THIS IS NOT A DRILL, I REPEAT THIS IS NOT A DRILL.

THIS IS NOT A DRILL, I REPEAT THIS IS NOT A DRILL.

I just finished the Miles Morales video game and oh my god it was so fucking good 😭😭🩷🩷🩷🩷 (Totally didn't cry during the ending scene of the final boss fight)

THE CHARACTERS, THE PLOT, THE SUBPLOTS, THE VISUALS, THE GAMEPLAY. INSOMNIAC HAS DID IT THE FUCK AGAIN!

WEVEW8DBDJDEJSISBDSJWKWDBSKSMS DDBEJJEBEBS

Bunny Hours turned 5 today!

I've had this blog for five years, oh wow

I have seen The Little Mermaid live action...and now I will be scouring the internet looking for good fanfiction cuz why not👁👁

THE MOVIE WAS GREAT BY THE WAY, FU- Ahem, I mean, for those of you who were hating... how does it feel to be as wrong as two left feet on a fish?

Sidenote: We (I was with my sisters) took my nephew as well because he's a huge fan of Halle already, and he LOVED it. Said it was the coolest movie ever (and he likes Jurassic World).

OOOOOOO Y'ALL NEED TO READ THIS, IT'S A MASTERPIECE

Felt like I got sucked in

Eloko – (Ee-loh-koh)

Author's Note: Okay so this fanfic is HEAVILY inspired by Nkundo folklore and the tales surrounding the rainforest that the Mongo people of Congo live near. This fanfic is lengthy, but strap in because it's a ride. Here are the sources I used, I highly recommend reading them if you're interested in stuff like this:

Congolese Creatures

Nkundo Mongo Tales: Analysis Of Form And Content by Biebuyck, Brunhilde Alice-Marcella

Word Count: let's not talk about it.🤠

Contains: Mean!jaded!reader (at first), a bit spooky (?), scars, brief mention of Izogie's past before Agojie, brief mention of helping someone obtain an abortion, strong language, exile, angst, fluff, falling in love at the speed of gay, happy ending.

~ Synopsis: Izogie and her sisters were traveling to the Kingdom of Kongo, and they decided to take a shortcut through the Kongolese rainforest... which soon turned out to be the best and worst decision Izogie has ever made. ~

