Body Ayla watched with amusement as Ranec's mouth opened and shut like the fish she'd tickled out of the water. Though he'd tried to hide his feelings, Ayla could read his body language as well as if he'd spoken. She knew all these months that he was hoping she'd have a child of his spirit.

"My.son?" Ranec finally managed to ask.

Ayla sat up and lifted the child gently into her arms so he wouldn't wake. Leaning forward, she deposited him into the dark man's stunned arms.

"Yes. The Mother chose your spirit to help make this baby."

Ranec couldn't speak as he stared at the tiny baby. He would never have guess the child could have been of his spirit. He was as fair-haired as his mother, and the only indication, maybe, would be the child's light brown hair. After a moment he looked at Ayla.

"Are you sure?"

Ayla nodded. "He's of your spirit. His eyes are dark brown, like yours, and even his hair is darker than mine or Jondalars. Tholiza's hair is twice as light. Look, even his nose looks like yours." Ayla pointed.

Ranec studied the child closer. When he really looked, he could see subtle similarities to his own features, but to casually look no one would really know.

He couldn't believe the joy that he felt in his heart in that instant, and felt like shouting from the top of the highest mountain. Instead, he managed to choke back his enthusiasm and whisper a heartfelt "Thank you."

Tholiza started to fuss so Ayla reached over and picked up the sleepy toddler, placing her to her breast. After a moment the child settled down again and both Ayla and Ranec sat in silence, staring in awe and wonder at the tiny miracle Ranec held.

Ranec's brow furrowed and he looked worriedly towards the tent entrance. "Does he know?" he whispered.

Ayla took a deep breath and shook her head. "I haven't told with him yet. He thinks he is of his spirit."

They both sat in silence again as they contemplated Jondalar's reaction. Certainly they couldn't have decided who the Mother would choose to make the baby, right? But then againthey all knew Ayla's theory on how a baby was made. He knew that before he succumbed to her request for pleasures, despite the fact that he knew she didn't remember anything at the time.

Though Jondalar had grown a lot on their journey, Ayla knew that he still had a jealous streak that came out at the most inopportune times. Would he accept the baby regardless of who's spirit made it? Ayla knew deep in her heart that he would, but what she didn't know was how long that would take.

"I'll tell him in the morning." Ayla decided as a yawn escaped.

Ranec smiled worriedly at her. "You need your rest."
She nodded and placed Tholiza back in her furs at Ayla's head, then laid down. Once she was settled, Ranec reluctantly handed the small baby back to her. He then took his trousers back off and crawled into his furs, blowing out the small lamp.

Darkness enveloped them and after a moment Ranec whispered. "Have you decided what you are going to name him?"

Only silence followed his question and he realized Ayla had fallen asleep once again.

Jondalar watched the shadows move in the tent, and from his perch outside as he kept watch he could hear their conversation. At first he felt ashamed for eavesdropping. After all, here he was a man of 23 years! That was something only a child would do, and even then if caught there would be severe punishment.

He was about to move away from his spot by the tent when he heard it. Not sure at first that he'd heard correctly, Jondalar leaned closer to the tent despite himself.

He felt as if he'd been sucker punched in the stomach. His throat constricted and he couldn't breathe. She said.she had said the child was Ranec's. Made of his spirit! All day he had cradled the small baby, knowing that he'd have a son to raise. He had imagined teaching him to hunt, to knapp the flint, in his daydreams he imagined the child becoming first among his people.

Standing, he strode to the far side of the camp and looked out into the darkness. Cackles just beyond eyesight warned him of the hidden danger that awaited as he struggled with his inner rage. He never knew why he was so jealous when it came to Ayla. Especially with Ranec. At least that part was justified, he grimly mused.

He never wanted another man to touch her, or for her to have children of their spirit. Thinking of the two of them together, laying on the bank of the stream as he made her hisJondalar surpressed a shudder as an urge to rush into the tent and pound Ranec's face in overcame him.

Jondalar didn't know how long he'd sat there, but finally the sun started to peek over the trees. It was still early enough to have trouble seeing, but at least the predators had given up for now and went somewhere else. Even Whinney and Racer had moved further away from the tent and were grazing nearby.

He knew that the others would start waking soon ,and Jondalar didn't want to be around any of them. He couldn't fake cheerfulness with the way he was feeling inside. Instead of trading off shifts again last night, he stayed outside unable to sleep anyway with the feelings he was experiencing.

He tossed back and forth with what he wanted to do as he sipped a cup of hot tea, and it wasn't until he heard someone moving in the tent did a wave of panic cause him to jump up and head into the woods.

