The men and women of the Great Khans sat around the circle that had been bordered with rocks, Aurora watched, with rising nerves, as the people of her Tribe, the Wind Dancers, moved in their choreographed dances, flips, pirouettes and leaps that showed off their muscular statures and grace.

After this performance from the group, it would be her turn, a solo dance, the Dance of the Swords. Her Coming of Age dance within the group, her first Solo performance and it would be for the Great Khans, an honour that her Grandmother, the Matriarchal leader had bestowed upon her. Soon she would be asked to take over the role of Wind Caller, and lead their tribe.

She stood there nervously in a light leather garment; the leather was so soft it was almost as if it were made of a simple material rather than the skin of a gecko. The clothing showed off her dancer's physique, and her curves to good effect, she had already noticed the looks that were thrown at her by some of the men, she had other concerns rather than being bedded by a Great Khan, such as how she was going to tell her grandmother that she was going to volunteer to serve in the NCR for a few years before she took up the Leadership of the Tribe

She thought of her parents back home in the NCR, she had been sent to the Tribe at her grandmother's behest, she was the oldest blood female in the family, as the title of Wind Caller was only for the women of the Tribe's Leading family.

She watched as the group finished with a flourish. She quickly limbered up, ensuring that her muscles were relaxed and ready; she took several deep and quick breaths to get as much oxygen through her system as she had been taught and prepared for the introduction of the drums.

The drumming began and she took the two Pre-War Chinese officer's swords from the table. She curled her wrists with the savage blades in her hands, feeling their weight and she prepared herself, listening to the beating of the drums, when the hand carved flutes piped up, she took two running steps and leapt into the circle.

She moved with grave and fluidity, the swords flying in her hands, she leapt, and curved her body in near-impossible contortions, all the while missing her flesh with the twirling of the swords, her vision blurred, but she knew exactly where she was and where she needed to be next, the Faces of the crowd of Khans that encircled her were rapt, mesmerised by the 18 year old Tribal girl's movements.

She breathed and listened to the world around her as she moved, she flipped in the air and leapt, hearing the final bars of the music of her dance, her final choreographed moves bade her to perform several spinning leaps and land on bended knee, one blade within in earth and the other to be pointing to the sky. She landed before a young Khan, probably not much older than her, long hair, deep eyes, she couldn't help herself, she looked up and met his gaze, and she smiled slightly. Before the music ended and the spell was broken.

Alex watched with rapture as the woman danced. She couldn't be more than my own age, he thought to himself with wonder, and yet she moved with such grace and deadliness. All in one glorious, beautiful package.

It was a pity they would likely be moving on soon. Over the years, the Wind Dancers would show up, entertain, amuse, and titillate for a day, and then vanish like their namesake. This one though, what was her name? Aurora. She was something truly impressive. Alex fancied himself something of a blades man, but he knew that his own skill paled in comparison to the lithe and compact danger he saw dancing for the hooting and catcalls of his tribe. Barbarians, the lot of them… but he loved them all never the less.

Tomorrow would be his coming of age trial. He would be hunting Deathclaws with a group of his fellows Tribes Hunters. Some of the toughest and most competent men and women he had the privilege of calling "family". None of that mattered all to much right now though, as Alex allowed himself to be swept up in the flashing of blades and the grace of the women before him. For one lingering moment he could have sworn their eyes met. A moments connection, and a shock like lighting. Brief, flashing, electric, and gone before the eye could follow it. With a wide, genuine grin that always came easily to him, Alex took it as a good sign. Tomorrow would go perfectly.

"Why would you want to go and leave the Tribe?" her grandmother asked her, surprised that the girl would even consider joining the Army of the NCR, yes the tribe were considered citizens, and her parents lived just outside Shady Sands, but from what the Matriarch had gathered, the girl was dedicated to her trade as a dancer, she had the skills, the amount of comments and compliments she had received from the Khans last night had proven that she was ready.

"I want to serve, to explore the world, The NCR allows us to keep our tribal identity, so I want to give something back." Aurora argued.

Her grandmother grabbed her by the arm, anger in her eyes,

"We already serve them; we entertain the people of the NCR, going from town to town like gypsies, performing song, dance and plays for our food and shelter." Her grandmother sighed as she released the girl. "We are not warriors girl, we are dancers, performers, entertainers." She stood tall and looked at the girl. "You can be killed, and then what, who will lead the tribe?" she shook her dead, her long hair moving from side to side.
"I forbid it." She informed her granddaughter.

Aurora scowled, "I am an adult, I came of Age last night Grandmother. I will serve in the Army and then I will return." She turned haughtily and walked off in a huff of defiance.

She sat upon a rock at the entrance to the camp and watched as the young man who she had connected with walked out of the camp with a group of other men, she smiled as he caught her eye. She would miss the travelling to perform for people, but she felt compelled to volunteer for the military.

She watched as the group of Khans set off into the Mojave Wastes, hunting, or perhaps off to annoy some other tribe, it was fortunate that they had an agreement with the Khans, as the Wind Dancers were a peaceful people, only using their weapons to protect themselves on the roads in case Raiders or gunslingers decided to ret their luck at attacking the peaceful folk.

One of the little girls from their tribe came up to her. "Aurora, Wind Caller has asked that you come and prepare for our departure in the morning. She smiled at the girl.

"I'm coming Kalia." She said with one last look at the young man and his companions. She arose from the rock with grace and leapt down to the ground to race with the flush of life and joy of living with the girl to where their carts were waiting to be loaded for the trip to Vegas and then back to the NCR.