FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter V

Green eyes blinked open as Topaz awoke from a good night of sleep. The soft sounds of birds chirping outside were faint on her ears, but peaceful. The shutters to the bedroom were open, and morning rays warmed her uncovered front. Modest, youthful breasts seemed to look up at the ceiling fondly. Her sleek black spotted coat dazzled anyone's eyes with subtle beauty. Wiry legs curled up as hands brushed unkempt fur flat. The genet sat up in her bare fur and stretched in bed.

"Ah. A nice start to the morning!" The young lady gave her body a good wake up shake to start the day. Being the last one to get up, she made the bed and neatly folded the sheets. "And it looks like the day is going to be nice." She hummed. There were no clouds to see through the shutters or the greenery in their view. The genet had a noticeable skip in her step as she walked over to a wall with pegs and shelves.

"Let's see..." Topaz looked at her jewelry, deciding what to wear. Two earrings with a red-yellow feather apiece were chosen without question, followed by a simple beaded necklace. 'Hmm...' She nibbled her lip with a green beaded anklet in hand, and a simple bracelet in the other. "Anklet it is!" She decided and raised a leg to tie it on. She walked into the main room without anything else to wear. Nudity in any home was common and accepted in the Inkasi village of Luo, regardless of age. Cushions were neatly stacked beside the low table, but the room was quiet. Her ear perked up, detecting humming from the kitchen. Topaz peeked in and found her mother sitting before a basin full of water, washing aged wooden bowls. The pudgy genet hummed contently while she worked. Tiranu looked up and smiled at her grown up daughter.

"Good morning. I see that you slept in today."

"Mmhm!" Topaz nodded. It was first day in many that she didn't have other obligations lined up like: hunting, fishing, canoeing, babysitting, housework, or anything else!

"You were sleeping heavy too." Her mother added. "When your father and I got up, you didn't move an inch."

"I haven't woken up mid morning by myself in a while." She stepped over her mom's tail and grabbed a bite to eat.

"I still end up being your pillow somehow." Tiranu chuckled as Topaz hopped back into the main room. Topaz quickly ate and grabbed a banana to eat on her way to Mazia's house. "Are you leaving?" Tiranu leaned over and peered out.

"Yeph!" Topaz spoke through a mouthful as she tied on a loincloth.

"Wait. Aren't you going to spend some time with me and your aunt?"

"In the afternoon?" Topaz called back and slid the door shut. Tiranu sighed and returned to washing.

"Did she really grow up, or does it just look like it?" The mother asked herself with a tiny grin. Topaz hopped down the steps and walked to her friend's house. She was a young adult of Luo now at eighteen years of age. It was an exciting age to live in Luo. Festivals, friends, starting a family, love, and responsibility all collided on the beginnings of adulthood. Topaz embraced it all. Her brown furred feet walked by a home with a few rows of strawberries, onions, and flowers. Little gardens and plenty of decorative plants filled the village, giving houses a more forested appeal with an array of colors. Topaz's tail followed as she turned a corner. It was a typical day in Luo, peaceful and quaint. Villagers were working outside, kits were playing and getting into trouble, a couple was airing out laundry together, and others were returning from a night hunt. The crying of a kit who stumbled was soon hushed by the protective voice of a mother and grandmother. Elders were gathered around a radio or a board game of Go, something Topaz didn't want to imagine doing at their age. All of the sights, sounds, and inhabitants of the village were what made Luo a perfect home to Topaz.

With a clear spring in her step, the genet took a shortcut and crossed between a few houses and under a clothesline. She reached the Durani household in little time. Inside, a young yet physically matured seventeen year old civet dabbed a paintbrush on a color filled palette before marking the board before her. Mazia was shorter and stockier than her genet counterpart, but no less youthful or energetic.

"Hello." Topaz entered and approached the novice artist.

"Hey." She continued dabbling. "You think Petra is ready?"

"More ready than you." She grinned. Mazia stuck her tongue out at the genet. "So what are you painting?" Topaz knelt down beside her friend.

"I'm not sure." The civet stumped her friend. "I don't paint that well..." She admitted.

"Then why do you paint?"

"Because it's fun! When I was bored I would paint my own arm different colors." She held the brush up.

"That's when your dad suggested that you paint on something else." Topaz chuckled.

"Yeah, like you!" She dotted the genet's nose with a dash of red.

"Are you going to paint me, or hurry up?" Topaz giggled and wiped the dot away.

"Alright, let me get dressed first." Mazia jumped to her feet in a quick stretch. "Wanna see my new earring?" She smiled.

"You bought new earrings?" Topaz followed her into the Durani bedroom.

"Not exactly..." Mazia retrieved two copper rings glowing in her palm with small black feathers tied to each.

"Wow! They are nice."

"They were my mom's old pair, but I polished and cleaned them up." She put them on.

"They look really nice on you." Topaz admired them.

"Thanks. Did you see how big the earring that Masenko wore the other day?"

"No." Topaz answered. Masenko was an annoying guy to her.

"They were huge and heavy." Mazia's hands tried conveying their exact size.

"Not as big as his head." Topaz muttered. "I'm sure he walked with his head low."

"Maybe if he took that giant earring out of his ear his head wouldn't be weighed down." Mazia chuckled and put on a necklace. "Do you mind if we stop by the marketplace and buy some cinnamon and pepper? My mom wanted me to before the evening."

"No." Topaz shook her head. "I have a feeling Petra might take a while to get ready."

"Good. I don't want to forget." Mazia retrieved two small shiny coins hidden under the bed.

"Look at you bent over like that." Topaz bumped her foot against Mazia's rear.

"You sound like an elder." Mazia giggled.

"I do not!" She fretted.

"Oh Topaz! May the trees help you in need!" Mazia spoke mockingly in an old voice and fell onto her back before erupting into giggles.

"What elder are you trying to be?" Topaz loomed over her friend curiously.

"Nabooru." She mumbled the name as if the word was sour.

"Let's just go Mazia." Topaz rolled her eyes. Mazia quickly jumped up and put on her skirt along with two beaded anklets before walking outside with Topaz. The stocky civet's upper body was left uncovered, just as males and females typically were. Her "lucky" blue shirt was only worn for good luck now, rather than hiding her own nervousness. "Don't be in such a rush Topaz!" Mazia had to walk faster after the quick genet.

"C'mon, it's the first day in a while since all three of us have had some time to ourselves." Topaz didn't want to waste a second of it. They rounded a corner, narrowly avoiding a kit that ran past them. To their left, a group of elders were gathered in a circle before one house. They looked worried with their ears aimed towards the radio. Luo wasn't close to the capital, and therefore didn't have much exposure to technology or anything foreign. A radio was uncommon this far upriver.

"What are they doing?" Mazia wondered.

"I don't know. Let's find out!" Topaz approached the group. "Hello elder Abanaki. What's going on here?" Topaz greeted the male golden brown genet. He wore a plain loincloth with a feathered necklace, anklet, and an armband with a dart attached to it. "Why is everyone listening to that thing?"

"Oh. Hello Topaz." He grinned but couldn't shake the worried expression from his silver face. "The revolution is spreading upriver, and rebels might be headed this way." Topaz and Mazia looked at each other skeptically.

"How do you know that? We're not afraid of any rebels."

"I know!" He eagerly insisted. "I've been listening." He pointed a claw at the radio that the others were intently murmuring about.

"Like we listened to stories from you as kits." Topaz giggled.

"No! This is serious, Topaz."

"But you're always telling fancy tales and stories." Mazia added to his frustration.

"I wouldn't be surprised if something bad happened." A middle aged female beside them, while pounding root fibers spoke. "They're not far away, and we aren't prepared to do anything about it."

"Don't talk so rashly!" Another snapped before turning an ear back to the radio's hiss. Suddenly, the signal died, leaving a flat static.

"Oh no..." One leaned away. The others had similar worried expressions.

"They don't make them like they used to." One prodded the device with a stick.

"What's wrong?" Topaz's ears fell back from the annoying sound.

"Those rebel groups aren't far from Luo. They're capturing villages throughout the eastern jungles and forests of the Free State. The latest was Bwattu yesterday, located where the Luo and Ullaza Rivers meets."

"The Ullaza River?" Topaz arched her brow at him.

"It flows from the far south of Luo before merging with our river out east." Abanaki told her. "It's too close to feel comfortable."

"I thought you would've explored every river in the Free State, Topaz." Mazia joked.

"I just don't know the names... So what's the big deal if some people visit us?" Topaz naively asked. "They're not at war with us, so they'll just leave."

"Oh child..." He he stared at the ground and sighed to himself. "They won't leave unless forced out. The Inkasi villages to the north have been plagued with discontent because of how advanced the capital has become. The large Chakma, Kikuyu, and Luhya villages are leading this revolution."

"But why?" Mazia questioned.

"The Inkasi have remained united because of our similar traditions, but the capital has abused this relationship recently. They've imposed laws around some neighboring areas to modernize the Free State, but many don't like it. The capital of the Inkasi Free State always gave villages like ours a large degree of autonomy, so if a group of villages rebel there is little the capital can do without help. So the northern villages want to take over the country with force." The political speak confused the young genet's ears.

"That's scary Topaz." Mazia murmured as they walked away.

"Don't worry. Something like that has never happened." She reassured her friend.

"Hey!" A younger voice caught their attention.

"Petra!" Topaz and Mazia waved and approached the civet. Petra was wearing a more decorated loincloth with striped patterns, a few necklaces and anklets adorned her neck and feet apiece. "We were sidetracked on our way to your house."

"It's good to have a break from working in my dad's field all day." Petra smiled. "We haven't been together since when? The Flower Festival, right?" The other two nodded.

"You're always in the fields, I'm in the jungle, and Mazia is always with Malech or at home." Topaz grinned. "I barely recognized you without being covered in dirt."

"I like to think that I look good covered in dirt." Petra made them giggle.

"Everyone does." Mazia joked.

"What's going on over there?" Petra looked over their shoulders at the elders anxiously talking among themselves.

"Rebels took a village downriver, and they're worried that some will come up here." Mazia explained.

"That doesn't sound good." She frowned.

"We've never had armed fighting here." Topaz looked at the elders skeptically and departed with Mazia and Petra. The girls had their young adult lives to look forward to, and worrying about outside events couldn't be further from what they wanted. In moments the three best friends were laughing and carrying on as they always had growing up.

"Hey! Look." Mazia bounded towards a house near the village's edge.

"What?" The other two watched. Climbing on a limb beside the house was a slow moving reptile. Mazia captured the animal and brought it over.

"Isn't he neat?" The civet beamed a happy grin as she placed it on her arm.

"You know they're bad luck." Topaz looked at the chameleon suspiciously.

"Aww. He's too cute to be bad luck." She peered at it. The small creature's eyes darted around nervously.

"Cute?" Petra peered at the bug eyed reptile suspiciously. "I think it's staying there to catch a meal."

"I wish that I could." She admired her catch for a little longer before putting it back in the tree. "There-" She patted her skirt only to freeze. "Oh no." Mazia felt her hand slip straight through the extra fold in her skirt. "I lost the two coins!" She showed Topaz and Petra the tattered opening.

