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).

8. Part 8

Author's Notes

Okay. I have spent the last two weeks rereading parts one through eight...because of a wonderful reader (Walkazo), who's been reviewing and communicating with me via PMs (THANK YOU!). It's been wonderful...and has RENEWED my interest in this fic...and in the series (I'm rereading it...I'm on PoP for what is probably the 50th time). Now, I'm not promising to do any more writing, but...I have been re-editing the parts and would like to repost them. We'll see if I do that.

Anyway, just thought I'd put up what is thread eight from the other site. Here it's part eight...which consists of several chapters. In the beginning I was naming them, then stopped. I think I might have started up naming them again at some point, then it fell away again. *sigh*

Again, I would like to post a warning...this is an UNFINISHED fanfic and, at the moment, don't see myself finishing it any time soon. On the other site, I've posted ten threads, but thread ten is just left hanging. I haven't touched this in years, so...remember that as you start this...I make no guarantees about getting back to it. Sorry.

Comments are welcome, I just ask that you be kind. I wrote this YEARS ago and there are many, MANY errors...which I am NOT going to fix at this point. This was my first real writing endeavor.

Enjoy!

After the Death Curse – Part Eight (of ten)

NEW CHAPTER

Davaria watched their slow approach and flushed with embarrassment. He wanted to run back into the cave to hide again, but Danta had grabbed his hand to keep him from doing so.

"You did nothing wrong," she whispered to him. "And look at her, she thinks that she did something wrong. You don't want her to think that, do you? After all that she's done for us?"

Davaria looked at Ayla closely and realized that his sister was right; Ayla looked just as worried and confused as he felt. Quickly, he glanced at Grov to see if there was any hint of anger on the man's face, but the other man's expression told him that it was going to be okay. Grov was calmly riding Stomp beside his mate, occasionally looking over at her, though mostly, he sat facing them, a look of patience and understanding in his dark blue eyes. For a moment, Davaria wondered if the other man was even aware of what had happened, but there were no lines of confusion on the Grov's face. Davaria was sure that they had discussed what had gone on. Again, he blushed, and tried to stand tall, repeating I have done nothing wrong, over and over in his head, and watching them as they came up and stopped in front of him.

Worriedly, he looked from Grov to Ayla and then back to Grov again. He didn't know what to say or do and he didn't want to offend them by doing the wrong thing. But he needed to do something. After one last glance at Grov, who gave him an almost imperceptible nod, Davaria tentatively stepped forward and offered Ayla his hand.

Ayla stared down at his hand for a moment before looking to her mate. Davaria saw Grov nod his head, though he hadn't looked at the Clan man, and waited while Ayla continued to contemplate what he offered. Then slowly, she reached out and took it, allowing him to help her off Whinney's back. Grov used that moment to slip off his horse and, giving her rump a pat, he turned and approached their beachfire.

"I am sorry, Ayla," said Davaria awkwardly. "I did not mean for...what happened, to happen."

Still holding the man's hand, Ayla tried to smile. "I know. I did not think that you did. I just did not understand." She felt no less awkward.

"So, you are not upset with me?" Davaria asked hopefully.

Ayla frowned, then shook her head. "No, of course not. I could not be upset with you...you didn't do anything wrong." She continued to frown and shake her head. "I was just confused."

"That makes two of us," he said, almost under his breath, but smiled, hoping to change the subject. "So what do we do now?" It was a question asked to the whole group.

"Well, I think Ayla wanted to make some tools," Grov said from behind, redirecting them to the fire where all their toolmaking implements still lay.

"Oh yes," she exclaimed. "I need a new hand axe." Ayla smiled happily, as if nothing had happened, then plopped down beside her mate and looked up at Davaria. "What are you going to make?" she asked him.

"Um, I'm not sure," he said. "I guess there are still a couple of things I'd like to make...for Oak Camp," he added when he saw Danta eyeing him.

"But I thought we were finished making gifts," she said in confusion.

Davaria smiled. "Yes, mostly, I suppose. There is just...something I forgot."

Danta continued to look at him suspiciously. "Like what?"

"Ahhh...like I said...I'm not sure what I want to make. I just don't feel finished yet." He paused, but continued on quickly when it looked like Danta was going to ask more questions. "Actually, Grov," he said, turning to the man, "could I talk to you for a moment...alone?"

Grov shrugged and got up again. "Okay," he said and followed the man up to the cave.

Danta watched the two men walk away and frowned at their backs. She didn't understand her brother's strange behavior or his dismissive attitude. "It's not like Davaria to keep things from me," she pouted.

Ayla watched them go as well, but didn't think much about it. Shrugging, she glanced over at the children; they were playing a short distance away and seemed to be happy. She couldn't help but smile as she pulled her hamster hide lap cover over her legs to protect her leggings, and prepared to work. "I'm sure that it's nothing," she said, turning her thoughts to the task before her.

Danta nodded. "I suppose not," she said quietly as she watched Ayla close her eyes and reverently hold the small bag that hung around her neck.

Ayla took several slow deep breaths to calm herself. She didn't make a specific request – she just tried to reach the spirit of the Cave Lion with her mind and with her heart. The spirit that protected her was part of her, inside her, the old magician had explained, and she believed him.

Trying to reach the spirit of the great beast who had chosen her did have a soothing effect. She felt herself relax, and, when she opened her eyes, she flexed her fingers and reached

for the mammoth foot bone that Grov had dragged down the beach for her. Placing it between her legs, she picked up the piece of flint she had preselected and turned it over and over, trying to decide where to make the first strike. Then, making her decision, she positioned the chalky gray stone on the anvil and picked up her hammerstone.

"Do you think I should go check on him?" asked Danta. "Maybe he's still upset about...well, you know.

"Huh?" Ayla said, a confused look in her eyes. She had just been about to bring her hammerstone down, but held up and looked at her friend instead. "What?"

"Maybe I should go check on Davaria," she repeated. "He may still be upset."

Ayla smiled. "I think that he is fine. You should not worry." Quickly, she lifted the hammerstone again and brought it down, striking the outer covering, then frowned. The stone was flawed. The chalky surface extended into the dark gray interior, all the way through the core. The inclusion made it unusable and interrupted the flow of her work and concentration. Not that her concentration had been all that strong in the first place, she thought, but now she was on edge. Then, putting her hammerstone down on the rocky beach, she sighed and looked at Danta again.

Danta was looking up at the cave entrance, wondering what the men were doing. As she stared up there, Grov and Davaria came out and began making their way up the slope to the plateau above. "Where are they going?"

Ayla tried to focus on the other woman and not her work. "Danta, what are you so worried about? He seems fine to me. Look, they have their weapons; they must be going hunting," she said and looked at the flint again, wondering if she could make some usable flakes from it, since a hand axe was out of the question.

"I don't know, Ayla. It's just that he was so upset only moments ago, and now he's going hunting? What could he possibly still have to make? We've already set everything out and looked it all over; we have everything we need."

Ayla shrugged, shifted the anvil between her legs, and considered the flint again. "Well, maybe there's just something else he decided was necessary," she said absently. "I do not think it is something you need to worry about." She turned the flint over in her hand and sighed heavily. She was frustrated. She had wanted to make a hand axe, but she had failed to produce her intended tool. She was not pleased, but picked up her hammerstone to try again. With the next attempt, she broke off one flake, but it needed retouching, so she put her hammerstone down and reached for a stone retoucher. But she only glanced in the direction of her other implements. Her eye was on the flint when she picked up a stone from the beach – and caused an event that would change their lives.

When Ayla's hand reached for the stone retoucher, it found instead a piece of iron pyrite of close to the same size. When she struck the exposed fresh flint from the flawed stone, it landed on some dry tinder that happened to be nearby, and the spark produced when the two stones hit happened to fly into the ball of shaggy fiber. Most important, Ayla just happened to be looking in that direction when the spark flew, landed on the tinder, smoldered for a moment, and sent up a wisp of smoke before it died.

"Did you see that?" she asked Danta with a puzzled expression.

Danta turned and looked back at her. "See what?"

"That smoke."

Danta frowned. "What smoke?" she asked.

Ayla had to think about it before she made the connection between the wisp of smoke and the spark, but then the spark puzzled her more. Where had it come from? That was when she looked at the stone in her hand. It was the wrong stone! It was one of those shiny stones that were scattered all over the beach.

"Look, this is not my retoucher." She held the stone in her hand up so that Danta could see it. "This is something else."

Danta looked at what Ayla was showing her and shrugged. "So."

"Did you see that spark?" Ayla asked her friend.

Danta shook her head. "No, I wasn't looking, sorry." Her mind was still on Davaria's elusive behavior.

Ayla frowned and examined the iron pyrite. It was definitely stone, she decided, and stone didn't burn. Yet something had made a spark that had made the tinder smoke. The tinder had smoked, hadn't it? she asked herself.

She picked up the ball of shaggy bark fiber, ready to believe she had imagined the smoke, but the small black hole left soot on her fingers. She picked up the iron pyrite again, and looked at it closely. How had the spark been drawn from the stone? What had she done? Feeling a little silly, she banged the two stones together. Nothing happened.

Danta frowned. "What are you doing?" she asked, after watching her friend for a few moments.

Ayla looked up at the other woman. "I'm not sure...but I am sure I saw smoke when I struck these two stones together."

Danta looked more closely at what Ayla was holding. "Try it again," she said, straightening up and pointing at the stones. Ayla now had her full attention.

Nodding, Ayla raised the stone and banged them together again, with more force, striking sharply, and watched a spark fly. Suddenly, an idea that had been tenuously forming sprang into her mind full blown. A strange, exciting idea and a little frightening, too.

She put the two stone down carefully on the leather lap cover, on top of the mammoth foot bone, then started gathering together the materials to build a fire.

Danta only watched for a moment, then figuring it out as well, she helped with excitement. When they were finished, Ayla picked up her stones, held them close to the tinder, and struck them together. A spark flew and then died on the cold stones. Smiling, she changed her angle, tried again and watched a spark land squarely in the middle of the tinder. It singed a few strands and died, but the wisp of smoke was encouraging.

"Did you see that?" she exclaimed.

Danta's eyes were wide. "Yes. That was smoke. Do it again!"

Ayla grinned and did just that. The next time she struck the stones, the wind gusted, and the smoldering tinder flared before it went out, and she gasped. "We need to blow on it."

"Of course!" Danta said, nodding her head. "A fire needs to breathe."

Ayla struck the stones again, and made another spark with the stones. It was a strong, bright, long-burning spark, and it landed right. Both women were close enough to feel the heat and they blew the smoldering tinder into flame. Then they fed it shavings, and slivers, and, almost before they knew it, they had a fire.

Danta stared at the small fire, then looked at Ayla with amazement.

Ayla had a look of disbelief in her eyes. It had been too easy, she thought. It was ridiculously easy. "Let's try it again," she finally said, wanting to prove to herself that they had indeed created fire with two stones. Danta nodded and gathered more tinder, shavings, and kindling, while Ayla prepared to strike the stones again. Within moments they had a second fire, and then a third, and a fourth.

The two women stared wide-eyed at the fires they had made, and then examined the stones again.

"Mama, did you make all those fires?" Durc asked, coming up to see what all the excitement was about.

Ayla nodded her head, then frowned. "Well, these stones did."

"Stones make fire?" he questioned.

Ayla grinned. "These ones seem to," she said and looked at Danta again.

Danta was thinking that maybe it wasn't just the stones; maybe it was Ayla. "Do you suppose I could do it too?" she finally asked.

Ayla shrugged and handed the stones over. "I don't see why not. It is not my magic," Ayla said.

This time, Ayla gathered together what was needed to make a fire and waited while Danta practiced making sparks. When she thought she had it, she leaned down and struck hard. They watched the spark for only a moment, then they bent to blow it to flames, making a fifth fire.

"Ayla, I can't believe this!" Danta said. "We just made fire with stone. How can that be?"

The blonde woman shook her head and examined the stones further. "I didn't think there was anything special about these stones, " she mused. "But I was wrong. I should have known; my totem gave one to me. Look Danta," she said excitedly. "Can you see the fire that lives inside them? I can, now that I know it's there. See?" Ayla paused, then pulled her amulet from around her neck and dumped its contents into her hand.

"And look at this, my Cave Lion gave one to me once to tell me Durc would live. What is he telling me now?" she asked her friend.

Danta looked at the objects in Ayla's hand. "I don't know, Ayla, but it must mean something. This is powerful magic that has been given to you."

"Me?" Ayla said. "You are here too."

Danta shook her head. "No. This magic is yours, Ayla," she said, handing the stones back to her friend. "The Mother showed it to you, not me."

Ayla frowned. "The Mother?"

"Yes, the Mother...or maybe your Cave Lion," she added, not knowing anything about the spirit world. "I do not know which; I am not a Shogur, but I do know that I would never have seen the spark if you had not continued to strike the stones together and bought my attention to it. No Ayla, this was given to you."

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER

"What do you think?" Davaria asked the other man.

Grov looked at the small blackish-blue carcass that was slung over Davaria's shoulder and shrugged. "I don't know. I can't seem to see what you are describing. What is a neck-less," he asked, thinking about the word and picturing Danta with no neck.

Davaria smiled. "No, it's called a necklace. It's jewelry...decoration." Grov continued to frown.

"It goes around her neck...sort of like the bands she wears around her arm," Davaria went on, wrapping his fingers from one hand around his opposite upper arm. "but not so tight. Women like jewelry."

Grov nodded. Davaria must be right about women liking jewelry. Ayla seemed to admire how the Others decorated things. He had often seen her trying to duplicate the designs they made, much to her frustration. It was a difficult job, putting tiny little beads and shells on clothing, but despite its difficulty, she continued to work at it.

"I still cannot picture this necklace," Grov finally said.

Davaria thought for a moment, then sucked in his breath. "Oh! It will be like what Tiflona wears around her neck. That is a necklace. But I want to make this one special, for my sister."

Grov frowned and pictured the Oak Camp headwoman. Then, as understanding hit him, he nodded. "Yes, I can see Tiflona's necklace. Hers is made of wooden beads and a rabbit's foot, I think."

"Yes, I believe so," Davaria said with a nod.

Grov was still frowning. He still didn't understand why Davaria was going to all this trouble. "But why make one for Danta?"

The dark-haired man shrugged. "I think that I should make her a gift as well...to make the gift-giving at the adoption complete. Don't you?"

"I think that she will like that." The Clan man grinned at the idea. "And I will enjoy watching you make it," he said, thinking that he might make one for Ayla as well, if it wasn't too difficult. He had never considered making anything other than weapons and wasn't sure he'd be able to do such a thing. "What will you need to make Danta's gift?"

Davaria frowned and shifted the dead weight on his shoulder. "Well, I'll need very thin cordage. And another fox...at least two more...maybe even three. There just aren't enough teeth in one to make it the length that I want. And they are very small, but they are usually nice and white. White looks good on Danta." He smiled.

"So, it will be made out of fox teeth?" Grov asked to make sure he was clear.

Davaria nodded. "Yes, just the larger, sharp ones. I will bore holes though them so that I can string them together." He paused. "And I was thinking about putting something else at the center," he said, demonstrating by holding up his hands to his own neck and touching his breastbone. "Maybe bone...maybe wood. I haven't decided yet."

Grov smiled at the man's love for his sister, and thought about his own sibling; she had been gone a long time, but her absence still hurt every time he thought about it.

"I'm sure that it will be nice," Grov reassured the man. "I'm sure she will like whatever you do. But I am wondering about something."

Davaria cocked his head and smiled. "What?"

"How are you going to keep this from Danta? I'm sure she's going to ask."

Davaria's brow creased with worry. "I have been thinking about that, but I'm not sure what I should say to her. What would you tell Ayla?"

Grov's brows raised. "Well, if she was truly Clan, then she would never ask a man to tell her something that he did not offer on his own."

"But Ayla is not really Clan," Davaria reminded him.

Grov grinned. "No, but she thinks of herself as Clan. She probably wouldn't ask, not directly, but she would be dying to find an opening so that she could." He thought for a moment. "I would have to be careful not to bring up anything that would give her that opening."

"But I can't do that with Danta," Davaria almost whined. "She's not going to wait for an opening; she's going to just bombard me with questions until I can't stand it anymore."

Grov shrugged again. "Well, I can't help you th..." Grov began, but stopped short. "Wait, I have an idea. Just tell her you're making something for Danara. You are going to do that too, aren't you?"

Davaria grinned. "Yes, I am. That's perfect," he said, then started considering what he could make for his sister's daughter.

~oxoxo~

It was almost evening by the time the two men headed back to the beach. They came out of the trees on the plateau and started down the rocky path that led to the cave ledge, but stopped when they saw several fires burning on the beach where there had only been one at midday. They wondered what was going on.

Davaria glanced at his companion and frowned. "What do you suppose they're doing?" he asked, pointing down at the beach with his spear.

Grov shook his head. "Why don't you go put that skin away, so Danta does not see it," he suggested, indicating the fox they had killed while out. They had gutted and skinned it, discarding its innards, and removed its teeth and claws, and some bones to use for decorating. "I'll go down and see what's going on."

Davaria nodded and went into the cave to put his things away.

~oxoxo~

"Look Ayla! Here comes Grov," Danta exclaimed excitedly.

"Grov!" Ora squealed and began running toward the man of her hearth. Annaliza also got up to go to him, but she was much slower.

Ayla was bent over the main fire where she had spitted a hare for their evening meal, but looked up and smiled as he approached, Ora now in his arms.

"Good evening," she said, picking up her youngest and going to him quickly. "Are you hungry?"

The man took her into his arms and kissed her. "Actually, yes," he said, then planted a kiss on the cheek of each girl as well.

Ayla continued to smile, but pulled back slightly. "You have been gone a long time. Did you find anything good?" she prompted, nodding toward his rucksack.

He grinned at her and pulled his pack off his back. "Not much, just a few rabbits...but it looks like that's what you have cooking." He dropped his kills on the ground and frowned. "How do you manage to do...all that you do," he asked, gesturing about the beach at all her work, "and find time to hunt and cook?"

"Hmm...I don't know. I guess that sling hunting is faster than using a spear," she said apologetically. "But you should see what else we did today." She said the last part with a grin on her lips.

"Mama made fire," Durc put in.

Grov looked down at the boy and ruffed his hair. "Fire, huh?" The boy nodded. Grov glanced down at the small fires burning around the larger beachfire, then at Danta, who was sitting there smiling up at him as well. "I can see that you have made more fires, but what's so important about them?" he asked Ayla. "We always make fire."

"Not like we made these fires," Danta interjected. "Show him, Ayla."

Ayla grabbed his arm and, pulling him down into the sand, shoved two stones into his hand. "These fires are important because we made them using these."

Grov frowned at what she put in his hands. "This is flint," he stated plainly, looking up at her in confusion.

Ayla nodded. "Yes, that one is flint, but that one," she said, indicating the second stone, "is not my stone retoucher. Look at it!"

Grov looked again at the stone in his hand and turned it over. It definitely wasn't her stone retoucher. "Where did you get this?"

"On the beach," she exclaimed, throwing her arm in an arc so that he'd look at the rock-strewn beach around them. "They are all over the beach."

Grov's eyes raked the beach as if he'd never seen it before, then he looked back at his mate. "I don't think I've ever considered that this stone could be useful," he said, raising his brow and examining the stone again.

"I haven't either," Ayla said. She watched as he looked the stone over. "Have you seen this stone before?"

"Um-huh," he replied with a nod. "There were many of them where I grew up, but I can't remember anyone ever using them." His eyes glazed over as he thought about his youth.

Ayla waited for a moment, not wanting to intrude on his thoughts, then continued on. "I didn't know they were so special either, but I should have known; this is the same stone that told me Durc would live," she said, once again removing her amulet and removing the piece of iron pyrite her totem had given to her five years before. "See?" she said, placing it into his hand.

Grov put down the first stone Ayla had given him and peered at the object she had just handed to him. It wasn't just one rock, but three small nodules of iron pyrite stuck together. He turned it over and noticed that it glittered in the late afternoon sun.

"Your totem gave this to you?"

Ayla nodded. "I found it when I was hiding from the Clan...after Durc was born. And then, when Brun accepted my son and allowed Creb to name him, I knew it was a sign. I knew that I had made the right choice to return to the Clan's cave, but I didn't know that this stone, a sign from my totem, was more important than that."

Grov shook his head. He knew the story about her running away after Durc was born. She had hoped to return on the boy's naming day so that Brun would be forced to accept him, but that wasn't what had happened. She had purposely returned early, which allowed the leader to save face. "I am surprised Brun did not curse you anyway."

"He was going to...I am sure of it. But for some reason, he didn't." She shook her head, wondering what had changed his mind, then smiled, happy that that part of her life was over.

"So...what's the deal with all the fires?" Davaria asked, coming up behind them.

~oxoxo~

"Amazing." Davaria watched as Ayla restarted the fire within the cave. It had only taken moments. "I would never have guessed that fire was inside any stone...especially this one," he said, inspecting one of the pieces of fool's gold they had brought up to the cave.

"I would not either," Ayla replied. "It was lucky that we saw the spark."

Danta frowned. She had been thinking about Davaria's secretive behavior. "You saw the spark, Ayla. I was just sitting there."

Ayla only shrugged. "I suppose I did see it first, but you helped to make the fires." Ayla smiled at her friend, then looked toward to cave opening. "I better go help Grov bring things up," she said, getting to her feet.

Davaria only had to glance at his sister to know she was going to start asking him questions as soon as Ayla was gone; he stood up quickly. "I'll come help you."

"No, that's okay, Davaria. You have already brought up too much. Grov and I can handle the rest." Ayla then left the cave.

Davaria nodded and slowly sat back down on the log he and Grov had placed near the fire. He knew that he was going to have to talk to his sister and he was worried. He had a plan, for what he would tell her, but it felt like a lie and she was pretty good at seeing through his lies.

For several moments, they sat in silence. Danta stared at him, trying to think of a way to ask about his sudden hunting trip without coming right out and asking him where he had gone, like some nosey mate that a man could not stand. And he looked into the fire to avoid his sister's eyes, repeating his story over and over in his head, and hoping that it would sound natural when it came out of his mouth.

Danta continued to watch him and finally sighed in frustration. "Okay, I'll guess again." She figured she could use their guessing game; it had always worked in the past. But Davaria's head snapped up.

"What?" he said with a frown. "Guess what?"

Danta narrowed her eyes at him. "Well, you are obviously keeping something from me, so I will guess...like I always have," she added.

"No I'm not," he said quickly. Much too quickly. He frowned, then tried again, more slowly. "I'm not keeping anything from you." Then leaned forward and whispered. "I'm just thinking about what to make Danara...for the adoption. I wanted to give her something too."

Danta's suspicious expression melted as she leaned to hug the man. "Really? That is so sweet. She will like that," she said with a smile.

Davaria smiled back at her and took a deep breath. He was glad for the low light of the cave; she might have seen the deception in his eyes, had he been facing the fire, or had she truly been looking for it, but as it was, neither of them were. The discussion was over, faster than he could have imagined, but he was pleased.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER

The next day was filled arranging and packing, and rearranging and repacking when everything wouldn't fit after the first attempt...and the second, and again on the third. The group had a lot to carry with them; much more than they had come with, but now they had three horses to help them with their journey back to the summer meeting.

It had been decided that Durc would ride on Stomp, with Grov close by to help control the moody mare. She had taken well to the man, but they were not yet sure about other riders, and they didn't want to take any chances. The three girls would ride Whinney, because she was the calmest of the three horses, and because the older two had already been on her back and they felt safe on her. That left Nicuria riderless; they still didn't think he was ready to carry a rider, though that did not preclude him from carrying a load.

"Are you sure they can carry these?" Danta asked, struggling to pick up one of the heavy panniers that had been repacked for the fourth time.

"Of course," Ayla said, not even glancing at Danta, or the panniers. She was still looking at her own array of objects that lay on the sleeping platform she shared with her mate and wondering what she could leave behind.

"Are you taking the furs from your bed?" Ayla asked.

"Well...I don't think we'll ever be back in this valley, so yes. I don't want to leave anything valuable behind."

Ayla frowned. "But I do plan to come back here...next year, in fact."

Danta stopped trying to pick up the pannier and looked at Ayla. "You do? Why?"

"Well...in the vision I had, we were here now, and then again next year."

Danta looked confused. "How could you tell that it was a different time?" she asked, finally dropping the pannier and going over to sit on Ayla's bed.

Ayla sat down beside her and smiled. "Because Stomp and Whinney were very pregnant in that vision. And they are only just pregnant now."

"Oh!" Danta smiled as well. "And is that why you're coming back here, so the horses can give birth in their valley?"

"Oh no," Ayla said, shaking her head. "I'm sure the horses could give birth anywhere. We will be coming back here because there will be two men here, sometime next summer, that we are supposed to meet. But that is all I know. My vision did not tell me anything else." She bit her lip as she thought about it.

"That is a long trip to make...to meet people you've never met before," Danta said, frowning at the thought of traveling more than one had to. "That is one of the reasons why I didn't leave the Sungaea sooner.

"Yes, it will be a long trip, but I have to go to Lion Camp again next summer, to bring Rydag more of my herbs, and I hope some from Uba too, so I will be relatively close."

"I suppose you will. But it is a long trip from your Clan's cave, isn't it?"

Ayla nodded. "Yes, quite far. But, like I said, I have to come up this way anyway, so coming over here will not be too much further. And I will have the horses. I'm sure they will make the journey seem shorter."

"Humph! For someone like me, whose never liked traveling, it's much too far, even with horses." The dark-haired woman looked down at her hands, then back up at Ayla. She felt like she had to explain.

"When I was young, Sumac Camp was always moving from place to place. We never had permanent dwellings like most of the Sungaea do. I can remember just getting settled in and then my mother's mate would come and tell Davaria and Dreena to start tearing it down again. It was...unsettling, to never know where we'd be next."

"Hmm, I can imagine. The Clan does not move around either. We believe that our totems want a place to live and that they will desert us if we wander homeless. I would not like moving around all the time either."

"But you are going to," Danta said nervously, "right?" She didn't like the thought of Ayla not visiting.

"Well, of course, but it is not the same as being homeless. I will always have a home with Brun's Clan. My totem is happy there."

"And with Oak Camp too. Isn't your totem happy at Oak Camp?"

Ayla frowned. "I don't know, Danta. I was not there long enough to find out. But I don't think that you should worry about it, Danta. I may not remember it, but I was born at Oak Camp. My totem has to be happy in the place I was born, right?"

"I hope so."

"Do the Others have totems too?" Ayla asked.

"Some people do, I think, but we don't place such importance on it like the Clan does. There was this one man I knew, that always said the spirit of the Spotted Woodpecker protected him." She smiled. "I believed him too, because those birds were always in the trees where we camped, and no one dared to harm them."

"I can understand that. That is why I was allowed to heal Shriek; the Red Tailed Hawk is Dorg's totem and we did not want to anger the spirit of the animal by ignoring his suffering and letting him die."

Danta nodded. "I think that was a smart thing to do. I would not want to ignore something like that. Is this...Dorg, anything like the animal whose spirit protects him?"

Ayla thought for a moment. "Well, like his totem, Dorg is a good hunter. And he has very good eyesight. And...he has big feet."

"Big feet? How is that like the Red Tailed Hawk?"

Ayla laughed. "Well, for his body size, Shriek has larger feet than other types of hawks I have seen, and so does Dorg...have larger feet than the other men, I mean. Though, I would never tell him that," she said and laughed again.

Danta laughed with her, then glanced down at her hands. Ayla could tell that her thoughts had shifted and waited for her to continue. "I think that Dreena's totem would have been the fox," she whispered sadly. "She could be...quite mischievous at times. And she loved to play games. And she was so sneaky. One time, she came on me so silently that I screamed and dropped Trata's best wooden bowl." Danta's lips curved into a slight grin as she remembered the incident with pleasure, though it had not been pleasurable at the time.

"It broke and I was so scared, but Dreena very crafty as well. She buried the broken pieces in Trata carrying bag and then put it at the bottom of the pile that had just been put down to unpack." Danta's grin widened and she giggled like a girl. "When Trata found her bowl later, she blamed her mate. She screamed so loudly that everyone came out to watch. She threw the pieces onto the ground and stamped her feet." Danta could almost hear and see the spectacle the woman had caused and giggled again.

"Part of me felt bad for him. Blandaria was not a bad man, he was just so...quiet and calm all the time. I wanted to say something, but Dreena wouldn't let me. She said that if I said anything we'd both get into trouble, me for breaking the bowl and not telling anyone, and her for hiding it and pretending to know nothing about it. Trata had always hated me, but I didn't want Dreena to get into trouble just because I was a klutz. And then Dreena reminded me that Blandaria could take care of himself. And she was right too; he just walked away from his screeching mate and ignored her completely. He was pretty good at ignoring things," she finished tearfully.

Ayla took up her friend's hand and smiled. She couldn't imagine the life Danta had lived. Nothing could compare to the lifetime of hatred the young woman had experienced. Even Ayla's ordeals with Broud paled in comparison, in Ayla's opinion. To be hated by one's own mother, for something only the spirits could explain, was unfathomable.

"You were not the only one at fault, you know," said a voice from behind. Both women looked up to see Davaria standing in the cave opening listening to them. "If Dreena had not scared you, you wouldn't have dropped Trata's bowl."

Danta stood up quickly and wiped her tears away. Davaria hadn't been there when the incident had occurred. He had been out hunting with their oldest brother, Dukaria, and she had never confided to him that it had been she that had broken the bowl. For some reason Dreena hadn't wanted her to, but now Danta was left feeling guilty about keeping it from him.

"I always knew that you two had something to do with the breaking of that bowl. Every time Trata threw some cutting remark at Blandaria, you two managed to leave the area." He frowned. "So, what other secrets did you two have?" he asked, folding his arms across his chest and smirking at her through his frown.

Danta's eyes opened wide and she rushed at him. "We had no other secrets, Ari," she cried. "I promise we didn't. You have to believe me."

The man smiled and shook his head. "Of course I believe you Ata. I am only teasing you."

~oxoxo~

"We cannot leave any food behind," Ayla said. "It will only attract predators and some smaller animals, and that is a mess I'd rather not have to clean up next summer."

Danta nodded. "You are right. Animals will probably come and go over the year, but you don't want to arrive to animal droppings all over the cave if it can be helped."

"Are you saying that we don't have room for everything?" Grov asked.

Ayla frowned. "I am not sure yet. I guess we won't know until we actually pack up the horses." She paused. "I think they know something is up; they are acting strangely."

"I put the pannier over Nicuria's back again last night before coming inside," Grov said. "He tried to pull it off again, but I don't think he will be able to once it's filled."

"That's good," Ayla said absently. "What about the furs on our beds? I'd like to leave them for next time."

Grov shrugged. "You don't think some animal will come in and damage them, do you?"

Ayla looked at the three furs that she'd rolled up and frowned. "They might, but I'd really like to have them here when we get back."

"We could bury them," Davaria suggested, "under stones or in the niche."

Ayla nodded. "That might work, if the stones are heavy enough, but it will be a lot of work to bring heavy stones up to the cave."

"I will work on that while you pack the horses," Grov said. "You are much better at making things fit." He shook his head. "I am not so good at that."

Ayla grinned at him. "It's a deal."

Davaria was watching them and smiled. But one thing was bothering him; it had been his idea to bury the furs under stones and he felt bad that he had caused more work. "And I will help you," he offered. Grov nodded.

"And I think we should leave firemaking materials readily accessible too, so that we do not have to gather wood when we get here," the blonde woman said.

"There is plenty of wood on the ledge, Ayla," Danta reminded her. "We could bring it in."

Ayla nodded. "Yes, and I'll leave a pile of firestones in here as well." Everyone nodded.

~oxoxo~

Ayla stood in the mouth of the cave and looked around. She couldn't think of anything else they could do to preserve it. Animals were sure to get in and make a mess, but she hoped they had taken all measures to minimize whatever damage might occur.

Slowly, she turned around and joined everyone else by the packed horses. Grov was checking Stomp's pannier and making a few last-minute adjustments when she walked up.

"What's wrong?" he asked, noticing her crinkled brow.

"I don't know. I guess I have enjoyed this time away from so many people," she answered.

The man smiled at her. "Yes, I have also enjoyed this," he said, lifting Durc up to Stomp's back.

Danta and Davaria grinned at each other. "And so have we," they said in unison. They were both nervous about going back, but knew they would eventually be happy, once they were settled at Oak Camp.

Ayla sighed and went to check Whinney. She also moved some things around, shifting a couple items to Nicuria's pannier to give the three girls a little more space on the mare's back. The panniers would hang on either side of the mare's flanks, but the girls would need room for their legs to dangle. Ayla did not want them to be uncomfortable.

"Okay, who's first?" she asked, turning to the girls and holding out her arms. Ora came up, eager to ride again. Ayla lifted her up easily, positioning her in the middle, then picked up Annaliza, settling her youngest in front. And finally, she put Danara behind. Ayla felt that having them in size order allowed all three of them the best visibility.

"Hold onto each other tight," Ayla instructed them. All three girls nodded excitedly.

Then, with one last glance up at their cave, the journeyers turned to leave, heading eastward toward the path that would lead them out of the valley and back to the Sungaean summer meeting.

And just before they were about to begin their assent, Shriek's call could be heard above them. He was on his way as well.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER

Once up on the steppes, the travelers started out by following the same path they had taken to the valley, but in reverse, and at a more leisurely pace. Though they all wanted to get back—all for different reasons—they figured that time was of no concern, and they still wanted to enjoy the peace that traveling alone afforded them. They had been gone for twenty-three days, nearly an entire cycle of the moon, what was another five or six days, or even nine or ten days, if that's what it took?

