“For most people, it is.” I confessed.
“See this here?” Hai pointed to a thin curved line she labeled the hymen. “This piece of skin can stretch or tear the first time you are penetrated causing some bleeding.”
“So that’s where the blood comes from,” Sarah said aloud as if some great mystery had been solved for her.
“The pain comes from your vagina being stretched out for the first time. For me, it wasn’t painful as much as it was an uncomfortable amount of pressure.”
Both Talia and Sarah nodded their heads at this. Sarah looked pale, yet determined. At least she wouldn’t go into sex, not knowing what to expect. No one had told me sex could be painful my first time, and it was quite a shock.
“I’m going to get some water,” Sarah whispered. “I’ll come with you.”
Talia helped Sarah up from the floor and they walked to the main cavern together, red faced and full of whispers.
As soon as the teens left, we all burst out into giggles.
“Poor thing looks like she’d seen a ghost,” Fatima remarked.
“At least she’ll know what she’s getting into,” Ashley sighed with a distant look in her eyes, as if shewere remembering her own experience.
The girls finished my hair, and I happily ran my fingers along my fresh braids.
We all got comfortable in our furs, and I pulled my top fur up to my chin with a smile.
“Good night everyone,” Ashley called out as she blew out the last of the oil candles that lit up our cavern.
“Good night,” A few of the girls called back.
I was eager to get some sleep. I had been wanting to get away from the mountain and now was my chance. Fingers crossed our journey would be a fun excursion and not a complete disaster like our trip from Orsu’s den to the mountain. I pushed those thoughts aside. We’d be fine. We would travel in the daylight away from the jagwa dens. Everything would work out. I was sure of it.
Chapter 7
Drovo
The cool breeze of the dark morning greeted me the moment I stepped outside. I fed and watered Jelly in the dark and sat with him outside his enclosure and drank in the morning light as the sun began to shine through the trees.
Kayla's chariot was packed and ready, all that was left to do was hook Jelly up to it. So I sat and waited for the rest of our group to emerge from the mountain.
Brexl was the first to join me in the clearing. He stretched and yawned before he caught sight of me sitting with the bafilo.
“Morning,” he gave me a curt nod, which I returned with one of my own.
I was both excited and nervous about this trip. I was eager to spend more time with Kayla, and I had been curious about the spaceship. It was hard to imagine a craft that could hold the weight of so many people and fly through the sky.
I was nervous because the responsibility of keeping the females safe in the forest weighed heavyon me. I’m sure it weighed on Brexl too. This was a necessary trip, I reminded myself. If we could find enough food rations, we’d be good for the winter.
The chill in the wind was a stark reminder that with each day that passed, we grew closer to the winter. I could already feel some of the whispering leaves change their tune as their color turned from teal to purple. Their voices grew deeper as the cold season approached and their whispers took on a morose tone. It wouldn’t be long before they would spoke their last words and fell to the ground to start the cycle again.
“Brrr, it’s chilly out here,” Kayla commented as she stepped outside. My heart skipped a beat as soon as I heard her voice, the same way it always did. She looked beautiful in the morning sun. Its rays cast a golden glow on her skin that only served to add to her beauty.
“I can’t have my luna moth being cold,” I teased. “Here, take my fur.” I pulled the shawl from my shoulders and placed it on hers.
“Don’t call me that,” Kayla remarked in a flat tone, but then added. “Thank you.”
“Any time,” I winked and she rolled her eyes at me.
Our journey was thankfully uneventful as we made our way down the well-worn hunting trail that led to Orsu’s den. The plan was to head in that direction until we caught the scent of the ship at which time we’d change course.
Again I walked ahead of Kayla and Taylorwho both fit comfortably on the bench I’d replaced the chair with for this trip. I held Jelly’s leash as I concentrated on every tree root along the path, smoothing them out so there would be no bumps along the way.
