(Nakia)

One hour before 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, people laughing, chatting, cosplaying. She watched fans in anime and superhero costumes stroll past. Kaya’s voice echoed over the loudspeakers, doing 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 like 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 perform at one.”

She looked out of place, shoulders stiff, eyes scanning as if a costumed superhero might lunge at her.

“It’s like other conventions,” Nakia said casually, “but this one’s focused on Indigenous comic creators, artists, actors, stuff like that, you know what I mean?” She took a bite from 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. Took her to one of these. She fangirled so hard meeting her favorite movie star.”

“She enjoyed it?”

“She had a blast,” Nakia said.

Ursa watched a man in a bear costume struggle to squeeze through the doorway, the head too wide. He eventually gave up and popped it off.

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 just 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, touching the little tail on Mia’s beanie.

“Yeah. 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 at 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, chatting. 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 setup. The noise in the convention hall swelled, more people arriving, more chatter, more energy. A crowd began gathering by the ring.

“Are you nervous?”

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

“You get used to it,” Ravina said. “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. She was like a ghost train, wrestling, disappearing.

“You did well in that tournament match,” Ravina said, opening a salad and ripping 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.”

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. Nakia smiled.

“I’ll leave you to it then,” Ravina said, 

“Nakia!” Ravina 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 didn’t know if that was advice… or a warning.