Song Inspo:

~~~

The sun hung high in the clear blue skies and its light rays were offensive and penetrating. Sweat beaded on Izogie and the other Agojie’s foreheads due to the mixture of heat and heavy humidity. They were running out of water, and dehydration was creeping up on them. 

They stood in front of the Kongo Rainforest with heavy breaths, contemplating whether they should take a shortcut through without an experienced guide and risk it. Some argued that they didn’t want to chance it, the rest thought they would make the journey shorter and obtain water and nourishment at the same time. With a small session of democracy, it was decided that they take the nature route.

Leaves half the size of their bodies shielded them from the blazing sun. Twisting paths with no patterns, an indication how people seldom trekked through, eventually led the traveling Agojie group to an open clearing with a pond. If their tongues weren’t feeling as dry as the Sahara desert, they would have kept walking to find a stream where the water was mobile and bacteria concentration was lower, but they decided to push their luck further.

Izogie was filling up their canteens after they hydrated. Her sisters were arguing which way they came from and where they were supposed to head next. She tuned them out to focus on her own thoughts of the mission they were set on, confident they would make it out of the forest either way to the Kingdom of Kongo. She was sent on a mission to aid the Kongolese royal militia in their training and battles. If she was successful and King Ghezo gave her the recognition she deserved, she would for sure become Miganon after General Nanisca was crowned the Twin Woman King. 

A determined smile graced her face at the thought of achieving her dream. 

Filling the last canteen, the ripples in the water stilled, and her reflection gazed at her. It was so clear. Almost like a mirror. The warrior marveled at how she could clearly see the scars on her neck and shoulder, tilting her head left and right to observe her features. Her comrades had long ceased their discussion from behind her, so she turned around to call their attention.

“Ode, Oseye, come look–” As if a mischievous god abruptly blew out the candlelight that was the sun, Izogie turned around only to meet darkness and looming forestry behind her. Panicked, her eyes shot up at the sky to search for the sunshine that illuminated the area just seconds before, but only the full moon creeping behind clouds gleamed through. 

“Ode! Ekhosu! Oseye! Stop playing, where are you?!” She jumped to her feet, heart pumping in her ears. The sounds of crickets only answered her cries and dread festered under her skin, lifting the hairs on her arms in alarm. She opened her mouth to call out again, but her breath hitched. 

The crickets stopped chirping. The wind stilled. The idle leaves froze. 

The rainforest held its breath.

Izogie cautiously scanned the space, only moving her head, afraid any sudden movements would set something off. A violent chill ran down her back as the feeling of being watched intensified. Her blood ran cold, and the death grip on her machete left her hand clammy with frightened sweat. 

A few heartbeats of silence passed… then she heard it. The scratching of tree bark directly across from her. 

She took an instinctual step back, bouncing the machete in hand to shake off nerves. An ominous, stifling aura radiated off the surrounding trees as variations of that same sound came from multiple directions. As the foreboding atmosphere continued to close in on her, a desperate command pierced through her mind.

‘Run!’

Pivoting on the heels of her feet, she bounded deeper into the forest.

Branches nicked at her limbs, giant leaves smacked her face, spider webs futilely grasped at her body, and stones, sticks, and dirt painfully imprinted the bottom of her feet as she ran for her life.

A glimpse of white entered her vision, and before she could maneuver herself, she collided with the figure. 

The wind was knocked out of Izogie’s lungs as she was sent spiraling to the earthy forest floor with a painful thud. “Ow, fuck!” She groaned. A similar sound came from near her and she was on her feet in high alert, ready for combat. 

The full moon slipped from its hiding spot behind the clouds, casting its lunar rays on the figure before her.

Your all white attire, now sparsely stained with mahogany soil, brightened under the moonlight. The long beaded fetish necklace that daintily decorated your neck clinked together as you shifted to see who rudely rammed into you. The soldier’s defensive demeanor faltered as she beheld your radiance. You winced as you rose to your feet, dusting yourself off. Your eyes met, and if looks could kill, Izogie would’ve combusted into flames.

“You have the nerve to raise your sword to me yet you’re the one who ran into me?” A string of curses were on the tip of your tongue. Your attitude laced with a hint of venom threw her off. 

“You came out of nowhere!” She snapped back, sheathing her machete. Your eyes bulged in disbelief at her lack of apology. You scooped up your fallen staff off the ground and stepped to her.

“It’s the fucking rainforest, everything can come out of nowhere, you insolent little b-” 

ᗠ ェ Ƞ Ꮆ

A bell echoed, surrounding the both of you. Izogie’s vision blurred and head spun, making her stumble. Without wasting a second, you dug in your sac, whipped out another fetish necklace, and placed it around her neck.

When the strange jewelry hit her chest, her senses cleared almost instantly. You quieted the question forming on her lips and yanked her towards you.

“Run and don’t look behind you!” She didn’t need to be told twice.

Izogie was hot on your heels as you led her to gods know where. The branches creaked and croaked along with the pounding of your feet. She dared to peak up to her right, and saw two shadows zipping in the treetops just above you two. 

Her foot stuttered at the shock and she almost lost her momentum. You snipped at her to keep up if she valued her life. Your apparent lack of fear at this whole ordeal had her wondering how often you ran into creatures like this.

With a labored breath, you gripped your staff and mumbled an incantation. The sphere of it glowed, reflecting off the dark green leaves. The sudden bright light stung at her eyes and she focused her gaze at your feet to guide her, which didn’t slow down in the slightest. 

‘There’s… 5 of them.’ You sensed. ‘Easy enough.’

Just in time as you planned, you two stumbled into another clearing. You skidded to a stop, and Izogie bumped into your backside again. Grunting in pure annoyance, you shoved her aside and pivoted to the forge you emerged from. The malevolent energy grew nearer as trees shuffled to and fro closer to you. You raised your staff to the stars with gritted teeth, holding your breath.

With a short cry, you swung it in front of you in a strong, fluid motion, releasing a white airy crescent of light that wafted through the trees. Izogie shielded her eyes from the blast, and animalistic screeches of agony from the forest filled the night. The putrid constricting sensation that seemed to prey on her ceased with the screams, allowing her to take a fresh, deep breath. 

She watched in wonder as the light from your magic staff dimmed to a regular piece of wood that anyone would have figured was a walking stick. Izogie was learning fast that nothing in this forest was what it seemed. You stood there glaring through the trees, daring another creature to try you. After you sensed nothing, you started hiking in the direction of your home. 