They hadn't gone far when Ora claimed that her bottom was sore and that she wanted to get down. Ayla readily agreed; she had noticed the soreness in her own muscles after spending so much time riding Whinney and didn't want to have to listen to the child complain, as she was sure she would. They stopped briefly so that Ayla could set her on the ground, but started walking again immediately.

Ora was obviously glad for the freedom and, without even looking around, ran slightly ahead through the waist high steppe-grass. Danta gasped as the straw blonde-haired child disappeared into the sea of summer-dried grasses, but Ayla only smiled knowingly. Within moments, Ora let out a howl of fear as she realized that the grass that was waist high on her mother, was well over her own head. She was lost!

Hiding her amused smile, Ayla went to her rescue immediately and explained the importance of staying close. After that, the three-year-old nervously walked with one hand tugging on the hem of Ayla's tunic. She did not like the thought of being lost.

But that didn't last very long, the child soon asked to be put back on the mare's back, where she could see a much greater distance.

~oxoxo~

As the day progressed, each child asked to get down for small periods of time, but when Annaliza began to whine, Ayla knew it was time to stop and feed the child.

"I know that it has not been very long," she said, looking up at the sun, "but do you mind?"

Grov frowned for a moment, then shrugged. There was no rush. "Of course not," he said, turning to help Durc down. Then, noticing the boy had already jumped off of the horse's back, he looked back at his mate. "She needs to eat, Ayla." Most were not hungry, but Ayla still let Annaliza nurse whenever she wanted to; she was still too young to be weaned, and Ayla was enjoying the closeness that was developing, a closeness that was somehow different than what she had with Durc.

Grov and Davaria spent a few moments flattening a space for them to rest in, while the women picked up the girls and set them on the ground to stretch their legs and walk around. Once the children had been attended to, Ayla poured a small amount of water into a bowl for the horses to share. The horses, glad for the break, drank the water, then walked off a short distance to graze during the rest.

Ayla watched Whinney as she walked off to chomp grass, somewhat worried about losing her friend so soon after she had gained her. Then, knowing she couldn't do anything about it if the mare truly wanted to go, she turned to pick up her youngest child. Annaliza was sitting on the flattened grass, amused for the moment by a string of bones that Danara was dangling in front of her.

"Are you hungry?" Ayla motioned to the one-year-old after sitting down with the girls. Annaliza nodded, immediately losing interest in the rattling bones, and crawled onto her mother's lap. For a moment, Ayla struggled with her Other's tunic, which was tighter and much more constricting than any Clan wrap, then shrugged and crossed her hands over her stomach, and pulled them up over her head to remove the garment completely. Finally, sitting completely bare from the waist up, she closed her eyes and sighed; free at last, she thought. And as she felt her milk being released by her daughter, she let herself relax.

Davaria had just come to sit down, but stopped short when he saw Grov's mate pull her tunic over her head. He was already feeling tortured by his recent attraction to the young woman, but to see her sitting there, breasts bare and nipples hard, left him more than wanting. Quickly, he turned and pretended to be looking for something in one of Nicuria's packs.

~oxoxo~

They did not stay in their clearing for long. Instead, they set off again rather quickly, wanting to find a decent place to camp for the night before it got too late. At Grov's suggestion, they changed directions, heading more northeast. He seemed to be concerned about getting the horses across Big River, which was something Ayla hadn't thought about until he mentioned it. Big River was a very large river, one requiring the people to use boats to cross; Ayla wondered why she hadn't considered it an obstacle.

"How are we going to get them across?" she asked her mate over Stomp's bare back; Durc was walking for the time being. "They cannot ride in a boat."

The man shrugged. "They will have to swim," he said simply.

Ayla frowned. "But Nicuria does not like to swim. What if he refuses to do it?"

"Then he will be left behind."

Ayla sucked in her breath, surprised that he could be so callous. "We cannot leave him behind, Grov," she said, looking at the young colt that was walking just in front of his mother.

Grov smiled. "We will not leave him, Ayla...because he will not refuse to cross."

"But how can you be sure that he will not refuse?" she asked.

"Because he does not want to be left behind more than he doesn't want to cross rivers. You will see."

Ayla frowned again, wishing she could be as sure and wondering why her mate was. What did he know that she didn't? she wondered. Then she sighed, knowing that she would not be able to do anything about it, should the horses refuse to make the crossing.

~oxoxo~

As afternoon turned into evening, the travelers approached another valley that contained yet another river. They knew that it was not Big River, though they were headed in that direction. This river was southwest of Big River and nowhere near as large. They could easily have forded it, had there been a need, but as it was, there was not; their journey took them eastward, not west.

"This looks like as good a place as any," Grov said, looking across the unknown river at the rolling grassy hills. "What do you think?"

"It looks good to me," Danta said, dropping her pack and smiling. "I'm tired of walking."

Davaria looked around nervously. "I think we're in Mamutoi territory," he said with a frown. He wasn't sure how much he liked being so near to those who were said to be distantly related to the Sungaea, or how much they would like him being there, should they run into any. Not only had he gotten involved in invading Clan camps and forcing Clan women, he had also been a part of raiding Mamutoi camps with some of the younger men. It had never been anything like their Clan raids, where women were forced. The Mamutoi camps had always been empty, as they had always taken place during summer meetings. Usually they just knocked things over, breaking whatever they could and stealing anything of value, but Davaria had always known it was wrong, and now he was frightened that they would somehow know what he had done.

The man looked around, wondering where the nearest Mamutoi camp was. It made him nervous to be in the area where he knew those people lived, though it had been quite a few years since he had taken part in the raids; raiding had been banned by the councils, but it still happened now and then, and it made people angry.

"Yes," Ayla said, not noticing his nervousness as she helped the children off the horses. "I think that you are correct. Lion Camp was headed that way, I think." She pointed north-northwest. "And Talut said that they were summering with...Amber Camp." She turned toward Grov and raised her brow. "What did he say Lion Camp's summer camp was called?"

Grov thought for a moment with a frown. "Cattail Camp?" he said, not completely sure.

Ayla nodded. "Yes, I think that is right?" She paused for a moment as her thoughts shifted. "I wish we could see Lion Camp again...before we go back to the summer meeting."

"Are you thinking about Rydag?" Grov asked.

She nodded. "I am worried about him. Next summer will not come soon enough, I'm afraid. I hope that he makes it that long," she said sadly.

"You do not know that Uba can do anything," Grov said, starting to pull their things out of Stomp's pannier so that the mare could rest for the night. "Her medicine may not be enough either."

Ayla frowned and went to stand next to her mate. "But Grov, my medicine is the same as hers. It is Uba's memories that I am after. Maybe she can remember something stronger than the medicine Iza taught me. Iza did not teach me everything; there was not enough time."

He stopped unpacking and nodded. "Yes, I know, Ayla. I'm just saying that it won't make Rydag better to worry about him, or to keep thinking about whether or not Uba will have another remedy. You cannot spend the next year worrying about it. It is up to Ursus."

Ayla's troubled eyes searched Grov's, then she sighed. "You are right...of course," she finally said before reaching up and touching the stubble on the man's face. "You are also very scratchy."

The man rubbed his chin and grinned at her. "I will shave again in the morning...if you would like me to."

Ayla leaned to brush her cheek against the grain of his growing beard, then kissed him. "I would like it...but only if you really want to do it."

~oxoxo~

After the evening fire was burning, the men set up the tents while Ayla and Danta finished unpacking Whinney and Nicuria, so that they could join Stomp in the grass. It was a tedious job, emptying packs that they had so carefully packed that morning, and would have to pack again every day that they traveled, but it needed to be done so that the horses could rest.

"I wish we didn't have to do this," Danta said, frowning at the array of objects on her side of Whinney. Ayla was on the mare's other side, emptying out the opposite pannier.

"Well, there is too much in here for even Grov to lift it off of her, so I think we don't have a choice," Ayla said with a smile. "And we can't leave them on her. This is just the price we pay for traveling with so many things."

"At least we have the horses to help us," Davaria interjected. "We could never have brought back all of this without them."

Danta nodded. "You are right. The horses sure are a help. And this isn't that difficult," she said with a smile. "I am very grateful for what you have done for us, Ayla."

Ayla blushed. "I have done nothing that you do not deserve, Danta." Ayla quickly went back to emptying the panniers; she was still uncomfortable with compliments.

"And think of it this way," Davaria said to change the subject, "once we're at Oak Camp, we'll never have to carry such a load again."

Danta smiled and put her arms around her brother. "Yes, you are right, brother...again. And once we're there, I never want to go anywhere, ever again."

"Except for summer meetings, right?" he asked. He didn't like Sumac Camp and was happy about the adoption, but he didn't know anyone at Oak Camp very well and it worried him to have no contact with people he did know, not that he thought anyone from their home camp would be all that welcoming after the adoption.

Danta could see his concern. She knew he was still worried about being isolated from their people. "Yes, Davaria, I will still go to summer meetings," she said as she leaned the pannier up against their tent and refilled it to keep their items safe. "I just mean that I never want to make a long journey again."

"I never even dreamed of making such journeys," Ayla commented as she slapped Whinney's rear. The horse nickered and moved to join the others. "But I'm glad that I have. I am glad that I have been able to meet Vincenzia's people and to have learned about where I came from."

~oxoxo~

The women had fixed a light meal and most ate in silence, though the children chatted excitedly; they didn't seem tired from the day of traveling, which was quite understandable since they had not done much walking. However, after their meal, and much to Ora's displeasure, the children were put to bed so that the adults could relax and talk.

For a while, the silence continued. Each person was thinking about his or her own concerns. Ayla, her thoughts still on Rydag, was wishing they could take a detour to go see the boy. She worried that he would not make it another year, and was sad that there was nothing more she could do for the boy without first talking with Uba. But it didn't matter, even if she had something to help him, they didn't know where Lion Camp was. They only knew that Amber Camp was somewhere north of where they were now, but the land was vast; they would never find them without precise directions.

Grov was thinking about the great distances they had traveled over the summer. He had only traveled so far one other time during his life, but that had been as a small child, which he barely remembered. For a brief moment, he thought about his mother again. She had journeyed a long way, carrying him carefully cradled at her breast and hoping to find happiness at the end of their path. But it was not to be; she had never been happy, as far as he could remember.

Davaria's mind jumped around a bit. First he thought about his Sumac friends; he wondered if they were still going to cause trouble when they returned. Most likely, he thought sadly. Then he considered his mother and frowned. He had always disliked her for the way she treated Danta, but knowing that she was now lost to him as well hurt him deeply. She was, after all, his mother, the woman who gave him life. Next, his mind jumped to how happy Danta and Danara were going to be with Oak Camp. Oak Camp was full of good people, he said to himself. And he still couldn't believe they were going to take him as well. Danta and Danara deserved to be adopted, but he wasn't so sure about himself. For a moment he wondered if Ivanolia had made any disparaging comments about him, or if the man was truly happy to have him. He had seemed welcoming when we were at Oak Tent, the man mused, feeling self conscious about his place. What was his place? he wondered. Then suddenly he smiled, realizing that it didn't matter anymore, Oak Camp was accepting him. Ivanolia must not have made moves to prevent the adoption, or it would not be happening. Davaria could not help but think that Ivanolia was a different man, now that he was mated again and his life was on the right path. It made Davaria wonder how much being adopted would change him, and his life.

Danta's brain was filled with dread about the upcoming confrontation at the summer meeting. She had tried hard not to think about Zadneetsia and what the man had done to her, but now that they were actually moving back toward the meeting, dark thoughts began to cloud her being. She wondered if she would be able to make her accusations. Knowing that she would not be believed would make it more difficult. She didn't even want to face Sumac Camp so that she could be adopted, let alone raise a claim against Zadneetsia. It was all so complicated.

~oxoxo~

The night ended quietly, none of them deciding to start a conversation. Each realized that they were more tired than they thought. Danta excused herself first, hoping that sleep would keep her from thinking about Zadneetsia. Davaria watched his sister go, then turned back to stare into the fire.

Ayla sat there silently, looking at the closed flap of Danta's tent and wondering what her friend was thinking. She could see that the woman was troubled and figured she knew the cause. She wanted to help, but Danta didn't seem to want help. Ayla's thoughts were so inward that she did not see Grov get up and walk away.

Grov was done for the night as well, but first he headed away from their camp to relieve himself. He hated having to go out at night to do that, especially when he was snuggled up to Ayla in their warm furs.

"Are you coming?" he asked Ayla, after he had returned to the fire.

Ayla looked up at him. "Hmm?" she said questioningly. Then realizing what he had said, she looked down at her almost empty cup and smiled. "Oh yes, I will be right there." She watched as he silently entered their tent, then she gulped down the remainder of her tea and looked at Davaria.

"Are you going to go to sleep soon?" she asked him, as she stood up to go.

He stared at the fire for a moment longer, then looked up at her and nodded. "Soon," he said, continuing to nod. "I will bank the fire," he offered.

Ayla smiled down at the man. "Well, good night then," she said, and left to join her mate.

Davaria watched Ayla go. He couldn't help but watch the natural sway of her hips as she walked away from him. She is mesmerizing, he thought, once again feeling a tightening in his manhood. He willed it to go away, to no avail.

"Oh Sumata," he moaned quietly, head in his hands, "please stop punishing me for what I did to those women. This is not the same," he whispered. He wanted Ayla so badly and wondered if it was because of her beauty. He had seen many beautiful women during his lifetime. What made Ayla so different? Then he thought about what Danta had said about the other women, and he frowned. Do I feel this way because I have never truly lain with a woman? he silently questioned. He thought about his sister's words and knew she was right; those women did not count. But where did that leave him now? He sighed and tried to think about sleeping.

Then, when he heard the unmistakable sounds of Ayla taking off her clothes and getting under the furs with her mate, he groaned quietly and decided to walk it off. Quietly, he circled the perimeter of their camp several times, making certain to keep out of earshot of Ayla's tent. Then, returning to their fire, he set it so that it would burn hot and long. And finally, with once last glance toward Ayla's tent, he turned and entered his own.

Davaria sent one glance over at Danta. Then, closing his eyes to sleep, he thanked the Mother that his sister was already asleep. He knew she would have found reason to question him if she hadn't been. She always did. She always seemed to know when he was troubled, and he didn't feel like talking.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER*

But Danta wasn't sleeping. Nor was she of a mind to be thinking about Davaria's problems. Instead, she was lying on her side, her back to her brother's sleeping place, desperately trying to regulate her breathing so that he wouldn't know she was awake and filled with dread.

Relax, she told herself silently. But calming herself was easier said than done. She had spent most of the day worrying and each step that brought them closer to the summer meeting—and Zadneetsia—caused her to reconsider her decision to go back. In mere days she would have to stand up against the camp of her birth, and the foul man who had violated her body, so that she could get away from them. Just thinking about it made her sick. It was too much to take. Yet, here she was, on her way back.

What am I doing? she asked herself as she bit back her sobs. She was trying so hard not to cry, but eventually she couldn't take it any longer. Without a single sound, Danta's eyes welled and her tears fell, but she didn't even seem to notice. They soaked through the sleeve of her sleeping tunic, wetting the skin of the arm she had tucked under her head and seeping into the furs that lay beneath her. Davaria chose that moment to let out a sigh, causing Danta to hold her breath.

Sleep Ari, she pleaded silently, as she strained to hear the signs that told her he was no longer conscious. It did not take long; he was snoring softly beside her and she was able to relax...somewhat.

He must have been tired, she thought as she wiped away her tears and rolled to her back. She watched the outside firelight dance across their leather tent and tried to smile. Davaria never had trouble sleeping, so why would tonight be any different? she mused as she glanced over at him. She could just make out his profile in the darkness and was glad that at least he was at peace. That was good to see. She sighed and closed her eyes.

Then suddenly, her mind returning to the summer meeting, she wondered how peaceful Davaria would be when he found out what Zadneetsia had done to her. She shuddered at the thought and decided that she didn't want Davaria to ever find out. But how can I possibly hide it? How can I stand up to Sumac Camp, where Zadneetsia is sure to be, and not let it show? "How can I face that man?" she whispered, letting her tears fall again, then biting her lip to prevent the sob that threatened to tear out of her.

How can I possibly return to my people? She didn't think she could do it, even though she had already agreed to. She wondered if Davaria would still be willing to follow her out into the unknown, to make a journey, to search for a new people, now that he had a place to go. She knew she was being unfair, that he would be so disappointed if she changed her mind. They had worked so hard to prepare fine gifts for Oak Camp and Davaria seemed so happy, but she was still afraid to face Sumac Camp—afraid of their ridicule and afraid of their hate.

But, she was also afraid of being alone. In her heart, she didn't think he would allow her to leave on her own. He would go with her...if she asked him to. Danta smiled. She loved her brother so much and did not want to cause him unhappiness. Davaria was all she and Danara had left; they had no one else to turn to. Danta could not ask him to leave and she could not leave without him. She was so scared...and so ashamed, but she knew she had to go back. Going back was their best chance to survive.

~oxoxo~

"Hey, what do you say to spending a day here?" Danta put out, in what she hoped sounded nonchalant, as everyone ate their morning meal. Davaria choked down the bite of food he had been about to swallow and blinked back the tears the effort caused. Everyone stared at him for a moment while he composed himself, then they all looked at Danta, clearly surprised by her suggestion. They hadn't discussed stopping anywhere on the way back, not even when or where their nightly camps would be. It was just assumed that they'd make camp and break camp as they felt like it, but without any extended layovers. Hadn't they just left the valley with the intention of going back to the summer meeting to be adopted?

Danta could see confusion in their eyes as they stared at her. When no one said anything she went on. "I mean, we're not in any hurry, are we?" she asked, trying to hide her nervousness. The other three adults shook their heads, but all looked suspicious. She had to force herself to relax. She didn't want them to see just how upset she was about returning to the summer meeting. "So, what's another day?"

Ayla and Davaria glanced at Grov, expecting to him to decide, and Grov knew it was up to him, though he never spared them a glance. He kept his eyes on Danta, silently contemplating what she wanted. And then he shrugged. "I suppose it would not hurt." He looked at Ayla and Davaria then. "What do you two think?"

"I do not mind," Ayla replied immediately. "We are in no hurry."

Grov knew that she did not care either way; he could see it in her eyes. But when he turned his questioning eyes on Davaria, he got a completely different feeling. Grov could tell that the other man was looking forward to returning, even though things probably wouldn't go smoothly, and he didn't like the delay. But Davaria also had another look about him. It was as if the man had just realized how desperate his sister had been to leave, and as if he suddenly remembered she had some kind of secret about...something.

"Davaria?" Grov prompted when the man didn't give his opinion aloud.

Davaria's forehead was deeply creased as he stared at his sister. He knew she did not want to go back, that despite Oak Camp's offer, she was dreading their return. And though she had not said one thing to indicate she had changed her mind, she was almost ready to bolt. He knew this beyond a shadow of a doubt, but he didn't know how to call her on it. And he did not want to give her any opportunities to turn tail and run, because he knew life was going to get better, once they settled in with Oak Camp. He just knew it.

"Ah...staying here a day is fine with me," he finally said.

Danta sighed. Another day, she thought with relief. It was putting off the inevitable, but another day away was still another day she didn't have to face him. "Great!" she exclaimed. A little too enthusiastically she knew, and she knew they knew it too. Everyone stared at her. "Umm, let's go swimming then," she suggested. Then, standing up, she strode away from the others.

Davaria watched her walk away, for just a moment. Then he too stood. "I think that...I need to talk to my sister," he said, without even looking down at the other two as he started away.

Grov and Ayla could only watch him go, then exchanged a worried look.

~oxoxo~

"Danta?" Davaria said, coming up behind her.

"Hmm?" she answered without turning to face him. When she had walked off, she had only gotten as far as some of the large rocks that littered the riverbank before tears spilled down her cheeks.

"What's...going on?"

Blinking hard and brushing at her tears, she kept her eyes on the river. "What makes you think something's going on? I just...wanted to stay here another day, that's all."

"Oh come on, Danta!" he exclaimed as he grabbed her by the shoulders and spun her around. "That's not all and..." He paused. Tears? He knew she was upset, but she looked terrified. "What's going on, Ata? Please don't make me guess," he begged. "You know you can tell me anything."

Danta sighed and let her tears fall again. A ragged sob tore from her throat as she fell into her brother's arms. He held her silently, letting her get it out. And then, when her sobs subsided, he turned her chin up so that he could look her in the eyes. She tried to look away, but there was something about his gaze that forced her to look at him.

"Okay now," he said, brushing the tears from her cheeks with his thumbs. "Tell me. What can I do?"

Danta sucked in her breath. "There is nothing...nothing you can do, Ari." More tears slipped down her cheeks. "This is...just something I have to deal with."

"What is?" he asked. "I'm sure I can help, but...I have to know what's going on."

"Nothing!" she exclaimed, turning her back on him.

Davaria frowned at her back. Why is she being so stubborn? he wondered. What could be so bad? "Danta," he began again, "You have to tell me what's wrong."

"No! I don't!" she burst out, suddenly facing him again. "This is...my problem."

Still frowning, Davaria grabbed her by her shoulders again and stared at her in frustration. "No Danta, if this problem, whatever it is, brings you to tears, then it's mine too. Do you really think we can go back to the summer meeting before we talk about this?" He paused, realizing that he'd just given her that opportunity to change her mind about returning for the adoption. He watched her for a second, and when she opened her mouth to reply, he went on. "Don't answer that! We are going back. You know that it's for the best...for all of us." And then, hoping to appeal to her guilt, he continued again. "You have to think of Danara. She needs a decent home. She needs—"

"ARI!" she said quickly, sounding stronger than she felt. It stopped him from saying anything more. "I'm not going to change my mind about returning. I agreed to go back...and we're going. But that doesn't mean everything is settled...in my mind." More tears fell. "You have no idea how painful going back is going to be. Facing Sumac Camp is only part of it." She turned away and began pacing. "There is just so much more to this than you know."

"Then tell me, Ata," he begged. "I can only help if you tell me."

"But there's nothing you can do, Ari," she whispered. She'd stopped pacing and was eyeing him. "You just can't help with this."

"Why?"

Danta wrapped her arms around her own waist and sighed heavily. "Because your help is likely to get you in trouble and I...can't bear the thought of more trouble for you."

Davaria stared at her helplessly. Trouble? Hadn't Ayla said something like that, before they'd arrived in the valley? He tried to recall her words exactly. Someone hurt Danta too. He frowned again as anger began to take over.

"Who hurt you, Ata?" She looked away again. "Danta! You have to tell me." Her eyes filled again and she dropped her face into her hands. "Now damn it!" He was nearly shouting. "Who was it?"

Danta looked up at him, then over his shoulder. His eyes followed her gaze; Grov and Ayla were standing a short distance from them, with concerned looks on their faces. His raised voice had obviously drawn them closer. Davaria glanced back at Danta, then at Ayla again. And then it hit him.

"Zadneetsia!" He watched as tears once again poured from her eyes. "It was Zadneetsia?" he growled. Her eyes filled again. "What did he...?" He stopped, his eyes widening in realization. The tears fell and then she collapsed to the ground.

"I'll kill him!" he said through clenched teeth as he kicked violently, spraying sand away from the crumpled figure at his feet. Then, reaching down, he picked up a rock and threw it with all his might. It landed in the river. Only then did he kneel down beside her. "Why didn't you tell me this sooner?" he asked. Danta looked up at him. He was shaking and his face was red with fury.

"I couldn't, Ari," she whined. "This is why I didn't tell you before. I did not want to risk more trouble."

"Trouble?" he exclaimed furiously. "Oh Mother! You have not seen trouble yet. When I get my hands on him...I-I'm going to strangle him, Ata," he said, standing up and holding his hands out as if he were doing just what he said.

Danta frowned and got up. Placing her hands on her brother's cheeks, she shook her head. "No, Ari. You can't do that. That would solve nothing. It wouldn't right what he did to me and it would turn you into something that you are not." He tried to look away from her, but she held him fast. "Listen to me...you must let this go, just as I've got to."

"WHAT?! How can you say that? He forced you," he said through gritted teeth. "He deserves to...to suffer...and to die."

"And do you deserve to die as well?" she asked, "For what you did to those Clan women."

Davaria gasped. "Maybe," he said honestly. "Maybe I do."

She shook her head. "No, Ari. What you did was wrong...you know that now, but you don't deserve death. You're obviously a changed man."

"You only say that because you're my sister...you have to forgive me."

"Well, I'm not your sister," Ayla said as she slowly approached the pair on the beach. "And I believe you are a good man, Davaria." Davaria looked at the woman, Grov was walking with her, nodding his head.

"We would know if you had not changed," Grov added. "You could not hide that from us. Your sister is right...you did wrong, but you are nothing like Zadneetsia."

Davaria blinked, then looked back at Danta. "All right...you forgive me, but that doesn't change the fact that Zadneetsia hasn't changed...he will never change."

Danta took a deep breath; it was almost a sob. "I have to agree with you there, Ari," she said tearfully. "But you cannot lower yourself to his level. I will not let you. And I will not go back if you don't promise to let me handle this the way I think it should be handled." She paused. "Promise me that you won't lay a hand on him...that you'll stay away from him and that you won't say a word about what he did to me." Davaria folded his arms over his chest and looked away. "Promise me!" she demanded.

He finally looked at her. "I promise."

~oxoxo~

When the sun came up the next morning everyone rose and bathed in the river, then packed up and left, following the river at a leisurely pace for a short distance, then turning east so that they were heading toward Big River and their destination. The children sat astride the horses again and were enjoying not having to walk the distance, but they were not oblivious to the tension around them. The previous day had been hard on everyone.

After Davaria had made his promise, he had refused to join in with the group, choosing instead to sit and sulk on the sidelines. He didn't understand how they could forgive him for what he had done, when he could not forgive himself. He was racked with guilt that pained him every time he thought about it, and he hoped the Mother never took the pain away; he deserved every bit of it. It was a good reminder to never cross that line again. He just wished that Zadneetsia would suffer as he was. Part of him knew it was wrong to wish such pain on someone else, but he didn't care. As far as he was concerned, Zadneetsia should be suffering for what he did. And despite his promise to Danta, he had no intention of letting it go.

As they traveled, mostly in silence, the group scanned the countryside looking for the best possible path, a path on which they could travel with ease that was also the most direct. Since their departure from their first campsite, they had been crossing the lowland grasses that covered the valley where Big River flowed. It was a vast valley, extending as far as the eye could see and providing all that was necessary to sustain life. There were plenty of dips and hollows, which made perfect watering holes for the horses, and the many small streams that raked their way through the earth made it possible for the travelers to have a continuous supply of fresh water. This water both quenched the thirst of the travelers and allowed the growth of the large variety of flora that colored the area to draw every imaginable creature. Among them, a small herd of bison, grazing in the distance, birds fluttering from tree to tree, twittering happily, ground squirrels scampering around, disappearing into holes just as the travelers neared, and even a few carnivores, lazing in the sun, waiting for a meal to wander too close.

They had left early, wanting to make headway while the weather was still pleasantly cool. But now, at midday, with the bright sun shining directly overhead, they were hot and sweaty, and wanting a break. Stopping, however, was not what they did. Instead, they pushed on, hoping to find the shade of a tree in which to rest their weary bodies.

But that was not to be, for a while at least, because there were no trees in sight, only waist-high bushes and large and small outcroppings of rocks dotting the area ahead of them, neither of which offering any relief to the travelers. But they continued to keep their eyes on the land, looking for just the right place.

Far to the north, and much closer south of them, the rolling hills met an azure blue sky filled with billowing white clouds, giving perspective to the seemingly endless river valley. If one didn't know better, it would seem as if they had a long way to go, but it was only a short way to Big River and the summer meeting beyond that. They drew comfort in that, though their hearts were heavy.

Things should have been good. They had acquired what they had gone after and were returning with far more than they had anticipated, but no one seemed very happy; they knew what they faced once they joined the rest of their people.

~oxoxo~~oxoxo~oxoxo~

"The hunters are returning!" a boy shouted excitedly. "The hunters are back!" He ran through the busy space, poking his head into the various communal tents as he went to pass on the news.

Janika watched as the boy came into view. She had not been allowed to go on the hunt. After the trouble she had caused on the last one, the man of her hearth had forbidden further summer hunts, even after their headman had lifted her restriction to their tentfire. It had embarrassed her greatly, but she knew she had it coming. It was all she could do to even sit outside.

"Janika!" The boy stopped in front of her, taking large gulps of air. "They're back!"

She smiled at him and handed him her cup of water. "So I've heard. Where is my brother?" she asked.

"Jondaria walks in front...again." The boy rolled his eyes.

Janika laughed. "He is a good hunter. Just like you will be one day, Jedaria," she said encouragingly.

Jedaria swallowed the rest of his cousin's water, then handed her the cup and ran off to continue spreading his message around the meeting.

~oxoxo~

Coming out of Oak Tent just as the boy went by, Ivanolia glanced over at the young woman sitting at Spruce Tent's fire and waved. Their shared restriction had helped them to become friends, though at first, Ivanolia had had no interest. "They're back?" he called out.

Getting up, Janika nodded and started toward the man. He and his mate were among the few that seemed to have forgiven her transgressions. "Yes. Jedaria says my brother leads them," she said proudly.

Ivanolia grinned. "Are you surprised?"

Shaking her head, she returned his smile. "No. It's just that he saves that honor for no one."

"Well, if it can't be us, it might as well be him, huh?" Ivanolia remarked, elbowing the blushing young woman. He had gotten over the embarrassment of being restricted from the hunt, but she obviously hadn't. "I think I'll go on out. I'm sure they could use a hand bringing things in." He paused. "Want to join me?"

Janika thought about it for a moment, then shook her head. "No, I should probably stay here. Jeeteria left no doubt that he didn't want me anywhere near the hunters." She blushed again, and looked away as her eyes filled with tears.

Ivanolia sighed. "They will forget, you know." She nodded, but wouldn't look at him. "Just give them time," he said, reaching out and forcing her to look at him. "Okay?" She nodded again and he narrowed his eyes, hoping to see that she was indeed all right.

"I will be fine," she said to reassure him. "Really." She wiped her tears away.

He smiled. "Then I'm going to go. Would you mind telling someone from Oak Tent where I went? Danie's sleeping and I don't want to wake her."

"No, of course not," she replied. "And thank you, Ivanolia."

He grinned. "What are friends for?" he asked, then turned and jogged off.

~oxoxo~

"It was a fantastic hunt!" Tiflona exclaimed as they sat around their evening fire. "I never thought we'd find a herd of mammoth so close, but it was as if they were drawn to us."

"I heard that a group of Mamutoi joined in on the hunt," Serana said as she rocked her granddaughter in her arms. "Is that true?"

Vincenzia nodded. "Yes, Amber Camp is hosting this year. They have chosen the large river valley just northeast of their territory and they were out on their summer hunt. We joined forces and were extremely successful."

"I was a bit surprised to run into them," Vilognia interjected. "I didn't think they'd be so far east when Amber Camp is positioned where the Desna River runs into Big River. But then Darvie explained that the Mamutoi don't, as a rule, meet at a home camp."

"They don't? Why is that?" Zarina asked.

"Well, to preserve the territory for those that have to live there all the time." It was Travie that answered.

Darvie nodded. "We usually choose some location that is out on the steppes or in some large river valley that can accommodate such concentrations of people. This helps to prevent resources from being overtaxed."

"That is smart," Tiflona said, "Though I haven't seen this to be a problem, have you?" She looked around at the other members of Oak Tent.

"No, but I have heard of this. Especially for camps that share territory with others," Gredenzia put in. "Where we live, we are lucky; there is no camp that is too close."

"That is lucky!" said Travie. She sighed. "Now that I'm getting older, the thought of going hungry is more frightening. I would not want to have to worry about lack of food, among other things."

Vincenzia smiled. "Well, don't fret. There are plenty of hunters in Oak Camp to feed you."

"Yes, mother," Darvie said, agreeing with her mate. "And you are not really that old."

"I suppose not. Too old to hunt, though," she said.

Ivanolia frowned. Was his mate's mother worried about not having enough food this winter? he wondered. Was that his fault? "I know that my actions have prevented Oak Camp from their share of this hunt, but I promise to keep our stores full, Travie," he said, continuing to frown.

She waved her hand to dismiss his concern. "I know you will. This old woman is just remembering a time when she was more able to contribute. Don't you trouble yourself."

"And we will have two new hunters upon Grov and Ayla's return," Fraylora added. She had already taken Davaria and Danta, and little Danara, into her heart. Her anger at their mother's coldness and hatred had developed into quite an overwhelming need to welcome them wholeheartedly. They needed a mother and she would be just that. And agreeing with his mate, Gredenzia had gone straight to Tagnolia and Tiflona and asked if Bison Hearth could speak for them at the adoption. It had already been agreed that the three new members would become sons and daughters of the Bison Hearth, even though they would be given their own hearth to live in and name.

"Yes, we will have plenty of food," Gredenzia said, squeezing his mate's hand lovingly.

"I wouldn't be too sure of that," came a voice from the shadows. Everyone turned and stared.

Tiflona scowled as several members from Sumac Camp came into view, but she did not get up. "Is there something we can do for you, Ivarsia?" She squinted to see who else was there. "Iyena?"

"Why yes, that you can," the Sumac headwoman replied. "I think there is a matter of payment owed to Sumac Camp. We would like to have that now."

Tiflona frowned, then rose. Tagnolia and several others stood with her. "You know quite well that the distributions have not been handed out yet." She folded her arms over her chest and glared that their intruders. "We cannot give you what we do not yet have."

