The hunt

3. Taken

Rhot'sau doesn't allow me to be late to the ceremony. He kind of took care of me after my parents died so he's the closest thing I have to a parental figure, and as the leader of the hunters, he also wants to keep the prestige of the group protected.

So that's how I ended up here, with the fanciest of my clothes, the necklace made from my parents songcordords, my hair adorned with blue wild flowers between some of my braids and a decorative string of rocks on my right leg. It's kind of a bracelet that goes up my ankle to my calf.

The Tsahik calls for me to stand next to Tarsem, we're gathered at the camp, we'll dine together to celebrate.

To be honest, I am glad that we don't have pressure to make things more official today.

After she announces once again that Tarsem has chosen me and what a powerful couple we will be to lead the people, we begin the celebration.

Some of us play music, well, I'm not very good at it, but the ones who are do. Others sing or hum to the music as we pass around the food.

After we have eaten, we will dance, it is supposed to be a way to raise our vibration and connect with each other.

"You look very beautiful," Tarsem tells me, I lean in to listen to him as the drums are too loud.

"Thank you, you too," I respond, and it's true. He's wearing the leader's chest piece and a big beautiful bracelet on his upper arm.

He smiles and passes me a bowl with pieces of fruit.

During dinner is easy to talk to him, I almost forget that we are celebrating this because of us, because we are a couple now. Supposedly.

Then we are called to dance and I remember it.

I feel nervous again.

Tarsem offers me his hand to stand up as we join the circle of people dancing, they open a space so we can dance in the center. Dancing is easy, we pretty much just have to follow the drums, the leading partner makes the other one turn sometimes and then we join the circles of people.

Tarsem is good at guiding us and he spins me around every once in a while, I do begin to feel happier and soon I'm dancing with more skill with him. He smiles when I giggle and I look down embarrassed.

Then it is time for us to join the bigger circle and change partners for a moment.

The rest of the party goes on with ease. Dancing, then drinking, then dancing some more, later, the ones who decide to stay sit in a circle and tell stories

I stay until the stories start to be too long.

"Tarsem, I- well, would you- can-can I go rest?" I ask him.

I'm not sure if I have to move in with him already but... as a couple we are supposed to share a place, so that's why I'm asking.

"Oh... yeah. Sure I- well. Let me show you to our place," he says.

Like me... he drank a little.

I decide that I'll follow him first and then I'll go get some of my things, tomorrow I can finish gathering them.

He takes me somewhere in the back and center of the mountain, a big tent awaiting for us.

"Wow, it has a lot of space," I say entering.

"Yeah, we can bring our things and adjust as we want to," he says.

"I think it's a great idea," I say. I feel a little lightheaded as I did drink a little too much because of the nerves.

"Hey I- I think I'm going to sleep now," I say.

"Sure but, can you join me for a moment outside?" he extends his hand to me and I take it.