CHAPTER 5: 'Hep'

As Durc grew older, Broud resented the half breed boy all the more. Nearing sixteen summers and considered an adult, Durc would no longer put up with Broud's bullying and needed to stand up for himself when Broud criticized him. Broud's criticisms were always unwarranted and invariably went too far; today things would change. Broud ordered Durc to get him a morning tea and then criticized the young man. "You are stupid Durc, you have brought me bitter tea, now replace it."

As usual, this was said in front of other men. "Broud, I was named by Creb and I am a full member of this Clan. What is 'stupid' is your abuse, and it will no longer go unchallenged. I am telling you this out of respect to you as our elected leader, but from now on if I am criticized openly I will sign in protest as I am now, and you will stand for my ridicule in front of the Clan you lead. If that is what you want, I will make you look small in the eyes of our people. Understand, this is not a threat, it is a promise." Broud turned and walked away with the bitter tea in hand, he needed to think on what Durc had said. In a battle of wits between the two men, it was obvious Broud possessed only meager weapons.

Back when he was ten summers Durc had created what was now called a 'Game Gathering.' His annual gatherings had fed his Clan well for the last five winters. The gatherings were simply the bothering of game achieved by walking the forest paths to urge the animals into a closed canyon where hunters would harvest the animals as needed for the winter food supply.

It was late fall again and Broud had ordered Jonacas, his Clan's Hunt Leader, to return to the traditional ways of hunting. This was a departure from Durc's game gatherings. The change turned out to be a drastic error in judgment on Broud's part as it caused the starvation death of three people within the Clan of the Cave Bear over the winter.

Durc was staying at The Clan of the River Valley during this fall hunt and was there all winter helping with needed hunting. The eight small caves of this Clan were sandwiched between two mountains north by northwest of Durc's Clan and a good-sized stream ran through the valley between the mountains. Being in a much more mountainous area than his own Clan, getting meat for the upcoming winter was more difficult than at his own Clan.

Another reason he was there was somewhat personal. Durc was sixteen summers now, and females were of interest to him. 'The girls I met as a child are women now. Some may be mated but not likely all of them and I freely admit I enjoy meeting women.' Durc was having pleasant thoughts. He had no knowledge of being promised to an infant female when he was a baby. Ayla, his mother, was given a Death Curse and had not thought to tell him of it before she was forced to leave. Something else Durc didn't know was that last fall Broud had ordered Hunt Leader Jonacas, to return to the traditional hunting methods. Durc found out when he returned to the Clan of the Cave Bear as the sun began to melt the winter snow.

Spring came and with it came Brun, Broud's father, and former leader of the Clan. His son's actions had now gone too far to be ignored and Brun was determined to do what was best for his Clan. "Broud, I am in poor health and I wish to speak to my friends before I am taken to the Spirit World. Would you call for a meeting of all adult males living within our Clan?'

"Yes, I will call a meeting as you ask Brun." Respect would have been shown if Broud would have said, 'father,' instead of always addressing him by his name. Showing disrespect was part of Broud's nature and a strong part of his bullying. It was high sun when all the men were present, and Brun now stepped onto the leader's rise to speak to the assembled men.

Young Brac was present at the meeting because Brun had asked him to be there. Prior to Brun speaking, Brac was in deep thought. 'I think my father shouldn't be our leader, he is mean to people.' This serious thought reflected Brac's ability to care for others. Being more than just a random thought, such had become fact in Brac's mind long ago.

Brun knew what he wanted and needed to say and had been in deep thought in preparing for the meeting. 'I think my son is a pitiful leader and has already been our leader far too long. People in our Clan have starved this last winter and those deaths were directly caused by Broud's ego and self-centered actions. I have told him no lies… I do wish to speak to the men of our Clan before I go to the Spirit World; I just won't be saying the things Broud may think I want to say.' Such were the thoughts in Brun's mind. He felt his words would likely cause great disruption within his Clan.

It was high sun and when all the men were present it was time for Brun to step onto the leader's rise. "I am Broud's father and the former leader of this Clan and it was I who asked Broud to call this meeting. As most of you may suspect, I will likely enter the Spirit World sometime soon and I feel a strong need to speak to you men before I go." Brun now began to sign with intensity in his signing.

"My friends, I hereby renounce Broud's leadership because of his reckless actions in changing the hunting methods devised by Durc and thus causing the death of three people over the winter. I demand a new leader be elected." The men were surprised at what Brun had signed, had they seen faulty signing? Did Brun really mean what he signed? Broud was just as surprised as the other men were and was instantly angry.

"Brun, you lied to me! You said you wanted to say farewell to your friends and now you do this!" Again, respect would have been shown if Broud would have said, 'father,' instead of addressing him by his name.

"Broud, where did I lie? I said, 'Broud, I am in poor health and I wish to speak to my friends before I am taken to the Spirit World.' Speaking to my friends is exactly what I have done. It is your error in assuming I wanted to say farewell and it is your self-centered mind that has brought us to this point." Brun had now set things in motion and things quickly went downhill for Broud.

"My friends, speak freely of your thoughts and opinions in this matter!" Brun had signed the statement forcefully.

"Silence! I command you men to disperse! Know that retribution will come to those who stand to speak against me." Broud was openly showing vengeance in his signing.

