Roar

by Natavia

“Have fun and enjoy your family. I will go back inside the temple and pray,” he said and walked away. I turned around and watched him. Ockbutu kneeled in front of the statue of Sekhmet and began speaking in an Egyptian language.

  “Let’s have some fun,” Safari said. She grabbed my hand and pulled me down the hill.

  “I forgot to tell you about the dance,” she said.

  “What dance?” I asked.

  “Spear dancing. It’s when you show your warrior skills but in a dance. It’s what we do back home. Trust me, you will do great,” she replied.

  Oh, hell no! I thought.

  When we made it to the crowd, I spotted Naji and a few other members in his pride. He wore wrap-around pants with a matching sleeveless top. He walked over to me and bowed his head.

  “My queen,” he said.

  “You can call me Sy’noba,” I replied.

  “So I can get another spear in my body?” he asked.

  “Let me see your wound,” I said. He opened his shirt and his would was completely healed.

  “The key to healing faster is plants and bird eggs. It never failed me but this is for you,” he said. He handed me a wooden bottle and told me to open it. The fragrance from the bottle smelled better than flowers in the jungle.

  “My mother and sisters use this for their bath. The scent lasts for days,” he said.

  “Thank you, Naji,” I replied.

  His mother, Tika, walked through the crowd and gave me a basket. It was full of very large eggs.

  “Ostrich eggs are good for you,” she said.

  “Thank you,” I replied.

  “Anytime, and I apologize again for earlier. I wasn’t expecting a young lioness to be our queen. You have a whole life ahead of you instead of this big responsibility, but after I prayed, a sense of relief came over me. Please forgive me,” Tika said.

  “I understand,” I replied. She rubbed her face against mine before she walked away.

  “I don’t want to keep you, so enjoy your night,” Najisaid. He rubbed his face against mine and purred against my neck. When he pulled away from me, his eyes were glowing.

  “I’ll see you later,” he said and walked away.

  “I think he likes you,” Safari said.

  “Naw, he feels guilty for his behavior. I saw it in his eyes,” I replied.

  “So, you can really see visions of us?” Safari asked.

  “Only when I’m healing someone but I can sense different vibes. Tika and Naji are embarrassed because of the way they treated me earlier. She didn’t have faith in me because I’m young enough to be her daughter. I don’t think she’s jealous. She’s just not welcoming of my presence yet,” I replied.

  “Can you sense my aura?” she asked.

  “You don’t hide anything. What we see is who you are,” I replied.

  “Am I going to get a saber mate?” she asked.

  “I’m sure you will but I saw a vision of you giving me another one of those drinks,” I replied.

  “I’ll go make us some,” she said and walked away.

  Suddenly, the villagers stopped playing their music, singing, and dancing. They began to form a crowd and someone called for Ockbutu. I smelled a familiar scent in the air and I ran towards it. The crowd split to make room for me to walk through. Eze was lying on the ground heavily panting in his beast form. Dried blood covered his paws and his eyes were closed. The symbol on his chest flickered; it seemed as if it was telling me Eze’s life was in danger. I dropped my gifts and rushed to him.

  “Eze, wake up!” I yelled and wrapped my arms around him. Ockbutu came through the crowd and kneeled next to him.

  “Sabers don’t do well in heat. He’s dehydrated. I think he ran the whole way here. Quick, get him up,” Ockbutu told a few villagers. Eze slowly shifted back to his human form and someone covered him up. Four men picked up Eze and carried him to the temple. I grabbed three water pails and ran to the temple. Tiban was scorching hot and although the trees in the jungle made a lot of shade, it wasn’t enough for Eze.

  “I’ve got it from here,” I called out to everyone. Ockbutu and the four men left the temple. Eze’s breathing sounded painful and tears welled in my eyes. I laid his head across my lap and propped my knee up so he wouldn’t choke on the water I was giving him.

  “What were you thinking?” I asked.

  “I wanted to see you,” he whispered. I gave him more water and he almost choked.

  “You could’ve died.”

  “It would’ve been worth it, though,” he said. He slowly sat up and grabbed the second water pail. In two big gulps, the water was gone.

  “It was hot as shit in that jungle. I saw my spirit running next to me. I thought I was dead, honestly,” he replied. I helped him up and he wrapped his arm around me.

  “I need to bathe you. You stink,” I said and he chuckled.

  “I can do it myself. I don’t want you to miss your ceremony,” he said. I helped him to the lake and he looked around in amazement.

  “Damn, this shit is beautiful, just like you,” Eze said and I pushed him into the lake. He stood up and wiped water from his eyes.

  “You’re still mad at me, huh?” he asked.

  “No, you’re the least of my concern,” I replied.

  “All lies, baby. If you want me to kiss your ass this next few days, I can. I’ll feed you, bathe you, put you to sleep and anything else I gotta do so we can move on,” he said. I sat on the rock next to the lake and watched him. The sparkling water dripped down his dark chest then ran down his sculpted abs. A purr slipped from my lips and Eze swam over to me. He slid off my sandals and massaged my feet with his strong hands.

  “You missed a spot,” I teased and his hand slid up my dress.

