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

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Bologan and Jerekal stayed with the Lion Camp for the duration of the Summer Meeting. They got to meet Deegie and Branag of Aurochs Camp. They also met Ranec, the dark-skinned carver, who had mated Tricie of Wolf Camp and now lived there. For the fun of it, they learned to ride the horses. They joined all the hunts, and participated in several competitions. Jerekal in particular was an excellent hunter, quickly amassing a goodly portion of ivory and fur. He was in the tent looking over his belongings when Bologan entered.

"Did you misplace something, Jerekal?" Bologan asked.

"Huh? Oh… no… nothing like that," came the distracted reply. "Bologan, do you understand this 'Bride Price' that these people keep talking about?"

Bologan smiled, understanding now what Jerekal was doing. "As I understand it, Bride Price is their way of indicating a woman's status. It gets paid to her home Camp, and acts as compensation for their loss of her and her status if she chooses to go live elsewhere with her mate."

"That's about what I thought," Jerekal replied glumly. "And Latie is the daughter of the headman's hearth, of a highly ranked Camp. She has very high status. Even with the tusks I've obtained, I don't have nearly enough to think about offering for her. And I did so want to bring her home with us."

"Have you asked her yet how she feels?"

"I'm too afraid. What if her mother doesn't want to let her leave?"

"Jerekal, if Latie is willing to come back to the Zelandonii with you, don't you think she'd find a way to manage it? She could always decide to go on a Journey of her own, you know… and just happen to catch up with us along the way. It's only if she is not willing to come along that you will have a hard choice to make." Bologan smiled. "I'll let you in on a secret. I plan on bringing Madenia home with me when we return. And if her mother wants to be with her daughter and potential grandchildren, I will be happy to have her with us."

"Maybe you're right, I should ask her," Jerekal said. "At least I'll know where I stand… if I stand anywhere." He smiled ruefully.

"I do have something that might help you out in terms of Bride Price." Bologan rummaged in his own packframe, eventually digging out several of Lanoga's soap cakes. "I don't think they have anything like this here. Everyone I've seen washing uses soaproot or foaming flowers."

"You're a good friend, Bologan," Jerekal thanked him with a look and vanished out of the tent. Bologan heard him calling to Latie. "Will you come for ride with me? I'd like talk."

Latie smiled as the attractive Zelandonii man called to her. "I'll meet you by the corral," she called back. She detoured to Mamut's sleeping place to bring the old man the tea he had asked for, then started to hurry out.

"Latie," Mamut said, "go enjoy your ride, but please speak to me when you return. You will have much to discuss."

"I will, Mamut," she said, wondering what he meant. Then with a smile on her face, she raced out to the corral to meet Jerekal.

He was already mounted on Cloud, the mare with the white face. She mounted her favorite, a grayish dun she called Dusty, and they rode off upriver. Jerekal felt tongue-tied, but knew that this was his chance to tell her how he felt.

"Latie," he began. "I… you very special. I care very much, not want lose you. But I need return home. Want take you with, join and make hearth together."

Her heart both soared and sank. She cared deeply for him, but she didn't know if she should leave her home, especially so soon after Danug left. And one amused corner of her mind wondered how in Mut's name old Mamut saw this coming. She would indeed have much to discuss with him. "Jerekal, I am flattered that you want me to go with you. I love you, and I would rather not lose you either. If I had no ties, I would go in an instant. I need a little while to think about it, do you understand that?"

He nodded, "Yes. Is big choice, leave family, friends. You make choice, tell me when ready. I not push for choice."

They rode slowly back to the encampment and returned the horses to the corral. Jerekal stayed to curry them, while Latie took herself straight to Mamut's space.

"You've done it again, Mamut," she said as she entered. "I don't know how you knew, but Jerekal just asked me to go with him, back to the Zelandonii. I want to go, but I'm not sure about leaving Mother, especially with Danug gone as well."

"Your destiny lies elsewhere," the old man told her. "Nezzie is blessed again, although she thinks she has gone beyond the bearing of children. She will bear twins, a boy and a girl. They will eventually take over as co-leaders of Lion Camp. Brinan and Tusie will start a new Camp. Nezzie will adopt Druwez as a brother for Rugie, and the two of them will also form a new Camp. But you and Danug will not be here."