Brun was not holding back in his criticism. "I and many of these other men stand against you Broud... and you have no right to threaten the men of this Clan! Threatening retribution to those you lead shows weakness, and you have shown weakness from the sad day you became our leader. You speak with a coward's heart and by your own statements you lead by fear of retribution to those who would speak against you." Brun's unfettered statement of disgust now brought forth the opportunity for other men to speak and now unfettered, several hunters now spoke up against Broud.

"It's your lack of thoughtful leadership that killed three people within our Clan over the winter," one man signed. "My grandmother died because of you Broud," another man signed. "My father was ill and died of starvation while I was on a ten-moon hunt for game. Today I found out you ordered his food brought to you because you felt he would soon die from his sickness anyway. Damn you Broud! I agree with your father in this."

Yet another man signed, "Everyone listen to me! Broud has no power if we elect someone new, and I say we should consider electing Brac to lead, and if Brac has no desire to assume the responsibility, we could elect Durc to lead." Various men were now signing the dislike and disgust they felt for their leader. It was Broud's son who would normally be in line for succession in leadership so the call for Brac to become leader was not out of line.

Someone started what amounted to a verbal chant, "Brac! Brac! Brac!" Someone else started a different chant, "Durc! Durc! Durc!" Being present and alongside Brac, Durc turned to address those at the meeting.

"My friends, I am honored you would consider me to be our Clan leader, but I feel Brac should lead our Clan and leader Broud should simply stand aside."

Immediately after his statement, Durc renewed the chant someone else had started, "Brac! Brac! Brac!" The young man felt honored Durc deemed him capable of being a good leader. He was not yet a man and was present only because Brun, his grandfather, had asked him to be in presence.

Nearly all of those present joined in Durc's chant. Broud quickly went from angry to livid. Durc had now directly attacked his leadership and was using Brun and his own son against him in challenging that leadership. Broud gave Durc a shove to the side then signed, "I call for an immediate decision as to leadership. Those who want to continue my leadership should now speak." The silence was deafening as only four old men signed support.

Brun now spoke up again and signed, "Those who would have Brac, my grandson, lead our Clan should now speak." Arms and hands flew wildly in signing an affirmation of Brac's leadership. Brac had just been duly elected as the new leader of the Clan of the Cave Bear.

Broud now tried to physically attack both his own son and Durc. Hunters stopped Broud's violent attack before he could reach his targets and forced him to the ground while another hunter confiscated his spear and belt knife. Jonacas, the Clan's current Hunt Leader, came forward and signed, "I will go to Broud's hearth and remove any other weapons he may have.

"I ask for three hunters to guard Broud's hearth. He is not to be allowed to go anywhere within our caves without the three guards." Turning to his former leader, Jonacas signed to Broud, "I do this to protect others from your wrath and also to protect you from the people's anger."

"I will volunteer to be a guard," signed a hunter who had lost a sister. "I too will volunteer, and I volunteer also!" signed two other men in mourning.

While Broud was being handled, Brac stood and struck the hilt of his belt knife three times on the rock he had been sitting on. He took this moment to sign to those who would now follow him. "I am honored you would support me as your leader. It is something I have never thought would or could come about. Even at twelve summers, you have shown faith in me. I will always honor you for that and will lead our people without threats or malice. My friends, know that I promise to lead our Clan in ways that will best benefit our people. With that in mind, I now ask Durc to be my second in leadership and my successor in the event I should pass into the Spirit World." Durc was caught off guard by Brac's request.

Brac had addressed Durc directly and in front of every man in the Clan, the young leader was waiting for a response. "Brac, I would be honored to do as you request, and I accept being your second in leadership. I promise to follow your manner in leading our Clan." The people who wanted Brac to lead were pleased, and the people who wanted Durc to lead were pleased as well; Broud wasn't pleased at all.

Brac now signed to his people, "My father led us as best he was capable. I regret his ability to lead was poor and I have sorrow for those who were harmed by his actions." Brac's statement was fully truthful. Broud would never agree he had been treated fairly, but he had been voted out as leader and knew he no longer had power over his fellow Clan members. He disappeared three moons later. He left his Clan, his son, and Oga, his mate. Being sentimental was something Broud could never be accused of.

Many thought he had left in the night either to allow a predator to end his life or that he would join some other Clan and try to assume leadership there. A few thought he might attempt to retake leadership of the Clan of the Cave Bear, but they felt he would have little or no support if he tried. Two throwing spears, a belt knife, and a lean-to tent came up missing the night Broud left. These things were his property and had been taken from him after the voting. The Clan of the Cave Bear prospered from that point forward.

After Brac had been elected leader, Mog-ur Goov asked to speak with Leader Brac and Leader Durc. "I wish to no longer be Mog-ur of the Clan of the Cave Bear as I do not wish to be a reminder to others of painful times. Know that I am the man who put the Death Curse on Durc's mother."

"Your leaving is not requested Goov. You had no control over the matter of Ayla's Death Curse and no shame is upon you in what was done," Brac signed.

"Nonetheless, I have always felt a great shame that I did not stand up to your father in the matter."

Durc stepped in and signed sincerely, "Goov, I have no anger or animosity towards you. What Brac said was true, you had to do what Broud commanded of you. I have no desire for you to step down as our Mog-ur and I firmly ask you to reconsider."

