"What about this Keller?" I asked as I stepped out in a green tarp dress. She paused, taking a moment to look me up and down before shaking her head.
"Try the teal one," she suggested, returning to sewing the last bit of feathers to a dress she had already chosen. I groaned, this was the sixth dress she had convinced me to try.
"Could I just, maybe not go?" I pleaded hopefully. The glare from Keller told me that wasn't an option though. Tonight was the celebration of some important anniversary to the clan, something about defeating mountain men for territory and reapers - Nyko had tried to explain it to me while we were working the other day but it was all very confusing. None the less, Keller had explained that everyone would be celebrating tonight and it was one of the biggest feasts the clan held every year - so there was no way I could not be there.
"Anyways, you wouldn't want to disappoint Jaxon would you?" she teased not even bothering to look up at me this time. "You are going with him right?"
"Uh, well," I stuttered as I felt my face flush. "He just asked if I was going, not if I would go with him. There's a difference right?"
"Not with that man," she replied instantly, laughing at my embarrassment.
Sighing I went back behind the curtain and stripped out of the green dress, and reached for the teal one Keller had mentioned earlier. The whole clan is going to be there, I tried to reason with myself, no need to get flustered. I turned looking into the shard of mirror Keller had positioned against a wall. Could be worse I suppose.
"I actually kind of like this one" I said, coming out and turning around for her in a dramatic fashion. "And I'm not just saying that because I'm tired of playing dressup."
Looking up, she smiled and nodded.
"That looks great on you!" She complimented. The dress was a vibrant teal color, much brighter than anything I had gotten used to wearing. It had only one sleeve, leaving my other arm bare but Keller assured me that it - along with the low hanging bust line - were completely typical for clan celebration wear. I had no choice but to trust her. Already she had moved towards me and had started hanging beads, feathers, and claws in random sections of the dress for decoration. As she tied a ornate woven leather belt around my waist, I struggled not to pull the diagonally cut hem down.
"Leave it," Keller warned, looking at me seriously. I sighed again and let the dress fall out of my hands, letting it fall back to just slightly above my mid thigh. Even though I was wearing boy-short underwear, I still felt a little exposed. That thought quickly vanished though as two women passed us wearing what would possibly pass as loincloth if I was being generous, and a bra. I was suddenly much more grateful for my dress.
Keller reemerged from the back room now dressed in the tight leather dress she had chosen earlier. Beads and feathers hung from the bottom of the dress and her sleeves, making her look almost feral in the fading sunlight. Smiling she made the final adjustments for my own dress before deciding we were ready.
The sun had already set by the time we had made it to the center of the village. A huge bonfire had been lit in the center and already people were gathering, drinking and dancing around to the music. It was the first time I had seen a lot of the people here really relax and drop their armor - figuratively and literally. Because it was a holiday of sorts for the clan, it was the one day where they weren't constantly on guard or suited up, there was no fighting at clan feasts.
"Cole! Keller!" a voice called out from across the way. Turning, we both smiled as Lucas approached us.
"You almost look like a warrior now!" Keller teased, causing Lucas to blush awkwardly. But she was right. Since there was no need for their armor tonight, most of the men opted for body paint instead - Lucas included.
"Thank you, I think," he responded bashfully. "You both look great as well."
At that moment a bunch of glass jars were passed our way. Handing one to each of us, Keller passed the case to someone else before showing us how to open the jars. As soon as the jar was open the odor caused my eyes to water. I recognize this. Taking a small sip I cringed as it burned down my throat - yup, this is what we had used the day we had arrived to counteract Jaxon's antifreeze poisoning.
"Well, cheers!" I toasted, holding out my jar to Lucas and Keller. Lucas clinked his against mine while Keller looked on confused.
"It's a sky people thing," I explained after a moment, deciding not to go into the details of toasting. It wasn't long until others from the clan started to arrive and the celebration really began.
"Cheers!" Keller yelled, thrusting her drink into the middle of our semi-circle group of friends who had joined us. Me and Lucas had long given up on trying to explain it to everyone, and eventually had gotten them to just accept it.
"Cheers!" Penn yelled back, hitting his drink against those in the middle, spilling some over the side. I laughed before cheering as well. At some point Penn and Nyko had joined us - Nyko was pacing himself throughout the night and Penn had set upon a personal mission to consume as much alcohol as possible, much to the entertainment of everyone else.
Taking another sip of my drink, I looked around the clearing. The fire was still roaring, giving off enough light to make out everything happening around us clearly.
"He'll be bringing in the fresh kills with the other hunters," Keller told me, nudging my shoulder playfully. She was also feeling the effects of the alcohol.
"Who?" I asked, confused about what she was talking about.
"Jaxon," she replied as if it was the most obvious thing. "Isn't that who you were looking for?"