Hearing no footsteps behind you, you turned around. The woman was dumbfounded and frozen in place.

“Follow me or stay there like an oaf. I don’t care.” You called back, returning to your journey. The thought of moving through this forest alone was enough to make her scurry behind you with a clenched fist around the hilt of her sword. 

The walk to your home was silent, excluding the occasional hoots of owls and buzzing of insects. Eventually, you two stopped in front of a large tree. Izogie scrunched her eyebrows, looking around for a hut.

“You live…here?” She cautiously asked, not wanting to piss you off more than you clearly already were. With a few knocks of your staff against the tree bark, rows of a stepping ladder materialized from it, leading up high into the large leaves. With a pointed finger, you motioned her gaze upwards.

“I live up there. Go first.” You curtly ordered. She wanted to call out your attitude, but reminded herself that you just saved her life from whatever was hunting her. She’d have to deal with it for the time being. You climbed up the ladder after her and instructed how to open the latch to your treehouse. As soon as you two filtered into your space, you repeated the same action with your staff like before to lock your place up. You lit a few candles and Izogie watched as the light revealed the humble abode.

Your home was surprisingly spacious for it to be in a tree. A pile of neatly folded clothing was stacked under a hammock hung by a closed window. On the other side of the room, there were a few pots, pans, small stoves and grills, and utensils neatly tucked in the corner. The solitude aura your home gave off indicated that you lived alone.

‘As if anyone would want to live with that attitude.’ She bitterly thought, casting a glance in your direction. You were bent under your sleeping area fetching some fabric to put together another hammock for her.

“My name’s Izogie.” She broke the silence. You made a few knots in the blankets before answering.

“Y/N.” You responded simply. It was quiet again while she watched you assemble her hammock. After you finished hanging it up on the other side of the room, you finally turned around to face her. 

“What are you?” Your interrogation started with scrutinizing eyes. Izogie straightened her back, returning your gaze.

“I’m an Agojie. A warrior of the Kingdom of Dahomey.” Her response earned a surprised quirk of your eyebrow from you. 

“You’re a long way from home. What exactly are you doing in the Kongolese rainforest of all places?” You crossed your arms, your curiosity deepening.

“I was sent on a mission by the king to help with Kongo’s royal militia. My group ran out of water and food and thought we could replenish here.” The stupid idea had you shaking your head and chuckling. Her face contorted, feeling slighted by your response.

“So no one has told you about the evil witch?” You inquired. She said no. You trudged about your room and began the infamous story.

“Well, let me tell you. There’s this malevolent being that resides here – the forest – and she’s known to stalk you during the day. Disguising herself as plants, insects, and animals to not raise your suspicion.” Her eyes followed you intently, fully immersed in the tale. She wondered if that thing in the woods was what was following her. You inwardly smirked at how you held the fearless warrior’s attention.

“Then, as soon as the sun retires its limited protection of her victim, the pale moonlight allows her to transform into her true, grotesque form. When her victim least expects it,” You paused in front of her, ending the story in a hushed tone. “she devours them, not even leaving behind bones.”

Izogie suppressed a tremor you produced in her core. The laugh you held back tumbled out of you and you slapped your stomach. If you were going to babysit for the next few days, you might as well have your bit of fun. “Well that’s what they say about me anyways.” You breathed between giggles, shrugging. Her eyes widened at your last remark.

“Wait wait, you're the witch? I was imagining some decrepit, ugly cannibalistic hag, but–”

“But instead you bumped into a young, hot cannibalistic sorceress?” You sassily put your hand on your hip and smirked. Her face burned as she felt flustered by your teasing.

“Uh I mean– wait, you’re not actually a cannibal are you?” You rolled your eyes, moving over to your hammock.

“Gods no. Do I look like an eloko to you?” You asked rhetorically. She tilted her head, shrugging. “That’s what was chasing us. You’ve never seen one so that’s good. Let’s keep it that way if you value restful nights.” You laid back and placed your sac down. Now Izogie had a million questions.

“Okay, now that you know a little about me, what are you?” You stared at her a bit peeved at her dense question.

“Isn’t it obvious by now? I’m a witch who lives in a treehouse, in the middle of a rainforest. Nothing more, nothing less.” You snipped. Your attitude didn’t deter her from pressing on.

“Okay well, it was daytime when I got here, but while I was fetching water it instantly became night, and my sisters were gone…” She trailed off. The thought of them encountering the horrors of this jungle without a grumpy witch to help them twisted her stomach in knots of anxiety. Your expression softened as you observed how torn she looked. You strangely wanted to reassure her that they were probably fine, but you couldn’t bring yourself to set her up for miracles that won’t happen.

“Gazing into certain ponds here will make you lose sense of time. And if your sisters were gone, then…” You started, but the pained look she shot you – begging you not to continue – ended your statement. You tore your gaze away and absentmindedly looked at anything else but her. She was silent for a few moments before her curiosity nagged her to ask more questions.

“How long have you lived here?” A sigh left you. You obviously weren’t from the forest, but remembering how you got here in the first place always reopened that resentful wound in your chest. 

“A few years I guess. I don’t know. Time doesn’t really matter here.” Izogie could feel the wall you put up in front of you as you refrained from eye contact. She settled with your response and asked one last question for the night.

“So you’re here alone?” This time you turned to her, expression unreadable.

“No one is ever alone in the forest.” 

The eerie statement sent chills down her back, mind recounting what transpired before. 

“It will take a few days to travel out to the nearest village. If you want to stay alive, listen to my directions and gather some common sense. We leave at sunrise, get to sleep.” You turned over in the hammock, slightly swinging it. She hesitantly walked over to the candles and peeked at your silent figure from the corner of her eyes. Blowing out the candles, she retired for the night.

You both left at dusk as planned. On your trek, Izogie was irritating you with endless questions about every single thing she saw now that the sunlight revealed everything:

“What kind of bird is that?”

“One that tweets and chirps.”

“Is that a 4-foot spider?!”

“Yes, don’t bother it and it won’t bother you.” 

“Do you have any water?” You shoved a canteen into her chest and shot her a glare.

