Needed by the Alpha

Have you ever wondered what life will be like if you weren't born the way you were?

Have you wondered why people judge others for a situation they can't control?

If you haven't, then welcome to my life.

Welcome to my world, the world of Rabel Ichie Uzoamaka, the shunned maiden of Mabudazou.

"Witch", I hear a villager mutter as I passed her by,

"Ekwensu's(is an evil proprietor; he's the god of all things evil) child," another spat.

Without saying anything about that, I continue with my journey.

I've grown used to the way they treat me in our small town.

It doesn't help that I dyed my white hair black to blend in with others, but despite that, the villagers still single me out every time; every single damn time.

I pause at Mama Nneka's house to drop a herb for her; her daughter Nkechi is seriously down with fever.

A single dose of my Akwukwo Ede administered to her by me can clear her fever in a few hours.

Her mother is willing to take the medicines I drop on her doorposts, but she's not willing for me to directly treat her child.

The Miri use I've been giving her is enough to keep the fever at bay, but not fully heal her.

Walking past Mama Nneka's house after I dropped the medicine on their doorpost, I walk towards the house of my friend Soso.

I hope she isn't in Akwukwo if she is, I won't forgive myself for not being at her house earlier.

"Rabel!" Soso happily rushes towards me, enveloping me in a breath-stopping hug she smiles up at me, "I thought you weren't coming today," she pouts cutely.

I stoop low to embrace my best friend *if there's a word like that* she's the only one who doesn't fear me in the entirety of Mabudazou.

"How can I afford to miss your warm hug soso?" I poke her cute chubby cheeks. " You're my ray of sunshine; the only person I will sail the entire world just to be with you," I smile at her.

It's not an exaggeration of words when I say those.

She's the only person I will sacrifice both my safety for her.

She touches my dyed hair, "why did you change your hair colour? I like the other one better!" she looks at my said hair with hatred in her eyes.

I touch said hair, "I want to try out a new look." I lied to her for not the first time since I started hanging out here with her.

Likewise, I dyed my hair to make the animosity the villagers have toward me lessen, but instead of having the desired effect, it had the opposite.

She smiles like the kid she is, "it looks good on you though," she shrugs while giving me aside smile.

" Am glad you like it," I genuinely smile at her.

" Mummy said Ekwensu must have taken you back to his lair when I complained about your lateness today," she gently lay her head on my shoulder, "I was heartbroken when I thought you won't visit me today."

" Don't worry about that, Dearie; I won't miss a day without you."

I open my bag of goodies," guess what I brought for you today?" I smile more brightly than I've done since I last saw her yesterday.

It's always a game we play each time I pay a visit to their house.

"Achicha?" She guesses.

I shake my head, "no",

I grin more; this is my favourite part of my visit to their house.

"Kanda?" she makes another guess.

She must have guessed that since it was what I brought for her yesterday.

"No," I grin the more.

She frowns, "am tired of the game; I can't guess anymore, give me what you bought already." she pouts like the cute girl she is.

I brought out what I bought for her, "surprise!" I laugh at the look of surprise on her face.

"Really!" She squeals as she takes the puppy I made with a wooden stake, "I love it Rabel; thank you very much!", She twirls with the puppy in her embrace.

I grin with satisfaction.

I was afraid she won't like it when I saw it.

I decide to make the puppy when she complained about not having a play toy to play with.

Making the said puppy took me months to perfect; months spent under the sun.

My efforts weren't a waste if the person I made the effort for really appreciates it.

"Am glad you like it," I shyly said.

I'm not used to having compliments given to me, I'm well-used to words of hatred spat on me.

"Like it? I love it!" She hugs me as she dances up and down with unrestrained happiness.

Her happiness to me is like an aphrodisiac; it's a contagious one.

"Soso!" I hear the sharp voice of his mother from her doorposts.

Their house is like all other shackled buildings in the village.

Most of the houses in the village are built with stone (for those who have enough resources) and clay (for the poor masses).

I live in a stone building since my dad was one of the richest in the entire of Mabudazou; he was chief before his untimely death.

Soso and her family live in a clay building, for they don't have enough money to build a stone house.

