The Mutant World

by Darryl T. Mallard

  ******

  CHAPTER FOUR

  THE MAVIE, BARRAT

  The gathering at Lady Ramsy’s residence had now mellowed a bit and the women were now telling stories about their lands and families. Stories about Queen Bellasaris and the royal family were proving quite informative to the Earth visitors. They were now starting to get a picture of what actually had been happening on Bellasaria since it closed itself off from the realm of Earth fifteen years ago (Earth Time) but two thousand their time.

  “Bellasaris’s husband took off?!” laughed President Chambers.

  “Oh, yeah!” said Princess Talia of Melmoria. “That was, oh…eight hundred years ago?”

  “And the great mothers scoured the known and unknown lands of Bellasaria to find him,” laughed another princess.

  “Well…it wasn’t that hard to follow his trail over the next few hundred years,” said Talia with a giggle. “He had a tendency to leave presents in many of the remote places he traveled through. Many a chief, king and queen in the lands beyond our direct control are also directly descended from ‘The Great Cat’ A.K.A Lord Cato Curtis. In fact, one of his many titles now is ‘The Great Ancestor’.”

  “I take it Lord Cato was somewhat popular with the ladies?” said Ms. LeBron. “Or would womanizer be more accurate.”

  “Now don’t go blaming my ancestor for any of this!” said Princess Talia. “Bellasarian women generally go for what they want. My ancestor, Queen Melmore was no exception.” Then the woman began to relate the story of how her ancestors Queen Melmore and High Lord Cato got together and the two wars that were fought over him, the babies that followed, plus the way it ultimately ended with much laughter from the assembled women.

  “Poor guy!” President Chambers chuckled.

  “Yeah, I take what I said back!” laughed Lindsey LeBron.

  Princess Abe nodded. “Indeed, it was because of his ability to attract such females and them bonding with him that his mates finally took steps, unorthodox steps, to keep him to themselves and under control. And it worked (giggle) for a while, but eventually the cat broke free and fled into the little known wilderness beyond my family’s domains. The Great Forest Kingdom does not comprise all of the forested region to the west despite its name. It was there that King Barrat was sired.

  “I wonder if the story behind that guy, Barrat, and these, Barratians is as funny

  “No,” said Princess Abe. “There is nothing funny about that tale.” The other women nodded seriously. “It actually begins a few centuries before Barrat was born and even before ‘The Great Ancestor’ became estranged from his wives. A high ranking member of the Illyrian nobility named ‘Mavie’ and a number of her female supporters fled, as many did and still do, into the unknown to build her own society along the lines she thought best. Humph! Basically, a female dominated society where men were virtually slaves. These lands were populated by small isolated villages and bands of roving feral mutants. She soon settled in and in no time began to win over her neighbors. She was charismatic and had a gift for speaking and because of her lineage and origins these people gave ear to her words. In time she united these villages under her and was made queen by unanimous decision…male and female.”

  President Chambers was confused, “How? From what I heard about this woman she had some serious issues with men and…”

  “She was a skill and gifted leader. She was also wise enough not to show her true colors right off the bat. She already had the foundation to work with. Matrilineal societies, all female councils of mothers that approved or denied all agendas put forward by men and ingrained teachings of respect for women. It was easy to subtly and gradually modify things to lean more and more to her liking without the men catching on and for the women to become accustomed to their increasing power. In time, this power would become absolute and much abused. The only real obstacle in the beginning of her rule was the feral mutant bands. Feral mutants are very primal. Dominate males usually lead packs or prides with a dominate female beside him and often lesser mates beneath her. Only if the male dies does the dominate female take control. But Mavie soon solved that problem. Like with everything else, the feral bands began to become female headed bands. The dominate males either began to die or the simply disappeared. The deaths were at first made to look accidental or natural, but by the end though, open assassination was becoming common. The horror of this was that feral packs and prides are more than tribes, their family units. These men were actually the mates or even fathers of the women who killed them.”

  “I thought when Bellasarian mutants bonded it was for life?” asked a French woman. “I understand that this is especially so for feral mutants.”

  “Yes,” said the Tabonese queen, “but death and strong negative emotions for a mate, namely hate, can break the bonding. If feelings of true hate can be caused in a woman or man it is over. However, death is not so certain a solution. Many people have wasted away and died, or worse, lingered in sorrow after a bonded mate died. As we now know, Mavie and her cronies were masters in tearing men and women apart to achieve her goals. In time her power and way was absolute in the region and her people called themselves the people of Mavie or simply ‘The Mavie’ after their leader. However, this term was beginning to be used primarily by the women of the land by the time they reached the height of their power. At its worst, men in the nation were seen as completely inferior and necessary only for procreation and labor.”

  “I’ve said that all along,” joked Cain. Then she realized that although some of the Earth women thought this was amusing, not a single Bellasarian laughed, not even the ones she knew were lesbians.

