Bonfire

The smell of cooking meat and burning wood fills my nose. The setting sun cast long shadows as Tara led me to the area where everyone was gathered. Children were running around laughing, while their mothers watch with smiles. The men are gathered together talking loudly, with loud bouts of laughter filling the air. I remember back when I was a small child and was camping with my parents and a group of friends. This whole scene makes me feels relaxed and at home.

"Willow!" I hear above the sounds of the bonfire.

A large figure approaches me, and I can tell by the size it Arakan.

"Wow, you look amazing!" He says loudly, as some of the other men come gather, so does Tara and some of the other women.

"What a good wife she will," one of the men says.

"Not as beautiful as my wife," one of the men says exceptionally loud, looking at the group of mothers. The group laughs and one of the women blow a kiss.

The other men tease the man and playfully push him.

"Not true, no one is as beautiful as my Willow!" Arakan pronounces, and all the men laugh again.

The women behind me start setting out blankets and setting down plates of food. The blankets are in a circle around the bonfire. The mothers start to call their children and head towards blankets. Arakan holds out his large hand towards me.

I take his warm hand and he leads me to a blanket that has the pattern of a bear that matches my skirt, sewn onto it. I sit down and Arakan sits close enough next to me that I can feel the heat coming off of his body. I blush.

Tara comes and sets a plate of food and a picture full of a sweet smelling liquid in front of us. She smiles and then hurried away to serve more of the families.

"Here, try this deer meat." Arakan says handing me a chunk of meat. I hold it awkwardly and take a bit as Arakan watches intently.

"It's great!" I say and take another bit as Arakan pours some of the liquid in a cup for me.

"Be careful, this drink is strong," Arakan states, as he puts twice the amount of the liquid in his cup and takes a big swig.

I take a sip and find myself taking a full drink as the sweet, smooth liquid enters my mouth.

Arakan and I eat and drink until the food and drink is gone. It is then I hear a drum beat starting.

I see some of the couples standing up and start dancing between the blankets and bonfire. Laughter and the best of drums fill the air. A tiny show approaches and yells "dance with me!"

"Kana!" I say a little too loudly, "I'd love to dance". I stand up, feeling warm, relaxed, and a little off center.

Kana grabs my hand and we start to dance. The light from the fire, the sound of the drums, and the smell of cooking food all mix together as I dance. I laugh out loud as I trip and fall to the ground. A large hand helps me up as Arakan asks "I think it's my turn to dance".

We dance closely and I can feel heat rising in my body and my heart beat races with the drums. The light around me blurs and all I can see is Arakan. I move closer to him so that are bodies are touching as we continue to dance. Blood is rushing through my body and I feel ecstatic. Arakan looks at me and we stop dancing. He leans towards me but stops, I lean up the rest of the way and kiss him strongly on the lips.