Body No one seemed to even breathe as Jondalar stared at the baby. When he didn't speak right away, Ranec became worried and cleared his throat. The noise seemed to bring Jondalar out of his reverie, and he took a deep breath. Turning tear filled eyes to the two onlookers, he gave a strained smile.

"I have a son."

Madenia looked at Jondalar oddly. He had a son? It dawned on her then that he must also believe Ayla's theory on how life was started. She watched as he placed a gentle kiss on the baby's forehead, then moved so Ranec could get a better look at the child.

Ranec felt as if his throat wouldn't work, and it took two efforts to produce any sound. "Congratulations" he finally managed to croak out, but Jondalar didn't notice. He studied the tiny infant. The child was perfect. What else could be expected though? Ayla was the Mother incarnate so it was natural any child she bore would be perfect.

Ranec reached out and touched the baby's light brown hair, taking note of how soft it was and the slight curl to it. He then turned his attention to the tiny fingers rubbing his finger gently around them. As if a reflex, the sleeping babe grasped his finger tightly and Ranec felt a jolt run through him. Smiling, he looked back at Jonadalar.

"He's perfect."

Jondalar beamed with pride as he wrapped the child up again and placed him back in the crook of Ayla's arm.

"How long has she been asleep?" he asked Madenia.

"Since he was born. She was exhausted by the time we made it back to camp. She kept falling asleep inbetween contractions." Madenia let out a shudder. "I didn't know what to do! ! When he was born he wasn't breathing! I've never seen Ayla act the way she did. She seemed to know it was going to happen, and breathed into his mouth over and over, then she started pushing on his chest. I asked her why she did that, and she said that if his heart didn't work then she had to be his heart. She wouldn't give up Jondalar. Afterwards, after he started breathing, she tied off the umbilical cord and placed him
to her breast then fell asleep."
Jondalar placed his hand on her shoulder, "You were there with her, that's all that matters." More than ever now, he'd wished that he could have been there for her. Making sure one last time that she was only resting, he thought of everything else that needed to be done. "We have to get the bison gutted before it goes bad." He frowned as he remembered Tholiza's birth. "She needs to be made comfortable too." He didn't know which to do first.

"I can do that." Madenia offered, relieved that no one was upset with her. She had never been more frightened ever! There was a time she was sure that Ayla was going to be called back to the Mother.

Still beaming, he nodded to Ranec and both went outside to take care of the meat.

Ranec threw another stick into the darkness. "Damn hyena!" he muttered as he went back to the fire. It seemed as if every scavenger between here and the Mamutoi had smelled the blood and came looking for a quick meal. Both horses had positioned themselves directly in front of the tent and more than once he had to physically restrain Wolf from tearing off into the woods after something.

He had volunteered to take first watch, not wanting to be in the tent. Though he would never admit it to anyone, he had been hoping that the child would have been of his spirit. Why wasn't it? He wondered. After all he and Ayla did share pleasures – twice. If what she believed was true, then they could have started a baby then. Was he being punished by the Mother? All he ever wanted was to settle down and find a good mate, raise her children. That wasn't exactly true, he grimly admitted. He could have had all that and more. Tricie was a high status woman. Daughter of a co-leader. She had already given him a son of his spirit and was more than willing to mate with him. No. what he wanted was to have a hearth with Ayla. He found that she was all he ever thought of day and night.

He could tell from the position of the stars that his shift was almost up and added more wood to the fires before going into the tent.

Holding the small lamp made with rendered fat, he crawled over to Jondalar and shook him.

"Hmm?"

"It's your watch."

He watched as the blond man untangled his naked body from around Ayla's and pulled his clothes on. Donning his parka and winter mittens, he started out of the tent.

"I left some tea warming by the fire." Ranec quietly added as he undressed and slipped into the furs.

As tired as he was, Ranec couldn't bring himself to sleep and miss this opportunity. He was alone, well, almost alone, with Ayla and watched as she peacefully slept. Madenia had told him that she had waken briefly earlier while he was outside tying meat onto drying racks, but he hadn't gone in then. Her hair shined in the light from the tiny lamp and he had to swallow a lump that had formed in his throat.

The baby was at her breast, asleep, but still latched on. She was full of the Mother's blessing with her milk laden breasts and the furs were down by her waist so he drank his fill of her beauty.

Glancing towards the tent entrance, he tentatively reached out and touched her cheek. She sighed in her sleep and he trailed his hand down her arm, then lightly caressed her breast. Knowing he shouldn't, Ranec then scooted closer, placing his lips to hers in a chaste kiss. He could feel his manhood straining with desire and had to close his eyes to control himself. When he opened them, he almost let out a surprised shout.

Not breathing, he stared at Ayla as she watched him. Feeling the heat rise to his face, he tried to think of an excuse, any excuse. He couldn't believe he allowed himself to act so foolishly.

"I......I uh...." He couldn't even think of anything to say! Sitting up quickly, he reached for his trousers. "I'm sorry. I just....I'll never do that again. I'll sleep outside tonight, and tomorrow I'll disassemble my tent." He was babbling and he knew it, but at that moment he wanted nothing more than to crawl under a rock and die!

"Wait."

Just as he reached for his parka, her sweet voice stopped him. Not even daring to turn to face her, he stilled.

"Please don't leave."

Hesitantly, he turned towards her looking for any signs of anger. When he found none, he let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding.

She held out her hand to him, and he quietly sat beside her again, taking her hand.

Ayla smiled wistfully at him before whispering, "Have you met your son yet?"