"So, you have not changed your minds, then?" Ivarsia asked.

"Of course not!" Fraylora snapped. "Oak Camp does not go back on an agreement."

"And we might just wait until Davaria and Danta return," Tagnolia put in. "Why should we turn over so much until we are certain we are getting what we're bargaining for?"

Ivarsia threw back his head and laughed. "Why indeed? You just might change your mind."

"No, we won't," Tiflona said. "Like Fraylora said, that is not the way of Oak Camp. You will get what we agreed upon, but not until we get what we want. You will have to wait, just like everyone else."

Ivarsia and Iyena, and the others with them, watched as the members of Oak Camp turned their backs and moved to sit down again. It was obvious they had been dismissed. Flushing angrily, they left quickly.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER (They finally return...)

"That camp is unbelievable!" Fraylora said angrily through clenched teeth as she tossed chopped vegetables into the pot of bison stew she and the other women had cooking for that night's meal. "How long have the hunters been back?" she asked with an almost violent stab of her bone fork into the air. Then she answered her own question. "Mere moments! The nerve of those...those..." she sputtered.

"Now, Fray," Gredenzia interrupted before she could say something she might regret. "Don't get yourself all worked up. We'll get them their meat as soon as it comes."

"...animals!" Fraylora stopped and scowled, causing Gredenzia to frown; he wasn't used to this side of his mate; a reserved woman by nature, usually quiet and melancholy, though always friendly.

"I don't care one bit about the damned meat!" she cursed. Her mate's eyes widened. Fraylora blushed and looked into the pot of cooking stew. "What I mean is...how can they only be concerned about the meat when they are losing three decent people?" She turned tearful eyes on her mate. "I don't understand."

Gredenzia sighed and put his arms around his mate to calm her. "Soon you won't have to worry about them anymore," he whispered. "Soon they will be yours."

Everyone knew that Oak Camp was adopting the brother and sister, but that they were to become a daughter and son of Bison Hearth. But for Fraylora it almost seemed too good to be true. She couldn't help but think it would be ripped from her before she had a chance to realize it. They wouldn't be a replacement for the daughter she had lost eight years before...not really. But they might fill the void that seemed to grow with each passing year.

"They will be ours," she corrected.

~oxoxo~~oxoxo~oxoxo~

The sun was low in the sky behind them as the travelers reached Big River. They turned then, following the river's southeast flow as Grov searched for a decent place to stop for the night. After rejecting several spots, the man finally called a halt.

"We will stay here," he declared, then allowed his pack to drop to the ground. Everyone else followed his lead, though no one else said anything. Ayla and Danta quickly lifted the three girls off Whinney's back, while Durc dropped to the ground, easily sliding off Stomp on his own. And Davaria immediately began emptying Nicuria's panniers.

Grov watched them for a few moments, then turned to survey the spot he had chosen. It would suffice. It was devoid of any kind of natural shelter, but at least they'd have water.

With a glance over his shoulder to see how much time they had left before the sun disappeared behind the western mountains, Grov decided he was satisfied with his choice. He figured they had more than enough time to set up camp and fix a meal...and even take a swim to clean the travel grime from their bodies. His eyes then went to each person in the group again. Everyone looked travel-weary, but he knew that it was more than just the constant movement that exhausted them; each one of them was so emotionally spent that they could barely stand up.

Davaria had remained distant throughout the day, choosing to follow far enough behind the group that it had been impossible to converse with him for the entire day. And when they had stopped for their noon meal, he hadn't said one word, not even to Danta. Instead, he took his share of the meal and went off to sit alone. Grov debated going after him, but decided against it; the man clearly needed time to himself. He didn't miss though, the frown on Danta's face as she watched her brother walk away from them, nor did he miss the single tear that slipped down her cheek. She was going through a lot right now too, and she'd probably like to have her brother's shoulder to cry on. Unfortunately he seemed to be battling his own storm. Anger? Hatred? Guilt? All of the above? Grov wasn't sure. He wanted to help, but he didn't know what he could do.

With a sigh, he looked at his mate. He knew Ayla worried about getting the horses across Big River. It worried him as well, but what bothered him most was that he had no suggestions to make it easier. He could think of no way to get them across other than to have them swim and Ayla didn't like that idea. He knew she feared they'd just simply refuse to cross. And what could they do if that happened? He felt helpless.

After unloading Stomp's pannier, Grov moved to set up their tents. Everyone had fallen into a routine and this was his part. Davaria's job was Nicuria who, being the only riderless horse, carried the bulk of everything else. Though young, the frisky colt appeared to be handling it well, and Davaria seemed to be taking the task quite seriously. Danta and Ayla took care of Whinney, started the fire and then the meal, while it was Durc's responsibility to mind the girls. It was amazing how quickly things could be done with everyone working together.

"Do you want the fire here, or there?" Grov heard Danta ask Ayla. He watched as his mate stopped unloading Whinney, then silently considered the question.

"Put it there, so we can look out over the water," she answered.

After Whinney's packs were empty, and the tents were up, Grov helped Ayla carry their furs inside.

"I would like to take a few moments to clean up, before we cook."

Grov nodded. "I knew that you would," he said with a smile. He glanced again at the sky. "Take your time...you have plenty."

She smiled, then herded the children with her. Soon everyone followed.

~oxoxo~

"That was a great meal, Ayla," Danta said after setting her plate down. Then, looking at her brother, whom hadn't said a word all evening, she went on. "Don't you think so, Ari?"

Davaria mumbled something semi-complimentary about the meal, but didn't bother to look up at his sister, or the others sitting around the fire. Everyone was watching him though. Danta fought hard not to cry...or scream. She even felt the urge to slap him, but fought it. Why was he pouting? He wasn't the one that had had to endure Zadneetsia's forced penetration.

Ayla must have sensed where her mind had gone, because suddenly the blonde woman had moved to sit next to her and was holding her hand. Danta returned the gentle squeeze and tried to smile.

"I still don't know how you get those fish to just let you lift them out of the river. Every time I try to do it, they all swim off."

"I don't know how she does it either," Grov commented. "How anyone can stand so still for so long is completely beyond me."

Ayla frowned. "It's not that hard. I am just patient. And determined...I just didn't feel like another meal of deer or rabbit." She made a face. "I thought fish would be a good change, especially when I saw so many of them in those shallow pools."

Danta nodded her agreement. "It is good. Thank you. It's so nice to have choices. With you around we always seem to have fresh meat," Danta said. "If we had to eat traveling food each night, I think I'd be sick." At Sumac Camp they hardly had any food at all, let alone variety. She glanced at her brother, hoping he'd add to the conversation. He was still staring at his plate, pushing the food around, but not eating it.

Davaria glanced up at his sister, then at the other two. "I think I'll turn in," he said as he stood up and started away.

Danta frowned. "But you haven't eaten."

Davaria looked down at his plate of uneaten food, then extended it to his sister. "Here, take it, I'm not hungry."

She watched him walk away, then sighed and plunked herself down next to Ayla again.

"Just give him some time, Danta," the other woman said.

~oxoxo~

The next morning, they were up early and traveling as soon as all had eaten and everything was packed. Now that a routine had been set, the speed at which everyone came together was amazing. They were quickly on their way.

Today, as well as the following day, they would follow the course of Big River. Though it twisted and turned through the landscape, it flowed in a generally southeastern direction. At first, it seemed nice to have fresh water so near, but after a day of walking next to it, and having to deal with the sun glaring off the water, everyone was feeling weary again. Ever watchful, Grov called an early halt. He had hoped to reach the crossing sometime early the next afternoon but, after seeing his companions' reddening faces, he reminded himself that there was no need to rush their return.

As it turned out, they arrived at Maple Camp's dock in the early evening on the following day.

~oxoxo~

"You are worried."

Ayla looked at her mate and nodded. "I do not see how we will get them across. After all we have gone through to get them, we might lose them in the crossing."

"Horses can swim, Ayla," he reminded her.

"Yes, I know. It's just that...what if they do not want to swim across?"

Grov glanced out over the river, his frown of concern matching that of his mate. "We have to cross it, Ayla," he said, slipping his arm around her waist and pulling her up against him. "We cannot return to the summer meeting without doing so."

She nodded again. "I know. I am just...frightened."

~oxoxo~

In the morning, instead of packing up the horses, the travelers filled up one of the waiting boats, and the women waited while the men crossed, unpacked and returned for more. On the second crossing, along with another load, Danta went, taking Durc and Ora with her, while the other two children waited with Ayla. And the third trip brought Danara and Annaliza over, as well as the last of their bundles. All that was left on the opposite bank now was a nervous Ayla and the horses. Grov and Davaria quickly crossed back over to assist her.

"Okay...ready?" Grov asked her.

Ayla nodded, but checked the horses again before reluctantly walking out onto the dock and climbing into the boat. She'd slipped a halter over each of the horses' heads, then tied their leads to one end of the boat, giving them each a different length of rope so that they wouldn't get in one another's way. But she was still worried. The river looked calm, but was it? So many things could go wrong.

Grov waited for her to settle herself at the end closest to where the horses were tied, then he and Davaria found their seats and pushed off from the dock while Ayla called out to the horses and gently pulled on their leads, hoping to encourage the animals to follow them. Apparently no longer afraid of rivers, Nicuria followed easily enough, stepping from the sandy beach and into the water, the other two horses following a bit more slowly. Nicuria was knee-deep, the boat quite a distance into the river, when Stomp and Whinney entered side by side. But, both mares locked up their legs as soon as their hooves touched the water, bringing the boat to an abrupt halt. Only holding on loosely, the sudden jerk of the craft caused the slack to slip from Ayla's hand, sending her from the bench she sat upon to her knees in the bottom of the boat. In the center, Grov faired no better, having been thrown backward off the bench, he now lay on his back, the wind knocked out of him. Davaria, however, having just propped his feet on the bow of the boat, was the only lucky one. Still sitting upright, he reached to assist Grov.

Scrambling back to their seats, Grov and Ayla struggled to deal with controlling their crossing. Grov accepted a pair of paddles from Davaria; both men were ready to use them once Ayla got the horses settled. But, the swift current took hold of the small craft, yanking against the horses' leads before they were fully ready to enter the water. Whinney pulled hard, rearing back as the river tried to pull the boat away from shore, and Stomp, with a valient attempt to resist, pawed the water, soaking Whinney. But neither could fight the power of the current, or Nicuria when he suddenly plunged in, dragging both mares with him. The sudden movement now tossed Davaria to the boat's floor, and by the time he righted himself, all three horses were swimming and the boat was moving swiftly across the river—but not without a hitch.

With fear in his eyes, Nicuria was straining beside the boat, which was being pulled both forward by the current and backward by Stomp and Whinney, whom seemed intent on returning to the bank they had just left. And then Nicuria managed to pull ahead of the boat, swinging the stern out so that the bow was now facing downstream, instead of toward their destination. Stomp chose that moment to reverse direction, swimming first upstream and then toward the bank where Danta stood watching in horror. But that did not happen without effect either. The force of Nicuria and Stomp pulling one way was too much for Whinney, who was still fighting against them, whinnying in panic and swallowing mouthfuls of water as she tried desperately to swim away. It was then that Ayla realized she'd have to cut them free. Quickly taking her knife from its sheath, she stood up and started hacking at Whinney's tie.

"Ayla, NO!" she heard Grov shout, but it was too late. The sudden release of the mare's resistance sent the stern of the craft out from under her, pitching her head first into the river. Coming up almost instantly, the first thing she saw was Whinney, swimming away from her, but not that far away. Ayla managed to grab hold of the rope she had cut. Quickly wrapping it around her wrist, she let out a whistle as she swam, reaching out toward Whinney with strong strokes. The horse pricked up her ears and turned toward the sound. When she whistled again, Whinney altered direction and tried to swim to her. When she finally reached the wet and shaggy animal, she grabbed her about the neck and pulled herself to her back, letting out a cry of relief as she collapsed, and allowing the current take them. It was only then that she glanced back to see where she was in relation to the boat. They were no longer in sight.

~oxoxo~

Horror stricken, Grov stared after his mate. When she'd plunged over the edge, he'd nearly jumped in after her. Only Davaria's grip on the back of his tunic had stopped him.

"NO! She's a strong swimmer!" the man shouted. "We have to get across first, then we'll go look for her."

Grov frowned, but nodded. He'd seen her pull herself onto the horse before she'd gone around a bend in the river, and it was enough to set his mind back to their crossing. Picking up his paddles again, he plunked them into the water to start rowing again, only to find that they hit bottom. Surprised, he looked up. Nicuria and Stomp had dragged them clear across the river. The next thing he knew, the boat scraped bottom and Danta was at their side, tears in her eyes as she held onto the side of the boat. Davaria jumped out then and beached the craft.

"What happened? Danta shrieked as the men continued to pull the boat up the bank.

"Only Ursus knows," Grov said, throwing up his hands in frustration. "I guess the horses were more afraid than we thought."

Crying now, Danta said, "What are we going to do?"

Grov took a deep breath, then put an arm around the tearful woman. "Relax Danta...I will find her. I will take Stomp and go look for her." He looked at Davaria then. "And you and Danta should take the children and go for help. It shouldn't take long for you to get back to the summer meeting. And with any luck, I will have already found Ayla."

Danta nodded as the man spoke to them, but Davaria frowned. "What about all our things?"

"Oh, who cares!" Danta sobbed, grabbing his hand. "Let's go!"

Grov quickly helped them put the three girls on Nicuria's back, desperately hoping the horse wouldn't balk. He'd only been carrying their belongings because Ayla thought he wasn't ready to carry people, but, after all that he had been doing, the girls' weight didn't seem to bother him. And, he seemed to know that they needed him.

Handing the colt's lead to Davaria, Grov then took hold of Stomps stiff, stand-up mane and swung himself to her back. It was the first time he had gotten on her without assistance and, once upon her, was surprised she had not moved away, dumping him on the ground as she had every other time before.

"I am going now," he told them, then galloped off.

After finding a suitable place to cross the river he was near—he'd had to go a considerable distance upstream to find such a place—Grov nudged Stomp to full speed. They first traveled toward Big River, but upon reaching it, he steered his mare to follow the course of the waterway, slowing down somewhat so that he could keep his eyes trained on the land, on both sides of the river, and any clues that might lead him to Ayla. Wracked with worry, he berated himself for not jumping in after her. He told himself he was a fool for not doing so, but deep down, he knew Davaria had been right. Ayla was a strong swimmer. And there was no sense in both of them being lost.

~oxoxo~

By the time Ayla and Whinney reached the shore, Ayla was shivering violently. Though it was summer, the cold glacial river never seemed to warm and she was feeling its effects. Relieved to still be on Whinney's back, she let the mare pick her way up the bank as she lay slumped, teeth chattering, exhausted from their ordeal.

She didn't know how long she lay that way, but soon the hot summer sun seeped through her wet clothing, warming her back and bringing her out of her stupor. Sitting up slowly, she pushed the now drying strands of hair off her face, then lifted her leg to dismount. Landing on feet that were none too steady, she braced herself against her friend to keep from falling. Whinney nickered softly and leaned into the woman, taking comfort as much as giving it.

"I'm so sorry, Whinney," Ayla said, wrapping her arms around her mare's neck. "That was stupid!" Tears of shock soaked her cheeks as she cried her relief to be standing, uninjured, on dry ground again. But then she felt a pain in her hand and glanced down at it. It was stiff and cold, the rope she had grabbed onto to bring her to her horse while swimming was not tangled around her wrist, cutting of her circulation. Taking a deep breath, Ayla worked to remove the rope, then flexed her fingers to get the blood moving again. Only after the color had returned did she glance around, concerned about what side of the river she was on. Had she and Whinney made it across? she thought, looking one way. Or were they on the side they had started on? She frowned and looked the other way.

But then suddenly she smiled. Of course they'd made it to the other side. If they hadn't, the river would be flowing the other way.

"Okay Whinney, let's get moving," she said as she jumped up onto the mares back.

Heading upstream, she followed Big River until she came to a fork. Frowning, Ayla knew she'd have to cross the tributary. But though it was much smaller than the one they had just crossed, it appeared to be turbulent and she knew she'd get swept back into Big River if she tried, and that was the last thing that she wanted. No, this was not a river that could be waded, even on horseback. Deciding to look for a better place to cross, she turned and headed upstream, hoping she didn't have to go far. She was lucky; a suitable place appeared just around a bend.

~oxoxo~~oxoxo~oxoxo~

"I think we should circle around the outside of the meeting area," Davaria suggested once the encampment came into view off in the distance.

Danta nodded. They'd hurried away from the spot they had separated from Grov and were walking as fast as they possibly could with four small children in tow. The girls still sat on Nucuria's back, the colt's lead held firmly in Danta's hand as they went, but Durc was having to jog to keep up with their pace. A few times during the trek, Davaria had picked up the boy to give him a rest, and now they were coming up on the meeting. But the sun was now directly overhead; it had taken a lot longer to reach the summer meeting than they had anticipated.

"I agree...no need to cause a scene."

Davaria nodded. Though he was pleased their short journey had come to an end, and that he and his sister had found a new home, he was suddenly feeling anxious about the upcoming confrontation with their home camp.

"I hope no one will see us," Danta said absently as they trudged through the surrounding brush. They'd purposely kept their distance, so as not to draw too much attention before arriving at Oak Tent, but it clearly was not enough.

"Too late for that, Ata."

Glancing up, Danta gasped when she saw several pairs of eyes staring at them...more than several, really...people were gathering everywhere, just to see their arrival and gawk at what they had brought with them. And Nicuria, who also saw all the watching humans, was nervously sidestepping and swishing his tail. Quickly, Danta pulled the girls off the colt.

"I'll go get help."

Danta nodded, then said, "Wait! Maybe you should take the children with you, Ari. I'm afraid Nicuria's going to step on one of them." She moved away from the frisky colt's side just as he reared up, then gasped when Durc stepped closer, grabbed the horse's lead and reached up to calm him. There was a collective ahhh from the crowd as the colt instantly settled down and allowed the young Clan boy's touch.

"What in the Mother's name is this?"

Danta and Davaria swung around to see Tiflona, hands on hips, staring at them, along with nearly every other Oak Camp member, and several others that were not from Oak Camp.

"I-I... That is...we...," Davaria began nervously, pointing to himself and then his sister. But then he stopped, at a loss for words.

"Ayla did tell you she was bringing back horses...d-didn't she?" Danta asked, suddenly feeling extremely nervous and, knowing everyone would be expecting explanations, she couldn't help but feel completely unsure of herself and the situation. Hoping it would aid in her composure, she quickly scooped up Ayla's two youngest, then attempted to maneuver her own daughter away from the excitable colt.

Tiflona waited while the younger woman made her adjustments, then nodded. "Yes, some of us knew," she replied, then, as she looked around, she frowned. "But where is Ayla?" she asked. "And Grov?"

Danta broke down then, bursting into tears as she tried to tell them what had happened. But as incoherent as her ramblings were, everyone just stared at her in confusion. Not one word had been understood.

"Davaria," Vincenzia finally said as he stepped through the crowd of onlookers to stand beside the brother and sister. "Maybe you could translate all of that for us." He gently squeezed Danta's arm and smiled reasuringly. She tried to smile back, but was only able to produce a grimace and more tears.

Davaria nodded. "The short of it is that Ayla fell into the river while we were crossing and Grov has gone to search for her."

Vincenzia looked alarmed. "What! How did this happen?"

"It was the horses...they were pulling in all directions. We..."

"Horses?" interupted Travie, suddenly hearing the plural. "As in, more than this one?" She pointed at Nicuria.

Both Danta and Davaria nodded. "But she was okay...the last time we saw her. She was sitting on Whinney's back, floating downriv..."

"What's a whinney?" someone asked.

Danta sighed, frustrated by all the questions, though she had known that they would come. "Whinney is...one of the other horses." Everyone nodded comprehension.

"One of them?" Vincenzia said with a frown. Danta opened her mouth to explain, but he held up his hand and looked at Davaria again. "And Grov?" he asked instead.

"Grov was going to jump into the river to go after her, but...well...he didn't. We didn't think it was safe." Davaria didn't want to tell them that it was him that had stopped the man. What if they got angry with him and decided not to adopt them? He couldn't stand it if he'd messed up Danta and Danara's chance at happiness.

Vincenzia nodded. "No...I suppose there was no sense in endangering himself." He paused. "I'd like to put a search party together, to go after them."

People were nodding and several were voicing his or her concerns. And then Tagnolia took charge.

"You will have to come with us, Davaria," he said. "That will seriously narrow down our search."

Davaria nodded, then glanced at his sister; she was a wreck. "I think you should stay here with the children, Ata."

"Of course she's staying here!" Travie snapped. She didn't mean to sound abrupt, but she was becoming annoyed with the conversation; Ayla and Grov were out there somewhere and Oak Camp needed to sit down and discuss what they were going to do. Who would go...what they'd take...and so on. "She's in no condition to go trapsing all over the countryside looking for anyone." The older woman hooked an arm around the distraught one and began leading her away. "And let's take this discussion inside?" She didn't like that everyone was still standing around staring at them, and listening to everything that was said. Especially since no one appeared willing to assist them.

Everyone seemed to nod his or her agreement, but then another person voiced concern. "What about that...that horse," Zarina asked.

Travie and Danta halted and Danta joined her brother once again. Both looked at the animal with uncertainty. "I don't think he'll go anywhere," Davaria said with a shrug.

But Danta frowned...then hiccupped. She was still crying. "But will he be safe wandering around?" She looked around at all the watching people, some of whom didn't look too pleased to have the large equine so near. She was sure that some were eyeing the animal and thinking that he would make a nice meal...or three. She knew Sumac Camp would only see food if they came across an animal who was as unafraid and curious as Nicuria. And others just looked scared of him. She couldn't really blame them for that. After all, Nicuria had kicked rather violently in his initial fear of them. And when he stood up on his back legs, he was an imposing figure. Even she had been frightened. "Maybe he shouldn't...be left alone," she finished lamely. "I could stay here." She hiccupped again.

"Nonsense!" Travie burst, taking Danta's arm again.

The assembled group stopped then to consider the situation more fully.

"You could tie him to the back of Oak Tent," Jondaria suggested. He'd been visiting with some of the younger members of Oak Tent when the travelers had returned and had come over with everyone else to see what was happening. "To one of the stakes holding it down."

Gredenzia nodded. "That might work. What do you think, Danta?"

Danta continued to frown. "I don't know," she sniffled. She knew the horse wouldn't like being confined, but what else could they do.

"And we could spread the word that he's not to be touched in any way," said Darvie as she came up to stand beside her mate.

Vincenzia nodded. "Yes...that would be good."

"Or hunted," Travie added with a pointed look at those standing around watching.

"Hunted?" Danta exclaimed worriedly. She'd been thinking it, but hearing it out loud made it seem possible.

"Don't be frightened for him, Danta," Travie said. "No one in his or her right mind would mess with anything that has the protection of those who serve the Mother." She sent a look at Gredenzia, who quickly nodded.

"Right! Consider it done. I'll just go make it official," he said, then hurried off.

"See...he will be fine."

"Now, can we get inside so we can decide how we are going to find my daughter?" Vincenzia asked impatiently. Everyone nodded and started for their tent entrance, and no one mentioned his strange wording. He had, after all, been refering to her as the daughter of his heart.

"And why is everyone still staring?" Travie asked the area at large. With only a few mutterings, most of those standing around shuffled off. "There nothing else to see here. Move along."

~oxoxo~~oxoxo~oxoxo~

"Oh, thank you, Whinney!" Ayla exclaimed as she, still on her mare, stepped from the bank of the tributary and onto dry land. Whinney nickered pleasantly, as if answering her and Ayla quickly slid from the mare's back to make sure she was ready to travel again. Whinney's underbelly had barely touched the water and only Ayla's feet had gotten wet; the crossing had been easy...more than easy, when compared to their last crossing. With a smile, Ayla pulled herself onto Whinney's back again, then urged her into a gallop.

But it didn't last long. Soon most of the day was gone, and with it their energy.

"Time to stop, Whinney. I am too tired to go on, so you must be exhausted since you've done all the work."

The horse whinnied her response and it sounded to Ayla as if her mount was agreeing with her. Ayla smiled as she lifted a leg and landed lightly beside the animal. She scratched Whinney lovingly, then left her to graze while she began collecting wood to build a fire. But when she sat down to actually start her fire, she realized she'd lost the stone she had tucked in one of her pouches; she'd have to build it the old-fashioned way. With a sigh, she went to work.

Once the blaze was going, Ayla's mind turned to food; she hadn't eaten since morning and she was hunger. Thankful that she hadn't lost her sling, she pulled it out and scanned the area around her. Lucky for her, at just that moment, a hare darted out from a nearby bush. She had it spitted, roasted and ready in record time and was just settling down to actually eat it when she heard a loud shriek from above.

"Shriek!" she called out excitedly. In her struggle with the horses and the disasterous rivercrossing, causing an unwanted side trip downriver, and then her rush to get herself back to the summer meeting, she hadn't thought about her avian friend even once. But now that she was resting and he'd appeared out of nowhere, she felt bad that she had forgotten him.

"Oh Shriek, how could I have forgotten you?" she asked, holding out her covered arm to catch the hawk, then offering him some food. Shriek squawked loudly in her face, then took the bit of meat. Smiling, Ayla watched as he ate, then offered him some more...and then some more until he was full and lifted off again. She watched him find a place in a nearby tree, then bent to stoke her fire. She was more than a little tired and wanted nothing more than to curl up and go to sleep, but she sat staring into the flames. So intent on them she was that she didn't hear anything else.

"I just knew I'd find you safe and sound."

Ayla's head snapped up and she stared, her eyes filling with tears. "Grov!" It only came out as a whisper. She tried to stand, to go to him, but he was kneeling at her side, arms wrapped around her before she could move.

"But I was so worried," he said. "If anything would have happened to you...I... I do not think I could stand it."

Ayla lay her head on Grov's shoulder and clung to him. "I am okay...tired, but okay."

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER

"Just right through here," Travie instructed, as if Oak Camp's soon-to-be new members hadn't ever set foot inside their summer meeting tent before. The older woman stopped as soon as they come into the younger people's sleeping area. "Here are your sleeping places."

Danta stared, as did Davaria, at the space that had once belonged to Tinozia, but had clearly been changed to accommodate them. Instead of one larger bed, which Tinozia sometimes shared with Fürlasa, there were now two narrow ones, set up side-by-side for the adoptees.

Davaria shook his head. "W-we can't sleep here."

Travie frowned. "But why not?"

"Because this...this is...Tinozia's place," Danta stammered, looking around with wide eyes at all the people staring at her.

The headwoman smiled. "No, this is your space now. My son is busy with his Shomata, and when the meeting ends, he will not be returning to Oak Camp, until his training is complete." Tiflona then took Danta's small pack from her shoulder and dropped it on the woman's new sleeping platform. "Sit! Relax! You have had a hard day."

Danta did as she was instructed, her eyes full of tears; she could not deny that the day had been difficult—and she was definitely exhausted—but Oak Camp's generosity was what caused her strong emotion. The fact that they would make unexpected changes to their summer tent, to welcome them, was more than she had expected. She'd have been grateful just to have a corner to curl up in. But this...this meant so much more.

"Thank you," she whispered, her tears spilling down her cheeks.

Davaria set his pack down, but did not sit. Though the day had been rough on all of them, he knew he still had to go back out there to help search for Grov and Ayla. He looked at the assembled group, who were all finding places to sit down to discuss the situation. Vincenzia sat on Grov and Ayla's sleeping platform, one small version of Ayla on his lap, the other on Darvie's, who sat right beside him.

"Okay, who is coming with me?" he asked.

"I will go," Danie said.

Immediately, Ivanolia shook his head. "No! Ayla said you shouldn't travel more than necessary. But I will go."

Vincenzia smiled. "Thank you, Ivanolia."

Danie frowned. "I'm pregnant, Ivan...not an invalid."

He frowned. "I know that, but—"

"We are wasting time," Travie interrupted. "You will stay here, Danie."

Danie opened her mouth to protest, but snapped it shut when she saw her mother's resolve.

"And I will go, brother," Vilognia offered. He looked then at their headman and headwoman. "I do believe that it's best if you two stay here...just in case you are needed."

They both nodded. "Under the circumstances, I would have to agree," Tiflona said. "Should there be some sort of challenge..." Her voice trailed off. She was comforted when her mate spoke up next.

"And I will stay as well...someone has to do the cooking."

Everyone grinned.

"Well, that's four of us...that's probably enough," Vincenzia said with a nod as he stood up. It wasn't necessary to go overboard with searchers when he was confident that Ayla was already with Grov. "We should get out there though."

"Hold on. I would like go as well," Darvie said, standing and squeezing her mate's hand. "But..."

"But what?"

"I know it's summer and the days are longer, but it's nearly dark...we'll have to wait until morning." Seeing Vincenzia's worried frown, she went on quickly. "I am certain that Grov has already found her."

Sighing, he nodded. "Yes, I'm sure that is so. I'm just worried."

Darvie smiled. "We all are. But let us all retire early, then start out fresh in the morning. We cannot do anything tonight."

Vincenzia nodded. "You are right, my mate. But we will leave early."

~oxoxo~~oxoxo~oxoxo~

Grov watched Ayla go to the river to wash. The fact that she'd have any interest in water after practically drowning in it that day amazed him. But she'd insisted on washing her face and hands after eating. He resisted the urge to follow her there, deciding that his time could be better spent putting up a tent for them to sleep in. When she returned, she looked ready to collapse, making him both glad that he'd stayed behind to set their tent and guilty for not going with her to help.

"Here, let me help you," he said, reaching out to her as she knelt to crawl inside their small tent.

Grateful that he was there, Ayla allowed him to assist. Her limbs felt as heavy as tree trunks, and her head lolled like a boulder teetering on a hill top as she finally lay down upon the furs he'd laid out for her.

"Can I get you anything?" he asked. He slipped off her shoes, then removed her leggings.

She tried to shake her head, but didn't seem to be able to move. That trip to the river seemed to have done her in. "No, I am fine," she whispered. "I just need sleep...and you. Will you lie down next to me?"

Grov nodded, then realized her eyes were already closed and slid into the furs with her. "I will always lie with you," he whispered as he wrapped his arms around her. He held her tight, so very thankful that she was all right. He had been so worried, but it seemed that it was all for nothing. She was safe in his arms now.

"Everyone else made it?" she asked.

He smiled. She was always thinking about others. "Yes. Davaria and Danta took the children back to the summer meeting. They will bring help."

"Hmm. What about Nicuria?"

"He is fine too. He was carrying the girls the last time I saw him. I think he is gentler than we thought. He seemed to know we needed his help."

"Hmm. That is...good," she yawned.

Grov lifted a hand and gently brushed her hair off her face, then pressed his lips to her forehead. "Go to sleep," he whispered.

She nodded, then finally slept.

~oxoxo~~oxoxo~oxoxo~

Danta frowned as she watched the searchers preparing to leave. The sun hadn't even peeked over the eastern mountains, but those going were ready to go.

"Wait!" she exclaimed as she watched her brother turn away. "What about our stuff?" They'd discussed going out to look for Grov and Ayla, but neither she nor Davaria had mentioned all the things they'd abandoned after crossing the river.

Everyone frowned. "What stuff?" a few asked in unison.

"Our things...we have many gifts...for the adoption," Danta said. "We left them at the river."

"Without having all three horses to carry everything, we had no choice but to leave everything behind," Davaria explained.

There were nods of understanding.

"I completely forgot about them, Danta, but we'll have to get our stuff after we find Grov and Ayla. Everything should be all right for a little while," Davaria said, trying to assure her. "Don't you think?"

She frowned. "I suppose so." She hadn't been worried about leaving everything when they were in a rush to get back to the summer meeting, but now that they were back, and people were going out to look for Grov and Ayla, she worried that all their work would be lost.

"We could help with that," Donzolnia said. He was standing with his brother. "Mostly, we're just sitting around. We'll bring your things back." Brulenzia was nodding.

"And me," Jondaria added. "I'll go with them."

Danta smiled and relaxed some, then nodded. And so did Davaria. "Yes, that's perfect," Davaria said. "And we can take Nicuria with us. He can carry what the men cannot."

And so it was decided.

~oxoxo~

"We should cross at the first place possible," Davaria said as they made their trek south toward Big River. "Then follow on the other side and turn southeast when we reach Big River. That's what Grov would have done, I think."

Vincenzia nodded. "Sounds good." He paused. "But I think you should go with the others now."

Davaria frowned.

"From what you said, there's a lot to bring back, and you don't really know where they are any more than we do now."

"That's true."

"Plus, if the horse is needed to bring things back, then you should be with him. None of us knows how to control an animal, or load these...pannier things."

Davaria nodded. "All right. That's a good idea. We did have three horses carrying everything. And not even Grov could lift one of them when it was fully loaded."

"Hmm...maybe Ivanolia and I should go with them as well," Vilognia said.

"I think you should. I'm sure Darvie and I can track them alone."

"But what if Ayla's hurt?" Darvie asked with concern. "You may need more help."

"Then we should have brought a healer," Vincenzia said with a shrug. "I'm sure she's fine and that this is only a formality."

"All right...then it's just you and me."

Vincenzia smiled at his mate, then looked at everyone else. "Ready?"

Everyone nodded.

~oxoxo~~oxoxo~oxoxo~

Grov became aware that it was day when the rising sun shone through the open flat of their tent. With a frown he remembered that he'd left it open because the night had been warm, but now he wished he'd closed it. Carefully, so as not to wake Ayla, he pulled back the fur covering them, then sat up and scooted toward the light.

