Chapter 3: A terrible birthday

A bright light peeked through a tiny hole of our home; telling us it was morning. I felt my mom gently removed herself from the bed and sat up. I did the same.

"Good morning mamma," I greeted her sadly.

She turned to look at me, within her eyes I could see she did not sleep the entire night as well.

"Happy birthday Nala," she greeted me with sadness within her voice.

I nodded; knowing today was not going to be the day I wanted it to be, filled with the excitement of finally turning 18.

"Don't worry I won't let anything happens to you," my mom assured me.

In her eyes, I could see sadness and doubt as to if she knew not how to save me.

I continued to sit on the bed not wanting to go outside and watch my mamma as she opened the door exiting our home. I place one of my hands across my face blocking out the bright light from my eyes. Not being able to take it anymore I went over to sat on another side of the bed where the sun was not too much as worries consumed me.

"Why does this have to happen to me?" I question myself, angrily.

I turned to look at the door the minute I heard my mamma re-entering our home. I stared at her sadly while she came over to me and sat next to me.

"Do you want bake fish for breakfast?" she tried to cheer me up as she gently places one of her hands against my cheek.

I shook my head telling her I did not want to.

"I'm not hungry mamma," I told her with tears within my eyes.

My mamma pulled me towards her allowing me to rest my head on her bosom.

"Please don't worry about today, my child, I won't let anything happens to you," she again reassured me.

I removed my head from her bosom and stared within her face worried.

"How do you know mamma, when you won't be able to control me during the full moon?" I questioned her angrily.

"I'm sorry mamma," I apologized to her, hating how I spoke to her. I had never been angry with my mother until now.

She reached for my face, holding my cheek.

"It's okay to be angry," she told me as she pulled my head back to rest on her bosom.

"I've seen mother's strapped down their children in preventing them from going to their mates they thought was not suitable for their children's and I too have help," she said.

Hearing what she had said. I again removed my head from her bosom staring into her eyes. Having a little faith within her that she could somehow prevent me from walking into death.

"So, you will be able to save me, mamma?" I inquired her but with a smile on my face.

"Yes, she said. I have never done it on my own, but I can," she assured me.

"I know you can mamma," I encouraged her.

My mamma could do anything she puts her mind to. She was what I wanted to become when I get older.

"So, can I still have the roast fish?" I inquired her happily as I jumped off the bed.

She nodded.

"Nala, she called me. It's not going to be easy being strapped down tonight, it's going to be the most painful feeling you will ever feel," she said.

I was so frightened of what she said.

"As long as I don't leave you, I don't care," I told her with a fake smile. Knowing damn well I was terrified.

"Come let's go to the river and catch some fish," my mom said as she pulled me by the hand pulling me outside closing the door behind us.

"You can stay as long you want in the river, adult," she said as she gave me a funny look.

I felt every hair stood still against my skin hearing her said that and ran off leaving her to the river. My mother chased me. Soon we were at the river.

"Let me catch some fish first and then you can enter the river," mamma first instructed me.

I stripped naked taking off my entire leave clothes and stand at the bank of the river waiting anxiously for her to catch the fishes.

I watched my mamma as she stood within the middle of the pond, feet parted and hands ready with her sharp claw to catch the first large fish she saw. Soon she reached down quickly catching an exceptionally large fish sinking her sharp claws within it. I jumped happily. Seeing her do it every time amazed me. My mamma was a good hunter. Which had started to boost my confidence that she could protect me tonight.

"This large fish is for you, birthday girl," she said as she threw me her first catch and started on another.

I caught it and gathered some leaves placing the fish on it. Soon my mom caught another and then more. We now had four fish, out of all of them the first one was still the biggest of them all.

"You can go for a swim now," my mamma told me as she got out of the river. She slapped me on my butt playfully on my way in.

"You are growing up and so your body is, and you need to have pride Nala," she told me.

"Why should I when you are the only one here?" I inquired her playfully and jumped in the water making a big splash, allowing the water to splash against her.

"Nala," my mother called me with a grave look on her face.