The following day seemed like any other in these pages, deep in the African jungle. The wet woodland teemed with life, such as mountain gorillas doing the funky gibbon.
In his vision, he saw chimpanzees swinging in the trees, chit-chatting, screaming, and howling through the dense green bushes, while graceful grey elephants elegantly strolled in the jungle.
The cheetahs ran on the flat plains of the savanna, chasing fast-moving gazelles. The cool breeze swayed the tall tulip trees, and leggy giraffes chewed on their leaves.
A golden lion licking its teeth appears in the scene. He looks mean, looking for a meal, and then Eros hears a water hog squeal.
When Eros looked closer, a lion was creeping low as if stealthily striding toward its prey. Then, it was ready to pounce on a familiar figure.
It caused Eros to step quickly towards the beast. He advanced speedily and pulled out his primitive flintstone knife.
He dove onto the back of the creature. Stabbing the animal in its back. But it was a fearsome predator. It grappled with Eros when the lion tossed Eros over.
Rolling over, and recovered on his feet. Eros was as quick as a hare, nimble on his toes, and his flare made the lion roar; it was scared.
Eros shuffled his feet to confuse the creature. His footwork was Eros’s best feature. Then, the lion roared once more and ran into the jungle.
Eros felt triumphant, but his primary concern was the woman. Once, the creature fled into the distance.
He looked around to help the familiar figure he ran to save. It was with his mother.
She was unaware of the lion’s approach. When she was gathering blueberries. Eros said, ‘Good morning, Mother. Are you all right?’
**Motherly Love**
His mother’s name was Aphrodites. She had thin, long locks with a shimmering, dark-toned complexion.
She revelled in the thrill and was excited by the men’s interest in her. She enjoyed being chased across the fields. Like antelopes, she pranced, and the men danced.
The men sang songs that made her sing and swing her hips, which caused her to prefer him to him. They could be twins?
They chatted a rhyme that chimed. Passing the time, sipping wine and then dining. She adored to unwind.
Poetry flowed, chirping words that weren’t absurd. But the lyrics that warmed her heart. Those who fought like lions or tigers weren’t her type.
Then again, some people do not think or know anything else besides their unsophisticated nature and men’s strength, which leads some females to behave submissively. Harbouring sadomasochist tendencies.
Most women strive to share their affections with respect and dignity. As equally as men.
Eros’s curious question ignited a query before she could answer. Aphrodites replied, ‘I’m okay, thank you, son. I saw you sneak away with Andromeda last night into the jungle. You look upset. Did you have a disagreement or an argument?’
Towering above her were Eros’s colossal column legs. His black chest was puffed up like a proud Kori Bustard displaying its colourful plumage.
He extended his arms like the thick branches of a tree and assisted his mother to her feet. Eros inquisitively responded, ‘No, but have your thoughts ever spoken to you?’
Aphrodites looked up from what she was doing. She could see his big brown eyes sparkle like a solar eclipse.
She held his firm hands and rose to stand before him. She readily replied, ‘Well, I always follow my thoughts. I would advise you to do the same. Eros, you are a good young man. It has served you well so far. Follow your mind, son.’
Eros smiled with gratitude and joy at the sight of his mother. Then he replied, ‘Mother, I must go north. Why don’t you join me on a journey to far-off lands?’
Curiously, Aphrodites approaches her son. She brushed her fingers through his afro-cotton hair. She answers, ‘Why do you need to go north?’
Eros felt relaxed by her mother’s touch. He hesitates slightly. Then Eros says, ‘My thoughts said to follow the brightest star north.’
Aphrodites, quite puzzled, responded, ‘It’s a bit weird. Is that what your mind said?’
Eros answers, ‘Yes, Mother.’
Excited by the prospect of a journey to an unknown destination. Enthusiastically, Aphrodites replies, ‘Okay, I’ve never been to the north. What about your girlfriend, Andromeda?’
Andromeda wasn’t too far away from them. She was across the fields gathering berries. They called her to ask if she wanted to travel north with them.
Andromeda was two years younger than Eros. At eighteen, she was a young orphan. With a petite figure of average height, she modelled a tight waistline.
She had no other close family members to help her in the dense jungle, so she said, ‘I like it here. I know most people and my friends are here. It’s the only place I know, and I can call it home. Why do you need to travel north?’
Eros replied, ‘I don’t know how to explain. Let’s say a voice in my mind or intuition says I must travel north. You can stay here, but I must go, and I want you to join me. I would miss you otherwise.’
Andromeda pondered briefly and then replied, ‘What should I pack, and when do we leave?’
Overjoyed, Eros leaps in the air to land directly in front of Andromeda and plants a kiss on her cheek. He answers, ‘Continue collecting berries. My mother will pack our food in the mud hut, and I’ll get some water. We can leave at noon and follow the stream to the River Nile, or wait until tonight and be guided by the brightest star.
Eros’s energy was overflowing, making Andromeda feel excited. She replied, ‘Once I’ve said goodbye to my friends. The sooner, the better. I will miss them, but not as much as I would miss you, Eros.’
The brief pause in their conversation invited them to kiss each other’s lips. The tender touch resembled two black swans intertwined in love. This sweet moment didn’t last long.
Eros peeled away from her tender touch to say, ‘Let’s not waste time. We will meet up at my mother’s hut at noon.’
We will leave this chapter to start their journey North in the following paragraphs.
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