“What kind of tree is this?” You stopped in your tracks and grasped her arm, harshly pulling her to the tree in question. A gasp left her lips at your sudden aggression. You let her go once you two were in front of it.

“Ask it.” You commanded. She looked at you with an incredulous expression. You huffed. 

“Ask ‘Mr. Tree, what kind of tree are you?’ Go ahead, ask!” You pointed to the tree with your chin. Thinking you were serious, she cleared her throat.

“Uh, Mr. Tree, what kind of–”

“Oh for fuck’s sakes get a grip, let’s go.” You exasperatedly groaned, turning on your heels and walking away. She hurried to your side, face burning with embarrassment.

“Well excuse me, I’m new to this mystical forest thing. If there’s elokos–”

“Biloko. Biloko is plural.” You interrupted, making her roll her eyes.

“If there’s biloko, who knows what else there is?” She exclaimed. You glanced at her before answering.

“Look, it isn’t ‘magical’, it’s just how this forest and its inhabitants are. It may seem mystical to you outsiders, but it’s just like a Tuesday as far as we’re concerned.” You hopped over a medium-sized rock and kept your pace. The warrior examined the side of your face and observed the white tribal make-up that decorated it. Your braids were kept neatly in a bun, wrapped with a white scarf that matched your tube top and skirt. Realizing she was practically checking you out, she spoke again to distract herself.

“We?” She asked. You nodded.

“I told you last night that we’re never alone, right? Now hush with the questions you’re giving me a headache.” You waved her off, feeling the soreness creep into your throat. This is the most you have talked to someone in years and the raspiness in your voice was starting to reveal that.

You both marched in silence for only ten minutes, and Izogie filled the silence again.

“So do you have forest friends?” Your eyes rolled to the back of your head for the hundredth time on this journey, but you answered nonetheless. She had an inkling feeling you would. You came off as not wanting to be bothered, but you still engaged with her even if you didn’t have to. 

“Yes.” Izogie waited for you to elaborate, and seeing her look at you expectantly made you gripe in frustration. “If I tell you, will you please keep your mouth shut?”

She shrugged. “Sure.” You both knew she wasn’t going to.

“Mokele-Mbembe and Indombe.” She noted how the names rolled off your tongue fondly. She nodded, repeating them in her head as you both walked for about an hour. 

Approaching where a river was supposed to be, you observed the exposed riverbed that was littered with flopping fish in confusion. You kneeled down to inspect how wet it was, and the soil came up loose and muddy on your fingers; this river was just recently blocked.

Izogie watched as you scratched your head and contemplated on the next move. Before she could ask what was on your mind, you gasped in surprise.

“Oh, of course!” You squealed. Your lips curled up into a genuine smile of excitement that profoundly contradicted the annoyed frown that often colored your features. 

‘Why couldn’t this version of you greet me first?’ She wondered, noting how cutely your cheeks perked as you beamed.

You beckoned her to follow you down to where the river was supposed to be flowing from. Thankfully, you weren’t walking for long to run into a strange hill that spanned across the riverbank, damming up the water. It seemed to be a grayish-brown stone with rocky projections lined down its center.

“Who on Earth put this here?” She questioned. You only responded in a knowing giggle that drove her mad. Izogie frowned, not in the mood for nature’s surprises.

You boldly started climbing the rocky hill, grabbing onto its stumps until you reached its peak, and the warrior had no choice but to follow you. Settling between two stumps, she noticed something strange about the landmass. 

‘Is this… breathing?’ What happened next answered her question.

“Mokele-Mbembe! Wakey wakey!” You sang out to your friend so it reached his ears. A few seconds later, he grunted to life and slightly shifted. Izogie clinged onto the stump for dear life and a string of curses sputtered from her mouth in pure disbelief. 

A long neck that was curled to the other side of the river gradually lifted out of the water. A sharp curved horn attached to a narrow head presented itself in front of you, and you two were met with the intimidating gaze of Mokele-Mbembe. Her jaw slacked in astonishment at the mighty creature. You, however, weren’t phased in the slightest.

“You’re taking a nap on the river again! You’re gonna dehydrate the villages in the east, silly.” You teased him. The dinosaur-like creature puffed air out of his nostrils in a huff, spraying water droplets on you. His eye trained on Izogie when he noticed another figure on his back. Subconsciously, she hid behind you slightly, nervous that his jaw would open and that’d be the last thing she saw that day.

Sensing her fear, you nudged her. “This is my friend, Izogie.” 

Twisting your neck to her slightly, you whispered. “Don’t worry, he’s on a plant-based diet.” Izogie wanted to reply with a smart remark, but she felt that she would be flung off his back if she talked to you anyhow. You turned back to your friend.

“May you take us further south until nightfall, pretty please?” You requested. Mokele-Mbembe raised his head higher.

“… Oƙαყ.” Shock ran through the warrior at hearing his guttural, but audible response.

‘Oh hell no, he can talk?!’ She could not even begin to react as he shifted his weight, rising to his four feet. The sound of water rushing came from below and she watched as the flow of the river returned from under him. You reclined back unto the stump Izogie was holding onto, palms cradling the back of your head. 

“Finally, now my feet can rest.” She watched as you closed her eyes and took in the warm sun. You looked so blissful in this moment and she couldn’t help but examine your features. Your white wrap aesthetically contrasted your dark skin, making it pop. Black eyelashes were curled and fluttery in the soft breeze that was created from the traveling creature. Her gaze sloped down the curve of your nose onto your plump lips– and it lingered there. And you could feel everything.

What she didn’t know was that each facial feature she studied, it warmed up as if to let you know that you were being checked out. You would never tell her that though. A chuckle rose from your chest, causing Izogie to cough. She felt like she got caught even though your eyes remained closed.

“What’s so funny?” She inquired, still staring at your lips. The corners of your heated lips lifted into a grin. “Oh nothing, just enjoying the sun.” After a few moments, your lips cooled.

For the remainder of the trip, you two – well mostly Izogie – spoke about random things, and a few grunts from Mokele-Mbembe showed that he was also immersed in the conversation as well. Trees opened up to a clearing large enough to set up camp for the night as the sun hovered just over the horizon. The creature kneeled, aiding your descents down its backside to the forest floor.

“Thank you, Mokele-Mbembe. Make sure to eat well!” You thanked. He slowly craned his head and blinked.

“… Oƙαყ.” And with that, he trekked in the direction he came from. Izogie thought she had heard and seen it all at this point, but she knew there was probably more to come for the remainder of the journey. You both started to set up camp, returning to your conversation as you gathered nearby material for a fire and tent.

