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).

4. Part 4

Author's Note

Reminder – this fic is UNFINISHED...so when you get to (and through) part ten, don't bitch at me that you weren't warned!

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*

And further...sorry about the typographical errors. This was written years ago, when I was new to writing and just didn't know any better. I have, since then, learned A LOT! However, not all the errors are mine, as this site seems to make changes without my knowledge and/or consent. It's WEIRD!

After the Death Curse – Part Four (of ten)

AtDC

Hearth Listings

Brun (34) – Leader (Bison totem)
Ebra (32) – Brun's mate, Broud's mother
~ Eda (2.5 moons) – Ebra's

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 (Beaver totem)
~ Droov (9 moons) – Ovra's first twin son
~ Creb (9 moons) – 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)
~ Annaliza (7.5 moons)

Vorn (14) – Aga's son
Uba (9) – second medicine woman, Iza's daughter
~ Brev (9.5 moons) – Uba's first twin son
~ Berc (9.5 moons) – 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

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
~ Agra (4 moons) – Oga's mixed daughter

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 born twin daughter
~ Aka (4) – Eka's second born 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 by the totem of a man of the others (Red Wolf totem)

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

Visitor's Hearth

Vincenzia (36) – Ayla's true mother's mate
Donzolnia (21) – first son of Oak Camp Headman's mate
Jenadoza (17) – Donzolnia's mate
~ Teglodia (newborn) – Jenadoza's son

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – "Brun's Dilemma"

Back at Grov's hearth, Ayla, and Uba discussed whether or not they needed to go inform Brun about the birth of Jenadoza's son. "They are not Clan. I don't know if Brun would want to know," Ayla said.

Uba pondered the thought for a moment. "True, but the child was born here. He may still want to see the child."

"But what for? The child is Others, he was born to Others, and they will not be staying once the weather is good enough to travel again," Ayla gestured. She did not want to wake their leader if they did not have to.

Uba thought about it again. "Yes, you are right, but Ayla, two of your children are Others, and he wanted to know about Annaliza."

"That is different Uba. I am part of the Clan. Brun had to decide whether or not she would be accepted. There is not need for that here. They will be leaving, and their customs are different; a woman keeps her baby no matter what."

"I suppose you are right, but I think we should tell him anyway." The younger medicine women didn't want to do anything that may upset the leader.

Ayla nodded. "I will do it. It's late, you go back to Vorn's hearth." Uba nodded, then left.

~oxoxo~

Grov rolled over and opened his eyes. "Well?" he gestured.

"This woman is pleased to report that the woman had a son."

"Ayla, you don't have to tell me like that. Save it for Brun." The man smiled at her. "Are you going to go tell Brun."

"I was just going to go tell him about the baby, but... Do you think he will want to know?"

Grov shrugged. "I don't know if he will want to know, but you still have to tell him. If I were leader, I would want to know about a new baby, no matter what."

Ayla agreed and looked over at Annaliza. The child was awake, lying in her furs looking at her mother, and sucking her two middle fingers. When Ayla started to leave, she began to cry. "I will take Annaliza with me," she said as she scooped up her tearful daughter.

Seeing Ayla pick up her sister, Ora sat up. "I want to go with Mamma too."

Ayla smiled, and held out her hand. "Come on Ora, you can come. Take your doll with you," she said to the almost three year old. Then the woman turned to her mate. "We are going now."

~oxoxo~

As she made her way through the darkened passageway again, she noticed that some people were starting to stir; some were already awake. It must be morning already, she thought. The night had passed quickly for her, but now she was tired.

As she approached the leader's hearth, she looked in surreptitiously to see if anyone was awake. Ebra was nursing her daughter. When the older woman noticed her there, she gestured a greeting and waved the medicine woman in. "I saw Uba go by. Does that mean there is another baby in the cave?"

Ayla nodded and sat down next to the woman. "Yes, I have come to tell Brun, but...I don't know if he will want to know. I see that he is still sleeping," she said as she opened her wrap and put Annaliza to her breast. The child latched on, and grabbed a handful of her mother's hair to hold while she nursed. Ora sat close to Ayla, but when she discovered that Eda was nursing too, she took out her doll and pretended to be a mother too.

"Eda kept us awake late. He will probably sleep for a while. I do not remember Broud keeping me awake so much." She looked down at her suckling daughter. The child who was now two and a half mooncycles was not one that liked to sleep. She was an extremely happy baby and never even cried out, but was nearly always awake, which made sleeping difficult for the whole hearth.

"I could make you a calming tea, that would probably reach Eda through your milk. That might make it possible for you both to get more rest," Ayla suggested.

Ebra nodded. "I think that would be good. Brun needs to get some rest and this child is not allowing it. Maybe I am just too old to have this baby."

Ayla frowned. "You are not too old Ebra. You are older, but you are in good health. This hard time will pass." Annaliza began to fuss. She appeared to be full. Ayla spread out her small birthing blanket, and set her baby down on it in a sitting position. The baby looked around the hearth and gurgled. Ayla tried to keep her quiet, but the child babbled away, and Ayla could tell that she was disturbing Brun.

Ebra noticed too, and handed Eda to Ayla. "Here, you hold Eda, and I will make a morning meal and some tea. Brun will be hungry."

~oxoxo~

Not long after Ebra had started the meal, then man woke up. When he got out of his furs, Ayla put Eda down next to Annaliza, and approached the man. She knelt down in the customary position and waited for his tap. When he tapped her shoulder, she began.

"This woman is not sure the leader wants to know this, but I am pleased to report that the visiting woman Jenadoza, has given birth to a healthy son."

Brun stared at her for a moment. He had considered that this was going to happen, but still hadn't decided what to do. "I will go talk to Goov after I have a morning meal."

Ayla nodded, and picked up one of her daughters, and took the hand of the other. "We are going now."

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

Brulenzia lay quietly stroking Laurana's hair as she slept, and looked at her sleeping face. She looked like such a child when she was sleeping, he thought, and smiled. The young pregnant woman groaned and rolled over so that her small, but definitely pregnant tummy was leaning against him. He smiled at her again, caressed her belly, then got up and threw on some leggings. He wanted to get in and out of Ivanolia's hearth, before the man woke up.

~oxoxo~

Brulenzia quickly went into the other man's hearth, did what he wanted to do, then returned to his own hearth and crawled back into his furs.

Laurana groaned again, but this time she was awake. "You are cold. Where were you and why are you in bed with your leggings on," she said pushing the man away from her.

Brulenzia laughed quietly. "I have them on because it's cold out there, but I can take them off if you're offering me anything," he said, sidestepping her first question.

Laurana missed that he didn't answer fully and giggled. "Well, I just might be, but I don't know right now. I can't see if you're really interested unless you take them off," she said playfully.

The man grinned. "You think you're funny, don't you?" he said tickling her, then kissing her neck.

She giggled again, but pushed him away. "No, I'm serious, I want to see you take your leggings off."

He rolled his eyes, and started to take them off. She watched him and admired his lean young body. She ran a finger along his chest, and then reached up to kiss him. "Okay, you can have me now," she said. Unable to wait any longer, she took her hand from his chest, found his manhood, and guided him into her.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

After eating, Brun left his hearth and went to go see the Mog-ur. Ovra was feeding her sons, but set them down to get the leader some tea. Brun gestured his appreciation at her consideration, then looked at Goov.

"Mog-ur, the woman Oza has given birth to a son. Do I need to go examine the child to see if it is fit to stay with his mother, or do I not, because it is an Others child?" The leader looked somewhat stressed.

Goov considered the question carefully. "Well Brun, I'm not sure this has ever happened before. No Clan has ever had someone that was not part of the Clan deliver among the Clan, so you will have to decide on your own." The young mog-ur paused. "I think that if you examine the child, and allow him to stay with his mother, then you would be accepting him into the Clan. If there had been no Ayla, then this would also be a new concept for us, but you could accept the child and make him Clan, even though he is Others."

Brun frowned, not sure he wanted to accept the male infant into his already too large Clan.

Goov continued on before Brun could object. "That is one option. Another option could be doing nothing and leave them to handle the child on their own, but I think it may be awkward to have a baby in the cave that has not been accepted. And, the spirits were not angered by the accepting of Ayla...or any of the new people or babies since Ayla was found. I think they like it that we will help anyone."

Brun was nodding. "So then, you think we should accept the woman's son into the Clan providing that the child is normal?"

Goov considered for just a moment. He knew that this went against all Clan traditions, but their Clan was unlike any other Clan he knew of. No other Clan had had Others living among them, and not many had mixed people either. This would be new, and new was nearly impossible ...but not for this Clan. "Yes Brun, I think we should accept the child if he is normal," the Mog-ur began, then paused. Another idea came to him; another new idea. The man wondered where these new ideas were coming from, but immediately realized that this child could be important. "Brun, I have just thought of something else. If you accept this child and he grows up knowing about the ways of the Clan, it may make it easier for the Others to accept the Clan. We are, after all, living in their territory and I have heard of fights breaking out, because of misunderstandings."

Brun was nodding again. "I do believe you are right Mog-ur. We do have Grov and Ayla and their children to help with that too, but it could be good to have someone that is outside the Clan as well. Do you think these people will visit us again to make this all possible?"

Goov nodded. "They most definitely will, Ayla is their kin. I do believe that Grov is planning to take Ayla to meet all of her people in the Spring. They will spend time with them, and return to us with much knowledge. It will be good for both people."

Brun agreed with the Mog-ur, and gestured that they should go see the new child.

~oxoxo~

Ayla had returned to the hearth quickly, and walked in to see Oga serving Grov and Broud their morning meal and the boys playing in Broud's hearth while Agra lay on a map next to the working woman. "I will come help you Oga, but first I have to go talk to Jenadoza."

Oga waved her off. "I will take care of this, you go tend to your patient." Ayla smiled at the woman, and left to go see Jenadoza.

~oxoxo~

When Ayla got to the medicine hearth, the couple was still sitting together, but Vincenzia was there, holding the baby. Ayla smiled when she saw the man and Ora ran over to see the new baby. "Baby so small," the little girl said loudly, startling the baby.

"Yes Ora, the baby is very small, just like Annaliza was," Jenadoza said with a grin.

Ayla looked at the people, then sat down. "I am wondering something. Do you accept all babies born to your people?"

The three Others looked at her. "Well yes, of course," Vincenzia said. "Why?"

Ayla frowned. "Well, the Clan does not. If the leader deems that a child is deformed, thus a burden to the Clan, then the mother of the child is ordered to dispose of the child."

Jenadoza gasped. "That's awful! I could not do that to my baby," she said looking over at her new child. Then a strange look crossed her face. "Ayla, why are you asking this? Brun isn't going to order that I do that, is he?"

Ayla shook her head. "No, he could ignore that you have had a baby or he could come inspect it, but you do not have to worry, your baby is perfectly normal, so that is no problem. However, if he chooses to inspect your baby, then he would be considering accepting the child as part of our Clan. How would you feel about that?"

Jenadoza worry turned to relief and she turned to look at Donzolnia. "I would not have a problem with that, if Donzolnia doesn't. It's not like we will be living here, and he's not a girl so I would not worry about how he was treated. What would you think, Don?"

Donzolnia shook his head. "I don't care if you don't care. I don't see how it will affect us."

Ayla let out her breath, she had been worried that Brun would come to accept the baby and they would be offended. "I don't know if it would affect you either, but it would tie your hearth to our Clan, and that could be good."

Vincenzia smiled. "But we are already tied to each other through you, Durc, Ora, and Annaliza."

"Yes, and that is important too, but the more ties the better, I think. Don't you?"

The Others were all nodding when Brun and the Mog-ur arrived. Jenadoza looked down, so as not to look at the Clan men. She had been around long enough to know how she was expected to act at this time. She had after all been around for several births, and had seen every woman react in the same manner. Vincenzia was holding the new baby, and did not know the protocol. Jenadoza held out her hands to receive the child, unwrapped him, and then held him up to the men to inspect.

Brun and Goov leaned in to look at the baby. "Now that is the smallest baby I have ever seen," Brun gestured to Goov.

The Mog-ur nodded. "Yes, even smaller than Ayla's new daughter was, and look at how weak his neck is. That is the same as Ayla's daughter's neck was." The two men looked over at the medicine woman, who sat silently looking down at her daughter that was sitting in front of her.

"Looks like her neck is just fine," Brun gestured as they turned back to look at the new baby.

"This baby is acceptable to me Brun, if it is to you."

Brun finally grunted. "The baby appears to be normal. He may stay with his mother. If he lives until the naming day, he will be accepted." The leader paused for a moment, still looking at the teeny tiny infant, then turned and left the hearth.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – "Euphorbia esula"

The days went by quickly, and on the morning of the seventh day the Clan gathered outside in the deep snow and blowing wind for yet another unusual break in tradition; the naming and accepting of an Others child. A child that had already been named by the Others, but had to be named in the Clan way in order for it to be truly accepted by the Clan. As far as anyone could remember, this had been done only one time before, and that was when the Clan accepted Ayla many years before.

Everyone stood around, cloaked heavily, yet still shivering in the winter weather, and waiting for the Mog-ur to start the ceremony. Most were a little nervous at the prospect of the naming of this foreign child, but none questioned their holy man. At Mog-ur's signal, which announced that he was ready, the Clan and the Others came to attention.

It was very early in the morning, just as it was for all namings, when he beckoned the woman forward. Jenadoza had been instructed by Ayla so she would know what to do, and at Goov's gesture the woman hurried to join the holy man who stood in front of all his people. Ayla had suggested that she kneel down, so that she would not be taller than the Mog-ur, so that is what the woman did. As she kneeled before the Clan's magician, she uncovered her son, and then just as every other woman always did in a naming ceremony, Jenadoza held the baby 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

the place just above the dip in the baby's face, where the brow ridges should have been, to the tip of his tiny, un-Clan-like nose with the red-ochre paste.

The Mog-ur then looked at the child, and just as he had for the naming of Ayla's new baby, he verbalized the name that the Others wanted for their child. "Teg-lo-dee-a, the boy's name is Teg-lo-dee-a," Mog-ur said in a slow and deliberate manner. The naked infant, who was furious at being taken away from his mother's warm breast, and held out in the freezing temperatures, voiced a healthy howl which drowned out the Clan people's attempts to practice the child's name.

"Teglodia," Jenadoza 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. Most shortened the child's name to Teg, but some made an attempt to say his full name. Jenadoza managed to follow custom by keeping her head down so she would not inadvertently look upon any of the men who came forward to acknowledge her son. Afterward, she wrapped the infant in warm rabbit skins, and looked at her mate.

Donzolnia smiled at her, then put an arm around the woman and child. Everyone was already filing back into the cave.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

It seemed like it had been forever since Brulenzia had sneaked into Ivanolia's hearth to set up his prank and Brulenzia was beginning to think the man would never encounter the joke, but it soon became evident that it would happen.

~oxoxo~

Everyone of Oak Camp usually came and went as they pleased, worked on whatever task they had going, but most met in the Cooking Hearth at least once a day for a meal or for other tasks that needed more space than was available in any hearth.

On this day, it was the afternoon meal and many had congregated there. Brulenzia and Laurana arrived and filled up their plates with food, then went to sit with some of the younger adults. Danie was among them, but Ivanolia was not.

"Where is Ivan?" Laurana said, inquiring about her brother.

Danie frowned. "He is in hearth, complaining about...leggings," she said touching her thighs. "He says that they are itchy and that he needs to change. I not understand, he wear all morning and not complain until now."

Laurana cocked her head, not understanding either, then comprehension dawned on her and she turned to look at Brulenzia. Brulenzia did his best to avoid her look and tried to excuse himself. "I...ahh...I need to...get more food," he said as he got up, and tried to walk away.

Laurana jumped up quickly, and grabbed his tunic sleeve. "Now wait a moment, Bru. What have you done to Ivan?"

Danie had noticed that the man was trying to sneak away, but when Laurana jumped up to prevent him from leaving, she too got up. "What you do to Ivan, Brulenzia?"

Brulenzia flushed a deep shade of red. "Well, I did nothing to Ivanolia. I didn't touch him."

Laurana's eyes narrowed, as she looked at Danie. "What did you do to Ivanolia's leggings, Brulenzia?"

The man stared at the glaring women for a moment, then shrugged, knowing that he couldn't lie to them. "I...sort of put ...sort of rubbed some leaves in his leggings...leaves that would cause him to itch." The man flinched as the women abruptly let go of him.

"That wasn't very nice," Laurana called over her shoulder, as she and Danie left to go find Ivanolia, leaving Brulenzia standing there staring after them.

"Oh Sumata," he said. "It's not like he hasn't been causing trouble for me," he yelled at the retreating backs of the two young women.

~oxoxo~

Danie and Laurana reached Ivanolia's hearth in time to see him staring down at the rash that had appeared in his inner thighs and groin area. When he looked up to see them standing there, he picked up his leggings and held them in front of himself. "Doesn't anyone scratch on the curtain anymore?" he said angrily.

"Ivan, we just find out Brulenzia did this. He trying to be funny again," Danie informed her mate and Laurana was nodding her head, verifying that his mate was right.

The man's face turned beet red, and he took the leggings he was holding in front of himself and threw them on the ground in front of him. "WHAT IN SUMATA'S NAME IS WRONG WITH HIM!" he bellowed.

Laurana looked away from her half naked and angry brother and blushed since it was her man that was causing Ivanolia the discomfort, but Danie frowned up at him.

"Ivan, you started trouble, not Brulenzia. You stop this and it over. You keep it going and it not stop. I think your fault." She paused while he looked away stubbornly, with his hands on his hips. "Now, put something on, and come see mother. She give you cream for rash. It will be gone tomorrow," she said as she picked up a clean pair of leggings and handed them to him.

Ivan stood there for a time, looking angry, but Danie lightly smacked him to get his attention. "This silly. Please come," she said pleadingly. The man could not listen to her pleading with him, and did what she wanted. Laurana sighed, glad that he was acquiescing, and looked back at him when she knew his leggings were back on.

Ivanolia tied his leggings with a snap, and glared at Laurana. "You tell Brulenzia that..." but seeing that his little sister had tears in her eyes, he stopped and hugged her. He knew he had started this and figured that he should end it too. End it with just one more prank, he thought. Then Danie led him away. Laurana watched them go, then went to Brulenzia's hearth, and lay down; she was feeling rather exhausted.

~oxoxo~

Danie practically had to drag him to see Travie, but the woman was waiting for them when they arrived at Vincenzia's hearth where she was residing. She had questioned Brulenzia as soon as the two women stormed away, and knew exactly what Ivanolia would need. She was melting a large pot of snow over the hearth fire, and was making something else in a smaller pot.

"Come in, take off clothing Ivanolia," the older woman said. He looked questioningly at Danie, but she gave him a look that told him to do as ordered, so he did. Travie stirred her smaller pot of water, then threw in some crushed stems and something that looked like another type of weed.

"What is that you are putting in there," the man asked as he took off his leggings.

Travie paused and looked at the man. "Take off all clothes. We must make sure that rash has not managed to go to other parts of your body. And this," she said pointing at the pot that was now boiling, "is water, crushed aloe stems, and jewelweed leaves. It will take away the itching, and with luck, the rash too." As she spoke, she removed the large pot of melting ice from the fire, and set it aside.

The man appeared relieved that the woman seemed to know what she was doing, and removed his tunic. Travie looked him over carefully and sighed. She was kneeling on the ground in front of him. "This rash appears to only be on your manhood and legs," she said looking up at the red-faced man. Then she turned to look at her daughter. "Danie, go get this man some clean clothes, and just burn those, so we don't have to try to clean them." Danie nodded and left.

When Danie was gone, the woman scooped up some dirt from the floor of the lodge, and used it to wipe off the man's infected area. "What are you doing?" Ivanolia asked her as she rubbed the dirt all over him.

"You have no blisters yet, and this is the best way to removed the poisonous oil that comes off of the Leafy Spurge plant. If there were blisters, then we couldn't do this," the woman said as she continued to rub in a rather rough manner. Ivanolia gritted his teeth, and looked away.

When the woman finished the process, she directed the man to sit on a log that she had dragged over and covered with a soft fur. She then picked the pot and began pouring it over the infected area, much to Ivanolia's displeasure.

Ivanolia jumped up. "What are you doing now? Why cold water?" he said, obviously upset about having cold water poured on his groin area.

The woman put the pot down, stood up, put her hands on his shoulders, and pushed him back down. "I have to use cold water, because hot water opens the tiny holes in you skin and allows more oil to get inside, causing the rash to continue to make you itch. It is hopeful that the oil has been absorbed by the dirt, and that it is gone, but we do not want to take that chance, do we?"

Ivanolia shook his head, and gritted his teeth again as the woman continued to put the almost freezing water on him. Danie appeared at the hearth entrance with the clean clothing her mother had asked for, and giggled at the sight she saw.

Ivanolia looked up at her and wasn't at all happy about her giggle. "What is so funny, woman? Do not think this will go unpunished." Danie immediately stopped giggling and silently asked Mut to end the man's jokes.

Travie looked at the man, then at her daughter, then at the man again. "I will tell you this right now, and I will tell Brulenzia later, this better be the last 'joke' this winter, or I will make both of you sorry that you cannot find other ways to amuse yourselves."

~oxoxo~

Brulenzia stood in the Cooking Hearth until he realized Laurana wasn't coming back, then he excused himself. He peeked into Vilognia's hearth, thinking that Laurana might have gone there to avoid him, but seeing that she wasn't there, he headed for his own hearth. He was able to get to his hearth without passing Vincenzia's hearth, which made him happy, but when he saw Laurana on their sleeping platform crying, he suddenly felt terrible and rushed to her side.

"Laurana. Laurana?" he said, but the woman kept her face in the furs and did not respond to him. "Please Laurana, I am sorry. I didn't mean for you to get so upset." But still she didn't turn over. He could hear her sobbing. "Laurana," he said, "I cannot keep talking to your back. Please roll over."

The woman kept sobbing. "I can't," was all that she would say.

"What do you mean, 'you can't'? Surely you can roll over," he said as he gently shook her. The woman continued to cry, but eventually rolled over so that he could see her. When she did, he gasped. "Hahh! Laurana, what is all over your face?"

She closed her eyes, and covered her face. "Whatever you put in Ivan's leggings, has gotten on me too," she sobbed. "But it got on my face. I'm sure I am so ugly," she said through her tears. Brulenzia now felt even more awful and he lay down beside her to comfort her.

"You are not ugly, you could never be ugly," he said to her. "And I am so sorry Laurana, please forgive me. If it makes you feel any better, I seem to have gotten a rash as well."

She stifled a sob, opened her eyes to look at him and, sure enough, his face and hands were covered with the rash as well. "Hmmm, it does make me feel a little better," she said wiping her tears away and inspecting his face. "Your rash looks much worse than mine feels," she replied with a smirk. "Just as it should. Take off your tunic. I want to see your chest and back." He did as she bid, and her intake of breath told him it was all over his chest and back as well. "How did you get that plant all over yourself?" she demanded.

Brulenzia shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. I did this days ago, so I don't know how I could have gotten it today. And you as well, for that matter. I thought I was being so careful with it too, but I guess not, huh?"

Laurana frowned. "What did you do with the plant when you finished with it?" she asked, suddenly curious.

Brulenzia looked around, "I put it under here," he said showing her where he had placed the hand coverings he had used when grinding up the plant.

Laurana gasped. "Oh Sumata! I found those just this morning and tossed them on the bed with all of our dirty garments. I was going to take them outside on the next clear day and rub snow on them to clean them up a bit. You must have touched them somehow while they were there. Oh my," she said, suddenly jumping up off their bed platform. "I think you should be the one to clean our furs."

Brulenzia sighed. "I will Laurana, but first come on, we should go see Travie."

~oxoxo~

When they got to Vincenzia's hearth, they could hear the man inside complaining about the treatment and Brulenzia almost wanted to return to his own hearth and wait until the man was gone. Laurana gave him a look and he stayed, but he turned around to face the other way. She scratched on the curtain and waited. When Danie appeared, then woman gasped at them. "What happened to you?"

Laurana sighed and pulled her man into the hearth with her. "Brulenzia happened to all of us," she stated simply, making the man turn around to show them that he too had the rash.

Ivanolia has just finished his ice cold shower of sorts, and was drying himself off with a blanket, and laughed out loud at his friend. "HAH! Serves you right!" Then he looked at Laurana, "But look at what you did to my sister," he said pointing at Laurana's rashy red and tear-stained face. "And me, look what you've done to me," the man continued, pulling the blanket away and exposing his rashy manhood and legs." Laurana looked away again, but a smile crept onto her face. Then the three of them burst into laughter.

"Humpf," the older woman breathed. "I cannot believe you two are friends or that you two are with these two 'friends.' I would not be one bit happy with a 'friend' that did this to me," she said to them. Then she looked at Brulenzia. "I have warned Ivanolia about these 'jokes' and now it's your turn. This better be the last 'joke' this winter or I will make both of you sorry that you cannot find other ways to amuse yourselves." The woman was shaking her finger at the man as she spoke, and then looked at her daughter. "Rub that salve on your mate's rash. It will draw out the itch, and make him more comfortable. You will need to apply is twice a day. I will make more, since it appears we will need quite a bit more of it." Then she turned back to Brulenzia and Laurana. "And you two, take off your clothing."

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – "Woman Talk"

Darvie returned to hers and Vincenzia's hearth with her children and Braydalana. The two girls were there to get their dolls, and Darvie wanted her son to take a nap. When they entered the hearth, they were shocked to see the three naked, rash-covered people, and Darvie burst into laughter. Travie didn't know what was so funny, she was rather annoyed with the shenanigans of these two young men, and thought their women were paying for all of it, but was glad her daughter was laughing. It had been difficult on her since Vincenzia had been gone.

Darvie saw the irritation on her mother's face and quelled her laughter. "Well, what might be going on in here?" she asked, knowing full well what had happened. She had heard Brulenzia's explanation to her mother and one look at him told her that he had been infected as well. And Laurana too, for that matter.

"It seems that my joke, has spread to more than its intended victim," Brulenzia said with a smirk toward Ivanolia. Ivanolia cast the same look back at his friend. Travie then grabbed the newly naked man, and slapped a handful of dirt on his back, and rubbed it rather roughly. "Ouch, Travie. Not so hard." Darvie could hardly contain her amusement.

Ivanolia, on the other hand, didn't bother to contain it; he laughed outright. "Try having that done to your manhood. And just wait for the rinsing," he said starting to laugh hard.

Travie glared at the man. "You are finished. You may leave now," the woman said angrily, pushing the man toward the curtain. "Danie, please bring me clean clothing for these two as well and keep your mate from causing trouble for a while."

Danie looked at her mother and felt like a little girl being scolded for something she hadn't done. Braydalana saw that tears were welling in her new mother's eyes, and hugged her. "We'll help you Danie, won't we Crisana?"

The other girl nodded. "Sure we will AuntDanie."

Danie looked her new daughter and her sister's daughter and smiled. "Come on girls. I could really use your help, but try not to touch anything that you don't have to. I don't want you two to get a rash too." The two young girls followed her out.

~oxoxo~

Ivanolia stood outside the curtain waiting for his mate, but she just pushed past him. "Hey Danie. This one is not my fault," he said to her back.

"Not your fault?" she said questioningly as she turned around. "You start it in beginning, it your fault too. You need stop. I not think you will, but you should. You will be sorry. I never saw mother so angry. You will be sorry," she said and spun around.

The two girls watched her leave, then Braydalana looked at the man of her hearth. "Ivanolia, please stop. It's not funny anymore. Mother is not happy." The seven year old girl had grown close to her new mother and she did not like to see her upset. Crisana didn't say anything, but she too gave the man a dirty look and left with her cousin to catch up to Danie.

~oxoxo~

Darvie watched her sister go, then helped her son into his furs. "Just try to sleep for a little while," she said kissing the boy, and closing the curtain that separated his bed from the rest of the hearth. "Mother, can I help you with this?"

Travie sighed. "Yes, you could work on Laurana. It appears to only be on her face, but rub her down completely anyway." Brulenzia rolled his eyes, knowing that the woman planned to do the same to him. When he caught Laurana's eyes, he smiled sheepishly and she grinned back.

"You know, Travie. If you just tell us what we should do, we can do this ourselves. There is no need for you to do this all over again," Laurana said.

"Yeah, Travie, I could rub down Laurana, and she could do the same to me."

The woman considered their plan, then pulled the two pots off the fire. "Good, that will save me the hassle. Rub each other down with the dirt. You must do it with rigor, or the plant oil may not be absorbed, and it would have been useless. Then you must rinse it off thoroughly, with cold water. Then pat dry, cover with this salve, and reapply twice a day." The woman looked at them one last time then left the hearth.

Darvie watched her mother go, then turned toward the naked couple. "She's really angry," she said with a smile on her face. "I have never seen her so mad."

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

At the Clan's cave, Ayla was enjoying her time with Vincenzia and the others. And Jenadoza's new baby was a delight to have around. Ayla, Oga, and Jenadoza often sat together at Grov's hearth talking and nursing their babies, while the men went off to do the things men do.

Brun had finally given Igra to Nouz, which gave the women something else to talk about. "I don't understand why a woman has no choice in who she mates. That is terrible," Jenadoza said, thinking about her mate and being thankful that she had someone she loved.

Ayla translated for Oga, then spoke in words and gestures. "The Clan believes that women are not capable of choosing a man and that a man must do it for her, but a closeness develops over time, for most people. There are exceptions, my adopted mother Iza never liked her mate. He was mean and cuffed her often, but for the most part, people are happy with their mates." Oga was nodding her agreement.

"But Nouz and Igra are still children. How can Brun mate them so soon?" Jenadoza asked still not understanding.

"No Jenadoza, Nouz has been a man for a while, and needs a mate. Igra became a woman over a year ago, and it would be unlucky if she were to get pregnant and not have a mate. They are lucky that they like each other. When I was young, there was no one that wanted me, and no one wanted the burden when I became pregnant.

Jenadoza frowned. "Ayla, you are fifteen years, right?" Ayla nodded. "And Durc is four? You were only eleven when your son was born?" Ayla nodded again. "That is so young. It's hard to understand what you went through at such a young age." Ayla smiled at her, but didn't say anything. "So, Grov was not around when you had Durc, but Durc looks like Broud. He must be of Broud's spirit."

Ayla nodded, blushing at the mention of Broud. The woman did not know about all she had gone through with the man, and Ayla didn't really want to tell her. "Yes, I am certain he is of Broud's totem spirit, just like Brac and Grev are of his totem spirit, and Ora, Annaliza and Agra are of Grov's totem spirit."

Jenadoza looked at Ora, and the two baby girls, then back at Ayla. "So, when were you given to Grov?" the woman asked.

Ayla nodded. "I was given to him when we found this cave. He is my first mate. No one ever wanted me before. I am just too ugly, but he does not seem to think so, or maybe he does and he doesn't care."

Jenadoza laughed. "Ayla you are not ugly. I have always been considered a pretty woman, and we look nearly identical, so you cannot be ugly. In fact, I think you are prettier than I am. I cannot wait for you to meet my sister Laurana. She looks just like me too, but she is closer to you in years than I am."

Ayla laughed. "I am not pretty, Jenadoza. Grov just took me because I was given to him."

Jenadoza did not think Ayla really considered herself ugly until she heard that comment from cousin. "Ayla, you are not an ugly woman. Among our people you would be considered beautiful. And Grov does not think you are ugly either. I can see it in his eyes. He may have mated you because you were given to him, but he really loves you." Ayla smiled, not sure she believed the woman.

~oxoxo~

Oga watched Ayla and Jenadoza speak, and was thankful that Ayla was translating the whole conversation as they spoke. The conversation made her look closely at the two Others women; they did look very similar. Jenadoza's eyes were bluer than Ayla's were, and Ayla was slightly taller than the other woman, but then, all these Others are tall, she thought.

Oga looked at them closely, knowing that most people thought the Others to be ugly and unintelligent. Though many realized they were smarter than they had been given credit for, most still considered them ugly. Oga hadn't really thought about it for some time; Ayla was just Ayla. But ever since Oga had been staying in Grov's hearth, where she had been signaled to relieve the man's needs on occasion, she hadn't thought about it at all. In fact, ever since Grov had shown her that a woman could be relieved as well, she felt attracted to the man. He was different, but she liked the way he looked.

Leave? Oga thought, coming back from her daydreaming. She had never considered that Grov and Ayla might leave someday.

~oxoxo~

Ayla was thinking about what Jenadoza had been saying, and could hardly wait for the time when she could journey to Oak Camp to meet her true people, but wondered how she could leave the Clan; they were family too. "So Jenadoza, in Oak Camp the woman chooses the man?"

"Well no, not really. Two people choose each other really. Do you remember Brulenzia?"

Ayla nodded. "Yes, he looks just like Donzolnia. He is Donzolnia's brother, right?"

"Yes, that is right," Jenadoza said with a smile. "Before we left to come visit you, he and my sister were spending a lot of time together. I think they will choose each other."

"Hmmm, do you live in a large cave like this one?" Ayla asked.

"Well, no actually. We live in an earthlodge. Most Sungaea live in caves, but there wasn't a cave where our camp wanted to settle, so we built shelter."

Ayla frowned. "How can you build a shelter large enough to fit so many people?"

Jenadoza smiled. "It's rather remarkable really. We built it out of trees, bones, antlers, mud and clay, like the Mamutoi do, but first we have to measure how big we want it to be, and dig down into the soil a bit. Then we make the frame and cover it. During the winter it settles down a bit, and in the spring we retouch, and a more clay as needed. Before we left, we added onto the lodge so that it would be bigger. You will see it in the spring when you visit."

Ayla smiled. "I am looking forward to...visiting," she said, noticing that Oga didn't look too happy about the conversation.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – "Back In Order"

The winter was passing at a decent speed and spring was just around the bend. Vincenzia stood in the mouth of the Clan's cave, looking out over the valley before him. He had to admit that this land was beautiful and that the daughter of his hearth had stumbled upon good people. He worried about what his people would think of her and her family, but he really didn't care anymore; she was truly the daughter of his heart and he was so glad he finally knew who she was.

Vincenzia thought about the woman he had so doted on as a little girl and could not believe that so much time had passed; that his Annalisa had perished in that earthquake and that his Andreyta was no more. The man's eyes filled with tears as he stared out onto the frozen land and thought about his loss, then he shook his head to clear the pain. I have my little girl back, he thought. And she brings much more to my hearth than I could have hoped for. Vincenzia thought about her and his eyes welled again. Ayla had a good mate and three wonderful children to bring back to their camp. If only she would come back, he thought. He was excited about their visit and fervently hoped Oak Camp would be as accepting.

The man watched the grasses blow and saw a herd of winter reindeer milling at the other end of the valley. They didn't need to hunt the reindeer; Brun was an excellent leader and had anticipated the cave's every need, but the thought of survival was never too far away in these cold ice age days.

Vincenzia looked up at the sky, squinting into the sun and wondered when it would be safe to journey back to his home. He would miss Annalisa's daughter—his daughter—but he missed Darvie and her children too. For all these years he had been consumed with grief over losing his first mate, but now that he had been separated from Darvie, his heart ached for her and her children. He thought about the woman with the dark, dark brown hair and light gray eyes that he was mated to, and his heart ached anew.

He watched the sky, and considered the weather. It wasn't too cold, nor was there a warming trend, but Vincenzia could tell by the clouds that a break in the stormy weather was coming. He knew the weather would not really be warmer, but it would be less harsh. He stood there for quite some time, and then he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"You will be leaving soon," Ayla said. "I can tell."

The man looked down at the woman and took her into his arms. "Yes Ayla, I have to get back to my camp."

Ayla sighed. "I knew it would come, but I am so glad that you were able to spend so much time here...to get to know my mate and my children." She smiled. "And that Jenadoza was able to deliver her baby here."

The man smiled down at her again. "You have a wonderful mate. I can tell that you are happy. And you have beautiful children. I hope you will visit in the spring."

Ayla laughed, something she had learned was expected by the Others. "You could not keep me away Vincenzia."

~oxoxo~

On the morning that appeared to be the first in a long line of clear days, Vincenzia, Donzolnia, Jenadoza, and the baby, set off once again. Ayla watched them go with Grov at her side, but this time she sobbed openly at the loss of her mother's mate. She thought about what the man meant to her and couldn't help but think that he should have a different title; using his name seemed so formal, as did the term mother's mate.

Grov wiped her tears and kissed her. "I will take you there in the spring. You will not be separated from them for long; spring is not far away." The man told her this even as he doubted that he would be accepted there—or that Durc would be either, for that matter, but he kept silent about his fears; maybe they would not come to pass.

~oxoxo~

Quite quickly, they fell back into their routine and the hearth became the quiet Clan hearth it had always been. Ayla spent time pruning her hawk and Shriek became interested with the woman's hair. Ayla discovered that the bird had made a stash of it near his perch and for amusement he would hop down and pull it out, then carry it back up. It was actually quite funny; even Broud thought so.

Ora's crush on Broud had not subsided, much to the man's displeasure. When there was no distraction the child would stop at nothing to sit near the man—or on him if he was sitting. Broud was definitely a different man, but even the new Broud could not take the child's incessant handling. He was holding Agra, while Oga made a meal. Annaliza had crawled over to the man to be near Agra, and Ora was trying to sit on him too. Finally, the man broke.

"Grov!" he said loudly in desperation, causing everyone to turn around. "Can you get your daughters off of me?" Broud did not even think about his wording, he just said what was on his mind; that part of him was no different.

Grov looked at Broud, then he looked at Oga and Ayla, who started to come for their daughters, but Grov signaled that he would take care of it. Grov went to Broud, and took Agra into his arms, then bent over and picked up Annaliza too. "Come Ora! Leave Broud alone." The child reluctantly acquiesced, making Broud wonder what kind of woman she would make if she couldn't even obey the man of her hearth properly.

The hearth was back to normal and everyone could feel it.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

When the day dawned sunny, though no warmer than any other day, Darvie began her vigil on the earthlodge roof again. People of the camp took turns sitting with her, and Danie brought her sister her meals and hot tea. Occasionally Travie came out to talk, but the older woman thought her daughter had lost her mind; for why would one sit in the cold when she wasn't likely to see what she wanted to see?

"He's coming, mother, I can feel it," she said not even looking down when her mother came out. "I know he's on his way." Travie looked up at her daughter, wondering how the woman had known she was there—or that it was, in fact, her. It could have been someone else. Maybe Vincenzia was on his way and her daughter had turned into a Seer.

~oxoxo~

Then, early one morning, Darvie had just climbed up with her hot tea and had settled down in her parka, when she saw movement on the horizon; three figures approached. She knew it was them, but waited to be sure. Then, when she was, she shouted. "They're back!" she screamed. "Vincenzia is home! Donzolnia and Jenadoza are home! Everyone come look!" the woman had practically jumped down from the lodge, and was racing across the snow covered plain as fast as she could manage; the snow was rather deep.

When Darvie reached the travelers, she flung herself at her mate, the force of her blow, knocking them both to the ground. "Oh Vincenzia, you are home!" she said kissing her mate, and smiling. The blond man kissed back fervently.

"It is so good to be home," he said, as he lay on the cold snow enjoying his mate's embrace and warm lips.

The people were coming out of the lodge excitedly and the newcomers were instantly surrounded by their families. Zarina, a normally reticent woman rushed up and hugged her son tightly. Then, knowing that it was long past her son's woman's day of delivery, she looked at Jenadoza. "Well, let me see that baby."

Jenadoza smiled, and pulled out the wrapped up baby, and handed him over. "We would like you all to meet Teglodia. He was delivered by Ayla and Uba, the Clan's healers," Jenadoza said, looking around to see Ivanolia's reaction. The man was not there.

Brulenzia came forward, and clasped his brother close, then bent over and picked up his brother's mate for a hug. When he put her down, he smiled at her and looked over at Zarina, who held the baby.

Laurana, who had been putting on her foot coverings when she heard the commotion, came up with a huge smile on her face. "Jenadoza!" she squealed, as she pushed past the people to get to her sister. "I am so happy you're home." Laurana was in her parka, so her condition was undetectable, but as Jenadoza hugged her little sister, she frowned, and pushed her away.

"What is this?" Jenadoza said pulling open her sister's parka. "I leave for a while and you end up pregnant? Oh my, Sumata!" she said as she touched her sister's belly. "How far are you anyway?"

Laurana grinned. "I have three mooncycles left," she said excitedly.

"Don't tell me you have gotten mated and didn't wait for me to return," Jenadoza laughed.

Laurana was shaking her head, as Brulenzia put his arms around her and kissed her cheek. "No," he said, "we haven't joined yet. That will happen this summer though. We tried to wait to tell everyone about it and the baby until you returned, but you took too long and we couldn't hide it any longer."

Just then Donzolnia and Ivanolia came over and discovered what they were all talking about and grinned widely. "Well, someone has finally tamed this man," Donzolnia said grabbing hold of his brother and pushing him into the snow.

"Yeah, never thought it would last, did you?" Ivanolia said joining his two friends in the snow for an impromptu snowball fight. Brulenzia picked up a handful of snow and smashed it into Ivanolia's face, then ran away quickly.

Laurana rolled his eyes. "You will never believe the trouble these two have caused while you were away. You'd think Brulenzia was promised to a ten year old by the way Ivan's been acting. It's been awful," she said, then she giggled. "But I guess awfully fun is more like it. Hey, who has that baby?"

Jenadoza hugged her sister again and Zarina brought the child over to his aunt as they walked back to the earthlodge.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – "The Sleeping Trio"

Once inside, the travelers dropped their packs in the entry area, hung up parkas and outer clothing, put away their gear, and then took the rest on to their hearths. Vincenzia greeted everyone happily, and played with Darvie's children for a while; they seemed to have grown considerably. Then, when the visiting was all said and done, he carried his woman off to their furs; he had been away from her for over five cycles of the moon and could hardly contain himself.

Donzolnia carried his and Jenadoza's belongings to their hearth and, noting that it was extremely chilly there, he started a fire in their pit. He wanted to get out to talk to everyone; he had not realized how much he had missed his friends and family. They all had so much to talk about. He also knew that Jenadoza would want everything back in its place before she would relax. He busied himself around the hearth so she would be able to join him sooner. As he finished up with the fire, Jenadoza and Laurana entered the hearth.

"So, where are you going to put Teglodia?" Laurana asked as she kissed the baby in her arms.

Jenadoza looked around the hearth, then smiled at Donzolnia. "I don't know. Where do you think we should put him Donz?" The man shrugged. "Hmm," she said looking around. "I wish I would have thought about this sooner," she said frowning.

"Well, it's not like you expected to be gone for so long," Laurana sighed, sitting down on the bed platform and cuddling the baby.

Jenadoza dropped down beside her. "I am so tired. I think I could sleep for days." She looked up at Donzolnia, who obviously wanted to go hang out with his brother and friends. "You don't have to stay, I'll finish up here," she said with a smile. "I want to talk to Laurana anyway." He leaned over and kissed her, then he planted a kiss on Laurana's cheek as well and left the hearth with a smile.

"So, tell me all about your trip," Laurana prompted as she put the sleeping baby down on the furs. "And about Ayla and the flatheads and Teglodia's birth."

Jenadoza flinched at the word flathead. "Laurana, please don't say flathead. They are not animals. You will meet Ayla, her mate, and their children very soon, but...you must not say that."

Laurana had the decency to blush crimson. "I am sorry Jen. That's just what we have always called them. Is Ayla's mate really...what did you call them?"

"Clan...they call themselves Clan, and yes he is." Then she frowned. "But he can't have too much Clan spirit in him, it's hardly recognizable at all, and the two little girls don't seem to have any Clan spirit in them at all. But her son Durc, he's definitely part Clan and not of her mate's spirit. He looks nearly identical to the other man of her hearth, but he is not her mate."

Laurana was confused. "So there are two men at her hearth and three children?"

Jenadoza shook her head. "No, actually there are the two men, Grov and Broud, but only Grov is her mate. Broud is mated to Oga, who lives there too. Then there are Ayla's two children, Durc and Annaliza, and Ora, who was born to Grov's hearth while he was mated to Evanora. Then," she continued, "there are Oga's three children, Brac, Grev, and Agra. Her two sons are definitely of her mate's spirit, but I would guess that Agra is of Grov's spirit."

Laurana frowned again, still confused. "And, you stayed in their hearth the whole time? That sounds very full."

Jenadoza laughed. "Their cave is huge, Laurana. The biggest cave I have ever seen, but no, we stayed in the visitor's hearth. It's not like it mattered though, because I spent so much time at their hearth anyway."

"Weren't you worried about giving birth to a baby of mixed spirits? I'm not sure I want them around when my baby is born."

"I wondered about that myself, but Donz never mentioned it. I did talk to Ayla, and she has very interesting ideas about how babies get inside a woman. She thinks a man puts the baby inside with his manhood when they share pleasures." The two young woman looked down at Teglodia, who was sleeping soundly. "I've never shared pleasures with anyone but Donzolnia, well, except for the summer of my first rights, and that was so long ago, nearly four years, but I have been around many men, and now the Clan men too. In fact, there were ...ummm, fourteen Clan men at their cave, and only Vincenzia and Donzolnia from our camp. I was certainly there long enough and near enough to them, for my baby to have come out mixed, but I have no doubt that this baby is definitely of Donzolnia's spirit. I think Ayla might be right about this."

Laurana smiled. "Well, I like that idea, because that means that my child could only be of Brulenzia's spirit. I have not shared pleasures with anyone other than him since my first rites." Laurana caressed her burgeoning belly, as she looked at Teglodia. "I hope my baby looks just like yours. He is so beautiful."

Jenadoza smiled, and lay back on the furs. "I am so tired."

"Well then sleep. We don't have anything to do right now, except for putting your things away, but that can hold, can't it?" Laurana said.

