Variant

The red midwestern dirt crunched under the weight of the leather handmade moccasin.

“One foot in front of the other.” he told himself; Le Te Khan was nervous. He felt as if his heart would beat out of his chest as he was on his way to a dinner that was, in a way, thousands of years in the making. The Cubeleki people had ruled for over a thousand years, and each year they held a ceremony just like the one being held tonight. They would induct one member of the tribe to be trained as a future elder. Tonight was special though; it was Le Te Khan who was being inducted into the ranks of what his people called the Cubleki People Ring of Elders.

The light from the windows of the mud plastered buildings spilled onto the street. He could hear the sounds of celebration coming from inside the great hall, sounds of laughter, music, and chatter. He stepped inside the massive dining hall. The smell was almost overwhelming, it was the smell of home. Local dishes covered the massive table that lay out before him with pig, maize, cactus, and a variety of vegetables that were grown and harvested throughout the city.

“My SON has arrived!!” bellowed his Father, a large man with a plume of brightly colored feathers carefully placed about his ceremonial headdress sat upon his crown. He was accompanied by Le Te Khan’s mother whose braids ran down each side of her round face that was encompassed with a joyful glow that matched his fathers.

“What took you so long? Your mother and I have been drinking up all the peyote!” He inquired as he pulled Le Te Khan and his mother into a huge bear hugging embrace. 

The peyote was beginning to show. His parents faces were glossy and matched the majority of those throughout the room. It would be a joyous evening, and all of the cities would celebrate.

His father then turned to address the room, he stepped up onto the table with his bead adorned leather moccasin boots and he bellowed again in a commanding voice.

“Cubeleki people! May I gather your attention?!!!” The room began to quieten down and Le Te Khan was sure he had never seen a human so proud in all his life.

His father continued “We are here for two reasons, the first is to thank the God for his blessing upon this feast and the nation of Cubeleki during the battle we will fight tomorrow.”

With this he held his golden cup high in the air, matched by all those around the room who had a cup to raise.

“We are also celebrating the coming of age of my son Le Te Khan. He will be welcomed into the order of Cubeleki people’s Ring of Elders before tomorrow’s battle. We stand against those who have come from the open waters and brought terrible plagues upon our people. We will send those intruders back to the land from which they came and send their plagues with them. The great fire from above has chosen our people to rule this land. To be one with nature and to bring together all native people as one. Le Te Khan will lead another generation of Cubeleki people to prosperity after our victory tomorrow.”

Cheers erupted from the dining hall. Its occupants had no way of knowing what was in the waning morning hours.