“What does your day-to-day look like here?” You pursed your lips at the question, thinking about your usual routine.

“Besides babysitting lost people?” She rolled her eyes, nodding. Your comment held no malice like it usually did, and Izogie noticed how the time you spent together was starting to soften you. “I gather and study herbs. Make oils, soaps, butters, and potions. I sight-see sometimes during the day, but I don’t usually venture this far.” You placed dry logs in the center and stacked them over each other, preparing a fire.

“You seem to know the way to the village pretty well though.” She noted. 

“Yeah, thanks to my impeccable memory. You’re not the first person I had to escort out of here, you know. And with the way you outsiders lack sense you won’t be the last.” The last remark peeved Izogie and she turned to you, her patience with your rudeness wearing thin.

“You’re not even from here either! You were an outsider at one point too. Why’d you choose some rainforest over another village?” She pressed. You whipped around to her, steadily growing defensive at her question.

“Because the same shit that got me here in the first place would happen in a different village! I just don’t want to be bothered with other people’s problems anymore.” Your face grew hot with resentment. The woman shook her head in disbelief, dropping the leaves in her hands and crossing her arms. Her reaction pissed you off.

“What? You don’t believe me? Well, it’s true!” You tried to convince her.

“You say that while you’re helping me get out of here without even being asked to.” She retorted. You froze, realizing she in fact didn’t ask you to guide her. The revelation at your apparent caring nature, the same nature that exiled you to the forest, made you want to scream in frustration into the shrub. You rose to your feet, abandoning the logs behind you and marched to her, getting in her face, feeling her breath fan on yours.

“Oh? So you don’t want help? Because I can return home right now and let the oh-so-fearless warrior figure it out on her own.” You mocked. Izogie’s head tilted up to the sky, sending up a silent prayer to whichever god was listening – to give her the patience to not check you where you stood. The view of her craned neck accentuated her collarbones and the tension you felt became layered with something… different. She sighed, bringing her eyes back down to lock with yours.

“That was not what I meant and you know that.” She softly grabbed the sides of your arms when you looked away, not wanting to listen. It was either the growing chill of the night or her delicate touch that sent shivers down your back. You weren’t ready to find out which.

“I understand why you’re guarded but–” You grimaced, throwing her hands off of you.

“Do you?” You challenged, and her patience snapped.

“Yes, Y/N, you’re not the only one who has distrusted and despised the world before!” Her outburst quieted the comebacks that were queued on your tongue. “Been jaded enough to want nothing more than to get away from everything and everyone!” You stepped back, your defensiveness crumbling as she scolded you.

She took a deep breath, recollecting herself before continuing, not wanting her point to get lost in her emotions. 

“But that doesn’t mean you close yourself off to the world because the people around you didn’t receive your heart well.” She calmly elaborated. Your tense shoulders dropped as you began to comprehend what she was saying instead of listening to respond. When you stayed silent, she took that as a sign to continue.

“When… when I had 14 years. I was treated horribly. By my own mother. By the men she would…” She paused, looking down at her scarred palm as repressed memories started to seep into the front of her mind. She balled her hand into a fist. “I just hated my life, and the world. But then I joined the Agojie, and for the first time in my life, I was safe to be my true self. Because I was in the right environment.”

Your eyes were downcast to the ground, but you were listening closely.

‘This… isn’t the right environment for me?’ You pondered. You’ve grown accustomed to the ways of the rainforest. You practically knew almost each path, plant, animal, and spirit – good or bad. And you were more than capable of protecting yourself, taking care of yourself, for you only had you to rely on every time the sun set. Every time you watched a fellow human walk back to their village as you escorted them out, you struggled to understand why you would feel envious of them. The forest was your home and you were content.

But coming back to your high house from a lonesome trek back through the forest reminded you why you felt that way; they had people who would welcome them home with open arms, and you did not. And the recurring revelation had you falling to your knees, face wet with tears, each time.

“Y/N?” Your name coaxed you out of your thoughts. “Do you understand what I’m trying to say?” She bent down slightly to read your expression. You instinctively turned away.

“I guess.” You mumbled, returning to the campfire you were working on, trying your best to contain the sob that was crawling up your throat. 

She stared at your back feeling dejected, thinking that she didn’t get through to you. Izogie didn’t understand why she bothered, it’s not like it was her place anyway. Wordlessly, she picked the leaves back up and got to working on a tent.

You both had dinner in silence. Watching the fire’s flames and sparks lick the night air between you, not brave enough to make eye contact across it. The light may expose the years of hurt that both your orbs held. 

The sun went to sleep, and so did you, as the words said before echoed in your dreams.

The sun rose on a new day, and the energy reset, leaving space for the two of you to talk again. You waved your staff over the clearing to remove the cloaking spell you set up last night, shielding you from evil spirits that had nothing better to do than disturb your night’s rest. 

Your talk yesterday still sat with you as you two conversed and hiked. It was easy to be silent with people you’ve helped in the past, your cold exterior easily rendering them intimidated and mute, but it didn’t work on Izogie. There was something about her that made you feel comfortable enough to talk about things and ask her questions that you genuinely wanted the answers to.

“So, an all-women army, huh? That’s… impressive.” ‘And hot’. You internally added.

“Some say we’re more ruthless than the men.” She puffed her chest slightly with a gloating smirk and you chuckled.

“Well you have to be in your field of work.” You said. She glanced at you.

“Is that how it is for you too?” You hummed, shrugging your shoulders.

“Depends on the situation. If someone comes to me with a problem,” You met her eyes, smizing. “I solve it.” Her eyes and smirk widened at the potential double meaning in your statement.

“Ohh okay, what kind of problems were you solving if you don’t mind me asking?” As if you would actually mind her inquisitive nature at this point. 

“Well, there were illnesses that needed cures, mothers who needed babies delivered, children needing protection, men who needed a clear reminder not to mess with me, and women who were lonely and needed some special company.” Her eyebrows quirked up at the last part, jerking her head to you. You laughed at her shocked expression.