"Hmm. Yes. And it's so good to be lying on my own furs." The two women lay there in silence for a while. Jenadoza had closed her eyes and Laurana was looking at her sister's baby and daydreaming. Soon, with Teglodia between them, they were both asleep.

~oxoxo~

In the cooking hearth, Tagnolia was searching for the bouza. "We didn't drink it all during the Mother festival, did we?" he said looking at Zarina, who stood next to him with Tiflona. They were preparing a quick meal, and both women rolled their eyes at the man.

"That's all my brother thinks about," she said. "Food and drink, food and drink, food and drink." Zarina laughed.

"That is just not true Tiflona, I think about many things," he said nuzzling Zarina's neck. "But right now, where is the bouza?"

Suddenly, as if on cue, Serana appeared carrying two skins. "Not to worry, man. The bouza has arrived...along with the blackberry wine. This batch is much sweeter than the last," she said smiling. "I think Laurana will like it better this time."

Tiflona smiled. "Hmm. And Danie and Tabita and Fürlasa...they all thought the last skin was too strong, but then they're all so young."

Zarina took the skins from Serana, and poured her mate a cup of bouza. "Now don't drink too much. You haven't eaten yet and you know this gives you a headache if your stomach is empty."

Tagnolia kissed his mate, then took the cup from her. "Yes mother," he said as he walked off. As he moved away from the women, Travie and Fraylora walked up with more food and the women got serious about making the meal.

~oxoxo~

The four young men were sitting in their usual place, laughing and carrying on as they usually did. Everyone was amazed at the closeness that they shared. None of them had chosen to mate woman from other camps, and move away, because they all wanted to stay together. Ivanolia was the only one to have a foreign mate, but she had been adopted by Oak Camp, so that didn't count. And then there was Tinozia. He was still unmated and it was still possible that he could leave the group, but most thought that unlikely. Now their group included Jenadoza, Danie, and Laurana, and occasionally Tabita and Fürlasa. It was a cozy group.

~oxoxo~

As the meal was brought out, it was noticed that Jenadoza and Laurana were not present, so the brothers went looking for them. They had had several cups of bouza, and went stumbling down the lodge passageway, laughing and carrying on. Brulenzia followed Donzolnia to his hearth, since they figured the women would be together. When they found them on the furs sound asleep, they smiled down at the two beautiful blonde women that were surrounding the sleeping babe. "Go get one of your furs," Donzolnia whispered. Brulenzia nodded and left, but returned shortly with Laurana's favorite blanket. Donzolnia had already covered Jenadoza and the baby, and Brulenzia did the same for Laurana. "Do you think we look as much alike as they do?" Donzolnia whispered, as he bent over to pull a long stand of blonde hair off Jenadoza's cheek and kiss it gently.

Brulenzia smiled. "Well, I can't really see myself, but I have been mistaken for you on several occasions before, so I'd guess yes. I wonder if Laurana's baby will look like Jenadoza's baby."

Donzolnia looked down at the sleeping trio, and smiled. "Let's go eat."

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – "Brun Ponders Leadership"

Vincenzia never returned to the gathering, choosing instead to spend the entire evening and night with his mate, but Donzolnia, with Brulenzia, did return. The men stumbled back in, announced that the women would not be eating, then joined Ivanolia and Tinozia again. The women had left the area to do other things.

As the evening came to a close and people went to their beds, Travie wondered where she should go. She didn't want to intrude on her daughter, since her mate had just returned, and supposed she could just stay in the Cooking Hearth—until Vilognia and Serana invited the woman to their hearth. Travie thought about it, then shrugged and followed them.

Tinozia, who wasn't able to drink too much bouza, had, in fact, consumed much more than he should have and was being taken care of by his friends. "Ohhhhhh, you guys cannot let me do this again," he said after a wave of nausea had passed.

Ivanolia and Brulenzia could not contain their laughter. They were lying on the ground of the cooking hearth, completely inebriated, while Donzolnia sat with Tinozia. "You guys, knock it off." Donzolnia had had just as much to drink, but he was just a little more sensitive to the plight of his cousin.

Fürlasa, who had been just about to leave herself, came over and sat down next to Tinozia. She too was feeling dizzy, but not sick. She remembered how she had felt the last time she consumed too much of Serana's wine and did not make the same mistake this time. "You've had a long day Donzolnia. I will take care of him. You guys go to bed."

Donzolnia smiled at the young woman and patted Tinozia's back. "Is that okay with you, Tinozia? I can stay if you need me to."

Tinozia looked at his cousin. "Go," he groaned. "Fürlasa can stay." He looked at the young woman, remembering the good conversation they had had at the last Mother festival and thinking that he wouldn't be very good at conversation on this night. Donzolnia gave his back one last rub, then reluctantly got up to leave with Ivanolia and Brulenzia.

As the three men staggered down the passageway, trying rather unsuccessfully to be quiet, Ivanolia put one arm around each of the two dark haired men and complained about being in between their hearths. "Now I'm going to have to listen to both of you pleasuring my sisters," he said.

"Well, not tonight you won't. They're both asleep on my bed platform," Donzolnia replied. The men walked into their hearth area, and noticed that Danie was asleep as well, and that Tabita had come back to the hearth and had fallen asleep there as well. The three men went to Donzolnia's hearth, and looked at the women. Ivanolia looked at his sisters carefully. "They sure look alike. Especially lying there so quietly," he said. "I never really noticed it before."

Donzolnia and Brulenzia smiled. "That's what we were saying earlier," Brulenzia said. "And, you wouldn't have noticed it before, Laurana was still a child until this last summer and Jenadoza's been a woman for several years."

"Just wait until you see Ayla again," Donzolnia interjected. "I'm sure you remember that she's a little taller than they are, but nearly identical."

Ivanolia frowned. "Is she really coming here in the spring?"

"As far as I know." Donzolnia could see the man's frown and wondered if the man would eventually accept his cousin's life. Brulenzia had had the same opinion of the Clan that Ivanolia did, the same opinion that many people had, but after being there to deliver Ayla's baby and seeing the love she felt for them—and most of them for her—he could not deny that she was happy or that the Clan was definitely a group of people. Different people, but people all the same. He still struggled with the man Grov, but only because he had been mated to Evanora, a fact that Brulenzia could not forget every time he looked at the little girl Ora.

"Is her mate and that boy coming with her?" the man asked.

"Ivan, you're going to have to get over this. Yes, they will be coming too and the boy's name is Durc. Ayla is your cousin, and she is happy. I hope that you will not cause her pain when she comes. I learned a lot about her growing up and it was not easy for her. Those Clan people are people, but their ways are very different and very difficult," Donzolnia scolded his friend. Brulenzia was nodding, obviously agreeing with his brother. Ivanolia dropped the subject, figuring that he couldn't win.

"Well ...I'm going to go to bed. It seems that I have two beautiful women in my furs this fine night, so I'll leave you two alone with your women," Ivanolia said as he turned to go. "Night."

Donzolnia sat down behind his sleeping woman and began removing his clothing. Brulenzia looked down at his sleeping woman. "I guess I'll just carry Laurana back to my hearth," he sighed, but as he went to move her, she rolled over and opened her eyes.

"Oh my, did we miss everything?" she said.

"I'm afraid so. Everyone's gone to bed and now it's our turn." Brulenzia kneeled down next to her and kissed her.

"But I'm so hungry. I need to eat or this baby will starve," she said patting her belly.

Donzolnia grinned. "Now that sounds familiar." The man's voice woke the baby that was still lying between the women. "Hmm, seems that he's going to be hungry too." As the man was speaking, his mate opened her eyes as well.

"Seems we've missed the evening meal," Laurana informed her sister. "I'm starving. Do you want me to bring you some food, so you do not have to get up." Jenadoza nodded sleepily, then sat up, picked up her son, bared her breast and began feeding him. Donzolnia lay back with his eyes closed and began drifting off. Sighing, Brulenzia got up to follow Laurana to the Cooking Hearth.

~oxoxo~

At the Cooking Hearth, Laurana eyed Tinozia and Fürlasa, who had curled up on a sitting platform and had fallen asleep. "I think Tinozia needs his own hearth," Laurana said. Brulenzia nodded, wishing that they had added more hearths in their area when they had added the extra space the previous summer. There were still empty hearths available, but the younger people usually liked to be together.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

Brun sat watching his mate nurse her baby, and wondered what made the spirits start life in her again after all these years of no life starting. The baby was such a happy baby, so unlike Broud had been. The old leader started thinking about the young man that he had had such high hopes for. He had been so proud that his mate had produced a son, so that his line of leadership would not be broken, but now, that line would break. He had already decided that Broud could never lead again, but who would take over when Ursus called him back? No one was trained, Grod was too old as well...and his mate had no sons to take over later. The leader began considering each man in the Clan.

After Grod, he considered each man in order of rank. Goov was a good age to lead, and he had two sons that could eventually take over, but he was the Mog-ur, and there had never been a man that was leader and Mog-ur at he same time. That just would not work.

Then he thought about Grov. His rank after Goov was only due to his mate's status. It was highly unusual, but Ayla's status as first medicine woman of the Clan was an advantage to the young man. Brun considered him. He is a good man and handles his woman quite well—better than any other man could have handled her, he mentally noted. And the way he's turned Broud around, that is worthy of respect, but he is very young, probably too young.

Next was Vorn, who had a similar situation as Grov as far as why he was ranked where he was, but he was far too young, much younger than Grov. And, Brun thought deeper, he had shown that he too was incapable of leadership when he was willing to please Broud, even when Broud was beyond reason. No, Vorn could not lead, even if he was older.

Droog was too old too, older than Grod, in fact, if I remember correctly. The leader chided himself for forgetting such details, but his mind was getting too old to remember everything. This both saddened him and frightened him.

He next considered Crug. He was of a good age, and his mate had a son to pass leadership on to later. Little Dorv was only three years old, and that would make it so Crug would have to lead to an even older age than Brun if his mate's son was going to take over, but it was still a possibility.

With a heavy heart, Brun skipped over Broud, the only son of his mate, and went onto Dorg. Now, Dorg was a good man. He was of a good age to take over, and there were two sons at his hearth that could potentially take over. True, Vorg was mixed, but he was a good Clan boy.

Then there was Corg. He was a natural leader and had always given decent suggestions at he men's meetings, but again, his mate only had daughters. Brun frowned, wondering why all the men that were possibilities had mates that could not produce sons.

Daub was next, but again, he had only daughters at his hearth—and no interest in leading. Norv followed, but there was just something about the young man that Brun did not like. He was sure it was the fact that the man questioned his decisions. He was very much like Broud had been. No, he thought, not Norv. The last two young men were first Borg, and then Nouz, but both were too young to even consider. And old Zoug was so old that Brun didn't even consider the man.

Brun then thought about Brac, who was not yet a man, but whose chance to lead was spoiled by Broud's inadequacies. Again, Brun's heart ached at the thought of breaking their long line of leadership. If only there was a way. He thought about Grev, who he could see playing with Durc across the fire. Grev was nowhere near the age of manhood, but Brun knew he would have taken Brac's place if something were to happen to his older brother. The leader shook his head. Neither of Oga's sons would ever lead, he thought sadly.

Then a thought occurred to him, as he watched the boy play with his milk brother. There was no question that Brac and Grev had been started by Broud's totem spirit, and as Brun watched the two boys play, he could see that there was also no doubt that Durc had been started by Broud's totem spirit too. Brun thought about the son of his mate, and wondered about Ayla's son. If Brac was going to take over when Broud got too old, then why couldn't Durc take over? But that would mean giving leadership to Grov, so that he could start preparing the son of his mate to lead when the time came. The leader liked the boy and he liked the idea, because it kept his long line of leadership unbroken—in a round about sort of way.

Brun continued to watch the boys play and decided that though the idea had it merits, it also had its drawbacks. It looked like Grov and Ayla and their children would be leaving very shortly and who knew if they would return. If he wanted Grov to take over someday soon, then he needed to tell him, so that the man did not make other plans. And then, what of the boy's training? If he spent a considerable amount of time with the Others, would he be fit to lead later? Then Brun wondered how Broud would react to the idea of Ayla's mate leading in his place. The man was sure the son of his mate knew he would never lead, but Ayla's mate? Could Broud take that? The man shook his head to dispel those thoughts. This is the best plan I have right now, so I better get used to it.

~oxoxo~

For the time leading up to Grov and Ayla's departure, Brun watched them and considered his plan. When he realized he only had a few days left to talk to the man, he made time to seek the man out. It was a rainy spring day and most people were busy with something or another and Brun had not seen Grov for a while, so he decided to go to the other side of the cave to find him. As the leader walked, he mulled over what he wanted to say. When he came upon the man's hearth, he stood silently watching them until they noticed his presence.

He saw that the two families were working together well. He would have never guessed that Broud could have become this decent man that he saw before him—and he was impressed that Grov could turn Broud around. This made Brun even more resolved to turn leadership over to Grov.

It was Ayla who noticed him first...and then Oga, causing the two women to come forward to service their leader. Brun tapped both their shoulders and made a signal that told them he did not want anything even before they could offer. The two women backed off and Brun stepped forward. "Grov, I need to talk to you before you travel."

Grov glanced at Broud, then nodded to the leader. "I can come to your hearth now, Brun, if that is what you want." The leader grunted, and they left. Broud watched them go, wondering what Brun wanted with Grov. Then, deciding it didn't matter, he picked up his Others' spear, removed the tip, and began sharpening it, just as he had been shown by Vincenzia.

Ayla was beside herself with curiosity, causing Broud to give her a dirty look. "You will find out what the leader wants soon enough, I am sure. Your mate tells you everything, though he shouldn't," he gestured to her, thinking about the woman and all her male attributes.

Ayla nodded and offered the man some tea. She knew something was up and that Broud had no idea what it was. She needed to keep busy and this was the best way to do it. Broud accepted the tea and then Ayla sat down with Oga; the two women were working on traveling clothes in the style of the Others for Grov, Ayla, Durc, Ora, and Annaliza.

~oxoxo~

Grov was following Brun back to the hearth, then realized the leader was taking him to the men's ceremonial cave, so they could be alone. The fire in that chamber of the cave was not always lit, but Brun must have lit it earlier; it was rather warm in the room. The two men sat down.

Brun began. "This man is going to be very open with you. I am faced with a problem, and I want to know if you can help me." Grov frowned, but kept silent. "I am an old man and it is time that I pass leadership on to someone, but Broud cannot be the one. I am greatly saddened that my line of leadership will be broken by this, but I may have come up with a solution. I have carefully considered the men of this cave, and there are a few that could relieve me, but that would not solve my problem over lineage. I have thought about how Brac and Grev are tied to Broud, they are most probably of his totem spirit, but because of his inadequacies, they will not be able to lead." The man paused to watch the young mixed man. Grov wasn't sure yet where he was going. "With careful consideration on my part and meditation by the Mog-ur, I have decided that Durc is also of Broud's totem spirit and, since Broud is probably of my totem spirit, Durc is of my lineage as well."

Suddenly a light went on in Grov's eyes. "You want Durc to take over for you when you step down?"

"Well yes, but he is too young and I cannot wait for him to be old enough, so that is not my plan." Grov frowned. "What I want to do sometime in the next year is to give leadership over to you, so that you may lead and train the son of your hearth how to lead as well."

Grov was shocked, and he didn't mind that it was written all over his face. "Me? Lead? I don't know, Brun. How would Broud feel about this?"

Brun shook his head. "It does not matter what Broud thinks. He gave up that right when he insulted Ursus by cursing Ayla and by beating his woman for no reason. Besides, it is my choice, and I want to pass it on to you. I think you are the best man for the job. And you are Durc's mother's mate. Will you at least consider it?"

Grov looked down at his hands. "No, I will not consider it," the man said, looking up at the leader. "I am greatly honored that you have chosen me as the first Clan's future leader. No consideration is necessary. I will accept the duty that you have offered me. I am honored."

Brun sighed with relief; he almost thought the man would turn him down and was pleased that he would not have to wait for an answer. "Do you have any idea how long you will be gone?"

Grov shook his head. "At least for the summer season, but not longer than through the fall. We must return before winter."

Brun nodded. "I will not tell anyone just yet. You may inform Broud, if you wish, but I understand if you do not want to. And you may tell Ayla, but only after you leave the cave for your journey. I know that will be difficult to keep from her, but I do not want her coming to me with any questions. Is that understood?" Grov nodded and they stood up to go.

~oxoxo~

Grov walked back to the hearth, thinking hard about the responsibility he had just accepted and wondered what Ayla would think. Any other woman would be so happy to be mated to the leader, but he didn't know what she would think or if it would please her. And, he didn't know how he was going to keep it from her until after they left. He decided that they needed to leave as soon as possible, so that he could tell her right away. But first, he had to tell Broud; the man deserved to know.

AtDC

Hearth Listings

Brun (35) – Leader (Bison totem)
Ebra (33) – Brun's mate, Broud's mother
~ Eda (4.5 moons) – Ebra's

Grod (31) – Brun's second in command, son of the mate of Zoug (Brown Bear totem)
Uka (29) – Ebra's sister, Ovra's mother
~~ Zoug (45) – second in command to the leader before Brun, Grod's mother's mate

Goov (22) – Mog-ur (Aurochs totem/Ursus totem)
Ovra (20) – Goov's mate (Beaver totem)
~ Droov (1) – Ovra's first twin son
~ Creb (1) – Ovra's second twin son

Grov (18) – mixed man, master hunter (Leopard totem), first mated to Nora (quake death)
Ayla (16) – Clan's first ranked medicine woman, "Woman who hunts," (Cave Lion totem)
~ Durc (5) – Ayla's son, Grev's milk brother (Gray Wolf totem)
~ Ora (3) – Nora's daughter (Alpine Marmot)
~ Annaliza (10 moons)

Vorn (15) – Aga's son
Uba (10) – second medicine woman, Iza's daughter
~ Brev (1) – Uba's first twin son
~ Berc (1) – Uba's second twin son

Droog (33) – toolmaker, mated to Goov's mother before Aga
Aga (26) – Droog's second mate, Vorn and Ona's mother
~ Groob (8) – Aga's son born to Droog's hearth
~~ Aba (37) – Aga's mother

Crug (24)
Ika (22) – Crug's mate, Borg's mother
~ Dorv (3) – Ika's son

Broud (23) – former leader (Wooly Rhinoceros totem), living at Grov's hearth
Oga (19) – formerly Broud's mate, living at Grov's hearth
~ Brac (9) – Oga's first son
~ Grev (6) – Oga's second son
~ Agra (5.5 moons) – Oga's mixed daughter

Dorg (22) – toolmaker (Red Tailed Hawk totem), first mated to the mixed woman Ala (quake death)
Uga (18) – first mated to Dreg (quake death), was mother to Ega (quake death), now Dorg's woman (Lark totem)
~ Vorg (9) – mixed child, Ala's son
~ Breg (7) – Uga's son

Corg (19) – takes on leadership role after cave's collapse, takes on an advisory role to Brun, sibling to Oda
Aza (17) – Corg's mate
~ Orga (7) – Aza's first daughter
~ Egra (4) – Aza's second daughter

Daub (19) – Dorg brother, Dreg's twin (deceased)
Eka (17) – mated to Daub
~ Ada (5) – Eka's daughter
~ Aka (5) – Eka's daughter

Norv (19) (Moose totem)
Oda (14) – Corg's sibling, now mated to Norv (Hamster totem)
~ Nala (6) – daughter of Norv's deceased mate
~ Ura (4) – mixed child, created by the totem of a man of the others (Red Wolf totem)

Borg (11) – (Boar totem), Ika's son
Ona (11) – (Owl totem), Aga's daughter

Nouz (11) – son of Norv's deceased mate, mated to Igra
Igra (8) – mated to Nouz, Ika's daughter

Visitor's Hearth – Empty

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – "Breakfast In Bed"

Grov walked back to the hearth and hesitated before he entering. When he did, everyone looked up at him expectantly. The man could tell that both Broud and Ayla were almost bursting with curiosity, but Ayla didn't even try to hide it. Broud tried to act like he didn't wonder why Grov had been summoned, but Grov knew better. "Broud, let's take a walk."

The man got up, too interested to refuse, and Ayla's jaw almost dropped to the floor. Grov had never just ignored her before, but this time he hadn't even looked at her. She averted her eyes, so he would not see her tears and went back to stitching up the leggings she was sewing.

~oxoxo~

Grov walked through the cave passageways, working his way toward the northern entrance, and Broud walked next to him. They did not talk. Broud was immensely curious, and figured it was something big, or the younger man would not have asked him to come along.

When they got to the windbreak, Grov unfastened it from the rock wall of the cave, and they went outside and sat down. It was no longer raining, but the sky was a deep gray, and the ground was soggy with slushy snow and rainwater.

"This man needs to talk to you about something, but I do not want you to...become distressed. Will you listen and think about it before you get upset."

Broud frowned. "I cannot promise not to be...displeased, but go ahead."

Grov looked at him and thought the man's response was reasonable; he wouldn't blame Broud if he were troubled. He would be upset if his mother's mate had chosen someone else to lead. "Brun has offered me leadership of this Clan," Grov gestured quickly and watched the man. Grov saw that absolutely no expression crossed the former leader's face; he just stared back at him. Grov continued to watch him. "Did you see what I said?"

Broud nodded, a sort of clipped nod—his head barely moved. He raised his hands to say something, but then dropped his hands into his lap. Grov could now see the man struggling with his emotions. This was something the Clan men never liked to do. Grov could see pain on the man's face. It was not just pain, it was self-loathing as well. "I knew that he would not choose me, but why did he choose you?"

Grov sighed. "I will tell you if you really want to know. It may not make you feel any better, but I think it will make sense to you."

Broud nodded again. "I do want to know."

"First of all, Brun is not announcing it for some time. I don't know for how long, but at least not until I get back from visiting the Sungaea. I am telling you now, because I felt like you had the right to know; to get used to the idea." Broud grunted, he appreciated the thought of the younger man, and it made sense. "Now, Brun considered a couple other men. I think Crug and Dorg, because they are young and have sons to pass leadership onto someday, but the reason he chose me was because of Durc."

Broud brow crinkled up. "Durc? What does Ayla's son have to do with this?"

"Well," Grov went on. "Brun was very saddened by the fact that his leadership line would be broken; that Brac or Grev would not be able to lead, because you were not leader." Broud blushed and some of the humiliation returned as he considered his behavior. "Then he considered that that did not have to happen if he could give leadership to Durc one day."

Broud was still looking at him blankly. He had not drawn the connection. "Brun thinks, and I agree, that Ayla's son was started by your totem spirit. I'm sure you realize that by now. The boy looks more like you than Oga's sons do, despite his being mixed, and...that makes him part of Brun too. He has asked me to lead now, so that I may train Durc to take over when he grows up, so that the lineage will not be broken."

Broud finally understood and nodded his head. "And you have accepted?"

Grov looked at him. "Yes Broud, I have." The former leader looked dejected, but admitted to himself that Brun was a wise man. He knew that he would not have thought of this plan, but it would do just what the leader wanted; keep their lineage unbroken. "Broud, is there anything you want to say?" The man shook his head. "Do you mind if I go in?" Broud shook his head again. Grov could tell the man wanted to be alone, so he got up to leave. When he got to the cave entrance, Grov turned around again. "Broud!" he called. The man turned to look at him again. "Brun has asked that we not tell Ayla yet. I will tell her after we leave." The man nodded his head and looked away.

~oxoxo~

Inside the cave, Grov was almost dreading being back at the hearth and having to not tell his mate. No other woman would dream of asking, but he was sure that Ayla would ask—and he was not wrong. As soon as he entered the hearth, she practically accosted him.

"Well, what happened...and why did you go outside with Broud?"

Grov looked at her calmly. "A woman of the Clan is not supposed to ask a man questions," he said avoiding her direct questions, then decided to turn it around. "And how did you know that Broud and I went outside."

Ayla's breath caught. She knew asking that had been a mistake. "Because...because this woman...followed you...to see where you were going."

"Ayla, you are not supposed to do that. If Broud knew you were following us, he'd be so angry...and rightly so."

Ayla's eyes welled up again and, sensing her upset, the baby in her arms began to whimper. "This woman feels bad. She knows that it was wrong to follow a man, but I did not see anything. I just wanted to know where you were going." Ayla had put the whimpering baby down and was sitting at her mate's feet, pleading for his understanding.

Grov looked down at her, then knelt down next to her. "Ayla, stop crying," he said in Sungaea. He reached out and wiped her tears away. "And stop talking like that, you are in our hearth, remember? You don't need to do that here."

Ayla looked into her mate's blue, blue eyes, and sniffled. "Well?"

Grov sighed. "I cannot tell you what happened." She frowned at him. "Brun has asked me not to, but he has given me permission to tell you after we leave."

Her frown deepened. "Well then, let's leave soon, as soon as we can be ready." She stood up and looked around. "I can be ready by the afternoon meal."

Grov laughed at her. "You are so funny. We cannot leave just yet. We have to wait to make sure the rain clears. Floods can be very dangerous, you know?"

Ayla looked at him sheepishly. "Oh...but I can still start packing, right?" How much can I carry, she silently asked herself as she looked around their hearth and started choosing the things she might want to bring.

Grov was watching her carefully. Either she was really excited about going to visit the people she was born to or she really wanted to know his news. He figured that it was a little of both, but also that he'd never calm her down now—so he pulled out what he wanted to take too.

When they had a pile in the middle of the hearth, Ayla stared at it. "I cannot carry all of this," she said.

"Don't worry about it Ayla. I will help you. We have to behave like the Others do and their men help the women with everything it would seem. You know, Donzolnia told me that some Others men cook and that most Others women hunt?"

Ayla smiled up at the man. He was holding Annaliza, and trying to comfort the ten month old child, but she wanted a breast. Ayla took her from him and sat down to nurse.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

Life at Oak Camp was droning on as usual and the spring rains were making the ground outside a muddy mess. The people had been making plans for the spring hunt, but they knew they couldn't go hunting until the ground dried up, and that could be a while.

~oxoxo~

Laurana lay in her warm furs, listening to her sister's baby cry. Brulenzia was gone already, but would probably be bringing her a meal soon. He always let her sleep and never let her miss a morning meal. Laurana heard Teglodia's cries cease and smiled, no doubt a breast had been offered.

Laurana continued to lie in the furs, rubbing her belly; she was getting huge, yet she still had at least two and a half months to go. Finally Brulenzia appeared and he had Ivanolia and Donzolnia with him.

"Are you going to stay in the furs all day, little sister?" Ivanolia asked, as he flopped down on the bed beside her. "The sun is nearly centered in the sky and you're still sleeping."

Laurana smiled at her brother and accepted a plate of food from Brulenzia. "Thank you. I am starving," she said, as she put a bite into her mouth. "And I haven't been asleep for some time now, Ivan! I'm just lying here, trying to keep warm."

"Are you cold?" Brulenzia asked, getting up to stoke the fire.

Donzolnia waved him off. "I'll get it. I'm already up." He threw on another piece of wood.

"Hmm, just a little. Enough to stop me from getting up," she said with a smile. Ivanolia reached out and took a piece of meat off of her plate and shoved it into his mouth. "Hey, that's mine!" she protested, smacking his hand—he laughed. "Where's Tinozia? You four are never very far apart."

Donzolnia smiled. "Fürlasa has managed to finally get that man into her furs. They're not out of bed yet either." Ivanolia and Brulenzia laughed.

Laurana smiled. "Well it's about time. She's been trying to interest him for so long. Now, what are we going to do about Tabita?"

"Well, I'm sure I can keep her busy...until someone else catches her attention that is." Ivanolia was grinning. "And, Danie seems to like having her around."

Brulenzia leaned over and smacked the man on the back. "Ivan here, is trying to make up for lost time. He went forever without the company of a woman, so now he seems to need two. Thank Sumata Danie finally broke him out of his depression."

Ivanolia shrugged the man's hand off his back and laughed, then changed the subject. "My Laurana, you're getting huge!" he said then quickly got up.

Laurana looked at her brother with an unfathomable expression, then picked up a piece of her food and threw it at him. "Out! Get out!" she said in a friendly way as she tried to get out of bed. The other two men laughed too, then Donzolnia and Ivanolia left the hearth.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – "Many Goodbyes"

When Donzolnia and Ivanolia got to Donzolnia's hearth, Jenadoza looked up. She was still feeding Teglodia, but she patted the bed, indicating that they should sit down. The two men sat. Braydalana was sitting there with a wistful expression. "Oh, wouldn't it be nice to have a baby at our hearth too?" the girl said, making Ivanolia blanch.

"No!" he said. "Jenadoza and Laurana's babies will be enough for a while." He didn't think he'd ever get over the loss of the girl's mother and had been terrified when he found out Laurana was pregnant. He still was and secretly begged the Mother to bring his sister through her delivery with safety. "And we'll soon have another when Ayla arrives."

That seemed to brighten up the girl's spirits. "Oh, I can't wait. When will they be here?"

"I don't know Bray. It could be today, though I doubt it, with all that awful mud outside. Or it could be a mooncycle from now," Ivanolia said.

The girl frowned. "How will they know how to find us? They have no one to guide them."

"Actually, I gave them detailed instructions. And if they follow the shoreline, they can't miss us. Don't worry Braydalana," Donzolnia reassured the girl, "they will get here."

The girl looked skeptical. "Maybe someone should go get them."

"Bray, they'll get here, just be patient. Grov and Ayla are very capable of finding us." Jenadoza patted the girl's hand. "Now, how about you take this baby for me, while I get dressed," she said, handing the child to the girl and getting off of the bed platform. That distracted the girl, allowing Jenadoza slipped her sleeping clothes off to change for the day.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

Broud had been acting strangely and Ayla knew it had something to do with Grov's secret, but the man was not doing anything bad, so she didn't pay it much attention. Oga, however, was sensing her mate's pain and was trying harder than ever to ease it.

Grev knew that Durc would be leaving soon, so the boys were never away from each other. Oga and Ayla were allowing them to stay up as late as they wanted and many mornings the boys were found asleep next to the fire, as if they had played until they dropped where they were. Durc was sad to be leaving Grev, but excited about the journey and he promised to bring something Others back for Grev. Ayla was glad her son had such a good friend.

Agra and Annaliza were aware that something was going on too, but they were too young to know what. For them, Oga and Ayla were trying to keep them apart as much as possible, so they wouldn't feel the loss so much when Annaliza left. That was very difficult, considering they were all in one hearth, and the babies were mobile enough to crawl to one another easily. The two mothers knew that this would be hard on them.

~oxoxo~

On the day of their departure, Grov woke Ayla up early and she made tea. Grov put on his new Others style leggings and tunic, then sat down to drink his tea. Ayla drank her tea as she dressed. "That tunic is very nice. I can see that you have put a lot of effort into these. How long have you been working on them?"

Ayla smiled at his praise, but she had to think about it. "I started them when Jenadoza woke up after her injury. She helped me. I have made us each...three...outfits," she said holding up three fingers. "Jenadoza says they have several outfits and I didn't want us to be without."

Grov nodded. "What about Shriek?" he said. "He has been out for a while. How will he find you?"

"He is probably outside, somewhere close. He will come when he sees me." She paused. "He doesn't stay around much. Sometimes, when he's gone for several days, I wonder if he will eventually leave for good. It makes me very sad."

~oxoxo~

When they had everything ready, Ayla woke Durc and helped him into his new clothing. "This is very warm, Mama. Do the Others always wear wraps like this?"

"Hmm, I think so Durc, but we will have to wait and see." Ayla kissed her son's forehead.

"I will miss Grev, Mama. What if there's no one to play with there?" the boy asked.

Ayla hugged her son. "I know you will miss Grev. I will miss people too, but there will be children to play with there too. Vincenzia says that his mate has a son that is the same years as you. His name is Brenevia, and you remember Braydalana, right?" Durc nodded. "Well she will be there too."

Durc frowned. "But what if Grev forgets about me?"

Ayla smiled at her son. "Grev will not forget about you. He is Clan; he will never forget," Ayla said touching her sons hair and caressing him. "Now, I need help with your sibling."

"Sister, Mama, the Others say sister."

"Yes, you are right Durc, they do. See how good your memory is? Grev's is just as good. Now, can you help Mama?" Durc nodded and went to get his sister up.

"Ora, get up. It's time to get dressed." The three-year-old girl was up quickly, and struggling to put her arms through the strange wrap that her brother was shoving over her head. "Mama, she won't hold still!" Ayla came over and finished the job, then dressed and fed Annaliza—then positioned the child on her hip with a strap of leather. Grov had carried everything to the northern entrance and it was time to say their goodbyes.

By this time, many in the cave were up, including Broud's hearth. Oga looked sad, but she hugged Ayla and Ayla cried. Grov glanced at Broud, then he hugged Oga too. Broud stiffened; he still did not like the thought of sharing Oga, but Grov had not signaled the woman since Agra was born and Broud knew he probably wouldn't do it again if he could avoid it. As they left the hearth, Broud gestured, "Walk with Ursus." Grov nodded, and took Ora's hand. Grev followed them out.

They decided to go hearth to hearth to say goodbye, since it was still cold out, and they didn't want people to have to go outside. When they got to Goov's hearth, Ayla hugged Ovra. "Take care of these two. I will miss them," she said.

Then they stopped at Norv's hearth, but only because Ura saw them and squealed. Norv gave the child a dirty look, but she got up and came to hug Ayla, Durc, and Ora. "We will be back Ura. Not until after summer probably, but we will be back." Ura smiled and Ayla smiled back. The little girl's smile looked just like Durc's.

"Durc has to come back to mate me," she gestured.

"Yes Ura, Durc will be your mate, but not for a long time. You are much too young to mate," Ayla said, trying not to smile, since Norv was watching. "We have to go now."

The next hearth they stopped at was Vorn's hearth and Uba looked really sad. "Oh Ayla, I will miss you so much. This is going to almost be like a temporary death curse, but very long."

"I know Uba, but I need to meet my mother's people and I will be back," Ayla said, a freshet of tears beginning to fall. Uba put her arms around her sister; she had no tears to add, but her feeling was not less.

As they left the hearth, Vorn signaled, "Walk with Ursus."

The last hearth they stopped at was the leader's hearth. Brun and Ebra were sitting and drinking tea, but the older couple got up to say goodbye. Ayla took Eda from Ebra's arms and cuddled the baby close. "She is getting so big. I will not even recognize her when we get back."

Ebra indicated that she wanted to hold Annaliza one more time, so Ayla handed Eda to Grov, took her own daughter out of the strap that bound the child to her hip, handed her over to the leader's mate, then took Eda back from Grov. Ayla had tears in her eyes again, and blinked hard to disperse them.

After a short time—and a cup of tea—it was time to go. The women switched babies, and Ayla put Annaliza back on her hip, then they left. Brun walked them to the cave's entrance. Grev went too.

The stoic leader didn't say much to them, but watched them pack themselves with their belongings. He noted that Grov's load was extremely heavy and that Ayla's was too. And, the woman was carrying the baby. Durc too had a pack, though he bore it well. The boy was thinner than the other Clan boys, but he was strong—and tall and smart too. Only Ora had no load; she just carried the doll that that Others girl made for her.

Grev handed Durc a spear. "I made this for you, with Broud's help. Your old spear too short."

Durc took the spear, then hugged his milk brother, wishing he had something to give to him. He remembered his promise to bring something back and relaxed. Ayla's eyes watered yet again at the sight of her sad son.

Brun watched them walk away, trying to avoid the various puddles of mud and when they turned around for one last look, he made a motion. "Walk with Ursus."

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – "The Journey"

Grov and Ayla headed in a north northeastern direction for a short time, so that they could bypass one of the two rivers they had to cross. It was still very cold and the river would probably be more of a frozen stream, but they didn't want to take any chances, since it had been raining so much, and they had two small children and a baby.

By the time they got to the end of the first river, and made their way around it, darkness was nearing. They headed southeast toward the second river. Grov wanted to reach the larger river before they stopped for the night. Ayla was exhausted from the weight of her burdens and Ora complaining of cold. When they finally reached the river, Grov started a fire, while Ayla set up the traveling tent and Durc held Annaliza. The shelter was the same one that she made when she and Ebra were separated from the Clan.

The fire and tent were set up in no time and Ayla nursed Annaliza. Grov put all of their things inside the tent to keep them dry, and pulled out the traveling food that Oga made for them. He looked at the sky; it did not look like rain, but he was still worried about his family. When Annaliza was finished nursing, Ayla changed her swaddling and put her in Grov's lap so she could make them some hot tea.

The four of them sat silently munching on their food, drinking tea, and staring into the fire. Ayla was still dying to know what Brun told Grov, but he hadn't offered any information, so she just waited. After eating, Ayla put the children to bed. They would all be sharing the same tent; first, because they just couldn't carry another tent; second for warmth; and third because she wouldn't want her children sleeping in a separate tent anyway. When they were all snug in their furs, she came back out, and sat by the fire with her mate.

"Raawwwkkkk." They looked up to see Shriek flying above. He must have been following them, she thought. She quickly pulled out the leather glove she made to cover her hand and arm, put it on, and held out her arm for him. He landed, shrieked in her face, and then ruffled his feathers. Ayla reached into her carrying basket and fed him a piece of raw meat. Shriek took the meat and flew over to the tent, where he perched himself on its peak.

Grov could see Ayla visibly relax and smiled at her. She smiled back. "So, do you want to know what Brun had to say?" Ayla nodded vigorously and waited. "Well, first of all, he's ready to hand over leadership again." Ayla frowned, knowing what had happened the last time Brun did this gave her a bad taste in her mouth. "Just wait, I'm not finished. He said that he would not make Broud leader again, though I'm certain he would not be so awful if he had another chance."

Ayla relaxed again. She was glad that Brun would not force the son of his mate upon the Clan this time. Grov was probably right about Broud though. He was not mean anymore, but he wasn't the sharpest spear in the armory either and they'd be better off with almost anyone, but him. "So, who will be leader? Crug? Dorg?"

Grov smiled, she had obviously been thinking about this too; she had come up with the same two names that Brun had. "Who do you think would be better?"

Ayla was shocked that he wanted her opinion on topics that were only for men. "Crug would be good. He is a fair man. I do not think he really likes me, but that doesn't matter; he is still a good man. And, his mate has a son to pass leadership onto someday. But, Dorv is really young, so Crug would have to be leader for a long time." She paused. "Dorg would be good too. His mate has two sons that could take over later, and he is a very accepting man. I think I like Dorg better." Grov smiled at her. "So, who did he choose?"

"Neither." Grov got up to pour more tea, but Ayla jumped up too.

"I will get that, you keep talking. Who did he choose if not Crug or Dorg?" she asked.

The man smiled again. "Brun is sad that his mate's son is not capable, because now his lineage of leadership will be broken." Ayla nodded, she knew that. She handed the man his tea, and sat back down. "Then he came up with someone else that is part of his line."

Ayla frowned. "You are not making sense. If Broud does not lead, then Brac cannot take over, or Grev for that matter, so who else is there?"

Grov smiled. "Who else is tied to Brun through Broud?"

Ayla thought for a moment, she went over everyone in the cave, and was really confused. "Only Durc, but Durc is just a child. He cannot lead."

Grov was happy that she had figured that much out. She was a very intelligent woman. Evanora had been that way too and he supposed all Others women were quicker than the Clan women. "Yes, you are right, Durc is too young to lead...right now."

"But Grov, Brun cannot wait for Durc to grow up. If he could, then he could just wait for Brac to grow up. Brun is already too old to be leading."

"You are right again, he does not plan on waiting," the man said. He paused again, but he could tell that Ayla was getting agitated that he was not just telling her. "Brun has offered leadership to me, so that I can train Durc to lead our Clan one day."

Ayla stared at her mate. She was stunned. "But...but, you are not full Clan. You are not even as much Clan as Durc is. You hardly even look Clan."

"I know, and I was surprised too, but his whole point is that the blood line not be broken and this way, it will not be. Durc is of Broud's spirit and Broud is of Brun's spirit. It works. I am only temporary and then your son will lead the first Clan." Grov waited and watched her. She did not seem displeased.

Ayla was not unhappy. This would be great for her son—and for Ura too, she thought. She did not even think of herself. As first medicine woman, she already had plenty of status, more status than the leader's mate, so even if she had been thinking about that, it would not matter to her. "This is why Broud has been acting so strangely? Did he even get upset when you told him?"

Grov nodded. "He was upset. I think he has reason to be, but he was upset with himself and he didn't get angry. And, he also understood the importance of keeping a pure bloodline, and I bet Durc chooses Grev as his second in command. I'm sure Broud has thought about that." Ayla was in agreement with that and she was happy that Broud had not relapsed into the old Broud and hit someone. Grov put an arm around her. "Now that you know the secret, can we go to sleep now?" Ayla nodded.

~oxoxo~

The next morning started early with a crying baby. Ayla took off her tunic, thinking that it was much harder to nurse with these clothes on, then rolled over and pulled her daughter up to her breast. Annaliza felt for the nipple in the dark tent and latched on. Ayla kept her eyes closed as her daughter suckled and thought about the previous night's conversation; her son would one day lead Brun's Clan.

Grov looked at his woman in the darkness. He could barely see her, but he could tell that she was smiling as she nursed the baby and that made him smile. He leaned over and kissed the side of her head, then got up to get the fire blazing.

It was very cold outside despite the bright sun and there wasn't a cloud in sight. The man quickly got the fire going and put water over the fire. When he returned Annaliza was sitting on the furs with Ora's doll. Grov got back into the furs. "Oh! You are freezing," Ayla said, then she grinned. "Come here, let me warm you up."

Grov did not feel the need to be the one to make the orders, so he grabbed her and pulled her close. Her body warmed him quickly—and then he started kissing her. She responded to his advances and soon they were struggling to get out of their clothing. "This sure is much more difficult," she whispered. He grinned and climbed on top of her. They had not had time for this in a while, with packing and everything else they had been doing and she was very ready for him. Grov entered her slowly, enjoying her warm, moist depths. Ayla moaned as he pushed himself in and out of her and realized she would not be able to hold on much longer herself. It had been much too long for her and within moments she exploded with pleasure. He did not go much longer either. When he finished, he collapsed on top of her. They lay still until Annaliza grabbed hold of his hair and pulled hard.

"Ouch!" he said, as he opened his eyes to look at the baby. Ayla reached up, disentangled her daughter's fingers from Grov's hair and smiled. While their focus was on the baby, Ora sat up.

"That's my doll," she said and started to climb over Grov, who was still on top of—and inside of—Ayla. Ayla started to giggle and Grov extracted himself, sat up, then attempted to put his leggings back on.

"These clothes are much harder to take off and put on, but they sure are warmer," the man said. He looked at his woman, who was lying there naked and thought he was very lucky to have met her. "Well, we should get up, eat, and move on. Don't you think?"

She nodded. "Let me just clean myself. She got up to go outside.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

"I have to go clean myself before I get dressed," she replied.

"But it's freezing out there. Are you going outside without your clothes on?"

"Well I can't clean myself if I have my clothes on. I'll just be a moment." He shook his head as she ran outside naked. He watched her wipe herself down. She poured some of the hot water from the cooking pot into a cup, added some ice to it, then splashed it onto herself. When she was done, she ran for the tent. Inside she dressed quickly, then dressed Ora, then Annaliza, then she woke Durc. Everyone wore the same clothing as the day before. There was no need to get more than one outfit dirty.

~oxoxo~

They ate and packed up, then approached the river. It appeared to still be frozen over, but they were nervous. This would be the scariest part of the trip. If they could get across this river without trouble, then there would be no problems.

Grov walked out onto the ice-covered river. It seemed sturdy to him, but he was still nervous. He came back to where Ayla stood. "What do you think?" she asked.

He frowned. "I'm worried, but I think it will be fine. The ice is very thick."

Ayla nodded. "Well then, let's go." Ayla handed Durc his pack, then adjusted Annaliza, and picked up her things.

The crossing went well, Ora slipped and fell down twice, then Grov scooped her up, and put her on his shoulders, so she would not fall again. Once on the other side, he put her down. As they started out, Grov set a leisurely pace, because the children needed to be able to keep up—and because it did not matter how fast they traveled. They had been told that it was a three to four day journey if moving fast, or more if traveling more slowly.

~oxoxo~

By the end of the second day they had reached the mountainous area that Vincenzia said they would. They were told to turn south at that point and follow the mountain around to the east, until it ended. They camped up against the mountain on the second night, which protected them from wind, and slept soundly all night.

~oxoxo~

For the third and fourth day, there was nothing interesting to note, except for the breathtaking land. They followed the mountain, which was actually more of a large hill, until it was time for an afternoon meal; that was where the mountain ended. The large body of water to the south had been steadily getting closer as they traveled, just as Vincenzia said it would. They still weren't very close to the sea, but it was in sight, and that was good. After their meal, they continued on—but not for very long.

"Grov, I am tired and the children are tired. Aren't you tired too? Can't we stop for the day?"

Frowning, Grov looked around. The sea was now starting to look farther away and that was exactly how it should be, according to Vincenzia.

The man shrugged his shoulders and Ayla dropped her packs. Durc did the same. Ayla quickly put out a hide, put Annaliza down on it and went to work on set up. Grov started on his normal fire building routine and Durc wanted to help. Grov saw it as a good time to start the boy's training. After there was a hot fire burning, they rested. The night was one of rest. They went to bed early and slept soundly again.

~oxoxo~

On the fifth day of their journey, Ayla woke early and got up. Grov told her that they would probably reach Oak Camp that day, sometime near the afternoon meal, so she wanted all of them to be wearing clean outfits that were not travel stained. She slipped into her second outfit. This one was darker than the first one and she had decorated it differently, but the cut was the same. Ayla took out clean outfits for everyone, then left the tent to start packing.

When Grov got up, he dressed and came out. "I guess we're leaving early," he said looking around at their empty camp.

Her breath caught in her throat. Had she anticipated incorrectly? "If that is all right with you? This woman did not mean to presume that you would want to leave early. I can put everything back out if you do not want to go just yet." She looked nervous.