"I was just looking," I told her, shrugging my shoulders. I had been curious about why I hadn't seem him yet, but I wasn't about to admit that out loud.
"Get up! Come on," Penn said as he came to stand in front of me extending his hand down to me. I looked up at him, trying to ignore how little he was wearing and how well the blue paint looked against his body. Penn had been nothing but a brother to me since I arrived, but I couldn't stop myself from blushing anyways.
"Come on," he whined, reaching down for my hand since I hadn't moved. Pulling me to my feet I fidgeted with my dress after sending him a confused look. He just gave me the drunk version of his stupid lopsided smile and pulled me along behind him closer to the fire.
"Dance with me," he asked, though it came out sounding more like a statement. Freezing in place I shook my head. I didn't do dancing. I looked around to the people near me jumping and spinning around in beat with the drums. Nope, definitely not a dancer. We only had one dance a year back on the Arc, and even there I didn't dance.
"Come on Cole," Penn begged, sending me what I'm sure he thought was a sad puppy dog face - a concept I had to explain to the warrior a few days ago.
"I can't dance," I admitted quietly, hoping he would let me go. His grin only got bigger though.
"I'll teach you," he replied before tugging me closer to the other people before I could protest. Once we were mixed in with the others he started to spin me around, pausing every few spins to show me a different step to the dance.
Maybe this isn't so bad, I thought to myself as Penn twirled me under his arm. He sent me a guilty smile when I was back in front of him before spinning me away from him and letting go of my hand. I went to turn back to him, but Artigas grabbed my hand instead and motioned for me to keep going. We switched partners a couple more times before the music changed to a slower but still up-tempo beat. I smiled and nodded at the man in front of me, who did the same before leaving me to find his original dance partner.
I started to make my way out of the group of people who had gathered around the fire to dance before a hand grabbed my wrist. I sighed, another jar of alcohol and a brief break sounded like heaven right now. Turning, my mood darkened when I saw who had stopped me.
With my hand in his, he spun me around before pulling me in front of him.
"Delano," I growled, narrowing my eyes at the one person who could make this night go from great to awful in a matter of seconds.
"Cole," he answered, his voice mockingly sweet. He spun me again before placing both of his hands on my hips.
"You look ravishing tonight," he purred in my ear. I groaned and pushed away from him, but he caught my hand again and continued dancing.
"What do you want now?" I asked shortly. "I would like to return to enjoy the feast as quickly as possible, so if we could just get this over with?"
I smiled slightly at hearing my tone. Maybe I should be drunk more often when I confront people.
"I'm hurt that you're not enjoying this as much as I am," he mocked, tightening his hold on my waist. As he moved in closer his breath also reeked of alcohol. A moment later he stopped moving, turning his attention to something over my shoulder. The music also changed as well, the other instruments had stopped leaving only the drums still beating.
I pulled away from Delano and turned to see what was happening. The hunters were back! Which meant food, my stomach growled at the thought. With all the others around me I couldn't get a clear view of the incoming group, but the yells and cheers around me gave me a pretty good idea of what was happening.
"We aren't finished little one," Delano growled in my ear, pressing himself against my back as his hand found my waist again. I cringed at his touch, but with so many people around I couldn't find a way to put any distance between us. I closed my eyes and froze as I felt his hand drop lower on my hip. Surely he wouldn't try anything here? Not with so many people around?
"Cole?"
Keller's voice broke me out of my thoughts, and I immediately looked in the direction her voice came from. Delano growled again from behind me as he turned and saw her making her way towards us.
"I'll find you later," he breathed in my ear before pushing away from me. Keller glared at his retreating form as she came up next to me.
"It was him wasn't it?" she asked directly, still glaring over my shoulder. I gulped and shook my head.
"Cole, you look absolutely terrified right now," she said, gently taking my hands and moving in front of me. Looking at her it was clear she already had figured it out. I sighed and nodded my head once.
"You can't tell anyone Keller, I mean it," I told her, not breaking eye contact. She looked at me confused, her head tilted slightly to the side.
"But why not Cole?" she asked. "He deserves what's coming to him for hurting you. All you have to do is say the word and half the clan would be fighting over who gets to knife him first."
Somehow the thought wasn't reassuring.
"No Keller," I said, my voice having no room for arguments. "No one finds out, no one but you will ever know."
She looked at me incredulously.
"But…"
"No Keller," I interrupted. "Please. No one else."
It took her a moment but eventually she sighed and nodded, agreeing to keep my secret. We made our way back to where we had been seated before, the smell of food wafting in the air made my stomach growl again loudly.
"Food first?" Keller asked looking at me hopefully. I just nodded and smiled at her.
"Yeah, food first."
