Standard Disclaimer: I do not own the Earth's Children series, I am only inspired by it.

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Lanidar gritted his teeth against the wave of laughter that greeted his appearance on the competition field. His skill with the spear-thrower had earned him respect and even friends within his own Cave, but because of that, he'd forgotten how the other Caves would still see him: as the cripple-armed boy who couldn't hunt. Forcing himself to ignore the jeers, he stepped up to the line and cast his first spear. A shocked hush spread through the crowd when it pierced the chest of the deer target. It was quickly followed by two more spears, which landed in the chests of the bison and the bear targets. Pandemonium erupted when he was declared the winner of the spear-thrower competition. His friends from the Nineteenth Cave greeted him boisterously, with cheers and slaps on the shoulder.

"I knew you could do it!" shouted Jerekal, his best friend. "Whatever is wrong with your arm, I sure wish I'd catch it," he joked. Then he saw the look on Lanidar's face. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that. I've gotten so used to the fact that you're better than I am, I didn't even think about all the other Caves who haven't seen you since last summer." Jerekal grinned again, "Maybe I should ask instead about what inspired you to become so good? Then I can become inspired as well!"

Jerekal broke into howls of laughter when Lanidar blushed and cast a revealing glance in the direction of the First Rites lodge. "Come on," he said. "Whoever she is, she's out of reach for at least another half a moon. Let's go find some donii-women, O Mighty Hunter, so you'll be able to keep her happy when you do get to see her again!" Lanidar blushed nearly purple at that, causing Jerekal to roar again.

Back at the fa'lodges later that afternoon, Jerekal decided to indulge his curiosity. The two young men were relaxed and refreshed after spending some time with their donii-women and having a swim afterwards. They'd decided to be lazy for a while, since there wasn't much time between when they'd gone to get fresh clothing and when the Storytelling would begin. It was easier to be self-indulgent and talk than go get interested in a game that would break up shortly after they joined in. "Seriously, Lanidar, who is she? I didn't realize you knew any girls outside of the Nineteenth Cave. And I'm reasonably sure it isn't Suheyma, she's had her eye on Rindalen for years. But she's the only girl of our Cave having her First Rites this Meeting," Jerekal said. "I admit to being quite curious. But don't tell me if you'd rather not."

"No, I don't mind talking about her," Lanidar replied. "Her name is Lanoga, she's of the Ninth Cave. I met her last year at the Summer Meeting, when I was helping Ayla of the Ninth Cave with her horses. She's kind of shy, but I think that's because she has a hard time with her mother and her mother's mate. Both of them seem to ignore the children, except maybe the mate pays some attention to Lanoga's brother. But Lanoga is the one who does all the cooking and takes care of the baby and stuff. I told her then that I would mate her and provide for her sister as well, once we were both grown up. She deserves so much more than what she has now. She's pretty, and nice and… I just hope she still wants to join with me."

"Doni bless, you are in love!" Jerekal spoke in some surprise. "And here I thought you just wanted to get away from your own mother. But you are serious about this girl." He hesitated a moment, "Look, I know this is a really impolite question, but… won't her mother object to you, because of your arm?"

"I doubt Tremeda will be sober enough to speak for Lanoga at the Matrimonial," Lanidar snorted. "I heard the story from Proleva, how Tremeda didn't say anything when she lost her milk, and simply left the baby to Lanoga to care for. Fortunately, Ayla found out by accident, and arranged with the women of the Cave to nurse Lorala since Lanoga obviously couldn't, and then she showed Lanoga how to make food that a baby could eat. Even with my arm, I have a higher birth status than Lanoga does… and more to the point, Lanoga isn't disgusted by my arm. How many other girls can you say that about? Besides, I will become one of Zelandoni's acolytes once we return home from the Summer Meeting. She'll raise her status by mating me, as long as we live at the Nineteenth Cave, so what would there be for anyone to object to?" Lanidar chuckled, "Except maybe that if she does come to live here, her mother will have to start cooking again."

Jerekal laughed and got up from his sleeping mat. "I suppose you're right. I wish you all the best with her. Just remember to invite your old friend Jerekal to share a meal or two once you've established your hearth, okay?"

Lanidar smiled in return, "Oh, I imagine we can arrange that, eventually." He glanced out the door of the fa'lodge. "Looks like they're starting to gather for the Storytelling. Let's go."

The two young men walked companionably toward the communal gathering place, exchanging greetings with friends along the way.

