After the Death Curse

by Sheri Contrary

What woman could walk away from her child? This is what happens to Ayla when she refuses to leave Broud's Clan at the end of The Clan of the Cave Bear. For the most part, this disregards books 2-6...except for customs of the Others. IN PROGRESS (but I have no intention of finishing...sorry).

3. Part 3

Author's Note

Reminder – any large portions that appear in italics are quoted directly from books and belong solely to Jean M. Auel.

And again...I apologize for the possible lack of scene divisions. They were there when I uploaded this document, I swear! But this site is weird about NOT including everything I write. However, though I said (in part one) that I wouldn't edit them back in, I have tried...might have missed some though...sorry. So aggravating! *sigh*

Further, I'm going to repeat that, while this story is LONG, it is unfinished! When you get through part ten, don't say I didn't warn you!

After the Death Curse – Part Three (of ten)

Brun's Clan List

Brun (34) – Leader (Bison totem)
Ebra (32) – Brun's mate, Broud's mother

Grod (30) – Brun's second in command, son of the mate of Zoug (Brown Bear totem)
Uka (28) – Ebra's sister, Ovra's mother
~ ~ Zoug (44) – second in command to the leader before Brun, Grod's mother's mate

Goov (21) – Mog-ur (Aurochs totem/Ursus totem)
Ovra (19) – Goov's mate, childless (Beaver totem)
~ Droov (newborn) – Ovra's first twin son
~ Creb (newborn) – Ovra's second twin son

Grov (17) – mixed man, master hunter (Leopard totem), first mated to Nora (quake death)
Ayla (15) – Clan's first ranked medicine woman, "Woman who hunts," (Cave Lion totem)
~ Durc (4) – Ayla's son, Grev's milk brother (Gray Wolf totem)
~ Ora (2) – Nora's daughter (Alpine Marmot)
Broud (22) – former leader (Wooly Rhinoceros totem), living at Grov's hearth
Oga (18) – formerly Broud's mate, living at Grov's hearth
~ Brac (8) – Oga's first son
~ Grev (5) – Oga's second son

Vorn (14) – Aga's son
Uba (9) – second medicine woman, Iza's daughter
~ Brev (newborn) – Uba's first twin son
~ Berc (newborn) – Uba's second twin son

Droog (32) – toolmaker, mated to Goov's mother before Aga
Aga (25) – Droog's second mate, Vorn and Ona's mother
~ Groob (7) – Aga's son born to Droog's hearth
~ ~ Aba (36) – Aga's mother

Crug (23)
Ika (21) – Crug's mate, Borg's mother
~ Igra (7) – Ika's daughter, recently a woman, unmated
~ Dorv (2) – Ika's son

Dorg (21) – toolmaker (Red Tailed Hawk totem), first mated to the mixed woman Ala (quake death)
Uga (17) – first mated to Dreg (quake death), was mother to Ega (quake death), now Dorg's woman (Lark totem)
~ Vorg (8) – mixed child, Ala's son
~ Breg (6) – Uga's son

Corg (18) – takes on leadership role after cave's collapse, takes on an advisory role to Brun, sibling to Oda
Aza (16) – Corg's mate
~ Orga (6) – Aza's first daughter
~ Egra (3) – Aza's second daughter

Daub (18) – Dorg brother, Dreg's twin (deceased)
Eka (16) – mated to Daub
~ Ada (4) – Eka's first twin daughter
~ Aka (4) – Eka's second twin daughter

Norv (16) (Moose totem)
Oda (13) – Corg's sibling, now mated to Norv (Hamster totem)
~ Nouz (10) – son of Norv's deceased first mate, newly a man
~ Nala (5) – daughter of Norv's deceased mate
~ Ura (3) – mixed child, created Others man who forced Oda (Red Wolf totem)

Borg (10) – (Boar totem), Ika's son
Ona (10) – (Owl totem), Aga's daughter

Recently Found Others

Jenadoza (17) – Unconscious woman

~ Braydalana (7) – Jendoza's brother's mate's daughter

AtDC

Braydalana Meets Brun

When Grov and Ayla returned to the area where the Clan was, Ayla gasped at how much work had been done in such a short time. Brun had instructed the women to clear a large amount of space, by flattening the tall grass, set up the tents, and then get the meal started. Oga had set up the medicine woman's tent next to Broud's tent, and was preparing tea when the grass parted and the foursome step out.

Ayla grasped the little girl's hand tightly, but Braydalana was terrified by the sight of so many flatheads in one place, and managed to hide behind the woman's legs. There were so many of them, the child thought. Grov put the woman down on a mat outside Ayla's tent, and went to Brun. Ayla motioned for the girl to sit down, which the girl did, but wasn't sure how she knew what the woman wanted; the woman had not said a word. Ayla began to assess the women's condition further.

Brun watched them as they came into the clearing, and frowned at seeing the Others woman draped over Grov's shoulder. And then there was the girl. Was he going to have another child of the Others to be responsible for? And the woman, he thought...he had heard that Ayla was rather tame in comparison to other Others women. That was what Broud had told him that Grov had said. Brun was feeling so unsure, and that was not good if he was going to continue to lead this Clan.

As Grov approached the leader, Brun tried to mask his inner concern. Brun looked up when the younger man sat down. "This leader can see that you found what the bird was wanted the medicine woman to find."

Grov could tell that Brun was troubled about having more people to be responsible for, and the fact that they were others made it even worse. "Yes Brun. We found a woman and a girl...and they are of the same people that my first mate was from."

Brun frowned, "What do you mean, 'of the same people?' Aren't they all Others?"

Grov was shaking his head. "No, my first mate, Nora, said the Others divide themselves up by territory, and their languages are different, just as the each of our Clans have their own everyday language. These people are Sungaea."

Brun was looking interested. "And do you know this Suga language?"

"I used to know quite a bit of it, because Nora wanted me to learn it, but it is very different than the Clan's language."

Brun's was seriously thinking about these Others. "How is it different?"

"Their language is spoken."

"What do you mean, Grov? How do they say so much that way?"

Grov tried to think of a way to tell the leader, and then decided to show him. "Braydalana, come!" The child looked up, but did not move. It took Ayla's shove to get the child to move. The girl walked through the encampment of flatheads, shaking with fear. When she got to Brun and Grov she just stood there staring at both of them. Brun decided the girl was older than he first thought she was. Definitely older than Ayla had been when they found her. He could not help but think the child to be extremely rude. Didn't Others teach their children what was proper?

Using Clan gestures, so that Brun would understand, Grov pointed at Brun and spoke out loud, "Brun...hed-man." Brun saw, "This man, Brun, is leader."

Braydalana looked at the 'headman' of these flatheads, and tried to smile.

Brun grunted acknowledgement to the girl, but she thought he growled at her, and she began to shake more than she had been. Brun knew the smile was natural for the child; he had seen Ayla smile often enough, but why does she stare? Grov noticed Brun's annoyance.

"Not stare man, Braydalana. Clan not like people stare." The girl did not understand the word Clan, but looked at the ground; her eyes filling with tears of fear.

Grov turned toward Brun, and speaking with signs only, said, "The Others do not see our hand signs. They are capable of more speech than the Clan is. This man knows some of the spoken language of the Sungaea, because of Nora, but the girl is frightened of us."

Brun could not help his interest, probably because he had experienced this situation before. He wished someone had been with their Clan that could have explained these differences back when they had found Ayla. He wondered what other differences there were.

Grov looked at the girl. "Not cry. Go Ayla." Braydalana wiped her eyes, then did what she had been told to do.

~oxoxo~

Ayla had watched surreptitiously, and felt for the girl; she knew what it felt like to be surrounded by people so different, and she knew what it was like to not be able to communicate. She will have to learn to speak properly, the medicine woman thought, and, I will learn her words; if Grov can do it, then so can I.

When Ayla saw the girl coming back with tears on her face, she pulled out a cloth, wet it, and then handed it to the girl when she sat down. Braydalana took the cloth, and smiled at the woman that was helping her auntie. Ayla handed the girl a cup of water, and gestured, "water."

"Thank you," the girl said. "I am so thirsty."

Ayla wished she knew what the girl had said. She felt like she should understand her. Ayla turned back to the unconscious woman; she had managed to get the woman to drink some water even though she had not woken up. When Braydalana had finished her water, Ayla gave her a bowl of meaty broth. The girl just looked at it, so Ayla took some for herself, and began to eat. The girl put the bowl to her mouth and drank the soup. "Ummm, this is good."

Ayla did not understand the girl's words, but there was no mistaking the meaning. Ayla smiled at the child, and was rewarded by a smile in return.

~oxoxo~

When Brun and Grov were finished, Brun sent Grov to get Ayla. He wanted to talk to the medicine woman about the new visitors.

Grov came up to Ayla and sat down by the fire, "Brun wants to speak to you. I will talk to Braydalana." Ayla nodded and went to the leader. Braydalana watched the woman go, and got nervous to be left with the man.

"How you get lost?" Grov asked the girl.

"Jenadoza wanted to gather herbs, but she fell and bumped her head. I think she did not know where to go when she woke up."

"Is mother?" Grov asked the girl.

Braydalana shook her head. "No, Jenadoza is my auntie."

"What mean auntie?"

Braydalana smiled again. "Jenadoza is my mother's mate's sister. We call that person aunt."

Grov frowned, trying to remember what Nora had told him. "Man have sister?"

Braydalana nodded. "Yes."

Grov continued to ask the child questions, and the more he did so the more he remembered of the Sungaea language.

"Is Ayla your mate?" the girl asked. Grov nodded.

"What will happen to us?" the girl asked, obviously fearful.

Grov considered the question, not really sure. "I think you come back cave, but not know. Only hed-man decide."

~oxoxo~

Ayla knelt down at Brun's feet, and waited patiently for the man to tap her shoulder. When he did, she looked up into his troubled eyes.

"So, Ayla, more surprises? This leader can see you have a patient. Is she okay?"

"This woman apologizes for bringing Others back to our camp, but the woman is injured, and the child was scared. This woman did not want to leave them alone. I have looked at the woman; she has gone without water for a couple of days, and she has twisted her ankle, and she has a bump on her head. The twist will heal, and the bump should heal. She suffers most from no water."

Brun grunted, "This man supposes you want to take them back to the cave with us?"

Ayla smiled, knowing that Brun was going to allow her to care for these people. "Yes Brun, they will both die if we leave them behind, and this woman would like to learn about the Others, since I am one."

Brun grunted again, he too would like to learn about the Others even though they made him nervous. "I will have a stretcher built so that we can leave in the morning. Teach that child some manners. She should not stare." Ayla nodded and followed his gaze; the girl was watching them without even trying to hide it.

AtDC

Relations

That evening Ayla wrapped the injured woman's ankle. It was not broken, but it was a bad sprain, so Ayla wanted it to be immobilized so she wouldn't inadvertently move it and cause more damage. With Grov's help again, Ayla gave her some pain killing medicine in the water, which the woman drank by licking it off of her parched lips. When the medicine woman was finished with her, Grov put her back down on the map, and Ayla covered her with a warm leather blanket. Ayla thought she would be just fine, but she wished the woman would wake up soon, so that she could give the woman food.

Later, after the evening meal Grov and Ayla sat down with Braydalana, and tried to explain their language of signs. It was much more easy when there was someone that could speak at least some of both languages. Ayla was happy that Grov could do this.

"Braydalana, Clan speak with hands," he started out, and gestured as well for Ayla's benefit.

The girl looked confused. "What do you mean? I did not think flatheads could talk at all."

Grov had heard the word flathead before, and did not like it. "We Clan, Braydalana, not flathead."

The girl blushed, knowing she had insulted the man, then asked, "How does the Clan talk with their hands?"

Grov didn't know what to say, then he held up his empty cup, and said cup, both in signs and words. The girl frowned, and slowly raised her hands to make the same motion as the man did. "Cup?"

"Yes, is right. Cup," he said again. "But we want learn Sungaea."

The little girl brightened, "I will teach you Sungaea, but I want to learn Clan language too."

Grov smiled at her. "But other things you need learn too. Girl no look at man. Woman no look at man. Not unless man say okay. In hearth okay talk me, but outside look down and wait talk."

Braydalana frowned at the man. "But why?"

"Is Clan way. Not make leader angry. We call hed-man leader."

The girl nodded. "Who is headwoman?"

Grov knew about this too. "Clan not have hed-woman. Only man lead."

Braydalana held up the cup again, and said, "cup," and Grov and Ayla repeated her. When Durc saw what they were doing, he came over to investigate. "Mama, I want to learn words too." Ayla patted the ground next to her, and soon Grev had come over too. He could not make the sounds very well, but not for lack of trying.

The girl had gone through many, many words, and the people seemed to be able to memorize them as fast as she could give the words to them. For Ayla, she had learned to memorize well, because she did not have the Clan memories. For the mixed Clan people, they only had to access their memory banks to recall the unused words that Ursus had stored in their brains, and combine that with their unusual ability to make sounds. For Grev, he could recall the memories of these unused words, but due to the fact that the Clan could not fully articulate aloud, he would never master a fully spoken language. But that did not stop the boy from trying.

Soon they realized that almost everyone had gone to bed. Ayla looked around to see that Broud, Oga and Brac sat watching, but not participating. Brun and Ebra were watching too, and seemed interested. Ayla hid her smile, then said her first two sentences. "Almost everyone sleep. I think we sleep too."

Grov nodded, thinking that morning would come too fast. Ayla asked him to carry Jenadoza inside their tent, and told Braydalana to sleep with her 'auntie.' It was going to be a crowded night, but Ayla did not mind; she was learning a language of the others.

~oxoxo~

The next morning did come early, just as Grov had suspected. Brun had had a stretcher made to carry Jenadoza, and had ordered Dorg and Daub to carry it. There packs of meat were dispersed between the other members of the Clan, and the girl, Braydalana, was given some to carry as well. Grov suggested that Ayla take some of the child's load and put it in his pack. "The child probably isn't used to carrying so much."

Ayla looked at her mate's pack. "Grov, you have too much too. I will carry some of it; I have next to nothing." Then seeing his look, she added, "I said I shouldn't be heavily burdened. I didn't say that I couldn't carry anything. I will be fine."

He nodded at her, and kissed her nose. "Okay my mate, but you be careful."

~oxoxo~

That day passed quickly, just as the night before had, and soon they were stopping again for the night. Ayla gave Jenadoza more to drink, and despite the woman's unconscious form, she seemed to drink the liquid just fine. Ayla decided to give her some of the broth from the meat stew, but strained out the meat first. The woman never opened her eyes, but her eyes fluttered at the taste of the warm broth.

When Grov and Ayla were finished with the woman, they called to Durc and Grev, then sat down again with the Sungaea girl, and began to learn more of her words.

"You are learning very fast. I have never seen anyone so fast."

Grov smiled, "Well, I knew some already, so I not count, but Ayla fast at everything."

The girl was very curious. "How did you already know some Sungaea, Grov?"

"I was mated to Sungaea woman before. She taught me."

Braydalana frowned at this. "Where is your first mate now?"

Grov looked at the curious child, and a pained look crossed his face. "Nora is dead. She died in earthquake.

"Nora? Her name was Nora? That is not a Sungaea name."

Grov remember that Nora's mother used to call her something else, what was it, he thought? "That was her Clan name, because the Clan could not say her name. I think it was Evanora."

"Evanora? Are you sure her name was Evanora?" asked the child.

Grov nodded. "Why?"

"There was once a Sungaea girl from my cave named Evanora, but her family left before I was born. I've heard stories though because Evanora is auntie's cousin."

Hearing a new word, Ayla leaned forward. "What means cousin?"

"Cousin is used to mean many things though some are related more closely. The closest related cousins are someone's mother's sister's children. But then there are your mother's mate's sister's children, and your mother's brother's mate's children, and your mother's mate's brother's mate's children."

Ayla was shaking her head; it was too much. How could this child understand these complicated relationships? Then Ayla realized she didn't know how old the girl was. Maybe she's older than we think. "How many years are you Braydalana?"

"Seven."

Ayla looked at her, not knowing the word. "What is seven?"

The child held up seven fingers, then put one down at a time and counted each finger as she did so, then put the seven fingers up again.

"Seven," Ayla said out loud, and then thought for a minute. "Igra is seven too, but she is woman already. I not become woman until...say counting words again."

Braydalana smiled, it wasn't often that she got to teach someone something. "One, two, three," she said holding up three fingers. Then, "four, five, six, seven," she finished holding up seven fingers.

Ayla thought about it, it is like the marks I made on the sticks when I was death cursed the first time, she thought. "I was two years older when I become woman. Iza thought something wrong."

Braydalana shook her head. "No, that is right. And nine is young too."

Ayla said the new counting word over. "Nine. What is after seven and before nine?"

"Seven, eight, nine and ten," the girl provided, putting up all of her fingers to show two full hands.

Ayla smiled and said the counting words over and over, adding them to her memory, but Grov was very thoughtful. This girl claimed to be related to the woman that was related to his first mate. If that was the case, then they were his kin.

AtDC

Return to the Cave

Once again, they rose early, ate a quick meal, and then packed up to go. They were thankful that the tall grasses had become short once again, and visibility was better. Brun was driving them hard. He was very anxious to get back to the cave, so that he could to talk to the Mog-ur. He had so much to go over with the man and he was tired from their travels.

Braydalana was starting to wonder how far they would have to travel to get to the flathead's cave—she was tired. Ayla kept looking at the child and realized she was exhausted. "Braydalana, do you need water?"

The child looked at her and nodded. After she drank her fill she smiled at the woman gratefully. "How long until we get to the cave?"

Ayla looked at the sun, which had passed its highest point, then turned back to the girl. "Very soon. We be there not much longer."

Ayla was not wrong, soon they came around a bend, which opened up into a wide valley. "See Braydalana, look at hole in hill, that is cave." Braydalana smiled widely, glad that the trek was almost over.

~oxoxo~

The people that had been left behind at the cave had had a very relaxing ten days without the hussle and bussle of so many people constantly around. Uba had spent all her time doting on her mate and sons, just as Ovra had. Vorn and Goov were absolutely thrilled that their mates had come through so well.

Zoug and Droog had managed to spend a considerable amount of time with Groob and the boy was much improved in his hunting. Zoug had worked with the boy on his sling, and Droog showed him the finer points of the spear, and actually spent many hours showing the boy how to make the weapons. Aga was thrilled that her youngest child was doing so well, and that he was enjoying this time with Droog. She knew Groob wanted to go on the hunt with the rest of the Clan, but she was sure that the boy was glad he had stayed.

As for the little girls, Nala, Ada, Aka, Egra, Urai and Ora, they had much fun playing together without their mothers there to end the play early. Many nights the three women caring for the girls just stayed in one of their hearths together, enjoying new friendships, and allowing the girls to play.

~oxoxo~

On the day of Brun's return, several people were outside watching and waiting. They had been getting nervous, but were elated to see the people far off in the distance, and carrying meat.

Zoug strained to see them, but his eyesight was steadily getting worse, and he returned to the cave to inform those inside that the hunters had arrived. Goov and Vorn left the cave to be ready to help and the women within started getting things ready for a meal. They knew everyone would be tired and hungry when they finally got to the cave and that cooking would not be what the returning women would want to do.

Outside, Goov and Vorn joined Droog and the others as they watched the people approaching. Goov watched closely. "Someone is injured. They are carrying a stretcher."

Vorn and Droog were nodding, then Vorn squinted his eyes. "But, no one is missing."

Droog and Goov looked closely. "There is someone else with them," Droog said.

Goov was nodding. "A child."

When the approaching people were close enough, the three men and Groob went out to them, and were shocked by what they saw—another girl of the Others and an injured woman of the Others. They were also stunned that the men were carrying much of the meat.

"This man is glad that you are back, Brun. We were getting worried."

"Mog-ur," Brun gestured. "It was a successful hunt, but we are glad to be back." Brun gestured after he had handed his pack to Groob who stood there waiting. "This leader has much to discuss with you Mog-ur. Tonight."

Goov nodded, understanding that much more had happened during the hunt than was visible.

AtDC

A New Hearth

When Ora caught sight of Grov and Ayla, she ran as fast as her chubby legs could carry her. "Mamma back," she gestured. "Grov here," she said as she flew into the man's arms. Grov picked her up, and swung the child over his shoulder, much to her delight. Many stared at them, but knew that this man loved the child dearly. When Grov had hugged her tightly enough to make her cry out, the two year old reached for Ayla. "Mamma, want Mamma."

Ayla smiled at the child, and took her from Grov's arms. "Missed Mamma," Ora gestured. "Where's Durc?"

Ayla smiled again, thinking that the child grew while they were away. "Ora, you have grown since we left. Mamma is sure of it. Durc is over there," Ayla said pointing. "But, I have someone for you to meet. This is Braydalana," the woman signed and said at the same time. The woman lowered the child to the ground and knelt beside the newcomer. "This is Ora, Braydalana."

Braydalana smiled shyly at Ora, then took the girl's hands and spoke, "Greetings."

Ora cocked her head and looked at the older girl closely. "Mamma, Ora not know what she say."

"Ora, Braydalana speaks with words, but don't worry she will teach you. Braydalana will teach all of us."

Ora nodded, not really caring. Then, seeing Broud, the child toddled off to annoy the man.

~oxoxo~

Goov watched the people returning, and was interested in the Others people, though he did not show it outwardly. He carefully observed the girl, who reminded him so much of Ayla when she had been that age, and wondered about the first medicine woman's true people. Goov was flabbergasted that Ayla was speaking to the child in the child's language. How had she learned it so quickly, he speculated. Shaking his head, he focused in on what the hunters were doing.

That too was strange to Goov. He could not believe that the men had carried meat back. It was obvious that much would have been wasted had they not helped the women, but what had made Brun think of it? Men carrying meat, a woman and child of the Others...what else could Brun have to talk to him about?

~oxoxo~

Ayla and Oga followed the men as they carried Jenadoza back to her hearth, but they all wondered what they should do with the woman when they got to the hearth. Originally, the hearth connected to Grov and Ayla's hearth was supposed to be for the medicine woman's medicinal purposes, but now that Broud, Oga, and the boys used it as their hearth, Ayla did not have a special place to put the injured.

Grov and Broud had followed the people to the hearth, and Grov suggested the hearth that was opposite the connecting hearth. Broud was nodding, "Oga and I could move to that hearth, but I do not think Oga would want to move out of this hearth."

Grov did not mention that Broud could move to another hearth, if Brun allowed it, but that Oga would probably have to stay within their hearth; at least until the man's punishment was over. Instead, considering that Broud was thinking about someone else's feelings for a change, Grov said, "No Broud, that hearth is too small for you anyway, but it would be good for a medical hearth. What do you think Ayla? Could you treat the woman there?"

Ayla considered, then nodded. "I think that would be good. I like having Oga close too, and I would not want her to move, but this woman thinks the leader should make such an important decision."

Grov and Broud were nodding, of course Brun should decide. "I will go ask the leader," Broud gestured and left.

While the man was gone, the men carrying the stretcher put the unconscious woman down in Grov's hearth, and left. Ayla and Oga stoked the fire and got some water boiling to make tea. Ayla decided to feed Shriek, and then sat rubbing the raptor's neck and head when he was finished. He seemed to almost fall asleep as she did this. Braydalana watched the woman with the hawk, and wondered why the bird allowed her to do that.

When Broud returned, he informed them that the leader had agreed, and that he would be coming shortly to inspect what they were doing. Oga was obviously pleased that she would not have to leave the hearth; things had been much better lately, and she was not ready for change yet.

~oxoxo~

After the tea was ready, and Ayla and Oga had given their men some tea, they went to clean up the new area, make beds, and prepare a fire there. They cleared out as much dust as they could, then Ayla began digging two trenches to put bedding in for the woman and child. Oga left to gather some grass to make the bed more comfortable, and returned quickly with grass and several leather blankets. When the beds were ready, they asked Brac to go get wood, and stack it for a fire within the hearth, and then they returned to Grov's hearth. While the boy was gone, Uba arrived carrying a baby in each arm, and Oga went to her own space.

"Oh Uba, this woman missed you very much," Ayla gestured, hugging her sister, then taking one of the babies from the woman. "Which one is this?"

"The child is Berc, but this woman can see you have someone for me to meet too. Who are our visitors?"

Ayla smiled at Uba's curiosity, thinking that Uba had been a curious child and it had carried on to adulthood. "The woman is Jena-doza," Ayla gestured pointing to the woman on the ground. "And, this is Bray-da-lana," Ayla said in both signs and gestures.

Uba frowned, "Ayla, I can't say either of those names, and what are those noises you are making?"

Ayla smiled again, "I have found out that the Others speak with sounds, and that they do not understand hands. I am learning her words so we can talk to her and she is trying to learn some hand signs too. Braydalana is from Others called the Sungaea. I think she is related to Grov's first mate."

Uba's eyes had gotten wide, and then she tried to say the girl's name. "Ayda," the woman said aloud. She tried again, but the same thing came out.

Braydalana smiled at the flathead woman, and turned to Ayla, "Ayda is okay with me. That is what the other man called me before."

Ayla nodded, and then turned back to Uba. "Braydalana says it is okay to call her Ayda." Then the first medicine woman turned back to the girl. "This woman is my sister, Uba."

Braydalana's eyes opened wide. "Your sister? But she is...she is..." The girl did not finish. She had already learned that the name flathead was not nice to say around these people. All her life she had heard that word, and was told they were animals, but she could tell they were not.

Ayla understood that the girl did not comprehend how she, obviously one of the Others, could be the sister of Uba. She didn't know why the girl had a strange expression; she didn't know what the Others thought of the Clan. "Uba's mother adopted me, that why Uba my sister."

Braydalana's expression became one of understanding. "Uba," she said, and looked at the babies. "What are the baby's names?"

Ayla looked down at the baby in her arms, and said, "This is Berc, and he is Brev." The girl repeated the names twice, and then fell silent, not knowing what else to say.

Ayla looked at the sons of her sister, and wiped dribble off Berc's lip. "They are beautiful, Uba."

Uba blushed at Ayla's praise. "I think so too, but what mother doesn't think so about her own babies?"

Ayla nodded at the humor in Uba's comment; nearly all women thought their babies to be the most beautiful. Ayla cuddled the baby to her chest, then suggested Uba leave the infants in Durc's sleeping place, so that she could come look at the hearth they had set up for the visitors.

"Braydalana, stay here, watch babies," Ayla said to the girl and left with Uba.

Uba looked over the hearth. "It looks good to me, Ayla. It will be good to get your medicinal things out of the hearth. You will have much more room for the things you need for the hearth and have a whole extra place. But, before you distract me, you are almost ready to give birth, just over one moon cycle left, and I need to examine you. Lie down," she said pointing at the new sleeping place in the medicine hearth. Ayla rolled her eyes, but did as she was instructed.

Uba felt the woman's forehead to check her temperature, and then checked her extremities for swelling, "Ayla, your ankles are swollen. Do they hurt?"

Ayla shook her head. "No Uba, we just got back from traveling; that is why my ankles are swollen."

Uba nodded and went back to the exam. She inserted her fingers into the woman to check her insides, and then looked up at the woman, "Ayla, this woman would say that your body is getting ready. You are starting to open up." Ayla smiled, and patted her bulging stomach.

~oxoxo~

When Ayla and Uba were done, they went back to the other hearth to inform the men that Jenadoza could be brought over to the medicine hearth. Grov and Broud got up and moved the woman. Ayla had Uba examine the woman, which brought a few moans out of the unconscious woman. Ayla thought she might wake up, but she didn't. Uba helped Ayla feed her, and both were amazed that the woman was consuming broth while still sleeping, but she did, and Ayla was extremely pleased. The woman would wake up very soon the medicine woman thought.

After Ayla returned to the hearth, they all went to the main cave area for the communal meal that the other women had been working on. It was good to be home!

AtDC

Tears of Terror

Brun had instructed the people to eat and to enjoy being home with their families, but called a meeting with Goov in the men's cave. He wanted to talk to him before the night was over and thought that immediately would be best. The two men entered the cave, built the fire up, and sat down promptly.

"Well Brun, you must have more to discuss with me than just the woman of the Others. This man can see it in your eyes."

Brun sighed. "Yes Mog-ur. It is Ayla again. She has touched a spear, and has killed with it."

Goov's eyes opened wide, wondering why Brun had not immediately come to him. "What did she kill?"

"The Woman Who Hunts killed one of the bison. It was stampeding toward the women and chasing her around the fire. She just picked it up and used it. I am not even angry that the woman has done this, because she was protecting our women, but for some reason, I feel like I should be angry; a woman is not supposed to touch hunting weapons," he said with a furrowed brow. "I have already told Grov and Ayla that she will not be cursed. It is just too dangerous. I have many more Clan members to be concerned about now and I cannot take the chance of angering the spirits. But she should be punished. What do you think, Mog-ur?"

Goov was nodding, agreeing that the woman needed to be punished, but didn't know what else they could do to her except for cursing her. "I will have to meditate on this Brun. This has never happened before."

Brun nodded as well, knowing that the Mog-ur would tell him he had to meditate on the problem. Goov said that he would work on it the next day and the two men left to join the people, and eat.

~oxoxo~

Not long after the people left, the woman began to stir. "Ummmmm," she moaned, as her eyes flickered open. At first everything appeared blurry, but within moments that changed. The woman starred at the ceiling. What I am looking at, she wondered. Then she turned her head, and saw a low fire. I'm in a cave, she realized, closing her eyes again and sighing.

Moments later, though she thought it had been longer, her eyes flew open again. "Braydalana," she whispered with a hoarse voice. Jenadoza tried to sit up, but a splitting pain shot through her head, causing her to grab her temples and moan. It took her a minute for the pain to subside, allowing her to focus again. Then she realized that her ankle was throbbing as well. What did I do to myself? she thought.

Now sitting up, the woman looked around again, this time spying a cup of liquid sitting next to the low fire. She realized that she was very thirsty and, crawling over to the cup, sniffed what was inside. She didn't smell anything; it was water. The woman drank it, and then stared at the fire, wondering where Braydalana was, and where the people were that had saved her. She hoped the child had been saved as well.

Time seemed to pass slowly for the woman who sat there all alone. The thoughts that were going through her head terrified her. What had happened to the daughter of her brother's mate. Her brother had already lost the child's mother seven years before in childbirth; she had been only thirteen years old at the time. Jenadoza thought about her brother's loss with tears in her eyes; she did not think he could not take another one. Then she paled, he may never forgive her if she returned without the child that he loved beyond anything else.

As Jenadoza sat there by the fire, she began to get hungry, but there didn't seem to be any food nearby, and she couldn't walk to go find some. Or could she? She looked toward the entrance of the hearth, and could see another fire in a nearby hearth, and wanted to see if there was food there, but didn't know how to get there. The woman crawled over to the cave wall, and managed to pull herself up to a standing position. She tried to put weight on her injured foot, but severe pain radiated through her foot and ankle and up her leg. With a sharp intake of breath, she yanked her foot up off the ground and closed her eyes. When the pain subsided, she took a deep breath and decided to try hopping along the cave wall.

When the woman got to the edge of the hearth, she looked both ways. To the left, it was just a dark passageway; Jenadoza could see nothing down there. To the right, the woman could see the small central fire of the western side of the cave burning brightly. She frowned, wondering where all the people were. Then she looked straight ahead, toward the adjacent hearth; the fire there burned low and no one was visible there either.

Jenadoza wasn't sure what to do, then decided to hop across and enter the hearth. When the woman did this she noticed that the hearth was connected to another hearth and, for a moment, forgot her hunger as she visually inspected her surroundings. The fire was in the center, and there were four sleeping places, all along the wall to her left. Also to her left were some strange looking spears. The woman ran her fingers over the wooden spears, and wondered how anyone could hunt with them—the size was not right. Jenadoza looked to her right and saw a huge pile of wood. That must be for their fires, she thought as she hobbled over to the opening that led to the connecting hearth.

Again, that hearth contained a low burning fire, almost in the center, and again four sleeping places. She noticed a couple mats on the ground, and more of the strange looking spears. She could see that the owner of this hearth must be the cave's healer; there were herbs drying on a rack on a shelf on the back wall. She felt some comfort that the cave's healer was the one taking care of her, but...where was he or she? she thought. Then she saw something else that was very strange. There was a very large hawk sitting on the cave shelf, just next to the drying rack. He was eyeing her carefully, but making no noise whatsoever. Jenadoza's stomach growled loudly, reminding her why she had gotten up.

She looked around the hearth for some food, and spotted a woven basket full to tart apples against the cave wall directly under the bird. The woman eyed him carefully, wondering why a bird would be in the cave, but edged herself nearer so that she could get one of the apples. The bird cocked his head, as she neared, but still did nothing. The woman grabbed the piece of fruit and backed away. When the woman had reached the hearth entrance, she looked out at the small area, and saw the central fire again. Then, behind her, the hawk shrieked with the most piercing sound the woman had ever heard.

~oxoxo~

The meal had been going well for everyone. Everyone was eating merrily, and the people that had been away were telling the stories that often went with a journey. Everyone avoided mention of Ayla's transgression, though everyone else knew something was being left out; they would find out about that later.

The meal consisted of many dishes, but all ones that were made with short notice; it didn't matter, everyone was enjoying the meal, and the company. When it came time to clear away the picked over food, the women got up quickly to do their duty. Everything was just cleared away when the loud shriek rang through the cave, causing the people to look up and stare toward the passageway that led to the western hearths. Ayla got up to go investigate, but Grov stopped her.

"Ayla, I predator could have gotten in the cave. You are in no condition to go see. Stay here." Not waiting to see her reaction to his command, he turned toward Broud, Daub, and Dorg, and motioned for them to follow him. Ayla had turned red and was slightly upset at having been brushed off like that, but sat back down as the men walked off.

~oxoxo~

Jenadoza was startled by the bird's earsplitting squawk, and spun around in fear, causing herself to lose her balance and fall hard on the ground, her apple rolling out into the open area.

Displeased that she had been startled so easily, she sighed and began to crawl after the apple, but as she approached on hands and knees, she came upon four pairs of feet. The woman looked at the...shoes?...on the feet for a split second, then looked up.

Jenadoza's eyes followed the bare legs of the men that stood in front of her, noticing that their chests were bare as well, but when she focused on the faces of the men, her eyes became the size of large river stones, and she let out a scream, as she backed away from them in sheer terror. The woman was now on her backside, and was scooting down the passageway as fast as she could, and holding an arm up in front of her. Flatheads, she thought, I'm in a cave of flatheads. Oh Sumata save me, she prayed to the Mother, as she continued to back away, tears of terror running down her cheeks.

~oxoxo~

The whole Clan had heard the woman's scream, but it was Ayla that had reacted to the sound first. The medicine woman got up and went to the leader, then dropped to her knees at his feet. Brun wondered what was happening down the passage, but knew that the woman would need Ayla. He tapped her shoulder, and said, "Ayla speak."

Ayla's breath exploded. "This woman would like to go see if the woman needs my help."

Brun grunted, and gestured that Uba should go as well. Ayla turned to Braydalana, who had been sitting with Igra and Orga trying to learn some of their signs, and beckoned the child to follow the two medicine women. "Jenadoza need us. We might need help. You stay behind." Braydalana nodded, she didn't want to be left alone with these people anyway.

~oxoxo~

The four men stood there staring at the hysterical woman, wondering what was wrong with her. Grov approached the woman, and tried to calm her, but she was struggling, and pummeling his chest in fear. The other three men looked on, confused that a woman would rebel against a man so forcefully. Broud had a sudden memory of Ayla; this was how she had reacted when he had given her the signal. Grov grabbed the woman's hands so she could not strike him again, and held her still with his strong Clan muscles. "Calm yourself woman!"

Jenadoza looked at the man, as if he were an animal that was attacking her, and shook with fear. She stared at him wide eyed as she shook, and then looked back at the men standing behind the one holding her still. They were all flatheads, she thought, except the one holding her, he was of mixed spirits. Oh Sumata, where am I? Jenadoza wondered.

AtDC

Getting Acquainted

Ayla, Uba, and Braydalana came around the corner and saw Grov restraining the shaking woman. The girl tried to go to her auntie, but Ayla prevented her from going to the woman for the moment. Instead, Ayla approached the three other men, and kneeled at their feet. Since Broud was the one in front, he was the one to tap the woman's shoulder.

"This woman would know what happened."

Broud looked over her shoulder at Grov and the strange Others woman. "Grov is trying to stop her from hurting herself. The woman was thrashing about. The medicine woman should make sure the woman has not been injured further and try to help her behave properly."

Ayla nodded, and turned back to Grov and Jenadoza, and then went over to them and kneeled so she could look at the woman. Grov let go of her, and the woman looked at Ayla, but did not say anything. Then Uba approached as well, causing the woman to blanch at the sight of the flathead woman.

Ayla looked into the woman's eyes. "Jenadoza, you okay. Just relax. Me Ayla. This Uba," she said indicating the younger medicine woman. Jenadoza looked at the two women and wondered why this woman was with the flatheads.

Ayla turned around and called for the child, who promptly stepped out from behind the three men.

"Braydalana," the woman called and embraced the child when she came forward. "What has happened and where are we?"

The child smiled at her auntie. "These people saved us, Auntie. Ayla, Grov, and Broud are the ones that found us and they brought us back to their cave. I was so scared."

Jenadoza hugged the girl tightly, glad that she would not have to return home empty handed, but still scared about the predicament that they were in.

Ayla watched quietly while the woman and girl were reunited, then said. "Need go back to hearth to rest Jenadoza. You suffered bump on head and twisted ankle. I think you need some food too, yes?"

