Metal.Fangs

THE NEW NORMAL.

It was three days after Tinani and Niwa had arrived in the capital. The capital was a totally different place from the island. Here, they saw people dress differently, live differently and also interact differently. It took the two ladies two days to learn that the capital was totally a different place from the Island after they kept asking anyone who cared to give them a listening ear if at all they had by any chance seen Towet, Tinani's brother. It had to take a very mean response from one man who had to tell them that he understood different people came to the capital for different reasons but he surely did not come to start mastering every stranger's name. In the capital, everyone seemed to mind their own business and did not want to get involved in the other's business. The men who had rescued them from the boats had to separate ways with them especially after the two had lied that they came from Got, a hill located towards the East of the capital. They perfectly understood that letting anyone know where they had come from meant their execution as the capital had its perception of the clans in the island and nothing good was in their perception.

" I do not remember when last I ate fresh food , lucky for you, you are still full of the blood and fear of your own people." Niwa told her bestfriend. She thought it was a light joke. " Do you really think I love to be this way? Do you really think I have ever turned into my true self before?" Tinani said not looking pleased at her friend's joke. Niwa had to apologise realising she had wronged her friend. On the other hand, she had to make her friend promise her that she would control her grief. Niwa understood that her friend was left alone without family but at the same time, they did not run away from their own people to come and die by the sword of strangers in the capital. She was not going to lose her despite the fact that she was grieving. Tinani promised not to get into trouble. She promised to keep both of the safe by acting as human as possible. After " Also promise me that you will let me know whenever you need food so we can both work it out together." Niwa pleaded with her bestfriend. In that moment, she remembered the number of times she invited Tinani for food at her home and she never ate. She remembered asking her jokingly why they only had just a plate and Babu Iman would jokingly tell her that real people of Chumaa do not need a plate. She understood everything. According to Niwa, friendship meant staying through the good and the bad. That is what she promised her friend she would do and she was not about to disappoint her.

Tinani and Niwa decided to grab meat from the roadside and run with it. Niwa was hungry and no way were they going to let her starve waiting for evening for her to feed on waste like she had done in the past two days since their arrival. She longed for warm and fresh food and they both had promised that Niwa would get what she wanted on that day. Maybe the two girls thought that the capital was like the island where people stole and what determined whether you kept what you stole or not was your running speed after stealing. The person robbed would be left cursing after which everything would go back to normal. In the capital however, there was the law. There were men who just like the guards back in the island, would also seek to settle differences between people but unlike the island, these guards had moving buildings they called cars. These buildings were so fast and that is why Niwa was easily caught. Tinani was always very fast and very good at climbing walls. She did not have any trouble. Having promised her friend that she would stay out of trouble, Tinani went to the capital guards to turn herself in too. She would not survive without her bestfriend. She was scared of what would happen if she found herself lonely in a land of very strange people .

The two ladies found themselves in jail, a place they would be in for two weeks. Everyone inside their new home looked so different from them. They understood that people living inside the big building with them were called inmates. They were also called inmates. As they matched to their new cell, their fellow inmates were obviously joyed to see their number increase. They were taken to different cells. Niwa was clearly disappointed that her inability to control her hunger had gotten her and her friend in trouble. She was very afraid of what might happen should her friend need food. It was clear, they were in trouble. The two were surprised to see their fellow inmates being let out to take their evening meal. This was Niwa's chance to aske her friend on how she would survive. To her surprise, Tinani could actually go for long without feeding. That meant Niwa would be eating double the normal portion. She was happy. Tinani's friendship was finally paying off. That night had been the best life for them both since they had never slept on very soft spots. Tinani ran to the grill of her cell, she hissed and her bestfriend knew what was her call. The look they both gave each other indicated they both were very happy to be where they were. Their show was cut short by Tinani's cell mate who clearly did not like her. "Will you step away from that grill you fool!" She roared. Tinani did not understand what she said but from the look of her cell mate's face, things were clearly not good. She waved to her friend who was on the opposite side then went to lie down, having the best day of her life.