"I agree," Brac signed. "The people have full respect for you and to replace you would be hard on our people. Along with Durc, I also ask you to reconsider."

Goov went silent for a few moments as he considered what had been said. "I will remain your Mog-ur but only with the understanding that I will willingly step down at whatever time in the future either one of you may ask… Are we agreed?"

Brac looked at Durc and Durc looked right back, then Brac signed, "Mog-ur Goov, considering such will never happen, we agree..."

It was now late fall and the trees still with leaves were quickly getting bare, although the evergreen trees were still as green and lush as always. Complementing the green were the beautiful yellow, brown, orange, and red leaves scattered all over the ground and blown by swirling fall winds; winter was approaching.

A child was taking a burning stick to her hearth one morning because the fire in her parent's hearth had died. The event was not unusual, but a problem quickly arose when the child stumbled and fell. The burning stick fell with her and quickly started a cluster of dry leaves on fire. Durc happened to see the event and ran to kill the fledgling fire. This innocent event created concern in Durc's mind; 'These leaves are a killing fire just waiting to happen. Such a fire could quickly come about, and many could die from the flames or from breathing the heavy smoke from such a fire.'

Durc certainly didn't want that to happen. How to rid the large camp of leaves was the problem. Setting his mind to the task, he soon came up with an idea and built a prototype tool. He had created what he called a 'leafer' and, with the help of ten young men, his Clan had twenty leafer tools by nightfall.

Ridding the area of leaves and dead brush within the Clan of Cave Bear started the next morning and ended just before the evening meal was ready. The following day found sixteen men hauling limbs, brush, and leaves away. The clearing job was finished by midday. The Clan of the Cave Bear would not be burned out as had two other Clans in the last eleven summers.

Brac felt all Clan caves should be made aware of what the Clan of the Cave Bear had done. He sent runners to each of the seven other Clan caves in the area including the Clan of the Big River. It was Brac's request The Tribal Clan of Mixed Peoples be included. The runners left two leafers with each leader along with Brac's suggestion that each Clan create additional leafers for themselves just as his Clan had done. Whether a given leader would make and use leafers as Durc had done was up to each leader. Brac thought, 'As Durc would say… at least we tried.'

The following summer, the trees surrounding the cluster of caves forming the Clan of the Cave Bear were chopped down, the evergreen trees were first to go as they too were fuel for fires. Leaves, limbs, and brush were again removed from the area surrounding Durc's Clan caves. 'If the nearest tree were burning and fell to the ground, the lack of dried leaves, dead trees, and dead brush would prevent a fire from burning and killing. Our people now have even more safety from wildfire.' Durc's thoughts were correct. Many other cave leaders decided to do as Durc had done.

Brac and Durc worked well together. They each made independent decisions and communicated those decisions to each other daily. Each man was just in his decisions and the two held full trust in one another. Just as he had been concerned about potential fires, two moon cycles later Durc became concerned about attacks.

The attacks he was concerned about were packs of wolves, lions or other predators. Other thoughts were set aside as taking action to prevent any potentially overwhelming conflict was important. Wolf packs entering Clan lands came to mind first. One middle aged woman had recently been killed by a hungry pack of wolves while she was gathering firewood.

Durc approached Brac with an Idea. "Brac, I wish to ask questions of you. Would you allow me some time?"

"Ask whatever you wish, Durc."

"What would happen if a pack of wolves menaced our people?"

"We would kill those we could and chase the others away."

"...And if lions or other predators entered our Clan?"

"We would kill those we could and chase the rest away as well."

"...And if a band of renegade warriors attacked our people?"

"Again, we would war to end the danger and force the renegades out of our land, but I don't understand why you are asking these questions, Durc."

"Brac, what would happen if any of these threats were greater in number than a single Clan could handle? Would all those in the attacked Clan die?"

"Yes, it is probable that all those in the attacked Clan would die. Again Durc, I am not understanding what you are getting at."

"I propose we band with the two Clan Caves nearest ours in a 'mutual protection agreement.' If any of the events I described or any similar threatening event should come about, those Clans in the protection agreement would immediately respond. Each Clan's leader would rely on the wisdom of the endangered Clan's leader in his issuing a request for help.

"There would be no hesitation, discussion, or gathering of the leaders. Hunters would be sent in mass to quickly overcome the threat. The goal would be to quickly eliminate the threat instead of just chasing it away such that the threat could soon endanger another Cave of our people."

"Durc, I can tell that you have been thinking ahead for our people, and as is usual, your mind has offered a good idea. The Clan of True Spirits is near us as is the Clan of the High Hillside. Holding a meeting of the three Clans would be good but I also think we should include the Tribal Clan of Mixed Peoples.

"Brac, that sounds good and if we hold the meeting at The Tribal Clan, it will give the various leaders some insight on how well the concept of the new Tribal Clan is working, this would be a good thing for everyone."

"Durc, I will send a runner today to seek permission from The Tribal Clan of Mixed peoples to hold a meeting at their cave. If our runner returns with a positive answer, I will then send a runner to The Clan of True Spirits and The Clan of the High Hillside and ask that the leaders meet us at The Tribal Clan in five moons.

