Fire Side Dancer

[Josu_T]

Rahn got up off the ground and heard the crowd cheering. He looked for the other two men who were competing. He finally spotted them being looked at by some people. They seemed to both be unconscious. the sol was announced as the winner of the whole competiton. Rahn smiled and shook Sol's hand to congratulate him. "Good job Sol. I guess beginners luck was not good enough for me this time."

 

[Angeltears]

Sol shook Rahn's hand and smiled, "Well I can tell you this I didn't expect to win this way.o win." He looked over at the two on the ground and really could beleive he had won. "Come on lets head towards where the other game will be and then we will be done for the day." Sol headed towards his other two brothers and Tora and Kara. Tora slipped next to Sol and congratulated him as Ash took up the position on the other side of her. Leaving Tan and Kara to follow behind, Ash looked over his shoulder at Rahn and smiled, "Come on."

 

[Josu_T]

Rahn nodded to Sol and followed him over to where the other two brothers, Tora, and Kara were. He continued to follow the group toward where the next contest would be. From what he could see, Tora was ok. Ash had not done anything to upset her, which made him less worried. If they had one brother on their side already, the other two would be easier to tell.

 

[Angeltears]

Tora looked over her shoulder and saw that Rahn was still with them behind Tan and Kara, she smiled at him though it looked like she was smiling at the other two. Once they reached where the begining of the other race would start Tora wished them all luck and taking Kara's hand she went and joined the crowd. Tan went to follow them but Ash took him by the arm and turned him around heading to the start line. "Come on brother last game for the day." Some of the women had set up the packs for the next game while the wrestling had been on. As they stood waiting for the race to start Tora whispered more of her plan for tonight with her.

 

[Josu_T]

Rahn smiled back at Tora as they got close to the cometition area. He already knew the rules so he got himself ready near one of the sets of items. He looked at what was tehre and started to figure out the best and most efficient way of packing them and still being able to run with them. A couple minutes later he had a plan set. He just hoped it would work. He calmed himself and got focused.

 

[Angeltears]

The three brothers gathered and looked at the stuff they had set before them, the women changed what was packed every time so that it would be different each time. Each of them quickly trying to work out how best to pack every thing, as the woman called out the details of the compation.

Soon the woman called the game to start. All the men lunging for there pile of stuff and quickly trying to pack it all so that they could be carried around the village. As Tora watched she saw some men finish packing and start to run. Then Tan got up and started running. Ash and Sol still packing.

 

[Josu_T]

As the women said for them to go, Rahn calmly started to organise everything. He packed it all up so he could have most of it on his back, but also carry some things in his hands. That would allow him to unpack faster once he got through the running. It would also be fairly easy to run with. He made sure everything was packed well before starting to run. He could see Tan running ahead of him and there was a group of men starting to run at the same time as him. His run went well. Nothing dropped out of his packs so he gained on a number of men and passed a couple. There were a few men starting to set up their small camps when he got to the end of his run. He quickly started to unpack everything.

 

[Angeltears]

Tora saw Rahn get up and start running and then not that long after it she saw Sol and Ash at around about the same time get up and start the running part of the compation. There was only one man who seemed to be really struggling getting his things organised and he only just started running when the first man came from the direction that the runners where coming from. Then Tan appeared with Rahn close behind him, Tan set to trying to set up his one man tent but seemed to get himself tangled. Eventually Sol entered the area but Ash wasn't with him and Tora assumed that he had fallen behind.

 

[Josu_T]

Rahn unravelled everything and started to work on the tent. The tent went up fairly easily. His organisation made sure he did not get anything tangled up. He took a look around as he finished tying off the ropes on the tent. There were a few other tents up and Rahn started feeling as if he had a shot at winning. He started to set other things up in and around the tent. Eventually it was down to the fire. He did not bother looking around, he just started setting up the fire. He started by using a knife to make curled wood shavings to use as tinder for the fire. He moved quickly, creating a pile of shavings. He then used a hatchet to make some smaller pieces of wood.