Latie smiled. "Mamut, I'm glad you told me this. Ever since Danug left, I've felt out of place. I thought it was just because I missed him. And then, when the visitors arrived… I was attracted to Jerekal from the day I met him." Her eyes grew vague as she remembered. "Druwez told me to have Jerekal ride with me back to Camp. Just feeling him holding on to me for the ride made me feel… And then, when he mentioned meeting Danug, he told me he thought I was pretty." She gave Mamut a careful hug, not wanting to injure the fragile old man in her happiness.

"Go, go," Mamut said with a chuckle. "Go tell your young man the good news. Then you can start figuring out how to explain to Tulie that you won't bring such a good Bride Price as she's hoped."

She giggled at that sally, and dashed across the camp to the visitors' tent. Jerekal was alone inside. She flew into his arms and kissed him, hard. "I will go with you," she said.

Tulie's eyes glittered with anger when Latie calmly announced her intentions of leaving with the Zelandonii visitors. "How can you do this to your mother?" she asked. "And what gives you the right to throw your value away on a stranger?"

Latie's eyes flashed fire in return. "And what gives you the right to decide who I should mate?" she flung back at the headwoman. "I have been a woman for three years now. And I love Jerekal!" She paused and took a few deep breaths, forcibly calming herself. She went on in a quieter, though still firm tone, "Look, I realize that Lion Camp loses my value if I leave. But Lion Camp gains nothing if I stay and never mate. And that's what will happen if I stay. Even at Mother Festivals, I have never found a man with whom I'm willing to spend the entire night, much less more time than that. And my only unusual talent is training the horses; well, Rugie, Brinan and Tusie are as good as I am. Crisavec, Tasher, and Nuvie are learning quickly, and soon Hartal and Bectie will be big enough to learn as well. So Lion Camp does not need my talent. I just don't see myself as being worth so much that Lion Camp's value would drop without me here."

It annoyed Tulie to concede that the younger woman was right, if she stayed but never mated, Lion Camp would not gain anything. She tried the emotional tactic again. "But your mother… Danug is already gone and who knows if we will ever see him again. And now you say you wish to leave and never return."

Latie glanced at Mamut, silently asking him to support her position. "Tulie, I spoke with Mamut about my choice. He told me that my future does not lie with the Mamutoi. Nor does Danug's. This is Mut's will that I should leave. Believe me, I will miss you all greatly. But I must go, I can feel it."

The old man nodded agreement. "It is true, Tulie, she and Danug are meant to live out their lives elsewhere. Beyond that, I have not seen."

Tulie still looked irritated, but she could not refute the One Who Serves the Mother. "Very well," she said. "If that is the case, I will not try to prevent it. But I don't have to like it!"

Jerekal and Bologan moved to the front of the assembly, their arms laden with their hunting trophies. Jerekal spoke, "I am sorry to cause bad feeling. But I love Latie. I here as visitor, not have much… but to show I respect Bride Price, I give what I have. Bologan gives too, for me. Has something special, too, and said he will show you how to make."

Partially mollified by this display of manners, Tulie allowed herself to be intrigued. "What is this something special," she asked, "and what does it do?"

Bologan handed Tulie a cake of rose-scented soap. "My sister make," he said. "Is good for washing, better than soaproot. Cleans leather, other things as well." He gave her a smile, "Not sure about making to smell nice though. Lanoga say, add flower oil, but not say how much. You have to work out that part. But for plain, all you need is wood ash, water, and fat."

Tulie looked a bit skeptical, but poured herself some water and washed her hands. She smiled. "This works just as well as you said. And you will show us how to make it?"

"Yes," Bologan replied. "Is not so hard. Just take time, and smell bad. Lanoga put flower oil in to make smell better. People like, so trade for it. Even people know how to make trade, takes so much time. They do other things, let Lanoga make instead." Most of the members of Lion Camp grinned as Tulie began obviously mentally calculating how much the skill might prove worth if Lion Camp kept it a secret and became the only supplier of the little cakes to the rest of the Mamutoi.

Meanwhile Latie spoke quietly with Nezzie. "I really do hate to leave you, Mother, but I meant it when I said there isn't a place for me here."

Nezzie looked resigned. "I suppose I've seen it coming, from the moment you rode into camp with Jerekal behind you. I just didn't want to believe it."

Latie hugged her mother, and decided to give the plump woman something else to think about. "Mother," she murmured as they embraced, "Mamut told me something else when I spoke with him. You aren't past childbearing quite yet… you've been blessed again."

