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After Nikaio’s troupe had spent some time in Jauhar, most of which Nika had spent practicing the moves he’d learned from Kalli, they had decided to head back to Tale. The trip back was more exciting than the trip from, as Nika couldn’t wait to try his dance moves the next time the troupe set up a show. Which would be in Tale. When they reached their destination, the sky was already turning dark. And without a town or village in sight, they decided to make camp for the night. With the help of all those able, it didn’t take long for them to set up and settling in.

Food was hunted for by a few older men and the fire was started up for when they came back. Nika had slipped on his dancing clothes, determined to get a dance in that night. Gathering up a couple of other dances, they quickly agreed, eager to dance around the fire that night. Once the hunters returned and the meat was cooking, Nika and two others began to show off their dance moves. As the music began to filter through the night, Nika glanced between his two dance partners and grinned. “Shall we?” he said as the took their place. It didn’t take very long before Nikaio was lost in the music and letting his body lead itself in the dance.

Nika had absolutely adored the way Kalli had moved. He had watched and learned from her and in such a short amount of time. He had even remembered her tip about her clothing and jewelry making music. It hadn’t taken him long to seek out the supplies he had needed to create his own clinky jewelry. Wearing them tonight wasn’t necessary but Nika had slipped them on anyway, right before the trio had begun to dance. Kalli had been absolutely right. The soft clink of the metal lended an extra something to his dance.

When Nika swirled around, and as the music started to die down he thought he’d caught a glance of something moving off in the distance. He blinked, dance cut short as two figures emerged from the shadows and into the light of the fire. He quickly grabbed hold of one of the others who’d been dancing with him and whispered, “Look, over there.” Nika’s lips pursed together as the music stopped all together and, one by one, everyone’s attention moved from the three of them and over to the two newcomers.

Nika’s father, closest to where the two men had come out of the trees, stood and spoke first. “We don’t want any trouble. We’re only here for the night. We’d appreciate it if you kept on moving, hm?”

Nikaio watched the interaction between the two strangers and his father. At the mention of them getting separated from the one’s mother, Nika’s heart stuttered and sank. He knew those feelings all too well. And though they were old feelings, from when he was little, they were definitely ones he would never forget. Nikaio found his body moving forward of it’s own volition. When he reached his father, he put a hand on his shoulder and leaned up to talk to him. “C’mon, they can’t be much older than me, if that. Wouldn’t you want someone to take care of me if I were lost?” Those words earned a frown from his father and a small huff. Nika knew he had hit a chord with his old man and grinned when his father agreed to let the two boys join them.

“It’s too bad you came when you did. A little earlier and you’d have seen me dancing.” Nika grinned at the two as he motioned them forward and pointed to an empty log by the fire. “But you showed up just in time for food, at least. There’s plenty to go around.”

Nikaio raised an eyebrow as he watched one of the strangers look him up and down and then settle back down onto his face. At his words, Nika couldn’t help but grin. “Maybe ya can get a better show some other time. If ya stick around that is.” At his father’s grunt, Nika blinked and glanced towards the older man. Nika hummed and placed his hands behind his back and turned to join his dance partners, and the rest of the troupe, around the fire. The instant he was back with the group, his female dance partner leaned in and began whispering and asking about the two newcomers. Nika couldn’t help but chuckle at her enthusiasm and obvious lusty interest. He indulged her, however, not being one to oppose some nice, juicy gossip.

Nika’s father nodded at the other boy as his son disappeared off back with the troupe. “It is no problem. My son, pain as he is sometimes, is right. I could only hope that someone would care for him if he were to be out on his own and lost or separated from us. Come, join us. You’re welcome to spend the night at our camp and the journey with us when we pack up, if it pleases you. As long as you don’t cause trouble, we can escort you to the next village or city.”

Nikaio’s conversation with his female dance partner had subsided the instant the two new strangers had started making their way over to them. She was way too busy eying them both to pay any mind to whatever Nika had to say. He huffed and turned his attention to his male counterpart and grinned as he easily picked up on a conversation with him. That was until he felt the unmistakable movement of the log he was sitting on and raised an eyebrow as he glanced over to the stranger that had checked him out. “Mmm, perhaps because I didn’t give it to you.” With his body closer to the other matori boy’s arm, he felt him tense at the intrusion and heard the small huff and could only imagine the pout the boy’s lips were making. This mental image managed to distract Nika for just a moment before he regained composure.

“Seeing as how you and your friend are the intruders, don’t you think you owe us your name first?”

Nika couldn’t help but let a little snort of a laugh escape his lips. He really did like feeling wanted like that. It was even better when the other party was jealous. Things were a lot more fun, afterwards, when that happened. When the stranger spoke, though, Nika blinked and glanced away from his friend. He’d almost forgotten that he had sat down.

“Nikaio,’ he said, in response to the boy giving him his name. “And it’s no problem.” Nika shrugged as he spoke. “My father sometimes forgets that, at one point, we were the wanderers that were looking for a little help. Were it not for this trope, I’m not sure how far we would have gotten. Though I understand his need and want to be cautious. You can never be too careful at times.” Nika excused himself for a moment and fetched them all three something to drink, sinking back down in his former spot and handing over the cups. “So you’re looking for your friend’s mom, hm?”

Nikaio took a swig of his drink and then shook his head. “I didn’t mean anything by it. You can have a place to go back to and still be a wanderer. It’s great you have someone to go back to, though.” Nika took another drink before sitting his cup aside and grinning. “Though being a wanderer is kind of cool to. Ya get to meet all kinds of people and see many different places. Have some fun here and there.” Silence fell between them for a bit as Nika stared off into the fire. He sighed before speaking up again. “I do hope you’re able to find her. For now, though…” Nika’s words trailed off as more noise began to ripple out from those closer to the fire. “Looks like the food is ready,” he said on a grin.