Maliha
Chapter 49: Heart of the Jungle

For what felt like weeks, but was only a matter of days, the small group moved through the rocky terrain. The further they moved away from the Der Surjaz land the sicker Maliha felt but she kept up a façade. Smiling and laughing along with the duo as she pointed out flora and fauna she had witnessed before. Their journey was long and arduous, making it even more apparent to both women that stopping over at Nkechi’s tribe was the right choice.

The landscape changed from rocky terrain with long expanses of dry desert with numerous oasis of trees and forest, to a much muddier and damper atmosphere where the trees grew taller and the air itself was humid and moist. The landscape was slowly transforming into the luscious green jungle that had marked the Feri land.

What would have consisted of a two-day journey had extended into almost a full week, with Enzo looking the worst Maliha and ever seen him. She wasn’t sure if it was the meagre helpings of food they were consuming, the long and tireless days or the homesickness that had contributed to the aura of melancholy around Enzo. Perhaps it was all three. The journey was long and tedious, making Maliha worry that Enzo wouldn’t make it the full distance to the Nah Barros land.

“The journey we will take to the Nah Barros land is a much smoother terrain.”

Nkechi spoke as if she read Maliha’s mind, assuaging all of her worries before they could fully manifest into true fears. It was a trait that Maliha had come to depend on in Makula and Darsan. Her heart hurt at the thought of her small tribe that she had left behind but she had to be positive. This was an adventure, one that would bring her closer to herself.

Maliha was jolted out of her downhearted musings at Nkechi’s brash gesturing. Maliha gripped Enzo’s arm and yanked him behind her, creating a barrier between him and whatever had caused Nkechi to signal wildly.

The ground thudded with an impact of large bodies. Feet smashing into the earth and flinging dirt into the air. Maliha staggered back as warriors swathed in animal skins dropped from the trees to the ground, enclosing them in a tight circle of wild men. Their faces were painted in harsh patterns that spoke of death and carnality. Maliha gripped Enzo to her side, her chest strumming violently as they spoke in a harsh and brutal tongue.

Nkechi pushed Maliha to a side and stepped forward, her chin tilted upwards as she commanded the attention of the largest male who had begun to sneak up on Maliha. The dialect was slightly different, where this tribe of warriors used large hand gestures and blunt words, Nkechi used a softer language, one that sounded melodic to the ear. Even with the harsh syllables, the language of the Feri was both softer and unforgettable. Maliha could still pick up pieces of Nkechi’s sentences form when she had stayed with them for nine full moons, but this language was completely foreign.

“What are they saying?” Maliha questioned when the large warrior grunted and gestured violently in her direction.

Nkechi waved Maliha away as she squared up to the warrior. Nkechi’s soft demeanour transformed. Her body seemed to grow impossibly until she appeared to be the same height as the warrior. Maliha blinked rapidly, noticing that though Nkechi hadn’t physically changed the aura around her had grown so stifling she seemed to cower the man beneath her.

In an instant, his gaze lowered, and he muttered something. To Maliha and Enzo’s relief, his acquiescence was given.

“This is Jaga, he is the head warrior of the Lok tribe. A brother tribe to the Feri, he has agreed that he will personally escort us the rest of our way home.” Nkechi shot Jaga a commanding glare over her shoulder. “He said they have sighted some foreign warriors through our land. It is not safe.”

“Why is he so angry?”

“Not angry,” Jaga grunted, his voice sending Maliha’s mind into a frenzy. Alarm bells were ringing in her brain as her body urged her to run from this man. He was a predator and she was the prey.

“Jaga wanted you and so he is a little upset that you are betrothed to my brother.”

Nkechi shot Maliha a subtle wink as she motioned for Jaga to lead the way. The male merely grunted a command to his men. The vast majority stayed behind but a small cohort led the way.

“Hey,” Maliha shouted angrily as one of the men dislodged her grip on Enzo and flung him over his shoulder.

“Boy weak, rest Jok.”

“Oh, thank you.”

Jok nodded brusquely before marching off into the shrubbery.

By the time they reached the large river that marked the beginning of Nkechi’s tribe land, Maliha was beyond exhausted. Her body was littered in scratches and her feet were sore. It was funny how a few months of being stagnant had made it almost impossible for Maliha to resume to who she had once been. It was as if wandering wasn’t for her any longer.

They hadn’t seen any daylight for the last hour of their journey which was how she knew they were nearing the heart of the Feri land. A Land shrouded in darkness due to the tall trees with massive leaves that blocked out the sky.

“Stop here,” Nkechi grunted just as a sharp whistle was released into the air.