Outside, the morning air was crisp. He went directly to relieve himself. The man stared at his stream, then at the thin wisp of steam hissing up as his internally warmed liquid hit the frigid tundra. It may be summer, but the ground never seemed to warm this far north.

As he tucked himself back into his leggings, he shivered. The morning was cold. Again he was thankful he was wearing the clothing of the Others.

Back at their fire, Grov realized that Ayla had a decent-sized pile of wood. Does she ever neglect anything? he asked himself with a shake of his head as he tossed a few pieces into the smoldering ashes. He smiled as he squatted down and held his hands up to the burgeoning flames. He held them there until they warmed, then headed back to his warm furs, and his warmer mate.

Ayla didn't stir when he crept back into their bed, and she hardly moved as he snuggled up to the warmth of her body. The only sign of life he received was the slightest turn of her head and the almost inaudible moan that escaped her lips when his hand cupped a breast. For a few moments he fondled her, wishing she'd wake. He even managed to elicit another moan, but her eyes remained closed and she didn't make any move to touch him back. Knowing she must be exhausted, he rolled to his back and closed his eyes. Soon he was sleeping again too.

~oxoxo~~oxoxo~oxoxo~

"How far could they have gone?" Darvie asked as she trekked along beside her mate.

Vincenzia shrugged. "That depends on how swift the river was flowing and how quickly Ayla's horse was able to swim across. I don't know this river very well, Darvie. We are in Mamutoi territory, do you know?"

She shook her head. "Only Lion Camp is near here...and I did not grow up at Lion Camp, you know that. How fast can a horse swim?" she asked him.

"Well I certainly don't know anything about that," he said with a grin.

Darvie frowned. "Did you hear Davaria say that Ayla rode the horse called Whinney."

Vincenzia nodded. "And that Grov rides the one called Stomp. Yes, I heard him."

"Do you believe it?"

Vincenzia laughed. "Do you think Oak Camp's new member is lying?"

She frowned again. "I suppose not. But it does sound...oh, I don't know..."

"Farfetched?" he finished for her. She nodded and he reached out and took her hand. "Well, I suppose we'll see for ourselves soon enough, huh?"

"I hope so." She quickened her pace. She was having to take three steps for his two because of her distraction. He noticed the change and slowed immediately.

"What if we can't find them?" Darvie asked after a moment of silence.

"We will."

"But what if we don't?"

"We will."

"All right...what if we do...what if we do and she's...she's...?" She couldn't finish her thought. It was too dreadful to even speak.

Vincenzia stopped. "What if she's what, Darvie?" She shrugged, but he understood what she was asking. "Why are you so worried?"

She shrugged. "I don't know...I guess I'm just scared."

Vincenzia looked round then, then finding a large rock, pulled his mate over to it and sat her down, then knelt down in front of her. "You heard Davaria. Ayla's a strong swimmer. He said she'd managed to get on that horse's back before disappearing. And Grov's gone to find her. I'm sure she's fine."

"But what if...what if...?" Tears filled her eyes.

Vincenzia frowned. His woman wasn't usually afraid of things. There had to be something else happening. "Darvie, you have to tell me why you're so upset. What's going on?"

She blinked and looked away. "I...I don't want to talk about it." She stood abruptly and started walking again.

Vincenzia stared after her for several moments, then had to run to catch up. When he did, he calmly took her arm and stopped her. "Where do you think you're going?" he asked.

"To find Ayla," she snapped.

He smiled. "Not going that way you're not. Unless you know something I don't."

She looked around and frowned. In her upset she'd started back the way they'd come.

When she looked back at him, he sat her down again. "Please tell me what's upset you so."

Her eyes filled again and her face contorted with pain. "I had a brother once," she whispered. "He drowned. I was the one who found him."

Vincenzia sighed and pulled her into his arms. Now he understood. The possibility of Ayla drowning, of her being dead when they found her, was all too familiar. "I didn't know. Why haven't you ever told me about this brother?"

"Because...it was my fault," she sobbed. "I was supposed to be watching him, but I was more interested in the boys that were swimming downstream." She looked up at him, her eyes pleading for forgiveness. "It was my fault. I let my brother die."

"What did Travie say? She clearly doesn't blame you."

Darvie hiccupped. "No, she doesn't blame me," she agreed with a shake of her head. "She said it was her fault...that she should have been watching him, because he never sat still. She always said that one had to have eyes in the back of his head to be able to keep him in line. But I...I know the truth. It was my fault...she just didn't want to say so."

Vincenzia shook his head. "Oh Darvie, have you ever known your mother to keep silent about something?"

She frowned. "No," she whispered, but silent tears continued to fall.

"It wasn't your fault." He held her face between his hands. "It was a terrible, terrible accident, but it could have happened at any time, when anyone was watching him. You mustn't keep blaming yourself." He wiped her tears with his thumbs, then released her face. Her head dropped to his chest and he continued to hold her while she cried. When her tears finally ceased, and she was sitting of her own accord again, Vincenzia smiled at her.

"Why did you volunteer to come along, Darvie. You could have stayed at the summer meeting."

She sighed. "I wanted to be there for you...just in case." She wiped at her wet face. "I didn't meant to...to do this." She gestured at her tear-stained face. "I'm so sorry. Here I am crying over my own problems while your daughter is missing."

Vincenzia chuckled. "My tough girl," he said, kissing the end of her nose lovingly.

She tried to smile. "We should go. Ayla's still out there somewhere."

He nodded. "But we'll talk about this again later...if you want to," he added.

~oxoxo~~oxoxo~oxoxo~

"What in the Mother's name are in these things?" Ivanolia asked after making an attempt to pick up one of the panniers.

Davaria smiled. "I told you they were heavy. Not even Grov could lift them."

"I thought you were exaggerating."

"Nope." Davaria opened the first pannier and started pulling out wrapped packages while everyone stood there staring at the growing heap. When he had most of them piled on the ground, he draped the much-lightened pannier over Nicuria's back. The horse side-stepped and, his ears twitching, blew out through his nose, but accepted the extra weight without further complaint. Davaria then reloaded it, trying his best to arrange everything so he took up the least amount of space as possible. He must have done a decent job, because there was a little space left when he'd finished. That made him happy; he'd now be able to add a few items from the other panniers.

"We'll have to carry the rest of this," he told everyone after dumping the rest on the ground. "I think we can do it," he said with a frown at what was left. "What do you think?"

"I think so," Vilognia agreed with a nod. He'd set down his rucksack and had knelt to fill it.

"Careful...that one's fragile," Davaria said nervously, reaching out and taking it from the man. "Danta will kill me if it gets broken."

"What is it?" all five of the men asked at the same time.

Davaria frowned. "It's...it's something Danta made," he replied, setting it with the items he would carry himself.

Ivanolia's brow knotted. "How about this one?" he asked as he lifted a long, skinny package.

"That one's for Ayla."

"Can I see it?"

"No."

Ivanolia huffed. "Why not? If it's Ayla's, then she's already seen it."

"How do you figure?" Davaria asked.

"Because she was with you," reasoned Ivanolia.

Davaria sighed. "Well, she has not seen it finished," he said, then gently took it out of Ivanolia's hands and put it with his pack. "And besides, there is more than just Ayla's inside."

"Did you make one of...whatever this is...for me too?" Ivanolia asked hopefully. "Is that why I can't look inside?"

Both Donzolnia and Brulenzia were grinning, their gazes going from one man to the other.

Davaria rubbed his brow and groaned. "No Ivan, there's nothing in that one for you," he said in frustration.

"How about this one?" Ivanolia asked, holding up yet another one of the mysterious packages. "What's in here?"

Davaria gave him an exasperated look. "Another gift, Ivan...I can't tell you what it is!" he snapped.

Jondaria chuckled and Ivanolia opened his mouth to comment, but Vilognia stepped in. "Okay Ivan, that's enough. Can't you tell when you're not going to win?"

Ivanolia blushed, but Davaria flashed the older man a look of gratitude, then resumed packing.

~oxoxo~~oxoxo~oxoxo~

When Grov woke again, it wasn't much later. By the look of the sun's position, he hadn't been sleeping for very long. Turning his head, he looked at his sleeping mate. She was on her back now, but was still sleeping soundly. She'd gotten into the habit of sleeping late in the valley, but this was really quite unusual for her. He wasn't used to her being asleep when he woke up. It made him wonder if the dunking she'd received had made her sick. The river was rather cold. Propping himself up on his elbow, he gingerly placed his hand on her forehead. He wasn't sure what he was feeling for, but he'd seen her do it often enough. With a frown, he pulled his hand away. She feels fine to me, he thought.

Grov continued to stare at her, and found himself pulling back the furs to look at more of her. But looking wasn't enough, he wanted to touch her. And he did, tentatively at first, then with more fervor. When he nuzzled her neck, she moaned, but he was disappointed when she still did not move. Groaning, he fell away from her and closed his eyes.

"Is that it? You're giving up already?"

His eyes flew open. "You're awake!" he exclaimed popping up to his elbow again.

She giggled.

"And you let me continue on?"

She smiled. "I thought you were having fun."

"I was," he said with a grin as he covered her body with his. "But I like it better when you respond."

"Well then," she responded, "do you want to try again?"

He practically growled as he leaned down and captured her lips with his.

~oxoxo~~oxoxo~oxoxo~

"Look!" Darvie exclaimed. "Smoke."

Vincenzia glanced at her and smiled. "It's them...it's got to be. What did I tell you?"

She nodded. "Let's go!"

They hurried along, noticing the two horses off to the side grazing as they approached. Both horses stopped briefly to watch them, but quickly went back to their own business when they saw that the two-legged beings had no intention of bothering them.

Vincenzia and Darvie entered the small, one-tent camp slowly and glanced around. Grov and Ayla weren't there, but all their things were.

"Maybe they went hunting," Darvie suggested. But then she frowned when she heard the unmistakable sounds of the young couple sharing pleasures inside the tent. She rolled her eyes and pointed at the tent. "And here we were worrying."

Vincenzia grinned, held a quieting finger to his lips, then sat down by the fire. "How about some tea."

Darvie nodded, moved a pot of water over the fire, then started rummaging through the pack she knew held Ayla's herbs. "Un-believable!" she said with a grin.

Vincenzia smirked. "Do you blame them...after nearly losing each other?"

Darvie shook her head. "Not at all."

~oxoxo~

"We were starting to think you two were never going to come up for air," Vincenzia remarked when Grov and Ayla finally made an appearance. He pointed up at the sun and grinned.

Both Grov and Ayla glanced up, noticed how much time had passed by the position of the sun in the sky, then blushed crimson.

"Tea?" Darvie offered, holding out a cup to each of them.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER

"I don't know," Darvie said with a petrified frown as she backed slowly away from Grov and the nearly white horse called Stomp. "People weren't meant to ride, I think."

"Oh don't be silly, Darvie," Vincenzia said. He was sitting behind Ayla on Whinney and grinning. "Where's your sense of adventure?"

She felt ready to bolt. "I think I s-should use my own t-two legs. T-that is why the Mother g-gave them to m-me," she stammered.

Vincenzia frowned. "But it will take so much longer to get back to the summer meeting if we walk, and everyone's anxious to know Ayla's all right. You must ride."

"It really is safe, Darvie," Ayla tried to assure her. "I would not suggest riding if it weren't."

Darvie frowned. She really didn't want to sit on the animal, much less ride it back to the meeting.

"Here, let me help you." Grov offered as he grabbed her about the waist and practically tossed her up onto the mare's back. She let out a scream of fright and clenched fistfuls of Stomp's stiff, stand-up mane. The mare flicked her ears, snorted and pawed the ground, causing Darvie to squeeze her eyes closed. What she couldn't see, must not be there.

"Loosen your legs, Darvie," Grov said after swinging up behind her. He'd curled an arm around her middle and gave her thigh a pat. "Or Stomp's going to think you want to run."

"Run?" she said with alarm. That was the last thing she wanted. She yanked her hands out of the mare's mane and groped for the man's arm. He winced slightly as her nails dug into his flesh, but he did not pull back.

He nodded. She couldn't see him, but she felt his response. "She's almost as new to carrying a rider as you are to being one. She can sense that you are upset. You must calm down."

"But how do I do that?" she gasped. It was as if he was asking her to fly like a bird.

"You have to breathe, Darvie." Grov squeezed her around the middle, forcing her to exhale, then he smiled and stoked her thigh. "Just relax, so she can." He felt her take a deep breath, then loosen the tension in her legs slightly.

"That's it," he encouraged, rubbing her leg in a soothing manner. "Now let go of my arm...it'd be better if you hold onto her mane. I'll guide her, you can just sit here." When she made no move to remove her hands, Grov reached with his free hand to assist her. She resisted for a moment, then allowed him to pull her hands from his arm.

"Are you all right?" he asked after a few moments.

She wasn't sure that she was, but she nodded anyway. "All right, let's take a few steps." He gave Stomp a nudge and the horse started forward. Darvie immediately stiffened, the tightening of her thighs telling Stomp to move faster. She let out a squeal as the sudden burst of speed overtook them, but Grov quickly took control and had the animal stilled.

"You can do this, Darvie. I know it's scary the first time, but you'll be fine...I promise," Vincenzia said.

Darvie opened her eyes; she'd squeezed them closed without knowing it. Her mate was sitting behind Ayla and smiling at her. If he promised, then it must be so. She made every effort to calm herself, and was surprised that her attempt was successful. She managed a smile.

"That's it. Let Grov take control," Vincenzia encouraged. "He knows what he's doing."

Darvie nodded, then happened to glance down at Grov's arm. It was covered in angry-looking gouges. She frowned, knowing that she'd done it.

"Your arm...it's bleeding!" she exclaimed.

Grov shook his head. "It will be fine. Ready?"

Still staring at the rivulets of blood on his arm, she nodded, and he signaled the horse to start moving. Ayla and Vincenzia on Whinney started out at the same time. They were on their way back—finally!

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

"I still don't know why I can't at least see some of what we're carrying back," Ivanolia said with a pout as he trudged up the well-wore trail.

"Because that would spoil the celebration, Ivan," Vilognia said. They'd been talking of little else on their trip back to the summer meeting.

"The celebration!" the man nearly shouted. "You mean, I have to wait until we return to Oak Camp?"

Vilognia nodded. "You know that's the way it's done. Danta and Davaria will be adopted at the summer meeting, but we will not actually celebrate until after we get home."

"Sounds like you have a long wait ahead of you, my friend," Jonadaria snipped with a grin.

Ivanolia tossed the man a dirty look, then shook his head. "I do not see why we can't have it at the summer meeting," he insisted.

"You brought gifts with you for the exchange then?" Donzolnia asked, knowing full well that the man had not.

Ivanolia frowned. "Well no, but..."

"Just be patient, Ivan," Vilognia lectured. He wasn't sure he liked this Ivanolia any better than practical-joke-playing Ivanolia. "The summer meeting will be over soon enough and then you'll be confined for the winter. Enjoy this time out and about."

Ivanolia scowled. "I'm trying.

"Are you and Danie still thinking about wintering with the Clan?" Vilognia asked to change the subject.

Ivanolia shrugged. "At least some if it. I've got to do something to make amends," he said with a blush. "I'm not sure if it's possible, but I have to try."

Vilognia nodded. "That's understandable." He smiled, proud of his mate's son for wanting to make up for his wrongdoings, and pleased that he'd managed to distract the young man from talking about the adoption gifts.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

"Oh Mother!" exclaimed Travie as she walked through Oak Tent. "Someone needs to go fetch some water...we've run out again.

"I'll do it mother," Danie said.

Travie frowned. "You should not carry heavy waterbags.

"I will go," Danta offered. She was holding Laurana's sleeping daughter, but had been about to put the baby in her sleeping place.

Travie nodded. "Oh, thank you...but do not go alone. Take a man with you."

"Mother, there isn't one available," Danie put in. "They're all gone at the moment."

Travie looked around and frowned. Indeed they were. "Then go in a group. Danie and Jenadoza can go with you." She started to walk away, then turned back and shook her finger at her daughter. "But no lifting!"

Danie rolled her eyes and sighed heavily. "I wouldn't dream of it mother."

As the three young women walked out, they picked up Laurana, Tabita, and Fürlasa as well.

~oxoxo~

Dakara was sitting by the river staring off at nothing. She'd been there for most of the morning. She was sure her mother was worried, but she'd had to get away for a while. Sitting next to the river, listening to the sound of it flowing, had a calming effect, causing her to lose track of the time; she'd even fallen asleep for a time. She didn't really know how long she'd been there, but when she heard the sound of people approaching, their talking and laughing startling her, she scrambled to her feet and hid in the bushes.

"We are so glad you and Davaria are going to be adopted."

Dakara peeked out. She didn't recognize the speaker, but she did know of Danta. Everyone knew about what she'd said to the councils. Some were cursing her for it, but Dakara thought she was a hero.

"Oh yes. It will be so nice to have another woman close to our age."

"And...your brother...he

is cute."

The women giggled.

"Do you really think so, Tabita?" Danta asked.

"Sure he is. Even Fürlasa thinks so and

she claims she's going to mate my brother."

Dakara saw Danta smile and another girl blush. She figured she was the one called Fürlasa.

"Well, he is available. Either one of you could have him."

Danta grinned as she squatted to dunk her waterbag in the river. After filling it, she tied the top, then handed it to someone else. She repeated the process until all her empty bags were full.

"To be honest, we're just grateful that Oak Camp has made such an offer," Danta said with a sincere smile. "We were stunned that you'd take...well, us."

"Why wouldn't we take you? You have much to offer."

All six young women nodded their agreement.

"And what is that exactly?"

Dakara started at the derisive voice she heard, and peered through the bushes. It was Zadneetsia, but she would have known that voice anywhere. It was the one she heard in her nightmares. She had to force herself to watch as the group of women turned to look at him. He was leering at them.

"What are you doing here, Zadneetsia?" Danta said with a scowl. "Everyone knows you've been restricted to Sumac Camp's tent and tentfire."

Dakara cringed when she saw the man's face redden with fury. Involuntarily, she pulled back further into the bushes as he approached the women. She had to force herself to look again. Danta and her friends looked fearful, but stood their ground.

"You're very quick to forget where you come from, Danta," the man sneered.

He'd come right up into Danta's face, but she still didn't back down. Dakara shivered.

"I have not forgotten," Danta replied. "There is little about Sumac Camp I will ever forget. But I am moving on."

"And maybe you should do the same," one of the other women suggested.

"I'll go when I'm ready," he said.

Dakara watched as he eyed the women, particularly the pretty one with stunningly beautiful, thigh-length blonde hair. Dakara had seen her around. She'd just been mated and had a new baby girl. She wasn't much older than was Dakara. She watched the woman shudder with revulsion at the man's perusal, and she wanted to run forward and warn them that the man was bad news. But she didn't; everyone already knew that he was and she didn't want to chance being seen.

"Oak Camp sure has some pretty good-looking women," he said.

She saw his eyes sweep over the rest of the women, his lascivious gaze coming to rest on the one with short, almost black hair. She'd heard her speak; she was the foreign one.

"I'd love to stick my manhood—"

The air whooshed out of his lungs as Danta slugged him.

"Don't you talk like that to me," the dark-haired woman snarled.

Dakara could see her clenched teeth as she rushed forward. She was stopped by two of the others. Zadneetsia only laughed and rubbed his red jaw.

Dakara'd seen enough. Scooting silently away, she ran back to camp.

~oxoxo~

"That man is...despicable!" Danie said once they'd left the river and were on their way back to camp.

"I can't believe what he just said to you," Laurana said with a shake of her head.

"Well I cannot believe what he did to Ayla," Danie spouted angrily.

Tabita rolled her eyes. "And to think they only restricted him to camp."

"As if that worked," Fürlasa added. "I can't believe he's still traipsing around without someone at least accompanying him."

"Well, we should get back and tell someone," Jenadoza suggested. "There could be other unsuspecting women out and about who he might hurt."

"Do you think he'd really do it again? Hurt someone, I mean," Danta asked. She'd hoped, despite what he'd done to her, that his close call with Ayla would keep him from hurting any more women.

"Well, of course he will if he gets the chance, Danta," Jenadoza replied. "Men as bad as that one don't just change. It'd be nice if the councils had more evidence against him, or more witnesses. Not that I want there to be other victims. But, if there were, it might be more convincing."

Danta frowned, but nodded. "I understand what you mean, Jenadoza." Danta wished she knew how to tell the councils what that man had done to her. But, would they even believe her? she wondered. He'd claim she'd invited his attentions. Sighing, she followed the other women back to camp.

~oxoxo~

"Oh, look who's returned."

Danta glanced up at the assembled group as they approached Oak Tent.

"Ivarsia. Iyena," she greeted, ignoring the others.

"Tagnolia and Tiflona are not here at the moment," Jenadoza said curtly. "You'll have to come back later." She took Danta's arm and guided her toward the tent.

"Where is your brother, Danta?" Iyena asked with a sneer before the women could get away.

Danta stopped. "He is not here either. But he should be back soon." She wondered if they were going to try to convince him to remain with Sumac Camp. "I will tell him you stopped by." She turned again to go. This time she hurried into the tent so that she would not have to speak to them further.

~oxoxo~

"The nerve of them!" Travie said as she emptied the waterbags into a large water-tight basket. "They just came to spy. They've already been told they won't get their meat until the adoption."

Fraylora shook her head. "They didn't come here to check on the meat again. They just want to make trouble."

Danta frowned. "I'm afraid they're quite good at that."

Fraylora's arm slipped around the younger woman's waist. "Well, don't you worry, Oak Camp won't stand for any trouble. Things will get straightened out and everything will settle down. You'll see."

Danta smiled. She'd been told that Gredenzia and Fraylora would be speaking for them at the ceremony. That, in a sense, they were to become a son and daughter of the Bison Hearth—though they would not live within it—which would give their status quite a boost.

"Thank you, Fraylora. We are very grateful."

Fraylora smiled. "Do not thank us, Danta. You will be an asset to Oak Camp. And I will be proud to call you Daughter." Fraylora gave her a gentle squeeze.

Danta smiled at her, but she couldn't help the tears caused by the woman's kind words and her loving gesture of friendship—and family. In all the years of her life, she had not felt so included.

~oxoxo~

"They're back!" Danara came in screaming and flopped down on her mother's bed.

Danta looked up at her daughter with a worried frown, then glanced around the tent to see if anyone was watching. She'd never heard her daughter be so loud before—and she didn't want people to think they were as out of control as the rest of Sumac Camp.

"Keep your voice down," she whispered.

"Sorry Mama," the child said with a blush.

Danta sighed and sat down beside her daughter. "That's all right, I just don't want anyone to be sorry about taking us in. Do you understand?"

Danara nodded.

Danta smiled. "Now...who's back?"

"Davaria and the other men," she answered. "They're back with all of our things."

Danta smiled, though she was disappointed. She wanted Ayla to be back. She was more than worried about her friend.

"Ayla's fine, Mama. I know she is."

"Of course she is," she said, putting on a happy face for her daughter. "Now, let's get out there to help." She stood up and held out her hand. Danara took it and they walked out.

~oxoxo~

Ivanolia trudged grumpily through Oak Tent's entrance and stopped abruptly in its center space. "Where do you want all this...this stuff? he asked.

Danta looked around and could see no other place but her bed. "On my bed, I guess."

Ivanolia scowled and started setting things down carefully. He seemed angry about something and she wondered if he was mad at her because he'd had go out and fetch her things. She watched for a moment, then reached to help him. Then Donzolnia and Brulenzia came in similarly loaded. And then the rest of the men came in. Soon her bed was piled high with wrapped packages. She frowned. She'd have to reorganize before she could go to bed that night.

"There, that's the last of it," Davaria said with a grin as he leaned the wrapped spears against one of the tent's support poles, then stretched out on his empty bed, arms behind his head, his eyes closed. "I'm so tired...I think I could sleep for the rest of the summer meeting."

"Humph!" Danta crossed her arms over her chest and scowled at him. "I'm happy to hear that you've got nothing to do."

Davaria opened his eyes and looked up at her. "Well, I went out to get all this stuff...yer gonna have ta find a place to put it all." He closed his eyes again. She was silent. After a few moments he opened one eye slightly to see what she was doing. She was just standing there gaping at him.

"I'm just jokin', Ata," he said with a grin as he reached up and snagged her around the waist and pulled her down onto his bed. She fell beside him and laughed when he tickled her.

"That's good, Ari, because I was thinking those spears needed sharpening...and I was also thinking that your backside would be the best place to test the points." She smirked, then shrieked when he started tickling her again.

"Wow, I didn't know you two were so fun," Ivanolia said. "Can I play too?"

Danta and Davaria stopped laughing and sat up quickly. "I'm sorry," Danta apologized. "I didn't mean to be so loud." Hadn't she just told her daughter to keep it down? And now she was getting carried away herself.

Ivanolia shook his head. "Yeah, you oughta stop that," he said with a disgusted frown. "Just keep the noise down, would you? I mean...really."

Danta looked stricken. "I...I...I'm sorry." She jumped to her feet and started sifting through the packages.

"Ivan, you're terrible!" Danie snapped with a shake of her head. Then to Danta, she said, "Don't you listen to him. He's trouble in the worst way. Just you wait until it's winter and he's bored. We all pay for it then. And he really thinks he's funny too...the only problem is that he's the only one who thinks it. Just asked Laurana and Brulenzia...they'll tell you."

"Hey!" Ivanolia was suddenly standing. "Last winter was not entirely my fault, you know," Ivanolia quipped. "Brulenzia contributed just as much."

Danie looked at Danta and shook her head again. "My mate started it. I'm told he always starts it. Just you be careful. Ouch!" she yelped. He'd smacked her bottom playfully, then pulled her into his arms.

"It's good to see you have your sense of humor back, my mate," Ivanolia said.

"Humph! I wasn't aware that I'd lost it," she said.

He kissed her soundly, then looked back at Danta. "I'll stop pestering you if I can a peek at one of those," he said pointing at the huge mound of packages.

Danta shook her head. "I'm sorry, Ivanolia, but you'll have to wait...just like everyone else."

He let out a long, overly-exaggerated sigh. "You and your brother are just no fun!"

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

"If we run, we can get there before dark," Ayla said. "What do you say?"

Grov and Vincenzia nodded. "Sounds good." But Darvie frowned and shook her head.

"My rear end hurts. The last thing I want to do is go bouncing around on this thing." She shifted uncomfortably and silently wished she'd remained in camp. Especially now that she knew Ayla was just fine.

"Oh come on, Darvie. Do you really want to spend a night out here when we could crawl into our own furs if we just hurry up a little."

She frowned. She wanted nothing more than to do just what he'd said...crawl into her bed. "Oh, all right! But after today, don't ask me to get up on this thing."

"Fair enough," Vencenzia replied. "I think I could manage to do that."

"Good!"

~oxoxo~

The sun had just set when the summer meeting came into view, its torch lights glowing in the growing darkness. Ayla followed Grov around the outer area of their encampment and stopped just behind Oak Tent. Glancing around with a frown, Ayla wondered where Nicuria was, then breathed her relief when she heard him blow gently in the darkness. When he finally came to into view, she smiled. Lifting her leg over the mare, she jumped down and went to him.

"There you are, boy," she said as she scratched his neck. He nickered, then pushed his nose into her hand in search of a treat. She laughed. "Sorry Nic, I have nothing for you right now." She held out her hands for him to sniff, then turned back to the others.

Vincenzia had dismounted, followed quickly by Grov, who was now lifting Darvie from Stomp's back and putting her on her feet. She looked relieved to be standing on her own two legs again.

"See, that wasn't so bad, was it?"

Darvie grimaced as she rubbed her butt and groaned. "Speak for yourself. I told you riding wasn't meant for humans. And I'm starving," she complained.

Vincenzia grinned and put an arm around his mate's shoulder. "Well, let's get inside then. Maybe there'll still be some food left," he said hopefully. "I'm pretty hungry myself."

"What about the horses?" Ayla asked with a worried frown. Nicuria seemed to be just wandering around by himself—but, was that safe?

Grov shrugged. "What do you want to do with them? They're not used to being tied up; I don't think they'd like being confined very much."

Ayla shook her head. "I suppose not."

"Nicuria's been fine out here, Ayla." Ayla turned to see Travie coming toward them. "We've been checking on him every so often, just to be sure. He doesn't wander too far." Darvie's mother smiled and looked at the other two horses. "They're certainly impressive," she said with a gesture at the mares. "I never would have thought a horse good for anything, but food."

"They are good for riding too," Vincenzia put in.

"Speak for yourself!" Darvie said as she stretched out the kinks in her back and neck. "I don't care if I never ride one again."

Travie's eyes widened. "You rode one?"

Darvie massaged her sore backside and nodded. "All the way. All I want now is some food and my bed."

Travie smiled. "Well that you can have. Come on in."

With a glance at her horses, who'd moved off a bit, Ayla followed the others inside.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER

"Look who I found," Travie announced before they'd even stepped all the way into the tent. They were immediately surrounded by a throng of people, adults and children alike, everyone talking at once and wanting to know all about everything. Once again, Ayla was shocked by the sheer noise level these people were able produce with just their voices. Her nerves tensed, she had to remind herself that they were friends and family. Despite this fact, she moved closer to Grov, drawing strength from the man who loved and protected her.

"We're so glad you're back," Vilognia said as he pulled Darvie's pack from her shoulder, then took his brother's. Someone else took Grov and Ayla's packs as well, Ayla wasn't sure who; it all happened so quickly.

"Yes, even I was starting to worry," Serana said with a smile. Several nodded and made comments about the woman's worry. That was telling, in and of itself, as Serana never seemed to worry about anything.

"I am sorry...we did not mean to worry you," Ayla said.

Everyone laughed and Tagnolia shook his head. "Leave it to you to worry about our worry, Ayla."

Everyone laughed some more. Ayla tried to smile.

"Do you really have two more horses out there," Morina and Torina asked in unison. The girls had pushed their way to the front of the crowd and were now standing just in front of those returning, one of Ayla's daughters on each girl's hip.

Ayla nodded and flashed a genuine smile as she took one of her sleepy, blonde daughters.

"Can we see them?" Vegodia asked hopefully, all his age-mates looking at them expectantly.

Ayla smiled at the boy who was her cousin, but didn't have a chance to answer him.

"Boys, not tonight!" Travie scolded. "It's late and they've been traveling for days."

The children all groaned and even the adults looked disappointed, some even made verbal protests as Travie attempted to shoo everyone away.

For a woman not born to Oak Camp, or even to the Sungaea, she sure had a dominating presence among them, Ayla observed. No one seemed to complain about it though.

"Oh Mother! They're only a couple of horses," Travie said with an impatient frown as she looked at the assembled group refusing to leave. "Nicuria's been here all day; you've been standing around gawking at him since sunup."

"But Mother, no one's seen living horses up so close before," Danie said. "They're so fascinating."

"Humph!" Darvie crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head. "Try sitting on one all day...they're not so fascinating to me."

"Did you really get to sit on them?" Crisana asked her mother.

Darvie nodded. "I really did. Then she shook her head. "But it wasn't all that great."

Vincenzia laughed. "Only because you were too tense to enjoy it."

Darvie sighed. "That may be true, but...I...I guess I was scared," she admitted.

Vincenzia laughed again and pulled his mate into his arms. "I, on the other hand, enjoyed the scenery very much. Riding, instead of walking, allowed my eyes to see other things," he said to his younger mate with a grin, letting her—and all around—know what he had on his mind during the day, and now.

Travie scowled. "All right now...let's give them time to relax. Go on..."

And reluctantly, everyone dispersed.

~oxoxo~

Ayla sighed as she watched Vincenzia and Darvie head down the tent corridor toward their own sleeping place. They were the last to leave, taking Durc with them to settle in bed with Brenevia. Ayla smiled at how close the boys had become in such a short time.

"Here, let me take the girls to bed," Jenadoza offered, her arms extended to take Annaliza from Ayla. Ayla smiled, kissed her daughter's head and signaled that she'd see her in the morning. Jenadoza took up Ora's hand as well and walked away.

Ayla sat heavily on her bed, then lay back, her eyes closed. But she didn't stay there long. Forcing herself to get up again, she began pulling things from her pack.

Grov watched her for a moment, then took her shoulders. "We can do that tomorrow, Ayla," he said, guiding her to her side of the bed, then helping her to undress before easing her down into the furs.

Ayla let him take care of her. "You are right, of course. I am very tired. You must be too."

Grov nodded. "Yes...I am just going to find you something to eat."

Ayla smiled. "In bed?"

He grinned. "Just keep the crumbs on your side."

~oxoxo~

Ayla lay groggily in her furs. They'd come in late, assured everyone that they were fine, had something light to eat, then promptly fell asleep. She was glad to be back with Oak Camp; the journey, especially the river crossing, had been exhausting. But now she wondered how late it was. With a yawn, she opened her eyes. Grov had drawn their privacy curtain closed so there was nothing to see. Turning her head, she saw that her mate still lay beside her, seemingly still sound asleep. With a smile, she snuggled into him, her smile broadening when her mate's arm came around her unconsciously. Not long after, she felt a gentle tug on the furs.

"Mama," came a tiny whispering voice.

Ayla rolled over and extended her arms. Her two little girls slid in beside her, causing her to have to move over closer to Grov.

"What's going on?" he asked, coming awake suddenly.

"We have visitors," she informed him.

"Missed you," Ora told them. Annaliza sat up and nodded, her two middle fingers buried deep in her mouth as she crawled up and over to lie between them. Durc followed shortly, climbing in on Grov's side. Feeling that all was right with their world, all three children were quickly sleeping again.