Jenadoza eyed the woman, then looked at the flatheads, then nodded. She was exhausted and hungry; she could not deny it. Ayla and Uba helped the woman up and supported her as they took her back to the medicine hearth. Jenadoza was surprised at the strength of the smaller woman, as Ayla went to make her a calming tea. Uba eased the woman down on the furs, and felt the woman's forehead for temperature.

Jenadoza watched the two women with fear and curiosity and sat holding Braydalana. Braydalana tried to reassure the scared woman that the people were okay. Different, but okay. "How long have we been here?" the woman asked the child.

Braydalana thought for a moment. "We got here today, but..." she thought to herself. "It has been two days since they found us, right Ayla?"

Ayla turned toward them, and nodded. "Yes, two and half days. We out on hunt and find you both. Why out alone?" Ayla approached them and handed the woman the tea. Jenadoza looked at the cup suspiciously and smelled it, but did not drink.

Ayla, seeing the woman's hesitation, took the cup back and took a sip herself, then handed it to her again. "It just Chamomile tea, good to make calm," Ayla said to her. Jenadoza accepted the cup this time and smiled at the woman.

After taking a sip of the tea, Jenadoza smiled at Braydalana again, then turned back to the medicine woman. "Why are you here with them," Jenadoza said, indicating the people of the Clan?

Ayla was not sure what she was talking about. "These are my people. I have lived with them for as long as I can remember." Ayla was frowning, thinking that she was missing something. Grov saw her frown and came forward; he had followed the women to the medicine hearth.

"Ayla, many of the Others, including the Sungaea, do not like the Clan. They think we are animals. They call us flatheads." Grov watched his mate to see what she would think. He had spoken in words so that Jenadoza could understand him and know that he did understand her.

Ayla listened to her mate, and frowned again, then turned back toward the woman. "Why not like us, Jenadoza? I not understand." Ayla obviously saw herself as one of the flatheads, which confused the woman. "My mate, Grov, he say you think he animal. Is this true?"

Jenadoza wasn't quite sure what to say. She was frightened and concerned about what she would happen to her and the child, but she was curious too. The mixed flathead man had spoken her language and no one thought they could speak. Instead of answering Ayla, she took a sip her tea, then said, "I do not know what I think right now. Most of my people think of these flat...ahh, people as animals, but animals do not talk. I would like to know how the man knows my language and why you live with these flatheads."

Braydalana interrupted then. "Auntie, I can answer the first question, but first...they do not like to be called flatheads. They are Clan."

Jenadoza looked at the girl. "Glun."

"Very close Auntie, they say cl-an."

Jenadoza glanced at the three adults that sat near her and tried again, "Clan?" Then she looked at the girl again. "And how does this man know how to speak Sungaea?"

Braydalana smiled. "Because he was mated to Evanora."

Jenadoza blanched at the sound of her cousin's name, and looked at the mixed man, then laughed. "No, this cannot be right. My cousin would not mate him. He is a flathead. Mixed, but still a flathead." Then she looked at Ayla. "How can you be here, mated to this man?"

Grov did not say anything. He was well aware of what these people thought of him and the Clan. Evanora had told him many times. Ayla sighed, and looked the woman in the eye, then defiantly began. "I not know who my people were, but Clan find me long time ago. I was five cycle of season at time Lost like you. They take me in and care for me. They are not animal like you say. They are people. Can't you see they are people?"

Something about the woman's story bothered the woman, but she could not put her finger on it. Jenadoza looked at them. They were dressed strangely, actually hardly at all, Jenadoza thought, and most of them had not said a word, but yes, she decided, they are people. "I can see that they are people, Ayla, but most people do not think they are. I think it is because we have never been so close to them before. I did not know they could talk."

That was where Braydalana broke in again. "Jenadoza, they do not talk with their mouths like we do. They talk with their hands; I have been learning some." The child seemed truly excited by what she had learned, but the woman did not understand. She had not even noticed that Ayla had been constantly moving her hands around, politely gesturing every word said so that Uba would know what was going on.

"What do you mean Bray? Ayla, can you show me?"

Ayla smiled, "Yes, I show. I will talk Uba, tell her something." Ayla turned to her sister, and with gestures only, said "Uba, go get Durc and Ora. I want our new visitors to meet my children." Uba nodded and left the hearth.

Jenadoza looked puzzled. "What did you say to her?"

Ayla smiled, but it was Braydalana that answered. "She told Uba to go get Durc and Ora," Braydalana said with a big smile. Jenadoza was speechless.

"Very good Braydalana. You learn fast," Ayla said in Sungaea, then turned to Jenadoza. "Yes, I want you meet my son Durc and Evanora's daughter Ora."

Jenadoza was again speechless. Her cousin had a daughter while living with these...these people. Then it occurred to Jenadoza that no mention had actually been made of Evanora herself. "And Evanora, where is she?"

Grov's face suddenly fell, and Jenadoza could not mistake the pain that he felt, or the cause of it. "My mate died in earthquake that killed many almost a cycle of seasons ago. Her mother and mother's mate died then too."

"Vinoza and Teglodia? They are gone too?" Jenadoza's eyes had misted over, and she looked at the mixed man.

Grov was nodding. "Yes, we called them Oza and Teg. They came to our Clan...hmmmm...ten cycles ago," he said holding up both his hands with all fingers extended to show the years. "I was seven and Nora was nine, and I liked her right from start. She was one that teach me some of language. They were good people, sad people. Nora say her brother died; gored by a rhinoceros."

Jenadoza was nodding. "Yes, I do remember that, I was only seven, but Evanora was my best friend as well as my cousin. Her family was so sad after Tegasia was killed, and left to journey right away. My mother's mate was so sad that his sister was leaving, especially since their only other sibling had also just left on a journey shortly before. He too had lost his family. We did not see him for a long time, but he is back now, and has a new mate, and more children. They will be very sad to hear about Vinoza."

Jenadoza was relaxing with these people, and they definitely were people—about that she had no doubts. They talked about family ties for a little while, and then Uba returned with Durc and Ora. Jenadoza was first surprised to see that Ayla had a mixed son, but then why wouldn't she, the woman thought; she lived here, who else's spirit would have blessed her?

Then, when she saw Ora, who had come in behind the Clan woman, and quietly sat down on Ayla's lap, Jenadoza paled. She could not have denied that this child belonged to Evanora—the toddler looked identical to her cousin. Though, the woman thought, the child looked almost identical to Ayla as well. She wondered why the child did not come out mixed, as Durc had, but couldn't form any thoughts fully to explain it to herself.

Ayla watched the woman and smiled. "Ora, this is your mother's cousin...Clan," she said, changing the word to something the child may understand. The two year old didn't care, she just wanted to sit on Ayla's lap and twirl her own hair with her index finger.

Jenadoza smiled. "I can vaguely remember Evanora doing that," she said pointing at the sleepy child. "She always had a knot in her hair from doing it. I can remember her mother getting so upset over it."

Durc had been watching, not really understanding what was happening. "You related my sister," he asked in his choppy Sungaea?

Jenadoza looked at the boy, and decided that he had more Clan in him than the man, Grov, did. "Yes, I am cousin to her mother. Her mother's mother was sister to my mother's mate."

~oxoxo~

They talked a little more that night, but Ayla soon decided that the woman needed to get some rest and shooed everyone away. "Here Jenadoza, drink this, help you sleep." The woman took it and smiled at the woman, then rolled over to sleep.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

Not far to the northeast, three Sungaea men returned to their lodge, only to discover that Jenadoza and Braydalana had not come back on their own.

"What do you mean they are not here?" Ivanolia demanded.

The people were puzzled. "Ivanolia, they were out with you. We were not watching for their return."

The man was frantic with worry—both his dead mate's daughter and his sister were missing. He began throwing his belongings back into his pack. He would go out and look for them. Then he felt a hand on his shoulder. "WHAT!" he shouted not even looking to see who it was.

"Ivanolia, we cannot go back out and search. It's after dark, it would be too dangerous."

Recognizing the voice, he turned around, "Donzolnia, how can you say that? Jenadoza is your mate and she is pregnant. And Bray is just a child. We have to go," the man said with tears desperation in his eyes.

Donzolnia nodded, but grabbed the man's shoulders and shook them gently to get the crazed man's attention. "We cannot see in the dark. I will definitely go search with you, but not until morning. There is nothing we can do until we have some light."

The man was about to protest, but he saw everyone agreeing with Donzolnia, so he relented. "We leave before dawn then. We will go back to where we last saw them, and start from there. Who will go with me?"

Donzolnia raised his hand—Ivanolia knew he would go; after all, Jenadoza was his mate. Brulenzia raised his hand; Donzolnia's younger brother was always with them. And Tinozia raised his hand, he was the best tracker they had; an obvious good choice.

Everyone was nodding, and going to their beds. Ivanolia reasured his mother that they would find Jenadoza and Braydalana and then sent her to bed.

The four that would travel slept in the visitor's hearth and discussed the search, and what they would take with them. None of them slept that well, but it was Donzolnia that quietly kept an eye on everyone, especially Ivanolia; he was afraid the man would sneak off on them, and he wanted to prevent that from happening if he could.

AtDC

The people of Oak Camp of the Sungaea (in order of age only...not rank)

Tagnolia (40) – Headman of the Oak Camp of the Sungaea, brother of headwoman
TBA (38)– mother of Donzolnia (as well as children below)
~ Brulenzia (19) – second son of headman's mate, Donzolnia's brother, Evanora's closest childhood playmate, unmated
~ Frala (13)
~ Morina (11)

TBA (39) – mated to headwoman
Tiflona (38) – Headwoman, sister of headman
~ Tinozia (18) – first son of headwoman, unmated
~ TBA (15)
~ TBA (12)

Gredenzia (35) – mated to Fraylora, Shogur
Fraylora (35) – Nemlora's mother
~ Furlasa (15)
~ TBA (13)
~ TBA (9)

Vilognia (40) – Vinoza and Vincenzia's brother
TBA (40) – mother of Ivanolia and Jenadoza
~ TBA (14)
~ TBA (11)
~ TBA (8)

Vincenzia (36) – Vilognia and Vinoza's brother, travels often, returned recently from one of his journeys to the Mamutoi, lost first mate and daughter in such a travel
Darvie (25) – second mate, Mamutoi woman
~ Crisana (Crisanie) (7) – Darvie's daughter
~ Brenevia (Brenev) (4) – Darvie's son

Teglodia (would be 35 if not dead) – headman's best friend, left to go on a journey 10 years ago when mate's youngest child (Tegasia) was killed in a hunting accident
Vinoza (would be 33 if not dead) – gladly journeyed with her mate, too sad to stay
~ Evanora (would be 19 if not dead) – was mated to Grov (Nora), mother of Ora

Donzolnia (21) – first son of headman's mate, Jenadoza's mate
Jenadoza (17) – injured woman with the Clan, Evanora's cousin, Ivanolia's sister, pregnant

Ivanolia (21) – Jenadoza's brother, Evanora's cousin
Nemlora (dead, died giving birth at 13)
~ Braydalana (7) – Nemlora's daughter

AtDC

Search Party

When morning finally came, the search party rose, though none had really slept. Ivanolia was the first to get up, and made plenty of noise to let the others know he was up. Donzolnia got up quickly, not as afraid for the woman and girl—he knew his mate was quite capable of caring for herself and the child. There was that fear, which he pushed back in his head, that told him something really bad had gone on. But at the same time, he didn't think so. The other two men got up promptly as well.

Though only four would go search, the rest of the lodge would be waiting anxiously for news of the missing woman and girl. Ivanolia's mother came up to him while he and Donzolnia packed their rucksacks and, with tears in her eyes grabbed his face and pleaded with him to find her first daughter. Ivanolia promised he would do everything he could—and Donzolnia hugged his mate's mother and promised the same.

When Ivanolia turned to go, he saw Fraylora, who looked just as distraught over the disappearance of her granddaughter, all that she had left of her daughter Nemlora. He promised her as well that they would do their best.

Donzolnia and Brulenzia finally hugged their mother, as did Tinozia, and the four men walked off.

~oxoxo~

For Brun's Clan the next day was one of rest for most. Brun met with Goov to discuss Ayla's punishment, and they had agreed that the woman would not be allowed to hunt at all for half a cycle of seasons, and that her weapons would be burned to make sure she was not tempted. Brun knew all too well that Ayla would have trouble if her weapon was not out of sight.

In Brun's opinion, this would be a suitable punishment to let her know she had done wrong, but not so long as to anger the spirits. She did after all save the child Orga, and she would have died herself had she not thought of picking up the spear. Goov said that they should tell her what her punishment would be right away, so that the woman would not think that she had gotten away with her transgression. Brun called a meeting of the men, and sent Droog and Crug to go get the woman.

~oxoxo~

Ayla and Uba had gotten up early and were both sitting with Jenadoza and Braydalana when Oga came in to see if she was needed. Ayla gestured that she did not need help, but that she was welcome to stay. "This is Broud's mate, Jenadoza. Her name is Oga."

Jenadoza smiled at the strange looking Clan woman and repeated her name. Oga could not say Jenadoza, but instead called her Doza. "So, I can see that you are both pregnant," Jenadoza said trying to make small talk. "When are you due?"

Ayla unconsciously touched her belly and smiled. "Hmmm, very soon. Just over one moon cycle left. Oga four more moon cycles," Ayla said holding up four fingers.

Jenadoza smiled, "I think I am pregnant too." Then she frowned. "But I have not told my mate yet. I was going to tell him at our summer meeting, because I will be sure by then, but now, I don't know if I will even find them again."

Ayla sympathized with the woman. "No worry. We help. Soon as ankle better. It won't be too long. Maybe half moon cycle."

The women had not been talking long when Droog and Crug appeared at the medicine hearth opening. They hesitated to interrupt the medicine woman while she was working, but could tell that nothing important was happening, so they stepped in and they each grabbed the Woman Who Hunts by her upper arm, and picked her up, and carried her out of the hearth.

Uga and Oga figured that Brun had called a men's meeting and that Ayla would be learning her punishment for using a spear on the hunt, but they had no way of telling Jenadoza. Or did they?

Braydalana had jumped to her feet and was watching the scene—and being protective over her auntie. "Where they take Ayla?" the girl gestured to Uba.

Uba watched the girl's gestures. It was not hard to know what she was asking. "This woman does not know, but she thinks Ayla is going to be punished for hunting with a spear."

The child wasn't sure she understood, but told Jenadoza anyway. Jenadoza was confused as well and thought the child must have misunderstood. After all, who would be punished for that?

~oxoxo~

At the men's meeting, Ayla was brought in, and put down in front of Brun. She immediately crouched down in the formal Clan woman posture, hoping that the leader would not punish her severely. Brun reached out and tapped the woman's shoulder.

When she looked up at him, she did not see anger. Instead she saw the look of calmness that was almost always on this man's face. "Ayla, you have defied Clan traditions again. This time you have hunted with a spear. Do you have anything to say for yourself?"

Ayla didn't know she was going to be given a chance to speak and didn't know what to say. "This woman is sorry that she has broken a Clan tradition again. I know I have trouble following some rules, but...I am not sorry that I saved Orga. She would have died if I did not use the spear."

Brun grunted. I know that, he thought. "It is wrong for a woman to touch a weapon, but yes, the child would have died if you didn't. I have decided that you will no longer be the Woman Who Hunts, and will not be allowed to hunt for half a cycle of seasons. Grov."

Ayla paled, not hunt. Brun was taking away her hunting and the title he had given her. Grov was coming forward with something in his hand. Ayla recognized it immediately as her sling. With a pained expression, her mate handed it to Brun, who handed it to Goov, who threw it into the fire. Ayla gasped as it went up in flames and tears slid down her cheeks.

Next, Brun grabbed her amulet and pulled it off of her with a quick snap, and handed it to Goov. Ayla was terrified that the Mog-ur was going to toss it into the fire as well, but he did not. The Mog-ur opened it and fished around inside instead. When he found what he was looking for, he pulled it out. It was the small piece of ivory from the tusk of the mammoth that they had killed many seasons ago. "This will be given back to you after your punishment has ended," Goov said, at which point Brun handed her back her amulet to tie on again, and then signaled Droog and Crug to carry her out again.

When they deposited her back in the medicine hearth, everyone was waiting expectantly for her return. Uba and Oga were not surprised to see the woman crying, but Jenadoza was incensed that she had been treated the way she had. "What in the Mother's name did they do to you?" she demanded angrily when the men were gone.

Ayla wiped her tears away, and explained. "I am being punished for hunting. They have taken my hunting charm away, and forbid me to hunt for half a cycle of seasons."

"Punishment for hunting? Why aren't you allowed to hunt?"

Ayla looked at her squarely. "Clan women not allowed to hunt, but totem demands I do. I am only Clan woman that hunt, but not now," Ayla said and took a deep breath. Oga handed her a leather cloth to wipe her face further and Ayla calmed down. "Woman of Others hunt?"

Jenadoza wasn't sure what Ayla meant by woman of Others. "The women of my camp can hunt if they wish to, though most do not after they have children. I like to hunt. My mate and I like to go hunting together. I also like to go hunting with my brother."

Ayla thought for a moment, "I would like to meet your Clan sometime."

~oxoxo~

By late afternoon, the four men had reached the spot where they had last seen Jenadoza and Braydalana; it was where to grasses had grown very long. They walked around the area, trying to see which way the two females had gone. They found their own tracks leading away in one direction, and saw where Jenadoza had been gathering the grasses. The men separated and branched off to cover a larger area, until finally Tinozia called the men to him. The other three men joined him.

Ivanolia arrived first. "Well, which way?"

Tinozia waited for the others to catch up, and then pointed. "They went this way," he said pointing.

They started off immediately, but had to stop at dusk. They set up a functional camp, and went to bed.

~oxoxo~

The next day, the men woke up early, and began travel again. They ate while they walked to save time. When the sun was high in the sky, the came to a small clearing, and Tinozia had to look hard to find their tracks again. When he did, they went on.

~oxoxo~

For a seven days, the search was going the same way. The woman and child had gone quite a distance from the spot that they had all been in, and Ivanolia was berating himself for leaving his sister alone for such a long time. Donzolnia tried to comfort him, telling him that Jenadoza had always done fine alone, but Ivanolia was getting more and more upset.

"Why did we leave Jenadoza and Braydalana alone for all that time. We shouldn't have left them. This is all my fault. If Jenadoza wanted to gather and not hunt, we should have insisted that she stay at the lodge."

Donzolnia watched the man pace and shout and didn't know what to do. "Ivan! We could not have known. We must keep searching. Not finding them could be good too. It means that they may still be alive."

Ivanolia turned on his friend. "How can you be so calm? This is your mate!" he shouted at the man.

Donzolnia took his friends shoulders and calmly said, "I am very nervous, my friend, but I am also hopeful. We have found no bodies, therefore there is still a chance."

Brulenzia and Tinozia watched the two men that had something at stake and waited for them to calm down. Tinozia finally got them to continue.

~oxoxo~

Later that day, the men were walking through the tall grass, when Donzolnia saw Tinozia suddenly fall down ahead of him. The three men rushed forward to check it out and found the man on his stomach looking at something.

"Are you okay?" Donzolnia asked, extending a hand to help the man up.

"Yes, but I think I have found blood on this rock. Someone has been injured." The men looked at it closely, and after careful discussion they decided that it had to be Jenadoza's blood, and not Braydalana's blood, because the tracks around belonged to a smaller person, indicating that the child had walked around the area, while the woman was down. The men were getting more and more nervous. Even Donzolnia wasn't as hopeful. If Jenadoza was injured, then they were both in trouble.

Tinozia got up and looked around some more, then called to the men again. "This way guys. They went this way."

The trail leading off the way it did went for a little while, then complete circled around and was heading back he way the men had come, until finally they came to another place in the grass that had been flattened by the weight of someone. They did not stay there long either, but went through the parted grass and traveled another short distance before finding a huge clearing.

The men got excited when they stepped into this clearing, for it was very large and it was clearly made by people, people that had had several fires burning.

Tinozia looked around. "I think we should stay here for the night. It's too dark to continue, and I am fairly sure they had to have come through here, and must be with whomever these people are."

Ivanolia wanted to object, but he knew Tinozia was right. They would get nowhere after dark, and it was likely that Jenadoza and Braydalana were with other people. He nodded reluctantly, and set up his tent.

~oxoxo~

The time was passing quickly for Jenadoza and Braydalana. Ayla was taking care of them impeccably, which caused Jenadoza to wonder further about the people of the Clan. They had healers—who would have ever thought?

They had also met most of the Clan women, all of whom had found some reason to visit the medicine woman at the hearth, but Ayla knew they came to get a glimpse of the Others people. Ayla introduced them all politely, not expecting the two visitors to remember all of their names. Uba came often, and brought her babies most of the time, which pleased the girl. Braydalana loved looking at the Clan babies, and Jenadoza was secretly happy to see them too. Ovra brought her babies once too, and allowed the girl to hold them, much to the girl's delight.

Braydalana was excited about every new thing she saw, and was picking up the Clan's hand signs very quickly. Jenadoza was actually quick to learn too, but not as quick as the child.

Ayla's Sungaea was much improved as well. She, along with Grov and Durc, were quite proficient in a very short time. Jenadoza had never seen people learn a language so fast. There were some others that were learning it too, but didn't have the close contact, or were learning it second hand.

Vorg was mixed and he could make the sounds easily, but he did not like to sit with the women and learn, so though he understood it quickly he was not doing as much speaking. Ura was learning some, but for her the proximity of her hearth, made it harder for the child to pick up the new spoken language. Ora was learning it quickly as well, but she wasn't learning from sitting with the women either; Ayla worked with her each night, and she was progressing quite well. Others that were learning were Uba, Oga, Brac, and Grev. They were not able to say a lot of the words, but it was not stopping them from trying, and it was becoming a fun game. Ayla could understand them, though no one else could, but it was okay—and they could understand just fine.

~oxoxo~

The four searcher rose early yet again, and followed the tracks of the people. Tinozia told them that it was a large group of people, at least twenty, and then told them that they were very heavily burdened; probably from a hunt. The men continued to travel.

~oxoxo~

The next day the men's traveling brought them to a large valley, where they could see a cave at the other end. They were excited that they had finally come to a cave when the strangest thing happened. The men were talking about their approach. They did not want to frighten the people and cause trouble, but at the same time, they did not want to wait to get their people back. While they were having their discussion, a few people came out of the cave. Ivanolia was watching, and then gasped, "Flatheads! This is a cave of flatheads," he said starting to rush forward.

Donzolnia grabbed his friend, and tried to calm him. "Ivan, we have to see what's going on there. We cannot go rushing in. You know how strong the flatheads are. We have to be careful."

Ivanolia shook his head, and sank to the ground. Brulenzia sat down near the man. "We will watch them, and see what they are up to. We don't even know if Jenadoza and Braydalana are here, but if they are, we will get them." The man clasped the other man for reassurance—and then they began their spying.

AtDC

Found

For the next few days the four men watched the flatheads, and saw no sign of their missing people. In fact, they saw no sign that there were actually any women among these men. The flatheads came out in small groups, and appeared to be teaching boys how to hunt.

Ivanolia was getting very tense at the idea that Jenadoza and Braydalana may actually not be there and that they were wasting time by sitting by and watching these animals. Donzolnia thought there was no way the woman and the girl could be anywhere else, and figured that if these animals could survive on their own, then they must be able to help an injured woman, and feed a lost child. He was not so worried. The other two men, Brulenzia and Tinozia, tried to be supportive to the other two men.

~oxoxo~

Ayla had been spending a tremendous amount of time with the Clan's visitors, and was immensely enjoying their conversations, and learning about the ways of the Others.

Jenadoza too, had learned much of the Clan, and she was rethinking all of her people's preconceived notions of the ones they all called flatheads. They were people. Different people, that was for sure, but people nonetheless. All she had to do was watch Braydalana play with their children, and she could see the amazing similarities.

Braydalana played mostly with Orga and Nala, though Igra joined them sometimes. Ayla had explained that Igra was a woman, and had other duties besides play, which caused the two women to have a conversation about the differences in ages in Clan and Others people. Ayla was finally relieved that she was not slow to develop those many seasons ago, just one of the Others.

One morning Braydalana spent sometime making something that Ayla had not seen before, but Jenadoza thought it was a great idea. Braydalana made the girls dolls. When she gave them to Orga and Nala, the girls did not know what they were for, but the visitor explained that the purpose was for play, and shortly afterward every little Clan girl was wanting one, even Ora, who was only two. The people of the cave found it humorous that their girls carried around the little representations of babies, and acted as though they were actually real babies.

"Kiss it, Mamma," Ora said as she came in with her 'baby.' Baby need you hold." Ayla smiled at her daughter and kissed the doll.

~oxoxo~

Jenadoza was also curious about the hawk, and asked question after question about him. Ayla told her how she acquired Shriek and everything she had had to go through to keep him. Shriek had actually grow quite a bit, he was now full size, with a wing span wider than many of the Clan women were tall, and his tail feathers had matured into the deep red color of adulthood. He was a light morph adult—white underwings with dark carpal bars on the leading edges, dark outer primary tips and a dark trailing edge. He was a beautiful specimen.

Ayla told Jenadoza that Shriek was the one that had found her and led the Clan to her. The woman was impressed that a bird could be trained and that it was capable of assisting in a search. As far as she knew, it had never been done before.

Ayla also expressed sadness that Shriek did not always stay in the cave anymore, but instead went out on hunts on his own. Ayla hoped that when she was allowed to hunt again, she could go out with him and they could work together. Her only consolation now was that he always returned at night; he knew where home was. Ayla obviously considered the hawk one of her children; Jenadoza smiled at the thought.

~oxoxo~

On another morning, Ayla decided that Jenadoza needed some fresh air, and went to talk to Grov about getting the woman outside. Ayla didn't see Grov in the hearth so she approached Broud, and lowered herself to the ground gracefully. Broud had been sharpening one of his spears when the woman came to him. He tapped her shoulder.

"This woman would like to take the woman, Jenadoza, outside. If I go prepared a place for her, would you help me bring her outside?"

Broud had not spent much time with the Others woman, but had watched her, and despite not being capable of speaking to the woman verbally, he had acquired many new words sounds and could understand much of what was being said. He was amazed that so much could be understood by mouth sounds. He grunted an affirmative to the medicine woman and went back to his work.

Ayla returned to the medicine hearth, and told Jenadoza that what she wanted to do, then left with Braydalana and an armload of furs to make the woman comfortable outside. Ayla found Grov in the passages to the northern entrance, and explained what she wanted to do again and told him that she would like to gather as well. He stopped what he was doing to relieve his mate of her furs, as she was getting huge, and could hardly manage what she was carrying. Ayla gave him a grateful kiss and took the child's hand.

~oxoxo~

At the other end of the valley, then four men sat watching the cave entrance and the comings and goings of the flathead males and didn't expect the sight that was about to be revealed to them.

It was Ivanolia that saw the tall man exit the cave, with his arms full, then a blonde woman who, from the great distance, looked very similar to Jenadoza—and then finally a child. He did not have to look twice to know that he child was Braydalana, though he had decided that the woman was not Jenadoza. The man jumped up, and smacked Donzolnia in the arm. Donzolnia, who had been leaning against a rock and dozing, opened his eyes, and sat up. "What?"

"I see Braydalana, let's go," he said getting up, and starting to walk across the valley.

Donzolnia looked across the valley, and frowned. "Ivanolia, we can't just barge in there. Slow down, Bray isn't hurt. We can see that she is fine," he said holding the man back. "Let's watch a little while longer and decided what is best."

By this time, Tinozia and Brulenzia were watching closely as well.

~oxoxo~

Grov dropped the furs, and Ayla arranged them on the ground. Braydalana sat down on them and smiled. "This will be good. Jenadoza will be very comfortable."

Ayla looked over everything and decided that they needed some food and drink as well, so she went back in to let Broud know she would be ready soon and to get some food. Grov stayed with the girl while she left.

Inside the cave Ayla spoke to Broud first, who said he would do it when he was finished with his spear. Ayla then went to Oga, Aza, and Eka to see if they wanted to join her in foraging outside. They all agreed, and got their gathering things together, and their mates decided they would go out too, as the boys could use some hunting practice.

~oxoxo~

The four searchers watched as, one by one, more and more flatheads exited the cave and began various tasks. But the blonde woman had not returned. Ivanolia was starting to get frantic about his mate's daughter being surrounded by animals. And Donzolnia, not sure how much longer he would be able to hold the man back, watched nervously, hoping that they would receive some sign telling them they could approach.

Then, suddenly the blonde woman appeared again, this time swinging a small child around. She brought the child over to the furs and sat her down next to Braydalana, who handed the child something. Then, a few boys exited the cave and joined some of the men that were off to the side practicing with spears. Finally, a flathead came out of the cave carrying a woman and Ivanolia exploded.

"There she is! That's definitely Jenadoza," he said pointing angrily. The man jumped up, and started running across the valley. Donzolnia had tried to stop his mate's brother, but he had missed him as the man ran by. The three men had no choice by to run after the man.

AtDC

Ayla Goes Down

Ayla thanked Broud for his assistance with a cup of water, and got Jenadoza comfortable. Most were busy with the tasks they had come out to accomplish, and did not see the approaching Others until Durc came running over. Broud heard the boy talking to his mother and, understanding the language, looked up to see the men crossing the valley at a run. He was immediately up and on the defensive. Grov signaled the woman and children to sit on the blanket with Jenadoza, which they did, and stood with Broud. Ayla stood in front of the woman, blocking Jenadoza's view, to see what would happen.

Dorg and Daub glanced at the women and saw Ayla standing protectively over them and decided to join Broud and Grov. They did not want these Others near their women; they knew what many of the Others did to Clan woman and they would not allow it to happen to their women.

In no time flat, the four Others men had crossed the valley and came face to face with the flatheads who, with the exception of the mixed one, where all shorter than them. Ivanolia's face was red from the run and from rage that the flatheads were holding their people captive and wanted to fight. Donzolnia, on the other hand, did not want to fight the flatheads; he knew that although they were shorter, they were much stronger, and he attempted to restrain his mate's brother. To his side, Donzolnia could see that Tinozia was doing the same thing with Brulenzia, and the flatheads were standing united against them. The men of the Clan had no idea why these Others were so angry, but they were ready to stand and protect.

Jenadoza couldn't see what was happening, but she recognized the voice of her brother and pleaded with Ayla to intervene. Ayla hesitated, she had been told to stay with the women, but decided that Jenadoza was right; the men would hurt each other if she did nothing. Ayla signaled Vorg and Brac to stand up, to take her place, then rushed off.

Ivanolia was so mad that not even Grov could understand him. The Clan men had never seen such a display in a man before, well, except for Broud not long before, and they were confused by the hostility and the volume at which the man's voice had been raised to. Ivanolia managed to throw a punch, which hit Grov in the chin, knocking him back, but not down. Grov turned on the Others man and was about to retaliate when Ayla ran up and positioned herself between the eight men.

"Not fight!" she screamed, placing a hand on Grov's chest and Ivanolia's chest at the same time. "This not good. Men not fight each other!" The two men on either side of her were not looking at her, both intent on glaring at the other, but both had heard her. Ivanolia wasn't ready to listen and instead continued to struggle against Donzolnia, and was able to throw the man off and go after Grov again.

Ayla again went between them, but this time one of Ivanolia's swings hit her square in the arm, which caused her to cry out, bringing Grov to his senses, so that he turned his back on Ivanolia and pulled his woman out of the angry man's path. The other three Clan men took his position as he did this. Ayla looked at Grov with tears of pain in her eyes. "He is Jenadoza's sibling, they say brother. You must stop this." Then she turned to shout at Ivanolia again, but didn't even get a word out. She instead was racked with pain, as a huge contraction tore through her middle, causing her to fall to the ground. Ayla looked up at Grov. "I need Uba. Someone get Uba." Grov signaled for someone to go.

Everyone stopped what they were doing. Ivanolia was mortified that he had hit a woman and now she was on the ground in labor. Tinozia and Brulenzia went to the man, as they could see the angry flatheads glaring at him. Donzolnia, who was much more calm than the rest, looked at the woman and gasped. She bore a striking resemblance to Jenadoza, though taller, and possibly younger. When he finally got Ivanolia to really look at her, he gasped as well.

Grov quickly carried Ayla over to the blanket, where the women sat in fear. The rearrangement of bodies made it so Jenadoza was finally able to see her brother and mate, but she could not get up to go to them and they were being prevented to coming to her. Braydalana, on the other hand, was perfectly capable of getting up. No one seemed to care what the girl was doing for the moment, so she got up and ran to the man of her hearth. Ivanolia smiled weakly at the girl, but didn't know what to do.

Braydalana looked at Ivanolia, and then back at the men of the Clan with no fear in her eyes. "This my mother's mate. Not hurt him. He not understand," she gestured to the three Clan men, then turned toward the men of her camp. "This is Broud, Dorg, and Daub," she said, and then pointed to the man that Ivanolia had hit. "That man is Grov and he is their healer's mate."

Ivanolia looked at the girl closely. "Healer? They are flatheads! How can they have a healer? What in Sumata's name is going on here? Why is this woman living with these animals? And mated to one of them?" The man had walked away from the child, and was pacing around angrily, ranting about the wrongness of the whole situation.

Braydalana went to the man, reached up and pulled on the man's tunic, which caused him to look down at her again. "They are not animals," she said calmly. "Not flatheads. Look at them, they are different than us, but they are not animals." The man was shaking his head, and had a disbelieving look on his face, but the child was insistent. "Ivanolia," she said again to get his attention. "We are related to this Clan."

That got the man's attention. "What did you say? How could that be possible?" The child smiled, and told the man to wait, then she went over to the blanket and picked up Ora, who was completely oblivious to the commotion. She looked at Ayla, who nodded her permission. Grov tried to object, but between breaths Ayla gestured, "It will be okay. Let her take Ora."

Braydalana carried Ora over to the men of her clan, and let them look at the child. "This is Evanora's daughter."

AtDC

Brulenzia's Assistance

The four men stared at Braydalana and the child she held, and three of them were speechless. This time it was Brulenzia that had something to say. "What? How could this child be Evanora's daughter? She disappeared years ago." But even as he said it, he examined the child, and could see the uncanny resemblance to the girl he had once loved, and had always hoped would return one day so they could mate. "If she is Evanora's child, then where is Evanora?" he said looking around, with hope of seeing the woman from his past.

Braydalana leveled a look at the man. "Evanora is dead. She died just over a cycle of seasons ago while living with part of this Clan."

Now it was Brulenzia's turn to become angry. "What? How did she die? Where is her mother and her mother's mate? Are they here?" Braydalana's look told him that they were all gone, but his anger had upset the child. Ora started to cry. Braydalana carried the child back to the blanket, where to men could see Grov take her and hug her and comfort her.

Brulenzia stiffened at the sight of the flathead touching Evanora's child and almost sprang back into attack mode. Now it was Ivanolia that was calm. He could see that Jenadoza and Braydalana were safe, so he tried to calm his friend down.

When Braydalana returned, she did so with Jenadoza, who was carried by Goov, who had just come out of the cave with the rest of the Clan. The four Others men were shocked at how many people lived in this cave. "I count forty-eight of them, including the children and babies," Tinozia whispered to Donzolnia. The four men paled.

Donzolnia took Jenadoza from the flathead man and hugged her. "Are you okay?"

She smiled and nodded. "I am fine, except for my sprained ankle, but it is healing. Put me down, I can stand on one foot." Donzolnia did as his mate asked and she turned toward her brother. "Ivan, you should hold your temper. We are fine. These people have been helping us. If it wasn't for them, I would have died and so would have Bray."

Then she turned toward Brulenzia. "Yes Bru, that is Evanora's daughter and the man that you are glaring at used to be mated to her before she died in the earthquake last year. Don't look at me like that, it is true, and he loved her dearly."

Then she looked at all three men and went on. "And there is something else you need to know...I think, though I am not positive, that the pregnant woman, Ayla, is our long lost Andreyta. She has been living with this Clan since she was five years, and that is as long as Andreyta has been missing. I am sure you can see the resemblance between Ayla and myself and the child Ora."

Jenadoza watched her words register in the men's faces. "These people are our kin. We must stop this fighting." She could see Brulenzia's defeat as the man sat down where he was. Tinozia kneeled to comfort his friend, while Ivanolia stood near them in shock and Donzolnia continued to support his mate.

Jenadoza then turned to look at the men of the Clan and,knowing they didn't like to be looked at directly, tried to look down at the ground as she addressed them. Her words were nothing more than baby talk to them, but the meaning was clear. "Others not fight. Fight over."

Broud grunted and went to join Oga, as did Dorg and Daub.

~oxoxo~

When Uba had arrived, she didn't have time to worry about the trouble. She handed Brev and Berc to another woman, and went directly to her sister. Ayla was calmed down now, but her contractions were continuing. "Ayla, your water has broken. I cannot stop the birth."

Ayla nodded. "That's okay Uba, it is not too soon for the baby to be born. I am pretty sure that I only have half a moon cycle left. The baby will live, as long as I live through the birth...aaghhhhhh..." Ayla's gestures stopped and a moan escaped her lips as a contraction tightened her middle.

Uba tried to shoo Grov away, but he had no intention of leaving Ayla at this time. "What does she mean...'if she lives through the birth'?" the man asked Uba urgently.

Uba looked at the man, wondering why he would not go. "Ayla almost died giving birth to Durc. Clan babies are too big for Others women to give birth to."

Grov thought about Nora's birth; she had had more trouble than other women too, but he thought that was because she was so small herself. No, that was the reason, he decided, because Ora had been much smaller than the other Clan babies were. If the baby was Clan, then it would be difficult. If it looked like Ayla and Ora, it may not be life threatening. Grov looked around with fear; he could not lose another woman. "Uba, what can I do to help you?"

