“Creativity is not a solitary movement. That is its power. Whatever is touched by it, whoever hears it, sees it, senses it, knows it, it’s fed. That is why beholding someone else’s creative word, images, idea, fills us up, and inspires us to our own creative work. A single creative act has the potential to feed a continent. One creative act can cause a torrent to break through stone.” — Clarissa E.

In the heart of the cold night, Lei’la danced to River’s rhythmic beat of clapping. This ‘dancing’ the behagthi called, was a lot like their seasonal ceremonies before greeting the turn of autumn. Sun tribe healers would chant a rhythmic call for divine supervision, the drums would be played by blacksmiths, and anyone who cared to move would have stomped their feet in a stunted walk around a large blazing bonfire outside the amber grasslands. It was an upbeat celebration for reaping an abundance of harvests, a solidarity chant for tribespeople spirits as a way to thank the divines for their blessings.

But, the behagthi added some complex movements to go with the regular stomping. She was pumping her arms, crossing it close, and then twisting in a full circle according to a rhythm she indicated. Sometimes, she moved too fast and then she moved too slow. What proved to be most challenging was the behagthi taught her how to sing. Which is just a strange manner of slow talking.

How it was better than an effective chanting, she wouldn’t know.

River seemed to be having fun even though Lei’la’s movements and singing was a little bit off to what she directed. The feat of dancing along with singing was supremely disconcerting. She never had to focus on moving her arms and legs with a timing purpose before. Her mother skill was in weaving. Just that. Sitting and weaving. Creating things with her hands.

This was something else. And she wasn’t quite sure if she liked it. Every muscle burned when she moved and she was sweating as if the summer was in its full glory.

You got it! River clapped. A full grin on her face. You’re freaking amazing. And such ease!

“Teh? You want to see that one more time?”

She clapped again, bouncing on her heels. Okay. This time we do the whole song from start to finish and I can dance along with you.

Dancing was more thrilling than Lei’la initially thought. The way she moved to the timing of the steps gave her a fulfilling sense of joy the likes of which she thought was only ever present after a week of toiling with embroidery. The more she danced, the more she felt how wild her blood pumped in her veins. An embracing joy of acceptance thrilled within her whenever she saw herself mirrored in River’s movements.

It was wild. Insane. She has never felt so connected like this before.

Nothing like this has ever happened in her life. She saw herself as River moved and the behagthi saw herself in Lei’la. It was like there was this unspoken understanding that was happening at the moment. A full-fledged moment of celebration of who they are, as they are.

Sing Lei’la, she said as they danced together in perfect sync. Sing, won’t you?

We’re all in this together

Once we know

That we are

We’re all stars

And we see that

The song required campy chanting on repeat but it was even slower than she was used to, and by the time she was done, she was already catching her breath, feeling the sweats catching under her sweater.

River looked confident and happy, a wash of approval notable in her features.

It must have been exhaustion because Lei’la felt a pool of moisture on her cheeks. Teardrops had escaped. And she gasped as she wiped it off with her sweater.

What? River’s soft voice inside her head only made the tears escaping easier. That was beyond amazing. If tribespeople could see you now, they will be struck wild in amazement, teh?

Lei’la nodded past the thick emotions in her throat.

I’m so proud of you, Lei’la. said she. Let’s give it a high-five, teh?

She knew this one as the behagthi raised a palm high up in the air. This was a formal greeting between two warriors after a most formidable battle. It implied support and respect. Lei’la didn’t know what she did to deserve this but this was a high honor she didn’t want to miss. She raised her arm to slap River’s open palm.

The noise made a spark, drawing River back in shock. Ouch. That was freaking hot.

“Is it?” she observed down her open palms. It didn’t look any different. Only there was a vibrating tension humming underneath her skin.

River took a wary step forward then drew back several steps. Damn. I figured it was the campfire causing the sudden rise in temperature. But it’s not. It’s you. Burning really hot. Are you feeling ok?

“I never felt better. It feels like I’ve just woken up refreshed from a really long nap. And I could see things much clearer. As if clouds had just parted, the sun shining down on earth after a long drought.”

Like everything is glittering and vibrant?

She nodded.

Here try this pebble. Put all the heat you can muster into this one tiny rock. And don’t be afraid to go beyond. You might feel like it’s time to stop but push that instinct off and go in deeper. Until you can’t possibly pull in anymore heat to it.