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"Wha' d'ya mean, y'don' want Brukeval f'r yer Firs' Rites? I already tole him y'were gonna pick him!" Tremeda whined, weaving unsteadily in the middle of the First Rites lodge. "An' I tole ya he's good in th' furs… better'n my mate, tha's f'r sure."

There was an embarrassed titter from the other girls in the lodge and Lanoga winced. "Mother," she said, "it is supposed to be my choice. I'm sure Brukeval is nice enough, but he's so big, he scares me a little. That's why I'm not picking him." She tried desperately to remain calm, even though her mother's behavior had her almost too mortified to think straight.

"But I tole him y'were gonna pick him," Tremeda reiterated. "Yer jus' an ungrateful li'l brat, like Laramar says! Y'go aroun' puttin' on airs an' thinkin' yer so fancy… who d'ya think is gonna mate ya anyway?" The drunken woman was just getting warmed to her subject when the First Zelandoni entered the lodge.

"Tremeda, stop right now. Lanoga has made her choice. And it is not your place to tell any man that he will or won't be chosen for a girl's First Rites; that is a task for the zelandonia." Zelandoni looked impassively at the combative woman in front of her. "Now, before you say another word, hear me. As of this moment, Lanoga and Lorala are no longer your daughters, they are mine. Your neglect killed three of the children you bore and nearly killed a fourth. Lanoga is not quite a woman, yet she has already proven time and again that she is a better woman than you are. Now leave this place and do not return, lest you feel Doni's wrath!" Cowed at last, Tremeda slunk out of the First Rites lodge, muttering to herself.

Zelandoni turned to Lanoga, "Child, I hope you won't think I am being high-handed in deciding your future in that way. Ayla and I were discussing what we could do to help you and your sister, and we took the matter before the zelandonia. Severing your ties with your mother was drastic, but everyone agreed, Tremeda is an extreme case. And, well, I never did have children of my own; I always wanted some. If you would prefer to affiliate with someone else, I'll arrange it… but I would be very happy to have you as my daughters." The heavyset woman looked Lanoga straight in the eyes as she spoke, and Lanoga got a glimpse of how truly lonely the aging woman was.

"Of course I'll accept you as my mother," Lanoga replied, embracing Zelandoni. "I know you'll be good to Lorala and me. And I'll do my best to be a credit to you as well." She offered the woman a small smile. "Now, back to what we are here for… I trust you have no objections to Jonokol as my choice for First Rites, Mother?"

The big woman chuckled, "While I can't offer a personal opinion, I'm given to understand that he is a good pick. As is your second choice of Mikolan of the Fourteenth Cave, should Jonokol have a commitment already. Very well, I'll tell Jonokol that he has been selected, my daughter." Zelandoni headed back out of the lodge, smiling to herself as the group of girls surrounded Lanoga, chattering excitedly.

"Zelandoni adopted you! The First Among Those Who Serve! Lanoga, how wonderful for you and your sister! Doni is surely showing you Her favor! Just think what this will do for your status! You'll be able to mate any man you want, maybe even any two men!"

Lanoga smiled and responded politely to the enthusiastic babble, her mind racing. I never even thought about what that would do to my status, she thought, I'm so used to being lowest. And I don't want two men, I want Lanidar… as long as he still wants me. But will he have enough status? When I was Tremeda's daughter, it wasn't a problem, his status was higher than mine, but now? I'll have to talk to Ayla about it… or maybe Zelandoni. Mother, she corrected herself, Zelandoni is my mother now. She tried to recall everything she knew about Zelandoni while keeping up with the conversation around her. I don't think Mother will refuse to let me mate Lanidar, Lanoga thought. She might make us wait a year, but I can live with that. Her worries dismissed, she turned her full attention to her age-mates, deflecting the subject from herself and onto the men who would shortly be making them into women. The lodge rang with merriment.

Out at the edges of the encampment, however, the mood was not so pleasant. Brukeval's eyes glittered with rage as Tremeda repeated Zelandoni's words to him. "So," he snarled, "That stuck-up little piece you whelped thinks she's too good for me! You swore to me that you'd teach her what her place is. And you failed. No wonder Zelandoni thinks you're not fit to be a mother," Brukeval sneered as Tremeda stumbled back from the force of his anger. "I don't know why I ever bothered with you in the first place. Willing to please is one thing, but too drunk to be able to please is something else!" With that, Brukeval shoved her, hard, and stalked back towards the camp. He didn't notice that she hit a tree as she fell… or that she still hadn't returned to camp by morning.