"What?" Nezzie looked stunned. "It's been eleven years since I was last blessed. I don't see how it's possible, not at my age." She looked thoughtful for a moment. "You know, with just Rugie left at the hearth, perhaps I should think about adopting a brother for her, so that she has the chance to become a headwoman someday."

"Adopt Druwez. He's her cousin already, and he's the odd one out of Tulie's children. Deegie and Tarneg already started Aurochs Camp, and Brinan and Tusie are close in age and will probably make good co-leaders. Rugie is younger than Druwez, but she is closer to becoming a woman than Tusie. He won't have such a long wait for her to grow up and mate and co-lead." Latie couldn't keep the smile out of her voice. Mother was nicely distracted with plans now.

"That's a good suggestion, Latie. And it will give Tulie a chance to negotiate, her favorite pastime," Nezzie chuckled.

The next day, Bologan gave soap making lessons to everyone from Lion Camp who wished to learn. Two days after that, he, Jerekal, and Latie were packed and ready to leave. As the Lion Camp gathered to see them off, they received a surprise. Talut appeared leading three mares from the Lion Camp's herd.

"Consider these horses a gift from the Lion Camp, in honor of your pledging, Latie. Even if that pledging takes you away from us. Besides, you'll make better time riding." The big headman handed Dusty's reins to Latie, Cloud's to Jerekal, and Amber's to Bologan. The big headman lifted each of them aboard their horse before they could protest. "Now," he said, "you have a Journey to make. May Mut smile upon you in your travels!"

The trio waved as they rode off. Latie's face was wet with tears, but she soon recovered. "Come on," she said. "Let's go home."

It was early winter. Danug was approaching the mountainous area claimed by the Losadunai, the people he had been advised to stay with until it was safe to cross the glacier. He had enjoyed his visit with the S'Armunai Camp of the Three Sisters, especially when it turned out that they knew Ayla. They and he had spent many enjoyable evenings swapping stories about her. He had also spent quite a bit of time learning some Zelandonii from S'Armuna, who had lived with them as a young woman. Language differences weren't something he'd thought about when he set off on this Journey. He'd only been thinking of how restless he was. And of how many women seemed more interested in his status than in him. Leaving just seemed like a good idea. The women all seemed to take it for granted that he would start his own Camp with Latie, but he didn't want to be a headman. He just wanted to work the stone. He was glad that S'Armuna had offered him the language lessons, though. Supposedly most of the Losadunai knew at least a little Zelandonii, as the two tribes traded regularly.

He smiled as he trudged along, thinking how surprised Ayla and Jondalar would be to see him. Oh, he had said that perhaps he'd Journey out to visit someday, but he doubted they had believed he would. After all, everyone spoke of making a long Journey, but very few people actually did. He paused for a moment, hearing hoofbeats. Perhaps he could bring some fresh meat to the Losadunai with him, surely they would appreciate that. He readied a spear and turned to scan the horizon for the animals. He was surprised to see three horses carrying riders. His surprise turned to outright shock when one began waving wildly and racing towards him. "Danug! Danug!" cried the rider.

"Latie?!? How in Mut's name did you get here?" The burly young man swung his sister off her horse and into a bear hug. "And who is this you are traveling with?"

Latie grinned at her brother. "Set me on the ground and I'll answer you, silly!"

He chuckled. With his great strength, he hadn't noticed that her feet were dangling. He set her down with a smile, "All right, little sister, you're on your own two feet now. So, how did you come to be this far west?"

She motioned the other two riders forward. "I've decided to leave the Mamutoi, Danug. This is Jerekal of the Zelandonii," she indicated the man on the white-faced mare, "and his friend Bologan of the Zelandonii. She pointed to the man on the golden brown mare. "I have Promised to join with Jerekal. We plan to be joined at the next Zelandonii Summer Meeting."

Danug recognized the two men as the travelers he'd met back in the spring. He nodded a friendly greeting in their direction, but he still had some concerns. "Latie, I don't want to tell you how to live your life, but… what about Mother? How did she react to your leaving?"