Uba looked at the man, and shook her head, wishing he would just go sit with the other men. "You could start a fire right there," she said pointing. "And get some water boiling. Wait!"

The medicine woman was carefully examining the woman in labor as she gave the man one handed gestures. She had inserted two fingers into the woman's vaginal opening to see how far the woman was into her labor and frowned. Then she looked at Grov again. "Have someone else do those things, you can get me more furs, and Ayla's birthing blanket. The baby will be here soon."

Grov's eyes widened, and he rushed off to get what the medicine woman had asked for. Uba was issuing commands to the other women, and gestured that she wanted Jenadoza and Braydalana brought back over to her; she wanted to know what a normal birth was like for the Others.

When the Others saw the flatheads approaching them again, they stood up nervously, immediately defensive again, but Jenadoza silenced them. "Stop it, Ivanolia! Brulenzia! It is okay. These people are good people." Then she looked at the girl. "Bray, I think we need some help. I do not understand the hand signals as well as you do."

The child came up and looked at the men. It was the one that had carried Jenadoza to Donzolnia. "He is their Shogur. They say Mog-ur," she said looking back at her clan for a moment. "This girl would know what you want?" she said with the proper hand signs, though not the proper politeness.

Goov looked at the child, and decided he had not choice but to talk through her. "Our first medicine woman is in labor, and our second medicine woman would like to talk to Jenadoza about the birth of Others babies."

Braydalana looked back at her people and translated. "Their healer is in labor, and their other healer wants to talk to Jenadoza about our people's birthing."

Jenadoza's eyes widened. "But I know nothing about giving birth. I cannot help."

Brulenzia stepped up then. "I could look at her. I did spend some time in the healer's camp at the last summer meeting, and helped with one birth, but I am no healer."

Braydalana told the Mog-ur what had been said, and the man frowned; men did not help with birthings, but then he decided they did not have a choice. Jenadoza asked to go too, she wanted to sit down again, so Brulenzia helped her back to the blanket, and Braydalana followed.

Uba, who had not been paying attention to the conversation across the field, was shocked to see the man approaching, but with Braydalana's explanation, she allowed the man to stay. Uba was further shocked when the man wanted to examine Ayla for himself, and Ayla became nervous at this herself, and balked at the idea of a man touching her the way he would have to to examine her.

When Grov came back, and saw Brulenzia kneeling on the blanket, and Ayla looking nervous, he rushed forward to stop the man. "Do not touch my woman!" Grov said adamantly.

Brulenzia looked at Grov, and stood up as well, knowing that this man had been mated to the woman that he had loved as a child, suddenly realizing that he was now mated to Evanora's cousin. The two men's eyes were locked in a battle of wills, which was broken only by another one of Ayla's cries.

Both men looked down Ayla and dropped to their knees. Brulenzia looked at the woman's face. "Among our people, not all healers are women. I am not a healer, but I have helped deliver a child before."

Braydalana told Uba what the man had said, but Uba shook her head. "Tell him I just want to know how long women of the Other take to have their babies. This one is coming fast."

Braydalana looked at Brulenzia and told him what she had said. "I could take days or minutes, depending on the woman and the baby," he answered when Braydalana translated. "But, I cannot know if she is okay if you will not let me look at her."

Uba sighed and Grov was shaking his head. Ayla went into another spasm of pain, and when it ended she nodded at the man, and quickly silenced Grov with one of her defiant looks. Uba moved over, and watched the man's exam. He did everything she had done, which reassured her that he did know what he was doing. "I can not feel her cervix anymore, the baby has entered the birth canal. It will only be a matter of pushes." While he was still examining her, her uterus contracted again, and she cried out, tears of pain coursing down her cheeks. Brulenzia looked around for a small stick, and when he spotted one, he got up to go get it.

When he came back with the small stick, he washed it, and told Ayla to bite down on it with the next contraction, and push hard. The next contraction came and went and Ayla took a few breaths, then it started in again. On the next contraction, Brulenzia smiled. "Ayla, I can see the baby's head. It's coming."

Ayla smiled when the contraction was over, and looked at Grov. He looked terrible, she thought, but there was no time to comfort him, because another one had started, and Ayla bore down hard. It did not last too long.

Uba had gotten the warm water and was washing the woman's opening when yet another pain began, causing Ayla to whimper quietly, as she pushed hard. The baby's head came out with a pop, and Uba was happy to see that Ayla did not even tear this time. The contraction ended with the baby's head out.

"One more contraction, Ayla, and you will have your baby," Uba gestured. Then seeing the woman tense. "Here we go."

Uba guided the baby out, but it was Brulenzia that caught it, and cleared out its mouth. He wiped the child off, and smiled. "Ayla, you have a daughter," he said smiling and handing her the baby.

Uba was surprised at how small the baby was. She had never seen one so small. Soon Ayla's uterus contracted again, and Uba helped her deliver the after birth. Then, the second medicine woman cleaned the new mother up, packed her with absorbent wool, and went to tell the leader about the child.

Brulenzia backed off and watched Evanora's cousin with the man that was her mate. They were positively giddy over the birth of the child. Then Ora toddled up to them, followed by a mixed child, wanting to see the baby.

Ayla held the baby to her breast, and smiled at the other children. "Come see your sister," she said, leaving no doubt in Brulenzia's mind that the mixed child was Ayla's son. He must be of another man's spirit though, he thought, he does not resemble the man Grov at all.

Ora looked at the baby, and smiled. "Mamma, she so small," she said with words. "Smaller than me."

Durc looked at the baby too and said, "She much smaller than any Clan baby I ever see."

Ayla and Grov looked at the baby and agreed with the children, then Ayla looked at Jenadoza. "Is this normal sized baby for Others?"

Jenadoza smiled. "Actually, she's bigger than many of the babies that have been born in our camp. I think Clan babies must be much bigger than our children, though their adults are not as big as ours." Ayla smiled down at her daughter and closed her eyes to rest.

~oxoxo~

Brun and Goov sat together with the men, and waited to the news. The men had kept to topics unrelated to childbirth, but Goov could not help but glance over at the women periodically; he had been in Grov's place not long before and he was interested, he could not deny it.

When Uba came forward and dropped to the ground at Brun's feet. When he tapped her shoulder, the medicine woman looked up at him. "This woman is grieved to report," Uba gestured making the customary gesture of sorrow, "Ayla's baby is a girl."

Brun looked at the Mog-ur, they were both more concerned about the health of the child, not its sex. "And is it normal?"

Uba considered. "It is very small, but it is normal for a baby of the Others." The men grunted and went to look at the child.

AtDC

Brun's decision

Brun dismissed the medicine woman with a wave of his hand, and turned his attention back to the Mog-ur. They both looked relieved, but wanted to see the child just to make sure. The two men crossed the distance between the men and the woman that had given birth, and stood in front of her trying not to look directly at her. Both men noticed that Grov had stayed by her side through the whole birth; much like Goov had done for Ovra, and that one of the men of the Others had actually helped the women with the birth. Goov was extremely interested in this, though Clan custom forbid such close contact. Brun ignored the men and signaled that he wished to see the baby.

Ayla quickly pulled the baby from her breast, and unswaddled her, then held her up to the men as she looked away. As the sun glared into the baby's newly born eyes she roared with anger. Brun and the Mog-ur bent over to see the child, it was indeed the smallest human they had ever seen and it appeared to have absolutely no control of it's own head. Brun frowned and Goov counted its fingers and toes, as only the Mog-ur could. "She is tiny, but she seems to have all of her parts," the Mog-ur gestured to the leader.

Brun continued to frown and looked at the angry baby some more. "But she cannot hold up her head."

Goov nodded, but then reminded Brun that Durc couldn't in the beginning either. Then something occurred to the Mog-ur. "Grov, is this child any different than Ora was when she was born."

Grov thought for a moment, looking over at the daughter of his first mate—his daughter, as Ayla believed. "No, Ayla's daughter is the same as Ora was."

Brun grunted, thinking that he did not want to have to have the woman dispose of the child. He knew all too well that she would get very upset. But what does it matter, he thought, she is just a woman. She will have to live with it, if that is what I decide. But, he thought, it is not good for the Clan if the medicine woman is upset, and Ayla gives a lot to our Clan. Then he thought of something else. He could ask the man of the Others that sat there watching them. "Grov, ask the man of the Others if their babies are all so small, and if they all not able to hold up their heads at birth."

Grov nodded and turned to Brulenzia. He already knew the answer to the first question, so he only asked the second. "Our leader wants to know if the children of your people always have babies that cannot hold up their heads."

Brulenzia and Jenadoza smiled and nodded, thinking it an odd question, but not knowing why it would be so important. Grov looked back at Brun. "Their babies are usually smaller than this at birth and they cannot hold their heads up."

Brun grunted, accepting that he child was normal. "The baby is normal," Brun's gesture announced to the group at large. "She may stay with her mother. If she lives until the naming day, she will be accepted." With that, the two men turned and left.

Brulenzia and Jenadoza had been part of the questioning, but they did not know what was going on. Jenadoza had understood some of the conversation, but just not enough. Braydalana, who now understood a lot of the Clan signs, did not understand the customs, so she could not explain.

Brulenzia looked at the new mother. "What did your leader say?"

Ayla looked at Grov and smiled brightly. "Brun said my baby is normal and will be accepted if she lives to naming day."

Brulenzia looked at Jenadoza, both were wondering the same thing. "What if it had not been normal? Then what?"

Ayla looked back at them. "Then I would have to dispose of it. Leave out for spirits to come take. I almost had to dispose of Durc. They thought him deformed, but he is not."

Jenadoza frowned and looked at Brulenzia. Brulenzia shook his head, wondering what else Evanora and Ayla had had to live with. He got up and went over to the other three men that were still standing off to the side. When the man was gone, Ayla looked up again. "What is man's name?"

Jenadoza smiled and named the man, and the other three, and gave the woman their ties. "He is Brulenzia and he loved Evanora even in childhood," she said looking into Grov's eyes. "They had always said they would mate and he was crushed when her family left our lodge. He has never mated, though I keep telling him that he has plenty of time." Jenadoza paused, then went on.

"The man with the very dark hair, that looks very much like Brulenzia, he is my mate, Donzolnia. He will be headman...leader, one day," she said with a smile. "And, I think that I am carrying a child of his spirit. The other dark haired man, the shorter one, he is named Tinozia, and he is our headwoman's son. And finally, the brutal man that hit you both," she said blushing with shame. "He is called Ivanolia, and he is my brother, and was mated to Braydalana's mother before she died."

Ayla waved away the woman's embarrassment. "Always trouble when Clan meet Others, but it okay now, right?" Jenadoza hoped that it was so, but she was not so sure.

Ayla and Grov looked over at the men of the Others. Ayla had some questions. "You already explained headwoman, but why have one?"

Jenadoza didn't really know why they had headwomen, but tried to explain. "Well, first our people believe that the Great Earth Mother gave birth to everything and we feel that a woman is closer to her than is a man. You said that the Clan worships the Great Cave Bear, Ursus, we worship the Great Mother, Sumata, though she has different names depending on what group of people you are with. For instance, the Mamutoi call her Mut."

Jenadoza watched their faces for understanding, and then went on. Second, a headwoman is always the sister of the headman, well usually, sometimes she is an adopted sister if a man does not have a real sister. Like Durc and Ora," she said trying to give them an example. "Someday they could be headman and headwoman, if they were Sungaea." Jenadoza wondered if it could ever really happen, since they were not Sungaea, and Durc was clearly mixed. She went on before they could ask questions. "We have actually adopted this practice from the Mamutoi, since we are related to them. And actually Ayla, speaking of being related, there is something else I want to tell you, but it might sound strange. I think you might be my cousin too."

Ayla's eyes widened. "How can it be? I do not know who my people were.

"Yes, that is true, but my mother's mate has a brother whose mate died ten seasons ago, and she had a daughter of five, who disappeared when she died. I think," Jenadoza paused and swallowed, "that that child was you."

Ayla and Grov were thoughtful, and then looked over at the men. "Does that make Ivanolia my...cousin too?"

Jenadoza nodded her head. Ayla looked over at the men again, and then smiled at Jenadoza.

Grov, who had been listening but saying nothing, finally cut in. "Jenadoza, did you say your mother's mate has a brother?"

Jenadoza smiled at the perceptive man. "Yes Grov, Vincenzia is still alive."

Ayla sat there stunned for a minute. This was too much. First, Jenadoza and Ivanolia were related to Evanora, Grov's first mate. Then, she finds out that she is probably related to them too. And finally, she just might be able to meet her real mother's mate, for he is alive and well. Ayla's eyes filled with tears and she grabbed Jenadoza around the neck; both women crying with joy. Then Ayla pulled back and smiled. "This woman would know if Others have aversion to looking at woman after baby is born?"

Jenadoza frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Man of Clan not look at woman until the spirits finished battling." Jenadoza did not know what the woman was talking about, but then comprehension dawned on her, and she shook her head. "Would you ask the men if they will come meet us?"

AtDC

A New Hearth

Grov interrupted before the men could be signaled over. "I think it would be best if we ask for Brun's permission first. Women do not usually make such decisions, and men are not supposed to look directly at women during the time a woman's spirit is battling.

Jenadoza almost laughed, but could see that the man was serious. He obviously didn't worry about looking at his mate during this time period, but she did not want to have her men commit any further error and cause more trouble. And, Ayla was nodding that it would be best. Grov went to join the men of the Clan, while the women watched, though they tried to make it appear that they weren't.

~oxoxo~

Grov approached Brun and sat down next to him. He could tell that the leader was extremely troubled by the appearance of these Others. "This man wants to let you know that the medicine woman is doing fine. I think she can move back into the cave." Brun grunted. That would make him feel better; he would not have to try to avoid looking at her.

"The medicine woman has asked that she be allowed to speak to the men of the Others. It seems that they may be related to her. Their mother's mates appear to be brothers." At these words, Brun gave Grov his full attention. "Apparently, one of their children has been missing for as long as Ayla has lived with your Clan."

Brun looked over Grov's shoulder and looked at the men of the Others. "Yes, they do look similar. Do all Others look alike?"

Grov shrugged. "I do not know. I just knew Nora and her family. Our Clan had many mixed people, but they were the only Others."

Brun looked over at Ayla again. "I want the Mog-ur to give you a charm so that your spirit cannot be damaged by being so near to Ayla right now. It could be dangerous to all of us." Grov could tell that Brun was seriously worried, so he nodded his head. He was not worried, because he had been convinced after hearing Nora's stories about a woman's...what did she call it? Moontime? Yes, that was it, a woman's moontime, but he figured it would not hurt to comply with his leader. Plus, it would serve no purpose to argue. That was not the Clan way.

Grov looked back at the men of the Others, Ayla's supposed kin, and he wondered if he would lose her to them, then he looked at Brun. "And what about the Others?"

Brun's brow furrowed. If he allowed them into the cave, they would most definitely be staying for a while, and he didn't want that, but he couldn't not allow Ayla's people to come in. They were, after all, her people. "They may stay in the hearth next to the medicine hearth. Let's let that hearth be known as the visitor's hearth."

Grov grunted. "I am going now," he said and went to talk to the men of the Others.

~oxoxo~

Ayla had watched Grov speak to Brun and was relieved that Brun would let them stay. When Grov left the leader, he approached the Others and Ayla could see stiffness in the man that she had never seen there before. She wondered about it, but it was not the time to ask.

Grov walked up to the men and they thought the man almost glared at them. "My mate, Ayla, would like you to visit, if you wish." Across the small distance, Ayla could see her mate's upset posture and it worried her. The men were talking to each other, and Grov said he would come get them when they could come in. When he finished talking to the Others, he returned to Ayla.

Ayla looked at him, still wondering. "Grov, will you help me get up?"

Grov smiled at her and began to pick her and the baby up while Uba picked up everything around the area. "Grov, I am not crippled. I have only had a baby. I can walk just fine," she said with a grin.

He returned her grin. "But you don't need to walk, this man wants to help you if he can." Ayla shrugged and then kissed him, then allowed her mate to take care of her.

Jenadoza had seen the two of them together for the last eleven days, and she had already gotten used to the idea that her cousin was mated to a flathead man and that she loved him dearly. The men, however, were not used to it, Jenadoza noticed, as she saw Ivanolia and Brulenzia redden and turn away. Well, she thought, they always were the hotheads.

~oxoxo~

Inside the cave, Grov carried his woman and her daughter back to the hearth, as Durc trailed behind holding Ora's hand. Grov tried to set the woman down on the furs so she could rest, but she objected. "This woman cannot rest yet, Grov. I must go prepare the new visitor's hearth," she said putting the baby down on the bedding that had been so carefully set out for her. Ayla smiled at her new daughter, whom she had wrapped up tightly, then stood up to look at Grov. The man had an unfathomable expression on his face.

"Grov," Ayla said, looking deep into his eyes. "This woman would know what is wrong with you?"

He frowned. He had never been asked such questions by a woman; not even Nora had asked him such things, but then, maybe she wasn't able to see when he was upset. "Ayla, I am nervous about having the Others here," he said honestly, unable to avoid the direct question.

"But why, Grov? Jenadoza says they are my family."

Grov's frown deepened. "But Ayla, what if they want to take you back to your family?"

Ayla hugged her mate. "Grov, my family is here," she said hugging him again, and gesturing around the hearth. "These are the people that I have lived with for as long as I can remember. I would like to meet my mother's mate and hear about my mother, but I would not go live with them...unless you went with me."

Grov still wasn't reassured. "Ayla, they do not like me. They do not like the Clan. This man can tell. And they do not like that you are with me."

Ayla was confused by her mate's sudden insecurity. This was something she had never experienced before. Men of the Clan were did not show their emotions, but Grov was, and Ayla felt bad. "Grov, I said I would not go." He hugged her tight, and helped her by making a fire in the visitor's hearth, and piling wood in the hearth as well. Ayla was not physically able to dig the trenches for the bedding, so he did it, while she readied the bedding. When they were done, Grov went back out to bring in the visitors. On the way back in, Braydalana led the way, talking excitedly about all that she had been learning.

AtDC

Defiant Again

Grov was bringing the Others to the newly set up visitor's hearth so that they could put down their belongings, but he had to take them through much of the cave just to get there. Their walk through the passageways had shown the Others the massive meat storage that was in the first open area to the left of the northern entrance. Next, they passed the oblong room, which housed their vegetable stores. Then they walked through the huge inner chamber of the cave where the fresh river water flowed against the back wall, and where the bathing pond sat in the center of the room. That room was on the chilly side, since not many people spent too much time in there, and there was only one fire burning. From there, they turned right, and went down a passage that led directly to the new visitor's hearth.

The trip through the cave was not long, and they were all commenting on the amazing size of the cave in which the flatheads lived, and were curious as to how much more cave there was. Grov led them silently, bristling at the 'flathead' comment, but saying nothing. He knew what they had said, and what it meant, and he didn't like it.

~oxoxo~

After Grov had led the Others into the cave, Brun signaled that everyone should go back to their activities. People that had been inside, returned to where they were, and the one that were doing something outside, continued on with that, with the exception of Ayla, who now could not leave her hearth, except to go to the medicine hearth, or to go outside to relieve herself.

However, although everyone went back to his or her duties, no one was really able to concentrate. It seemed like things were changing faster than they could keep up with them. Brun reassured the men that this "visit" was only temporary, but many wondered about the things to come. That was strange, in and of itself, because the Clan wasn't used to thinking that far into the future. Nevertheless, they were doing it, and it was causing a few headaches.

~oxoxo~

Broud felt extremely weird about the events. Unlike the other men, he had actually understood a lot of what the Others had said since he had, without meaning to, picked up a lot of the language from just being at Grov's hearth. Broud could see the apprehension in Grov and guessed that the man thought Ayla might leave to go live with her kin. He could also tell that Grov did not like how the Others talked about the Clan.

Broud wasn't sure how he felt about Ayla leaving, after all, he had never liked the strange woman, but he had definitely softened up on his dislike for her, and had really accepted her place among their Clan. As far as what the Others thought about the Clan, well, that part infuriated Broud, causing him to feel that he and Grov had to stand united against them. Broud still had is problems with Grov signaling Oga, but he would set that aside for the time being, and support the man of the hearth.

Broud had gone around the long way, so that he would not have to pass the Others in the visitor's hearth. He knew they would be at Grov's hearth soon, but he wasn't quite ready to have to see them just yet. He entered the hearth, and did his best to ignore the woman that had just given birth. Oga was there too. "Oga, I am taking Brac, Grev, and Durc back outside to the practice field."

Oga nodded and sat down with Ayla. "She is so small, Ayla. Much smaller than Durc was."

Ayla looked at her daughter, and smiled. "The Others tell me that she is big for one of their babies. I would love to see one of theirs, so that I would know for sure."

Oga looked amused. "I cannot imagine a baby smaller than this one."

Ayla agreed with the woman. "Hmmm. Others are just different, I guess," she said. "You will have a baby soon, in just over three moons. Are you excited?"

Oga looked happy, but also a little nervous. "Yes, but Broud is worried that my totem could have been defeated by Grov's spirit, or another man's. I do not want to have a deformed baby." Then the woman blushed, knowing that everyone had considered Durc deformed, and only recently most were agreeing that the child was not. "I didn't mean that..." her gestures trailed off.

Ayla smiled. "Oga, I know what everyone thinks and I don't care. Durc is not deformed; he is just part Clan and part Others."

Oga looked at the boy, as he walked out with Broud. "This woman thinks that your totem was defeated by Broud's totem spirit. Durc looks like him so much."

Ayla turned to watch the man and the three boys leave and smiled. "Yes Oga, I think so too. Look at the way they walk. Durc walks just like Broud." The two women continued to talk until the Others arrived with Grov, then they got up quickly to make everyone tea. Grov tried to get Ayla to sit down, but she did not want these people, her long lost family, to think ill of her, so she protested, saying with gestures that she was fine.

While Oga made the tea, Ayla set out mats for everyone to sit on, and Grov hovered close. Donzolnia helped Jenadoza to sit down; her ankle was much improved, but still very sore, then sat down next to her. Ivanolia sat on his sister's other side, with the child of his heart on his lap, while Brulenzia sat by his brother, and Tinozia next to him. The five of them had their backs to the hearth entrance, and Grov, Ayla, and Oga took seats across the fire from them. No one knew what to say.

Jenadoza looked around the silent circle of people, and sighed. "So Ayla, can I see your baby?" she said knowing that three of the men had not seen the child. Ayla got up, and picked up the child, which lay sleeping behind her on the sleeping furs. Then she brought her to the woman. Jenadoza smiled down at the sleeping face, and leaned over to her mate. "Look Don, isn't she pretty?"

The man looked at the child that had been placed in his mate's arms, and had to admit the child was beautiful, not a sign of being an abomination, though the child was technically mixed. He looked at Ora, who had suddenly plopped down on his lap; she too had no trace of her flathead background. Donzolnia glanced at Grov; he obviously didn't have much Clan in him either. He could almost pass—almost, but not quite.

Brulenzia had already seen the child, but looked again anyway. When he saw her before she was all wet and slimy, now she was cleaned up, and suckling as though she had something in her mouth. His hearth melted for the tiny child, but ached as well, for he should have had a child such as this with his beloved Evanora. Brulenzia cast a fleeting look at Grov and could not help the look of jealousy that passed through his eyes. Brulenzia turned away from the man and set his attention on the child again. He too thought she was pretty, but wondered what their camp would think of her.

Tinozia didn't really think much; he was considerably more tolerant than most, but Ivanolia didn't even want to look at the child. He didn't care that Brulenzia had said the child looked normal or that Donzolnia thought she was beautiful. He couldn't believe either of his cousins had allowed these animals to touch them. A brief thought about how each woman had come to be with them crossed his mind, but he pushed the thought away, thinking that the people of their camp would not understand.

Jenadoza was holding the baby, and cooing to her, then turned and looked up at Ayla. "What will you name her Ayla?"

Ayla's eyes opened wide. "Name her? A woman never names her child."

All the visitors immediately looked at the woman with astonishment, and in unison said, "What?"

Ayla got a little nervous, with all eyes on her, and stammered. "The Mog-ur chooses the name of a child. A woman can suggest a name to her mate, if he allows, and he can suggest it to the Mog-ur, but it is not a woman's place to name a baby." Ayla looked at her mate and smiled. "This woman would like to suggest the name Iza if you do not mind Grov. That was my mother's name."

Everyone was silent, then there were a flurry of voices and finally Ivanolia blurted out, "No, your mother's name was Annalisa. You cannot give this child a flathead name. If you are going to suggest your mother's name, then it should be your real mother." The man looked angry, and Donzolnia was trying to calm him down, but now Grov was getting angry too.

"What do you mean, 'a flathead name'? You are no better than us. Your names are not better than ours!" The two men were on their feet glaring at each other. Oga had gotten up and snuck out of the hearth. Jenadoza was prevented from getting up due to her ankle, and the baby in her lap. Ayla, on the other hand, was quick to stand between the two men again, despite being hit earlier that day.

First, she gestured to Grov, so the Others would not understand. "I know you do not like them, but please calm down," she said with tears in her eyes. Grov noticed that his mate swooned slightly and knew that she had lost a lot of blood not long before. He steadied her and she looked at the other man. "I do not know why your people do not like Clan, but this is our cave and these are my people. People, Ivanolia, not flatheads, as you say. Not animals. Yes, I heard you say that too," she threw in at the end and looked at the man defiantly.

~oxoxo~

Oga had rushed out to go get Broud. She found him just outside the western entrance, and kneeled at his feet. When he tapped her shoulder, she explained, and he dropped his spear to go aid Grov.

~oxoxo~

Inside, Grov was holding Ayla up. Broud noticed she looked extremely pale, but she was adamantly defending the Clan against her true people. He had always wondered why Brun had accepted her defiant ways, but now it was coming in handy. The Clan was not a bunch of animals, as these people apparently thought, and right now Broud was proud that Ayla was there to defend them. He stepped into the hearth, and went to stand next to Ayla and Grov, not even considering the fact that he was not supposed to have contact with the woman until her bleeding had stopped.

The Others looked at the trio, a flathead, an abomination, and one of the most beautiful women they had ever seen, standing there together, a united front against their prejudice. Ayla looked directly into Ivanolia's eyes, something she tried not to do among the Clan, and she set her jaw. "If you do not want to be here, then you can leave. These are the people that I love, my mate and our children, my friends, and my family," she said indicating the two men standing next to her. "I will not allow you to come in and say otherwise."

~oxoxo~

That was not the last discussion about the differences between the Clan and the Others, but Ivanolia did eventually learn to curb is nasty remarks. Ayla was extremely quick to jump to the defense of the Clan for the least infraction, and no one wanted to upset the woman.

Ivanolia secretly wondered if Ayla could ever fit in with their people, for many of their people would have the same strong feelings about the Clan that he did.

Jenadoza felt tremendous embarrassment for her camp; thinking that they were very wrong in their option of these people. She had hoped that she could help bring Ayla home, but it did not look as though it would happen. Maybe that could happen later, she thought.

Brulenzia had watched Ayla and Grov, and decided that she did love her mate and he her. His jealousy over Evanora had not gone away, but he could finally put the girl that he had loved to rest. He wondered how they would tell Vincenzia that Andreyta lived, where she was, and who she was with. It was going to be a difficult subject to broach.

Donzolnia felt bad for his mate's brother, his best friend, and wished they could take Ayla back to their camp to meet everyone, but he knew that right now it would not work. The camp needed to be forewarned and Ayla was in no condition to travel anyway.

~oxoxo~

The days passed quickly, and on the seventh day the Clan, with the Others among them, waited outside at dawn for the naming of Ayla's daughter. The Others were very interested in the ceremony that would number the child among the Clan.

Ayla waited anxiously for Goov's signal that announced he was ready and the Clan all gathered. When he beckoned, she hurried to join them and stood in front of Mog-ur, looking down at the ground while she uncovered the child. She held the babe up while the magician looked over her head making the gestures that called the spirits to attend the ceremony. Then, with a flourish, he began.

Dipping into the bowl...he drew a stripe from the point

where a Clan baby's brow ridges would have been, to the tip of the child's tiny little nose with the red-ochre paste.

"Ana-leeza, the girl's name is Annaliza," Mog-ur said slowly, trying desperately to pronounce the name that belonged to Ayla's real mother. The naked infant, assailed by the cold wind that whipped past the sunny front porch of the cave, voiced a healthy howl which drowned out the approving murmur of the Clan.

"Annaliza," Ayla repeated, cuddling her shivering baby in her arms...The members of the Clan filed past, each repeating the name to familiarize themselves and their totems with the newest addition. Some of them said the name as it was given, others called the child Iza. It didn't matter to Ayla; she was happy that both of her mothers were represented in the child she held in her arms. Tears of joy coursed down her cheeks.

As the people past by, Ayla was careful to keep her head down so she would not inadvertently look upon any of the men who came forward to acknowledge her daughter. When she saw Brun's feet, and heard him say the child's name, she smiled at the pleased sound of his voice. When everyone had gone by, she wrapped the infant in warm rabbit skins, and put her to her breast. Her daughter, Annaliza, was named and numbered among the Clan.

AtDC

Goodbyes

Another seven days passed quickly, and some of the Clan started to wonder if the Others were ever leaving. It wasn't that they didn't like them. They had, in fact, learned a lot from one another—tolerance being one area of learning. But they were having difficulty with the volume of noise that the Others brought to their cave. The Others didn't mean to be loud, but their way of communicating was naturally that way, and the Clan was having a hard time blocking out the sounds.

It was no different for the Others, they wanted to go back to their own people, and they had been talking about it on a daily basis, but Jenadoza's ankle was still sore, and they were still hoping to convince Ayla to come meet her true family. Though Jenadoza's ankle was healing quite well, there seemed to be no hope in getting Ayla to return with them. She may have spent five years living with the Sungaea, but it meant nothing to her; she didn't remember them at all and she now had loved ones here.

Knowing that it may be a long time before she saw her again, Jenadoza spent every waking hour with Ayla, trying to learn about her life with the Clan and telling the medicine woman about the Sungaea and about the very little she remembered about Ayla's mother, Annalisa. Ayla was fascinated by the stories she heard, but extremely reluctant to agree to meet the Sungaea, after all, her mate and children may not be accepted.

Jenadoza had been helpful in teaching Grov's hearth the Sungaean language, and she was not looking forward to leaving her cousin, but she knew the time was approaching. Jenadoza spent so much time at the hearth, holding Annaliza, talking to Ora, and teaching Ayla many other things that she knew she would feel a deep loss when they finally did leave.

One thing that interested Ayla greatly was the Sungaean way of making clothes. Jenadoza was more than happy to show her how it was done, but had to acquire enough skins to make one. Extremely interested, Grov went to the storage area to obtain what the woman said she needed, then returned to the hearth. Jenadoza spent several days showing Ayla and together they produced an outfit that fit Ayla perfectly.

Jenadoza stood next to the woman that was wearing the new outfit and admired her. She helped Ayla straighten the tunic over her breasts and helped her to cinch the outfit at the waist. "I know we haven't decorated it yet, but you can do that yourself. It's actually somewhat tedious, but this is serviceable as it is. They are rather nice in the winter, when the wind is blowing and snow is high."

Ayla looked down at herself, thinking that the leggings fit rather snugly, but also that is was nice and warm. She walked around the hearth and smiled. "This is much more comfortable that I thought it would be." From behind her, Shriek entered the hearth with a dead quail in his beak and landed on the ledge. "There you are Shriek. I have been wondering where you have been."

Jenadoza watched the woman with her bird. She hadn't thought about him much. It seemed like every morning he left the cave, and did not return until just before night. Ayla was no longer feeding him; he took care of that himself. Ayla had been wondering for some time if Brun would continue to allow him to stay, but it appeared that he had forgotten about her meat-eating friend. He hadn't forgotten about him, but the bird had caused no problems, and was useful in warning them against predators. Brun figured the hawk could stay, since he had become helpful.

~oxoxo~

On the day before the Others planned to leave, Brun decided to have a feast. He wanted the Others to leave thinking well of them. They had definitely learned a considerable amount from each other. The women worked hard that day, making different dishes to bring to the feast; Ayla of course made her favorite ptarmigan dish, which she had asked Grov to go hunt for her since she wasn't allowed to hunt, and Jenadoza wanted to make a Sungaean meal. "How many people are there in this cave again?"

Ayla looked at her and mentally counted up the people. "Forty-nine Clan, but five are too young to eat food, and six of you. So..." Ayla said, thinking hard. "That's fifty people, I think."

Jenadoza was impressed with how fast the woman could count in her head, especially since she hadn't known how to count before they had arrived. Jenadoza frowned. "That's a lot of people to cook for. How do you do it?"

Ayla smiled. "We not cook enough for all, we just cook some and everyone takes small portions, just to have a taste."

Jenadoza was nodding, happy that she would not have to cook for so many. "That is how we do it too. I guess our people aren't so different, are they?"

~oxoxo~

While Ayla worked on her dish, Jenadoza hovered over her watching, but Ayla had been making this for so long that she was finished with it quickly. Then it was Jenadoza's turn, and Ayla was extremely interested in the new meal, as was Oga, who was also there cooking some food. The woman first told Ayla and Oga what they would need. "We will need some grains, and some liver, bison is fine, and some fat, and some eggs. I think the ptarmigan eggs would work okay. And oh, some salt, if you have it." Ayla nodded, and they went the storage. Ayla pulled out what the woman wanted, and then they went back to the hearth to get to work.

Back at the hearth, Ayla got the water boiling, as Jenadoza had asked her to do, and then added the grains. "Boil them until they are crumbling, then fry them in the fat. About this much," she said, holding up a woven cup so that Ayla would know the amount. Jenadoza gave Oga the job of boiling the eggs, and then she started a third pot of water boiling, and added salt to it. Then, when it was boiling, she added the liver. After the liver was boiled, Jenadoza carefully cut it up, and dumped it into the fat, with the grains, then chopped up the eggs and did the same thing. While this was all going on, Jenadoza also started a broth that could be served with her dish.

Ayla was starting to get hungry due to the aroma of foods that were wafting through the cave. Several people stopped by the hearth to see what the women were making and many of them had stayed to watch.

When Broud returned to see all the women, he became somewhat upset, but didn't say anything. Then Ora saw him, toddled over, and reached up, crying, "Broud up!" Broud picked up the child, and looked around the hearth. Ayla and Oga were busy with all the women and he did not feel like holding this child. "This hearth is too crowded," he finally said when he got the women's attention. "That's enough gossip. Go back to your own hearths."

The women quickly did as they were instructed and Ayla took Ora from the man. "Ora, leave Broud alone," she chastised. Ayla lay the child down on her bedding, and told her to take a nap. Broud watched her from the other side of the hearth, then decided he would go nap before dinner as well.

~oxoxo~

That night, the feast went well. Just as the sun went down, everyone congregated at the main fire to enjoy a good meal. Brun made a point of sitting with the visitors, having Grov sit with him as well so that he had a translator. It was an interesting evening, more formal than any other evening had been since the visitors had arrived.

Ivanolia and Brulenzia were offended that the women were expected to serve the men, while the men sat and did nothing. They felt that the women had slaved all day on the meal...the least that could be offered to them should be that they eat first. But, as was usual, Donzolnia and Tinozia calmed the two men. "It is their custom. If they were at our camp, they'd have to do things our way. And besides, the women do not seem offended by it. Why do you care?"

The two men pouted for a while, but accepted their plates when they were brought. Ayla made a point of serving Ivanolia, and smiled at him, hoping to help him relax—it didn't really work. Then she went to Brun and kneeled at his feet and waited for him to take his plate. After he had, she got up and left, but realized Ebra was not around. Ayla glanced over at the leader's hearth, and saw the woman in bed sleeping. She wondered why Ebra was not at the feast, and figured she would go talk to the woman the next day.

After the men were served, the women got their own plates out. Jenadoza sat with the women, on the other side of the fire, and they all had a good conversation. Ayla did a lot of translating, but Jenadoza was making a considerable effort to communicate with signs. There were many times that she had Braydalana and Ayla laughing when she said something wrong. The Clan women were very amused by this as well.

When the meal was done, they all gathered again for stories, which again needed to be gestured and spoken. Grov and Ayla took turns speaking as the storyteller told the story. The Others were surprised to hear stories that were similar to their own.

While the storytelling was going on, the children went off to play. Ivanolia watched the daughter of his heart playing with the flathead children, and he wanted to prevent her from playing with them, but one sharp look from Jenadoza changed his mind.

Slowly, the night came to a close as men signaled their women to their hearths. The Others had shocked looks when the women got up, followed their mates to the hearths, then kneeled and presented in the Clan way. Ayla tried to explain that that was the way of the Clan, but they did not understand.

Grov was having a conversation with Donzolnia and Tinozia off to the side, and hadn't missed their looks when they saw Vorn signal Uba, but they continued with what they were saying without comment. Ayla quietly signaled that she was going back to the hearth to nurse Annaliza, and that she would wait up for him. He nodded.

"Jenadoza, you have much traveling to do tomorrow. Are you going to bed?"

Jenadoza had been staring into Vorn's hearth, but looked up at Ayla quickly, knowing she was being rude. "Ahhh, yes Ayla. I'm coming with you." There was a moment of silence as the women gathered up their things, and waited for Brulenzia and Ivanolia to join them, then the four of them went back to Grov's hearth. None of them said anything on their way back.

~oxoxo~

At the hearth, Ayla wasted no time in the feeding of Annaliza, and it was a good thing; the child was starving. Annaliza was fussing, and frantic, but when the nipple was offered, she quieted down immediately, and suckled herself to sleep.

Only Jenadoza sat there with Ayla as she fed her child. The men had gone off to their furs. "I hope that you will come visit us some day. I know Vincenzia would want to see you. It will be most painful I am sure, but good for him, I think. He has never forgiven himself for the death of your mother or for your disappearance."

