As the sun said its goodnight to us, the fire was lit and already dancing. The camp was quiet while every one got ready. The first to arrive was the band. Light music could be heard through out the camp signaling to every one that it was ok to show up. Bear and ava had set up the food just before the fire was lit. Most of the early arrivals hovered around the food till some of their friends showed up and they were able to slowly migrate away more relaxed. As more and more people showed up the music became more lively. People started to drink and dance.
Astrid, standing in her tent, held the dress up to her figure and stared at the mirror. Pulling off her usual black leather pants, black shirt and dark purple hood, she reluctantly slipped into the red dress. Looking at herself in the tall mirror, she sighed.
Odette feeling the discontent spoke with her; "Come little one, put on the bracelets and arm band. You look gorgeous."
Astrid smiled and did as she was told. Odette has always been a mother figure to her. From the time she was very small Odette had been with her always.
As they walked out Odette whispered; "Happy birthday."
"Thank you." Astrid thought.
Kalla joined the pair in a matching dress. The only difference was color. Kallas deep dark skin soaked up the green that was her dress. "What do you think? Does it fit?
"You know it does. For this occasion It is perfect! Extremely elegant. Thank you for making it." This response seemed to appease Kalla and they walked to the party. The music became louder and louder until they arrived when It suddenly stopped. Astrid, who was watching the grass, looked up.
Her face turned as red as her hair and dress. Kalla, noticing Astrid's discomfort grabbed her hand, waved her other hand signaling the music and glided over to the drink table. Whispering to her; "We all knew you were gorgeous, but seeing you presented this way was over the top." She handed Astrid a glass. "You will probably want a few of these".
Astrid chuckled and when Kalla turned away, set down the drink without a sip. There were three reasons why she set down the glass. Astrid Knew that it would take way more than "a few" to do anything to her. Once drunk the only thing she would want to do is get out of these clothes, back into her armor, then party. Last, why drink something that doesn't taste good when there was lemonade right next to it? Ava was a doll and knew that this would be the case and prepared the sweet drink; Astrid's favorite.
Kalla went straight to the dance floor and Astrid looked around at the wall flowers that she could join. This was her party even if no one knew. She tried to relax and let the music carry her a little. She ended up looking more like a blade of grass, roots planted in the ground and top free, wanting so badly to be freed from the ground to sway freely in the wind. looking around she noticed all the couples dancing together despite this not being a slow song.
After a some time of being a blade of grass, the song changed to a slower pace. All the couples stayed on the floor while every one else ran to get snacks or group up on the edges. A few good friends would ask to dance together and would join the couples. Astrid found Odette lying in the grass and stood next to her. Kalla knew where Astrid would be and brought her a refill. Astrid thanked her for the drink and then passed it to the nearest person, Who guzzled it without hesitation.
Once that song finished the pairs went back out on the dance floor, and swayed some more. Penelope and Holland showed up and joined the group. Thinking back to when the troop was just these guys and Astrid, she couldn't help but chuckle. There was a time when Astrid didn't know what she was and these guys helped figure out, not only her potential, but that she healed quickly. They also figured out that the happier she was the more everything around her thrived. The people never aged, and they were content to spend an eternity together as just the four of them.
Song after song every one laughed and drank, danced and played. Towards the end of the night a slow song came on and Holland gathered the courage to ask Astrid to dance. Astrid looked around but it was Odette who found Kalla.
"She bet you would say yes, and she is willing to split the profit." Odette had been watching Kalla all night waiting for this moment.
Every party Holland asks for one dance. Astrid and Holland had been the Original two wandering the planet for years before Kalla and Penelope joined them. Holland stood two feet taller than her; his sandy hair combed forward. Kalla had dressed him in gold and black, making him extra handsome. Astrid said yes and continued to remember her time with Holland when they were kids.
She had found him as a young boy, crying outside of a house where some lady had just died. He was the doctors apprentice and death accompanied him wherever he went. She had just escaped captivity a few years prior and asked him to join her. He was scared that she would die, but she reassured him she would not. They traveled to distant lands, crossing seas and living in forests. Eventually the inevitable happened and Holland confessed his feelings for her. The feelings were not reciprocated, and that put a strain on their relationship for quite a while. So much so, even, to the point where he left.
"You know the Red king is going to attack." Hollands voice brought her back to reality.
"I am aware, don't worry. I may look young but, I am not."
"I think stopping him isn't a possibility. Do you have a plan?"
"I thought I would enjoy tonight and then work on it tomorrow." Astrid understood why Holland was being so formal, but she wasn't enjoying it.