"Uh oh. I bet that chameleon is going to buy himself some yummy bugs now." Topaz teased.

"That's not funny!" Mazia worried.

"Calm down, panicking won't help." Petra consoled her friend. "You can trade something for the cinnamon and pepper your mom needs."

"Like what?! I don't know what the old guy wants!"

"Let's just revisit your steps then and see if we come across them." She suggested. Mazia nodded and the three walked back through the village, scrounging the ground for the missing money. Topaz lingered behind before slipping to the docks. As much as she wanted to help Mazia, it didn't strike her as a bad thing to talk with someone else for a little bit.

'I bet Chona will be down there.' She snuck away to the riverfront. Her love interest was supposed to be fishing somewhere nearby. The docks were quiet and a few small vessels were in the wide Luo River fishing, or crossing to the fields on the opposite side. She skipped happily across the dock to the end. Other canoes occasionally bumped into each other from the subtle current. Green eyes pried the calm waters for the young male. A family was playing in the the river together, and a few canoes were out fishing with nets and lines The sight of some wet fishing gear on the dock gave her hope. 'Maybe he's under-' Her thoughts were interrupted as a head suddenly surfaced from the water. A short distance away, a familiar figure spit out water and wiped his face.

"Chona!" Topaz waved excitedly and shouted.

"Hey!" He spotted her and swam to her. His body glided through the water like a graceful fish to the docks. "What are you doing down here?"

"Watching you swim." She cutely stuck her tongue out at him.

"I see." He chuckled. "I'm trying to catch a few fish down there, but it's murky."

"Yeah, it rained a lot the other day."

"So you're not canoeing?"

"Not now."

"Maybe later?" He guessed.

"Maybe." She sheepishly shrugged. "Are you still going to be here in the evening?"

"No. I think I'll leave by then."

"Leave?" Her eyes widened. "I mean, you're already in the water-" He suddenly climbed onto the dock to her surprise. Standing before her, the naked male's soaked fur accentuated his wiry athletic build. He had the same brown and cream fur coloring as her, but it wasn't so obvious when wet. Topaz just wanted to take the dripping wet Chona right there!

"Not anymore!" He laughed. Topaz zipped her gaping mouth shut. "I haven't been able to catch anything since I've been here either." He admitted.

"I'm sure that you will get something like a big catfish. You're really good at hunting and fishing."

"Thanks." He beamed a smile. "Do you want to fish with me? Fishing alone isn't as fun or easy."

"Oh! Uh, well I... can't right now." Topaz regretted saying those words.

"Oh..." His ears briefly fell flat. "Maybe we can go hunting together sometime instead?"

"I don't have anything to hunt with..." She gritted her teeth. 'How can this be happening?!' Her thoughts screamed. 'I don't want to turn down his offers!' She couldn't believe that she had to turn down to offers of a lifetime. Topaz had broken her dad's blowgun by turning around too quickly and hitting a tree.

"I have a spare blowgun if you need to use mine, then you can." Chona offered.

"Thanks! That's be great!" Topaz felt her heart and soul leap at the sudden fortune.

"Do you want my dad or anyone else to join us?"

"I don't know..." Her voice softened as she brushed her foot over the planks. "Maybe just you and me, if that's okay."

"Sure!" He smiled and melted her heart. "When do you want to meet up?

"We could tomorrow, if you have the time."

"That'll be fine. Sometime in the morning at the main hunting trail?" He suggested. Topaz eagerly nodded. Her heart throbbed at the possibility if being able to spend a day alone with the handsome genet.

'Say something Topaz!' She started to fidget as an awkward silence ensued, but it wasn't so bad with his eyes to stare into. However, his eyes were suddenly drawn to something else behind her.

"Your friends are here." He looked over her shoulder. Topaz spun around and found Mazia and Petra approaching the dock.

'Why now?' She kept to herself.

"Hey." Chona kindly waved.

"We couldn't find you anywhere Topaz." Petra spoke.

"Oh! Did you two find the coins?"

"Yes." Petra stated.

"We found them a while ago." Mazia impatiently added.

"I guess I'll see you later." She waved before leaving with her friends.

"Bye!" Chona watched her leave. "I'll see you tomorrow!" Topaz stole a glance as he dove back into the water.

"You two just had to butt in at the wrong moment!" Topaz pouted when they were out of the river's sight. Although, the genet couldn't help but feel a small victory for meeting up with Chona tomorrow.

"Butt in?" Petra nudged the genet with her hips. "You were supposed to help us search for the coin."

"It took us longer to find you than the coin I lost." Mazia giggled.

"I can't just not go and see Chona when I get the chance. He's always busy helping his dad, hunting, fishing, or building a house with someone else." Topaz explained. Mazia understood, but Petra rolled her eyes anyway. The three young ladies left the village and walked down a path into the jungle where the loud sounds of wildlife surrounded them. A few others who had been foraging or hunting passed by, returning to Luo.

"Since we're talking about guys," Petra began, "how are you and Malech doing?"

"Well..." Mazia's upbeat voice rang aloud. "We like each other a lot, and I love him." Her ears flattened shyly. "Two days ago we went swimming at dusk, and it was fun. Spending the evening with him just makes my day."

"Are you two mating?" Petra blankly asked.

"What?!" Mazia quietly gasped. "No!"

"I'm just asking." She grinned.

"Malech and I aren't like Topaz, who wants to pin Chona to the ground whenever she can."

"What?!" The genet's tail fluffed out. "I don't spend almost every evening with him like you and Malech do." Topaz spoke defensively.

"He was very understanding about how I felt about myself when I came back from Abussa. I finally became myself again." Mazia contently spoke.

"I'm glad that you two are together." Petra nodded. "It's a good thing. Topaz and I were scared that you had changed forever."

"Yeah... It felt that way sometimes, and it happened so quickly."

"It felt like more than a year had passed in a single day." Petra noted.

"One day in particular made me realize it. I was sitting by the river where a shallow spot connected with a creek beside the village, like ours. It was sunny and the water was nice. A lot of families were playing and bathing, and enjoying the midday weather."

"That actually sounds really nice." Topaz admitted.

"It was for a while. I noticed a kit playing in the water when he suddenly tripped and fell head first into the mud and water. He came running back, bawling in tears, and mistook me for his mother."

"Wow..."

"That's odd."

"Mmhm." Mazia nodded. "I didn't know what to do with a wet crying kit in my lap, but luckily his mother came and took care of everything. That really made me feel old. That's when I felt very sad and lonely, but I there wasn't a thing that I could do about it!" Mazia explained how she had felt. "Everyone there thought I was older, and I couldn't be myself. When I finally came back home it was like you all were still kids, and I was the one who had been lost in the jungle for an entire year." Topaz looked away innocently at that.

"If I had known you were going through all of that, then I would've canoed upriver to be with you." Topaz threw an arm around her friend.

"I wish you had, but it's okay. At least I had a shirt to hide behind."

"You don't need it! But it is pretty neat. I'd like to make a loincloth and a headband out of it."

"No! You can't have it." Mazia laughed. "You could go visit Huzuni or Abussa and find one for yourself."

"I could never travel to another village by myself just for clothes. I don't understand how my aunt does it."

"Does what?" Petra asked.

"Travel to Huzuni or Abussa for half a season to look around."

"Look around... For what?"

"Usually things to buy. I mean, they're neat and all, but they're just little items."

"It's not so hard when you know you have friends in the same village." Petra pointed out.

"Then I'd just want to be with my friends." Topaz told them. The trio walked onto an unused path where it was quieter and provided more privacy from the rest of the village. Bamboo and papyrus grew in number giving them a little sense of privacy. They chose to stop at a small fern and moss covered mound, and all three sat atop it.

"Neat little spot." Mazia grinned.

"So what about you Petra?" Topaz stretched her legs out and asked. "Mazia and I have our hearts set." The civet waited a moment before answering.

"I think I'm picky." Her answer made them giggle.

"Picky? There's plenty of guys for you to choose, except ours of course." Topaz grinned.

"There's no one that I like."

"Really?" Mazia and Topaz were surprised. "What about Juba? He's strong and nice."

"No."

"Hakka? He's only a few years older than us."

"No."

"Paonga?"

"No." Petra finished.

"Any male on this side of the river? What about from another village?"

"I don't know..." She didn't appear too enthused. "Since I help my dad in the fields a lot I guess I'll take that over when he gets too old."

"What does that have to do with liking someone?" Mazia found what Petra had said peculiar.

"Well, if he doesn't farm like I do then we won't spend much time together."

"You can always sell the farm to someone else." Topaz suggested.

"No." She shook her head. "My dad wouldn't want that."

"I'm confident that you'll find someone irresistible one day." Mazia insisted. "Chona would have to be a tree to keep up with Topaz." She teased.

"I can imagine you holding a nursing infant in one arm while climbing a tree." Petra laughed.

"I wouldn't do that." Topaz wiggled her nose. "If I had a child then I'd need something tied around me so it could eat, and I could climb at the same time."

"You shouldn't climb with an infant!"

"What if it's flooding?"

"I'd expect you to have a canoe in the tree with you then." All three laughed loudly at that.

"Might as well if I'm nursing and climbing..." Topaz giggled.

"I think I have a quick story to tell." Petra piped up. "You two know Afira, right? She lives in the home next to me."

"She's too old to breastfeed." Topaz offhandedly commented. Petra and Mazia giggled to themselves at the idea.

"That might be true." Petra flicked her tail.

"You mean the home with the row of radishes and onions always planted beside it?" Mazia guessed.

"No. The other home beside me. She always has that huge blanket out to dry once in a while."

"Oh! I know who you're talking about."

"Mhm. Anyway, her brother and my dad helped remove a large branch that broke off a tree beside her house. She was standing too close when they picked it up and turned it, and the splintered end cut her skin. It was a nasty cut from her shoulder to her breast." She drew a line along her body making Mazia and Topaz grimace. "And it was bleeding. Ugh. It was creepy." The young lady shuddered.

"Is she alright?"

"Yeah. This happened a while ago. We took her to Den and he cleaned the wound and everything."

"That's good to hear."

"I once had a splinter that was caught under my claw, and it hurt really bad!" Mazia felt over the once afflicted finger.

"When did that happen?"

"When we were little. I was ten, I think..."

"I don't remember that." Topaz tried thinking.

"You should! When I had the splinter removed and my skin bandaged, this genet was sitting outside eating!"

"Oh yeah. Now I remember." Topaz grinned as Mazia eyed her.

"Where was I when this happened?"

"I don't know... Maybe you were sick all day. Whenever my family gets upset, I always feel ill."

"Probably. I've been sick a few times when I was little." She recalled. A brief moment of quietness passed between the three Luo females. Only the tweeting birds and droning insects could be heard. "So what do you want to do?" Petra asked.

"We just got here." Mazia frowned.

"No! I mean years from now."

"For what?" Topaz raised a brow.

"You know, in the village. We're old enough to decide what we want to do. You just turned eighteen, I'm almost nineteen, and Mazia is seventeen."

"Maybe a shaman." Topaz thought aloud. "I was sitting in a tree the other day when I was out hunting, watching out for another pheasant to hit with my blowgun-"

"Then you broke your dad's blowgun." Petra interrupted.

