Chapter 3: TATAN MATS

"And that's how Ovashi became the first queen", finished Jera, curling her tail in relaxation.

" That was a wonderful story mama Jera", said Bica, getting off the stool she was sitting on.

" What do you mean, sister? We listen to that story all the time. This is the third time this month!", argued Nana.

" It's still interesting to me".

Nana gave her sister a dry look. " That's because your a complete bookworm. You don't mind repeating books or stories even if it's a hundred times. Besides, I doubt that story is correct".

Jera looked up from her weaving to look at her. " Why so? Don't you believe in Ovashi?".

"Well don't get me wrong, I know she was the first and greatest queen but humans? ", said Nana lifting a brow.

" You don't believe they existed? They are nasty creatures who survive only on power and wealth. Evil creatures I would say, locked out from our world. ", Jera explained.

" How would you know about that, ma? It's not like you were born then. And I doubt any creature would be cruel enough to lock away their own kind just because of a change in their body. Humans simply don't exist, they are just myth to scare children", she argued.

Jera turned to her older step daughter for support. "Let's hear Bica's opinion. What do you think, do they exist or not?", she asked but she should have known the kind of person Bica was, who didn't enjoy taking sides.

"I don't know", came her expected answer. "There's a possibility that they could exist and we originated from them but there's also a chance that they don't exist and are simply mere fantasies. It'll be nice to see one though, I wonder how they'll look", she said.

" They'll probably look like disgusting creatures or some sort", mumbled Jera.

" Well I guess we can never know for sure", Bica said. " Who are you weaving that for? We already have enough mats".

" It's not for us, it's for the village elder. Your father and I have decided to visit her for council on a certain issue and I'm gifting her this. Which reminds me, Bica I need you to go collect fruits for your father, take a basket from the kitchen", said Jera. Turning to face Nana she said, " You are going to help me weave these mats".

"WHAT?! Why?!", shouted Nana, she hated weaving especially with tatan leaves which were known to be one of the strongest and hardest leaves.

"Because I say so", by this time Bica had returned from the kitchen with two small baskets in her hands.

"What happened? Why did you shout like that?", asked Bica, picking up a brown rabbit fur coat and putting it on.

"Mama Jera said I have to weave tatan with her", she said, sounding like a little girl next to tears.

Bica suddenly burst out laughing, "Is that why you want to cry?".

"Easy for you to say you are good at it", she pouted. " Say, mama Jera, can Bica and I switch places. She can stay here and weave and I'll go collect fruits", she said with hope filled eyes.

" No". Jera deadpanned, killing off the small hope Nana had.

"Why not?".

"Because you are terrible at it. You never come back with the correct fruit or flower and you always come back extremely late in the night with twigs and leaves in your hair. One time I asked you to bring a sweet fruit, you ended up bringing me a poisonous flower to which you fell sick. Another time-"

" Okay I get it", she interrupted, not ready to receive a good deal of lecturing that morning.

Bica couldn't stop herself from laughing which made her little sister grumble. "Be sure to get sweet plashi fruits from the forest, okay?", said Jera.

" Okay", replied Bica, leaving the hut that was painted white. She heard her sister shout to her to bring some for her and she shouted in response. The journey to reach the forest didn't take long but it took longer going deep into the forest. That was where plashis were found. Laying down her baskets, she picked up a dirty long stick from the floor and used it to knack the fruits down. She picked as much fruits as she could find, filling up one basket before leaving and heading deep into the forest in search of plashi trees. After walking a long distance, she finally found what she was looking for. It was ripe so some had already fallen on the ground, she picked these up before using the stick to whack some of the fruits down. Bending to collect them, she filled up her second basket with plashis and decided to go to the nearest forest stream to wash her soot- covered hands. Luckily for her, she enjoyed going to the forests alot so she knew the fastest way there. Singing a popular folklore, she headed towards the stream when she her ears picked up something lurking in the forest. She halted but chose to ignore it thinking it was a bird until she saw a dark shadow run in the bushes past her.