Anise
Username: Tryx
Ahzenai you're wooing: Amaiti Kātalaṉ - the One who Loves the Silence*
*literally translates to "peace lover" in TamilWoo:I had been watching and waiting at the vortex for a while, hoping that the perfect Ahz would pop out of the vortex, trot over to me, fall at my feet, and tell me that I was the most perfect companion in the whole world. Of course, that was just a fantasy of mine; I hadn't actually been approaching any of the Ahz much less speaking to them, so the chances of me getting a companion by just standing there was a big fat 0%.
So far, I had been content to just be a spectator, but I had resolved today to finally break my silence and speak to one. However, I wasn't sure that I was going to get the chance. The vortex was spinning even more slowly and dimly than it normally did and was giving no indication that an Ahz was going to appear any time soon.
I traced a pattern in the dirt with my feet, trying to decide if I was going to stay or leave and come back another time. I pushed the dirt around for a while, lost in thought, when suddenly a soft gasp got my attention.
I looked up and saw that everyone was staring at a gorgeous blue and purple Ahzenai who had seemingly come out of nowhere. I was extremely surprised; not only had the vortex not flared up at her arrival, but Valcyon did not even announce her name. Or else I had missed it.
I watched as the first wooer went up. I listened closely and caught a name as the person spoke. I rehearsed it a few times in my mind, to make sure that I could remember it.
But then, when the next person went up, she called the Ahzenai by a different name. I thought that perhaps I had misheard, so I kept the first name in my head. But then came the third person, and the fourth person, and the fifth person, and each was referring to her by a different name.
I traced in the dirt with my shoe again, thinking. It seemed like we were making up names for the Ahz. And she wasn't giving any help, either. She had not said one word nor made a single noise since she appeared from the vortex. I kicked the dirt in frustration; weren't these Ahzenai supposed to tell you what they wanted so that you could woo them properly?
I watched and waited, sitting quietly off to the side. One by one, each suitor went up and made their bids. Some read poetry, others told their life stories, still others used sign language to communicate.
Watching the wooers who were signing, I felt a spark of an idea. Maybe she had been telling us what she wanted all along. Maybe all she wanted was someone to share the silence.
I walked over to the tree where the Ahzenai was and waited my turn, feeling a small flutter of hope and nervousness in my stomach. I might end up looking like a total dork, but at least I had a small idea of what I was going to do. While the crowd watched the wooers, I bent down and untied my shoes, flinging them to the side. I stood and let my feet feel the dirt beneath them, wiggling my toes to get used to the feeling.
Soon the crowd cleared, parting to let me take my turn. I stepped in front of the Ahzenai, feeling my heart beat faster and faster. I glanced at her and bowed slightly, not sure what else to do. Then I stepped back and extended my right foot. Slowly, I dragged my foot through the dirt, making a large, graceful arc in front of me. I stuck my arms out to my sides and touched the ground with my left toes, dragging that foot through the dirt as well.
Feeling the rhythm of my heartbeat as it pounded in my chest, I let my feet do the talking. I pranced to one side of the small space that the crowd had cleared, leaving footprints behind in the dust. I spun and dragged my toes. I leaped into the air and landed on the balls of my feet then swept my left foot behind me in a dusty arc. I knelt on my left knee and grabbed some dirt with my hands and then shot back up into a standing position. I let dirt slide through my fingers as I spun around, drawing both nothing and everything with my feet. I let my heartbeat choose the pace, and I let my feet tell the story. I moved and spun and danced until sweat poured off of my forehead, leaving droplets on the ground and adding to the tale.
I did one last spin and dropped down to one knee, extending my arms above my head. My breath was coming in gasps, and my sweat still continued to trickle down my back. Dust and dirt hung in the air, and each breath I took was tinged with the smell of earth and tickled my throat. I peered over my shoulder at my story. Arcs, waves, and footprints dotted the ground behind me, telling secrets that only my feet and my heart knew and understood. My woo was of movement.
I bowed again to the Ahzenai, bringing my arms down to my sides. I stood slowly, dragging my foot back underneath me. With a sweeping motion of my arms, I gestured to the Ahzenai and pointed to the dirt on the floor, inviting her to tell me her story as my feet told her mine.