Body Jondalar woke groggily and reached over for Ayla, only to find an empty spot. Puzzled and concerned after the episode she'd had last evening, he quickly dressed and checked on Tholiza one last time before leaving the tent. Looking around the area, he spied Ranec and her by the fire. Letting out a relieved breath he sat down beside them.

"Oh Doni!" He whispered hoarsely, "when I woke and she was gone I thought my heart stopped!"

Ranec looked uncomfortable as Ayla slept on oblivious.

"I found her out here a few hours ago. She said she couldn't sleep but she finally did. I tried to take her back into the tent but she started mumbling. I didn't want to wake her."

Jondalar frowned as he reached over and lightly touched her cheek. "We should get her back into the tent. Being out in this weather isn't good for her and the baby."

Ranec looked over at the small tent and sighed. It would be difficult moving her into the small area without waking her. He knew he had to do something quickly though, he had to relieve himself!

"Jondalar, would you get me a fur from my tent?"

Jondalar looked at the dark man, then realization hit him. The agitation he felt was common if someone had been sitting on the cold ground for hours. With a hint of a smile, Jondalar went to the tent and retrieved the item.

Working together, they placed it under Ayla's head and Ranec slipped out from his perch. Without a word, he ran into the woods and Jondalar had to stifle a laugh at the other man's expense.

He reached down to take Ayla into his arms, then stopped. It wouldn't be easy to move her into the tent, but he also couldn't leave her out here. Normally she'd already be awake for the day, but he knew after the trauma from last night she'd sleep later.

Sighing, he sat back on his haunches and looked up at the sky. Her health was more important and somehow he knew they wouldn't be traveling today. Well, he thought, they could always take the time to hunt and rebuild their supplies. This area wasn't too bad. There was a stream nearby and plenty of wood available to dry the meat.

Ranec returned then and added more snow to the skin by the fire. "Well?"

"Let's let her sleep. We can stay here for a day or two and go hunting. She needs the rest. I was thinking, why don't we combine the tents? We could share sleeping space like before, but with the two tents it will give much more room for Ayla."

Ranec's throat constricted. He'd be sleeping beside Ayla again. He wasn't quite sure if it was a blessing or a curse, but either way, he wouldn't, couldn't, give up the opportunity to be close to her.

He managed to nod and cleared his throat. "What about Madenia's tent? Perhaps she'd like to join us."

Jondalar thought of the way she'd been acting lately and had his doubts if she'd say yes. "It couldn't hurt to ask. When she wakes up we'll decided then."

~~~~~~~~~~~`

Ayla woke to find Madenia sitting with her back to her. She was humming softly under her breath as she entertained Tholiza and repaired a pair of trousers. Ayla sat up and Madenia turned, smiling at her.

"Good afternoon! We didn't think you'd wake up at all today. I have some stew from last night warming by the fire, would you like some?"

Ayla scratched her head and looked around the tent groggily. "I need to pass my water first."

"Jondalar and Ranec are outside. They're making more points for the spear throwers."

"Why didn't anyone wake me?"

Madenia shrugged and went back to her sewing. As Ayla pulled her parka on, she realized that there was more room in the tent than normal. "Did they put all the tents together?"

Madenia blushed slightly. "Yes. They decided that you'd need more room with the baby soon to be born."

Ayla frowned, puzzled, but headed outside. Glancing around, she noticed both men hunkered by the fire. Ranec was carving the shafts straight and Jondalar was fastening flint points on the wooden shafts. The air had become decidedly colder and Ayla held her stomach as she made her way towards the men.

When Jondalar spied her, he couldn't help but smile at how beautiful she looked. Holding the growing life inside her, smiling at him in return.

"Why didn't you wake me?" Ayla asked as she leaned over and gave him a kiss.

"You needed your rest. Do you feel better now?"

Ayla nodded and walked into the woods, Wolf at her heels. She wasn't aware that two sets of eyes watched her go, both filled with want and longing.

The next day Ayla was up early as usual, the fear of her nightmare dissipating slowly. She watched as the sun rose through the trees and wished they'd leave the woods soon. As much as she loved the trees, it was disconcerting to not be able to see far ahead. They still had to reach the glacier, then cross over. It was going to be a long journey and her spirit guides and been urging them to continue.

Making a breakfast for everyone, Ayla rubbed her lower back. She'd been having a hard time finding a comfortable position, and more than once she'd woken up during the night because of it.

Jondalar was the next to wake and joined Ayla by the fire. At first neither talked as Jondalar sipped his tea, and used the thistle that Ayla gave him. After a few moments of comfortable silence, Ayla spoke.

"Jondalar?"

"Hmm?"

"Why did you pick now to put the tents together? Aren't we leaving today? We still have a long way to go."

Jondalar smiled at the worried look on her face. Sometimes she just tried to take care of too much.

"I spoke with Ranec and we decided to replenish our supplies while we can. There's a lot of animals nearby that have their trails going to the stream, and we can use the water for cleaning and gutting them. We'll probably leave in a day or two if we're lucky today."

"You're hunting today?" Ayla asked, the familiar sense of foreboding washing over her.

Jondalar nodded as he downed the rest of his tea. "We'll head out after breakfast and most likely be back by dark."

"Why don't we all go?" Ayla asked, not wanting to be left behind for a reason she couldn't quite fathom. "That way we'll have more of a chance of bringing back more?"

"What about Tholiza? Ayla you're almost due." Jondalar couldn't resist pulling her towards him and caressing her abdomen. "You need to look out for this little one also. Besides, I'm sure Ranec and myself will be able to find something."

Ayla couldn't think of any argument that would convince him to stay, and she knew they had to take the opportunity to hunt while they could. The weather could change any moment and what good would it do any of them to be without food?

"I'll make something for you two to take along. You make sure you take time to eat, ok?"

Jondalar gave a heartfelt laugh as he hugged Ayla to him. "Yes Mother."

Ayla's mouth dropped open and she playfully pushed him. "That's not funny."

"Ok, ok, I'm sorry."

They both stared at each other for a moment before they broke out into fits of laughter together. Ayla reached up and hugged him in her exuberance and before she knew it, Jondalar had captured her mouth for a hungry kiss. By the time he pulled back, she was breathless and wanting of him.

"Oh Ayla," he ground out as he captured her mouth again, his hand reaching under her parka to cup a breast. "Do you have any idea what you do to me?"

Ayla smiled slyly at him. "I think I have a pretty good idea."

Ayla laughed as Jondalar scooped her into his powerful arms and turned towards the tent. He frowned then, remembering that they weren't alone any longer. Not one to give up, he sat her back down and held up his hand for her to wait. Rushing into the tent, he returned a moment later with a fur and slung it over his shoulder. Picking her up again, he headed into the woods.