"Hey! That was later... Anyway, I had a beautiful view of the canopy. Butterflies were fluttering around me in search of little flowers in the bright sunshine. I could see everything around me like a bird. The moss was comfy to sit on, and there was some lichen to grip. It was just indescribable." She smiled.

"You just want a pass to run through the jungle all day." Mazia giggled.

"You don't even know what a shaman does." Petra pointed out.

"Who knows what Malwecho does up there... But I can learn, and if not, then I can always hunt, forage, or something. Just as long as I can spend time out here, and with you two."

"What's there to learn when you already spend most days out here alone?" Mazia stretched her arms up.

"Hey. It's fun." Topaz insisted. "The call of nature... There's nothing like it." She insisted. Petra mouthed the word 'shaman' to Mazia, who covered her muzzle to hide a smile. "I just want to raise a family, be happy, and spend time with y'all as much as I can." Topaz concluded.

"That sounds nice." Petra hummed. "What about you Mazia? Or does it matter as long as you're with Malech?"

"I guess it doesn't matter then." She gave a toothy grin. "Ooh! A green beetle." Her attention shifted to the laboring bug on the log beside her. Petra held back a chuckle. Topaz felt along the edge of her loincloth. The sensation of a fraying fabric passed between her thumb and finger.

"Uh oh. I need to mend this."

"Mend what?"

"See?" She held up the loincloth.

"What am I looking at exactly?" Petra chuckled at the genet's spread legged position unable to see her face. "Here." She tapped the civet's knee with her foot and pointed to the fraying material. "That's not a big problem. Can't you mend it?"

"I'm terrible at sewing."

"Your mom sews, right?"

"She will want me to sew instead." She stuck her tongue out, feigning disgust. Petra giggled.

"My mom can mend it if you want."

"I owe you one!" Topaz grinned and tossed her loincloth over.

"I meant at the village." Petra clarified and tried handing the garment back. Topaz shook her head and chose to lay back.

"I love spending time in the jungle this way." She took a deep breath feeling nothing between her and the world.

'Topaz prefers being naked like a kit, and Mazia acts like a kit. They'll never grow up.' Petra smiled to herself hoping that nothing would drive them apart. The youths took a few more minutes to enjoy the peaceful spot and any idle chatter that came across their minds.

"Okay!" Mazia stood up in a stretch. "I'm ready to head back, are you two?"

"Already?" Topaz frowned.

"When my butt becomes sore it's time to move on." Mazia joked. "Now I can get what my mom needed."

"You didn't lose the coin again, did you?"

"Nope!" She held up the shiny item.

"You coming, Topaz?" Petra stood up and brushed her fur.

"I'll catch up with you two later." Topaz waved.

"We'll see you around!"

"Just don't leave your clothing behind. We don't need to hear how much your mother worries about you."

"I'm fine." She watched her friends walk back onto the path and disappear from view. Topaz leaned against a tree and let her bare body feel the warm rays of the sun. A pleasant sigh escaped her lips. She loved the jungle surrounding Luo, and the connection she had with her home was almost physical. Every day she explored the jungle and Luo River further, remembering twisting paths, creeks, and different spots along the shoreline. It was something that she enjoyed doing, and wanted to do more of. 'I don't think I want to be a shaman though.' She closed her eyes and thought to herself. Lady Amasi's sister, the shaman Malwecho, was old and mysterious. Plus her advice never resonated with the youth. 'Malwecho stays at home or in the temple all day too.' Luo's "temple" wasn't grandiose, rather, a small building of worn stone in the hillside beside the village along the river. It's scenic view among trees and vines gave it a natural feel that Topaz loved, but that was all that she liked about it. Only the village's shaman, and those she allowed, were permitted to go inside the ancient structure. Despite its seclusion from daily village life, it was very much an important part of their identity. During the village's many festivals, Malwecho would be in the temple performing important rituals, away from all the fun. The shaman also had to conduct funerary rites, and Topaz didn't like that either.

"Easy... It's a good thing that you can hunt, girl." The genet put her thoughts to rest and took a nap with only the tweeting birds and buzzing insects to hear.

***

Topaz awoke and rolled onto her side with a smile.

"Guess I should head back now..." The genet took a slow stretch and sat up. "Mom will start wondering where I am." Topaz brushed her fur and stood up. Her body buzzed with renewed energy. A loud boom startled her followed by a popping sound of a gunshot. "What the-?" A second gunshot made her spin around. 'Did those come from the village?' Spurred by the odd sounds, she left her secluded retreat. More popping gunshots pierced the humid air as Topaz reached Luo. The village appeared normal as she entered from the side of the jungle, but upon reaching the open marketplace Topaz ran into a completely different scene. People she had never seen before carrying heavy weapons were inside the village. They wore odd clothes with varying greens and browns: camouflaged long sleeved shirt and pants. A few were barking orders while the rest carried them out.

"Hey! You can't go through our house!" A family shouted at the two soldiers marching inside. Other families were rushing in and out of their homes, attempting to hide or barricade belongings. Food was being collected through force while equipment was being brought in from the docks. An older scream came from inside a house as someone broke something.

"Stop! Get back!" Villagers were desperate to stop the invasion, but too afraid and stunned to do anything about it.

"What's going on?" Topaz would've thought that she was still asleep in the jungle.

"Move!" A young voice shouted.

'Huh?' She stepped aside as a young civet hurried by her to a home.

"Look at those uniforms!" A young villager nearby pointed only to turn tail and hide when a rebel looked at her.

"Are we being invaded?" Topaz asked aloud.

"Topaz..." A familiar voice called.

"Huh? Lady Amasi?" She turned around. The elder female was sitting on the steps of her house. A tired expression was on her face, but a strong resolve was underneath that. "What's going on Lady Amasi?" Topaz rushed over to her.

"They're the rebels that support the revolution in the northern part of the country." Lady Amasi spoke gravely as she stood up. Her beaded necklaces lightly clacked together.

'But they were-' Topaz barely remembered the elders worrying over what she thought was impossible. Her heart sunk at the realization.

"You should leave with your family." The older genet told her. "Bad things will happen to you." Topaz suddenly felt afraid and hugged Lady Amasi. "Don't worry. Find your parents first." She reiterated.

"Thank you." Topaz hurried to her house. "Mom! Dad!" She shouted and ran inside only to find the place empty and silent. 'Mom is with aunt Annika, and dad is fishing!' She remembered and hurried towards her aunt's house near the docks. She asked anyone within earshot where her parents were, but villagers were scrambling and confused like her. Topaz didn't make it far before something else drew her attention. A large group of at least a dozen of the intruders was gathered before the large house that the village elders used to meet and discuss inside. A growing number of villagers outside were angrily shouting and worried.

"Get back!" A fox's angry voice barked into the crowd as more soldiers kept them at bay.

"What are they doing here?" Topaz asked a fellow villager.

"They took the elders inside and are keeping there!"

"There's a lot of others who were put inside too." Another spoke.

"What are they going to do?"

"I don't know, the might be holding them for ransom." He shrugged. "They won't let us see anyone." He growled. Yani came out of the crowd bawling in tears.

"My mother is in there!" Topaz didn't know what to say but placed a consoling arm around the mother.

"Where is your daughter?"

"I told her to hide at home and not let anyone inside!" Yani couldn't stop crying. "I saw your parents forced inside too Topaz!" She wailed.

"What?!" Topaz looked at the guarded large house. She immediately forced her way to the front where a dangerous looking coyote soldier was. His forehead and cheek both had a scar running parallel, and a mean look was etched into his face. Topaz pushed the intimidation aside and stepped forward. "Mom! Dad! Can you hear me!?" Topaz yelled but was knocked back by the coyote.

"Get back." He bared his fangs at her.

"Shut up and move!" She shouted above the other yells and complaints.

"Watch what you say or we'll conscript you." The rebel threatened.

"Let me see my parents!" She yelled in the heat of the moment and grabbed his shirt. The genet was immediately shoved off. "You idiot!" Anger consuming her thoughts, Topaz kicked the loud mouth in his stomach. He fell back and accidentally fired a shot. A series of screams erupted from the gathered villagers as they ducked or scattered. Even the other soldiers looked around in confusion. Topaz covered her ears and ran away in the chaotic fray.

"Stop her!" A voice yelled. Several ran after her. Topaz managed to slip between houses and reach her own home. Not a single thought ran through her mind like many other Luo villagers except panic. She dashed into the bedroom. Topaz picked up her dad's rifle and tied spare rounds to her loincloth. Her ears detected others slamming their doors shut in a vain attempt to gather time or barricade themselves inside. She grabbed a knife and tied it to her waist before rushing back outside.

"There she is!" A voice declared. Before any shots could be fired, Topaz ran around the back of her house and to the jungle. That would be her only safe haven. The rebels pursued her. Those unlucky enough to get in their way were shoved aside, or nearly trampled if they cowered to the ground. The loincloth flapped between her legs as she ran to the trees. Her eyes widened as two figures were just exiting the jungle, unaware of what was happening in the village.

'Tamba and Kassula!' The male civet and rustic golden female genet had finished a hunt with a bird apiece in their hands. The happy smiles on their faces weren't going to last.

"Hey Topaz-"

"Get out of here!" Topaz shouted and waved her hand as she bolted towards them. They stared wide eyed at their friend before scattering into the brush. Soldiers were in view. Topaz ducked behind a lone tree and took aim at one soldier. She fired three shots in quick succession. "Agh!!" A cry rose above the noise as the last one found a target.

'I got one.' Topaz knelt down and reloaded with a shaky hand.

"He's shot!" One yelled. The others began cornering Topaz with their weapons now raised. Fearing the worst, she fled into the jungle with soldiers on her heels. The sound of gunshots were met with near silent ricochets of bullets around her. The genet was driven away from Luo and deeper into the surrounding jungle. A deadly game of catch ensued with every footstep potentially becoming her last. Every couple of minutes she found an opening to stop and return fire only to be corned and chased further away. Tree after tree passed, and she crashed through dozens of low lying vines and wide leaves. Topaz had never ran so hard in her life, but the yells and sounds of her pursuers were never far behind.

'How much farther can I run?' She feared tiring out or tripping, but the jungle suddenly gave way to brightness. Topaz squinted in mid stride only to slide as her heel dug into a mixture of muddy sand. At a halt, she looked around in disbelief.

'Oh no!' She found herself staring at a wide river. It's calm waters blocked her from further retreat. Her heart pounded wildly while her mind fought for an answer. She kept to the edge of the jungle and hurried up river, searching for a place to hide. She avoided sand whenever possible to prevent leaving any tracks. The trees weren't big enough to hide in, and no underbrush was dense enough either. Distant yells made the genet pick up her stride.

'There has to be something!' Topaz scanned the area as she ran, but time was running out to be in the open. 'There!' She halted. Along the river's edge was a shallow spot brimming with lily pads, thick reeds, and sedge. She made sure that no one was around and stalked to the water, covering her tracks with every step. Topaz waded into a shallow section of the river where grasses and reeds were clumped together with a few floating sticks. She crouched down, only partially submerging herself in the still water. Peeking through the reeds and water grasses, her green eyes spied the silent jungle, waiting. Each minute passed agonizingly slow. How much longer would she have to wait?

