Shuri by Nic Stone

Author:Nic Stone
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.

Ororo does know of someone.

But.

“I hate to be the source of disappointment for a second time, Princess Shuri, but I’m not entirely sure I could even get to the person I’m thinking of,” Ororo says sadly. “He’s … detained at present.”

“Detained … ?”

Ororo looks back and forth between the girls and sighs. “Is there something happening in Wakanda, Shuri? I understand your concern for saving your herb, and I want to be of service, but I need to know what I am walking into, and—not to discredit your very valid concerns—whether or not sharing highly confidential information with you is worth the risk.”

Now Shuri is nervous.

“What I understand from what your brother shared with me years ago, this herb is a vital component of the Black Panther mantle, yes?”

Shuri nods. “In order to fully become the Black Panther, an individual must ingest the herb. It enhances speed, strength, agility, and kinesthetic sensory processing. Makes a man …” or woman, she thinks, “into a giant cat while simultaneously augmenting the advanced cognitive capabilities we already possess as members of the Homo sapiens species.”

“Maybe I should eat a leaf or two …” K’Marah says.

“You’d die,” Shuri replies.

Ororo draws back. “Well, that’s a bit harsh.”

“Yeah, seriously!” K’Marah says. “I was kidding!”

“Well, I wasn’t.” Shuri focuses her attention back on Ororo. “Anyone who eats of the herb unworthily won’t survive it.”

“Huh,” Ororo says. “I guess that makes sense. I’m sure it prevents would-be megalomaniacs from finding and eating it and becoming instantly powerful. Not that Wakanda has any citizens like that.” She grins. “How often does a sitting Black Panther have to take it to maintain its effects?”

“Uhh, as far as we know, only once.”

“So … and forgive me if this question seems dense,” Ororo says (and Shuri knows they’re about to head downhill), “but if the Black Panther never has to ingest it again, why the urgency to save it now?”

Shuri sighs. Why are grown-ups so thickheaded sometimes?

“The ritual Challenge Day is coming. That’s the day when—”

“—any number of self-selected opponents can challenge T’Challa to a bout of hand-to-hand combat for the throne. I’m familiar.”

“Right. Well, at the current rate, the herb will die out completely on the day of the Challenge. So if T’Challa loses—though I don’t believe he will,” she adds for good measure, “the new king and Black Panther will be nothing more than a regular dude who happened to kick T’Challa’s butt. This might be fine within Wakanda—provided no one decides to run a coup and overtake the throne by force. But what if forces attack from outside?” Shuri says. “What happens if the enhanced abilities of the Black Panther are needed, but unobtainable?”

“And then there’s you,” K’Marah says, jumping in.

Which makes Shuri’s already-racing heart leap up into her skull so she can hear just how nervous she is. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, I don’t know what your future plans are, but I certainly hope that you’ll one day become queen and Black Panther—Pantheress, really.” She stretches out a hand to look at her fingernails.

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