Warriors of Passion Part 3: Winds of Change (First Half)
Updated: Jul 24, 2024
Recommended for ages 18+ because of the use of profanity and sexual content.
Chapter 27 - Mateo
Note: This chapter has a minor trigger warning for those who have encountered unpleasant, life-threatening moments with the ocean/large bodies of water.
I miss her.
Oh’Shun’s waves lap against the bottom of the ship as we sail on towards Kah’Noh. I lean on the wooden edge to keep my balance and wipe a stray tear from my face. Every fiber of my being wants to return to Kahn’Teh and bring Cecile into my arms. I'd explain to her that this is the last thing that I wanted for us. All it would take is for me to throw away my title and my family's legacy. I'd die a happy man by living out the rest of my life with Cecile by my side. But where would an outlawed Kah'Sikae even be welcomed in a world like this? The moment I placed my father’s headdress on Andres a full night ago, I knew deep down that I’d never hold Cecile again.
A mix of the wind and the spray from the waves sends a chill down my spine. It’s for the best, I guess. Andres would never admit it, but I know he loves Cecile as much as I do. If not more. The thought of Andres’s hands caressing Cecile's body sends a knife clean through my gut. Her laugh being reserved for only him nearly propels me overboard. My knuckles whiten at my tightening grip on the railing and I fight to slow my breathing bit by bit. Out of everything that has happened, I have to remind myself that there are worse outcomes. And bigger problems.
A heavy hand clamps down on my shoulder. “How ya holdin’ up, Kah'Sikae?”
I turn to see Mina, Bunti’s daughter, standing next to me. Her wild curls are tied back by her usual bandana, the family fisherman crest gleaming in the sunlight. She’s only a few years older than me but I outpaced her in height a long time ago. Not that she couldn’t topple me overboard if she tried.
I chuckle sadly. “Honestly? Like my insides have been beaten to death.”
“You really loved her, huh?” I can’t even mask my surprise, and she just rolls her eyes in response. “Oh please. Like the whole island didn’t know that you were in love with Cecile. You’re so obvious.”
“Am not,” I shove her away with a smirk and she fights against my palm in earnest.
Mina has always been there like the big sister I never had. A consolation prize for the shitty brother I was given. I wasn’t sure that Bunti was going to let his only daughter go with us on this suicide mission, but I’m glad that she’s here. My father used to tell me that sailing on Oh'Shun can be a maddening place. Who knows what will happen if I stay fixated on Cecile? If we're going to make it to Kah’Noh alive, I need to keep a clear head.
Mina finally gets control of my grip on her and throws my hand down with a grunt. “Well, if you’re done sulking, we need you below deck.”
“For?”
“It would be easier if you just saw for yourself.”
The annoyance on her face is evident, that famous eye twitch only reserved for one person. Liam.
***
The stairs groan under our weight as I follow Mina below deck. The air is thick with humidity and the smell of salt water. Not too far away, a few other crew members lay swaying in the hammocks lining the walls. Their eyes are closed but I doubt they’re sleeping. None of us have been able to relax since the death of the Kah'Sikae, especially knowing that we might be the next target of the Ju'Ri.
A metal door sits on the end of the hall and my brother’s voice echoes loud and clear. “This is the way we’re going!”
“Oh brother,” Mina sighs as we creep closer. “If he keeps this up, I’m throwing him overboard.”
“Want some help?”
Her hand lingers on the door handle and she greets my mischievous smirk with a genuine chuckle. “I’ll keep ya posted.”
The loud cry of the door hinge silences the room as Mina swings the door open. A large table with a map of the three islands sits at the center of the room, a chandi-lantern hanging above it. Antali stands red-faced and glaring at Liam from one end of the table, his attention slowly drifting to Mina as the door slams firmly behind us.
“I see you’ve brought the pawn to play,” Liam grumbles, his entire body leaning on the table for support.
“Mateo is the Kah'Sikae,” Antali scolds. “And you better start acting like it or-”
“Or what? You’ll toss me to Oh’Shun? Sell me to the Ju’Ri?”
His face is smugger than usual, and I want nothing more than to do all the above.
“Face it,” he continues. “You need me as much as you need Mateo. Especially if we plan on getting through this storm.”
“What storm?” Mina cuts in. “From what I could tell, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. Oh'Shun is calm and the air's dry. Dry enough to keep any storms away at least.”
“I’ve sailed these waters more times than the rest of you lot combined,” Liam scoffs. “Believe me, there’s a storm coming.”
“And taking the same route Tajo took to avoid this mythical storm is just plain suicide,” Mina yells.
“Thank you,” Antali slams his hand on the table. “We can’t risk the safety of the Kah'Sikae because of the chance of a storm.”
“And if the storm capsizes us, then what?” Liam counters.
Mina steps up to Liam, a clear foot shorter than him but no less intimidating. “We have the best sailors of the Traib on board. I doubt there isn’t anything my crew can’t handle.”
“Taking the trade route also leaves us vulnerable to the Northern Ju’Ri,” Liam says. “We know that those are the most ruthless group of the Ju’Ri and I refuse to put us in that kind of danger.”
“The Western Ju’Ri seem to be our biggest concern at the moment,” Antali yells.
Liam's eyes shift from Mina back to me. “Well, why don’t we let the Kah'Sikae decide for himself? Since you bothered to drag him into this.”
“He has the right to know,” Mina says.
“Whatever,” Liam walks around her, eyes digging into me. “What do you say, little brother? Care to throw your thoughts into the ring?”
His eyes are full of venom, and I glide past him to the map on the table, unfazed. I’ve only looked at this map a handful of times in my life. Each time Andres would tell me to pay attention and ramble on about trade routes and current patterns. I’d do my best to convince him that I was listening while mentally conjuring my plan of wooing Cecile. A lot of good that got me.
“Our father trusted Antali with his life and I will do the same,” I look at my brother. “Whatever storm we may get hit with can’t be that bad this time of year.”
“You are putting us all in greater danger,” Liam shakes his head and holds up his hands in surrender. “But I fold on the matter. Whatever the Kah'Sikae wants is fine with me.”
“Liam,” Mina calls to him but Liam continues to walk until he slams the metal door behind him.
“Leave him be,” Antali waves his hand as if to clear the air of a bad odor. “We’ll continue the course originally set.”