"Where will they come from?" Her hushed voice trembled nervously. The genet's grip on the rifle tightened. The grainy sensation of furnished wood in her hands gave Topaz confidence. Her eyes widened seeing two figures dressed in camouflage emerge from the jungle not too far from where she had. They looked around before one motioned out. Topaz's heart sank as they split up and started combing over the waterfront. The first disappeared around the bend downriver, but the second was approaching her hiding spot in the shallows. His head turned frequently, scanning the water and edge of the dense foliage for a sign. Topaz clenched her teeth, but not the trigger. If she fired then everyone else would run to her position, and there were no hiding places left for her.

'If he finds me...' She scrunched her eyes tightly shut. The sounds of boots marched closer and closer. Her heart pounded in her ears like a festival drum.

"Thump. Thump... Thump... thump." The sound of boots softly crunching and padding in the muddy soil seemed to echo for an eternity. Topaz dared to peek an eye open. Through the reeds, the camouflage dressed soldier was a mere four meters away. To her disbelief, he passed and continued walking up the shoreline. He eventually disappeared around a wide bend before trekking into the jungle. Relief flushed through her system. She slowly stood up and looked up and down the empty shoreline. Her body was starting to shake from the adrenaline rush.

'I'm alive!' She could hardly believe that they didn't see her. The genet took jittery steps out of the shallows but hesitated at the water's edge. 'Where can I run now?' Topaz realized. Luo and the surrounding area were now occupied, and she was a wanted person. A glance over a shoulder left her with one option. 'I don't know what river this is.' She hesitated, merely ankle deep in the water. It probably led down to the Luo River where the soldiers came from, and she didn't know what was beyond the opposite bank. Villages? More rebels? Or just uncharted wilderness?

'It's either reach the other bank, or be hunted down.' She decided. A knot formed in her stomach at the thought of what might happen to her if she was caught. The genet waded into the river while keeping an eye on the lower shoreline. 'I have to reach the other side!' With no one around she looked ahead with determination. 'It looks even further away.' She waded to her neck. Topaz swam out, but had to fight the strong current rather than drift while holding her weapon above the water. It had to connect to the Luo River at some point further downstream, but that was where the soldiers had come from. She had to reach the other side or face more enemies downriver or being swept away. Swimming with three limbs instead of four proved even more difficult than she had thought. Every kick and stroke had to compensate for another. Muscles began straining and burning from their effort, yet the opposite bank didn't appear any closer. Even carrying the rifle became a straining labor.

"Gah-!" Her head dipped underwater, eclipsing her vision with murkiness for a half second. Topaz coughed as she resurfaced but didn't slow her pace. 'Keep going!' She told herself as her body burned to rest. She muscled through even when her head dipped underwater several times. The feeling of her toes brushing against cool silt brought the genet great relief. Topaz staggered to the shore. Her body was dripping wet, but she was alive. She trudged out of the water and dropped to her knees in the sandy mud. Coughing breathlessly, green eyes focused on the weapon in her hand. The smooth wood and metal had managed to stay dry!

"I made it!" She grinned and looked back at the water gently lapping at her toes. The sound of a gunshot and the snapping of bark close by ended her thrill of victory. Across the river one of the soldiers had seen her and fired a shot. Without a second thought Topaz fled and disappeared into the jungle, leaving only footprints behind in the sandy shore.

Cautious footsteps lightly crunched over the forest floor outside Luo. Eyes searched the ground for a clue with the aid of a lantern's light. Mazia held back thin bamboo plants to quietly step through. Her hackles raised feeling something else bump into her arm.

"Ah-!" She seized up for a scream, but a hand adroitly covered her muzzle.

"Sh!" Petra warned Mazia. "You know it's just me."

"Sorry!" The stockier civet apologized. "I'm scared, it's the middle of the night-"

"I know." Petra calmed her friend down. "Everyone is pretty scared."

"Did they go through your family's house?"

"No." Petra shook her head.

"It's awful if they do." Mazia frowned. "My mother started crying when they went through our belongings."

"I'd like my parents to aim at those thugs."

"Don't. They'll do something like Topaz's parents." Mazia warned. Petra looked away and recalled how Tiranu was put under house arrest. One guard was posted outside the Musavaka residence almost every hour.

"We'll hide everything important then." Petra suppressed a growl. "Let's keep looking. We can't give up yet." Her friend nodded and they continued searching the ground for clues.

"It took us all night to sneak past those rebels." Mazia grumbled as she scoured the ground for a sign of their friend. She didn't want to give up either.

"The Mazandari and Dechuto families escaped to Abussa from what I heard."

"That's why no one is allowed to leave the village without a guard." Both knew how much trouble they would get in if they were caught sneaking back into Luo, and they wouldn't give up even if it took them all night. "We are on the right track." Mazia paused.

"What?" Petra shined the light closer. Mazia stepped back and pointed at the ground. The imprint of a boot was freshly sealed in the dirt. They followed more tracks through the vegetation.

'A footprint!' Mazia noticed the partial outline of a heel and sole in the dirt. In a few more steps, her eyes caught something glinting in the leaves. "I found something!" Mazia hushed an excited yell. Petra held the lantern closer. Mazia picked up something from the ground. "It's her necklace!" They looked at the malachite stone hanging in the center. Both civets excitedly stared at the found item.

"She's alive..." Petra slumped to the damp ground in relief. "Our Topaz is alive out there somewhere."

'We know you're out there.' Mazia clutched the item to her heart.

Chapter VI

The incessant noises of the jungle quietly preened the air like a humid mist. Topaz warily hid behind a large gnarled tree trunk. Her tail was puffed out, and hackles raised. It was an eerie silence to hear compared to gunshots and shouts. The genet did her best to calmly breathe. She leaned forward and peered out of the undergrowth. Her body pressed against the leaves and branches, hoping to remain hidden. Brown eyes scanned the jungle that she could see. Everything was brighter from a recent drizzle. There was no movement unless a drop of water or creature stirred into action.

"It's okay." Topaz sighed and tried to physically relax. She stepped forward with cautious feet, and parted a few hanging vines. Topaz keenly looked around the small clearing before her. The genet found herself in an uninhabited section of gentle hills in the Inkasi jungle. The distant squeal of a loud bird drew the genet's ears and head up to full attention. She had been running for two days without much rest. Any sharp sound that didn't originate from the genet had her full attention, gunshot or a snapping twig. Although, it made something as simple as walking a tedious task.

'Where exactly am I?' The Luo genet paused to wonder. There were no signs to tell how far away she was from Luo, or even the river she forded. She cautiously stepped across the edge of the clearing. Some grasses in the center of the sunlight were matted down in several places. 'A pack of deer?' Topaz wondered and reentered the thicket. The agile adult wove between hanging vines along a wild trail. Her ears dialed hearing the sound of water. She lightly stepped towards the sound. Between two trees, she could make out murky water. It was a creek swollen from the recent rains. The constant awareness of her surroundings tunneled her vision. The genet's foot slipped on a wet rock and across the wet ground. "Aah!" A shout escaped her lips as she slid down the embankment and into the murky water. A splash and fiery choice of words pierced the humid air.

"Oh my-!" Topaz silenced herself. She was waist deep in muddy water swirling around her. Topaz smacked the water and waded towards the steep embankment. The water sloshed around her legs as she stepped and reached for a low hanging limb. Her claws tore into bark as she lifted herself out of the water. Water dipped off her loincloth and legs. Fallen leaves stuck to her soles. The genet slipped again but caught herself this time. Topaz grumbled and rose to her feet again before disappearing into the jungle once again.

***

A figure staggered by the wide leaves of an alocasia plant. Green eyes were tired like the sunset slowly descending on the canopies above. Night would descend on the area soon, but the genet didn't want to endure the darkness alone. Out of breath, Topaz slumped to the ground by a tree, and landed with an audible thump. Feeling a deep ache, she let her rifle strap slide off her shoulder and the weapon itself fall to the ground. The genet's shoulder hurt from hours of running and carrying the only security on her person. She reached up and touched the tuft of fur on her chest.

"My necklace..." She realized that it was missing, but that was the least of her problems. A half empty gaze stared at the leaves between her feet. The war was something that only elders fretted over, but it had so suddenly appeared on her doorstep. 'I hope mom, dad, and everyone else is okay.' Topaz wished she could know that her loved ones were unharmed. She desperately needed that little relief to have peace of mind. "Mazia and Petra too..." She wiped her eyes and looked ahead with worry, not knowing what lurked beyond the next few steps before her.

'Should I have stayed in Luo instead?' The final thought made tears silently fall into the fur on her cheeks. It was another bothering question that couldn't be answered. The genet's soft cries reached no one in the chittering jungle. She wiped her eyes and silently hoped for the best. Topaz curled up on the ground below a large leaf, and kept her rifle tucked close. She let out a pensive sigh. Even a few hours of sleep, if any at all, were to be cherished.

'Nice and soft...' Mazia held her breath and softly closed the front door to her house. It would have taken the civet all night if she had closed it any slower, but she didn't want to wake her parents up from a cozy slumber at such an odd hour to her sneaking out. She jumped overhead three porch steps and landed onto the cool earth with a silent thump. The female civet looked up and down the dark village "street." The only light visible came from torches placed nearby from the rebel soldiers. None were spotted on patrol so she quickly crept through the village. Mazia spotted an approaching light and quickly dove for a wall. Two male rebel soldiers, a raccoon and genet, quietly passed. The raccoon was well armed with an automatic, and the genet carried a torch for light. Both had radios for quick communication. Mazia hid behind the house and waited for the guards to pass before proceeding.

'What a close call!' She wiped her brow and took a step forward. Her foot caught a small stray clay pot. The civet fell forward and knocked over another pot, causing it to shatter. 'Oh crap!' She panicked.

"What was that?" She heard a gruff male voice. The civet scrambled as the two guards ran back to her position. They zeroed in on the source of the sound.

"A broken pot, huh?" The raccoon stepped on a potshard causing it to crack underneath his military boot.

"Do you think someone knocked it over?"

"Nah. It probably fell off the edge of the porch here." He shrugged. "Let's go back." Their torch failed to shine light in the adjacent alleyway where the guilty civet was hiding. Mazia's heart pounded wildly as she struggled to stop herself from shaking.

'Now that was close!' She hurried through the rest of the village. She snuck around the outer houses and approached the edge of a jungle grove. The young female looked around the small space between the groves and houses. It was eerily quiet. 'He should be here any-.' A hand touched the civet's shoulder. "Ah!" She jumped and covered her muzzle

"Sh! It's me!" Malech's voice whispered. Mazia spun around with her fluffed tail in hand.

"Oh! Sorry Malech." She apologized and caught her breath.

"You're fine." He grinned and relaxed as well. "I don't think anyone heard you."

"I thought for a second that you had been caught and sent back to your house."

"Not a chance-" They froze hearing two soldiers talking nearby. The faint light from a torch slowly approached their position. "Let's go somewhere more private." He took ahold of her hand and led her into the grove. The crickets and other insects masked the sounds of their soft footsteps. The two civets crept through the dark jungle, guided only by their instincts and faint rays of moonlight that broke through the dense canopy above. "So do you have any particular spot you want to go to?" He asked.