"You'd think we were gone for days," whispered Grov.

Ayla smiled. "They were just worried...like everybody else. I should get up."

Grov sighed, not wanting to move.

"You stay," she said, reading his sigh well. "I will make tea and check on the horses, then come back."

He nodded and closed his eyes. He could hear her push the curtain aside and get up, but nothing after that; he was sleeping again.

~oxoxo~

Leaving her sleeping tunic on, Ayla quickly pulled on her leggings and shoes, then walked silently from the tent. Over Oak Tent's outside fire, she set water to boil for tea. Not expecting it to take very long, she turned and quickly circled the tent, heading for the place she'd left the horses the night before. Stomp, standing the nearest, brought her head up as Ayla came into view, but she didn't move to come to her. Whinney and Nicuria, however, came over immediately, looking for treats as always.

"Hi Whinney," Ayla said, scratching her mare's neck and then patting Nicuria. "How are you this morning?" She laughed when the two nudged her hands. "I did not bring food. You will have to wait, just like everyone else." Both horses nickered and pranced around.

"They are frisky," came a voice.

Ayla turned to see Janika. "Good morning."

Janika smiled. "They're amazing. I've been standing out here watching them since sunrise."

Ayla smiled, thinking that she thought they were amazing too. "Do you want to touch them?" Ayla asked. The young woman was clearly interested.

Janika smiled. "Could I?"

Ayla nodded. "Of course. Stomp, over there, is Grov's mare, and Nicuria is her son. And this is Whinney. She is mine." Ayla took Janika's hand then and placed it on Whinney's neck. "She likes to be scratched here...and here."

As Janika scratched, the mare pushed into her and made noises that told them she was enjoying the attention.

"Where did you find them, Ayla? They are...wonderful!"

Ayla had to think for a moment. "In a valley...west of here." She nodded as if confirming it in her own mind. All the traveling she had been doing lately was almost more than she could fathom.

Janika frowned. "Far?"

Ayla shrugged. "A few day's journey. Why?"

Janika smiled. "I want one."

Ayla nodded, knowing and understanding the desire. "Maybe someone can take you."

Janika shook her head. "I don't see that happening anytime soon. Jeeteria is still very angry with me about...what I did on the hunt."

Ayla nodded again. "It will pass."

Janika shook her head. "Why are you so different, Ayla? Why aren't you angry with me? If anyone has the right to be angry, it's you...you and Grov."

Ayla frowned. She didn't know the answer to the woman's questions. All she knew was that she wasn't angry. "I don't know, Janika. I guess I understand that people makes mistakes. I have made a few of them myself." She shrugged. "And you seem sorry to me, so I feel that I can trust you. Is that foolish of me?"

Janika shrugged. "I don't think so, because I know that I'm sorry, but...how do you know it though?"

"It is just in the way you move, I suppose," Ayla said with a frown. "Because of the way the Clan communicates, untruths are impossible. I can see that you are sincere."

Janika forced a smile. "Well, thank you. It's more than the man of my hearth is willing to give me, and it means a lot to me."

Ayla smiled. "You are welcome, Janika." She paused to pat Stomp, who'd finally come over for attention. "But I best get back. I have water over the fire. You are welcome to stay with the horses if you like. They like it when people rub them and talk to them. Just be careful. They are gentle, but skittish. And they can be dangerous if they are frightened."

"I'll remember that. Thanks again."

Ayla nodded and walked away.

~oxoxo~

When Ayla returned to Oak Tent's fire, her water was bubbling vigorously. After pouring some into two cups, Ayla sat there for several moments while she waited for the tea to steep, then she hurried inside to her mate. Pulling back their curtain, Ayla sat down on the bed platform.

"Are you awake?"

Grov managed to free himself from the sleeping bodies around him, then reached a hand to accept his cup of tea. "Oooh, this is good," he said after taking a generous sip.

Ayla smiled; she had put in just the herbs that he liked. "What would you like to eat this morning?" she asked him.

"Whatever everyone else is having...you don't have to make anything special."

"I know, but I like to make what you like."

Grov smiled at her. "Well, enjoy this time of relaxation, Ayla. Things aren't always so carefree."

She laughed. "No, I suppose they are not, but it is more difficult here as well." She had switched to gestures so anyone stirring around them would not understand.

He nodded his understanding though; life with the Clan was a simpler life. He gestured his agreement, then went on verbally. "But...nobody else is up yet...you should come back to bed."

Ayla grinned and seemed just about to climb in when they heard voices outside.

"Didn't I tell you to stay away from Oak Camp? You've caused enough trouble already!"

"I'm just looking at the horses, Jeeteria."

Ayla frowned, recognizing Janika's voice. "I think I better go out there."

Grov nodded. "I will come with you." He quickly threw on his leggings and followed Ayla outside. By this time, the man had pulled the young woman away from the horses and was guiding her back toward their tent space.

"But Ayla said it was all right. She said I could visit them."

"Well, I don't much care what that woman said. You are the daughter of my mate and you'll do as I say." Jeeteria stopped in his tracks when he came face-to-face with Grov and Ayla as they came around the corner toward the voices. He puffed loudly in exasperation.

"What do you want?" he demanded. He was still upset that he'd suffered embarrassment and considered it the flathead's fault for just being there.

"I, ahhh...heard voices outside and wanted to see what was happening," Ayla said honestly.

"Well, you need not concern yourself." Jeeteria eyed the flathead couple. Even he could not miss how handsome they both were, the man with his tall, dark, almost brooding, good looks, and the woman blonde and beautiful, her blue eyes full of determination. He suddenly found himself scrutinizing them more closely, then making excuses. "Janika has been warned to leave you two alone, yet I keep finding her away from Spruce Tent." He shook his head. "I am sorry."

Ayla saw his change in demeanor immediately and was relieved. "That is all right," she said, giving the man her most winning smile. "Janika has been...no trouble."

Jeeteria scoffed.

"Please," Ayla said, reaching out and taking the man's arm. "Would you like some tea? I have just made some fresh." Leading him over to their tentfire, Ayla gestured for the Spruce man to sit down. Without thinking, he did, and accepted a cup from the woman. She glanced then at Grov and Janika, who stood there staring at her.

"Oh! this is very good!"

Ayla smiled. "Thank you...it is Grov's favorite." She gave her mate a quick look. He had managed to mask his surprise at her sudden invitation for the man to sit, and had lowed himself into a sitting position. Janika still stood behind him, looking as if she was ready to bolt. She almost jumped out of her skin when she felt someone grasp her upper arms from behind.

"Good morning!"

Ayla looked to see Ivanolia and several others coming outside. Soon the area was filled with Oak Tent members.

"Ayla, do you have any more of the Clan's stomach-relaxing tea?" Danie asked as she followed her mate to a bench and plopped down, a sour look on her pretty face.

Ayla frowned. "Of course, but are you feeling lousy again?"

Danie shrugged. "Not so bad." She glanced at the man sitting beside Ayla and, in typical Mamutoi fashion, introduced herself. "We have not met. I am Danie of the Arctic Fox Hearth of Oak Camp of the Sungaea, mated to Ivanolia and blessed by the Great Mother of all." She smiled as she patted her belly. "Formerly of the Mamutoi, as if you could not guess after listening to this ridiculous accent I have."

Jeeteria couldn't help but grin at the young foreign woman and clasped her outstretched arm in greeting. "Jeeteria, of Spruce Camp," he said simply. "Your Sungaea doesn't sound so bad to me."

"Humph! No, my Sungaea is much improved; it is how I sound that bothers me."

Ivanolia laughed. "I only have trouble with it when it somehow reverts back to Mamutoi and I'm left trying to translate what she's saying." He felt a sound slap to his rear.

She grinned. "Well don't make me mad and I won't make you translate," she said in her native language.

Ivanolia smiled and sat down beside his mate. He still didn't know much Mamutoi, but he got the gist of what she was saying. Soon, everyone was talking at once, joining whichever conversation seemed most interesting.

"It really is all right, Jeeteria," Ayla said quietly. She had been watching him drink his tea while he observed Oak Tent's morning activities.

"Huh?"

"Janika coming over here to visit...the horses or us. We do not mind."

The man frowned. Everything in him told him to gather up his mate's daughter and retreat. But there was something about this woman that made him want to stay, that calmed him, that told him there was no danger. He glanced up at the woman's mate. He was talking with some of the young people, and Janika happened to be standing there as well. She looked nervous, somewhat out of place. And then her brother appeared and she relaxed some, enough to actually speak to Ayla's mate.

Jeeteria continued to frown as he watched the daughter and son of his hearth interacting so freely with the Clan man. Jondaria had obviously become friends with Grov. He didn't know friendship with a such a man was possible.

"Ayla!" Danta exclaimed as she came running out of Oak Tent. When Ayla stood, the Sumac woman threw her arms around her. "I was so worried."

"Calm down, Ata! Were you not here when they arrived last night?"

Danta glanced at her brother and blushed. "Of course I was here, Ari," she said to him. "But I didn't have a chance to talk to her last night. You know that." She was pouting.

Davaria rolled his eyes, but hugged his sister lovingly.

"How touching," came a voice full of sarcasm. "The all-new Danta and Davaria."

The entire group froze and turned all at once to face those intruding.

"What do you want, Ivarsia?" Davaria asked, moving to stand protectively in front of his sister. He had no intention of ever letting their soon-to-be former camp hurt his sister again. He did not even want her to hear their hateful words. "Iyena? We don't have time for this right now."

"Hmm. I can see that. All of you so busy...just sitting around your tentfire."

Davaria frowned, as if their cooking pots were any less black. "Make your point. As I said, we don't have time for you anymore," Davaria said, making his with finality.

"Well, as much as we'd like to stand here talking," Iyena scoffed. "We did not come here to be bothered with you. If you'd just go get your leaders, we can be done here."

"What is it that you want, Ivars...Iyena?"

Everyone looked to the tent entrance to see Tagnolia and Tiflona coming out. Unbeknownst to most standing there gaping, someone had run inside to fetch the headman and headwoman.

Ivarsia laughed. "I think you know what we want. We have, once and for all, come for what is due to us."

Tagnolia sighed, completely exasperated. "Do you not understand the meaning of we don't have it yet? We told you we'd turn it over as soon as Davaria and Danta had returned, but we can't do that until we have first received it ourselves."

Iyena crossed her arms over her chest and huffed angrily. "You mean you intend to keep this bargain?" she asked disbelievingly. She had been completely prepared to accept Oak Camp's change of mind...had fully expected them to break the deal when they saw what they were really getting. She'd even concocted a suitable penalty for the exchange that would not happen, and a much more severe punishment for Davaria and Danta, for causing Sumac Camp such embarrassment. Now she was furious she wouldn't get to force them all to pay.

"As we told you before, Iyena," Tiflona said. "Oak Camp does not back out of a promise. We have agreed to take Davaria, Danta, and Danara into Oak Camp, and we are going to do that. And you will get what's coming to you, you need not worry. The pittance you ask for is nothing to what we are getting."

"Maybe we should have asked for more then," Ivarsia snapped.

"Maybe," Tagnolia said with a shrug. "We would not have objected. But, seeing as the amount has already been agreed upon, you will get what you asked for...when we have received it...and not a bit more. It is my understanding that there is to be a distribution meeting this afternoon. We will meet with you afterwards."

"Well then, until payment is made, these three will have to remain with us." As Ivarsia spoke, Iyena reached out and grasped hold of Danara's arm while several Sumac men grabbed both Davaria and Danta. Danara cried out in fear as she was lifted up, but Danta clawed her way out of the hands restraining her to reach her daughter, leaving several long, bloody scratches on the man attempting to hold her back. She was not about to go anywhere with these people without a fight, let alone allow them take her daughter. Davaria, however, found himself shoved to the ground. But it was all over before it could go any further; all of Oak Tent, and several others who were standing around, quickly neutralized the attempted assault.

"This, has gone far enough! What is wrong with you people?" Travie shrieked. "Why would you want to force those who do not want to stay with you, to stay with you? And what has happened to the well-known and long-lived stricture against violence?" The older woman knelt beside the fallen man, dabbed at his bloody lip with a small piece of leather, then glared up at those who did not belong there.

"You should mind your own business, old woman!" Ivarsia declared. "Or you might find yourself in a spot of trouble yourself!"

Travie's eyes widened as she moved to her feet. "Are you threatening me, young man?" she demanded condescendingly; he was not much younger than she. Pulling herself to her full height, which was moderately more than average, she advanced on him. With hands on hips, and absolutely no sign of fear of him showing in her features or stance, she continued on. "Because, if you are, then you'll have more to contend with than just one old woman. I suggest that, if you know what's good for you, you'll leave here this instant! Before you are sorry you messed with Oak Camp."

Everyone could see fury wash over Ivarsia as he tried to stare Travie down. But his effort to beat her was lost and he quickly backed away. "This is not over!" he ground out as they left.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER

Danta stood holding her daughter, both with tears in their eyes, until she felt someone's comforting hands on her shoulders. She focused then on Danie, who gently pulled her into her arms.

"Davaria!" she exclaimed, abruptly pulling from Danie and quickly going to her brother who still lay on the ground. "Did they hurt you, Ari?"

Davaria shook his head and struggled to his feet. "It's nothing." Absently, he wiped at the blood still dripping from his lip, the blood within his body boiling.

"Nothing?! You are bleeding!" she sobbed.

Davaria took a deep breath and scowled at his sister. "And you still wish to do nothing about..." He paused at her look of horror. "...about what has been done to you?" he finished, not giving enough information for anyone to be the wiser.

"I do not."

"But—"

"No!" She held up a finger and shook it. "I told you. I will handle this as I see fit." He opened his mouth to object again, but she shook her head. "You promised, Ari," she reminded him.

Davaria stared at her for a moment, then stormed into the tent. Danta watched him, then headed around the tent to the horses.

~oxoxo~

Everyone watched in confusion as the brother and sister argued. No one knew what they were discussing, but clearly something was going on. After Davaria was gone, however, everybody drifted away to start the day, leaving most of the young people by the tentfire.

"What was that all about?" Danie asked the area at large.

Ayla frowned. "I could not say."

"Did something happen while you were away?" Danie persisted.

Ayla shook her head. "No." It is what happened before we left, she thought.

"Well maybe you could go talk to her...find out what is wrong. She seems very upset."

"Danie, I said that I could not say, not that I do not know what has happened." A few brows raised expectantly. Ayla shook her head. "It is not my place to tell you, but I will go find Danta." Several nodded understand, and watched as Ayla walked away.

~oxoxo~

Ayla's intent was to find and talk to Danta, but when she saw her new friend standing with and petting the horses, she just backed off and watched her. She could tell Danta was troubled, that her thoughts were conflicted. On one hand, Danta wanted Zadneetsia exposed and punished. That was what Ayla had wanted after the sorry excuse for a man had attacked her. But Ayla also knew that the sheer humiliation of the confrontation would be nearly unbearable. She remembered how utterly helpless it had made herself feel. And what would it accomplish? There had been no serious punishment in her own case. Ayla frowned. But this is different, isn't it? she asked herself. Zadneetsia had failed in his attack on her, he had succeeded in forcing Danta. That had to mean something, didn't it?

Ayla's frown eased slightly as she watched Danta feed each of the horses some small red apples. She smiled. Her friend had a real look of peace on her face as she watched the horses' antics. Whinney was sniffing for more and Nicuria was nosing insistently at the bag she was holding. Even Stomp was doing her part to cheer the woman up. Really, they just wanted the fruit the woman was holding back, but they had Danta laughing and that was good, laughter was always good.

Quietly, Ayla sneaked away.

~oxoxo~

"I still think Danta should stay behind," Davaria insisted. He looked from Tagnolia to Tiflona, who both stood there looking confused.

"What are you talking about, Davaria? This is a formal adoption. She has to be there," the headwoman said.

"I-I can't..." Davaria shook his head, not knowing how to respond.

"What aren't you telling us?" Tagnolia asked.

Davaria looked from the woman to the man and frowned. He'd promised not to say anything about what had happened to his sister, but it was getting complicated. How could he not tell them? He glanced over at Danta, who stood there silently, twisting her hands and biting her lip nervously. Both Tiflona and Tagnolia's eyes followed his.

"Danta," Tagnolia said as he approached her. "Can you tell us what Davaria seems unable to?"

Danta frowned, knowing that her secret would soon have to be told. "I would...rather not say."

The headmand frowned, as did everyone else who was standing there, but Tiflona looked more than irritated. She didn't understand why the two people they were sticking their necks out for were keeping secrets from them, but as far as she was concerned, it was unacceptable. Looking around at the assembled group, then back at the brother and sister, she shook her head.

"I think that we really have to talk...before any adoption can be made," Tiflona said seriously. She glanced at her brother, who nodded, then back at Danta and Davaria, who had moved closer and was now holding his sister's hand.

"Let's go inside, where we can have some privacy," the headwoman went on. She didn't like to have secret meetings, especially since it was a secret that was causing her to need one, but at this point she saw no other way.

Danta nodded and started away, holding tight to Davaria's hand. They were followed by the two leaders. But just before entering Oak Tent, Tiflona was stopped by Danie, who spoke quietly, almost whispering. Tiflona frowned at the younger Oak woman of foreign birth, glancing over her shoulder several times as she spoke, every time, her eyes going to Grov and Ayla. Then with a nod, Tiflona sighed.

"Grov. Ayla. Danie tells me you both have knowledge about what's happening here."

The young couple nodded.

Tiflona sighed again and rubbed her face. "Then, I think we'll need the two of you to come inside with us." With that, she turned and left. Grov and Ayla could do nothing but follow.

~oxoxo~

"All right, Danta," Tiflona said when she got to where their adoptees were sitting, nervously waiting for the headwoman to come in and tell them she'd changed her mind about the adoption. "What in the Mother's name is this all about? We don't take kindly to secrets."

Danta's troubled eyes filled with tears. She wanted to get up and run away, to get as far away from Oak Camp, and the Sungaea, and people in general, but she knew that option was gone; she couldn't run away again. And she wouldn't.

"I...," she began, then choked on her tears. She felt Davaria's arms circle her and let herself fall into them, knowing that he would protect her.

"Shhhh," he soothed, rubbing her back as she sobbed into his chest. "They'll understand, but...you have to tell them."

She hiccupped. "I-I c-can't, Ari. I c-can't." She continued to sob, clinging to him desperately. "B-but...you can," she cried, pushing away from him and looking up into his eyes.

He frowned, but nodded. He could do that for his sister. After wiping his sister's tears away, he slowly looked up at Tagnolia and Tiflona, who both stood there patiently, waiting for the brother and sister to speak to them again.

"My sister is afraid to face Sumac Camp."

Tiflona frowned. "But why? There is nothing they can do to stop the adoption. You have agreed to it and we have agreed to pay what they have asked for. End of subject. Going over there is just a formality."

Davaria nodded. "Yes, we know that, but you don't understand. This is not just a formality to Danta. Going there...facing Sumac Camp...is much more than a formality to my sister."

Davaria frowned up at their expectant looks, then scratched the growing stubble on this chin. "There is another reason for Danta to stay away from the camp of our birth," he said cryptically. How could he make them understand without just blurting it out? "Or rather, a person that she does not want to face." He glanced at Ayla, looking for assistance. Tagnolia and Tiflona looked at the woman too.

"Ayla?" they questioned in unison.

Ayla sighed. "It is...Zadneetsia," she said. "What he tried to do to me...," she began, a pained look in her eyes. She had to swallow a few times before she could continue. "Well, let me just say that he had...more success with Danta."

Realization quickly washed over the two leaders. Both dropped onto the bench across from Danta and Davaria.

"Why have you not said anything, Danta?" asked Tiflona.

Danta face contorted painfully. "And what would you have done?"

"There are accusations to make." Tiflona was on her feet again. "We must take this to the Councils immediately. We must put a stop to this."

Danta nodded. "Yes...I agree. But accusing Zadneetsia and getting people to believe me are two entirely different things. You saw what they did to Ayla when she came forward." Danta shook her head. "I don't want to go through that. I just don't want to ever see him again."

Tiflona looked ready to pull her own hair out. "But we have to do something. That man can't be allowed to continue on like this. He needs to be punished!"

"Yes, he does. But what can we really do, Tiflona," Danta said, tears filling her eyes, then making tracks down her face.

"There must be something we can do."

Danta pursed her lips. "Like restricting him to Sumac Tent?"

Tiflona frowned.

"Yes, exactly!" Tagnolia agreed. "It's a start."

Danta laughed. "That will not work. You can't stop him from leaving Sumac's tentspace."

"Of course we can. We've already done that."

Danta smiled. "No, you have not."

"What? What are you talking about, Danta?"

She sighed. "Yesterday...when I went to the river with the other women to get water...Zadneetsia was there."

Tiflona frowned. "He was at the river?"

Danta nodded.

"Why haven't you and the others informed us?" Tiflona exclaimed, at the same time that Davaria just to his feet and exploded with, "WHAT?! I'm going to kill him!"

Danta looked nervously from the headwoman to her brother. "I...we were going to, but then Davaria and the others came back with all of our things." She shrugged. "I guess we just got distracted."

"Distracted?" Davaria bellowed. "What in the Mother's name is wrong with you, Danta?"

"Please Davaria, please understand," she almost whined. "I told you that I want to handle this on my own."

"Handle this!" he burst out. "How can I be expected to let you handle this, when you just do not?"

Danta sighed. "Ari please...you promised."

Davaria opened his mouth to scold her...to complain...to protest...to find some way to get his way, but it was useless; the pleading look in her eyes stopped him from saying another word. He didn't like it, but he had promised to let her handle it. Feeling helpless, he dropped onto the bench beside her.

"Danta," Tagnolia started. "What is it that you want to do about this?"

The young woman frowned. "I...I do not want to do anything about this. All I want is to be adopted by Oak Camp, to make my home with you there and to forget we were ever part of Sumac Camp. And I want to forget what that man did to me," she said sadly. "I cannot do that if I have to stand in front of everyone and accuse him of this."

Both leaders looked pained. "Then that is what you will have, Danta," Tagnolia said, throwing a look at Davaria. "And nothing will be done about this, if that is what you truly want."

Tiflona looked shocked. It took several moments for the headwoman to compose herself. When she did she gave her support. "Yes...if that is your wish, then we shall say nothing." The head woman paused. "Are you sure this is what you want?" She had to ask again.

Danta could see that everyone watching her wanted her to make an accusation, wanted her to tell all what Zadneetsia had done to her...but...she was not ready. "Yes, I am sure. I just want to be adopted. I want Oak Camp to accept us, and I want to move away from those who have hurt me."

Tiflona and Tagnolia eyed her, then both nodded. "If that is your wish, then that is what will happen."

Danta sighed her relief, and smiled. Davaria didn't look so happy.

~oxoxo~

It had been agreed that Danta would remain behind for the adoption process. But since this was completely out of the ordinary, a runner had been sent to the councils with a request for help with the matter. Three Sisters had come by Oak Tent to verify that the young Sumac woman did indeed want to be adopted by Oak Camp. Then, when they were satisfied that she did, they left with the rest of Oak Tent, intent on representing the woman who did not want to be present.

Oak Camp now sat silently in the waiting area of the Council of Sisters. The time for Davaria, Danta, and Danara's adoption, however, had already come and gone. There seemed to be some sort of delay, but no one seemed to know what it was, or at least no one was willing to tell them what was happening. All they knew was something was going on. That much was clear due to the angry voices coming from within, voices that could be heard, but not understood.

And then the sounds came closer.

"This is ridiculous!" a man hollered, pushing aside the thick hide curtain that divided the tent up into sections. "That girl is crazy!"

All of Oak Camp stared as Zadneetsia came through the open curtain, waving his fist at those following him. Ivarsia was holding the man back, doing his best to restrain his nephew, and Iyena was making every attempt to calm the ugly situation.

"Don't you think this has gone too far?" the headwoman asked the head sister.

Breidara shook her head. "Unfortunately, I do, but I can't ignore something of this magnitude, Iyena."

"You!" Iyena screeched, turning on a young girl and woman who had come through the curtain as well. The girl looked terrified, the woman furious. "How dare you use the current situation to make false accusations!"

The girl started to cry, but she did not say anything.

"My daughter would not make up something like this, Iyena. If she says that it happened, then it did."

Iyena scowled. "We all know your girl has been after my sister's son since last summer when she sneaked into his bed before she'd even had her first rites, Hetara. How are we supposed to believe anything she says?"

Hetara frowned. "Neither she nor I deny that she wanted him. It is common knowledge that my daughter has had a crush on that...that piece of dirt, for a long time. Only the Mother knows why! But the point here is that she wanted him, as in used to. That does not give him the right to force himself upon her. She is still a woman, a very young one, who deserves the right to say who takes her body and who does not."

"She's a liar!" Zadneetsia snapped, struggling against his mother's brother.

Iyena turned back to the head sister and shook her head. "This girl is just embarrassed that he did not want her and is trying to punish him for rejecting her."

"I am not lying," the girl whispered, her huge, fear-filled eyes on Zadneetsia. "I swear that I am not," she said more firmly. "That man forced me." She glanced then at those sitting there silently watching them and blushed, but then decided to use it to her advantage. "Just as he tried to do to her." She pointed at Ayla.

"I've had just about enough of this!" Iyena said through gritted teeth. She too looked at Oak Camp, all assembled for the adoption. Just the thought made her furious. If looks could kill, all of those watching the scene would have dropped dead. "She is clearly using what he was accused of doing earlier to hurt him now."

"Iyena, the Councils determined that Zadneetsia was guilty of the crimes of which he was recently accused," Breidara said gently. "That gives him much less credibility now."

Iyena scowled. "Well, just because Zadneetsia was not believed, that a foreigner was believed instead, does not mean that he was actually guilty...just as he is not guilty now. It is that jealous, spiteful little girl who lies!" she sneered.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I don't think I have the stomach for this adoption," she went on sarcastically. "If you need us, you know where we are." With that she turned, took her nephew's arm, and left the Sister's tent.

"You can expect to get a summons, Iyena," Breidara called out after them.

Iyena didn't respond, but Ivarsia, who was following his sister, stopped at the tent's opening and spoke to the head sister. "Don't bother, Breidara. Let us just end this now. Sumac Camp releases those three parasites. Oak Camp can have them. We don't want to ever see them again!"

With that, he too left.

~oxoxo~

"What do you mean, Danta isn't coming?" Breidara asked with exasperation.

"Just what we have said, she will not be attending this meeting, but she does want to be adopted. We have brought some to speak on her behalf."

Breidara glanced at the three headwomen that had come to speak for the absent woman, then waived her hand to dismiss them. "It will not be necessary," she said with an exhausted sigh. "I am closing the matter. From here on out, Davaria, Danta, and Danara are a part of Oak Camp. Is this satisfactory to you?" she asked, a hopeful look in her eyes.

Tagnolia and Tiflona looked at Davaria. The man had looked nearly ready to jump forward and strangle Zadneetsia, but had shown considerable restraint. It has helped to have some of the younger men of Oak Camp standing by in support, but ultimately the man had chosen to keep his silence, and that was good; they could respect him for that. And now, he was smiling.

"Davaria?"

He nodded, his silly grin seemingly stuck on his face.

"Well then, Davaria, formerly of Sumac Camp, Oak Camp welcomes you," Tagnolia said, reaching out and clasping the younger man's arm affectionately.

"We hope that both you and your sister find happiness and peace among us," Tiflona added, giving the man a welcoming hug.

"And me too?" Danara asked, coming up silently and tugging on the headwoman's sleeve.

Tiflona immediately knelt down to be on the child's level and flashed her most happy smile. "Especially you, Danara," she said to reassure the slight little girl who had already grown some during her time away from the camp of her birth. "We welcome you, and your mother and her brother, and we want all of you to be at peace with us."

Danara grinned, then went to Davaria. "Are we 'dopted now?" she asked him.

He nodded. "We are."

"Then let's go home."

Davaria tried to blink back his tears of joy, but finally gave up. It was impossible. Instead, he smiled through them and, picking up his sister's daughter, walked out of the Sister's tent with the rest of his people.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER

Jenadoza cocked her head and frowned at the young woman. She, along with several others, had been trying to help Danta get ready for the celebration, but the woman's dress was less than acceptable.

"No, no...this just isn't going to work," she finally said with a shake of her head.

Danta looked down at what she was wearing and frowned. "But this is all I have, Jenadoza. This and the dress I was wearing yesterday."

Jenadoza scowled. "Oh no, you can't wear that one either. No...you'll have to wear something else." She paused as she continued to eye Oak Camp's new member. "Something like...that!"

Danta frowned, but she turned in the direction that Jenadoza was pointing. For a moment, she saw only the other women standing there scrutinizing her and she wanted to run, she wanted to run away and hide under a rock. But then she realized they were holding something up...a dress...a beautifully decorated dress. Her eyes filled with tears.

"Is t-that...for me?" she asked. She bit her lip to prevent the sob she felt coming.

All the women giggled and nodded.

"It is...beautiful," she said, stepping forward and tentatively touching it. It was by far the softest thing she had ever felt and she knew that Ayla had had something to do with that, though she wondered when, since she had been with the woman for many days and had not seen her working on such a project.

Danta smiled as she inspected the garment. The leather had been made light, probably to show off her darker coloring, and it was a short dress, just above the knees and could double as a long tunic to be worn with leggings later in the year. She was already mentally making plans to make herself a pair. In fact, they had made her leggings as well, but weren't giving them to her yet, because they just wanted her to have a nice dress to wear that night, and because she was so fun to give things to. Later, that gift would come as well.

"I have never had anything so beautiful," she said, fingering the short fringe that circled the hem of the dress and then the beading that covered the bodice. "I don't know what to say. This is too much."

All the women smiled at her. "You say thank you and put it on," Travie instructed.

Danta smiled and hugged the dress to her. "I love it. Thank you. I will wear it with pride. Will someone help me?"

"Gladly!" All the women came forward at once, stripped her naked, then dressed her in the new dress.

"You will need these too, Mama," Danara said.

Danta glanced down to see her daughter holding out a pair of new shoes for her and noticed the child was bedecked with all new clothing as well.

"Fraylora wanted me to give them to you."

Danta's eyes went to the woman, but she could hardly see her through her tears. "Thank you," she mouthed, too stunned to actually speak.

"Think nothing of it, Daughter."

"What do you think, Mama?" Danara asked, twirling around to show off her new dress. "It looks almost like yours."

Danta pushed at her tears, then grinned and knelt down beside her daughter. "It is a beautiful dress. I love it!"

"Me too." Danara spun around again, then pranced off to be with her friends.

"Come now, this is supposed to be a happy occasion," Fraylora said, though she too had tears in her eyes. "Let us all stop jabbering so our newest member can finish getting ready."

Several of the women nodded, moving off to finish themselves so that Danta could compose herself. For several moments all Danta could do was hold her new footwear and stare at them. But then she sat down to put them on. Kicking off her old, tattered shoes, she quickly slipped her feet into the new ones. They were a perfect fit. Someone had clearly taken the time to find out what size she wore, which was more than she did for herself most of the time. Usually, she only got the leavings of others and had to just make do with whatever she found. She glanced down at her old ones. She'd had to mend them several times lately. They were over-worn—falling apart actually—and filthy. So much so, in fact, that she couldn't even tell what color they used to be. The new ones were light in color and decorated with the same beads that covered the dress. She knew the beads to be from Jenadoza's collection, the ones she only offered to Oak Camp. Just that knowledge gave her her first feeling of connection to her new camp.

Had everyone conspired to bring her here? she wondered, thinking about all that had been done for her since she had met Ayla at the leather-working area that day. It was almost as if someone had known from the beginning that she was destined to find a new place to be. Smiling, she reached down and tied her shoes.

~oxoxo~

"Want some help with your hair?"

Danta looked up to see Danie sitting on her bed platform watching her and blushed. "I can never seem to keep it under control," she said, pushing at the few hairs that didn't want to lay flat.

Danie grinned and pulled at the hair at her nape. "Why do you think I keep mine so short? Sometimes I think my mate would like me to grow it out, but..." She shrugged. "I guess I like it this way."

Danta glanced over at Ivanolia, who sat on the center circular bench with the others. He was laughing at something her brother had said to the group. It was good to see that Davaria was fitting in, that he would have a place with Oak Camp just as she would. She knew that he had been worried about that, and that he'd sacrificed his security, false as it may be, when he'd agreed to the adoption for her sake. She was so happy that he was making friends, that he was finding new security with their new camp. And he too had been dressed finely and looked every bit the part as she.

"But men, what do they really know of women's hair, huh?"

Danta smiled, her eyes going back to the other woman's mate. She couldn't help but remember her first rites with the man. He had been so gentle with her, and nice too, even afterward, when he didn't have to be. She remembered that he'd said her hair was pretty, that most women kept it longer, but that he liked hers short. That was part of the reason why she'd always trimmed it...because his compliments were among the few she'd ever received in her lifetime. She looked then at Danie again.

"Oh, I don't know, Danie. He must like your hair just the way it is, otherwise he would have mated someone else. And not that hair is really all that important, but he seems to have enough of it for the both of you."

Danie giggled. "That's for sure. I am thinking he plans to grow it as long as Brulenzia's."

Danta's gaze went to the stunningly handsome man who was standing within the throng of young people, and she laughed at Danie's comment. Brulenzia's long, dark brown hair was nearly down to his waist now. "Or perhaps Laurana's," she quipped.

Both women looked across the tent at Brulenzia's mate, Ivanolia's sister. She had just fed her new baby and put the infant to sleep and was now tying her thigh-length blonde hair into a thick knot at mid-back to keep it out of her face during the evening. They burst out laughing. It was easy to imagine Ivanolia with hair as long as his sister's.

