Apocalypsis 01 - Kahayatle

dress-up with us now, too.”
    Bodo put his on without even looking at it.   It was a vest with the same colors and patterns as mine.   Peter’s was bright red, yellow, and green.   It reminded me of a parrot.
    Peter stroked the front of it and flattened it against his chest, smiling.   “I like it.”
    I couldn’t help but giggle.   “It’s loud and proud, that’s for sure … shows off your inner Peter.”
    “That just sounds so wrong,” he said shaking his head while looking down, still admiring his new duds.   I could see him trying not to smile.
    We stood off to the side in our new clothes and watched people filter in.   Trip showed up with several boat loads of Creek, all of them decked out in finery too.   I couldn’t help but be impressed with Trip’s outfit.   He had colors, feathers, beads and all kinds of other things hanging off him that I couldn’t identify.   I think there were even some animal quills or tails or something in a headdress he wore.  
    “Daaaamn,” said Peter, his mouth hanging open.
    “Wow, dat’s some kinda hat he’s wearing.   He looks like he has a mohawk.”
    The fur or quills that made up his head piece did stand straight up and go down in a row, flowing down past his neck.   I had to admit - it was pretty badass.
    Kowi was the last to come in, with Coli walking just in front of him.   They looked like an indian king and queen - or chief and princess, I wasn’t sure what the right terms were.   They were an explosion of colors, feathers, fur, and beads.   Their arms were still bare though, which was probably to make sure they didn’t suffocate in this heat.   They had to be hot - I know I was with my simple cape.   I guess even Native Americans have to get uncomfortably dressed up once in a while.
      Kowi raised his hands up to get everyone’s attention.   After a few seconds of jostling around and nudging, the crowd went quiet.   It was divided in two groups - Creeks on one side, Miccosukees on the other.
    “Thanks for coming, everyone; it’s been a long time.   I suggest we eat before we begin our business.”   He turned and gestured to some girls standing behind him holding trays of food.   “In the interest of our mutual distrust of each other, we will begin the feast with one person from each tribe eating a sample of their own food, chosen at random by the other.”
    Trip spoke up.   “We agree to this.”
    I looked at Bodo and Peter, a big question mark on my face.   I leaned over towards Peter and whispered, “What the heck is he talking about?”
    “I have no clue.”
    We watched as a Miccosukee and a Creek walked up to one another, each carrying some food.   The Miccosukee indian took a fork and speared a piece of the Creek food and gave it to the Creek indian to eat it.   Then the Creek indian reached over and speared a piece of the Miccosukee dish and the Miccosukee indian ate it.   They continued with this ritual until every dish of food - over thirty in all - had been tested by someone of the opposite tribe.
    “What the hell?” I said quietly.
    “Dey’re checking for poison,” said Bodo.
    “Whaaaat?!” I whisper-yelled.
    “I guess dey had a problem before with da food or something.”
    “Wow,” said Peter.   “That’s what I call distrust.”
    “This is hopeless,” I said to no one in particular.   I had no idea these people would be so vicious as to poison one another when inviting them over for dinner.
    Paci came wandering over, his taste test done.   “You like that?   Kinda weird, huh?”
    “You could say that,” I answered, trying to be neutral but my facial expression wasn’t very convincing.
    “Yeah, it is.   We know it.   But better to be safe than sorry, you know?   We can be pretty creative with our revenge.”
    “I guess.”
    Everyone was walking over to get wooden plates and forks.   We joined the line and then helped ourselves to a small sample of food from every dish.   It all looked simply-prepared but delicious to me.   There were lots of vegetables, some fruit, and plenty of meat.   I grabbed a hunk of heavy bread   to add to my meal before finding a spot on the ground just inside the hut where I could eat it.
    “So, we have to talk,” said Kowi, once everyone had food and was sitting down.   “Bryn’s here to tell us about this problem we supposedly have.”
    “Say what you have to say, Bryn,” said Trip, shoving a huge hunk of meat in his mouth.
    I put my