Ayla smiled. "I would like to, but I cannot stay with people that won't accept my family. I am happy with my Clan mate, and my three children. It has been hard here sometimes, but these people have been good to me."

Jenadoza was nodding. "Well then, maybe I could come back to see you."

Ayla smiled again. "I would like that. And Jenadoza, I did not say that I will not visit the Sungaea, I just cannot do it yet." Her smile got even larger. "Especially with this child latched onto my breast everyday all day."

Jenadoza laughed.

~oxoxo~

When the next morning came and the Others were ready to leave, many people gathered outside to see them off. Not all came out; many were glad that the loud people were leaving. Grod did not come, but then he had always been bothered by Ayla's strangeness and was content to ignore the Others.

Before they left, Donzolnia presented Brun with a gift, thanking him for helping his mate. Brun looked at the spear that the man presented him, and wondered how the strange looking spear could possibly be used, but thought it was interesting and accepted it anyway. Maybe they would return someday and the man could show him how to use it.

Brun gave the man something in return; it was one long, unbroken cave bear claw that had come from the cave bear that had inhabited their cave before they had entered. Donzolnia accepted the gift with a smile. Brun did not know that at the Oak Camp, this man's hearth was the Cave Bear Hearth. When the men were done, Brun walked back to the cave. At the mouth, he turned around. "Walk with Ursus."

~oxoxo~

Ayla watched her leader enter the cave, then she turned and fell into Jenadoza's arms with tears in her eyes. "I will miss you."

Jenadoza's eyes were wet too. "I will miss you too, but we will visit. I promise." Jenadoza hugged her cousin, then turned to Grov and hugged him too. "Take care of her Grov. And take care of yourself," she said with more tears in her eyes. Then she hugged and kissed the children and went stand with the men.

Braydalana had to say her goodbyes too, hugging each person in turn, finally ending by kissing Annaliza's forehead.

The four men waved goodbye as well, and as they turned to leave, they noticed that Ayla leaned against her mate for support. Grov looked down at her and the child she held and smiled. Even Ivanolia had to admit that his cousin and her mate loved one another; that was impossible to miss.

AtDC

Finally Home

Ayla watched until the six people vanished from view, and then she and her mate went back into the cave. She had plenty to do with the visitors gone. There were now three hearths to clean, the visitor's hearth, the medicine hearth and Grov's hearth. She had definitely been neglecting her duties while the Others had been there. She was just glad that Grov had been so forgiving.

Once inside the cave and working on the hearths, Ayla began to think of the things she needed to do afterward. Ebra came to mind; she hadn't been able to talk to the leader's mate for quite some time and that needed to be a priority. Ayla finished the medicine hearth quickly; there had not been too much to straighten up in there.

As Ayla moved onto the visitor's hearth, she thought about the Other's clothing and decided she was going to make outfits for her children—and Grov too, if he wanted one. Ayla picked up the bedding of the visitor's hearth, and shook it out. Hmmm, she thought, these beds need new straw padding, but "there's no need to put out new when no one's going to be here. I will just throw the old out, and leave the bedding here without padding," she said aloud, not even realizing she had spoken. When she finished the job, she looked around the hearth, and suddenly missed the people that had brought sound into her life. It seemed so quiet without them there to listen to.

Back at Grov's hearth, Ayla decided to put off the cleaning and made some tea. Annaliza woke up, so Ayla nursed the child. The baby latched on and stared up at her mother with big eyes. Ayla couldn't be sure yet, but her eyes looked as if they would be blue. Ora watched her mamma, knowing that Ayla had never nursed her before, and sat quietly waiting for the woman to finish with the new baby. When she did, Ora crawled onto her lap, and asked to nurse too. Ayla smiled, happy that she could give the two year old what she had never been able to give her before, and offered her a breast.

When Grov returned and saw Ayla nursing Ora he too smiled, thinking about how much he loved his family. He was so glad that Ayla had not left with the Others, but at the same time, he felt bad that she could not go meet all of her people. Maybe they would have to make a journey. He had learned from the Others that they did that often, even though it was something unthinkable to the Clan. The only time a journey was considered was when disaster took their cave away. He'd have to think more about the matter, but if Ayla wanted to make a journey to see her people, he would definitely go with her. He looked at her again, sitting there nursing his daughter, and cooing to their new baby. Durc wasn't around at the moment, he thought, wondering where the child was, but the boy would complete his image of his family. Grov fixed his own tea, since Ayla was busy with the children, and then he sat down next to her, and caressed her back. He was rewarded with one of her beautiful smiles.

~oxoxo~

When Ayla finished nursing her daughters, she gathered them up and signaled to Grov that she was going to go see Ebra. "Ebra has been acting strangely, and I want to make sure she is okay." Grov nodded and left to go find Dorg and Daub.

On her way, Ayla cradled her baby and smiled at her luck of having a healthy baby girl—just as she had hoped for. Grov didn't seem at all displeased that she had given birth to a daughter instead of a son. She told herself that if she ever got pregnant again, she would wish for a son the next time, so that Grov would have a boy to train.

Those thoughts turned her mind inward as she walked. Ayla wondered about what her life would have been like had she been raised by her true family, but then she shook her head. I would not have Durc if I did not have the Clan, and then Ura would not have a future mate. And, she thought smiling at her two daughters, I would not have Grov to love me, or these two beautiful girls to love and care for. Ayla was most happy with her life, even though she had lost her family and her people. At least she was lucky enough to have met them—and maybe they would come back someday.

While all this was going through the woman's head, she was passing through the passageway, almost silently. She had begun to hum a tune that she had learned from Jenadoza. What is it? she thought. She figured she would never know.

When she got to the leader's hearth, she sat at his feet and waited for his acknowledgement. Brun was relieved to see the medicine woman there, Ebra was driving him mad with her constant fussing. He tapped her shoulder and she looked up at him.

"This woman has come to see Ebra." Brun glanced over at his woman, who was busily cleaning the same area she had cleaned just the day before, then looked at Ayla and frowned. Ayla had followed his look. "That is why this woman is here, Brun," she gestured silently, even using the silent signal for the man's name so that Ebra would not be aware of their conversation.

Brun grunted, "Ebra, the medicine woman is here to see you." He cast one last glance at his woman, then left the hearth so that the medicine woman could work.

Ebra immediately jumped up and hurried over to make tea. Ayla watched her with a critical eye, trying to remember when it was that she had first noticed Ebra's strange behavior. Ayla was thinking that the woman may just be getting old, but she had not seen other old women acting this way. "Ebra?" Ayla hesitated until the woman looked at her. "Are you okay? This woman is worried about you, and Brun is worried about you too, I think. Is there anything I can do for you?"

Ebra thought for a moment, then shrugged. "I feel fine Ayla. I just seem to have so much energy all of a sudden. A while back, all I could do was sleep; I was so tired, but now I just want to clean things. It's good actually, I hardly lifted a finger while your people were here. I have so much to do." The woman turned back to the fire and fixed them their tea.

When it was finished, Ayla had to coax the woman to sit with her. "Ebra, come talk to me. Don't you want to hold Annaliza?" Ayla smiled at the leader's mate, and held the baby out to her. Ebra's eyes brightened and she took the child. Ayla was glad that she had taken the child, it would give her a chance to drink her tea before it was feeding time again.

Ebra looked at Ayla's tiny baby, and caressed the baby's tiny hand; which opened up at the woman's touch and grabbed her finger. "Though I have never seen a baby of the Others before, I imagine that she is beautiful." Ebra extracted her finger from Annaliza's hand and touched her short, wispy, white hair. "I think her hair is lighter than I remember yours to have been when Iza found you."

Annaliza gurgled slightly, and wriggled in her tight wrap, and let out a small cry that told Ayla she was content. Ayla smiled at the older woman holding her child, and looked at Ora, who sat nearby playing with her doll. Ayla watched for a time, and didn't say anything to the woman. Ebra appeared to be lost in thought. Then Ayla noticed something strange; the front of Ebra's wrap was wet. Ayla thought for a moment...had it been wet before? No, she decided, it had not been. Instinctively, Ayla reached forward, and touched the wetness, then before Ebra could object, she moved the woman's wrap aside and gasped.

"Ebra, you're pregnant!"

Ebra looked shocked and shook her head. "Ayla, you know I'm too old to be pregnant. I'm just getting fat. I have eaten too much."

Ayla smiled at her and laughed out loud, causing a few people to look over at them. When everyone had turned back to what they had been doing, Ayla stared at the woman hard. "Ebra, you are not getting 'fat.' You are definitely pregnant. Look at you," Ayla said at she touched the woman's abdomen. "You must be at least halfway done with your pregnancy. When was your last woman's curse?"

Ebra thought about it for a moment. "It was sometime during winter. After the big feast...after Oga said she was pregnant." Her eyes were unfocused as she struggled to recall. That in itself troubled Ayla for the Clan never forgot anything. Maybe Ebra was too old to have this baby, she thought. "But Ayla, I thought I was just becoming an old woman, but this is wonderful. I always wanted to have more children, never understood why the spirits had not given me more."

Ayla looked at her and decided instantly that this would be good for the woman. Ayla smiled at her. "Well okay then, let's examine you so we can make sure everything is going the way it should, and determine when you're due." Ayla fluffed the bedding, took Annaliza from the woman, and indicated that she should lie down.

Ayla did her regular gynecological exam, and decided that Ebra was well into her fifth moon. Ebra was beside herself, but suddenly became a little nervous. "Oh Ayla, I have not done this in so long. What if I am too old for this?"

Ayla smiled again. "Don't worry Ebra. You may be older, but you are healthy, and you have the whole cave to help you, if you need it. And, I'm sure you will know how to do this again. Would you like me to go talk to Brun."

Ayla's last words caused the woman to pale, she had not even thought about what her mate would think. What if he did not want another child at his hearth. She had done such a poor job of raising Broud, she wondered if Brun would even allow her to keep the child. Ayla could almost see the woman's thoughts and she tried to reassure her with a touch. "I will go talk to him right now. Can I leave the girls with you?" Ebra nodded and took Annaliza back.

~oxoxo~

Ayla approached Brun, who sat in Grod's hearth, but waited outside the second in command's hearth for the leader to acknowledge her. The two men saw the medicine woman standing there, and Grod waved her in. Though men did not usually discuss the woman with each other, the leader was concerned enough to mention it to his second.

Ayla came in and sat at Brun's feet. Grod watched. The woman had always somewhat unnerved him, and now was no different. Brun tapped Ayla's shoulder, and Ayla looked up into his liquid brown eyes, and saw his fierce concern and love for his mate. She instantly knew it was going to be okay.

"This woman has two things to report. The first is that Ebra is fine. There is no need to worry." Ayla waited while Brun sighed and then glanced at Grod.

"And, what else do you have to report?"

Ayla tried to hide her smile, since she knew Grod did not like it, and she looked at Brun once again. "Ebra is pregnant, Brun. She has been pregnant since winter, but she did not know it. She thought she was becoming an old woman."

Brun's eyebrows shot up, and he looked over at Ebra, who sat in their hearth holding Ayla's new baby. His mate somehow looked more lovely than ever before. Brun got up, signaled his departure to Grod, and went to his woman.

Ayla and Grod watched the man go. Grod wondered what it would be like if Uka were to have another child this late in life, and he hoped that she didn't. Ayla was happy for Brun and Ebra; somehow she knew this new baby would be nothing like its big brother. Ayla looked at Grod, then backed up to leave, saying, "I am going now." His only response was a grunt.

~oxoxo~

Ayla didn't want to disturb the leader and his mate, but had no choice since her children were in the hearth. Ayla silently entered the hearth to pick up the girls, but Brun stopped her.

"Ayla, are you sure Ebra is going to be okay?"

Ayla looked at the two of them. "Ebra is a healthy woman, and Iza said she had an easy delivery before. I see no reason why she won't do fine again. This medicine woman believes Ebra is capable of bringing another healthy baby to your hearth." Brun grunted, and turned his attention back to his woman. Ayla gathered her children and left the hearth.

~oxoxo~

Not too far away, the small band of Sungaean travelers were nearing their home. They had traveled the short distance between Brun's Clan's cave and Oak Camp quite quickly, but figured that it would be empty. It was well into the summer, and the people may have already left for the summer meeting.

The beginning of the journey had been heated with debate over the Clan and Ivanolia was now pouting in silent protest; he just could not understand Andreyta's position. He wouldn't even call her by her Clan name. Donzolnia had given up; it didn't look likely that Ayla would come live with them, or even come visit, but Jenadoza was adamant that he give it up, and accept the truth; Ayla loved her people, and they were just that, people.

Jenadoza wanted to tell everyone about her long lost cousins, one was dead, but the other was alive and well, and living not too far away. Vincenzia at least had to understand, didn't he?

She watched the men as they traveled, and decided it was only Ivanolia that had the problem. Donzolnia clearly did not care, and Tinozia, he was open as well. She was a little concerned about Brulenzia, but she could see that he had turned inward, and he was working it out for himself; he had put Evanora to rest, and was ready to move on. Braydalana was the only one chatting insistently; talking about her new family members, and their time with the Clan. Jenadoza could see her brother cringe every time the child opened her mouth. If the entire situation weren't so sad, it would be amusing.

~oxoxo~

It was very early in the morning when they finally came around the corner to see their Mamutoi style Earthlodge, with smoke coming out of the smoke holes. The six travelers entered through the main entrance, and shed their outer clothing, and called to the people of the lodge; obviously at least some had stayed behind.

AtDC

Arrival and Departure

"Hallooooo, anyone awake?" Ivanolia shouted as they went from the entry area to the cooking hearth. Immediately the sounds of people getting up reached them. Fraylora appeared in her sleeping clothes and her pale hair disheveled, and embraced her granddaughter. Braydalana smiled at the woman. "Hallo grandmother."

Serana rushed Jenadoza and Ivanolia, and hugged them both with gusto, and planted a big kiss on her son. She was a woman of average height, but great strength. "I was beginning to think you were not coming back. What in Sumata's name took you so long?" Serana was the type of woman to say exactly what she thought. Jenadoza laughed, thinking that Ivanolia was just like their mother.

Ivanolia was about to speak, but Jenadoza cut him off. "I had a bad sprain, and we were being cared for by a cave of people to the south when these brutes found us," she said jabbing her brother in the ribs. Ivanolia gave his sister a dirty look and snorted, but he didn't say anything else. Jenadoza returned his look and smiled at her mother.

Serana looked at her daughter. "Sprained? Well, get off that ankle! We don't want it damaged further. Ivan, sit your sister down."

While that was going on, Zarina came up quietly, and hugged both of her sons, and smiled. She barely came up to their chests. "I see you young men did what you went out to do; found our missing girls. You were gone almost a whole moon cycle, we were definitely beginning to worry."

Donzolnia embraced his mother, and smiled down at her. She was one of the quietest people he knew, and the fear he heard in her voice upset him; he had not meant to frighten her. "Sorry mother, but we traveled far out of the way following their tracks, then ended up going pretty significant distance to the south, and finally found them with a large cave of people near the peninsula. Jenadoza was injured so we had to wait."

Brulenzia kissed his mother's forehead, and held her tightly. It was obvious that the two men cared deeply for their mother, and she for them.

Tinozia looked around. "I suppose mother and Wäglodia have left for the summer meeting."

Another man came into the room suddenly, and smiled. "Yup. They left just yesterday morning. Had to get your sister to the first rites camp. Took Fürlasa and Laurana with them as well. How about a hug for your uncle Tag," the man said and grabbed his sister's son tightly.

Tinozia laughed heartily, and hugged the Tagnolia back. "Three new women? We were gone only one moon cycle and now there are three new women? I think we need to expand the lodge...we're likely to have more people with a season or so."

At hearing the news, Ivanolia looked interested. "Hmmm, we better get going...looks like I have another sister to look after; and to keep away from all the men."

Jenadoza elbowed him again. "Ivan, you never once kept me away from the young men. Give it a rest!"

Ivanolia gave her a shocked look. "I did try to keep men away from you, little sister. It's just that you only had eyes for Donzolnia and never noticed that others were looking at you.

Donzolnia was smiling at the banter between his mate and her brother. "I think Ivanolia was keeping the men away from you so I could have you all to myself."

At that Ivanolia smiled at his friend. "What are best friends for?"

Tagnolia burst out laughing. "Well, it's good that were all back together, and we do need to get to the summer meeting, but first I want to hear about your unexpected journey south. You say you were injured?"

Jenadoza smiled, and laughed. "You don't know that half of it, but I need to talk to Vilognia and Vincenzia."

Tagnolia was encouraging the people to sit in the cooking hearth. "Vincenzia and Darvie have left for the Mamutoi summer meeting." He said as he sat down. "Darvie was missing her mother, so he decided to bring her there instead of our meeting. I think they may be bringing her mother back with them after the meeting, if they can get her to agree. And Vilognia? Vilognia's here, somewhere. Someone get Vilognia," the headman boomed!

As if on cue, Vilognia walked into the room. "Did someone call my name," he said with a smile, as he lifted Jenadoza off the ground and smothered her with a tight hug. "I was so worried! How could you let the man of your hearth worry so much?"

"I'm sorry Vilo, but I am fine, please put me down. I do have news for you. News that will be difficult to hear." Suddenly the room was silent. The independent conversations that had been taking place had all stopped at the same time and everyone was looking at Jenadoza. "I had hoped to talk to uncle Vincenzia at the same time, but I suppose it will have to wait." Everyone sat poised and ready to listen, and suddenly Jenadoza was nervous; she was afraid to tell them.

Braydalana watched her people, and with the brazenness of a child said, "We found the people that Vinoza used to live with."

Vilognia jumped up and stared at the child, and his jaw dropped open. "Used to? Where is my sister now?"

Jenadoza's eyes filled with tears. Nothing more needed to be said about where she was now. They all knew that she was dead.

"And what about Teglodia and Evanora? What happened to them?"

Brulenzia spoke quietly. "They lived with a Clan of people to the south of here, for many years, but an earthquake last season killed them; all three of them." He paused for a moment, then went on. "Evanora was going by the name Nora, and she was mated and had a child. That child still lives with the people. She is only two years old."

Jenadoza finally found her voice. "But there is more. We are certain that we found Andreyta, but she too is going by another name; Ayla is what they call her, and she had a baby while we were there."

Vilognia turned to stare at Jenadoza, then dropped back down to his seat. "What? Why didn't you bring her back? We must journey to the Mamutoi to find Vincenzia. He will want to go get Annalisa's daughter."

Jenadoza frowned. "It is not that simple Vilo. Ayla has lived with them for ten many many seasons now; she did not want to come back to the Sungaea. She has a mate, and three children; she is happy there."

Ivanolia had kept silent, but he was stewing in the background. Jenadoza kept glancing at the man, and fervently hoped he would remain silent, but Serana noticed her son's red face, and questioned him. "Ivanolia, why are you standing there as red as a blazing fire?"

He looked at his mother, and then looked back at the people, avoiding his sister's look. He could not continue his silence any longer. "Andreyta is living with flatheads! She is mated to one of their males. And one of her children is a mixed abomination!"

The man's words were greeted with silence, then the room erupted with talking and shouting. Jenadoza was glaring at her brother, and then looked around for Donzolnia. When her eyes found him, he was standing with Tagnolia, and they were discussing the situation between the two of them.

"Okay, that's enough," Tagnolia said in a loud voice, and he looked back at Jenadoza. He could see that the outburst had upset the young woman. "Tell us what happened."

Jenadoza looked at the people, and explained the situation as far as she could see it, giving them as many of the details that she could remember, and finally pausing with her eyes on Ivanolia, daring him to start his tirade again. "Ayla is happy. I could tell she was happy, and she doesn't want to come visit people that do not like the Clan. And they are people," she said staring hard at Ivanolia. "They are her family now, not us. She doesn't even know us. They found her, raised her, and love her, but she has had a difficult life. They lead quite a different life style than we do, but she is accustomed to it. She is even their first ranked healer." Even though she had been speaking to the entire camp, Jenadoza never took her eyes off her brother; she knew he would need more convincing than anyone else.

Ivanolia finally turned his eyes away for his sister, and Jenadoza looked back at the people. "Ayla is mated to a mixed man named Grov. He was the man that was mated to Evanora before she was killed. And Ayla is raising Evanora's daughter. Ayla's mixed son is four seasons, and now she has a new baby girl; they named her Annaliza. She has family there, and people that don't accept the Clan here. Where would you want to be? Certainly not with people that wouldn't accept your mate and children.

Everyone was nodding, and Serana went to comfort her son; she could see that he was struggling greatly. Vilognia was taking it all in, and sat in silence thinking about how much their camp had lost. First, Vincenzia was gone on journey with Annalisa and Andreyta, and returned alone. Though he'd never found a body, somehow he'd known Annalisa had gone, lost to him forever. His mate's child, on the other hand, he had mourned since the time of her disappearance and had never been able to put her to rest, even though he'd thought it likely that she'd died too.

Then, while Vincenzia was gone, Vinoza's son Tegasia had been killed while out hunting Megaceros. The death had prompted Teglodia and Vinoza to take Evanora and leave on a journey. Vilognia had always known that his sister and her family would never return, but the fact that they were dead broke his heart.

Vilognia looked at his mate's son, and thought about his loss. Ivanolia had always loved Nemlora, and she him. They had been inseparable since they were children. No one had been surprised when they announced that they would mate in the same summer meeting that she had her first rites. No one had even objected to the fact that she was only twelve years, not even her mother. It was just known that she would mate Ivanolia, and that there was no stopping it. Then, when she was pregnant right away, no one thought anything about it; not until it was determined that she was too small to have the baby, but by then it was too late. She had only lived long enough to hold her baby for a short time, then she died from loss of blood. Two deaths had suddenly turned into five.

But, he thought, Andreyta is living, or rather, Ayla is living. Vincenzia would be glad to have this piece of information. Maybe he would even make a journey to see Annalisa's daughter. Maybe they could convince her to come back with them.

There was another man that was extremely quiet, and Zarina noticed right away that her second son was also pensive. Brulenzia had had the same type of relationship with Evanora that Ivanolia had had with Nemlora, though it had not been allowed to develop into a mating, since she left with her family at nine seasons, but she knew her son had always hoped the woman would return. He looked sad, but somehow at peace. She went to him, and slipped her arm through his. Brulenzia looked down at his mother, and stared into her light green eyes. "I can move on now mother. I will find someone to love." She squeezed him tight, glad that he would finally start looking.

After Vilognia thought for a while, he had some questions. "How did you communicate with the flatheads? They can't talk."

Braydalana smiled. "But oh, they can talk, just not like we do. I learned to speak with them. And, Vilognia, they are people, not flatheads. Men and women and children, not animals. They say the Clan."

Vilognia was surprised that the child understood the meaning of flathead. He didn't realize it was so ingrained in their society to just believe that flatheads were animals. He was very interested to hear more.

Jenadoza was nodding. "I learned some of their language too, but they do not speak with words. They speak with hand signs," she said then turned to Donzolnia and made a gesture.

Vilognia looked at Donzolnia. "What did she say?"

Donzolnia smiled at his woman, and gestured back. "She said that she loves me."

Vilognia was surprised that the flatheads could love one another. Animals didn't love each other, did they? He would have to think about this more, and talk to the Shogur, but until then, he would try to think more openly; meeting Vincenzia's first mate's daughter may depend on it.

~oxoxo~

The rest of that day was spent resting, and the next day would be one of packing up, for they had to get to their summer meeting. Vilognia had decided to travel to the Mamutoi instead, so he could talk to his brother, and asked Ivanolia to go with him.

~oxoxo~

On the day of their departure, they all left together. It was fortunate that Birch Camp was hosting the Sungaea summer meeting this season, because it would make it possible for Vilognia and Ivanolia to walk with them for most of the way, branch off to go to the Mamutoi summer meeting, then turn around and get to their meeting before it was too late.

Vincenzia had said the Mamutoi summer meeting was at Lion Camp this season, which meant that the two men would be almost due west of Birch Camp. The knowledge that her mate would meet them at the summer meeting helped to calm Serana down. She had not been happy that her mate and son would not be going with them, but she did understand. After all, Vincenzia needed to know what was going on. She considered going with them, but decided against it; she needed to get to the first rites camp for her daughter Laurana.

AtDC

The Mamutoi Summer Meeting

After traveling for seven days Oak Camp reached the place where they would separate from Vilognia and Ivanolia. The people camped for the night, then said their goodbyes in the morning. When the two men set out early in the morning, they turned west, and walked away at a quick pace.

For a while, the men walked in silence, both thinking about the turn of events. Vilognia had worked though his disgust over Ayla's choice of a mate. He figured that there had been no one else for her, and she didn't know any better. Then he started to wonder why the Sungaea considered flatheads...the Clan...why they considered the Clan to be animals. Jenadoza believed them to be people and she was a good judge of character. The man had to admit that he wanted to meet the people that Jenadoza said had raised his niece.

Ivanolia walked slightly behind his mother's mate, and was brooding over his outburst days before. He hadn't wanted to blow up like that, but he was upset about the situation. He still didn't understand how Andreyta could be mated to the mixed man. He had learned to keep his mouth shut while staying with the flatheads, and didn't talk about them much as they had traveled back to the Earthlodge, because Jenadoza would have jumped down his throat, but it still bothered him. As he walked, he wondered what Vincenzia would think and figured the man would be accepting. He was sure that Vilognia's brother would just be glad Annalisa's daughter had survived after all—and that made him wonder why he cared one way or the other. What did it matter that Andreyta was mated to the flathead? She was obviously happy, and he had to admit that two of their children were beautiful.

~oxoxo~

The two men traveled west, then turned north, and finally turned west again. The terrain was easy and they made excellent time. Soon they were in Mamutoi territory, and most importantly they entered Lion Camp territory just before nightfall on the sixth night after they had left their own people. Vilognia pointed to the gathering that had been situated in a place where three rivers converged into one. They were just south of Lion Camp's lodge, the place that had been reserved for this season's summer meeting.

Ivanolia had never gone to a Mamutoi summer meeting before. In fact, he had never even met a Mamutoi, other than Darvie that is, and now he wished he had paid more attention to Darvie's Mamutoi lessons.

Vilognia said hello to several people as they walked by. He obviously knew a lot of Mamutoi, and they recognized the man as Vincenzia's brother right from the off, and pointed to the area that the man could be found.

The two Sungaea men walked through the Mamutoi summer meeting, and received stares from many people who wanted to check out the foreign men. Ivanolia smiled at the curious women, wishing even more that he could speak Mamutoi.

"Vilognia!" A huge red haired man boomed, and took the startled man into his arms. "You must be Vilognia, Vincenzia's brother. We are related through Darvie. She is a distant cousin of mine."

Vilognia was slightly put off, but recovered quickly. He had learned through living with Darvie that the Mamutoi rarely kept quiet, and always said what was on their minds. The blond man smiled and extended his hand. "You must be Talut. I have heard so much about you," Vilognia said in his best Mamutoi.

Talut just laughed at the man's hand and put an arm around Vilognia and Ivanolia's shoulders to lead them into the encampment. "Someone get Vincenzia. Tell him his brother is here to see him!"

Talut steered the men toward the food. "You arrived just in time for the evening meal. Nezzie! We need two more plates here."

A large, motherly looking woman turned around, and shoved two plates at the gargantuan man, and smiled at the strangers. "Please excuse this bear of a man here. He has no manners at all. I am Nezzie, this one's mate," she said giving Talut a casual backhanded slap to the stomach. "That is my son, Danug," she said pointing across the fire. "And his sister, Latie next to him. And this is Rugie and Rydag," she continued ruffling the hair of the boy child. "And you both must be related to Vincenzia."

Ivanolia was staring at the child of mixed spirits wondering how the flathead managed to be with these people, and thinking that the boy looked nearly identical to Andreyta's son Durc.

Vilognia elbowed the younger man, and nodded. "This rude man is Ivanolia; my mate's son. Unfortunately he did not take his Mamutoi lessons seriously, I'm sure he doesn't understand a word."

Talut laughed heartily again. "Well, I'm sure he doesn't need to speak Mamutoi to find the comfort of a woman. Foreigners are always more exciting than the same old men we have around here." Nezzie laughed, and went back to fussing over her children.

Just then, Vincenzia and Darvie, and a few others, came out of a large tent and spotted them. Vincenzia looked a little nervous; he didn't figure Vilognia would travel to the Mamutoi for just a social call; there must be a good reason for coming all this way.

"Brother, is everything okay," Vincenzia said as he reached his brother, then suddenly seeing Ivanolia, he frowned. "Are Jenadoza and Braydalana all right?"

Vilognia and Ivanolia were both nodding, and Vincenzia relaxed. "Nothing is wrong, but I need to talk to you. It's important enough that it cannot wait until the end of the summer.

Darvie had come up with Vincenzia, but she had stopped to talk to a few people that stood nearby. When the group giggled loudly, the men looked over at them, and the woman broke off her conversation and joined them. "Forgive me, but Ivanolia must meet my younger sister, Danie," she said as she pulled the younger woman with her.

Danie smiled shyly at the men, and blushed. She had not understood anything Darvie had said, but somehow she knew she was being introduced to the tall, blond man with the strikingly blue eyes. She blushed again.

Ivanolia looked at Darvie's sister, and smiled at her. She had the same dark brown hair as her sister and the palest gray eyes he had ever seen. She was definitely a beautiful woman. Darvie turned to her sister and in Mamutoi said, "Danie, take Ivanolia and get him something to eat, and teach him some Mamutoi so he can communicate while he's here." She took her sister's hand and put it in Ivanolia's hand and gave them a little push toward the food. Ivanolia never even looked back; he just held the young woman's hand, and followed along.

Vilognia laughed at the retreating back of his mate's son, and smiled at Darvie. "That was a good idea. He really needs to get out and meet someone soon. It's been seven cycles of seasons since Nemlora's death, and as far as I can see, he's never been interested in anyone."

Darvie laughed. "Well, I hope he can help me by attracting Danie to the Oak Camp. My mother says she will move if we can convince Danie to come along." Darvie's laugh became a smile, then she looked at Vilognia more seriously. "Is everything okay, Vi? You haven't traveled here just to find Ivanolia a woman, have you?"

Vilognia smile faded. "No, that was not our purpose, though I admit I wish I had thought of it sooner. Actually, we came to talk to Vincenzia." He turned to his brother. "I think you will need to sit down brother, for I have something wild to tell you."

Vilognia, Vincenzia and Darvie took seats, and Vilognia told them about the search party's return, and about the news they brought back with them of Vinoza, Teglodia, and Evanora's deaths. He told them about their life with the people they had chosen to stay with, and about the child that Evanora had brought to her mate's hearth. He did not mention who the people had been, only the fact that Vinoza had been happy, as far as he could tell.

Vincenzia cried at the news and the brothers hugged and reminisced for a few minutes about the sister they had lost. Darvie watched them and tried to melt into the background; as she felt somewhat like an intruder in their intimate conversation about their sister.

Vincenzia smiled at Vilognia and they both wiped the tears from their faces. "But that is not all, is it Vilo?"

Vilognia smiled. "No brother, I could never fool you, could I?" The man took a deep breath, and continued. "The people that healed Jenadoza had a woman with them; a women named Ayla, that was fifteen seasons; a woman that they found when she was only five seasons." At that point Vilognia paused to watch his brother's face.

Vincenzia's blue-gray eyes narrowed suspiciously as he dared to hope that it was his little Andreyta. "Are you saying...are you telling me...that Andreyta is living...that Andreyta is alive?"

Vilognia smiled again, and nodded. "It appears so little brother, but now she is called Ayla."

Vincenzia popped up. "Well then, we must go. Did you bring her to the Sungaea summer meeting? Or better yet, did you bring her here?" He began to look around the encampment with hope in his eyes.

Vilognia looked sad again, and grabbed his brother's shoulders. "No Vin, she's not here with us, and she's not at Birch Camp either. She refused to return to Oak Camp with our search party. She wanted to stay with the people that raised her."

Vincenzia sat back down, and looked at his brother again. "But why?"

Vilognia took a deep breath and broke the rest of the news to him gently.

"She's mated to what?" This was not the reaction Vilognia had hoped for. He had hoped that Vincenzia would be more calm, and less judgmental.

Darvie put her hand on Vincenzia's arm to comfort him, and her touch did just that. "You say that she was happy?" she said to Vilognia.

Vilognia was nodding, and silently asking Sumata to help Vincenzia.

"Well then Vin, that's all that matters. If the daughter of your hearth is happy, then you can do no less than to be happy for her. Please calm down, sweets," she said caressing his arm lovingly. "Maybe we can make a journey to meet this Ayla." Then she turned to Vilognia. "You said her name is Ayla now?"

Vilognia nodded, and looked at his brother to gage his upset. He felt that it would be okay. Vincenzia was visibly calmer than he had been moments before. Vilognia smiled, thinking that he had always liked Darvie, and now he liked her even more.

~oxoxo~

For the remainder of that night, and for the days to come, Vilognia didn't see Ivanolia even one time. Ivanolia stayed with Danie and was mesmerized by the young woman. He spent every waking hour with her and shared the woman's bed every night that they were there. She taught him enough Mamutoi to communicate with her and he did the same with Sungaea. But it was not necessary; they both understood each other quite well.

When finally Vilognia caught a glimpse of his mate's son, he understood why he had not seen the young man around and hesitated to interrupt. But, remembering that they had told Serana that they would return as quickly as possible, made him approach the man.

"Ivanolia," he said to get the man's attention. "We must leave tomorrow. Your mother must be getting worried."

Ivanolia looked at the man—and then at Danie. "But, I am not ready to leave."

"I can see that, but we promised your mother we would return, so we should get going. And don't you think we need to get back to Braydalana?"

Ivanolia frowned, knowing that they should have brought Braydalana along, and he nodded. Vilognia left the couple to be alone.

When Vilognia was gone, Ivanolia turned to Danie. "Join with me, Danie. I know that we just met, but I want to join with you. I do not want to lose you."

Danie squinted her eyes at him and smirked. Then she graced him with her full and wonderful smile and threw her arms around him. "Yes Ivanolia, I will join with you. These past few days have been just what I've always imagined love at first sight to be. We need to discuss this with my mother, but I'm sure she will have no problem with this. She has been trying to get me to move to Oak Camp ever since Darvie left to make a hearth with Vincenzia."

Ivanolia hugged her back, then pulled her to her feet. "We will go speak to your mother, but first I need to have you all to myself; just one more time." Danie smiled and kissed the man passionately, then took his hand and let him take her to her furs.

~oxoxo~

Later that day, Ivanolia and Danie emerged from the tent and went straight to Travie, Darvie and Danie's mother. Darvie watched their determined walk and nudged Vincenzia, who in turn nudged Vilognia. No one could mistake their intent and Darvie was positively beside herself; this meant that her mother would move to Oak Camp at the end of the summer.

~oxoxo~

Far to the south, life was just moving along for the Clan. They had all but forgotten their visitors, and were back in the swing of their normal lives. The five new babies were doing great. Uba's sons were almost four moon cycles and were very active. The babies were everywhere—they could hardly keep up with them! Vorn was delighted with the boys and spent many hours playing with the now chubby babies.

Ovra's sons were only slightly younger and just as mobile, so she was extremely busy all the time as well. Goov had decided that Ursus had used another man's totem spirit to create the twins, but was happy that there were finally children at his hearth. He had a special closeness to the children and Ayla suspected that it came from being there when they were born. Goov had always been a good mate to Ovra, but nothing compared to how he felt for her now.

Ayla's daughter was also doing well. She was growing at an unbelievable rate, but at just under two moon cycles still could not hold up her head for very long. Ayla was worried that her daughter would never be able to do it and sat with the baby in her lap staring at the child.

"Ayla, what are you doing?" Grov asked in Sungaean, as he entered the hearth.

Ayla looked up at him and he could see tears in her eyes. "I'm afraid that Annaliza's neck is too weak or that her head is too big. She still can't hold up her head very well."

Grov smiled at her. "Ayla, she is no different than Ora was. Nora assured me that the Others' babies are slower to develop the muscles in their necks. She is perfectly normal."

Ayla sniffled and nodded, remembering that Jenadoza had told her the same thing.

Grov looked at his woman skeptically. "Ayla, is something else wrong?"

Ayla kept her eyes on Annaliza and didn't answer him right away. "I miss them, Grov," she said with tears in her eyes. "I wonder about who I am and I want them to come back, but I don't understand why they do not like the Clan."

Grov sat down next to her and took Annaliza from her arms and placed the baby on the furs. Then he turned to face Ayla and took her face in his hands and kissed her tears away. "Ayla, they do not like us, because they do not understand us. I am sure they felt differently when they left here, and after the baby is a little bigger, we can go visit them."

Ayla's eyes widened. "Go visit them? But, the Clan does not travel unless they have to."

"No Ayla, we can go visit them, not the Clan. But, right now Annaliza needs to stay here. And besides, you have patients to care for. Oga will give birth soon, and Ebra won't be long after that if I am correct."

Ayla was nodding and smiling, her bad mood gone. It may be a while, but Grov had said they would go visit her people; that he would take her to visit her people. She was thrilled beyond belief.