"Ayla, I did not mean it like that. We can leave early. You need to get used to making decisions, especially when you're with the Others."

She sighed with relief and hugged the man. "I cannot wait to see Vincenzia and Jenadoza and meet all the other people." She was smiling widely and stood on her toes to kiss him.

"You do remember how Ivanolia behaved when he was at Brun's cave, don't you?" She frowned, then nodded. "And you do know that most of the Others do not like the Clan, right?" She nodded again. "And that there could be trouble for you, because of your son and me. You are aware of this, right?"

Ayla looked into his eyes, then backed up a bit. "Are you worried?" He didn't say or do anything. "Why didn't you tell me you were worried?"

Grov shrugged. "You have been so excited and I promised that we would go, so...we are going. But I just want you to know that there could be trouble." He smiled at her and hugged her. He did not want her to be worried, just aware.

She put her arms around him too and squeezed him tightly. "Any chance of getting you back into the furs?" she said. She could feel his desire between them and knew that he would not signal her because she was bound up in her new clothing and her traveling cloak. But, she thought, if I make the offer, maybe he would be willing. He nodded and they quietly crept back into the tent and removed their clothing.

Once naked, Ayla kissed him, first gently, then feeling slightly more brave, she kissed him a little more roughly. He tried easing her down into the furs, but she wouldn't have it; she had other ideas. This time she eased him back and straddled him, carefully guiding him into her. The man closed his eyes and groaned quietly. He did not want to wake the children again, but he could not control the sound that came from somewhere deep inside him. His mate was taking control and he liked it. Ayla watched him as she moved and could tell when he was almost finished. When he did, he moaned again and she ceased her movement. Ayla reached over, grabbed their furs, and covered them up. She knew she made him feel good and she was very satisfied with herself.

~oxoxo~

Grov and Ayla drifted off to sleep again, but woke up when Annaliza started to cry. Ayla started to sit up, but Grov held on to her for a moment. When she finally got up, he smiled up at her, then she went to get the baby.

The man watched her as she talked to her daughter. She was such a good mother. Finally, Grov got up, woke the rest of the crew, and they were off before Ora could whine about walking again. Grov prevented that problem by hefting the child onto his back. He figured he could carry her for the rest of the distance; they had to be rather close.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

Since the day was sunny, and the ground was nearly slush free, many children were playing outside Oak Camp. Three boys were standing on top of the earthlodge throwing snowballs off the side and watching them explode on the ground. Talneezia, a tall red headed boy laughed and threw another snowball, outdistancing his friend. Gildenozia picked up a large handful of snow and prepared to throw, then stopped. "Look, someone's coming," he said, pointing.

The other two boys turned, then looked back at their blond friend. "I'll race you inside," Vegodia said as he took off. Not to be beat, Gildenozia ran for the closer edge, and Talneezia followed him. Both boys jumped over the side, landing closer to the entrance than Vegodia did.

The two boys ran inside, with the third right behind them. "People are coming!" they yelled in unison.

~oxoxo~

The younger adults were still in their hearths, so Tagnolia sent Braydalana to get them. He figured the travelers couldn't be anyone other than Vincenzia's first mate's daughter and her family, so he sent Crisana to get him. Vincenzia had taken to staying in the hearth with Darvie, until she was ready to come out, which sometimes could be pretty late.

Braydalana and Crisana went running down the passage and went to Vincenzia first. "Visitors are coming. Vegodia, Talneezia, and Gildenozia saw them coming," the girls said excitedly. Vincenzia smiled at them and they ran off.

Then they ran down the other passage to tell Jenadoza. When they came running into the area, they almost ran into the three men, who were on their way out. "Where is Jenadoza?" Braydalana asked.

"Whoa, slow down, she's still in bed with the baby. Why?" Ivanolia questioned.

"Well she needs to get up. Visitors are approaching, the older boys saw them," Crisana replied.

Ivanolia looked at the other men, then he walked out to find Danie. Donzolnia went to get Jenadoza up, Brulenzia went to wake Laurana, and the girls went back to the Cooking Hearth, grabbed some food, then went outside to wait.

~oxoxo~

"They're here?" Jenadoza sputtered. She jumped out of bed and started throwing on clothes.

"Calm down Jen. The boys said they were off in the distance. I'm sure you do not have to rush." She relaxed, but still got ready with more speed than usual.

~oxoxo~

"Laurana," Brulenzia whispered, shaking his woman. "You need to wake up now. Your brother saw people approaching. It's probably Ayla."

The woman rolled over and rubbed her eyes. "Really? Now that's a good excuse to get out of the furs," she said throwing the furs back and getting up.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

Grov and Ayla could see that they were heading in the right direction. They saw the people on top of something and saw them get down and disappear inside. It was not long before more people came out, and then some more—and then more.

Ayla suddenly got really nervous and fell in behind her mate. Grov stopped. "What are you doing?"

Ayla looked up at him. "I do not want them to think bad of me. I need to be in my place."

Grov laughed. "Ayla, we are going to meet the Others, not the Clan, and they are your mother's people; your people. Get up here next to me."

Ayla smiled, suddenly shy, and took Durc's hand. Grov waited for her to get to his side, then he started walking again.

~oxoxo~

"I still do not recognize anyone," Ayla began, but even before she had the words completely out of her mouth she changed her mind. "I see Vincenzia! Look," she said pointing. "There he is!" Grov saw her excitement as they approached and he sent a plea to Ursus that they would be all that she hoped.

AtDC

The Oak Camp Earthlodge

Entry Area – Storage of fuel, implements, outer clothes

First Hearth – Visitor's Hearth (to be full very soon)

Grov (18) – mixed man, master hunter (Leopard totem), first mated to Nora (quake death)
Ayla (16) – Clan's first ranked medicine woman, "Woman who hunts," (Cave Lion totem) – mother of Durc and Annaliza
~ Durc (5) – Ayla's son, Grev's milk brother (Gray Wolf totem)
~ Ora (3) – Nora's daughter (Alpine Marmot totem)
~ Annaliza (10 moons) – Ayla daughter (Snow Leopard totem)

Second Hearth – Cooking hearth and space for gathering

Third Hearth – Antelope Hearth

Tagnolia (41) – Headman, brother of Tiflona
Zarina (39) – mother of Donzolnia and Brulenzia (as well as children below)
~ Frala (14)
~ Morina (12)

Fourth Hearth – Jack Rabbit Hearth

Wäglodia (40) – mated to headwoman
Tiflona (39) – Headwoman, sister of headman
~ Tinozia (19) – first son of headwoman, unmated
~ Tabita (16)
~ Torina (13)
~ Talneezia (10)
~ Tena (7)

Fifth Hearth – Bison Hearth

Gredenzia (36) – mated to Fraylora, Shogur
Fraylora (36) – Nemlora's mother
~ Fürlasa (16)
~ Fräubita (14)
~ Gildenozia (10)

Sixth Hearth – Healer's Hearth - Empty

Seventh Hearth – Extension to Shogur's hearth, private ceremonies and gatherings

Eighth Hearth – Winter Stoat (Ermine) Hearth

Vilognia (41) – Vinoza and Vincenzia's brother
Serana (41) – mother of Ivanolia, Jenadoza and Laurana (as well as children below)
~ Vegodia (12)
~ Serlona (9)

Ninth Hearth – Cave Bear Hearth

Donzolnia (22) – first son of headman's mate, mated to Jenadoza
Jenadoza (18) – Ivanolia's sister, Evanora and Ayla's cousin, mated to Donzolnia, Teglodia's mother
~ Teglodia (3 moons) – Jenadoza's son, born while visiting Brun's Clan

Tenth Hearth – Arctic Fox Hearth

Ivanolia (22) – Jenadoza's brother, Evanora and Ayla's cousin
Danie (21) – Travie's daughter, Darvie's sister, Ivanolia's second mate
~ Braydalana (8) – Nemlora's daughter (Nemlora died giving birth at 13)

Eleventh Hearth – Gray Wolf Hearth

Brulenzia (20) – second son of headman's mate, Donzolnia's brother, Evanora's closest childhood playmate, in love with Laurana
Laurana (15) – not mated to Brulenzia yet, but expecting his child

Twelfth Hearth – Reindeer Hearth

Teglodia (would be 36 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 34 if not dead) – gladly journeyed with her mate, too sad to stay
~ Evanora (would be 20 if not dead) – was mated to Grov (as Nora), mother of Ora

Thirteenth Hearth – Snow Leopard Hearth

Vincenzia (37) – Vilognia and Vinoza's brother, loves to travel, visits Mamutoi often, lost first mate (Annalisa) and daughter (Andreyta or Ayla) in such a travel eleven years ago, Ayla finally turns up
Darvie (26) – second mate, Mamutoi woman, mother of Crisana and Brenevia
~ Crisana (Crisanie) (8) – Darvie's daughter
~ Brenevia (Brenev) (5) – Darvie's son
~~ Travie (44) – Darvie and Danie's mother, sufficient healer

Fourteenth Hearth – Empty Hearth

Fifteenth Hearth – Food storage area

Sixteenth Hearth – Empty Hearth

Seventeenth Hearth – Empty Hearth

Back Entry Area – More storage

Sweat Bath Area

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – "Oak Camp's Earthlodge"

By the time Grov and Ayla reached Oak Camp, the entire camp had come out to greet them. It wasn't the amount of people that made Ayla nervous, there were more people in their Clan's cave than here at Oak Camp. Instead, it was the noise level of this many people, all talking at the same time that caught her attention as they approached. Grov did not say anything, but he must have noticed it as well, because he moved in closer to protect his woman.

Ayla was thankful when Vincenzia came forward to greet them first. It was good to see a familiar face. Vincenzia brought with him a man and a woman, but he hugged Ayla tight before making introductions, encompassing Annaliza as well. "Hello daughter," he said, not wanting to let go. "I am so pleased that you made the journey here to meet everyone." Vincenzia turned toward Grov and hugged him too. Grov was slightly taken aback; Clan men did not hug one another, but he recovered quickly. Durc stood behind his mother, while Ora sat on Grov's shoulders.

Vincenzia then looked at the man and the woman that stood behind him. "Ayla and Grov, I would like you to meet our Headman, Tagnolia, and our Headwoman Tiflona. And this," he said, smiling broadly, "is Annalisa's daughter, Ayla, and her mate Grov." Ayla smiled at the two older people, but did not know what to say. Instead, she took the hands that were held out to her and grasped them with the same firmness that was being given.

"We greet you," the woman said, then the man took her hands and said the same thing. Ayla was about to let go of his hands when suddenly a vision went through her mind. She saw the dark haired man, Tagnolia, laughing hard, laughing with another man. With the expertise of a Clan woman, Ayla scanned the people in just moments. It was a man she did not see standing in the crowd, a man with lighter brown hair and laughing blue eyes. Ayla was confused and the vision made her dizzy—her eyes became unfocused. Grov must have sensed her state, because he immediately put Ora down and grabbed Ayla before she, with Annaliza, fell down to the ground.

"Ayla, are you okay?" Vincenzia asked the young woman in Grov's arms. She was shaking slightly, wondering what happened, then she focused on Vincenzia. She could see that Jenadoza had come forward.

"Ayla, let me take Annaliza," Jenadoza said. Ayla nodded and Grov untied the strap holding the baby to her hip and handed Annaliza to the woman. Jenadoza kneeled beside the woman, while she held the baby.

"Jena-dozzaa," Ora said, suddenly recognizing the woman. The little girl had not known where they were going and was frightened by all these new, loud people. She recognized Vincenzia, but everyone else looked just a little bit scary to her at the moment. Seeing someone else familiar made the little girl relax just a bit.

Grov was still supporting Ayla. "Are you tired, Ayla?"

Ayla shook her head. "I am fine. I just felt strange when I took Tagnolia's hands," she said with a frown. "I saw you with another man, but the other man is not here."

"Raawwwkkkk," screeched Shriek high above them, making Ayla start fumbling for her pack.

Grov put a hand on her arm. "I'll get it, Ayla." He rummaged through her pack, and pulled out Shriek's leather glove. Ayla was trying to get up, so the man helped her. She took the glove, put it on, then held her arm out. The bird circled around, unsure of the area and all the new people, then he swooped down and landed on her arm. The crowd gasped at her ability to call the predator to her. Only a few of them had seen her bird before and none of them had believed the woman could actually control the bird.

Ayla petted the bird, starting with its head and going down its back, and talked to it like it was completely normal to have a hawk sitting on her forearm. When she looked up to see everyone staring, she got the feeling she had done something wrong and she blushed. Grov smiled at her and handed her a piece of meat for Shriek. When Ayla fed it to him, he took flight. Ayla was extremely glad that he had come with them, but worried that he would not be allowed to stay. After all, the Clan had not accepted him right off and it took much discussion before Brun finally allowed the meat eater to stay with them. Now, most of the Clan did not even notice him.

Vincenzia reached down and picked up Durc. Durc's deep brown Clan eyes looked at the crowd somewhat fearfully; he had never seen so many people that looked like his mother before, but being held by Vincenzia made him feel better. He did not realize that these people even existed.

While holding Durc, Vincenzia made a motion and three more people approached; a woman and two children. "This is my mate Darvie and her children, Crisana and Brenevia." The man put Durc down. "Durc, Brenevia is the same age as you. You can play together."

"Mother, he looks like Rydag," Brenevia said, turning towards his mother.

The woman with hair as dark as the night sky, looked down at her son and smiled. "Yes Brenevia, he does." Then she looked at Ayla. "Greetings Ayla. I have heard so much about you. I welcome you."

Ayla was feeling a little less nervous, except that she wondered how she would keep everyone's name straight. She didn't realize she had an excellently trained memory and that it would not be a problem. Ayla took the proffered hands of Vincenzia's mate.

Seeing that introductions could be too much for the new people, Tiflona looked back at the group. "Okay let's all go back inside. We can all get to know Ayla and her family in there...in time."

The people started to disperse, but a few did not leave. Ayla could see Donzolnia and the other three men that had been at the Clan's cave—and a few women. One woman looked exactly the same as Jenadoza, except that she was pregnant.

Jenadoza still held Annaliza and Grov still had his arm around Ayla, giving his support to her both physically and emotionally.

~oxoxo~

Brulenzia had come out with Laurana. They were the last ones to join the welcoming group. The man watched the visitors has they were greeted by a few of the people, and he had a sudden rush of emotion when he saw the man Grov holding Evanora's daughter. Brulenzia had to swallow hard to hold back the anger he felt toward this man, this flathead man. This Clan man, he corrected himself. It pained him to think that this Clan man had been mated to his Evanora when he could not. Then Brulenzia looked to his side and saw his pregnant woman standing there,and he felt love fill his heart. He loved her so much and Evanora was just a memory from his childhood. He had never even kissed Evanora; they had just been children. It may take some time, he thought, but I will let this go.

When Laurana put her hand on his forearm and started pulling him forward, he came back to the present, and smiled at her. For the most part, everyone was gone and she wanted to meet the woman and her family. "Come on Bru. I have to meet my cousin."

Since Ayla looked steady, Grov let go of her. The woman looked at her mate with eyes full of appreciation. She could not have made this journey without him and would not have been able to stand meeting her people without him by her side. Grov smiled back at her.

"I'm sure you remember my brother, Ivanolia," Jenadoza said. "And Brulenzia and Tinozia, but you have not met my sister, Laurana, yet...or Ivanolia's mate, Danie. And this is Tabita and Fürlasa," she said finishing up. Ayla and Grov looked at all the young adults and smiled

Donzolnia turned to Grov. "How was the journey?"

"It was good. It was cold and Ora, here, does not seem to like the cold, but otherwise it was good." Ora pulled on Grov's leggings and he picked her up again. Once up at the eye level of everyone else, she looked around and smiled.

Ayla greeted the pregnant woman, Laurana, and was amazed at how much she looked like Jenadoza—and herself. She could not deny that the three of them were related—nor could anyone else. The other three women, Danie, Tabita, and Fürlasa, were also commenting on their similarities.

Ivanolia hung back watching. He was still quite unsure about having his cousin and her mate in the lodge. He knew he did not have a choice, but it still bothered him. Danie could see his skepticism and flashed him a dirty look. She had grown up in a Mamutoi camp that was related to Lion Camp and she knew that, although the child Nezzie took in could not speak, he was in fact human. Danie suddenly realized that Ivanolia was a rather narrow-minded person, something she hadn't known before she'd mated him—and that upset her. She decided that she would befriend this woman at any cost and he would have to get used to it.

Danie flashed one last look at her mate, then with the forwardness of the Mamutoi, she marched forward to greet these people properly.

When she had their attention, she thrust her hands out to the man. "Greetings, my name Danie." Grov took her hands, then was shocked when the woman pulled him close for a hug and kissed his cheek. Then she turned to Ayla. "It so good finally meet you, Ayla," she said as she hugged her too. "Sorry my Sungaea not so good. I am Mamutoi."

Ayla smiled at the friendly woman. "Mamutoi? Mamutoi are different people? People that live to the north, yes?"

Danie nodded. "Yes. I am new here too. I mate Ivanolia last summer and come here after summer."

Ayla studied Danie. "You look very much like Vincenzia's mate. You have the same very dark hair. Almost black. And the same light gray eyes.

"That because she is sister. You look much like these two," Danie said indicating Jenadoza and Laurana. They all smiled. "I think we should go in."

Jenadoza nodded. "Yes, I think that is a good idea. It's still so cold out here." She noticed her brother's look and flashed him a looked that told him he better not make trouble. Grov saw the byplay and moved in closer to Ayla in a defensive manner.

As they headed for the lodge entrance, Ayla scanned the area. "How long has Oak Camp been in this place?" she asked.

Grov was walking on one side of her and Donzolnia was on the other. The tall dark haired man answered her. "Well, last summer we added this part on to the lodge," he said pointing to the addition. "This is where Brulenzia, Ivanolia and I have hearths, but the rest of the lodge has been here for as long as I can remember. This was the home of my mother's mate's mother's mate. We have lived nowhere else." He paused. "Actually Ayla, you have been here before, you just don't remember. I can remember when you left with your mother and Vincenzia. I was almost eleven years then."

Ayla frowned, wishing she could remember the time that she spent at Oak Camp, but the memories eluded her. As they approached the entrance, Donzolnia continued to explain about their lodge, directing his words to both Ayla and Grov. "This is the main entrance, but there are two others; one in the back and one at the other end. Someone will show you later." They walked into the lodge, and Ayla had to wait a moment for her eyes to adjust to the darkness. "This is the entry area, where we keep our parkas and outer clothing." Everyone began taking off garments, so Grov and Ayla pulled off their cloaks and did the same to the children. Ora wanted to walk free, so Grov allowed it. The little girl no longer seemed shy, but just a little cautious instead.

As they walked out of the entry area, Donzolnia pointed to their left. "This is the visitor's hearth. You can put your stuff in here." Grov and Ayla walked into the visitor's hearth to put the rest of their things down and noticed that it had so much more space than their hearth in the Clan's cave.

"I think I would like to put Annaliza down, if that is okay?"

Donzolnia nodded. "I will make a fire so that it will not be cold." Ayla smiled at the man, then began pulling things out of her pack. "Ayla, these are sleeping places," the man said, knowing that they had not seen them before. The Clan did not have the same thing. Ayla smiled at him again and put her things down on the bed. Jenadoza then came in and carefully put the sleeping Annaliza down on the bed next to Ayla and Grov's belongings. Ayla was going to nurse her, but didn't want to wake her, so she just covered her up instead.

After looking at Annaliza one last time—and making sure she would not roll off the bed—Ayla followed the people out of the hearth and into a room that was larger than the main area, including all its hearths in the Clan's cave. Ayla and Grov were stunned that someone could build a lodge such as this.

"This is the Cooking Hearth," Donzolnia went on. "This is where we gather, just about every day and night, especially when the weather is bad. Ayla and Grov looked around and saw all the people doing various activities, including cooking, sewing, and weapon making. Grov was impressed.

Ayla was taking it all in and slowly processing the information. She started off walking next to Donzolnia, but just a little behind him, but as they entered the Cooking Hearth, she walked out into the center of the room and looked around more fully. She stared up at the ceiling and turned around slowly. Then, without notice, that dizzy, unfocused feeling came back. Grov saw it coming and was again at her side. "Ayla, what is wrong?"

She steadied herself against her mate and smiled up at him. "Grov," she said with amazement. "I have been here before."

"Yes Ayla, I know that. Donzolnia told us that already." Grov did not understand why she was telling him something that had just been told to both of them.

"No, Grov" Ayla said shaking her head. "I remember being here." Ayla looked around the room and then walked about. She suddenly ran over to the other side of the fire, and kneeled down. "I played here. I played here with my dolls. I remember playing here. Right here," she said pointing at the spot where she knelt.

Then the woman looked up sharply, "Grov! I remember Evanora. I remember her. She used to brush my hair with...with this," she exclaimed, picking up the implement that some had left lying there. Ayla put the brush down and she stroked her own long blonde hair. People were staring at her, but she did not notice.

Ayla then got up and looked down the long passageway that led to the people's individual hearths. She hesitated for only a moment, then started down the passage, counting the hearths as she went. She frowned when she got to the new passage, and looked back at the people. Some had followed her, others stayed behind. "I used to live here. There used to be a hearth here," she said, frowning. She looked back and saw Vincenzia standing there. "My mother was your sister's best friend," she said to him. Vincenzia nodded. He had tears in his eyes.

Ayla turned around and looked at the empty hearth behind her. "This is where Auntinoza and Evanora lived...and Teglodia. That's the man I saw with Tagnolia earlier." Ayla had tears in her eyes, as she smiled at her mate. "Oh Grov, I remember. I remember my people."

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – "Ivanolia's Problem"

A tearful Vincenzia approached Annalisa's daughter while everyone else hung back. "Ayla, are you remembering your mother?" Ayla looked up at him and nodded. "That is amazing. I can hardly remember her myself. It has been too many years." Ayla reached for the man and hugged him and they both cried. Then, Ayla felt a pulling on her tunic. It was Ora.

"Mamma? Are you okay?" Ora asked. She did not like it when her mother cried.

Ayla broke off from Vincenzia, and knelt down so she could look the child in the eye. "Yes Ora, I am fine. I just have not been here in a long time, but Mamma is just fine." Ora smiled, and put her arms around her mother. Ayla looked back at the people standing there watching them and then turned back to Ora. "Let's go meet everyone else." Ora nodded.

With that, Ayla and Ora, along with Vincenzia, went back to the Cooking Hearth. Tagnolia smiled at the young woman, but directed his words to everyone. "I think we need to have a welcoming celebration tonight. What does everyone think?" There was a chorus of cheers; everyone loved celebrations, for whatever reason, especially in the winter.

~oxoxo~

Grov watched Ayla's memory return and was amazed by it as well. He wondered at the chances of him mating Nora first and Ayla second—and the two women being related. He thought back to the first time he met Ayla and remembered how shocked he was that she looked so much like Nora. He loved her from the moment he met her. At the time he thought the attraction to Ayla might just be because of Nora, but now he knew differently. He loved her. Grov watched as Ayla carried Nora's daughter, whom she had adopted as her own, and smiled at her. No, he truly loved this woman.

"This is amazing Grov. I remember so much. Not everything, I think, but still a lot," she said, handing the child to him and then hugging and kissing them both. He could tell that she was excited. He was too. He hugged her back and kissed her deeply.

Ivanolia watched the couple and grimaced when Ayla kissed the man. How could she kiss him? he thought. Though the man didn't much look like it, he was a flathead and Ivanolia could not see past it.

Danie was standing with her sister, opposite Ivanolia, and she saw his look. It both saddened her and made her angry. The Mamutoi had similar feelings toward flatheads as her mate did—and that made her angry too. They were clearly people. Why couldn't so many people see it?

When Danie finally caught Ivanolia's eye, she flashed the man a furious look. He knew exactly what his mate was thinking and he was decent enough to blush. However, his blush wasn't enough to take away her anger. Over the moons he had seen that she had quite the temper and he didn't like making her angry. She finally left the cooking hearth. He could tell he was in trouble.

Ivanolia watched her go for a moment, then followed reluctantly. Once at their hearth, he didn't know what to say to her. "Danie?"

She looked at him. "What wrong with you Ivan? Grov seems to be good man. Why you look at him the way you do?"

Ivanolia frowned. "Danie, he's a flathead," he said with disgust, as if that should explain it. "My cousin is mated to a flathead."

"Yes," Danie agreed, "she is, and she has three children that are 'flathead.' Are you going to hate them too? Why everyone hate them? Is not fair. It not right."

Ivanolia shook his head. "They are animals Danie. My cousin has an animal mate and three animal children and now they are here."

Danie's face got really red. "They NOT animal, and even if they were. Do you hate animal?" Danie paused. "NO, you not hate animal. This not make sense to hate 'flathead." What they call themself? Think Jenadoza say Clan. Right? They ARE people! Clan people! Not forget I am related to Rydag, through Talut. Does that disgust you?" she yelled at him. Ivanolia stared at her. She was furious. As she continued to yell at him, he understood less and less, for the woman's language changed to Mamutoi, as it always did when she was angry. "That's it!" was the last thing he understood. The woman started picking up her clothes and throwing them into a pack, then she stormed out of the hearth. Ivanolia sat down on his bed platform and just watched her go. When she was gone, the man put his head in his hands. He had a huge headache starting, one worse than any bouza headache and he didn't know what to do about it.

~oxoxo~

Grov and Ayla and the children spent some time meeting the people, then went back to the visitor's hearth to rest before the welcoming celebration. In the visitor's hearth, the couple drew the curtain closed for privacy, as Donzolnia had showed them, and looked around the space that would be their home while they stayed with the Sungaea. Just as they had noticed on first sight, it was very large. They looked around and counted six sleeping places, one double, and four singles, all lining the walls, and plenty of room for all of their belongings to fit, as well as the belongings of several other people.

The family just stood there for a moment, then Ayla went over to her 'sleeping place' and began pulling her things out of it. She looked down at Annaliza and noted that she was still asleep, though it appeared she wouldn't be much longer, and smiled, thinking that she had once been that size and in this very same lodge. She wished she could remember that, but figured that no one remembered back that far, not even the Clan.

Grov watched his mate for a moment, then decided to add another piece of wood to the fire Donzolnia had made. Then he sat down on one of the other bed platforms, and turned toward his mate. He was about to speak when there was a scratching on their curtain.

Ayla was going to go check, but Grov was closer, so he signaled that he would check it. When the man opened the curtain, he saw two children standing there. Five-year-old Brenevia wanted Durc to come out to play and his sister, Braydalana, wanted to play with Ora. She just loved the little ones, and their camp didn't really have any except for Teglodia, and he was too new to play with. Grov frowned, but Ayla smiled. "That will be fine," Ayla said, giving her mate a look that told him everything would be okay and the children left together. Ayla and Grov watched them go and saw Braydalana and Ora join a few other girls. Then, noticing that Annaliza was awake, Ayla shut the curtain so that she could take care of her baby.

~oxoxo~

Darvie watched her son play with Ayla's son and wondered if he was as sickly as Rydag from Lion Camp. It did not appear that he was. The woman looked on for just a moment, then decided to go back to her hearth to rest. She first told Vincenzia where she was going, then exited the Cooking Hearth.

When she arrived at her hearth, she found Danie lying there on Crisana's bed. "What is wrong Danie? Why are you here?" she said in Mamutoi.

Danie opened her eyes and sat up cross-legged. "That mate of mine is a hyena."

Darvie laughed. "Really? What did he do now? Did he pull some other prank? You can always tell mother, she'll be glad to put an end to his pranks."

"No, I wish he had," she said with disgust. "He just doesn't want to accept that the Clan are people."

Darvie frowned. "Oh. That's going to be a problem. He's going to have to at least live with it until they leave," she said, then realized that would not be okay with Danie.

"No," Danie said. "He's going to have to do more than live with it. I will not be mated to such a man. I might as well turn my back on our family if I accept this attitude from him...and I will not do that." Danie pointed at her pile of things.

Darvie looked down at what her sister was pointing at, and smiled. "So, you're moving in, are you?"

Danie blushed. "I know I should have asked first, but I have nowhere else to go and I cannot stay there with him while he's acting so...so stupid. Do you think Vincenzia will mind?"

"No, of course not, but I'm sure Ivanolia will. He's going to have a fit. Where is he now?"

Danie blushed again. "Well actually, I've spied on him a few times and he was just sitting on the edge of the bed platform holding his head. The last time I looked, he hadn't moved."

~oxoxo~

When Brulenzia and Laurana went back to their hearth, they couldn't help but notice Ivanolia sitting on his bed, head in hands, and wondered about his posture. Laurana approached her brother and sat down next to him, putting her arm around him, and placing her cheek on his arm. "Ivan, what's wrong?"

For a moment, he thought maybe Danie had come back, but then he realized it was his sister. "Danie's gone," he stated simply, without even looking at her.

Laurana and Brulenzia eyed him suspiciously. "What do you mean, gone?" they asked in unison.

"I mean she's taken her things, and run off to her sister," he said, flinging his arm around to make them look around the room.

Brulenzia and Laurana looked around and, sure enough, all of Danie's things were gone. "Well, what did you do?" Brulenzia asked.

Ivanolia looked up sharply. "Why do you think I did something?"

Laurana laughed. "You are kidding, right?"

"It's not funny Laur," he said tearfully—then, "Okay, I just made one comment about our cousin being mated to a flathead and..." he admitted, his words trailing off.

Brulenzia looked away, he was not one hundred percent okay with this either, but for slightly different reasons; reasons he promised himself that he'd get over quickly. Laurana, on the other hand, rolled her eyes. "Ivanolia, you can't be calling Grov that. Apparently he is a good man, or so Vincenzia, Donzolnia, and Jenadoza say. In fact, you and Brulenzia spent time with them, at their cave. Can you honestly say they are animals after the time you spent there?" Ivanolia frowned at the ground, and when he looked up, he could see Donzolnia and Jenadoza coming down the passageway. He dreaded the look and earful he would receive from Jenadoza.

When Jenadoza saw her brother's teary face, she immediately raced forward. "What is going on here?" she questioned, but no one said anything. Ivanolia looked one way and Brulenzia looked the other. "You guys, did I not just ask a question?"

Laurana blushed, then told her sister then problem. "Apparently our big brother here cannot accept having a 'flathead' mated to our cousin, and Danie has left the hearth to go stay with Darvie and Vincenzia." Laurana paused, waiting for Jenadoza to explode, but she didn't.

Jenadoza knelt on the ground in front of Ivanolia and took his downcast face in her hands so that he would have to look at her. "Ivan, I know this is hard to accept. Can you imagine what went through my mind when I woke up in their cave? Can you imagine how scary that was for me. And for Braydalana too? I know what most of the Sungaea think, or anyone else for that matter. I know how we have been raised, but we have to get over this. I truly believe we have been wrong. Our camp is not the first camp to have to deal with the Clan, and I'm sure we will not be the last." Jenadoza paused for a moment, then smiled at her brother. "When Teglodia was born in their cave, it was Ayla and their other healer that helped me give birth. If they were animals, then they couldn't have helped. They do know what they are doing. They have healers just like we do. They have Shogurs just like we do. They are not so different than we are."

Ivanolia frowned and looked away from his sister, only to look into the light blue eyes of her mate. "What your sister says is true Ivanolia. They are good people. We even let them name and number Teglodia among them. He may be of the Sungaea, but he is now Clan too."

"You did what?" Ivanolia burst out. "Why would you do that? There was no purpose in that."

Jenadoza swallowed and gave her brother a stern look. "No, there was no need, but we were staying in their cave and eating their meat and sharing in everything that is theirs; and had been for some time. I'm sure that the leader's decision to accept Teglodia was not made lightly. We could not...no would not insult him by refusing. And really, what difference does it make? Except for maybe bothering closed minded people such as yourself?!" Jenadoza was starting to become irritated with the man. "If you cannot accept Ayla's mate and her children, then possibly you cannot accept my son either." With that she stood up and went back to her hearth. Donzolnia looked at his best friend and shook his head, then he followed his mate. Some celebration this would be.

~oxoxo~

Donzolnia went back to the hearth, and looked at his mate. She didn't really look as angry as she had sounded. He realized it was for effect and that she would be patient with her brother, but he wondered how patient.

"Are you going to change into something else for the celebration?" he asked her, trying to decide if he should change too.

She nodded. "Nothing fancy though, just something else." She pulled her tunic over her head, then leaned over and picked up her son to nurse. Teglodia suckled his mother and stared up at her.

Donzolnia sat down beside her and watched for a moment, then lay back on their bed. "I think I'll nap for a little while. That way I can stay up later tonight."

~oxoxo~

Jenadoza nursed her son, then put him down next to her mate. At just three mooncycles, it was quite obvious the child was of Donzolnia's spirit. Jenadoza thought about Ayla's idea of how babies were created and she grinned. She would make sure that all her babies were of Donzolnia's spirit. She watched her son lying there next to the man she loved and hoped to have several just like him.

After filling her eyes with her two men, she decided to nap as well.

~oxoxo~

Laurana watched Jenadoza go, then she too excused herself, saying that she wanted to get cleaned up. Brulenzia smiled at her, but stayed with Ivanolia. When the woman was gone, Brulenzia sat down on Ivanolia's bed platform and lay back.

"Tell me this bothers you too," Ivanolia begged.

Brulenzia had his eyes closed. "Hmm, somewhat, but for different reasons."

Ivanolia turned and looked at the closed-eyed man. "What does that mean?"

Brulenzia opened his eyes. "Well, when I look at Evanora's daughter, I think that she should have been born to my hearth, not his. When I look at him, I think that she loved me first and that she should have been mine. And when I look at Ayla, I wonder if he knows just what he has."

"But you're not upset that he's a flathead?" Ivanolia asked.

Brulenzia frowned. "I know that he is, there's no question about it, but I think it just hurts to have lost Evanora...all over again."

Ivanolia breathed a loud sigh, then lay back on the bed beside his friend. "But you have Laurana now, why should that matter?"

"It's just different, Ivan. Evanora and I were children together, but we always said we would mate. Grov had something with her that I never had and it feels strange, sort of like a betrayal. It's not the man's fault, but it still hurts. I do love Laurana and I can hardly wait to be mated to her. I know the thought of my joining with your sister has bothered you, but I really do love her. And I've sworn to myself that I will get past the Grov and Evanora thing. I think you should do the same."

The two men were just talking casually and didn't see that someone was approaching. When they finally did, they saw Braydalana and Crisana standing at the hearth entrance with Ora hanging around Braydalana's neck. "Should I change my tunic for the celebration?" she asked, then looked around. "Where is mother?"

Ivanolia and Brulenzia looked up at the three girls and Ivanolia grimaced. "Danie is at Darvie's hearth." The two girls could see that something was amiss, but neither questioned further. "Why don't you take Ayla's daughter back to the visitor's hearth, so you can change?" Ivanolia said, thinking that he was helping since Brulenzia had trouble looking at the child.

Brulenzia frowned, thinking that he'd never get used to the child if he didn't spend time with her. "I'll take her, Bray, you change."

Ivanolia wrinkled his brow and watched the man extend his arms for Evanora's daughter. The little girl hesitated for a moment, but then reached out to the man.

~oxoxo~

Grov and Ayla were having a rare moment alone and were enjoying the time. For the most part, they never had time without other people and it felt good. The children were gone, except for Annaliza of, course, and she had a full tummy and was contented. At the moment, there was nothing that they had to be doing, except resting for the evening. It felt nice.

Ayla had nursed the baby, unpacked all of their belongings, and was just lying on one of the sleeping places, when Grov came to lie down beside her. "Are you okay, Ayla?" he asked.

Her eyes were closed, "Hmm, I think so, yes. You?"

Grov smiled and leaned over to kiss her—and she opened her eyes. "Why didn't you just signal me?" she asked, noticing his desire for her.

"Something about doing that here seems wrong. I know that's not how they treat their women."

Ayla smiled. "Well, that's not usually how you treat me either, but we are alone. Do whatever you want."

Grov grinned at her and made the signal, causing the woman to start taking off her leggings. Grov got up to do the same thing, taking off his tunic as well, and Ayla pulled the bedding back so that they could get in.

~oxoxo~

Brulenzia carried the child in his arms and she babbled. Brulenzia thought that she sounded a little older than the average three year old and then remember being told that the Clan aged faster. He thought that was interesting.

When he was passing by Tagnolia's hearth, his mother came out. "Well, who do you have here, Brulenzia? Are you playing with Ayla's daughter? Or are you pretending that Laurana had her baby already?" Zarina asked, tickling the little girl, and getting a stream of giggles.

Brulenzia smiled at his mother. She seemed to sense his difficulty with this and was grateful that someone understood. "No mother, I was just taking her back to Ayla, so Braydalana could change."

"Well, go on then, I won't keep you." Zarina smiled at her son as he headed into the Cooking Hearth.

~oxoxo~

Inside the visitor's hearth, Grov and Ayla had just finished satisfying each other's needs, when they heard a scratch at the curtain. Neither wanted to get up. "Come in." Grov called.

Brulenzia moved the curtain aside and stepped in, then blushed. The couple was under the furs of the double bed platform and had obviously just been sharing pleasures. Brulenzia wasn't sure what he thought and he forgot why he had even come.

Ayla smiled and sat up, then climbed out off of the bed. She still had her tunic on, and it was long, but she did not have her leggings on. Brulenzia stared at her bare legs, then looked at Grov. The man appeared to be scowling at him. "Um, I came to...to bring your daughter back to you," he said, still uncomfortable.

Ayla continued to smile at him, taking Ora from him. She turned around to place Ora on the bed next to Grov and saw his look. "Stop it, Grov," she signaled. "He is just nervous." Brulenzia never saw what she signaled to her mate and Grov's expression immediately changed. He knew this man had loved Nora and he did feel bad about his loss—they shared that loss.

Ayla turned back around. "Can I get you some tea?" she said picking up the pot she had just boiled and a cup.

Brulenzia looked at Grov again and noticed he looked more relaxed. He quickly decided that he would like some tea and nodded his head.

Grov got up, put on his leggings, then sat back down on the edge of the bed. Brulenzia watched him, trying not to make it obvious and noted that the man looked no different than any other man he had seen. Ayla and Grov pretended not to notice, though the Sungaea man's observation was much more intrusive than he thought.

When the tea was ready, the three sat drinking it, mostly in silence. It was rather awkward, but it was a start.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – "The Welcoming Celebration"

Brulenzia sat there sipping from his cup, wishing that he hadn't accepted, because now the silence was deafening and he didn't know what to say or how to get away. Ayla and Grov sat side by side on their bed platform, also not knowing what to say. The three adults just watched the little girl play with the baby. Annaliza squealed with delight as Ora hid her face behind her own hands, then pulled them back to reveal a wide-eyed smile.

"I cannot believe how big Annaliza has gotten since I saw her last," Brulenzia said.

"Yes," Ayla replied. "She was so small when she was born, I never thought she'd grow. She's still so much smaller than the other Clan babies. Do you remember Oga?"

Brulenzia nodded. "Yes, I think. The one that lived at your hearth, right?"

Ayla smiled. "Yes, that is right. She had a baby about three months after Annaliza was born. When her daughter was born she almost the same size that Annaliza was at three mooncycles. It is remarkable how big the Clan babies are."

Brulenzia frowned, thinking about Laurana. He suddenly worried that Grov's presence could make her child come out mixed. He knew his woman could not have such a big baby. He wondered if there was some way to ask about this without insulting them. "Ah, Ayla, you had a...a mixed child while living with the Clan. How did that birth go?"

Ayla grimaced at them memory. "It was awful. I almost died, but Iza saved me. Iza was my mother and she was the Clan's first medicine woman...I mean, healer. It was very hard, but I would gladly do it again to have my son."

"Weren't you afraid when you learned that you were pregnant a second time. I mean, that the baby would be mixed again, since you were so near to the Clan men." Brulenzia glanced at Grov and waited for one of them to explode. Grov narrowed his eyes at the man, but said nothing. Brulenzia did not miss that Ayla put her hand on her mate's leg. Brulenzia could tell that Grov was not happy.

"Well no, actually. I knew my child would be mixed, but I wasn't afraid, because I saw that a mixture between Grov and Evanora had produced a baby that looks like Others, like us, and they are much smaller as you can see. I knew my baby would be similar to her."

Brulenzia didn't understand what she meant. "But how did you know that the baby would be a mixture of you and Grov and not you and some other Clan man?" he asked.

Ayla smiled. Though she was certain about how life got started, she didn't know how to explain it. "I believe that a baby can only get started when a man puts his organ in the place where a baby comes out and I have only shared Grov's furs. That is how I know."

Brulenzia smiled. "That is an interesting idea; I have not heard that one before," he said, thinking that if that were so, then Grov's presence could not mix with Laurana's to produce a mixed child.

Ayla watched the smile play across his lips, but it was Grov that spoke. "So you do not have to worry about my spirit getting inside your woman," he said, with a look that Brulenzia could only take as one of insult.

Brulenzia blushed. "I am sorry, I did not mean that the way it sounded. I..." he let his words trail off. Now he really didn't know what to say.

Ayla looked at Grov and sighed. She knew he had a right to be upset, but she didn't want trouble between him and her people. Grov looked as though he felt bad about what he had said too. "Brulenzia, I am sorry too. I know you did not mean any disrespect. I think it would be good if you and I could start over. Maybe try to get over our Nora problem."

Brulenzia was nodding. "I agree. This whole thing has been difficult; to learn that she was still alive until a few years ago and then to find out she was mated to you. I did not expect her to come running home to me someday, though I'm sure many thought that's what I thought. I will let this go, if you can forgive me. It's just so hard."

Grov smiled. "Of course I can forgive you. And I agree, this is very hard."

Ayla was overjoyed that the two men had seemingly worked out their differences and, as if to seal the deal, Ora walked up to Brulenzia and pointed at his eyes. "Can you see out of those eyes? They look too light. When Clan eyes get that light, they can no longer see. Mamma," she said turning around. "I think Zoug might be blind soon." Ayla nodded to her daughter.

Brulenzia picked up the little girl—Evanora and Grov's little girl—and put her on his lap. "Why yes Ora, I can see out of these eyes. Your eyes are blue too, but not so light. Can you see out of yours?"

The little girl giggled. "Of course I see out of them," she said. The man talked to her for a little longer, then excused himself. He had much to think about. After talking to Ayla, he was certain that Laurana would be having his baby and that made him smile. If her baby was a boy, he thought, it might look just like Teglodia then, since he looks just like Donzolnia and I look just like Donzolnia...and the baby is mine. My baby, he thought, she's going to have my baby, not just a baby of my spirit.

~oxoxo~

As Brulenzia slowly walked back to his hearth, he continued to consider that Laurana's baby was just as much his baby and he was thrilled beyond belief. I'm having a baby, he thought—then laughed quietly to himself at the thought of the child being his. Whoever heard of a man having a baby? Does that make me its mother too? No, he thought, only woman can be a mother, but wouldn't he be something more to the child than just Brulenzia? He decided that he would have to talk to Gredenzia at some point. Maybe the Shogur would have something to say about this too.

~oxoxo~

After napping for a considerable part of the day, Jenadoza woke up, fed her son again, then started preparing the very same meal that she had made for the Clan two seasons before. She knew it was a favorite and that she was the best at making it.

Laurana had rested until Brulenzia returned and noticed something different about the man immediately. She didn't ask him about it, but decided to wait for him to tell her when he was ready. It didn't matter either way, because she could tell that the man had reached some sort of decision on something, and that it was good. She smiled at the man, as she made her sweet honey cakes for the celebration.

These two women worked in their own hearths, preferring to cook in their own space; Jenadoza's sole purpose of doing this was that she could have her son right next to her the whole time. And Laurana just wanted to rest as much as possible.

~oxoxo~

In Vincenzia's hearth, Darvie and Danie were cooking a Mamutoi dish that they had not made for Oak Camp yet. Travie had suggested it, since she would be busy cooking with the older women.

Darvie thought the cooking would be good way to keep her sister's mind off her trouble. It worked somewhat, except for the fact that Danie periodically made and excuse to leave the hearth. Darvie knew that she did this just so she could look down the passageway toward hers and Ivanolia's hearth. Darvie shook her head at her sister.

~oxoxo~

When the sun finally set, the people began to gather in the Cooking Hearth. While many of the younger women had spent time cooking at their own hearths, the older women spent much of their day cooking in the Cooking Hearth, minus Tiflona, since her mate usually did the cooking and she didn't like to cook. It was evident that a feast was forthcoming by the delicious smells of food were wafting throughout the lodge and many were commenting on when it would start, including Tiflona's youngest. "Mother, when will the feast start? I am starving.

"Humpf," the headwoman replied. "Let you never know what true hunger feels like, child. You are not starving. Be patient!" The headwoman was a sweet woman, but did not like exaggerations.

~oxoxo~

"Are you ready to go out?" Ayla asked Grov, as she picked up a dish she had prepared. He did not look like he was ready, she thought.

The man was dressed in the third outfit she had made and was pulling at it awkwardly. "This is not as comfortable as our Clan wraps," he commented. "Do you think they wear these in the summer too?"

Ayla smiled at him. "I don't know, but we will get used to them, I am sure. They are much warmer for winter. Maybe they have summer clothing as well." For her own third outfit, she had made an attempt to color it, the way Jenadoza said the Sungaea did. This one was slightly yellow, but it had no decorations on it at all. It did not need any; the beauty of the woman would make her stand out no matter what she wore.

Grov suddenly noticed that she was carrying a dish. "Did you make your stuffed ptarmigan?" he asked with a smile; they were his favorite. Ayla nodded. "When did you hunt the birds?"

"I killed them while we were traveling. It takes only moments to pull out my sling and let fly. I could not help myself when I saw them. Will you carry Annaliza for me?" she asked. "I do not have enough hands." The man picked up the baby, and they left the hearth, followed by Durc, who was holding Ora's hand.