Niwa and Tinani had blended in so well despite having a few problems. Their fist big problem was that they did not understand the language and neither could they speak lest they sell themselves out. They were laughed at for being dumb and stupid. It was better than standing up for themselves as that would lead to worse problems. It was even worse for Tinani who was always picked by most people because of her iron complexion. Her complexion was heavier than that of Niwa. She did not want to let the bullies get under her skin as that meant that she would hit back and maybe in the process, she would reveal who she was. She was okay taking the insults and commands provided both she and Niwa were safe. She made a promise and she intended to keep it. "Chumaa, original Chumaa" Tinani had a voice from behind. They were out stretching as was the normal routine. Her friend Niwa had made new friends and this in a way made her jealous. Niwa was loved because her skin tone was rather fair ad covered in less hair. That is what Tinani thought. She would feel jealous that Niwa was loved even though she could not understand what her friends were saying. She hated being alone but clearly she did not have a choice. On this new day, just as she was deep in jealous mode, a voice that seemed to understand her appeared." My real name is Twam, however since I came to the capital, my parents decided to change my name to Lian. I am in here for drunk driving. I killed a dog with my car." Tinani felt so good meeting someone who spoke in Kichumaa which was the language of the originals before they decided to intermarry and trade with their neighbouring communities. That is exactly what Babu Iman taught her and they would both speak in Kichumaa most of the time." My name is Tinani. I am afraid of speaking because I hear they kill us here." Tinani said to her new friend. Lian made Tinani understand that under no circumstance should she be heard speaking Kichumaa or seen feeding on blood. After a long class of what to do and what not to do, Tinani and Lian parted ways to their cells happily.

It was an amazing night for Tinani. She had found a new friend and she promised herself not to tell Niwa about it since Niwa had forgotten about her immediately she found new friends. She came to learn that there were people of Chumaa living in the capital and that here in the capital, they also had their own secret laws that were to be followed and failure to do so had its consequences. She was happy because this could be a good start of where to look for her brother Towet. There was hope and she wore a grin on her face. She would soon learn the language at the capital and her cellmate would no longer yell at her in a language she did not understand while hitting her. Babu Iman was right, everything would fall inti place. Niwa on the other hand had found new friends and had made herself at home. She did not even notice that she and her friend had hardly spoken for the past two days. She pulled her blanket to cover herself still in disbelief at how sleep could be so amazing.

Lian had been teaching Tinani how to speak Kidot, the language majorly spoke in the capital. Tinani had the fire she had back when learning the ways of the originals with Babu Iman. She was eager to learn, she had her friend who had forgotten about her tp brag to and her cellmate who had turned her into a punching bag to shout to in Kidot language on the day she planned to have her revenge. She loved the progress she had made so far. Lian had taught het to be brave and not just accept to be hit just because her wound healed faster. 'But you told me not to get myself into trouble of any kind. I also do not want to get angry you know. I promised Niwa I would never put both our lives in danger and I really want to keep my promise." Tinani said. " Tinani you do not have to be extremely angry for you to put anyone in their place. I hope you know that. You just have to give her a few punches here and there and you will have peace i here. I had to do the same and look at me now, the bullies stay away from me. You have to win by being a jerk sometimes." Tinani smiled because she believed that being nice always has never landed anyone anywhere. she could not wait to get her mean cellmate off her back. She had a few days remaining, not that she knew how to count but she knew because Lian had told her so, she was happy because they would get out on the same day and Lian had promised to give her a place to stay until she found a place of her own.

Niwa had also learnt how to speak in Kidot. Was not a surprise since she had many friends compared to Tinani. Niwa was in the bathroom one morning when one of her friends stepped in to take a bath with her. Both Niwa and Tinani had come a very long way in terms of dropping off the bush in them. They got a rude shock to see most of the women walk naked. Torn between being shocked and acting like they were from the capital, they chose acting like they understood what was going on. It was a very big taboo for anyone to show their front and back nakedness. Back in the island, they were both covered and only meant to show to your husband or wife. At the capital, they had to get used to seeing breasts and lower body parts moving around as if nothing was wrong with that. "Yet these people think we are the backward ones?" Niwa and Tinani would whisper at the beginning of their stay. Days would pass and they would get used to it. However, there was one thing Niwa was yet to get used to. As she was in the bathroom, her friend Waka joined her in. "Let me show you something. "She told Niwa. Waka gently stroke her hands against Niwa's breast and slowly to her lower body. Niwa felt great pleasure. She had never felt that before. Just when she was beginning to enjoy, their bath was cut short as they were told to report to their work areas. Niwa was introduced to a totally new world. Later that night, she told her cellmate Dia of what had happened between her and Waka that morning. Dia decided to join her in her bed. " Did she touch you like this? " she asked as she touched Niwa. Niwa was so ignorant on how this part of the world worked. She had been here for six months but still clearly needed more time to learn about betrayal and jealousy. Since she forgot about her bestfriend, she kept on doing anything just to fit i the capital. This would cost her dearly.

