An Ancient Prophecy? (Creature Feature)

Chapter 5: the Village

Curtis and I waited until one of the women that helped Stella opened the door and motioned us inside. We obeyed and saw Stella on that same mat, her midsection wrapped up, propped up on her elbows.

"Are you okay, Stella?" I asked her.

"I'm fine now." She answered as she stood up. She looked at the group of women and said something to them. I'm assuming she's thanking them. The door opened. I looked at it to see an old woman. She and Stella started having a conversation. The woman bowed and left once they were done talking.

"What?" Curtis asked. "What'd she say?"

"That was the Tribe mother. She said we can stay in the village until I'm well again. And that there's going to be a celebration for our staying here."

"They're throwing us a party?"

"Well, mostly me. They find it a great honor to have a Thunderbird here."

"...Well I feel loved." I said sarcastically.

"In their defense; I'm positive they've never heard the legend of the Shark King and I'm fairly certain they don't know what an Adlet is."

"...Touché." Curtis responded. We started walking around and we walked past a group of people carrying a guy tied to a post. Stella started talking to one of them. After a few minutes, the person she was talking to turned around and yelled at the others, who let the tied up guy go.

"What was that about?" I asked Stella.

"They were going to cook that man for me to eat." She answered. "I told them it wasn't necessary and to let him go."

"Hey, how come this village still exists?" Curtis asked. "I don't think we're on a reservation."

"Your government doesn't know this place exists. That's why they live like the other tribes used to." Makes sense.

-------later, at the party-------

Everything was set up for the party, except they still needed to light the bonfire, since it was getting dark. Stella told them something, then spit fire on the wood. The people applauded.

"That's how she set that Mothman on fire!" Curtis thought out loud.

Once everything started, everyone was sitting in a circle around the bonfire. Stella was in between Curtis and I. The Tribe mother got up and started talking to the people.

"What's she saying?" I asked Stella.

"She's introducing us and saying it's an honor to have us here." She answered. People started playing drums and singing something in their language and others started dancing. The guy that Stella told them to let go grabbed Stella's wrist and pulled her into the dance. She started dancing and they put a headdress on her. She looked at us and motioned us to join in. I don't wanna make a fool of myself.

"C'mon, Erik!" Curtis said as he stood up, grabbed my wrist and pulled me into the group of dancing people. I don't know what to do!

"Just feel the drum beat." Stella told me. "Let the beat take over." I closed my eyes and I could feel the drum beat. I started dancing. This is kinda fun! Throughout the dance, I noticed that guy looking at Stella a lot. Once the song was over and we sat down, we ate. The food was pretty good. After everyone was done eating, the Tribe Mother asked Stella something.

"She wants to know if we could tell the legends of the Adlets and Shark King." Stella translated. "You say the story first, then I'll translate so it looks like you know exactly what you're talking about. Which one of you wants to go first?"