  “The traditional family was gone,” continued the Melmorian. “Women used men sexually only for procreation and took female partners for real relationships. At least…that was what was intended. Ironically, this doctrine never entirely took root successfully. But Mavie got her way in all else. Men and women didn’t live together. Male offspring stayed with their mothers till about five and then were sent to the Men’s House to live with the other males. Actually, there are Men’s Houses and Women’s Houses in every Bellasarian village, town and city, but they were never used or meant to be used in such an extreme way. By young adulthood, it became custom for all mutant males to wear inhibitor collars with women controlling them. A page from the human’s slave control book for mutants when they ruled over us.”

  Even Cain was shocked and horrified by these revelations. Although a feminist (almost to the extent of the fanatic) she had truly been only joking with her previous remark and from what she was hearing now, despite some perks, this didn’t seem like a very healthy society or one she’d really like to live in. “But why did she go so far?!” she said. “I mean, one of the reasons many of these ladies and I were really looking forward to coming to Bellasaria was because of the status of women here.”

  “Because they were a pack of unnatural and reversed bitches!” snarled a woman from the forest kingdom. “And now because of them we have to live with these damned Barratians on our doorsteps!”

  “That’s enough of that, Lady Shelly!” said a noblewoman from Ramia. “The truth is the shadow of slavery is VERY long, Lady Cain. And the ‘Tarrack War’ and the rise of a male headed state made some women very frightened. The influence of new mutant arrivals from Earth and their cultures, many of which had very clear notions about where women belonged and their influences on our men, didn’t help any.” The Akkadians, who were primarily of Earth mutant stock knew exactly of what she spoke of, but could not deny that it was true. “Lord Cato, to his credit, had to crack skulls among many of the young males of the time and remind them that they had very little to complain about in regards to our society or our women. Indeed, just the opposite. He reminded them that only humans behaved that way on Bain, and later Bellasaria, and that the newcomers were a very hypocritical and tight assed lot who, more often than not, couldn’t eat themse
lves what they were trying to feed us! Queen Bellasaris actually was forced to wage war because of this, and a few generations later, Queen Beral II as well.”

  “Really it’s like this,” said another Bellasarian woman. “Women have been powerless and exploited by men for ages, and this has shaped our mentalities in certain ways where men are concerned. For the mutant women of this world this is especially true. We don’t trust them. We trust them as individuals, yes, as a group, no. There is an inherent tendency for females to be very biased where disputes or even crimes are concerned between people of the opposite sexes. Often on face value we are quick to assume that it is the woman who is wronged right away, which may or may not be true. Many women have looked like fools for defending the innocent looking female victim only to discover that she was anything but innocent and it was really the man who was wronged. Ironically, even in these instances, there are always those who believe that somehow the man or a man was still somehow responsible for her behavior. They can’t understand why or how a woman could be such a bitch for no reason.”

  The Melmorian Princess laughed humorlessly. “From hard and costly experience we have learned this lesson. Some people become what they are because of people, events or circumstances. Others are dastards simply because it’s their natures. They are bad because they’re bad. Male or female doesn’t figure into the equation. But even knowing this, it is still very tempting to slide into the wrong mentality. Even in a society where men have willing accepted our leadership and have fought and died for us. It was easy for someone like Mavie to use fear to gain followers. And once they have it, women have proven to become just as addicted to power and domination as men, and just as abusive.

  “Strangely,” said Princess Abe, “the human women made out very well in this society. I really can’t understand it. After all, it was their ancestors who committed the worse crimes against the mutants in general. Human men were treated like shit though. Even worse than the mutant men, and rightly so!” she added telepathically to the other mutant women who telepathically expressed their agreement, the Earth women none the wiser. “But in time, that would work in Barrat’s favor too.”

  President Chambers looked at Abe closely. “I’d like to hear about this, ‘King Barrat’. If it’s not too inappropriate to say so, I’m very curious about him. What was he like? How did he overthrow this ‘Queen Mavie’ person?”

  “The beginning of the end for the Mavie began when the runaway Lord Cato entered that realm,” laughed Princess Abe. “Unknown to the Mavie, under the face of resignation and complacency, the men were nurturing some serious grudges. All it would take was for the right man to set it off. Unfortunately, wanting to keep from drawing attention to himself, my ancestor stayed away from the more populated areas, so he was kind of clueless about the real situation in that land. He didn’t take action against the Mavie himself. However, he was good enough to meet and spend some time with a local feral girl who liked to roam alone in the deep forest, and sire the man who would one day do the job for him.”

  ******

  Two Hundred Years Ago,

  The Deep Forest Of Mavie

  The den was situated far in the interior of the forest of Mavie. Tamara had been coupling with this male for some time now, but it was time to end it. She was finally pregnant. Normally Mavie females of the solitary type of feral, like her, wouldn’t think twice about not seeing their mate again after his work was done. She had planned to leave her forest home and give birth in a town or perhaps the city. If a daughter, she would stay until the girl was old enough and strong enough to live with her in the wilderness. If a son, she would simply leave him once he was weaned and return to her domain. But this man was not the average male. When they first met she had no interest in knowing his real name, so she called him ‘Black Mane’ because of the long shock of black hair on his head. He didn’t seem to mind. Black Mane had come from the Far East, beyond the realm of King Sakuba he claimed. He was a tall, powerfully built and dark skinned man with green feline eyes. He appeared to be a very young man, twentyish, but she would learn in time that he was much, much older. In the beginning, Tamara couldn’t care less about Black Mane’s history. All she saw in him was a more than adequate male to give her a healthy muteling, preferably a female one. But after about a couple of weeks she was becoming quite fond of the rascal and had now become curious. After a few months she had to know everything about him. But his name, his real name, came first.

