Bonus Story: Enif - Part 1

My life in the town was typical for an evolved girl. I was part of the hunters, and that meant getting up early to go with my father to learn his trade. He always said women were better hunters than men, although they could fight other predators if necessary.

We only took what we needed from nature, and that was it.

I arrived at the meadows with him while others were already setting up traps.

"Enif, I need you to set this up for the rabbits," my father said.

Those small animals were a challenge for rookies, although at almost nineteen years old, I was not so new to this. We learned well during childhood.

I saw my friend coming—Carina, named after the constellation.

"Your friend stopped by," she commented.

I looked at Dad, and he looked out of the corner of his eye and then continued with his thing. I cleared my throat and moved her further to my side.

"Who?"

"The strong one."

I frowned. There was only one guy she called that.

"Ah, Enif," I heard him speak, and we turned around. Orion was there—a tall, strong boy with honey eyes. "Here you are. You were late today."

"My father wanted us to have a good breakfast."

"But of course, you must always be well fed. Anyway, I came to see if you'll catch that rebellious rabbit. I have received complaints from farmers about it."

There was a rabbit that didn't fall into traps and always managed to escape, even from our claws at the last moment.

"I'll catch him if he wants," I refuted.

Dad said animals had the right to earn their freedom if they dared to fight, even if their fight was carried out with their intelligence and not brute force, like that rabbit.

"If you don't do it soon, I will come myself to show him he cannot play games with us."

With that, he left. Two other warriors were waiting for him. He had trained his entire life to be one, as his father had been one. That haughty boy was my future union, agreed upon by my parents when I was little. I would have to learn to tolerate him to honor my family's wishes.

I sighed tiredly and saw the rabbit peeking out of a burrow in the distance, twitching its nose.

"I like that he wants to show him who's boss," said my friend, returning after having walked away a little to leave me with Orion.

I twisted my lips. A group passed by carrying some logs to build, and I smiled when I saw my friend Arcturus, although he let me call him Arthur since, as a child, it was difficult for me to pronounce his name. Our parents were friends, so we were, too, from a very young age. He carried a medium-sized log on his shoulder and greeted me from afar.

"I prefer intelligence to brute force," I commented to my friend as I returned the boy's greeting. "You know, like the builders. I mean, they are not only strong, but they must also ensure the constructions turn out well." I shrugged and turned around to continue with my traps. "They are brilliant."

Carina also had an agreed future union with the son of a cattle rancher. It was a related function. It used to be preferred that companions had the same function in the town, or at least that they were similar. There were no female warriors, so they were the exception.

I had once asked why I couldn't be one, and Dad had said it was because women were so valuable, and they would never allow us to be in danger for the good of our species. I, as always, had snorted at that.

Sometimes I wondered why I couldn't decide for myself.

***

That afternoon, after finishing the hunting round and taking the prey to the town market, I completed my duties. It was already evening when I detected his scent nearby. I was in my garden, on a branch of my tree, and I smiled. I jumped down, grabbed something in the kitchen, and headed to the back door. There he was, my friend.

"Hello." He kept a slight smile, and his green eyes had a unique shine. "Happy gotcha day."

I chuckled.

"You know you don't need to congratulate me."

"Yes, I do." He took a couple of steps back so I could get out, and we started walking slowly. "I know it only matters to those involved, which are your parents, but somehow, the fact that they got you also matters to me."

"Well, then, what are we going to do?"

"The musicians are rehearsing in the square."

"Oh, good!" He liked simple things and tranquility, which attracted me most to his personality. "By the way..." I gave him what I took from the kitchen, wrapped in thin paper. "Mom made these, you know, to celebrate it her way, and I wanted her to make one for you."

He eagerly took it and opened it to take a bite. It was an empanada with ground beef inside, our favorite. The crust crunched, the intense aroma spread, and he made his silent exclamation, letting me know it was very delicious.

"No wonder you smelled delicious today," he commented.

I laughed and covered my mouth instantly when I noticed that some people had turned to look at me. It was not well seen for a young woman to laugh loudly. In general, we didn't make much noise because our hearing was sensitive, and some sounds were loud to us, and it wasn't good to disturb others. Not only that, but it was also frowned upon to have so much trust with someone who was not your future union, especially if you already had one agreed. I had cared very little about that.

We arrived, and the musicians were practicing for one of the upcoming festivals.

"Beautiful," Arthur murmured. He was referring to the melody, but he was looking at me.

He bowed, inviting me to dance, and I took his hand.

