Chapter 7

Since they blended well with us humans.

The only distinct difference between us is their skin colour; theirs is a dark golden to our almost pale skin.

People spoke in a hushed tone about the strangers in our mist, not knowing they were spies disguised; a specie come to dominate.

They walked among us (the humans) for four moon cycles before their inversion; then they've completely known and studied our ways.

Invading a kingdom they knew inside out wasn't that difficult for them; it was mainly a piece of Ude * oh my sweet fruit; how can I get a replacement for the potion I want to make for my Ima?*

When they struck, it was too late for the humans to fight back(even if they did, they wouldn't have defeated them since the wolves are known to fight with strange instruments. Fighting gears we've not seen in our entire life), caught unawares, the four kingdoms were utterly destroyed.

They didn't wipe out our race completely; they killed the Igwe and high chiefs of Mabudazou, taking control of the four kingdoms (my villager is yet to be evaded).

The wolf king emerges victorious after every battle with the humans; his fame far superseded his person.

It's rumoured that no human survives in the village of wolves * when they evaded our kingdom, they took the kingdom of Cherem as theirs, leaving the other kingdoms in the hands of humans they trusted.*

Walking into the forest, I hum under my tone(it's going to be awhile before I leave this place.

Whenever I go to the forest, leaving there early is always difficult for me.

Today's a great day, despite the two insolent brats that wanted to spoil it for me.

Do you know why I said today's a great day? The moment I took two stepsssssss into the forest, I came face to face with an abundance of my Ude fruit.

Gasping, I rush towards its tree. How can this be? I looked at the tree in astonishment.

How could it have survived in the moon falling season?

More importantly, why didn't I see it yesterday I came to collect herbs for my potions?

Looking around to make sure no one's insight, I collected as much Ude as I will need for the rest of the season *if you wonder why I want to take it all at the same time?

I will tell you something no one knows about me, but they suspect all the same. I have a wishing power.

Likewise, I don't know what to call that, really; it's the only explanation of what unfolds around me.

I get what I wish for or long for, except love and acceptance from the villagers; you can say my gift or curse only works on things, not humans.

I lamented about not getting an Udende(a medicinal plant that cures cold and all things related to it) during the sun shining, not all trees survive the hot season, and the next day I found an abundance of it in my backyard.

Picking some as I thought, the others will stay for as long as it will take me to finish the ones I took that fateful day.

Coming out the next morning, and seeing an empty tree devoid of its fruit, made me realize my wishing tress doesn't last for long.

My gifts * I've decided to call it that since it heals more than it kills; personal thoughts aside* isn't only on wishing trees to appear as you thought.

I once said I have the gift of healing; the healing not only lies in my potion makings and all that, it lies in my touch.

Father always says I have a magical touch; I can heal anyone faster with my hands than when they apply it themselves.

My ability to heal people(I haven't had the chance of healing anyone, but I've had the chance of healing stray wounded animals) faster with my hands.

That there is my gift.

The gift of healing *a gift Father said came from his side. Father wasn't a Mabudazou as you thought. He came to Mabudazou after his kingdom was evaded by the tribe of Otiti * that's a story for another day* he sojourned in Mabudazou; that was when he saw and fell in love with my mother*

A gift I inherited from my father's side.

Father said that in Otito his kingdom(he was the son of an agbada way( a woman who serves and communes with the gods) from the lineage of healers.

Healers are born once in a generation, but in his case; none of his siblings(he also is included) was blessed with the gift of healing; a sought after gift in Otito.

A gift that was passed to me from my father, who never had the privileges of experiencing those himself.

Sadly, he died before I can fully realize my full potential; a death I still lament to the moon and back * it's an expression we make use of when we want to say words like forever and eternity.*

My white hair according to my father signifies my healing prowess; according to him, the lighter your hair, the more healing powers you acquire.

You should have seen the pride on his face whenever he's untangling my hair *we utilize Agu MBA's teeth. The river animal (it lives in the water) has round teeth; teeth that are made for untangling stubborn hair.

He will always caress my hair like it's a priceless jewel.

A hair that I hate more than anything in the entire Mabudazou, and farther.

A hair that distinguishes me from others even when I want to blend in.

Whispering to me how adored I would have been in Otito(a kingdom I would have gone to if not for anything but to check on the validity of father's words. A kingdom that was destroyed before I can get the chance of experiencing what it means to be accepted for who you are.

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