Chapter 43
Back at the fairgrounds in town, everyone is in full party mode. A young man is being paraded around on everyone’s shoulders, face painted and the biggest grin I might have ever seen on his face.
"He got first blood today. A monstrous boar came out of the grass not long after the search started and he got a shot off before anyone else had noticed." It’s the old tracker talking softly over my shoulder.
"Looks like everyone takes pride in your warriors. That’s a good thing."
"Yes, it’s good to have pride back in our people. We needed it pretty badly. Too many hard years with no work and not much hope took a toll on us. But now that the portals have come, we have purpose again. Protecting our people and the land. Don’t forget to stay tomorrow for the dancing and rodeo. You’ll enjoy it for sure."
He’s absolutely right, this is amazing. The dancing, the outfits, the thumping of the drum that seems to just naturally set your heartbeat to its rhythm. Everything is great. A collection of food stands and a few vendors have been set up at the fairgrounds, it looks like they’ve done this many times before. Not only the whole town seems to be here, I’m still seeing vehicles, almost all pickup trucks, some with trailers attached, coming down the road from every direction.
The old tracker is sitting on the railing around what will soon be the rodeo grounds, but is now the dance floor, smoking a cigarette.
"Hey, how big is this rodeo expected to be?" I ask him.
"Well I’m not sure, but we took up a collection yesterday, half to the one who got first blood and the other half is going to the rodeo winners, along with a bit extra from the band council that we always set aside for rodeo prizes. There’s a prize for best dancer too."
There really should be, they’re pouring their hearts out on that dirt dance floor.