Down in the valley, Fellen and I stood by and watched as hundreds of people found spots to participate in the large formation dance that always happened shortly after the beginning of the festival. As an adult, I could have joined Rawley, Crest, Veris, and Keili where they stood in pairs across from each other in a circle nearby, but I had no desire to embarrass myself before the reflection dance with Fellen. Nole felt a similar sentiment, so she stood off to the side behind Fellen. She could have stood closer, but Nole always seemed a little more distant and quiet when an activity wasn’t clearly focused on being between a huntress and her apprentice.
It took some time to organize everyone who wanted to join the dance and find a them a place with a partner in the concentric circles. The dance took place on a small rise of rounded land that made easier for people to see the inner circles, and some difficult idiots always had to insist on being in the center rather than where spots were available. As the Echoes shuffled people about and doubled checked the formations, more than a few groups of people made their way to the cooking fires dotting the area to snack on bitter bark cakes and drink boiled river jewel berries. The boiled berries made a pretty blue drink that others liked because it softened the bite of the bitter bark cakes. I always thought it tasted too sweet. Others had also gotten out festival pipes and were puffing the smoke of ground up fuzz grass into the air. Not many people participated in that option though, because while your senses and reactions were heightened for a few hours when you crashed the most you could do was sleep—few people thought that missing half the night’s festivities was worth the thrill of being that aware.
Fellen grabbed my wrist and pointed. “Look!”
I had to quell my initial reaction to pull away at the sudden, unexpected touch before I focused back on Rawley and the others like Fellen wanted. The formation dance had begun. The movements were simple and repetitive as every time the dancers completed a set, the movements brought them to their next partner in the line facing them. I think that was why the goddess allowed them at other celebrations; they were the most basic of the dances and prized order and cooperation so that everything worked smoothly.
However, even with the simple movements, watching that many people dance in sync while those of us in the crowd clapped and stomped in time was also an impressive experience. And that was without even taking into consideration the bluish-green glow that trailed after the dancers’ bodies as they moved. It looked like the waves of light that sometimes danced in the sky at night. The myths suggested that those lights were created from Her Beloved’s song or appeared as a mark of luck from the Beloved. They also said that the light effects that happened during the festival were so that the Beloved could see all the people honoring her throughout Her territory.
I watched, a bit awed, as the dancers created a large, slowly swirling blue-green beacon for the Beloved as the light followed them as they moved. When I glanced over at Fellen her eyes were wide and bright with anticipation and I didn’t need to hear her say it to know that she was vowing to herself that she would participate as an adult.
The formation dance ended as the Echoes cracked their rhythm sticks together and began their own dance toward the center circle of dancers. The light faded from the outside ring of dancers first as they finished their last set and parted to let the Echoes through. One by one each successive circle completed one more set than the last as the Echoes brought their sticks together and twirled and wove around each other as they progressed forward. I had always liked watching the end of the formation dance because of the interesting dichotomy of watching the light die around the dancers as the light around the Echoes became more vibrant.
When the Echoes reached the center of all four circles, there was a pause as they took their last swirling step into a circle of their own, rhythm sticks crossed with their neighbors’. Then every other one lifted their sticks high into the air before slamming them back down onto the others’ waiting sticks. A crack like thunder exploded from them. Those that had their sticks hit, lowered them next before returning the gesture and slamming them back up against their neighbors’. Crack. Then they began to side step in place, gently tapping their sticks together in quick paired beats.
Fellen and I both strained forward, trying to get a better view, as we knew what came next. One by one, as the other Echoes kept the rhythm, they stepped forward into the center of the circle and perform their solo. Some laughed and did tricks like throwing and catching their sticks in the air or got some of the other Echoes to start another beat while others were solemn and strove to prove themselves through their skill alone. When Old Lily stepped into the circle, I couldn’t help but shift a bit more to see through the crowd. Despite the fact that her kindness was uncomfortable and unwelcome, she had always been one of my favorite Echoes to watch during this performance. She never did anything overtly fancy, but her movements were among the most fluid among the group and even I knew enough to know that she made tricky beats and using different sounds look easy. Not everything had to be a harsh cracking sound.
Once the last Echo stepped back into the circle, they picked up the tempo and did another group performance as they all wove around each other in various formations. It got faster and faster as they went until I wouldn’t have been surprised if some got hit with a stick because they missed the timing. But no one got hurt and their dance ended with their signature three rapid hits.
Crack. Crack. Crack.
The light faded as we all clapped and the more boisterous cheered. The Echoes took a few long moments to bask in the praise before they split up to return to their respective Grandmothers. Excited murmurs swept through the crowd as people eyed the trampled snow the performances had left behind.
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It was time for the competitions to begin.
I slipped away from Fellen with the promise that I would return with bitter bark cakes and river jewel juice for her and Nole. They were going to try to meet up with Rawley and the others, and try to secure a better spot to watch the sheep and reindeer herders face off. While I could still feel the gazes of watching eyes, there was some relief in not having to worry about being engaged in conversation. People were finally learning—or remembering—that I wasn’t pleasant to talk to and that trying to get me to talk about Flickermark was a waste of time for all involved.
