Why now, in the final preparations for the hunt, do my hands shake? My stupid obi wonāt form the symbol of an ankh. Again, I wrap the long strip of black cloth around my waist, tying it in a knot by making a circle loop at the top and leaving the end to hang down. I can finally breathe. I wonāt survive tonight without creating the symbol of life for protection.
My silver dagger is secure on my hip. I swivel from side to side, gazing down at myself in admiration. I love how the blade shines against my dark ceremonial robe.
āKaori, we must go.ā
Naho is standing in the opening. I hope mu didnāt see my display of vanity. Naho looks so dignified in our wide-sleeved wrap robe. The delicate fabric hangs well on mir broad shoulders skimming mir flat stomach and narrow hips. Mu has tied mir long braids back with twine. Like the fine silver thread running through the cloth, Nahoās hair is streaked with time. My robe refuses to stop gaping over my curves and smoothing out the places where the fabric clings to my belly doesnāt help much either. Within two steps to match Nahoās tall stride the humid night air has stuck my tunic to my thick thighs.
We make our full-moon walk to the beach, winding our way down the red dirt path separating the gamgam huts. The moon has cast a silver shadow over the woven benme roofs, turning the black night deep blue. Curious eyes peek out of openings. On some of the huts, carefully knotted ankhs hang.
Is tonight the night I donāt return?
Normally I find their stares bolster my courage, but tonight I depend on Naho to bow and acknowledge their unease. Naho always waits for me so we can walk together. To be honest, I would prefer to make the short journey alone like the rest of the hunters, but tonight in the creepy blue light my fingers fumble until they rest in Nahoās warm hand. We pass the final row of huts and trample across an exposed tangle of benme roots until we reach a grassy clearing. The air tastes salty and waves crash in my ears as we approach a soaring stone pyramid.
Reaching the temple of the Experienced is a horrible reminder I have to face the eldest Experienced Takanori tonight.
How much longer can I keep my secret from mem?
I squeeze Nahoās hand tight despite the temple being the sign for Naho to run ahead and arrive alone. When I release Nahoās hand mu doesnāt leave, even though we can see the shadows of the hunters on the beach; the others have already formed a circle.
Naho guides me into the moonlight reflecting off the templeās unique feature: gold doors. No other structure on the island has doors. Only the Experienced are allowed privacy.
A golden glare rests on Nahoās high cheekbones, making mir brown eyes glow. I donāt like looking into Nahoās eyes; their intensity reminds me of my twin, Kairi, and I always feel like Naho can see more than I want to reveal.
āTonight will be difficult for you but it is very important you remain both strong and calm. Do you remember our eternal training?ā
I nod in response, not trusting my voice to conceal my apprehension. How will I ever forget?
It was only four orbits ago, just after my thirteenth orbit began. I had my new name and a hut with an opening. It was horrible. I missed the other unnameds and the sharp corners and doors of the temple. My head ached from tight braids restraining my curls; my hut had too much fresh space and not enough noisy unnameds squabbling and perpetual burning hunmir wood.
At first the other newly released would visit. I couldnāt get rid of Saki ā mu would come every rise, chattering about how excited mu was to be out of the temple. Saki was so pretty even then but mu was also always such a shell-kisser and now mu had even more opportunities to be perfect. But eventually even Saki didnāt visit as much because there was so much to learn about our new home, Mu.
I hated being alone. Kairi and Kentaro had disappeared off together but at least I could depend on Aito who was also still in shock. We would squeeze ourselves into an imaginary corner of my round hut and pretend we were in the unnamedsā chamber, many bodies squashed together instead of only us two.
Aito came one rise to say mu had been allocated jungle hunter duties in the same hunter pack as my twin. If two as different as overcautious Aito and reckless Kairi could be allocated the same duty, then how did the Experienced decide? I wanted to be a rural. Kentaro was a rural and we already had the other island duty so I assumed we would be together.
I was allocated water hunter. Iād thought only Kairi and Kentaro knew about my connection with water. I suppose there are no secrets when there are no doors. Kairi and I are the only twins on Mu. Everyone says it is a gift from and for the island. I donāt know what they expect from me or Kairi. How are we a gift?
I try and live the same life as any other Maymuan, unlike Kairi who enjoys sticking out like the fin of a dolphin. No one can remember a time when there have ever been twins. Not even the Experienced, and they have lived the longest.
With all eyes on us maybe it was stupid to believe we could hide our powers. I can control water. From the sky or ground. Wherever there is water I can push, pull, and draw it. I have never heard any Maymuan say they can do the same. The only other one who can is Kairi, who can manipulate fire. From a spark mu can burst a flame. From a flame mu could torch a temple.
āHello,ā said a beautiful Maymuan standing at my opening. Mu was holding a dark folded robe. āI am Ayana.ā
I glanced at Aito huddled against the wall.
Ayana smiled. āIs this your pairing, Kentaro?ā
No, Kentaro was probably in a tree somewhere sucking the face off my twin. I shook my head.
Ayana frowned. āYou need to go.ā
Aito sprinted out without hesitation ā the first of many times mu would abandon me without a backward glance.
Ayana handed me the robe.
āThank you,ā I said, stroking the streaks of silver thread. Ayana was staring at me. I had learned to accept those kinds of stares. Kairi and I are as rare as a blue buha but Ayana had a different energy to the other gawping Maymuans. āIām scared,ā I admitted, surprising myself.
Ayana knelt down. āItās okay. You will be fine.ā I didnāt believe mu and it must have shown on my face because mu continued, āI was a water hunter.ā
āWas?ā I asked. Allocated duties are eternal.
āYes, until IāāAyana hesitatedāāfulfilled my other duty.ā
āOh. Sorry,ā I said, not wanting to meet mir gaze anymore. I wrapped my arms around my legs and rolled up like a coco.
Ayana squeezed my knee and looked cautiously over mir shoulder to check the opening was empty. āI heard you are gifted with water.ā Mu shook mir he...