We changed direction and headed toward the open pit where the food was cooking over an open fire. Keller explained that it was the warriors from the northern clan that had hunted for this feast, as if their red body paint didn't already set them apart. While salivating over the food I also subtly looked around for Jaxon - he would have been one of the warriors hunting.
I suddenly lost my appetite. A group of women from the village - the ones who I had seen earlier dressed in barely anything at all - were surrounding the warriors cooing over their skills. Jaxon was no exception as I watched as a woman I didn't recognize pressed up against him.
"If looks could kill they would all be dead," Keller teased quietly. I faced her again still glaring. I didn't even understand why I was so angry in the first place - it would make sense for Jaxon to get the attention of other women, I mean … he was Jaxon.
I spared another look in his direction, immediately regretting it as his eyes locked with mine. I glanced at the woman who was now playing with the buckle on his belt before turning away from him. Breath Cole. He's a grown man who can make his own stupid decisions.
"Do you ever realize that you think out loud sometimes?" Keller asked, smirking at me with an amused glint in her eyes. I blushed. I should probably work on that.
"Let's just get food and go back before I throw up," I suggested, watching Keller's grin get even bigger. I just stared at her, what was so amusing?
"Are you sick?" a concerned voice asked from behind me. I groaned inwardly and glared at Keller for not giving me a better heads up.
"No Jaxon, I'm alright," I told him as I turned to face him, careful to keep my disdain off my face. He looked me up and down quickly, causing me to blush, before nodding.
"Good," he told me, before handing me a stick with roasted meat on it. "You must be hungry."
My blush deepened as I took the food from his hand, "Yeah I am, but you didn't have bring me anything … I could have gotten it."
A small smile ghosted over his lips.
"I know, but I was hoping you would do me a favor tonight and thought you would be more willing to agree if you had eaten. I know you get cranky when you're hungry," he said lightly.
I wanted to be mad at him, but as I chewed my first bite of meat I found it impossible.
"I'm sure she would be more than happy to do any favor for you Jaxon," Keller teased, elbowing me in the ribs gently. I could feel my face reddening. I shot her a look before turning back to the warrior in front of me - whose shirtless, painted, sculpted body hadn't failed to distract me.
"What exactly do you need?" I asked, swallowing my food and managing to meet his eyes again. One of his eyebrows was arched and he stood with his hands on his hips watching me. Guess I wasn't as subtle as I thought. But with his pants hanging so low on his hips and the intricate designs painted on his skin - who could balme me.
"For you to come with me," he replied effortlessly, nodding his head behind him. The women from before were still congregated around the other warriors, some were still staring at Jaxon as well. But others had congregated around a makeshift table as well. Indra and Nyko were seated behind the table talking, Gustus was a few seats away talking to Tristan, a man from Jaxon's clan when it suddenly all came together. They were all members of the Tribune - the leaders of the clan. Why would he want me with him?
"Come, please," he asked, his tone even but his eyes were pleading. His stormy grey eyes were one of his best features, and right now I was cursing them.
"Fine, but we can find another jar of alcohol first," I asked him, smiling slightly. He laughed and nodded, motioning for me to follow him. I went to wave to Keller but found that she was already weaving her way back through the crowd.
I followed behind Jaxon, stopping for a moment to talk to one of the seamstresses of the clan. I traded herbs for clothes on a regular basis with her and we had gotten to be fairly good friends. After catching up I turned back the table to see Jaxon staring pointedly at me, glancing down only briefly at plate of meat and two jars of the liquor sitting in front of him at the table.
As I made my way to over to the table, I stopped when one of the women from before reached him before I did. She was trying hard to keep Jaxon's attention, however, his eyes only broke away from mine when she reached out to touch him. I stayed in my place, unsure of what I should do. Who was I to tell her to back off? Jaxon could do that himself couldn't he? Why wasn't he?
A not so subtle cough broke me away from my thoughts. Nyko was now looking at me amused from his spot at the table, and Indra next to him smiled slightly as well. I shrugged my shoulders at them, too far away to ask them what I should do. Nyko rolled his eyes and Indra nodded her head in Jaxon's direction - who was now distracted by trying to keep the woman's hands from roaming - and then nodded at me.
I wondered if this is what Jaxon had wanted me to help him with…. I shot Indra another hesitant look, causing her to motion more fervently in Jaxon's direction - who despite being seated right next to her had failed to notice our silent dialogue.
I watched as one of the girls hands dipped beneath the line of the table and steeled myself. It was now or never. Gathering as much nerve as I could muster I walked over them. Jaxon immediately noticed that I was now standing right beside the girl, but she hadn't even looked up at me as she continued to try to climb in Jaxon's lap.