“I’ll let the crew know directly just in case Liam wants to stir up trouble,” Mina says, backing out of the room, and soon enough I’m left alone with Antali. The way he stands over the map reminds me of Andres and another pang of sadness hits me in the gut. Will I ever see my best friend again?
“We’ll make it back, Mateo,” Antali says, eyes now soft as he looks my way. “On my life, we’ll see Kahn’Teh again.”
I nod, a great fatigue slowly settling over me. “I think I’m going to rest for a little if that’s alright.”
“Of course, Kah'Sikae.”
I manage to stumble over to a nearby hammock and fall in a heap, the soft fibers wrapping around me like a warm embrace. The tears silently flow as I lay there but I don’t bother to wipe them away. The events of the last few days come tumbling on top of me one by one. Each one sits on my chest heavier than the last until I’m lulled into a dreamless sleep.
***
“Mateo? Mateo!”
The slam of the metal door against the wall jolts me awake. Mina looks around frantic, her body soaking wet from head to toe.
“What’s wrong?” I ask as she sets her sights on me.
“The storm your idiot brother predicted is upon us. I need all hands on deck if we’re going to make it out of this alive.”
She shuts off the lights precariously dangling above us and I wobble behind her out into a scene of chaos. The wind howls mercilessly as the crew slides around the soaking wet deck. Their hands hold onto ropes for dear life as Antali steers the boat through the roaring waves.
“I have to get back to the wheel, but help whoever you can from falling overboard,” Mina yells over a crash of thunder and I nod before taking off in the opposite direction. Wave after wave washes over us as I help our crew change out the sails. There's not enough time. The waves are going to capsize us any minute.
“Mateo! Help!”
Liam’s voice rises over the thunder. I manage to see him not too far away through a crack of lightning, his bad leg tangled in a mess of ropes and barrels. If he ends up overboard, he won't survive. My feet can’t seem to get to him fast enough as another wave threatens to wash him away.
I reach out to Liam, holding onto the boat's edge for support. “Take my hand.”
He grips it firmly as Oh’Shun engulfs us in its waters. The safety of the wooden boards is nothing but a memory as I fight to find the surface. Liam’s hand slips from my grasp and I find myself tumbling alone in the waves. I gasp for breath as I manage to break free of the water, but the ship is nothing more than a dot in the distance. I don’t even have time to shout before another wave consumes me. The barrels that once threatened Liam's life are now my only lifeline as I cling to one for support. Air is impossible to keep in my lungs. I can feel my vision slowly growing darker as the waves continue to toss me around. My lungs are on fire until I feel like I'm floating, the waves caressing me like a mother’s embrace. I don't even fight as the darkness takes hold and all I can think about is Cecile.
Chapter 28 - Kana
Tonight, I will officially become the Kah'Sikae.
Fuck what anyone else has to say about it.
I block my father’s fist with my forearm and lunge to swing at his chest. We’ve been sparring for hours, and yet I don’t feel the least bit tired. I guess that stamina potion I conjured really does work. Not that I’d tell him or my mother about it. They always like to scold me for using my healing knowledge to create shortcuts for winning my fights. I like to see them as enhancers that keep me alive.
The storm from last night is a memory as the sun stabs me in the eye, blinding me just enough for my father's knuckles to dig into my ribs and force me into the sand.
“I think that’s enough for today,” he says, cracking his neck with authority. The golden aura around his body shines bright as the morning sun but his calm eyes sag with sadness as he holds his hand out to me. “Kana, you don’t have to push yourself so hard.”
“Believe me this is nothing,” I smirk through a wince. I guess my stamina potion doesn’t protect me against bruises yet. I’ll have to fix that later with Bau before the ceremony tonight.
“Kah’Ohna Ahana!”
My mother’s voice echoes across the sand as she stomps towards me, a bright red aura swirling around her.
“Easy, Mai,” my father tries to place a hand on my mother’s shoulder, but she smacks him away. Her sights are on me, and nothing is going to get in her way.
“Hey, Mom,” I wave a little and she snatches my wrist.
“Don’t be cute. I’ve been all over the island looking for you and your father. There’s only so much time before the ceremony starts. Do you have any idea how long it’s going to take to get all of that sand out of your hair before-”
“Mina, darling,” my father croons in her ear. “We just finished warming up for the ceremony. Relax.”
“Don’t tell me to relax,” she snaps, spinning to face him. She continues to rally on a long list of things that need to get done before tonight and I manage to sneak away further down the beach before she can finish. I’m sure that my father will be able to handle her for another hour or two before I’m ready to call it quits. I'm grateful that the warriors on guard in the watch hut don't call out to me as I pass them. With the competition that I have stacked against me this year, I’ll take every moment I can get to practice.
The waves roll on beside me in a familiar lull as I continue down the narrowing strip of beach. East Kae Kliff towers over me and blocks out a bit of the sun but I don’t care. No one will disturb me out here. I begin to stretch and loosen up the ache in my side. If that was the tournament, I would’ve been out for sure. Thank goodness the sun will be long gone once we get started.
“Well, hello there.”
I jump a little as Ahiga’s presence draws near. He’s always so easy to distinguish and yet I didn’t sense him at all. Did he get his hands on a stealth potion? Who knows what Ahiga can get ahold of these days. His brute strength and charisma has made him popular with our Traib over the years. But I’ve known Ahiga since we toddled down the beach together and one thing always remains the same. He’s not as strong as he appears.
His tan knuckles crack against each other as he closes in, and I barely have time to react before he’s on me. His fists are like lightning but it’s nothing that I can’t handle. I reach for his forearm, but he moves at the last second and wraps it around my body. My feet slip from under me, and I manage to wrap my legs around his, bringing us both down into the sand. His grip is strong. Too strong. Fuck. He must’ve taken a potion.
“Struggling, baby?” he purrs, pinning my legs with his own as he gains the upper hand while I lay flat in the sand.
“Don’t call me that,” I spit, my heartbeat kicking into overdrive as he hovers his face above me.
The green tips of his hair drape around us and cancel out the world as he presses his bare chest to mine. He chuckles darkly as I continue to glare at him, our noses touching. “I win.”
His lips engulf mine, and a part of me screams in frustration as I melt into him. I had sworn off Ahiga once and for all months ago. So why am I still drawn to him like I’ll die without his embrace? The length of him hardens against me as I wrap my legs tighter and flip him onto his back. Ahiga stares at me with lust, his aura a wave of sunset as I pull away from his lips and clench his throat.
“You never learn, do you?” I huff, the taste of him still lingering.