"What about the little creek that passes through all those papyrus plants?"

"Where is that from here?" He paused and looked around the darkness.

"Follow me." She tugged his arm and led him. After about three minutes of stumbling and navigating they heard the soft sounds of water. The strong rays of moonlight illuminated a small section in the forest from an opening other canopy above. The sound of patrolling rebels no longer bothered their ears. They stood side to side and admired the tranquil spot, bathed entirely in moonlight. "This creek is a nice spot to relax." Mazia looked around the small area. "It's one of my favorite spots to go when I need some quiet time."

"It's lovely, and there's enough moonlight to see someone." He smiled at her moonlit face. The female civet bashfully stepped side to side only to suddenly slip on a wet stone. A quiet splash interrupted the neighboring crickets for a second and the love struck civet found herself sitting in a shallow creek.

"Oops! Sorry Malech." Mazia was quick to apologize for ruining their moment. "I fell in the creek too..." She sighed. 'Of all the places to land!' She stopped to curse her clumsiness.

"Don't worry. I'll join you." Malech threw his loincloth aside and plopped down in the shallow creek bed, wetting his legs and rear. She grinned and took her now soaking wet skirt off.

"I'll hang that for you." He offered. Mazia nodded and watched him drape the fabric over a low limb. "What about your shirt?"

"Might as well..." She pulled the fabric over her head. Even though they swam a lot since that fateful encounter at night two years ago, being with him alone still thrilled the adolescent. The civet could feel her breasts jostle as she leaned forward to hand him the garment. Her nipples hardened at the unexpected rush of cooler air. Malech set her shirt beside her other garment. Now they were both naked.

"There. Better?" He asked. She nodded without question despite her own folly. "I am amazed that you haven't lost faith in Topaz being alive."

"I told you that Petra and I know that she is alive." Mazia insisted.

"Yeah. I'm glad that no one else in the village was harmed." Malech nodded.

"I'm just glad to be with you." She smiled. "Just to forget about this whole war for a while."

"I am too." He enjoyed spending time with her. A soft silence passed between the two adolescents as their minds drifted away from the troubles around them.

"Heh." Mazia nervously grinned and leaned back onto her hands. She watched her breasts roll slightly to her sides.

"What?"

"Do you think my chest is weird?" The civet looked intently at him.

"Weird?" His head titled in confusion.

"My breasts. They're so big for my age that even a few people here tend to stare at them." Mazia nervously giggled that she had found the courage to ask Malech when he was sitting with her. He didn't even seem to mind being naked around her either. "I look like a mother." She joked and extended a leg. Malech didn't take his eyes off hers though. He always seemed to understand her troubles in a consoling manner.

"I think they're beautiful just like the rest of you." He patted her lowered knee.

"Wow. You really think so?"

"Everything about you is beautiful; your pretty brown eyes, the spots on your fur, and even your foot pads." He picked up her foot and placed it in his lap. His fingertips traced over the two main black pads on her ball and heel.

"You're flattering me." She blushed letting him pick up the other and continue rubbing. His hands didn't disappoint and quickly had her tense muscles soothed.

"But I like flattering you." Malech grinned. "Your spots are like stars in the night sky. Your legs are beautiful with their transitioning colors. Your tail is long and majestic. Your breasts are perfect and beautiful. I could tell you for eternity how your beauty is divine." He poetically spoke. Her black ears sweetly pinned down while the handsome male rubbed her paws and lower legs.

'This is perfect.' The female civet sighed contently. She enjoyed it when he touched her, and the compliments were heartwarming. "I wish we didn't have to sneak out of the village to meet each other. This is the worst time for a bunch of soldiers to show up." Mazia knew that now wasn't the best time to be romantic with revolutionaries in the village, but young love had no patience.

"This whole mess in the Free State shouldn't stop us having a good time." Malech stated with a warm grin. "Even though we're occupied..." He slowly stopped rubbing her. The male parted her legs to rest each foot on his knees.

"You're right." She hastily spoke as her womanhood was exposed to the cooler night air. Malech subtly shifted forward an inch, and the civet below noticed something bounce. Mazia looked between his legs and couldn't avert her gaze. His obsidian black penis was partially aroused and subtly throbbing in time with his heartbeat. The male's phallus grew until it stood proudly in front of her, pointing directly to her vulva. Mazia's heart raced with excitement. The tingling inside her womanhood made her head buzz lustily. She swallowed feeling her mouth dry.

"I guess we look funny being naked like this." His ears folded back.

"I don't mind." Mazia kept her legs spread for him. "Besides, I wouldn't feel comfortable showing myself to anyone."

"Yeah, you don't just find yourself naked like this in front of anyone." He agreed and inched forward. His prominent black phallus approached her black lipped labia.

"Yeah... I mean you wouldn't." Mazia parted her legs more with a shaky breath as he edged forward. His tip kissed her black lips, already wet with anticipation. Mazia knew that this wasn't appropriate, especially when a bunch of rogues were occupying Luo, but it felt so natural, so good to be with someone who understood her so perfectly well! Neither civet wanted to stop.

"Malech." She whispered.

"Yes?" He stared at her pretty brown eyes.

"What if I... What if I mess up?" She softly asked. The male grinned and rubbed her leg without losing eye contact.

"Then we try again." He inched forward. Her black lips parted as his girth began to enter, bringing a lovely fullness she couldn't describe. The smile grew on Mazia's face with every inch entering her. Malech paused halfway to moan. "Hold on." He grabbed her spread legs and lifted them so that her feet almost touched his shoulders. He entered her to the hilt with an open gasp.

"Oooh!" She cooed arching her back. Mazia breathed and looked down her front. Between their white fur, all she could see what a smidgen of black from their respective sexes. "Malech... W-we're..." Her throat tightened around the word, but the open smile around her mouth betrayed her aroused excitement.

"Mating." Malech shivered with a shaky sigh of accomplishment. Mazia licked her nose and nodded.

"It feels good." She nervously chuckled.

"Mmhm. You're really hot in... there." Malech glanced down where their bodies were intimately joined.

"I'm hot for you-oooh."She softly gasped feeling him pull out, and then gently penetrate her again. This time he didn't stop. The male started a slow rhythm. Every smooth thrust he delivered made her body tremble for more. "Ooh... Oohhh!" She hastily groped a fistful of small grasses and held onto a tree to steady her rocking body. The water below splashed, and Mazia's wooden green necklace and anklet clacked in response. Malech stopped and rubbed her legs. Mazia's jaws parted and bloomed into a full blown smile, tongue lolling out too. After a short round, she was only warmed up!

"Everything ok?" He asked with an open mouth. His partner ecstatically nodded.

"Please don't stop!" Mazia could scarcely cover the girly excitement in her voice. He slowly leaned forward causing her insides to clench. He kissed her nose, sending a lovely warmth throughout her entire body.

"I won't." He promised and took hold of her legs once again. The young civets had a long night ahead, but neither would miss the lost sleep.

***

A figure quietly stalked through the late night. Dawn would be breaking above the horizon in less than an hour. The soldiers occupying Luo were gradually changing guard, and it was an opportunity for those already out a chance to slip back into their homes. An adolescent's tired eyes, but faintly grinning smile spoke volumes of how she spent her night out. A hand held her necklaces together to prevent them from noisily clacking together as she navigated through the village to her house. The front door to the Durani household silently opened. A figure crept inside, making sure to close the door with care. The fur on her rear and upper legs was still damp, as well as the skirt in her hand. Mazia let out a preemptive sigh of relief and felt the wall for a peg to hang her garment up. The flash of a flame started her. Half expecting a soldier to greet her, the civet covered her eyes and peered between her fingers. But an entirely familiar voice greeted her.

"Mazia." A stern voice spoke.

"Mom! Wh-what are you doing?" She stammered. Mazia's mother was standing rigidly with her arms folded. The lantern in her hand lightly bobbled as she tapped her foot.

"Where have you been all night? I've been worried sick!" She frowned. "Your clothes are soaking wet!"

"Just at a creek near the river. We didn't leave the village."

"We?" Her mother caught the slip.

'Crap...' She swallowed roughly.

"Who were you with at this hour for the entire night?"

"Just Malech." Her voice lowered guiltily.

"Malech!?" The civet mother could hardly contain herself. "No wonder you have a strange smell on you! Oh Mazia! We are being occupied!" Her mother barely contained the yell. "How could you just-! Oh!" She stomped her foot and covered her eyes in frustration.

"We're not doing anything wrong, mom!" Mazia defended herself.

"Now is not the time to be thinking about romance at night!"

"I'm not going to wait! I have already been gone for a whole year."

"You have your entire life to-"

"What is going on in here?" A sleepy voice inquired. Both females halted their argument as Mazia's father appeared from the bedroom. The tired expression on his face made the females realize how loud they had been. "If either of you keep yelling, we're going to have soldiers beating down the door." He spoke before returning to bed. Mazia's mom turned her attention back to her daughter.

"We are going to have a long talk in the morning." She sternly informed her. The adolescent frowned but held her tongue. "You can come to bed with us. That's up to you." The mother civet returned to the bedroom with heavy footsteps. Mazia's ears fell back as she looked at the wet skirt in her hand.

-survival-

"Here... And here." A voice whispered while hands diligently stacked sticks into the crook of a tree. Mud and leaves followed to help seal the rugged woodwork. Topaz stood up on her toes to try and mesh the ingredients together. The temporary result left her with mixed feelings. The drying soil would wash away under a heavy rain, and the space was only big enough to fit her head under. Creating a proper shelter took time, but not enough time, resources, or energy were at the genet's disposal. Her rifle was never out of arm's reach, but neither was trouble. A crashing noise above alerted the genet. Her eyes darted around for any suspecting danger. Her worries were soothed when she spotted a small monkey climbing across tree branches and limbs high above her in the canopy.

'Stop worrying over everything.' Topaz grumbled and shook the uneasy feeling from her gut. She sat down with a less than pleased expression. A stick was tossed aside in frustration. The genet took a deep breath and trailed her hands down her legs. Most of the fur on her spotted legs was caked with bits of dried mud, and spiked. Mud even coated part of the genet's arms, and her hair was disheveled into a a fuzzy mess beyond recognition.

"Ugh." The tired genet laid down and stared up at the shelter that she was trying to build. The pile of sticks and reeds beside the tree's trunk didn't amount to anything. A small pile rested in the crook of two branches above. Large leaves proved more effective against the rain if they didn't decay after a day or two. But anything was better than getting soaked from an occasional rain shower. She looked at a neighboring branch where her loincloth was hanging idly. The old garment was worn and ready to be replaced. There wasn't much of a reason to not be naked when there was no one to tell her otherwise. Although, the enjoyment of being that much closer to nature wasn't always present. Her head looked to the right, and what she saw at the end of her nose made her eyes widen.

"Ah!" Topaz jumped up seeing a busy anthill beside her. "The last thing I need are ants in my fur." She crossly brushed her fur coat for extra measure. The genet attempted to lay back down when a familiar sensation and sound made itself known.

