Day 44: Alesco

It was night once the celebration began.

Leone had found himself strolling around without much attention, spinning his dagger in circles and keeping sure that there were no disturbances around. Leaning casually into a tree just outside the dens, he found himself staring up at the dark blue sky littered with stars. Each one was shimmering and glowing, almost winking back when he would squint hard at each one. At last, the storm had passed them and just in time for the Alesco festivity. Numerous Nekomata girls were jumping around, filled with excitement and giggling or shouting as they chased each other. Even the boys and girls from the village had joined in, playing their little games.

One boy snickered as a cat girl had just missed him, walking around the outskirts of the den camps before he found himself bumping into Leone. Looking up at the silver haired teen, he gasped and fell back on his butt. The hunter smiled and lifted the child up to his feet, patting his head before urging him to run along. The boy glanced back before nodding and waving goodbye, running off to continue playing.

"So there is a little warm spot in you after all." Turning around, he saw Alma calmly walking by with her bow slung around her shoulder. He nodded and looked forward, observing the older girls as they messed around with the body paint. Alma stood beside him, taking in the sight and calm atmosphere. "The children seem to enjoy it so far."

Leone shuffled a bit, sinking his dagger back in its sheath. She continued.

"I didn't think things would turn out this way. Haven't seen a smile in a long time. Actually I didn't think I ever would."

Leone turned his head to her. "That bad?"

"Yes, so many of us moved on and I was very tempted."

"So what stopped you?"

She leaned back, pushing her chest forward slightly followed by the crack of her back which left her feeling relieved. "Aaah, my son. I knew the village was his best chance to survive. If I had gone out there is no telling what would happen. But death was the bigger possibility, and he needs me."

"Does he?" He regretted asking when she looked back at him, her expression turning serious.

"What was that supposed to mean?"

"I'm sorry, I didn-"

"All kids need their mothers in their lives, their mother and father. I can't imagine how someone would come out without any parents to care for them."

Leone shifted his stance, looking away and grumbling to himself. "I would say they come out decent, from personal experience."

Alma raised her eye before being alarmed and taken back. "Gods, I forgot. That wasn't, I-I-"

"Didn't mean it, I understand." He waved his hand with a subtle smile, flashing his teeth to calm her down. "It must be nice having a mother. I can't recall my mother's voice or touch, often I'm left imagining what it must be like. My mother and father, that is."

He paused briefly, pressing his back into the tree and sighing while looking up. "Did things work out well for you?"

Alma shook her head. "Yes, I had a loving mother and a caring father raising me. Being a lone child, I was spoiled often."

He chuckled. "I meant your people, your family."

"Oh! Oh that's-that is a yes." She started, pulling the string on her bow. "Yes it worked well, in fact we were pleasantly surprised. The area here is quite hospitable with decent temperatures. Now that the storm has passed and winter is ending, the river will be melting soon. That means the salmon will flow more freely, so fishing will be on the rise."

She paused, noticing the Grizzly chasing some of the kids and playing with them. "Of course, we will have to look out for predators. You know, being a hunter I am sure you have quite a range when it comes to handling yourself. We could use you to protect us while we build our homes."

She expected a sharp no or a shake of a head, but instead he kept silent.

"Or we could have you train some of our fighters. We don't have much left but you can teach us a few tricks before moving on if it's not too much trouble?"

"I've done a lot of teaching over the weeks. I'm not sure I can handle another session, even if I don't wear a leash this time."

Alma broke into a sudden chuckle before catching herself. "Okay, so that's a no then? That's alright, you have your life here after all."

"No to that too." He calmly expressed, walking away from the conversation. Alma stepped forward and called his name, asking what that meant only to see him continue forward. Puzzled, she stared as he walked by the children as if with a destination in mind.

"Well, you're welcome." She muttered to herself, gripping her bow.

Emyri rubbed her paws together, feeling nervous about the dance ritual when Zimi surprised her with a slap on the back. "Hey, why so nervous?"

"It's nothing, just... should have practiced more." She looked down, Zimi moving forward to sit down and face her. Surrounding them was a small group of Nekomata girls from a young age, with only the two of them being in the late adolescent age of eighteen.

Zimi flashed a smile. "The body paint looks wonderful on you! Absolutely stunning heh, Ruisa knows her work."

Emyri blushed and looked up, catching the red finger painted stripes on her friends legs and arms with a unique swirl to her chest and cheeks.

"You think so?"

"I know so! Stand up, do a twirl for me." Emyri shrugged and stood up, nervously spinning for her friend to whistle back. "Love the butt design! Really makes the curves pop!"

"Zimi,"

"What, don't you Zimi me!" She giggled, leaping up and touching paws with her. "He's going to love it okay? Try not to sweat."

"What if I mess up?"

"Then we mess up together, like besties! And when we have kids, we can watch them screw up their Alesco ritual together too!" She chuckled, making Emyri giggle with her. "There it is, that little smile!"

"Ugh, Zimi. You know what about you and Nukka?"

It was Zimi's turn to blush. "What about her?"

"You know." She lifted her eyebrow with a knowing smirk, smiling as Zimi slapped her paw.

"I already explained what happened, you just saw it wrong!"

"Of course I did."

Just then, Cyri walked up to the group and cleared her throat. "Girls, it's time."

"Oh boy, here it goes."

"Just follow my steps okay?"

Leone had arrived in time, getting comfortable as all the other cat girls and villagers crowded around the campfire. Cyri was the first to walk in, he expected some kind of speech but she simply held her head up and walked to her seat among the others. Someone had started playing a flute like instrument, beginning with a calming tune before the girls walked in a single file line.

Emyri and Leone locked eyes, with her giggling and shyly smiling at his wide mouthed expression. Each girl had body paint on them but hers may have been his favorite. As they circled the fire, the girls began to dance around in some sort of sync motion, he realized they had spread into two circles each surrounding the fire. The outer circle consisted of the young ones, spinning and doing cartwheels, moving in a very flexible way while keeping pace. Zimi and Emyri formed the inner circle, so he suspected that they formed their own circle of sorts.

He admired the red paint traversing around her, what looked to be whiskers were painted on her cheeks at either side of her nose. Her legs had a nice spotted pattern to them, her ass had paw marks on each globe. Her waist and sides had a sort of vine-like image curving upwards which his eyes followed up to her beautiful nervous smile as she bounced and skipped in time with the others. When she caught him once more, her eyes immediately lit up and she felt light as a feather inside.

In time, the girls had stopped dancing and kneeled down in a feline position, with Cyri stepping in and raising her clasped paws up for all to see. Dropping some sort of powder into the sand shifted the fire and colored it blue somehow, which all of the children wow'ed at as the others smiled and clapped their hands. The blue light had an effect on the red paint the girls were wearing, lighting up in an appealing pink tone. Now all of the girls stood up and everyone applauded, the ceremony was finished.

It was done, Emyri had now entered a new age in her life and after hugging her mother and best friend, she looked back to see Leone beginning to walk away.