When the Drums Remembered Respect

Previously

…Kaelen frowned. This was all very confusing. He wanted to join the fun, to feel the powerful beat of the drums. But his grandmother’s words felt like a heavy cloak, dampening his excitement. He didn’t understand why his quick steps and hurried greetings were causing such a stir. All he knew was that the festival was coming, and he wanted to be a part of it. But as he stood there, looking at his grandmother’s earnest face, a tiny seed of unease began to sprout in his chest. The drums were waiting, but something felt… off. The usual hum of anticipation in the village seemed to be laced with a quiet worry, a feeling that the music, when it came, might not be as bright as it used to be.