him all the same since he was a babe and no matter what she was still his mother. "Mother Zecora!" he shouted throwing open her door pulling her into his muscular arms and into a warming embrace. "Ah Tanekom, my sweet. how happy I am we could meet." she said pulling him closer with a warm smile spreading "Of course I would come see you before leaving. " Zecora's spirits dampened hearing him say this. She pulled away from Tanekom, her warm smile reversed. "Mother Zecora..." Tanekom trying to console his mother "No, I know you must go but please promise me you will come home." She pleaded, fighting desperately against the flood of tears building behind her eyes. " I promise mother." He said pulling her into him, "Wait I have to get something." She said, walking over to her closet and pulling out a large staff. It was an amazing sight: a steel rod with a long obsidian blade at the top, and a shorter one at the base. It had intricate blood red lines that spread across the staff like veins and formed the edge of the dark blade. "I was saving this for your first battle, I guess I'm just surprised that it has come so soon." she handed Tanekom the staff, as he began flourishing it around it felt right in his hands like it was made especially for him. "Where did you--?" he began, but was cut off by Zecora. "Where I received it is not of any importance, all that matters is that you take this lance, and use it and fight with all your might so that you may protect yourself, my light." she said pulling Tanekom into one final embrace before the horns of war sounded. "I'll come back. I promise, mother." he said dashing out of the door.