"I suppose hair length is not important," Danie said, running her fingers through her short curls.

Danta shrugged. "I guess not."

Danie smiled, then reached out to smooth down one of Danta's wayward curls. "You know, I think we have the same name...I think my name would be Danta in Sungaean." She frowned, then shrugged. "Or close anyway, your name would be Dantie in Mamutoi."

Danta smiled. "Hmm. I never thought about it."

"Neither have I really," Danie said. "It just came to me. I've been thinking about names a lot lately."

Danta watched the other woman pat her belly and smiled. "That's a fun thing to do when you're expecting. I remember when I was carrying Danara...it was just about all I thought about."

"And now? What do you think about now?"

Danta shrugged. "Just being happy."

"Well, I think you've taken the first step."

"So do I."

~oxoxo~

"Come, come," Tagnolia called out. "Everyone gather 'round. We have a lot to drink to. Where's Serana and her blackberry wine?" he asked, not seeing the woman in the immediate vicinity.

The woman, only hidden by the throng of people, was walking around pouring the newest batch of her brew. She only rolled her eyes at the man's obvious impatience, but his mate shook her head and scolded him. "Patience, Tag. We can only pour so fast."

He smiled at the woman and watched as she went around filling cups. She stopped next to him last and emptied her container into his vessel. "Satisfied?"

"You always satisfy, Zarina," the headman said as he pulled her to him for a kiss.

She kissed him back, but blushed and straightened up when several hooted and howled at them. "The toast, Tag," she reminded him.

He laughed. "Does she not always satisfy?" he asked, his eyes going to Wäglodia. The red-haired headwoman's mate only grinned. He would not enter into the banter.

"All right, Tagnolia. That's enough!" Tiflona said with a grin of her own. "You've had enough fun trying to embarrass your mate."

Tagnolia looked affronted by her accusation. He looked ready to continue his teasing, then smiled and raised his cup.

"All right, all right! My sister is right...as usual," he conceded, then raised his cup and waited for everyone to do the same. "First...Grov and Ayla...we want to welcome you back to camp. Since you have returned to us, Ayla, we have grown quite accustomed to you and yours. So much so that even your short absence weighed heavily upon us." He paused for a moment, smiling at the young woman while the small crowd cheered their agreement, then he looked at Ayla's mate.

"And Grov...you fit in with Oak Camp so well, it seems as if you have always been one of us. We want you to know that you will always be welcome."

Grov smiled and nodded. "Thank you."

"And those horses you two have brought back with you...they are a testament to the success of your journey. Everyone's been really interested in them. I, for one, would like to experience a ride."

Ayla grinned. "That can be arranged."

"Hah!" Darvie interrupted. "Be prepared for your backside to hurt for days."

Everyone laughed.

"Well, it does," she exclaimed, rubbing her behind and grimacing. "I don't think it will ever be the same."

Vincenzia grinned, then grabbed her. "Maybe someone needs to lay you down and massage it for you."

Darvie raised a brow. "Hmm. Maybe. Anyone interested?" she asked the group at large. Vincenzia frowned.

Everyone laughed again. No one expected Darvie to seek her pleasures elsewhere, but Vincenzia was clearly rattled.

"All right...next," Tagnolia interrupted. "I would like to drink to our three newest members, Davaria, Danta, and Danara. After all, they are the reason we have gathered on this night." He grinned and raised his cup to them. "We are all happy to have you...all three of you. Welcome!"

There were several shouts of agreement and nods from those less verbal, but unused to such positive attention, both Davaria and Danta turned bright red, which caused a round of ribbing from many of the young people.

"Oh, come on, Davaria," Ivanolia teased. "You're not getting shy on us now, are you?"

"See?" Danie said with a knowing nod. "I told you about him. He is starting in already. It is only a teasing tone now, but later..." She shook her head. "Later he will be brutal."

Laurana scowled, memories of her brother's antics during the previous winter flooding back. "Arrgh!"

Several laughed, but Ivanolia smiled and looped an arm over his sister's shoulder. "But you, sister dear, won't have to deal with me this winter. We will be with Grov and Ayla."

Laurana rolled her eyes. "Oh, lucky them."

Everyone laughed yet again.

~oxoxo~

By the end of the evening, several other camps had put in an appearance at Oak Tent's joyous gathering. Many from Willow, Hill, and Spruce Camp were there, and so was Zackodia, Gredenzia's burly brother from Pine Camp, who had shown up with his mate, Bidena, to add support and share in the celebration, as had many from both Beech Camp and Birch Camp, including Dimia, who had carried in a very pregnant Seriana, much to her mother's worry.

"Seriana should be fine, Belana," Ayla had tried to reassure as the older woman fussed over her daughter. "I will stay close by, just in case. I promise."

Belana had seemed satisfied after that and had left the gathering. She was still a little uneasy about having her daughter so near to the flatheads, but her hurt over the things that had been said about her son during the recent council meetings had numbed her outright hatred of the strange people living on the peninsula. Ayla, a stranger, had helped her daughter, while her so-called friends accused her son of lying. It was hard to ignore that fact. And she could not longer deny that Ayla was knowledgeable, where medicine was concerned; the young woman's instructions and teas had kept her young, pregnant daughter from miscarrying and perhaps dying.

"I am so sorry about my mother, Ayla," said Seriana when it was time to go. The young woman shook her head. "She can be difficult sometimes."

"That is all right, Seriana. Your mother just loves you. I wish that I had a mother."

Seriana laughed. "You would not like to have one like mine. She is always fussing."

"That is only because she cares," Dimia said. "And because you will be leaving her after the summer meeting."

Seriana looked up at her mate; they had had a private ceremony just as Ayla had suggested. She had been sad about having to miss the large, public celebration, but it had been more special the way it had been done. And besides, the actual mating didn't matter...only the man did. She smiled at him.

"You are right, of course, Dima," she said with a nod, then looked back at Ayla. "I will miss her, but I will also be relieved to be away from her control."

Ayla nodded. "That is understandable. You are going to Birch Camp after the meeting?"

"Oh yes, didn't you know?"

"No. Is it far?"

"Farther than Beech Camp, yes, but it won't be so bad."

Ayla frowned. "Does Birch Camp have a good healer? Just in case the baby decides to come early."

Both Seriana and Dimia nodded. "Yes Ayla," the man said. "Tigaria's mate is our healer and she is very skilled. She has even been checking in on Seriana while you've been away."

Ayla smiled. "And you are no longer experiencing any bleeding or pain?"

Seriana shook her head. "None at all. I feel almost normal."

"Almost?" Ayla questioned.

With a smile Seriana nodded. "I just feel...full. That is the only way I can describe it."

Ayla frowned, but nodded. There was nothing else she could do. "All right then, but you will keep drinking my tea?"

"Definitely. I wouldn't dream of not drinking it. It has saved me. I am sure of that."

~oxoxo~

Ayla smiled as she watched her friends leave. She had to admit that Seriana looked better than she had the last time she had seen her. She had more color and moved as though there was no pain, and Ayla was glad for it.

When they were gone she turned back to observe those she was born to. Tagnolia had fallen deep into a discussion with his two brothers; his older brother Tigaria shaking his head at the two younger siblings. The three sisters, Tarana, Tiflona and Temina, however had cornered an unexpecting group of women for a discussion of their own. Ayla didn't miss the fact that Zarina and Wäglodia had, once again, hooked up while their mates were busy with other matters.

Ayla looked then for her mate. Grov was standing with Jondaria and they were talking animatedly—she had no doubt in her mind the conversation was about hunting. A grin flashed across his face when his eyes met hers, a slight signal between them the only sign that she had been right. They did indeed talk of hunting, Ayla thought as she smiled, her gaze going to others.

Davaria seemed to be doing his best to avoid the young women who had suddenly developed an interest in him; not all of them were from Oak Tent. The dark-eyed Janika was working her guiles once again, much to the annoyance of her mother's mate, but Davaria was too nervous about what people would think to participate in any pleasurable activities.

Ayla then searched for the women around her age, the women everyone called age-mates. Laurana had disappeared and Jenadoza was saying goodnight, though their mates were still happily drinking wine and talking. Danie too had gone, as had Danta. Ayla was the last young adult Oak Tent woman present at the gathering. She headed for her mate. She had to wait for an opening.

"I am tired. I think I will go to bed," she finally signed once it became clear that she may never be able to get a word in. Grov gave a short, clipped nod, but did not answer verbally. Smiling, then nodding at Jondaria, Ayla started away.

"Ayla!" a voiced called out as she neared the tent. She turned around to see Davaria rushing toward her, a frantic look on his face.

"Yes Davaria?"

"Are you leaving?"

She nodded. "It is late. I have had too much to drink, and I am tired." She swayed slightly. With a frown, the new Oak man righted her.

"Could you stand just a few more minutes?" he asked, his eyes pleading with her.

Ayla was about to question why, but noticed Janika sitting by the fire, drink in hand, clearly waiting for his return. "That one is persistent, but I think she's learned her lesson."

"Lesson?" He had no knowledge of the trouble she had caused on the hunt.

Ayla shook her head, dismissing his question. "Just tell her you aren't interested, Davaria."

He frowned. "But, I..." His words trailed off.

She grinned. "But you are interested, aren't you?"

He blushed, then nodded. He hadn't noticed her in the past because his camp rarely socialized with camps outside their normal circle, but she'd made herself quite visible on this night. "But...well...the man of her hearth is...hovering. He does not like me, I think."

Ayla laughed slightly. "I do not think Jeeteria likes anyone."

Davaria looked deflated. "What should I do?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. Did you forget that I am newer around here than you are?"

He smiled sheepishly. "I suppose I did."

"I'm a Clan woman, Davaria. I am the wrong person to ask," Ayla said with a shake of her head.

Davaria frowned.

Ayla sighed. "Well, what would you do at Sumac Camp?"

The man grimaced. "She would not be sitting with me at all if I still lived there, so I would do nothing."

"Hmm. I don't see how I can help you, Davaria. What do you want me to do?"

He quickly grabbed her hand. "Come, have a drink with us, don't leave me alone with her. I'm too nervous." He blushed again at the admission. "I'm not ready for this."

Ayla sighed again, but...tired as she was, she couldn't tell him no. "All right. One drink."

He grinned.

~oxoxo~

Janika tried to watch Davaria as he talked to Ayla, without making it look as if she were watching the man and the woman he was talking to. She had wondered at his abrupt departure, and almost thought she had been abandoned by another man for the tall, beautiful, blonde woman. But when he started back, she smiled to herself...until she realized the woman accompanied him, and that Davaria was holding her hand. Biting her lip to hide her disappointment, she gave them her best smile as the two sat down.

"Hallo Janika," Ayla said.

"Ayla," was all Janika could manage, her eyes trained on their entwined hands.

"Ayla was just leaving," Davaria said, not noticing the woman's disheartened look. "But I thought she'd like to have a drink with us." He squeezed Ayla's hand and smiled.

Janika nodded, then turned and reached for the skin of wine that was leaning nearby. They'd polished off quite a bit, but there was still plenty.

Ayla took her hand out of Davaria's to hold out her cup, but also because the other woman's posture was one of jealousy and hurt, which Davaria seemed unable to see. "Thank you, but just a little. I have already had too much."

Janika smiled and nodded, then her smile widened when Ayla's mate and the other young men came over and sat down.

"I thought you were going to bed," Grov said.

"I was, but Davaria asked me to have a drink with him." She shrugged. "So here I am," she said as she sipped her wine.

"Would you like some more, Grov?" Janika asked wearily. She was trying to be polite without being overbearing.

He looked at her and shook his head. "No, I've had more than enough." His tone was also polite, but she realized he no longer seemed to hold any animosity toward her. "I just wanted to collect my mate and take her to our furs." He now only had eyes for Ayla.

Ayla smiled, then handed her cup to Davaria and stood up. "Good night all."

Davaria frowned for a moment, but tried to relax. With several others still sitting there, he would not be alone with Janika; he managed to relax.

"Good night," he called out as he watched the couple leave.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER

Waking up entwined in her mate's arms, Ayla smiled and snuggled closer. As she lay there she thought about the horses. She wanted to take them for a run today, but knew that she would have company; nearly everyone had asked for a ride, even people from other camps who had not spoken to her before—ones who had once seemed reluctant to offer friendship, now seemed open to the possibility.

"You are not thinking of getting up yet, are you?" Grov asked.

Ayla glanced up at him. He hadn't opened his eyes, but he had a knowing smile. "I was considering it. I want to take the horses out."

Grov opened his eyes then and sighed. "You will have many offers of help today, I think."

Ayla grinned. "I have already had many such offers and I have not even gotten out of the furs yet."

"Yes, I noticed how many took the time to speak with you last night. Will you give them all a ride?"

She shrugged. "That will be up to Whinney and Stomp and Nicuria. I cannot promise rides unless they allow it."

Grov smiled. "No, I don't suppose that you can." He sighed again. "So, you are getting up?"

She nodded. "Yes." She leaned then and kissed him, then rolled out of the bed. "I will bring you some tea."

Grov squeezed her hand and considered pulling her back into the bed with him, but knew that she wanted to get up and start moving. Instead he stretched out and, clasping his hands behind his head, gave her a nod. She turned then and left; she had waited for his approval, though it had not been necessary. He smiled as he watched her go, then he closed his eyes again.

When next he opened them, a steaming cup of tea sat beside him.

~oxoxo~

Ayla had looked down on him for a few moments. Clearly he slept. Not wanting to wake him, she'd left the cup for him to find. She could only hope he woke in time to drink it hot. Then she left to check on the horses. She found that they were not so lonely.

"Do you really think Ayla would let me have a ride?" Ayla heard as she came around Oak Tent. She stopped immediately when she saw Janika standing with both hands clutching excitedly at the front of Davaria's shirt.

Davaria blushed and nodded dumbly. "I-I think s-so," he stammered. Janika jumped up and down, squealed, then threw her arms around the man and kissed him. For a moment it was clear that he was shocked motionless, then he brought his arms up and, wrapping them around her, held her against him, kissing her back with equal passion.

Ayla frowned, now wishing she had just stayed in bed with her mate. Slowly, she began to back away. But her movement seemed to come at the same time the couple broke off their kiss; they noticed her immediately.

"Ayla!" they said in unison, dropping their grasp on one another and taking a few steps back.

"I was just visiting the horses," Davaria said at the same time that Janika said, "I brought apples." The woman glanced around them for the basket she had set down. Then realizing Nicuria had his nose in it, she gasped.

Ayla grinned. "He is like that. He takes what is not his."

Davaria's eyes widened, but then he realized her words were directed at the young horse and were not about him. For a moment he thought she meant to imply that he was stealing kisses from Janika. He relaxed slightly as he watched the two women. Ayla had come forward and was pushing Nicuria's nose out of the basket and Janika reached to pick it up.

"Bad Nic!" Janika scolded playfully, wagging her free finger in the horse's face. But Nicuria only thought she wanted to play and tried to nibble the offending digit. She gasped when his lips closed over her finger, thinking he intended to bite it off. But then she giggled, he was only giving her kisses.

"What a sweetie he is. Can I ride him, Ayla? Please?" she begged.

Ayla smiled and shrugged. "I suppose so." She glanced at Davaria. He was standing there silently, a look of love shining in his eyes. "Maybe Davaria can give you a ride. I was just going to take Whinney out."

"Oh could you, Davaria?" Janika asked.

Davaria glanced at Ayla, then back at the dark-haired woman who stood there waiting for an answer. "Sure I could," he finally told her. Her grin was almost more than he could bear.

~oxoxo~

"That was fantastic!" Tagnolia said excitedly once his feet were firmly planted on the ground again. He'd just had the ride of his life, Ayla having taken him running across Maple Camp's valley on the horse she called Whinney. "Thank you, Ayla!"

Ayla smiled. "Do not thank me."

Tagnolia turned then to scratch the mare's neck and received a nicker of pleasure. "This beast is wonderful."

"All right, who will be next," Grov asked. To give Whinney a rest, he would take the next rider on Stomp.

Several hands rose into the air. So many, in fact, that he wondered how they'd be able to give all those there a ride. Frowning, he couldn't decide who to choose. Then the decision was taken from him.

"Here, catch," Tagnolia shouted as he tossed something up into the air into the crowd. It was caught by Vegodia.

"There!" Tagnolia said. "You have your next rider, and I'm off to the Counsel meeting."

Vegodia grinned and came forward as the crowd groaned with disappointment. They all wanted to be next. But all had to wait patiently while Vegodia went out—then grapple for the chance to be the next one.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

On Nicuria, Davaria and Janika rode south, heading toward Big River. He hadn't planned on going so far, all the way to the large river he had twice crossed while journeying, but when the woman had asked to go there, saying she didn't remember ever seeing it before, he'd readily agreed.

As they rode, he could not think of anything except for the young woman jostling in front of him, her backside firmly pressed against his front. And again, he felt himself hardening; it made him wonder if just any woman would do, or if he really liked this one. After all, he'd had the same reaction to Ayla when she sat in front of him. But as he glanced down at Janika over her shoulder and saw that her nearly black hair was pushed to the side so that her jaw and slender neck was visible, he felt an overwhelming urge to kiss her. It was an urge he dared not give in to, but it was strong. It was true that he'd already kissed her once that day, but only after she'd initiated it and he would not make the first move. What if she did not welcome his advance? he wondered, feeling his face heat with embarrassment just thinking about it. No, he could not kiss her.

But even as he told himself no, his body reacted to hers. Frowning, he tried to think about something else...anything else, but he didn't seem capable. His body was controlling his mind, just as it had when Ayla sat in front of him. But this felt different from what he'd felt for Ayla, he decided.

Then, feeling Janika's hair softly brushing against his bare arm, causing his loins to ache, he knew that, soon, they'd have to stop; he couldn't take much more of this or he'd just have to kiss her.

And then, the river coming into view ahead of them, he pushed Nicuria into a run. Speeding up to the water's edge, Davaria stopped the horse just in time, then slid to the ground.

"We should give Nicuria a rest," he said, extending his hands to help the young woman down.

Breathless, Janika smiled and let him help her off the horse. "That was wonderful!" she exclaimed as she grasped onto his shoulders.

His hands still about her waist, he smiled down at her, then nervously let them drop to his sides.

Reaching out, she touched his hand, then slipped hers into it. "It's beautiful here," she said, her eyes swinging to the river.

Davaria nodded his agreement and squeezed her hand.

"I don't remember the last time the Sungaea summered on the other side, do you?" she asked, looking at him again.

Davaria shrugged. "Sumac Camp doesn't always go to summer meetings. I don't remember either." He didn't mention that, for the most part, he'd nearly always been intoxicated while summering anywhere and so had trouble remembering much of anything. That was definitely better left unsaid, he thought as he loosened his grip on her hand, giving her every opportunity to let go and move away from him. When she didn't, he said, "Would you like to sit down?"

Janika grinned and nodded, then let him pull her over to a spot just slightly raised so they could better look at the river.

"We crossed just there," he informed her when they'd made themselves comfortable. "At least, that's where we went across when we left."

She frowned in confusion making further explanation necessary.

"On the way back, with the horses, we weren't able to make it to Maple Camp's dock."

She nodded. She's heard the story of their crossing. "Was it scary?"

He laughed. "It was terrifying! I thought we'd lost Ayla. Thank the Mother she's such a strong woman."

Janika frowned. "You like her...don't you?" she asked guardedly.

Davaria shrugged. "Well, of course! What's not to like?"

Janika continued to frown. Staring down at her hands, she wished she could be more like the beautiful blonde woman whom almost everyone seemed to like so much. Instead, she seemed only to be a nuisance.

"Of course," Davaria went on, glancing at her sideways, "I like you a lot too." He'd noticed her despondent look and realized the problem; she liked him. He was thrilled.

Janika looked up sharply. "You do?" she asked, a look of surprise brightening her dark eyes.

He nodded.

She grinned. "But I thought it was just me. When you ran off to get Ayla last night..." She shook her head. "I thought you were telling me you weren't interested." No one ever seemed interested in her; it seemed she was always having to entice them.

He shook his head. "No, I was just nervous," he admitted, then sighed. "I have not ever really had a woman, Janika." He cringed at the admission. "I mean...I've been with women," he tried to explain. "But I've never had a woman of my own." He frowned. Everything he said sounded awful. "I mean..."

She reached out and put a finger to his lips. "You do not have to explain, Davaria." She shook her head. "It is not like I would know the difference." She blushed then. She'd always made people think she was experienced, but if truth be told, she only had the night of her first rites to brag about. And that wasn't much. No, all the times she'd lured men into the furs with hot kisses, she'd always kicked them out before the act could be completed, causing them to never speak to her again.

But not this time, she told herself. With Davaria, it would be different.

Davaria reached up then and took her hand, the pad of his thumb rubbing her palm. "May I kiss you, Janika?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Nervously, she nodded, then melted into his arms as he brought his lips to hers.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

"I think the horses need a rest," Ayla said after a glance up at the sun. Its position was high in the sky and glaring down upon them.

There were groans of disappointment all around, but the people immediately started moving off.

"That was fantastic, Ayla," Jondaria said. He'd had the last ride on Whinney and was thoroughly excited.

Ayla smiled as she reached up to rub her horse. "Do not thank me," she said, "It is Whinney who deserves the gratitude."

"Of course," the man said. Then, reaching out and running a hand down Whinney's whithers, Jondaria exuberantly said, "Thank you, Whinney!"

Ayla grinned, her eyes connecting with the man's for a brief moment before Grov appeared at her side. And then Zarina was there as well.

"Do you think we have time to have an afternoon meal?" the headman's mate asked.

Ayla's eyes grew wide. "That is not up to me, Zarina. If you say it is time to eat, then we eat."

Zarina grinned. "You are much too easy, Ayla. But, all right!" Then, to the people still standing around she said, "Who wants to eat?"

"I do," the group chorused in unison.

"Fine then...let's eat! There is fresh bison stew waiting back at our cooking fire."

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

Hovering over the woman, sweat trickling down his brow, Davaria looked at the woman lying below him. Her eyes were closed and she was breathing heavily, but the look on her face was one of pure pleasure.

"That was...amazing," she whispered, finally opening her eyes and looking up into his.

He grinned. He thought it had been pretty amazing too.

"Not that I would really know, but...amazing," she repeated, her dark eyes rolling back into her head, then sparkling up at him.

Davaria laughed. "Where have you been all my life, Janika?" he asked. "You fit me perfectly." He paused and, reaching for something, produced a few wild flowers for her. "Join with me," he blurted.

She blinked at the flora offered to her, then frowned. "Really?"

He nodded. "I have not ever felt like this before," he said, plucking one and pushing it into her hair behind her ear.

"But...you don't really know me, Davaria," she said, struggling to pull herself out from under him. Once sitting beside him, she reached for her tunic and said, "I...I'm a pain, ask anyone...ask Jeeteria." On her feet, she went on. "The man of my hearth will tell you that I'm not worth the fuss." She gestured at the flowers he was once again holding out to her.

"To me you are, and if he thinks you are not, then he is not worthy of you."

Janika continued to frown. She did not understand his devotion when he'd only just met her. She could only attribute it to his lowly beginnings. He was a good man, but he didn't know what he was talking about. "Davaria...you've just been adopted by Oak Camp...there will be many who see your worth...after a time," she added. "You don't want to be strapped with someone like me. She wanted to give him all chances to retract his offer, though she'd already fallen for him.

"Someone like you?" He stood up now. "I don't know what you mean by that. What is wrong with you? You're smart and beautiful, and I like you."

She frowned. "And I like you, Davaria, but—"

"But what, Janika? If we both like one another, what's the problem?

She bit her lip. Was it so easy? she wondered.

"Look, do you want to mate me or not? Because, if you do not...I understand. It makes me sad but, if that's what you want...or don't want, then I can live with that. But if you're just saying all this to make me think I don't really want you, then...well...you're making a mistake, because I think I love you."

Still frowning, she said, "You think?"

Davaria shook his head. "Bad choice of words...I know I do. I have not ever felt like this before, Janika. The thought of not having you beside me actually hurts. I know I love you. But what matters now is how you feel."

Janika grinned. "I feel the same way, Davaria," she said, throwing her arms about his neck and squeezing him. "I love you too. Of course I'll be your mate."

~oxoxo~

On Nicuria's back once again and riding toward the summer encampment, the young couple felt giddy about their decision, and nervous about confronting their camps about it. Davaria worried that his status with Oak Camp was too new to make an offer for a woman. Would Oak Camp even allow such a thing? he wondered. But he wanted Janika badly; she was all that he'd ever wanted and never thought he could have, at least not when he was living with Sumac Camp. But now that he had a decent home to offer, though he hadn't even seen it yet, things were different. He decided he'd do almost anything to procure what he wanted.

And Janika, having always been treated like a baby by the mate of her mother, was apprehensive about what the man would say and do now that she had decided something on her own. Would Jeeteria let her mate the man she had chosen? she wondered.

~oxoxo~

"There you are!" burst Travie as they couple rode up, Davaria's arms wrapped tightly around the woman. The older woman reached up to help Janika off the horse, then glared at Davaria. "You've been gone since this morning and your sister is frantic. And Jeeteria," she said, "I don't even want to go into that." But then she did anyway. "He's been working to put together a search party, Janika. He's been worried sick!"

Janika frowned. "I doubt that. He does not care what happens to me," she said angrily, though Davaria did see her fighting to hold back tears.

For a moment Travie looked confused. Being new to the Sungaea herself, she didn't know Janika from any other Sungaean woman at the meeting, but she did know this young one had caused at least some trouble during the meeting. But not knowing the full story, she turned on Davaria, whom she didn't know well either, but whom was now part of Oak Camp, and through his adoption, was now a relative of hers. "Davaria, it might prudent to let someone know where you're going the next time you decide to wander away for half the day."

Davaria blushed, knowing the older woman was right. "Yes, Travie, you are right. I'm sorry. We didn't mean to stay away so long. It just happened. I promise that next time I'll tell someone where I'm going."

Seemingly placated, Travie nodded. "Well, let's get you two something to eat," she said as she hustled them around to the tentfire.

~oxoxo~

"Oh Davaria!" Danta screamed when she saw her brother approaching. Rising and running to him, she launched herself into his arms and hugged him tight. She didn't even take notice of Janika standing beside him. "I was so worried."

Davaria chuckled. "I'm sorry to have worried you so, Danta. We were just out for a ride," he said as he stepped back and took hold of Janika's hand. He stared then at the group surrounding them, a few brows raised questioningly, and swallowed hard. "We...I really didn't mean to cause such a fuss," he said with a frown, dropping Janika's hand quickly when he saw her brother standing among those watching. He glanced around for the man of her hearth and was thankful he didn't see him.

"The day just sort of...sped by faster than..." His voice trailed off, his eyes not looking at anyone directly, especially not Jondaria. He'd have liked to grab Janika's hand and run right back to the horse to ride away again. One glance at the young woman told him she'd gladly go along with him; she'd crowded in close to him as if she was ready to bolt. But he knew that they couldn't, that they had to face their camps and, with any luck, gain permission to be together.

His eyes going through the crowd again, he searched for the headman or headwoman. He decided to make his intentions known immediately, before any more time passed. Not seeing either of them, he frowned.

"Is Tagnolia or Tiflona in camp?" he asked as they were led to the tentfire and the meal waiting for them.

"I'm afraid not," Wäglodia said as he handed out two bowls of bison stew. "They've been over with the Councils since long before the afternoon meal. I don't expect them to return until after sunset."

Davaria frowned, then lifted a bite of stew to his mouth. He'd have to wait. He didn't like it, but there was nothing he could do about it.

~oxoxo~

Jondaria, upon seeing his sister's fingers twined with Oak Camp's newest member, cringed; the man of their hearth was not going to be happy and he didn't know what to do about it. He supposed he'd have to get her back to their tent as soon as possible and have a chat with her before Jeeteria could get a hold of her. He'd have preferred to whisk her away before she'd been seated and food put in her hands, but that would have been nearly impossible, with Travie there, mothering the way only an older woman could. Further, it would be rude. He didn't want to appear rude, he thought as he watched his sister.

Janika avoided his gaze, though he tried to draw her dark eyes to his several times by speaking to the group. He did manage to get Davaria to look up at him, which only increased his worry; Davaria's look told him there definitely was need for concern.

Sighing, he waited until the two had finished their meal.

~oxoxo~

As they finished their meal, and people had moved off somewhat, Davaria took up Janika's hand and looked determinedly at her brother. Jondaria just stood there staring at them.

"I will need to speak to Tagnolia and Tiflona first, of course, but then I intend to go to Jeeteria. I would like to mate your sister."

Jondaria frowned. "But...she is only fifteen."

When Janika looked ready to argue whether she was old enough to mate or not, Davaria squeezed her hand and gave her a look that asked that he be allowed to do this, to make his intentions known without interruption.

Turning, she leaned her forehead against upper arm, and said nothing.

Jondaria's brows raised at his sister's silence and shrugged. "But I suppose it will not hurt for you to ask," he said. His words brought his sister's eyes to his; he could not help smiling down at her. "But do not think this will be easy," he said, looking at Davaria again. "My sister has always needed a firm hand to guide her." He shook his head and ignored his sister's glare. "Jeeteria will not be easily persuaded. He is convinced that no man will ever be able to handle this one." He paused, then to Janika he said, "We should get back."

Davaria reached to hug Janika one last time, then planted a kiss on her forehead. "I will see you as soon as I can."

She nodded. "I can wait," she said, then walked away with her brother.

~oxoxo~

"Hurry! He's coming!" Danie said frantically as she pushed Danta through the entrance walkway of Oak Tent to the sleeping place she shared with Ivanolia. No one had missed Davaria and Janika's handholding, but the two of women were the only ones making a point to find out what was going on—through spying.

By the time Davaria entered the tent, the two women were sitting down, in what they hoped was a casual manner, on the bed.

"Have a nice ride?" Ivanolia asked Danta's brother as he came in and plopped down on his sleeping platform.

Danta gasped and Danie flashed her mate a look of contempt, but Davaria blushed and managed a nod. The rest of those nearby groaned.

"What?" Ivanolia said with a shrug. "I only asked what everyone else was thinking."

Danie shook her head. "Yes, but the rest of us have a little more tact than that," she said, standing and walking out of the area, a look of disgust on her pretty face.

"Oh, come on, Danie," Ivanolia said, getting up and following his mate out.

Everyone watched them go, then most tried to busy themselves. Danta took the chance to move herself to her own bed, where she sat and looked at her brother with concern.

"You did not have to take me seriously when I teased you about being with a woman, Ari."

Davaria frowned. "I did not...for the most part, Ata. But something happened. When I look at Janika, my heart feels good...at peace. I want to spend the rest of my days with her. Does that make sense?"

It was Danta's turn to frown. She'd never truly felt at peace before. Their adoption was as close as she could come. But still, even that was marred by the fact that the camp of their birth had fought so hard to prevent them from being adopted. But she tried to understand, for Davaria's sake.

"You are in love with her then?" she asked with a frown.

He nodded.

"So soon?"

He nodded again.

"This is not like with Ayla then?" she asked, thinking of his lust for the tall blonde woman who'd made possible their adoption.

Davaria shook his head. "I told you before, Ata, that I didn't love Ayla. That was just..." He didn't finish. "I do love Ayla, but I feel completely different about Janika."

"I see," Danta said, though she wasn't sure that she did. She didn't understand how he could know so quickly. But if he said he loved the young woman, then she would take his word for it. "I suppose then, that you plan to speak to Tagnolia and Tiflona as soon as they return?"

He nodded vehemently. "Yes."

"And then you will go speak to Janika's camp?"

He nodded again. "Yes." Then he frowned. "Jondaria thinks it will be difficult, that Jeeteria will not agree."

Danta frowned. "She is young."

"Laurana is just as young."

"But Laurana's family has known Brulenzia's family since forever. It is not the same."

"I know. I just want this to work."

Danta tried to smile. "I want it to work too, Ari," she said as she fought to keep her tears hidden.

Davaria smiled, then reached for his sister to give her a hug. "I knew I could count on you, Ata."

"Of course you can, Ari."

~oxoxo~

Jeeteria stared at his mate's daughter, a look of shock in his eyes. Then recovering, he said, "Absolutely not! That man is a waste."

"But Jeeteria," Janika whined, "I love him."

"Love him!" he nearly spat. "Not forty days ago you thought yourself in love with that...that flathead man!"

Janika blushed. It was true that she'd thought so, but this was different.

"Not so loud, Jeeteria," his mate put in.

"You keep out of this!" he snapped. "It is your fault that your daughter is so spoiled, you give her everything she ever asks for.

"I do not!" Anikara denied

Jeeteria glared at his mate, but looked back at Janika. "How do you know you will not fall in love every moon cycle for the next few cycles of seasons?"

"How does anyone know such a thing, Jeeteria?" Janika asked, her eyes filling with tears. "All I know is that I'm in love with Davaria now."

"You are only fifteen. You do not know what you want," he said with a shake of his head. "I absolutely forbid it!"

Janika blinked, her tears spilling down her cheeks, then she turned and fled.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER

Davaria had just come out of Oak Tent, excited by the fact that his new headman and headwoman had given him their blessing about making an offer for Janika. Neither seemed overly concerned about her youth or the fact that she was a troublemaker, and for that he was thankful. He had just lowered himself to a bench by the fire when a shadow fell over him.

"Where is she?" a voice demanded as he took a bite of his morning meal.

Glancing up, he saw Jeeteria glaring down at him. "What? Who?"

"You know who I'm talking about," the man snapped. "Janika!"

