14

Cheers, Boos, You're Doing Great!

One hour before the Sacred Entry show:

Nakia sat alone at a table near the concession stands, tucked away on a quieter side of the convention hall. Around her, the noise was a steady hum of people laughing, chatting, and cosplaying. She watched fans in anime and superhero costumes stroll past, while Kaya’s voice echoed over the loudspeakers, performing final mic checks before the show.

Ursa Valkyrie approached and pulled out a chair beside her. “Nakia, eating lunch an hour before we perform?” Ursa raised a brow. “That’s a bold choice.”

“It’s just a snack. Granola bar.” Nakia slid the wrapper across the table as if it proved her point.

Ursa gave the wrapper a skeptical look before turning her attention to the crowd. “This is… different. I’ve never been to one of these, let alone performed at one.” She looked out of place, her shoulders stiff and her eyes scanning the room as if a costumed superhero might suddenly lunge at her.

“It’s like other conventions,” Nakia said casually. “This one’s focused on Indigenous comic creators, artists, actors... You know what I mean?” She took a bite of the bar.

Ursa’s gaze followed a couple in matching monkey costumes. “I thought costumes were just for Halloween. But these people are living their best lives.”

“It’s called cosplay,” Nakia explained, amused. “My sister’s into it. I took her to one of these once. She fangirled so hard meeting her favorite voice actor.”

“She enjoyed it?”

“She had a blast,” Nakia said.

Ursa watched a man in a bear costume struggle to squeeze through a doorway. He eventually gave up and popped the head off, gasping for air. The corner of Ursa’s mouth twitched. “I feel like I’m in another world.”

Before Nakia could reply, Ursa spotted Sha-Warpony and Mia Fox making their way over. Both looked like they had raided their favorite fandom booths. Sha clutched a booklet covered in stickers, and Mia wore a winter beanie shaped like a fox.

“That beanie matches your gimmick,” Nakia said to Mia, who responded with a slight nod, quiet as usual.

“I heard you two were added to the card last minute?” Ursa asked, reaching out to touch the little tail on Mia’s beanie.

“Yeah. Big Bear told me a few minutes ago,” Sha replied, slipping her stickers into a tiny shoulder bag decorated with a pop idol group.

Ursa fixated on the merch. “If I knew we were allowed to shop around like fans, I would’ve brought more cash. This place is massive.”

“We better head backstage. Jay’s getting antsy,” Sha said, nodding toward where Jay and Kaya were standing. They both waved when they saw the group looking.

“You coming?” Ursa asked Nakia.

“I’ll catch up. Just finishing my drink,” Nakia said, sipping her lemon tea.

From her seat, she watched the others head off toward the ring. The noise in the convention hall swelled with more people arriving, more chatter, and more electric energy. A crowd began to thicken around the guardrails.

“Are you nervous?”

Nakia jumped, nearly choking on her tea. Ravina Hawk had appeared out of nowhere and was now sitting beside her, casual as ever.

“You get used to it,” Ravina said, staring out at the fans. “But this crowd’s nothing compared to the big shows. Indigenous wrestling could pull big numbers if it went global… but it never really expanded.”

Nakia blinked. Ravina rarely spoke to anyone outside the ring.

“You did well in that tournament match,” Ravina said, opening a salad and ripping into a ranch packet. “Your MMA background shows. A lot of people don’t last long trying to adapt.”

“Thanks…” Nakia said awkwardly. “I only saw you wrestle once. When you won the Women’s Indigenous Wrestling Championship.”

Ravina shrugged. “That wasn’t supposed to be me. Dakota Maize was scheduled, but she got injured. I was the emergency pick. Most of the top talent had already left by then.” She mixed the salad with a plastic spork, then added, “I always eat before a match. Can’t perform on an empty stomach.”

The sound of the convention echoed between them for a moment. Nakia finally found a small smile.

“I’ll leave you to it then,” Ravina said, standing up to head backstage. She paused and looked back. “Nakia?”

Nakia looked up mid-chew.

“If the crowd’s booing or cheering, you’re doing your job. If it’s dead quiet? That’s when you should worry.”

Nakia watched her walk away, unsure if that was intended as advice… or a warning.