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Indeed they had an anthem, but it did not give everything away. Nor did outsiders usually get to hear it, but Zigana did not feel in the least bit threatened by their new acquaintance, Obi'Tau. She chuckled, “Ah, it may or it may not, but very few have heard it save for those who once were a part of that which I sought to create and still may someday. Qaletaqa knew them too, before my departure from Telk to take care of other matters which needed attending to.”

She gave a slight bow of her head, “I do not mind, spectators are welcome, by invitation only and thus you have been invited, to witness this song and dance. There would have been music, but if I use my tambourine I cannot sing.”

Qaletaqa, “Icrnuushang.” (I cannot sing.) That was the reason that it would have to be Zigana who sang. Even though he might have been able to sing, the words would not be spoken aright, but he could dance and had quite a bit of practice the many moons that had passed. He waited for Zigana to take the lead, before he too would begin his dance. Although sometimes he did feel the slight bit bashful before others, especially strangers. Not everyone appreciated the dancing or the singing, nor even the music of Zigana's beloved tambourine.

The lady dark as night, lit only by the stars and crescent moon of her pelt as well the bit of white here and there, stood tall and bowed her head, as did Qaletaqa, to the tambourine. Zigana lifted the instrument with her teeth and tossed to the air, the bells sounding as they clashed together and fell back to the earth a few feet away. It was to the tambourine that she and the omega went and began their dance.

White paws began to prance about, circling the tambourine, though not too closely as she was not the only one to dance around it. Her tail swayed and she jumped, hind legs for a moment in the air as she took but a couple steps forward, before they fell back to the terrain on which they all had walked. She turned around and around as though she may have been chasing her tail, before rising to stand on only her back legs and twisting her body to turn around and once more had all fours upon the grass below.

Qaletaqa was not capable of such movement, Zigana had been trained from the moment she could walk as a pup, whereas he had only had the time since meeting Zigana till now to practice. The most he could accomplish was acting as though he were about to pounce something and then swerve around as though startled by something which could have snuck up behind him.

Around and around, he and the lady he followed went. Every so often, he watched Zigana's tail as she sat back a moment, hit the tambourine that lay upon the ground and caused it to make a sound like tinkling or jangling bells.

Finally Zigana as they moved about, not caring if they appeared a ridiculous sight to behold, it was fun and should there be those who scorned her, she'd not care, for she was a gypsy.

Come and hear the tambourine—
Come and join the dance!

She hit with her tail, or even her paw as she spoke the word, tambourine, the instrument she had. For a moment Qaletaqa had stopped his motions, before beginning again when Zigana had finished the last part of the first verse.

Spinning silks in shades of light
Velvet dark as shadowed night.

As she spoke those words, she spun about, causing the deep purple silk of her shawl, if one could call it that, to catch the light of the moon shinning overhead, though it was night and all was cast in shadows. Still she did not cease her dance and nor did her underling, though underling she treated him not, but instead, as a friend.

Gold and silver buy your future—
Pasteboard cards with faded ink.

Those with even a hint of gold or silver were destined, she thought, for a great future. Unfortunately, she knew not how to use the pasteboard cards with the faded ink that the humans she had once followed alongside her family had used to foretell the what was to come. Still there were always the false ones, seeking gold and silver pieces. It was however not the monetary type of gold and silver she looked for, but those with the colors upon their fur, surely they were fated for greatness, be it as a hero or something more.

Caravans by campfire glow
Keeping secrets gypsies know

She and Qaletaqa passed one another as one had turned to go the other way. Qale bowed deeply to her as she sang the anthem. Since she could not create a campfire, the tambourine would have to do. She hoped though that she'd be able to find the old abandoned caravan that some humans had left long ago, for she had a certain attachment to such things. It was too, where all the gypsies spoke their secrets to one another or kept them within themselves and never spoke.

Restlessly, we go our way
We were not meant for hearth or town.

For a moment the pace of the dance picked up as she and her follower danced around the tambourine, each movement jostling the instrument, allowing a bit of music to flow from it, somehow the tempo of their ritualistic dancing had caused a beat to follow from the instrument. Though both wished to giggle, their remained but one more verse.

Whirling dancers with eyes like jet
Centuries have not tamed us yet!

Zigana jumped into the air, whirling around once, before landing feet first on the ground. Though Qaletaqa had attempted it, he'd fallen half way through and landed on his rump. Both were panting, grinning at the other, then looked back at Obi'Tau.

(Gypsy Song, by Sheridan Rose)

Zigana's tongue hung from her mouth, her breathing quite uneven as she panted. The motions of the dance, especially every time it sped up or she performed a more complicated move her blood pumped through her veins quicker than before. As usual, for her, she had been lost to the moment, lost to the dance and the beat of nature around her. Her violet eyes the shade of the scarf around her neck, of which gold doubloons hung from. She was, after all, musically inclined.

“I suppose it is because, we like to be secretive. Even to our own, those born of and into gypsy lineage, even those adopted into it, keep secrets from their own. Although I myself prefer to be a bit more open with those close to me, but that was the life I led in my pack of birth.” Zigana sighed softly, it had been someone from there whom had called upon her for help, which had taken her and Qaletaqa so long away from Telk.

Dipping her head down slightly, she gave a light laugh, ”Those are human elements, mostly. Gold and silver are what they use to trade and barter with. Pasteboard cards and ink are cards with symbols on it and depending on which is drawn and what card follows what they're supposed to help tell the future or even the past of a being in this life or another. The ink is what is used to make the image.” Her breath had become more even whilst she stood still and tried to speak, explaining what she knew, ”However for us, there is another meaning of gold and silver. At least to me, it is a sign of future good fortune in life. That something good will happen and that those who have it on their pelt are destined for greatness. It matters not how much or how little of the color they may have, it is the quality of the one carrying it and not the quantity of the color which counts most of all.”

Qaletaqa himself, was too tired then to speak, but he would have allowed Zigana to speak the most anyway, due to his own problematic patterns of speech. Though he thought it would have been quite nice, had they had others to join in the dance. After all, the more, the merrier. Especially beneath the glow of the moon, which cast shadows over their figures and all around them.