Chapter 4

A banging sound alerted me to what Fosy and Chika are currently doing to my room.

Walking in there, I was met with a sight that made my furious side rear its ugly head up.

Fosy was jumping on my Apa* it's a wooden box-like Oche, but instead of it being a sitting place; it's considered a resting place* which by the looks of things my APA I broke.

Chika on the other side of the room is trailing around with my most priced akwa *the material we put on to cover our nakedness.*

The akwa is made up of sown-up ede leaves for those who can't afford the animal skin.

My entire Akwa is made up of animal skin; a strong material that lasts for a long.

The akwa am currently putting on now has lasted for more than twelve moon cycles; Father made it a bit bigger, so I can grow into it and not out of it.

His hindsight is what kept me alive for all those moon cycles.

Without his penchant for making things that will last for numerous cycles, I won't be as fit as I am.

“Fosy! Chika!” I glare at the two cute horses *they're as small as little donkeys, * “get down from there this instant.” I point at Fosy, “and you,” I turn towards Chika, “leave my Akwa alone!”

I can't believe this two still haven't grown up.

This exactly was what Fosy liked doing when he lived with me, long before he met Chika.

You would have thought he will act a bit mature with a mate by his side, but the reverse is the case.

Instead of cooling down on his playful nature, Fosy increased it more thanks to Chika, of course.

I'm still glaring at the still horses; I pick up my littered akwa.

I can't afford to lose one now; if one eventually wears out, or it's lost, replacing it will be like pulling a crocodile's tooth.

The villagers don't sell things to me as it stands now.

For almost six complete moon cycles, I haven't had a taste of a cooked meal.

I've relied uniquely on the fruits my dad grew around the outhouse for substance.

Cooking a meal is impossible without ingredients to cook it with.

Chika Snickers the moment Fosy walks to her side; it's as if she's telling him to answer on his own.

“What do you guys hope to achieve by trashing my home?” I place both hands on my hips with my mouth turned up in a frown.

I am trying to make a good angry picture.

My plans must have worked since the two didn't make any sound at all, no stray snicker was heard.

“You two are adults, for gods' sake!” I point hysterically at them, “you two should know how to behave properly.” I point at Chika, “you're almost going to be a mother, well, I won't be surprised if you're already expecting, yet you are acting like a baby!”

I blow out a breath, "am sick and tired of you two!” I point to the door, “leave!”

Fosy gave me a look as he walks to the door with Chika close on his heels.

Stopping at the door, they both turned at the same time to give me a look that made my frozen heart melt.

“Don't look at me like that,” I turn my face to look at the wreck they both caused to my room.

A wreck is afraid I won't be able to mend even if I try.

The look they gave me as they left was still fresh in my mind; it was as if my mind didn't want me to think of anything apart from their sorry look.

“Why not go after them?” a voice asks in my mind

“No I won't go after them”, I turn, determined to enter the kitchen, but the thought of how sorry they looked still wouldn't leave me.

“They were sorry for what they did earlier; you can forgive them.” the voice was still adamant; it's like the entire universe is siding with the two bratty horses.

“They can be sorry all they want, but I still won't open the door for them”, I fold my hands to stop it from grabbing the door; it's only a matter of time until I succumb to the feelings.

They must be far from my home by now; I won't put it l past Fosy to go into hiding.

That's what he normally does whenever am angry with him.

He goes into hiding for close to an Izu Uka before he comes back with a look I can't turn my back to.

I won't open the door, I won't open the door, I won't open…

And I opened the door.

After all the mind fight, I still opened the door.

The two culprits were standing beside my favorite Oche* the one I sat on when the children kicked their Ukwu towards me* they look as if they were waiting for me to open the door and usher them in.

Cunning animals, knowing how hard it is for me to stay angry with them.

“You can come in,” I wave them in, “just don't repeat your earlier stunts,” I warn them with a glare to make it reach home; most times it's the expressions they listen to.

They happily rush into my house, instead of running into my room they rushed in my direction to my Ebe Nri.

“Oh no, not there” I cry as I rush after them to prevent another chaos.

What they did to my room is nothing compared to what they will do to my Ebe Nri.

My potions might not make it if I don't hurry.

A disaster like that happened during the last complete moon cycle.

The disaster they caused in my Ebe Nri took me two Izu Uka to completely set it to right.

Luckily for me then, none of my patients were suffering from crucial illnesses, else I would have been accused of deliberately murdering them.

Rushing into my Ebe Nri, I let out a sigh of relief when I spotted the two leaning casually on the wall.

Everything was like I left it; none was missing from its side except my Ude. I'm sure I left it on the bucket I kept near my Miri one pot.

Looking at them more closely, I noticed how their mouth is moving.

The movement of their mouth looks suspicious to me, they weren't eating anything when I asked them in earlier.

“What are you eating?” I narrow my eyes suspiciously at them. “I hope it's not my Ude.” 

Oh, God! Let it not be my Ude.

Getting an Ude in the forest is a hassle since we're well past our moon shining * it's a season where things blossom and rain falls almost every day. The moon shining season is my favorite part of the moon cycle, it's a time I gather my herbs and prepare them for the Moon falling. 

The moon falling is an opposite season to that of the moon shining, it's a season of perpetual heat, the heat is almost too bearable to bear during the day; at night it's a bit cool. Rain falls during the moon falling but not steady, it's periodical*

We're in the moon-falling season, the last rain we had been in the last two Izu Uka.

The two Ude * a fruit that's medicinal for its healing properties, I brought it last week from Uderide *a forest that separates our village from Cherem, the abode of the wolves as we dubbed it*

The two Ude was what I found after combing the forest from Ututu to Abali *the rising of the sun until the setting of the said sun·, and to have it missing is like a blow to me.

I specifically brought the Ude for my Ima, a drop of it can cure her of her sickness.

Who knows if she will finally acknowledge me if I completely heal her.

Walking closer to the two Naughty Horses to check on what's making their mouth move.

Hoping against hope that it isn't my Ude they're chewing; I swear to the gods I will cook their meat and make a stew with it *although I don't eat meat, I will still cook them.*

“Open your mouth,” I command the frightened animals, their looks are enough to tell me how guilty they're.

With their mouth open, I look in to see the remains of my Ude in their mouth.

“You petulant animals, I will teach you two a lesson you won't ever forget”, I threaten as I look around for something strong to hit them with.

Forget about cooking them, I changed my mind long ago.

A little hitting will make them learn not to eat what I kept.

Before I can locate where I kept my hitting cane *it's been moons since Fosy last visited* and the two have already dashed out the door.