“Yes,” Dimeses replied. “Every harvest moon, one herd hosts the festival and invites the others so the young people may meet and mingle.”
“And plant the seeds for a fruitful harvest in the coming months!” Aeicion interjected heartily, earning him cheers from the others.
“I see.”
“Do you have something similar in your culture?” Dimeses asked. “How do Drakkons produce offspring?”
“And, is it true what they said about…you know. Yourspecialattributes,” Aeicion stage-whispered, glancing down meaningfully below his waist.
Not really wanting to answerthatquestion, Hektor turned to Dimeses. “Not quite. We have matchmaking events where females who wish to mate with us come and couples get to know each other over a few months before making any commitment.”
“Sounds very formal.”
“Drakkons mate for life,” he explained. “So one must choose carefully.” It was something the older Drakkons always warned the young ones about.
“We do things differently here, and we want to make it as enjoyable as possible for everyone.” Dimeses nodded back toward the fire. “Ah, looks like your comrades are getting in on the fun as well.”
“What?” Hektor followed the centaur’s gaze, toward one of the smaller camp fires across from the main festival area. Elianwas playing a flute with the musicians, while Liora was in the middle of some kind of dance circle with a few of the females.
However, there was no sign of Zara.
A knot twisted in his gut.
“Excuse me, I should check on my comrades.”
Hektor ignored the burning fire in his chest as he marched toward the group, his eyes scanning the field for any trace of Zara. First, he headed toward Elian, pushing his way to the front of the gathered crowd. Once he reached Elian, Hektor planted himself in front of him.
“Where’s your sister?” he asked Elian over the din of the music.
He replied with an eye roll and continued playing, ignoring him.
Hektor huffed, but did not move in an inch. The song barely wrapped up when he repeated his question. “Where is she?”
Elian put his flute down. “Over there, dancing with the fillies.”
“Not Liora,” he retorted, impatient. “Your other sister.”
“How should I know?” he replied with a shrug.
“You speak of Zara?” One of the musicians, the one carrying a stringed instrument like a large guitar, asked.
“Yes. Her.”
“Ah yes, I saw her slip away with some members of the Rainspell herd.” He smirked. “I think they were playing a round ofzegizh minwha.”
“Zegi–what?”
“It’s a game. Sometimes a filly or colt may be too shy to approach someone they fancy. The game can help encourage a couple to get together, away from prying eyes.”
“And where would they play this game?” he asked through gritted teeth.
The centaur thought for a moment. “Usually, they make a specialkezilwith walls to give the couple some privacy and allow them.…”
Hektor did not even wait for the centaur to finish as he stormed off in search of thiskezil.It didn’t take him too long to find it, as it was the farthest one from the others. He approached the group gathered just outside the tent just as they burst into applause when the flaps opened. Two centaurs stumbled out, smiling and red-faced, the female’s hair mussed and tangled.
With the fire in his chest intensifying, he marched toward the lone two-legged figure in the group. “What do you think you’re doing?” he boomed.
“H-Hektor?” Large brown eyes gazed up at him. “What’s going on?”
