She is well-versed in the Jungle’s ways—it has been her motivation for many years—but that does not mean that she understands everything that she sees. There is much about the Jungle’s intricate workings that she simply cannot comprehend. She knows that the jaguar hunts for food, not for sport. She knows that the humidity has a direct correlation to the constant drizzling in most—but not all—of the rainforest; that’s how it got its name. She knows that there is little undergrowth because not much light penetrates the leafy canopy overhead. All of these things she has a pretty basic understanding of.
But there is so much that she still doesn’t understand. What is it about the Jungle that makes it so humid and wet? Why isn’t there more undergrowth that doesn’t rely so much on sunlight? Why does it only rain in parts of the jungle? There is so much she has left to discover! She knows that some of the other Amazonians share that thirst for knowledge; surely not all of them are warrior women, though she knows that that is a very important part of their culture. But she knows that some of them, like her, have no taste for war.
She lost half of her family in war, in a war that was fought to save her nephew. Her family has grown and flourished since then, but no one will ever replace her mother and her dear brother. There are what drove Tessie into hiding in the first place, only emerging to visit with Quark and Quark’s children. It has been extremely lonely, but Tessla is so tired of loss. Losing your family hurts more than most could ever realize.
She does not get the chance to wander thoughtfully away from the jaguar’s kill, though there is so much on her mind that she feels as if her head might just burst. A soft whicker comes from behind her once she has put a safe distance between herself and the feasting jaguar and her pace falters as she glances over her shoulder. It is another mare, moving with the grace of someone who has lived here many years. Briefly, she is thankful that she doesn’t resemble her well-known yellow and white sister. They are similar and build but they had separate fathers, so they are not identical. This woman—Rhy—should not recognize her as Quark’s sister, though she should not be afraid of being recognized. “Hello,” she responds with a smile, turning to face Rhy. “I’m Tessla.”
Rhy’s comment makes her smile grow wider. “I have lived deep within the Jungle for many years,” she tells her. “I figured that there is no time like the present to finally swear my loyalty to her.”
Tessla
I don’t know where I’m going, but I’m figuring it out