"Durc, I hope each of the three caves will enter into your suggested 'mutual protection' idea simply because of the wisdom I see within such an agreement." Then, in a moment of introspection, Brac signed, "I am grateful for your thoughts in this my friend." This statement seemingly came out of nowhere and again showed Brac as having a compassion for others that his father lacked.

A runner would also be sent to The Clan of Many Waters to inform them of what the Southern clans were doing and suggest the four northern caves form an agreement among themselves as well.

"Brac, what do you know about the Tribal Clan themselves?"

"Just that they are an assembly of Others, Clan, and people seeing no gender restrictions on matings and no restrictions on matings of Clan and Others. They are a relatively new people, and I have yet to visit them." Brac was reasonably well informed about the Tribal Clan.

The fledgling Tribal Clan was growing as more and more people became aware it existed. Those within the new group would no longer feel the need to pass other people in silence. It was a perfect opportunity for making new friendships and having mixed matings without condemnation.

Technically this would be Durc's third Summer Gathering, his first was when he was still a babe. The second was when he was seven summers and now, he is fourteen summers. He was anticipating this Summer Gathering because he was no longer considered a child. Being fourteen, he was now old enough to compete in the summer games.

The upcoming Summer Gathering was to be held lakeside at The Clan of Clear Waters, and his Clan had fully finished setting up what would be their campsite for the next three months. Several Clans were already set up when Brac's Clan arrived, and other Clans were still on their way to the Gathering. The Clan of the Big River was the most distant Clan conclave from the Gathering.

Durc was walking the countryside well before the start of the Summer Gathering and heard a strange noise he could not quite identify. Standing silent, he listened intently. "Help me," was what a female voice was calling out. Durc was now on high alert. The last time he heard sounds like that was when his mother was still with him. He remembered the sound 'hep' and it meant someone needed hep.

"HEP" Durc yelled out. A few moments later he heard the voice again, "Help!" Hearing the sound a second time allowed him to determine which direction the verbal sound was coming from. He quickly made his way to a rocky hilltop and saw nothing. He again called out 'HEP' and a quick reply came back. "Help. I'm on the ledge below the cliff!" Durc knew the word 'hep' and he knew 'clif' but didn't know what the other words meant. Based on the sounds, he walked to the cliff's edge.

Hearing her rescuer above her Ura called out, "Down here!"

Durc carefully looked over the edge of the cliff and could see a young woman of mixed blood standing on a rocky ledge below him. She didn't appear to be injured and it didn't look like she had any way to get off the ledge. Durc signed, "Calm yourself and I will get something to help you get off the ledge." He ran to the nearest group of trees and picked up a fallen but sturdy limb twice his own height. As he ran back, he was thinking how good looking the female was. Like himself, she was also of mixed spirits. For Durc's part, internal excitement was rising.

"I have brought a strong limb and will hold it to help you get off the ledge." Ura quickly grabbed the end of the branch Durc presented then used it to help climb from the ledge to the top of the cliff. The woman immediately knelt and waited for permission to speak.

All things were proper so Durc tapped her shoulder, thus allowing the woman to look at him and sign. She was surprised when she got a good look at the young man who had saved her. He looked to be her age and appeared to be of mixed spirits just as she was.

"This woman is grateful to you for helping me get off the ledge," she signed. "My name is Ura and I am from the Clan of Many Waters." She wanted to ask his name but thought asking may be too forward. "I would know your name if you would share it," she signed meekly. She had changed her mind about the asking.

"My name is Durc and I am from The Clan of the Cave Bear. You may speak freely, how did you end up on that ledge?"

"I was forced to climb down to the ledge by a snake and I was afraid of what would happen if I let the snake get too close to me. I waited until the snake should have gone away then I tried to climb back to the top of the cliff but found getting down to the ledge was easier than getting off of it."

"Woman, I will walk back to your campsite with you and then I want you to point out which man the snake is. I will handle things from there on," Durc signed this with seeming anger showing in his signing.

Ura realized Durc was thinking 'the snake' was some man at the Summer Gathering. She could see the humor in the situation and gave Durc the Others grimace of friendship. "No Durc, I mean a real snake."

"He was a real snake to chase you like that; just point him out when we get back."

"No Durc, I mean a real snake that wiggles and moves on his belly."

"Just point him out and I will handle things from there. Didn't you see my signing? Didn't I make myself clear in what you are to do? Point him out and I will smash his face with my fists and break his body in half. Then I will throw him into a campfire and watch him roast. No snake will ever bother you again woman. I won't allow it!"

Ura was shocked. 'There is no man to point out and this man called 'Durc' is angered and nearing a rage. He isn't understanding my signing and I don't want... 'Wait,' she thought to herself, 'I think this man is teasing me and he doesn't even know me!' Now Ura took a moment to consider a response to what the hunter had said he would do to 'the snake' once she pointed him out.

"Durc, it was actually ten grown men and each one of them was much bigger than you. But don't be afraid, I can help you overpower each one of them and together we can throw them one by one into the gathering's central campfire."

Durc broke into laughter at seeing Ura's statement. When Ura saw and heard him laugh, she knew it was permissible and laughed as well. They both knew what had just happened and shared a smile grimace. "I heard you call for hep so I got to you as fast as I could," Durc signed.