AtDC

The Oak Camp Earthlodge (by hearth and age, not be rank)

Entry Area – Storage of fuel, implements, outer clothes

First Hearth – Visitor's Hearth

Second Hearth – Cooking hearth and space for gathering

Third Hearth (Antelope Hearth)

Tagnolia (40) – Headman, brother of Tiflona
Zarina (38)– mother of Donzolnia (as well as children below)
~ Brulenzia (19) – second son of headman's mate, Donzolnia's brother, Evanora's closest childhood playmate, unmated
~ Frala (13)
~ Morina (11)

Fourth Hearth (Jack Rabbit Hearth)

Wäglodia (39) – mated to headwoman
Tiflona (38) – Headwoman, sister of headman
~ Tinozia (18) – first son of headwoman, unmated
~ Tabita (15)
~ Torina (12)
~ TBA (9)
~ TBA (6)
~ TBA (3)

Fifth Hearth (Bison Hearth)

Gredenzia (35) – mated to Fraylora, Shogur
Fraylora (35) – Nemlora's mother
~ Fürlasa (15)
~ TBA (13)
~ TBA (9)

Sixth Hearth (Healer's Hearth – Empty)

Seventh Hearth (extension to Shogur's hearth, private ceremonies and gatherings)

Eighth Hearth (Winter Stoat (Ermine) Hearth)

Vilognia (40) – Vinoza and Vincenzia's brother
Serana (40) – mother of Ivanolia and Jenadoza
~ Laurana (14)
~ TBA (11)
~ TBA (8)

Ninth Hearth (Snow Leopard Hearth)

Vincenzia (36) – Vilognia and Vinoza's brother, travels often, returned recently from one of his journeys to the Mamutoi, lost first mate (Annalisa) and daughter (Andreyta or Ayla) in such a travel
Darvie (25) – second mate, Mamutoi woman
~ Crisana (Crisanie) (7) – Darvie's daughter
~ Brenevia (Brenev) (4) – Darvie's son
~ ~ Travie (43) – Darvie and Danie's mother

Tenth Hearth (Reindeer Hearth)

Teglodia (would be 35 if not dead) – left to go on a journey 10 years ago when youngest child (Tegasia) was killed in a hunting accident, headman's best friend
Vinoza (would be 33 if not dead) – gladly journeyed with her mate, too sad to stay
~ Evanora (would be 19 if not dead) – was mated to Grov (Nora), mother of Ora

Eleventh Hearth (Cave Bear Hearth)

Donzolnia (21) – first son of headman's mate, Jenadoza's mate
Jenadoza (17) – injured woman with the Clan, Ivanolia's sister, Evanora and Ayla's cousin, pregnant

Twelfth Hearth (Arctic Fox Hearth)

Ivanolia (21) – Jenadoza's brother, Evanora and Ayla's cousin
Danie (20) – Travie's daughter, Darvie's sister, Ivanolia's second mate
~ Braydalana (7) – Nemlora's daughter (Nemlora died giving birth at 13)

Thirteenth Hearth (food storage area)

Fourteenth Hearth (empty hearth space)

Back Entry Area (more storage)

Sweat Bath Area

AtDC

Danie Prepares

Oak Camp arrived in Birch Camp territory about two days before the other travelers had reached the Lion Camp, and nothing eventful happened with their arrival. The people did not mention to anyone that Vincenzia's daughter had been found or where she was or who she was with or what she had been doing for ten cycles of the seasons. There was no need to stir up trouble when the woman wasn't even with them.

Tagnolia and Tinozia sought out Tiflona immediately, so she could be briefed on the situation and she shrugged her shoulders. She had always wondered about the flatheads and secretly thought there was no way that they were animals; animals did not wear clothing and hunt with weapons. She remembered the one trip she and Tagnolia had gone on with their mother's mate; they had seen some flatheads from across a river, and they had looked like people to her.

"I think some of us should make a journey, though I suppose that will be Vincenzia's journey."

Tagnolia nodded and was glad his younger sister was so accepting. He thought that was what made her such a good headwoman and he was glad that he shared the lodge with her. They did have other siblings, two other brothers and two other sisters. Their mother had given birth to her children in a timely manner and they were fortunate to have been born in a boy, girl, boy, girl, boy, girl fashion; it sure made it easier to create new camps.

Tinozia told his mother about the Clan's way of communicating, and showed her some of what he had learned. He explained that they were not capable of fully articulate speech, but that they were capable of full communication. "It was amazing mother; that so much could be said with signs and gestures. And there were so many of them; I counted forty-nine of them living in one cave and it was the largest cave I have ever seen."

Tiflona watched her eldest son's excitement. "You will have to tell me more later. This sounds very...illuminating. There is much to discuss, but I have to get back to the womanhood camp. Your sister and Fürlasa have had their first rites, but I still have to prepare Laurana. I will join Oak Camp for the evening meal."

Tagnolia and Tinozia hugged her and they left to get their tents set up, and to start mingling with their people.

~oxoxo~

Off to the west, Talut stood with Vincenzia and Darvie as they bid farewell to Vilognia, Ivanolia, and Danie. "We will stay for half of the summer meeting, then we will come to our summer meeting. We just have some things to tie up here before we can go. I'm sure Travie has many things to pack."

Vilognia smiled at his brother, and hugged Darvie. "Thank you Darvie," he said indicating Ivanolia and Danie, who had no eyes for anyone but each other. "I think, this is a good thing."

Darvie laughed, and Talut and Vincenzia joined her. "But don't think this gets you two out of coming to visit us," Talut said to the couple standing next to him. "After all Darvie, you are my cousin, distant, but still a cousin."

Vilognia smiled again. "Don't forget to think about visiting Ayla, Vin. If we don't do it by fall, then we'll have to wait until late spring. Your choice, but you need to accept the truth before we will take you there."

Vincenzia nodded, and Darvie hugged her mate. "Oh, we'll work on him," she said to her mate's brother. "Won't we Talut?"

"We certainly will," the huge man boomed.

As they stood there talking, Travie approached to say goodbye to her younger daughter. "Now Danie, you be careful. And I will see you shortly," she said, and hugged her daughter with tears in her eyes.

"Mother, I will be fine. And we will see you soon. Darvie says you will be leaving the Mamutoi summer meeting in half a moon cycle. And I promise to wait until the final mating ceremony, so you can be there for it. Please stop crying."

Darvie finally came forward and hugged her sister, then kissed her on the forehead. "I am so happy for you, but you better wait until we get there."

"Oh, we will. I promise you that," Danie hugged her sister back.

~oxoxo~

The three travelers turned to go, and looked back only once at the bend to wave goodbye.

Vincenzia watched them leave, and wanted to pack up quickly and leave too, but he knew that wouldn't get him back to Oak Camp, and on the journey to find Ayla, so he stayed with the Mamutoi instead. Darvie saw the look of longing on her mate's face, and squeezed his arm. Vincenzia looked down at his woman, and smiled. He was so lucky to have her. She was really much too young for him, but he had loved her from the moment he saw her. She had penetrated his grief and had consumed him since then—and he was grateful. She had brought two wonderful children to his hearth, and she was more supportive about everything than he could imagine someone so young capable of.

Vincenzia looked at Darvie's children, who sat nearby; Crisana had her mother's dark, dark hair, but his blue-gray eyes; it was an appealing contrast, and the same color of eyes that he remembered Ayla to have, and Brenevia's hair was a light brownish blond, and he shared his mother's palest gray eyes.

Vincenzia looked off into the distance one last time, and saw that his brother was gone.

~oxoxo~

The Sungaea summer meeting was in full swing by the time Vilognia, Ivanolia, and Danie arrived. They had spent ten days traveling to the meeting and they were exhausted when they got there.

Jenadoza and Laurana were shocked to see a woman on Ivanolia's arm when they walked into camp, and immediately stole her away from him; so they could get acquainted. "What did you do to our brother? He has never so much as looked at a woman since his mate died," Laurana said.

Danie laughed, not understanding every word they said, but understanding their meaning very well. "I do not know. He was just perfect right from start."

Jenadoza snorted. "Ivan is not perfect, I guarantee you that, but I can see that my brother loves you. And it is perfect that you are Darvie's sister. Now she won't have to leave so often to visit the Mamutoi."

Danie smiled. "That was plan, I am sure. Mate off sister to Sungaea man, and not have to travel more." The three young women laughed and spent the afternoon together, much to Ivanolia's despair.

~oxoxo~

Ivanolia, on the other hand, had been whisked away by Donzolnia, Brulenzia, and Tinozia and didn't really have the time to worry about Danie, though he cast her a fleeting look as he was dragged away by his friends. The young men pulled out a bladder full of Darvie's Mamutoi bouza, and harassed the man that said he would never mate again.

"Unbelievable! You leave us for twenty days and you come back a man that is about to be mated," Brulenzia said heartily. "You must be the fastest man in the territory.

"Well now Bru...now it's your turn. Don't you at least have a few women in your sights?"

Donzolnia had just put the bladder to his lips, and choked on the gulp. "One?! Is that a joke? Brulenzia spends his time in every woman's furs if he can." The four men cracked up at this.

"Well, anything worth doing...is worth do a lot!" Brulenzia said between laughs. "But, I have been spending a lot of time with your sister. After her first rites, of course."

It was now Ivanolia's turn to spit up his drink. "What! But she's too young for you. She's just barely a woman."

"Well, I promise not to take advantage of her, but she does seem interested. And I am too," he admitted.

Ivanolia smiled at his friends. "What is it with the Antelope Hearth men that makes them want to mate with the Ermine Hearth women?"

They all laughed again, and started harassing Tinozia. "So, you're next. What woman do you have in mind."

Tinozia shrugged his shoulders. "I'm not ready yet. I've been thinking about joining the Sumati, but I haven't discussed it with Gredenzia yet, so I don't know if he will think me acceptable."

Donzolnia had expected this. He had seen the seriousness of his aunt's eldest son, and thought he would be perfect for the Bison Hearth. As the conversation turned to Tinozia's thoughts on becoming Shogur, Ivanolia's thoughts went back to Danie—and what his sisters might be telling her.

~oxoxo~

Ayla watched Grov from the cave opening and waved goodbye. He and several of the men had decided to go on a hunt and planned to be gone for at least half a moon cycle. She was going to miss him, but thought the time would be good for making him a Sungaea style outfit—minus the beadwork, since Ayla had such trouble with that. It would be good for winter; warm and cozy, but also good for traveling; if they actually did make the journey.

Broud had stayed behind, since Oga had been having trouble with her pregnancy. She was getting big and was rather uncomfortable and had been spotting just a bit. Ayla wasn't worried about her or the baby—they seemed to be doing fine—but Broud was worried. Ayla told him that Oga appeared to be okay and that the baby was still moving around nicely, but he was not convinced.

"Isn't there something you can do to make her feel better," he burst out the day after Grov had left.

"Broud, this woman believes Oga will be fine. We just have to wait and see. It won't be much longer before she gives birth and then everything will be normal again."

Broud scowled, still worried about which man's totem had created the baby inside Oga. "What good are you if you cannot think of something to give her so she won't be hurting?"

Ayla hid her smile. "Broud, this woman told you that Oga is fine. There is nothing I can do right now. She is already on full bed rest and I am administering a pain relieving tea."

Oga watched the two and was slightly frightened that Broud was going to get mad at Ayla, but Ayla was handling him quite well, and he was keeping his temper in check.

"I'm going to go get Uba. She has Iza's memories; maybe she can think of something better."

Ayla shrugged; that was fine with her. She was thankful that they had two medicine women in the cave. There was no way she could treat the illnesses and injuries of forty-nine people all the time. She would have no time for herself if she had the full responsibility.

~oxoxo~

About a half a moon cycle after the arrival of Vilognia, Ivanolia, and Danie, the others showed up. Travie immediately went to her daughter. "You haven't been mated yet, have you?"

Danie laughed. "Mother, we said we would wait for you. Relax. Where are my niece and nephew?" she said breaking off from her mother's embrace, and turning to look for the children.

Travie pointed to the children, who had already found their friends, and had run off. "I think you will have to wait to see them, they are busy." Darvie and Vincenzia walked up smiling and hugged Danie too.

"It is so good to see you, Danie. I can see that you are settled in and looking radiant. When is the ceremony?"

Danie smiled. "We were waiting for you to get here, but now that you are, we can proceed. Ivanolia will be thrilled. He keeps saying that we should just have a private ceremony so that we can just be mated and not worry about a huge feast. I told him that that was not going to happen."

Darvie laughed. "Leave it to a man to want to rush through the ceremony. What fun is that?"

Vincenzia smiled, remembering that he had felt the same way as Ivanolia did. He thought about why and decided that it was because he hadn't wanted any reminder of his first matrimonial, since Annalisa was dead, and figured Ivanolia might feel the same way.

~oxoxo~

When Broud returned to the hearth, with Uba in tow, a baby under each arm. Ayla sighed, taking Berc from her sister, and had Oga tell Uba what she was feeling. "Broud, this medicine woman cannot think of anything more than what Ayla is doing. This woman may have access to the memories, but Ayla is ranked first medicine woman and has memorized all of Iza's memories, so you are safe with her judgment." Broud grunted and left the hearth, thinking that they were ganging up on him. What is wrong with these women? he thought as he left.

The women watched the man leave, and then sat down to drink tea and play with the new babies. Uba wanted to hold Annaliza. "Iza is getting so big, Ayla. And look how she holds up her head. It is amazing how helpless the Others' babies start off, but look at her now." Annaliza gurgled and cooed and smiled at the second medicine woman.

Oga looked over Uba's shoulder. "And look at her smile Ayla, just like you and Grov and Ora and Durc. I will never again think of your smile as a grimace. It may look strange, but it's definitely normal for the Others."

As if on cue, Ayla smiled again, and turned to Uba's son Berc. He was just over four moons, and he had pulled himself up into a standing position, and was reaching for Shriek's perch. The hawk cocked his head and stared down at the child, but was up far enough that the child could not reach him.

~oxoxo~

On the morning of Ivanolia and Danie's joining many camps were preparing to leave the summer meeting. It was going to be a small joining ceremony, which suited Ivanolia just fine. The men of the joining stayed in one tent, while the women stayed in another. Travie and Darvie, along with a mass of other Oak Camp women, prepared Danie for the ceremony.

Danie had decided to follow the Mamutoi tradition of wearing her matrimonial tunic open, breasts exposed, in honor of her people, and the Oak Camp thought that was a good idea. The people were extremely excited to learn that they would see a Mamutoi tradition—not to mention see the woman's bareness. Darvie braided her sister's hair, in proper Sungaean fashion, and Travie adjusted the front of her daughter's tunic, so that her breasts showed prominently.

Serana, Ivanolia's mother, had watched as the two foreign women got her son's intended ready, then she stepped up to offer the bride a shell and bead decorated leather headband that matched her tunic perfectly. Danie smiled and accepted the headband, hugging Serana tightly. "Turn around, will help put this on you," Serana said huskily, brushing away tears of joy for her son.

Fraylora tried to stay away, mostly because watching this was too painful to her, since her own daughter was dead, but she could not help but see how beautiful the young woman looked, and how happy she was. When Danie was completely dressed, Fraylora's breath was taken away.

Danie stood tall, and proud. Her tunic, which was more of a dress really since it reached the ground, was of the whitest leather Fraylora had ever seen. She had it cinched at the waist, and it was decorated with tiny deep pink and gray beads. The deep pink looked stunning against the white dress, and next to the woman's near black hair, and the gray beads brought out the gray of the woman's eyes as they sparkled with joy. Then the headband that had been given to her was tied on and the look was almost complete. Fraylora did not wonder why Ivanolia had fallen for her, she was absolutely exquisite.

Then a thought occurred to the older woman; Danie's neck was bare. She rushed off to go find what she thought would complete the woman's ensemble. When she returned, Danie was just about to go to the tent opening, but stopped, and looked at Fraylora. She knew who Fraylora was, and was sad that her own happiness was causing the woman such pain, but when the woman handed her a necklace of deep pink beads, she was speechless. "This is too much Fraylora. I cannot accept these."

Fraylora smiled—with tears in her eyes—and physically closed Danie's hand over the necklace with her own hands. "These belong to you now Danie. Nemlora would have wanted it this way. And besides," the woman said with a sniffle. "They suit you and your matrimonial outfit. Please accept them."

Danie looked deeply into the woman's eyes, then hugged her. Fraylora held on tightly, letting out a sob, then straightened up, wiped her eyes, and clapped her hands together. "Well, get that thing on, Ivanolia awaits!"

AtDC

Home Again

From the day Ayla thought the hunting party could return, she made a ritual of taking the children outside for the day. Many found her idea delightful and spent the days out in the sun as well. Some were beginning to worry since it had been well over the time that the men thought they'd be back, but Ayla tried to keep the women calm. "Sometimes hunting doesn't go the way it's planned," she said to them. "Maybe they didn't find anything and had to go further. Or maybe they killed too much and don't know what to do with it all." Her explanation sure seemed reasonable, so people tried to enjoy the good weather. Soon it would be cold again, and they wouldn't be able to sit outside for hours on end.

Ayla had prepared a comfortable place for Oga to sit, and helped the woman outside. Oga was experiencing more and more discomfort, and the baby seemed to be squirming around constantly, and the woman was getting no rest at all.

Broud was becoming quite annoying, since he hardly ever left the woman's side. Ayla couldn't even talk to Oga about how she felt without Broud interrupting. Ayla was glad that he seemed so interested, but a man was not supposed to know every intimate detail about what a woman was feeling. When his questions had finally reached Ayla limit, she went to Brun for help.

Ayla sat at the leader's feet and waited, though not very patiently. He could see her frustration, and made her wait a little longer. She may be their first medicine woman, but she needed to know that things would be done in his time. When Ayla realized what he was doing, she forced herself to calm down, and Brun finally tapped her shoulder.

"This woman would greet the leader."

"Yes Ayla, what do you want?"

"This medicine woman is having a difficult time with Broud. He is making it difficult for me to take care of Oga. Oga is having a rough time here at the end of her pregnancy and Broud is asking me too many questions about...women...and pregnancy. It is making it hard for this woman to do her job."

Brun grunted. He had noticed the behavior of son of his mate and, though it was significantly better than the open hostility that he used to portray, Brun could see that it was affecting the medicine woman's duties. "I will talk to him Ayla," he said with a wave of his hand.

~oxoxo~

After thinking about it for a while Brun decided to call Broud over. "Broud," the leader called from the cave's northern entrance.

Broud looked up and was torn between going to Brun and sitting there with Oga. Brun's look told him what he had to do. "Broud, the time has come...I have decided that you can have your status back. You are no longer the lowest ranked person of the Clan, and I want to give Oga back to you, but there is one problem."

Broud was elated, but he looked confused. "I do not want you to concern yourself with the medicine woman's care of your woman. I have seen you pestering her with questions and making it hard for her to do her duty." Broud frowned, not thinking that he had been doing anything wrong.

"Furthermore, you are now allowed to rely on the women to take care of your needs again, not just the women of your hearth. But there is one more thing. I want you to treat Ayla as if she were your sibling."

Broud frowned again. "Sibling? Why?"

"Yes Broud, she is among the women that you may not signal. Since Ebra considers Ayla her daughter, then she must be your sibling, right?"

Broud nodded. He had not intended on signaling Ayla again, but for some reason he was glad that Brun had ordered that he didn't.

"What do you want to do about a hearth? Do you want your old hearth back?"

Broud thought about it for a second, then shook his head. "If Grov will allow, I would like us to stay where we are." Brun nodded, as that was okay with him, then he dismissed the son of his mate with a wave of his hand.

~oxoxo~

Later that evening, the hunting party did return—and just as heavily burdened as they had been earlier in the season. Brun was pleased that the hunters had killed so much and decided to plan another extended hunt immediately. He needed to start stocking up for winter.

~oxoxo~

For the days that followed Ivanolia and Danie's joining everyone spent time visiting with family and friends. The summer had gone by quickly and there had been many changes, but now it was time to return to their own camps.

When Oak Camp was all prepared to go, there were only three remaining camps, one of which being Birch Camp, and they would be staying since it was their regular area. The people said their goodbyes, and wished everyone well, then set off on the journey that could take them up to twelve days.

Tagnolia started off first, and signaled all to follow. Everyone did as they were bid, and waved final goodbyes to Birch Camp, and the other two camps.

Darvie walked beside her mate, who put an arm around her and smiled down at her. Darvie was glad that her mother was going with them and that Danie would be there too. She truly didn't think she was going to be able to convince her sister to come and would therefore spend another winter without her mother. But thanks to Ivanolia, she would have her immediate family with her for the rest of her life.

Vincenzia's mind lay elsewhere, but he was grateful that Darvie seemed to understand.

Somewhere in the mix of people, the four young friends, Donzolnia, Ivanolia, Brulenzia, and Tinozia walked and laughed as they traveled. Jenadoza walked beside Donzolnia and they were sharing a look that told many they had a secret, and Danie walked beside Ivanolia, with love in her eyes. The other two men walked among them.

After they had been traveling for a while, Brulenzia glanced back to see where Laurana was; she was not far behind, but looked somewhat sad. At fourteen years, and only newly a woman, she didn't feel the confidence to invite herself to walk with them, so she stayed behind with her age mates, Tabita and Fürlasa. Brulenzia felt a moment of...something. He didn't know what it was. Laurana was Ivanolia's sister, his much younger sister, but there was something about her that he had not felt since Evanora. He finally decided to break off from the group and go to her.

When he came up beside her, she was having a conversation with the other two young women and didn't even notice his presence, so he slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her close. That, got her attention—and caused the other two new women to snicker.

"Hallo Laurana," he said, and gave her his most alluring smile. "Have you forgotten me already? With all those other men around and all."

Laurana gasped at his touch, then smiled back coyly. "Why no, Bru, I thought it was you that forgot me so soon. You are the one that takes someone new to your furs every night."

Brulenzia looked at her and tried to judge what she was really saying. She appeared to be hurt and that had not been his intent. He stopped walking for a moment, so they would not have the other two women listening to them. "Laurana, you are the only one that I want, but...you are so young."

Laurana immediate began to pout. "I am a woman now and I am old enough that you have taken me to your furs more than once. I am not too young for that."

Brulenzia smiled, then bent down and kissed her full on her pouty lips. "Yes, you are right. You are and I have. I will not forget that again." She smiled and threw her arms around his neck—and he picked her up. "Come walk with us," he said pulling her at a fast pace.

She hesitated slightly. "But what about Ivan and Donzolnia. Don't you worry about what they will say?"

Brulenzia laughed. "I don't care what they say...and besides, they already know. I told them at the summer meeting. Ivan said you were too young, but he was not upset."

Laurana smiled and followed him up to where the older young adults were walking, and silently slipped into the group.

Ivanolia noticed her appearance immediately and cast a look of warning to his friend that said, 'You'd better not hurt her.' Brulenzia sent a mock punch at Ivanolia, never losing their step in their antics.

Jenadoza smiled at her younger sister and, putting her free arm around the woman, leaned in to tell her her secret. "Guess what?"

Laurana looked at her big sister, and smiled back. "What?"

"You are going to be an auntie again."

Laurana's grin could have split the sun, for it was the hugest grin Jenadoza had ever seen. "That is just wonderful. Have you told mother yet?"

"No, I have not. You are the third to know...me first, then Don, then you. Are you happy for me?"

"Well yeah, of course."

Jenadoza continued to walk with her arm around her sister, but glanced at the men, who were goofing off ahead of them. "So, you and Brulenzia, huh?" Laurana blushed deeply. "I wondered where you were spending your nights during the summer meeting. I had no idea you were with a man from Oak Camp."

Laurana's face became an even deeper shade of red. "It just sort of happened. I hadn't even considered him before this summer, but somehow..." Her voice trailed off.

"Well, if he's anything like Don, and I know he is, then you'll be just fine. They're a little over protective, but that won't be new...we have Ivan." Jenadoza smiled, and urged her sister to get into the fray of men goofing off. Laurana ran with Jenadoza, and they joined the men.

~oxoxo~

Serana had seen Laurana sneaking off during the summer meeting and had suspected there was someone, but thought the affair would be over when the meeting ended. But now, she could see that it would not, because the affair was with Brulenzia. She had wanted to put an end to it immediately when she figured it out, but Vilognia stopped her. He had reminded her what she had done when her own mother tried to stop their relationship and had to admit that that had made her want Vilognia even more. Perhaps she was just sensitive because Ivanolia had just gotten mated again, but she did worry about her daughter's age...she was just so young.

~oxoxo~

When the people finally arrived at Oak Camp, they dropped all of their belongings outside, and cautiously entered the lodge. They wanted to make sure nothing was inhabiting their home before they rushed inside. As Tagnolia, Wäglodia, Vilognia, and Vincenzia went inside the lodge to chase out critters—if there were any—the rest of the men climbed on top of the lodge to remove the smoke hole coverings, to let some air into the stuffy lodge.

Tagnolia came out. "Well, it seems as if we did well; nothing seems too out of place. I think we need to start thinking about adding onto the lodge though, since we have two new members."

"Make that three new members," Jenadoza announced. "I'm pregnant," she said with a smile.

Serana and Zarina grinned and hugged the woman. This would be Zarina's first grandchild, and Serana's second, and they were both thrilled.

Ivanolia slapped Donzolnia on the back. "Well, you sure kept that a secret. So, when is my sister due?"

Jenadoza looked over at her brother, and smiled. "Middle of winter."

"Whoa-hoa, it's going to be an exciting winter, isn't it?" He put his arm around Danie, and looked for Tinozia and Brulenzia. Tinozia was speaking with Gredenzia, but Brulenzia was nowhere to be seen. Ivanolia looked around for Laurana, and not seeing her either, he laughed exuberantly. "Exciting indeed."

AtDC

Ivanolia Tries to be Funny

Oak Camp spent the next few days getting things back in order again, and then they sat down in the Cooking Hearth to discuss what needed to be done before winter was upon them.

"Well, first and foremost, we need to plan a hunt. We did receive a good share from Birch Camp's summer mammoth hunt, but it will not be enough. Who wants to go on the hunt?" Several people spoke up.

"Okay, we need make some changes in the lodge; add on to this lodge. I was thinking that the Antelope Hearth could be made smaller, since it appears that Brulenzia will be leaving the hearth soon," he said casting a glance at the second son of his mate, who had his lips locked with Laurana. Everyone laughed, which the couple didn't even hear. Even Serana laughed.

The headman turned back to the group shaking his head and smiling. "So, if we do that, then the Bison Hearth, and its joining gathering area can be pushed the same way. Then, if the Snow Leopard Hearth were to be pushed the other way, into the Cave Bear Hearth, then I was thinking that we could make an opening in the front wall, and add three hearths on the other side; they might be good for our younger couples. What do you think Donzolnia and Ivanolia?" The two men were nodding, thinking it would be nice to have some privacy.

"Then," the headman went on. "On the other side, I think the Jack Rabbit Hearth needs some more space. I'm beginning to wonder if my sister plans on having a baby every three years."

Tiflona glared at her brother, but it was more of a smirk. "I am not pregnant right now, nor have I been for six years."

He smiled at her good naturedly, thinking that her hearth was named appropriately. It was a common joke at Oak Camp, but he did not repeat it again.

"So," he went on. "The Healer's hearth can be made smaller, since we don't have a healer." He paused. "I thought we were looking for one this summer. No luck, huh?"

Tiflona shook her head. "There wasn't anyone that wanted to leave their camp, and since we have no healer, we couldn't take an acolyte; there would be no one to train him or her."

Tagnolia sighed. "That's a shame. Maybe we should think about sending one of us to another camp to train. We have been without a healer since mother died, and that's not good."

Travie raised her hand shyly, and Tagnolia pointed to her. "I am not a trained healer, but I have some skill. I could be of some assistance, if the need should arise."

Tagnolia smiled, grateful that the newest member of Oak Camp had a skill to contribute, even if she wasn't fully trained. "Okay, that's great. Then, the Ermine Hearth can move back and the Reindeer Hearth can be made smaller, since there is need in one hearth, but not the other." Tagnolia didn't mention that the Reindeer Hearth was completely unnecessary, since its former occupants were dead, but everyone understood why he was making the change. "So then we will be left with two empty hearths in the back. Travie, do you want one of them?"

The woman wasn't sure what to say, she had not expected to be given her own hearth. She wasn't sure she wanted one, since she had always had her daughters to live with her, but now that they were mated, she was faced with a decision, and she didn't know what to do.

"Travie, you are welcome to stay in our hearth, if you want to," Vincenzia said to his mate's mother. Darvie was not going to suggest it, but she was thrilled that her mate had, and nodded to her mother. Travie smiled, and accepted their offer.

"Alright, I suppose those of you that are not hunting, could be working on the lodge. What do you all say?" Tagnolia was greeted by nods of approval and even applause for his ideas. This was why he was their headman.

"And, I'm guessing that there will be a little traveling going on before the winter as well."

Vincenzia nodded, it was hard for him to think of anything else. "I will stay and help build, then head south, if someone will accompany me so I know where to go."

Donzolnia and Jenadoza both chimed in. "That would be us," they said in unison.

~oxoxo~

With their plans laid out, the camp went to work moving their personal belonging to the Cooking Hearth, and Tagnolia went around and individually explained exactly what he wanted done in each hearth.

The next morning would be the day that they would send out a scout to look for a herd, while the construction began. Gredenzia decided to take Tinozia out with him, so he could see how well the young man could scout and to see if he had any skill as a Searcher.

~oxoxo~

Gredenzia and Tinozia were gone for two days when they returned with news of a herd of reindeer to the east. Tagnolia nodded, thinking that would be fine, and had everyone prepare to leave the next day.

In the morning, the hunters rose early, pulled on warm clothing, and stepped out into the cold morning air. Tagnolia wondered why it had been warm just the day before. Why did the Mother choose the day that they would travel to change the weather? I seemed like that always happened.

Those that would be building got up as well, if just to see the people off. Serana was positioning her pack, then looked around for Laurana to give her some last minute instructions for her younger siblings. The young woman was not around again, so the woman pulled off her pack and entered the lodge.

She went to her hearth first, and noticed the woman's furs had not been slept in, and wondered how she could have missed that. Serana immediately knew where her daughter was and went to Tagnolia's hearth. Serana stepped in the hearth, and looked at Brulenzia's furs. The man was sound asleep, and her daughter lay naked, entwined in his arms, sleeping as well.

Serana had her hands on her hips, and she wanted to clear her throat, but suddenly thought better of it, and shook her head. There was no use; she might as well accept it. Her daughter was going to be with the man. She could have chosen someone far worse and at least this man was from their camp—her daughter wouldn't be leaving her.

Serana quietly left the hearth, with just one last look at her daughter, then joined the hunters. "Ivanolia, keep an eye on your brothers. I don't think Laurana is aware that they exist."

Ivanolia looked around, and noticed Laurana wasn't there again, then he nodded to his mother.

~oxoxo~

When the hunters left, Ivanolia enlisted Donzolnia to help him get Brulenzia out of the furs so they could get to work. The two men crept into the Antelope Hearth, and knelt down beside the sleeping lovebirds. They could barely keep from laughing. Ivanolia pulled out a feather and held it up, which made Donzolnia have to cover his mouth. Ivanolia tickled the sleeping man's ear, which caused him to wave his hand at his ear and roll over. The man was now laying on his side, with one leg over Laurana, and she had a breast exposed.

Donzolnia looked at Ivanolia. "Are you sure we should be doing this?" he whispered to Ivanolia. Ivanolia smiled and nodded, and leaned over to do it again. This time, Brulenzia turned over quickly and grabbed the man's hand, causing Laurana to open her eyes and grab the blanket to pull up over herself. "IVAN!" she screamed. "GET OUT! Or I'll have to tell mother."

Ivanolia was struggling with Brulenzia, who had wrestled him to the ground, and they were all cracking up. Donzolnia looked at Laurana and blushed, embarrassed that he had helped Ivanolia. But she was laughing at her brother who was now pinned on the ground by a naked Brulenzia. Laurana got up and wrapped her blanket around herself. "Ivan, you are not funny. Can't you let anyone sleep?"

Ivanolia was laughing so hard he couldn't stand it. Finally, Brulenzia got up and stood over him completely naked. "Don't do that again, Ivan, or you'll be sorry," he said—and then started laughing again.

Donzolnia threw his brother his leggings and turned to see Jenadoza standing there watching. "What is going on here?"

Laurana turned to her sister, and then pointed at Ivanolia. "Ask him, he's the troublemaker in here, though this one," she said poking Donzolnia in the ribs, "came along for the laughs."

Jenadoza laughed at the situation, but scolded her mate. "I do not want any funny business in our hearth, so you better not join in the next time my brother wants to cause trouble."

Donzolnia laughed and hugged her. "I knew we shouldn't have done this, but Ivan's so convincing."

Ivan was still on the ground laughing hysterically. "If you could have only seen your own faces. It was so funny. Laurana, you are so funny; saying you're going to tell mother on me," he said bursting into another fit of laughs. "Do you know how funny that sounds coming from a woman that is lying naked beside a man?" He was positively gurgling with mirth, beyond any means of controlling himself.

"And Bru, my buddy, naked, and draped over my little sister," Ivan was sputtering with amusement. "It was absolutely classic," the man was laughing so hard that he began to cough. "Then you standing there naked," he said holding his sides, and coughing some more.

The four people watching Ivan on the ground began to laugh as well, and when Danie showed up, they had to explain that happened to her, and that sent Ivanolia into another fit of laughter. "Ivanolia, I'm not sure it's as funny as you seem to think it is," Danie said, but even as she said it, she started to laugh as well.

~oxoxo~

For the rest of the day, Ivanolia continued to make jokes about his friend and his sister, but it was all in fun and made the work go by quicker. They decided to start building the add on before opening up a hold in the wall to connect it to the lodge, that way there would be no way for cold air to get in until they were ready.

~oxoxo~

At Brun's cave, the people were working hard preparing for the coming winter. Brun sent out another hunting party, but this time chose some of the men that had stayed at the cave before, and kept the men at the cave that had hunted before. Broud decided to stay again, since Ayla said it would be any day, and it was a good thing, because the morning after the hunters left, Oga's water broke while gathering grains in the field.

Ayla was gathering next to her, and didn't notice until Oga groaned in pain. Ayla looked up to see the woman's wet legs, and a grimace of pain on her face. Ayla dropped her collecting basket, and called for Ebra and Uba to assist her in helping the woman back to the medicine hearth.

Grov went go find Broud, and though Broud protested, the man took him to where the men would be waiting. "But I don't see why I have to stay away," the man gestured. "You didn't when Aniza was born, and Goov was there when one of his sons was born."

Grov almost laughed. "Do you hear what you are saying Broud? Those times were emergencies; they could not be helped. It is not the Clan way to have a man there."

Broud was still arguing with the man, but he was allowing him to steer him toward the men.

"Could we at least sit in the smaller central hearth? That way we will be closer." Grov didn't see why not, and gestured to the leader as the walked by that they would be by the other main fire. Daub, Dorg, Goov, Vorn, and Borg joined them.

~oxoxo~

Ayla had run ahead to get the medicine hearth ready, as Ebra and Uba helped Oga through the cave to the hearth. They had to stop a couple of times so that the woman could bend over with each contraction. When they got her to the hearth, Ayla got her comfortable, and got Oga's birthing blanket ready. After the next contraction, Ayla slipped her finger into the woman to check to see where she was, and she smiled. "Oga, this one is coming very fast," she said, and she felt the woman's body go rigid with another contraction. "Push Oga, push...that's it, I can see the head." The baby's head appeared, and the contraction ended. "Okay Oga, I think the baby's head will come out on the next push, so push hard." Oga nodded, and sighed when the next one came, and pushed with all her might, and the baby's head popped out, just as Ayla had said it would.

Ayla and Ebra looked at the baby's head, and then looked at one another. They masked their surprise before the laboring woman saw their faces. On the next contraction, it was over, Oga pushed, and the tiny baby slid out with hardly any effort. Ayla picked up the baby, cleaned out its mouth, and was rewarded with a loud squawl that told her the child was strong.

Oga obviously was worried about the baby. "Well, what is it?"

"It's a girl," Ebra said, glad that Broud's mate had a daughter instead of a son.

Ayla cleaned the child, wrapped it tight, and handed it to the new mother. Oga was thrilled, she had wished for a girl, but when she looked at the baby, she stared at it horrified. "This baby is deformed. Why didn't you tell me the baby is deformed? Broud will never let me keep this child," she said pushing the baby back at Ayla.

Ayla looked at the baby, then handed it to Ebra. "She is not deformed Oga, she was just started by Grov's totem spirit, not Broud's. She is part Others, just as Durc, Ura, and Vorg are."

Oga turned her head to the side, and whined about the baby once again. "But she won't be able to hold up her head; she will be a burden."

Ayla almost laughed. "Oga, do you hear yourself? Don't you remember Durc's neck? Or more recently, don't you remember Annaliza's neck. This baby will be fine. You must look at her again." Ayla held out the baby to her mother, but Oga would not look at her. "Oga, you have to feed her; she needs to eat," the medicine woman said, but Oga ignored her.

Ayla didn't know what to do. She had never seen a woman that didn't want her own baby before. Ayla looked from Ebra to Uba, and finally decided. She took the baby out of Ebra's arms, and put the baby to her own breast. The baby fussed a bit, not sure what to do, then latched on hard. The child wanted to live. When she was finished, Ayla handed her back to Ebra. "Uba, you go talk to Brun. I will go talk to Broud."

When the men saw the two women coming into the central space, Broud jumped up. "Well?"

Ayla smiled. "This woman is grieved to report that the child is a girl."

Broud took a deep breath, then looked at Ayla more closely; she wasn't telling him everything. "And?"

Ayla sighed. "But the child is mixed."

Broud's breath exploded. "It's deformed. The child is deformed. How could my mate bring a deformed baby into the world?"

Ayla touched the man's arm to get his attention, and he jumped as if she had burned him. "Broud, this woman said the baby is mixed, not deformed."

Broud spun around to look at Grov. "This is your fault. If you weren't touching Oga all the time, then this wouldn't have happened." Broud was looking crazed. "I want to see it."

Just then, Brun walked around the corner, and Goov joined him. Ayla, is it true that the child is deformed?"