 

[Angeltears]

Ash finally entered the area and by this time Tan had untangled himself and had finished seting his up his tent. Sol was half way through setting his tent up and was soon catching on Tan. Tora looked over at Rahn and saw that he was way ahead of the brothers. There was couple of men working on there fires now. As Tora watched it was becomeing apparent that it was down to three men, Rahn being one of them.

Tora turned to Kara, "Once the compation is done we will go get something to eat and then go practice, is that okay with you?" Tora asked her and Kara nodded once Tora had explained what she wanted to do. Kara liked the idea of what she planned. "This is going to be fun?" Tara said smiled.

 

[Josu_T]

Rahn finished getting the wood ready for his fire. He then made a pile of the wood shaving and set up some smaller pieces of wood. He then started to work on igniting the fire. A short while later he had a small fire going. He methodically built up the fire. He got it to a decent size and then heard cheering. He wondered if he might have won, but then he noticed people closer to one of the other men congratulating him and one of the judges declared the man the winner. The judge by Rahn told him that his fire was just a little too small. Rahn took a look at the other man's fire, it was not neat or organised at all and he realised his mistake. The fire only needed to reach a certain size, not nessecarly be a fire that would last the night or be perfectly safe. Rahn was still happy though, and some people congratulated him on having three second places and a win.

 

[Angeltears]

Tora and Kara headed over to Rahn and smiled at him. "You did well," Tora said and Kara nodded beside her. "I like you camp better," Kara said. They saw the brothers heading in there direction and Tora smiled at Rahn and bushed her hand against Rahns as if by accident. "We will see you by the fire later." she said and then taking Kara's hand, both girls vanished into the crowd.

The three brothers looked at the direction the girls were heading in when they reached Rahn. "Where are those two off to?" Tan asked. Ash slapped Rahn on the back and smiled "You got close, but congratulations for your second place." Sol and Tan congratulated him as well.

 

[Josu_T]

Rahn smiled at Tora as she approached with Kara. He felt her hand brush against his and smiled and nodded as she said they would see them by the fire. He watched the two of them dissapear and then turned as he heard the three brothers approach. He thanked them for their congratulations and congratulated them as well for their performances that day. "I guess living just with my mother forced me to learn a lot. I was surprised with the wrestling though. I did not expect to make it that far. Anyway, I think I will relax in my tent before dinner."

 

[Angeltears]

The brothers watched as Rahn left them, then each of them headed in there own direction off to do there own things before dinner. Tan went in search for Tora and Kara, still worried about what she was up to, but no matter where he looked he couldn't find the two girls.

The two girls had gone to there own tents and then met where food was starting to be prepared. Both had a bag with them and smiling at the women there they grabbed a few light things to eat, throwing them into there bags with the other stuff they had in there. "If any one asks if you have seen us say, can you please tell them you haven't," Tora asked the women who nodded and shooed the two girls off. With a smile Tora led Kara away to a hiding spot she knew of that was just out side the village that they wouldn't be disturbed.

Once they reached the shelter of the hiding spot they sat and eat what they had grabbed first and then set to preparing what they had planned. As they worked Kara looked at Tora and said out of the blue, "You like Rahn don't you?" This startled Tora and then she burst out in laughter. They weren't doing much of a good job at keeping this a secret, hopefully soon they wouldn't need to. "How did you know?" she asked when she finally stopped laughing. "Because you look at him in the way I assumed I look at Tan." Kara blushed and Tora patted her hand and smiled as she continued, "Glancing at him when you think no body is watching, wanting to be near him. You organised this not only for me and Tan but for yourself and Rahn as well, didn't you?" Tora nodded, "What a selfish creature I am, but I am having fun in doing it so why stop." Kara laughed at her and then went back to her work, " I think every one will enjoy it." With that Kara began to sing and Tora soon joined her preparing themself for an interesting evening.