Their houses were roofed with thatch, and not a speck of Nku was in sight.

Most of the thatch in their roof is already decaying lacking care; I won't be surprised if the house caves in on them before the Onwa(month) ends.

I've asked them to live with me since am the only one living in the house my dad built, but they refused for fear they might be bewitched.

People are afraid of what they don't understand.

They're afraid of things they can't control.

"Soso get back here this instant!"

A daily routine that ends with me back in the forest collecting more herbs for the ungrateful villagers.

You might be wondering why I still help them despite their ill-treatment of me.

Well, you can say I help them to prevent a disaster.

It won't be right to whatever God must have gifted or cursed me with my healing powers, to ignore the sick when I can be of help to them.

God must have gifted me to heal the people by giving me what the people consider a curse.

"Murderer," a girl of almost the same age as I spat as she walks by, "witch", she continues to spur more evil words.

"A person like you is better off in Okumu where your fatter Ekwensu is residing in his pretend Obi (palace)," she says with a glare at me.

"Trash like you isn't worthy of living," she spat as she resumes her journey to wherever she was supposed to be.

Touching my dyed hair, I resume walking; not bothering to acknowledge her and her words.

I learned from a tender age not to talk back at them, despite their harsh words towards me; ignoring them and their words is what I do.

If you talk back, it makes life more unbearable for you.

Shut your mouth and concentrate on yourself, is one of my favourite words.

Walking briskly to avoid being caught by the teachers of Akwukwo, I walk past their small mud building

This place has seen better days, yet it's standing as firm as it was when it was built.

The reason it must still be standing will be based on the materials used on them; materials that are more superior and firm than the ones used to build now.

The mud was built to resemble an Itu *an ancient building where the hides of animals are dried; an Itu is divided into four parts, each part has work and function*, it's divided into four different parts, each part have its functions.

The first divided part is for the beginners; those from their second moon cycle* a complete moon cycle is a year* to the ones in their seventh moon cycle. This first category is the one Soso feels in, since she's in her fifth moon cycle.

The second divided part is for the Iganihu* that's the advanced students*. The class is for those from their eighth moon cycle to those in their fourteenth moon cycle.

This second barge of learners can be called the senior of the bunch.

A person who completes their Akwukwo is eligible for the best job in the village.

The person can either become a farmer for the boys or a trader for the girls.

It's like strife trying to complete your Akwukwo days.

Hardly have more than ten Learners emerged after a complete thirteen moon cycles in the Akwukwo.

More than half the students failed before the final Iguonogugu *result calling*.

The third part of the building is the Mosi, it's the place the learners answer the call of nature.

The place is built like a bucket, you can squat there to relieve yourself.

The third part is the only place I hate in the entire establishment.

The place smells as badly as the rotten corpse of animals.

I detest passing there every night on my mission* the third part is the only place it's the door is guarded with an Oja, a magical stone that detects thieves* it's always a must for me every night to avoid the Oja.

Secretly stealing into the school at night; I try to envision myself sitting on the oche *the place the learners sits during the day* looking up at the person teaching me.

I can still recall years of yearning just to attend the Akwukwo.

For years, I cried myself to sleep because my wishes weren't granted.

Father said am too intelligent to attend the Akwukwo when I asked him the reason others go to the learning centre but not me.

"Your Oburu* that's what we call the brain* is far sharper than that of the dumb children who attend the centre. A brain like yours is far better off in places like Ugiri before the war laid waste to all the other towns", he will smile down at an angry-looking Rabel.

" I still want to attend", I will protest none stop, even after he tells me if reasons why am not allowed to attend the Akwukwo.

A year after his death, I thought to attend the Akwukwo; a mistake on my part.

Dad who prevents me from attending the school is no longer alive, I thought I will take the opportunity to soar high up in the sky making sure I reach my peak since my cage has been broken.

That day was when I thought back to how odd it was, I never for once, had a friend.

I see kids walking around with their friends, but I've not for once had one kid

over to my place for a long game or any game at all.

An incident that happened years ago was what made me start thinking differently about others.