"Enif," Orion called me. He looked at our intertwined hands and looked up with some annoyance as we let go. "Arcturus," he greeted in a sour tone, crossing his arms.

"Orion," he responded in kind.

Orion addressed me.

"I went to look for you, and your mother was surprised you weren't there."

"I didn't let her know I was going out," I shrugged, "I didn't know I had to say everything I do."

He snorted, impatiently moving his fingers against his arm and looking at Arthur.

"Thank you for accompanying her. I'll take care of this now." He put his hand on my waist to get me away from my friend, so I moved slightly away to end that contact. "I'll take her home."

I looked at my friend with some sadness, although he only kept seriousness in his eyes as he watched Orion. He noticed my expression, so his face softened and made me understand it was okay.

"Say hi to your mom for me," he murmured in his kind voice.

When we were a little far away, the Orion spoke.

"They say it's best to hide your appreciation from your future union, but you don't have to do it with me. Nor your respect."

"I'm not hiding anything," I teased him.

"Don't you?"

"Everyone in the town respects you for being a warrior. I'm sure you don't need my small respect."

He gave a short chuckle.

"You have no idea. I'm sure it bothers you that you must hold back being next to me." I denied, looking to the side with a slightly mocking smile. Sometimes, he couldn't get enough of boasting. "Maybe other warriors do, but I'm not going to wait that many years to join you, so you won't have to wait long. Nor go around with your friend more than me.

I frowned but didn't answer.

***

After hearing a commotion, I ran towards the grasslands. Other hunters were also going, but they walked away when they saw what it was.

I was shocked to see some young warriors were using the rabbit as their ball, hitting it and throwing it at each other. I clenched my fists.

"Stop!" I yelled, running towards them.

No one would stop them because they were 'honorable' and could do some things more freely. I held the rabbit in the air before the other caught it and turned to punch and scratch him, growling.

I was held and pulled away.

"Enif!" Arthur tried to calm me down.

"They're abusive!"

"It's a problematic animal!" the warrior excused himself.

Arturo took the rabbit from my arms and looked at it.

"Oh, no..."

"Animals deserve to earn their freedom!" I complained.

"Enough!" Orion was coming. "What's happening?"

"They interfere with what you ordered us to do," his friend told him.

"You guys," Arthur murmured, taking a step forward. "How dare you go against one of our philosophies?"

"You stay out of this, builder," Orion challenged. Arthur growled in an implicit threat. "Are you going to fight with me over some animal that didn't want to stay in its place?"

I got worried. Although Arthur was strong, tall, and broad-shouldered, thanks to carrying heavy things, Orion was almost twice as muscular.

"I will do it for the lady's ideals," my friend challenged.

Orion became angry, signaled to his friends, and they approached. On impulse, I put myself between them and Arthur. If the four of them fought against him, they could even kill him.

Seeing me standing there, Orion stayed still, stopped one of his friends, who kept approaching, and growled at him. Then, he looked at me with annoyance.

"Move, Enif," he ordered, but I didn't do it or respond. He raised an eyebrow. "Well, keep your dirty animals."

He ordered his friends to retreat, and they finally left. Unfortunately, the damage had already been done. Plus, I knew he probably wouldn't talk to me for a couple of days, and Mom would be mad at me for that.

I was tired. I didn't want to endure this for the rest of my life. I thought it would change over time, but it didn't seem like it would. Sometimes Orion was nice; I would even try to make him laugh or something, but he would be the same again later. It exhausted me trying to keep him pleased like Mom and my counselor said.

Watching every word so he wouldn't get offended or upset was mentally exhausting, so I stopped doing that long ago.

***

"People don't change," my father once said. He looked at me, and the afternoon sun illuminated half his face. "Some people only perpetuate their bad habits after joining someone. That's why you shouldn't have any."

"I think I should rather worry about my future partner being able to control himself since not having bad habits is almost impossible. Or that at least their defects are similar to mine."

"Custom is law. One forgets and ends up leaving the clothes lying around even though your partner has asked you to pick them up." He chuckled.

"That's you, father," I mocked, laughing too. Then I looked at the horizon. "Do you think someone with the habit of shouting and giving orders can change?"

He thought about it for a few seconds.

"I don't think so, but I guess it depends. Our bad habits sometimes turn against those around us. For example, if a person tends to be conflictive and seeks to fight about anything, when they're with their partner, they'll end up arguing with them as well... Why do you ask?"

I shook my head.

"Curiosity." I sighed and hugged my knees. "Why did you agree that I will join Orion?"

"For us, it is an honor that a family with such good lineage has been interested in you."