"I heard you and Odette out last night. Will we need to change the grounds or are we still set for the original place?"
"Odette was kind enough to push more game our direction." Astrid looked around, realizing the song had gone on a little too long. Maybe she wasn't paying attention. she noted where they were in the song and continued to dance with Holland.
"You should probably check on that boy and his family once you enter the red kingdom."
"Yeah I was planning on it. I wanted to make sure he received the job with the blacksmith. I also think that bringing them some chickens would be a good idea."
Kalla was watching Astrid and Holland dance. The pair always worked well together, probably because they knew each other the longest. Kalla always wished she had someone like Holland, she would even be happy if it was Holland. She always knew that he had a thing for Astrid and that didn't bother her either. Astrid always seemed either oblivious to it or like she ignored it. Kalla hoped the first but the latter was more likely. Penelope bounded her way over to Kalla
"I paid the band to play this song on repeat, for as long as they could get away with it." Penelope smiled, then paused to look at Odette. "Don't you dare tell her."
Odette put her head down in response. Kalla, still watching the pair, spoke lowly. "She will notice, in fact I believe she just realized that the song should have been over."
After the third repeat Astrid took a step back from Holland. She thanked him for the dance then gracefully strode over to Odette who walked with her back to their tent. The band changed songs and onlookers noticed a sad air around Astrid.
Astrid returned to her tent and laid the dress in a chest with a few others all made by Kalla. Once in her usual armor, she hopped onto Odette's back and laid down. Odette knew where she wanted to go; a ridge that allowed you to see both kingdoms, the plain and many other things. It was only 5 miles away.
The journey took half an hour. Once there Astrid went to the edge and sat down. Dancing with Holland always brings up the bad memories. Not because of anything he did but the timing of everything was not right. Her captivity was so long she lost count of the days... weeks? Maybe even years had passed while she was locked away. The truth was that she didn't know. Once out, though, she had been homeless and lost. It took weeks to familiarize herself with the city layout and where the forests where, where Odette was, how to get food. All of it. To put it frankly, her mind was a mess that she needed to fix and that was when she found Holland.
Watching the moon rise and fall, the night was over and the day of the great hunt had finally arrived. Leaving the peak at the precise time to arrive in camp for breakfast, Astrid and Odette ran straight for the green tent. Dipping in for a sec to make sure it was all done, Astrid got the Okay from Ava, and went to the entrance. Every one lined up nicely waiting to be let in. If they were still recovering they didn't show it. Every one was needed at 100 percent today.
"I will tell you the plans and teams after we all get some coffee." Astrid held the curtain open for every one. A groan of appreciation could be heard and every one relaxed a little while sluggishly filing forward.
Every one thanked their chefs like usual. Gratitude was very important in their camp. Breakfast was perfect, and afterwards Astrid recanted the plans; "For this run only 4 teams of 8 are needed. You may offer your assistance to any of the four leaders. Holland, Penelope, Kalla and Ben Heinz." As their names were called they stood up and walked outside. Many people followed and 2 were sent back. "Perfect. The rest of you will stay here to maintain camp and ensure everything stays...." Not able to come up with the right word, someone shouted out "Booooooring."
Astrid smiled and said "precisely." As she said that 4 people started to clean up the food and head to the back of the tent to start cleaning up breakfast.
Bear and Ava had joined the teams out side handing out portable fences to carry. Once Astrid had joined everyone at the edge of the forest, everyone had geared up and was ready. The goal of today was to gain as many live boars as possible. Living, because the meat would go bad if they were to kill them all. The four teams helped select a "home base". The fences were set up around the base of the tree. This is where all of the game would be corralled. Astrid sent out the four teams and then climbed the huge pine. As she sat there waiting, she watched Bear and Ava who were playing cards. Ava always won but no one ever knew if that was because Bear let her or if she was really good at cards. Bear always beat every one he played so every one was scared to go up against Ava. The one time Astrid tried she lost, but she didn't care much for cards.
A little while later Hollands group appeared from the north. "Open the north entrance!" Wild boars of all colors and sizes came rampaging into the corral. Bear, hiding behind the tree, stepped in front of the exit so that they couldn't leave. Next was the east entrance, then west, and last south. Over all they caught way too much; around 100. Astrid also noted a cow. Every one was ecstatic as it had been some time since they caught this many.
Taking the live haul back to camp, every one got ready for dinner. At dinner chatter about the days events were spread like wild fire. It sounded like a bunch of fisherman had all caught the biggest whale in the ocean, but with boars and every man's two legs instead of hands. All in all it was a wonderful day.