~oxoxo~

The family left the visitor's hearth, and went to the Cooking Hearth, only to be surrounded by the throng of people. Zarina approached and took the food Ayla proffered and Tagnolia poured them each a drink. Ayla and Grov tasted the liquid, and both frowned at its strong taste. Grov took another sip and decided he liked it.

Jenadoza saw Ayla's frown and came up to them. "Ayla, try this drink. It's a little sweeter," she said, offering the woman some wine.

"Umm, this is good," Ayla said. "Not so bitter."

Jenadoza smiled, then eyed Grov. "This woman thinks the man should be careful with bouza. It gives awful headache next morning if one drinks too much," she gestured.

Grov looked at the woman, thinking she had learned a lot while staying with the Clan, and then he looked down at his cup, wondering how the drink could cause a headache. "I will be careful, but Jenadoza, I am with your people now, you do not have to address me like a Clan man."

Jenadoza grinned. "I know that. It's just fun to know that I can."

~oxoxo~

While the people milled around, talking and drinking, several people started making repetitive sounds on the bone instruments that had gone unnoticed until the sounds began. Ayla looked very interested as she watched Oak Camp's musicians drum out a rhythmic tune for others to dance to. It made Ayla think of the woman's dance that she had participated in at the Clan gathering. Jenadoza handed Ayla her cup, then joined the dancers.

The music went on for quite some time before someone finally made a plea for food. At that point, the instruments were stacked off to the side where they had been, and the older women brought out the food that had been warming over a low fire near the cooking pipes. The people raced to find places on the sitting platforms and waited for the cooks to set the food out in the center.

When the cooks had everything set up, the people indicated to Ayla that she should take first. "Me? But I am a woman," she said.

Gredenzia smiled at the young woman. "That is exactly why you must take first Ayla. The Sungaea honor the Great Earth Mother by offering her bounty to women first." Ayla nodded, but looked to Grov for permission first before filling her plate.

Grov smiled at her and gave her a gesture that was unrecognizable to most. "You must do as the Others do now, Ayla." Ayla returned his look and stepped forward to choose what she wanted to eat.

~oxoxo~

As the evening progressed, the people continued to drink and most thought of some reason or another to sit next to Ayla and Grov for at least a little while. Ayla was feeling happy that she had finally found her people and that they seemed to accept her. She did notice that Ivanolia never talked to her or Grov, and that Danie was taking pains to stay away from her own mate, but Ayla was too affected by the wine to put too much thought into it. She was positively giddy from the drink.

Grov drank the bouza, but not too much as Jenadoza had warned and he was drawn into a conversation with some of the men on the hunting techniques of the Clan. "You say the women don't hunt?" Wäglodia said.

"They are not able to hunt. They have no memories for hunting," Grov said to the man. "Ayla is the only woman that ever wanted to hunt, and she has been punished twice for hunting when she was not allowed to."

Tagnolia frowned. "Punished? Why?"

"Well, not only are women unable to hunt, but they are also forbidden to hunt," Grov continued. "If a woman hunts, it carries the punishment of death."

"Death? Now that sounds extreme," Vilognia stated in a rather upset manner. He was thinking about his sister, Vinoza, and Vinoza's daughter, Evanora.

Grov could immediately see what he was thinking. "If you are wondering about your sister and her daughter, I will tell you that they too were forbidden to hunt, but they did not seem too upset by the Clan tradition. I have been told that Oza never really liked hunting anyway and Nora never really learned since an end was put to it before she could really start."

Tagnolia cut in. "So, how was Ayla punished for hunting?" he asked.

"I was not there when she was caught hunting the first time. The Clan was off hunting and Ayla used a sling to save a child that had been taken by an animal. She had been practicing her sling in secret, but when she used it to save the child, her secret was revealed. The leader put a temporary death curse on her. She had to live away from the Clan for one cycle of the moon. Obviously she survived the death curse and then they called her the Woman Who Hunts. She is the only Clan woman to have that name," Grov stated proudly.

"And what about the second time she was punished," Vincenzia asked.

"It was because of something she did while we were on the same hunt in which we found Jenadoza and Braydalana," he said. "After Ayla became the Woman Who Hunts, she was allowed to hunt with a sling, but nothing else. On that hunt, Ayla saved the life of one of the Clan's little girls, but had to run from a bison that wanted to trample her. She ran and grabbed a spear and stabbed the bison in the eye. Again, she saved someone, and herself, but she touched a spear doing it. Our leader had to punish her or the Clan's spirits might have because displeased with the Clan."

Gredenzia frowned. "That is very strange. Why would spirits become angered by women hunting?" he said, almost to himself. "So, what was Ayla's punishment for killing the bison."

"Brun, our leader, took her sling away and burned it, then he forbid her to hunt for a half cycle of seasons," Grov said, then seeing the men frowning again, he added, "but she has been given the right to hunt with anything now. Our Clan's best sling maker made her a new sling. Our Clan's best toolmaker made her a spear. And our leader gave her a knife. I'd say that she has been rewarded for the tests her totem has put her through." Many of the men were nodding, thinking that the Clan was rather rigid, but also that Ayla had proved to them that she was worthy of their respect. And that, in itself, was worthy of respect in their eyes.

~oxoxo~

Ayla spent most of her time with her cousin Laurana and really enjoyed the woman's company. They were very close in age, as well as in appearance, and their conversation never seemed to become exhausted. Laurana was extremely interested in the amulet that Ayla and her family wore around their necks and Ayla did her best to explain.

"These are our amulets," Ayla told the young woman, as she took it off and handed it to her. "They hold the spirit of our totems, the spirit of the whole Clan, and the spirit of ourselves. For me it holds the Spirit of the Cave Lion. Our Mog-ur, like your Shogur, once told me that if I lose my amulet, then my totem can not find me and I will die."

Laurana's eyes widened. "That would be terrible, Ayla. Do you think it is true?"

Ayla shrugged her shoulders. "There were stories at the Clan gathering about a few people who had died suddenly and that their amulets were not around their necks when they were found dead. I do not know if it is true, but I would not want to take the chance." Laurana nodded, agreeing with Ayla that it would not be a good idea to tempt the spirits.

~oxoxo~

As celebrations usually went, the honoring of the Mother was a part. Slowly, as the night wore on, the people retreated to their hearths to honor properly. Laurana had explained this to Ayla and Ayla wondered about it as she saw people leaving with people other than his or her mate. Clan men often signaled other men's mates, but usually only when their own mate was not there and mostly with the permission of the woman's mate. Ayla noticed that no one actually signaled anyone else and that it was just as much the woman's choice as to whose bed she would go to, or in the case of some, whom she would bring to her bed. It was all very interesting.

As many left, Ayla just sat there, waiting for her mate to come to her. When he did, they returned to the visitor's hearth, and honored the Mother with gusto.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – "Fireside Chat"

Ayla awoke with a buzzing sound in her ears and a sharp pain in her head. For a moment she forgot where she was. As her eyes focused on her surroundings and her memory returned, she smiled. She was in her people's earthlodge. After staring at the ceiling of the lodge for a moment, she looked at Grov; he appeared to be sleeping soundly. Then she turned her head to look at her children; they too slept. Ayla decided that she could not wait to pass water, and got up to use the night basket that Jenadoza told her about. As she stood up, her head pounded painfully, and she thought about Jenadoza's warning against consuming too much bouza or wine. When the woman finished passing her water, she picked up her medicine bag, then left the hearth. She needed to make some tea.

Once in the Cooking Hearth, Ayla glanced around. She didn't know how to use their cooking area, so she decided to put on some water over the central fire to make a painkilling tea. While she waited, she thought about the night before, and looked around the hearth. No one else was awake. Ayla wondered about how early it was, and decided to go look at the sun's position while the water heated. Ayla crossed the Cooking Hearth, entered the entry area, and put on her warm traveling clothes and cloak, then exited the lodge.

When she got outside, she breathed deeply; the air was still and Ayla could feel that spring was on its way. It was crisp and cold, but the air did not have the touch of frost that had been apparent just days before. After breathing the clean air for a moment, the woman looked around. The land on the southern side of Oak Camp's earthlodge was rather flat, and its slope toward the sea was almost unnoticeable. Ayla could see that it did slope, but only slightly.

Ayla could just barely make out the sea that was straight ahead of her, but far off in the distance. As she stood there staring, she thought about some of the food she had tried the night before—and decided that it was good that Oak Camp was positioned right next to the sea, because they used plenty of salt in their cooking. She wondered if all the Sungaea people used a lot of salt, or if Oak Camp used more because of where they were.

After gazing at the distant sea for some time, Ayla looked left, then right, then she started to walk around the lodge, so that she could see more. She walked around the western end first, since it was the closest end, and looked up at the hills that rose behind the lodge. They too were off in the distance, but they were easily seen, because they rose tall. Ayla noticed that the northern entrance looked similar to the southern entrance, and she knew that it opened up into the Cooking Hearth. She continued to walk, now in an eastern direction.

As Ayla walked, she continued to breath deep. When she came to the end, she rounded the corner of the lodge to find Ivanolia standing in its entrance staring out at the rising sun. "Oh, sorry, Ivanolia," Ayla said, as she stepped back. "I did not mean to disturb you." Ayla could tell he had been avoiding her the night before. She did not know why, really, but it made her nervous.

Ivanolia looked down at the woman that looked so much like his sisters and gave her a stiff smile. "You are not disturbing me. I am just watching the sun come up, and thinking."

Ayla narrowed her eyes at the man, but he did not see, he wasn't even looking at her anymore. "Hmm, yes, it is beautiful, isn't it?" she said, looking at the rising sun.

"Yes, very," he said, then he said nothing more.

Ayla stood there, staring at the rising sun, but the uncomfortable silence made her look back at the man. "Well, I was just looking around. I am making tea for my headache, so I better get back inside. The water is probably already boiling," Ayla said as she started for the eastern entrance. He still did not say anything, so she continued on.

Once back inside, Ayla walked slowly through the passageway toward the Cooking Hearth. She noticed the two rooms immediately inside the lodge, but did not know what they were for. Then, she noticed the food storage area, and some empty hearths. She continued on.

As she passed Vincenzia's hearth, she glanced at the closed curtain, then stopped and smiled. I cannot believe I have found my people, she thought. As she stood there staring, the curtain was pushed aside and Danie appeared.

"Oh Danie, I am sorry to be just standing here staring," Ayla whispered. "I was just out walking."

"That is okay Ayla. I needed to pass water, but I have headache, so I get up," Danie said, putting two fingers to her left temple.

"I have a headache too, so I am making a painkilling tea. Do you want some?"

Danie smiled at the younger woman and nodded. She started to walk with Ayla toward the Cooking Hearth, but glanced down the passage toward Ivanolia's hearth. Ayla hadn't been in there yet, but she knew that the woman was looking for Ivanolia. "Ivanolia is outside, that way," Ayla said pointing back in the direction that they had come. Danie looked over her shoulder toward the back entrance, wondering how the woman knew who she was looking for—or that she was looking for someone at all.

"It is good that I found you, Danie," Ayla said with a smile. "I might have gone exploring some more and never made it back to the Cooking Hearth for my tea."

Danie smiled at the woman. "I don't know how you forget. Your headache must not be as bad as mine is." Danie paused for a minute. "How you know I was looking for Ivan?"

Ayla smiled, then shrugged. "I know you and Ivanolia are mated and that you did not go back to his hearth last night...even though you wanted to."

"Is it that obvious?" Danie asked, as a frown creased her forehead.

"To me it is. As a Clan woman, I am trained to see more than what is said. It is the Clan way. Besides, I can see that you love him and that you are having trouble. Anyone could see that. Why didn't you go back to his hearth last night?" Ayla asked innocently.

Danie frowned. "We had a fight and I moved out," she said sadly.

"Danie, I can tell that Ivanolia does not like me...or maybe it is the Clan that he does not like. Is that right?"

"Oh Ayla, he not dislike you, it's just...well...he has trouble with you being mated to a man of Clan. He not think that our women should do that," Danie said. Ayla frowned. "That is why we fight actually. It is common among our people to dislike the Clan. He is not alone. This could be hard on you and your family."

Ayla continued to frown, still wondering why people hated the Clan so much. "But you don't seem to dislike the Clan, Danie. Why?"

Danie smiled. This woman is very intuitive, she thought. "My mother is related to the Headman of Lion Camp of the Mamutoi. They have a mixed boy living there. The boy and I are second cousins...sort of. He was not born to headman's mate, but they raised him as own, so we are related. Most Mamutoi do not accept the child or the Clan, but he is just another child to me."

Ayla was very interested. A Clan boy, raised by the Others, just as she was raised by the Clan. "That seems strange that your people would raise a Clan child, since they do not like the Clan."

"Well, Nezzie, the headman's mate, had just had a baby of her own and she didn't mind offering the boy her breast. And Talut, the headman, and her mate, did not care what others thought." As Danie continued to talk, she slowly shifted back and forth from Sungaea to Mamutoi, and back again. They continued speaking, without realizing that they were speaking a mixed up version of the two languages and Ayla was learning some of the Mamutoi language in the process.

As they spoke, Ayla and Danie drank their tea, and soon their headaches were gone. "It is strange how much your son looks like Nezzie's boy, Rydag. They could almost be brothers, accept that Rydag is very sickly."

"Sickly? What is wrong with Rydag?" Ayla asked.

"I don't know Ayla. I do not know anything about medicine or sickness, but if you come with us to the Mamutoi summer meeting, then you can meet him and find out," Danie said, then she paused. "But you probably want to go to the Sungaea summer meeting, don't you?"

Ayla frowned. "I will go to whatever summer meeting that Vincenzia goes to Danie, but I would really like to meet Rydag and the woman that took him in." Danie smiled, and drank more of her tea.

~oxoxo~

Laurana woke and looked at Brulenzia. The man was still sleeping so she quietly slipped out of bed to use the night basket. When she was finished, she listened carefully; someone else was awake, she decided, because the lodge did not feel silent.

Pulling on her leggings and camp shoes, the young woman crept out of the hearth. As she left, she peeked into her brother's hearth and noticed that the man's bed was empty, then she went to the Cooking Hearth. "Good morning Ayla, Danie," she said with a smile.

Ayla smiled broadly at her cousin. "Do you want some tea, Laurana?"

"Yes, have some tea. Ayla's tea is like magic; it took my headache away," Danie replied with a grin, making Laurana nod.

"What are you two doing up so early?" Laurana asked.

"Well, I needed to use the night basket, then I discovered that I needed a painkilling tea for my headache," Ayla replied.

"I needed the night basket too, then I heard someone stirring; it was Ayla," Danie said.

"Hmm, I noticed that Ivan is not in his bed," Laurana said looking around. "I thought he would be in here."

Danie frowned, her eyes instantly glistening. "He is outside," Ayla said. "I went for a walk and found him sitting out there, watching the sun come up. Here Laurana," Ayla finished, handing the woman some tea.

Laurana took the cup and sat down next to Danie. "Don't cry Danie. Ivan will shape up," she said glancing at Ayla. She did not know if Ayla knew what the problem was. "He just has to, doesn't he?"

Danie smiled. "Well, you know how stubborn he can be Laurana. I not be surprised if it takes a long time."

Ayla knew that Laurana was purposely avoiding the true topic and wanted the woman to know that she knew. "Laurana, I know what Ivanolia thinks of my mating and he can think what he wishes. My mate is good to me and that is all that matters. Ivanolia will have to get over his problem on his own. I will be patient."

Laurana smiled. "I will help if I can, Ayla."

~oxoxo~

Ivanolia sat outside thinking for sometime. Then a cool breeze came and gave him a chill. That caused him to go back inside. The man walked into the back entry, stripped off his outer clothing, then started walking down the passageway. When he got to the turn that would take him to his own hearth, he glanced toward the Cooking Hearth. He could just make out Danie, Laurana, and Ayla sitting there drinking tea and talking:

Laurana, I know what Ivanolia thinks of my mating and he can think what he wishes. My mate is good to me, and that is all that matters. Ivanolia will have to get over his problem on his own. I will be patient.

I will help if I can, Ayla.

My problem, he thought with a scowl. This is her problem. I am not the only one that thinks bad of the Clan. She will see when we get to the summer meeting. Ivanolia continued to watch the women, but his thoughts turned to his missing mate. They had not been mated long, and she had already moved out. Maybe this was his problem too. As he thought about the situation and watched the women. Soon, Grov appeared. Ivanolia shrank back slightly, but continued to observe the scene.

~oxoxo~

Grov awoke and immediately noticed his missing mate. He too glanced at the sleeping children and noted that Annaliza was stirring a bit, but was still sleeping. The man rolled out of bed, pulled on his leggings and left the hearth.

Ayla, who had been vaguely aware that her mate was moving around within the hearth, had started to make another cup of tea. She reached into her medicine bag, pulled out what her mate liked in his morning tea, then added it to the painkilling tea. When the man arrived, she handed him the cup and he smiled. Danie and Laurana smiled as well. "Good morning Grov," Danie said. "How is your head this morning?"

The man sat down next to his mate, but looked at the woman that had spoken. "It hurts. What is in that bouza that makes you feel so good when you're drinking it, but terrible the next day?"

Danie grinned. "I don't know, but Ayla's tea sure helps."

Ayla smiled at her mate and kissed his cheek. "Are you okay?"

"I am fine. I guess I didn't listen to Jenadoza's warning about drinking too much of that stuff."

"None of us did," Danie giggled. "But then, we never do; it is too much fun to drink. Ayla will have to make her morning after tea every time we drink, so we don't have such bad next days."

Laurana watched them talk, then turned toward Ayla, "Ayla, can I ask you something?" Ayla nodded. "How did you know that Grov was coming?" she asked.

"I could hear that he was awake," Ayla said.

"But it could have been one of the children," she went on. "How did you know that it was Grov and not one of them?"

"It did not sound like one of the children. I know what my mate sounds like. We have been mated for quite a while," Ayla replied.

Laurana frowned. "Hmm, I'm not sure I would know it was Brulenzia approaching when I didn't see him. I don't understand how you could know."

"Laurana, a good Clan woman is aware of much more than what can be heard or what the eye can see." She paused for a moment, then continued. "For instance," she said looking at Danie. "Someone else is watching us right now. Someone who misses you very much."

Danie frowned, then spun around to look into the dark passageway. She looked just in time to see a small amount of blond hair disappearing behind the passage wall. Danie looked back at Ayla. "How you know that, Ayla? You never looked down there, did you?"

"No, I did not, but I could feel that he was watching us, couldn't you?"

Danie frowned. "Well, maybe I could."

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – Umm...looks like I stopped naming my chapters right here!

"You're right Ayla," Danie said. "I could feel eyes watching us, but I not recognize it until you say something. I have not taught myself to be so aware. Why do Clan woman have to be aware of so much?"

Ayla glanced at Grov, who returned her look, then she turned back to Laurana and Danie, both of whom had their eyes focused solely on their female visitor. "Well, Clan women are different than Others women; women like you. I mean us," Ayla said blushing. "In fact, all the Clan people are different than the Others, though not different like most of the Others think. They are people, just like us, but their ways are so ancient. They have been around a lot longer than we have, and they rely on their memories to know what they are supposed to do. For instance, the men do not have memories for cooking, so they need women to cook for them so that they can survive."

Laurana smiled. "Well, that's not much different than our men," she said with a giggle. Danie smiled too.

"No," Ayla said. "Clan men are almost completely incapable of cooking. They would starve without having their woman to cook for them."

Danie frowned. "From what I've heard," she said, as she turned to look at Grov. "Clan men not very nice to their women. Why do women put up with it if they are indispensable?" Danie was afraid she was asking a rude question and didn't want the man to be angry with her, but she really didn't understand. Grov recognized her confusion and waited to see what Ayla would say.

Ayla thought for a moment. "Well first, I would not say that Clan men are not nice to their women; they just do things differently than Others men do. And Clan women accept their life the way it is. It is all they have ever known. It is the Clan way. Secondly, just as the Clan men could not survive without the Clan women, the Clan women could not live without the men either. Clan woman are incapable of hunting; they would never even think of trying. That is also the Clan way. So, without the men, they too would die. So you see, both are indispensable. Neither can survive without the other."

Laurana frowned. "But you hunt Ayla. What did they think of your hunting?"

Ayla smiled, and looked at her mate. "I was not allowed to hunt for many years," she said, turning back to the two women. "They did not understand why I even thought about picking up a sling, but I do not have their memories. For me, it was completely natural to pick up a sling and attempt to use it. The first time I was caught hunting, I was saving the life of the leader's mate's son's mate's son, but it did not matter; I was punished with a death curse for one cycle of the moon. No one thought I'd return, but I did, and our leader allowed me to hunt with only a sling, since that was the weapon I had used to save the boy. For many years that is all I hunted with, but then a day came when I came face to face with a charging bison. I was running from it, and trying to keep a little girl from being trampled, and I did not even think, I just picked up a spear and killed it."

Danie's eyes were wide. "What did your leader do to you then." Laurana was looking at Ayla and nodding with an expression that repeated what Danie had said, but it was Grov that answered the women.

"Ayla was pregnant at the time and Brun did not want curse her in that condition. He also knew that cursing Ayla would upset the spirits and he did not want to do that either. Besides, she had just saved another life and he wanted to discuss the matter with our Mog-ur before he made a decision."

Ayla watched her mate talk to these women and noted how comfortable he was with discussing things with women other than herself; no other Clan man would have been able to do this, she thought. She smiled, happy that he was not as nervous as he had seemed the day before. "Our leader is a very fair leader. I did expect to be punished and I was; my hunting privileges were completely taken away for a long time, but now I have them back and I am now allowed to hunt with my sling and a spear. And the leader has given me a knife, which the women are not allowed to use, unless using it for cutting food." Ayla smiled. It was obvious that she was proud of her accomplishments and, by the look in Grov's eyes, so was he. Ayla was just about to continue speaking, but she stopped. "I need to go get the girls before they wake Durc," she said, and stood up, then left. Grov watched his mate go, then poured himself some more tea.

Laurana watched the man with a confused look. "So, if Clan men cannot cook, then how can you make yourself some tea?"

Grov smiled. "Well, I am not really making the tea; Ayla made it earlier. I am just pouring it, but most Clan men can make themselves a cup of tea. They just don't usually do it, since the women always do it for them," he said. "But, you must remember that I am not full Clan; I am not even half Clan, so I am not as incapable of changing my ways or as rigid about what is woman's work. I am actually capable of cooking some things, but I am perfectly happy to let Ayla cook; she is so good at it and doesn't seem to mind that I do not help her."

"What do you mean, 'I don't seem to mind that you do not help me,'" Ayla said, as she returned with a daughter under each arm. "You help plenty," she smiled down at her mate and handed him Ora. "I have never been so happy as I am right now with you."

Grov grinned up at her and accepted the child that put arms around his bare chest. "Grov, I want something to eat," the child said.

"In a moment Ora," Ayla said. "Let me nurse Annaliza first, then I will make you something to eat."

Danie popped up. "I will get her something to eat, Ayla, you nurse your baby."

"I will help you, Danie. Everyone will be up soon anyway, we might as well get things started," Laurana got up to help the woman, as Ayla settled in to feed her baby.

~oxoxo~

Jenadoza heard her son becoming restless and rolled over to look over at him. Then she glanced at Donzolnia and smiled, remembering that he had consumed a lot of bouza the night before. He would sleep late, she was sure.

She carefully scooted off of their bed platform, dressed quickly, then scooped up her son and left the hearth. Ivanolia's curtain was closed, but it was moving, as if someone had just gone through it, so she scratched on it and waited.

"Come in," called in a quiet voice from the other side.

Jenadoza pushed the curtain aside and stepped in. Ivanolia looked terrible. "Didn't you sleep?" she asked, knowing full well that he had not. He too had consumed a lot of bouza, but he had been drowning his sorrows over Danie leaving the hearth and not celebrating like everyone else.

Ivanolia looked up at his sister and shook his head, then smiled at her. "Even if Danie had been here, I would not have slept; it is not good having a hearth in between my two little sisters."

Jenadoza laughed. "Well, we are not so little anymore, are we?" she said, sitting down. The woman opened her tunic, put her son to her breast and looked around the hearth. "I see that you have been up awhile, huh?"

Ivanolia looked around, then down at his wet boots. "Yeah, I was outside thinking."

"And spying?" Jenadoza said with a smile.

Ivanolia looked at her innocently, then laughed. "I can't fool you, can I?"

Jenadoza smiled again at her brother. "So, where's Braydalana?"

"Either at mother's or with Crisana. I'm not sure," the man said. "I'm hoping that she's with mother."

Jenadoza frowned, knowing that Ivanolia's 'hope' was due to the fact that Crisana was Ayla's sister. "Ivan, what is wrong with you? Why can't you just admit that you are wrong? Wrong about Ayla...wrong about the Clan...just wrong." Jenadoza could see the man stiffen up immediately and she shook her head. He is not ready to admit anything, she realized. She readjusted her son, then stood up. "Well, I hope you will change your mind soon; before you lose Danie. You know those Mamutoi people say and do what they are thinking and I wouldn't be surprised if she doesn't budge on this. After all, she is related to a camp that accepts the Clan as people," she said and, with that, she left her brother's hearth.

Jenadoza glanced in Brulenzia's hearth before she left, but seeing that Laurana was not there—and that Brulenzia was still asleep—she left for the Cooking Hearth.

~oxoxo~

Danie was just handing Ora a plate of food when Jenadoza arrived, so the woman slipped in and sat down on Grov's right. Ayla was sitting on his other side and was still nursing Annaliza, but the child was essentially finished. When Annaliza saw Jenadoza sit down with the baby, she immediately pulled away, stood up, then toddled over to the woman and baby.

"Baby, Mamma, baby," she gestured to her mother.

Ayla smiled. "Yes Annaliza, he's a new baby," Ayla gestured back and spoke out loud.

Annaliza smiled and said out loud, "New baby?"

"Yes Annaliza, new baby is right. Teglodia is a new baby; he was born not too long ago," Ayla said.

Annaliza was silent for a moment and stared at Teglodia, then looked back at her mother and gestured, "I not a baby anymore, Mamma." Ayla smiled. "Me big girl now. Like Ora."

Ora shoveled a bite into her mouth and gestured at the same time, "I am much bigger than you Anna. I am three now," she said holding up three fingers and looking to Grov for confirmation. He nodded. "You're just one."

Laurana sat down, shaking her head. "It is amazing how much can be said with hands alone. I would never have guessed."

"You are right, Laurana," Jenadoza agreed. "You should see how much Braydalana learned while we were with the Clan and how unbelievably quiet the Clan's cave is since they do not talk as much as we do. And how much younger their children are when they walk and talk...and do everything else. Even though there isn't much Clan in Annaliza and we can't see it at all, it is obvious that she's part Clan just by how well she walks and talks."

"You know Ayla," Danie said from across the Cooking Hearth, "You should teach Rydag to speak like Clan. He not able to talk. Maybe people think more of him if he could. Maybe they think more of Clan if they see him talk like Clan."

Ayla smiled, but Grov spoke up. "He probably has the Clan memories and would only need to be reminded of the signs. Most likely it would be easy for him." Grov looked at his mate. "Maybe we should go visit the Mamutoi so we can meet the boy."

"Yes, that sounds like a good idea," Ayla said with a smile. "When does everyone leave for the summer meeting?" Ayla asked Danie.

"I not know actually. This is my first year here," she said.

"We have to wait for the spring rains to come and go first. The way would be very muddy if left too soon," Jenadoza filled in. "It's already muddy from the snow melt, but not too bad yet since it's still cold."

Laurana frowned. "So you're going to the Mamutoi summer meeting instead of the Sungaea summer meeting? I was hoping you would be there when my baby is born. Jenadoza tells us that you are a healer."

"I don't know Laurana...I do want to be there when your baby is born. Maybe we could go see the Mamutoi before the rains come, so that we can go to the Sungaea summer meeting too. That way we get to meet the Mamutoi and help Rydag and visit with the Sungaea too. What do you think of that?"

"Well, I think it's a brilliant idea!" boomed a voice in the opening to the Cooking Hearth.

"Vincenzia," Ayla said, when she turned around and saw him standing there. She got up and went to him. "Do you really think we could do that?"

The man brushed her cheek with his and smiled down at her. "Yes daughter, I do. That way we can see everyone. I have not been to a Sungaea summer meeting since the summer before last and I don't want to miss this summer. But, at the same time, I do not want to miss seeing the Mamutoi either." He smiled broadly, then turned around to see Darvie coming up the passageway. "Darvie! Ayla has just come up with a wonderful idea...she wants to travel to meet Lion Camp and Rydag before the rains come, so that we can still see them even though it's the year we're supposed to summer with the Sungaea. What do you think?"

The dark haired woman grinned. "That would be fantastic. That's a wonderful suggestion, Ayla," she said and hugged the young woman. "I'm not sure what my mother will think. She doesn't like the cold, much less traveling in it, but the idea is a very good one indeed."

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER –

"So let me get this straight," Tagnolia said. "You want to leave now, before the rains come, to visit with Lion Camp, then come to the Sungaea summer meeting later?"

Vincenzia nodded. "Well yes, leave here in the next couple of days. That way Ayla can teach Rydag to speak in the Clan way...and Travie, Darvie, and Danie can see their kin. And so we can attend the Sungaean summer meeting too. Don't you think it is a perfect solution?" he said looking at his brother.

Vilognia was frowning. "I guess so. It's just that we haven't gotten to know Ayla and her family yet. I'm sure Jenadoza and Laurana don't want their cousin to leave already."

"Oh Vilo," Serana cut in, "they'll be back. Vincenzia already said they'd come to the Sungaea meeting."

Zarina was looking nervous; her son's promised would be having a baby soon. "But when will they be back? Laurana will deliver soon, and we don't have another healer."

"I am not really a healer anyway, Zarina," Travie said. "I can deliver babies, but I am not really a healer. You know that."

"But Ayla is. She should be here for Laurana," Zarina said.

Ayla watched the people and wondered what the fuss was all about. Laurana still had over two mooncycles before she would have her baby and they wouldn't be gone that long, would they? "I know from experience that Brulenzia can deliver a baby too. Why couldn't he do it if we are not back when the baby comes?" Ayla asked.

Brulenzia's head snapped up, but he didn't have time to say anything, because Fraylora was speaking. "Ayla, men don't usually attend the birth of their own mate's child. If something goes wrong, he shouldn't be there; it's too painful," she said looking at Ivanolia, who was sitting off a ways, not joining the conversation.

Ayla nodded. She had heard the story of Braydalana's mother and knew that Ivanolia had suffered much pain. She also knew that it had helped Jenadoza to have her mate there and that Brulenzia could do the same for Laurana. "Well then, maybe Laurana could come with us then, so she will be with us no matter what."

"NO!" Ivanolia said, suddenly on his feet. It was almost a shout. "I will not have you delivering my sister's baby, no matter where she gives birth and it won't be at Lion Camp with that flathead child."

For a moment there was silence, then everyone started shouting at once. Ayla's eyes widened at the level of noise that was being generated by these people and picked up her two daughters and stepped slightly behind Grov. Grov looked angry, but also shocked by the noise and picked up Durc.

Laurana stood very near to Grov and Ayla and was staring at the people that were discussing her situation as if she weren't even there and didn't have a choice in the matter. She looked at Brulenzia, who had been sitting with Ivanolia before the man jumped up; he too seemed confused. He wasn't saying anything either, but when he noticed her look, he came over to her and hugged her. "What do you want to do, Laurana? I will do whatever you want to do," he said to her.

"I don't...don't know. I...I..." she said in gasps.

Ayla suddenly realized that Laurana was having a hard time breathing and turned to Grov. "Grov, help Laurana," she said, setting the girls down and going to the hyperventilating woman. Grov set Durc down, gesturing to the boy to stay with his sisters and caught Laurana just as she fainted.

Everyone else was so busy arguing that they didn't even notice Laurana go down. Ayla looked around at the people, then at Brulenzia. "We need to make her comfortable. Do you mind if we take her to the visitor's hearth?" Brulenzia shook his head and Grov picked up the unconscious woman that had fallen into his arms, while Ayla and Brulenzia brought the children.

~oxoxo~

Inside the visitor's hearth Grov laid Laurana down on their bed platform and Ayla got a piece of leather wet to wipe down the woman's face. Laurana woke immediately at Ayla touch and saw the three concerned faces looking down at her. "Laurana, are you okay?" Brulenzia asked.

"Yes, I am fine. Everyone yelling just made me feel light headed, but...I am fine." She tried to sit up, but felt a little queasy still. Grov helped her and Ayla handed her a cup of tea.

"This tea should help Laurana," Ayla said. "And, I am sorry to have caused such a problem. I did not mean to upset Ivanolia. I just want to be able to help Rydag, but I want to be here for you too, if you want me to be. It seems that Ivanolia doesn't want us here."

Laurana smiled. "I have plenty of time before I give birth, I don't see how you going to visit Lion Camp as a problem. We will probably be at the summer meeting when I give birth anyway, even though I'd rather give birth here, so I don't see how you going there early will affect me. I am sorry about Ivanolia. He has always been very stubborn, but I didn't expect him to be down right mean." Laurana looked at Grov and started to cry. "I am so sorry Grov," she said, with tears coming down her cheeks. "I am...so embarrassed."

"Laurana, it is not your fault that he does not like us. Do not be concerned...or embarrassed. His issues are not yours and we do not blame you," Grov replied. He was still angry with the prejudiced man, but Laurana's tears were enough to persuade him to calm down. She looked so much like Ayla that he could not help but feel like he wanted to make her happy.

When she was sure Grov was not angry, she looked at Brulenzia, who was holding her hand firmly. "So, do you want to go with Ayla to visit the Mamutoi, or stay here and wait for her to return?" Brulenzia asked.

"I'm not sure. I don't like the idea of not having a healer here...just in case," Laurana whined. "Maybe we should go. Would you mind too much if we go?"

Brulenzia shook his head. "I will go wherever go want to go Laurana; even if we have to fight Ivan to get there," he said with a smile. She smiled back.

~oxoxo~

Outside the visitor's hearth, the noise level was growing and nothing was being solved. Danie had marched over to her mate and was yelling at him in his face, but the man understood none of it, because everyone was yelling and because she was speaking Mamutoi. This was the first time she had tried to talk to him since she packed up her belongings and moved out, so he wanted to hear her. It was just too loud. Then, he realized that everyone had stopped yelling and he could only hear Danie, but he still couldn't understand her. When she took a breath, he cut in. "Danie, you have to speak Sungaea; I don't know what you are saying."

Danie took her breath, then she took another, then she looked up at him and calmly said, "I am going to Lion Camp with Ayla. You not have to come if not want to, but you better think hard. Lion Camp and Rydag are my family. Ayla and Durc are your family. Not matter what type of people they are; only important that they are family."

"No, you are not going! You are my mate," Ivanolia said stubbornly.

"Yes, Ivan, I am going," she countered, standing there, hands on hips. "And you can't stop me."

"Well, I'm not going," he replied, crossing his arms over his chest, and turning slightly away from her.

"Did you lose your hearing, I said you not have to come if you not want to, but I am going," she said defiantly up into his face. He stood there for a moment, then stalked away. Everyone watched him go, then they started looking around, wondering where Ayla and her family were—and Brulenzia and Laurana for that matter.

~oxoxo~

After watching her son's hasty retreat, Serana looked around for her daughter with a worried expression. Jenadoza came up to her mother and smiled. "I will find them mother," she said, handing Teglodia to his grandmother. It was not really like her mother to worry, so Jenadoza knew her mother was really upset.

Jenadoza hadn't seen Laurana faint, but she had seen Ayla and Grov standing off to the side looking worried and she knew her sister had been with them, so she went to the visitor's hearth and scratched on the curtain.

"Ayla? Grov?" she called out and was let in by Durc. The boy looked confused, Jenadoza thought. I would be too if my family treated me this way. Jenadoza smiled down at him, which elicited a smile in return. Durc knew that Jenadoza was a friend, as well as family.

Then, seeing Laurana still lying down, Jenadoza rushed to her side. "What happened?" she asked, looking at Ayla.

"Laurana fainted, but she is okay. She might have stood up too fast, but it could have been the excitement," Ayla said. "I have given her a calming tea. She will be all right."

Jenadoza smiled at her cousin, "Thank you Ayla. I remember how well your calming tea works and I am so sorry about Ivan," she said, with a look that was pleading for understanding. "I didn't know he would cause so much trouble, but I'm afraid he won't be the worst of it. The beliefs he holds are ingrained deeply into our people. This new knowledge will be very difficult for many to accept; much more difficult than I thought it would be."

Ayla nodded. "I think I understand. I did not know it would be this hard with family. I'm sure it will be harder with those that are not family, but as I told Laurana and Danie, I can be patient." Ayla looked at Grov. "If you can, Grov." He smiled and nodded.

Jenadoza nodded as well, then looked back at her sister. "Mother is worried about you...and Ivanolia too, I'm sure. Let's get you back out there, so she can see that at least one of you will be all right." Brulenzia helped the pregnant woman up and they all left the hearth.

~oxoxo~

Ivanolia had stalked through the long passageway, intent on going to his hearth, but changed his mind and went toward the back entrance of the earthlodge. In the back entry, he pulled on his parka and stormed out.

What is wrong with them? All of them, he thought. Not one of them seemed to share his feelings. These were the people that had instilled in him the beliefs he held and they weren't backing him up. Not even Brulenzia...and Laurana was his promised. Didn't the man care if his mate gave birth to an abomination? I do, Ivanolia thought. I don't want my sister giving birth to a flathead. What is wrong with these people? What is wrong with Laurana? Doesn't she care?

And Danie, his own mate, was actually going to leave him to go visit the Mamutoi with Ayla and her abomination family, to help teach that mixed up perversion that that crazy Mamutoi woman took in. He couldn't believe it.

Ivanolia hadn't gone very far when he realized he had forgotten his gloves. It was spring, but it was still very cold out and the wind was biting. He shoved his hands up under his parka and shivered. The man stood looking out over the frozen river, which they called Oak River and tried to sort out his feelings.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER –

As the day wore on and Ivanolia didn't return, Danie began to question her harshness with him. She still believed he was wrong and she had no intention of backing down, but she didn't like that he was now somewhere outside in the blowing wind—and without his gloves she had noticed.

Darvie was angry with Ivanolia too, but she also felt bad for her sister and tried to reassure her that Ivanolia would be fine. "He will come back when he's ready Danie. He knows not to stay out too long."

"But he left his hand coverings here," Danie whined in Mamutoi, as she held up the man's gloves. "Maybe I shouldn't have yelled at him."

Darvie sighed. "Danie, Ivanolia is wrong and he's acting like a child. Don't you dare back down."

"I know, Darvie, and I will not back down, but that doesn't make it any easier; I'm scared for him." She didn't mention that she was scared for herself as well; she still loved the man, even if he was being narrow-minded. "What if he's out there somewhere hurt?"

"What if we ask Donzolnia to go look him," Darvie suggested. "There's no one closer to Ivanolia than Donzolnia. I'm sure he'd go if we asked him to." Danie nodded and followed her sister from the back entrance toward the Cooking Hearth.

~oxoxo~

In the Cooking Hearth, the people were discussing the trip to the Mamutoi again, and this time it was Serana that was objecting to Laurana's plan to go with them. "But Ayla says she will be back before the baby comes, Laurana. There's no need for you to go with them."

"But mother, what if they don't return by the time my baby is born for one reason or another? Or, what if my baby comes early? That is possible too. With Travie and Ayla gone, I will have no one to help me. I really think it is best. Besides, I would love to meet the Mamutoi."

Serana frowned, but could not think of anything to say, so she dropped her objection. Technically her daughter still lived in her hearth, which made the young woman still under the control of her mother, but Laurana was now a woman, pregnant, promised, and essentially living with Brulenzia. Forcing her to stay would only cause a rift to form between them and Serana did not want that.

Vincenzia looked from mother to daughter, then back to mother, smiling because he knew the objection had been withdrawn. "Okay, with that settled, when shall we leave?" Vincenzia asked.

"Well, how long will it take to get there?" Grov asked, with a concerned tone.

"Hmm. Well that depends on the way we go. I would suggest that we head west this time, then turn north after we cross the Big River, and travel over some of the higher lands; that will keep us away from much of the mud, if it's already getting muddy. It should only take us about nine days to get there if we go that way. I think that would be the easiest way to go," Vincenzia finished.

Grov thought for a moment. "And the rains, when will they start?"

"That could be anytime now. It's already spring, so they should be here any day; not to mention the snow melt, but it will be colder up on the highlands. You could still get some snow, but not likely very much," Tagnolia answered.

"Then we should leave as soon as possible," Ayla suggested. "I do not want to endanger Laurana or any of the children if it can be helped. What do you think Gredenzia?" Ayla said, turning toward Oak Camp's Shogur, thinking that he must know about such things.

"Yes Ayla, I think that you are right. I would suggest that you leave tomorrow if possible," he said. "I know you haven't been here long and we haven't had much time to get to know you yet, but it would be best if you could get there before the rivers swell too much."

"Okay then, it's settled, we leave tomorrow," Vincenzia replied happily. "Where's Darvie? I want to tell her when we're leaving."

"I'm right here and it all sounds good, but I'm hoping someone can go look for Ivanolia. He's been outside too long and he forgot his hand coverings," Darvie said as she entered the Cooking Hearth, then she looked at Donzolnia. "Donzolnia, would you mind going out to look for him?"

"No, not at all. Brulenzia and Tinozia can come with me," he said with a smile. The other two men nodded and the three of them headed out of the Cooking Hearth to get their warm clothing, then left to go find their sullen friend.

~oxoxo~

The three men searched for some time before they finally found Ivanolia and it was close to dusk when they did. He had dug himself a niche in a snow bank facing Oak River, and was just sitting there shivering. Donzolnia saw him first and threw him his gloves. "What in Sumata's name are you trying to do? Kill yourself! Danie's worried sick, which is exactly what you're going to be if you don't get back to the lodge soon. And with no healer to heal you! And no, just in case you're wondering, Danie hasn't changed her mind about going to the Mamutoi, and neither has Laurana."

Ivanolia threw Donzolnia a dirty look, then looked away. Donzolnia didn't miss the look or Ivanolia's attempt to hide that fact that he was freezing. "What in the Mother's frozen world are you thinking? At least come back and sit by your own fire." Brulenzia and Tinozia came up behind Donzolnia and Ivanolia glared at them too.

"How can you let my sister go off with...with those flatheads, to visit other people with a flathead?" he asked Brulenzia.

Brulenzia sighed. "First of all, Ayla is your cousin and you should show more respect for her family. They are good people. Yes, Ivan, people! And second, no one lets Laurana do anything. You know as well as I do that I can't stop her from doing anything she wants to do. She wants to go and we'll have no healer here after Travie and Ayla leave, so it's probably for the best anyway."

"Healer, humpf! We have no healer here anyway," Ivanolia interrupted.

"Now wait a minute," Donzolnia interrupted. "I have seen Ayla help many sick and injured people. She is among the best healers I have every seen and she learned it all from the Clan. Those Clan medicine women are very skilled. And, she has delivered many babies, including Jenadoza's son. I am not worried about Laurana or her baby and neither it seems is Bru. Why are you so adamant?"

"Because they're FLATHEADS!" Ivanolia yelled into the wind. "They are going to draw a flathead spirit into my sister and I couldn't stand that!"

"This is ridiculous, Ivan! Ayla has only one Clan son, and he was birthed when there were no people like us there. Then, when Grov was there, she gave birth to a normal looking baby. And Evanora's daughter is normal too," Brulenzia screamed. "There is no reason to think Laurana's baby will be mixed." Brulenzia paused, as if thinking deeply, then went on. "And so what if the baby is mixed," he said. "If I can handle it, then why can't you? I love Laurana, no matter what kind of child she gives birth to."

"And besides," Donzolnia yelled to be heard above the wind, "Jenadoza says that Ayla believes babies are made when a man puts his manhood inside a woman. If that is true, then there is nothing to worry about; Laurana hasn't shared pleasures with anyone but Brulenzia."

Tinozia hadn't said anything and he hadn't heard about Ayla's beliefs, but he was really interested in talking to the young woman. This was very interesting. This would change everything if it were true, he thought.

The men finally got Ivanolia to go back to the lodge, but he went straight to his hearth and shut the curtain. Brulenzia informed him that they were leaving in the morning, but Ivanolia didn't even acknowledge the information. Brulenzia left to help Laurana pack up.

~oxoxo~

"Well, any luck with Ivan," Laurana whispered when Brulenzia entered the hearth. He shook his head and she frowned. Then she turned her attention back to packing. "Okay, this is what I want to take," she said, indicating the huge pile on the bed platform.

"Laurana, we can't take all of that," he said, looking at the heap and shaking his head.

"Sure we can. Did you see how much stuff Grov and Ayla brought with them?"

"Yes, but they only traveled for three days," he said. "This journey is going to take at least nine days and we will probably have four flowing rivers to cross; cold ones. We have to bring less."

Laurana frowned and began sorting through her belongings, while Brulenzia chose what he would bring. When they finished, they carried everything to the Cooking Hearth to have it ready for the morning and set it by everyone else's traveling gear.

~oxoxo~

As they were eating their evening meal, Ayla was looking at the enormous stack of things to go with them and wondered how large Lion Camp's lodge was. "Vincenzia, will Lion Camp have room for this many people? There are...thirteen of us," Ayla said, counting the people by pressing her fingers to her leg. Could Oak Camp fit thirteen more people in here if people came to visit? They don't even know that we are coming." It was obvious that she was worried.

"I was wondering the same thing," Grov said. "The Clan almost never visits other Clans, except every seven years for Clan gatherings and they wouldn't be too happy if thirteen people showed up on a non-gathering year."

