One of Many Battles

A Night to Miss

Arriving at an expansive field, that held a large picturesque view of a stone sided cliff that seemed to have been sculpted ages before, left Anua breathless with awe.

Amaidalora was walking towards the stony sculpture with what seemed like intense purpose, leaving the grassy field behind to pad lightly upon the stony walk, then cross the smooth stones that seemed to float upon the gentle current of water away from the stony rock face.

"This is an event we have..." Mathius spoke in a soft whisper, watching the tall woman as she moved towards her position as well.

Watching the tall, bronze-skinned woman stand upon a small stone out cropping that was at the base of the cliff side, between strong streams of water flowing down to the gentle waters further down the way. Her bright red locks, in streams that shimmered in the moonlight, whenever it came in the light and she stood facing the many of her settlement.

Anua could only see that her figure was swaying and motioning in rather strong accentuating ways, but not understand what was being said besides how in motion even the jawline was.

Even with how little Anua could see of Amaidalora and her voice, whether spoken to the members surrounding her or not, there was a heaviness surrounding the field and beautiful stone cropping ahead of them.

A quiet seemed to cover the area, where the quiet voice seemed to grow in strength and volume to where even Anua whom was at the outskirts of the gathering, could hear as if she was standing right next to the person speaking.

"We Come to refresh our spirits and mind to the light that the moon provides. Bathe in the white light, for when we pass the white light will be what we follow to the next stages our spirit is tasked with." Her voice echoing into the distance, even when the whole of the clearing was quiet and her voice was high pitched, but not shrill to Anua's own ears.

Soon looking around and seeing each individual taking the limited clothes and removing them for the time being to be in the moon light. Some went into the bushes and unclothed themselves discreetly, than into the river that flowed gently beyond and through the field, while others went proudly and into the water boldly.

Anua sat on the grassy edge watching how the people of this time did their rituals, or traditions, but she also found it similar to the Nuun group she was meant to find, even if the way was meant for them to have her already.

The head woman remained upon the stone outcropping for a long while, even when the people she seemed to lead were in the water soaking in the moon covered waters and grounds like sponges.

"This is like what scientist Lisa and Riam spoke about, but they never said how long it would be or why they did it.' She wondered to herself, eyeing the people in the water, along with the one on the outcropping almost as still as a stone herself.

Shaking herself out of it,  'Maybe they want me to join in the water to get to the next part of this ceremony?' As she went into the water, wearing most of her clothes still and feeling how icy cold the water was against her skin, even with cotton underwear or denim jeans covering her legs and the skin closest to contact with the water.

The chilly water in the moon light felt like a chilling warmth, almost like holding an iceberg, and it still has a warmth due to being held so long, or having a small hole in the snow where you feel cozy warmth just because it holds in the warmth of only you, the person it fits.

A shiver started to travel along your spine, not even sure if it was going up or down it, but Anua felt a chill riding her back and wondered how this tradition even became a normal event when it was rather cold and unpleasant for her, while everyone else openly went for it with nearly no clothing to shield their flesh from the chill.

After what felt like many hours, but it may have just been a few minutes. Anua saw Amaidalora seem to pull something out of thin air, which were each different in color and size. They appeared like draping flowers and started to pluck or trim at them to have a variety of colors about in the river almost like a giant stew of petals in the river called her pot.

Anua soon found herself and many others surrounded by a variety of colorful petals that it was like only color was surrounding them, no longer pure moonlight or clear waters.

Even a slight scent of fruity, even flowery aroma was arising from the floating flowers, making it intensely aromatic in the field around them.

"Life brings color bright and beautiful, life sweet and intense... May we rest our minds and ease our senses to release this intensity and allow our minds an ease, while our spirits prepare..." Amaidalora continued with her strength of the event, while Anua felt herself growing dizzier and losing herself with all that surrounded her, until she could not stay conscious no longer and her head went into the water as well.

******

Waking up, Anua could feel a heaviness on her mind and body that may not have been there previously, but she could not recall if it was. Slowly having a damp cloth removed from her forhead, she saw Mathius treating her kindly, padding at a bruise that seemed to have appeared from her fall into the river.

"You seem not accustomed to these types of traditions we hold, for the spirits were unhappy in your lack of decision and acted accordingly. the head said you should move more swiftly to participate, or even more severe actions could happen the next time inaction occurs." He explained, looking rather miserable at the thought of a punishment happening to someone, even a stranger.

"I thought I was not of your settlement, so should not participate in something of yours." Anua spoke, trying to explain how she felt, but her voice was rather creaky from time and even felt it was a long while since she had spoke, before eyeing Mathius for an answer.

"It has been... A couple moons since you last spoke." He said, averting his eyes away from her, and soon left when he felt his main tasks were done as soon as possible.

'A couple moons? Did I go into a minor coma? Was I going to die if I did not participate more strongly next time?' Her questions started to come up in her mind, wondering whether she had stumbled on some spirits who were very stingy on tradition, or if the aroma was too overwhelming for her.

Even when awake, Anua knew she was not ready to speak with the head of this settlement, but hoped to soon, at least to understand the traditions they held and be better able to participate the future ones to come.