The first Ubochi* that's the first day in a week. We call the days Ubochi and the week we call Izu Uka* I was sitting on the front Oche at the house my father built before his death.

The children who were playing at the last house before ours *I've not questioned Father about the reason we live far from the other villagers. I thought that was the way he decided to build it. It was years later that I came to learn of the reasons why we live on the outskirt of the village.*

The closer the children played the Ukwu* it's like a game of football, but instead of the ball, they play with an Ukwu; around like fruit *the giddier, I became.

They haven't played their games this far, they always stop at the large tree near my house.

Kicking the Ukwu, it landed close to where I was sitting.

I stood to get the ukwu form where it is; I thought playing the game near me was their way of inviting me over to be their friend and play with them.

When the children saw me holding the said Ukwu in my hands; they all ran back, each shouting at the top of their voices.

That was the beginning of the Okumu is suffering now.

I'm afraid without Soso and her huggy feely ways I won't have survived as long as I did.

I met Soso two years after my Father's death.

She was just a chubby two years old when she captured my heart, wrapping it expertly around her little finger.

#

Most of the little ones came out to gawk at me as I briskly made my way past their learning place.

"That's the witch!" one of the children shouted.

"Mom says she will rot in Okumu!" says another.

"Her white hair is because she's as old as time!" the first one says, *I know it's the first child who spoke based on his voice.*

"She's nothing like that! She's my friend" I hear Soso say as she tries to defend her friend.

I would have turned back at least to give her a wave if not for fear of the teachers catching sight of me.

" Rabel! " She calls after me.

I break into a run to avoid wasting more than enough time.

Stopping to wave at her or acknowledge her presence might make her mom forbid me from visiting her again.

Walking towards my fifth house of the day, I breathe out a sigh of relief.

I'm lucky I didn't encounter any mishaps on the way.

It's not every day a girl like me walks the wood *I do everything possible to avoid judging humans* without encountering any wild hungry animals on the way.

In my case, I don't worry about the animals; am mostly worried about the humans in wolf clothing.

Their deadly words make threading on human paths more dangerous than the woods, which is the abode of all things dangerous.

"Ubochi Oma (good day)Mrs Onog", I smile at the hundred moons cycled female.

She's the oldest of everyone in Mabudazou. She knows how the werewolf wars started.

A war that wipes out most of the towns that made up Mabudazou, a war that ended with them taking their part and us taking ours.

Scoffing, the said woman turns towards the forest muttering under her breath.

I won't be surprised if she's muttering an Afa *it's like a protective ward against the evil one* One that's against me, based on how she crosses and uncrosses her arms.

"How is your health, Mama?" I've yearned to call someone that name for a long time, and so far, my yearnings haven't been sated.

"God, Ijala cut off that tongue you called me Mama with. A witch that kills her mother while in her stomach isn't worthy of calling anyone Mama," she spits out on the floor beside her.

All the while she was talking, she didn't turn towards me at least to acknowledge the presence of her healer.

"Despite all you do, you will still be who you are; a curse to your mother. Changing of hair colour won't make you less of whom you're" she says, with her back still turned on me.

Touching my now silky black hair; I don't think to reply to her words, it's okay if I don't add more if I tell her the reason I changed the colours.

"How is your health improving?" she's plagued with Mgowaukwu * a sickness for the old* but with my help, she's been battling the said sickness.

"Will you give me the medicine or do you intend on asking unnecessary questions?" she spits out in anger.

This is one of the reasons I hate visiting my patient's houses whenever they're around, it's far easier dropping the medicine on their doorstep.

Dropping the last medicine on my back, I turn towards her, "I will be leaving now; make sure to add a little Ugu to the mix, it will aid in thorough digestion." I smile, although she can't see it," I wish you long life and good health."

She didn't turn until I was far from her house * I'm aware that because I hid to watch*, taking the medicine with tears in her eyes, she walks into her house.

A house I'm afraid will one day cave in on her.

She's my Ima* a pet name we call our grandmas*, she's my mom's mother; the only relative I have left * at least that's what I know.*

Most of my relatives might be hiding their relationships with me to avoid the persecution of the villagers.