"You are right, there are a lot of us," Vincenzia said. "But, they are Travie's kin; her cousins I think. Talut loves visitors though; I think they will make room and it may not be so hard; last summer they had a few people leave their lodge."

"Not to worry Ayla," Darvie replied. "Talut will be thrilled to have us."

~oxoxo~

As the eating continued, Tinozia came over to sit with Ayla; he wanted to talk to her about her beliefs on the beginnings of life in a woman's body. Grov got up to get himself some more food and since his mate was busy with the other man, he sat down with Donzolnia and Brulenzia, leaving Ayla alone with Tinozia.

Donzolnia and Brulenzia welcomed the man and talked about the upcoming trip. Donzolnia was happy that he would be staying behind this time, since he had just recently traveled to the peninsula, and Brulenzia was happy that he would be getting out. All three men occasionally glanced over at Tinozia and Ayla, who were deep in conversation and each thought the woman was remarkable. "You have a beautiful mate, Grov," Brulenzia said, while they all stared across the hearth at her.

Grov smiled. "I know, but...what are you talking about, my mate looks nearly identical to Laurana. And Jenadoza, for that matter. There are some differences, but not many." All three were silent for a moment as they checked out the three women. "She looks almost the same as I remember Evanora to look too," Grov said.

Brulenzia blanched, but only mildly. That pain still wasn't gone, but it was receding. "Really? I imagine Evanora's hair to be a little darker than Ayla's."

"Yes, it was, but not by much and I would say her height was exactly the same as Ayla's," Grov confirmed.

Brulenzia continued to stare. "It's hard knowing that she's gone."

Grov sighed, he too missed the woman, but he loved Ayla like he had never loved Evanora. He was so glad that Brun had given Ayla to him. "The first time I saw Ayla, I thought I was looking at a spirit. I could not believe when Brun gave her to me. I had heard talk about how defiant she was, but I have never had trouble with her."

Donzolnia and Brulenzia smiled. "If we spoke about our women like that, they'd sever the knot immediately," Donzolnia said. "I'm surprised Ayla could live the way the Clan does."

"It was very hard for her. The leader's mate's son treated her very badly for many years and no one did anything to stop him from hurting her. That is the Clan way and they did not understand why she resisted him, just as you cannot understand why Clan women put up with it," Grov said. "I'm sure you can tell that Ayla's son is of his spirit."

"Yes, I could see that while I was there," Brulenzia said. "But...was it Broud?" Grov nodded. "Broud was not so bad when we were there. Not bad toward her anyway."

"Broud went through a lot too. A few years ago, Brun passed leadership down to Broud and Broud used his status as leader to hurt Ayla. He tried to make her leave, but she refused. He hurt people, including his mate and Ayla had to keep stepping in to assist. Finally, Brun took leadership back and lowered Broud's status to the bottom. That was just before he gave Ayla to me. Broud has changed significantly since then."

"That's another thing," Donzolnia said. "Our women would never allow someone to give them to someone. Women like to choose."

"Ayla didn't know any better. That is also the Clan way. Besides, I know she liked me." Grov looked at the two men earnestly. "I have been good to her. I let her hunt when other men would not have allowed it, even when she was pregnant, and I've never cuffed her for arguing with me or for any other reason. That would have been a huge problem if she had been given to another man."

Brulenzia smiled. "We can tell that you are good to her Grov. You don't have to try to convince us. And it's clear that Ayla loves you."

"So, if Broud is no longer suitable to be leader, who will Brun give leadership over to next? His mate doesn't have any other sons, does she?" Donzolnia asked.

"No," Grov said. "She doesn't have any other sons. Actually, he's turning the Clan over to me, so that I can train Durc to take over someday. Brun wants to keep his line of leadership unbroken and, since Durc is of Broud's spirit and Broud is of Brun's spirit, he figures that Durc is the right choice."

"That means that you and Ayla cannot stay here then, doesn't it?" Brulenzia asked, knowing that Laurana would be disappointed.

Grov frowned. "I was not expecting such a good reception here," the man said. "Well, except for Ivanolia." He chuckled. "I might not have accepted leadership had I known, but now I have to keep to my promise." He paused. "Ayla could travel back and forth for visits though; our cave really isn't that far away. It would be really hard. I would miss the girls and she would miss her son, but I guess that's what happens when children grow up and move to other caves or lodges, isn't it?"

The other two men nodded. "I suppose so," Donzolnia said.

The three men talked to a short time longer, then they decided to go sit with their women. Not long after that, the older women of the camp decided that they would make a big goodbye morning meal, so everyone turned in early to get a good night's sleep.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – "Journey to Lion Camp - Day One" (er...guess I started naming again...sheesh!)

Morning dawned early and the lodge was buzzing with activity. The women wanted the travelers to start off their journey with a good hot meal, so food was cooking away and the delicious scents were wafting through the earthlodge causing those that were not up, to get up quickly. Even Ivanolia could not resist; throwing on his leggings and a light tunic, he exited his hearth to find sustenance.

In the Cooking Hearth, Vincenzia, Brulenzia and Grov were discussing the load, and what should be carried by whom, which was very interesting to Grov, since these men had no qualms about carrying a load. It made perfect sense to him that the women shouldn't be so heavily laden, but he knew the Clan would find this too difficult to understand. Grov discovered that even the children would carry a load, but not so much, and that Laurana, being pregnant, wouldn't have to carry much either.

Danie, who was sitting with Darvie, Jenadoza, Laurana, and Ayla, was immediately aware when Ivanolia entered the hearth, but tried her best not to look at him. However, no matter how much she tried, she couldn't prevent the tears that fell unchecked down her cheeks.

Ivanolia walked into the hearth slowly and looked over at Danie, then went to get himself some food. Travie was stirring a big pot of something, which she ladled into a wooden bowl and handed to the man as he approached. He looked down at her and saw her look of frustration just as she was masking it. "Thank you Travie," he said, then went to go sit down to eat. Everyone was pretty much ignoring him; not because they were angry with him, but because they didn't know what to say to the man. The older adults felt somewhat guilty about the situation for they knew the man's feelings had only come about because of them, and their longstanding beliefs. He would not hold such beliefs if they had not been taught to him. Only now, looking back, did they see how wrong they had been.

Tinozia, Fürlasa, and Tabita had just joined the group of five women when Ivanolia looked up to see Danie crying. He suddenly longed to go hug her and kiss her and felt terrible about what he had done. But he couldn't just go talk to her now, could he? She was furious with him and he really did feel that it was wrong to have flatheads living among them.

When he finished what he was eating, he just sat there staring into his bowl until he realized the people were cleaning up and milling around their packs. They were leaving. Danie was really leaving. He couldn't stand it anymore. He had to leave the Cooking Hearth. Danie watched him go, then sighed heavily and turned to her pack.

"Do you want a map, brother?" Vincenzia asked. "Just in case anyone decides to come after us." Vincenzia had been watching Ivanolia and didn't miss the young man leave the area. Vilognia watched the son of his hearth leave, then quietly nodded, though he felt it unlikely. Serana squeezed her mate's hand, thinking that she would talk to her son.

~oxoxo~

Once outside, Ayla's hawk squawked; she had been wondering where he had been, and was glad he was still in the area. Grov and Ayla waited, wondering where they would fit into the camp's line up. They knew nothing about how status worked, as far as the Sungaea were concerned and neither wanted to make any assumptions or mistakes. Darvie and her mother were extremely excited and stood the furthest out in front, which confused the Clan family. Would women truly lead the way, Ayla wondered. Grov stood next to Ayla, holding Annaliza, waiting and watching some more.

Laurana had been struggling to get her back frame on and Brulenzia was telling her he'd carry it, but his woman was determined to carry her weight. When she finally got it on, she bounded up to Grov and Ayla. "Well, let's go," she said, looping her arm through Ayla's and tugging her forward. "I am so excited. I haven't been anywhere since last summer." Ayla grabbed Annaliza from her mate and allowed herself to be pulled along, only glancing around to see where Shriek had gotten off to. He was overhead.

Grov stood and watched his mate walk off with her cousin, then he sighed and readjusted his pack. Brulenzia stood watching him, then came up beside him. "Ready Grov?" he asked. Grov grunted assent, then he shook his head and smiled. "Yep, sure am," he said.

Vincenzia caught up with Darvie and her mother quickly and Danie brought up the rear. The children fell in somewhere in the middle. Crisana held Ora's hand and they looked back at a tearful Braydalana one last time, then turned to go, while Brenevia and Durc pretended they were on a manhood hunt and stalked the people in front of them.

~oxoxo~

For most of the day, the travelers walked quickly and happily. It seemed to Ayla that they never really went anywhere, except for away from the lodge. In no time at all, the lodge had disappeared, but nothing ahead seemed to get any closer. Vincenzia said it would take until the next day at dusk to reach the river, and Ayla figured it was the same river she and Grov had crossed on their way to Oak Camp, just a little more north.

After a while, Ayla noticed that Laurana was struggling with her pack, and offered to trade Annaliza for the pack. Laurana smiled at her cousin, then accepted the offer. "Thank you Ayla, I was really getting tired of carrying that."

Ayla smiled at the pregnant woman. "I'm not sure you got the best of the deal; your pack won't pull my hair like Annaliza does," Ayla said with a grin.

Annaliza stuck her lip out and glared at her mother. "I not pull your hair, Mamma," she gestured. Laurana didn't see the exchange, but Ayla leaned over and kissed her pouting daughter.

Durc and Brenevia went through bouts of running ahead, to falling far behind. Ayla watched carefully, but didn't mind; she was sure her son and her brother would not stray too far. Ayla had taken to calling Brenevia and Crisana her brother and sister, since she felt certain they were of Vincenzia's spirit and that she was too. It was not customary for children born of different mothers to consider themselves siblings, but in this case, there was really no doubt. They all looked nearly identical to the man of their hearth, except that the two younger children had their mother's brown hair and gray eyes.

Back a ways from the two youngest women were Brulenzia and Grov, who were working on a friendship with a healthy conversation about hunting. "So, Donzolnia tells me that he and Vincenzia gave your Clan some spears while they wintered with you. Have you been successful with them?" Brulenzia questioned.

"Actually, I'm not sure," Grov said. "We left before the spring hunt. I'm not sure the hunters will use them since we won't be there. Change is extremely hard for them."

"And not for you?" Brulenzia cocked his head and looked at the man beside him. They were close to the same height, but Brulenzia was a little taller.

"Well, I am not full Clan. I am really more Others than Clan, so no, change isn't as difficult for me."

Brulenzia watched the man walk, trying not to make it look like he was watching, and observed his companion carefully. He really didn't look Clan, the man thought. Maybe a little around the brows, sort of brow ridged, but then again not really. The man was tall, taller than any Clan man he had ever seen, and straight legged, and not very hairy. Ayla—and Evanora—had sure been lucky, he thought.

"So, I've heard so much about the Clan hunting with a sling. Donzolnia tells me it's a very difficult weapon to use. Do you have one with you?" Brulenzia asked.

"Yes, but Ayla is actually the best one in the Clan to use it. I do not think the build of the Clan men makes the weapon very easy to use, but Ayla is amazing."

Brulenzia looked up at the woman and smiled. He really loves her, he thought. The two men walked in silence for a time, both watching their women. Grov periodically glanced back at Danie, wondering why she stayed so far behind.

When the sun started to drop low in the sky, Vincenzia called for them to stop. Everyone dropped their packs and began setting up tents. Danie quickly ran up to her mother and assisted in putting up their tent. The older woman had kept up well, but she was tired and ready to end the day.

Ayla put out a hide, so that Laurana could put Annaliza down, then she went to put up her and Grov's tent. Grov watched her for a moment, then went to help her. It wasn't long before four tents were erected, there was a fire burning, and a meal was forthcoming. One down, eight to go, Ayla thought. Then, as she looked around for Shriek, he appeared; landing on the crest of their tent.

~oxoxo~

That night, the people sat by the fire. Vincenzia passed around a container of what appeared to be bouza, which they all sampled. "This is not the same as we drank last night, Vincenzia," Ayla said. "This makes me warm."

He smiled. "Yes, Tiflona thought we might need something to keep us warm," he said, handing it to Danie.

"No thank you," she said. "I'm...going to bed."

Travie watched her younger daughter go, then shrugged and followed her. "Come Brenev," she said to her grandson in Mamutoi. "Come sleep with Grandma tonight."

The boy frowned. "But I want to stay with Durc," he whined.

The woman looked at Ayla son, then shrugged. "Come on Durc, let's go to bed." Durc hardly even glanced at his mother, he just picked up his furs and followed the older woman. Ayla smiled at her son's back, proud that he obeyed properly; she felt like that was a reflection on her.

When Durc was gone, Ayla tucked Ora and Annaliza into their furs, then returned to the fire. Vincenzia and Darvie were just ushering Criana into their tent and waved goodnight. Brulenzia sipped more of Vincenzia's drink and handed the cup to Grov. Grov drank, then offered it to Ayla, but she shook her head, preferring tea. After her cup of tea, she told them she was turning in and they all did the same.

~oxoxo~

Ayla closed the tent flap behind her, and started undressing. She pulled her tunic over her head, and slipped her leggings off, then quickly slipped a larger, loose fitting tunic, that Jenadoza had given her, over her nakedness. It was long, but comfortable and she smiled.

When Grov entered the tent, she smiled. "What are you wearing?" he asked.

"It is a sleeping tunic," she replied. "Jenadoza gave it to me. It is very comfortable. Do you like it?"

He cocked his head, and smiled. "I like it, but I like you without it better."

Ayla smiled in the darkened tent, and giggled. "Well, I can take it off just as easily as I put it on," she said, reaching up to kiss her mate.

Grov grabbed her face in both his hands and kissed her back passionately, then smiled down at her. "Yes, I think you should take it off. This man does not think he can wait much longer." Ayla quickly undressed again, then lay down in their furs, waiting for him to undress as well.

~oxoxo~

Laurana smiled at Brulenzia. They could hear everything that was going on in the tent next to them. Just for an instant, Brulenzia frowned, then he shrugged it off. It was Ayla's choice, he said to himself, and she loved him. He was still testing the man out, feeling around for a friendship, seeing what kind of man he was. So far, he was impressed. As he thought about Grov and Ayla, Laurana was standing there in front of him, waving her hand in front of his face. "Where are you, silly? Can't you see that I am naked and waiting for you?" she teased. His attention immediately turned to her and he leaned over to kiss his promised.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – "Journey to Lion Camp - Day Two"

The day had been miserable for Ivanolia, who hadn't said goodbye to anyone and who didn't even go outside when the group left. He had stayed in his hearth until he was sure they were gone, then he went back to the same sitting platform in the Cooking Hearth and sat there sulking for the entire day.

Jenadoza had tried to bring him tea once, but he practically bit her head off, so she didn't attempt to do it again, and Donzolnia and Tinozia decided their friend would have to sit alone if he was going to bark at them for being concerned about him.

Serana wanted to go to her son and try to undo the damage their people's ignorance had done, but he didn't appear to be receptive in the least, so even she held back. She and Vilognia discussed the problem and decided they would talk to him as soon as he seemed a little more approachable, but who knew when that would be.

When night came and the man had not moved, Vilognia frowned at his mate's son, but shook his head and went to bed. Ivanolia never left the spot where he sat, but he finally lay down on the sitting platform and stared at the ceiling of the lodge. It was very late when he finally fell asleep—and his dreams were filled with Danie.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

Ayla woke up to her daughter pulling on her sleeping tunic, "Mamma, hungry," the little girl gestured. Ayla rubbed her eyes, and smiled, then pulled up her tunic so her daughter could nurse.

Ayla lay there with Annaliza in her arms for some time, but when she realized the girl had drifted back off to sleep, she carefully repositioned her, so she could get up.

~oxoxo~

Outside, Ayla encountered Travie, Darvie, Danie, and Laurana, who were all sitting quietly drinking tea. Darvie moved to get some for Ayla, but Ayla waved her off. "I'll get it Darvie. You should sit down and rest," Ayla said in a sort of off hand way. Darvie sat back down and eyed Ayla as she fixed a tea with ingredients that she never would have chosen. Ayla looked around for Shriek, but he was nowhere to be seen.

When Vincenzia appeared Darvie got up again, handed him some traveling food, poured him a cup of tea, then sat back down. "Hmm, you ladies are all up early. Are we ready to start packing up?"

"Well, packing, yes, but traveling, no. We still have some sleeping people," Travie replied. "When will those lazy men get up?" she said with a good-natured smile.

Laurana smiled and shrugged, causing Ayla to realize it was a joke. She thought about the Clan and knew they would never have understood such humor. It would have been a grave insult to say a man of the Clan was lazy, but among these people, it didn't seem to matter. She smiled with Laurana.

Vincenzia laughed at Ayla's expression and then laughed some more when the two sleeping men appeared, hair tousled. "I heard that, Travie," Brulenzia said. Grov did not comment, nor did he look angry, Ayla noted. He must be understanding these people too, she thought.

~oxoxo~

Travel that day went well—about the same as the day before. Just as they were discussing a halt, Vincenzia pointed ahead of them. "We are making good time," he said with a smile. "There is the river and it appears to still be frozen. That will make the crossing much easier."

Ayla looked at the river. "This is the same river we crossed downstream, right Grov?"

He nodded. "And the same one we followed on the bison hunt," he confirmed, knowing that that would be her next question.

"So our cave is that way," she said pointing southwest. He nodded again. "Vincenzia, are we stopping here tonight, or are we crossing first?"

"I think we should cross now, so we don't have that obstacle in the morning," he replied. "And, you never know, one more night could defrost the river just enough to make the crossing harder." He knew it wasn't likely, but he thought it would be better to be safe than sorry. The man started pulling out a long rope, which caught Grov and Ayla's interest.

"What is that for?" Grov asked.

Vincenzia looked at him strangely, forgetting for a moment that the man had not been with them long, then explained the purpose of the rope. "I am going to tie each of us together, so that just in case the ice isn't thick enough and someone breaks through, they will be tied to everyone else and won't be lost."

Grov nodded. "That is a good idea. I would not have thought of it," he said.

The crossing went without a hitch, and not long after, their camp was set up, and they were eating. They all turned in early, so that the next day could be started at first light.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

Ivanolia's day had not been much different than the previous one, except that he did go outside a few times. Jenadoza had tried again, but his mood had not changed, so she retreated once again. Maybe he'll be better tomorrow, she thought. She doubted it though. If Donzolnia had left her, for whatever reason, her sadness wouldn't go away in a day or so.

Jenadoza looked over at Braydalana and she frowned. The child was looking very sad as well. She would have loved to go with the travelers and meet new people. She was also missing Danie desperately. In the short time the woman had been with them, she had come to care for her like she would a mother. And then, there was Crisana and Ora. Braydalana missed her best friend and Ayla's daughter. She was also terribly jealous that she couldn't go with them. Periodically she looked over at Ivanolia and gave him a nasty look. This is all Ivanolia's fault, she thought.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – "Journey to Lion Camp – Day One...and Three!"

In the morning, on the third day after the journeyer's departure, Braydalana woke up missing her mother and friends—and scowled when she looked around Ivanolia's hearth to find him still gone, his furs untouched. She quickly dressed and went to the Cooking Hearth to find him.

"Ivanolia," she said shaking the man of her hearth gently. "Ivanolia," she said again, shaking him a little harder. He still did not respond. "Ivan!" she called louder.

"What!" he snarled.

Braydalana's eyes widened and she yanked her hand back. Then she looked at him closely and pulled herself up to her full height, which was quite tall for an eight year old, and tried to appear older than she was. "Ivan, this is ridiculous! Are you going to sit here until Danie and Laurana return?"

He looked at the daughter of his hearth, then looked away. He didn't want to jump down her throat; he just wanted to be left alone. "Bray, just go find something to do." She looked at him with a defeated expression, then turned and ran back to their hearth, tears in her eyes. Ivanolia watched her go, then sighed. He wasn't doing anything right, he thought.

~oxoxo~

Braydalana ran all the way back to the hearth, threw herself down on the bed platform, then sobbed uncontrollably. Finally, she felt a hand on her shoulder, so she looked up. It was her auntie Jenadoza. "What's the matter Bray?" her aunt asked.

"Oh Auntie, Ivanolia's being miserable. What is wrong with him?" she said tearfully.

"He just misses Danie. And he knows he's wrong about the Clan and he doesn't know how admit it. What did he say to you?" Jenadoza asked.

"He just told me to go away," she said between sobs. "I don't know why he won't let me help him."

"Well Bray, a man's mate is just different than the daughter of his hearth. You will understand that someday," Jenadoza said, trying to calm her niece. "I will go talk to him, okay?" Braydalana nodded, happy that someone was going to try to get through to him. Jenadoza patted the girl's arm, then left the hearth.

~oxoxo~

In the Cooking Hearth, Jenadoza found her brother in the place she had expected him to be, and she stood there staring at him for a moment. "Ivan, you need to snap out of this. Braydalana needs you." He grunted and turned away from her. Jenadoza looked at him slyly, then went over to the cooking area and poured water into a bowl, then turned back toward her brother. She knew he was going to be furious, but she decided drastic measures were necessary.

She watched his turned back, then stepped a little closer. She didn't want to be close enough for him to grab her; he would most certainly try to do that. She visually measured off his reach, then stepped back just a little more and smiled, hoping she would be able to get to her hearth, and Donzolnia, before Ivanolia got to her.

Holding the bowl steady, she quickly flicked her arms out and the water splattered all over Ivanolia's head, causing him to jump up off the sitting platform. "What in the Mother's name are you doing, Jena?" he yelled as he lurched for her, but he completely missed, as he tripped over the bowl that she had dropped onto the ground as she ran away, laughing. He chased, just as she had suspected.

As she ran down the passageway, she screamed, which woke up several people, including her mate. Donzolnia was coming out of his hearth just in time to see his mate flying around the corner, Ivanolia on her heels. She picked up her now awake baby and stood behind her mate.

Donzolnia was surprised to see her coming in so quickly and even more surprised that Ivanolia was chasing. When he looked at Ivanolia closely, he realized the man was soaking wet and guessed what Jenadoza had done to him. He smiled to himself, thinking that the man deserved it.

Ivanolia, however, wasn't in a laughing mood and scowled. "Sure, hide behind your son and mate. What in the spirits is wrong with you, Jenadoza?" he hollered.

"Well, we'd like to ask you the same thing. You're acting like a creep. We all know you miss Danie, but it's not our fault she left! It's yours!" Jenadoza yelled back.

"So, what do you think I should do about it Jena?" he roared. "She's GONE!"

Jenadoza shook her head. "What? Are you too dense to see she wanted you to go with her?"

"I have no interest in going to visit the Mamutoi. She could have stayed here," he retorted.

"Ivan, I'm surprised we come from the same mother. The Mamutoi are her people, of course she wants to visit them. If you didn't want to visit other peoples, then you should have mated someone from our camp, or at least a Sungaea woman. But that's not really the point, is it? That's not why you didn't go with her, is it? You didn't go because of Ayla and her family." Ivanolia frowned, knowing that that part was true. "You should have spent more time with the Clan, while we were there with them. I don't know how you can still feel the way you do, even after the time you did spend there. They are not animals. Get that through your mouse-sized brain."

Braydalana had peeked her head out of the curtain and was watching brother and sister argue, hoping Jenadoza was yelling loud enough to get through to him. By the look on his face, she thought that maybe, just maybe, Ivanolia was thinking again. Then Braydalana looked beyond the man and saw her grandmother approaching—which couldn't be good.

"What is this ruckus? You have woken up the entire lodge," Serana barkered at her two oldest children. They both flinched.

Well, they're all awake now, Donzolnia thought.

"Your daughter poured water on my head while I was sleeping," Ivanolia said to his mother, still glaring at Jenadoza accusingly.

"Your son is acting like a complete rhinoceros and I'm tired of it. And, he wasn't sleeping," Jenadoza countered, now standing face to face with Ivanolia, since her mother was standing there. Braydalana giggled, which made Ivanolia's face turn red.

"Okay, that's it Ivan!" Serana said sternly. "You need to come to Shogur's hearth, right now!" She took her grown son's shirtsleeve and pulled him down the passageway.

Jenadoza sighed and then winked at Braydalana.

~oxoxo~

"Okay son, we have to talk," Serana said, motioning for the man to sit down. Ivanolia looked around, and seeing all the adult members of their lodge, minus the young adults, he did as he was bid.

Tagnolia looked at the young man sternly. "As headman of this camp," Tagnolia started. "I want to apologize for the injustice that has been done to you and the rest of our young people. We will take responsibility for your hatred of the Clan and we need you to know that we have been wrong—and that we will no longer allow any such hatred within our camp."

Tiflona was nodding. "I have to agree with my brother," she said. "We were raised to consider them flatheads; animals, and we have passed that on to you. However, again, we were wrong, as is plainly obvious after speaking to Grov and Ayla."

"Son," Serana said, taking her son's hands, "Please forgive me for not knowing this sooner," she said. His mother had tears in her eyes and she was pleading with him. Serana was usually stronger than that, he thought. This must be very important to her.

Vilognia put his arm around Serana and smiled. "Ivanolia, Ayla is the daughter of my brother's hearth, and I want you to accept her and her family." Ivanolia looked at the man of his hearth and nodded. He still wasn't completely convinced, but he would definitely work on it.

"But now what do I do?" Ivanolia asked. "They have already left. Danie is already gone," he said sadly.

Fraylora stood up, left the hearth, but returned quickly. "You will follow them, Ivan. You and Braydalana will leave as soon as you can eat a morning meal. We already have you packed," she said with a smile, handing him his pack.

Ivanolia stood up slowly and took the pack from his first mate's mother, then he leaned over and hugged and kissed her on the cheek. "Thank you Fraylora."

~oxoxo~

After their morning meal Ivanolia and Braydalana gathered their belongings and prepared to leave. Braydalana was so happy she was bouncing around, and hugging her two age mates, Tena, who was a year younger, and her aunt Serlona, who was only a year older than herself. They were positively jealous that she was getting to go meet the Mamutoi, but happy that she wasn't crying anymore.

Ivanolia was standing with the men, discussing the map that Vincenzia had drawn, when Gredenzia commented. "Even though it has only been two days since they left, it will be at least another four before you will reach the Big River and it is warming. We don't know if Beech Camp will still be there. They tend to make trips to Beran Sea in spring. It would be best if you avoid Big River altogether," he said.

Tagnolia frowned. "But the map we have takes him right to the Big River."

"He's not going to be able to use this map," Gredenzia said. "I will make him a new one. You can follow this map until you have crossed Ice River. It should still be frozen, but Big River will not be by the time you reach it, so you cannot go that way."

Ivanolia nodded. "Okay, then what?"

"After crossing Ice River, you will turn north. Eventually you will come to Big River going that direction too. You need to find where it is joined by another small river, cross the small one; it should still be frozen too. Then, follow Big River north until you reach Pine Camp. Do you remember where Pine Camp is, Ivan? That is where my brother, Zackodia, lives.

"Yes, we summered there three years ago, right?" Ivanolia asked. Gredenzia nodded.

"When you get to Pine Camp, Big River turns northwest. There is another river that goes northeast; that is Trout River. You will need to cross Trout River to continue following Big River. Now, Big River will split in two very shortly," Gredenzia said drawing on a piece of leather. "And you will see a huge cliff. Pine Camp calls that cliff Hunting Cliff; follow the river north of Hunting Cliff until it turns north, then cross it. That river is the Sevius River. Then, keep walking in a northwest direction, cross another river; I can't seem to remember what it's called. Then, as soon as you pass some lowland hills, turn north again. If you walk through that valley, you cannot miss Lion Camp, and you should recognize the area from being there last summer."

Ivanolia was looking at the map carefully, thinking that he wished he would have left with the others, then he sighed and looked at Braydalana.

"It's possible that you could reach your final northward trek before the rest of the group gets there or at the same time, so keep your eyes open." Ivanolia wondered why the rest had gone the other way, if this way was faster, but he didn't ask.

Ivanolia turned to his mother and hugged her. "Spring can be dangerous son," she warned. "Be very careful." He nodded.

Fraylora was saying the same thing to Braydalana, adjusting the girl's pack. Braydalana rolled her eyes. "Grandma, we will do just fine," she replied. "And we will see you at the summer meeting, if not before...promise!"

With one final wave, father and daughter walked off, turning back to wave just as they were going out of sight.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

Day three went well for the travelers. They had risen earlier than the two previous days and had only fed the children. Vincenzia knew that they had to pass through the deep steppe grasses for the next two days and he wasn't too happy about it. Walking through such deep grass was disconcerting, and he wanted to get it over with. Vincenzia took the lead and instructed everyone to stay close. Travie suggested that the children stay in the middle, while the younger adults pulled up the rear. It was a good plan, Grov thought. The Clan could use a woman like her. But, he thought sadly, they would never accept that a woman could make a suggestion.

~oxoxo~

After a while of walking through the grasses, Ayla smiled. "These are the same grasses that we found Jenadoza and Braydalana in," Ayla commented to Laurana and Brulenzia, as they walked. "Maybe a little south of here, but still the same."

"Yes, I remember coming back, trying to find her," Brulenzia said. Tinozia is an amazing tracker. He found a rock that had blood on it. Ivanolia was nearly foaming at the mouth; he was so nervous. It took all we had to calm him down."

"Humph," Laurana retorted. "I wish someone could calm him down now."

"Don't worry about it Laurana," Grov said. "The Clan would be just as incapable of accepting the Others. In that way, he is very much like the Clan," Grov smiled at the thought of saying that to Ivanolia.

Laurana grinned. "Maybe we should tell him that," she said with a giggle. "He'd be furious."

Brulenzia laughed. "Not a good idea," he said through his laughter. "Hey Ayla, do you want me to carry Annaliza for a while?"

"Sure, my arms feel like they're going to fall off," she said gratefully. "Grov, maybe Ora could walk for a while; you look tired too." He nodded affirmatively and set the child on the ground. Ora immediately scampered ahead to Crisana and the boys. Crisana took the little girl's hand and smiled at her.

~oxoxo~

As it turned out, Vincenzia was trying to get them all the way to Big River that day. He said that they could stay the night with Tagnolia and Tiflona's brother and sister at Beech Camp if they pushed hard, so that is what they did. Brulenzia thought it was a great idea; he would like to see his aunt and uncle, and introduce them to Laurana. They probably already knew who she was, but they didn't know that they were promised or that she was blessed.

As darkness was falling, Vincenzia was calling out to get their attention, before getting too close. "Hallooooo," he called loudly, and they waited.

~oxoxo~

Ayla looked at the earthlodge carefully, noticing that it did not look like Oak Camp's earthlodge. There was a large lodge in the center, with several smaller ones arranged in a semi-circle around the larger one.

Only moments after Vincenzia called out, a woman appeared in the entrance of the larger lodge. She recognized Vincenzia right away. "Vincenzia," the woman cried out, and ran to him. "What a nice surprise. What are you doing here?" she said.

"We are taking Ayla to visit Lion Camp of the Mamutoi, so that she may look at Rydag. We are hoping that you can take us across Big River," he said. Brulenzia watched the woman closely.

"Rydag, but isn't that that flathead child that the headman's mate took in," she said with a grimace, not even looking around at the other people. "And who is Ayla?"

Ayla squared her shoulders and stood stiffly. "Ayla is the daughter of my hearth that was lost years ago, but she has returned," he said, avoiding the woman's first question. "She used to be called Andreyta, but she goes by Ayla now. She was only five when she disappeared, perhaps you do not remember her."

The woman then looked at the rest of the people, "Oh! I do remember her. That is wonderful, Vincenzia. And oh! Brulenzia, it is so good to see you too," she said, hugging the man. "How are my brother and sister?"

Brulenzia smiled. "They are both fine. Do you remember Laurana, Tarana?" he asked. "We are promised now."

She nodded and hugged Laurana tightly. "And blessed already, my dear? That will be wonderful for your mating. Congratulations."

Vincenzia was frowning, still thinking about her 'flathead' comment and grimace, then he decided to get it over with. "You may remember my mate, Darvie, and her children, but this is Darvie's mother, Travie, and Darvie's sister, Danie...and this is Annalisa's daughter, Ayla, and her family." Vincenzia finished up quickly and waited to see what Tarana would say. Now he wondered if they should have tried to go a different way. He had chosen this way, thinking there may be less prejudice, since Beech Camp was closely related to Oak Camp. Maybe this had been a bad idea, he thought.

Tarana looked at each person, smiling and hugging them, until she came to Durc, then she looked up at Vincenzia with a strange look. "I thought you said you were going to visit Rydag at Lion Camp?"

"This is not Rydag," Ayla said, not knowing that the woman had never met the boy they were going to visit, and that she was just assuming her son was the child. "This is my son, Durc." Ayla stood firm, with her hand on her son's shoulder. Grov stood next to her and they waited. "And this is my mate, Grov."

Tarana looked at the man and smiled. He was a very attractive man, but he looked very different. She wondered where he had come from—and then it struck her; the man was part flathead. He couldn't really have much of their blood in him, she considered; he was too attractive. She wondered if her people would even notice.

Then she turned and looked into the blue gray eyes of the woman and saw defiance—and what else, strength, perseverance, and more. She is strong, I'll give her that much, she thought. "Well, then...let's get in, out of this cold and dark. My brother has just started passing around his bouza and it turned out very good this time," she said, trying to coax the travelers in. Vincenzia looked at her appreciatively and Ayla mouthed a thank you as they all went inside.

~oxoxo~

"Tegassia," Tarana called, as they entered the lodge. "You'll never guess who's here to visit." Ayla wondered what his reaction would be and was a little nervous. She wished Vincenzia had warned her, though she felt she should have known, given her experience with Ivanolia.

Tegassia visibly blanched when they were introduced, but he masked it quickly and passed around his bouza. The evening was not a long one. They talked about their journey and why they were going—and Vincenzia told them a little about how Ayla had been found. The people of Beech Camp did not ask many questions, but they listened carefully, thinking that this summer meeting was going to very interesting.

After having a couple cups of bouza, or tea for those that didn't want bouza, the visitors were shown to an empty lodge, where they promptly dropped their packs, and made ready to sleep. Everyone was exhausted.

Ayla felt strange sleeping in the lodge; the people had not made her feel all that welcome. Then she looked at her mate and wondered how he felt; probably worse, she thought. After all, he was the one who was part Clan. After putting her children to bed, she climbed into her furs, wrapped her arms around her mate, and cuddled close. He did the same, and they fell asleep quickly.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – "Journey to Lion Camp – Day Four...and Two!"

It was early when Ayla opened her eyes, but she didn't know it. It was relatively dark in the lodge. She glanced around and could tell that many were sleeping; all in fact, except Vincenzia and Brulenzia. She sat up, then got up and dressed, then looked at her children before leaving to go pass her water.

The small lodge had only one entrance, so Ayla headed for it. It looked the same as the entrances to Oak Camp she noticed. As she stepped out, she squinted into the bright spring sunlight, and looked around. To her right, she could see the grasses swaying in the wind, straight ahead was the larger main lodge, and to her left were several other smaller lodges, which curved around the main lodge, and off in the distance was the river. She thought hard, trying to remember what river it was; Big River, she finally came up with and was pleased that she had remembered.

She could also see a couple women near the end of the camp area. They appeared to be taking up baskets and going to the river. She wondered what they were doing and wanted to go see, but she needed to pass water and didn't know where to go; there hadn't been any night baskets.

Just as she was about to go to the main lodge, hoping to find Vincenzia or Brulenzia, a woman came out of the lodge just next to hers. "Oh, you must be one of our visitors," the woman said. Then, seeing Ayla's look, trying to put a name to her face, she went on. "I was not in the main lodge last night, so you wouldn't remember me. I am Seriana. What is your name?"

Ayla smiled, glad to meet someone friendly, that would be able to help her. "My name is Ayla," she said with a smile.

"Oh," she said. "You are the one I heard about." The woman looked a little uncomfortable, but did her best to remain open.

"I was wondering," Ayla went on, ignoring the woman's slight discomfiture. "Where may I pass water?"

"Oh, I am going there myself," she said. "Come with me, I'll show you." Ayla nodded and followed the young woman. The woman had deep chestnut colored hair, and bright green eyes, and Ayla liked her immediately, despite the woman's initial comment and look. Seriana led her toward the river, then made a turn when they were almost there.

"This is where we go, since it's the only place that slopes down away from our camp, and most of the time it's down wind," she said with a grin. "I'm going to swim a bit after, do you want to join me?"

Ayla smiled at the nice woman. "I'd love to. Do you have a special place to swim? The river looks a big rough."

"Yes. On the other side of the camp, over there," she said pointing up river, "there's a small pool that has been separated from the river by a sandbar, and grooved into the beach. Actually, there are several areas like that here. That is why we chose the name Beech Camp. It's a tree, and a good name for a camp with many bathing beaches." Ayla nodded her agreement, then went through the grass to pass water.

When they had finished, they met at the top of the slope and walked to the pool. Both women quickly slipped off their clothing and stepped into the water. "Oh, it's warmer than I thought it would be. I expected it to be icy," Ayla said, looking at the rising steam.

"Yes, there is a hot spring over there," Seriana replied, pointing off to the side. "It flows underground over to here, then it goes underground again, and into the river. The river never freezes in the areas right by these warm pools. They really shouldn't be called hot springs though, since they're never hot. I have heard of places where they actually have hot springs."

"Hmm, this is nice," Ayla said with a large smile. "I have never heard of hot springs."

"Really?" Seriana asked, wanting to know more about the woman's background. She had heard her mother talking about the flathead boy and wondered how a Sungaea woman could have a flathead child. She remembered hearing her mother complain about the flathead and why it was in the lodge next to theirs, but she was too curious to be disgusted. She got that from her mother's mate.

Ayla shook her head. "No, we didn't have anything like this down on the peninsula."

There, the woman had admitted it. Her mother, who was usually the gossip, had not been wrong this time. "The peninsula?" she said with mock ignorance. "But, but..."

Ayla knew the woman wanted to know more. "Yes, I lived with the Clan on the peninsula for many years, then we moved to a cave that is just north of the peninsula."

The woman smiled. "What are they like, Ayla? The flatheads, I mean."

Ayla looked at the woman, knowing that there was no malice in her comment, but she didn't like her wording. "Clan, Seriana, we say Clan, and they are just like us," she said. "Well, sort of. They are people, just like us, but there are differences." The woman was thoughtful for a moment and Ayla changed the subject. "When is your baby due?"

"Oh," she said. "Not until fall. How did you know?"

"I am a medicine woman, a healer; the Clan has them too, and I was trained by the best."

The woman grinned. "Really?" she said, hoping to hear more, but just then, a woman yelled Seriana's name. "I have to go, that is my mother calling. I cannot wait to get mated this summer, so my mother will stop trying to tell me what to do. She doesn't seem to care that I am a woman now." Seriana was drying off and putting her clothes back on.

"Well, I will come with you. I need to get back to my mate and children," Ayla said, getting out of the water and dressing as well. The two women walked back together, and Seriana turned to go with her mother, then turned back toward Ayla. "I hope we can talk again, Ayla, but if not, I'll see you at the summer meeting." Ayla nodded.

~oxoxo~

Back inside the visitor's lodge, Ayla noticed that everyone else was awake. Travie, Darvie and her children had left the lodge, but Grov, Danie and Laurana were still there.

"Ayla, where did you go?" Grov asked, a little concerned. "And why is your hair wet?"

Ayla smiled guiltily. "Sorry Grov, I needed to pass water, then got distracted at Beech Camp's hot springs. It is nice to wash in warm water."

"Ooooo," Danie said. "I heard of hot spring before. People far to west of here have hot springs, or so I am told. I not be there before."

"These weren't hot, but warm, and nice," Ayla said. "I was hoping to see Shriek outside, but he's nowhere to be seen."

Grov could tell she was worried. "He will turn up, he always does, right?" She nodded. "Are you hungry Ayla?"

She nodded again. "But I have to feed Annaliza first," she said picking up her daughter, who was sitting there being entertained by Durc.

~oxoxo~

After she nursed her daughter, the eight remaining people left the lodge went find the others. They went directly to the main lodge, since they didn't know where else to go. Tarana greeted them right away. "Good morning. I trust you slept well?"

They all nodded, and the woman smiled. "Hungry? We have some fresh sturgeon. We just caught one full of roe, which is wonderful, because they don't seem to spawn that often."

Danie smiled. "I not ever have sturgeon before, or eggs. My mother tells me they are very good."

"Well then, come try some," Tarana offered. She led them over to a place to sit, then she brought them each a plate.

"This is very good," Grov commented. "The Clan does not usually eat too much sturgeon."

"Oh? Why not?" Tarana asked, very curious about their strange visitors.

"Well, the Clan is not good at swimming, so we hardly go into the water. Sometimes, but not very much." The woman nodded.

Ayla looked around the main lodge. "Where are Vincenzia and the others?" she asked.

"They are trading. Vincenzia wants to get some salt to bring to Lion Camp and we have so much of it," she answered. "I'm not sure why he didn't bring some from Oak Camp though; Oak Camp is much closer to the sea than we are. He must not have thought of it. That is lucky for us, since we are in need of a few things ourselves." The woman smiled, then looked up at the entrance when she heard someone come in. "Balana, come in. Meet our guests."

The woman in the entrance frowned, shook her head, then excused herself. Tarana blushed at the woman's rudeness, then apologized.

Just then, several children ran into the lodge, demanding food. Tarana grinned at the visitors. "They're always hungry," she said.

~oxoxo~

Travie and Darvie came in not long afterward and her children went to go play with Beech Camp's children. Soon, Durc and Ora were invited to play and they went off to join in. Beech Camp's children seemed not to notice that Durc was of mixed spirits, though many of the adults grimaced. Ayla did not miss their looks. It made her sad, but strengthened her resolve. Strange, Ayla thought, how children can just accept someone for who they are without reservation. She watched the children run around, until they decided to go outside to play. Children were children, wherever you go, she thought.

Vincenzia finally made an appearance, with Brulenzia in tow. Tegassia was with them and his mate as well. Ayla couldn't remember her name, but remembered that she seemed nice. "They have agreed to take us across the river and we have traded for some salt. Lion Camp will be happy to get a fresh supply of salt," he said. "What is wrong, Ayla?" he asked.

Ayla looked up at him and blushed. "I was just thinking about how well children accept things," she replied. She did not like to be caught thinking such thoughts, but couldn't see how she could get out of answering a direct question.

Tegassia's mate blushed as well and shook her head. "I am sorry Ayla. Most people feel...strangely about having mixed people among them." She frowned, was about to say something else, then changed her mind and kept silent.

~oxoxo~

The day ended with Vincenzia deciding they would spend another night and Tegassia suggesting another feast. Only two lodges didn't attend, the rest were too curious about their visitors to reject a feast. Ayla was sad that Seriana did not come, but she figured the young woman's mother had stopped her, since she didn't show up either. Seriana's mother's mate was there and seemed nice enough.

Overall, it had been a good day, and Ayla enjoyed the feast despite the absence of some people, and their reasons for their absences.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

Ivanolia and Braydalana walked quickly on their second day. Braydalana was so excited to be on their way that she was practically dancing along. Ivanolia watched her as she ran ahead. "Save some energy, Bray. This is a very long trek."

"I know it is and I will rest tonight. I am just so happy that you decided to travel," she said, as she leaned up and kissed the man of her hearth on the cheek.

He had leaned down to receive the kiss and smiled. "I am glad you are happy, child, but...slow down anyway. I don't want you to get hurt in the process."

She grinned at him. "You are too careful, Ivan," she said. She skipped along for a while, then slowed down for him to catch up. "So, what is Lion Camp like?"

"They are like everyone else. They are good people," he replied.

Braydalana frowned. "Then...why didn't you want to go visit them?" she asked.

It was his turn to frown. He knew that she knew why. Why did she want him to say it, he wondered. "I...well...I don't...didn't like the idea of...being around the flathead," he finally finished.

"Clan!" she stated firmly. "They are Clan, Ivan."

He looked at her and nodded. "Yes, Clan. I will try to remember that."

"You have to do better than try. It will be terribly embarrassing if you called...what is his name?"

"Rydag. Danie said Rydag," he retorted.

"Yes, that's it, if you call Rydag a flathead," she said shaking her head. "I think I will die of embarrassment." Ivanolia laughed at the eight-year-old's conviction. "I will Ivan. Please don't call them flatheads," she said with a begging voice and he nodded.

They walked for a while before she spoke again. She ran up ahead and he marveled at her stamina. He wasn't having trouble either; he was a healthy man in his prime, and she was running on adrenaline.

After a time, she slowed down again and he saw another conversation coming. "So, are we stopping at Pine Camp?" she asked.

"We might if we see them. It's been a long time since we have been to Pine Camp; I'm not sure I will recognize their caves. They are high on a steep cliff. Besides, they're a little out of our way, because we need to cross Trout River and continue to follow Big River, but if we see them, then we'll stop. Gredenzia's brother is the headwoman's mate; Bidena, I think. He says they'd probably take us upriver if they're around, so we'll see."

Braydalana smiled happily. "Oh look Ivan, Ice River is coming up," she screamed, and ran ahead again. Ivanolia had to laugh. Ice River was clearly still a good distance from them, but she had so much enthusiasm that he couldn't calm the girl down. He hadn't felt this good in a long time, and he hoped Danie would be happy to see him. He had a small nagging feeling that she wouldn't; he would be glad to catch up and find out once and for all.

As night fell, they reached Ice River, and Braydalana had a fire started by the time the man arrived. "Girl, you are too quick. Won't you let this man do some work?"

Braydalana giggled. "You can set up the tent," she replied. "I will heat water for tea." Ivanolia grinned at the girl and was glad they were traveling together. He hadn't spent very much time with her since Danie had moved to their lodge, and he missed the daughter of his hearth. She had also missed the man, and was truly glad for his seeming change of heart. She only hoped it would last.

