Maa’ti a small brownish hand gently nudged the young woman, Maa’ti, wake up.
It had been several hours since Chad had returned from playing with his friends - his friends he repeated. The thought had slipped into his mind with ease. After the boys cleaned up at the base of the falls he'd returned to his father's tent only to meet Nequi's scowl. The man immediately launched into his first lesson.
A good prince should tend to his future wife. You must get used to proving for her, as she will someday bear your children. Fun should always wait until your family is cared for.
Minutes later, he found himself by her bedside, unsure how to proceed.
Looking down at her sleeping face, his eyes navigated to hear long, silky hair. Like his own, its bourbon brown locks were twisted in intricate beaded patterns, and adorned with feathers and other fineries. The handmaidens of the Chief's tent paid special care to their young prince's betrothed.
It's so pretty.
Chad felt a strange mix of pride - pride that his own hair could match her beautiful locks - and a gnawing discomfort. He knew such thoughts were foreign, a symptom of his ever creeping changes. His old self - his real self he reminded, was a man's man. A jock, and an often homophobic one. A memory surfaced of Chad and Rob stealing a rather effeminate boy's bright pink underwear just before gym class. They made quite a show marching around the locker-room presenting the briefs and shouting "Fag alert! Fag Alert!"
Now here he was, effeminate frame and flowing, colorful hair.
Chad shuddered. He was proud of his manliness, proud of his thick muscles, love of sports and ability to get ladies. Yet now he found an unbidden excitement and interest in Martin's new hair. Gently, he lifted one of Marin's long braids. He admired the handmaiden's work. The color pallet was limited to blues and greens, primarily in the form of lapis lazuli and sapphire beads. The colors were striking against her reddish-brown skin. His other hand traveled to one of his own braids, as he mentally compared his look to hers. Unlike her limited colors, his was a brilliant rainbow of Yellows, purples, greens and reds all brought to fore by a mix of rare gemstone bead and feathers. After he'd washed from his fun with Ruut, he'd adorned the tips of the paired locks that framed his face with small, artful flowers preserved in the hardened resin of the rare canuaru tree. Given their delicacy, such preserved flowers were rare. Few had even one. As prince he was lucky to have two.
The blue is so pretty, perhaps I should add some to my hair he thought, excited by the idea of the true rainbow he could create by adding a touch of lappis.
Looking down at the near chest length braid he held between his fingers, he shuddered. God, what is this body doing to me?
He didn't want to be so taken by his hair, yet enhancing its beauty excited him.
Slowly Martin opened her eyes. Their blue locked into Chad's green. "Where-where am I?" She asked, voice cracking slightly; Chad was unsure if that was from her age or if she was still changing. An unexpected nervousness filled his chest.
"You're in the medicine man's tent" Chad replied, voice cracking slightly and nerves growing. He knew his father expected him to be on his best behavior around his future wife. The reputation of their family demanded it. Chad always tried his best, but for some reason the pressure inherent in their interactions just yielded nervousness. Its never this way with Ruut he thought, as that strange flutter from before welled up in his chest.
"Medicine Man?" Martin replied before a look of shock crosses his face. "My-my voice. What happened to my voice?!" Fear gripped him as he began to feel something off.
"I feel weird." He moaned as his hands removed the furs that had been draped over him. Seeing the brown skin, he shot up from the bed, quickly backing against the woven reeds of the wall. "My skin..." his voice choked on the words. He stretched his arms, studying the mahogany tone that had replaced his pale white. They were smaller than before, thinner, shapelier. His nails looked perfect, polished and trimmed without the ware of labor. Turning slightly, he brough his hand to his artful blue green hair. "It's so long...colorful" his voice cracked again. "... Feminine". Understanding began to form. A shaking hand shifted to his chest. Pressing lightly against the skin he noticed it had more give than before, while his nipples were larger. Nervously, he looked down at his loin cloth, returned to his body by Ruut hours earlier. He slipped a hand under the fabric. His fingers met his new lips, only to quickly pull away.
"Ffffffuck...." He said.