Davaria frowned. "How should I know where she is?" he asked. "She left here in the evening last night; I haven't seen her since." Standing up—suddenly nervous—Davaria looked to Jondaria, who stood behind the man of his hearth. "What's going on? Where's Janika?"

Jondaria shrugged. "She ran off last night after telling us...that she wanted to join with you."

Davaria frowned. "But I asked her to wait."

Jondaria shrugged again. "That's my sister for you," he said. "She's not much on waiting."

"Do you mean to tell me that you really don't know where she is?" Jeeteria cut in, a worried frown suddenly creasing his brow.

Davaria shook his head. "I told you, she left here last night...with Jondaria. And I haven't seen her since."

"Damn that girl!" Jeeteria cursed through gritted teeth. "She's always trying to get attention."

"She only wants to be taken seriously," said Jondaria, defending his sister.

"Seriously?" Jeeteria asked. "How can anyone take her seriously when she runs off in a huff every time she doesn't get her way? She's more child than woman."

"Well, maybe if you'd treat her more like a woman, then she'd act like one," Jondaria argued. "She's no longer a girl."

"Well, she's no woman!" Jeeteria came back.

Davaria frowned. "Ahhh, do you think we could discuss this later? I'd rather find Janika and discuss her womanhood later."

Jeeteria and Jondaria stopped and looked at him. Then both of them nodded.

~oxoxo~

Curled up on some moss under a tree, Janika slept. Angry and hurt, she'd run off the evening before and, finding a niche at the base of the tree, she'd tucked herself inside and cried herself to sleep. She'd been furious with Jeeteria. He wouldn't even listen to her. But part of her was upset with herself, for all the times she'd demanded something that was of no importance, because now the man of her hearth refused to take her seriously. She knew she'd done it to herself and that was the hardest part.

Coming awake as a glint of the summer sun's warm morning rays crept into the hidden hole she'd found for herself, she yawned and crawled out. Frowning, she looked around. She hadn't meant to stay away all night and knew she'd caused even more trouble for herself; Jeeteria was going to be furious with her when he discovered her missing. He was already angry with her for being gone the day before and now this.

Sighing, she stood up, brushed the dirt off her backside, then started back to camp.

~oxoxo~

"Well, look what we have here."

Janika started at the voice. She'd been walking pointedly toward the summer meeting, but her mind had been mountains away. She gasped when she realized who she was looking at. Zadneetsia!

"What do you want?" she asked nervously. This was the last man on Earth she'd expected to see—and the last she wanted to see.

"Oh, I don't know," the man said. "I was just out...hunting, and happened to see you. I thought maybe you'd like some company."

Janika frowned. Hunting? He carried no hunting weapons. "Thank you," she said with as much politeness as she could muster. "But I was just on my way back to camp." When she moved to start walking again, he stepped in front of her.

"Whoa, not so fast," he said, his hand snaking out to grasp her arm. "I was hoping you'd sit with me for a while."

Frowning down at the hand that held her, she felt panic setting in. His grip was not rough, but she knew she wouldn't be able to free herself. "I-I would rather not. I am...expected back at Spruce Tent. Jeeteria will be angry if I don't return quickly."

"And Davaria, does he expect you back too?" Zadneetsia snarled, his fingers flexing so that his grip became more firm, almost painful.

Janika frowned, wondering how this man knew anything about Davaria waiting for her. "He...he might b-be," she stammered. "I don't know."

"I bet he is. I'd be willing to wager he's just dying to get between those skinny little legs again, isn't he, Janika?" he asked, shaking her roughly.

Her eyes widened in shock. Had Zadneetsia seen them together? she wondered. She knew that he had, because how else would he have known about their time together the day before.

"How about giving me some of that too?" he asked when she just stared at him with a dumbfounded expression.

She shook her head. "No."

It was then that she began trying to get herself out of his clutches, her puny fists only bringing a laugh from the man as she pummeled his chest repeatedly. Then, realizing she was doing nothing but quickly bringing herself to exhaustion, she reached out and raked her fingernails across his face, leaving four bloody welts. Her action caused him to ball his hand and strike her. Pain exploded in her head, then she lost consciousness.

~oxoxo~

Groaning, Janika tried to move, but was prevented by something. Opening her eyes, she tried to focus, but it was difficult; her head was pounding. And then she remembered. Zadneetsia!

"No," she whined. He was on top of her and he'd removed her leggings; she was naked from the waist down.

"Oh yes," the man growled. "You should not fight me, Janika. I can make this good for you too, if only you don't fight me."

"NO!" she screamed, renewing the struggle when she felt his manhood pushing at her opening. "NO!"

Twisting around in the dirt, she only managed to scrape up her backside as she fought to keep him from taking her. But she was no match for him. Laughing caustically, Zadneetsia reached out and grabbed her by the hair, then secured her hands above her head as he pushed his swollen member into her dry well. She screamed out, tears streaming down her face as he slammed into her again.

"Nooo," she moaned, her insides aflame.

"Yes," he groaned. Now that he'd gained access to her body, he released both her hands and hair and now held her waist so that he could give himself leverage to push into her again and again. In his mind, her soft moans and cries were her way of showing her pleasure. He was so into what he was doing that he never saw the hand coming up to hit him, or the rock she clutched as she smashed it into the side of his face.

Tearfully, Janika rolled away from the stunned man and searched for her leggings. Pulling them on she cast a glance at the man lying in the dirt, then looked around to get her bearings. Quickly deciding which way to go, she started out. Zadneetsia was already rousing and she wanted to get as far from him as possible. She hadn't gotten very far when she heard the man scream out her name. The sound made her veer; she hoped her changed course would throw him.

~oxoxo~

"You will regret running away from me, Janika of Spruce Camp," he bellowed. He'd followed her tracks into some trees and knew she was hiding nearby. "But if you come out and let me finish, I promise not to hurt you." Too much, he added silently.

Zadneetsia hid behind a tree and waited for the young woman to make the mistake of running. And it turned out to be a smart move; after several moments she bolted. It took him just a few strides to catch her by the hair and swing her around to face him.

"You made a big mistake, little girl," he scolded, then looked up as the sound of thunder rolled and a strange dust cloud approached. Frowning, Zadneetsia let go of the woman to fend off the object that flew at him, seemingly out of the dusty whirlwind. Realizing too late that it was Davaria, he took the man's weight head on, being pushed off his feet and tumbling in the dirt. But he recovered quickly; he outweighed the younger man by quite a lot. Striking Davaria a heavy blow to the face, he sent him flying.

Zadneetsia watched as Janika scramble over to the fallen man, then he laughed. "So you think you've come to her rescue, Davaria. But guess what? You are too late! I have already taken your woman."

Davaria glanced up at Janika's horrorstricken face and knew that it was so, but it only made him want to renew his fight. Only her soft hands prevented him from moving.

Zadneetsia grinned, a look of triumph on his face as he watched their defeated looks. "I do not even have to beat you further, do I Davaria? I have already taken what you treasure most."

"It does not matter, Zadneetsia. Once they find out what you've done, you're done for," Davaria said with a scowl.

Zadneetsia frowned. "Not if you two are never heard from again," he said, advancing on them slowly. "No one will ever know if you two just disappear...forever."

But as he reached out to pull Janika off the man she loved, he heard a snorting noise behind him and turned around. Wide-eyed, he stared up at the four-legged creature who'd reared to stand on its hind legs. Stumbling backward, Zadneetsia tripped over some rocks and, the wind being knocked from him, he lay motionless for several moments. And then, as if in slow motion, as he tried to get away, the horse descended upon him, his hooves crashing down and then kicking him so hard that he finally passed out.

~oxoxo~

For a moment, the couple just lay there staring. Nicuria had come to their rescue, crushing their attacker viciously, then poking a nose at them, seemingly to see if they were all right. Still on the ground, Janika reached up a tentative hand to pet the muzzle nosing at her. Still shaken, the two moved to stand. And then they noticed others standing there. Jeeteria sat behind Ayla on Whinney and her mother rode with Grov.

"Mother!" she exclaimed, running quickly to the woman. The woman's arms encompassed her readily, but she was most surprised when she felt another set of arms wrap around them; Jeeteria had put his around both of them.

"Thank the Mother you're all right, Janika," he said, tears of love shining in his eyes. "We were so worried."

"We need to get Zadneetsia back to the meeting," Ayla said. They all turned to see her kneeling in front of the man. "He's lost a lot of blood." She'd removed what was left of his shredded leggings and tried to use them to staunch the bleeding. But there was blood everywhere.

"Leave him here to rot!" Jeeteria spat.

Ayla frowned and looked up at the man. "If we do that, then we are as bad as he is."

"You're right, Ayla," Janika's mother said, coming forward to help the younger woman.

"I'll make a litter," Grov said. "We'll get him back."

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

It was long after noon by the time the healers had finished working on Zadneetsia. Ayla had been the first to volunteer to help, and the last to leave the tent when it was over. She was utterly exhausted.

"Well?" a woman demanded when she saw Ayla coming out of the tent. "Will my sister's son survive?"

Ayla sighed and nodded. "I think that he will, Iyena," she responded, wondering why the mother of the man was not present. "Zadneetsia may never again be able to participate in some activities," she said, thinking it appropriate that the man who enjoyed forcing woman might never again have that pleasure. "But he will most probably survive."

Iyena didn't seem to quite understand, but her brother did. "Are you telling me that...that he can't..." Ivarsia sputtered.

"Yes, I am!" Ayla said with a clipped nod. "Do not expect Zadneetsia to be volunteering for a young woman's first rites or participating in Mother's ceremonies, because that life is over for him!" Or so she hoped.

Ivarsia only stared at her, but now Iyena understood. "This...this is all your fault!" she hollered. "If you had not brought those animals here, then this would not have happened."

"How can you even say that, Iyena?" Tiflona countered. "Zadneetsia has brought this upon himself, with his own actions. He has caused this to happen, no one else."

Several were nodding agreement, but it was the summer meeting's host who spoke up. "And, unfortunately, this is not over," Breidara said with a sigh. "Further allegations have been made against your sister's son, Iyena, and I'm afraid we're going to have to meet on the matter.

"This is crazy!" Iyena bit out. "Zadneetsia lies in there, maimed and fighting for his life, and you want to discuss allegations. I have never been so insulted!"

"Well, I'm sorry you feel that way, but the matter is urgent. We must put an end to what's been going on. However," she said with a glance at the dropping sun, "considering the late hour, the matter will have to hold until tomorrow." The headwoman looked around at those gathered; nearly the entire encampment had found a place to watch the goings on. "Disperse," she called out, waving her arms to tell everyone the show was over.

~oxoxo~

"My answer is still no, Davaria," Jeeteria said firmly. "I appreciate what you've done for us by saving her from Zadneetsia, but I cannot allow this. If the two of you still desire one another next summer, then I will consider it, but I think you both need some time to grown and mature."

Davaria frowned as he held a crying Janika in his arms. She'd crumpled against him as the man of her hearth made his pronouncement. A winter was a long time to wait, but if their feelings were true, and he thought they were, then by this time the following summer Janika would be his—forever. Now he just had to convince her of that.

"A year is not so long, Janika," he whispered.

"It seems like forever," she sniffed. "I wanted to go home with you now."

Davaria frowned. He wanted that as well, to take her with him and have her beside him everyday, but he didn't actually know where his new home was, or how he would fit in once he got there. Maybe this was better, he thought. He could move in and get settled, then bring her back the following summer. It would be a long, hard, winter without her, but he could see the benefits to waiting.

"I know, Janika," he said, using his thumb to brush her tears away. "I would have liked to take you home with me too, but I don't even know where Oak Camp is, let alone have a decent hearth to offer you."

She frowned. She hadn't thought about that, and she didn't really care. All she wanted was to be with him. But she did understand, and for once in her life she realized that no amount of tears would get her her way. But the fact that her tears would not aid her cause had no effect on the amount that fell.

Nodding sadly, she buried her face in Davaria's chest and sobbed until there were no more tears left. And then, exhausted, she fell asleep in the man's arms.

~oxoxo~

"You believe that he did force her?" Jeeteria asked.

Davaria nodded. "He admitted it to me and she did not deny it."

Jeeteria ground his teeth. "We should have left him out there to bleed to death!"

Davaria nodded. "Perhaps. But that isn't the way of our people."

"No, I suppose it is not." Jeeteria sighed as he watched the pained look on Davaria's face. Despite the man's horrid beginnings, he did seem to be decent. And this ordeal was affecting him greatly. Thinking it might help to give the man some hope, Jeeteria made a decision. "Come our next summer meeting, Davaria, Janika is yours."

Davaria's brows raised. "Truly?"

Jeeteria nodded. "With the condition that I be allowed to visit the daughter of my hearth often."

Grinning, Davaria said, "It's a deal!"

~oxoxo~

The evening around Oak Tent's fire was subdued. The entire group seemed to be completely worn out, and most went off to their furs early. Only some of the younger ones stayed out later, but mostly everyone kept to him or herself. Finally, too awkward for those sitting around, everyone shuffled off, hoping to find peace in sleep.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER

The meeting was short. The councils demanded that Zadneetsia be turned over to them to face immediate confinement. And, of course, Sumac Tent argued. They believed that the man's injuries were more than enough punishment for his crimes. And when the councils disagreed with them, they refused to turn him over, saying that, if the council had that much control over the people, then they would no longer recognize the council as their governing body.

In short, Sumac Camp was choosing to separate themselves from the rest of the Sungaea. And with them went Ash Camp and Dogwood Camp. There was a brief argument between the three leaving camps and the leaders of Cedar Camp, but in the end, Cedar Camp remained; they no longer wanted to be associated with the other three.

Everyone watched with curiosity as the now banished people packed up their belongings and started away. Most hoped they'd never see any of them again, but many believed they hadn't seen the last of the poisonous retches.

And then, as the camps left, a wail came from Belana as she watched one of her sons make the choice to go with those leaving, instead of staying with the camp of his birth.

"Danushkia, please," the older woman begged, running to stand in front of him. "Don't do this. Don't go with them!"

"Them?!" he snapped. "They are my friends." He pointed at those in front of him. "They...are my people."

Belana shook her head. "No, Cedar Camp is your camp, Danu. You mustn't abandon them."

"Like you did?" he said, a look of disgust crossing his face as he pushed past his mother and began walking, "when you left with Miko, taking Kristana and Seriana, two valuable women, away from our camp."

Belana cringed. If Danu had noticed what she'd done, then others had as well, but she'd had to get her daughters out of there; Miko's mating was the perfect opportunity. But now she realized how it must look to her youngest son. Frowning, she ran after him.

"You could have come with us, Danu," she whispered, running along beside him. "I wanted you to come. I begged you to come. Don't you remember?"

"I did not want to go with you, old woman!" he stopped and hollered in her face. "And do not call me Danu anymore. I am not a baby."

Belana nodded. "All right." She could understand that her son was now a man and did not want to be treated like a child. "But please think about this, Danushkia...Cedar Camp will need you more than ever now. They need hunters. They need you. Please, please don't go, my son."

Danushkia glared down at his mother. "That's enough! Do not call me son, Belana," he said stiffly. "I no longer claim you as my mother."

And with that, he turned and walked away, leaving the woman who'd given him life staring after him. He did not look back when he heard her howling wail, but could imagine that she'd crumpled to the ground. Knowing that her four remaining children would go to her, he continued on, finished with them all and that part of his life.

~oxoxo~

Davaria stood with both his sister and Janika, an arm around each, on the fringes of the summer meeting as they watched the camps trudge away. Both women shuddered as they disappeared from sight.

"Come now, Janika," he said. "Let's get you back to camp." He hadn't wanted her to come watch the departure of Sumac Camp. She was still bruised and in pain. But she'd insisted, saying that it would do her good to see them leave for good.

Janika tried to smile at him, but she winced instead. Her body hurt more today than it had the day before, and her bruises had darkened, making her look worse as well. "I want to stay with you," she insisted, hanging on to him with all that she had.

Davaria's eyes went to Jeeteria, who nodded his consent.

"All right," he said, then scooped her up. "But only if you let me carry you back."

Meaning to protest, Janika stiffened, but that only caused her to groan and accept what he offered. When she fell asleep, he carried her inside Spruce Tent, then lay down beside her, holding her tight and wishing he'd been able to get to her before Zadneetsia had had the chance to hurt her.

~oxoxo~

"I will return tomorrow...if that's all right," Davaria said.

Jeeteria nodded. He'd been sitting with his headman, Sardovia, discussing their coming departure, but was glad the daughter of his mate was in good hands. "She will like that."

Slowly then, Davaria shuffled back to his own tentfire and joined the others.

"Oh, Davaria," Jenadoza said. "How is Janika?"

He shrugged. "She is sleeping now, but she will recover, I think."

"Yes," Ayla said. "She will, but it will take time...and love."

Laurana frowned. "It's too bad Jeeteria won't let the two of you mate now, so she will have you to lean on."

Davaria shrugged. "I don't think he thinks we are ready. We can wait."

Danta curled her hand into her brother's and leaned her head on his shoulder. Things were changing so quickly. The future seemed so unknown. Soon they'd be in a new place, with new family—everything would be different. She was frightened and excited at the same time.

"This meeting sure hasn't been like any other I can remember," Ivanolia said.

Everyone nodded. Then they noticed the older adults coming to join them, Tagnolia and Tiflona still standing when everyone else found seats.

"We have decided to leave tomorrow," Tiflona informed them.

"Many camps have," Tagnolia added. "We will head southeast with Elm, Pine, Cedar and Spruce."

Tiflona squared her shoulders and stood as straight as possible, but she looked sad. "We realize that this summer meeting has been wrought with complications...we can only hope that next year's goes more smoothly."

Everyone nodded. They hoped so as well.

"At dawn then," Tagnolia said, "we begin breaking down."

And with that, their headman and headwoman left the area.

AtDC

BREAK (for information)

If you don't remember Belana, she is the woman at Beech Camp who snubbed Ayla because of her association with the flatheads (of course). She left Cedar Camp when her oldest son, Mikolavia mated Mirra (the daughter of Beech Camp's headman's mate).

You probably know her (Belana) best as Seriana's mother (who is hugely PG and now mated to Dimia of Birch Camp).

Here's her original hearth listing:

Belana (40) - from Cedar Camp, now living with Beech Camp
name of mate (deceased) never given
~ Mikolavia (25) - mated to Mirra of Beech Camp
~ Kristana (23) - mated and living at Beech Camp (has two children)
~ Vanechkia (21) - mated to Dashna (19), still living with Cedar Camp
~ Danushkia (19) - left with Sumac, Ash, and Dogwood Camp, no longer counts himself as Belana's son ("Danu")
~ Seriana (17) - very pregnant, plans to leave with her new mate, Dimia, when Birch Camp leaves

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER

Their tents broken down and packed, the camps leaving said their goodbyes to family and friends, whom they would not see again until the following summer, then struck out early. They would follow the north side of Big River until they got to Pine Camp, then they'd split up; Elm, Spruce and Cedar going northeast and Oak Camp turning south and then east again to get to their home. It was a long journey for some, the longest trek expected to take nearly twenty days to complete at a rapid pace. That camp, Spruce, had decided to detour to the place Cedar Camp called home, making their trip a few days longer than it would have been, just to make sure the other camp arrived safely. Difficult as it would be, it was agreed that, because of recent events, it might be necessary.

And so they left, a group of over one hundred and thirty people, moving as one.

~oxoxo~

"Lariska!" Levaria said, sweat trickling down his brow as he came up beside his sister. "Slow down!"

Lariska looked at her brother, but did not slow her pace. "I can't. I don't want to fall behind." She carried a full rucksack, but wasn't heavily burdened otherwise. As headwoman, she wasn't required to carry anything, but she didn't see fit to walk unfettered when so many were weighed down. She did have her twin daughters walking beside her, both just as hot and sweaty as she, but not complaining.

Levaria looked past her and scowled; the closest person ahead of them was a good forty or so paces. "Look at them. They are practically running. What in the Mother's name is their hurry?"

Lariska shrugged. "Who knows, but I don't want to fall behind."

Levaria frowned. "Maybe we should have left with the others," he said. "We'd have stopped for the day by now and would be relaxing."

Trudging along, Lariska glanced up at her brother and shook her head. "We made the right decision, Levar. Those camps were bringing us down."

"Our life was not so bad," he said with a shake of his head. "We should have gone with them!"

"That is easy for you to say, brother, you are a man whose mate only has sons. Some of us have more to consider."

Levaria looked confused. "And what is that supposed to mean?"

Lariska sighed, then spoke to her daughters. "Girls, wait for Raisa, see if she needs help with Pavlovia." Her daughters nodded and slowed their steps. Only then did Lariska address her brother's question.

"Do you not see how the men, even our men, treat the women?" she asked.

Levaria frowned. "You are not treated poorly."

"I'm the headwoman. The position usually receives a generous amount of respect. But I am not treated the same as, say...Bidena."

Levaria shook his head. "You cannot compare yourself to the first ranked camp's headwoman. Besides, she is no better than you."

Lariska raised a brow. "Fine then, how about Sarasha? Spruce Camp holds her in very high regard."

"Where are you going with this, Lari?"

"Where I am going is that the men of Cedar Camp do not revere our women as the chosen of Sumata, as they do in other camps. Our men treat women as if we are less, as if we are here to serve you."

Levaria scoffed. "This is crazy talk, woman!"

"Is it now?"

Levaria nodded.

"Then tell me, why is your mate carrying Pavlovia, herding Yakovia, and carrying a rucksack when you carry no burden whatsoever?"

Levaria glanced back at his mate, then down at his sister. "Because she is an obedient woman and I am headman," he said with a grin.

Lariska scowled. "Do you hear what you just said, Levar? That your woman is expected to obey." She shook her head. "If Deniskia treated me in such a way, I would sever the knot...yesterday."

"I don't understand what you're so upset about, Lariska. You are not treated badly."

She sighed. "Not yet. But with the way things were going..." She shook her head. "It is a good thing we did not leave with Sumac, Ash, and Dogwood; they are bad news!"

With those words, Lariska quickened her step and sped away from her brother. If she had to exchange even one more word with the man, she might just have to whack him over the head with her pack. Sometimes he could be very dense.

~oxoxo~

When the day's trek was finally called to a close, Cedar Camp all but collapsed; they were not used to the speed at which they were being pushed—but they'd kept up, for the most part.

Frowning, Lariska scanned the group of Cedar men, lazing around on rocks while the women scurried to get water, build a fire and provide them a meal. When she caught her brother's eye, she mouthed, "See?" and hurriedly went to assist.

His expression matching hers, Levaria got up and did what he could to help.

"Pavlovia has blisters on his feet," Raisa said, coming up beside her mate. "I tried to carry him as much as possible, but I grew tired. He is small, but...so am I."

Levaria frowned. His mate only came to about midway on his upper arm. "I will carry him tomorrow, Raisa," he said. Looking his mate over and, seeing the exhaustion lining her face, he took her shoulders and made her sit down. "I will speak to Hetara about seeing to his blisters."

Raisa smiled up at him, tears in her eyes, then reached out to hug him. It had been a long time since she'd done that; it made him consider even more what his sister had said to him. Was their camp becoming complacent where their women were concerned?

Quickly, he hugged her back, then went to find their healer.

~oxoxo~

Seeing those struggling from the long day's hike, Ayla grabbed her medicine bag and went to their aid. Finding the woman, Hetara, sitting in front of a small child, she knelt down with them.

"Is there anything I can do?" she asked.

"You are a healer?" the older woman asked.

Ayla nodded. "More or less. My people call me a medicine woman."

Hetara stared at her for a moment, then nodded. "I am a healer, but not so good with young ones. I would be grateful for any help you might be able to give."

Ayla smiled. She had expected to be told no, as she was so often when people did not know her.

"I have washed and soaked Pavlovia's feet. He has blisters. But I can't decide whether I should drain them or not."

Ayla nodded, then examined the boy's feet. "I would probably lance this one, but not the other," she said, carefully considering the two. "This one is too large to leave it as is, and it will probably continue to fill, making the skin feel tight and uncomfortable."

Hetara nodded. "That is what I thought too. Dakara," she said, turning to a young woman stirring something over a fire. "Bring me my sewing awl."

With a frown, the girl-woman got up and did what her mother asked. When she arrived with the sharp object the boy's eyes rounded and he began to cry. That brought his mother and his mother's mate over to them.

"What is going on here?" asked Levaria when he saw the pointed instrument in the healer's hand and the strange blonde woman who'd birthed flatheads kneeling beside the son of his mate.

"We are going to drain Pavlovia's blister," the healer said. "He will not be able to walk tomorrow if we do not."

"It is not necessary," Levaria said. "I plan on carrying him tomorrow."

Ayla frowned. "That would be most helpful...but...the blister is very large. It would be better punctured and drained." She glanced at the boy, then back at the man. "He won't feel it, I promise."

Raisa, kneeling next to her boy, caught her mate's eye, her eyes begging him to agree. Finally, he nodded.

Ayla smiled and looked at Pavlovia. The boy was holding his mother's hand and trying to look brave, but she knew that he was scared. "Look, Pavlovia, will you hold this for me?" she asked as she held out an instrument that looked similar to the one Hetara was holding.

The boy frowned, then nodded and reached to take it.

"I want you to touch the end of that and tell me what you feel."

The boy tentatively ran a finger over the blunted end of Ayla's awl. It was one she didn't use any longer because time and use had worn it down to a nub.

"It is smooth...like the end of Levaria's antler hammer...but smaller."

Ayla smiled and nodded. She'd picked up the boy's foot while he was talking and he didn't realize. "Tell me," she said, "when you push it into your palm, what does it feel like?"

Pavlovia did as she asked, then shrugged. "I don't know."

"Do you feel pressure?"

The boy again pushed the blunt end of the spent tool into his hand, then nodded.

Ayla smiled. "Now let your mother try it."

Pavlovia quickly handed the awl to Raisa. "You do it too, Mother. It doesn't hurt at all, does it?" he asked, grinning when she poked it into her hand and shook her head.

"Not at all," she said, handing it back to him, then looking to Ayla.

"All right," Ayla said. "Now I want you to tell me how it feels when you use your other hand."

Pavlovia shrugged and moved to do what the woman asked of him. He'd completely forgotten why she was there and what she was going to do and therefore was not watching her when she pulled out another awl, a much sharper one, and quickly poked a tiny hole in his blister, then used a small piece of wet leather to wrap his foot. It was done so fast and clean that he was not aware of it, until she told him.

"All finished," she said.

The boy blinked. "But...my blister."

Ayla smiled. "It has been punctured."

"But...I didn't feel anything."

"That is because I did not want you to feel anything," Ayla told him. "Hurting isn't fun, is it?"

Pavlovia shook his head. "I don't like hurting."

"Neither do I. Now, I'd better go see to some others," she said. "Would you like to keep my awl?"

Pavlovia grinned and nodded. "Oh, could I?"

Ayla chuckled. "Of course. It's yours!" Standing, she started to move away, only to find a hand preventing it. It was Levaria.

"Thank you, Ayla," he said. "My mate's son is often hard to heal. He is afraid of everything and...I'm afraid we tend to baby him." He grinned at her. "I am very grateful for what you have done."

Ayla placed her hand on the man's arm and smiled up at him. "You are most welcome, but there is no need to thank me; I am doing my duty. And Pavlovia is a good boy. He is small, as his name suggests, and fearful, but he is also strong and brave." She paused to let her words sink in, then she continued. "I gave Hetara a salve to put on his blister, but I will look in on him when I can."

Levaria nodded and watched the woman go to assist others. Then later, when she'd seen to all those requiring assistance, he noticed her sitting with her family and couldn't help watching her. She was smiling and laughing with the rest, her youngest at her breast as she patted her sleeping three-year-old lovingly. And then, when her mate came to take the child, she got up and went with him to their sleeping place, taking her little mixed boy with her.

In all of the man's days, he'd always rejected that the ones they called flatheads were human. But as he watched Ayla and her family interact—the same as anyone else—he could not help but feel that he'd been lied to; her boy did not seem any different from Raisa's son.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER

Over the next several days, the people from Cedar Camp continued to struggle, finding that it was becoming more and more difficult to keep up the pace set by those they followed. But they pushed on, determined to stay with their people, because the alternative was to quit and be alone, or to join the others in exile.

Each day of the journey began with Levaria carrying his mate's youngest son, only to have Ayla come back and offer the boy a ride on one of her horses. At first, Raisa had objected. The beasts were so large and strong, and the one called Nicuria had kicked the Sumac man to a bloody pulp. But soon she'd relented, convinced that Ayla and her horses were a sign from the Mother that they'd done the right thing by staying with the Sungaea. There had been talk that those who left planned to start their own group. Some had even given them a name; the Kazahskia.

But they were better left unthoughtof, Raisa decided as she hefted her pack after a noon day meal. The headwoman of Pine Camp, Bidena, said they'd arrive at their caves before the day was through, and she was glad; they needed the rest.

~oxoxo~

"How is Pavlovia?" Ayla asked, coming up beside Levaria, who walked beside Nicuria.

Levaria smiled. "He is well. I have to admit I'll miss your horses when we split up."

Ayla nodded. After reaching Pine Camp, Cedar would continue on with the other two camps, but Oak Camp had to turn south. "I am sorry that he will be forced to walk." She glanced up at the boy, sitting behind Durc and Brenevia, and smiled. They were chattering away as if they'd always been friends.

Levaria shrugged. "He is much better now, and I will carry him as much as possible." He too looked at the boys. The woman's son might be ugly, but his sense of humor was entertaining. Many times the child had said things that had him grinning. Who would have imagined?

"Ayla," interrupted Ivanolia, "Grov is looking for you. There is something he wants to you to see, I think."

Ayla nodded, then looked at Levaria. "If you will excuse me?"

"Oh yes...yes, of course."

~oxoxo~

When Ayla reached her mate, Grov turned and pointed. "Pine Camp hunts by driving herds off that cliff."

Ayla turned and looked and, squinting into the dropping sun, shielded her eyes. "How do they get up there?"

"Where we crossed the last river, we would have veered right," one of the men with Grov said. "Or rather, since we're usually going the other way when we set out to hunt there, we cross that river, then make a sharp left."

Ayla nodded. She'd noticed the gradual ascent of the land to the southwest, but hadn't given it a thought. Now her mind was thinking hunting. "And then you stampede the animals over the edge?"

The man nodded. "We call it Hunting Cliff."

"That is brilliant!" she exclaimed, her face radiant as she envisioned a group of hunters doing what they do best. Wishing that she could join such a hunt, she looked at the man and grinned. "I once saw a hunt reenactment where the man told of digging a pit trap in the usual path of a rhinoceros, but I have not ever heard of such a thing as this."

"That is what Grov said too," he said with a grin. "He also says that you like to hunt, so we," he said, gesturing at the other men with him, "thought you might like to hear about Hunting Cliff."

Ayla looked at Jondaria and the man of his hearth, then smiled her gratitude. Nodding, she said, "Yes, I love hunting." Then looking back at the man she'd never met before, she said, "Is it dangerous?"

The man shrugged. "It can be. Recently, one of our hunters went over the edge...but she managed to grab hold of some of those roots. Can you see them growing out of the face of the cliff?"

Ayla nodded.

"She held on there until someone was able to reach her, which was quite difficult...both holding on and reaching her," he clarified. "It didn't help that her terrified sister was standing below. She was supposed to be butchering bison, but she wasn't much help that day."

Ayla smiled. "Can you blame her?"

He shook his head and chuckled. "Certainly not. If it had been my sister up there, I'd have gone insane with worry." He paused, then went on. "So yes, it is dangerous. But then, hunting always is."

Ayla nodded, thinking about all the dangers of the hunt. She'd never considered falling off a cliff while doing it. "Yes, it is, isn't it," she said, not expecting an answer, though all four men nodded. Then looking at the Pine man, she gave him her most winning smile. "Thank you for telling me of the way Pine Camp hunts."

"Oh, we hunt the same way you do, Ayla," he said. "This is just one other way of doing it."

Ayla glanced at her mate with a frown. "You have not talked about the Clan's hunting?"

Grov shook his head. "No, actually. I have just been listening to Gadoloria here," he said, introducing the man for the first time, "and Pine Camp's Hunting Cliff."

Ayla nodded, still impressed by their hunting method, then looked at Gadoloria. "It is good to meet you, Gadoloria of Pine Camp," she said.

The man smiled. "And you, Ayla...originally of Oak Camp, but whom now resides with those who live on the peninsula."

Ayla returned his smile. There was no contempt within his tone, just curiosity, so rare among the Others when it came to the Clan. "The Clan's...approach to hunting is far different," she said, carrying on the conversation they'd been having. "We do not throw our spears, but thrust them instead."

Gadoloria frowned. "That is very dangerous. A hunter must get up close and personal with his prey. No measure for error."

Ayla nodded. "Yes, that is correct. But I...I do not do much hunting."

The Pine man frowned, but Grov spoke to fill him in. "The Clan does not allow women to hunt, so she really has not been given the chance to perform on such a hunt."

"That is too bad...unfortunate, really," Gadoloria said. "The Sungaea need every able body to keep the people fed. How does the Clan manage without allowing the women to hunt?"

Grov shrugged. "We must hunt a lot, many times we go out everyday. And sometimes, by the end of the winter, stores are low, but I cannot recall anyone going hungry. Can you, Ayla?"

She shook her head.

"The Clan way is difficult, I think," Gadoloria interjected.

"Perhaps, but it is all that we know. You see, it is more than women not being allowed to hunt; they are unable to hunt."

Gadoloria frowned. "Unable?" he asked disbelievingly.

Both Grov and Ayla nodded. "A Clan woman is no more able to hunt than any man could give birth to a child," Grov said.