He licks his lips and rests his hands on my hips without a care in the world. “Why do you have to be this way? You know we’re meant for each other. And after tonight, we’ll rule together as the strongest warriors of Kae. Me as the Kah'Sikae. And you, my sexy little bride.”
“Ugh,” I scoff, pushing him into the sand as I move to a stand. The heel of my foot lands in the center of his chiseled abdomen before I stomp further down the beach. Ahiga will not be taking my title. His bride? Disgusting.
My frustration is immediately doused by fear as I notice a tan hand resting on a nearby rock, red streaks running freely into Oh’Shun. I break into a sprint, and I barely hear Ahiga yelling in the background as the full body comes into view. Please don’t be dead. Please don’t be dead.
I get a glimpse and immediately gasp. A multitude of slashes crisscross the back of an unfamiliar man face down in the sand, his aura so thin that I can barely make out the color. His blood stains my fingertips as I pry him free from the rocks and loop his arm around my shoulders. The stranger’s massive body hangs limp, his pulse faint but beating against my shoulder.
“Don’t die on me,” I grunt as I fight against the waves and pull him out of Oh’Shun.
Ahiga manages to catch up with me, his eyes widening as he catches sight of the stranger.
“Kana, what the fuck? What happened?”
He tosses the stranger off my shoulders and examines me with frantic eyes, the blood smearing his fingertips as he traces my body for slashes.
“Ahiga!” I yell in horror, pushing him off me. “We have to help him!”
“Says who?” he grabs my wrist tight with a scowl. “We don’t know who he is or what he can do to us. To you.”
“I don’t need your help either way.”
I punch Ahiga in the same spot I dug my heel and officially shove him out of my way. It isn’t long before I’ve regained my hold on the mysterious man now bleeding and covered in sand.
“Kana, be reasonable,” Ahiga pleads through a grunt as continues to follow me.
“I am.”
I don’t bother looking back before making my way down the beach towards the village, the blood of this stranger warm on my back. I don’t care what Ahiga has to say about any of this. I’m the future Kah'Sikae and I refuse to let anyone die on my island. Especially when I know that I can save them.
My parents are still quarreling in the sand by the time I reach the fishing docks. I wobble to the side as feel my legs reach their limit and my father’s eyes flicker towards me with concern. Fuck. Not yet.
“I’ve got ya.”
Ahiga’s voice is low in my ear, his arms wrapping around me before I can topple face forward into the sand. The weight of the stranger is freed from my body, and I turn to find him draped over Ahiga’s shoulder like a bleeding rice sack.
“Be careful with him,” I snap.
“I’ll take it from here. Kah’Ohna Ahana.” Ahiga winks at me, elongating the middle part of my name in the way that pisses me off the most. And his cocky smile confirms that he knows it.
I don’t even have time to react before he kisses my cheek, and my parents are running towards us with a slew of questions that I don’t have answers for. All I know is one thing for certain. That man’s fever was starting to rise as I was carrying him. If we don’t get this stranger back to the healing hut soon, he’s going to die.
Chapter 29 - Mateo
I’m dead. I have to be. Those waves swallowed me whole. There’s no way I could’ve survived a storm like that. A shame I never got to see Kah’Noh. I heard their woman were the most beautiful out of all the islands. Although I doubt anyone would be more beautiful than her.
The room is so bright that it almost looks white, the only thing visible being a woman with golden skin sitting nearby. She hovers over me, her brown eyes focused below my waistline. This must be the promised land of Autah’Mehx. I’ve heard rumors of beautiful women greeting you after you’ve passed, begging to stroke away your fears of death while feeding you the sweetest fruit and nectar.
“I’m ready for you whenever you’re ready for me,” I mumble deliriously, causing my golden-skinned beauty to lock eyes with mine. Two endless swirls of chocolate tinged with surprise.
“You’re awake,” she says in astonishment, her hands still resting on my thighs.
“Yes, I am,” I smirk and her eyes flit to my growing desires creeping towards her fingertips.
Her hands leap from my thighs and she slaps me across the face, knocking the last of my dazed state from my body.
“Disgusting,” she grimaces, her cheeks flushed and eyes averted.
“I’m guessing I’m not dead."
“You’re about to be if you don’t behave yourself.”
Her fiery attitude of authority makes me involuntarily twitch with desire and I turn away from her, trying to regain control of myself. “I’m sorry. I mistook the situation. Allow me to introduce myself. I’m...”
The rest of my sentence dies on my lips as I struggle to remember a single detail of who I am. I know I have a home. Friends. A family. I feel it in my bones. But it’s like someone erased their faces from my mind and took my name for good measure. I move to sit up, but the palm of my golden girl pushes into my chest. “You need to let me finish healing you.”
“Heal me?”
I manage to tear my gaze from her long enough to notice a few large leaves spread across my arms and legs. Various colored pastes that tingle to the touch hold them in place. The sting from my cheek pales in comparison to the immense amount of pain that radiates from the rest of me and I lay back down.
“What happened?”
“I don’t know," she shrugs. "I found you washed up on the beach in pretty bad shape. Took nearly all of my revival paste to get your fever to break.”
She continues to work as she talks, her demeanor relaxing as I lay still. Her thick black hair falls in two large braids behind her back. The muscles in her arms tense as she works. She’s strong. Too strong to be just any old healer.
“What’s your name?” I ask.
“Kah’Ohna Ahana,” she says with a strong vibrato. “But you can just call me Kana.”
“Beautiful,” I murmur, causing her to crinkle her brow. “Your name, I mean.”
Kana’s head snaps to the sound of growing footsteps until a large man adorned in feathers and shells hovers above me.
“Did you just give your identity away to the enemy?” he asks her.
“This guy is not an enemy,” she scoffs.
“You don’t know that!”
“Dad, the guy doesn’t even know his name,” she snaps. “Just ask him.”
Kana’s father glares at me with suspicion. “Is this true?”
“Yes, sir,” I nod, doing my best to look strong despite the vulnerable state I’m in. It wouldn’t take much for this man to spear me through the middle and go on about his day. But something about the look in his eye tells me that he isn’t as merciless as he seems.
“Where did you come from?” he asks.
I hold his challenging gaze as I search for any shred of my identity. Anything to convince him that I’m not a threat. My gaze must be one of pure terror at this point because I see the corners of Kana’s father’s eyes eventually soften before holding up a hand.