  “This spot?” he flirted, and I smacked his hand away.

  “Aight, I’ll behave,” he chuckled.

  “Did Lynx follow you through the portal?” I asked.

  “You got jokes. Come and get in the water with me,” he said.

  “You need to rest,” I replied.

  “We can rest later,” he said.

  “We?” I asked.

  “Yeah, I didn’t stutter. Be honest with yourself, you know I’m not here just to be intimate with you. I came here so you can see that I’m not playing with your feelings. I know what I want—need, and it’s you,” he said.

  “We barely know each other,” I said.

  “Yeah, we do but you’re too afraid to admit it. Tell me you don’t want me and I’ll take my black ass home right now,” he said and I giggled.

  “What am I thinking?” I asked.

  “You should take your spear and drive it right into my chest because you feel betrayed, but deep down you know it will hurt you more than it’ll hurt me because you have the same feelings I have for you. You’re afraid I might turn out like the males in your pride and only see you as a sex object,” he replied. I wasn’t thinking of any of those things at that exact moment, but I have thought about them.

  “I’m not afraid of anything,” I replied.

  “We all fear something,” he said. Eze went underwater and swam around the lake. After I took off my dress, I stepped into the lake with him. He swam over to me and wrapped his arms around my waist, swallowing me in his embrace. Another purr slipped from my lips and Eze’s eyes glowed.

  “Don’t scare me like that again. The next time, stop and get water,” I said.

  “Next time? Ohhhh, okay, so you got plans on seeing me again?” he asked.

  “You’re reading too much into it,” I joked. He picked me up and tossed me over his head.

  “Safari just did my hair!” I yelled when I stood up.

  “It still looks good, but I owe you that,” he replied.

  Eze went back underwater and sank his canines into my buttocks. The familiar throbbing ached between my legs. My nipples were hard like ripe grapes and butterflies insanely fluttered in my stomach. He came up from underneath the water and wiped his eyes. I wrapped my arms ar
ound his neck and he lifted me up from my bottom so I could face him. My eyes landed on his full lips and my heart raced. Eze leaned in and kissed me, his lips almost causing my head to explode. He massaged my ass when he slipped his tongue into my mouth. His purr was deep, masculine. It almost reminded me of a roar. I buried my face in the crook of his neck and gently bit him. His moans were intoxicating. Suddenly, he pulled away from me.

  “What happened?” I asked.

  “You made me hard,” he chuckled.

  “That’s a good thing, right?” I asked.

  “I don’t want to deflower you in this lake during your ceremony,” he said. I climbed out of the lake and snatched my dress off the ground. Eze threw his hands up in frustration.

  “What now?” he asked.

  “Nothing, finish your bath,” I replied. Eze jumped out of the lake and landed in front of me.

  “Now is just not the time,” he said.

  “I know but the urge is driving me crazy. When you’re not around, I don’t think about it much,” I replied. Eze grabbed my hand and pulled me into a big flower bush. He laid me down and slid down the length of my body.

  “What are you doing? The sticks are poking me in the ass,” I said. It was dark inside the bush, and when I looked up, I saw a small glimpse of the moon. Seconds later, a deep cry slipped from my mouth. Eze’s tongue invaded my privacy again and his finger rubbed my swollen bud. I chanted his name as his tongue separated my pussy lips. My nails clawed at his back and my stomach tightened. He pinned my legs back, his tongue gliding from my pussy to my rear end. My pussy muscles clenched as a stream of my essence dripped from between my slit and Eze captured it with his mouth. A tear slipped out of my eye when his finger entered my pussy, the feeling was unexplainable.

  Sluurrrppppppppp! Ummmmm… Muah….

  The sounds coming from him sent me into an orgasmic high. My pussy squirted. Eze’s nails scratched my legs and he gently bit my clit. His nibbles, slurps, and licks sent me into mid-shift. My tail wrapped around him, urging him to go deeper, faster, harder. Eze moved my hips to the rhythm of his tongue, urging me to make love to his face. With my back lying flat on the ground and my legs over his shoulders, I couldn’t escape his grasp. The pleasure I could no longer bear. My cat’s roar echoed throughout the jungle when he pulled my pussy into his mouth. He grabbed my breasts and squeezed my nipples when a big wave came passing through my body, causing my legs to violently shake. My wetness splashed on the ground like rain after I squirted again. He pulled away from me and flipped me over on all fours. The sticks were poking at me and a few thorns scratched my skin. Eze spread me from behind and slipped his tongue back into me while palming my buttocks.

  I wanna be inside you so bad. You taste like fresh fruit. I can’t stop eating you. Tell me you want me to stop, he purred. His thumb eased inside my anus when he applied more pressure to my pussy. Feeling defeated, I cried for him to stop while my body experienced another crucial orgasm. Eze pulled away from me and I fell face-forward on the ground.

  “SY’NOBA!” Safari called out.

  Eze pulled me out of the bush and stood me up. Safari came out of the temple with the drink I asked her for. Eze stood behind me so she wouldn’t see all of him. With my hair covering my breasts, my nakedness wasn’t as noticeable.