She followed her instructions but got distracted. Soon as she closed her eyelids shut to focus, the wild heart of the night can be heard beating hard like drumming noises against her ears. She opened her eyes again and looked to River in disbelief.

What’s the matter? She asked.

Lei’la shook her head, brushing off panic at the sudden onslaught of sensory magnitude.

If it gets too much to bear, we don’t have to—

“No, I can do it. I can do it. It just. It surprised me is all. It won’t happen again.”

We should take a rest first.

“River I said I can do it, didn’t I!?” the moment the heated words left her lips, she wanted nothing more than to take it back. How can this happen?

The harsh, crude tone of her words matched the speech of their elder blacksmith. How did En’tum’s cruelty came out of her mouth like it just did?

She looked at River, wishing for all the world to understand her and accept her just moments before the ugliness came out.

Right then, floodgates come flying open like a storm of forceful winds, eager to take up space in whichever way possible. In her chest, something blew open with such a massive invisible force that it stretched past her arms until it left past her fingertips. A shunting of barely-contained electric energy pulsing beneath her fingertips. The tiny rock had absorbed every bit of energy that left her and in her hands it glowed in amber like burnt metal fresh off the forge. Then on its own, it began to levitate. Rising up several inches in a slow glacial manner as it floated in the air like a precious star from the night skies. In their near surroundings, several rocks of the same size accrued in a suspense around her as it floated off the dirt, rising. Each one of them burning like fiery lamps.

Exhaling, “River, I’m so sorry for losing my temper. I apologize. I was out of line.“

The behagthi stared at the floating rocks stuck suspended in the air. She was mesmerized. Out of words.

“River?”

Taking a careful step forward, I have traveled far and wide, Lei’la. she said to her in mind-speak, her gaze glued to embers. One of the foremost strange thing that has happened to me was that people refused to speak my name.

“Behagthis are not from around here. Names have power, at least that is what elders would have us believe. It’s superstition.” she murmured, watching her carefully.

Exactly. Yet you call my name.

She looked down, “I…”

Many many times. Like you can’t get enough.

“It isn’t my..” then a firm resolve quickened in her features, “I wanted to.. I—”

Go on. she said, her voice patient.

“I believed that a behagthi would come for so long. And your name.. saying your name feels like a blessing. Is it too much to hope for that you will stay with us forever?”

It took her a long moment before she replied, a smile musing on her lips. I had a feeling.

“What?”

That something might have called me here. I used to live with a friend who is a firm believer in ‘like attracting like‘. I did thought I made a mistake by arriving here, but the more I stay the more sense it makes.

“What does it mean?”

It means I’m lost as you, Lei’la. I’m as angry as you. Most of all, I want my home back. Just as you do.

“My parents died shortly after I was born. I never had one. And I’m not sure I want one, River.”

Aren’t you from the dark tribe originally?

“How do you know that?”

Answer me.

“I’m born here. But the elders took me in the sun tribe, as orphans do.”

Have you travelled much? she said, pacing left to the side, peering in close to the floating fire.

“Yes. A lot actually. For my education of course as anyone would. I travelled between sun tribes. But if I am being honest, I travelled a lot more than most. Going back and forth between tribes as much as I like.”

She paced around in a circle, slowly curating the fires. You found your home then.

“What? No! That’s nonsense. I told you. I moved around a lot. And I didn’t stay for long anywhere. Home is the farthest thing in my mind.”

The behagthi beckoned her closer with a wave. The bright orange light of the fire next to her spilling all over her frame, washing her with a warm golden glow.

She took a step next to her, and then she pointed to the tiny floating fire.

With a curl of Lei’la’s fingers, the tiny fire River indicated floated up close for inspection and she gasped.

A hazy vision brightened inside the glow of the fire. It was U’tu and her, back when they were children and causing trouble. Together, they ran past throngs of tribespeople, darting left and right as they sped past the entire southern sun village but never really losing track of where they were. And even if they did, U’tu had always found a way to find her.

Everytime. No matter how far she has gotten.

Like a bolt of lightning striking Lei'la, forgotten memories came to the fore of her mind.

Your home, River murmured, riveted at the unfolding memories in the fire. Beautiful.