The Open Book

Chapter 2 Scene 2

2.

Aphiwe woke with her mother next to her.

She shuddered, slicked in a cool sweat.

Her eyes darted, but there was only her mother.

What was left of the door shifted and her breath held. A tail, unknotted, was moving, picking up splinters, feeling its way forward. It held onto the most solid object it could and pulled, the object held and Chuma appeared, butt first, a trail of drool dragging across the floor. Aphiwe tried to lift her head but barely anything moved.

"Chu...m...a...!" she whispered, her eyes widening when it dawned on her what the girl's tail was trying to do.

It reached the bed, tapping its way forwards.

It happened.

It was why everyone slept on the ground. The girl's tail roamed the sheets until it caught her ankle.

"Ch...uma...! Ch...uma...!" she tried a little louder.

All she had to do was squeeze her tail, it'd back off.

That was all she had to do, but the embers of aching had already started a fiery rebellion. She was stuck. Chuma's tail pulled, dragging her off the bed by her ankle. She flopped on top of Chuma, waking her. They were nose to nose, wet black to dry silver, breath shared.

"Can you move?" Chuma asked.

Aphiwe shook her head.

"The doctor was here. They say it's an after effect of the Jokai venom. But they don't know what'll happen. No one's ever taken as much as you and not died."

"Whe...ere...s"

Aphiwe had to catch her breath.

"...Le...sa..."

"She's okay, she's actually here. She found your bow."

"...Wh...whe...re...s?"

"The bow?"

"...No,"

"Oh... she's next door, do you want me to call her?"

For reasons unknown her heart began to flutter, not racing but tiptoeing, at speed. She shook her head. Chuma's blurry face formed a weak smile and her tail locked them together.

"I was really scared." Chuma breathed. "All we saw was Lesanda on Bae Bae who was howling the whole time. They took Lesanda. Your mom was so quick, she called up as many people as she could to look for you. It was more than I'd ever seen. When Lesanda woke. She didn't know what happened. You had Bae Bae jumping up and down and before anyone could get ready. Your mom and Bae Bae took off. I stayed with Lesanda but Langa took off with her whole family."

"...Sh... she... he...re?"

"No, she wasn't allowed."

"...B... ...ut?" Aphiwe asked, catching a 'look'.

"I dunno, think Langa and Sihle are scared of coming."

"Why?"

"I dunno."

"...Wha... do... s... tail... th...n...k?"

Chuma pulled a face but sighed.

"They don't want to see you weaker than them."

"What?"

"I know." Chuma said rubbing foreheads, fur prickling her skin. "You're gonna get better you know."