There was no warning sign, but the tensing of Jaga’s shoulders had Maliha looking to the sky. Enzo followed suit and was awed by the sight of men and women pouncing from tree to tree until they reached the earth floor in a silent fall.

“Nkechi.”

“Femi.” Nkechi cried running into the large arms of the man.

His dark skin almost melted into the dark forest, the whites of his eyes and teeth gleaming back at Maliha as he gripped Nkechi in his arms.

“Where did you run away to little sister?”

Just as Nkechi was preparing to respond to her brothers question more feet thudded to the earth, marking the arrival of more of her tribe. The new comers stood by silently, but their eyes pierced into the darkness as if marking the arrival of a bigger predator

“Nkechi.”

The voice reverberated around the jungle, setting Maliha’s body on edge.

“Father” Nkechi harrumphed. “I know you are angry that I just left but I couldn’t ignore The Night Ladies call. Maliha needed me.”

At the mention of Maliha, the warriors head snapped to focus on Maliha. His eyes narrowed as he glanced over her and then Enzo who was shivering in the arms of Jok. Nkechi’s father snapped something to Jaga and his men which caused Jok to surreptitiously drop Enzo to the floor. Jaga responded with harsh gestures before nodding for his men to retreat.

Just as Maliha was preparing herself to face the direct focus of Nkechi’s father, she was gripped by her shoulders and spun around. Her world tilted on its axis as a dark face neared hers. rough lips wrapped around hers as strong fingers clamped around her. She tried to break free of the hold, but the man remained relentless in his kiss. Maliha’s knee came up and narrowly missed his private parts.

She stumbled backwards as Jaga grunted his annoyance at her fatal blow, his thick brows furrowing deeply before he spun on his heels and disappeared.

“I told you he wants you,” snickered Nkechi, her laughter echoed by the deep timbre of her brother.

“Maliha, it’s good to see you again, and who is this little warrior?”

“This is my son, Enzo. Nkechi has promised us a few days respite in your home before I travel to my birth tribe. That is, of course, only if we have your permission, Razi.”

Matin’s lips pursed tightly as he looked from his daughter to Maliha and then down to Enzo who was barely standing on his feet. It was clear in his expression that he wanted to reject Nkechi’s words.

“I made a vow to return her to her birth tribe, father.”

Matin’s nose flared in annoyance at Nkechi’s vow, he had no choice but to acknowledge it or force his daughter to become a vow breaker and the thought alone was abhorrent to the Feri tribe.

“Very well,” he grunted. “You may stay a few days. Femi, grab the boy, he looks ready to pass out. Maliha, I’m sure you remember how to climb our trees?”

There was a challenge in his words, one that Maliha was excited to accept. She had never been a quiet climber, but she could definitely climb fast.

“Race you to the top” called Nkechi, running at the tree and climbing up it.

Maliha took a moment to watch Nkechi scale before accepting the challenge and clambering up behind her. Her feet and nails scored into the tree as hastily climbed up the tree, swinging from branch to branch until she was finally able to climb onto the main bridge.

“I won” teased Nkechi.

“I had no doubt that you would,” muttered Maliha, distracted by the breath-taking sight of the Feri tribe land.

The Feri tribe had always left Maliha breathless. Their homes were constructed of wood and leaves, blending into the trees that their homes were seated on. Bridges were constructed to connect each home to the other and in the centre of every few trees were large circular podiums. Some were used for sparring and others were used as communal areas where they could dance, eat or just talk with each other. The tree homes expanded further beyond the eye could see. Thousands and thousands of trees were used as homes, meditating hubs and storage facilities for water and food.

“Nothing has changed,” Maliha murmured breathlessly.

“And yet everything has.”

Maliha whipped around and nearly toppled over the bridge at the sound of Nkechi’s mother’s voice.

“Zira,” Maliha squealed

“That’s Funai Zira to you,” grumbled Matin.

“Hush Matin, Maliha has always been welcomed to call me Zira. Come, little wanderer, don’t be shy amongst family.”

Maliha moved hesitantly forward, feeling hundreds of eyes upon her skin as the tribe’s hushed whispers washed over her but Zira beckoned Maliha in. Maliha’s head rested on Zira’s chest as Zira whispered comforting and loving words into Maliha’s ears.

“Rajal will be happy to see you, he has become an ornery old man without you. He barely leaves his home and to get a tincture off him is almost impossible.” Zira chuckled, squeezing Maliha cheeks affectionately. Her eyes widened impossibly and then her mouth spread into a blinding smile. “Oh, and who is this, come my Femi and bring me this child. Oh, what a cute child but he looks so weary. Quick my son. Fetch Rajal and if he complains tell him Maliha demands his presence.”