Ayla was just as upset as the rest, but she was upset that they kept saying the baby was deformed. "She is not deformed, she is mixed; just like Durc, Ura, and Vorg...and Grov, she said finishing up, and looking at her mate for help.

The three men went to the medicine hearth to see the baby, and Grov hugged Ayla, and let her cry.

Usually the leader and the Mog-ur looked at the baby alone, but this time Broud went too, and Grov and Ayla followed behind. Ebra held up the baby, since Oga wouldn't touch it, and Broud looked at it closely. He thought it didn't look right, but agreed that she looked mixed and not deformed. Ebra opened the baby's wrap, and revealed a perfectly normal looking baby, though much smaller than Clan babies. Its only oddity was its head, which looked like Durc's head had. The baby lay there quietly for a moment, then let out a howl. Brun and the Mog-ur leaned in close, and the three men saw that the child's eyes were watering just like Ayla's did. Broud looked at it, and then at Ayla, then at Brun. "I will accept the baby if the leader will allow it to live."

Brun was surprised at Broud's gestures, and sighed. "The child may remain with her mother. If she lives until the naming day, she will be accepted into the Clan." And with that, the leader and Mog-ur left the medicine hearth.

Broud glared at Grov. "I told you this was going to happen."

Grov felt bad, but at the same time he was not overly upset that Broud's totem spirit had started Durc. Ebra tried to hand the baby to Oga again, but Oga rolled over. Ayla took the baby, and offered it to Broud. He stared at it, then took it from Ayla. Broud studied the baby's face, and thought it looked like a tiny Oga, with a little Annaliza mixed in, then he realized that he did not care whose totem spirit had created the child; now he just needed to convince Oga that it would be okay. Ebra and Uba left, and Grov and Ayla decided to leave Broud alone with Oga. Ayla picked up the new baby, and looked at Broud. "This woman will take her back to the hearth. Let me know if Oga would like to nurse her, okay?"

Broud nodded and lay down beside his woman, trying to get her attention, and being unsuccessful...

AtDC

Another Journey

Ayla and Grov walked back to their hearth, Ayla holding Oga's baby, and they sat down to drink tea. Grov asked to see the baby, so Ayla put her down, and opened up the tiny bundle, so that the man could see the baby that he had created. He smiled. "She's almost the same size as Annaliza is now, how can that be?"

Ayla looked at Oga's baby, and then picked up Annaliza, and put her down next to the new baby. "I guess that's just the difference between Clan and Others. Clan babies do everything faster, I guess growing is one of those things."

The two people leaned over and inspected the two children. They were obviously related, though the new baby looked mostly like Oga, but she definitely had Grov's eyes. Ayla looked closely, and thought that maybe the baby's eyes might be blue, though it was too hard to tell with new babies.

~oxoxo~

Broud had been trying to comfort Oga, but she was ignoring him. He considered getting angry with her and demanding that she stop her unClan-like behavior, but something about him had changed, and demanding her to do something she didn't want to do just seemed wrong to him now.

She was lying on her side, facing away from him, and he was behind her with his arm wrapped over her, and he could hear her whimpering. He wondered why she was making unnecessary sounds, then figured she was just used to the noise that was frequent at their hearth. He didn't feel like he could help his woman, and that made him feel bad. Broud kissed the back of her shoulder, then he got up to leave.

~oxoxo~

When he got to the regular hearth, he saw Grov and Ayla inspecting the babies, and he sat down beside them to look too. Ayla jumped up and made the man some tea, then made some for Grov and herself and sat back down.

Annaliza had rolled over and was reaching for the new baby. And Oga's baby was trying to do the same. Ayla smiled, thinking that Annaliza had just learned to do that, and Oga's baby would probably be doing it within a day or so.

Broud drank his tea in silence and watched Ayla handle the babies. Annaliza reached for her mother, wanting to nurse, so Ayla picked her up and put her to her breast. As soon as Ayla did this, Oga's baby started to cry.

"What's wrong with her Ayla?" Broud asked.

Ayla looked at Oga's baby, and smiled. "I think she just wants to be with Annaliza, or maybe she needs to nurse again. Put her in my arm, I will nurse them together." Broud picked up Oga's baby, and put her in the crook of Ayla's right arm and the baby nestled in quickly.

Broud watched the woman that he had only recently learned to tolerate and sighed at her acceptance of this baby. He had not been so accepting of her son, in fact, he had been down right mean and now Ayla was helping his mate and he was grateful.

~oxoxo~

For the next few days, Oga hardly moved. Ayla basically had to force feed the woman and she continued to nurse the baby. Everyday Ayla could see the baby getting stronger and its mother getting weaker.

When the naming day came, Oga simply wasn't strong enough to get out of bed, so Brun allowed Ayla to hold the child. Broud wondered if that made Ayla the girl's mother or if Oga was still her mother.

The Clan gathered outside again, and Ayla waited patiently for Goov to be ready. When he beckoned, she hurried to join them and kneeled in front of the Mog-ur, uncovered the child, and looking up directly at the magician...there was no need to look down this time, she was not bleeding. She held the babe up while the magician looked over her head making the gestures that called the spirits to attend the ceremony. Then, with a flourish, he began.

Dipping into the bowl...he drew a stripe from the point

of the baby's tiny brow ridges, to the tip of her tiny unClan-like little nose with the red-ochre paste.

"Agra, the girl's name is Agra," Mog-ur said slowly. The naked infant, assailed by the cold wind that whipped past the sunny front porch of the cave, voiced a healthy howl which drowned out the approving murmur of the Clan.

Everyone filed past the new Clan member saying her name; the last two to say it were Grov and Broud.

~oxoxo~

When the ceremony was over, they went back to the hearth to find that Oga had not moved an inch. Ayla tried to talk to her, but the woman just moaned. Ayla examined her and found that her breasts were as hard as rocks. Since Oga had refused to nurse the baby, Ayla had been massaging the woman's breasts daily to extract the milk, so that the milk would not dry up, but Oga was producing too much milk for Ayla to continue to do this. Ayla needed to come up with another plan. Then it hit her. The next time Agra was hungry, she wouldn't feed her...not right away anyway. She would bring her to Oga and leave the baby with her. Maybe the crying will rouse her.

So, just as she had planned, when Agra cried to fed next, Ayla brought her to Oga, set her down, then went back to her own hearth. When Broud saw what she was doing he became very concerned.

"What are doing Ayla? The baby will starve if you do not feed her."

Ayla looked at Broud. "This woman knows that, and I will not let her starve, but Oga needs to come out of this and maybe her baby's cries will help. I promise not to let her starve Broud."

He frowned, and cringed as the baby screamed louder and louder. After a while, Ayla went and got the baby and fed her. This was the routine for quite a while, but one day while the child was in the medicine hearth—and Broud was sitting with his hands over his ears in Grov's hearth—the crying suddenly stopped. Ayla, Grov, and Broud's eyes opened wide and Ayla stood up. "I will go check," she gestured.

Ayla walked as quietly as she could and peered around the cave wall, and saw that Oga had finally been roused by the baby's cries. She was sitting there with the child to her breast, and the expression on her face was one of pain—and relief. Ayla watched for a moment, then stepped into the hearth. "I see that you have met your daughter."

Oga looked at Ayla and her face contorted into a look that Ayla figured was a Clan smile, so she sat down next to the woman.

"Oga, Broud has accepted the baby. The Clan has also accepted the baby and no one thinks that she is deformed. Do you want to know what her name is?" Oga nodded, and Ayla smiled. "Broud chose your mother's name, Agra."

Oga looked down at the baby in her arms, and then back at the medicine woman. "This woman is grateful that you have cared for Agra when I could not."

Ayla smiled. "Well, you did the same for me when my milk dried up. Now we are even. I will go get Broud," Ayla said as she stood up. She case one last look at Oga, then went to get her mate.

~oxoxo~

Ayla had hardly stepped into the hearth, when she was accosted by the two men. "Well?" they said in unison.

Ayla smiled and looked at Broud. "You have your mate back. Go see for yourself." Broud hardly needed telling, he hadn't even seen her last gesture.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

At Oak Camp, the hunters had returned with more meat than necessary. It was going to be a good winter they thought, and they worked hard on the expansion of their lodge. When it was finished, the people spent time putting their belongings away, and the two youngest couples moved into the new space.

After the incident in the beginning of the building process where he hadn't had the privacy that he and Laurana wanted, Brulenzia decided to take the remaining new hearth as his own, so that he could bring her back there, and not have to be in either his mother's hearth, or her mother's hearth. Laurana would continue to be part of the Ermine Hearth, until they did finally mate, but she spent most of her time in his hearth. The only drawback was that the hearth was right next to Ivanolia's—who teased them unmercifully.

~oxoxo~

When finally the finishing touches had been put on the lodge, they talked of travel. Tagnolia approached Vincenzia in the Cooking Hearth. "So, when are you leaving?"

Vincenzia shrugged. He had a serious look on his face. "I am actually getting nervous. What if Ayla doesn't even want to see me? What if she's so happy there that I have no place in her life?"

Darvie was sitting with them, and hugged her mate, hoping to give him comfort. "You have to try, Vin. You won't know until you try."

Tagnolia was nodding. "And their cave isn't far away, so Donzolnia says, and Donzolnia and Jenadoza plan to travel with you. I think you should leave today, before the weather turns bad."

Donzolnia was close by, and overheard the conversation. "Yes, it's bound to get bad soon, we should leave right away if we can."

Jenadoza was nodding. "I can be ready very shortly, my rucksack is still packed from the summer meeting. I would only have to change my clothing and pack some food."

Vincenzia smiled at them, and stood up. "Well then, let's get moving!"

Tagnolia smiled at his friend, and Zarina began to pack the traveling food. Donzolnia and Jenadoza left to get their things, and Brulenzia and Laurana went to help them. Vilognia and Serana waited patiently in the Cooking Hearth, and had a hot traveling tea ready for the people when they were ready for it.

"Okay, I think we have everything," Vincenzia said, as he looked at his niece and her mate. "Ready?" They nodded and everyone gave them hugs and well wishes for a safe journey.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

It had only been a few days since Oga had been reunited with her baby, but she was looking much better. Grov and Broud watched the two women of their hearth as they worked together and played with their babies together. In just the few days, Oga's baby had passed Annaliza in development, and it amazed the two couples.

The baby girls had become rather inseparable; each cried if the other was removed from the area, which forced Ayla and Oga to do nearly everything together. The men watched the closeness of their women and babies grow, and Grov wondered how they would make a journey in the spring.

On the day of the first snow it was Durc and Grev that came running in, covered with snow to let everyone know. "Durc," Ayla said. "How many times do I have to tell you that you shouldn't be out in the snow without your wolverine hood?"

Durc laughed at his mother. "Once every winter, Mama. And besides, we didn't know it was going to snow."

Ayla smiled at the boys. "Well, okay then, put them on and you can go back out. Where's Brac? You two shouldn't be alone out there."

Grev pulled his hood over his head. "We're not alone. All the children are outside." Oga grunted, and the boys ran back out.

~oxoxo~

The boys were outside for very long, when they saw people approaching. Most of the children ran inside, but Durc recognized Donzolnia and Jenadoza as two of the three people approaching. Grev stayed with Durc, but Brac ran in to tell the Clan.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

Vincenzia saw the children playing, and couldn't help but wonder what flathead children would be playing, then he saw them run into the cave. He noticed that three children remained, were discussing something, then the tallest one went into the cave. Jenadoza told him that he was probably going in to get someone.

As they got closer, four men appeared at the cave entrance. Jenadoza decided to tell Vincenzia who they were. "That is Brun, their headman; they have no headwoman. Then Goov, their Shogur; they say Mog-ur. Then Broud, the leader's mate's son, and then Grov, Ayla mate."

Vincenzia looked at them critically, and noticed right from the off that Grov was much taller than the rest of the flatheads, and that he appeared to be more human than flathead. That would be most beneficial if Ayla ever visited the Sungaea, he thought.

Jenadoza had been watching the man and sighed. "Vincenzia, they are not flatheads, they call themselves Clan, and they call us the Others. Please don't insult them by calling them the wrong thing. They know flathead means animal to us." Vincenzia nodded. He did not want to insult his Annalisa's daughter.

When they were close enough to talk, Brun put up his hand and Grov approached them. "Why do you come back?" he said.

"We have brought Ayla's mother's mate. He would like to meet the daughter of his hearth." Grov turned around and made hand gestures to the three men behind him, who gestured back and then promptly left.

Grov smiled at them. "Our leader said you can in, but I remind you that you should not look at our women, except in the hearth." The Others nodded. Donzolnia had explained that to Vincenzia on the journey, along with as many of the customs he could remember. Jenadoza fell in behind the three men, knowing that was what was expected of a woman.

AtDC

The Oak Camp Earthlodge (by hearth and age, not by rank)

Entry Area – Storage of fuel, implements, outer clothes

First Hearth – Visitor's Hearth

Second Hearth – Cooking hearth and space for gathering

Third Hearth (Antelope Hearth)

Tagnolia (40) – Headman, brother of Tiflona
Zarina (38) – mother of Donzolnia and Brulenzia (as well as children below)
~ Frala (13)
~ Morina (11)

Fourth Hearth (Jack Rabbit Hearth)

Wäglodia (39) – mated to headwoman
Tiflona (38) – Headwoman, sister of headman
~ Tinozia (18) – first son of headwoman, unmated
~ Tabita (15)
~ Torina (12)
~ Talneezia (9) – tall redhead
~ Tena (6)

Fifth Hearth (Bison Hearth)

Gredenzia (35) – mated to Fraylora, Shogur
Fraylora (35) – Nemlora's mother
~ Fürlasa (15)
~ Fräubita (13)
~ Gildenozia (9)

Sixth Hearth (Healer's Hearth – Empty)

Seventh Hearth (extension to Shogur's hearth, private ceremonies and gatherings)

Eighth Hearth (Winter Stoat (Ermine) Hearth)

Vilognia (40) – Vinoza and Vincenzia's brother
Serana (40) – mother of Ivanolia and Jenadoza
~ Laurana (14)
~ Vegodia (11)
~ Serlona (8)

Ninth Hearth (Cave Bear Hearth)

Donzolnia (21) – first son of headman's mate, Jenadoza's mate
Jenadoza (17) – injured woman with the Clan, Ivanolia's sister, Evanora and Ayla's cousin, pregnant

Tenth Hearth (Arctic Fox Hearth)

Ivanolia (21) – Jenadoza's brother, Evanora and Ayla's cousin
Danie (20) – Travie's daughter, Darvie's sister, Ivanolia's second mate
~ Braydalana (7) – Nemlora's daughter (Nemlora died giving birth at 13)

Eleventh Hearth (Gray Wolf Hearth)

Brulenzia (19) – second son of headman's mate, Donzolnia's brother, Evanora's closest childhood playmate, unmated, but in love with Laurana

Twelfth Hearth (Reindeer Hearth)

Teglodia (would be 35 if not dead) – left to go on a journey 10 years ago when youngest child (Tegasia) was killed in a hunting accident, headman's best friend
Vinoza (would be 33 if not dead) – gladly journeyed with her mate, too sad to stay
~ Evanora (would be 19 if not dead) – was mated to Grov (Nora), mother of Ora

Thirteenth Hearth (Snow Leopard Hearth)

Vincenzia (36) – Vilognia and Vinoza's brother, travels often, returned recently from one of his journeys to the Mamutoi, lost first mate (Annalisa) and daughter (Andreyta or Ayla) in such a travel
Darvie (25) – second mate, Mamutoi woman
~ Crisana (Crisanie) (7) – Darvie's daughter
~ Brenevia (Brenev) (4) – Darvie's son
~ ~ Travie (43) – Darvie and Danie's mother

Fourteenth Hearth – Empty Hearth

Fifteenth Hearth – Food storage area

Sixteenth Hearth – Empty Hearth

Seventeenth Hearth – Empty hearth space

Back Entry Area – More storage

Sweat Bath Area

AtDC

Reunited

Broud had returned to the hearth to inform Ayla that Donzolnia and Jenadoza had brought with them the man of her hearth. Ayla was excited that Jenadoza had returned, but nervous about meeting her true mother's mate. She wished Grov had come back to wait with her, so she had someone to lean on. Sensing her nervousness, Oga moved closer to her, and they waited.

~oxoxo~

Durc and Grev walked behind the men with Jenadoza. "You look so much like my Mama," Durc said to her.

"That is because we are related. The man of your Mama's hearth and the man of my hearth are brothers."

Durc seemed satisfied with Jenadoza's answer. Then he looked at the tall blond man walking in front of him. "And is he the man of Mama's hearth?" Jenadoza smiled and nodded. Durc looked at the man again and walked up and slipped his small Clan hand into the man's large Others' hand.

Vincenzia looked down at the boy, and studied him while they walked, then he bent down and picked the child up so he could look at him more closely. He could definitely see his little Andreyta in the boy even though he had the Clan's deep-set dark brown eyes, and protruding brow ridges.

~oxoxo~

When Ayla heard Grov and the visitors coming, she began to quake. Oga reached over and held her hand. Broud stood up and waited.

Grov entered the hearth first, followed by Donzolnia, and a tall blond, older looking man, who was carrying Durc. Jenadoza brought up the rear with Grev at her side.

Ayla got up and went to the men immediately and dropped to the floor at their feet. Vincenzia was surprised at first, but he remembered that Jenadoza said this was their custom. Grov smiled, took Durc from the man's arms, and indicated that the visitor should tap the woman's shoulder. Vincenzia hesitated; he was not used to treating a woman this way, least of all the daughter of his hearth, but he finally did it.

When Ayla looked up, she had tears streaming down her face, but Vincenzia gasped. She was an exact replica of her mother, except that she had his blue-gray eyes. Tears began to well up in his eyes, as he stared at the woman before him. He could not help himself, he touched her face, and ran his fingers along her jaw, then he grabbed her and hugged her tightly. When he finally pulled back, he wiped off his face with his hands and then he did the same to hers. Ayla was stunned by the man's emotion, and by his touch. She had never seen a man with so much emotion before. He hugged her again and lifted her off the ground. He never wanted to let go.

Ora was standing behind Broud's leg, as the man stood off to the side, but was becoming very interested. So much so that she braved approaching them. "Mamma?" she said questioningly, pulling on her mother's wrap. "You okay, Mamma? Why you cry?"

Vincenzia pulled back and looked down at the child. Ora's eyes opened wide as she looked at him. Ayla bent down and picked her up. "Yes Ora, Mamma fine. This is man of my hearth," Ayla said with joy in her voice. Ora smiled and looked at the man, then she stuck her thumb in her mouth and put her head down on Ayla's shoulder.

Ayla turned to Vincenzia. "And this," she said indicating the child she was holding. "Is Grov's daughter. I mean...Evanora's daughter. She was born to Grov's hearth two years ago, but now she is my daughter too."

Vincenzia smiled at the girl, then hugged Ayla again, this time including the child. "I have met your mate Grov and your son Durc," he said looking over at the boy that was still in the man's arms and ruffled his hair. "But I have been told that you just had another baby."

Ayla nodded and handed Ora to Broud, who was standing protectively nearby his woman, then went to pick up her new baby. "This is Annaliza," she said handing the chubby baby to the man. "She is almost four cycles of the moon."

Vincenzia looked at the child and began to tear up again. The child looked just like Ayla had. Further, he was touched beyond reason that they had given her Ayla's mother's name. It was too much for the man; he put his arm around Ayla again and began to cry openly.

Grov waited for their hug to end, then he put Durc down. Durc went to stand off to the side with Grev. Grov gave them a minute to compose themselves before he decided to introduce the rest of the hearth.

"Vincenzia, this is Broud and his mate Oga, and her children, Brac, Grev, and Agra."

Vincenzia looked at the flathead people, he could immediately tell that the spirit of the man Broud was the one that had created Durc inside Ayla. A momentary thought of disgust went through him, but he pushed it away. These are the people that had saved my Andreyta when I could not, he reminded himself.

The woman flathead was hard to see, she kept looking at the ground. He could tell that Broud did not like him looking at his woman so he looked at the baby instead. The baby, Agra, is mixed, he thought. Then, upon further inspection, maybe of Grov's spirit. Then he looked at the boys. Brac appeared to be about nine or ten, but short for that age—if he were Sungaea—and the boy Grev seemed to be about Durc's age, but maybe a touch older. All of his musings of the people occurred in a minute amount of time, and then he looked back at Ayla.

"We cannot stay long; just a few days, if that is acceptable to your leader, but I had to come meet you before the winter snows came."

Ayla smiled at the man through her tears. "It looks like you are too late for that."

Vincenzia laughed. "Seems so, but it shouldn't be too bad, since it's just the beginning of the season, but we still shouldn't stay long. I just had to meet you before the spring to hear about your life and to tell you all about Oak Camp. I'm not sure I could have waited until the end of the winter."

Ayla smiled again and asked the visitors to sit. Then she looked at Grov and Broud, to make sure it was okay. Broud shrugged, and sat by Oga and Agra. Brac left to go find his friends, and Durc and Grev went into the joining hearth to play. Ayla made tea and offered the people some food.

Vincenzia could not take his eyes off the daughter of his hearth. She busied herself making the meal and he wondered why she did it alone. Jenadoza got up to help, as if she had read his mind. Oga did not move to help; Ayla had given her strict orders to do nothing but care for her baby for a while and Broud had agreed that Oga needed the time, as the ordeal of giving birth and finding out the child was mixed had taken a lot out of her emotionally, as well as physically.

After some time had passed, Brun showed up wanting to know how long the visitors would be there. "They say they cannot stay long," Grov gestured, knowing that that's what Brun wanted to hear. "They just wanted Ayla's mother's mate to meet her. I suspect they will want her to visit them...later, if that is acceptable to you."

Brun grunted and looked at the tall blond man. He could see the resemblance between him and Ayla, though they looked somewhat different. She must be of his totem spirit, he thought. He made a gesture of greeting.

Grov began to translate in words and gestures. "This is our leader, headman, Brun. He has just welcomed you."

Vincenzia said hello back and tried to make the sign for greetings; he had been briefed, but it lacked finesse and was awkward. Grov did a good job of making the introduction and it was decided that they Others could stay for a short visit. Brun left to go back to the other side of the cave. It is difficult to have these loud Others among us, he thought as he walked back.

When the leader was gone, Ayla served her kin a meal and they began a conversation that lasted into the night.

AtDC

A Strong Gust

The few days that the Oak Camp members had planned to stay with Brun's Clan quickly turned into many more and it was getting colder and colder with each passing day. It hadn't snowed since the day of their arrival, but the sky seemed to have become a perpetual blackness, with no hope of the sun ever peeking through again.

For Vincenzia, it didn't matter. He was enjoying his time with the daughter of his heart and had forgotten that they needed to return before the storms began; for a three day journey in a storm could take ten times as long—or be the end of a life.

Donzolnia and Jenadoza were enjoying the visit as well, but they wanted to get home to family and friends, and the security of their own lodge. Jenadoza secretly worried about what would happen to her if they got stuck with the Clan and she had to give birth with them. She truly believed they were human, but she was also concerned about her body allowing one of the Clan spirits inside her; she did not want a mixed child.

But besides the thought of the mixing of spirits, she was worried about not having a competent healer with her. She knew that Ayla was the Clan's first ranked medicine woman and that her sister, Uba, was second, but what if something went wrong? What if she needed a real healer? Ayla and Uba couldn't possibly really know what to do; they had no real training. Jenadoza was letting the flathead stereotypes invade her head, and didn't even realize that if anyone didn't have a competent healer, it was Oak Camp that was lacking.

Ayla could see that Jenadoza was getting anxious to leave and she could understand that the woman wanted to be in her own home. Ayla suggested that they leave, so that the journey could be made easier. Vincenzia agreed that they should be going, for he had no desire to travel during a storm. They planned to leave the next morning after the morning meal.

~oxoxo~

When the morning came, everyone sat solemnly, drinking his or her tea. It had been a cold night and the western entrance of the cave was covered with frost—and the wind was blowing harder than anyone could remember it ever blowing before. Ayla gave Jenadoza a warm bear skin hide that had been given to her earlier in the season and helped the woman wrap up tight.

Jenadoza hugged her cousin and cried, but again promised to visit in the spring. "Maybe you will make it to Oak Camp for a visit too. You just have to see the new Ivanolia. He doesn't appear to be the same man," she said with a smile.

Ayla remembered his anger all too well and involuntarily rubbed the arm that he had accidentally punched, but smiled at the woman and let her own tears fall freely.

Donzolnia hugged her too, and then kissed the two little girls. Ora was quite the handful he thought; a precocious child by nature. Then he thought of her true mother, Evanora, and smiled at the thought of Ora being just like her. He picked up Annaliza, and blew on her chubby little cheek, which created a stream of giggles, and caused Ora to ask him to do it to her too.

When it was Vincenzia's turn to say his goodbyes, he almost couldn't do it. As soon as he looked at Ayla, they both broke into sobs and fell into each other's arms. "Have I found my Andreyta, only to lose her again?" he asked.

Ayla was shaking her head. "No, no Vincenzia, you will not lose me. Grov has promised to bring me to Oak Camp as soon as it is safe to travel. We will be together again."

Vincenzia smiled. "You could come with us now. You could winter with us."

Ayla smiled, but shook her head. "I cannot leave here now. There will be a baby to deliver not many moons from now. I cannot leave Ebra right now."

He was nodding; he knew she would not come. "I had to ask. But, I will hold you to that promised visit." Ayla hugged the man again and he put his arm around her as they walked to the northern entrance.

When they got to the cave opening, a light dusting of snow was falling and the wind was blowing ever persistently. Everyone gave last quick hugs and, before he left, Vincenzia grabbed Grov in a hug and whispered, "Take care of my little girl."

Grov smiled. "I will Vincenzia. And we will visit in the spring. I promise."

The three journeyers turned and walked away, disappearing from sight in only twenty or so paces. The snow began to fall harder and the wind whipped the windbreak with a loud snap.

~oxoxo~

When they were out of sight, Grov and Ayla went back inside, fastened the windbreak tightly, and went back to their hearth. Ayla tried to clean up, but just didn't want to. She decided that she wanted to go back to bed; they had, after all, been up almost all night and then had risen before dawn, so that they would have plenty of time to talk before their visitors left.

Grov encouraged her to lie down. "You're no good around here if you're dead tired. I can take care of the children if they need something."

Ayla smiled at her mate and hugged him, then asked him to lie down with her. "Let's all lie down," she said.

They put the girls back down; Durc decided to go find Grev, as they crawled into their own furs and snuggled closely. Ayla loved the feel of his arms around her, and pushed herself up against him. He breathed in deeply, enjoying her womanly scent, and kissed the back of her neck. Ayla could feel his member rubbing against her buttocks and she pushed against him with purpose, causing him to groan with pleasure. He pulled her around so that she was facing him instead. "I thought you were tired," he said as he hugged her lovingly.

"Hmmmm, I am tired...but never tired of you or too tired to have you."

Grov smiled at her, kissed her firmly, and slipped her wrap to the side, so that he could find her moist opening and node of pleasure. Ayla closed her eyes, reveling in his touch, and allowed her body to take over. It did not take long for her to reach her peak and for him to feel her wetness in his hand. When she had finished, he touched her opening and slid his fingers inside her. Oh, how he loved how she felt inside, he thought. Ayla was still quivering, but she opened her eyes. "Oh Grov, I must have you inside me now."

Grov smiled and removed his hand, then rolled her onto her back, so that he could enter her easily. She groaned with the pleasure of him slowly sliding in and out of her and held onto him until he climaxed and collapsed on top of her. Then she held him longer. Both were breathing hard and the sweat from his brow dripped onto her forehead. He tried to move off of her, but she held him tightly, not wanting him to get off of her. "Hmmmm, I like it when you're on top of me," she said in a husky voice.

He lifted himself just enough to smile down at her, but stayed there for a few more moments just gazing at her before he finally kissed her gently and extracted himself. As he lay down beside her, they both fell asleep instantaneously; on top of their furs, and naked.

~oxoxo~~oxoxo~~oxoxo~

The three travelers were walking in an easterly direction and had to strain into the strong wind. For every attempted step forward, they fell back a half a step. When they reached the end of the valley, the snow was piling up fast and the wind was causing it to whip their faces raw.

"THIS IS RIDICULOUS!" Donzolnia screamed.

"WHAAATTTT?" Jenadoza yelled back.

The man came up beside her and hollered in her ear. "WE WON'T MAKE IT, WE HAVE TO TURN BACK."

Vincenzia had caught up with them. "WE'RE NEVER GOING TO GET TO OAK CAMP IN THIS. I THINK WE NEED TO GO BACK TO BRUN'S CAVE."

Jenadoza looked at the two men and nodded. If they couldn't make it, then she surely couldn't. They turned around.

~oxoxo~~oxoxo~~oxoxo~

It was still very early, but some were awake. Women were preparing meals, men were stoking fires, and children were playing. The children enjoyed playing in the area of the cave that didn't contain lived in hearths, so that they could be away from the watchful eyes of the adults.

Brac and Nouz liked to meet in the back of the cave to play hearths with Igra and Orga, but also liked to practice hunting there when the young woman and girl weren't available. This was one of those times; Igra was confined to her hearth due to her woman's curse, and Orga seldom wanted to play hearths if Igra wasn't there. On this morning Vorg, Groob, Breg, Grev, and Durc had joined them, and the boys were concentrating on Nouz' instruction; he was the only man among them, and they all looked up to him.

A few of the girls were playing back there too. Mostly sitting and watching the boys, and ooing and ahhing over their manly behavior, but playing with their Others' dolls as well. Orga, Nala, Ada, Aka, and Ura sat together, with their backs to the storage areas, and alternately played their game and watched the boys. Orga watched Brac with adoring eyes, and Nala teased her. Ada, Aka, and Ura weren't interested in the boys yet, but they teased too.

~oxoxo~~oxoxo~~oxoxo~

The way back to the cave went much faster; they had the wind in their favor this time. It helped to push them along until they could see the opening just in front of them. Donzolnia pushed the windbreak aside and the three people rushed in. Vincenzia closed and secured it behind them and they stomped their feet and shook the snow from their parkas.

~oxoxo~~oxoxo~~oxoxo~

The four Clan girls were still sitting there when a large gust of wind came through the northern entrance, whipped around the corner into the meat storage area, swirled around in there, then flew around the next bend and descended upon the girls. The girls shivered violently, since they were so lightly clad, and looked behind them.

When the girls heard the rustlings of the noise at the cave opening, they jumped up, and went to stand behind the six boys and one young man for protection. The twelve Clan people just stood there, seven of them with their small spears poised to attack whatever animal came around the corner. They didn't expect that it was the visitors that had only just left.

Durc recognized them first and put down his spear. "Vincenzia, I thought you gone by now."

Vincenzia smiled, and picked the boy up again. "The snow is falling too hard. It pushed us backward."

"I not know the wind can push."

"It can push very hard," the tall man said to the boy.

The children all clamored around the snow-covered people; they were much less rigid than the Clan adults. Ada and Aka wanted to be picked up by the visitors too, and so reached up to Donzolnia. The dark haired man smiled at them and picked up a child with each arm and held them high. Jenadoza smiled at her mate and rubbed her slightly bulging belly thinking about bringing a child to his hearth.

Brac went to let Brun know that the visitors were back. It wasn't long before the leader had returned with the boy and saw that the children at least would enjoy the company of more people for the winter, for he was sure they wouldn't be leaving now.

Brun approached the people, but didn't know what to say. He could not speak with words, and they didn't know many signs. Jenadoza was the most proficient at it, but she was a woman. The leader figured he didn't have much of a choice, so turned to her.

Jenadoza didn't kneel, as a proper Clan woman would, but she looked down at the ground, and waited for Brun to address her. Brun was pleased that she at least attempted to do as a woman should. He tapped her shoulder.

"I see that you have returned," he gestured.

She nodded. "Too much snow. We not able walk. Want stay here, if okay with you."

Brun looked at them. They had obviously shaken off much snow, but they were still covered. They looked freezing. "Yes, you can stay in the visitor's hearth." Brun turned to Brac and gestured something too quick for Jenadoza to understand and then the boy ran off. "Ayla will be pleased to see you. And we have plenty of food to feed everyone. It has been a good hunting season."

Jenadoza told the men what Brun had said, and then told Brun that they were grateful. When Brac came back with an armload of wood, he dropped it at the visitor's feet, then backed up to wait to see what else was going to happen. Brun wasn't really in a mood to talk to these people, so he signaled that he was going. The two men put the children down, and picked up the wood, then headed for the visitor's hearth, waving goodbye to the children. The children went back to their playing.

~oxoxo~

The three people made their way through the cave passageway, and into the visitor's hearth. Donzolnia and Vincenzia piled the wood in the corner, while Jenadoza put all their things away. When the men were finished with the wood, Donzolnia built a fire, and Vincenzia went to go find Ayla.

~oxoxo~~oxoxo~~oxoxo~

Ayla and Grov were still completely naked and sound asleep on their furs when the man came around the corner. For a moment he stood there staring, realizing that they had just shared pleasures and having mixed feelings about it. It was so easy to ignore the fact that Ayla would be doing that with Grov, her mixed mate, when he'd never actually witnessed it. But now, he didn't think he would be able to get the image of the daughter of his hearth and the man of the Clan.

It was not until the girl, Ora, opened her eyes and smiled at him that he realized he was staring. She crawled out of her bedding, stood up, and ran to him. "Vincen," she squealed, with a wide smile on her face.

He picked her up, and put his finger to his lips. "Shhhhh, Mamma sleeping," he whispered.

Ora smiled and did the same thing. "Shhhhhh."

Grov's eyes opened to see the tall blond man holding his daughter. Propping himself up, he smiled. "Is it spring already?" he asked quietly.

Vincenzia's smile widened and Grov decided Ayla had the man's smile. "We got to the end of the Valley and could not see where we were going. We had to come back."

Grov got up and put his wrap back on. "Ayla will be thrilled, but she is so tired, let's go to visitor's hearth so she can sleep," he said. Vincenzia nodded and they left.

AtDC

Lookout

The three visitors relayed their attempted journey home to Grov and each expressed their worry at wintering with the Clan. Vincenzia hoped his mate would not insist on trying to make the trip to the Clan's cave. She was rather stubborn that way, but he thought she would understand. Donzolnia's only concern was for Jenadoza, who was upset about her coming baby in midwinter, and not being at home to deliver it. Grov tried to settle all of their fears, but Jenadoza was the hardest to console.

"Jenadoza, Ayla truly is the best medicine woman in all the Clan. And her sister, Uba, has all of the Clan's memories. I assure you that you are in good hands."

Jenadoza nodded, not really wanting to talk about it anymore. She figured she'd see how well Ebra's delivery went, as that birth was practically upon them—and then she would know more. Then she thought about Annaliza's delivery, which had had no complications—except for being early—and she remembered that Ayla wasn't even nervous. If Ayla wasn't nervous, then why should she be, she decided.

~oxoxo~

Ayla woke up, but didn't open her eyes right away. She was thinking about the pleasure her mate brought to her life. Then she realized that the furs felt cold, so she moved her leg backward to cuddle up to Grov, but instead of feeling his warm body, she felt nothing. She opened her eyes and noticed that her mate was gone and then saw that Ora was gone too. Ayla looked around, and saw that Annaliza was still sleeping, and then her eyes settled on Shriek, who was on his perch; he squawked at her, but it was just a greeting.

Ayla sighed, wondering how long she had been sleeping—maybe she ought to be fixing a meal. She glanced into Broud's hearth; they were sleeping too. Ayla decided to get up. She signed a greeting to Shriek and scratched his neck. He seems to be full size now, she thought absently as she watched him. He ruffled his feathers and appeared to be enjoying her attention. Ayla smiled at her pet and was glad that the winter weather would keep him around for a while.

Her thoughts shifted to other topics as she handled her bird. She was thinking about Vincenzia and wondering what it was like at Oak Camp. How long would their journey back to their camp take, she was thinking. She was so into her musings that she didn't even hear Grov enter the hearth.

Grov stood in the hearth opening looking at the naked woman that stood fondling the hawk and wished he had the time to entice her into the furs again. He walked up behind her and slipped his arms around her waist and nuzzled her neck. "Oh Grov, I didn't know you were there. Are you hungry? I should make a meal."

Grov closed his eyes and sighed. "Only hungry for you."

Ayla smiled, and turned around to face her mate. "Hmmm, well then," she said in a suggestive manner. Grov leaned down and kissed her passionately, groaning with the pleasure of having her in his arms.

"Oh woman, you tempt me, but...," he said kissing her again.

Ayla pulled back and looked at him. "But what, Grov?" He rarely ever turned her down, even if they had just finished.

Grov smiled. "Well," he began, "I have something to show you first, and I'm sure you'll be in no mood when you see what I have to show you."

Ayla eyed him. "What do you have to show me?" she asked in an interested manner.

Grov laughed, thinking that she suddenly looked like a little girl that was anticipating some goody from her mother. Grov grabbed her hand. "Come on, I'll show you."

Ayla jumped up and smiled at her mate. "First you have to kiss me and promise you'll want me later."

Grov laughed again. "I want you now, but I promise I'll want you later too. Come on, you have to see this," he said taking her hand and pulling her towards the passageway.

Ayla shrugged and followed. He led her down the corridor and she had no idea where they were going—until he stopped at the visitor's hearth. He had asked them to stay quiet, so he could surprise her and he was standing in front of her so she could not see. "Here it is," he said, but did not move.

Ayla frowned. "What? Are you teasing me Grov?"

Grov smiled, then stepped aside. Ayla's eyes followed him until she saw movement, then she stared in disbelief. "Vincenzia? Jenadoza? Donzolnia? But how? Why are you here? I thought you left?"