"No Durc, I didn't call for 'hep,' I called for 'help.' Although Ura signed this statement, she vocalized the words as she signed them. Durc thought for a moment and realized what Ura signed and said was the correct sounds his mother had taught him. He realized Ura could speak the Other's language.

"You are right, I now remember 'help' is how my mother mouthed the word."

'Why did I just shiver?' Ura wondered. 'All this man did was help me off a ledge and accept a minor correction in his speech.' She anticipated hearing at least a slight admonishment for correcting the man's speech and was relieved when no rebuke came about.

"Ura, we both know how a woman should address a man, but I don't want to be restricted in how you and I speak and act with each other. We have five moon cycles before the Summer Gathering is over and I would ask you to teach me the Others words and meanings during this time. When we are in private, I would also ask we treat each other as the equals I feel we are or should be. When with other people we must do as is customary so we don't offend anyone. Would doing this be acceptable to you?"

"You saved my life by helping me get off of that ledge and your request is well beyond normal Clan ways, but I will do as you ask not because you are a man, but because I feel I carry a debt to you for saving me. If you like, I will pay my debt in speaking lessons as you ask."

"Your informal suggestion of barter is agreed to woman," Durc signed.

"Durc, my terms are that we start tomorrow. That's when I will begin to 'hep' you," Ura signed as she voiced the word 'hep.'

"...And my terms are that we start each day with a smile grimace." Durc signed this statement and both Durc and Ura knew the banter between them was lighthearted. This was a somewhat serious matter between the two, but treating it humorously negated the propriety required when in public.

"Durc, I accept your terms of barter. Our bartering will be finished if you accept the terms of barter as well."

"I accept the terms as I feel this is a fair barter and because I am certain I will need all the 'hep' you can give me." The word 'hep' had instantly become a pet word between the two. "Ura, as we walk back to your clan's encampment, please tell me things about your Clan life and how you came to be with the Clan. I will speak of the same things if you wish." Durc was asking Ura, not ordering her.

"Durc, the last part is easy to tell, I was born within the Clan but I was born deformed and yet Ronnam, our Clan's leader, was kind-hearted and allowed me to live."

"My story is similar to yours Ura. When she was four or five summers my mother was adopted by Creb and his sister, the Medicine Woman Iza. "My mother was twelve summers when the eldest son of our Clan leader repeatedly used her to satisfy his desires."

Many different topics were now discussed, but the main focus was on learning about each other's life. 'What things do you like? What things do you dislike? Do you have any brothers or sisters? What is your favorite color?' It was Ura who asked about having a favorite color.

"Ura, I have never thought about having a favorite color."

"Well, close your eyes and think about it; what color first comes to mind?"

Durc felt a little bit silly about having a favorite color but did as Ura requested.

"Blue, blue is my favorite color. It is the color of my mother's eyes and I will always remember her eyes." Ura was warmed by Durc's answer. 'Durc thinks of his mother and her blue eyes and he isn't embarrassed to say so. I like that.' Wishes, struggles, regrets, goals, accomplishments, and more were topics of discussion, but no topic was spoken of in depth. The two were signing a non-stop flurry of questions back and forth and becoming fully at ease with each other in the process. They would have time for deeper discussions later.

"Durc, do you realize you will miss out on all the young men's competitions if we spend the entire Summer Gathering together? Teaching you the Others language will use up all your summer."

"Yes, Ura, I know all the competitions and games will be missed, but in seven more summers, the opportunity will come again. When I compare the contests and games to re-learning the language of my mother, the physical competitions and games lose every time. Knowing how to fully speak my mother's language is something I have secretly wished for over the summers of my life and is an opportunity I did not expect would ever come about. Anyway, with or without lessons, this Summer Gathering has already been very rewarding; I have met you!"

"Durc, meeting me is of little matter and again I remind you, there will be no awards or honors if you don't compete!"

"Ura, meeting you is the biggest and by far the best thing to ever happen to me! I feel such in my heart. Any awards and honors I could win during the Gathering will be well surpassed by learning to speak the Others language better. An honor or an award can be bested by another man and thus taken away. That which is locked in my mind cannot be taken away. Likewise, the time we will have spent together is something that cannot be taken away."

"Durc, the time we spend together will be just a short part of our lives."

"Ura, that is only true if we allow it to be true. I want our time together to be something more than a short part of our lives." Ura raised an eyebrow at what Durc had signed.

Ura's thoughts were conflicted. 'Is Durc saying he likes me; is he trying to tell me in an unusual way he wants to mate with me? I think I feel as he does but this is happening so quickly, I don't know what to think. I don't want to gush over this man, but my mind and racing heart seem to want to.'

"That would be delightful Durc, but we barely know each other!"

"Ura, as I said before, that is only true if we allow it to be true."

"Durc, we will be together for the next five moon cycles and will certainly learn about each other during that time. If I stop to think about it, there is nothing I can think of that would please me more than getting to know you better... no, not 'better,' I want to know you well."

"Ura, I feel strange inside for the first time in my life and I like the feeling. Still, I have no idea if you are offended by anything I have said or if you are feeling anything similar." Durc was putting his feelings out in the open. He could be hurt or rewarded by what Ura would say next.

"Durc, I am not offended by anything you have said. I too feel strange inside. Your words encourage my heart and give me joy in anticipation of what may come. We have met and now have the opportunity to learn from and about each other." The short way back to Ura's encampment was two fingers of time; it took the couple twenty fingers of time to reach the encampment.