I twisted my lips in annoyance.

"In your conversation with his parents, did you talk about my tastes and habits? As far as I know, they talk about everything to see if we can get along as a family."

"Yes. Well, everything necessary was said, although sometimes it's not the most important thing."

Why wasn't what I liked the most important thing?

"Everything you think is important to me," Arthur had said, however. "You can tell me if you don't like something just as tell me how you are doing. You know."

I smiled at him. I felt safe with him, and it had always been that way. I didn't have to watch every word I said or action to avoid getting in trouble at home.

I spotted one of Orion's apprentices. Since he was already a warrior and no longer a student, he would train the sons of other warriors. I followed the little boy with bright blue eyes and found him spying on Orion while he trained.

I crossed my arms while maintaining a slight sideways smile.

"Who are you spying on? How disrespectful," I scared him.

"I'm sorry," he said, looking down. "Miss Enif."

Orion approached. Although he hadn't spoken to me since the incident in the meadow, I realized I wouldn't get an apology from him either.

"Wow, you come to see how fabulous I am," he bragged. No doubt, he had even forgotten our discussion.

"No. I just ran into your little pupil and followed him. I had to talk to you."

"You have the rest of your life to talk to me. But you're always impatient." The boy walked away, and I snorted. "By the way, since you're here, I wanted to show you something. Come."

"What is it?"

"A secret. It'll catch your attention, I'm sure."

We went to one of the elders' buildings, where they gave talks, either privately or in groups. We snuck up a small hill whose top overlooked one of the tall, narrow windows.

"It's already started," he whispered, "but the interesting part comes now."

The old woman was talking to a young couple. Apparently, they were of those who had recently gotten together. Most young people formed a new family unit after finishing school; only a few were still waiting. Among those were the warriors, who were also not obliged to do so; the rest of us were.

If one were left single forever, they were considered a total failure since it was one of the most important things to do.

I glanced at Orion, and he smiled sideways at me. We looked forward again to hear what the old woman was saying.

"...So, by having each other, you will no longer be alone, and you will feel very intimate."

Maybe Dad was right. Orion's family had honored me by choosing me because I didn't know if anyone else would talk to my parents... If maybe Arthur's parents would speak to them...

"...If you feel embarrassed, you still don't have to take off all your clothes if you don't like it, although I'm sure you'll want to..."

Maybe they didn't want me for him. Perhaps it was because our tasks in the town were not similar, so we would never have been able to be together even if I wanted to...

"... Then, your partner is going to introduce himself there," I heard the woman saying and opened my eyes wide. "It may hurt a little initially, but then it will pass. It will unite you much more as a couple. You will like it but remember not to tell anyone. Young people are not ready to know this. It would cause disorder."

"W-what?" I whispered. I glanced at Orion, and he kept a slight smile.

"I told you, it's strange. I knew it would surprise you."

"How is that possible? They have never told us."

"I think it's obvious why they don't. It's only for couples... Like us. It seems that after doing that, they give you a child."

I looked at him out of the corner of my eye again and quickly looked away.

"W-we shouldn't be here. It's not good to know these things. The old lady is right. We are not ready."

I stood up and walked away. He followed me.

"Hey, it's not that big of a deal. I know it's shocking, but isn't it interesting?"

"Maybe. We'll see." I hurried to leave.

I had to admit that knowing those things had affected me. Reaching that level of intimacy with someone, whether because it was a function of couples or something, required more than just the feeling of friendship, in my opinion.

I instinctively walked towards Arthur's house. I missed the afternoons when I was freer because I was little and when I could tell him about my day and the things I learned. We ended up talking about everything.

When I arrived, I used a tree to get into the back garden, but when I passed near the doors that led to the living room, I heard them talking.

"It will be a fruitful union. She's good with detailed work," Arthur's father said as he looked at a delicate figurine made of silver thread. "They both are creators, but on a different scale."

The girl's parents agreed, and I felt a strong pressure in my chest when I saw Arthur looking at the young woman with a slight smile.

My stomach felt like lead, and I could only walk and get out of there. He would join that girl. I had to leave my friendship with him behind. I wouldn't be able to see him anymore, not to make him look bad with the girl's family and with her. I couldn't tell him my things anymore. I couldn't tell Orion my personal stuff, and even though it was the right thing to do, it didn't feel the same.

It wasn't fair. Arthur was mine. He always had been! Although... I was being selfish. My future union with Orion had been agreed a long time before, and that afternoon, when Arthur found out, he just walked away.

That was exactly what I wanted to do. I wanted to go very far away.