He just couldn't, wouldn't, face anyone like this. All he could think of was Ranec touching Ayla, filling her with his essence.

~~~~~~~~

Madenia rubbed the sleep out of her eyes as she sat up, and looked around the tent. The spot beside her, where Jondalar was to sleep, was empty, but everyone else was still sound asleep. She had been so tired last night that if the baby woke, she didn't hear it. Feeling guilty, Madenia dressed to go outside. The least she could do was make breakfast for everyone.

She stretched in the crisp morning air and looked around. Where was Jondalar? She ducked behind the tent aways to pass her water, then walked over to the fire. He already had water on to boil, and picking up his cup she discovered that his tea was still warm. 'wherever he went, he hadn't been gone long.' She determined.

Deciding that the bison would be a welcome change, though it was rather thin from the harsh winter, she took down a small haunch that had been placed in a leak proof stomach and spitted it. Knowing their supplies were low, she then decided to break open some of the pine nuts and roast them. That along with the tea would satisfy them, and she wouldn't even have to dig into their stored supplies!

When Ranec woke, Madenia had a cup of tea ready for him, along with a chunk of rare bison and some of the nuts.

"Thank you" he beamed at her, still on top of the world from the news Ayla had given him last evening.

She blushed at the attention and went back to eating her meat quietly.

"I take it Ayla's still sleeping?" she asked timidly.

Ranec nodded as he downed the last of the tea in his cup. "She was up late last night. For the next few days I'm sure she'll sleep most of the time. The women in our cave would rest for at least a half turning of the moon before resuming their activities." He added.

Madenia nodded, then looked around the area. "Have you seen Jondalar? When I came out this morning he was gone."

Ranec blanched at Jondalar's name. He had all but forgotten about the blond man. Looking around, he didn't see anything out of place, and both horses and Wolf, who was with them, didn't seem to sense anything out of the ordinary.

"I'm sure he's around here somewhere." He looked towards the fire. "Isn't that his cup?"

Madenia looked at the now cold tea and nodded. "It was still hot when I came out, but I thought he would have been back by now."

"I wouldn't worry too much. Maybe he just went down to the river."

Biting her lip, Madenia picked up the three waterskins. "I'll go down too. These need to be filled up and I'm tired of waiting for the snow to melt!"

Ranec nodded his approval, "Take a spearthrower, and make sure you don't get too close to the edge. We wouldn't want you to fall in with this weather."
Madenia nodded as she headed towards the stream. Filling the bags was a good idea, but mostly she wanted to make sure Jondalar was alright. She knew he would never look at her as more than a child, but she still couldn't help the way she felt about him. There was a time he seemed genuinely interested in her, but since they'd been traveling, he had been nothing more than affectionate like a brother would be.

Ranec on the other hand, she thought, had given her more than enough attention. Despite the fact that she wasn't really interested in him, she did find him somewhat intriguing. She knew that he and Ayla had been close, Ayla had told her that herself.

She was probably the only person from her camp that knew most of the history between her three traveling companions. During the time Ayla and Jondalar stayed with the Mamutoi , she almost mated with Ranec. Madenia didn't see why they just didn't crossmate. After all, that would seem to make everyone happy. Well, almost everyone. More than anything she wished that Jondalar would look at her the way he looks at Ayla.

She wondered, not for the first time, what it would be like for him to touch her the way he touches Ayla.

Walking along the water's edge, Madenia finally found a rock sticking out from the bank and cautiously climbed on it. If she laid on her stomach she would be able to reach down and get clearer water. The water by the edge was kind of muddy.

She was just finishing the third waterbag when she turned to see a hand extended towards her. Startled, she dropped the bag and the water went pouring out over the rock's edge.

"Jondalar! You scared me." She breathed.

He gave her an apologetic smile, "I didn't mean to. I saw you were almost done and wanted to help you up."

Blushing slightly, she turned to refill the bladder, then allowed him to help her stand. Once she was back on solid ground, she shyly stared up at him.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. Here, let me take those for you." He reached for the three bladders and Madenia picked up her spear thrower again.

They walked in silence for a moment, then Jondalar nodded towards her spear thrower. "Have you been practicing?" he asked.

Madenia shrugged. "Not lately. There really hasn't been much time."

Jondalar frowned, thinking that they'd have plenty of time in the next few weeks while Ayla recovered.

"Would you like to practice now?" he asked, and stopped when she did.

"Now?" Madenia could feel her heart beating through her chest at the prospect of being alone with him for a long time. They hadn't really been alone at all since they'd started traveling.

"Ireally should get the water back to the camp."

Jondalar reached out and took her hand. "The water can wait. They still have plenty there."

Madenia allowed herself to be guided by him as they walked farther down stream.