Grroowwwl. Topaz's ears folded back at the sinister noise. Hunger angrily gnawed at her stomach for something to eat. She reached over where a small pile of tough shelled nuts were stored. However, she didn't eat any. Tired of digging and foraging for a few roots, nuts, and fruits, Topaz desired a different meal. She rose up and prepared herself. She snatched her loincloth from its perch and tied it on. Knife in hand, and rifle over her shoulder, the genet set out into the jungle. It didn't take her long to find a grove of bamboo nearby. She chose a sturdy straight piece to cut, and quickly whittled away any snags. Topaz peered down the empty wooden stalk in her hands with satisfaction. She had a simple blowgun ready. A small rock and rolled bits of hard clay were gathered to be used as pellets. After some extra preparation, she placed the little clay ball in one end and lifted the bamboo to her mouth. "I hope this works..." She silently prayed. Topaz blew with all her might and the pellet shot out, hitting the tree before her with a subtle pinging sound.

"Yes!" She cheered before covering up her mouth. 'I hope I did not scare anything away.' The genet gathered her things and sett out for a large tall tree, eager to test it on a real hunt. Finding a tall tree, and climbing it with the aid of footholds and vines was easy enough. Topaz climbed up to a high branch wide enough to sit on and straddle with her legs. Birds were commonly hunted from the trees in Inkasi tradition, and the genet had some experience from hunting with Kassula. 'I think I am high enough up.' She spied from her perch. The vantage point provided Topaz with a better view of the forest floor, understory, and even most of the canopy above. It was like another world, even though it was directly above her own on ground. Her eyes avoided looking directly down. The last thing she needed was a sense of dizziness so high up! Topaz sat up straight and tucked her tail. The real challenge right now was patience, and of course a steady hand. She sat still, readily armed for an unsuspecting bird to settle down nearby. The sounds of caws, chirps, tweets, and rustling leaves were never far away. The genet resisted the urge to look around and stayed put. Time passed slowly as little birds would occasionally perch nearby, but she bided her time. Finally, something larger flew into view.

'A pheasant!' Topaz became gleeful at the sight. The colorful fowl was facing the left, and not too far away on a distant branch. Heart beating fervently, Topaz raised the bamboo to her lips and placed a clay pellet inside. With careful aim, she blew with sudden force. The pellet whizzed right by its intended target. "Drat!" She cursed as the bird flew away. A feather lightly fell to the ground at the genet's feet. The genet frowned at the piece that she had "caught," but didn't lose hope. Topaz waited for some time before another bird was within range, but the result was the same. A miss, and her chances at a cooked meal flew away. Eventually, the genet slipped down from her perch and climbed down to the forest floor.

'This needs some more work.' She sighed and looked at the crudely made blowgun in one hand and remaining pellets in the other. Discouraged for the hour, she tossed the ammo over a shoulder and slipped away into a thicket of palm trees. The genet was immediately surrounded by the dense grove, but she trudged forward. Arms had to part and hold back the crowding trees with every step.

"Maybe I should've went around this." She looked over her shoulder at the countless leaves and stalks behind her. The dark patch of palms finally gave way, but the genet stumbled forward into a gulley and found herself in a dense area of jungle. Giant ferns and leaves half the size of her body surrounded her. Lush light green grass grew in sparse sections were sunlight was strongest. The trunks of hefty trees were thickly covered with vines or moss making it seem as if the ground was much higher than her. Luo had plenty of dense foliage, but nowhere near the scale of this place.

"This is... Strange." She touched the tall grass at her eye level. The thick jungle resembled a large hiding spot or a sacred dwelling place. Even the insects quietly hummed rather than loudly drone. Not wanting to sit around hungry, Topaz crept through the tall grass. Golden hints of sunlight were visible ahead through the peculiar overgrowth. She eagerly waded through the vegetation as the sunlight briefly glittered, but soon faded away. Topaz climbed out of the grassy gulley and left the darker section of jungle behind. A normal set of bamboo, palms, and deciduous trees were in front of her. The genet crept through the new area, in search of a fruit bearing tree. A stomach spurned her to hurry. Green eyes found a peculiar tree among the rest.

'A bleeding tree!' She recognized the smooth trunk. A trembling hand hastily reached for her knife. She cut the bark with her knife and hastily licked the reddish substance that oozed out. The tree's sweet sap was edible and sometimes used in medicine. On occasion, those hunting deep in the woods would rely on the tree to keep up with prey. When the flow stopped, she yanked herself away from the tree and licked her lips. The sugary substance curbed her hunger, but it wouldn't last very long. "I should find something else." She wondered where a fruit or nut bearing tree was hiding. Her search was cut short. The quiet sound of pattering rain caught her attention. When she could hear rain above, there was usually a little time to prepare before the ground level became soaked.

'Better move.' She looked for a spot to shelter from the incoming shower. The genet trekked around the base of a large tree, careful to step over the exposed roots. Gentle hops and leaps led her into dense bushes and other plants before suddenly giving way. Topaz suddenly found herself in a clearer area where the canopy above didn't completely hide the sky. Fast moving grey clouds were visible above. Her gaze at the heaven's brewing tempest was cut short. A raindrop landed on her ear, and more were on the way.

'Uh oh!' She bolted into the jungle as the pattering of rain began to pick up. The genet hurried to a large willow tree where the overhanging branches and leaves created a dry haven. She dove behind the overhanging branches. "Made it!" She caught her breath and set her belongings aside. The pounding hiss of rain echoed around her, drowning out all other sounds. The soothing sound put her at ease. A hand parted a hanging branch and peeked outside her protected veil. Raindrops pounded on the trees above, and the ground around her. The forest floor appeared as if it was on fire with water. Further away, she could make out a meandering creek through the underbrush. Topaz watched the show with wistful eyes.

'Playing in the rain...' Her tail twirled at the memories of when she was little. 'Jumping in puddles, running around, and swimming.' Green eyes shut for a while. As the storm passed, the rain shower lessened into a quiet pattering. But Topaz didn't wait for the lingering drizzle to pass. The genet slipped out of her loincloth and hiding place before approaching the creek in the rain. The waterway shallowly carved through the ground with plenty of palm trees hanging over the edge of the water. The exposed roots of other trees resembled a network of gnarled snaky vines entrenched in mud rather than simple roots. Topaz clamored down the steep drop into the soft mud. She waded into the shallow creek with quiet splashing steps and stood in a calm pool. Little ripples echoed across the shallow surface from the little drizzle.

The water only reached her ankles, but the sensation of being completely submerged enveloped her body. A warm fizzling sensation began blooming in her bosom. It radiated throughout her body from ears to tail tip. She held a branch looming beside her to steady herself while watching her breasts rise and fall with every drawn breath. The brown buds of flesh atop each seemed to be reaching out freely without any restraint, physical or not. She drew a finger over one of the brown fleshy nubs only to feel how taut it was. The excitement coursing through her veins was almost arousing. Topaz peered down, able see her whole feminine form in the still water below. Her hands drew down her sides, hips, then legs.

"I'm a female." Her voice rang confidence A warm gratifying breeze rustled the leaves above as she waded back to shore. Birds all around her chattered and bickered as their habitats were subtly disturbed. Topaz laid down in the wet ferns and sparse grasses. She lifted her arms and spread her legs in a drawn sigh. The grasses and ferns were cool to the touch and reminded her how much contact she had with nature. Her half closed eyes stared up at the noisy canopy.

"I'm just like you right now." She whispered, watching a brightly green and grey feathered bird peck curiously at a tree limb before flying away. The genet was alone in the jungle like a wild animal with only herself and nature to rely on.

*Flashback to flood in Luo

Eager paw steps danced in the main room of the Musavaka household. Their little sounds were made up for in their intensity. A young Topaz anxiously nibbled her lip and gazed at the door, waiting for it to open.

'Dad should be home soon.' She thought to herself, and looked over at a the pegs close by where a few loincloths were hanging from. The genet already knew which one she wanted to wear for outside. The home's top shutters were open. The dampness in the air was heavy and hung around like a thick mist. It had poured rain almost ceaselessly for the past two days, and Topaz watched the water fall all day yesterday. The puddles had grown into a pond covering the entire ground, but overnight she didn't know how much more rain had fallen. If it was high enough, then swimming would be the only thing on her mind. However, she had to wait for her father to return so that she could get permission to play outside.

"Topaz!" Tiranu quietly balked at her daughter. "Get away from the door so your father can come in when he gets back." Her mother tsked as she mended a torn loincloth.

"What if he doesn't get back?" Topaz whipped around.

"It isn't a bad flood like we had when you were born." Her mother spoke.

"Then why can't I go outside?" She continued hopping around.

"I want to make sure when your father gets back. Now sit down before I get a headache." She requested.

"Sorry mom." Her ears fell back as she walked over and sat in her mother's lap.

"There. There." Tiranu patted her shoulder. "I don't want you to get upset, but you can't create a ruckus like that inside."

"I want to play outside."

"You're supposed to feel protected and safe in my lap; and not want to leave so suddenly." Tiranu grinned to herself. Topaz leaned back and tried relaxing. "Although, you're starting to get too big for my lap." She chuckled. Topaz wiggled her nose, hoping that she would grow up faster, but it was comforting being able to sit with her mom this way. She watched her mother's skilled hands work without missing a beat. The quiet sewing, and warmth would've put her to sleep had nothing else happened. The sound of a footstep and then the door sliding open alerted their ears.

"Dad is back!" Topaz cheered and sat up.

"Easy!" Tiranu raised her arms as Topaz fumbled out of her lap and scurried to meet Baku.

"Hey. I'm back." The brown male genet stepped inside.

"Hi dad! What's it like outside!" She bounded up and have him a hug.

"Eh... Wet." He half grinned and patted her back. "I'm thankful for a canoe." Topaz eagerly wormed around her dad before he could slide the door shut. She was met with an extraordinary sight.

"Wow!" Topaz's eyes gazed from her house. Muddy water came up halfway between the second and third step to their house. The ground was invisible and completely submerged. "The whole village is underwater!" Her perspective of underwater had her father chuckling to himself.

"I'm glad that we aren't completely underwater." He smiled and hung his loincloth up with the others. "Still sewing, I see." He approached his mate. Baku knelt down and shared a quick kiss with Tiranu.

"Mmhm." The pudgy genet contently hummed. "Maybe you won't get a hook stuck in your nice clothes next time." She made him laugh. "How bad is it out there?" Tiranu asked her mate.

"It's easy to paddle through the village, but I would avoid the river itself for another day or so." He reasoned.

"Does that mean I can go outside and play!?" Topaz beamed energetically. Both parents looked at her before each other.

"Yes." They finally gave their mutual consent. The little genet had a loincloth tied around her waist in a second before shutting the door behind her.

"Where does she get all of that energy from?" Baku wondered aloud.

"A younger me." Tiranu winked at her mate, only to make him beam a bashful smile. Outside, Topaz walked down the dry step, and then the two submerged steps before hopping to the ground. The little splash excited her. The water only came up to her waist, but it was more than enough for a child like herself to enjoy.

"This is so much better than a giant puddle-" The sound of a door sliding open behind her made her stop.

"Topaz! Don't go too far. A big fish will snatch you up!" Her father warned.

