Naeto Kere!

Chapter 1.2

  I take a peek in my sisters' room and find them with their heads close together, whispering.

Together? Oh no!

I have six older sisters; Nita, Ngo, Nenye, Nta, Nma and Nkem. Nita, Ngo and Nenye have homes in the village with their partners and children. Nta and her partner live with us. Nma and Nkem have no partners yet, neither do I.

My sisters, the ones stuck in this house with me, would never really stay this long without having an argument. Unless...

"What's happening?" I say as I walk into the room, "Are you girls planning to scare me again? I won't fall for it this time!" I finish, crossing my hands on my chest.

They look at me for a moment before laughing loudly. I frown because I don't like how I'm always the one they laugh at.

"As much as we'd love planning to scare you dear, it's not it this time," Nta says while shaking her head.

"So, what is it then?" I ask.

Nkem gives me a hard look before saying harshly, "Its none of your business. Go back to your room and cry or something-

"Hey!" Nma cuts in while I try to control my tears, "There's no need to be rude to her now. Wetin dey do you self?"

"Naeto come here" Nta calls to me with her arms open. I walk to her and she carries me on her lap. Its quite strange because Uchi has been the only one to ever carry me like this.
She waits for Nma to finish shouting at Nkem before she continues, "We were talking about Nma's creation ritual. She will make her partner tonight."

Partner? Uchi.

"What about me? I want to make my partner. I want Uchi back again." I say as I feel the tears again. I know better than to cry out though, mother could be anywhere.

"Child, the gods forbid the family to be there while Nma makes her partner. We have to wait a bit, until its your time to make a partner." Nta answers me slowly.

Mother walks in with a basket and I can't help but ask Nta excitedly, "So that means I can get Uchi back again?"

Mother drops the basket before grabbing my hand and pulling me from Nta's lap. "Why won't you get it child! You can never get Uchi back again! Now get out and make yourself useful!"

I run back to my room, lock the door and cry into Uchi's blanket on the floor. I stay there for a long time until my body starts to ache and my tears dry by themselves. My tummy rumbles hard, my dragon is really angry now. Nobody cared to check on me. I knew that if Uchi was here, he would take care of me.

He cannot be truly gone.

There's only one way to get him back and that's by making a partner.

But I don't know how

The tears start again but stop as soon as an idea enters my mind.

I can follow Nma to the River of Two Souls and watch the ceremony. Then, when everyone is gone, I can make my partner and get Uchi back again!

But it would be dark.

The thought stops me but Uchi always said that "we must make sacrifices for the things we want the most." When he said it, I didn't really understand but I think I do now.

I wipe my tears and begin preparing for my new adventure.

∆∆∆∆

The sounds of the crickets and bugs keep me calm on this quiet and cold night. The ritual finished a while ago but I'm scared to step out from the bushes. I'm sad that the partner Nma created does not look like Uchi. It makes me think that I can't get Uchi back. I want to go back to the village but I know that if I create a partner, he will love me as much as Uchi. So I will just do it anyways.

I walk to the muddy river bank and realise that I can't remember the words the EZEMMUO chanted to the sky. It seemed to be important.

I guess I'll just make up my own words then.

I kneel by the river and begin to draw the figure of a man in the mud. Just like I saw Nma do.

A/N: Please let me know what you think about the first chapter. What do you think of the characters? Is Naeto making a reckless mistake? Is her desperation understandable?

Please vote too and share💝