I was given a decently wide berth as I made my way to collect the food and drinks like I promised. That in and of itself wasn’t new—people thinking I had too much life in me as a healer’s daughter had a similar effect—but the experience of it was. People’s eyes went to my chin rather than my hair, and the space seemed to be born out uncertainty and fledging respect, rather than fear and disdain.
After I got the food and drink, I found Fellen, Nole, Rawley, and Crest near the bottom of the rise of land where the competitions would be held. Fellen seemed to have a similar berth given to her from the way the rest of the crowd bent around the group. I didn’t mind it in the least. I didn’t have the hands to also get Rawley and Crest the juice, but it looked like they had gotten their own, and the pouch of cakes I had intimidated out of the cook had more than enough to spare. As the pouch was passed around I learned that Veris and Keili had wandered off to encourage a reindeer herder they knew.
We sat on oil treated animal skins that Rawley and Crest had retrieved from their stuff. They, along with some wool blankets, kept most of the cold and wet from melted snow away. The dances, singing, and competitions were held outside the meeting hall so that the Beloved would have a chance to see us honoring her, as well as the fact that we could see well in the dark with the star and moonlight. Given that the glow stones needed recharged at night, we would have had to waste fuel to see in the dark of the meeting hall had we held the festival there.
The competition between the herders was amusing, though I didn’t laugh out loud or chuckle at the funny stepping sheep like Fellen or Crest did. There were multiple groups from each side that were paired to face off against each other and those that won were paired off again until only one side of herders remained. The winners were determined by who got the most cheers and applause at the end of each round. The sheer oddity of seeing the bluish-green light trailing after the sheep as it stumbled from side to side and walked backwards—nearly knocking over one of its co-performers—got the sheep herders the overall win.
Boos and grumbling exploded from the reindeer supporters in the crowd after the tribe leader running the competition made the announcement. The sheep supporters quickly drowned them out, however, with wild cheers, boasts, and taunts. I knew to expect fights to break out as the night wore on. In years past, during our alloted time in the designated healers’ tent, that had been one of the main causes of the injuries I had to treat.
Then it was time for the general performances on a first come, first serve basis. Any who wanted to could join the line to wait an interminable amount of time before ascending to the top of the rise with the hopes to not embarrass themselves in front of everyone in the valley. Dancers and singers were the most common of course, but others also used the chance to show off other odd talents like the ability to juggle or hit the center of a moving target repeatedly.
Fenris, our tribe’s Pack Leader, especially favored the latter talent and every year tried to goad Rawley into competing against her. She wanted to prove her superiority—though I didn’t doubt my mentor’s ability to match or exceed her skill. I don’t think I ever saw Rawley actually compete against her. Instead, Rawley tended to brush off her comments or twist her words so that Fenris accidentally ended up insulting herself. Both served well to humiliate and enrage the Pack Leader, though she could little more than take her anger out on the target in front of the crowd. It also spawned the next year’s worth of rumors about Rawley’s audacity, their relationship, and theories that Rawley actually made Fenris mad so that she would perform better.
I did not want to join the line. Or dance in front of the whole valley. But Fellen ignored my protests and my glares and dragged me with her. I would much rather have taken the safe option of staying in the crowd, so that I wouldn’t have to worry about embarrassing myself at all. Fellen didn’t care.
“You owe me the dance.” Fellen leveled her own glare at me, arms crossed, as we stood in line.
“We could do the dance just as well in front of a small group.” I gestured to the large crowd. “Not this.”
Fellen turned as the line shuffled forward. “We practiced, we’re in line—I’m not letting you get out of this.”
I rolled my eyes; I knew that much. “But why does it have to be in front of the whole valley?”
“Because than everyone can see that we’re not scared.” She smirked. “If we can do something like this, there’s a better chance we could make our way through Flickermark too.”
It was stupid, but I could see where she was coming from. This was a way to prove ourselves on a small scale; that’s how everyone else would see it, if we did well. Children and newly turned adults didn’t usually brave the stage in front of all the tribes. I didn’t really care what they thought of me—so long as it furthered the idea that people should stop bothering me for gossip—but Fellen would have to deal with these people for years yet, if not her whole life. Earning respect could only help her. I stayed in line despite the part of me that was absolutely sure the whole thing would end horribly.
When it was finally our turn, we walked up the side of the rise and told the Echo waiting at the top what dance we planned to do. She nodded and readied her sticks to provide a bit of background sound. We stood facing each other.
On the count of three we began. The Dance of Water into Ice began with fluid movements but as it went on they became more choppy, unsurprisingly like we were becoming frozen. It was odd to dance with the Echo’s light tapping and scraping of her sticks, and odder still to notice the light grow and trail after me as I matched Fellen’s movements. A jolt of dread spiked through me as both the mark on my thigh and my chin began to prickle before I realized they were probably just reacting to the goddess’s magic. We finished the dance kneeling in the snow, chins lowered, foreheads nearly touching, an arm outstretched like we were reaching for something.
Applause and a few scattered cheers broke out. It hadn’t been perfect, but it had been good. I met Fellen’s gaze and gave her a private, satisfied smile.