We stumble along the forest in the dead of night. How long ago was the fight? 

The fight. T'Challa. The thought of him dead hasn't registered in my head. The same questions bounce around in my head. 

He really can't me dead. Can he?

No, he can't. 

But why are we stumbling around in the woods?

He just can't be dead....

We continue until Nakia in front of me stops, holding her hands up. "It's only me, it's only me." Nakia says. I peek over her shoulder to see Mother holding out a knife, Shuri standing behind her. 

"Mother!" I cry out, rushing past Nakia. 

Relief washes over Mother's face as I rush into her open arms. "Oh, my ingcuka encinane!" little wolf She gasps. My face nuzzles into her neck as she wraps her arms tightly around me, stroking the back of my head like she used to when I was younger. The tears start falling down my face as the reality of the situation finally crashes down on me. "Thank the gods that you are safe." She whispers in my hair. 

I feel Shuri's arm snake around my waist. I peak my head up a little bit, seeing her red eyes and face wet from tears. It almost shatters me. I release Mother and fully embrace my baby sister. Shuri shakes as silent tears fall on my shoulder. I'm probably doing the same to her. 

"Nakia, who is this man?" Mother asks tensely behind me. I glance up to watch as Mother studies Agent Ross, knife still in hand. 

"He's a friend of T'Challa's." Nakia explains. "He saved my life." 

Mother continues to watch Agent Ross. "Where is Okoye?" She finally asks. Okoye? Okoye was supposed to come with us? 

But Nakia shakes her head. "She is not coming. She and the Dora Milaje will guard the new king." Mother slowly lowers her knife, completely in shock. Of course, we are no longer of any importance, not without the king. Not with that Killmonger sitting on the throne. 

Nakia places a bundle of blankets she was carrying down next to us. "Wait here." She orders before rushing off back into the forest. 

Mother blinks before wrapping her arms around me and Shuri. "What has happened to our country?" She whispers to us. 

"Mother, ingaba yinyani? Ngaba T'Challa ufile ngempela?" Mother, is it true? Is T'Challa really dead? I whisper into her shoulder already knowing the answer. 

She leans back enough to cup both Shuri and my cheeks. New tears glisten in her eyes. "Ndiloyiko njalo, wam umntwana." I'm afraid so, my child She whispers back, pulling us back into her embrace. 

I glance over Mother's shoulder, seeing Agent Ross watch us with sympathy in his eyes. I can't believe this is all really happening. 

🐺

We hike up the mountainside, the air growing colder the higher we go. Shuri and I are wrapped in the same cloak, huddled close together. Mother is on the other side of Shuri, sandwiching her between us. "I don't like this." I whisper. 

"I heard you the first three times." Shuri whispers. We huddle closer, trying to keep warm. 

"So where are we going again?" Agent Ross asks. We both glance over at him, watching as he struggles to follow us. 

"We are taking the heart-shaped herb to the Jabari Land." Nakia answers. That's why I don't like this. I don't think the Jabari Tribe deserves the heart-shaped herb. It's too dangerous. It's too dangerous for me to even be on this mountain.

A look of confusion forms on Agent Ross' face again. "Heart-shaped herb? What is that?" He asks. 

"It gives whoever takes it heightened abilities." Shuri informs.

"It's what made T'Challa so strong." Nakia adds. 

"Nakia." Mother says, stopping in her tracks. Shuri and I stop alongside her, with the rest of our little group. "I don't like this." Mother glances around at us. "The herb belongs to us. We may be creating a bigger monster with M'Baku." 

I glance up at our destination. The head of a gorilla is carved into the mountain, it's open mouth operating as an entrance. The entrance to the Jabari Lands. 

I return my focus back to mother. "Mother, it's our last chance. We have no other choice." I don't like saying it but it's true. There are no other choices to make. 

"Nakia," Mother says, grabbing Nakia's shoulders. "You should take it yourself." Both Shuri and I look down. Mother's not even considering us as an option to take the herb. It kind of hurts a little, not being thought of to save your nation. The nation you grew up in. 

Nakia takes a moment before responding, calculating her response. "I am a spy with no army. I wouldn't stand a chance." 

Mother nods, giving up on her argument. "We'll go." She says, disappointment lacing her voice. Shuri loops her elbow into mother's, giving her an encouraging smile. 

So we continue. All the way to the mouth of the gorilla. Then I hear something that causes me to stop, tugging Shuri and Mother to stop with me. 

"Shh." Nakia hushes us, hearing the same thing I did. We all stand in silence, listening. 

Suddenly, multiple men emerge from the shadows, surrounding us, barking at us. 

"Oh shit." Agent Ross mutters under his breath. 

"Look Down. Stay calm" Nakia says as we put our backs against each other. 

"Shuri, Hunter." Mother pauses for a moment. "Look down." Shuri and I obey and look down. 

🐺 

We stumble into M'Baku's throne room. M'Baku sits on his throne, staring down at us. One of his men behind us slams his staff into the ground, causing Shuri and I to jump. 

Mother is the first to speak, taking a step forward. "My son...was murdered in ritual combat." I can hear her fighting against tears.

"Were the odds fair?" M'Baku asks in a simple voice. 

It is Nakia who answers. "Yes, but-"

"It was less a murder than a defeat." M'Baku replies coldly, cutting her off. He did not just say that. Can he not tell that we are grieving? I hold my tongue, for the sake of Wakanda. Sometimes I hate that I love my Nation. Apparently, not all of us agree with the quiet approach.

Shuri takes a step forward, pointing a finger at M'Baku."Do not rub your noses in it!" She snaps. 

"Silence!" M'Baku barks. "I make the pronouncements here, girl!"

I take a step forward, pulling Shuri back towards me. "Shuri, hush!" I hiss at her.

"You would do good to listen to your wolf, girl. At least he knows his place." M'Baku growls, glaring down at me. 

Agent Ross steps forward next. M'Baku's head snaps towards his direction. "Uh, your higness, the new King is a-" 

"WOOF!" M'Baku barks. Quite literally. 

Agent Ross glances back over at us before attempting to talk again. "The new King-"

"WOOF! WOOF!" M'Baku and his people bark, drowning out Agent Ross' voice. "You cannot talk!" M'Baku snaps once he and his men finish their barking, watching Agent Ross like a hawk. "One more word and I will feed you to my children." 

With a large gulp, Agent Ross glances at me, panic in his eyes. I give a quick shake, warning him to be quiet. 

Slowly, M'Baku smiles. "I am kidding. We are vegetarians." He says laughing. I glance around awkwardly, seeing none of his men laughing at his joke. 

"Great Gorilla M'Baku," Nakia says, interrupting his giggles. Nakia kneels to the ground, holding out the heart-shaped herb to him. "This is why we are here. To offer this to you. An outsider sits on our throne. Only you can help us stop him." 

M'Baku stands from his throne, his face in awe of the herb. But it also looks like he's thinking. What could he possibly have to think about? This is the fricking heart-shaped herb!

Slowly, Mother, Shuri, Agent Ross, and I all join Naki in kneeling in front of M'Baku. 

M'Baku's face softens before stepping forward. "Come with me." Is all he says.