The atmosphere was full of disbelief. Shock radiated through everyone as Nkechi grabbed her wooden sword and made her way further onto the podium. A small smile graced her lips when her brother, Femi, gave his nod of approval. Nkechi could cope with her father's disapproval but not Femi's.

"Fight clean and don't draw this out," her brother called out to Nkechi.

Nkechi turned her head to respond to Femi, but narrowly missed Kofi's swinging blade. Nkechi growled at the honourless man. As expected, Kofi was already fighting dirty. The man had no integrity and his fighting was a reflection of that, but Nkechi was not worried. She contemplated whether she should toy with Kofi, but her brother's previous words swayed her decision. Strengthening her resolve, Nkechi, decided she would beat Kofi at his own game. She did not need to cheat, because losing to her would be a knock to Kofi's already inflated ego.

Nkechi ducked a few of his attack's, getting a feel for his movements before going in for her attack. She feigned left and then followed through with a quick jab with her right arm, whacking him with the flat of her sword. Kofi tried to swipe back, but his attack left his body open, just as Nkechi anticipated. Nkechi jabbed his chest again and then swiped at his feet, sending the man tumbling to the floor. Kofi was a good warrior when he felt he was fighting someone worthy of his talent, Nkechi was someone he viewed as his inferior.

The platform rattled as Kofi's body thudded to the ground. A look of disbelief hidden beneath his angered and enraged glare.

Nkechi threw her sword to the floor and then swiped at her forehead. "Not a drop of sweat," she gloated, turning her back on him.

The hairs on Nkechi's neck rose. She spun around just as Kofi sprang at her. His body pounced on top of her and they both thumped to the floor. Kofi grappled for Nkechi's dainty neck and began to squeeze. Her initial instinct was to writhe under his grip, but she dismissed her body's natural reaction. Nkechi lifted one of her hands and used all of her strength to bend one of his fingers back. There was a distinct snap, followed by Kofi's bellow of rage. His grip slipped, providing Nkechi with an opportunity to punch him in his gut. The blow sent Kofi tumbling off of her. She staggered to her feet at the same time as Kofi. His left hand hung limply by his side and a few of his fingers were bent unnaturally.

"I can keep going or would you rather take your loss like a man?" Nkechi taunted. By now the podium was surrounded by hundreds of warriors who had flocked to the scene.

Nkechi's taunting voice sent Kofi charging at her, but his moves were sloppy with anger. Nkechi sidestepped Kofi and slashed her hand out, cutting him in his throat. Kofi dropped to the floor clutching his neck. His tears trailed down his cheeks as he gasped for breath.

"What did you say, Kofi? You said who was the man? I can't quite hear you." Nkechi gloated, cupping her ear as she leaned over the wheezing man. She jumped back when Kofi grabbed at her hair.

"Where did all of your manliness go?" Nkechi sneered.

"Nkechi, that is enough," her father snapped.

Her father stepped onto the podium, glaring at his wilful daughter. Matin extended a hand to Kofi and helped him to his feet. He motioned for a healer to take Kofi. Once Kofi was quietly removed from the platform, Matin turned his anger to Nkechi.

"I fail to understand why this challenge was necessary," Matin growled.

"It was merely for demonstrative purposes, father" Nkechi replied dryly.

Her father became flustered by her dismissive response. His cheeks turned red as he struggled to respond. Once Matin finally gained his composure, he angrily motioned for Nkechi to follow him. Nkechi sauntered behind him with her head held high and a regal posture. As much as she wanted to deny her fathers unspoken request, Nkechi knew better.

Matin led them to a secluded area. He shooed away the few lingering people. Once the area was clear, he spun to face Nkechi. Razi Matin's nostrils flared as he glared at her, his eyes flickering up and down at his daughter's dishevelled state. The look on his face was one that had once held such power over Nkechi. She would have crumbled to his feet back then, pleading and crying for his forgiveness, but not anymore. The Razi waited for his daughter to show her fear and humility in the same ways of her youth, but he no longer had the same effect on her. The silence extended on for an unbearable amount of time until her father finally spoke.

"Do you intend to shame the man, Nkechi? I did not teach you a warrior's ways, so you can then proceed to humiliate them."

"Is that so?" Nkechi hummed, "Then why consistently use me in demonstrations if it is not to humiliate them, father? Why me? Why not Femi or any other well-trained warrior. You unfailingly chose me for a reason. Do not lie to me or yourself."

"Guard your tongue, child. I will not tolerate your disrespect," Matin snapped.

Nkechi bit her lip as she restrained herself from speaking to her father so freely. "No disrespect was intended, but I will speak truthfully. I may have been a little overzealous in my approach, but I merely treated Kofi as I would anyone who would challenge me."

"But he is not just anyone, Nkechi!" Matin bellowed, his forehead wrinkling and lips pursing. "Kofi is the head warrior, after your brother, Femi, and your intended Solah. Why do you continuously antagonise him?"

A mirthless laugh burbled from Nkechi's lips. "I do not antagonise that man. If I had the choice, I would not spare two words, let alone two minutes, to that man. At the expense of sounding churlish, I will say that it is, in fact, Kofi that constantly antagonises me. He hounds me like a wolf and his prey. I hate it."