  “I have been looking for you. Ohhhhhh, you’re busy,” Safari said when she saw Eze.

  “Naw, we’re done,” Eze replied and I elbowed him.

  I can see his dick between your legs, Safari thought.

  “Can you bring him something to wear?” I asked. She handed me the drink and went inside her sack. She pulled out a dashiki.

  “I always knew this big thing was going to come in handy,” she said.

  Eze held his hand out to Safari and she handed him the dashiki. “Appreciate it,” he said.

  “Anytime,” Safari said and walked away.

  “Don’t forget about your show!” Safari called out.

  Eze got dressed and the material squeezed his chest, outlining his masculine bold frame. I gave him my drink and he finished it in one gulp.

  “Are you still thirsty?” I asked.

  “Naw, beautiful. You almost drowned me,” he flirted.

  After Eze helped me get dressed, we left the lake and went back to the ceremony. He grabbed my hand and walked through the crowd. The villagers bowed their heads at us.

  This is the life I always imagined, I thought.

  Eze

  R unning for a whole day without stopping was worth seeing Sy’noba again. I could’ve stopped to hydrate myself but I couldn’t chance losing Sy’noba’s scent because it was still fresh. My paws bled from stepping over thorns and scrapping them against rocks. I was overheated and a few times I almost fainted but the adrenaline and excitement kept me going until I reached her. The ceremony reminded me of a ritual. The villagers wore lion masks and the kids’ faces were painted orange. The smoke from the fire pits burned my eyes and the smell of burning herbs permeated the air. The dry heat was beginning to dehydrate me again. I sat on a log and Sy’noba looked at me with worried eyes.

  “This fucking heat is killing me,” I said.

  “What else does the heat do to the sabers?” she asked.

  “Causes aggression and a lot of it. My throat is tightening up again,” I replied. She ran to get more water. The fire pits made the heat triple, otherwise I could’ve tolerated it for a few hours. Sy’noba was on her way back to me, but a male stopped her.

  Chill out, Eze. You’ll be fine once you drink some cold water, I thought. My saber was trying to emerge but I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I ruined Sy’noba’s ceremony. The male she was talking to whispered in her ear. My teeth sharpened and my spine shifted out of place.

  “Tame him,” Ockbutu said when he approached me. The bones in my body began reforming to the shape of my saber’s.

  “Breathe with deep slow breaths,” he said. Sy’noba walked away from the male and his eyes glowed while he watched her leave. He was mesmerized by her juicy backside and curvy hips.

  “Appreciate it,” I replied after she gave me the water pail.

  “Go lay down, you don’t look so good,” Sy’noba said.

  “Who is that lame?” I asked her. She turned around and he was still staring at her. He was disrespectful; he was challenging me.

  “Oh, that’s Prince Naji,” she replied.

  “Prince, huh?” I asked.

  “He’s a part of the Y’kiki tribe. When we go back to Tiban, Sy’noba will be here amongst her tribe,” Ockbutu said.

  “Why do y’all have to go back?” I asked.

  “We are all like family, but our home is our home. The lions are like the sabers, they like to live away from other cats. Two very territorial and aggressive species,” he said.

  “This is some straight bullshit,” I mumbled and Ockbutu laughed.

  “Jealous, eh?” he teased and Sy’noba giggled.

  “Of what? A prince? He’s a little too old to be a prince, isn’t he?” I asked.

  “Soon, he will venture off and form his own pride,” Ockbutu replied.

  The drums stopped and the villagers gathered around in a circle. I wasn’t familiar with their way of living. In Camden, it was relaxed. Quieter. The sabers lived in treehouses, trees apart from one another. Whereas in Tiban, everyone lived together like a big family. After my ritual, there wasn’t a celebration. I went back home to start work the next day. My life was about providing for the lost world, Sy’noba’s life was about protecting the cat shifters. She was able to live amongst her tribe, I had to live outside of mine. We were opposite but alike in many ways.

  “It’s time for me to do some kind of warrior dance that I know nothing about,” Sy’noba said.

  “It comes from the heart. There is no specific technique,” Ockbutu said. She kissed my lips before walking through the crowd. The villagers sat around Sy’noba and began chanting in their own language. The drums began playing again but
in a much slower beat than before. She was nervous when she looked at me. I bowed my head to her.

  I’m nervous, she thought.

  Don’t be, just move your hips like you were doing when we were in the bushes. Pretend that I’m making love to you with my tongue, I replied.

  You’re no help! she said.

  Sy’noba pulled two spears out of her hair and the villagers cheered her on. Her eyes slanted more than their normal shape. Her teeth sharpened and her hair grew out into a wilder mane. Her lips and nose changed into her cat’s. Sy’noba’s tail slapped against the ground when it burst out of her dress; she was in mid-shift. Sy’noba was the most beautiful female I’d ever seen but her mid-shift lioness was enough to take my breath away. I wasn’t the only one who felt that way, everyone was smitten by her. Her eyes turned gold and so did her nails. Beads hung from the tip of her tail. Sy’noba began moving her hips as she twirled her spears. The way she moved reminded me of snake.