"And then we were attacked by a foul-looking creature that came from nowhere and said that it was going to destroy us," Shuri said to the group of young people who were gathered around the bonfire. "And a dragon. But Peter's cat opened its mouth and tentacles and teeth as sharp and large as an alligator's came out, grabbed the creature and pulled it into his mouth and ate it."

Several of the young nobles frowned, looking from Shuri to Peter.

"His cat?"

The princess smiled, nodding.

"Yes. It was amazing. And a little scary."

There were fourteen of them on the bank of the river. Peter had gone looking for Shuri, who was also looking for him, and to his delight, she had Tony (her puppy) with her. Not as much of a puppy as he'd been when Peter had bought him for her, but still young and clearly excited to see Peter, if that wagging tail and sloppy dog kisses he'd bestowed on the boy were anything to judge by. He'd crouched down and rubbed the big dog's ears, crooning cheerfully to him, and then had grinned up at Shuri.

"How was your ride out?" he'd asked. "Did you nap on the way?"

She rolled her eyes, amused and blushing just a little at the reminder that she'd fallen asleep against him the other day.

"I did. Did you?"

"Of course. I wanted to be awake and alert for this evening. What happens now that the gifts are given to the hosts and the gathering has started?"

The princess smiled.

"Nothing happens, tonight. It is a time for mingling and renewing friendships. Even for you, since you will see many of the same noble sons and daughters that you met when you were named Wakandan and the Avenger tribe was created."

"All night?"

"There is no set schedule. The day will begin early, tomorrow, but anyone who wishes can sleep in until they are ready to join the festivities." Her eyes were happy. "It is common for the younger people to make a bonfire and exchange stories of the time between this gathering and the last. Would you like to attend?"

"Sounds good."

Even as they were making plans, Peter found himself under assault by yet another excited puppy, and he grinned at Azoru as he rubbed Natasha's ears, too. The Jabari noble walked over, accompanied by a couple of cousins of similar age. All of them bowed, politely, to Shuri in deference to her rank, and then greeted Peter.

"I was telling Peter about the bonfire tradition," Shuri told Azoru. "Are the Jabari free?"

"We are," Azoru assured her. He whistled and Natasha trotted over to his side in a perfect heel. It was clear that she was well trained, despite dogs not being that prominent in Wakanda. "Are any of the others of your tribe coming, Peter?"

"Just me, I think."

The others would find out about the bonfire tradition, he knew, but would almost certainly stay away, once they did. If it was intended for the teens, then they would leave it to the teens. As long as there were no shenanigan, he added, silently.

"We can go pick the place," one of Azoru's cousins said, glancing toward the river. "Then the others will know where to come."

That was what the had done. Peter knew how to build a campfire, of course, but he watched, impressed, while a couple of the Jabari youth cleared a place on the riverbank and then started gathering wood. It was only a few minutes later before a roaring fire was going; a beacon to the other young nobles from other tribes, apparently, because they started arriving. As it began to get dark, the rest showed up, found comfortable places to sit and joined in the story telling that had started with Azoru telling about his initial trip to visit the Avenger tribe (as he called them) in America.

The group had been impressed by all that they'd heard (although some of them had heard it, before) and then someone from the river tribe had told an interesting tale of a fishing expedition taken along what Shuri described to Peter as a major river in Wakanda, and one that was so wide it was sometimes impossible to see the other side. Another story – this time from a mining tribe girl, and now Shuri was telling them about the haunted house and Halloween.

And about the climatic finale. Of course.

"Are cats in America so different from the ones here?" a girl asked.

Peter smiled and shook his head.

"Nutmeg didn't really eat the demon," he said, which was an outright lie, of course, but a necessary one. "It was an illusion to make it look like he did. Part of the haunted house experience."

"It was very realistic," Azoru added, his own participation in the activity increasing the awe of the others, since they all knew that he wouldn't make up a story just to make someone else seem more interesting. "I was sure that the demon, at least, was really there."

"Wow." A few of his cousins had been told the story over the course of the last day, but this was the first that the others had, and it was interesting to them. "Your Halloween sounds exciting."

"The Haunted house was exciting," Shuri said. "Some of their other traditions for the day are a bit more… colorful…"

Not that she was worried about hurting Peter's feelings by saying bizarre, but he was the only noble son of the Avenger tribe and it wouldn't do to call him or his traditions weird, now would it?

"Like what?" another asked.

Shuri and Azoru regaled the others with different things that had been done that evening; the dressing up as other people, or things, the bobbing for apples and other games, the begging for candy door to door being not only encouraged but assisted with.

"Your people learn charity at a young age," a border tribe member said. "That is impressive."

Peter shrugged, but didn't disagree, although he thought the young woman was being polite – and that was nice of her.

"We try to, yes." He was ready to change the subject, though, from Halloween to anything else that was about Wakanda, instead. Peter was well aware that he was the new guy on the block, so to speak, and everyone who hadn't had a chance to meet him and learn about him in the few hours of mingling the night that the Avengers were made into a tribe were curious about him and would want to get to know him, better. He was willing, of course, but he wanted to make sure that the others had a chance to talk about their tribes, as well. It was a gather of tribes, after all, and not just learn about the Avengers tribe. "Do your people all get a battle rhino?" he asked her – and her brother who was seated beside her, hovering somewhat over her and frowning at the other boys whenever one seemed to show any kind of interest in her. "Like for your birthday or something?"

Her brother laughed and shook his head.

"You have to be invited to become a rider," he told Peter, more than willing to explain the process to the other boy – although had Peter not been Wakandan, now, he would have cut his own throat before giving away any secrets. "And only after you have proven yourself to be brave, and strong, and intelligent enough to learn to control them."

"They are very powerful beasts," his sister added.

"I know," Peter assured them both. "They're incredible."

"Our mother rode one," the boy said, proudly. "Before she had me."

"It is true," Shuri said, nodding, and then turning to Peter. "Their mother is Grindown. She was once invited to the capitol to give my father a demonstration of her abilities. I remember seeing a recording of it. It was incredible. Not many women are rhino warriors."

"That's incredible."

The two beamed, and Peter was impressed by how easily Shuri made them so happy. A princess had to be good at that kind of thing, he knew, but she had done it, naturally. Just make a comment about someone and be impressed by that person. It was that simple. At least, it was to Shuri, who was a natural at that kind of thing.

"My uncle still rides," the boy said. "He is here, this weekend, and brought Jui – his rhino – for demonstration. Perhaps you can come meet him."

"That would be great," Peter told him, sincerely. "Thanks."

"Maybe he would even allow you to ride him."

Shuri smiled, which made Peter think that she must have known that Tony and Pepper had told Peter no rhino riding that week. He ignored her amusement, and nodded.

"We'll have to wait and see," he temporized. "But I'd definitely like to meet them, both."

"Smooth."

Alec clearly had been waiting to see how Peter was going to refuse without looking like he wasn't interested in riding the rhino, or looking afraid to. He'd done a fairly good job.

"I just tried to think of what Pepper would tell me if I asked her."

An amused snort, and Peter turned his attention to the next story that was being started. This one was being told by a Jabari. He leaned back against the log that he was resting against – a piece of driftwood deposited by the river so long ago that it was practically petrified. Shuri had been seated on that same piece of wood as she told of the haunted house, but now she moved so she could sit beside him, using the wood to reflect back the warmth of the fire since it was getting chilly, and leaning just a little against Peter, who smiled, but didn't turn his attention from the storyteller.

This bonfire tradition was a good one. He couldn't wait to experience the rest of the gathering traditions.