“Don’t strain yourself, son,” he says. “My daughter found you at the edge of your death, so take your time remembering. Judging by the scraps of clothing you were wearing and the cut of your jaw, you’re probably the son of a fisherman off the shores of Kahn’Teh.”
The name alone stirs something awake in me but his focus has already shifted to his daughter, and he claps a hand on her shoulder with pride. “We’re nearly ready to start the ceremony. Once you’re done here, go meet with your mother to get changed.”
“Yes, Kah'Sikae,” she nods.
Another word that seems to tap me on the shoulder and beg for my attention. But the more I try to focus on it, the more confused I become. Kahn’Teh? Kah'Sikae? What do they have to do with me?
The Kah'Sikae looks me once over before turning on his heel and out of sight. Kana continues to work in silence. Her full lips purse in concentration and it isn’t long before the pain in my body has dulled to a small ache.
“Do you have powers?” I ask, the gravel in my voice startling her a little.
“No,” she smirks. “I just so happen to be the best healer in all of Kae.”
“I’ll say.”
She reaches over to a nearby pitcher and pours a sparkling clear liquid into a wooden cup. “Here. Drink.”
I take it from her and sniff the inside. “What is this? Some kind of magical potion?”
“Something like that,” she smirks.
The drink is odorless and tastes like nothing but quenches my dry throat instantly as I drink every drop. “This potion is amazing. What’s in it?”
Kana’s smile widens and for a moment I’m convinced that this whole thing has been a ruse and she’s just been poisoning me for sport.
“Relax,” she laughs. “It’s just water.”
Kana peels off the leaves one by one without another word and smooths the rest of the paste into my skin. Her hands are soft, but I can feel the bumps of old calluses baked into her palms. A healer and a fighter. My kind of woman.
“What’s happening tonight?” I ask. “A ceremony?”
“Geez, you’re a talkative one,” she says, moving on to spread the paste into my chest. “Tonight is our annual Kah'Sikae choosing ceremony.”
“You choose a Kah'Sikae every year?”
“On the anniversary of Yah’Yah’s departure, we hold a three-part ceremony where the fiercest warriors of the village compete for the title of the ultimate warrior on the island. My father has won the title ten years in a row and has decided not to compete this year.”
“And you’re entering the competition?”
“Does it shock you for a healer to also be a warrior?” she asks, peeling the leaves from my shoulders.
“It impresses me.”
Kana’s face is a breath away from mine, and I swallow hard. This woman is wild. Unfazed by my naked state hovering below her. If I tried to bring her closer, she’d probably punch me senseless. The thought alone excites me.
“Would you like to find out for yourself?” she smirks.
“Don’t tempt me with a good time.”
The last of the leaves fall from my body and she tosses them aside. It’s like a great weight of pain has been stripped clean. I move to a seat, flexing my hands and examining my body. A few scars lace my arms and legs, but I have no way of telling if these were here before or not. I wince at a twinge in my back but Kana’s hands are already on me, slathering a cold paste along the length of my spine.
“Sorry, missed a spot,” she says as I squirm under her touch. “If you would hold still, that should do it.”
It isn’t long before the pain fades to a dull ache and Kana removes her hands from my skin. I hop off the table onto the dirt floor, swinging my shoulder around with an eager grin.
“So. Do you have time to spare before your ceremony or are you also a tease?”
Chapter 30 - Kana
The healing hut sits behind us in the growing shadow of the setting sun. I catch the roof of the Kah'Sikae's main home peeking through the thick palm trees as I stretch out my side. This is insane. I should be getting ready for the ceremony before my mother burns down the island in a rage. But I can’t seem to tear myself away from this mysterious man. He’s tall. Taller than Ahiga but not by much. Nothing that I can’t handle, but he intrigues me all the same. His aura is strong now, a vibrant orange outlining his frame. He twists his beefy shoulder with a wince and hops from one foot to the other. I won’t go easy on him. If anything, I’ll use that sprained shoulder to my advantage.
“Ready yet?” I taunt, cracking my knuckles in anticipation. “Or are you still trying to remember how to fight as well?”
His thick lips broaden into a smile. “Oh, the urge to spar is embedded in my bones. No doubt about that.”
He motions for me to come at him. Cocky bastard. His wild curls are a mess around his face like the mane of an animal, eyes ablaze with anticipation. All the more to accept this challenge. No way is some random stranger with memory loss going to intimidate me. Even if I am short on time, I can always spare a few moments to put a man in their place.
Three steps forward and I’m face to face with him, our arms matching every blow thrown between us. I grip onto his forearm for leverage and swing myself into the air. Once I pin him down, it’s over. But he manages to catch my torso and throw me halfway across the field. My feet hit the dirt as I land on all fours like a feral beast. A hungry smile spreads across my face. I have no idea where this man came from, but he is no ordinary man. And I want to push him to his limits.
“Oye!”
I hold up my hand to the stranger to pause our sparing match and turn my attention to Bau coming into view over the hill. My cousin is already decked out in his warrior gear, his face painted with different symbols of protection as he runs towards us. His gear shifts under his weight as he stops beside me.
“What are you doing?” Bau scolds, eyes flitting between me and my sparring partner. “The ceremony is nearly upon us and you're filthy!”
“What can I say, cuz? I live for the fight.”
“Well, you can fight once you’ve cleaned up. I’ve already signed you in.” Bau leans into me and turns us away from the stranger. “Is he participating?”
“What a wonderful idea."
Bau’s eyes widen with dread. “No, Kana. I didn’t mean-”
“Hey, Stranger," I turn to face him. "How’d you like to enter the tournament?”
His eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “Oh, I don’t know. Isn’t that against the rules or something? I don’t want to cause any trouble.”
“It sure would cause trouble,” Bau pipes up, but I put my hands over his mouth and shake my head.
“It’ll be fine,” I smirk. “Trust me. I'm winning either way.”
Stranger looks down at his tattooed body now covered in dirt and sweat. “Shouldn’t I at least wash off before this thing?”
"This thing?" Bau fumes but I just shove Bau forward.
“There’s a shower that Bau can show you to. I believe there is another clean pair of pants that will fit you in the healing hut.”
“Aren’t you going to escort me?” he asks, that mischievous look still in his eye.
“Kah’Ohna Ahna!”
My mother’s voice echoes around the training grounds, and I start to jog backward towards the estate. “Gotta go. Bau is my right-hand man. You’re in good hands.”
