“Oh,” she looked down at her drink. “I’m excited to try it,” she smiled.
Drovo walked up to the vilt barrel and ladled two cupfuls as well. He took a deep breath and walked to Kayla. “For you, my luna moth.”
“What’s this?” Kayla looked skeptical as she eyed the drink in her hand.
“It’s Orsu’s creation. We call it vilt,” he explained.
“It’s wine,” Julie supplied.
“Oh?” Kayla swirled the liquid in her cup and gave it a sniff.
Drovo and I exchanged confused looks while Julie stifled a laugh.
“Mmm, it has a moscato flavor to it,” Kayla commented after taking a drink.
Julie took a sip and let out a moan that affected me in more ways than one.
“It does taste like moscato!”
Soon the vilt barrel was half empty and everyone who had wanted the fermented berry juice had gotten some.
“What are you doing?” Ashley sat next to Axon on a bench as he tied some fern leaves into the shape of a moon.
“I’m making an izarra. We focus on our gratefulness for the goddess’ blessings as we fold the leaves into the shape of a moon. Then we throw it into the fire so as it burns the winds will take our gratitude up into the heavens where she resides.”
Axon looked over at Ashley and handed her the one he made. “Why don’t you throw this one in? Then I can teach you how to make one if you’d like.”
Ashley smiled appreciatively. “I’d like that very much.”
She threw the izarra into the flames and happily sat down next to Axon again.
I decided it was time to really get this party started. I began the ancient festo chant as I beat my chest like a drum and walked alongside the fire.
The elders pulled out their drums and joined my beat. Tarak’s mouth grew wide with a grin as he got to his feet and walked with me around the fire. Our Savrix invited all the hunters to walk with us as we kicked up our feet, moved our hips in rhythmic motions, and beat our chests in honor of this great victory.
Julie
Orsu looked so sexy as the orange glow of the fire highlighted the blue hues of his skin. He locked eyes with me as he chanted a song that didn’t translate. His voice was low as he bellowed out words that sounded like a warrior’s victorious battle cry.
The beat of the drums and the hunters chanting grew louder and louder until the entire clearing was filled with their song of joy. Tarak broke the chant by letting outa howl of victory and all the others followed, tilting their heads to the sky and using their whole chest to cry out to their goddess.
It was a powerful ritual and I was happy to witness it.
Once the shouts died down the elders started a new beat. The guys danced to this song by moving their hips in a hula style of dance. There was no coordination between the hunters, they simply moved in whatever way their bodies directed them.
I couldn’t take my eyes off Orsu, though. He moved with such grace that it was breathtaking. I knew exactly how good he was at moving his hips, and watching him made me wish I could pull him away from the party and take him directly to our bed cave.
Lumod left the fire to grab Hai and pull her into the dance with him. She moved her hips along with his and laughed when he winked at her.
Orsu grabbed me next. I was a bit nervous at first, but I wasn’t a Latina without rhythm. I could sway my hips with the best of them. So I let Orsu pull me in and we moved our hips in time with one another.
Tarak and Gabby danced together next to us. Both of them looking as natural as if they’d done this dance a thousand times before.
After a while Jax attempted to ask Sarah to join him. She had spent most of the dance looking down at the ground, only daring to glance up at the dancing hunters every once in a while.
“Oh no, I’m not supposed to move my body like that,” she explained, looking morose.
Jax gave her a confused look and motioned to the clearing surrounding us.