"I won't!" Topaz called back and happily waded through the warm, muddied water. To the young Luo villager, it was like an entirely different world to explore. Her mind teemed with ideas. 'Maybe I can pretend to be roaming a river, hiding from onlookers.' She ducked behind a house as someone waded through the water nearby. Or maybe something prowling on the hunt.' She loudly jumped.

"What are you doing, walking around in muddy water?" An elderly voice called out. Topaz looked up and spotted Lady Amasi. The silver haired genet was sitting cross legged beside the doorway, grinding something edible in a bowl.

"Hi Lady Amasi!" Topaz waded towards her.

"Hello Topaz." She kindly smiled. "Don't tell me that you snuck away from home again." The elder teased.

"No!" She shook her head. "My parents told me it was okay."

"Well that's good to hear." She turned to face the youngster. "I thought you were stalking around, ready to get into some mischief."

"I'm not bad." Topaz sheepishly spoke, but her ears fell back more truthfully. A grin curled on the elder's muzzle. Topaz noticed a twinkle in the elder genet's eye. Lady Amasi hung a leg over the edge and brushed her foot over Topaz's head. "Hey!" Topaz grasped the limb and tugged on Amasi.

"Don't pull me in!" She laughed and held the floor. Topaz gave up after a moment and clung to the elder's leg.

"I'd say I went fishing for a little genet, but no one would believe me." She chuckled and prodded Topaz's tummy with her foot. The youngster laughed and held on.

"Hey! I caught you first!" Topaz pleaded until Amasi stopped. The little one still clung to her elder's leg. "Can you play with me?" Topaz asked.

"In the water? No, I can't Topaz." She told her.

"Why not?" The little one innocently asked.

"Because there won't be any clean water for me to bathe in until the river lowers again. There's too much mud and dirt now." She nodded at the murky flood.

"Oh.." Topaz looked down in disappointment for a moment, but saw a green painted beaded anklet on the elder's foot. "I like your beads." She touched the simple wooden piece around Amasi's ankle.

"Really?" The older genet cocked her head. "I though you would like my armband before anything else." She lifted an arm, showing off the only other thing that she was wearing besides her loincloth.

"Mmhm!" She hugged Lady Amasi's foot and leg.

"They're old beads. Even some of the green paint has worn off."

"I still like them." Topaz always liked how the elder genet dressed simply, or lack thereof on occasion. A loincloth was the only designed colorful piece that Lady Amasi wore. Wide yellow, white, and black striped ran diagonally, occasionally meeting a few in an X pattern.

"Hmm. I can paint it and give it to you before the next festival. How does that sound?" She leaned forward and ruffled Topaz's hair.

"Thanks! I'd like that!" She beamed a smile.

"Now I'll return to my work if you don't mind, little fish." She teased. Topaz giggled and waded away, but it didn't take long for the excitement to bubble out. She lunged and jumped through the water, creating loud splashes without a care in the world. Not too many villagers were out due to the flood. Luo was her playground for the day. Only when the genet became out of breath did she slow down.

"Hey!"

"What?" Topaz looked around for the young voice that shouted at her. She spotted someone her age standing in a home's doorway.

"Hey Topaz!" Mazia waved from her home's perch.

"Hi!" She bounded through the water to her friend. After finding the proper footholds, the genet climbed up the steps. When she reached the top, she noticed something. "Uh oh." Topaz looked down.

"Don't tell me that you went swimming with something on." Mazia guessed at her dripping wet friend.

"I wasn't even swimming..." Regardless, Topaz knew how much trouble she would be in when her mom found out that she lost her loincloth in the flood.

"I can get you an extra one." Mazia offered and dashed into the house before coming back with a green Inkasi skirt matching her own.

"Thanks! I owe you one!" Topaz tied it on.

"Where were you going to?"

"Wherever I wanted." She smiled. "I want to reach the other side of the village where it's deeper to swim. Do you want to go around the village with me? We can wade through."

"My mom doesn't want me to go swimming." Her friend frowned.

"What about wading?" Topaz asked, but Mazia shook her head.

"That's too much like swimming to her."

"Oh... What can you do then?"

"Stand here." Mazia shrugged. Topaz stood outside the doorway with her friend, and watched everyone else attempt to follow through a routine morning. Some villagers were wading in the waist deep water while a few used canoes to traverse the muddy flood. Those walking carried baskets on their heads to keep their goods dry. Everyone who had a skirt was wearing one. Those with only loincloths wrapped them lengthwise to make do. It was easier to lose a loincloth in the water, as Topaz had just learned.

'This is boring...' Topaz thought to herself, and wondered why Mazia's parents were so strict. Her tail lazily twirled while nothing eventful happened.

"Look! An empty canoe!" Mazia pointed to a vessel idly passing by the house.

"Someone must have forgotten to tie it up." Topaz guessed.

"Wanna ride around the village in it?"

"What? We can't do that."

"You've paddled one before, right?"

"Well... I mean, my dad showed me how a while ago." She stared at the drifting canoe and shifted her feet.

"Then paddle us through the village!" Mazia begged. "Before it floats away! It's better than standing here all morning."

"I don't know..." Topaz watched Mazia kneel down and hold the tail end before it could pass.

"Come on. No one else is using it." A little encouragement changed the genet's mind.

"Alright. Let's paddle around a little bit." Topaz jumped in.

"Woohoo!" Her friend jumped in behind her, and pushed off. Topaz wielded the paddle and guided the vessel down what used to be a normal "street" in Luo. They lazily passed houses that resembled little islands now.

"You'll have to help me navigate... Mazia!"

"What?" The civet was too busy enjoying the little drift through the village.

"Help me steer-!" Both youngsters lurched forward as the canoe hit something. The canoe had hit the side of a house.

"Oops..." Mazia mumbled. Topaz shot her friend a glance before pushing them away. They slowly made their way across Luo, letting those on foot cross them first. The water was deeper by another foot or so in the half of the village closer to the river. "How long do you think it will take for the water to return to the river?" Mazia drew her finger across its calm surface.

"I don't know, but my mom told me that it was even higher when I was born."

"No way." Mazia didn't believe it. "Houses must have floated away to form another village."

"I didn't ask..."

"It sounds like a story that my mom or Lady Khama made up." Mazia laid back. Topaz looked at the home beside her and wiggled her nose at the thought. It wasn't easy to imagine.

"Ah!" The genet yelped as a much faster canoe suddenly glided across the water in front of them.

"Watch what you're doing!" The teenage males jeered and paddled on.

"You idiots almost hit us!" Mazia stood up and yelled back at them.

"Sit down Mazia, you're making us wobble."

"I ought to-" She threw a punch in the air only to nearly lose her balance and fall.

"Don't lean over!" Topaz jumped up and grabbed her friend's arm. Mazia clung onto the free arm, but rebounded with too much force. She bumped into Topaz, causing them both to fall overboard. One big splash erupted below. Mazia and Topaz reemerged with a few sputtering gasps. The water came up to their necks.

"Aww! Why am I clumsy!" Mazia fretted. "Now my parents are going to be mad." She wiped her facial fur and hair. Topaz spit some water and did the same.

'This is the second garment that I've soaked.' Topaz frowned, but an idea popped into her head. "Wait Mazia!"

"What?"

"If we fell in by accident, then it's ok to swim." Topaz reasoned.

"Oh! Since we're already wet!" Mazia understood. The youths tossed their wet garments into the canoe and tied it to a house. Both clamored onto the top step with only one intention in mind.

"Ahaha!" Topaz and Mazia laughed as they jumped into the water. They jumped from random houses and swam around canoes, navigating through the flooded village like two fish.

"This is so much more fun than staying inside!" Mazia exclaimed as she wiped water from her hair and face.

"Yes!" Topaz agreed and spit water into the air. 'Blegh! Muddy.' She giggled to herself and wiped her mouth. She couldn't think of a better way to spend the day when Luo was flooded. They swam down the street to the corner of a house, taking their time to dive under an idle canoe tied to a post. "Hey! It's Petra's house!" Topaz pointed to the home ahead of them. The home's top step was submerged. The water's level was a little higher because they were closer to the river. "Let's visit her. She can play with us."

"Okay!" The civet readily agreed.

"Mazia Durani!" A voice suddenly broke their playtime.

"Uh oh..." The two kits turned around and found Mazia's parents in a canoe.

"I told you not to go swimming!" The mother told her kit. The anger in her voice was enough to scare both of them from running away, or make excuses.

"I guess I'll see you later Topaz." Mazia mumbled and waded over to her parents. The mother pulled her daughter into the canoe where she received a firm scolding.

"Darn..." Topaz stood idly in the water as the Durani family paddled away. The little genet turned around and looked at Petra's house. 'I guess Petra can play with me.' She eagerly swam to the civet household. Topaz climbed up all three submerged steps to the doorway. She shook her body of as much as she could before entering.

"Hello-!" Topaz stopped inside the main room as three faces looked up at her. Three adult civets were inside, sitting around a table, but Topaz didn't know who they were. The two females and male stared back at her in equal surprise. 'I'm in the right house.' Topaz looked around at the correct decorations on the wall, and the same old table to the room's right side.

"Hey there." A slim female perked up. The bracelets on her wrists jingled together as she waved. Topaz merely stood silently by.

"Did someone come in or leave?" A female voice called from back in the kitchen.

"You've got a naked kit here!" One of the female's called back.

"Don't make her nervous." The shorter female civet elbowed the other. "Poor thing."

"As if she'd be dressed soaking wet." The male mumbled.

"Where are your clothes?" A distant voice called. Topaz looked over and Petra's mom appeared from the kitchen with a bowl in hand.

"Oh." Topaz looked at the puddle of water that she was creating. "Mazia and I went swimming." She explained, much to everyone's amusement. Petra's mom slowly shook her head at the dripping wet youth, barely containing a grin.

"I'll get you a towel. Don't go anywhere." The mother offered. "And here's something to snack on." She placed the bowl on the table.

"Thank you! I love plantain." The male stirred a finger in the middle.

"Get your hand out of the bowl unless you're going to eat something." Petra's mother softly spoke. He sheepishly retracted the hand and kept to himself. Topaz nervously waited as the adult civet returned with a blanket to dry with. "Here you go." She draped it over the little one's shoulders.

"Thank you."

"Do you want something to eat? They're just mashed vegetables." She asked. Topaz shook her head.

"Who are they?" Topaz whispered.

"Don't be shy." She grinned. "Those are my two sisters and my brother. Sometimes they just act like a bunch of fools here."

"Oh. Where is Petra?" Topaz asked while she quickly toweled off. The mother's grin fell.

"Petra is not feeling well."

"So she can't play today?"

"No."

"Can I still visit her?" Topaz hopefully asked.

"Well... You can, but if she is sleeping then I want you to let her sleep." Petra's mom nodded and joined her siblings at the table.

"Is she any better since last night?"

"A little." She huffed a relieved sigh. "I swear, my life revolves around someone using the bathroom." The parent shook her head.

"Being sick is never fun."

"Den told me that whatever she has, no one else has it. Not even my mate has it, and Petra practically sleeps on top of him."

"Father's girl." One teased.