After eating a meal and drinking several cups of tea, the two retired for the night. "North," he said as they crawled into bed. "Tomorrow we cross Ice River and head north. Are you ready?"

"Of course I am," she replied. "I am so glad we are traveling." It was true too, she was glad to be traveling, glad to be doing it with Ivanolia, and glad he was being a more reasonable man. He leaned over and kissed her forehead, then rolled over in his sleeping furs and went to sleep. Braydalana was awake a little longer. She couldn't get the enormous smile off her face. She never did succeed; falling asleep with it plastered to her face.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – "Journey to Lion Camp – Day Three...and a Day of Rest"

Braydalana woke the next morning in the same mood she had been in for the last two days and tried to keep silent. She quietly left the tent, stoked their fire, made the two of them something simple to snack on, prepared tea, then packed everything up. She waited for what seemed like forever to her before she went back into the tent to check on the man. She left the tent flap open for light, but also to let in the cold morning air, hoping it would wake the man.

The girl sat down next to the sleeping man of her hearth, then took her index finger and poked him gently, then again. "Ivan," she whispered. "Ivan, wake up. I want to get going. Ivan." Poke. "Ivan." Poke. "Ivan." The man groaned and rolled over, so she poked him again. "Ivan."

Ivanolia had been dreaming about being reunited with Danie and frowned when he opened his eyes to the tent. This was not where he had hoped he was. Oh well, time to get up, he thought.

He rolled back over to see Braydalana's smiling face and he had to grin up at her. "What are you doing, child? Is it time to go already?"

"Hmm. I was eating and packing while you slept the morning away," she exaggerated. "Get up! We have places to go, people to see. Let's go!" she went on excitedly.

The man sat up and laughed. "For the sake of the Mother, Bray, calm down. We have days ahead of us and you're going to tire yourself out." And me, he thought, but didn't say it.

"But this is so fun and I can't help myself. I will slow down when my heart stops pounding so hard," she said, a huge smile on her face.

Ivanolia looked at the daughter of his hearth and laughed again. "Okay, okay, you can be happy all you want, but be careful," he said. "We have to cross Ice River as soon as we get going and I want to get across safely."

She waved her hand at him dismissively and turned to sip her tea. He knew he'd been acting like a creep lately and he wasn't sure she understood his meaning. "Bray, I don't know what I'd do if I lost you," he said, his voice cracking. After all, she was everything he had left of his lovely Nemlora, and he had put his entire life into her since her mother's death. She looked at him tenderly, then reached out and hugged him tightly. She had never known her mother and this man had been the one to raise her. He really had been good to her. Not many men cared to raise children on their own, but he had insisted on it. Despite his shortcomings, she loved him with all of her heart.

~oxoxo~

The night before, Ivanolia had opted to cross Ice River in the morning, because he didn't want to do it in the dark, but now he was nervous about the crossing. The two of them stood there silently for a moment, looking at the majestic beauty of the land and the river. They could hear the river water trickling under the thick layer of ice. Ivanolia was fairly sure that they wouldn't break through the ice, but not so sure they wouldn't fall down on it and crack open a head. That made him nervous, as neither one of them knew much about healing. He began to take out his rope to tie the child to himself.

"I have an idea, Ivan," Braydalana said. "Ice River isn't really a river...more of a wide creak, really. We could throw sand down on it, to give our foot coverings a better grip. What do you think?"

Ivanolia frowned and looked at the bank of sand that the girl was pointing at, then smiled. "That sounds like a great idea, Bray."

They used her idea and Ivanolia marveled at how great it was. Ice River was wider than he had thought, but the sand certainly did the trick, and they crossed without so much as a minor slip.

~oxoxo~

As the day came to a close for father and daughter, they halted at yet another frozen river, but did not know its name. To their left, they could see that Big River was not frozen completely, and that it came down from the north, then it curved off to the west and the frozen river joined it precisely at its westward bend. The edges of Big River were still covered with sheets of ice and the waters weren't yet tumultuous, but it was still flowing rather swiftly downstream.

Ivanolia decided that they would cross this second frozen river before nightfall, so that their morning would be unfettered. Braydalana had agreed that it would be better to make the crossing that evening and so it was done. There was nothing extraordinary about the crossing, except that they could tell that the ice was thinning and the sound of the water of Big River was loud in comparison to the mild trickling sound from Ice River.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

At Beech Camp on the very same day, it was Laurana that woke up early this time. Her pregnancy was starting to make it hard to sleep and she wanted to get up, but she didn't relish going out alone, so she waited for a bit.

It turned out that her wait wasn't long, because Ayla woke up and saw her sitting up. "Good morning, Laurana. Did you sleep okay?"

"Uh-hah," she said with a nod. "But I need to get up to relieve myself. Do you want to come with me," she whispered.

Ayla nodded, then decided to tell Grov where they were going, so that she wouldn't worry him like she had the day before. He smiled sleepily at her and waved them off. "Do women always have to relieve themselves together?" he mumbled.

Ayla smiled at him. It did seem like they did that, she thought. "Will you bring the children to me when they wake up? I'd like to bathe them." He nodded. She watched him roll back over and she pulled his furs up higher and tucked them around his shoulders, then kissed his head.

~oxoxo~

Once outside, the two Oak Camp women walked in the direction of the river, toward the slope, as they had heard it called. They were just about to go out of sight, when Seriana stepped out of her mother's lodge and saw where they were going. Her mother had warned her to stay away from the woman whose spirit had mingled with the flatheads, but she was drawn to her for some reason and ran to catch up.

"Ayla, hallo," she said. "I do not believe I have met your friend. Great Mother, you two look alike!" she exclaimed when she got near enough. She could tell they were not two born at the same time, but they were sure close to identical.

The two Oak Camp women smiled, but it was Ayla that spoke. "This is my cousin, Laurana. She is to be mated to Brulenzia at our summer meeting," Ayla said, giving her new friend some background, then turning to her cousin. "And this is my new friend, Seriana. She is the woman that showed me the hot spring yesterday. Do you think we could take Laurana over to it too?" Ayla asked.

Seriana grinned. "The pools are open to anyone that wants to use them. They are a gift from the Mother. I was just going over there myself and I would love to have company." She could tell the women had to make a detour first. "I will meet you over there," she said and scampered off.

Ayla and Laurana went to the slope, then made their way over to the hot springs. This time, there were several other people there as well; all women and children, and some looked at them curiously. Seriana was talking to two other young women, and waved Ayla and Laurana over when they appeared. The two women recognized one of them, but not the other. "This is my sister, Kristana, and our brother's mate, Mirra. Mirra is Tegassia's daughter, so she is related to Brulenzia." Both young women smiled, but didn't say anything.

Seriana encouraged the two women to take off their clothes and get in, but Ayla hardly needed the encouragement, she remembered all too well how good she had felt after the dip she had taken the day before. Soon, the five young women were enjoying the warmth and good conversation.

"So, Seriana tells me you have three children Ayla," Kristana said. She had not come to the main lodge the night before because her son had not been feeling well.

"Yes. Well no. I have two children, but my mate brought a daughter to our mating, so I have been her mother as well, so...yes," Ayla said, smiling.

"Oh," she said. She was dying to see this woman's children and wondered where they were. "Are your children still at the Visitor's Hearth?"

Ayla nodded. "But Grov said he would bring them out when they wake."

Mirra had already heard the stories, mostly from Seriana, but she had to ask anyway. "So, what kind of name is Grov anyway?"

Ayla looked at the woman sharply, not sure what the woman really wanted. "It is a Clan name. He is part Clan and part Others."

Mirra couldn't believe the woman said it openly, but she also couldn't help but like this strange woman. And she wondered what her mate would think of this woman. He had been raised by a mother that hated flatheads; and usually had no qualms about commenting about them wherever she could. Mirra's mate usually took his mother's hatred with a grain of salt, but the woman sometimes wondered if he had experienced enough of her rantings to actually believe some of it; many people did, and they came from a camp that was rampant with flathead-fear.

Mirra had always wondered why her father had accepted her mate's family into their camp. She knew that the only reason could be because he knew how much she had loved Mikolavia and the headman wanted to make his mate's daughter happy. Mikolavia's camp did not have much status, but their mating had brought his status up. He had always been grateful to the man of her hearth for accepting him and for taking in his entire family. He was a good man, despite his mother's prejudice.

Just as the women were talking about the Clan, Grov showed up with the three children. Ayla stood up to take Annaliza from him and smiled up into his blue eyes. "Hallo, are you coming in too?"

Grov glanced at the bathing women and hesitated a moment, not sure if it was appropriate—or what people would think. He had learned that Others men interacted with the women a lot more often than did Clan men and women, but he still wasn't sure.

"Oh come on, Grov. Come in, we won't bite," Laurana said, overhearing Ayla, and seeing his expression of uncertainty.

Grov looked at the other three women, then nodded. Seeing that the women were naked, he took off his clothing, as did Durc. Ayla handed Annaliza to Laurana and stripped Ora. The three Beech Camp women curiously watched the man take his clothes off, trying to see differences in him that could be used to discount his humanity, but none could be found. He looked nearly the same as any other man; a little stockier, maybe, but tall, dark, and rather handsome, Mirra thought.

"Oooo," Ora verbalized. "This is nice and warm," she signed, then splashed into the water.

Laurana, who was trying desperately to learn the Clan's sign language, answered the child. "Yes, Ora. It is warm, isn't it?" The child nodded and smiled.

Seriana gave the woman a strange look. The child had not said anything except for 'Oooo.' How had the woman known what she was thinking? She wanted to ask, but felt strange about it, so didn't.

Grov lowered himself into the water slowly and sat between Ayla and Laurana. So far, he had not spoken a word yet and the two that had not met him yet wondered if he could speak; they had always heard that flatheads couldn't talk. Then, when Ora started to get a little rambunctious, he took the child's hands and scolded her. "Ora, you must sit still. Not splash," he said. Seriana noticed that he had a nice voice, not as deep as she thought it might be, though still deep in comparison to the men she knew. Kristana smiled at Seriana, knowing that they had been thinking nearly the same thing.

Mirra quietly studied Ayla's son, wondering why he looked so flathead and realized that the Mother must have chosen a different man's spirit to create this child, for the man of his hearth was hardly flathead at all and, though Ayla had said Ora was not her daughter, the little girl looked remarkably like the tall blonde woman and her baby. Mirra liked them and hoped her mate would not be upset that she was bathing with them.

~oxoxo~

The nine of them relaxed for sometime, before they were interrupted. Balana came storming up to the pool. "Seriana! I told you to come right back to the hearth," she said agitatedly.

"Yes, mother, but Ayla wanted to show Laurana the pools. I have to bathe, you know. I will be back soon enough."

"Daughter, do you forget that you are blessed?" she said hotly, trying not to look at the visitors. "And that you shouldn't..." She let her words trail off, suddenly curious herself, she looked at the visitors then.

"Mother," Kristana began. "We all know that Seriana is blessed and we are taking care of her. Don't worry."

"But...but..." she said, then closed her mouth with a click. She looked at the mixed man and child carefully. They seem civilized, she thought, then she harrumphed and left the young people alone.

Seriana, Kristana, and Mirra exchanged looks—then went back to their conversation.

~oxoxo~

Later in the day, when the people finally loaded up into Beech Camp boats, the sun was at its highest point. Tarana was trying to convince them to stay another night, but Vincenzia insisted that they get back to their journey. He was worried about the coming rains.

As it turned out, a light drizzle began to fall as they began to cross Big River and he was thankful they left when they did. He now began to fear crossing Big River upstream and wished they had gone the other way. They may have to travel a great distance upriver to find a crossable point on Big River and he didn't like the idea of adding more time to their journey. Oh well, he thought, if they hurried, it may still be frozen upstream; he hoped anyway.

~oxoxo~

Once on the other side, Beech Camp helped to unload them and waved goodbye. "We will see you at the summer meeting," Tegassia said. "And don't worry, we won't leave here until after the rest of Oak Camp gets here."

Vincenzia smiled and waved a farewell as they watched the boats go back across the river. When they had, their journey started again. Everyone was happy that they had gotten to rest and knew that they were about half way to Lion Camp—or so Vincenzia told them.

Vincenzia drove them hard that day, but they didn't really get that far. They had gotten a late start, and were tired early and the wet weather made travel uncomfortable. Probably too much bouza, he considered. Or too much hot springs...or too much wetness, he thought, looking up at the weeping sky, then having to wipe water off his forehead. He smiled and called a halt just before the sun sunk behind the western mountains. Everyone was glad to get in out of the showers.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – "Journey to Lion Camp – Day Six...and a Stop at Pine Camp!"

After their night of camping out again, everyone missed Beech Camp even more. It didn't help that it had rained steadily all night long and everything outside was soaking wet. The people packed up quickly and trudged through the grassy valley in a northward direction. No one really talked; they just tried to keep dry as they walked.

~oxoxo~

When it was time for the afternoon meal, they all sat down dejectedly, even Vincenzia, who had been cheery for all of the trip. He was now seriously worried about their second crossing of Big River. He supposed they could travel up Big River until they got to the next Mamutoi camp and ask them to give them a ride across the river in a bowl boat, but he didn't like the delay. This was supposed to be a rather simple trek.

Darvie tried to cheer him up, but she was having more trouble with Danie. Danie was becoming more and more morose as time went on and it pained Darvie to see her sister so sad. It didn't help that the younger woman was currently separated from Ivanolia, by hurt feelings and distance, but now the dark skies and soggy trek were making the young woman feel hopeless.

Ayla watched the sisters closely and suspected that Danie was harboring something else as well. The medicine woman in her could just see these things. Ayla approached the two women. "Uhh, Darvie? Do you mind if I talk to Danie for a moment?" Ayla asked. Darvie hesitated for a moment, then seeing that the healer was concerned, she stepped aside and went to assist the others.

"Um, Danie?" Ayla said, waiting for the woman to look up at her. When she did, Ayla went on. "I think it is best if you drink this tea," she said, handing the woman a cup of tea.

Danie reached out and took the proffered cup. "What is this for?"

"Well, a pregnant woman should drink certain teas when traveling; to keep both mother and baby strong. The exercise is good, but this will make you not get so sick in the mornings."

Danie smiled at her. "How did you know, Ayla? I have not told anyone yet."

Ayla shrugged. Everyone acted like she was having premonitions or something; like she could really see things when no one else could. "It is not difficult. I am a healer. I am trained to see what others refused to look at. Besides, I heard you getting sick this morning and you seem different."

Danie laughed. "Yeah, like a woman about to no longer be mated. That's how I look different," she said sadly.

"Oh Danie, he will come around," Ayla reassured her. "Don't give up on Ivanolia yet."

"How can you be so nice, after all that he has said and done?" the woman asked Ayla. "I heard that he hit you when he was with your Clan."

Ayla frowned at the memory. "Well, yes he did, but it was an accident. He wasn't trying to hit me; he was just afraid for Jenadoza and Braydalana. And," Ayla went on, "he is not so bad. He just doesn't understand, but he will. I can feel it." Ayla smiled at her and encouraged her to drink her tea. Danie drank up and was very thoughtful after her talk with Ayla. How could someone so young, know so much, she thought?

~oxoxo~

When their meals had been eaten, Vincenzia pushed them on. Around evening, they came to the area that began the ascent to the highlands. Vincenzia and Brulenzia decided that it would be best to start that in the morning. There was no way they'd make it to the top before darkness and no one wanted to camp on uneven ground. They set up quickly, each going to their own tents early, to get out of the rain.

~oxoxo~

Ayla sat down in the tent and nursed her daughter, while Grov lay on their furs. When the little girl was finished, the woman put her down and went to get the others something to eat. She handed Durc and Ora a traveling cake, then turned toward Grov. "Are you hungry too? You haven't eaten much today," she commented.

"Hmm, yes, but more so for you," he said, grinning.

Ayla giggled, wishing they had another tent for the children or even just more space to spread out. "Well, you can have me...soon. Eat your food first," she said, shoving a traveling cake at him.

~oxoxo~

Laurana and Brulenzia were inside their tent sharing pleasures and laughing about how much more difficult it had gotten as Laurana's pregnancy progressed. Brulenzia was laughing heartily about the situation and Laurana was trying to get him to be quiet. "Shush, Bru," she said, giggling herself. "We don't want to disturb the entire camp."

Still on top of her, he pushed the tent flat aside and looked out. The rain was coming down rather hard, and the raindrops were plunking loudly onto the puddled grass. "I don't think anyone can hear anything with that rain falling," he said. She giggled again, and shivered at the cold draft coming in. Brulenzia let the flat drop again, and went back to his woman.

~oxoxo~

After getting her children to sleep, Ayla sat down next to her mate, waiting for him to make his advances. She sometimes missed the cave of the Clan and how sure she was of things back there and she wished he would just make the signal, so that she would know what to do.

Grov lay there on the furs, watching her, and wondered what she was thinking. He was amazed at how different things were with the Others and that they had adapted so easily. He was actually enjoying himself greatly. He wondered how difficult it would be for them to return to the Clan; how difficult it would be for Ayla to go back to accepting a man's dominance over her. In some ways it was easier with the Clan; easy to know what to expect, what was expected, but harder too, because they couldn't just be themselves. Yes, he thought, he was enjoying being himself.

He looked at her closely, then realized she was trying to encourage him. He felt a smile coming on, but hid it, just as he was accustomed to doing with the Clan. He hadn't really had time to read her Clan signals and he was feeling immeasurable desire for his mate at her suggestive look. He started to get up to go to her, then changed his mind and signaled her.

Ayla, seeing the gesture, got up immediately and went down on all fours in front of him, presenting as was customary. Grov had not seen her in that position in quite sometime and was more turned on than he thought possible. He caressed her backside gently, leaning over her and kissing her back tenderly, then he entered her with one forceful thrust. Ayla groaned loudly, enjoying the feeling, so different than the way they usually honored the Mother now. She had missed what she was accustomed to as well.

When they were finished, Ayla cleaned herself off, then crawled into their furs and snuggled up against her mate. Grov held her in the crook of his arm and she drifted off to sleep feeling safe and contented.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

On this day, Ivanolia woke first. He was listening to the rain, which had increased since the day before. It made him slightly nervous to hear so much water so near to their tent, so he got up.

Outside, he noticed that the river's volume had increased greatly overnight and that the ground was considerably more soggy than it had been. It made him extremely nervous for the daughter of his hearth; he immediately went in and woke the girl.

Her attitude was nearly the same as it had been, but she seemed tired. He handed her a warm broth to drink while he packed everything up. "Mmm, did Fraylora make this?" she asked.

He nodded. "I have had it in a water-tight basket since we left. I knew the rains would come and wanted you to have something decent to eat when they did."

Braydalana smiled at the man of her hearth, knowing that he truly loved her. She had always known that, even when he acted like a creep.

As it turned out, the rains had caused Big River to swell significantly, making their journey much more treacherous. In many places, where they thought the ground was solid, they stepped upon it to discover that the sand or mud just sank away. They had to travel right up against the steep hills of the valley, just to get through—and even then, sometimes they had to squeeze themselves through, back up against the hills, just to pass. Ivanolia found himself seriously worried about his daughter. It was not until later that he realized he was thinking about the girl as if he himself had birthed her, but he was.

Around midday, Braydalana was calling for a break. This was the first time she was even asking for rest so he complied immediately. The girl collapsed to catch her breath. When she had, she decided to go over to the river to fill their water bags, and Ivanolia sat a moment longer.

When finally he had caught his breath to go help her, she was nearly finished, but welcomed his help. "Do you think we'll get to Pine Camp today?" she asked.

"Well, I'd like to, but I'm not even sure we'll find them," he replied. "I mean, they live up on a cliff. They could be above us right now, but I'm not sure. I think they held their summer meeting high above their caves, up on the highlands."

Braydalana smiled. "Caves? I wish I could have been there."

"You will daughter. Don't worry about it, you will. In fact, you might get to experience your first rites there," he went on. "If you become a woman that year...which is likely."

The girl blushed crimson at the man's mention of her menses. She considered that long off, but when she counted the years, she nodded, thinking, yes, that could be possible, even probable. Then her curiosity got the better of her. "What is it like, Ivan?" she asked.

It was his turn to blush. She should be talking to women about this, not him. "Ahh, I don't really know Bray, I am a man."

"I know that, but...you have done first rites...right?" she persisted.

Ivanolia felt extremely awkward. "Well, yes, Bray. I have opened many young woman," he admitted.

"Well then, tell me," she said.

"But you are too young and I am not the right person," he continued.

"Oh come on. I want to know before it's time," she begged of the man of her hearth. "Did you open my mother?"

Ivanolia smiled. "No, it is an older man's duty to open a young woman. Your mother and I were about the same age." He looked at her sadly.

Braydalana quickly steered him away from her mother; she was more interested in why he had opened so many women. "How many women have you opened?"

Ivanolia blushed again, wishing he had a woman here to talk to her, but then, Braydalana seemed to want to know about his experiences, not just the experience. "I'm not sure. I used to count, but...I have counted in years."

"Why do you do it," she asked next.

"Well, I don't do it anymore, but it's amazing to see a new woman turn into a full woman and to be the one to do it," he said, a far away look on his face. "But that is all I will tell you...you must wait for your time," he said with a firmness that she would not push.

The eight-year old smiled, thinking that she had to talk to some women about this; she was just too curious. The girl filled up her last water bag, then turned to return to where they had built a temporary fire.

Just as she turned to go, the sandbar she stood upon seemed to melt away and she sunk into the river. It seemed to happen in slow motion and Ivanolia ran to help her, but he too was running in slow motion and could not arrive in time; she fell in, and got caught up in the pull of the water.

Braydalana screamed her fear, but immediately focused on her problem. Stay above the water, she told herself, stay above the water. She continued to think about her dilemma, but suddenly noticed how cold the water was. What she didn't notice was how fast she was being carried down stream or that Ivanolia was screaming along with her and splashing into the water himself. Soon, he too was caught up in the current and was being pulled down the swiftly flowing waterway.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

A woman was sitting on the ledge of Mammoth Cave, looking down at Big River. Someone was always posted to watch the changes in the river, usually one of the children, but on this day it was the headwoman, Bidena, since she had clothing to mend, and wanted to see how much the night and day's rain had increased the size of the river. The woman sat perched in a comfortable seat, and was studying the smoke that she saw. The headwoman was becoming increasingly worried when she realized that someone was down there and that the river was likely to wash them away.

"Zackodia," she called, as he walked by with her brother. "Someone must get down to the dock and go downriver. There are people down there that are going to be needing our help." Her mate had learned to trust her instructions and went with his best boatmen to help those in need of assistances.

~oxoxo~

Down on the dock, the men chose two medium-sized boats, one of which, they had just repaired, loaded them up, then embarked on a trip downriver.

As they approached the area which Bidena said contained people, they saw the smoke of fire, but since they were at the river's level, they did not see where the people might be.

Suddenly, they heard a desperate cry for help, and they increased their speed. Sure enough, they found a man in the river that was sputtering and calling out. They immediately pulled him into their boat, but he continued to rant and rave. When they were finally able to communicate with him, all that he said was, "Daughter. River. Help." Then he passed out. They continued downriver, in search of a drowning girl.

It was not long after that they pulled Braydalana out of the river, but she was in better shape than the man. She had put all of her concentration into swimming and surviving and was essentially unharmed. As soon as she was in the boat, she smiled. "Well, you must be people from Pine Camp. I have heard about your wonderful boats," the drippy girl said, then she looked at Ivanolia. "Will he be all right?"

A big, burly man smiled at the girl. "Yes, yes, he will be fine," he said. "He is just exhausted. Not to worry."

Braydalana smiled as well, then looked at the man closely. "You must be related to Gredenzia; you look just like him," she said, as she peered at him carefully.

"Well yes, I am. I came from Oak Camp, but who are you?"

"I am of that one's hearth," she answered. "But Gredenzia is the mate of my mother's mother...so, we must be related, but I'm not sure what you would be to me."

Zackodia laughed. "Yes, so you are. I would be your great uncle, I think. And now, I do remember you, vaguely, but I do. I am glad we found you. What are you doing up here?"

"We are traveling to Lion Camp, of the Mamutoi. They have a mixed child among them and a woman of our camp is going there to help him; he is very sick. Some left Oak Camp to go there and we wish to join up with them. This man," she said, indicating the unconscious man in the boat, "is mated to one of the women on that journey."

"No one else passed through here," he said, a little worry in his voice.

"They went a different way, and they are a couple days ahead of us. Like I said, we are hoping to find them, but I'm afraid we are too slow," she informed the man.

"Well then, it's good that we have met you. We can take you upriver...as soon as we wake this man up and have a talk. Zackodia smiled at the girl as the boaters maneuvered the boat upriver.

~oxoxo~

The boats arrived at Pine Camp's docks and the unconscious man was carried up the steep trail to the area where their caves were. They had to pass several caves, and many came out to see who was going by. Zackodia told the girl where they were going, naming each cave in turn. "That is Lion Cave, Hunting Cave, Horse Cave, Bison Cave, Tool Cave, and this is Mammoth Cave," he rambled on. "Bidena, I have brought some of our kinsman," he said, presenting his charges.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – "Journey to Lion Camp – More Rest at Pine Camp...and Day Seven!"

It was morning before Ivanolia awakened and he sat up in a panic, looking wildly around for his daughter. Then he grabbed his head as a sharp pain radiated through it. He realized that he had been injured, though obviously not terribly, and felt his bandaged forehead.

The man frowned and looked around at his surroundings, then noticed a plate of food and a drink sitting next to him. He smiled and picked up what had obviously been put there for him.

After gobbling down the food, he got up to look for Braydalana—and fervently hoped she was okay as well. Why aren't there any people here? he thought, as he wandered around. Then he went to the cave's entrance.

Outside, he could see that he was high up on a cliff and he looked around again. "This must be Pine Camp," he said to himself. He did not realize he had spoken aloud.

"Well, yes it is," a woman answered him. "I am glad to see that you are awake, Ivanolia of Oak Camp. I am Solenta, mate of the headman of Pine Camp. Do you need anything?"

Ivanolia smiled. "I am glad to be awake too and wondering where my daughter is. I assume that she is okay, since you seem to know my name."

"Yes, yes, she is fine, but of course I know your name. I have traveled to Oak Camp before, but you were much younger at the time. That explains why you don't remember." She paused. "Now, how is it possible that the child we found is your daughter? You are a man. How could you have given birth to her?"

Ivanolia frowned. He had not realized he had said it that way, but he supposed that he had meant it. "Braydalana's mother died in childbirth and I have raised her almost by myself. Of course, I could not nurse her. My own mother and our headwoman did that part, but she has always lived at my hearth. She is my daughter in my heart, as well as my hearth. And I am sure that it was my spirit that started her."

Solenta had an odd look on her face. "Hmm, interesting. I wish that our Spirit Shogur were here, but he is on a journey with his brother at this time. I am certain he'd like to discuss things with you." The woman got up. "Let me take you to your daughter," she said with a smile. As they walked out, she said, "This is Mammoth Cave. Zackodia brought you here last night, since our Healing Shogur is away."

Ivanolia nodded and followed the woman, constantly looking out over the cliff. He could see the river below and was glad he had gotten a chance to see it from this vantage point; it was spectacular. "Your view is remarkable," he said to the headman's mate.

"We like to think so. No other camp can look out over Big River like we can," she said proudly. "But, the climb can be very treacherous in winter. We have people that maintain the trail for us, but it is still difficult."

"I can imagine," Ivanolia was nodding. "I seem to recall coming here for a summer meeting several years back, but I didn't get to see your caves." They had just stopped at another cave along the path.

"No, most people do not come to the caves during summer meetings. We hold them above," she said, pointing up the steep cliff. "Up on the highlands." Solenta smiled at the man, she was pleased that he was enjoying the view and that he had commented on it. "Braydalana is in here. This is Tool Cave and she is working an outfit for her two cousins. Teglodia, I think, and I don't remember what she said about the other one."

"The second one has not been born yet. My other sister is pregnant, and will likely give birth at the summer meeting," he informed her.

"Oh yes, that is what she said. I just did not remember. Anyway, I need to get back to my mending, so I'll let you find her on your own." She smiled at him again, then walked back the way they had come.

~oxoxo~

Ivanolia entered the cave, and stood for a moment, letting his eyes adjust to the semi darkness, then he walked in further.

"IVAN!" came the scream of his daughter and he grinned at her. "I am so glad you are awake. Look at what I've made," she exclaimed, holding up the garment for him to see.

"That is very nice. I'm sure Jenadoza will like that very much." He smiled at her new friends.

"I am making one for Laurana's baby too, see?" she said, and held up a second outfit.

Ivanolia smiled at her. "Well, I'm sure Laurana will like that too," he said. "So, where are all the adults? Bidena led me here, but then she left."

Braydalana dropped what she was doing. "They have gone fishing up Trout River. It's not far. Do you need me to show you how to get down from here?" she asked.

The man smiled and nodded and then Braydalana excused herself. "I will be back," she said to the other girls.

~oxoxo~

Once outside again, Braydalana turned to the right and headed down the narrow path, which eventually went by four more caves. They passed several people on their way. The girl smiled at some and said hello to others. Ivanolia followed her down the winding path, looking around with interest. He noticed that the river seemed to fork in two different directions and Braydalana stopped there.

"This is Bison Cave," she said. "It is the largest cave here, with the widest opening, and it's directly above where Trout River joins Big River. See?" Ivanolia looked out and nodded. "Their Shogurs live in there," Braydalana went on, "but they are not here right now. We'll probably eat in there tonight." The girl then continued to walk down the path.

They passed two more caves, as they followed along, high above Trout River, then stopped again at a third. "This is Lion Cave. Zackodia lives in here with his mate Bidena. She is their headwoman. Bidena was the one to see our fire smoke, and sent Zackodia to see who was down there. It's a good thing too," she said with a smile. The man blushed, thinking that they should have figured out a better way to go. He figured he could give Gredenzia heck later.

When the two finally got down to the bottom, Braydalana brought Ivanolia over to the people that were fishing, just a ways up Trout River. Zackodia was happy to see the man awake, just as was everyone else. Ivanolia thanked him for his hospitality, and told the man that they should be leaving.

"No, no, don't be silly," the man said to him. "You must stay tonight, we'll have a feast. Then tomorrow we'll take you upriver. It won't be much faster than walking. It's been cold today, but since it's been rain free, we will at least be able to go upriver."

Ivanolia smiled. "That would be most helpful. We are trying—" he started to say.

"Yes, Braydalana told us...you're going to meet family, then go to Lion Camp. We'll be able to help them across Big River too, if we get there in time. But tonight," he said, "we feast."

Ivanolia nodded, and smiled. "Okay, what can I do to help?"

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

The travelers woke early, as usual, and began their journey up the incline. For the most part everyone had to walk up the hill, children included. It was just too steep to carry even the children, except for Annaliza, and she and Grov took turns holding her.

Ora held Crisana's hand and Ayla was grateful that the girl was such a help. Crisanie now, Ayla reminded herself, as the Mamutoi would call the girl by her Mamutoi name. Ayla smiled at the thought, would she be Aylie if she were Mamutoi? She looked at Annaliza...Annalizie. The woman smiled to herself.

Travie complained about the hike a little, but not so much that others became annoyed and Vincenzia helped his mate's mother whenever she needed it. The woman wasn't really that old by the standards of the Sungaea, only forty-four. That was ancient to the Clan, Ayla thought. In fact, she'd probably be close to death, if not dead, if she were Clan.

Ayla glanced back at Laurana. The pregnant woman was having trouble with the climb, but she wasn't saying a word about it. Brulenzia was walking with her, one hand on the small of her back, but they were starting to fall behind. Ayla frowned, then looked at her mate. "Grov, Laurana is having trouble," she complained. She had only just given him Annaliza and she was shaking out her arms to get the blood flowing again.

He looked back at the woman. "I have an idea," he said, with a grin. "You will have to take Annaliza back though." Ayla nodded, reaching for her daughter and wondering what he would do.

Grov hiked back down the hill toward the struggling woman and asked Brulenzia to take the things he had in his arms. There weren't too many of them, but he would need help anyway. Brulenzia looked at him strangely and wondered why Grov wanted help, but did as he was asked and watched as the Clan man scooped up Laurana and carried her as if she were a child. Grov, though much thinner, taller, and straighter than his Clan brethren, was just as strong as they were and Laurana's weight was nothing to him.

Laurana let out a little scream, as she had not been warned about was going to happen, then smiled at him gratefully. Brulenzia watched the man carry her for only a moment before he smiled too and followed along. Brulenzia was a big, strong man himself, but even he would have had trouble carrying Laurana up this hill for any distance. The man got a sudden insight into the strength of the Clan.

~oxoxo~

Once upon the highland, the trek became easier again and Grov set Laurana down. She thanked him profusely, as did Brulenzia, and they marveled at his stamina; Grov did not even seem winded. He turned back to Ayla and tried to take Annaliza back, but she refused. "You have done enough for a while," she said.

"Here," Brulenzia said. "Let me take Annaliza. I don't think you should have to carry her either."

"Well, I am her mother," Ayla said. She was going to tell him no, but he insisted. She was greatly relieved when he took her though; her arms were trembling.

~oxoxo~

As evening approached, Durc came running back to his mother. "Mama, we can see Big River from the edge of the cliff over there. It's not as big as before, but still huge. How will we cross?" he asked.

"I am not sure, Durc, but I'm sure Vincenzia has a plan. Don't worry," she said, though she was worried herself. When she finally got to the cliff edge, she was even more worried. If it looked so big from up here, it was likely to actually be much larger once they were standing next to it.

Vincenzia saw her look. "Don't panic Ayla. If we can't cross where we want to, then we can go upriver to where we can. Maple Camp usually leaves boats across the river from their camp, for just such occasions, and if they're not there, well then we can go further upriver to get help from Mammoth Camp. The Mamutoi are always very helpful, especially when there are Mamutoi women among us. We will not have to swim, if that's what you're worried about." Ayla visibly relaxed and looked out over Big River. It was an amazing sight.

~oxoxo~

That night, Vincenzia suggested that they drink bouza and have some fun. It was a good rest for all of them. The night was full of laughter and Danie actually produced a smile that showed Ayla she had taken her words to heart and was even coaxed to go to Brulenzia's tent at the end of the evening.

Ayla smiled at Grov, wondering what he thought of all the pleasure sharing that was done among the Sungaea. She knew that she would not go to someone else's furs, unless Grov was occupied himself. Then she thought about how she could decline, as she had been told was her right...could she be so bold, she contemplated; she didn't know. She really didn't think about Grov being with another woman; that was a man's right in her mind. Ayla had shared him with Oga plenty of times. Oga even had a child that was his and Ayla wasn't bothered by it in the least. Ayla was just an accepting woman.

Grov was likewise considering Ayla—and whether or not she wanted to share someone else's furs. Women of the Clan didn't usually have the choice, but among her people, it was her right to do whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted. He was unsure whether she'd be capable of refusing a direct request from another man. In the case of this night, there was only Brulenzia that could ask her, but he'd already gotten Danie to join him, so it wasn't likely that Ayla's company would be needed that night. Grov thought about spending time with the Mamutoi and whether they had the same customs. Probably so or Danie wouldn't have agreed so easily to go with the Sungaean man. And, what about the Sungaean summer meeting? Would there be offers there? Would it bother him, he questioned himself in his own head. He knew Broud hadn't liked sharing Oga, but...Grov was different. Then, shaking his head he decided. No, it would not bother him, just so long as she came back to him.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – "Journey to Lion Camp - Day Eight...and A Long Day Traveling Upriver!"

Ayla woke up to Annaliza's whimpering and quickly picked up the child, and offered her a breast before she woke anyone else. The baby suckled, briefly, then nestled against her mother and fell asleep again; that was all she really wanted, Ayla thought smiling.

Ayla sat holding her for a little while, then decided to go outside. She tucked her child into her sleeping tunic and put a strap around the child to hold her in place, then slipped on her leggings and went outside.

Outside, she went to the fire and sat down. Brulenzia was sitting there with Vincenzia and the two men were talking about Lion Camp. Darvie had been intent that everyone learn enough Mamutoi to communicate, so Brulenzia was attempting to use his Mamutoi with the older man. Ayla noticed that it wasn't really that different from Sungaean.

Vincenzia finished his conversation with the younger man, then stood up and kissed Ayla on the top of the head, then headed back to his tent. Ayla smiled up at him and watched him walk away.

"Good morning, Brulenzia," she finally said. She was extremely curious about his night with Laurana and Danie, but wouldn't dream of asking him about it. He could tell she was interested, but he too didn't know what to say.

Brulenzia was an exceptionally attractive man, and had brought many women to his furs, but Danie was the first one that he had bedded since he and Laurana had gotten together permanently. Part of that was because they were in their camp almost constantly and there weren't many other young women. Part was also that he was just so happy with his woman and didn't want to be with anyone else. And it was partly that Laurana was pregnant and sometimes pregnant women didn't like it if their men went off with other women. The night before, Laurana had told him she was tired and wanted to sleep. He had gone to bed with her, but when he couldn't sleep, she sent him back out so that he could seek out Danie. Danie had been feeling lonely, since she and Ivanolia had been having trouble and Brulenzia's interest made her feel somewhat better.

The next person up was Laurana, who came out sleepy eyed and sat down next to her man. "Hi," she said and kissed him tenderly. "I am so tired. This one has been kicking me constantly," she tapped her belly and sighed.

Brulenzia kissed her, then leaned down, putting his face next to her stomach. "You need to calm down and let your mama rest," he said to her expanding middle in a sort of baby voice. That made Laurana laugh and Ayla smile—she had never seen anyone talk to the baby like that before.

"I could make a calming tea for you to drink before bed," Ayla suggested. "It could really help you rest."

Laurana nodded. "Yes, I think I would like that Ayla."

"Me too," Danie added from the tent entrance. She had a look on her face that Ayla had not seen there before. What is it, she wondered. Peace?

"Danie," Laurana exclaimed. "Are you blessed too?" Danie nodded at the woman, and flushed. "I just hope Ivan will shape up, so that I can be happy about this. It is difficult to imagine that my mating won't work out, especially after how nice it was in the beginning."

"I already told you that he will 'shape up,' Danie," Ayla prophesized. "So don't you worry." Ayla could see that Brulenzia was frowning, but decided to ask him about it later.

Shortly after Danie, Grov appeared looking tousled and sleepy just like the others had. Ayla immediately jumped up to fix his tea, just the way he liked it. The man accepted his woman's attention, but noticed that the other woman didn't just jump up every time their men wanted something. The men often got what they wanted on their own. He wondered if he should encourage her to be more like that while they were with her people. He really liked the personal service, but wondered what everyone else thought about it.

Then, it occurred to him that he could do the same for her. There was no reason why a man could not assist a woman in such things—or have tea waiting for her, if he woke up first. In the Clan's cave, it would be disturbing to see a man doing such things, but here it would feel normal.

Finally, Vincenzia came back out of his tent again, and the five young adults turned to look at him. "So, are we off soon?" Brulenzia asked.

"Yes," the older man replied. "I want to at least get to the path that descends the other side of this highland. It is steep over there, but not as bad as the way up was." He looked at Laurana and smiled. "Are you okay?" She nodded. "Well, okay then, let's pack up, and get started. With any luck, we can get there in three days. That is, if everything goes as planned and we can cross the river right at the bottom of this highland."

~oxoxo~

As the journeyers traveled along the cliff of the highland, they could look down into the valley below and see a herd of Megaceros roaming the area. Ayla smiled, thinking that she hadn't hunted in quite a while and hadn't even thought about it. There had been a time in her life where that was all she thought about, but not now. She was too busy with her mate, three children, and her people.

As they walked, Ayla's mind turned toward the Clan and she wondered what Uba was doing at the moment and thought about her two small sons. They must be getting big by now, Ayla thought. Then she thought about Oga and her children, and wondered if the woman was doing okay with Broud. They seemed to be doing much better when Ayla left, but she couldn't be sure that the man hadn't reverted back to his previous self. And Ebra, she considered the difficult delivery the woman had had, and the many sleepless nights afterward. Ayla hoped they were doing okay as well.

As Ayla walked, thinking about her Clan family, tears came to her eyes. She blinked them back quickly and shook her head, trying to banish her thoughts. It was not like she wouldn't see them all again. She would be back at the Clan's cave when the summer was over.

Ayla was so deep in thought, that she did not hear the loud squawking that resonated off the hills that they were walking along. When Grov touched her shoulder and pointed, she grinned. "Shriek!" she said. Grov indicated that he would take the baby, and Ayla took out her leather glove that she had created. The hawk circled around several times, then swooped down and landed gracefully on her leather-covered forearm. Ayla reached up and stroked his feathers and pulled the bird in closer so she could put her cheek against his wing. Shriek ruffled his feathers, as he always did, and squawked in her face.

Annaliza, in Grov's arms, reached a chubby hand toward the meat-eater, causing him so cock his head at the small creature and squawk again. Ayla and Grov laughed at the girl's startled expression.

"He is just amazing Ayla," Laurana said, standing to Ayla right, but just far enough that the hawk could not reach over and nip her. She was still afraid of the animal, especially since they had not had much contact with him; he was always off somewhere.

Ayla smiled. "Yes, he is."

"Who would have ever thought a hawk could be tamed," Brulenzia said. "You have a gift Ayla."

"Hmm, I didn't do it on purpose. I just healed him and took care of him. Over time, he grew to trust me. It was not due to a gift, Brulenzia," Ayla said.

"But Ayla, no one else has ever done this before," Laurana argued. "You must have some sort of gift. Maybe you're a Caller."

Ayla frowned. "I don't know what a Caller is, Laurana, I really don't think this is a gift." Ayla paused. "Though it makes me wonder what other animals I could make my friends."

"I'm sure you could Call any animal you wanted, Ayla," Laurana went on with a smile. Ayla was still frowning, but wondered if she could and thought about what other animals she would like to have as her friends.

~oxoxo~

When night fell on them, they were at another steep cliff area and Vincenzia had said this would be a good place to camp. Ayla was happy that Shriek was hovering above, and when their tents were set up, he came down and perched himself on the top of their tent. It would make her sleep more peacefully, she thought, having him so near.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

That night, Ivanolia and Braydalana had slept in Lion Cave instead of Mammoth Cave, as they would be heading out at first light and wanted to be at the lowest point of Pine Camp. Zackodia, and few other men, would be taking the two travelers upriver in one of their boats and had packed up enough supplies to be gone five or so days.

Bidena stood on the dock with her son, Dozentia, waving goodbye to the people in the boats. "We will see you at the summer meeting," she called out.

"Goodbye," Braydalana yelled. "Bye Dozentia." She was standing and waving energetically. Ivanolia finally told the girl to sit down.

~oxoxo~

Their upriver travel was going along fine. Big River's flow had slowed considerably again since the rains had ceased for the moment—and because they had experienced another freezing night. Still, they had to work extremely hard to maneuver the craft upriver. Braydalana just sat there, working on the baby outfit she was making for Laurana's baby, but Ivanolia struggled right along with everyone else. He was, however, thrilled to see that they appeared to be making good time. Zackodia reassured him that upriver travel was possible if the conditions were right. Ivanolia had not believed him, but now he did.

~oxoxo~

As the sun began to set over the western hills, Pine Camp called a halt to the traveling. "Well, I'd say we've gone half the distance to where we need to go," Zackodia stated.

"Really?" Ivanolia asked. "That is wonderful. I am still afraid they have already passed us. Could they have crossed Big River by now?"

"How many people are traveling?" a younger man asked him.

Ivanolia thought a moment. "Thirteen, but there are four children, one baby and a pregnant woman," he said with a frown.

"Well then, they are likely to be a day or so behind us. And no, they wouldn't be able to cross Big River. Not without a boat," Zackodia said. "But they probably plan to go upriver a bit to where Maple Camp keeps boats. Maple Camp always leaves boats on the south side of the river so that people can get across."

Ivanolia nodded. That piece of information made him relax. He had started worrying about Danie and Laurana again, but now he knew they were likely to be just fine. Braydalana was watching him and rolled her eyes. "Ivan," she said. "I'm sure Vincenzia would not do anything to put them all in danger. Besides, Ayla is there to help them. They will get there safely, just as we will." She smiled at the man of her hearth, then went back to her sewing.

"See Ivanolia, no need to worry," the Pine Camp second said to him. Ivanolia smiled back at the burly man, thinking again about how much this man looked like his brother.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – "Journey to Lion Camp – Day Seven...and Nine!"

Ivanolia was awoken by Zackodia before the sun even came up. "Let's go," the Pine Camp man called, rapping on the tent. "We're likely to miss them if we don't get moving."

"Be right out," Ivanolia said, then turned to shake Braydalana. Her eyes were already open and she was rubbing sleep from them. "Let's hurry up," he said to her. She nodded and put her clothing on.

Their camp had been set up early the night before, since Zackodia wanted to set out early as well. Though he said it was not likely that the other travelers could have passed them, there was no way to know if they had. He decided it would be a shame to have to chase them upriver if they could catch them in the exact place they wanted to.

Ivanolia thought it unlikely they would find them exactly where they wanted to, but Zackodia explained that given the information Ivanolia had relayed to him, it was most probable that they had stopped for at least a day at Beech Camp and that then they would travel straight through, following the well worn path, then turn northwest at Big River. Zackodia said that the distance they had to travel up the river was much greater, perhaps double that of the others over land, but their speed would get them there quickly. Not to mention their early departure.

Once packed up, and in their boat, Braydalana went back to sleep. Ivanolia had tucked her in and said he would wake her for a meal later. The girl was looking a little sick. Ivanolia was worried about her unexpected swim a couple days before and wondered about her yellow face. She told him that she was just feeling a little nauseated from spending so much time in the boats. "I'm just not used to it, Ivanolia," she said. "Don't worry, just one more day of it."