“I was just a non-judgemental shoulder to cry on! What did you think I meant?” You raised an eyebrow. She scoffed at your tease.

“The way you worded it made it seem like you were bedding them.” She put it simply. You giggled.

“Well they did actually come to me for that.” An abrupt cough escaped her, earning a laugh from you. “But I always declined, and they settled for a venting session. I was practically fighting them off of me, you know? Life was hard for me back then.” You sighed in faux fatigue.

“Ohoho, so you had them like that, huh?” She nudged your arm playfully. “Not surprised though, your face alone could have a hundred women and men at your feet.” The unexpected compliment had your face burning up. But you remained unperturbed.

“And are you among those women?” You probed, watching her grin at your question.

“Well if I remember correctly, I did tumble to the ground when you ran into me when we met, so technically, yes I am.” She gazed down at you with hooded eyes, the humidity of the forest intensifying the tension between you two. You almost folded under her heated attention.

“Well I think you are remembering incorrectly because you’re the one that ran into me.” You corrected, nudging her back. She rolled her eyes with a shake of her head.

“You’ll never let me forget that bit will you–” Her steps halted. You had walked a few strides ahead of her before noticing something on the ground caught her attention. You followed her gaze, and there were pieces of fabric on the ground. They matched the uniform she was wearing right now.

With shaky hands, Izogie scooped up the tunics that belonged to her sisters. Horror shot through her gut like a bullet. Tears pricked the corners of her eyes as she thought the absolute worst. You marched up to her, quickly examining the clothes for blood. There was none.

“Look look, Izogie. There’s no blood. That probably means they’re alive somewhere. Maybe they went to the nearest village that we’re going to.” You tried your best to reassure her, but perplexity and anguish remained on her features.

“So they took off their clothes and went naked? Y/N, that doesn’t make sense.” She dropped the tunics and her hands intertwined, resting on top of her head in disbelief. “None of this makes sense to me. Where are they?!”

You picked up the clothes and shoved them inside your bag. She started to pace, mumbling to herself and you couldn’t allow her to lose her mind in a place where it was very easy to. You gently reached and grabbed at her chin, demanding her full attention.

“Listen to me, hm? They will explain to you why, because we’re going to find them, okay? I’ll help you find them.” Your eyes searched for an understanding in hers. The torn tears that threatened to spill from her eyelids sent pangs of anguish through your chest. She softly nodded. As you were about to pull away, her arms enclosed you in her embrace. The unfamiliar warmth surrounded you and you basked in it, wrapping your own arms around her waist.

You couldn’t remember the last time someone hugged you like this.

“Thank you.” She whispered in your ear, holding you closer. 

And you also don’t remember the last time someone expressed gratitude. You nodded in her shoulder, rubbing her back, and you both stayed like this for a few moments before she released you. Wanting to still provide some form of comfort, you held her hand without thinking, but she accepted it.

The rest of your walk continued like this, your hand in hers, as the bright star in the sky made its habitual orbit to the horizon. 

The orange light peaked between the leaves and the dropping temperature started to raise goosebumps on your skin. You were guiding her to an old camp you set up a few years ago when you were trying to find your place in this green abyss. It wasn’t as elaborate or high in altitude as your main house, but it beat sleeping on the ground again. 

Separating your hands, you knocked your staff against the trunk of the tree, and you gently smiled as stepping grooves materialized before you, leading up to the tree camp’s entrance. You let her go up, scanning the area for potential threats before you followed suit. 

The place was much smaller than your main place, so there was no room for separate beds or anything. Not that you two minded. Izogie grew as comfortable in your company as you did in hers. You locked the latch after you pulled your sac to the side. 

A shiver audibly left Izogie’s lips and you glanced in her direction. Searching about the room, there were no grills or stoves like you had back home that were here, and starting a campfire in a wooden treehouse was out of the question. The only thing you could do was close the windows to keep as much of the cold air out.

When you went to shut the window, a glimpse of a familiar scaly pattern in the corner of your eye caught your attention. You poked your head out the window, craning your head to verify if you were seeing clearly in the darkening jungle. Your face lit up in glee.

“Izogie, come here!” You called. Soft approaching footsteps sounded behind you and you felt her warmth as she took her place beside you, also looking out the window. Izogie looked down and sideways, but she found nothing worth looking at.

“What exactly am I supposed to be looking for?” She questioned, rubbing her arms. You looked at her with amusement.

“You can’t see my friend?” You teased. She guessed that it was Mokele-Mbembe, but you shook your head no. You grabbed your staff and reached outside the window to the tree, hitting it a few times. Then you called out to her.

“Indombe! It’s your favorite human, Y/N! My friend and I are kind of cold. May we borrow your heat for the night?” Several moments of darkness and cold passed, and you both waited. 

Then what Izogie saw next instantly topped her experience with Mokele-Mbembe.

A warm, vivid orange chain of light illuminated the branches surrounding you both, twisting and glowing, radiating a potent warmth that settled the raised skin. Indombe was about five feet wide, with a tan underside and copper-colored overcoat that glistened against the dark leaves. Izogie could not tell where she started or ended, but by the scales, she knew your friend was an abnormally large serpent. You yelled your gratitude to her and sat down.

Izogie turned to you. “Where’s her head?” You shrugged.

“I’ve only seen her head once, and I traveled miles to meet her face-to-face. So she’s pretty long. I wouldn’t be surprised if she spans the whole jungle.” Her mouth was ajar and you giggled, gently closing it. The environment that used to be cloaked in a dark void was now replaced with a rich glow that almost emulated the dawn. Though you weren’t a stranger to the scene, you marveled at the sight every time.

The critters that would usually retire for the night, crept out thinking it was still daytime. Slow blinking lights of fireflies floated around, texturizing the atmosphere. Flowers that detailed the soil perked up to the lustrous light that provided them with extra nourishment for their vibrant petals. The ensemble of flora and fauna all interacting after hours made you mumble a breath of gratitude to the gods that you got to witness such a breathtaking phenomenon again. And Izogie breathed a similar prayer as she got to see your world through your eyes for the first time.

“I can see why you stay.” She said, placing her hand over yours, rubbing her thumb over it. You looked down at her hand and turned it over to open her palm, exposing the scar that detailed it.