Both people truly looked forward to learning from and about each other just as Ura had stated. Tomorrow Durc would see Ura again and get to spend the entire day beginning to learn more of the Others language, the language his mother spoke. Durc was all Ura could think about and Ura was constantly on Durc's mind. They were both thinking pleasant thoughts. A lifetime of youthful love and trust began in those twenty fingers of time.

"Durc," Ura signed, "There are sounds you will need to learn in order to build on the words I teach you. Learning the sounds may be somewhat difficult at first, but once you can form the sounds properly, everything will begin to fall into place. You already know how to make the first sound because it is the beginning sound of your mother's name. The first sound is 'A' as in Ayla, your mother's name sound."

"Ayla... isn't that two sounds Ura?"

"Yes, it sounds like that Durc, but it is really several sounds. The sounds run together and form sets of sounds, but don't concern yourself with that because it will come naturally as you learn more sounds and the words they create." This was going to be a task for both teacher and student but doing tasks was commonplace just in the process of surviving.

"I will start teaching you the sounds simply by teaching you different words and how to say them properly and what each word means. Just like the Clan has a hand and body language that form different words and meanings, the Others have mouthed sets of sounds and body language that do the same thing. Durc, the larger your word count is, and the better you can speak the words, will directly relate to how well you can communicate with the Others."

"What word will be the first word you teach me?" Durc signed.

Ura had not really thought about what word would be the very first word she would teach Durc. She now thought for a moment then signed her statement and spoke the word aloud. "Love is the first word I want to teach you."

"Ura, why would you choose that particular word to be the first word you teach?"

"Because it is an important word Durc. You already know it in sign and already know what it means." Ura continued her signing, "Our lives are better for it and without it, life is much less than it can be." This sounded to be a reasonable explanation, but it seemed there was something more going on... Durc just set his thoughts aside for now and allowed the various word sounds to sink in.

"The next word is 'poop.' It means the brown stuff we leave in the waste pit and it is an important word to know just like 'pee,' the water we squirt. Now say the words 'poop and pee' Durc."

"Oop... eee," Durc was a bit embarrassed to say the words aloud.

"Durc, you spoke 'oop' and 'eee.' Take the 'oop' and then start the word poop with the same sound you ended with and use the same sound at the start of saying the word pee."

"Pooop... pee."

"Again Durc, but say the words repeatedly and somewhat faster."

"Pooop... pee... pooop... pee... poop, pee, poop, pee."

"Faster still Durc..."

"Poop-pee, poop-pee, pooppee...pooppee." Durc realized Ura had tricked him into saying words that were awkward to say or sign in polite conversation and also sounded like a small child were saying them. This awareness came with a hearty laugh and Ura joined Durc in laughter. The two settled down and composed themselves over cups of tea Ura had made.

"What are my next two words Ura?"

"I think your next two words should be 'stop' and 'don't.' They are words that have similar meanings and often allow a man to control the actions of others. By the way, I have not asked you if you are ticklish, are you ticklish Durc?"

"More so than full Clan men are, but why do you ask?"

"I ask just so I know. If it is of any matter to you Durc, I am much more ticklish than full Clan women are."

"Okay, what were those two words you want me to learn?"

"Stop' and 'don't' are the words. Try to say the sounds slowly at first then speed up to just a normal rate of speech. Repeat the words so you can speak them well and then we can move on to other words.

"Just watch me and I will sign if you should go slower or faster. After 'stop' and 'don't,' I think 'slower' and 'faster' should be your next two words." This seemed a reasonable request and since he wasn't asked to speak extra fast, he trusted Ura wouldn't and couldn't trick him as she did with 'poop-pee.'

"S-stop... doon't!" Durc was doing what he could and continued…"sttop... doon't!"

"That was good for a first try Durc! You just about have the word 'stop.' Just say stop a few more times without saying, 'don't' afterward." Ura was pleased Durc was doing as well as he was. "Go slowly and just let the 'st' part blend into the 'top' part."

"Sttop, sttop..."

"Remember to blend the sounds Durc... s-t-o-p." Purposely mouthing the word slowly and with emphasis on the 'p' sound helped Durc find the right combination of sounds.

"Stop... stop... stop... stop... stop!"

"That's it! Now you have the word sound in your mind correctly! You are a good student Durc."

"I think you are more a good teacher than I am a good student." Durc was pleased he was able to verbalize the word so quickly.

"Durc, what was that word?"

"Stop"

"Say it again but be forceful when you say it. You don't want that man over there to hit that child with the stick he has in his hand, do you?" Ura had pointed to a general area about four horse lengths away as if there really were a man about to beat a child with a stick.

"STOP!" Durc said with force.

"Durc, that was absolutely perfect. I can see the man dropping the stick in my mind!"

"Do you have a hole in the top of your head Ura?"

"No, of course not!"

"Then how can you see the man drop the stick into your mind?" Two can play the bait routine and Durc felt at least some payback was due for Ura's 'pooppee' trick.

"Yes, you are right, and I certainly deserved that one." Both teacher and student were pleased and jovial with the word interplay. "I should have said, 'In my mind, I can see the man dropping the stick.' Now let's get to 'don't,' the second word"

"Doon't," replied Durc.

