Prompt: 047 Music
Title: Follow the Beat
Word Count: 299
Rating: K
Author's Note: The beats in this is used in middle eastern music. The first one is called chiftetelli (pronounced "shift-a-TELL-ee") and is 4/4, the second one is called karsilama and is 9/8. I learned it from my belly dance instructor, but if you want to check out differeny rhythms or whatever go to www. shira. net. (remove spaces.)

"Mu-Shin isn't so bad looking, either, you know. He's sooo strong, not to mention kind."

"What about Pakku? Since last year he's grown up a lot. Hardly looks like he did before he went to visit his aunt in the northern country."

A slow beat drifted to Katara's ears, slightly downing out her new friends' voices. All she could hear were the drums, but it was like nothing she'd ever heard before.

dum ta tek-e-tah tek-e-tah doom doom tek dum ta tek-e-tah tek-e-tah doom doom tek

"Hey, Jin, Karri. What is that sound?" Both girls paused in their discussion of boys Katara had never heard of and listened. Simultaneously, they both squealed.

"The festival! It's starting!" "We have to get you to the festival grounds!" Jin grabbed Katara's left wrist while Karri grabbed her right and they both proceeded to drag her to the center of the village. The drum beat developed into a melody accompanied by wood flutes and other various instruments. "You must dance with us!"

Although she was a little uncomfortable, Katar danced with them. It was probably considered bad luck to not dance when there was a festival being thrown partly in your honor. Team Avatar defeated the spirit beast that was attacking the village at night, so the village paid them back by having a festival for them. How could she say no?

As more people made their way to the festival Katara became more comfortable. There were more people dancing and the music had picked up considerably.

doom tek-e-dum tek-e-dum tek-e-dum ta ta doom tek-e-dum tek-e-dum tek-e-dum ta ta

Pretty soon her body was moving on auto-pilot to the beat and she was thoroughly enjoying herself. Getting lost in the music was the perfect stress relief at the end of a hard day.