"Hmmmm, so did we," Vincenzia said with a laugh. "But the Mother must have wanted us to stay, because the storm became so bad that we could not even walk east. We turned around and the wind blew us right back."

Ayla smiled at him, then stepped into the hearth and hugged him. "I am so glad that you are here. I was just wondering how long it would be before I saw you again."

"Well, wonder no more," the man said with a huge grin. Ayla hugged the other two people and started making tea, and then a meal.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

At Oak Camp, many were getting nervous. Darvie began to take watch in the mornings—and then again every evening. They had been gone a few days longer than Vincenzia said they would be and he didn't usually make mistakes like that; he was usually very accurate.

Then, on the day of the big snow, Darvie was sitting outside, on top of the lodge, looking out over the land, hoping to see some glimpse of her mate and the others, when the snow began to lightly sift down from the sky.

~oxoxo~

Her sister Danie was scolding Ivanolia for playing another joke on Brulenzia; she was exasperated with their antics and jokes. She walked out of the hearth, hearing laughter coming from Brulenzia. "Looks like your furs will be cold tonight," the man was saying to Ivanolia with another burst of laughter.

Danie went to the cooking hearth and, not seeing her sister there, figured that she was once again outside waiting for her mate's return.

Braydalana was playing with Serlona in the cooking hearth and saw Danie come stomping in. "Danie, are you looking for Darvie?" Danie nodded her head. "She's outside again."

"I figured as much. Maybe I'll take her some tea." Danie steeped some tea, and walked out of the cooking hearth.

~oxoxo~

Outside it was a crisp, cold morning. Much too cold, Danie thought. "Darrrvieee, where are youuuu?" she shouted, trying to be heard above the wind.

Darvie heard her sister, but didn't move. Danie didn't know that she liked to sit on top of the lodge.

"Come on, Darvie," Danie tried again. "Thissss isssn't funny."

Darvie smiled, then leaned over the edge of the lodge. Her sister was just below her. She smiled again and scooped up a handful of snow and packed it hard. Then she waited until Danie was ready to shout again—then flung the snowball. Danie whipped around and looked up, but had two cups of tea, so she could not retaliate. "Oh! Not you too. I am so tired of jokes. Here I am, bringing you a hot tea, and you turn to Ivan's tricks."

Darvie immediately felt bad. "I'm sorry, Danie, I was just having fun. Come on up."

Danie handed her sister the cups of tea so that she could climb onto the lodge, and discovered that it wasn't so easy; though Oak Camp had based their Earthlodge on the Mamutoi style, it had far steeper sides than the Mamutoi put on their Earthlodges. When she finally got to the top and settled beside her sister, the snow was falling fairly hard and the wind was whistling through the nearby canyon.

"So, you must be getting worried, huh?"

Darvie was silent for a second, then nodded. "I hope they're okay. This is going to be a bad winter."

Danie hugged her sister. "We should go back in. It's too cold out here." Darvie nodded again, and the got up to go in.

~oxoxo~

Inside the lodge, Laurana was watching the men's banter. She wasn't sure why her brother was acting the way he was and she didn't understand why Brulenzia was joining in. They had had a good few days, but every so often they were interrupted by one of Ivan's jokes. It was starting to get old. She decided to go sit with Tabita and Fürlasa; they never acted so dumb.

"Looks like she's picking the girls over you, my friend," Ivanolia said with a laugh.

Brulenzia watched Laurana walk away, then frowned. "Ivan, sometimes you can be so dense," he said and he walked away." Brulenzia was torn between going back to his hearth and going to Laurana—who was obviously frustrated with their behavior. Ivanolia was being a pain and it wasn't helping matters that he was dishing back every thing that his friend threw at him. He decided on going to Laurana, but after getting some tea.

He went to the cooking hearth where she was with her friends and made himself some tea, then drank it quietly, trying not to watch the young woman. The girls appeared to be engrossed in a conversation about babies. Brulenzia couldn't tell that Laurana was looking sad because her back was to him. He decided that he'd go sit with them.

"How are the three most beautiful young women in the camp?" he said as he sat down and slipped his arm around Laurana. She stiffened as he did this, so he thought she was still angry with him. He didn't know what to do. Tabita and Fürlasa smiled at him—then giggle, because they weren't used to the handsome man hanging out with them. His attention—even though he was really only there for Laurana—made them nervous.

Brulenzia eyed them suspiciously, wondering what was so funny. "What? What's so funny?" They just giggled again.

Laurana shot them a look that silenced them immediately, then she got up. "I have to go." Brulenzia watched her walk away. "Is she upset with me?" The girls shrugged their shoulders. Brulenzia looked after her again, then got up to follow her. He thought that she would go to her mother's hearth, but when he got there she wasn't there. Vilognia pointed down the hallway toward his own hearth. Brulenzia frowned, and wondered why Laurana had gone to his hearth when she was obviously upset with him. He made his way to his hearth and stepped in to see Laurana crying. He rushed to her immediately.

"Laurana, what's wrong? Please don't cry." He wasn't used to women crying. He had never spent so much time with one woman to actually become concerned about what they were feeling, but he did care about her. "Please Laurana, tell me what's wrong?"

She rolled over and looked at him. She had tears running down her face and she looked like a little girl. Brulenzia began to feel terrible about all the joking around he and Ivanolia had been doing. He sat down and gathered her up in his arms. "Don't cry, Laurana. I'll stop with the nonsense."

Laurana sniffled a little, but sat up and looked at him. "It's not that Bru, though...I don't like that Ivan's always teasing, that's not what's bothering me."

Sitting, Brulenzia gave her a puzzled look. "Well, what then?"

Laurana suddenly got nervous and bit her lip. "I think...I'm not sure...but, I think I might be blessed." She watched him, worried that he wouldn't be happy about it, and worried about becoming a mother at such a young age.

Brulenzia stared at her for a moment, then smiled. "Really?" He hadn't even considered that she could be pregnant and he was pleased.

Laurana nodded, but she didn't look happy.

"Well, that's a good thing, isn't it? It will give you so much more status."

Laurana snorted. "Like I care about that. I'm worried being too young to have a baby. I barely remember when Nemlora died giving birth and she was only a year younger than me."

Brulenzia smiled. "But you will be another year older by the time the baby comes."

She eyed him and wondered why he was so happy about this. Until recently, he had been bedding any woman that he could entice into his furs—and that was almost any woman. They just all loved the tall, handsome, dark-haired, sky blue eyed man. Laurana worried that he would soon tire of her and move on. If he did, she would be devastated.

Brulenzia looked deep into her blue eyes and kissed her soft pouting lips. Laurana couldn't resist his powerful kiss and finally kissed him back. She groaned as she felt herself melt into the man that held her. Brulenzia suddenly felt the need to pleasure her. He got up and crossed the hearth to close their curtain. Surely Ivanolia wouldn't bother them if the curtain was closed, he thought, then he quickly stepped out of his clothing, returned to the furs, and pushed her back onto them. Laurana smiled up at the man and giggled slightly, then opened herself to the man fully.

When they were finished, they lay together cuddled in his furs. She was dozing, her mind off what it had been on prior to sharing pleasures, and he was quietly thinking that if she were just a little older, he would ask her to join with him. He thought about what Ivanolia would say if he knew what he was thinking and figured the man would laugh at him again for being in love with so new a woman. In love with, he thought. Am I really in love with her? He looked at her sleeping face, and ran a finger along her cheekbone. Then along her arm, then her naked breast and down to her belly that held something precious. She twitched slightly in her sleep, causing him to smile. He felt sure that he was in love with her, even if she was really young. Brulenzia leaned over and kissed her neck, and put his head down to rest. "I will take care of you Laurana; you and your baby. Don't you worry."

In her sleep, Laurana snuggled up to him, and a soft moan escaped her lips.

AtDC

The Elm Stick

Laurana woke up with the distinct feeling that someone was watching them, but she could not turn to look because Brulenzia was practically on top of her. She took a deep breath and tried to wriggle free. She didn't want to wake the man, but she was dying to see if that someone was really there.

As she pulled herself out from under him, he took a deep breath and rolled over. She was free. As she lost herself in the sight of his naked body, Laurana momentarily forgot why she was trying to get up. Then, hearing her brother's snicker, she turned toward the curtain and pulled the blanket up to cover her nakedness. "Ivan!" she said in a whisper. "Don't you have any respect for your sister? You obviously don't respect your friend."

Ivanolia smiled, but felt a little guilty. "I'm just trying to have some fun. The winter is going to be so boring if I don't create distractions. And besides, this is funny. My friend and my sister of only fourteen."

Laurana frowned. "Ivan, I am a woman now. Can't you see that I'm a woman? Or do you still see your annoying little sister?"

Ivanolia frowned back at her. "You've never been annoying Laur...I'm just trying to have some fun."

Laurana rolled her eyes, and looked at the sleeping man. "I love him, Ivan," she said.

Ivanolia watched his sister. He could tell that she did, but did Brulenzia love her? The man was notorious for taking many women to his furs. Ivanolia sometimes thought that Brulenzia tried to make up for his essentially celibate winters by bedding every woman he could during summer meetings. He hoped the man did not hurt his sister. "I can see that Laur, but you're only fourteen. There will be many, many men that you will want to meet in your—"

Laurana cut him off. "No Ivan! I want Bru. He's the only man I want." She had a stubborn look to her face as she looked her brother in the eyes. "Please leave," she said in an almost whiny voice. Ivanolia gave her a clipped nod and let the curtain close as he left.

~oxoxo~

Laurana stared at the closed curtain, and was startled to feel Brulenzia's fingers run down her back. He had woken up and heard her talking to Ivanolia, but didn't think she needed him to contribute to the conversation. Ivanolia would have just started in on them again. He was a little annoyed to hear Ivanolia telling her she would want to 'meet' other men and suddenly decided that he didn't care how young she was, he wanted to be mated to her.

Laurana turned to look at him and smiled shyly—embarrassed. By the look on his face, she knew he had heard her conversation with Ivanolia and she could tell his mind was working. But she had no clue what he was thinking. "What?" she asked as she leaned over to kiss him.

Brulenzia kissed her back, then in between kisses he said, "I...I was just wondering...well...wondering if you...would join with me next summer?"

Laurana pulled back from him, and stared at him. "You want to join with me? But, what about how young I am?"

Brulenzia grabbed her, and pulled her on top of him, and kissed her again. "Well, I figure if you're not too young to have a baby, then you're not too young to join. So, what do you say?"

She smiled at him. "Well, I don't know. Maybe I might like to meet some other men first...to see if there's anyone else I want," she said, looking away from him.

Brulenzia frowned, not liking the thought of her wanting to do that, but then he smiled, realizing that she was only teasing. "Well," he said, holding her tighter. "I may not let you out of my sight then. I may have to follow you everywhere you go, just to make sure you don't find someone else you like better."

Laurana laughed. "You know I'm just kidding. There's no one I want more than you. Yes Bru, I will join with you at the next summer meeting. And we will have a baby then too. But I hope you don't mind a fat woman, for I am going to get huge."

Brulenzia laughed at her, then kissed her again and rolled her off of him. Brulenzia placed his hand on her flat belly. "That is fine with me Laur. I can hardly wait to see your baby. Maybe it will be of my spirit."

Laurana smiled. "I hope so. I want it to look just like you."

"Well, I hope it's a boy then. I'd hate to see a girl that looks like me."

Laurana giggled at the thought of a girl with his strong male features. "Well, that would be better than a boy that looked like me."

He smiled and agreed. "I don't care what it is, just so long as it's healthy and you get through the delivery safely." He paused for a moment, and then smiled again. "Do you think we should go tell everyone?"

At his words, she blanched. "NO! I'm not ready to tell them that I'm pregnant. Can you imagine what Ivanolia will say? He's going to be upset. I'm sure it's going to bring up some bad memories. Besides, it would be better to wait until we're really sure."

Brulenzia was nodding, he agreed with her there. "But I mean," he said, "tell them about us joining this summer. Should we go tell them?"

Laurana frowned. "Can't we wait until Jenadoza gets back? I want to tell her first."

Brulenzia shrugged, then nodded. "I'd like to tell Donzolnia first too," he added, thinking about his missing brother. "I would have liked to tell Ivanolia too, but he's acting like such a creep, so he'll just have to wait."

Laurana smiled at him, and lean over him again. "Do you think you can make yourself ready for me again?" she said with a smirk. "Or is it too soon?"

Brulenzia laughed and pushed her off of him. "Look woman, I am already ready, see?" he replied gesturing toward is hard manhood.

Laurana looked at him, then leaned down to kiss his maleness. Brulenzia groaned with pleasure, enjoying her soft lips around him.

~oxoxo~

Over the next few days, Darvie became more and more worried. She could no longer sit outside, because the storm had gotten too bad, but her mind was never far from her missing mate. Vilognia could see that she was nearly ready to make a journey of her own, so he asked Travie to talk to her daughter.

Travie had been looking for Darvie, and found her in the lodge entrance, holding back the drape, and staring into the blowing snow. "There you are!" she exclaimed. "It's too cold to be standing here daughter. Get inside and have some hot tea!"

Darvie instinctively listened to her mother. She was glad Ivanolia had joined with Danie, so that her mother had to move to Oak Camp. She couldn't imagine how she'd be feeling if they weren't here. She would have felt so alone.

Travie handed her daughter a cup of tea, and then pour one for herself. "If I didn't know better, I'd think you were planning a trip." Darvie started to say something, but her mother cut her off. "And it's out of the question! Your mate is smart enough to stay out of this blasted weather and you are going to stay out of it too." Darvie looked at her mother, then looked away. "And besides, you have two children to take care of. You cannot go off and leave Crisanie and Brenev without their mother to care for them. I refuse to do it for you."

Darvie looked across the cooking hearth, Crisana was playing dolls with Braydalana and Serlona, and Braydalana teaching them some of the hand signs she had learned while with the Clan people. Brenevia was running around with Tena; playing chase. Darvie felt bad that he had no little boys his age to play with even though he didn't seem to care.

"Yes mother, I know. I'm sure Vincenzia is still with Ayla at the Clan's cave," she said with a sigh. "I just miss him."

Travie eyed her daughter. "Well, just promise me that you won't go out looking for that blasted cave."

Darvie looked at her mother. "I promise I won't go on any journeys mother. At least not until spring."

Travie gave her daughter a penetrating look. "You better not!"

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

The days were passing quickly for the Clan as well and the day for Ebra to deliver came and went, but no baby arrived. Ayla visited the woman ever morning, and finally when Ayla was sure they were a half a moon beyond the time the woman should have delivered, she told Ebra that they needed to get her labor started. Uba was in agreement; Ebra was, after all, not a young woman and, if the baby was too big, it may take more than the older woman could stand.

Ayla decided to go talk to Brun. When she found him, she knelt down at his feet. The leader suddenly wondered if Ebra was okay, he hadn't been at the hearth all morning, so he didn't know. He tapped her shoulder.

"This woman has decided that she needs to get Ebra's labor started. Uba is getting her things, and I am going to do the same thing." Brun grunted his acceptance, and Ayla left to go to her hearth to get the things she would need.

When the young medicine woman got there, she asked Jenadoza if she would like to join her for the birth. Jenadoza readily agreed; she had been hoping she could watch. Ayla pulled out her medicine bag, and started rummaging around in it.

"What are looking for Ayla?" she asked.

Ayla looked up at her. "I need to make Ebra a tea that will make her labor start. I'm going to try breaking her water first, but if that doesn't get it started after that, then we might need the tea."

Jenadoza nodded. "I didn't know that you could induce labor with medication."

Ayla nodded. "There is so much you can do with all these herbs and roots that I have. I am constantly learning more. Uba's memories are vast and I am always picking her brain for more information."

Jenadoza smiled. She had no idea how much Ayla knew, but she would find out soon enough.

~oxoxo~

Uba also went to her own hearth to get her medicine bag. She hung the bag over her shoulder then picked up her sons and brought them to Ovra. "Ovra, can you watch the boys for me? Ayla is going to start Ebra's labor and I may not have time to feed them for a while." Ovra nodded and had Uba set the boys down next to her own sons.

Uba then she went to get Uka. It would be nice for Ebra to have her sister there for the delivery, and the two women went to wait at Brun's hearth with Ebra.

When she saw Ayla coming with Jenadoza, Uba wondered why Ayla was bringing the Others' woman, but figured it didn't matter. When Ayla got there, she knelt down between Ebra's legs, and examined the woman again. "Okay Ebra. It feels like you are open slightly. That will make it less painful to break your water sac. If your labor doesn't start after Uba breaks your water, then I will give you something that will make it start, okay?"

Ebra nodded. She would be glad to have this baby. Being pregnant at her late stage in life was very tiring. Ayla looked at Ebra, then turned to Uba. Uba took out a slippery-elm stick that had a bit of a sharp tip on it, and carefully inserted it into Ebra's opening. When she reached Ebra's cervix, she gently maneuvered it through the smaller opening, which caused Ebra to grimace with discomfort. That was the hardest part though, because as soon as Uba entered the woman's uterus, all she had to do was put a gentle pressure on the barrier, and Ebra's water sac broke with a flood of fluid. Ebra gasped, but relaxed as Uba pulled the stick out of her. Here we go, she thought.

AtDC

A Child Is Born

Ebra had her first contraction not long after her water was broken, but after a while Ayla checked her and found that the woman was not progressing. Uba watched Ayla's face for a reaction as to progress and the first medicine woman's look told her everything. Ayla removed her fingers and asked Uba to check too. Uba shook her head. Ayla frowned. "I'll start the tea."

When the tea was ready, Ayla gave Ebra a cup of it and the five women just sat there making small talk while waiting for the woman's labor to begin. Not much time went by before Ebra had her first real contraction. She groaned and closed her eyes. Ayla had warned her that the medicine would make her contractions stronger and more frequent. All they could do at this point was hold her hand to give moral support.

After more time had passed—and about six more contractions—Ebra was starting to get weak. She was straining more and more with each one and Ayla was getting worried. When the next contraction ended, Ayla decided to examine the woman again. Ebra lay still while Ayla did her job. Ayla stuck her fingers inside the woman, and frowned. Something didn't feel right, she thought. The woman's smaller opening had opened significantly, but what was she feeling?

Ebra saw her frown. "Ayla, what is it?"

Ayla felt around again. "The baby's head doesn't feel right. It feels too soft." The look on Ebra's face was utter devastation. She knew it was too late in life to have a baby. She should have had Ayla give her something so that she would have lost it—so she wouldn't have to go through this. If the woman could have, she would have cried.

"Ebra, there's nothing we can do about it now. Please concentrate. If you don't, then you will die too." Ebra nodded, she didn't want to die.

After what seemed like forever—and many more contractions—the baby was finally visible. Ayla was watching the woman's opening, and asked Uba to come look. Uba and Ayla had been taking turns doing Ebra's exams and neither had thought much about the softness of the baby's head, except that the child was probably deformed somehow. Uba looked at the baby, and cocked her head, then reached out and touched it. It was definitely soft—much too soft to be the baby's head. Uba had an expression on her face that was the equivalent to Ayla's smile—only, on her, it looked more like a grimace.

"Uba, search your memories. We need to know if this has ever happened before." Uba closed her eyes and began the search.

Ebra contracted again and pushed hard, letting out a loud scream. Uka held her sister's left hand, while Jenadoza held the other. When it ended Ebra looked at the two medicine women and disentangled her hands from the other women so that she could talk. "What is going on? You have to tell me."

Ayla held up her hand and they waited for Uba. "Yes Ayla, it has happened before, and it should be okay. It's just more painful and we have to be ready for a baby that may not be breathing, since the baby's air could be cut off as soon as the head gets into the birth canal, because the cord could get pinched between the head and Ebra. And she will probably tear like you did."

Ebra was waiting and watching the two women, but did not understand them. "What!" she gestured again, just as another contraction hit.

When it ended, Ayla smiled. "Ebra, the baby should be fine. It's just coming out the wrong way."

Ebra frowned. "The wrong way?"

Ayla and Uba nodded. "It's likely to hurt more, but your baby probably isn't deformed." That made Ebra relax somewhat, causing the next few contractions came somewhat easier.

~oxoxo~

Ebra's labor went on for a very long time, and the woman screamed out often. The men had all gathered together on the other side of the main fire, trying to act as though no one was screaming in pain just across the way. If someone was in mid-sentence when a scream began, their hands dropped into their lap and the comment was forgotten. Brun sat stoically staring into the fire, but flinched every time Ebra started in. He had forgotten what it was like to have his own mate in such pain.

Broud sat next to his mother's mate and sympathized with the leader. He himself had just gone through this—he had had to just sit on the sidelines while his mate had given birth and it was hard to stand her cries. He always hated it when Oga labored to give birth and marveled at how a woman somehow forgot the pain when the child was placed in her arms.

~oxoxo~

Back at Brun's hearth, there was a flurry of activity, as the baby's behind came out first. Uba was holding the baby as it stuck out, and Ayla gently held the baby's tiny legs, and slipped her fingers into Ebra's opening, and carefully pulled out one foot, and then the other. Ebra was between contractions and was taking a breath.

Ayla looked at the baby, and smiled. "Ebra, do you want to know what the baby is?"

Ebra looked at Uka, they had never been able to tell what sex a baby was until it was fully born, but this time was different. She nodded.

"Your baby is a girl," Ayla gestured, and smiled. Ebra sighed. That was what she had wanted. She was sure Brun was hoping for a girl too, since he was too old to train another boy. And so she relaxed—but not for long.

Another contraction pulsed through the woman and she pushed hard—and screamed louder than before. Ayla took out a stick and put it in Ebra's mouth, so that she could bite down on it. With the next contraction Ebra pushed hard again, but the baby did not come. She did not tear either as the women thought she would. Ayla was getting nervous; this was taking too long and the baby's cord was smashed up against her mother's opening.

When the following contraction came, Ayla looked around for something to alleviate the woman's suffering. Her eyes fell on Brun's hunting knife. The woman crawled across the floor and picked it up, then went back to Ebra. The woman's eyes got big as she saw what the medicine woman was holding, but Ayla just looked at Uba.

Uba was nodding her head. "It's the only way Ayla. They'll both die if you don't."

Ayla frowned, but with Ebra's next contraction, Ayla took the knife in one hand, and slipped her fingers from the other hand inside the woman to protect the baby, and quickly sliced the woman's opening so that it would be bigger. Ebra let out a howl of pain, but the pain immediately passed, as the baby's head slid out, and the process was over. Ayla picked up the child, cleared out her mouth and then thumped her on the foot. Ebra's baby gurgled, and then hiccupped, then whimpered softly, but she never screamed.

Ayla smiled down at the largest baby she had ever seen, then cleaned her off so that she could hand her to her mother. Ebra took the baby happily and cuddled the child. The baby practically grabbed her nipple, as if she had been starving inside her mother. Ebra closed her eyes to rest.

Uba decided to go inform the leader as to the sex of his mate's child, and Ayla worked on Ebra; her pain was not over yet. The afterbirth came out easily, but Ayla did not know what to do about the blood that was coming out of the wound she had inflicted. She finally decided on stitching the skin together like Jenadoza had taught her to stitch together hides to make clothing. Ebra groaned with pain every time Ayla poked through her skin, but once the medicine woman had finished, she pulled the sinew tight, tied knots in it, then bent over to bite off the excess sinew.

Ayla looked at her handy work, then smiled. Jenadoza looked to see what Ayla had done and was extremely impressed by her performance; she would never have thought to make the opening bigger by cutting it and then sew it closed as if the woman's skin were a hide.

Uba returned to the hearth, and looked to see what Ayla had done as well. "Very interesting, Ayla. What made you think to do that?"

Ayla shrugged. "I don't know. I guess I was just thinking about that tunic that Jenadoza helped me to make, and figured it would work on people skin as well as animal skin. Is Brun coming?" Uba nodded.

~oxoxo~

Brun and Goov waited just a bit before coming. Knowing that the delivery had been difficult, they wanted to give the woman a chance to rest. When they got there, Ebra looked away, just as she was supposed to do, then unwrapped the baby and held it up toward the two men.

Goov looked her over and nodded, and Brun did the same thing. "Why isn't the baby screaming? New babies always scream when they are taken away from their mother's warm breast and held up into the cold cave air."

Ayla shrugged. "This woman does not know Brun. The child did not scream when she was born either, but she seems perfectly fine to me."

Brun grunted. "The baby is normal. She may stay with her mother. If she lives until the naming day, she will be accepted." Goov turned to leave, but Brun stayed. It was, after all, his hearth. Ayla finished cleaning up, then picked up her medicine bag and left the hearth, Jenadoza walking with her. Uba did the same, but Uka stayed with her sister.

~oxoxo~

When Ayla and Jenadoza got back to the hearth, Ayla decided that she wanted to go to the indoor pool to wash up, but Annaliza began to cry; she was hungry. "I'll feed her Ayla. I just fed Agra, but I have plenty of milk left."

Ayla glanced at Broud, who had just come back to the hearth and wondered how he would feel. He had always hated it when Oga had nursed Durc, but for some reason, he didn't seem to care anymore. Ayla shrugged and handed her baby to Oga. Jenadoza watched the exchange, and went with Ayla to the pool.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

Darvie's worry never went away, but she was becoming used to Vincenzia's absence by spending time with the other people of the lodge. The nights were the worst.

She kept hoping for a break in the storm, which would bring him home to her, but the breaks were never more than two days and she knew that the journey to the Clan's cave was at least double that. Darvie spent much time with her sister, and with her mother when Danie was busy, and, oddly enough, with Vilognia, who was more than nervous about the absence of his brother and the first daughter of his hearth. Serana, Vilognia's mate, welcomed Darvie into their hearth openly and even accepted the younger woman into their furs on nights when Darvie looked desperate.

Laurana was also extremely worried about her sister and cried about it often. Brulenzia tried to soothe her by granting her every wish. The young woman wanted for nothing. He figured she was so upset because she was also pregnant, which they were positive about by now, and he wanted to make her as comfortable as he could. They still hadn't told anyone, and she was doing a good job of hiding her morning sickness.

~oxoxo~

One morning in Brulenzia's hearth, Laurana was leaning over the night basket and retching as quietly as she could. She had become quite proficient at letting it come up and out with almost no noise at all. Brulenzia sat behind her, rubbing her back, then handed her a cloth, and then a cup of water when she was finished. It had become their morning ritual.

"Laurana, we should really tell someone. Travie even, she could make you something to make the sickness less."

Laurana was shaking her head. "No, I'm not ready to tell them about the baby yet."

Brulenzia frowned. "Well then, we could at least tell them about us wanting to join. I'm sure your mother would like to know that I'm not just bedding her daughter with no intention of mating her."

Laurana looked exhausted; throwing up always took a lot out of her, but she nodded. "Just let me get cleaned up and rest a while, then we can tell everyone. You're right Bru, they should know by now."

Brulenzia let out his breath. He was so glad that she had finally relented. He had been begging to tell everyone for almost a mooncycle, and it was getting difficult to keep his mouth shut. He was sure that many had suspicions, but no one asked outright.

The man hugged her, and took out a cool cloth to wipe down her forehead again. He helped her into the furs and crawled in next to her.

~oxoxo~

After some time, Laurana woke up and was feeling better. She always did after throwing up early in the morning, then napping before getting up for the day. Brulenzia had left the hearth; he had carried out the night basket again to dispose of the evidence of Laurana's sickness and had returned it to where it was. Laurana smiled, then she quickly got up and began to dress.

Brulenzia had gone to the cooking hearth to eat something and had made the young pregnant woman a plate of food. When he got back to the hearth, she was nearly dressed. "Oh Sumata, I'm too late," he said as he entered the hearth.

Laurana turned around and smiled. "Well, I can take my clothes off again," she said untying her leggings.

Brulenzia laughed. "No, I'm just trying to be funny," he said putting the food down and going to hug her. "And besides, I don't know how you can be ready to make pleasures every morning after you've just retched your brains out."

Laurana smiled. "Hmmmm, I don't know either. Maybe it's because I'm so young," she said giggling. "Or maybe it's because I really, really love you."

Brulenzia looked deep into her eyes and kissed her. "I love you too Laurana, but...you need to eat first. Then I'll pleasure you if you still want me to." He kissed to tip of her nose and swatted her behind. "Eat!"

~oxoxo~

After she was finished eating, they pleasured one another, then cleaned up and headed for the cooking hearth, hand in hand. When they got there, they scanned the area, noted that everyone was in the hearth, then Brulenzia cleared his throat to get everyone's attention. Everyone looked up and immediately noticed that the couple was holding hands. Everyone was aware that they were sharing the same bed, but, for the most part, the couple had kept their handholding and caresses, their loving glances and intimate words, and their hugs and kisses behind their closed curtain.

Serana eyed them suspiciously, thinking her daughter looked different somehow.

Brulenzia cleared his throat again, hoping to calm himself down. Laurana squeezed his hand for support. "Laurana and I have decided to join at the next summer meeting," he said firmly, to brook no argument. They were greeted with silence for a moment, then the room erupted in shouts of congratulations.

Tagnolia smiled widely. "Time to break out the bouza, Zarina. We have some celebrating to do."

Zarina smiled quietly at her exuberant mate, then went to hug Laurana and her son. "I am so happy for you Laurana," she said in the woman's ear. "And I'm glad that you're the one to have tamed this beast." She smiled at the young blonde woman, and Laurana looked into Brulenzia's mother's deep green eyes and saw something about her that she had not seen there before. She did not know what it was exactly, but there was something different.

Laurana narrowed her eyes at the woman and Zarina was suddenly aware that the young woman had another secret. Zarina leaned in close. "Does he know?" she asked.

Laurana looked at Brulenzia and smiled, then turned back to Zarina and nodded.

~oxoxo~

Serana smiled at her daughter. She wasn't sure how she felt, but this was not what she had expected. It had only been two and a half mooncycles since they had gotten back from the summer meeting and she figured her daughter would have a good winter, but that the woman would eventually drift away from the man and find someone more her age.

Laurana went to her mother and managed to look at her as if she were still a little girl trying to get her mother's approval. Serana's heart melted. "If you're sure that this is what you want, then I will be happy for you."

Laurana grinned and nodded. "Yes mother, this is definitely what I want."

~oxoxo~

There was one person that didn't look too happy and that was Laurana's brother. Ivanolia was shocked beyond reason and sat frowning. When Brulenzia noticed him sitting, looking rather morose, he sat down next to him. "What's wrong, Ivanolia?"

Ivanolia looked at his friend. "I just wasn't expecting this. I always figured you'd get tired of her since she's so young and couldn't really please you...and that the two of you would go your separate ways."

"Ivan, your sister is a woman and I love her. I truly do. And, she pleases me just fine."

Ivanolia held up his hand and looked away. "Far too much information, my friend,"

Brulenzia laughed. "First you told me not to hurt her...and quite threateningly, I might add...and now you're telling me you expected me to dump her all along?"

It was Ivanolia's turn to laugh. "I suppose that does sound dumb, doesn't it?" Brulenzia laughed too. Then the two men looked over at Laurana, who was being congratulated by Tabita and Fürlasa. "She somehow looks older to me today. I can't figure it out, but she does look like a woman now and not just a girl."

Brulenzia smiled and put his arm around his friend. When Laurana looked over at them, she smiled and excused herself from the other two young women so that she could join her mate-to-be and her brother. When she came up to them, she pushed her way in between the two men, forcing them to separate so that she could sit down. She put an arm around each and smiled. "I see you two are having a normal conversation and that no pranks are being pulled at this time. All I can say is, thank Sumata for that!"

Ivanolia laughed. "Well, for today there won't be any, but I'm not promising that tomorrow will be joke-free."

Brulenzia laughed and Laurana smacked her brother's arm. "You just keep your jokes away from me. I don't think you're very funny."

"Well then," he said, "I must not be doing a very good job on them if they're not funny. I might have to try harder."

Laurana rolled her eyes, then leaned over gave her brother a peck on the cheek, then kissed Brulenzia, then got up and left.

AtDC

Ayla's Reinstatement

On a stormy winter day, early in the morning, Ayla was sitting by the fire with Oga and the two women were nursing their babies, while the rest of the hearth slept. The two little girls suckled happily until they had gotten their fill. When they were full, the women laid them down together on a blanket near the hide that had been put up to make more privacy within the hearth. Annaliza was almost six mooncycles old and managed to pull her chest up off the ground and rock back and forth on her hands and knees and squeal at Agra. Agra, on the other hand, was not even three cycles of the moon's phases, but she could do the same—and some. Agra immediately went from lying on her tummy to at sitting position and gurgled back at her friend. Both girls were extremely verbal.

The two young mothers watched them closely. "It's amazing how much faster Agra is at learning physical things than Annaliza is," Ayla observed.

Oga looked at the babies, then turned back to Ayla. "But so much slower than Brac and Grev ever were. And what about Eda? I think Ebra's daughter will past these two very quickly."

Ayla was nodding her agreement. Annaliza was obviously an Others child and was therefore much slower at growing and developing than Agra, but Agra was mixed, so she was slower than Eda, who was full Clan.

~oxoxo~

After a while, knowing that the men would soon awaken, the women started some tea. Grov woke up first and sat drinking his tea, while Ayla was making them all a meal. Ayla was so busy that she did not see Droog and Crug arrive and was startled by their appearance, because these two men never came to this side of the cave. She knelt at their feet and waited, but they did not tap her shoulder. They instead looked over her shoulder at Grov, who nodded to them, then got up to go get Broud and the other men. Obviously Brun had decided to have a meeting; a meeting that involved Ayla. It must be last minute, he thought. The two men reached down and grabbed Ayla, and carried her out of the hearth.

~oxoxo~

Grov went to Broud, but, as they were going to get Dorg and Daub, Broud stopped. "What about Don and Vin? They are men. Shouldn't they be there too?"

Grov frowned. "I'm not sure they would understand since they don't understand our Clan signs."

Broud thought for a minute. "You could speak their words." Grov nodded and went to get them while Broud went to get the other two men.

~oxoxo~

When the six men arrived at the men's ceremonial room, Vincenzia was immediately worried about the daughter of his heart, but Grov explained that she would be all right. Ayla was kneeling patiently on the ground in front of the leader. She did not appear to be nervous; apparently she knows why she is here, Vincenzia thought.

When all the men were seated, Brun tapped to woman's shoulder. "Woman, it has been half a season since you have been allowed to hunt; since you ceased to be the Woman Who Hunts. Have you followed my order by not hunting with a sling or touching a sling?"

Ayla looked at Brun. "This woman has not touched any weapon, including a sling," she said, then paused. "Except for using your knife to deliver Ebra's baby, but I am sure that knife has been burned. I have done as you ordered, Brun."

Brun looked at her, pleased that she had added the last part and knowing that she could not tell an untruth. Nodding, the leader looked at the Mog-ur. Goov came forward and handed the woman her hunting talisman, the small, red-stained oval of ivory that had been sawed from the tip of the mammoth tusk, which he had taken from her half a season ago. She took it and put it back into her amulet. Brun waited for her to tie the amulet back on before he continued.

"Zoug, please step forward." The old man did as he was told, and handed the kneeling woman a brand new sling, which he had made for her. Ayla took the sling, and felt the soft supple leather and smiled inwardly at care in which the old man had put into making her this sling. Tears came to her eyes as she looked at the eldest man she had ever seen. "This woman is grateful, Zoug." The man grunted, pleased that she acknowledged his gift properly, then went back to his seat.

When Zoug was seated again, Brun got up to stand behind the woman and the Mog-ur told Ayla to get up onto her knees. She did as she was told, but she got very nervous as she saw him take out a knife and hold it up above her; she closed her eyes, took a breath, and then opened her eyes again. Brun suddenly grabbed her by her hair and yanked her head back to expose her throat, just as they had done many seasons before when she was first allowed to hunt; she relaxed somewhat, remembering that it hadn't hurt that much. Vincenzia looked around, nervous as well, but no one seemed worried so he sat there silently watching.

The Mog-ur called the ancient spirits into the room, which made the men slightly nervous and Ayla breathed deeply again, knowing what was coming next, then gasped as the Mog-ur brought the knife down on her skin, quickly nicking her at the base of her throat just under her first hunting scar. The Mog-ur soaked up the blood in the same manner as Creb had the previous time.

"Accept this sacrifice of blood, Most Venerable Spirits, and know it is her totem, the Spirit of the Cave Lion, that chose her to follow you ancient ways. Know that we have shown you honor, know that we have paid you homage. Give us your favor and return to your deep rest, content that your ways are not forgotten."

When the Mog-ur finished, Ayla breathed deeply again and waited. Brun came around to stand in front of her, just like he had done the last time, but this time he produced a bison tooth from his wrap, which he handed to her. She accepted it, and examined it, then took off her amulet again to put it inside.

Brun waited for her to finish, then called Droog forward. The Clan's best toolmaker came forward and held out a spear to the Woman Who Hunts. Ayla did not want to take it and glanced at Brun, who nodded. Ayla took the spear from the man with a shaking hand and Droog went to sit back in his place.

"Ayla, you still are not a man and you never will be, but we cannot deny that your totem wants you to hunt in the same way that the men of the Clan do, so you are being given this spear and you are allowed to use it for whatever purpose you wish." He paused for full effect, then went on, "I have one more thing to give you," the leader said as he looked around the room at the men. "You once told me that you were grateful to me for your life. I want to tell you now, in front of all the men, that I am grateful that you, our medicine woman, has helped the many woman of the Clan to give birth safely, and most recently for the life of my mate and her child." The man finished his gestures, then handed Ayla the knife she had used to open Ebra. "Keep this knife with you at all times. You never know when you may need it."