"You shouldn't be alone tonight," the girl cooed at him, causing me to scrunch my nose in disgust. Like he would ever go for someone so obviously desperate. Jaxon was too strong to cater to someone so weak.
"He's not," I voiced, causing the girl to finally stop and acknowledge my presence. She turned and glared at me, clearly upset that I had interrupted her assault. I kept my face as even as possible, arching my eyebrow to dare her to challenge me.
"Get lost," she growled.
"Funny I was going to suggest you do the same," I countered quickly.
"He wants me here," she pouted, looking to Jaxon for support. His eyes hadn't left me though since I had walked up. I looked over the girl, by the way she acted she definitely wasn't a warrior, if it came down to it I could probably take her in a fight….
I stopped myself there. Since when I was I resorting to fighting people?
"Doesn't really look like it," I told her, getting more annoyed by the second on how draining this situation was. Deciding to end it, I pushed past her and moved towards Jaxon. He pushed his seat back from the table slightly and grabbed my hand to pull me towards him. Adjusting myself so I was comfortable in his lap - well as comfortable as the I could get - I spared one last glance at the girl.
"You can go now."
She huffed before stomping away. I rolled my eyes.
"Didn't know you had that in you Cole," Indra commented from next to me, a small grin on her face. I felt Jaxon's hand wrap around my waist gently and I just laughed softly in response.
"I didn't either," I admitted before turning my head to look at Jaxon. "You owe me big time."
He just smirked at me and nodded.
"I'll start collecting my debt by stealing some of this food from you," I said smugly, taking one of the sticks of meat from the plate he had gathered. There was more than enough for two, but he played along anyways.
"Then what will I eat?" he asked playfully, his eyes shining as they reflected the fire.
"I might share if you ask nice," I teased, causing both Indra and Nyko to laugh at Jaxon's expense.
"Perhaps I'll just drink both glasses of alcohol and forgo food," he replied, reaching the arm that wasn't rested against me around to pick up the closest glass. I had forgotten about those. As the night went on it was getting harder to find those stupid little jars.
"Fine I guess we can share," I conceded, pretending to pout for a moment.
"I never thought I would live to see this," Indra gasped from her seat, holding her sides as she struggled to breath from laughing. "Our clan's most fearsome warrior bargaining for the food - that he hunted and killed - from a defenseless little sky girl."
Nyko was laughing now as well, causing the rest of the table to look at us strangely. I felt my cheeks flush - I hadn't thought about it like that. Jaxon was about to respond, but I pulled a piece of meat off the stick I was holding and held it up to his mouth instead.
"Let me win this one," I said, smiling bashfully at him now. "Don't ruin it."
He rolled his eyes, a habit he blamed me for, and said nothing as he ate the piece of meat from my fingers. Since I was attacked, Jaxon had been by my side almost constantly - even after I was healed and back to normal. When we were alone he had become more caring and softer around me, but even in our closest moments we hadn't flirted so brazenly back and forth.
I spent the rest of the evening seated on Jaxon, who never complained of my weight. We fell into an easy conversation back and forth with Nyko and Indra next to us and traded stories. The moon had passed its apex hours ago, as evening faded into morning. The bonfire in the centre still raged and only a few had left even as late as it was.
I was listening to one of Indra's hunting stories, curled against Jaxon with my head tucked into his shoulder. At some point I had leant against him and I took full advantage of it when he didn't complain.
Laughing at Indra's story I looked across the village center watching the people who were still sober enough to dance, and some who were not. Others were passed out against logs or other tables, to gone to make it back to their home. I was about to turn my attention back to the story Nyko had started when two figures caught my eye at the edge of the woods.
I stiffened when I recognized the pair - Keller and Delano. Jaxon's had squeezed my waist gently, causing me to look back him momentarily. I ignored his confused look and turned my attention back to where I could see Keller.
Shit. Please don't be arguing with him. Please don't say anything. I prayed silently as I watched them. Keller pointed at me before throwing her hands in the air. Shit. Not good. Not good.
Keller stormed off, leaving only Delano in the clearing. He suddenly turned slowly toward me, even from across the center I could make out his anger. In a moment I saw him pull an object out of his pocket, as he purposely reflected it in the light of the fire he smiled darkly at me as my eyes went wide.
As he turned to walk into the forest in the same direction Keller went I started to panic. Standing up suddenly I started to move away from the table, but Jaxon's hand on my wrist stopped me. All three of my friends were now looking at me with concerned looks.
I should tell them, I thought for a second. It won't do any good though. They aren't armed. Delano is… I pulled my arm away and started to jog across the clearing where I had just seen Keller disappear.
I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. I had to find them. I had to find Keller before Delano. I'm not going to let him hurt her. Pausing only a moment, I took a deep breath before I headed into the pitch black forest after them.