I break into a full sprint as I hear my mother’s familiar jingling grow closer and don’t look back until I’ve stripped naked and made it safely in the bathing pool. For weeks, my mind has been filled with fighting styles and beating anyone who towers over me. Now the tournament is mere moments away and I’m left grinning over a stranger who can’t even remember his name. I release all my air out in a huff and my body sinks to the bottom of the bathing pool like stone. Enough distractions. My eyes close as I focus on grounding myself and cross my legs underneath me. My strong muscles and tactical methods are all that I’ll need to get through this tournament. That Kah'Sikae title is mine this year and I refuse to let anyone take it from me. Even to a nameless stranger whose green eyes beckon me forward. The thought of him breaks my concentration and I bubble up to the surface in frustration, gasping for air.
“There you are!”
My mother is already covered in bright shells and jewels, her healer’s headdress made of vibrant crystals tied firmly to her head. Her everyday metal bangles jingle on her wrist as she motions me out of the bath, and I have no choice but to swim to the water’s edge and follow her inside. Hopefully, that will be enough meditation to get me through tonight.
I don’t bother covering myself as we walk towards the main hut. Usually, my mother would scold me for showing my bare ass to the rest of the village, but with the sun sinking lower in the sky, I doubt she has the time.
“Your armor is on the rack,” she grumbles as she looks me over with annoyance. “Headdress is on the stand. I don’t have time to do the usual protection ritual, so you’ll just have to take the potions we decided on and, please, do something nice with your hair.”
“Will do,” I give her a thumbs up before she disappears out of the hut and back to the main square. The armor of shells and jewels my father had made for me hangs near the small vials of pre-approved potions my mom made everyone for the ceremony. I move past them to a box tucked away behind some old sparing gear. A bright purple vial with sparkling liquid stares back at me and I uncork it with glee. My special potion set. Even though I didn't get to tweak the recipe further, it will enhance all my abilities until sunrise. The raspberry-flavored liquid runs cool down my throat as I chug it back in one gulp. I replace my mother’s potions in the hiding spot and remind myself to come back for them after tonight. Not that anyone else's rules will matter once I become the Kah'Sikae. The thought alone makes me giddy.
“Well, aren’t we stunning?”
Ahiga stands in the doorway fully decorated from the waist down, his eyes scanning the length of my naked body with anticipation. It’s nothing he hasn’t seen before and frankly, I’m not in the mood for his sunset presence. I need to focus on the ceremony. Not this brute’s underhanded tactics.
“Shouldn’t you be off tightening your armor and kissing babies?” I ask, settling myself in front of my mother’s dressing table.
“Thought I’d wish ya luck before I signed in. I have no doubt that you’ll make it to the finals. That is if we’re not paired against each other before then.”
“I’d take you down either way,” I shrug, prying open some of the jars of red face paint.
The stealth potion must’ve run out of Ahiga’s system because I sense every breath he takes as he walks up behind me and kisses my neck.
“Don’t take it too hard when I win tonight,” he growls in my ear. “I promise to soothe your embittered heart thoroughly once it’s all over.”
“If you don’t sign in, you’ll be watching the rest of us from the stands.”
I slam the back of my fist into his forehead, but he catches my wrist and grazes his teeth on my knuckles. “Mmm, good point.”
He nips at my ear once before retreating with a hearty laugh. Leave it to Ahiga to try and get me all flustered before the ceremony begins. But I’m not one to be swayed so easily. I begin unraveling my messy braids with swift fingers and my excitement only grows as I hear the first warning horn blown in the distance. Let the annual tournament officially begin.
Chapter 31 - Mateo
This sucks.
The cold water from the metal spout runs over my body as I rack every corner of my mind for any sliver of an identity. The voices of my past are muddled like a large crowd talking at once. Fighting with Kana before felt as natural as breathing. Am I a warrior? A fighter? Her father said I was from Kahn’Teh. I did reek of the smell of fish and salt water, so maybe I did live on the docks. Or on the water? That doesn’t make sense as to why I have so many scars on my body-
“Aren’t you done yet?”
The voice of Kana’s cousin shakes me out of my thoughts, and I glance over the stone wall between us. His eyes are cautious, guarded to the stranger who's been invited to crash their island’s sacred ceremony.
“Sorry, just lost in thought,” I mumble, shutting off the water.
Bau plays absentmindedly with his nose ring and deflates with a heavy sigh. “Well, you can think while we walk. We’re going to be late if you don’t hurry up.”
Mateo.
I nearly slip on the damp sand as I hurry around the wall. “What?”
“What? We’re gonna be late if you don’t hurry up!” Bau snaps.
“No, after that. What did you say?”
“Nothing!”
His fists are ready, but they stay by his sides with a bit of a tremble. I realize that my burst of excitement has gotten me in Bau’s face, and I back up a few steps.
“Sorry, sorry,” I sigh, holding up my hands in surrender. “I’m just on edge. I’ve never had my identity wiped like this before.”
Bau’s fists relax as I ring out my loose curls and toss them behind me. The dirt is gone but the faint scent of salt water still lingers. It’s comforting, but not enough to tell me much about who I am. What I’d really like to know is why I have this nagging pit stuck in my gut. This sense of urgency feels like I have something important to do. But what?
“If you’re going to fight, you should braid it back.” Bau motions back towards the hut I woke up in and holds the entrance flap open. “Come on, stranger. Let’s see if we can make you presentable enough to fight with us.”
A faint chuckle escapes me, and I follow wordlessly behind him. My home and this gut feeling I have will just have to wait it until tomorrow. Tonight is an important night for these people, and they extended a hand to let me join in the fun. Who am I to deny the daughter of the Kah'Sikae the satisfaction of getting beaten by a total stranger? Who am I indeed?
***
The air is alive with drums and torchlight as a crowd of muscular men crowd around a colorful umbrella in the distance. A large wooden stage sits nearby, the shoulder pads that Bau managed to find me biting into my skin as I look past the group for Kana.
“Yeah, Bau, I don’t see her,” I confirm for the second time.
Bau tugs at his nose ring so hard I think he might yank it right through the skin. “Where the fuck is she?”
“If you’re looking for your cousin, she’s just about ready. I made sure of it.”