After putting her best foot forward in learning Kidoti, Tinani had her confidence improved. Her friend Lian had taught her well. She seemed too mature to be caught drunk driving and even killing an animal according to Tinani. Lian had taught Tinani that finding an original had been so hard in the past years and the only one that the after the last one who was killed, they were just all devoted towards keeping their tradition alive in the capital looking forward to the day the people at the mainland would accept them and not see them as worthless people who should be kept away from civilisation. Lian was really looking forward to getting out and introducing an original to the capital clan. "I did not even know that i was an original until I was about ten when my grandfather taught me and my brother who we were. How did you know thought?" Tinani asked. "I really do not fully understand how it works too though we were taught on the traits of the originals, maybe it is your turn to teach me." Lian said. " Well, before we intermarried with other clans of the island, there was the family of Iman. It is said they were the first to be created. Anyone is called an original when born by only a female from the Iman family tree. The females are responsible for the continuation of the family name but only when they marry a man whose either parent is a Chumaa." Tinani and Lian had built a very beautiful friendship. They were both enjoying watching the television show whish Tinani had also come to get used to watchin when Tinani's cellmate Koru came to serve her trouble. The entire hall had shifted its attention towards Koru who was brewing trouble just because she could. Tinani turned and gave Lian a look while Lian whispered to het, "Remember what I taught you. " In that moment, Tinani threw a fist that sent Koru lying flat. "Do not joke with me. You can play but not next to me." Tinani shouted at cellmate who was in pain and confused that after all her cellmate could speak in Kidot yet has been pretending all this while. Niwa who saw her estranged friend being celebrated decided to speak to her after a long while. "That was great Titi." she said. "Leave me alone and keep being embarrassed of my hairy skin." Tinani said to Niwa as she grabbed Niwa to walk away from Niwa. From that day on, it was clear their friendship would never be the same.

A loud noise was heard coming from the bathroom, as always noise meant there was a fight. The women rushed towards the bathroom each to satisfy their eyes. There was the body of Waka lying lifeless and blood oozing from her belly. She had been stabbed severally. Before the awful incident, Waka had walked into an intimate moment between Dia and Niwa. She had pushed Dia way from Niwa saying she was the first to be with her. Niwa on the other hand stood undecided on whose side she was on. She clearly wanted both without losing neither. Waka hit Dia who in turn decided to hit back. The fight became ugly and led to Dia stabbing Waka with a glass she has broken from the tiny bathroom window. Dia later came to say that it was the dumb girl she shared a cell with who had stabbed Waka and that she did not know why she did it. Being unable to defend herself in good Kidoti, Niwa was beaten by the prison guards to a pulp. She woke up in the sick bay to be told that she would take a very long time in the jail. Well, coming from the island where living conditions were worse than this beautiful place she had been in for a while now, that was not bad news at all. She was just sad that her selfishness had made her lose Waka and her childhood beast friend Tinani. She had learned her lesson and promised herself to do better by any good person who would come to her life in future.

The long awaited day had come and Tinani was ready to leave with Lian but she was not going to leave without telling her childhood bestfriend good bye. "MY mother's daughter, I have to go. I am sorry that we came here together and now i have to leave without you." Tinani said as she gently stroke her friend's arm. " It is okay daughter of my mother. I am happy you get to leave. Clearly our sister here has taken good care of you. I am embarrassed my selfishness barred me from learning from you both. I wish you my sisters well. By our gods, may we meet again. Please look for Towet for me. " Niwa said. The two parted ways as Niwa and Lian waved good bye and headed towards the sickbay door. Another chapter of their lives awaited them.