Chapter Seven: The Feast

Din went to Cara's hut and knocked. A startled sound came from the room.

"Is everything okay in there?"

"Yes, I, oh just go to the fire, I'll be right there."

Cara had just relaxed a little on her bed. She put her hands over her eyes, took a deep breath, and then stood up. Cursing, she looked for her things, but they still weren't there. They were probably still drying on a line somewhere. But at least there was a jug of Spotchka on a table.

After a short time Cara stepped next to Din, at the campfire that had been set up. Grogu sat on his arm and looked at her with his big eyes. He squealed in delight when he saw her. Cara gently stroked the tip of his left ear. The noise Grogu made was like a cat's purring pleasure.

Thechyaia, was here the name of the earth goddess, the festival started with a speech in her honor. Then the fire was lit. It took a while and Cara said to Din, laughing softly, "You would do the job better.", she looked at his arm with the flamethrower. Grogu immediately tried to trigger it with the help of the forearm controls. Din took his little hands, "No, Grogu." A disappointed tone came from the child. Slowly the first big flames flared up. Now the children of the village, in their krill costumes, came to the village square and Grogu wanted to go to them. He was standing with the other children in front of Din and Cara, the musicians began to play and the children, including Grogu, performed their dance. They swayed to and fro, and waved their arms. Cara and Din looked proudly at the little green creature and both had to pull themselves together enormously not to laugh out loud.

After the dance, Grogu toddled straight up to Din and stuck his little arms out at him. He lifted him up immediately. "You were a pretty good krill", Cara said to him. Grogu chuckled happily, but then he only had eyes for the food that was being served from the surrounding houses.

On each table was a fragrant pot with the village's treasure, the krill. There was also something that looked like rice. Grogu sat on Din's lap and greedily reached for the food. When he had eaten the first krill with its shell, Omera patiently explained to him that it had to be peeled first. Cara kept glancing at them because she had no idea how to get the peel off the damn things. Din inevitably had to laugh at the sight, luckily it was so loud, through all the conversations and music, that Cara didn't notice anything.

Stories were told at the tables that couldn't have been more different. Some villagers had been around a lot on Sorgan and there were even a few who had left the planet before. Grogu had gone to play with the other children after dinner. But now, tired, he came back to Din and enjoyed listening to the stories on his lap.

Winta, came over to them and snuggled up to her mother. She whispered something in Omeras ear, her gaze fixed on Din and Grogu.

"Just ask him", was her mother's advice.

Winta looked uncertainly at Din. "I wanted to ask if Grogu could stay with me tonight."

Din looked at Omera.

"I think that's a good idea", she replied with a smile.

Grogu looked begging at him with his big eyes. Din nodded. Grogu turned to Winta and stuck his little arms towards her. The girl took him up in her arms, beaming, and Omera brought them to bed.

Cara poured herself another mug of Spotchka.

"Come on, let's find a quieter place."

They sat down on a bench, a little away from the party.

Both stared into the fire.

"She is beautiful."

"Hmm?"

"Omera is a beautiful woman. And free. "

"What do you mean by that?"

Cara took a sip from her mug. She enjoyed the feeling that the Spotchka left behind. A pleasant tiredness spread, the world moved a little slower and her head hummed a little.

"I just mean the way you talked earlier. And last time you almost stayed here."

"No, I wanted to leave the child here because he ist happy here."

"And you couldn't be happy here, at least for one night, I mean?"

"It is not that easy."

"Damn it, yes it is. Go to her, wait at her hut and then take her to yours."

Din turned his head to Cara. She looked at him grim and challenging. Din thought for a moment. Was she serious? Was that what she suggested to him? Was that what she really wanted? What was stopping him? Hesitantly, he got up and looked down at her on the bench.

Cara's jaw tightened. She turned her gaze to the fire. "Go now, before she disappears right back in the middle of the party."