Ima might not acknowledge my presence when around, but I know her at least feels something for me; even if it's a little drop of love.

Fosy Snickers beside me to get my attention,

"oh guy, I never did see you," which is like a blow to me on how invested I was in thinking about my strange relationship with my Ima.

He snickers again as if to tell me how he feels about me forgetting all about him.

"Am sorry Fosy I was just lost in Ima land." I smile at my stupid joke.

Fosy is a hybrid; his Mma was a donkey, while his Mpa is a horse.

I never would have believed it possible if I wasn't there when he was birthed.

The cute little Fozy coming out to the world with strange combinations in his body.

He was like none I've ever seen, or hope to see.

His Mma died while giving birth to him, I guess that makes us two individuals with almost the same sad story.

Fosy is white and black striped; his hooves which are like that of a horse are too red one will mistake it as blood.

The hooves, height, and fastness in running are all he inherited from his Mpa; the others he got from his Mma.

I adopted Fosy on the day he was birthed, since the Mma died while giving birth to him, and the Mpa left after she died.

He must have loved her dearly because moons after, I saw his corpse lying beside my house.

He must have come this far to die beside his son.

Carrying his heavy self, I buried him closer to where I buried his Lover, that way he can be closer to her even in death.

I never made Fosy aware of his father's demise, but I can tell he somehow knew of it.

For two, Izu Uka wasn't as bright and bubbly as he used to be.

It got me worried then, but eventually, he snapped out of his mourning and resumed his bright bubbly ways.

Foxy stayed with me until he was of age to find his path, leaving me made me sad, but it was a blessing to him.

"Hi Chika", I smile at his Partner; a fiery red horse, she's a proud one, that Chika.

Flicking her tail, she gave me a friendly snicker.

"I miss you too Chika, I missed you", I smile as she nuzzles her head with mine.

Foxy found her two Ubochi after he left me, and since then, the two have been inseparable.

Watching the two leaves a pang in my heart, a hole am afraid won't be filled up until I die.

Will I be able to find true love as Rosy did? Or will I die in misery from the harsh words of the villagers? How will my life end?

I know the answers to those questions, but I was hoping the answers will somehow change.

Living alone for almost six complete moon cycles without a human company is enough to make any sane person insane, but you all know how insane I am.

Chika nuzzles my hair this time as if to ask why the change of hair colour.

"I decided to dye it black; isn't that great?" I twirl around, showing her the wonder of my hair.

She snickers as if she doesn't like the idea of my dark hair either, just like Soso complained earlier.

"I want to blend in, Chika; my white hair made me stand out. I aim to be able to blend in if not completely but partially with the others."

You can easily find me in a place filled with people with my white hair, but with my hair as black as it is now; I can easily blend in with the multitude *although we don't have that much population*.

She snickers, but otherwise didn't make any move to touch my hair again; I guess she isn't happy with my change of hair.

I walk in comfortable silence with my two friends walking beside me.

Aside from the occasional chuckle now and then, our walk to my house was filled with silence.

My house isn't built like the villager's, you can credit that to my father being the richest of all when he was alive.

The stone building contains five rooms, a Mposi * you know what that is, right? If you've forgotten; it's a place we relieve ourselves from the call of nature* and Ebe Nri *it's like a kitchen, but without the essentials in there*.

My Ebe Nri is filled to the brim with potions, each brewing more than the other.

Leaves and plants I dried are all kept in a place; each with the ones that have the same properties or almost the same properties like it.

One might wonder how I got to know most of these things without being at the learning centre, you can say am a girl gifted or cursed by her creator.

I don't know if it's to call my powers a gift or if a curse fits it properly.

It might be regarded as a gift based on how many people I've healed, and how many I've saved from death.

You might also regard it as a curse, based on the ghostly white hair and the shunning of the villagers.

White hair I dyed black to avoid standing out.

It took me more than three complete moon cycles to find an Uhi that makes my hair black.

The ones I applied earlier before I found the Uhi wasn't succeeding in giving me the exact dark shade of hair I want.

The Uhi makes my hair shine as black as the night; a sharp contrast to the whiteness of the hair.