A beefy man walks up to us wearing heavy-plated pants and a headband with an unfamiliar crest adorning the front. He slams his meaty arm on my shoulder, and I have no choice but to bend under his weight. My height clearly intimidates him enough to make me bow a few notches in front of this crowd of people. His people. If tonight wasn’t such an important event, I’d elbow him in the gut and let him know the end of my fist. Instead, I look towards Bau with a weary smile and point a thumb back at the brute. “A friend of yours?”
“In a matter of speaking,” he mumbles, eyes still combing through the growing crowd with uncertainty. “Stranger, meet Ahiga. One of the many warriors involved in tonight’s ceremony.”
“I’m also the guy who carried your sorry ass off the beach,” Aigha booms, his hearty laugh vibrating through my back.
“Well, don’t hold it against me if I wipe the floor with ya,” I chuckle darkly.
“Oh, big words for someone unconscious just this morning.”
His elbow continues to dig into the sore spots of my shoulder. Could he tell that it was messed up just from carrying me or is he simply procuring some insurance for later?
“Ahiga!”
Kana’s voice floats above the crowd and I turn to see her walking right towards us, her brow creased under her headdress of glittering jewels. A similar crest to Ahiga’s sits in the center of her breastplate and her curved hips are covered by a metal-plated skirt. One look at her and Ahiga topples over in a fit of laughter.
“And how are you supposed to fight in that?” he asks, releasing his hold on me to flick the green jewels hanging from the edge of her shoulder pads. “How does it feel wearing this ceremonial princess gear for the last time?”
“Bite me,” she shoves her hand in his face and pushes him away, his teeth playfully nipping at her palm.
“Fine time for you to show up,” Bau sighs, exasperated.
“You need to lighten up, Bau,” she grunts as Ahiga tries to bring her closer.
“Yeah, Bau,” Ahiga says, wrapping his arms around Kana’s waist in triumph. “Where’s your ceremonial spirit?”
A loud horn blares around us, silencing the crowd. Kana’s father stands at the center of the large wooden stage. His body is now adorned in full body armor and a large headdress with that unfamiliar crest sits atop his head.
“My people,” the Kah'Sikae smiles down at the crowd. “Nightfall is officially upon us!”
The crowd erupts into a roar of cheering, stomping their feet into the dirt with excitement. Even Kana and Ahiga have stopped their petty fighting to stomp and cheer. Bau nudges me and I stomp my feet a little as the Kah'Sikae motions for us to calm down.
“This year, the Emperor and Empress of Oh’Shun have gifted us a stranger plagued with no memories. He has already been inducted as an honorary warrior of our Traib at the request of our princess and will be participating in tonight’s ceremony.”
A few members begin to whisper among themselves, those nearest to us glancing our way with curiosity and suspicion.
Kana jumps from her spot beside us and lands center stage in one swift motion. “Do not let this stranger distract you from taking the title away from me tonight. Let it fuel your heart’s fire through and through. Though I doubt any of you fine warriors have the guts to take me on directly.”
The uneasiness is immediately dispelled from the crowd as they erupt into another fit of shouts and cheers.
The Kah'Sikae waves Kana out of the way with a growing smile. “Yes, Kana. Thank you for that. You’ll get your chance to fight soon enough.”
Kana takes another look at the crowd before rescinding her reign of center stage and taking her place next to a woman of her same color and stature.
“Now before we start calling out the pairings for the first round of matches, let’s get the rules out of the way. There will be two rounds of preliminary matches, one here in the main square and one by Yah’Yah’s Beach. During the first match, each warrior will be paired with another in a test of physical strength. The first fighter to push the other out of the ring wins.”
I steal a glance at Kana and find her already looking at me. She winks my way before glancing at the other warriors and I suppress a smile at Ahiga’s growing jealousy.
“The winner of each match will be marked off and they will move on to the beach. Once our four finalists are chosen for the main event, we will break for dinner before we begin the hunt that will decide this year’s Kah'Sikae of Kae. No weapons will be used in the first two matches and only pre-approved armor will be allowed. Am I understood?”
“Yes, Kah'Sikae,” the group yells, their backs stiff as they bow. I do my best to follow along, but my mind is spinning. If I get too cocky out there, I could accidentally end up ruling over these people. And I still don’t even know my name!
“Relax,” Bau whispers low in my ear. “If anyone is going to take the title of the Yabisi Kah'Sikae, it’ll be Kana. That girl's born for it.”
Ahiga cracks his knuckles loudly beside me, a menacing smile on his face. “Read off the names, old man!”
“Give him a chance, Ahiga,” Kana yells.
A few members of the crowd chuckle at their banter and the Kah'Sikae begins to list off the warrior matchings for the first round. Not that I hear a word he says. I’m too focused on Kana, her smile infectious as she fidgets in place. She’s eager to know who she’ll fight and from what I can tell, she’s the only woman on the list. Judging by the way she sparred with me earlier, she isn’t an amateur with a death wish. She’s a warrior just like Bau said, and I wouldn’t mind going at it with her again. Everything about Kana stirs something awake within me. Even if there seems to be something between her and Ahiga, I don’t care. I want her. And I will do whatever it takes to make her mine.
The Kah'Sikae hands Kana a large rainbow-colored shell and she eagerly blows into it, creating the loud horn-like sound from earlier. She beams down at the crowd as they cheer at her feet.
“Let the tournament for the ultimate warrior begin!”
Chapter 32- Kana
The torchlights surrounding the platform dance with each match, the night alive with a hunger to win. My father's concession this year has fueled even the older members of our Traib to participate. And with this being the biggest turnout since Yah'Yah's departure, there's no shortage of fighters tonight. Each warrior fights the other with determination despite the usual familiarity between them. Their auras shine gold against the torchlight. Every blow thrown leaves the rest of the village captivated. I would expect nothing less from our finest warriors. Even if I know that the title is as good as mine, it's nice to see the members of my Traib in such high spirits.
The cheers amplify as Gary, one of our finest fishermen, takes the stage. He's easily one of the top ten warriors of our Traib. On any other night, I'd be cheering him on and would even dare to bet my best seashells on his victory. But his opponent is an amoeba. One that seems to be bouncing from one foot to the other without a single care to be found.
“Give that stranger the ol' Yabisi left hook,” someone yells from the crowd and Gary only laughs in response.
Stranger holds his hand out between them and Gary takes it with a firm shake. Despite his lack of memory, the rules of a warrior seem to be ingrained in him. Dad said that he might be the son of a fisherman, but no ordinary fisherman would need such an automatic response. At least not on our island. Is he a warrior who got lost at sea? An escaped Ju'Ri prisoner? Those scarred muscles tell a story. One that I want to decipher by the end of the night.
