Smoke On The Water | 18+

Chapter 17

Word Count: 1,935

As much as I may despise my mother, she was the only one that was able to give me another set of clothes this morning when I woke up covered in blood. She gave me two dresses, to be exact. One is blue, and the other is green.

They aren't the epitome of western fashion, as a European woman would never show her shoulders like this- I like them nonetheless. But it would take a lot for me to tell her that.

I wonder if she makes them herself.

But when you're covered in your own menstrual blood, beggars can't be choosers.

My bleeding has finally become regular again- despite, or maybe in spite of all the stress I've been under. When I asked Ela for some cloth, her eyes widened and she was overwhelmed with happiness.

She hurriedly lead me to what she called the "moon hut" which is a tent that has been dyed red, specifically made to help women through their bleed.

In my culture, it was seen as unsanitary- bleeding, I mean. Despite the fact that it's a natural bodily function, just as urination and defecation are natural bodily functions. Of course, there were the odd men, that wanted to lay with me while undergoing this process.

But here, as Ela has educated me, it is seen as a holy time for a woman- just like pregnancy. She told me it is my body preparing to carry life, and that it is a beautiful thing and deserves to be treated as such.

And oddly enough, I haven't had my period in almost a year. Hell, I've been with the tribe for at least half a year, so it's probably longer than that, at this point.

"Lift your skirt, and sit here. I will get you a blanket to place on your lap." Ela tells me, gesturing to the strange chair in the corner of the tent. It looks like a regular chair, except for the giant hole in the middle of the seat.

"Why?" I ask her. She proceeds to explain to me that while I sit upon this strange chair-  called a yoni throne- she will place a pot of hot water infused with different herbs under the seat. The steam will rise, soothing any discomfort, and forcing any toxins or blood clots to drain from my body.

It is strange to me, but as soon as she places the pot underneath me, I'm faced with immediate relief. I sigh in pleasure as the tight ball of knots in my stomach relaxes.

"I don't bleed anymore, but when I did, I stayed like this almost the entire time." Ela chuckles. I smile in return. The closest I ever got to this was when Harry found out he could stuff beans into a sock and warm them to lay on my stomach. I sigh wistfully at the memory.

I really do miss him sometimes.

I may be falling in love with Mangas, but Harry will always be my first everything. First friend, first fuck, first love.

And I suppose, my first true heartbreak.

"Men are not permitted in the moon hut." Ela says. While I expect Mangas to be standing outside, when Ela moves to the side, it is Eknath.

"I only came to give this to Evelyn." He says, holding out a few bits of food that look like some sort of desserts. I shake my head at him.

"I'm okay." I tell him, trying to politely refuse his offering. I can almost guarantee they are from my mother.

"Nonsense. I insist." He says, handing everything to Ela. She looks back at me in question, and when she turns around again, Eknath is gone. She sighs, and turns to place them on a small table by the chair I'm situated on.

"Evelyn..." She begins. My eyes dart to hers, and I can see how much she wants to say.

"Don't. Don't even start." I tell her. Her smile is a rueful one, but she doesn't push me. I can see why Mangas loves her so much. She doesn't push, even when she wants to. She is fiercely loyal to her family and to her tribe. And she is beyond knowledgeable in almost every area of expertise.