“What happened here?” You asked. Her mouth quirked up in a side smile.

“I burned a man with an ember.” She turned your hand over to see a long scar under the hand tattoo you tried to hide it under. “And what happened here?”

You sighed. “The village nearby happened.” Her eyebrows furrowed, irked at the thought of anyone laying a hand on you.

“Who would bring themselves to hurt a kind soul like you?” You softly laughed at her comment.

“Now, I’m kind? I thought I was a jaded, mean witch.” She continued to caress your hand and stared at you with an expression you were unable to decipher.

“That was before I got to know you, despite how hard it was.” She smiled. You looked down at your lap, feeling a rush of emotions as you gathered the courage to become vulnerable with someone you only met two days ago. Exhaling the deep breath you took in, you nervously began.

“Uh, well… I used to be the shaman for the Nkundo village near here.” She nodded, indicating she was listening. “And one day, a woman with child came to me. Her husband was nothing short of a monster, and she wanted to cut all ties connecting her to him. I advised her to just take him out, because I specialized in that too, but she insisted she wanted the tea she requested made, so I did.” Your eyes squeezed shut, hands trembling as the painful memories surged forward.

“A few days later, he came barging in my hut, cursing me, my name, and my honor.” A bitter laugh escaped you. “He accused me of killing his child, and that’s when I knew she threw me to the hyenas… the village didn’t even let me explain myself. Before I knew it, I was scrambling to this forest with an inch of my life.” Salty droplets hit Izogie’s hands, prompting her to wipe at your tear-streaked face. Weeps of sorrow escaped between words as you continued.

“I-I was the first one they went to when they needed something, but when I needed my honor protected, they discarded me like I was n-nothing.” You sniveled. The heavy boulder of resentment, betrayal, and despair you lugged around on your shoulders over the years disintegrated, allowing you to breathe without the stifling weight. Arms took you forward, meshing you into her chest in a comforting embrace that you needed. Izogie laid back while you rested your front in between her limbs, resting your head in the crook of her neck.

Her fingers traced patterns into your shoulder as she held you close. Hearts that laid on the left sides on both of your chests, now unified to your centers, synchronizing each beat, pumping the same amount of blood. Indombe’s heat mixed with yours melted the icicles of anxiety, worry, and fear that hung on her heart hours before. She felt solace in your embrace, and she could only hope that you felt the same. You felt a pair of pillowy lips gently place a kiss on your forehead. 

Your head tilted up to meet her half-lidded gaze and her breath wafted over your lips. Worried that she made you uncomfortable, she softly apologized. You shook your head, reassuring her it was okay. Bringing up nimble fingers to cup her cheek, you asked her: “May I kiss you?” 

Her thumb caressed the side of your lower jaw, and she nodded. “Yes.”

You didn’t move right away, eyes flickering to her lips and her doing the same. Steadily, she cradled the back of your neck and lowered herself to you, melding your lips together in the first of many euphoric kisses you two will share. 

Bliss. That was the only word you could think of to describe that moment. It was just pure bliss that you desired to cocoon yourself in. 

After several intimate pecks and kisses, your lips separated despite your hearts’ protests. You laid your head back down on her chest and sighed dreamily, closing your eyes. The exhaustion from the ebb and flow of your emotions throughout the day quickly caught up with you, lulling you to sleep along with the rhythmic thumping of your companion’s heart.

The slight snores softly woke Izogie up from her slumber. 

‘I woke up before you? That’s a first.’ She thought. As she took her time observing your sleeping face, an idea popped in her head. The events from last night inspired her to do something special for you before you woke up. 

Thankfully, you were a bit of a heavy sleeper, and gently repositioning you to the side went smoothly. She picked up her machete and sheathed it. After placing a light kiss on your temple, causing your form to stir before settling again, she opened the latch to descend to the forest floor. Her agile feet landed and she went searching for flowers. 

‘I won’t go far.’ She promised.

The lovestruck woman eventually found a bed of vibrant flowers that almost measured up to her breathtaking lover. Kneeling in front of the flora, Izogie began plucking and humming. She contemplated whether she should make a flower crown or bracelet.

“I’ll go for both.” She decided. 

Too enthralled in her thoughts of you, she failed to notice the baleful shift in the green environment.

The insects ceased their buzzing. The birds quieted their chirping. The breeze halted its flowing.

The rainforest held its breath.

“ᗰᥲყ ყ𝚘ບ ɦ𝚎Ɩƿ ບઽᕉ” A bone-chilling voice came from behind her. Dropping the flowers and unsheathing her sword, she faced them, only to drop her weapon in shock.

There Ode, Ekhosu, and Oseye stood in front of her. At first, a surge of relief and happiness coursed through Izogie, as she finally found her Agojie sisters. But then that emotion swiftly morphed into confusion as she inspected their demeanors closer. 

Their faces were void of emotion. Skin ashened and pale. Their outfits were made from the jungle, long dark green leaves covering their bareness. Nothing on them signified that they belonged to Dahomey – they seemed one with the forest instead.

Ode spoke again. “ᗰᥲყ ყ𝚘ບ ɦ𝚎Ɩƿ ບઽᕉ” Her voice sounded like she talked with two voices. These weren’t her sisters.

That familiar sinister aura that Izogie desperately ran from the first night here licked at her senses. Breathing became difficult and her hands shot up to her neck. Then it dawned on her. She forgot the fetish necklace you gave to her. The one thing that was supposed to protect her when you weren’t around. 

Her mind started to race, scrambling for an escape that would lead straight to you. The imposters before her remained unmoving, and she scanned for any weaknesses they presented. An object Ode was holding caught her eye.

A bell.

Horror brought Izogie to her knees. 

“No, no, no.” She pleaded. “Ode, please I know you’re in there, don’t do this please!” 

Ode slowly tilted her head to the side, and an inhumane grin creeped on her lips like a spider stalking its prey. 

“ᗯɦ𝚘 ﺄઽ ዐᑯ𝚎ᕉ” The imposter lifted the bell.

ᗠ ェ Ƞ Ꮆ

The haunting tone blurred her vision. Her hearing was muffled. And her consciousness started to slip into a void. 

ᗠ ェ Ƞ Ꮆ

The last words from her last conscious breath was all her energy could muster: Y/N.

You jolted awake with a start and frantically felt around for her. She wasn’t there. Your blood ran cold with fear at her absence. Your clairvoyant senses instantly told you that something was terribly wrong, and the Agojie’s disappearance was confirmation. Not wasting another second, you gathered your things. You froze when your sights landed on the protective necklace she should’ve been wearing on the wooden floor.

Before you could let your despairing thoughts cripple you, you took it up, shoving it in your bag, and exited your place. 