The conch is blown and they don't hesitate to attack. A few of Stranger’s punches land before poor Gary even has the chance to swing. His feet are immediately clipped from beneath him as Stranger kicks Gary’s right knee. Had I not spent hours healing him earlier, I would’ve never guessed that Stranger was no more than half dead just this morning. He manages to block a few more punches but it’s written all over Gary’s face. He’s no match for this man.
“He’s stronger than he looks,” Ahiga says with a grunt, his arms folded over her bare chest.
“Did you think I’d let someone participate out of pity?”
“If you did, I’d have to pummel you on the spot.”
“Well, it doesn’t look like that will be necessary,” Bau says as the horn is blown, and I notice Gary sitting outside the wooden platform in a daze. Shit. I only looked away for a moment. How did he do that?
Stranger stands on the edge of the platform with pride before walking off the stage and back towards us.
“Pretty impressive out there,” I yell.
He rubs the back of his neck with a sheepish grin.“I did my best to hold back for the first round. Still think I overdid it though.”
“Nah, Gary has been through worse. He’ll survive.”
“I hope so. Don’t want to make a bad impression with your people on the first night.”
Those green eyes seem to stare into my soul. It’s intoxicating, so much so that it takes Bau a few times to call my name and grasp my attention.
“What?” I snap.
His eyes look like they’re about to pop out of his head. “Your match? It's about to start.”
Right.
The eyes of the village are glued to me as I strip from my ceremonial armor into only my golden-fibered body suit. Especially Stranger. My headdress is the only thing remaining from my original attire as I ascend the stage. Here we go. No turning back now.
The crowd is a swirl of colors as they eagerly anticipate my fight against Gary’s cousin, Ryeshi. He’s a kind soul who usually helps tend to the huts, his skin baked dark from years of patching roofs in the sun. We’ve grown up together as comrades in arms and he’s easily the third-strongest warrior on the island slash my favorite sparing partner. I know his moves just as well as he knows mine. It's a real shame that I'm about to wipe the floor with him in front of the whole village.
The horn blows and Ryeshi’s already on me. A jab to the weaker shoulder and another to my bruised rib. To everyone else, it must look like I’m about to fold against the pressure. But I have Ryeshi right where I want him and by the look in his eye, he's noticed a moment too late. I hook my arm with his and use his massive body weight to deliver a powerful strike to Ryeshi’s back. I hear him grunt from the impact before I completely throw him off the stage. A few spectators catch Ryeshi but the match has been decided before he hits the dirt and the horn is blown. Better luck next year, my friend.
The crowd is an eruption of cheers and colors as I jump off the stage back towards my cousin and them tucked away in the back. Fellow villagers pat me on the shoulder and scream words of encouragement, but those green eyes have already captured my attention once more.
“That was fast,” Stranger nods his chin towards the stage. "You sure you didn't rig the match or something?"
“Oh, as opposed to your lengthy match?” I scoff.
“The quicker the better I say,” Bau shrugs, crossing his arms in front of him. “Let’s just get through these matches as swiftly as possible so we can eat.”
Ahiga drapes his arm over Bau’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, cuz. I’ll handle this next round in a flash. Promise.”
His eyes linger on me before he turns towards the stage without another word. I’m surprised that he didn’t ask for a good luck kiss or say something else as equally irksome. But I’m also glad. The lack of Ahiga’s banter only means he’s focused and just as determined to win this tournament as I am. Good. I only want to beat him if he’s at his best.
Stranger's eyes are fixed on the stage and his jaw twitches with tension. A few beads of sweat drip down his face, his wild mane held back by a collection of large braids. The handiwork of Bau no doubt.
I nudge Bau in the rib a little. “Thanks for fixing up our mystery guest, by the way. I know those braids couldn’t have been easy to do with little time to prepare.”
Bau waves me off him. “Whatever will make this night go by faster. Like I said, I’m just here for the food.”
“Is the food that good?"
“It’s the best part of this annual event,” Bau gushes to Stranger. “Better than fighting family, anyway. They’ve been smoking the pork they traded from Kah’Noh for two days and I’m dying to get a piece. And that’s not all they’ve prepared-”
The blare of the horn cuts Bau's speech short as Ahiga stands at the edge of the stage triumphant. The older warrior who was matched against him falls off the edge of the stage in a blackout heap. Ahiga wasn’t lying about wrapping up this match in an instant. But I’m not even surprised.
Ahiga’s eyes are glued on me as he points a beefy finger to the sky. “One down, two more to go until you’re officially mine, Kah’Ohnah Ahnah.”
The crowd hollers at his declaration, and I feel my cheeks burn as I glare at him. He’s always known how to get under my skin, but this goes beyond our usual banter. Ahiga wants the entire island to know that he’ll win the tournament tonight and thinks that I’ll finally submit to being his wife. A feral smile spreads across my face as I cock my head to the side and stick my tongue out, flicking him off with my middle finger. If it’s a true challenge he wants, I'm more than happy to provide it. All I have to do is be patient for the final round. Then the title of Kah'Sikae will officially be mine.
Chapter 33: Mateo
A forest made of pine and palm trees sits thick all around me as I follow Kana and the rest of the village of Kae back toward the beach. Aside from the torches they carry, the canopy is pitch black. For a moment I’m lost in its vastness. The rustle of the leaves and a few stray chitters let me know that we're not alone. I wonder what watches us from those darkened shadows. Whatever it is, the others don't seem to be too concerned about it. A hard arm clamps down on my shoulders and shakes me out of my thoughts, the smell of jealousy burning my nostrils.
“You did good out there, rookie,” Ahiga says with that hearty laugh. “I was afraid you’d get knocked out after a few whacks.”
“What can I say? I’m a natural fighter.”
“Lay off him, Ahiga,” Kana punches him in the bicep and he immediately releases me, throwing a punch her way.
“Fistey tonight, aren’t we?” he growls as she deflects his punch with a snarl.
“Come here. I’ll show you how feisty I can be.”
“Will you two keep walking?” Bau calls from a few steps ahead. “I want to get this over with already!”
“Fine, fine,” Ahiga lowers his fists and blows a kiss towards Kana. “To remember me by.”
Her visible disgust only causes him to laugh before planting a real kiss on her cheek and running to catch up with Bau.