"We just need to change the 'oon' sound into an 'oh' sound. Try it again but use the 'oh' sound."

"Dohn't."

"Sound it with more emphasis on the 'oh' sound."

"Dooh'nt..."

"Just a bit less emphasis..."

"Dohn't... dont... don't... don't... don't..."

Durc was pleased when he saw Ura's broad smile. He was saying the word correctly! She opened her arms and gave him a large hug. "That's it Durc, you have the word!"

"I too am pleased," Durc signed.

"Now let's repeat the two words but I want you to say the words while you are lying on your back but be certain to say them with force."

"Why would lying down matter Ura?"

"Because you may be lying down when you see the man raise the stick."

"Oh, okay." He laid down in the grass and spoke. "STOP! DON'T!"

"Now keep saying both words and I will tickle you while you say them."

"Why in the name of Ursus would you want me to say the words while you tickle me?" Durc was mystified at Ura's request.

"Because you may be lying in the grass and laughing at something that just happened when you see the man raise the stick and you will need to be able to say the words even while laughing."

'That's a plausible explanation' Durc thought. "Ura, my armpits and throat are my most ticklish areas." Durc had taken the bait and had unknowingly swallowed the hook.

"Okay Durc, lie down, start speaking, and then I will begin the tickling." Ura turned her face away as she signed. 'Durc is going to want to kill me when he realizes what is going on and how I have tricked him again. My only defense is that I can run faster than him ... I think ... I hope.'

"STOP... DON'T... STOP... DON'T!" Durc was now doing his part and Ura was pleased to start the tickling after the first uttering of 'Stop... Don't...' Laughing from Ura's tickling, Durc continued his rehearsed words even through the tickling. He soon realized he wasn't saying, 'Stop... Don't,' he was actually saying 'Don't Stop,' and Ura had no intention of stopping. Durc was getting winded from his laughter due to being tricked and tickled at the same time.

'I think I better start running now because I think Durc has realized what I have done, and he will retaliate in just moments.' Ura's thoughts were right on target and she just barely wriggled away from Durc's groping arms as she began her run. She was right in thinking she could run faster than Durc.

Nearing a small pond, Ura slowed greatly and purposely went to her knees in the thick grass along the bank. Durc reached her before she could stand and begin another run. Both were winded and gasping for air.

"Ura, I feel you deserve some payback for your tricks and I think now would be a good time for you to receive some of that payback..." The two were now standing face to face and Durc slowly leaned in and gave Ura a kiss. Ura had never been kissed but quickly found she enjoyed Durc's kisses and the closeness the two were sharing. Both student and teacher were pleased.

"Durc, I know something you don't know."

"What is it you know, and I don't know?"

"I am not telling you, and I may never tell." Ura loved to tease.

"Why not Ura?

"Durc, I am not telling you." Naturally, there were a thousand different things Ura knew that Durc didn't know. Those things were like stubbing her toe on a rock when she was six... breaking a bone platter when she was eight... her first taste of fish... her thoughts of her home cave... These were just a few of the things she knew and Durc didn't.

She didn't mention the fact not one of the things she knew related in any way to anything that had transpired between them. Durc would just have to guess, and each time he guessed, she could smile. This was just another tease and Ura thought she was being cute; it came across as being catty.

'I don't like whatever it is Ura is doing and now she wants to have secrets? This does not bode well. Couples can play, couples can argue, couples can tease, and couples can and should share thoughts and feelings. Does Ura not know these things?' Durc would have to think more about how Ura was acting and was now unhappy. Lessons continued day after day but there was little joy in them.

"Durc, why are you so quiet lately? I am bothered that you don't show happiness in your signing or in your voice even when I hint of sharing kisses. I see a base anger present when we are together and I am concerned I have done or said something that has caused you to be unhappy."

"I am not telling you, Ura, and I may never tell..." Durc signed. He didn't feel like speaking.

Ura froze at seeing Durc's words. 'Durc just said exactly what I said days ago. He must have felt hurt at my tease of knowing something he doesn't know; I have hurt his feelings. This is bad and I'm not sure how to fix this.'

"Durc I am sorry if I have hurt you. Your words reminded me of what I said days ago and now I feel sick inside. I was trying to start a new tease and messed up. "There is nothing between us that I know, and you don't." Ura's signing was showing remorse and distress.

"Ura, I was there, and I saw no lies in what you said. Now you speak with different words and I still see no lies. I too am concerned about what is going on. I am confused. I don't know which seeming truth to believe, and you are right in saying I feel hurt."

"Durc, again, I am sorry I have hurt your feelings but both things I told you are true. There ARE things I know that you don't know. Those things are like how I learned not to touch a burning stick and like when my first tooth fell out. Of the things between us since we met, you know everything that I know.

"That is why you saw truth in both things I said. Maybe we should somehow set limits on teases so nothing like this ever happens again. I feel a sickness inside and I ask for your forgiveness."

"Now I understand things better Ura." A pause in the conversation caused Ura distress. "There have been times in my life when I asked forgiveness of others for things I have said or done, and just as they forgave me, I must forgive you. I am relieved, and my concern is now ended. Understand, I can get moody and depressed and the depression takes me to dark places I don't like to be."