  “What is your name?”

  Black Mane looked at Tamara and said, “What?”

  “I want to know your real name,” said Tamara, snuggling up to Black Mane. Tamara was built like many pack or solitary hunting feral females. She was not a top heavy or overly curvy girl, but was lithe with the strong shapely legs of a runner.

  “Ah, don’t you like the name you gave me?” chuckled Black Mane giving her backside an affectionate squeeze.

  “Of course I do,” giggled Tamara, “I gave you it. But now I want to know your real name.”

  Black Mane looked at Tamara for a moment and then smiled. “My name is Cato,” he said.

  Tamara smiled and shook her head. Cato was a very common name, many people named their sons after the legendary High Lord of Illyria. “Hmmm, I’m a little disappointed,” she said, “but then again…Yes, you do the name justice.”

  “I’m glad you approve,” chuckled Black Mane.

  “But I think I’ll still call you ‘Black Mane’,” said Tamara. “That’s more original.” Tamara got little else from Black Mane that night, but over time she would learn more and more. She knew he was Illyrian and had left his homeland because of some quarrel with his former mates. She also knew he had sired other young. Normally none of this would have bothered her, but she began to realize that she was becoming a bit jealous and even possessive, and she still had not sent him away. In fact, it was now four years since she was supposed to have sent him on his way for good, but that didn’t happen. Instead, once he discovered that she was pregnant, he stuck around and had actually helped her raise the boy. Yes it was a male, and even Tamara had to admit that she enjoyed this family life much better than her other life. However, she was Mavie, and Black Mane was obviously the head of this family, that was NOT the Mavie way. The more she dwelt on this, the more it bothered her, and finally she made her decision.

  It was late and her son Barrat was asleep. That’s when she told her mate that it was time to go…for good. Black Mane looked at her questioningly and without saying another word, she imperiously pointed into the night. The man moved back a few paces and Tamara then saw something she had never seen before, Black Mane transformed. She knew he was Feral like her, but she didn’t know he was capable of full or even partial shapeshifting. His body sprouted white fur as he began to grow and soon he dropped to all fours and standing before her now was a giant snow white panther. Only tiny bits of black could be seen on the beast. In terror Tamara heard Black Mane’s voice in her head as he spoke to her telepathically.

  “I don’t know what I have done to offend you, but so be it. I have long since given up on understanding women. I’m much too old for that stress. Give me my son. I will take him east. There, as he is my son, he will be honored and protected beyond your dreams.”

  Tamara, now feeling chills to the bottom of her feet, could only shake her head. The great cat let out a growl and took a half step forward. His lips were now pulling back exposing his teeth. Tamara, although terrified, stood her ground. She had no illusions about her chances against this monster, but she stood her ground. “No,” she said. “Please just go. I should have done this a long time ago. I meant to do it before you knew I was pregnant, but…This is the way it must be! I am Mavie! And a Mavie cannot live this way…even out here.”

  After a long moment, the cat reverted back to human form. His hair was now snow white. Only feint hints of the black remained. It was obvious now that this was the man’s
true hair color. “What a twisted land this is!” he said in disgust. “I warned Bellasaris about that Mavie woman centuries ago!” Then he looked at Tamara in pity and sighed. “Black Mane is dead,” he said. “I will not try and take the boy. By the traditions of the people you find so unacceptable it cannot be done unless he is in danger. I will move on. But I will say this. A man of my blood will never be dominated by a woman. He will either flee this bizarre society or he will overthrow it. Either way, he will eventually seek me out of his own accord or I will find him. Look to your life if I find that he has been slain or abused by you because of your ridiculous prejudices,” and with that the large male turned and disappeared into the night.

  Tamara stared after him. Realization and shock was setting in, regret would not be long behind and it would only get worse in the days, months and years to follow.

  “It…It was really…He was…” stammered Tamara. Then she fell to her knees. “My son is the cub of Cato Curtis! He’s an Illyrian Prince!”

  For the next twelve years Tamara raised her son alone in her forest home. When the boy asked about his father she truthfully told him that she had sent him away because it was against her people’s law for men and women to live together in that way. But Barrat could see the pain in his mother’s face and hear it in her voice as she said it. Tamara was a sad and seemingly unwell woman. She would become lively when in the company of her son or speaking about his father, but Barrat noticed that when she was alone and believing him asleep, she would often stare into space lost in her own world. He didn’t understand at the time, but any adult mutant would have immediately recognized the signs. Cato had not bonded with her, but she had bonded with him. Although she drove him away, she had indeed still loved him, and so was now literally sick with longing and regret.