 

[Josu_T]

Rahn returned to his tent and went inside. He lay down and started to think about things as he relaxed. His mind was mostly on Tora, but his thoughts also drifted to his mother. He looked at some of the things in the tent that had belonged to her. He picked up her favorite necklace and smiled. "Hey mother. I'm here in the village like you asked me to be. It took a few days to get settled and I felt like an outsider for a while. Then something great happened. I met the most beautiful girl I've ever seen. I think you would like her. When I'm around her I am calm and happy. I think I am falling in love. Hopefully love will go better for me than it did for you." He held the necklace for a little while longer before putting it down and starting to wander through the village.

 

[Angeltears]

The smell of food soon drifted through the village, the two girls could smell it from where they hid. They knew it would be nearly time for them to come out of hiding.

Ash had who had been with a couple of his friend, headed with them to the fires to see if they could sweet talk some of the girls there, helping with preparing with dinner. The men helping where they were welcome and staying out of the older women's way. This all consisted of a lot of giggling from the girls and sighs and scolds from the older women, but it was usual dinner time ritual.

Sol had returned to his tent he wasn't interested in the pre dinner antics that his brother took part in. He had no need for flirting and showing off, for he had Lia. Lia and Sol had been friends for a long time before they realised there was more between them than friendship. The village had watched the relationship grow and soon they guessed the two will be properly bonded. Sol smiled to himself thinking that Lia would be back tomorrow, he hated when they were apart for to long.

Tan had hunted every where for Tora and Kara, even asking Kara's parents if they had seen the two girls. They said that they had seen Kara awhile ago, she had taken a few things and ran off saying she was spending some time with Tora. Tan stayed and talked to Kara's parents for a while about this and that, making plans for the next trip to the market village. When Tan final excused himself he realised the smell of food was strong and he headed to the main fire, where soon all would gather and like lunch the two winners of the last two games will be served and then they all could eat. He figured that the girls would appear then.

 

[Josu_T]

After a while of wandering around, Rahn eventually made his way to the main fire. He sat and relaxed, waiting for all the others to show up. He spoke to a few people as he waited. He asked questions about some customs and learned a few things about what to do in certain situations. One of the men around his age commented on how much he spoke with Tora. Most guys were not able to speak with her as much as he did because her brothers were very protective. Rahn did not know what to say so he did not bother responding to him. Once many people started showing up he got up and looked for Tora and her brothers.

 

[Angeltears]

Ash was the first one to spot Rahn, as his freinds grabbed plates of food once the women said that they could, but only after they reminded them that they couldn't eat until the two winners eat first. He had already gotten himself a plate and was sitting waiting for Tan and Tora to come. Waving to Rahn indicating for him to grab a plate and then join him. At the sound of the village gathering Sol emerged from his tent and once he got any where near the fire he was escorted to his place in the circle, where the other man who won the last race was already sitting. Tan spotted Ash and grabbing a plate he headed over to his brother, worried when he didn't see either Tora or Kara there.

 

[Josu_T]

Rahn saw Ash wave him over. He slowly made his way around the fire to join him after grabbing some food. He noticed Sol sitting where the game winners sat. One thing he had heard was that there was a special surprise for Sol. Apparently the girl he was courting was back. she had just arrived in the village elders. When she heard about Sol winning the wrestling competition, she decided to surprise him by brining him his dinner. Rahn looked forward to seeing his reaction. He sat with Ash and waited, wondering where Tora was.

 

[Angeltears]

Tan saw Rahn join Ash and then sat down and joined them. "Have either of you two seen Tora and Kara?" he asked a look of concern on his face, "I can't seem to find either of them and I think Tora is up to something." Ash hid a smile and shook his head at Tan, "I haven't seen either of them since the end of the last race when they ran off. Don't worry there big girls they can take care of themselves."

The whole crowd went silent when very one was seated and still Tora and Kara weren't there. But that was forgotten by the brothers for a second as they both saw who was carring one of the plates for the winners. Ash gasped and whispered to Tan, "I thought she was back tomorrow." Tan could only nodd and watch. Sol looked up as some one kneeled before him, he had been wishing that Lia had been here because she would have been the one to serve him. Automatically saying thank you to the girl infront of him it took him a minute to realise that who it was. Was he dreaming, was he still in his tent dreaming, for here kneeled before him Lia, his love. "Lia," he choked. "Hello Sol," Lia said smiling at him. Sol set his plate to the side and took Lia in his arms, hugging and kissing her. "I thought you weren't back until tomorrow," he asked when he finally pulled away from her to look at her face. "We got back early, and I thought I would surprise you," she replied. Deciding this could take a long time one of the elders said with a smile that every one could eat.