After speaking to Ayla, he turned toward the rest of the room. "Now, tonight we will have a feast. This winter is already feeling too long." With that, the men got up and began filing out of the room.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

The winter was flying by for some, while for others it was creeping by. Laurana's morning sickness had subsided for the most part, with only a bad day here and there and she was happy. Brulenzia was thrilled that one of their secrets was out in the open and was doting on her constantly. He still wanted to tell everyone about the baby, but he understood her reasoning. Ivanolia hadn't stopped his torment of them, and Laurana figured it would be worse if her brother knew.

Ivanolia continued to make jokes; hid their belongings, made it so their curtain would not close, put things in their path, poured water in the middle of their hearth, and much, much more, but Laurana just ignored him. Brulenzia however did not. The two of them went back and forth on several occasions and often Brulenzia did a better job of tormenting Ivanolia than the other man did him.

On a morning that dawned clear of falling snow, Brulenzia returned to the hearth carrying a morning meal for Laurana. At this time, she was about four mooncycles along and was starting to show, though barely. When Brulenzia came into the hearth, she was dressing and quickly covered herself, thinking that it could be someone else and that they may notice her state.

"Oh, it's you. I was afraid it was Ivan," she said with a sigh.

"You know, you wouldn't have to sneak around if we just told them. And, we're not going to be able to hide it much longer," he said as he put down her food and came to hug her and rub her slightly protruding tummy. "You're getting huge," he said laughing.

She broke out of his arms and smacked him playfully. "I am not huge!" she said uncovering her belly and rubbing it."

He tried to avoid her smack, but didn't step back enough and laughed at her. "But we should tell them soon, they're going to notice sooner or later, especially if someone does come in while you're not dressed. You can't hide it when you're naked anymore."

"I know. Soon. We'll tell them soon. I'm still hoping that Jenadoza will return, so I can share it with her before we tell everyone else." She sighed again and finished dressing.

Brulenzia watched her. He knew how she was feeling; he too wanted to talk to his brother first, but he was beginning to think they wouldn't be home until spring, if ever. "Hey," he said, changing the subject, "Tinozia says that it's sunny out today. Do you want to go out and play in the snow?"

Laurana smiled. "I'd love to! But, you have to let me eat first. I'm starving!"

He laughed at her, she was always starving these days. "Okay, I'm going to put on some warmer clothes," he said kicking off his indoor foot coverings, and pulling his tunic over his head.

As she ate, she sat on the edge of the man's bed platform watching him change his clothes and a smile crossed her face as she watched. He was so handsome. His facial features were finely chiseled looking and he kept his face shaved so that she could always see his lips. She liked that and he did it on purpose because he knew she did, even though it was very cold out and a beard would have been warmer. Laurana watched the man pull on his thick winter leggings and then pull a heavy tunic over his head. He ran his finger through his thick dark brown hair that was nearly straight and fell to just below his shoulders. When he finished, he looked over at her, sitting there staring at him with a goofy smile on her face.

"What are you looking at?" he said waving his hand in front of her face.

Laurana focused on the man, and smiled. "I was just admiring your beauty," she replied, looking deep into his eyes. "You know, you have the lightest eyes I have ever seen. They look like someone reached up into the sky, took a handful of the color and put it into your eyes."

Brulenzia laughed. "My brother's eyes are exactly the same color as mine, but I guess you haven't noticed."

"Hmmmm. No, guess not. I'm not at all interested in his eyes," she said with a smile, popping the last bite of her food into her mouth. "Okay, I will get ready so we can go out."

Now it was his turn to watch her. She was shorter than the average woman and thinner than most, which made her look even younger, but she did have to body of a woman; a young woman. Her breasts were small, but full and in proportion to her size, and her belly stuck out just slightly. Laurana's eyes were blue too, though a much darker blue than his, and her long pale blonde hair reached the middle of her thighs.

Brulenzia looked at her, and felt that he was very lucky to have finally realized that the woman he was looking for had always been right beneath his nose. He sometimes wondered if he would ever find someone after Evanora left with her family.

As Laurana pulled her tunic over her head, she grinned at him. "What?"

He laughed. "Oh, just admiring your beauty."

Laurana threw her camp shoe across the hearth at him, but smiled nonetheless. She laughed, then jumped on top of him, knocking him back onto the furs. Brulenzia lay pinned to the bed on his back looking up at her, as her hair dangled in his face. "Get your hair out of my face woman," he said, not trying to remove it himself.

She laughed. "Make me," she said and giggled.

Brulenzia eyed her and quickly rolled her over so that she was the one in the compromised position. He was careful to protect her stomach while he did this and she struggled against him. But it was no use. "That is just not fair, you are too strong."

They were laughing and rolling around on the bed platform when Ivanolia walked in. "Oh Sumata! Don't you two ever quit? I can hear you every morning and every night, and now I can't even come back to my hearth during the day either. Maybe this hearth should be named the Jack Rabbit Hearth."

Brulenzia and Laurana laughed, but Brulenzia didn't release her and she was still struggling to get up. The man's laughter was making him weaker and the woman managed to move enough to lean over and bite his wrist, causing him to yelp in pain and finally pull back. That was enough for her to get up, cross the hearth, and stand behind her brother.

Brulenzia laughed. "Oh sure, use your brother for protection now."

"So, are we going outside or what? Danie's been dressed and ready for half the morning while you two have been wasting time in here doing Sumata knows what."

"Okay, okay, we just have to put on our boots." Ivanolia smiled at their words and left the hearth.

The couple pulled their snow boots out, and sat down on the bed platform to put them on. Laurana slipped hers on easily, then began lacing them up, but when Brulenzia pulled his on, he felt something squishy and wet, and immediately realized he had been the victim of one of Ivanolia's jokes again.

"IVANOLIA!" the man screamed, as pulled the boot back off, and saw that his inner foot covering was covered with a slimy coating of smashed ptarmigan egg. They could hear the other man cracking up in the passageway. Since she knew Brulenzia would have to clean himself up before he could do anything about her brother's newest joke, Laurana jumped up and ran out of the hearth and after her brother.

Ivanolia was laughing hard, but saw her coming and turned and fled. He ran down the hall toward the cooking hearth, where everyone was sitting around. Laurana ran hard and almost caught him, but he dodged her and ran into the entry area, then outside. She followed at top speed. The man kept running, heading toward the backside of the earthlodge and she was only steps behind him.

The rest of the camp was smiling as the brother and sister ran through, and several threw on their parkas and went outside to watch. They were all bored from their winter captivity.

Serana and Vilognia had been watching Ivanolia's practical jokes and had both wondered when Laurana would finally break; she was after all showing incredible tolerance of his annoying behavior. They too followed the man and woman outside.

~oxoxo~

Inside, Brulenzia took off his wet and sticky inner foot covering, and tossed it onto the ground, then picked up his boot and dumped out the contents. The egg slowly oozed out of the boot, giving the man an idea. He quickly scooped it up and put it in a shallow wooden bowl, then got up and carried it into Ivanolia's hearth and looked around. Then, focusing on the bed platform, he smiled and shoved the bowl as far back under the platform as he could reach. There, he thought to himself. There's nothing like the smell of rotten eggs. The only problem was that he would be punishing Danie for Ivan's behavior and he and Laurana were likely to smell it too, since it was in the hearth right next to theirs. He decided to warn Danie when he had the chance so she could stay away if she wanted to.

After he felt satisfied with his joke, he quickly clean out his boot, then put it on to go help Laurana catch Ivanolia.

~oxoxo~

Outside, Ivanolia had climbed on top of the earthlodge and was throwing snowballs down on Laurana as she attempted to climb up after him. Everyone was laughing at their antics and she was yelling at him angrily. When she finally got to the top, she went after her brother with a vengeance. He was laughing and pushed her away from him, then he sidestepped her. When he got to the other end of the lodge, he turned around to look at her only to get a snowball in the face.

Brulenzia came out of the earthlodge, to find everyone in stitches over the two, and his face paled to see her on top of the lodge and charging after Ivanolia. "Laurana!" he called. "Get down from there!" Everyone turned to look at him, wondering what he was upset about. Laurana hadn't even heard him, but Ivanolia had and looked down at him. Laurana slammed into her brother and the two of them fell down. She was sitting on top of him shoving snow down his tunic. He finally grabbed her by the wrists and started laughing again. Then he tossed her over with ease, and sat on her so that she couldn't move a bit.

"Ivan, get off of her!" Brulenzia shouted, looking nervous, but Ivanolia didn't move.

Brulenzia went to the other side of the lodge, where it was easier to climb up. When he got to the top, he rushed over and pulled Ivanolia off of the pinned woman. "Ivan! I said to get off of her, SHE'S PREGNANT!"

The two men stared at each other and silence spread among the people. Laurana's eyes opened wide, and she looked around at everyone. They were all staring at her. Brulenzia suddenly realized what he had said and let go of Ivanolia to go to Laurana. She had gotten up off the snow-covered earthlodge and her face was beet red. She was watching Ivanolia's expression. Comprehension dawned on him, and a look of fear crossed his face. Laurana knew that he was picturing Nemlora as she lay in his arms bleeding to death and she suddenly felt very guilty.

Ivanolia looked at her. "Why didn't you tell me, Laurana?"

Her eyes had welled up with tears and she stared at her hands. "I didn't want you to worry. I knew I couldn't hide it much longer, but...I...just wasn't ready to tell everyone.

Ivanolia hugged his sister and apologized for sitting on her, then looked at his friend. "You had better take care of her. That's all I have to say."

Brulenzia laughed. "Well, haven't I been doing that? If you only knew how many meals I have brought to this woman during the last few mooncycles, or how many snacks I have gotten out of our warm furs to fetch for her in the middle of the night, or how many times I have washed her clothes, because she could not, or how many nights we have sat up talking about the future, then you would know I've been taking care of her."

Laurana smiled. "Or how many night baskets full of sickness he has had to empty, or how many times he has cleaned me up after I've been sick," she added. "Ivanolia, there couldn't be anyone better for your little sister."

Ivanolia rolled his eyes and the two men got down off the earthlodge, then helped her down. She was immediately surrounded by a throng of people. Serana didn't look happy at all. "Daughter, why didn't you tell me?"

Laurana smiled at her mother. "I'm sorry mother. I just didn't want everyone worrying and I wanted Jenadoza to be here when we told everyone. Please don't be angry with me," the young woman pleaded.

"So, how far are you? When are you due? When will I become a grandmother again?" her mother asked, with the slightest hint of a smile.

The young pregnant woman smiled back. "I am due in the summer, but Jenadoza will make you a grandmother again before I do."

"Yes, yes, I know, but she's not here and may not be back for the birth. At least I have your birth to look forward to," she said as she hugged her daughter.

Zarina approached them. "I wondered when you would tell everyone," she said kissing Laurana's cheek.

Serana's eyes widened. "And just how did you know my daughter was pregnant?"

"Hm. I'm not sure," she said honestly. "She's just looked different to me for a while."

"Humpf," the woman said smiling, then herded the people back inside. "Great Mother, it's cold out here. I think we've had enough playing in the snow this morning. Let's all go inside!"

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

For several days prior to the break in the storm, the men of the visitor's hearth had been making flint points, so that the could show some of the Clan men how to use their hunting spears. They had explained that they threw their spears instead of jabbing with them.

"But those spears are so narrow. Don't they break?" Broud questioned. Ayla translated.

Donzolnia smiled. "Yes, they break sometimes, but the distance we can be from our kill is much farther. It's much safer than having to be practically on top of them."

"I did see Nora's mother's mate's spears, but he never used them in one of our hunts. He always said that he wanted to do things the way the Clan did," Grov informed them.

Vincenzia looked at him. "Did my sister continue to hunt while she was with your Clan?"

Grov shook his head. "No, there were some among us that were too offended by a hunting woman and our leader didn't want trouble, so he forbid it. Vinoza didn't seem to care though."

Vincenzia nodded. "My sister never really liked hunting. She was really good at it, but she was more interested in caring for Evanora and everyone else's children. We could always count on her to watch the children when there was a hunt." The man sighed as he spoke about his dead sister and a single tear ran unchecked down his cheek.

~oxoxo~

On the same clear morning that Laurana chased her brother around the lodge, the Oak Camp men went out to demonstrate their different spears to the men of the Clan.

AtDC

Rotten Egg

Several of the Clan men had come outside to watch the Others' demonstrate their spears and after seeing the greater range in which a spear afforded the hunter, many considered the possibilities.

Grov was extremely interested, as were Zoug, Droog, Dorg, and Daub. They were the only men actually standing with Vincenzia and Donzolnia as they showed the people. Zoug was nodding his head and wondering what it would have been like to hunt with these spears, but he would never know since he was too old to hunt with any spear. Droog looked on and was impressed with these Others. The Clan had not thought the Others very intelligent, but their explanation for their spear and the brief demonstration made the Clan's toolmaker realize that this was untrue. The other two men, along with Grov, had seen the Others' spears before, though they had never seen them used.

Goov, as the Mog-ur, didn't do much hunting anymore, as he had more concerning matters, but he watched from the sidelines with Brun and Grod, and many of the other men.

~oxoxo~

Nervously holding her newly acquired spear, Ayla had followed the men outside, but held back, deciding to stand in the shadows of the mouth of the cave entrance. She had been told that she was now a true hunter of the Clan, but she was not sure that she would be welcome during this demonstration. She still got looks from some of the men that told her that they didn't approve of her despite Brun's permission to hunt.

Ayla was watching them so intently that she did not hear someone approaching from behind. When she did notice, and realized that it was Broud, she stepped aside for him to pass, feeling slightly guilty that she was not doing something useful. He was carrying the new spears that he had been making with Vincenzia and Donzolnia, and he signaled a greeting as he went by, but did not stop. Ayla thought he had been acting strangely toward her since Brun had given him his status back. She had expected him to act more like he used to, and maybe even give her the signal, but something was different. Then, ever since she had been given full rights as a hunter, Broud had been treating her more like a brother than a woman. It was very disconcerting.

Ayla watched Broud walk toward the other men. When he got to the practicing men, he gestured to Grov that she was watching and Grov turned around and beckoned her over.

Ayla's eyes got wide, and she looked over at Brun. Brun immediately ordered that she obey her mate. Ayla blushed, she had not meant to resist Grov's command, but she was nervous and this was all so new. As she crossed the practice field to join the men, she gripped her spear tightly. There were a few men that decided to leave, Grod, Crug, and Norv included, because they just could not watch a woman with a spear. Hunting with a sling had been one thing; it was an old man's weapon, but the spear was too much for them to handle.

When Ayla got to her mate, he took her spear from her and handed her one of the new ones, then gestured that she should try to throw it. Ayla walked over to Vincenzia, but didn't know what to do. The man realized that this was all new to them and showed her with his own spear. Ayla watched carefully, then made an attempt. The spear flew quite a distance and stuck in the ground.

"Good Ayla," Vincenzia said.

Ayla smiled at the man. "It's not so hard."

"No, not hard to throw. You just have to aim carefully, so that you hit your target. It takes practice," the man said.

"Like with my sling. It took lots of practice to be good at that," she said, blushing slightly. She hadn't spoken about her sling hunting to any man, except Grov, since the day she had been caught using it to save Brac and she wondered if she should have mentioned it.

"Yes, Ayla is the very best sling hunter in the Clan," Zoug gestured, making the woman blush even deeper. The nearby men were nodding and, as Ayla looked around, she realized that all the men were nodding; even Broud. She didn't know that they had noticed her skill with the sling; she had always hunted alone.

"Well Ayla, maybe you could show me your skill with the sling sometime," Vincenzia said. "But right now, who else wants to try this spear?"

Several of the men nodded, and tried out the Others' spears, but the weather soon made it so everyone wanted to go back inside. It was clear, but so cold.

~oxoxo~

When Ayla got back to the hearth, she saw that Uba was there, and that the pregnant Jenadoza appeared to be in some pain. "Is it time?" Ayla asked, setting her spears down in the place where Grov kept his.

Uba shook her head. "No, she still has some time left, and she's not even dilated the smallest amount. I think she still has half a moon left, but Oga came to me and said her back was hurting." Uba continued making Jenadoza a calming tea. Ayla smiled, grateful that her sister could help when she was not available.

"I am fine Ayla. Just tired. How was the spear demonstration?" Jenadoza said, pulling up her leggings and rubbing her belly that had grown significantly since they had come to be staying with the Clan.

Ayla smiled again. "It was wonderful. I wish that it was spring, so I could try to use it."

"Well, it will be spring soon enough, and then you can," Jenadoza said. "And, I am hoping that you will come visit us that the earthlodge in spring too."

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

Over the next few days, Ivanolia and Brulenzia behaved themselves, mostly for Laurana's sake, but Brulenzia had forgotten about his little bowl of egg that he had hidden under Ivanolia's bed until he heard the commotion going on in the hearth next to him.

Laurana was sleeping soundly, and he was propped up on an elbow, staring down at her delicate face and grinning like a fool when she opened her eyes. She gasped in a startled manner. "What are you doing?" she asked reaching up with both hands and caressing his face, then sliding her hand under the furs to caress something else.

"Ohhhhhh," he groaned. "Just watching you sleep. You are so beautiful, Laurana, and I am so lucky."

She smiled at him. "Well, I know that you're lucky," she said with a laugh, "but ..."

Brulenzia laughed at her and kissed her, then froze, realizing that something was going on in the next hearth.

~oxoxo~

"Ivan! You need wash foot coverings. They smell bad," Danie was saying with typical Mamutoi openness.

Ivan held his inner foot covering up to his nose. "It is not my foot coverings Danie. Here! Smell them yourself!"

Danie was shaking her head vehemently. "I not going to smell them. I want you wash them," she said.

"I'm telling you, it's not my foot coverings that smell, maybe it's yours that smell," he continued.

"Mine? I wash my clothes more than you. Not blame me for smell."

"In fact, I'm sure it's yours and not mine. I didn't smell it until after you came back here last night," the blond man said.

"What are you talking about? We come back together last night. I not smell anything then."

~oxoxo~

On the other side of the hearth wall, Brulenzia suddenly realized what they were talking about and snickered.

"What is so funny?" Laurana asked.

"Well," he said looking guilty. "I sort of put the egg that Ivan put in my shoe under their bed."

Laurana rolled her eyes. "You realize that now he's going to want to get back at you again and that I'm going to pay for all this yet again."

Brulenzia smiled. "I know, but I forgot that I did it, after the whole chase and everything. We better get dressed and get out of here, so he doesn't catch us lying here laughing.

Laurana smiled at the man and nodded. The two of them got up and dressed quickly, and listened to what was going on in the other hearth.

~oxoxo~

"Why you blame me?" Danie said in an angry voice, then she lapsed into Mamutoi and they could no longer understand the woman.

"That's not fair Danie! I can't understand you when you speak Mamutoi. You need to yell at me in my language, so I can fight back! Danie! Danie, where are you going?"

The two slinking figures saw her throw the privacy curtain back and storm out of the hearth. She stomped down the hallway babbling in Mamutoi, obviously going to find her mother or sister.

Brulenzia smiled, but Laurana nudged him. "It's not her fault that it stinks in there. You have to go fix it so they don't fight." They could here Ivanolia throwing things around in the hearth. He would find the offending item soon, and would very angry—even though it had been the blond man who'd started all the nonsense.

"We should go tell Danie, so she knows that this is your fault and not Ivan's," Laurana said.

Brulenzia nodded. "But it's his fault too. If he didn't put it in my shoe, then it wouldn't be under his bed right now."

"You're right, but it's still not Danie's fault," Laurana was adamant, and Brulenzia nodded.

~oxoxo~

When Brulenzia and Laurana found Danie, she was in Vilognia's hearth crying and speaking in Mamutoi to her sister. The couple scratched on their curtain and were admitted immediately. Laurana looked at the woman and elbowed Brulenzia. "This man has something to tell you." Danie sniffled, but looked at the man eagerly.

Brulenzia looked at the ground. "I ...I sort of ...put ..." Laurana elbowed him again. "I put a bowl of egg under your bed. This isn't Ivanolia's fault."

Danie stared at him, and was about to say something, but just at that moment, they could hear Ivanolia screaming. "I FOUND IT, DANIE! BRUUUUU! WHERE ARE YOU, MAN?"

Danie smiled, then frowned again. "You did it, but he blame me. Not believe me not me."

Just then, Ivanolia angrily threw back the curtain. They could see he was seething mad; his face was red, and his eyes were bulging. Laurana pushed past Brulenzia, and went to her brother. "Now, Ivan, Bru was just trying to be funny. You have been doing far worse. And you did start it."

Ivanolia looked at his sister and then he looked at Danie. She was still upset. Then he looked at Brulenzia over his sister's head. "You are lucky you have this girl to protect you," he said indicating Laurana. "But you will be sorry."

"Now wait a minute, Ivan," Brulenzia started in, "this woman is neither a girl, nor is she protecting me. You should be more respectful to your pregnant sister and you have had quite a hand in all this yourself. Don't—"

"...you dare blame Brulenzia for this," Danie cut in. "You are one to start trouble by tickle with feather. That not him. Then you do many things. Brulenzia only try be funny. You are one that blame me for smell. You should be sorry."

Ivanolia listened to Danie's broken Sungaea and couldn't help but smile. She was so pretty and even more so when she was angry. He couldn't help but melt when she was upset. "I am sorry Danie," he said sincerely.

Danie eyed him suspiciously, then went to him. "Okay, I come back, but no do again. If I say not me, you believe." Ivanolia nodded to her, but gave Brulenzia a look that told him it wasn't over.

Laurana rolled her eyes, wondering how many "funny" things she'd have to survive before her baby was born.

AtDC

A Break in Winter's Monotony

For a few more days, there wasn't any funny business in Oak Camp, or so most thought since there was no yelling going on, or chases, or things falling on people, but Ivanolia was quietly thinking about what he would do next. Danie had put up her hand, claiming she didn't want to know about it whenever he brought up his ideas, and demanded that he keep his activities out of their hearth, as she did not want to be the recipient of retaliation.

The day had been miserably cold and stormy, and everyone had been stuck inside, so Gredenzia, Oak Camp's Shogur, decided the people would get together for a communal meal in the cooking hearth, and a mother festival. There was no special occasion, except that he wanted to get the people together to break up the monotony of the winter.

Laurana was feeling somewhat sad, because she knew that her sister would be delivering any time now and that she wouldn't be at Oak Camp when it happened. Laurana hoped that someone knowledgeable was taking care of her and she decided that she didn't want to be away from home when it was her time. She considered that she may be at the summer meeting, but would ask that they delay their departure if they could.

Brulenzia was changing his leggings. Laurana had just made him a new pair and he was admiring her sewing ability. "I didn't know you could sew so well," he commented.

"Hmm, well there's been nothing to do, so I've been working on it. You really needed new ones; those are so tattered," she said flinging her hand at the ones lying crumpled up on the floor. "You need to get rid of them."

"But these are my favorite leggings," he said picking them up. "They're stretched out just where they need to be."

Laurana smiled. "Dump the old pants or I'll stretch you out," she said giggling. She was sitting on the edge of his bed with her knees drawn up to her stomach and her feet resting on the wooden platform, crossed at the ankles.

Brulenzia laughed. "Aren't you going to change?"

"Yeah, but I need to go get something from my mother's hearth. I've worn everything that's here and besides, nothing here is appropriate for a mother festival."

Brulenzia looked around. "You know, you ought to just move all of your things over here. It's not like you even stay at your mother's hearth anymore."

Laurana jumped up off the bed and smiled. "Well, I was wondering when you might ask me to move in permanently." She did a little dance in the middle of the room and he laughed at her.

"I didn't know you were waiting for a formal invitation. We have, after all, already announced our intention to join and you're having a baby. I figured that you would just move your stuff."

"Well, that just shows what a man knows. A girl likes to be invited. At least this girl does," Laurana giggled, and put her arms around him and held him tight.

Brulenzia eyed her. "Don't call yourself a girl. I feel awkward doing this to a girl," he said pushing her back onto the bed and kissing her hard on the lips.

"Mmmm," she groaned with a smile. "Not too awkward it would seem."

~oxoxo~

About the same thing was going on in Ivanolia's hearth. The man knew that there would be drinking going on that night and the possibility of either of them sharing someone else's furs was great, so he wanted to pleasure his mate before all that nonsense began. Until he met Danie, he had been essentially celibate, with only the occasional roll in the furs with a woman. Now, he didn't really want to share anyone else's furs, and he hoped that Danie wouldn't either.

~oxoxo~

The rest of the earthlodge was getting ready for the evening, but Darvie was feeling rather morose, since it was the middle of winter and there had been no sign that her mate would return anytime soon. She had been sending pleas for the return of her mate to Sumata on a daily bases, but so far they had not been answered. Gredenzia told her that she would have to be patient and that he thought Vincenzia was fine; just trapped away from the lodge because of the severe winter.

For the most part, she had been kept quite busy by her children, her mother, and her sister, who all seemed to somehow know just when she needed them most, but on the night of the communal meal the thought of having a celebration without her mate there made her even more sad. She decided that she would go to the celebration, for the sake of her children, but that she would retire early; before the coupling began.

~oxoxo~

The meal was going as expected. The women had cooked up a fantastic feast. They sure had been lucky in the pre-winter hunt, Tagnolia thought as he dished up a plate for his mate. Zarina thanked him and went to sit with Wäglodia. Zarina and the headwoman's mate had always been close. The quiet woman was extremely attracted to the fiery haired man, so much so, that she often shared his furs when the leaders of Oak Camp were busy with the dealings of the lodge. Tagnolia watched his mate sit down, then he glanced over at Morina, whom he was sure was started by Wäglodia's spirit, and not by his own, then he shrugged and joined Vilognia, Serana, and Darvie. He did not feel any jealousy over his mate's attraction to the other man. That was just the way it was and the people of Oak Camp understood this on a subconscious level.

~oxoxo~

Some of the younger members of the group had dished up plates, and were sitting together by the fire. Laurana was talking to Tabita and Fürlasa, whom she hardly ever visited with anymore, while Brulenzia, Ivanolia, and Tinozia sat off to the side discussing whatever it was that young men discussed.

"Are you getting excited Laurana?" Tabita asked, wondering what it was like to be pregnant, yet not wanting to be so soon.

"I suppose so, now that everyone knows. It was so hard to not tell anyone, especially Ivan. I was so afraid that he would be upset."

Fürlasa snorted. "Well, that may still come, so don't think he won't just yet. I vaguely remember when he and Nemlora had trouble; he always brings up the past when he gets upset."

Laurana smiled. "I know that. I was raised in the same hearth as the man, but he's just afraid for me, Fürlasa. He doesn't want me to die giving birth like your sister did." The three young women looked over at Braydalana. "Ivan sure has done a good job of raising Nemlora's daughter though. I think many were surprised that he wanted to raise her instead of giving her to a woman to care for."

The women were nodding, but Tabita looked uncomfortable. "Aren't you at least scared about giving birth?"

Laurana thought about it for a minute, then shook her head. "No, I have watched women give birth before. I just know it won't be that bad."

~oxoxo~

Brulenzia and Tinozia were so involved in their conversation that they did not even notice that Ivanolia was not contributing much, or that he was fiddling with the sealed bowl that contained the salt. When Brulenzia picked up his plate to finally start eating, he took one bite and asked for the salt container. Ivanolia gladly passed it over to the man.

Brulenzia was still talking as he tried to remove the lid to the salt, and didn't even interrupt himself when he found that he could not just pull it off. Instead, he exerted pressure, and suddenly the top popped off, and salt flew everywhere, including all over his meal.

The man looked at the mess he had made, then narrowed his eyes suspiciously, and turned to Ivanolia, who was sitting there with a positively devious look on his face.

"Great Mother, Ivan! Don't you ever quit?" he burst, standing up and brushing the salt off of himself and onto the seated man.

Ivanolia had fallen back off of his seat and was again laughing at the trick he had pulled on Brulenzia. Brulenzia took his plate over to the place that they disposed of the refuse, and scraped off as much salt as he could, then returned to his place. "Can't you think of more worthy things to do with your time than to torment me?"

Ivanolia was still laughing. "I probably could, but this is much more fun."

Tinozia and Brulenzia were shaking their heads, and so were many others in the lodge.

~oxoxo~

After the meal, they got the music and dancing started and Tagnolia began pouring Lion Camp's bouza. Serana had made some of her wonderfully sweet blackberry wine, which was a favorite of many of the women, especially the younger ones. Danie had never tried blackberry wine, since it was a Sungaea treat that had not been available to her while she was Mamutoi, and Laurana, Tabita and, Fürlasa were being given their first cups of it as well.

It didn't take long before the winter party was in full swing. The children played where they were until they dropped and the adults did various activities. Gredenzia and Tiflona sat together discussing Tinozia's ability to become a Shogur. Tagnolia sat with his dinner companions for a very long time, trying to reassure Darvie that Vincenzia would return safely. Wäglodia quietly slipped away with Zarina, since both of their mates were busy with other activities. And Fraylora retired early.

The younger adults' activities weren't much different than their elders. When Danie noticed that Darvie and Travie were leaving, she poured herself another cup of blackberry wine, then excused herself. She was worried about her sister and wasn't thinking about Mother festivals. Ivanolia watched her go, then shrugged his shoulders, thinking that he had already pleasured her that day. He took another swig of his cup of bouza, then turned back to the men.

Tinozia was drinking his bouza rather slowly and sitting with Ivanolia and Brulenzia. He wasn't usually a drinking man, and the alcohol was going to his head. Ivanolia was making fun of him, as usual, and Brulenzia was watching Laurana with her friends. When she saw him looking at her, she came over and slipped her arms around his waist.

Ivanolia rolled his eyes. "Oh you two, get a hearth."

Brulenzia laughed. "You're just jealous because my mate will be coming to my bed and yours is nowhere to be found."

Ivanolia laughed. "Your mate?" he said. "You two are not mated yet."

Brulenzia smiled. "We are in our hearts and that's all that matters."

"Well, I might just try to entice one of the these nice young women to my bed then," Ivanolia said as a joke, but looked at Tabita and Fürlasa with some interest.

Then it was Brulenzia's turn to laugh. "But I thought they were too young. They're more years younger than you than Laurana is younger than me."

Ivanolia smiled. "Well, you cannot expect a man to be alone on a night of honoring the Mother, now can you?"

The people smiled as they watched the drunken man saunter off toward the two younger women. Laurana kissed Brulenzia's ear and then whispered in it. "You do not have to take me to your bed tonight if you are interested in..." her words trailed off, as he turned around and kissed her.

"I am not interested in...well, unless you are," he said looking over at his cousin, Tinozia, who sat there quietly drinking his bouza.

Laurana followed his gaze, then shook her head. She took another sip of her wine, then smiled at the man. "Nope, I'm fine with just you."

Brulenzia let out his breath, relieved that she did not want to honor the Mother with anyone other than him. He did not like the idea of sharing her, though that was the norm of their society. He had not realized that he did not want to take anyone else to bed either until faced with the opportunity. The man kissed her again, then took her wine cup out of her hand and picked her up to carry her off to bed.

~oxoxo~

Tinozia smiled and watched them go. He was happy that his cousin had finally found one woman to love. And that Ivanolia had too, for that matter, though he seemed to be trying to romance Tabita into his furs at the moment. Tinozia had often worried about Brulenzia and Ivanolia, but it appeared that he did not have to anymore. He decided to join Ivanolia, Tabita, and Fürlasa, and quickly realized that he and Fürlasa were about to be left alone, as the other two left to go honor the Mother themselves.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

Not long after the Oak Camp's mother festival, Jenadoza's water broke in the middle of the night. The blonde woman sat up as the sharp pain stabbed her, then lay back down and groaned. Donzolnia had not awoken by her groan, so she leaned over and shook the man. "It's time Don. I need you to go get Ayla." Donzolnia got up, dressed quickly, helped her to the medicine hearth, then went to get Ayla.

~oxoxo~

Grov's fire was burning low, but Donzolnia could easily make out the forms of the sleeping people. He lay his hand on the sleeping women, who opened her eyes immediately. Then, knowing why he was there, she carefully got up, so as not to wake her mate, dressed, then followed the man out of the hearth.

AtDC

Jenadoza's Baby

Ayla arrived at the medicine hearth with her medicine bag in time to see Jenadoza look of pain as a contraction began. Ayla waited for it to pass, then she examined the woman.

"You look good Jenadoza. How long have you been in labor?" Ayla asked.

"Quite a while, but when my water broke, I decided—" She paused as another contraction took over. Ayla waited.

"...I decided I wanted you here," the woman finished.

Donzolnia frowned. "Why didn't you wake me soon, Jena?"

Jenadoza smiled at her mate. "There was no need, you could no do anything, so why would I want to wake you?" Donzolnia shrugged and sat by her side.

Ayla smiled. "Not much longer now and you will be holding your new baby. Do you have a name picked out?" the medicine woman asked, knowing that the Others allowed their women to choose their child's name.

"Yes, if it's a girl, she will be...aghhhhh," Jenadoza groaned with another contraction, and Donzolnia rubbed her back. "She will be called Evanoza. And if it's a boy, he will be called Teglodia."

"Those are nice names," the medicine woman said. "Evanoza sounds similar to Evanora."

Jenadoza smiled. "Yes, that is what we wanted to do, but also like Vinoza, my mother's mate's sister, and it's similar to Ivanolia too. He will like that." Jenadoza grimaced as another contraction took her.

Ayla waited, thinking that the woman's labor was progressing nicely. "And Teglodia? Is there a special reason for that name?"

Donzolnia smiled this time. "He was Vinoza's mate, and my mother's mate's best friend. He will be happy to know his friend has not been forgotten."

"I think Grov will like both names as well. I know he liked both Vinoza and Teglodia, though they were not called by those names when they lived with the Clan; they were Teg and Oza then."

Jenadoza was thoughtful for a moment. "Your names would change too, if you came to live with Oak Camp. Well, not Annaliza's name, and maybe not yours, but Grov, Durc and Ora's would."

Ayla frowned. "I am not sure I would want my son's name changed. He is named after the man in my favorite legend, The Legend of Durc. Our old Mog-ur knew it was my favorite and chose that name to please me. I would not want to call my son anything else."

Jenadoza went into another contraction, and when it finished Ayla decided to examine her again. "I think that you can start pushing with the next contraction Jenadoza. You are fully opened. I would like to go get Uba, if you do not mind."

Jenadoza shook her head. "No, that is fine, it always good to have two healers available. In fact, Oak Camp doesn't even have one right now. I think I am in better hands here than I would be there."

Ayla smiled. "I am going now."

~oxoxo~

Ayla left the medicine hearth to go get Uba, but decided to stop off to tell Grov where she was going. The woman put her hand on her mate, and shook him gently. The man groaned, then opened his blue eyes, and looked up at her. "Is everything okay," he gestured.

Ayla grinned. "Yes, Jenadoza is in labor. I am going to go get Uba. I just wanted you to know."

Grov got up on his elbow, and kissed his mate. "Do you want me to walk with you to Vorn's hearth? It is very dark in the cave."

"No, that is alright, I can go myself. You sleep."

Grov sighed. "Okay, I will go back to sleep then, but I will bring Annaliza to you if she wakes." Ayla nodded, then left the hearth.

~oxoxo~

Ayla made her way through the dark passageways of the cave, and paused at the entrance to Vorn's hearth. "Uba," the woman whispered.

Vorn stirred a bit as Uba got up. "Is Oza in labor?" the second medicine woman gestured knowingly. Ayla nodded, and Uba got her medicine bag.

~oxoxo~

Back at the medicine hearth, Jenadoza was pushing hard, and Ayla and Uba were surprised to see Donzolnia sitting behind her. The two were holding hands and had their fingers laced together. It seemed to be giving her leverage. It is a good position for the woman, Ayla thought, but the two medicine women had not thought of that position before, and it looked strange to them, not to mention that a man wasn't usually at a birth.

When the contraction ended, the medicine women examined the laboring woman again. "The baby had very dark hair," Uba signed.

Ayla translated, then said, "Only a few more pushes Jenadoza."

The woman smiled. "I was so nervous about delivering here, but this is going so ...wait ..." she said as she started to push again. Ayla and Uba were amazed that she did not cry out at all. During this contraction, the baby's head emerged with a pop, and the child sneezed immediately. Uba cleared out the child's mouth, and they waited for the next contraction to come, so the baby would be fully born.

Jenadoza lay there waiting and smiled when the next one started. "Okay," she said as she pushed with all her might.

Uba held the baby's head, as Ayla guided the baby into the world. "You have a son Jenadoza," Ayla said with a smile. Ayla cleaned off the baby, then handed him to Uba to wrap up, so she could deliver the afterbirth. Uba bundled the baby, then passed him on to his mother.

Jenadoza took the child, and smiled down at him. "Oh Don, look at him. He looks just like you," she said with tears in her eyes.

He grinned at this woman, and her new baby. "I think I see you in there too, Jen. He is your son after all."

Ayla watched them, and started thinking about her theories on the conception of babies. Jenadoza's baby looked nearly identical to the man holding her. Ayla could see it even now, just after birth. Ayla was sure the child was Donzolnia's child.

I think a man makes babies start, not his totem, she thought to herself. I think it happens when he puts his organ inside a woman. That must be how. Does that make the child just as much his as it is hers? Ayla wondered about this quietly, then she and Uba excused themselves so that the new family could be alone.

AtDC

End of Part THREE!

Post Script

As stated at the top of this page, there are TEN parts to this. However, part ten is unfinished...and I hardly ever update it anymore. Sorry! I repeat...you are reading an unfinished story. Continue at your own risk!

Again, it took me over an hour to transfer part three from the site where I originally posted it to here (copy/past, copy/past, copy/past, copy/past, copy/past...and so on), so it might be a while before I transfer parts four through ten. I promise that I'll eventually get it all moved over.

Thanks for reading and for your patience!