Maliha could barely keep up with what was happening. One moment she was being attacked by a brutish warrior who had wanted to kidnap her and the next she was here, among the Feri. The first tribe who had ever opened their hearts to the awkward and lost child, Maliha had been and in an essence, still was.

Even though Matin had never taken to her and Femi and Nkechi had rarely acknowledged her, everyone else amongst the Feri tribe had welcomed her. This had once upon a time felt like home.

________

Later that night, as Maliha rested in the spare room of Rajal’s home, her mind began to reflect on all the different tribes she had visited. Many had been harsh and brutal, but amongst them all, there had been a unity, a togetherness that even in some of their harshest moments had tied them together with an inexplicable bond. Over time it had only become more apparent to Maliha that this unity was what had been stolen from her because of her parents. Even now, as Enzo curled into her chest, his small tufts of hair tickling against her cheek, Maliha wondered if she had ever felt that true sense of unity. She had been part of the Der Surjaz tribe but had she truly? Maliha had doubted that truth because if she had truly felt that unity, then how could she have left?

She had spent her whole life wanting to belong, wanting to feel united and yet the moment the possibility had been there she had run. Nkechi had been right, Maliha was running, running away from herself. She ran before she could truly be rejected. Yes, Ujarak was the Razi and he had discarded her so callously, but he had never been the reason she had stayed and so his brutal words should have not sent her feeling. Yet they had. Maliha had no doubt that Ujarak had spoken out of anger and out of a sense of betrayal. People often said things they didn’t truly mean in the heat of the moment and even if Ujarak had meant them, his words were not final. They had never been final and Maliha knew that. The council could have overruled him if she had given them the chance so why had she run?

“You won’t replace any answers afflicting your mind all night, child.”

Maliha’s head jerked up as Rajal’s ancient voice filled her room. “I suppose you are right.”

“When am I not?” huffed Rajal, “Come and sit with me.”

Maliha climbed from the bed, tucking the covers around Enzo before following Rajal into the small meditation room. Her feet curled beneath her as she sunk into one of the cushioned pillows. Her arms wrapping around her legs as she watched Rajal brewing the sweet and herbal tea. The movement of his dark hands reminded her of Ujarak and how they had often sat outside and sipped on Camomile tea in those last few days before she left.

“It seems that time has not eased your sadness. Why is that so?”

“I thought the constant sadness was a thing of my past, but it seems that I am just destined for heartbreak.”

Maliha stared despondently into her cup, images of her life in the Der Surjaz flashing before her eyes. She had been happy, hadn’t she? She had finally belonged.

“How can you replace true happiness in anything, if you do not replace it within yourself? Hmmm?” Maliha was stumped, unable to answer the man’s poignant question. “The Melikit tribe have tarnished your view of yourself. They forced you to believe that you are not worthy of love and happiness, not in their words but in their actions and you have internalised this, Maliha. You are scared to be seen, to truly love and you are scared to stay.

I would solely blame the Melikit tribe, but your fear also lays with your heritage.”

“I wasn’t good enough for them to stay. Why wasn’t I good enough?” she sobbed, her cup wavering in her hand.

“Oh Maliha,” Rajal sighed. His teacup clattered to the table as he gently plucked hers from her clasp pulled her into his warm embrace. “Their decision bears no reflection on you as a person. There are a million reasons why they did not raise you but not one of those reasons reflects who you are and who you can become.” His withered thumb wiped away a tear from her cheek as he pulled her chin up so he could gaze into her watery eyes. “Your heart is beautiful Maliha and it is time you truly let people see that. you have to fight for yourself the same way you have fought for Xiuri, Darsan and Enzo. You must fight child, for a warriors soul lives within you and it is dying to be free.”

Maliha buried her face into Rajal’s shoulder as she sobbed all of her emotions. It seemed that she was forever crying but perhaps that was just who she was. She had spent years of her life holding back all of her emotions, feeling but never expressing but being amongst the Der Surjaz had splintered open that damn and now she was a deluge of emotion. It was as if she was purging all of those toxic emotions she had internalised one cry at a time. It was therapeutic but also draining.

“Thank you Rajal,” She sniffled, “I think you may have missed your calling as a Funai.”

Rajal chortled beneath his breath as he popped a kiss upon her forehead. “I may not hold the holy marks, but the knowledge still flows in these ancient veins. Now sleep.”

Maliha hugged Rajal a final time before heading off to sleep. Her dreams were much different than that of the previous nights.

Instead of being plagued by terrors of people dragging her asunder and the cool depths of water choking her under, Maliha dreamt of loving hands holding her as the renewing waters washed over her battered soul.