 

[Josu_T]

Rahn shook his head when Tan asked if he had seen Tora anywhere. It added to his own questioning of where she was. Then he saw Sol being served his food and waited for him to realise who it was in front of him. It took him a long moment to realise what was going on, but when he did, it mad Rahn smile. It seemed that Sol really cared for that girl. It also meant that if Sol saw the way he and Tora cared for eachother, he might not mind at all. He may even be happy for them. That just left Tan. Rahn started to eat as he waited for Tora to make her appearance. He was wondering what she had planned.

 

[Angeltears]

Tora slowly walked amongst the emerging shadows of the tents as the sun was setting. Kara followed behind her, they had decided as they saw the sun was slowly setting that they would return to the village. The stopped close to the main fire and looked to see very one there. "Lia's back," Kara whispered in her ear and Tora looked at where she was pointing. Tora couldn't help but smile as she saw Lia and Sol sitting together, talking and holding hands as they both eat. As she looked at them she couldn't help but wish that was her and Rahn. Stepping back deeper into the shadows, Kara headed to Tora's tent while Tora went in search of one of the elders in particular. Finding her was easy but doing talking to her and not being noticed by her brothers was another thing. Ducking as she walk over to the elder she whispered in her ear. The elder looked at her and smiled nodding. Tora turned to leave and stopped for a second she thought she saw Rahn look stright at her. Smiling she placed a finger to her lips and then vanished into the shadows of the tents, heading for hers.

 

[Josu_T]

Rahn sat at the fire and ate his food. He continued looking around to find Tora. She was definitely planning something, and he had no idea what it wa. I must involve Kara, but that was all he knew. As he ate and looked for Tora he also spoke casually with Tan, Ash, and a few other nearby people. Then he saw Tora talking to an elder woman. She put a finger to her lips and he gave a slight nod before looking away. He finished eating and relaxed by the fire, waiting for Tora to reveal her plan, or for someone else to reveal it and tell him what to do.

 

[Angeltears]

Soon every one had finished eating and were now sitting around the fire chatting, some moved off to go to there own fires, but most stayed as this was when Tora and her brothers usually preformed. Sol and Lia walked around and joined the others, and introduced Lia to Rahn, "Rahn this is Lia, Lia this is Rahn." "Hello Rahn, Hi Tan, Ash," Lia smiled and sat down with them, "Where is Tora?" Tan threw a worried look at Ash who shrugged. "It will be okay, how about I go check the tents and bring our instruments," maybe the sound of music will bring out little dancer out." Ash got up and headed towards the tents.

Kara and Tora where slipping out of Tora's tent when Ash came across the two of them. "So this is were our two little missing girls are!" he said scaring the two girls. Tora spun and punched him in the arm making him wince. "Ouch, Sol would be proud," he said rubbing his arm. "So are you planning on joining us or are you both going to drive Tan crazy with worry or is that part of your plan." Tora shook her head, "Where coming now."
"Good give me a second and I will get the instruments," Ash vanished into the tents and Tora smiled at Kara.

Ash rejoined the group by the fire, smiling. "There is no need to worry our to little missing ones have been found." Tan went to ask where but Ash silenced him, "Watch and see."

 

[Josu_T]

As Rahn waited by the fire Sol joined them with his girlfriend. Sol introduced her to him and he smiled and as Ash went to check the tents Rahn talked with Sol and Lia for a while. Tan seemed to just sit with a worried look on his face. After a short time Ash returned with instruments. He then told Tan to just watch, and Rahn figured that applied to him as well, so he sat back, relaaxed, and waited to see what Tora had obviously been planning all day.