K'deiki had taken her leave of the cooking silently after a time, leaving K'ile and Li to bond on their own. She smiled to herself as she shuffled her way to the Elders' tent. That Tia was right about one thing - even if he didn't win and had no real chance of winning this challenge, the simple act of it would lift the spirits of her family, give them a sense of normalcy. The challenge of Tia to Nunh had in history been a time of celebrating their family's strengths, of emboldening the youth and securing a powerful future. It was not something that Nunhs dreaded, but rather embraced as an opportunity to demonstrate their worthiness and love for family. This could be healing for them all and a time to show their newest family members the soul of the Hipparion tribe.
And no one had ever minded the feast and show, least of all K'deiki.
K'jhanhi and K'takka greeted her in their own ways when she returned to their tent. They both had begun preparations of their own for the challenge - it was tradition for the elders to give blessing to the fight after the display of the feast, as an acknowledgment of the mutual benefit such challenges brought to the tribe. K'yohko and K'ile would both receive the blessings of the elders and the spirits to strengthen and steel them for the struggle.
Collecting and preparing the necessary materials - a paste of herbs used to paint the faces of the fighters, a string of bone beads used in prayer, the ceremonial shawls all three of the elders would wear - was an amicable activity for the three of them. When they all exited the tent, even K'takka looked a bit stronger than before and there was some energy to K'jhanhi's stiff steps. They greeted huntresses who passed, the young women paying brief but sincere respects before hurrying off to prepare themselves.
The bonfire flickered and stretched towards the stars as the elders approached to await the Nunh and his challenger.
And no one had ever minded the feast and show, least of all K'deiki.
K'jhanhi and K'takka greeted her in their own ways when she returned to their tent. They both had begun preparations of their own for the challenge - it was tradition for the elders to give blessing to the fight after the display of the feast, as an acknowledgment of the mutual benefit such challenges brought to the tribe. K'yohko and K'ile would both receive the blessings of the elders and the spirits to strengthen and steel them for the struggle.
Collecting and preparing the necessary materials - a paste of herbs used to paint the faces of the fighters, a string of bone beads used in prayer, the ceremonial shawls all three of the elders would wear - was an amicable activity for the three of them. When they all exited the tent, even K'takka looked a bit stronger than before and there was some energy to K'jhanhi's stiff steps. They greeted huntresses who passed, the young women paying brief but sincere respects before hurrying off to prepare themselves.
The bonfire flickered and stretched towards the stars as the elders approached to await the Nunh and his challenger.
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"Song dogs barking at the break of dawn, lightning pushes the edges of a thunderstorm; and these streets, quiet as a sleeping army, send their battered dreams to heaven."
Hipparion Tribe (Sagolii)Â - Â Antimony Jhanhi's Wiki
