They stayed quietly together, reliving their experience, both in wonder and in awe of what they had created. Finally having mated together they were more closely bonded than they had ever been and the kind of sex they had had furthet intensified their connection and trust.

They went under the furs earlier than usual and fell in and out of sleep together until the early morning when Clarke rolled back into Lexa and asked her to make love to her. This time was slow and gentle, lots of kissing and eye contact, neither felt the need to restrict the other either physically or verbally. They built up their passion slowly, steadily, it was a reflection of their deep feelings of care and general gratitude for the life they were building together. When Lexa finally entered Clarke she heard Clarke draw in a sharp breath she hesitated, but Clarke reassured her, encouraged her, wanted her and Lexa continued.

Rather than being in a frenzy and being chased down by incredible, intense feelings of excitement and barely containable climaxes this was measured, controlled, still powerful but not relieving either completely of their senses. When they recovered Lexa mentioned,

"You are sore, Clarke, I know it?"

"Well a little, but it's a good sore."

"A good sore? I don't think so."

"It's an ache not a pain, you know? Like when you train, you feel sore and you feel good, you know your body is strong and useful."

"Ah, I understand you."

"Lexa, I wouldn't change last night, it is precious to me. I can't say I would be able to do it every day, but it is mine, it is ours, please don't think it is something to be wished away."

"Sha, Clarke, I understand."

"But this," Clarke indicated their most recent tryst, "I want to do this all day everyday until we must go back. I love you, Lexa."

"And I love you."

After breakfast, Clarke gave Lexa a funny look and said, "I want to hunt something big, something dangerous. Is there something near here? A tiger?"

Lexa laughed and said that there were mountain lions on the other side of the mountain but much higher up, she considered the matter for several moments and nodded, "Come on, Clarke, let's go get you a mountain lion!" A thrill went through Clarke and she wondered if she was really ready for such an adventure. But Lexa, she knew, was an extremely accomplished hunter and she trusted Lexa's instincts and skill, besides Clarke was a good listener and would follow Lexa's every direction.

Lexa suggested that they leave the horses, and trek up and around the mountain foot, it would take all day, to reach the spot, track their quarry and snare it in the evening time, prime for such animals. Clarke listened and asked if they would stay up there overnight but Lexa shook her head, no, it would be much too dangerous. Once they had killed their lion they would swiftly fasten it a sort of tray they would make on their way up and hurry away before they became the prey. Lexa assured Clarke that it would take very little time to come back down the mountain, even with their prize especially because they would not be quietly tracking, they would be practically fleeing.

They were both excited, they dressed and donned their weapons, Clarke carried as much healing supplies as she could and Lexa carried their water, food and a fur. They each wrapped a length of rope around their middles, it was still early when they set out and Lexa pointed out the way they would travel. Clarke's fitness had improved so much, she was far stronger than she ever had been, more flexible, more able to adapt to her surroundings and felt confident that she could keep up with Lexa on this trek, which would be almost vertical in some places.

They travelled with determination until early afternoon when they stopped for a rest, Lexa explaining the habitat and nature of mountain lions, she described their strategy, the role each woman would play in the tacking, the baiting, the snaring and the killing of the beast. Clarke understood the danger, if they survived the response of the lion they targeted, there was the immediate threat of her pride. As they rested, Lexa showed Clarke how to make a basic tray, with two long handles, fashioned from branches which they would use to drag the carcass back down the mountain.

Lexa suggested they drink plenty and toilet now because there may not be another chance without being at risk, Clarke did as she was bid and before they moved out Lexa made a thin muddy paste to apply to their hands, neck and faces to dull their scent. Clarke began to feel both excited and terrified, and Lexa could sense the change in her energy, smell the chemical changes in her biology. "Be calm, Clarke, everything about hunting is mental until the final moment, there is no need to express your mental activity physically."

Clarke was amazed at Lexa's depth of knowledge and awareness of her mate, she schooled herself to self control, regulated her breathing, cleared her mind, "Good Clarke, very good, come." They picked up the makeshift tray and moved quietly to cover the distance. They were almost at the top and normally Clarke would have been freezing cold but they had been working rather hard and her adrenalin began to flow when Lexa stopped dead.

Clarke's heart stopped and she froze, watching Lexa closely, she imitated her movements, as Lexa paused to lower the tray, and rest it against a tree, she moved as well. Lexa turned to her, laced a finger to her lips, Clarke nodded. Lexa moved first, silently through the undergrowth to a boulder, Clarke waited until Lexa stopped and then using Lexa's exact steps she followed.