Her father sighed deeply as he rubbed at the stress lines on his forehead. "The man may be acting childish, but it is clear for anyone to see that he is eager for your alliance to be confirmed. He wants your attention and because you refuse to give it to him, he engages in these childish antics, but you must not act so rashly."

Nkechi huffed in frustration. This was often the issue she had with her father. Matin could not see his daughters' point of view and every encounter left her feeling further and further away from his love.

"You do not understand," she sighed dejectedly.

"No, I do understand. I understand that Kofi needs reassurance of your marriage, hence, why I have made the decision that your betrothal will be announced tonight."

"What?" Nkechi gasped, "how did this conversation make you form that conclusion?"

Seeing his daughters' distress, Matin placed his hand on Nkechi's shoulder in an attempt to soothe her. "I understand that you are fearful of what marriage brings and perhaps, I am not the best person to have this conversation with, but there is little to fear. You and Kofi will make a great pairing. Just stop fighting him."

Nkechi felt as if her future was disappearing within her fingers. Her father continued to speak of marriage, but to be tied to Kofi, was the last thing she wanted. The last thing she needed was to give that man the privilege of leading her tribe.

"I won't marry him," Nkechi stated. Nkechi had never felt as strongly about anything as she did about her lack of desire to marry Kofi.

Razi Matin clicked his tongue at his disagreeing child, "that is enough now. Kofi will be a fine life mate. I approve of him. Think of the tribe, we need this." Her father lightly shook her with each word, a plea in his tone even as he commanded her obedience.

Nkechi dislodged her father's hold of her shoulder, her head raising high as she scowled into his eyes. "I am thinking of the tribe. All I think of is this tribe and their betterment, which is why I have said no. I will not marry Kofi."

Matin was shocked by his daughter's blatant disregard and open refusal of his choice. He sputtered over his words, his brain clamouring to find an apt response but Nkechi was resolute. She always had been.

"I will continuously say no, I will not marry this man, and no one can force me. He is not worthy to lead this tribe. He is not our best warrior and will only bring this tribe out of balance. He is a self-centred, egotistical and narcissistic male. I will not have him."

"Now you listen here, daughter," her father growled, his claws digging into the shoulder he now gripped. "You will marry Kofi and he will be your new leader, so do whatever you must to come to terms with my decision and do it soon." With a final shake to Nkechi's shoulder, he released her body in preparation for his departure.

"I'm sorry but nothing you say or do, will change my mind, baba," Nkechi called in frustration. "I refuse to marry him. If you could only open your eyes you would- "

"Enough."

Nkechi's face spun, as her cheek smartened in pain at the harsh slap she had just received. The engraving of her father's ring split her lip, making blood to instantly spurt from the wound.

"I am the Razi here and what I say goes. Do not undermine me, child. Now go and wash your face. We have an announcement to make."

Nkechi wiped her lip, observing the blood that trickled onto her thumb before staring at her father dispassionately. "You will not beat silence or submission into me, father. All you will gain is my contempt and disdain,"  she muttered morosely.

"Get back here" Razi Matin bellowed but his words were nothing but sound in the wind.

Nkechi charged through the tribe nudging people out of her way.

"What happened?" Tobi called to her, but Nkechi ignored him.

Her feet stomped across the wooden bridges until she made it to the entrance of the tribe. Her feet ground to a halt as she stared up at the cloudy sky. Her heart thudded erratically as the taste of blood lingered in her mouth. Her father had never hit her before and unfortunately, Nkechi knew this would not be the last. Her father thought he could beat her into marrying Kofi, but Nkechi knew that nothing could force her to marry that man.

Nkechi gritted her teeth as her father's calls rang through the tribe. She held so much anger and contempt within her heart for him. She could not bear to see him for a moment longer in fear that she would allow her Dahara to take form.

Closing her eyes and mind against the tribe, Nkechi let the surrounding nature soothe her. Her hand spread out to her side as she leaned over the bridge. Her body rocked forward on the tips of her toes. her balance was held onto by such a short thread. Nkechi's eyes flickered open and she made eye contact with her father before she propelled herself over the edge.

For a moment, her heart dropped to her stomach as she fell through the branches. She grappled at the dangling vines and clasped a cluster of them to slow her fall to the ground. When her feet thudded to the floor, she spared one final glance up to the lit sky before heading into the dark jungle.

Nkechi's feet glided over the earth as her human eyes shifted to that of her Dahara so she could see in the blackens of The Dark Forest. She ran for as long as her human body could carry her and when she became tired, she stripped and shifted into her regal feline-like form. Her warrior form was larger than any cat that inhabited the planes of her world. Her paws were the size of a human's head. Her coat was black and along her back stood large spines that were used in battle and could occasionally channel the elements. Her eyes were slanted, and her large mouth was filled with massive incisors. Her tail was just as long and had the same spikes at the end like a flail. Her new warrior form was ferocious, and it gave Nkechi great strength in moments like this

Nkechi melted into her warrior form and allowed the animalistic urges to take over as she hunted and ran further and further away from the trouble that awaited her at home.