~oxoxo~

When the sun was up enough to see, Ivanolia woke her and handed her some traveling meat and a drink of water. She took what he offered, drank deeply, then chewed slowly. She was a little dizzy, but the food seemed to help. When she was done eating, she decided to do a little more sewing.

The men, all sweaty in the cold morning air, were rowing steadily and were making significant progress. Ivanolia was amazed that they could travel so quickly on a river flowing in the opposite direction, but indeed they were. One man told him they would never be able to do this after the heavy rains began. Ivanolia nodded, remembering that they had told him that before, but then, he hadn't thought it possible to do it now.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

Vincenzia was up before everyone else again, but waited for the sun to peek over the eastern mountains before he began to wake people. Of course he started with Darvie and her children, then Darvie woke Travie and Danie, and soon the noise of cleaning up the camp woke the rest.

When Ayla came out, she looked around for Shriek, but to her sadness, he had flown off again. She was not happy about that, but there was nothing she could do. With a frown, she went to rouse her children.

Durc didn't need to be woken up. The boy was already dressed when she entered the tent. "I want to play with Brenev, Mama," he said.

"Okay, just until we're ready to go, but don't get in anyone's way while they're packing up," Ayla called after him as he ran out to find his friend. Ayla smiled. She was so happy that her brother was the perfect age to play with her son. Well almost, she thought. Durc is a little more mature since he's part Clan, but it was still perfect in her eyes.

Ayla turned to Ora, who had removed her sleeping clothes and was giggling. "I don't want to put those clothes on Mamma," she said. "Where's my wrap?"

"Ora, you can't wear a Clan wrap out here," Ayla said, holding out the girl's leggings. "Come put this on."

Ora shook her head, causing Ayla to gasp. No Clan child would think of refusing to do what his or her mother had said to do. Ayla's shock made it possible for the girl to shoot out of the tent stark naked. Ayla ran after her.

As the girl shot outside and around the fire, Laurana looked up and laughed. Then seeing Ayla's face, the younger woman stifled her laughter and gave Brulenzia a look. The man, who was standing in the perfect position, grabbed the child by the arm and swung her up so that she could not escape. "And where are you going, my dear?" he asked. Ora struggled to get down, but gave up quickly.

Ayla walked up to the dangling child and gave her a stern look. "That is unacceptable, Ora," she scolded. "I do not want you to do that again." As Ayla walked back to the tent, she cast a thankful look back at Brulenzia, then entered the tent.

Inside, Annaliza had removed her own swaddling and wanted to play just like her big sister, but one look from Ayla told the child that there would be no playing this morning; Ayla told Annaliza to sit still while she dressed Ora. Then, when she had finished with Ora, she took the child outside. "Crisanie," she said. "Would you mind watching Ora while I dress Annaliza?"

The eight year old smiled. "Oh, of course I wouldn't mind, Ayla. You know I love to play with her. I wish Bray was here to play with us." Ayla noticed her sister looked sad, but only until she placed Ora's hand in hers.

Ayla watched the two run off, dolls in hand, then turned back to her tent and the naked child within. Annaliza seemed to have an easier temperament than her big sister. Then, Ayla was suddenly brought back to a time when she and Evanora were playing together...

"Evanora, you're older than Andreyta. You must not go running off like that. You know she will follow you wherever you go," Ayla's mother said.

Evanora frowned. "So, she can follow me," she said in her most defiant voice.

"Okay then, I won't let you two play together if you don't understand why we are concerned," Vinoza replied, completely exasperated with her daughter. "And don't talk to Aunt Annalisa like that." Evanora was glaring at her mother, but tears were welling all the same.

Ayla smiled at the memory and was glad that they were coming back to her slowly. She still could not see her mother in most of them, though she could picture others quite clearly, but she figured that it was only a matter of time. Ayla's thoughts turned back to Ora and Annaliza and she almost giggled. Ora is just like her mother, whereas Annaliza was definitely her child.

~oxoxo~

When it was time for a noon meal, the travelers had made it to the crest of the highlands. Vincenzia said they could stop at the top to eat, then they would descend from the highlands afterward. Ayla was glad for that, she was staving, and from the looks of them, so was everyone else. Laurana and Danie downed their food quickly, and the children did the same. Of course, the only reason the children ate so quickly was because they wanted to play before the hike began.

When the meal had ended, the people picked up their gear and continued on. Their downward trek was slow, but it wasn't difficult. "This is just beautiful," Laurana exclaimed. "Look at this view!" Ayla smiled at the woman, as she helped her down. Grov had offered to carry her again, but Laurana had said she would be fine. Instead, Grov and Brulenzia walked just in front of the women, just in case.

As the cousins walked, Laurana was giggling at something Ayla said and the two men in front of them looked back. Ayla smiled at them, then looked over their shoulders at the river, which had just come into her view. "Oooo, look, there's Big River," Ayla yelled. Everyone turned around, and smiled. They could see the midday sun glinting off the slowly flowing water and the lush land of the river valley surrounding them.

Grov looked at the sight, then turned to look back at his mate and her expression full of delight. He was suddenly glad he had decided to take her to visit her people; he would not have seen any of this otherwise, nor would he have had the spectacular view of his mate in such a delighted state.

As everyone stared at the valley before them for a moment, he took his mate into his arms and kissed her gently. "What was that for, Grov?" she asked.

"I just wanted you to know how happy I am here with you and your people," he replied.

Ayla flashed a smile at him, then put her arms around his neck and kissed him back. "Well, I am happy that you are here with me. And now I am wishing it was night time and we were in our tent," she said suggestively. Grov laughed at her, then was startled out of her arms by Laurana's voice.

"Look!" she screamed. "Look at the river! There is a boat down there. Can everyone see it?"

Everyone immediately turned and squinted down at the river. And sure enough, there was a boat traveling against the current. It was just a speck from their vantage point, but it was definitely a boat, and it was coming toward where they wanted to go.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

When the time came for the boater's midday meal, Zackodia steered the boat for shore, and they all unloaded. Ivanolia scrutinized Braydalana's every move, wondering if she was feeling all right, then sat down to eat. The girl was feeling better, but was glad that they had stopped to eat.

The noon meal, like the morning meal, consisted of traveling meat and water. Braydalana wrinkled her nose at it, but ate it quickly. "Can I at least make some tea?" she asked the men.

Ivanolia smiled at her. He knew she was tired of traveling and the food that went along with it, but he also knew that she had wanted to go on this journey with him and would gladly have eaten this food for an entire cycle of a moon, if she had needed to. "I'll make it, Bray," he said.

The girl smiled widely at the man. She was so glad the man was back to himself. The only worry she now had was whether or not Danie would take him back. It was, after all, a new mating for them and they hadn't really gotten to know each other very well before they had mated. Braydalana hadn't really thought she would ever have to share the man with anyone and was put off by Danie in the beginning. But, knowing that Danie was Darvie's sister, and seeing her positive affect on Ivanolia, and experiencing a relationship with a motherly woman, other than a grandmothers, had brought the girl around; Braydalana had fallen in love with this woman and didn't want to lose her.

~oxoxo~

When their tea was finished, everyone packed it in again, and pushed off. Ivanolia was noticing a difference in the rate of flow of the river. Their upriver pushed seemed to be slightly easier; Zackodia said that this part of Big River was always easier to maneuver, but that they still needed to push on, if they were to make it to Lyev River by nightfall.

Ivanolia didn't need to be told twice. In fact, the man pushed on even harder. He wanted to get there before Danie did. He didn't know why he wanted to be there before her, but he did. I need to think about what I want to say to her. I need to be ready to tell her I'm sorry. He shook his head to himself; I'm already ready to do that. What I need to do, is be able to face Ayla and Grov and to show Danie that I can accept them.

Braydalana was watching the man of her hearth in between stitches and smiled at him while he was not watching. His shoulders, though working extremely hard, had somehow relaxed. And the tension, which had creased his brow, was now smoothed out. Everything about his body language spoke to her. He's done it, she thought. He's made a conscious effort to change. She knew it was going to be okay at that very moment. There may still be bumpy days ahead, but she knew he had truly decided to accept the Clan. She was so happy.

~oxoxo~

"I see people," Zackodia called back over his shoulder. Ivanolia almost stopped his work in his excitement, but then recalled that everyone was needed. They were, after all, still a good distance away and the people could be others.

Braydalana, however, could not contain her excitement and jumped up and screamed at them. There was no doubt in her mind who the people were. Zackodia grinned at the girl. "Calm down, girl," he said. "You'll be hoarse before we get there if you keep that up." Braydalana blushed deeply, knowing that the man was right, but didn't sit down.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

Vincenzia was thrilled at the sight of boat and tried to get everyone to hurry up. "If we get down there in time, then we won't have to travel upriver at all," he said.

"You could go on ahead, Vin," Darvie suggested. "That way we don't all have to hurry and then we're sure to catch them."

Vincenzia smiled at his mate. "Well, why didn't I think of that," he said with a glint in his eye.

"I'm sure you did think of that," she said playfully. "I just said it before you could." Darvie gave him the smile that had attracted him to her nine years before, when he had been distraught over the loss of his mate and her daughter, bringing him out of his stupor and back to life. He kissed her quickly, then quickened his step.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

As the Pine Camp boat came ashore, there was only one man standing there. They could see others off in the distance, coming up quickly, but too far away to call out to. The people disembarked and Braydalana jumped up and ran to the man. "Vincenzia!" she screamed. "We found you!" She was so happy that she threw her arms around the man, causing him to laugh loudly, then he turned to the others.

"Well, Ivanolia, I see you have decided to join us," Vincenzia said. "And you have enlisted the help of...Pine Camp, I see. How are you Zackodia?" The men shared a customary hug and Zackodia introduced the other boatmen. "It is most propitious that we find you here," Vincenzia said to the Pine Camp second. "Would you fine people mind transporting us across this river."

"We thought you might want us to do that," the man said with a laugh. "Ivanolia here, has been extremely worried about several of your people crossing this wonderful river." The man had just finished his sentence when the rest of Oak Camp's party walked into earshot.

"And who might he have been worried about," Danie asked, in her best Sungaea. She was not smiling and Ivanolia's happiness faded when he looked at her. He stared at her, as her light gray eyes flashed with anger, he immediately lost hope that she would take him back.

Zackodia didn't know this woman, but her accent told him she was Mamutoi. He knew of the Mamutoi's directness, but she was being just a little more than direct, he thought. There is more that this woman wants. "He spoke of his mate, a pregnant woman, small children, and a baby, but he was worried about all," the man replied, realizing that this was Ivanolia's mate and that they had had some difficulties.

Danie studied the Pine Camp man who had spoken, then nodded and looked at Ivanolia. Ivanolia now stood there looking extremely vulnerable. "Really, Ivan?" she said, tears sprang into her eyes without notice. She tried to blink them back, but to no avail. "You really worry about all of us?" Her best Sungaean suddenly became her broken Sungaean, as tears coursed down her cheeks.

Ivanolia didn't like to be the center of attention...well, not in this way, and he stood there dumbly, nodding at her. Braydalana rolled her eyes and gave the man a shove. "Oh for the love of the Mother, Ivan," she said.

Ivanolia stumbled toward his woman and embraced her. "I have missed you Danie and I am so sorry."

"I have missed you too Ivan, but can you accept...everything. I mean, can you really accept that...that the Clan, as Ayla says, are people too, because it is going to be hard to convince others, and I need to know I can count on you."

Ivanolia looked deeply into her light eyes, stroked her short, nearly black hair, and nodded, then he looked over her shoulder at the rest of their people. He looked at his sister, who seemed to have grown huge in the nine days since he had seen her. Her hands rested on Brulenzia's, whose arms were wrapped around her, hands on her bulging belly. Then his eyes shifted to Travie. She was rounding up the three oldest children and scolding them for lagging behind. Then he looked to Laurana's other side and saw Ayla standing there, holding her daughter, and Grov right next to her, one hand on the woman's back, the other holding Evanora's daughter. The man did not know what to say to them, but when Danie stepped back, he went to them. First to Ayla.

"Ayla," he began. "I am so sorry. I do not know what else to say, except that I am so sorry." He looked at Grov. "I do not know what is wrong with me."

Grov looked at him sharply; he also did not know what to say. He decided that he would reserve judgment for when the man was tested.

Ayla, on the other hand, smiled. "Ivanolia, there is nothing to forgive. We all make mistakes." She gave the man her most winning smile and hugged him tightly. "And besides, we are family. I could not be angry with you for too long, especially since I like your mate so much." Ivanolia accepted her hug and pulled back only when Annaliza squirmed to get out of their embrace.

When that was over, and Ivanolia knew he had his woman back, Braydalana finally come forward. "Mother, I have missed you so much," she said.

Danie smiled and hugged the child. "And I you," she replied.

Zackodia was watching the people and suddenly realized that there were two people of mixed spirits among them. He did not remember them from when he lived there. "I see you have some...interesting new members," he said, eyeing the flatheads cautiously.

"Yes, yes," Vincenzia said. "You probably remember how I lost my first mate, Annalisa, and her daughter Andreyta, right?"

"Well, of course I do," Zackodia said. "I hadn't yet met or mated Bidena, so I was still with Oak Camp."

Vincenzia grinned. "Well this," he said, taking Ayla's hand, "Is my lost daughter Andreyta, but she goes by Ayla now."

"Really?" Zackodia said. He had been more interested in the flatheads, but this news was worth celebration. "That is fantastic!"

"She was adopted by the Clan and this is her mate, Grov, her son, Durc, and her daughter, Annaliza." Vincenzia picked up Durc, and put an arm around Grov, smiling broadly.

Zackodia continued to smile, but he was taken aback by the man's news. Surely no decent Sungaean woman, and a stunningly gorgeous one at that, would accept a flathead for a mate. However, it was obvious that she had and that she had birthed one of those abominations of mixed spirits. He suddenly realized what he had been thinking and blushed. Vincenzia was making introductions and he did not seem the least bit upset by the facts at all. Zackodia wished he could speak to Pine Camp's Spirit Shogur, but knew that he wouldn't be able to do that until the summer meeting. He decided to find out as much as he could, so that he could bring back all vital information to his camp.

~oxoxo~

The first order of business was getting everyone safely across Big River. After crossing, they were right next to Lyev River, which flowed right in front of Lion Camp, but it was nearly frozen, so they would just walk the rest of the way, as planned.

But, before they could go anywhere, the sun had dropped so low that the people decided to camp out one more night. Zackodia was happy that they would be able to stay with them, so that he could learn more about these Clan people. He was very interested, especially after he was formally introduced to Grov and learned that this man would soon become the leader of the Clan that Ayla lived with. Then, he was further amazed to discover that the man could talk. He hadn't thought the flatheads could talk. This is amazing, he said to himself.

As the people of Pine Camp came to know these members of Oak Camp better, they realized they liked them all, even their interesting guests. Zackodia watched Ayla's son Durc play with Darvie's son Brenevia and smiled at their play; just like any other two boys of that age, he thought.

Then he watched the interaction of the young couples and smiled. "You should have seen him, Ivan," Brulenzia said. "He just picked her up, as if she were a feather, and carried her up the hill. It was amazing." Grov was blushing, he was used to Clan men boasting about their own feats of strength in hunt dances, but never about someone else's.

Ivanolia looked at the man in a different light, as if he had saved the life of Laurana. "Thank you Grov," he said, with more feeling in his voice than he would have liked to have been there. "I don't know how I can repay you."

Grov, of course, was shaking his head. "No, no, it was nothing. I just didn't think Laurana was going to make it up the hill, but I would not have noticed if Ayla had not pointed out her struggle." It was Ayla's turn to blush. She also didn't want any attention, but Ivanolia turned toward her at that moment, so she would have to deal with it.

"Thank you, Ayla. I am so glad that you were on this journey with my mate and my sister. I am so grateful that you have kept them safe." Ayla just nodded. She really hadn't done anything, but she knew this was a big step for the man and she would not take it away from him.

Zackodia listened to them for a little while longer. This Grov seems to fit in just fine. Then he turned back to the older adults.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – "Journey to Lion Camp – The Final Day"

The next morning began with a light drizzle, making all the people glad they had reunited the day before. Zackodia and the other Pine Camp people ate one last meal with them, then departed quickly. If the drizzle turned to rain, then Big River would surge to unbelievable levels in no time and they would want to be back at their camp before that happened.

Everyone joined them on the riverbank, giving final hugs and good wishes. Ivanolia thanked Pine Camp profusely for their assistance and Braydalana planted a big kiss on Zackodia's cheek. The man smiled at her, and turned toward Vincenzia. "You have given us much to think about Vincenzia. I'm not sure we would ever have understood had it not been for you and your guests," he said. "I think you still have some trouble ahead of you, but you can count on our support."

"Thank you, Zackodia," Vincenzia replied. "Your support will not be forgotten. And I am aware there will still be trouble...we all are. But, with hope, people will change their views."

Zackodia was nodding. "I think that...in small doses, people are more likely to change. You said Beech Camp was receptive, right?"

"Yes, yes, but not all of them," Vincenzia said.

Ayla came up to the men, and put her arms around the man of her hearth, and looked up at the man. "Not all, Vincenzia, but even Balana seemed...shall I say...less reluctant by the time we left." Ayla turned to look at Zackodia and he suddenly noticed her strange accent. She had a guttural quality to her voice. So had her children and her mate, he thought. Was that the accent of the Clan, he wondered.

"Well Ayla, I am pleased to have met you and your family," Zackodia said. Ayla had seen his shock at her family's introduction the day before, but now she could only see that he was truly pleased to have met them.

"I thank you. I too am pleased to have met some members of Pine Camp," she returned. "I look forward to seeing you at the summer meeting and meeting the rest of Pine Camp."

The young woman smiled at the man, causing him to become mesmerized by her. She truly is a beauty, he thought. Zackodia finally realized he was staring and smiled back, then departed with his men.

~oxoxo~

After the boats had drifted out of view, Vincenzia turned to the assembled group. "Well, I'm sure that we can be there by nightfall...if we get going, that is. What do you all say?"

Everyone cheered, all wanting the travel to end, but most of all, they wanted out of this dreary rain.

~oxoxo~

It was nearly time for their afternoon meal, and the sun, which had been obscured by thick, gray clouds all day, was making a momentary appearance. Ayla glanced up as it peeked out from behind its veil, and then looked at the soaking people around her. Braydalana had just sneezed and Ayla wondered if the girl was sick. Ivanolia had told them about their scary trip down Big River. The girl had seemed fine, but now Ayla wasn't so sure. "I am fine, Ayla," she said. "It is just this cold, wet weather. I really hate to get wet." Ayla eyed her, then decided she'd just keep a close eye on the girl. She didn't look sick, only wet, just as she said.

Then, while still looking at Braydalana, Ayla heard the sound of someone retching behind her and she turned to see Danie on her hands and knees in the soggy grass. Ivanolia was kneeling beside his mate, with a worried expression on his face. "Danie, are you sick?" he asked, concern etched in his crystal blue eyes.

"Well, that's obvious," she said with a smirk, then retched again. He rubbed her back, while she finished, then helped her to her feet. "I don't know if I can do this," she said to Ayla, when the woman got to her side. "I didn't know this would feel so awful."

Ayla looked at the woman, then up toward Vincenzia. "Vincenzia," she called. "We need to break. Danie needs my tea." The man nodded and started a fire for tea.

Ivanolia looked extremely worried. "What can't you do, Danie?" he asked. "And what didn't you know would be so awful?"

Danie suddenly realized that her mate was the only one, besides Braydalana, that didn't know she was blessed. In her initial anger at seeing him, and then her pleasure to have him back, she had completely forgotten her condition. She put her hand on his cheek and smiled up at him gently, then waited for a moment, letting another wave of nausea pass, then grinned widely. "I am going to have a baby, Ivan," she said with a pained smile. "I will be okay, but I am feeling awful right now." Then she turned around threw up again.

Ivanolia stood there for a moment, looking at her dumbly, then he began to frown. "What?" he said. "How did this happen?" He had not wanted Danie to become pregnant. There was, of course, no way he knew of to prevent it and didn't know how conception really took place, but he was terrified of losing his new mate, as he had lost Braydalana's mother.

Several people looked at the man, most knew the pain he had suffered eight years before and knew that he could not take the same thing again. Danie, however, didn't realize he felt so strongly about it. She finished emptying the contents of her stomach—which she couldn't believe still contained anything—then looked up at the man. "Ivan, there is nothing we can do about this now, so try to be happy," she said, putting her arms around the shocked man. "I am very happy about this. It's just that the first three moons can be difficult."

Ivanolia put his arms around her reluctantly and sighed, kissing the top of her head. "I...I am happy about it Danie...I'm just...scared," he finished lamely. "I can't lose you," he whispered, more to himself than to her. "I just can't."

Danie hugged him tightly. "I'm sure I will be fine, Ivan. Women have babies all the time. I am not the first one you know."

Yes, they did, he thought, but there was a nagging feeling in the pit of his stomach. He didn't know what it was, but it bothered him. He swallowed and pushed it away, then kissed her again.

"Danie, here is your tea," Ayla said, coming up behind the woman. "I have made it a little stronger. It will slow you down considerably, but you won't feel so sick." Danie took the cup and drank slowly. Ivanolia had her sit down to rest and he sat next to her frowning.

A baby, he thought. "When Danie?" he asked. "When will you have the baby?"

She smiled. "I think I have been pregnant for about two mooncycles, so...just before winter," she said.

~oxoxo~

After eating, and seeing that Danie was feeling somewhat better—as good could be expected, at least—Vincenzia urged the group on. The people trudged along in the squelchy grass, following Lyev River, but everyone was miserable.

Danie, who was not vomiting anymore, was still having trouble. Her problem now was that Ayla's tea, which had a calming affect on her stomach, was also putting her to sleep. Ivanolia was beside himself. He picked the woman up and carried her.

Grov, who was trying his hardest to be aware of all people in the group, noticed the woman's difficulty and the man's despair at not knowing how to help her. His recent experience with Laurana told him that this woman also required relief from walking, and when Ivanolia picked her up, he was glad the woman's mate had seen it too.

Then, not long afterward, he saw the man struggling to hold her. Grov realized that he was the only one capable of carrying her for a long distance, so went back to help the man. "May I," Grov asked, holding his arms out to take the woman. Ivanolia stared at the man, a momentary flicker of possessiveness seizing him, then, arms shaking, he relinquished his woman to the Clan man.

Grov took Danie from him and Ivanolia helped to lower her head gently to Grov's shoulder. Ivanolia pushed a short, black tendril of Danie's hair off of her face, then covered her up with a waterproofed hide. The woman hardly stirred, causing a worried frown to crease the man's brow.

"She will be fine, Ivanolia," Ayla said, putting her hand on his shoulder. "Many women experience this sickness while pregnant. It doesn't help that the day is so awful either. I'm sure that dry clothing, a warm bed, and a good hot meal will help her." Ayla paused. "Tonight she will have those things, right?"

Ivanolia looked at his cousin and nodded. "Yes, Ayla, and thank you." Ayla smiled at him, then looped her arm through his and pulled him on.

~oxoxo~

As evening came on, Travie seemed to get a burst of energy. They were very near Lion Camp and she was looking forward to seeing family. She had become very close to those at Oak Camp, but they were Sungaea—and that was just not the same as Mamutoi.

When they came around a corner to find a huge man standing with his back to them, Travie knew immediately that it must be Talut; there was no one that could match his size. "TALUT!" she yelled. "What are you doing outside in this dreadful weather, you old bear?"

The huge man spun around and grinned at the drenched woman. "TRAVIE!" he boomed, taking the woman into his arms. "I could ask you the same thing. And why are you here at Lion Camp, instead of snug inside Oak Camp's earthlodge?"

"Hmm. Well, we have brought someone that would like to meet the youngest son of your hearth," Travie explained. "But are you going to make us stand out here all night or can we all come in?"

Talut roared with laughter, looking over the woman's shoulder at the large group of travelers. "Of course you can come in," he said, suddenly realizing that there were many of them, and that they were all soaked to the bone. "Nezzie," he called into the lodge. "We have visitors!"

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – "Getting Settled"

"Let's make introductions inside," the huge man said. "You people need to change out of those wet clothes." Travie smiled at the man and pushed aside the heavy curtain of mammoth hide, which covered the entrance and walked through it. Talut followed the woman with a laugh, holding the hide aside for those that followed. Vincenzia went through after the big man.

Darvie herded the children through the entrance, then indicated to Grov that he should follow, since he was still carrying a sleeping Danie. Grov stepped through the entrance, glancing briefly up at the lion skull that decorated the symmetrical mammoth tusk archway. "Ayla," he said over his shoulder. "Look."

Ayla looked up where he had thrown his eyes and gasped. Lion Camp, she thought with a smile. She sent Laurana on ahead of her so that she could briefly inspect the skull, then followed quickly when she noticed she was the only one left outside. Talut was holding the hide for her and she smiled up at him gratefully.

The arch led to a roomy entrance area, with another symmetrical arch of mammoth tusks hung with leather directly across. They stepped down into a circular foyer whose thick walls curved up to a shallow domed ceiling.

As they walked through, Ayla noticed the side walls, which seemed to be a mosaic of mammoth bones, were lined with outer clothes hung on pegs and racks with storage containers and implements. Talut pulled back the inner drape, went on through and held it back for the guests.

As the people stepped down into the spacious room, a large woman walked up to them, looking up at the red-haired giant. "Yes Talut, you sure have brought visitors," she said with a smile. Then she looked at the people closely. "Travie, it is good to see you, but you are drenched. You must take off those clothes. All of you. Off! Off! Off!" she said clapping her hands. "Latie!" she called to a young blond girl that was sitting off to the side with two boys. "Could you help me hang up all their wet outerwear?"

The girl, who was about eleven, jumped up and started taking the travelers' parkas. She hung up several, then turned to take more and suddenly noticed Durc. She just stood there staring for a moment, letting the water pool in the dirt at her feet. Then, when she noticed her feet were getting wet, she realized she was being rude and blushed, then looked away. Ayla smiled at her. "This is son, Durc," Ayla said, in broken Mamutoi. No, Ayla thought, that is not right. Ayla looked at over at Darvie, then tried again. "This is my son, Durc," she corrected herself, this time giving them no doubts about who had birthed the child.

Latie smiled back at the woman, then down at the boy. "He looks just like my brother, Rydag."

"That is why we came, Latie," Ayla said. "I want...wanted to see Rydag."

Latie hung up the last of the outerwear, and then she noticed the man standing next to Ayla and gasped. "Mother," she said worriedly. "Talut."

Talut and Nezzie turned around to look at the girl and followed her eyes to the man who was carrying a sleeping woman. Nezzie looked at the man closely and realized he was mixed, just like Rydag, but she also noticed that he couldn't be full mixture. He almost looked like one of them—almost, but not completely. "Oh, you must put that woman down," she said. "Oh, it is Danie. Is she okay?"

"Yes, she is fine Nezzie," Darvie answered. "She felt sick from pregnancy and Ayla gave her something to relax her stomach, but it put her to sleep."

The large woman nodded. "Hmm. I think Tronie could use some of that too."

"Let me make some introductions," Vincenzia said, grinning at the people of Lion Camp. "This is Ayla. She is the first daughter of my hearth, born to Annalisa of Oak Camp of the Sungaea, found and raised by the first healer of the Clan of the Cave Bear, protected by the spirit of the cave lion, trained to serve as a healer of the Clan, mated to Grov, mother of Durc, Ora, and Annaliza, and friend to the meat-eater Shriek, which is probably somewhere nearby," he said with a grin. "She was lost to us for so long, but she was finally returned to us."

The people in the large open spaced stared at Ayla, making her suddenly self-conscious, but she smiled. Vincenzia went on, giving only names for the rest of the people.

"This is Grov, Ayla's mate, and Durc, Ora, and Annaliza," he said picking up Ayla's middle child, then he turned to others. "Of course you know Travie and Danie. Do you remember Ivanolia, Danie's mate," he asked. Most people nodded. "And this is Ivanolia's sister, Laurana, and her promised, Brulenzia. I hope you will have room for all of us."

"Well, of course we do, Vincenzia. There is nothing I like better than a few visitors," Talut said. "Well, almost nothing," he said, nuzzling the woman next to him.

Nezzie rolled her eyes and slapped the man's arm. "Oh Talut!" she cried. "What are we going to do with you? Come in everyone and—" The woman was about to say something else, when she felt a tug on her tunic sleeve. Looking down, she saw her youngest child standing there. He wanted to be introduced to the people too. "This is my son, Rydag," she said.

Ayla looked up at the sound of the boy's name. This was the child she had come to see. Ayla stepped forward and kneeled in front of the boy, making a gesture of hello as well as speaking out loud. The woman saw a slight glimmer of...something...the struggle to understand, maybe. The boy lifted his hands to try, then dropped them back down, not sure he understood.

"Yes Rydag," she signed. "That's it. Access your memories. I know you have them." The boy strained to understand her and looked over at the woman that took care of him. She had a worried expression on her face, but watched closely. Ayla looked at the boy closely, seeing that he was ill, that he could not do everything that other children could do and she smiled at him sadly. Then, a little girl approached, and slipped her hand into his. "I am Rugie," she said. "Rydag is my brother, but he can't talk." Rugie looked at Ayla, then looked at Grov and Durc. "Can they talk?" she asked.

Ayla looked over at her mate and son, then signaled Durc to come to her. Ayla saw another flicker of understanding cross Rydag's face. "Yes, they can talk," she said in signs and words. "Rydag, Rugie, this is my son Durc." The three children smiled at each other.

"Durc," Rydag said, in a guttural voice that was all too familiar to Ayla; it was what her son was called by the people of the Clan. His name, though still the same, was virtually unpronounceable to these Others, so it had been altered to make things easier.

Nezzie watched with tears in her eyes as the woman held one of Durc's hands and one of Rydag's hands, as she talked to the three children. Then, when Rydag spoke Durc's name, Nezzie gasped—he rarely made any audible sounds. She had heard him vocalize once in a while, but not too often, and usually only when he needed her help. She had never understood what he was saying before, but she could tell at that moment that Ayla understood him perfectly. She suddenly knew why these people had come.

Talut was interested in what was going on as well. Rydag was, after all, a son of his hearth too. The big man watched, silently taking in the scene, and could see the tender love on this stranger's face. And, she had a mixed son as well, he thought. Then it struck him...Clan? Vincenzia had said 'Clan.' Talut looked over at the man, who was also watching Ayla and the children. Did he mean that the daughter of his hearth was raised by flatheads, the people on the peninsula. Talut then looked back at Ayla and then her mate. That would explain her interesting mate and her mixed child. He had never doubted Rydag's humanity and had always wanted the boy to be accepted. Maybe this Ayla could help them with that.

As introductions were made, others filed into the room, wanting to meet the visitors as well. Ayla looked around, wondering if Lion Camp was made up of mostly children, fore nearly every person standing around the room was younger than her. She could tell that everyone liked visitors, especially after such a long winter, but Nezzie finally shooed almost everyone away, trying to appease them with the promise of a feast. "Okay, okay," she said. "Let's allow them to get settled in before we crush them with questions."

Latie smiled, then went back to sitting with the two boys, though she could hardly take her eyes away from the new visitors. The two boys seemed extremely curious as well, but knew they'd have to wait until later to learn more.

After most of the people had slipped away, Ayla looked around the room carefully. Talut was talking to a man, the only man that was in the room besides their own men, she thought. Tornec, Ayla remembered. This gave her time to see what there was to see in the room.

The space they were in had a large fireplace near the center. A massive haunch of meat was cooking over it, spitted on a long pole. Bison, she thought. Each end was resting in a groove cut in the knee joint of an upright leg bone of a mammoth calf, sunk into the ground. A fork from a large branching antler of a deer had been fashioned into a crank. Ayla smiled at the construction, and its ability to hold such a huge piece of meat, then her eyes looked beyond the food.

The fireplace was only the first of a row of hearths extending down the middle of the longhouse. Ayla looked down the passageway and counted six fires in addition to the main fire. She could see the fires and some benches along the wall. She could even see a few people down there, but she couldn't really see much else.

She suddenly remembered that Vincenzia had told her Oak Camp was fashioned after the Mamutoi's Earthlodges, but this was decidedly different. Oak Camp put the hearth fires within their hearths, while Lion Camp placed them in the common space walkway. Lion Camp's passageway was lit up much better.

When Talut finished with the man, he then ushered the people out of the large space, and into the lit up area that contained the hearths. Ivanolia, following last, glanced back at Danie, who was sleeping peacefully on one of the benches in the first hearth.

As they were led along a well-trodden passageway that ran down the middle of the longhouse next to several hearths, Ayla noticed wide benches with furs piled on them, extending out from the walls. Some people were sitting on them, relaxing or talking. So, she thought, this is where the adults were. She felt them looking at her as she walked past. She saw more of the mammoth tusk archways along the sides, and wondered where they led.

"Visitors usually stay at the Mammoth Hearth," Talut explained, "if Mamut doesn't object. I will ask."

"Of course they may stay, Talut."

The voice had come from one of the long benches within the hearth. Most of the visitors thought that the benches within contained only a pile of furs, but that was not the case. Ayla looked closely, as the pile moved. Two eyes gleamed out of a face marked, high on the right cheek, with tattooed chevrons that fell into the seams and stitched across the wrinkles of incredible age. The man, as they could now see him, stretched out his thin legs, and stood to greet the visitors.

Ayla stared at the man, and his crinkled old face, and tears sprang to her eyes. Grov laid a hand on her shoulder, looking at the old man before him. He had not known Creb personally; his Clan had never been to her Clan's summer meetings, but he knew what his mate was thinking, for he did have memories that told him of Mog-ur one-eye.

Ayla blinked back her tears, and stepped forward, then dropped to the ground at the old man's feet, crossing her legs and bowing her head.

The three Sungaean men and Grov had seen her in that position before, but the women looked confused. "Why is she doing that?" Laurana whispered to Brulenzia with a frown.

"That is the way a Clan woman requests permission to speak," he explained to her quietly, then looked back at the scene, wondering what the old man would do.

Mamut looked at the kneeling woman, then he glanced around at the group and smiled. His eyes took in everything, including the mixed child standing beside the woman, and the mixed man, holding a blonde baby, standing directly behind the woman. The old man's eyes searched the face of the mixed man for just a moment and seemed to ask a question. Though neither man moved, indicating that the question had been answered, it was obvious that it had been. Mamut suddenly reached out and tapped the woman's shoulder.

Ayla looked up and saw wise, gentle eyes in a face striated with fine creases and soft puckers. The tattoo under his right eye gave her a fleeting impression of a darkened eye socket and missing eye, and for a heartbeat she thought it was Creb. But the old holy man of the Clan who, with Iza, had raised her and cared for her, was dead, and so was Iza. Then who was this man that had evoked such strong feelings in her? Why was she sitting at his feet like a woman of the Clan? And how had he known the proper Clan response?

"Get up, my dear. We will talk later," the Mamut said. "You need time to rest and eat

; you all do," he said, looking at everyone else again. "There is plenty of space here for the adults. Maybe the children can sleep on the benches that are in the passageway. There are a lot of extra ones." The old man smiled, then looked up at Talut.

"Yes, yes, put your things here, and rest. Then, come to the cooking area, if you're hungry," the headman said. "I will leave you be for now." With that, the huge man left the Mammoth Hearth.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – "Rest for the Weary"

Ayla and Grov took the middle sleeping platform on the far right side of the Mammoth Hearth and put down what they were carrying. Ayla sat down and then lay back exhaustedly. Grov set Annaliza down next to her mother, then helped Ora up onto the bed and sat down himself. Durc stood there watching them. "Where will I be sleeping, Mama?" he asked.

Ayla sat up and looked at her son. "Let's go see, Durc," she said, getting up and taking her son's hand. "We'll find a place where you and Ora can sleep together." Ayla led them out of the hearth, and noticed Crisanie and Braydalana sitting on a bench just outside the hearth and giggling loudly.

"Oh Ayla, can Ora sleep with us?" Crisanie pleaded.

Ayla smiled at her little sister and nodded. "If it's okay with Ivanolia, of course she may," Ayla said, not wanting to do anything to upset her cousin, now that he didn't seem to be angry about her presence. "Where is Ivanolia anyway?"

"I'm right here," the man called from behind her. Ayla turned around to see him helping a very drowsy Danie down the passageway. "And yes, it's okay for the girls to sleep together."

Ayla smiled at him. "How are you feeling, Danie?"

"I'm okay. Just tired. I'm glad to be in out of that rain though," she said with a smile. "And I'm starving." Ayla giggled at the woman's sudden enthusiasm for food, and turned back toward Durc.

"I think you can sleep here, Durc," she said. Darvie then led Brenev out of Mammoth Hearth.

"Yes Ayla, that is perfect," Darvie said. "The boys can sleep there." The two boys climbed up onto the bench and began playing. As Ayla returned to the Mammoth Hearth, she noticed that other children were arriving. She saw Rugie and Rydag come up and sit down, and then another little girl who appeared to be the same age, walked up and sat down. Ayla couldn't recall her name, but she was pleased to see the children getting along. She briefly looked over at Braydalana and Crisanie, and saw that two girls had joined them as well.

Back inside Mammoth Hearth, Ayla plopped down on the sleeping platform again, and sighed deeply. "I am so tired."

Grov laughed. "Well, I wonder why, Ayla." He watched her yawn. "Why don't you nap awhile too. I won't let you sleep through the meal."

"Really?" she asked, yawning again. He nodded. "But I need to change and feed Annaliza first."

"I already changed her, Ayla," he said. "You can feed her when she wakes up." Ayla looked down at her daughter; she hadn't even realized the child was asleep.

"Let me just check on Danie first." She sat up and looked at the bed to her right. "Danie, are you sleeping?"

"Ah-hah," the woman replied with a smirk on her face. "It is so nice to be able to rest out of the rain. I think I would have died if I had to sleep in that tent again."

Ayla giggled. "I guess you're feeling fine then."

"I feel great, actually. Still tired, but good all the same. "Where's my mother?" she asked.

Darvie was across the hearth, lying down on her sleeping platform. She and Vincenzia had drawn their curtain closed, but she had heard her sister. "We are at Lion Camp, Danie. Where do you think she is?" Darvie giggled.

Laurana sat up and looked at Ayla. The two women had mirroring expressions of confusion. "What does that mean?" they said in unison.

"My mother is with Wymez," Danie replied, rolling her eyes. "I should have known that. We'll be lucky if we even see her tonight." Danie giggled and Ayla realized the two sisters sounded nearly identical.

~oxoxo~

Mamut watched and listened to the visitors and smiled. It would be good to have some new faces to get to know, he thought. And people of the Clan, he mused. This is going to be very interesting. The old man smiled to himself. Very interesting indeed.

AtDC

The Lion Camp Earthlodge

ENTRY area – storage of fuel, implements, outer clothes

FIRST hearth – cooking hearth and space for gathering

SECOND – Lion Hearth

Talut – headman
Nezzie
Danug (13)
Latie (11)
Rugie (6)
Rydag (5) – mixed child

THIRD – Fox Hearth

Wymez – Nezzie's older brother
Travie (44) – sharing Wymez's bed, Darvie and Danie's mother
Ranec – away with Tulie's group

FOURTH — Mammoth Hearth—space for ceremonies, gathering, projects, visitors

Mamut —shaman, Tulie, Talut and Travie's great grandfather (pardon the modern term)

Visiting Adults of Mammoth Hearth

Darvie (26)
Vincenzia (37)
Laurana (15) –I very pregnant
Brulenzia (20)
Ayla (16)
Grov (18)
Danie (21) – newly pregnant
Ivanolia (22)

Visiting Children of Mammoth Hearth – sleeping on benches in passageway

Crisanie (8) – Darvie's daughter
Brenev (5) – Darvie's son
Durc (5) – mixed
Ora (3)
Annaliza (11 months)

FIFTH — Reindeer Hearth

Manuv – son of one of Mamut's cousins, man of Tornec's hearth
Tronie – pregnant
Tornec
Nuvie (2)

SIXTH — Antelope Hearth

Travec – mated to Dreenie and Tralie
Dreenie – Darnev's sister, Travec's co-mate
Tralie – Tronie's sister, Travec's co-mate
Caylie (9) – Dreenie's daughter
Corlie (9) – Tralie's daughter
Danen (7) – Dreenie's son

SEVENTH — Aurochs Hearth

Tulie – headwoman, away, taking Tarneg's belongings to mate's mother's camp
Darnev – Tulie's co-mate, away with Tulie
Barzec – Tulie's co-mate, away with Tulie
Tarneg – gone to live at mate's mother's camp
Deegie (16)
Druwez (12)
Brinan (7)
Tusie (5)

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – Back to no chapter names, I guess.

After resting for a good amount of time, Talut could be heard outside the Mammoth Hearth talking to the children. Ayla listened for a moment, then looked over at her mate. Grov had fallen asleep and seemed to be resting peacefully. Ayla then looked at Annaliza, who lay between them. She appeared to be stirring, but she too was sleeping well.

Ayla finally decided to sit up and look around. They hadn't closed their curtain and neither had either of the couples that slept on either side of them. On her left, Brulenzia lay on his back, his longish dark brown hair fanned out on the cushion where his head lay, and his tunic carelessly lying on the edge of the bed. Laurana was curled up next to him, her head in the crook of his bare shoulder, and her left hand on her own belly.

Ayla looked over to her left and saw the other couple sleeping as well. Ivanolia's usually creased forehead was relaxed, and he was holding Danie tightly. They were the opposite vision than the other two; he was blond, and beautiful, Ayla added as an afterthought, and Danie was the one with the dark hair. Ayla studied Danie for a moment, and for the first time noticed that she looked somewhat different than the other women of Oak Camp—and realized that it was because she was Mamutoi, and not Sungaean. Ayla smiled.

Then, hearing a gurgle, Ayla looked down at Annaliza and grinned at the girl. At eleven months old, her little girl was an adorably chubby thing. Her thick, blonde hair was growing in quickly, and her blue eyes sparkled with delight. In her short lifetime she had become quite able to communicate in Clan signs and had learned much of the Sungaean that they had taught her. She had even learned some Mamutoi while they were traveling. Ayla thought that her Clan background, though minimal, was making it possible for her to progress faster than other babies of the Others would have. She had been walking for sometime now and sat up, wanting to get up at that moment.

"Aren't you hungry?" Ayla asked her with gestures, so as not to disturb the others.

Annaliza signed no. "I want up to play," she gestured. Ayla held up one finger, telling the girl to wait, then she looked around, not sure what to do. Ayla noticed that the old man, Mamut, was awake, and watching her intently. She smiled at him and got up.

Annaliza reached up toward her mother and wrapped her arms around her mother's neck. Ayla turned to look at the old man again, but he had somehow faded back into his bed platform; she could no longer see him. She frowned at his disappearance, but was immediately distracted.

"Ayla," came a whisper behind her. Ayla turned around and saw that Laurana was awake. "I need to get up," she said. The young, pregnant woman carefully, pulled herself off the sleeping man, and quietly walked over to the woman. "Are you going out there?"

Ayla nodded. "Annaliza wants to play," she said. "And do you smell that food. I'm starving!" The two women giggled quietly, then started for the entrance.

"Hey!" came another whisper. "Are you guys leaving me behind?" Ayla and Laurana turned around to see Danie trying to disentangle herself from Ivanolia without waking the man. When Danie finally was able to do so, her short hair was rumpled a bit, causing the other two to giggle again. Laurana reached out and pushed her brother's mate's hair back, then the three women left the hearth.

Outside the Mammoth Hearth, there were children everywhere. They had brought six children of their own, but there were easily at least thirteen children in the passageway space. The three women smiled, each wondering how any of them could have slept with all the noise that was going on out there. It did not take long for Annaliza to start her struggle to get down.

The big man, Talut, whom she had heard not too long ago, was sitting down at the end of the passageway, with two other men, and beckoned them over when he saw them. Ayla put Annaliza down, and watched her toddle off before they joined the headman.

"Well, you finally woke up," he said. "I was starting to think we'd have to eat without you tonight."

Ayla blushed. "I am sorry, Talut. We are just so tired, but we are hungry now. Maybe we should go wake the men."

Talut shook his head. "No, no, just go get something to eat. We'll eat more later," he said. "There is always a lot of food around here."

"Humpf!" came a voice from behind them. "I wonder why." It was the woman Nezzie. The three women smiled. "Has this beast introduced these other men yet," she asked knowingly. The two men smiled. She shook her head. "Always thinking about food, he is. This is Tornec, of the Reindeer Hearth, mated to Tronie." She paused. "Tronie is the woman sitting down there," Nezzie said pointing down the passageway, "with the little girl, and those two women; the one on the end. And this is Travec, of the Antelope Hearth, mated to Dreenie and Tralie. Tralie is Tronie's sister. They are the other two women sitting down there."

Laurana frowned. "I am not going to remember all these names."

Nezzie smiled. "Sure you will dear and we'll help you. Now come, let's get you something to snack on while we wait for those men to wake up."

"Is my mother still with Wymez?" Danie asked.

Nezzie cast her a look over her shoulder. "Um-hum. I've never understood why those two didn't mate. They get along so well and always seem to get together." Nezzie was shaking her head. "I don't get it." Danie smiled, remembering that at summer meetings, all she needed to do was find Cattail Camp and she'd find her mother.

In the cooking area, the same three young people were sitting on the benches. They appeared to be playing some sort of game. Ayla remembered that during the winter, Jenadoza showed her some Sungaean games, but they had all seemed a bit complicated to her. She had resolved to learn later, but never had. Nezzie beckoned the children over. "This is my son Danug, my daughter Latie; I'm sure you remember her. And this is Druwez. Druwez is Talut's sister's son. You will meet his mother later. She should be back within a few days." The three children smiled at the two women they didn't know, and Latie hugged Danie. "Latie, help me get them some food."

