Chereads / The southern reach / Chapter 12 - Who's dancing and singing?

Chapter 12 - Who's dancing and singing?

Dan sings a version of "Hey Macarena" and dances along. He feels quite silly, but Nina keeps the beat and cheers him on. He thinks that no one really knows the lyrics, or more precisely, the lyrics don't mean anything, at least he believes so.

Nina feels her body warming up as she watches Dan give a private dance performance just for her. It doesn't matter that it's a bit clumsy; it feels even more intimate and sensual that he's so unsure. She enjoys watching his movements and his handsome body.

"That was nice," Nina compliments and stands up. "Would you like me to sing something special for you?"

She touches her ears, feeling them warm. Can he tell, she wonders?

"Yes, please! How about your favorite song? maybe something we can floss to?" Dan asks curiously.

"Floss?" Nina turns her head towards him, her curiosity evident.

"Oh, floss, you say? The dance where you move your hands by your hips like this?"

She demonstrates by slowly alternately moving her hands with straight arms by her right and left hip and rhythmically pushing her hips and upper body in a swaying motion.

"I'm actually quite good at it."

She smiles flirtatiously, playfully teasing him, confident that it's something else she's good at.

Dan looks admiringly at her short demonstration. In the meantime, the fire has started to burn, and the flames send dancing light around them, as if they were trying to create their own dance performance, contributing to the competition.

"Oh, how beautifully it burns! It caught on quickly, Dan!"

She smiles and approaches him, feeling the emerging warmth and the pleasant crackling from the flames.

"I'm glad you're taking such good care of the fire," she says admirably.

"I can definitely floss if you want me to. I don't know any specific songs I can sing to it, but I can show you the moves," she says thoughtfully.

"But I must warn you, my flossing skills might leave you speechless."

Nina playfully winks at Dan.

With a mischievous smile, she starts slowly with soft movements, swaying her hips rhythmically. Her body gracefully sways. When she alternately moves her arms, her breasts move in a beautifully undulating manner. For a moment, Nina's eyes meet Dan's, and a playful spark glimmers within them. Gradually, she moves faster and faster.

Dan is truly stunned by watching Nina floss. Her breasts sway enticingly as she moves, and she thrusts her hips in a very sexy way. He can feel himself getting quite warm. He wonders if that's really how the dance goes, or if Nina is making it extra sensual.

"What's the matter, Dan? You've gone so quiet. Do you think I'm good at it?" Nina asks.

Dan doesn't know what to say.

"I'm just trying to figure out how you do it," he says quietly, with a gaze filled with admiration.

Nina sees the contented expression on Dan's face after her dance performance and feels satisfied to have surprised and enchanted him in that way. She notices that the fire burns stronger now, and the sense of intimacy surrounds them.

After having lured Dan with her sensual dance, Nina decides to offer something more. She smiles in her typical cute and irresistible manner and says, "Now that you've seen my dance, how about you get to hear a song?" Dan, still enchanted by her previous performance, eagerly nods and says, "Certainly! What would you like to sing?"

Nina thinks for a moment and then chooses to sing a beautiful lullaby. She begins to sing with her soft and melodic voice as the fire flickers in the background. The lyrics are filled with love and tenderness, blending with the tranquility of the night and the mystique of the forest.

Dan listens entranced to her song, and the mutual feelings of closeness and tenderness fill them both. It's a classic medieval song, with its characteristic rhythm and irregular stanza length. But together, it fits so well.

The wolf howls in the nightly woods,

wants but cannot sleep

The hunger tears his wolfs belly

And its cold in his burrow

wolf, oh, wolf, don't come hither

You newer get my youngling

The wolf howls in the nightly woods

howls in despair and agony

But I spare him a pigtail

witch fits a lone wolfs hunger

wolf, oh, wolf, don't come hither

You newer get my youngling

Sleep my child in bed with me

let wolf howl in the darkness

But i spare him a chicken shank

if nobody else eating it

You never get my youngling

https://www.andafolkmusik.se/noter/vargsangen.pdf

As Nina finishes the song, she meets Dan's gaze and smiles tenderly. It's a moment of pure magic in the middle of the forest, and both of them feel like they are the only two people in the world.

After the song, they sit close to each other, feeling the warmth from the flames and the aromatic scent of burning wood. They talk about their adventures and dreams while the night envelops them with its silence.