The night air was thick with the scent of burnt stone and smouldering memories. Mandlavi and Ramna moved swiftly through the dense forests, their footsteps light despite the weight of their grief. Behind them, the Isaki Cavern lay in ruins, a testament to the betrayal that had shattered their world.
"We have to shift," Ramna whispered urgently,
her fingers tightening around Mandlavi's wrist.
Ramna pulled her sister to a halt. "Mandlavi, listen to me. The Tengaki can not see us like this, we have brought shame to the community. This baby you carry is a blessing from the gods to us but we will be seen as the isakis who failed their community".
Mandlavi hesitated. The spell hovered at the edge of her consciousness,
waiting for her to surrender.
But to shift meant to erase herself.
Her hands trembled. She touched her face, her skin still marked by the life she once held.
Then, pain, sharp, twisting. Her child moved inside her,
reacting to the change. Not just movement, but resistance.
Tears pricked her eyes. Would her child even recognize her after this?
"I was Mandlavi once. But I cannot be her anymore."
She exhaled. Surrendered.
Magic surged through her, rippling across her skin like molten silver. Her bones ached, her body stretched and twisted, reborn, but not whole.
When she opened her eyes, she was someone new.
But inside, the crescent mark on her waist still burned a silent reminder that no magic could erase the truth.
Mandlavi barely registered the words, her mind still spinning from the events of the night. The image of Kovu standing in the fire haunted her.
Only Ramna knew the truth, and she had chosen to keep it hidden.
Ramna followed suit, her transformation quicker, but the strain was evident. They were no longer strong immortals. The magic that once flowed freely through them was fading, slipping from their grasp like sand through fingers.
"We need to find shelter," Ramna said, glancing at the darkened sky.
Mandlavi hesitated. "Where do we go? The Isakis are gone, and we have no allies."
Ramna took a deep breath. "Then we'll make our own way."
They travelled for hours, slipping through abandoned paths and crossing silent rivers, always watching, always listening. Every shadow felt like a threat, every rustling leaf like a whisper of approaching danger.
By dawn, they stumbled upon a small, empty hut on the outskirts of a forgotten village. It was old, the wood worn and cracked, but it was shelter.
"This will do," Ramna murmured, stepping inside.
Mandlavi lowered herself onto the cold floor, exhaustion clawing at her limbs. She pressed a hand to her stomach. The child had stopped moving.
A wave of fear crashed over her.
"Ramna…"
Her voice wavered.
"Something's wrong."
Ramna turned, concern flashing across her face. She knelt beside Mandlavi, placing a hand over her belly. A deep frown settled on her lips.
"Your body is struggling. Without our powers you're...…"
She stopped herself.
"Mortal".
Mandlavi's breath quickened. She wasn't supposed to feel this weak. Wasn't supposed to bleed.
Her baby wasn't supposed to be born yet.
Ramna's expression hardened.
"I can use the last of my magic to protect this place. But you need to rest, Mandlavi. You need to fight for her".
Mandlavi clutched her sister's hand.
"What if I can't?"
Ramna's eyes softened. "You will."
She rose, pressing her palms to the walls of the hut. With the remnants of her fading power, she whispered an enchantment. The wind outside stilled. The shadows along the walls deepened, forming an invisible barrier around them. It wasn't much. But it would keep them hidden, For now.