Ura's eyes were forming tears as Durc spoke. She stepped to him and placed her head against his chest and was fully in tears by the time Durc had finished speaking. "Durc, my tears are not based in sorrow, they are tears of joy that you have forgiven me. I promise not to speak in any devious way in the future and I ask that we speak of any confusion between us when it happens."

"Would you like a few kisses Durc? Ura was now smiling through her tears.

Now Durc was happy again, and he quickly began proving it.

Ura was able to teach Durc a good amount of the Others language during the moon cycles of the gathering. The lessons went from sunrise to twilight and often into the darker nighttime. She was taught the language by an older female Other living at The Clan of Many Waters. This was the Clan Ura grew up in.

Durc lost his chances to participate in the games of skill and ability but he felt being with Ura and learning to speak the Others language was more important. Ura enjoyed being with Durc; she enjoyed being with him immensely. The kisses they were now sharing worked to form a mutual bond that would never be broken.

The two spent concentrated time together and enjoyed that time. Durc quit signing and was now speaking in sentences when asking Ura questions and conversing on the finer points of his spoken words. This was a milestone in Ura's teaching and pleased both student and teacher.

By the end of the Gathering the two were both fifteen summers old and Durc had saved Ura's life, at least that was how Ura described it in later summers. Durc described the event as saving his future mate from ten snakes. Both viewpoints had merit and were the basis for what would become a lifetime of joy.

The two stayed in touch and three summers after meeting each other Durc had another question for Ura. "I know of a couple who are going to mate in the early fall mating ceremony. Would you like to go with me and be part of the mating?"

"Yes, Durc, we could go to watch and give our well-wishes."

"Would you like to participate in the ceremony Ura?"

"You mean like 'mating helpers' for the couple?"

"No, I mean like you and me also becoming mated at the ceremony. I have wanted to ask you this for a long time."

"Durc, are you serious or just teasing me?" Ura needed to know.

"I am serious, I want you to become my mate. Would you please mate with me Ura?"

When she was just a baby Ura's mother had promised her to a male child the same age as she was. Ura was told of the promise when she was six summers old. This information wasn't really important to Ura at the time; her focus was playing with other children. Ura had not considered being asked to mate, and the question brought up a memory she had yet to deal with.

"Durc, I want to say yes, but I can't say anything until I check with my mother. She promised me to a male child when I was just a baby and I cannot cause her to break a promise."

"How long will it take to find this man? Do you know what cave he comes from? You told me your mother's name is Oda, can't you ask her the man's name?"

"Yes, I can ask her, but I do not have answers to your other questions. My mother is seeing Uba as a means to clear up a rash that our Clan Medicine Woman cannot seem to heal. It should only take a finger of time to reach Uba's hearth. I will walk quickly and ask mother about these things, then I will come back here."

Anticipating bad news, Ura's mind was full of thoughts. 'How could mother promise me away when I was only a baby? What if the man I was promised to is mean or ugly and doesn't like me? What if he only likes men? I will fight for mating Durc if I have to!' Ura went on a rapid walk to reach Uba's hearth and found her mother as Uba was placing a poultice on Oda's rash covered hand.

"Mother! I need to know what man I am promised to and what cave he lives in. Durc has asked me to mate with him and he is the man I want to mate with."

"Isn't this 'Durc' the man you have been teaching to speak the Others language?"

"Yes, mother, he is the man. We have come to know each other very well and because of the feelings we each have, he has asked to mate with me."

"Oda, I recall the day when the promise was made. I remember being there when you promised Ura to a male child. His mother and you were both pleased."

"Yes, Uba, you were there when the promise was made, and didn't you help raise her man child when his mother went away forever many summers ago?" Some sly glances and a hint of deception was taking place and Ura noticed it.

"I see something going on between you two, what is it you are not saying?"

"Ura, your mother and I both know the man you were promised to and he is alive and abides right here in our Clan...but I am not certain you fully know him."

"So, will someone please tell me his name! I know who I want, and it isn't him. I hope he will understand and release me and I will not accept 'no' as an answer." Ura was becoming frustrated and signed firmly while looking directly at her mother, "Mother I demand to know this man's name!"

"Uba is right Ura, I did try to promise you to a child that..."

"His name mother, his name!" Ura had a strong pleading tone in her signing.

"Durc."

"What about Durc? He is not here mother. I need to know the man's name. Please, please tell me his name."

"Durc... Ura, the man's name is Durc."

"You mean Durc, my Durc, is the man I was promised to! Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"Because this way all three of us get to tease you." Durc voiced his statement as he held out a fistful of flowers for Ura. He had gathered the flowers before asking Ura to mate with him. While Ura was doing a rapid walk to Uba's hearth, Durc used a different path and ran to the hearth. He was present in secret and listening for the right moment to step from the shadows.

Overjoyed, Ura grabbed the flowers Durc presented and used them to take a swat at her tormentor's chest, and then half-hearted swats at her mother and Uba as well. Oda, Uba, and Durc had colluded to reach this moment and their plan had worked perfectly. Durc had spoken to Uba three moon cycles before asking Ura to mate with him. "Uba, I have been learning to speak the Other's language and in that time I have come to know a woman from the Clan of Many Waters. "She agreed to teach me the Other's verbal language. Her name is 'Ura,' and we have come to know each other well."

This was when Durc learned of the promising and Uba was pleased in the telling...