Chapter 2: Double "Daww!"That night, when Qillaq's punishment was over, Shikoba knew what she would do. She walked into Nizhoni's hut, where the Creator was training with a punching bag. "Creator Nizhoni, I wish to breed with Qillaq." Shikoba declared. Nizhoni turned towards her. "Very well. Though he is vain, his genes will make a beautiful daughter. As he is just a lowly slave, his execution will not have a ceremony." The Gatherer nodded, and went to tell Qillaq. "It is time." was all she had to say for him to understand, and he followed her to the double bed to breed. As soon as it was over, Shikoba took a pregnancy test, and found she was with child.
A faint sense of sadness crept over her at what would happen to the father, but she pushed it away. She called over Nizhoni to declare the bittersweet news. "Qillaq, it is time for your execution. Step into the Pond of Sacrifice." Nizhoni ordered, and Qillaq obeyed. He was a strong slave, and lasted almost a full day before his demise. The next few days, Shikoba was overcome with grief, though she knew it should not be there. Many nights she would wake and clean the puddles left by Qillaq's ghost.
And, with a heavy heart and Nizhoni's approval, she released his spirit, and all of her sadness, to the netherworld.
A few weeks later, Shikoba felt a huge pain in her back, and knew the baby was coming. She walked into the makeshift shack Nizhoni had built, and there she gave birth to... two baby boys, named Alun and Akito.
"Is this an omen from the Watcher?" Shikoba asked Nizhoni. "No, the Watcher would not curse a brave young woman like you. Besides, one of these sons is destined to father a Creator Heiress." Nizhoni's words lightened the Gatherer's spirit, but the thought of not having a daughter felt like a rock in her heart, only adding on to how tired she was.
Dun worry guys, Shikoba's alright. This chapter makes it look like she's really unfortunate, but she powers through it. Like Nizhoni said, she is a brave woman.