~oxoxo~

While they were snacking, a young woman about the age of Ayla and Laurana, approached the group, and smiled. "Hi, my name is Deegie," she said. "I am our headwoman's daughter." She had been in the back of the earthlodge when the travelers had arrived and hadn't known they were there until they had already gone off to sleep, but she wanted to greet them properly now that they were awake again. She was a bit stockier than the two blonde Sungaean women, with deep chestnut colored hair and a smile that would make anyone feel welcome.

Ayla and Laurana smiled back. "I am happy to meet you too, Deegie," Laurana said. "I am Laurana, and this is my cousin, Ayla."

Deegie looked at the two of them, as if testing the ground for a future friendship, then turned toward Danie and hugged her. "Hi Danie. It is good to have you back here," the woman said. "Where is your mate?"

Danie rolled her eyes. "He is still sleeping," she said.

"No...he is not," came a man's voice, making all the women turn around and smile. "Some of us didn't get to sleep during the journey," he went on. He was accompanied by Brulenzia and Grov.

"That's not really fair," Danie said, with a pouty sound in her voice. "It's not like I had a choice." Ivanolia grinned at her. When he reached her, he put his arms around his woman and kissed her.

"Are you guys eating?" Brulenzia asked. "What about waiting for the evening meal."

"You men sleep too much," Laurana teased, causing everyone to laugh.

"Okay, let's all eat then," Talut insisted. Nezzie rolled her eyes, which made the man laugh. Talut turned to the older children in the hearth. "Go get everyone, so we can eat...and tell stories."

Ayla watched the three older children, Danug, Latie, and Druwez, jump up and go racing down the passageway. It was not long before the younger children flooded into the Cooking Hearth, followed by Mamut and the adults, and finally, Wymez and Travie, who were bringing up the rear.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – "A Night of Storytelling" (Wait...naming is still happening...I guess I was being fickle!)

When the Cooking Hearth filled with people, Nezzie began to set food out. The women of Lion Camp rushed to assist her, while everyone else sat down.

Food was offered to the visitors first, starting with Travie, since she was the oldest female visitor, and ending with Durc, since he was the youngest male visitor. After all visitors had their food, everyone else dug in, then seated themselves back down with their feasting visitors.

"Oh Nezzie, you have outdone yourself this time," Talut said loudly, licking each finger. "Is there any more?"

Nezzie gave the man an exasperated look, but Ayla could see amusement and pleasure in the round woman's eyes. "Talut, you always tell me that I've 'outdone' myself. I am beginning to think you don't know the difference between one meal and another," she said. "And of course there is more. When have I ever not made enough for you to eat at least three or four full plates of food?" Talut grinned at her, then got up to fill his plate a third time.

Along with the people of Lion Camp, the visitors were smiling at the headman's exchange with his mate. They could all see the love between the two people. Brulenzia noted their differences from his own mother and her mate. Tagnolia was a much quieter headman, not as big, and much more reserved. Still, a very good leader; a good Sungaean leader. Zarina, his mother, was also quieter than the woman Nezzie and much less likely to tease Tagnolia. She was also a lot smaller than this woman.

~oxoxo~

When the meal was finished, and the plates had been cleared, Talut brought out his bouza. Ayla wrinkled her nose at the sight of the bouza-filled container, but accepted some into her cup. It was not the same as Oak Camp's bouza, stronger in fact, but Ayla drank it anyway. When everyone's cups had been filled, they all turned toward the headman expectantly.

Talut waited a moment for dramatic effect, then smiled. "So, what brings the people of Oak Camp of the Sungaea to Lion Camp of the Mamutoi?"

Vincenzia laughed. He had already told the headman in brief why they were there, but no one else had been privy. "Well, this story is not short," the man started off. He looked around at the nodding and smiling people, and knew that that was what they all wanted to hear. "My story starts off, perhaps, eleven and a half years ago, when my first mate and her daughter and I went down to the peninsula on a journey. It wasn't really a journey though," he said with a frown. "We went down there in search of a specific plant, which was rumored to be growing in that area. We hadn't planned to stay very long, but our 'journey' through the land was wonderful, and we were enjoying the scenery, as well as the time alone. My mate, Annalisa, was a gifted healer." He paused and looked over at Ayla, for she did not know that about her mother. "Annalisa was certain we could find the plant, but we were not looking for it as diligently as we should have been." He paused again, and everyone could see how difficult it was for him to tell this story.

"We had been gone for...well, it was about two moon cycles and we started to get worried, so we began to search in earnest. Early one morning, while Andreyta...I mean, while Ayla was sleeping, her mother and I talked about the fact that the season was changing and that we needed to get back. We decided to change directions and head home. It was two days later that Annalisa found the plant she was looking for. We thought we were so lucky..." he said sadly, his voice trailing off. "That night we set up our lean to and went to bed early. The next morning we ate casually and Ayla wanted to swim, so we let her go." Vincenzia turned toward the daughter of his hearth again. "You were always a good swimmer, Ayla. You even learned to swim before you could walk." Ayla smiled at the man, remembering none of what he was telling them, except for the fact that she loved to swim.

Vincenzia took a deep breath. "It was early, and Anna wanted to relax, 'for just one more day,' she had said to me, so I decided to do a little hunting. I wasn't gone very long when the ground started to shake and I was thrown down. I must have hit my head, for when I awoke, it was nearly dark. I can remember groping around in the twilight, looking for my weapons and trying to remember what had happened. Then, I when I had gathered my things, I stumbled to my feet and tried to make my way back in the darkness. I called out a few times, but all I heard was my own voice echoing back to me off the valley we were in, and the small river running through it." Vincenzia took another deep breath and looked at Ayla's tear filled eyes. Her look reflected his own.

"When I got back to our campsite, I wasn't even sure I was in the right place. Our lean to was gone. Our fire had gone out. My mate was nowhere to be found, and Ayla...well, I saw no signs that she had even been there." Vincenzia heaved a sob, and looked down. Darvie grabbed her mate's hand and squeezed it tight. The man looked up at her and gave her a small smile. "I stayed there for a few days, searching the area, but there were no footprints to indicate a place to search further. I did find a large, soil-filled crack, where it appeared our lean to had been sucked under, and I dug a bit, but I never found anything. It was just too large, and there were no tools with which to dig. I had no choice but to return home. I always wondered if it was possible that Anna and Ayla had been buried alive in there, but," he said looking at Ayla again, "at least now I know Ayla wasn't."

"What happened then, Vincenzia," Darvie asked in a quiet voice. She had never heard that story before and was glad that he had finally told it. He had always been a quiet man, but always extremely protective. Now she knew the whole story.

"Well, like I said, I stayed there for a few days, then I returned to Oak Camp. And that's pretty much it."

"But that doesn't explain why you have come here," Deegie said with a frown.

Vincenzia smiled. "Well, no, it doesn't, does it? I guess I was just giving you background. Do you want more background, or do you want me to just get to it?" He looked around at the people, who couldn't seem to decide. They wanted to hear it all, even the background, so that they would really know these people, but they also wanted their question answered.

"How about some more background," Nezzie replied, knowing that they would eventually get to why they were there.

"Okay," Vincenzia said, giving them another smile, and looking around. "But the next part is not mine to tell, for I was not there. It is Ayla's story, so she should tell it."

Ayla's eyes opened wide and she gasped. "Me?" she said "Why me?"

"Because I do not know what happened to you after the earthquake, only you do," Vincenzia said, and Ayla knew it was true.

"Well...I...I was only five years when this happened...right?" she looked at Vincenzia questioningly. He nodded. "And I don't really remember much. I was attacked by a cave lion, but I somehow managed to escape. I do not remember how I did that either." At the word 'cave lion,' some people gasped and many were commenting. "I guess I wandered alone for a few days, but I don't remember any of that either. Finally, I was found by the Clan. I was unconscious and their medicine woman...their healer picked me up and carried me with them."

Talut looked at the young woman closely, realizing that she had used that word again. He was fairly certain he knew who she meant, but the confused looks on the people around him, told him that they didn't. "Ayla," he said. "Can you tell us who the Clan is?"

Ayla swallowed, and took a sip of her bouza. "Yes," she replied. "The Clan are the people that live on the peninsula. The ones that look like Durc and Rydag. The ones that you call flatheads. They are the ones who raised me." She looked around, waiting for a reaction, but there seemed not to be one. Some were looking at Durc, others at Rydag, and still others at Grov, but no one wore the look of disgust that she had so often heard about, and seen in her own camp. But, she told herself, these people had taken one of them in, so maybe they were a little different.

Nezzie was smiling at the woman and Ayla's eyes fell to the boy sitting in her lap, suddenly completely aware of what the boy's life had been like. Living with people that didn't understand him; people he couldn't really communicate with, due to his difference and weakness, but loved all the same. She thought about Iza and Creb, and how hard they had tried to understand her; they never really seemed to. We communicated, that was true, she thought, but they didn't understand me, just as these people don't truly understand Rydag. They love him though, she thought with a smile, and then she made a decision; I will help them to understand him and his people. It will be repayment to the Clan for saving me, she finalized in her mind. Ayla went on.

"I vaguely remember waking up and being terrified of the people I saw." The people of Lion Camp were nodding and vocalizing their thoughts. 'I can imagine that,' some people said. Others said, 'I would be so scared.' They were all talking at once, and Ayla smiled again, continuing when her audience quieted. "Iza said she'd had to heal my wounds and get me eating again. Creb had to teach me to talk properly, so we could communicate."

"What do you mean 'talk,' Ayla?" Tralie asked. "Flatheads don't talk." Then the woman looked at Grov and blushed. "I...I'm sorry...I did not mean..." Grov smiled and waited for Ayla to continue. He did not know this story either, so he was very eager to hear more, and he had already heard all this 'flathead' stuff before; it was not new and he no longer cared.

"Clan, Tralie," Ayla said patiently. "They call themselves Clan, and yes, they do talk, just not the way the Others do. That is what they call us; the Others." Ayla looked at Rydag, then glanced at her son. "Durc, come here," she gestured. No one even noticed the hand movements, but Durc got up and went to his mother. Ayla had never taken her eyes off the crowd of people. "The Clan talks to one another with their hands. They do not say many words, because they can't, but they do communicate just as well as you do. "Go to my sleeping platform, and get my medicine bag," she gestured to her son and watched the boy walk away.

During the exchange with her son, she had actually only vocalized the child's name. Everyone watched the boy leave, but no one knew where he was going. When he was out of earshot, Ayla went on. "In the way that the Clan would speak, I have asked Durc to go get my medicine bag. That is where I keep what I need to make Danie's tea." Ayla turned to look at Rydag. "Did you understand what I said?" she asked in both words and signs.

Rydag sat for only a moment, accessing his Clan memories, then he nodded. "I understand little," he gestured, then smiled.

"Some," Ayla corrected him. "You understand some of what I said," she gestured silently, then grinned at the boy that was smiling at her. Rydag thought for a moment, then nodded.

Nezzie watched her son and knew that something was going on between the boy and the woman, but wasn't sure what. "What did he say, Ayla?" Nezzie asked with concern in her eyes.

"Rydag said that he understands some of the signs."

"But how is that possible?" Tralie's co-mate, Dreenie, asked. "You just got here and you have not taught him any of your Clan's language.

Ayla smiled again. "That is one difference about the Clan that I am not sure I can explain. They are born with...memories, memories of everything they need to know, from their ancient past all the way up until the present. They just have to be reminded of what they already know. They do not have to learn things like we do. That part was very difficult for me, because I was expected to know things after only one hearing. I had to say things over and over in my head to memorize them, but I could never recall everything. They thought me to be very stupid." This made many people think, for their people had always considered the Clan to be stupid animals, and it now seemed that they could possibly be smarter than they had been given credit for.

Grov was watching her and realized that she really did understand what she was explaining to these people and that they probably never would. It would take growing up with the Clan it understand it, and that was something that none of them would ever do, unlike Ayla. Grov was taken out of his musings when Durc reappeared and handed his mother her medicine bag, then went to sit down again.

"So, where was I?" Ayla said with a frown, as she silently made Danie a calming tea to help her rest that night. "Oh yes, I was telling you about being picked up by the woman of the Clan. Iza, the woman that cared for me, became my mother, and her sibling, Creb, whom you would call her brother, was the man of my hearth, and they both took care of me as if I were their own." Ayla rambled on about her childhood, and the trouble she got into for being different, but she didn't talk about the pain she had gone through due to Broud. She had decided to put that behind her. It had taken a long time, but both she and Broud had somehow managed to do it. There was no need to bring it up and cause pain and anger, nor did Durc need to hear any of that stuff again.

When finally Ayla got to the part about finding Jenadoza and Braydalana, the girl looked eager to tell the story, so Ayla turned it over to her. "I was so scared," the girl said. "My auntie and I were out gathering, while Ivanolia, Brulenzia, Donzolnia and Tinozia were hunting. I'm not sure how it happened, but Jenadoza fell and bumped her head. She seemed to be fine at first, but soon she was not making much sense, and I got scared. We wandered around, until she collapsed. I just sat there with her crying." The girl had tears in her eyes at the memory and sniffled.

"Then," she went on, "can you imagine my fright when a woman came out of nowhere to help and she had two Clan men with her?" Everyone was nodding. Braydalana then went on to describe her first meeting with the Clan's leader, and their trip back to the cave, and Jenadoza's waking. "It is very funny to think about now, but Jenadoza was terrified at the time." Braydalana had a delighted look on her face as she went on. "I could hear her scream all the way across the cave." She finally talked about the commotion that occurred when the four searching men found them and about how Brulenzia helped to deliver Ayla's baby.

Ivanolia listened to his daughter tell her story. He had heard it all before, but not from Braydalana's point of view, and it seemed different somehow. He heard the fear in her voice, but he could also hear the girl's intrigue, and the accepting nature of a child. He wondered why he had not asked her about it before. Danie sat next to him, and squeezed his hand; she was clearly following his line of thought.

"So then, of course we took Jenadoza and Braydalana back to Oak Camp," Brulenzia said, taking up the next thread of the story. "And we intended to tell Vincenzia about what we had found, but he was gone."

"That is when Vilognia and I traveled to the Mamutoi summer meeting to tell his brother about Ayla," Ivanolia said, finishing up for his friend.

Talut grinned. "Well, it's nice to know more of what happened last summer," he said, clapping Vincenzia on the back. "This man did not tell us anything. Vilognia just swept in, stayed for a few days, helped to steal two valuable Mamutoi women, then took off. It is good to know what happened and why."

"Yes, I would say that I wasn't too happy about Travie leaving before the summer meeting had ended either," Wymez commented. "But it is very nice to know what was happening that made her new camp need to leave."

The people of Lion Camp were all commenting now, and it was hard to hear who was saying what. Ayla realized again, that the Others were very loud, and that they sometimes made it hard to concentrate, but she watched them intently. No one seemed upset. Then someone cleared her throat. It was Deegie.

"All of this is very interesting, but it still doesn't explain why you have come here at this time," Deegie said again.

Ayla waited until everyone was looking at her, then she looked Deegie full in the face. "I wanted to come, because I am a medicine woman, a healer as you say, and I wanted to see if I could help Rydag. Travie and Darvie have told me how sick he is, and that he cannot talk to anyone. I know many Clan medicines that might help him, and I would like to try, and if I cannot help, I want to go back and ask our Clan's other medicine woman. She has the memories, and may be able to recall something better than what I know." Ayla looked over at Nezzie, who still held the boy. "And if nothing else, I want to teach Rydag how to speak in the way that the Clan does, so that he can tell you what he wants, and I want to teach you their language, so that you can understand him," Ayla said. "Would you like that Rydag?" she asked him. The boy nodded emphatically.

~oxoxo~

Everyone talked late into the night. Nezzie told them Rydag's story, and several people added their opinions on the topic, but somehow, many of the people were now looking at the boy and his mother's people in a different way. Nezzie knew that it was all because of Ayla and she would never forget it. Several other stories were told, but none so interesting at Ayla's talk about the Clan.

The old man, Mamut, did not comment the entire evening, but sat silently off to the side instead, watching everything and listening intently.

Ayla had been extremely busy listening to stories and telling her own, but always kept the old man in her thoughts. He reminded her so much of the man that had raised her, and she was drawn to him. She wanted to get to know this very old man, but feared that it was not right to ask.

~oxoxo~

As the night drew to a close, everyone went off with his or her mate to their hearths, happy with the night's storytelling. Ivanolia helped a drowsy Danie back to the Mammoth Hearth, and Brulenzia, Laurana, Grov, and Ayla followed behind them happily. After putting Danie to bed, Ivanolia, Ayla, and Darvie tucked their children into their beds, then returned to their mates.

When Ayla climbed onto the bed platform, she smiled at Grov. Grov was holding Annaliza, who wanted to nurse. Ayla took her daughter and fed her. Grov drew their curtain closed and lay back watching the woman he loved as she nursed her daughter. Annaliza fell asleep quickly, releasing her mother's nipple and snuggling up. Ayla looked at her baby's face and smiled, then looked up at Grov. His face held such desire that she was inexplicably drawn to him. She almost forgot that she held her child.

Slowly, she pushed the curtain aside and got up, carrying her little girl with her. Ayla brought the child to the empty bed platform and lay her down. She looked around, wondering where the extra bedding was kept, then realized the old man was standing there, with furs in his arms.

"Oh, thank you, Mamut," Ayla said, taking the bedding and giving him a big smile. The man smiled back at her.

"You are very welcome, Ayla," he replied. "Sleep well."

"I will, Mamut. You too." Ayla just stood there for a moment, then turned to go. "I am going now," she said.

~oxoxo~

Back within the curtain of her bed, Ayla removed her tunic and leggings. She didn't bother to put on the sleeping tunic that she had been wearing lately, but crawled into the furs naked and embraced Grov. "I am so tired," she said to him with a sigh.

"Me too. It has been a long day." Grov had also removed his clothes and held her tightly, stroking her hair with his free hand.

"These are nice people," Ayla whispered. "I was afraid to meet them, but I am glad we came." She squeezed him, then pulled away so that she could look into his eyes.

"Yes, they are good people, Ayla," Grov agreed. "I am glad we have come too." He looked deeply into her eyes, then he rolled her over so that he lay upon her and kissed her hungrily. Ayla closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of his lips on hers, and his naked body against hers. She could feel his need; a need that matched her own. She was tired, but not too tired to share pleasures with her mate. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she held him lovingly, running her fingers through his hair, then down his back. The action caused the man to groan, and kiss her back with even more desire. It was not long before Ayla was lost in her mate, and he in her.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – "The Travelers Return"

Ayla woke early again, just as she usually did, and lay there letting her eyes become accustomed to the dim lighting. She could see the flickering of the fire through their privacy curtain. She could hear light snoring coming from somewhere in the lodge and smiled at the sound. Closer to her, she could hear Grov's breathing. The sound of it told her he would wake soon. With a smile to herself, she decided to help him along.

The man was on his back, with his head turned away from her and, for a moment, she just stared at him. To her, he was an attractive man. Ayla smiled and ran her fingertip along his slightly pronounced brow ridges. In his sleep, he turned his head so that he was facing her, but he did not wake up. She watched him, then her put her hand on his chest, caressed him gently, then leaned down and kissed him. He groaned and almost kissed back. Almost, but not quite. Ayla smiled again, and got up, so that she could lie down on top of him, then kissed him again. This time, the man opened his eyes and kissed her back. When the kiss was finished he grinned at her in the low light. "What are you doing?" he whispered.

"I am waking you up," she said plainly.

"I can see that, but what do you want?" he asked, pretending not to know.

"Hmm," she replied. "Well nothing, I guess." Ayla rolled off of him and started to get up.

"No, no! I don't think so," he said, grabbing her by the waist and pulling her back onto the bed next to him and holding her there. "I will ask you again. What do you want?"

Ayla giggled, then tried to stiffle it. "I want...you...before everyone wakes up."

Grov smiled down at her, then leaned to kiss her. "That's what I thought."

~oxoxo~

Ayla had fallen back to sleep after she and her mate had shared pleasures, but now she was awake again—and hungry. She looked at Grov and noted that he had fallen asleep again too—and that he was sleeping soundly this time. I won't wake him again, she thought, as she pushed the furs off of herself and gathered her clothing, then pushed aside their curtain and got up.

Standing at the end of their sleeping platform, Ayla dressed hurriedly, then checked on Annaliza. Her daughter was lying there wide-awake and cuddling her doll. When the little girl saw her mother look in on her, she sat up. "Mamma, I'm hungry," she gestured, knowing that it was a time to be quiet.

"Me too, Annaliza. Should we go to the Cooking Hearth to see what there is to eat?" Annaliza nodded, and Ayla scooped her up.

~oxoxo~

Brulenzia had been awake for some time, but, by the sounds of things, no one else was. Then, he heard noises in the next hearth and knew that Grov and Ayla were sharing pleasures again. He smiled, thinking that they shared each other more often than most and he looked over at Laurana, who was sound asleep. He'd love to wake her, but decided against it and just lay there listening. He could tell when they had finished and it was obvious that they had gone back to sleep.

Not long afterward, he heard movement again—and soon he heard Ayla's quiet voice talking to Annaliza. And then silence again. They had left the hearth.

~oxoxo~

In the Cooking Hearth, Ayla looked around and, noticing that no one else was there, she started making her morning tea. While water was heating, she set aside the ingredients for Danie's morning tea. Annaliza sat near her mother, jabbering to her doll while her mother made tea.

After Ayla's tea was finished, she decided to go outside. It had been a few days since she had seen Shriek, so she wanted to see if there were any signs that he was near.

"Let's go get warm clothes on and see if Shriek's anywhere to be found," Ayla said to Annaliza.

"Outside?" Annaliza asked excitedly. Ayla nodded. The little girl clapped her hands and stood up, dropping her doll. Ayla smiled at her daughter, then picked her up, so they could head for the entry area to don a few more layers of warmth. After dressing warmly, they pushed aside the mammoth hide and went out.

Ayla breathed deeply in the crisp, cool spring air. It was clear at the moment, but Ayla could see clouds on the horizon. "Cold." Annaliza said.

Ayla looked at her daughter. "It's not cold, Annaliza. Just cool," Ayla said. "Smell the air. Do you smell the rain coming?" Annaliza took a deep breath with her mouth and shook her head. "No, Anna," Ayla said with a giggle. "With your nose." Ayla explained, showing her daughter.

"I smell the rain," Annaliza squealed. Just then they heard the unmistakable shriek from the hawk above. Ayla grinned at her daughter, then dashed inside to get her leather arm wrapping. When she had it in her hand, she ran back out, put Annaliza down, then wrapped up her arm and held it up.

Shriek circled around, obviously waiting for her to finish, then swooped down and landed gracefully. "Where have you been?" Ayla said, as she stroked his head and back.

"Shreeee," Annaliza said, trying to grab him. Shriek shifted, managing to stay out of her grasp and eyeing her suspiciously.

"Now, that is the oddest sight I have ever seen in my life," came a voice from somewhere behind the woman and child. Ayla spun around and was confronted the biggest woman she had ever seen—and two men, one tall and dark haired, the other of average height and features. They were not too far off, but they did not move in. It was one of the men that had spoken.

For a moment, Ayla stood there, shocked. She had only briefly looked at the men, but it was the woman that held her attention. She had never seen a woman so big. Deegie was the first woman that she had ever seen that was actually taller than herself, but not by much. This woman was huge; both tall and stocky. Then Ayla noticed that the woman before her had a similar look to the chestnut haired young woman she had met the day before. These are people from Lion Camp, she realized suddenly.

Slowly, but with purpose, the large woman approached the stranger, eyeing the hawk cautiously. Ayla watched the woman approach and was shocked further when the woman came to stand in front of her. The woman was not just a big woman, she actually towered over Ayla and probably all others in the camp, with the exception of Talut, Ayla thought. Ayla suddenly remembered that he headman had a sister.

Then, from the direction of the earthlodge, "I would like you to meet my sister, Tulie of the Aurochs Hearth, headwoman of Lion Camp," the headman said. Ayla looked back to see Talut standing there grinning and was thankful he was there. She had to admit to herself that she was a little nervous under the scrutiny of the formidable headwoman. Ayla looked back at Tulie, then gave her arm the motion that told Shriek to take off.

The woman, Tulie, watched the meat eater lift off and hover overhead, then she eyed the stranger shrewdly. It was her duty to make sure visitors were acceptable and she obviously didn't take her responsibilities lightly. She glanced down at the small child, standing at the blonde woman's feet with her arms wrapped around her mother's leg. Ayla suddenly became aware of the child and picked her up, then smiled at the woman and two men.

"Greetings," the headwoman said simply. Then, with one look at her brother she knew the woman had already been invited in, so she said, "In Mut's name, I welcome you to Lion Camp, but it seems that you have already been welcomed."

"In the name of Sumata, I thank you for your welcome," Ayla replied. "And yes, we arrived yesterday."

Tulie noticed her strange accent first, then realized the woman had said Sumata. "You are Sungaea?" the headwoman asked, assuming that the 'we' was the woman and her child.

"Yes," Ayla said, then frowned. "Well, sort of...I am Clan too."

Tulie frowned. "Clan? What is—?" she started to ask, but Talut cut her off.

"Well, let's get you all inside. I see that it will rain very soon and we don't want to get wet if we don't have to. Barzec, Darnev...Tulie, where's Ranec?"

The men started for the earthlodge, glad to be home, and Tulie looked at her brother strangely. "You change the subject, brother," she said, then answered him. "Ranec decided to meet us at the summer meeting. He sends his apologies for not being here to assist us on the journey. I told him not to worry; we have the shortest trek ever, since we summer at Mammoth Camp this year."

Ayla stepped through the entrance first and went directly into the Cooking Hearth. Once inside, Ayla noticed that many were awake, including Grov. She went to him immediately and leaned on him for support; the headwoman had made her nervous.

"Oh Ayla, I was worried," Nezzie said, coming up to her side. "I knew that you were awake, because I saw your...what did you call it? Medicine bag?" Ayla nodded. "I saw it by the fire and figured you went outside. Sometimes we have bad floods at this time in the season, so I asked Talut to look for you."

"I am sorry for worry, Nezzie. I just needed some fresh air," Ayla said. "And I met Tulie."

Just then, Barzec, Darnev, Tulie, and Talut entered the Cooking Hearth as well. "Look who has returned," boomed the huge red-haired man. He had an arm around both men, causing Ayla to notice that, although he was a tall man, Darnev was nowhere near the height of the headman—and Barzec was much shorter.

"Where is Ranec?" Nezzie asked, looking around for her adopted son.

"He has decided to meet us at the summer meeting," Tulie answered. "The young man is finally interested in someone." Tulie gave Nezzie an uncharacteristic smile. "She doesn't seem that interested in him, but you never know." Tulie looked around and noticed several people she did not know. "I did not know the lodge would be so full when I returned."

"We have visitors," Talut said with a grin.

Tulie gave him an exasperated smirk. "Yes, I can see that, Talut, but when are you going to introduce us?"

The headman laughed. "As soon as we are all gathered for a meal. Nezzie?"

"It's coming, Talut. Have some patience." Nezzie rolled her eyes. "Just start introducing them while I cook." Then she took Ayla's arm. "Let's go fix a meal, Ayla." Ayla handed Annaliza to Grov, who was already holding Ora, then followed the woman. Several other women followed.

~oxoxo~

"Well, since he's standing right here, this is Grov, Ayla's mate, and her daughters, Ora and Annaliza." Tulie looked at the man strangely. First, because he was weighted down with the two blonde children and could not take her proffered hands. But also, when he set the children down, Tulie looked at him closely and noticed his extremely foreign look. Though she could not decide from where he came, she could tell right from the off that he was not of any people she knew; Mamutoi, Sungaea, or other.

When Grov set the children down, he took the big woman's hands, as he had learned was customary among the Others. "In the name of the Great Cave Bear, I am happy to meet the headwoman of Lion Camp," he said, thinking that this woman was clearly capable of leading a camp full of people.

Tulie gave him a reserved smile. She noticed that this man had the same odd accent that the woman had, but that he greeted her in a different way. She wondered about this and decided to ask later. "It is good to meet you," she said, then looked at her brother, waiting for further introductions.

Talut grinned, but seeing his sister's look, he went on. "They arrived yesterday, Tulie, around dusk. I went out to check the weather, and adjust the bowl boats, and was stunned to see Travie approaching with all these people." Talut introduced all the adults, as the children were already off playing.

Tulie looked around at the full Cooking Hearth. "Well Talut, you must be thrilled to have such a full lodge," she said, smiling at her brother. "And I supposed Travie is at Fox Hearth, since she is not here?"

Just then, Travie walked into the hearth, with Wymez at her hip. "And why would you think that, cousin?" Travie grinned, then hugged the huge woman.

The reserved headwoman hugged her favorite cousin back. "Where else would you be?" she asked, not expecting an answer.

~oxoxo~

The morning meal was filled with more storytelling, but the visitors did more listening this time, as Talut retold most of the stories. Then the conversation turned to the travels of the headwoman and her mates. "And how did it go?"

"It went well," Darnev replied. "Tarneg's mate's mother's earthlodge needed to be expanded, so we helped them. That is what took us so long; they wanted to get it done before the rains came and I can't say I blame them." Then, the man suddenly looked sad. "It turned out good, but I will miss the son of our hearth."

Barzec was nodding, he too would miss Tarneg. "And Deegie, Tarneg wanted us to ask you when you were going to take a mate, so the two of you could start your own camp?" Barzec said, stealing the light from his co-mate.

Deegie smiled at her mother's two mates. "I have not even met anyone yet. Why does my brother want to rush me?" She hugged them both, then looked at Ayla. "If you have not already guessed, these two are trying to get rid of me."

Ayla grinned at the young woman. She was understanding the humor of the Others more and more everyday and could tell that neither man want to get rid of the pretty daughter of their hearth. At first learning, Ayla was shocked to find that the headwoman had two mates. In the Clan, a man could take a second woman, or even a third, but that was rare. A Clan man only did that if there was an unmated woman that needed to be cared for and the leader ordered it—and only if he was capable of providing for two or more women and any potential children. But as far as she could recall, there had never been a woman in the Clan that had two mates. Ayla was very interested in how the situation worked for them, but decided that this was not the time to ask.

Grov too was interested. He also had not heard of such a thing—and his memories told him that it had never happened within the Clan. True, a Clan woman relieved the needs of any man that signaled her, but she only had one mate. Grov looked at the two men and the children of their hearth. It was obvious that Deegie was of Darnev's spirit and that Druwez and Tusie were of Barzec's spirit, but he could not see any resemblance of either man in the boy, Brinan, who was somewhere else in the lodge with Dreenie's son Danen.

As Grov listened to the group converse, his mind went to Oga and her daughter Agra. That child was definitely of his spirit. In a sense, he too had two mates; three mates, if he included Broud. Technically, he was only mated to Ayla, but Oga lived within his hearth and he signaled her often. Even Broud seemed to have gotten used to it—sort of. And, despite the early tension, the former leader had accepted Oga's newest baby, when she could not, and everyone could tell the man loved his mate's child, even though the baby was mixed.

Grov looked at the people around him, and could see that the way their hearths were arranged worked well for them, just as the hearths of the Clan worked for them. Within the Clan, his was the only hearth that had two men and two women, but everyone had gotten used to it that way. Grov thought about the way it had started, and suddenly wondered what Ayla thought about the situation now. She hadn't liked it in the beginning, but she seemed to really enjoy Oga's company, and it appeared as if she more than just tolerated Broud now. Granted, he had been ordered against signaling her, or cuffing her, but she somehow didn't seem agitated with his presence anymore. Grov was happy that the two of them had gotten over their discontent.

Then Grov's mind turned back to the sharing of pleasures. He thought about his signaling Oga and wondered what Ayla thought of it. Then he remembered that it had been Ayla's idea in the beginning. Again, he considered how he would feel if another man signaled Ayla, or asked her to share his bed, as a person would do here. He'd never had to think about it in the Clan, because they all considered her to be a big, ugly woman and no one wanted her. But here, among her own people—or people like her—they thought she was beautiful. He shook his head, deciding, as he had the first time he had considered this, that it would not bother him.

Grov came out of his musings when he heard his name being called and realized that he hadn't been listening to the people. "Are you going to eat, or are you going to just sit there?" Grov smiled at Brulenzia, then finished what was on his plate.

~oxoxo~

After the meal, Ayla went back to Lion Hearth with Nezzie and Mamut to examine Rydag; after all, that was why they had come. Ayla asked the boy to lie down, then she placed her hand on his chest and felt his breathing. It felt labored. Then she put her ear to his chest and noticed the shallow, raspy sound that came from the boy. Ayla then felt around the boy's neck and looked into his eyes and smelled his breath. It was hard to know what was wrong with the boy when he wasn't really exhibiting any problems other than being weak. He was having trouble breathing and the muscle in his chest sounded wrong. Ayla looked him over from head to toe. She noticed that his skin color was a little off too and that he was somewhat swollen. When she was finished, Nezzie allowed the boy to go back to his friends.

"I think it is his...umm...I think you say heart. I can make a tea that he should drink, but I do not know much about the heart, Nezzie." Ayla frowned. "No one in my Clan had heart problems. I remember that there were a few people at the Clan gathering that had trouble with their hearts, but I would have to talk to Uba. Uba is my sister, like Rydag is to Rugie. But I cannot talk to Uba until after the Sungaea summer meeting and I return to the Clan." Ayla's frown deepened. "That will be quite a while."

"Is it really that serious, Ayla?" Nezzie asked. "I mean, I've always known that he's had trouble, but...I'd always hoped that..." her voice trailed off, tears in her eyes. Mamut did not say anything, he just watched and listened. The two women almost forgot he was there.

"Yes Nezzie, this is very serious," the young medicine woman said. "I wish that I could go see Uba right now, but all I can do is help you make the tea for him." Ayla gave the woman a pained look, then hugged her. "But, I will do all that I can and I promise to talk to my sister when I return to the Clan." Nezzie nodded, then wiped the tears from her face. She did not want anyone to know how serious it was just yet.

~oxoxo~

As they walked out of the hearth, Ayla suddenly became aware of Mamut again. She wondered how the man was able to disappear when he wanted to. She knew that he had been there all along, but that he had managed to stay out of their vision, until he wanted them to see him. They were walking toward the Cooking Hearth, but they hadn't yet entered it when he gently took Ayla's arm. "Ayla, may I ask you something?"

"You can always ask me something, Mamut," she replied.

He smiled, of course he could. "Is the name Uba a common name?"

For a moment, Ayla was confused. She had not expected that question. "No, I don't think so, Mamut; Uba was named by Creb. Iza's mother's mother had the same name, and Creb and Iza had the same mother."

"Creb! Tell me, Ayla, this Creb, did he have a bad arm and walk with a limp?"

"Yes," Ayla replied, puzzled. How could Mamut know?

"And was there another brother? Younger, but strong and healthy?"

Ayla frowned in the face of Mamut's eager questions. "Yes. Brun. He

is leader."

"Great Mother! I can't believe it! Now I understand."

Ayla looked at the old man, and frowned. "But I do not understand Mamut. What are you talking about?"

"Come Ayla, let's go back to the Mammoth Hearth. I have a story to tell you." Ayla's brow creased, confused by the old man, but followed him back to the hearth.

~oxoxo~

In the hearth, Mamut sat down on his bed platform in a cross-legged position, and indicated that Ayla should sit in front of him by patting the bed with his old hand. Once they were both seated, the old man launched into a story about when he was young. He told her about his relationship with Manuv and the journey they had planned one summer when they were young—which he had actually made alone due to Manuv's illness that year. He told Ayla about his trip into Clan country, which he hadn't told anyone he was going to do, and about his fall that had produced a badly bruised head and a broken and dislocated arm. And he told her about waking up in the midst of the Clan.

"Can you imagine how shocked I was to discover I was in the camp of a Clan?" he asked.

Ayla sat there staring at him. She was utterly shocked herself. "You! You are man with broken arm? You know Creb and Brun?" Ayla said in stunned disbelief. A rush of feeling overwhelmed her...

"You have heard of me?"

"My mother, Iza, told me that before she was born, her mother's mother healed man with a broken arm. A man of the Others. Creb told me the story too. He said Brun allowed me to stay with the Clan, because he had learned from that man...from you, Mamut...that the Others are people too." Ayla had tears in her eyes, as she recalled the stories she had been told. Then Ayla thought for a moment, and stared at the white hair, the wrinkled old face, of the venerable old man. "Iza walks in the world of the spirits now, Mamut. She was not even born when you stayed with our Clan...and Creb...our greatest Mog-ur...he was just a boy back then, not yet chosen by Ursus. Creb was an old man when he died...how is it that you can still be alive?"

"I have wondered myself why the Mother chose to grant me so many seasons. I think She has just given me an answer."

Ayla smiled at the old Mamut and, having the urge to hug him, she reached out and did so. She was a little nervous to be expressing feelings for someone she hardly knew, but it felt to her as if she had always known this man.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – "More Stories"

Ayla and Mamut were just breaking up their hug and coming out of the hearth arm in arm when Grov came upon them. "I was just coming to look for you, Ayla," he said, looking from her to the old man. "When Nezzie came back and you didn't, I...well, I was wondering about Rydag."

Ayla shook her head and looked sad. "He is not well, Grov, and I'm afraid I can't really do very much. When we go back to the Clan, I would like to have Uba search her memories; maybe she will know something better than what I can give him. I'm hoping, anyway, but that is so long from now."

Grov could see her pain and wished there was something he could do. If only he had a woman's memories or...maybe if Ora were older, she could help. "I'm sure that having your medicine will be helpful, Ayla, even if you don't have Uba's memories."

Ayla smiled and nodded. He was right, Rydag was going to be better off with her medicine, but for how long, she wondered. Then she looked at Mamut, who had managed to disappear and reappear again, and her smile widened. "Grov, you'll never believe what Mamut has told me," she said.

Grov looked at her strangely. "Why wouldn't I believe you, Ayla?" he said with a frown. She was no more capable of telling an untruth than he was, but her wording made him think.

Ayla pulled the two men over to a bench in the passageway and sat down. "What I mean is, I was talking to Mamut and he just told me that he has met our Clan before," she said excitedly. "He knew Creb and Brun when they were just boys. You do not know the story of the delirious Others man that wandered into our Clan's midst long before they found me, but Mamut is that man. He is the reason that Brun allowed Iza to pick me up when I was alone and hungry and lost." She was so happy at the discovery that she had begun gesturing.

Mamut watched her for a moment, trying to recall all that he had learned over three generations ago, but it just wouldn't come back. It had been too long and there had been no one to use it with. "I think you will have to teach me to speak properly again," the old man said with a grin. He did not remember the Clan's language, but he did remember that the Clan had considered his audible chatter to be rude and childish.

"We will do that," Grov stated and smiled at the old man. He had not known the Mog-ur personally, but his memories of Mog-ur One-Eye told him that the venerable old shaman of the Clan would have thought this Others shaman a very respectable man as well. "And I would like to thank you," Grov went on, "it seems that I would not have my wonderful mate if you had not met her Clan."

"Her Clan?" Mamut asked, squinting his eyes. "It appears that you two have many stories to tell us."

The two young people grinned. "Yes, many, many stories," Grov said. "Ayla, would you like to tell one or should I?"

Ayla had been nervous about talking to the large group of people, but this was just Mamut. "I can start, but you should add parts when you can," she said, then she looked at Mamut again.

"Grov's Clan joined ours after a huge earthquake. Actually, his Clan was second Clan to ask join with ours after earthquake. Brun's...I mean, Broud's Clan only had one death, Creb," Ayla said, as tears filled her eyes. Grov held her hand. "But Grov's cave suffered many losses." Ayla hugged her mate, knowing this was painful for him. "Grov lost his mate, Ora's mother, and his mate's family. His cave lost all but ten people."

"That must have been terrible," Mamut replied. He could tell how devastating the earthquake had been for both of them, but something caught his attention, so he turned back to Ayla. "I did not know Ora was not your daughter. She looks just like you and nearly identical to Annaliza."

Ayla and Grov had to smile at the man's comment, for it was true. "Well, that is another story, Mamut. Grov's first mate was my cousin. Her mother and Vincenzia were siblings. My aunt had a daughter and a son, but when her son was killed, she and her mate decided to make a journey. They settled with Grov's people and lived there until they were killed in the earthquake." Ayla paused. "So Ora is my cousin's daughter, born of Grov's spirit, I am sure, and Annaliza is of his spirit as well, so that is why the girls look alike, and like me. My cousin Evanora looked very much like me as well, or so I am told."

"Hmm," Mamut was thinking. "That makes a lot of sense, Ayla." Unbeknownst to the three people deep in conversation, several others had come into the passageway and were now sitting down around them listening to their stories. "You also said that there was another Clan that joined yours, didn't you?" Mamut asked. He had noticed the quiet people sitting around and wanted them all to hear as much as possible about this woman and her people.

Ayla nodded. "Yes, there was. The first Clan that joined us showed up while I was away meeting Grov's people. When we got back we found nine more people than we had left behind, but it was particularly interesting, because their Clan was the Clan that had the little girl that had been promised to my son at the Clan gathering. They had lost many in their cave too; only the nine had survived." Ayla sighed, remembering why her Clan had not been in their cave. "Broud's Clan was lucky. We were all outside when the earthquake happened, but poor Creb was killed by an aftershock." Ayla's voice was almost a whisper as she spoke about Creb's death, then she shook her head and continued.

"I am glad that Ura lives in our cave now...it will be less painful for all, since we will not have to take her away from her mother at the next Clan gathering and have her live at one of our hearths until she and Durc are old enough to mate. Not that I would have minded. I would have taken her in and so would several others, but it doesn't matter anymore," she said. "Now she can stay with her mother until the time comes and it won't be too many more years." She refrained from mentioning that it was not likely that either one of them would have found someone else to mate had their Clans not met up like they had, though now Ayla wasn't so sure about that either. There were several mixed children in Brun's cave, including her own, and apparently there were others out there too.

Mamut was very curious. "Now, I know from my experience that the Clan does not have meetings every summer like we do, but you said Clan gathering."

"We have Clan gatherings every seven years," Grov said, adding his bit to Ayla's thread. "My Clan did not attend the same gathering that Ayla's Clan went to. Our last gathering was two years ago and there weren't really many Clans in our area. And most of them had many mixed people. I was not so different there and we did many things differently than other Clans did."

"Brun's Clan's last gathering happened the year Durc was born; five years ago," Ayla said. "We had to travel almost as far as from Oak Camp to Lion Camp and there were many different Clans there. I met Ura's mother right away and she told me about how her mate was angry with her for wishing for a girl. She believed that was why her baby was mixed."

"Mixed because she wished for a girl?" Deegie asked, obviously confused.

"Yes Deegie," Ayla replied. "All Clan women are supposed to hope to bring a male child to their mate's hearth. Is it different here?"

"Well yes," Tronie said. "Baby girls are considered special," she said, hugging Nuvie to her breast, "because they will grow into women and women are the ones that bring forth life. But," she said, with a look at her mate, "I think all men want at least one son at their hearth." Tornec smiled at her and rubbed her pregnant tummy. "Is it the same with the Sungaea?" Tronie asked.

Vincenzia smiled. "Men do want their mates to have sons within the Sungaea too, but daughters are always a blessing," he said, looking directly at Crisanie and then Ayla. "I did notice that, among the Clan, boys are celebrated, and girls are only tolerated. It seemed strange coming from people that cannot live without the other."

Most were nodding their heads, but it made Grov start thinking. He never cared what Ayla had, or Evanora for that matter, just so long as the birth went well, and the child was healthy. He thought about Ayla's ideas about conception and realized that the children that had been born, due to him, were all female. Then he considered Broud, and those children were all male. Was his totem weaker than their former leader? Or was a baby made when a man put himself within a woman? Grov started wondering if there was something more going on that made it a girl or boy.

Brulenzia was wondering about it all too. He was also aware of Ayla's theory and he fervently hoped that Laurana's child, boy or girl, would be of his spirit. The dark haired man hugged his young—and very pregnant—promised to his chest and kissed the top of her blonde tresses. Then, over Laurana's head, he noticed Danie sitting in the same position with Ivanolia andfrowned, wondering if Danie's baby would be of his spirit too. After all, they had shared pleasures during the journey, so if Ayla was right, it could be. He wondered how Laurana would feel about that—or Ivanolia. He also wondered about all the women he had shared pleasures with at past summer meetings, and the children they had had later. Were they really his children too? Brulenzia decided to ask Ayla about it at another time—specifically about Danie's unborn child.

As he was sitting there contemplating babies and where they came from, Laurana's stomach seemed to change shape in his hand, becoming hard as a rock. It shocked him and he looked down. She didn't seem to have noticed, but he kept his hand there, feeling the hardness, then he felt it slowly soften, becoming rounded once more, then the child within the woman rolled over, causing a wave to flow from one side of her to the other, as if trying to find a more comfortable position. Laurana also changed positions then, but was engrossed in the story about the Clan, and did not acknowledge the movement of her child.

~oxoxo~

The storytelling went on a while longer, and then Nezzie broke it up. "You cannot make them sit and talk all day, Talut," she said scolding her big bear of a man. "You have talked so long that now it is time for another meal. They need to get up and walk around." Everyone was smiling. They were well aware that that was Nezzie's way to get her man's attention.

"But Nezzie, I did not start this round of storytelling? Did I Mamut?" the big headman said, looking at the man of the spirit world.

Mamut smiled. "Indeed you did not, but you are sitting here, just like everyone else," the old man replied with a smirk on his ancient lips.

Talut boomed with laughter. "That I am, that I am!" Talut looked around the passageway and smiled. Nearly everyone had managed to join them in the confined space. Then he turned back to Nezzie. "Did you say it was time for a meal?"

Nezzie threw her hands up in the air as she walked toward the Cooking Hearth. "That man can smell food before it's even cooking!"

AtDC

End of Part FOUR!

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 four 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 five through ten. I promise that I'll eventually get it all moved over.

Thanks for reading and for your patience!