Kana looks at me, those golden eyes glowing in the flickering torchlight. “Sorry about Ahiga. He was dropped on his head as a child.”
“It’s your island,” I shrug. “I’m just happy to be a part of it.”
Bau continues to call to us in the distance and Kana grabs my hand with a wild grin, pulling me forward. “Come on. Let’s go before his face starts getting red.”
Her joy is infectious and I follow behind her curved frame with a dark chuckle. “Lead the way, Princess.”
***
The torches light up the beach as we gather around the new stage, its rectangular outline determined by large planks of driftwood placed in the sand. Aside from me, Kana, Bau, and the brute, there are only four other members of the Yabisi competing for a spot in the final round. I doubt they’ll have a fighting chance against any of us, although Bau seems less excited than the rest of the group. His match lasted the longest out of all of the first-round matches, but that didn’t make it any less entertaining. You could tell that every punch that he threw was calculated and refined. I might have to spar with him after the tournament is over. If I’ll even get the chance.
“Nervous?” Kana asks, her golden bodysuit shimmering in the torchlight.
“He shouldn’t be,” Bau says. “His opponent is Old Man Fumi.”
He isn’t wrong. I watched Old Man Fumi’s match and could read all his moves before he even swung. Our match will probably be over sooner than the last one.
“Should I just throw it?” I ask Kana and she immediately punches me in the rib.
“Not unless you’re up against me. The rightful Kah'Sikae.”
Her smile sends a flutter right through me as Oh'Shuns's waves crash onto the shore. Noted.
Ahiga jogs up to us with a friendly smile despite his eyes flitting between me and Kana. “They're nearly ready to start if you want to get in the ring.”
“Might as well,” I stretch out my side before walking forward and that beefy forearm slams down on my shoulders once more.
“Mind if I walk with ya?” Ahiga asks. “Wanted to give you some advice before ya match.”
“Whatever you’d like,” I shrug, unfazed either way. He probably thinks he can intimidate me to stay away from Kana. But I’ve only known Kana for a few moments and one thing is for certain. No one can control that beautiful temptress. All the more reason for me to make her mine by the end of tonight.
I shrug him off me and walk towards the ring as Ahiga matches my stride. “I can handle myself in a fight.”
“But do you know what will happen if you pick a fight with me? This match will be the least of your worries. Believe me.”
“Oh, I believe you. I just don’t care.”
His cocky smile falters as we reach the edge of the ring. “Don’t be cute. You may be Kana’s special guest, but Kana is someone not to be messed with. Got it?”
“I believe my match is about to start.”
A fire blazes in his eyes but with a crowd of people forming around us, he has no choice but to clap my shoulder a few times with a dark chuckle before releasing me completely. He probably thought he would get in my head before the match and make Old Man Fumi’s day. But all he’s done is fire me up even more. I almost feel bad for the old man as I step into the ring. You can tell that he's here for the sport of the fight rather than to win any titles. His metal shoulder pads seem large over his thin frame. Despite his appearance, I know that this isn’t someone I should go easy on. One wrong move and I could be out of the ring flat on my back. But that only makes it exciting.
The horn is blown, and I manage to make the first move. Fumi’s quick to block all my punches and he gets in a few good jabs to my weakened shoulder. But I can tell by the shift of his stance where he’s going next and dodge Fumi’s kick with ease. Like I thought. Predictable. And as much as I want to give this old timer a chance to show off his skills, I have another match after this. One that will put all of the previous matches to shame. The thought alone excites me even more.
Fumi continues to throw out a string of attacks but I’m more focused on Kana cheering me on from the sidelines. I land a solid blow in Old Man Fumi’s solar plexus and send him stumbling back. Might as well finish this off.
“Sorry, old timer,” I grunt as I yank him by the wrist before throwing him into the thicker part of the crowd. They catch him with ease and the horn is blown to signal my victory.
“Stranger will be participating in the final match,” the Kah'Sikae booms from his seat nearby, his throne adorned with various colored shells.
I hop out of the ring and Ahiga is the first to greet me.
“Congrats, man,” he cheers, clapping me on the back. “I knew you had it in ya.”
I wipe the sweat off my brow with a cocky smirk before wrapping my arm around his shoulder. “Excited to get beaten in the final match?”
His smile only seems to broaden at my question. “The chance to take you down, claim my Kah'Sikae title, and secure my bride all in one night is far too great. I'm truly blessed.”
Ahiga releases his hold on me and walks towards the ring without another word. I notice Kana and Bau waving me over with questions in their eyes though something tells me that they wouldn’t even be surprised by Ahiga’s words.
“Everything good?” Bau asks as I stand beside him.
“Never better,” I smirk.
“Well, if I make it past this round, please know I’m the least threatening opponent you’ll face.”
“My cousin is determined to lose with honor,” Kana laughs and shakes his shoulder pads. “Even though he should be more focused on prying the Kah'Sikae title from my cold, dead hands.”
“As if I stand a chance against you two. Or Ahiga.”
No sooner does Bau say his name does the horn sound, signaling the start of the next match. Ahiga moves with the force of a hurricane. His shadow takes up half the ring as his opponent does his best to dodge every swing. It's not long before the poor man is overwhelmed by the brute and collapses outside the ring in a blackout heap. The horn blows.
“Ahiga will be participating in the final match,” the Kah'Sikae booms. “Though I doubt any of us are too surprised.”
A few chuckles sound from the crowd as Ahiga makes his way from the ring towards us. Maybe it’s the confirmation of knowing that I’ll go against him in the final round. Maybe it’s the adrenaline from the night itself. Either way, I find myself taking Kana’s hands in mine and I dare to lose myself in those chocolate-colored eyes.
“Thank you for allowing me to participate tonight,” I smile. “This has been fun.”
“Of course,” Kana beams at me, her grip tightening.
Ahiga’s glare of rage could probably set my entire body on fire, but I don’t care. Kana is a free spirit. One that I will make mine by the end of the night.
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About the Author
Crystal Cabrae is a storyteller who writes dystopian, romantic, and adventurous worlds for animation and fantastical fiction. Born as Angelica Cabrera, she is a proud graduate of Full Sail University, AMDA NYC, and New World School of the Arts. Her six years of acting training in New York and Miami gives her a unique perspective when approaching her characters. Crystal has a passion for sharing how to create stories with the world and inspiring the storyteller that lives within all of us. While she tries to keep up with her social media accounts, the best way to get to know her is over a cup of tea or a good plate of food.
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