"Someone must not have cooked their wild catch well enough." A sister cooed.

"My mate and I don't hunt." Petra's mom received a chuckle from her brother. Topaz didn't mind what the adults were talking about and quickly set the damp blanket aside. The spiky furred genet scampered to the bedroom. All of the shutters were open, allowing plenty of light inside, but the room was idle. Petra was huddled on the bed with a blanket wrapped around her. The little civet's head barely turned and looked at Topaz.

"Hey." A quiet voice greeted the visiting genet. Topaz immediately approached and crawled onto the bed.

"How are you feeling?" She gazed at her friend's half lidded eyes.

"Oh-okay." Petra answered through a yawn. "Better than last night when it was pouring rain."

"When did all of this happen? You were fine two days ago." Topaz remembered playing just before the rains began. Petra shrugged and kicked the blanket away with a huff.

"I'm feeling a little hot now."

"I'd say so. You were wearing a blanket." Topaz noted how warm Luo always was.

"But I've been feeling hot and cold during the night, and this morning." She said before taking a moment to look at the doorway. They could easily hear the adults chatting in the main room. "What's my mom, uncle, and aunts doing?"

"They were talking and laughing about something earlier." She quietly spoke. "You know, just sitting at the table."

"Mmph..." Petra grumbled. "I wish I could play with them, but I'm sick. My aunt Shiva is funny and always plays with me." She whimpered. Topaz's ears fell back sympathetically. The little genet wished that she could make her friend well in an instant. Petra coughed and shifted a little. "I'm feeling cold again." Petra laid down and pulled the blanket up to her chin. The civet's eyes closed miserably. "I'm cold and lonely." She muttered from under the sheet.

"Don't worry, Petra!" Topaz snuggled under the sheets and close to her unhappy friend. "You'll never be alone in Luo!" Petra grinned and giggled at her friend, happy that she was there for her.

Cautious footsteps stalked through the ground level. A figure passed through the dense foliage, mimicking a maneuvering shadow. Her footsteps were quiet and measured. Green eyes were sharply aware of her surroundings, and Topaz was prepared for just about any situation. Her rifle was faithfully slung over her shoulder. Her right hand firmly held a stone tipped spear. Wielding a spear would help preserve ammo for the semi-automatic rifle slung over her shoulder. The SKS was reserved for life threatening situations. A dangerous wild animal, starvation, or running into a hostile group. Those three possibilities kept the genet from a sound sleep sometimes. Despite the new additions she wore nothing around her waist, except for a small hand made pouch. The genet was completely nude, and perfectly okay with it. Spending weeks in the jungle without anyone else let Topaz freely walk around as she pleased. It almost felt as if she was sharing an intimate secret with the rainforest around her, and that connection was very important to Topaz.

She had seen no rebel soldiers since the second day after crossing the wide river. The experience was truly different than living her entire life in the village of Luo. The calm thrum of people had been replaced by plants and wild animals. Nature became the only voice that she could listen to. The genet brushed by a few low hanging vines and approached a few short, fruit bearing palm trees and took a moment to pause. Topaz brushed her feet and checked over herself. No litter insect or critter had hitched a ride on her fur. The genet brushed extra hairs from her eyes and crept into the little grove of palms.

'I don think that I caught anything.' She peered through the growth and into a clearing. The clearing was small, but it was actually a set trap. A thin line was looped around a spot in the center and attached to a sturdy young tree. Surrounded by fruit bearing plants, Topaz believed it could only be a matter of time before something ended up captured. Imagining a wild pig or small deer made her mind crave meat. She carefully walked around the set trap for an unlucky animal and resumed her walk. Her thoughts in Luo fantasized about years in the future; being happily married alongside her family and friends. Now, in the untouched wilderness of the southern Inkasi jungles Topaz had to plan out the next day, or even hour. It wasn't easy, but that made every effort that much more rewarding.

"Hmm?" She spotted something and hesitated. The grass and brush appeared worn and divided towards a nearby tree. 'Maybe it's an animal path.' She hoped that it was a promising sign. The genet ventured down the path with her spear ready to strike. The simple path kept a straight line with only a few bends and turns. Topaz hardly noticed the lack of tracks, but her mind and stomach desired everything to lead somewhere. She barely noticed the scenery around her subtly changing until the pathway dissolved before her eyes into normal forest ground. Topaz stopped and scratched her head. She looked around and noticed that the undergrowth and trees had thinned a little. But one structure stuck out more than anything else that Topaz had seen.

'A hut!' She could hardly believe that a building of any kid would be put here. "What the..." She approached and reached out curiously to the wall. The wood snapped under the genet's light touch. Topaz stepped back and noticed other shapes. There were more! The cluster of shabby huts had not been used in at least one generation, maybe two or three. Despite Luo having wooden homes, the difference made the jungle huts appear very foreign to her eyes. Nearly all had a simple two or three stepped ladder of lashed branches to climb into the entrance, rather than steps. But the branches themselves were weak and old. There were no decorations to see, or at least any sign that they once existed. The mysterious huts only bore trace remains of thatch for roofing. "I think Lady Amasi once talked about replacing thatch every year." Topaz recalled an old conversation that she had heard as a kit. Before lacquered wood was commonly used in the Inkasi Free State, homes were made from basic designs without proper roofing. Thatch had to be replaced yearly with various means, and was not used anymore. Their age and disrepair weren't the only aspects that piqued her curiosity. There were only seven small hits that she could see, and that number wasn't even large enough to make a big part of a village. Maybe an extended family...

'What were these used for?' She knocked away a spider web and peeked inside. The interior was dim even without an existing roof. Whatever had used them clearly wasn't around anymore, and hadn't been around in a long time. Stale smells of birds and rotting wood furthered her curiosity, but offered no extra clues. Topaz searched around the eerily abandoned seven huts. The ground was worn and hard packed. Short green grass, moss, and trailing vines and roots grew everywhere with only little rows remaining barren. However, no tracks that she could see were visible.

"Did someone flee something long ago?" She touched a lone blue flower growing in the sunlight. If they did, then nothing remained to tell her. Was it once a big village, or merely a camp? 'Who built these?' Topaz wondered as walked around one hut. She looked at the old wooden wall, and prodded the ground with the end of her spear. The rustle of plants was expected, but a sharp crinkling sound surprised her. The genet knelt down and dug through the vines. "Ow!" She felt something sharp and retracted her hand. A tiny, clean red cut was revealed on her fingertip. Further intrigued, Topaz carefully parted the vines revealing something strange. 'Shards?' She picked up the hard material hidden in the jungle's undergrowth. Despite the stains of mud, it was clear in color. It was a piece of glass!

"Why would glass be here?" She thought aloud. Glass was a good that Luo couldn't produce and could only be obtained from larger border villages or the capital itself, much less an abandoned site! An ear perked up hearing the leaves nearby crunch. 'What?' She tossed the shard, and looked around as silence returned. Topaz walked around and half expected to run into a wild animal, but nothing was there. Distant birds chirped, but didn't raise her suspicions. Her nose couldn't detect anything, everything pointed to abandonment, but she had the feeling that the little secluded place was inhabited. Topaz kept a careful watch as she walked away. The genet crouched down behind a tree and curled her tail defensively. The birds weren't even as loud anymore.

'Am I being watched?' Her eyes peeked through a short palm tree. Topaz hadn't believed in ghostly phantoms since she was a kit, but something was out of place. She jerked her head hearing another set of footsteps to her right. 'What's going on?' Her heart began to race, and uneasiness crept into her stomach. Topaz slipped the rifle off her shoulder. The footsteps immediately ceased. She bit her lip and didn't lower her guard. A long minute passed before she regained the courage to move. Topaz stood up and crept into the open.

"Phew. It must be my thoughts..." Her voice tapered off as the sound of soft footsteps approached from somewhere not too far behind. Topaz froze standing in her spot. Her body began to shake and fear enveloped her like a cold blanket. The sight of rebel soldiers invading Luo and chasing her, filled the genet's mind. Feeling a familiar sense of panic, Topaz fled with all of her will to survive. She blindly ran through the palm leaves and underbrush, crashing with every step, towards a familiar clearing. Topaz's eyes widened as she felt something tighten around her ankle and pull.

"AAH!" She screamed as the hunting trap she had set a day earlier sprung. The genet was yanked and rolled onto her back as the strong sapling dragged her across the forest floor. Topaz was finally hoisted up, leaving her head and shoulders on the ground. "Ugh..." Topaz waited for her head to stop spinning. She looked around and found the ground and sky had switched placed. Her leg and torso were hoisted into the air. She touched her shoulder and the ground beside her. "Where's my..." She groped around for her weapons to cut the line. Her rifle and spear were out of reach a few feet away. The genet tried crawling towards both, but the line held her tightly by the ankle. She tried reaching up to untie her foot, but couldn't reach no matter how hard she tried.

"Darn it! I don't have my knife..." She grumbled and strained. Unable to cut, or even bite the line, she was left immobile. The genet tried relaxing and thinking of a plan while her leg went numb. "Okay Topaz. You can think this through." She breathed, hoping for a plan to form. The sounds of quiet footsteps in the leaves alerted her. Topaz desperately looked around knowing how vulnerable she was. Her heart started to wildly race within her chest. Movement emerging from the ferns and palms caught her eye.

'Huh?' She froze seeing a figure in her upside down vision. 'Don't panic Topaz.' She blinked and kept still, fearing that it was a revolutionary. The upright figure stepped out of the large ferns and into the little space. It was a tall and thin male, and he wasn't wearing camouflage! Topaz immediately felt at ease, but noticed something else. His body had an odd design of blue and red lines painted on his body. Zigzags and curvy lines appeared to dance over his body with every step.'He's naked like me!' Topaz didn't see a single article on his body. The nude male cautiously stepped towards her rifle and crouched down to touch it.

"Hey! Who are you?" Topaz called out and tried writhing onto her front. The strange male jumped at her words and stumbled back before falling own. "Wait! Can you cut this line?" She pleaded as the male scrambled to his feet. The unknown person darted away and disappeared into the thick Inkasi jungle. Topaz was stunned, and couldn't believe what she had just seen. There was actually someone living in this uninhabited area of jungle. Alone again in a tough situation, she closed her eyes. 'Come on...' Her claws dragged through the dirt in dismay. Her body started to ache from being held up and contorted in its unnatural position. Topaz barely felt the line tug through her numb leg. "Wha-Oof!" Her body suddenly dropped to the ground. She caught a glimpse of a naked red and blue painted female dash off into the jungle where her counterpart went moments ago.

"Hey! Wait!" She called out. "Who are you!?" Topaz tried to run after them only to stumble. 'My leg!' She knelt back down feeling it tingle painfully and regain sensation. She gradually regained the ability to walk, but the two mysterious forest dwellers were gone. The sounds of birds, insects, and the occasional frog returned to her ears. Topaz rotated her foot and noticed a clean cut on the end of the knot that once bound her. She removed it and quietly walked back to her makeshift shelter. 'Who were they? Why wouldn't they talk?' More questions floated in her mind about the Inkasi jungles than ever before, but the start of a drizzling rain cut her thoughts short. Topaz wasn't completely alone in the jungle.