Your left foot didn’t bother waiting for your right to get acquainted with the ground, as it led the way to where your heart tugged you to urgently. Your feet pounded the soil. Your heart banged against your chest. Your eyelids squeezed tears from your vision.

A flower bed came into view and you slowed to a stop. Some flowers were sprawled away from the group, and a familiar radiation emitted from their stems.

‘She was here.’ You inspected the area more and remnants of dark energy lingered near the flowers. Your breath hitched.

“Biloko.” You shuddered. Clenching your staff, you resumed your sprint, following the pair of light and dark auras – belonging to her love and those creatures – that intermingled in the atmosphere and slithered through the trees. 

As the ominous energy grew stronger the closer her senses led her, she slowed to a light jog, not wanting to alert them of her presence and put Izogie in danger. It wasn’t long until she heard their eerie singing.

“ᗯ𝚎 𝚏𝚘ບიᑯ ບઽ ઽ𝚘ന𝚎𝚝ɦﺄიဌ ဌ𝚘𝚘ᑯ 𝚝𝚘 𝚎ᥲ𝚝, 𝚏ⲅ𝚎ઽɦ ന𝚎ᥲ𝚝, 𝚏ⲅ𝚎ઽɦ ന𝚎ᥲ𝚝! 𝘚ບ𝚌ɦ ᥲ ყບനനყ 𝚝ⲅ𝚎ᥲ𝚝, 𝚏ⲅ𝚎ઽɦ ന𝚎ᥲ𝚝, 𝚏ⲅ𝚎ઽɦ ന𝚎ᥲ𝚝!” 

You peered through the shrub as the three biloko pranced and danced around their bonfire. Eyes scanning the area, you spotted a figure laying still on the ground a few feet away from them. It was Izogie. Focusing your energy on her, a warm glow radiated off of her, signifying she was alive and well. And a breath of relief left you.

Your eyelids narrowed into infuriated slits as your focus shifted to the trio. 

‘They don’t look like regular biloko.’ You inwardly noted. That would mean that these were humans that were in transition to becoming the grotesque creatures. When you connected the dots of how these three tricked a sharp witted warrior like Izogie into capture, you came to the conclusion that these were her sisters. Your next course of action became simple.

You rose from the bushes, whispering an incantation into your divining staff. The glow that emitted immediately caught their attention, whipping their heads to you. One started to hiss at you and you scoffed.

“Oh, shut the fuck up.” You casted your spell over them in a swift, expert motion, causing their knees to give out from under them and heads thump the dirt into a magic-induced slumber. You scurried to Izogie’s form and slipped the necklace over her head.

She awoke with a desperate gasp and clasped onto you, frantically searching for threats. Whispers of reassurance coaxed her into calmness, slowing her racing heart when she realized you were by her side again. You enveloped each other in a yearning hug, grateful that the other was unharmed.

Izogie hesitantly pulled away and glanced at her fellow warriors on the ground. You glimpsed over your shoulder, then turned back to her.

“Don’t worry, I can turn them back to normal. I brought their clothes.” She nodded in relief and you helped her to her feet.

You both changed her sisters into their original tunics, then you hovered your staff over their unconscious bodies. The paleness gradually drained from their skin, and it was replaced with their original rich dark hues of brown. A few moments of waiting passed, and their eyes – now filled with emotion and character – slowly opened. 

An alleviating cry of rejoice escaped Izogie as she embraced the puzzled soldiers. Your heart grew full at the heartwarming scene before you. You gave them the space to catch up and stood off to the side until Izogie mentioned you, averting their attention to you.

You waved shyly and suggested that you all start walking to the village like you planned. They readily agreed and followed you. 

Thankfully, the trek was a short one, and the distant noises of village bustle could be heard as you etched closer to the boundary that you were familiar with. The Agojie trudged past you as your legs froze in front of the line where the forest ended and village territory began, as if an invisible wall blocked you from going forward. Izogie glanced back when she noticed you weren’t following. Her face fell.

Eyes fixated on the ground, your jaw clenched. ‘It’s happening again.’ You lamented. A soft caress on your cheek tore your attention from the barrier. Your eyes met the softness in hers, easing the anxiety that bubbled inside of you.

“Come with me.” She grasped your hands. “Come back to Dahomey with me. You can work as a shaman there and I’ll make sure you are paid handsomely. I have a senior named Amenza and I’m positive you two will get along gre–” You interrupted her rambling with your lips, and smooched her into silence. Arms pulled you closer to her, dragging you over to the plane of organized society that you once knew. You two pulled away for air, puffing breathlessly as you rested your foreheads together.

“I would love to.” You grinned. She gleefully chuckled and you started to walk with her, arm in arm. Then you remembered something.

“Oh, wait! I forgot something!” You exclaimed. She looked at your retreating back in confusion and watched you stop and stare into the jungle. You took a large inhale.

“GOODBYE MOKELE-MBEMBE! GOODBYE INDOMBE!” You screamed between the trees, hoping your farewell would travel to the nearest spirit, animal, or plant that was kind enough to relay the message. 

You strolled back to her, satisfied that your chapter in the forest was coming to a close and you were going to start a new one with Izogie, the one that melted the frost around your heart. 

The one that you could come home to.

A/N: Alright, y'all, the long-awaited poem is HERE. It took a while because I had finals and needed to prepare for move-out, but I did it!

CW: Reader was written in mind as a Black woman, HOWEVER, given that I didn't mention any pronouns or genitals, this is GENDER NEUTRAL <3

Venus, Have Mercy On Me

Riri Williams x Black!Reader

I like you

I like you a lot.

Whenever I look at you

My world starts to spin

My heart drops into my stomach like a slice of pie.

Your presence gently invades my surroundings, filling up my head with thoughts of you and I.

Your beautiful grin makes my heart stop beating

Again and again.

Your captivating brown eyes pull me in

Making me feel like we're the only ones in the room.

Everytime I hear that beautiful voice of yours

My stomach fills with crickets

The rubbing of their legs making my stomach cramp and churn with anxiety and nerves.

Your smooth skin reflects off the sun like a mirror

Smelling like Shea butter and freshly printed paper.

Your hair is braided into neat cornrows that fall down your back

They sway back and forth when you walk

Reminding me of silk curtains on a canopy bed.

When you walk out the room I grow sad

I'd do almost anything to bask in your reverence for a little bit longer.

At night I pray

I pray to the Roman goddess of love to give me guidance and the courage to talk to you.

I say:

"Venus, have mercy on me"

The end! The title was inspired by Venus Versus Mars by Dreamer Isioma, I recommend their music 👩🏾‍🍳💋. But anyway, I hoped y'all liked it! Have a good evening <3

P.S. can someone please tell me how to center paragraphs on this damn app😭 this format is actually pissing me off so bad 🧍🏾‍♀️

Taglist: @vampzxi @cjariot @riptidezzzz @si-gh-cosis @bellaallebbella1 @unkindn3ss-of-rav3ns @glassdovescene *some of y'all I couldn't tag, apologies*

we all must get weirder and more queer. i am completely serious and genuine and this is urgent. please get weirder and gayer now. if you see me acting weird and gay mind your business a little bit.