She smiled. "Mother wasn't happy, but she said she saw it coming even before I realized I was falling in love with Jerekal. Besides, Mamut told everyone that you and I are destined to live away from the Mamutoi. That seemed to help her some, knowing that it's Mut's will." Latie's smile turned into a grin, "I think Tulie was more upset than Mother, since it means she can't negotiate my Bride Price. But Mother is planning to adopt Druwez, so that he and Rugie can start a Camp together someday. That will give Tulie her chance to bargain." Her voice held a definite giggle now, "And Mamut says that Mother is blessed again, not that she believes him. She thinks she can't have any more children. I can just imagine the look on her face the first time she feels movement!"

Danug laughed heartily at that. "Well then, since everything will be fine with the Lion Camp, at least according to Mamut, we should continue on our way." The huge man grinned at the Zelandonii men and spoke haltingly in their language, "You go also to Losadunai, wait for deep cold to go over glacier?"

Latie laughed with delight. "Oh, you learning Zelandonii as well!" she exclaimed in the same language. "We talk only Zelandonii now? Learn faster, yes?"

Jerekal smiled. "Yes, you will both learn faster if you make yourself speak Zelandonii all the time." He was pleased that his mate-to-be would have kin to witness their Matrimonial. He and Bologan dismounted, and they led the horses as they strode along, talking. "So, Danug," Jerekal asked, "what made you decide to leave the Mamutoi? I know why Latie chose to come," he flashed her a brilliant smile, "but what about you?"

"Is like this," Danug replied. "Too many Mamutoi women want be mate of headman, not stop and ask if I want be headman. I son of Talut's hearth, and child of spirit. He headman, women think I be headman also. But I work stone, not want lead Camp."

Jerekal and Bologan both laughed. "It seems that many people think the same way," Jerekal commented. "Bologan chose to go on this Journey because some people didn't want to believe he is not like the former man of his hearth. And now you are also on a Journey because people didn't want to believe that you are not like the man of your hearth."

Bologan had been scanning the horizon for landmarks, only paying partial attention to the conversation. When he spotted a haze rising from a nearby valley, he handed Amber's reins to Danug. "I'm going on ahead… I'll let them know we have horses." He dashed off without waiting for an answer.

Latie and Danug looked puzzled, but Jerekal laughed. "He isn't crazy," he said. "Unless you count crazy for a woman of the Losadunai. As much as he enjoyed the mammoth hunts and all, he's been counting the days until we would arrive here. I used to tease him about it, but not anymore." Jerekal smiled at Latie. "Now, I know exactly how he feels."

Bologan called greetings to various Losadunai people he remembered from the previous winter. He quickly told them of the other approaching visitors, including the horses. Laduni looked surprised, but then laughed when Bologan indicated that the strangers with Jerekal were Ayla's kin from the Mamutoi. Laduni hurried out to greet the other three and show them where Ayla's horses had stayed when she visited. Bologan looked around, his heart beginning to sink. Had she forgotten him? Had she given in to pressure from her mother and taken a mate?

He started as a hand clapped him on the shoulder. "Settle down, young man," Losaduna said. "Madenia is at the sacred pool." The One Who Served grinned slyly at the Zelandonii man. "And she is still unmated, despite Verdegia's best efforts."

Madenia walked into the Cave just then, her wet hair in a single thick braid down her back. Her face lit up at the sight of the young Zelandonii man, transforming her from lovely to breathtaking. "Bologan? It's really you!" She flew into his arms, kissing him hungrily.

"Oh Madenia… I've missed you so…" Bologan returned her kisses with equal fervor. "Madenia, will you return home with me and join with me?"

"There will be some things to work out, not the least of which will be Mother's objections, but…yes!"

Applause broke out from the onlookers, causing the couple to break apart and become aware that they were standing in the middle of the Cave. Laduni led Jerekal, Latie and Danug inside just in time to hear Bologan's question and Madenia's answer. The leader offered his best wishes, then he and Jerekal began introducing the Mamutoi brother and sister around.

Bologan smiled at his intended. "Don't worry about your mother," he told her. "I understand that she would wish to be near you. I have no objections to providing for her. We'll invite her to come with us."

Madenia laughed. "That should work," she agreed. "But come… I have something to show you." She tugged him over to the shelter she shared with her mother, grateful that Verdegia was out gathering the last of the stone pine cones with Solandia. "Don't look," she said.

He obediently shut his eyes. She pushed him to a seat, then gently placed something small and warm on his lap. "I'd like you to meet Logani," she said, "he's just one moon old." His eyes flew open in shock and he looked down at the swaddled infant on his lap. The baby gazed back with gray eyes that matched his own.