"Interesting."

"But Ayla holds a rare position among us; she is called, the woman who hunts. She is the only woman who's allowed to hunt." He paused. "But mostly...the men do not want her to join their hunts. They think it will bring them bad luck," he admitted.

"That is also unfortunate," Gadoloria said. "I can see that she has a passion for it."

Grov nodded. "Yes, she does, but that is the way of our people. And Ayla has many other duties," he went on. "She must gather with the other women, and take care of her children. And she is the Clan's first-ranked medicine woman; she is required to take care of our cave's medical emergencies first."

Gadoloria nodded. "Yes, healing is very important. I had heard that she was a healer too."

"The best of the Clan," Grov repeated proudly. His eyes sought hers briefly, but then he looked back at the Pine Camp man and went on about her responsibilities.

Ayla watched the men discuss her as if she wasn't there and smiled; it was always the same, open it up for men to discuss anything, even their mates, and they'd make it a conversation for males alone. Usually she didn't lump her mate in with other men, preferring instead to think him his own person, but while traveling with the people of her birth she couldn't help but notice that he very much fit in with men of the Others.

"Well again, thank you," she interrupted when an opening presented itself. "I am most grateful for...Pine Camp's knowledge of hunting."

Gadoloria looked at her and grinned. "And Pine Camp is happy to oblige."

~oxoxo~

That evening, after first waiting while Junlovia and his mate Tanluda to verify that the trails up to their caves were safe, many of Pine Camp's members went up to their home. It had been a long summer away and most were eager to get back to their permanent space, to check on left behind belongings and to sleep in their own beds. The other camps set up a temporary camp below, at the base of Pine's cavernous mountain home, and quickly built fires for meals and warmth.

"Ayla," Danta said, coming up quickly, a worried frown on her face. "I can't find Danara."

"Davaria has her. They are with Janika at Spruce Camp's fire."

Danta frowned, thinking her brother should have at least told her he was taking Danara with him. But Ayla spoke again before she could complain.

"She is fine, Danta, no need to worry."

Danta nodded. "I know. I guess...it is just that...I don't know. I suppose I feel...alone," she finished, thinking her response lame.

Ayla immediately stopped what she was doing and faced her friend. "Why?"

Danta shrugged. "I guess I never thought my brother would find someone before I did." She frowned again then. "To be honest, I never expected that either of us would. This whole thing...our adoption, the move, Sumac Camp leaving the Sungaea..." She shook her head. "I am just confused, I think."

Ayla nodded. She could understand that. "But you have people now...a camp to call your own. You are not alone. And Janika will be leaving with Spruce Camp tomorrow. You have an entire year before Davaria will make his own hearth."

Danta sighed. "I suppose you're right. I don't know what's wrong with me," she said, tears welling.

"It is all such a big change," Ayla said, going to her friend and putting an arm around her. "I understand. I once thought I'd be alone forever, but now I have Grov and the children."

Danta dropped her head on her friend's shoulder. "I wish you and Grov were spending the winter at Oak Camp. At least then I'd feel as if I knew people."

"Do you feel that uncomfortable?"

Danta shrugged.

"Where did you set up tonight's sleeping place?"

Danta turned and pointed. "Over there. But I think Davaria plans on staying with Janika."

Ayla nodded. "Yes, I think so." Then pausing for a moment, she made a decision. "You could always stay with us."

Danta immediately shook her head. "Oh no, I couldn't."

"Yes," Ayla said firmly. "I insist."

"But Grov...he will not want me there."

"He will not object, I promise you. I will go make sure." And before Danta could protest further, Ayla got up and went out in search of her mate.

~oxoxo~

Grov frowned at Ayla. "I do not object to sharing my furs with Danta, Ayla, you know that. But what I worry about is that you do not ever choose to go with anyone else."

Ayla frowned. "But...you are my mate."

"And I am yours. Why is it all right for me to take someone else while you do not?"

"Because...you are a man."

Grov shook his head. "That is not acceptable. I think that either you need to choose someone...or I will choose someone for you."

Ayla's eyes rounded in surprise. "You wouldn't," she said, obviously disbelieving his words.

He nodded. "Who shall it be?" he asked, scanning the area. "How about...?"

Mortified, Ayla's jaw dropped open. "No, please...I can...do it?"

"Are you sure?"

Ayla looked at him and nodded, but shuffled away, fearful of the coming night.

~oxoxo~

Danta began laughing when Ayla came back and told her what Grov had said. "Are you telling me that you've never shared pleasures with anyone but your mate?"

Ayla frowned, wondering if Broud counted. In the way that Danta meant, she supposed he did not. She nodded.

"Well, Ayla, who do you want?"

"It is not for me to say, Danta?"

"And why is that?"

"Because...I-I am a woman," she sputtered.

Danta laughed again. "So, you would rather your mate make this decision for you?"

Ayla frowned. "I think so...yes," she said, nodding.

"But what if you do not like the man he chooses?"

Ayla shrugged. "It is not for me to say."

Danta frowned. "You do not think you should have a choice where your own body is concerned?"

Ayla frowned. "It is the way I was raised, Danta," she said in confusion. "What would you do?"

"I would choose someone, and fast, so that he couldn't."

~oxoxo~

Grov's eyes followed his mate as she fled his presence. He knew she was going to talk to Danta about the stipulation he'd just given her, and he could not help the chuckle that escaped as he watched his mate speak to the other woman about it. And then Jondaria came up and sat down.

"Want some wine?" the Spruce man asked, offering him a full cup.

Grov looked up as his friend sat down and nodded. "I think I'm going to need some." Then, when Jondaria looked at him in confusion, he explained, starting with Danta spending the night with him. "I just told Ayla that she has to select a man to share pleasures with...or I'm going to choose for her."

Jondaria raised a brow. "And how well did that go over?"

Grov put the cup to his lips and downed the liquid before speaking. "She ran off," he finally said.

Jondaria laughed, but lifted the skin of wine to his lips, determined not to say anything about wanting his friend's woman for himself; he'd wanted her since the first night he'd met her, and now she was being made available to him. Almost. She'd never shown any interest in him, other than friendship, but he wanted her badly.

Jondaria reached out and refilled the man's cup. "So, does that mean you will take Danta to your furs?"

Grov nodded. "Apparently they've been offered to her."

Jondaria laughed again, but shook his head. "That is not what I meant and you know it. But I will spell it out...will you honor the Mother with Danta tonight?"

Grov shrugged. "I suppose that will be up to her."

"And who will you choose for Ayla?"

"I would rather she chose for herself, but...knowing Ayla..." He shrugged again. "Maybe...maybe you could do it," he suggested.

Jondaria had just taken a mouthful of wine, but choked on it. There was nothing he wanted more than to bed Grov's beautiful mate. "I-I couldn't...not unless she chose me on her own," he said.

Grov sighed, then nodded in the direction of his woman. "Then you better get yourself over there...unless you want me to choose someone else."

~oxoxo~

Jondaria made a point of sitting next to Ayla for the evening, but his gaze kept straying to Grov, where the Clan man sat with those who had joined them. The young adults of Oak Camp, as well as the young adults from the other camps, now sat around a large fire, drinking wine that Spruce Camp provided and enjoying their last night of summer meeting.

But he was never able make eye contact with the man and wondered whether he was doing the right thing by pursuing the man's mate so openly.

"Would you like more wine?" he asked Ayla.

Her eyes went to her mate as well, then she looked at the man sitting beside her and extended her cup. "I suppose."

Jondaria frowned. "You do not look so interested."

"Oh no, I am," she said.

"Are you really?" Jondaria asked, his dark eyes grabbing her lighter ones as he poured wine into her cup.

Ayla frowned at his intended double meaning. Jondaria was an obvious choice for her; she really did not know anyone else, except perhaps some of the men from Oak Camp, but the whole choosing for herself thing was difficult to process. But Jondaria was making it easy on her—sort of.

In response, Ayla nodded, then quickly took a sip, hoping to avoid his other meaning. But she could not seem to take her eyes from the man's as she drank. And then, when he reached out and grasped her free hand, she had to force herself to relax.

"Come to my furs, Ayla," he said.

It was but a request, but she felt it more as a command. That, in itself, made it hard to refuse; she was supposed to obey. She'd spent her entire life being told she must do as a man said, any man, and now that she'd been told to choose, she didn't know what to do. But the mere fact that she'd been told to choose made her decision easier; she nodded.

Jondaria grinned. "Really?"

"I said yes."

Jondaria frowned. "But...are you sure." He'd never before questioned a woman who'd agreed to share his bed, but he wanted to make sure that she was sure about her decision.

Nodding, Ayla handed him her cup and stood up. "Yes, I am sure. But I must go see to my children first."

Jondaria nodded, then watched as she headed over to her family.

~oxoxo~

Slowly, Ayla approached her mate; he was sitting at the fire with the rest, laughing at something that someone had said. Nervously, she sat down beside him, but she could not seem to look at him. Instead she stared only at the hands twisting in her lap; they seemed to belong to someone else.

"I see that you have chosen," he said so that only she could hear.

Her eyes snapped up to meet his. "I think so...yes."

Grov nodded. "Jondaria is a good man."

Ayla glanced over at Jondaria and saw him talking to his sister and Davaria. "Yes, he is a good man. But he is...not my mate," she finished, feeling completely awkward about this.

"Ayla, this is the world you were born to," he said, gesturing about.

"But not the one that raised me," she protested.

He shook his head. "No, you are right about that." He paused, then continued on. "But if we were with the Clan, then you would have no choice in such a matter. I am just trying to show you that you are free to choose."

"By making me choose someone else?"

He frowned, realizing how it must look to her. He'd thought on this for much of the summer, and even before, when he'd been forced to use Oga. He'd been confused by Broud's anger over it and had mentally put himself in the other man's place. He'd come to the conclusion that he could and would share his mate with others if necessary. And, at this moment, he truly believed that it was necessary—that she needed to do this to understand where she'd come from. But how did he explain such a thing to her?

"This is truly what you want?" she asked after a few moments of him saying nothing.

Grov continued to frown, not truly sure what he wanted. But the confusion so clear in her eyes made his heart go out to her. "I...do not know, Ayla. This is all new to me too." He grabbed her hand then and squeezed. "All I know is that I love you and I want you to be able to do anything you want...including going to someone else's bed. You do not have to go with Jondaria or anyone else...tonight or any other night, if you do not want to. But I think you should consider it...if only to understand the ways of your people more fully."

"How will sharing pleasures with a man who is not you make me understand the Others?"

He shrugged. "I cannot say. I only hope that it will."

Sighing, Ayla nodded and leaned to kiss him. She would do anything for him, including this. She had to admit, if only to herself, that she was curious. But she did not tell him this. Instead, suddenly realizing that she hadn't seen them since she'd fed them, she said, "But what of the children?"

"Durc left with Brenevia. Darvie wanted her son in bed early. And the girls have gone with Danta."

Nodding again, she put her head on her mate's shoulder and just sat there clinging to him. She did not want to move, afraid she would choose incorrectly.

"So?"

Sighing, she looked at him with love in her eyes, then said, "I am going now."

~oxoxo~

Fully expecting that Ayla would not come back, Jondaria watched her, sitting with and talking to her mate, and therefore was utterly surprised to see her walking back to him. Standing up as she reached him, he half expected her to tell him she'd changed her mind, but grinned with pleasure when she smiled and tentatively took is hand.

"I have not ever gone with a man who is not my mate, Jondaria," she admitted. "So this is..." She bit her lip. "Difficult for me."

Jondaria frowned, then shook his head. "Then you should not come to my furs, Ayla, if you are not ready." He knew that Grov was pushing this on her and he didn't want to feel like he was forcing her. There had already been too much of that during the summer and it had disgusted him. First Davaria's sister, then the young Cedar woman Dakara, and then his own sister. The last thing he wanted to do was take a woman who didn't want him.

"No," she said with a quick shake of her head. "It is not that." She stopped, confused, then laying her a hand on his chest and looking up at him, she decided to be brutally honest with him. "Earlier, Grov told me to pick someone or he would pick someone for me," she admitted, unaware that the man already knew. "But just now, he said I did not have to. He said that it is my choice."

Jondaria sighed, relieved by her words, but waited for her to continue.

"And I choose you tonight, Jondaria...if you want me." Her faced tinged pink, embarrassed about speaking so freely, but she fought to keep her eyes on his.

The man grinned, then he nodded and pulled her toward the place he'd set out his furs.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER

Ayla came awake early, before others started to rise to make ready to leave. At first she felt groggy, but knowing the side effects of wine, she shrugged it off and tried to focus. But when she turned her head and saw Jondaria's nearly black hair splayed on the furs beside her, her eyes widened and she remembered going with the man the night before. He'd been good to her, had pleasured her well, and she had reciprocated, but now she only wanted to get back to her mate.

Careful, so as not to wake the man, she peeled back the furs and got up. Pulling on her tunic first, then quickly slipping into her footwear, she turned to go.

"Leaving so soon?"

Stopping in her tracks, she cringed, then turned around and knelt down in front of him. "I was...I...ahhh." She stopped talking and nodded dumbly, staring at his bare chest. "Yes, I was leaving."

Jondaria chuckled, his dark eyes twinkling. "It's not necessary to explain, Ayla," he said, taking her hand and bringing it up to his mouth for a kiss. "I had a wonderful night. I just hope it wasn't so bad for you." Her reactions to his pleasures left no doubt that he'd pleased her, but he still worried that she hadn't wanted to be there.

Ayla frowned then. "No, it was not bad."

He chuckled again. "Well, that's something, isn't it?"

She only looked at him in confusion.

"What I meant was, I hope last night was as good for you as it was for me."

Ayla shrugged. "I do not know how it was for you. For me...it was...nice."

Jondaria winced. "Well, that's a step up from not bad, I suppose."

Again her eyes showed confusion.

"I'm sorry, Ayla. I don't usually ask for a critique. I just hoped you'd enjoyed yourself."

She smiled then. "Oh yes. I enjoyed myself fine. But...I should go."

He grinned up at her, then nodded. "I understand."

~oxoxo~

Ayla first went to the place where she and Grov had set up their small traveling tent. Lack of movement there told her everyone inside was still asleep. Relieved, she stoked the coals from the previous night's fire, added a log, then grabbed a water tight basket and headed for the river.

Meaning only to rinse her hands and face, then get water to make tea, Ayla knelt and splashed water on herself. It was refreshing and managed to wake her up some. Deciding then that she wanted to be completely clean, she peeled off her tunic and kicked her shoes from her feet, then stepped into the water. The river water was cold. Colder than she thought it would be, but it didn't bother her; cleansing herself was much too important to worry about something as trivial as water temperature and the little bit of discomfort caused by it. Shivering, she dove into the river.

Sputtering, she came up quickly, then waded out and, with fumbling fingers, pulled her tunic back on. Wishing now that she'd brought a clean one with her, she rushed to fill her basket, then hurried back to camp to change. When she returned, the group was stirring, though not many were actually up. After putting the water over the fire to warm, Ayla went to her pack and pulled out clean clothing and a brush. She was still sitting by the fire working knots out of her hair while she waited for the water to boil when someone lifted the brush from her hand.

"Here, let me help you."

Recognizing her mate's voice, Ayla's heartbeat quickened. Turning slightly, to give him access to her hair, she closed her eyes and let him take over. The sensation of his gentle strokes through her hair and down her back, with the brush and his fingertips, caused gooseflesh to rise. He did not often brush her hair for her, but she enjoyed it immensely.

When he was finished, he pushed her hair aside and kissed her neck, then stood up. "I will be right back," he said, moving away from her before she could respond.

Ayla watched him leave, knowing he went to make his morning stream, then turned to prepare them each a cup of tea. When he returned, she handed it to him, then silently sipped her own.

"Others will be up soon," he finally said, when the silence had stretched on for awhile. "Would you like to talk?"

Her expression pained, she glanced at him. "Must we?"

"Was it that unpleasant?" he asked, ignoring her question.

Frowning, she shook her head. It hadn't been—not at all. But discussing it would be. He must have seen it in her eyes, because instead of questioning her further, he just reached out, wrapped his arms around her and held her. They were still sitting that way when others started arriving.

~oxoxo~

"Davaria, it is time to go," Danta said, coming up beside her brother where he stood with the woman he wanted to mate. The young woman had been clinging to him all morning and now sobbed in his arms. Danta felt horrible for them.

Davaria looked over his woman's head at his sister and nodded slightly, then watched her walk away before putting Janika from him. Wiping her tears, he kissed her again, then saw the man of her hearth coming for her.

"Janika, you must let Davaria go now," Jeeteria said sternly. "Oak Camp is ready to leave and we will be leaving soon as well."

Turning angry, tear-filled eyes on the man of her hearth, Janika said, "Why do you have to do this? Can't you see that I love this man?"

Jeeteria winced, but he held his ground. She definitely appeared to love Davaria, and he her, but the daughter of his hearth had wavered too many times in matters which she called love. He would not give in; she would have to wait a year. "It is for the best. As I said, if you still love him when next summer comes, then I will give my blessing."

Janika glared at him, but threw herself into Davaria's arms again. "Take me with you," she begged. "I can't go back to Spruce Camp with him.

Davaria held her for a moment, then forced himself to pull away from her. "It is time for me to go, Janika," he said. "And I can't take you with me."

Tears streaming down her face, she tried to go back into his arms, but he held her firmly away from him.

"Don't you want me?" she whined when she couldn't maneuver herself back into his embrace.

"You know that I do, but I can't just take you from Spruce Camp without Jeeteria allowing it. I can't."

"But you can. He can't stop us." She threw her arms around him and buried her head in his chest. This time he allowed it—for a moment.

Shaking his head, he pushed her back and held her face between his palms. "No, you're right, Janika, he can't stop you from leaving Spruce Camp. But I will not take you with me to Oak Camp without his permission. It wouldn't be right. Please try to understand."

"All I understand is that I won't see you for a year. A year," she choked. "That is so long." Then, turning on Jeeteria again, she whispered, "How can you do this to me?"

The man of her hearth didn't answer her, but looked at Davaria instead. "I'll leave you two to say your final goodbyes." And with that he walked away.

"I hate him!" she said through clenched teeth as she watched the man of her hearth walk away. And she knew that he'd heard her too because his shoulders dropped at her words.

"Don't say that, Janika," Davaria said as he leaned to kiss. "The time will go quickly, I promise you." He kissed her again. "Next summer will come fast enough and we will be together again." Then he gave her another kiss and took a step away from her. "I love you," he said.

She folded her arms over her chest and, pouting, refused to look at him.

He would have laughed if the thought of not seeing her for a year wasn't so painful, but instead he repeated his last declaration. "I love you, Janika."

Sighing, she looked back at him, her lips trembling as she said, "I love you too, Davaria."

He smiled. "Now...please smile so that I can remember you happy."

She tried. For him she tried, but her face only screwed up into a frown. Biting her lip, she tried again, this time managing a weak one.

Davaria reached out and took her chin, then kissed her one final time before turning to join Oak Camp. He did not look back. It would have been too painful.

~oxoxo~

"Are you sure about this, Ayla?" Tagnolia asked. Pine Camp had offered Oak Camp a couple of their boats, to make the journey faster, but he was concerned about leaving Grov and Ayla behind.

Ayla nodded. "The horses cannot ride in the boats, but Oak Camp should not be slowed down because of it. We will only be a day or so behind."

They'd packed all of their belongings, including their children, to be carried downriver in the boats, minus the supplies they'd need while being separated. They would travel light and believed they could make good time.

"You will have the harder work, I think," she said, referring to her three children, who were sitting in one of the boats next to Darvie. Ora was fussing and Durc was trying to keep her still. Only Annaliza sat still, sucking her fingers and enjoying the gentle sway of the boat.

Vincenzia chuckled. "Don't worry, they will be fine."

"I am not worried for them," Ayla said with a shake of her head. "I worry that by the time we meet up with you again, you will not want us to visit again."

Vinceniza laughed. "Impossible!" he exclaimed. "That could never happen! Now, you two should go." He gave Ayla a hug, then slapped Grov on the shoulder. "Remember to follow the river, but keep to the base of the hills. We will wait for you where Big River begins to bend west. You won't be able to miss us."

"How long should it take us?"

Vincenzia frowned then. "Walking at a good speed, two to three days, but a decent runner can do it in under two. But on the horses?" He shrugged. "I don't know. They're clearly faster than walking alone."

Grov and Ayla nodded agreement. "All right," Grov said. "We'll see you, when we see you."

Vincenzia grinned, then kissed Ayla and climbed into a boat. "Safe journey."

~oxoxo~

Traveling south through Big River's narrow river valley, Grov and Ayla rode in near silence for a long time. It was neither awkward nor strained and she seemed to need the time, so he was willing to give it to her. He'd always been willing to give what she needed, even when she didn't know she needed it. For most of the day, she seemed to need quiet, so she could think. The night before, she'd needed something that he could not give. Not because he wasn't able to please her. Pleasing her was easy, especially within their furs.

But now she was so quiet that it had him worried. Had he given her more than she could handle? he wondered.

The sun was a good distance past its zenith when the man glanced back to see her frowning. Halting his horse, he waited for her to catch up.

"What is wrong?" he asked when she stopped Whinney beside him.

Ayla looked up at the sky, then at her mate. "I have not seen Shriek in a very long time. It has been many, many days."

He nodded, relieved that her thoughts were on the bird and not on the previous night. "I have thought about him a lot, but feared bringing it up."

With a frown, she shrugged. "I guess there is nothing I can do, but I miss him." Her eyes continued to scan the sky, as if hoping her friend would appear.

Grov felt bad for her; he knew how much she loved the bird. But she was right, there was nothing they could do to keep him with them. Unlike the horses, who stayed on the ground and could be made to stay near, the raptor had the entire sky to venture into. With an equally hopeful glance at the sky, Grov shook his head. "I'm sorry, Ayla."

Ayla's eyes met his, then she pushed her sadness aside and smiled at him. "Are you hungry?" she asked; they hadn't eaten since their morning meal.

Grov shrugged. "I could eat."

Ayla continued to smile. "But do you want to eat?"

"Sure." Quickly dismounting, he went to her and lifted her off Whinney's back.

"You did not have to do that," she said with a slight giggle.

"I know...but I wanted to," he said, leaning to nuzzle her neck. Then before she could respond, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her. "I think I want to stop for the day."

"For the day? But we could travel so much more today," she said, glancing up at the sun. "There is much light left."

"We could," he said with a mischievous grin. "Or we could stop and swim, and enjoy some time alone. We don't get much of that."

She grinned, then gave him a shove and started running away from him. "Last one in the river cooks our meal," she said over her shoulder as she tugged at her tunic.

It took Grov a few moments to react to her wager, and then he was fast on her heels. When she would have beat him into the river, he grabbed her and restrained her, untied his waist thong and used his foot to pull off his leggings, then hefted her into his arms.

"And who cooks if it is a tie?" he asked as he jumped into the water and, taking her with him, left no room for a response.

Releasing her immediately as they plunged into the water, they separated. When they surfaced, they were gasping for breath, then a game of splash ensued. Finally, they started for the shore. A stronger swimmer, she arrived there first, picked up her clothing and headed back to the horses.

"Where are you going?" he asked when he finally caught up with her.

"You won, I suppose," she said as she pulled her pack out of Whinney's pannier, then knelt to rummage through it. "Your feet did touch the water first."

He grinned as he watched her work—naked.

"Even if it was because you cheated, she added, pulling her sling out of her pack.

His smile evaporated. "Cheated?"

"Yes," she said, looking up at him. "It's not fair to use your superior strength against me."

He chuckled. "Well, since I cheated, I'll help you. I'll get a fire going and get our camp set up, while you make some magic with that sling."

Ayla looked at her weapon, then nodded. "It's a deal."

~oxoxo~

Lying in her mate's arms and looking up at the stars, Ayla yawned. "Do you think they've arrived where we will meet them?"

Grov shrugged. "I'd guess that they have. Vincenzia seemed to think that it would only take half the day."

"I hope the girls don't miss us too much."

"I'm sure they're fine, Ayla. Darvie knows how to take care of children."

Ayla frowned. "But Darvie does not have milk to feed Annaliza."

"But Jenadoza and Laurana do. And she'd rather have solid food anyway." He paused. "Stop worrying."

Sighing, she rolled and looked down at him. "What if...what if a baby was started last night?" she asked worriedly.

Grov frowned. Apparently she was still bothered by the night before. "You cannot be sure that is how babies are started, Ayla."

"But what if I am right? And what if one has started in me," she asked, her hand going to her belly.

He shrugged. "Then we will have another baby at our hearth. Would that be so bad?"

Ayla's brow wrinkled with consternation and she sat up. "But it would not be your baby," she objected, frustrated that he was so unconcerned.

"Ayla," he said, sitting up and grabbing her before she could bolt, because that's what it looked like she was going to do. "Any baby of yours, born to my hearth, is my baby. It does not matter whose spirit is used." Then he leaned to kiss her, hoping to distract her from her worry.

"But..." she started to protest again, but was silenced when he pushed his tongue into her mouth.

Grov kissed her until she was breathless, just the way he wanted her, then he kissed her some more for good measure as he pushed up her tunic and let his hands roam. He sought her breasts first, baring them and suckling them, even getting a little of her Mother's milk as he did so. Then running them down her stomach and over her mound, he pushed her legs apart and found her wet center.

Moaning, Ayla arched her back and wove her fingers into his hair, but stiffened when she realized he was attempting to untie his leggings.

"Wait!" she said in a panic, pushing away from him and trying to sit up. "We can't."

Frowning, he held onto her, not letting her get away from him. "What? Why?"

"Because...we have to make sure no babies were started last night."

He groaned. "But I told you that I don't care about that, Ayla," he said.

"But I do," she said as she frantically tugged at her tunic to cover herself. Then she tried desperately to get out from under him, but he wouldn't let her budge.

"Ayla, stop!" he commanded. And she immediately ceased moving and stared up at him.

"So...what if a baby has been started? What does that mean? To me it means my mate is bringing another child to my hearth. It would be wonderful news. It makes no difference to me if it was started by me or another man."

She frowned. "But it matters to me."

He was confused. "Would you love the child any less?"

"Of course not!" she burst. "I could not love one of my children more or less than another."

"And neither could I," he said. "Don't you understand? Your children are my children."

"But I would want to know...for sure, if I carried your child or another man's."

He stared at her for several moments. Her eyes begged him to understand. Finally, he sighed and nodded. "Very well, Ayla," he said, rolling off of her. "If that is what you want. But I promise you that it wouldn't change anything."

She watched him, worried that he was angry with her. She could see his need; his manhood tented his leggings, and she knew it pained him to not be allowed release. It suddenly became obvious to her that he had not shared pleasures with Danta the night before, because if he had, his need now would not be so great. Feeling worse about the night before, she dropped her head to his chest and started to cry. "I'm sorry."

His hands came up to comb through her long hair. "What are you sorry about, Ayla? I'm the one who pushed you to share another man's bed." Then feeling her tears wet his chest, he lifted her head so that he could look into her eyes. "Stop crying," he said as he wiped her tears away with his thumbs. "I am not angry."

"You're not?"

He chuckled. "Of course not. How could I be? It is not just that part of your body that pleases me. You make me happy in many ways."

She smiled then. "In many ways?"

He nodded, then frowned when she reached for his drawstring. "What are you doing?"

"I am going to please you...with another part of my body," she said with a grin he'd not seen in a while.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER

Ayla groaned as she started to come awake. She'd been having such a good dream and hated being ripped from it. Her entire body tingled; the most blissful languor drifting through her limbs, her center throbbing. Though she hadn't a clue as to what her dream had been about, it wasn't difficult to hazard a guess.

Stretching lazily, then tucking her arms under the back of her head, she yawned and opened her eyes. She was lying on her back in the middle of the furs she shared with her mate, but the furs that should have been covering her had been cast aside. She noticed then that her tunic was pushed up so that it bunched just over her breasts and that her legs lay open. With a frown, she started to sit up and was surprised to see her mate between her thighs.

"Grov!"

"It's about time you woke up," he said, nipping at her womanhood. "I've been trying to wake you up for forever.

Ayla stared at him as the realization of what he'd been doing hit her, then she dropped her head back down on the furs and closed her eyes again. As she did so, he crawled up and covered her body with his. She felt his desire pressing into her belly immediately and opened her eyes.

"We must wait," she reminded him.

He nodded. "Yes, I do remember that," he said. "But, for how long?"

"Until my time comes...or doesn't come."

"Yes, I know that, but how long will that be?" He knew that she kept track of her cycle, though she wasn't supposed to. He usually knew when it would come too, when they were with the Clan. But here with the Others, with no forced isolation, he'd not been paying attention.

She thought for a moment, mentally counting the days since the end of her last cycle, then said, "Five or so days."

"Five days!" That meant almost double that before he could share pleasures with her again.

She cringed. "It could be double that or more," she said apologetically, thinking about the many days in between her moontimes.

"It is double that," he groaned, knowing she wouldn't let him touch her until her menses had stopped. He'd never understood that about the Clan. What was a little blood? he'd always wondered, thinking they saw so much of it as hunters that it shouldn't matter. Blood was blood, wasn't it?

"I'm sorry." She didn't know what else to say. She knew that it was within his rights to just give her the signal and be done with her silly fears and objections, and the fact that she knew he would never do that made her question her desire to know if she carried a child of someone else's spirit. After all, she had shared pleasures with her mate over the last few weeks. Because of their traveling, it had been infrequent, in fact, only once, she realized, but it wasn't as if they'd abstained completely. She could have had a child of his growing in her belly when she shared pleasures with Jondaria, though she didn't believe so.

"It might be less," she whispered, feeling that she was just thinking about what she wanted and not what her mate needed. If only she'd been using Iza's secret magic to prevent pregnancy, she scolded herself. Then they wouldn't even be talking about this. But she hadn't been, so there was no use thinking about it.

Lying there, her brows drawn together in frustration and tears beginning to form, she bolted upright as he moved between her legs, his tongue flicking over the sensitive bud there.

"Grov! What are you doing?"

He stopped and frowned at her. "I'd think it was obvious what I'm doing, Ayla," he said, gripping her spread legs and dipping into her again. Then, when she didn't lie back, he used some force, pulling on her until her elbows collapsed and she fell backward. "Just relax."

"How can I relax when I am not giving you pleasure?" she asked, staring at the sky.

"What makes you think...that I'm feeling...no pleasure?"

She moaned, then shuddered as he entered her with gentle fingers, as his tongue continued to dance over her sensitive flesh. She tried to concentrate. He'd asked her a question, she knew. And she'd intended to answer him, but... What was it that he'd asked? Then her mind went blank as she fell over a precipice and into nothingness.

Grov stared at her. She'd passed out. Running the back of his hand over his mouth, he moved to lie beside her, to watch the look of pure bliss spread over her lovely face as she lay there in unconsciousness. In all the times he'd looked at her, he'd never seen such a look. But then, he'd never given her such pleasure that she'd passed out before either. Smiling, he thought he could stay there forever, just looking down at her.

~oxoxo~

Ayla came awake this time in the arms of her mate and nestled into their furs. Snuggling close, she buried her face in his chest and began kissing him. She knew he was awake, though he feigned asleep. Only when she nibbled on his nipple did he stop pretending.

"Stop, woman! Or we will never leave here today."

She grinned. "Maybe I do not want to leave here."

He laughed and squeezed her tight. "Neither do I, but we have to." Without opening his eyes, he went on. "It is already late. We should have left a long time ago."

She sighed. He was right, of course. They needed to hurry up and join the others. "I will fix you some food," she said, pushing up and away from him.

Her absence made him shiver. "No food," he said. "But maybe some tea."

Nodding, she made them both their morning tea, then started to pack up their meager belongings. It didn't take long to be on their way.

~oxoxo~

"You know," Ayla said, coming up beside her mate, "we're going to be closer to Brun's cave than Oak Camp when we meet up with everyone. Maybe we should think about going home instead of going so far out of our way."

Grov frowned. "Do you really want to do that?" he asked. Her suggestion made a lot of sense, but he knew she'd be sad to leave the man of her hearth and his people.

Ayla frowned, then shook her head. "No, but we should at least consider it, don't you think?"

"It's a good idea, Ayla. And we probably should do it, but..." He shook his head. "I think you'd regret it."

She nodded. The mere mention of leaving caused an ache to form in her heart. "Yes, leaving Oak Camp is going to be very sad for me."

"And for me," he admitted. "I have grown to love them."

She smiled. "Then I guess we go out of our way."

"I guess so."

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

With a frown, Danta sat at the small fire, nervously waiting and hoping that Grov and Ayla would soon arrive. She'd been so sure they would show up the evening before. After all, she knew the speed at which the horses could carry them—even walking fully loaded, which they weren't. Now she was disappointed, and worried, that they weren't there already. And Davaria telling her he'd told her so hadn't helped, not at all.

"I wanted to go with the hunters," Davaria said as he plopped down beside her.

Not taking her eyes off the horizon, Danta shook her head. "There will be plenty of time for hunting later, Ari. We have all our gifts to take care of. I can't carry this stuff alone," she said, gesturing at the heap of things she'd so carefully laid out once everything was unloaded from the boats and carried a safe distance from the river.

He sighed. "But once Grov and Ayla return with the horses, you won't need my help any longer. I could be out hunting, to help get Oak Camp stocked with food for the winter."

She smiled at him, proud that he was so eager to be a part of things at their new camp. He hadn't always been willing to contribute in the past, at least not to their camp as a whole. Neither had she—not really. Both of them had taught themselves to hunt and did it regularly, but only so that they did not starve to death.

"We will have many chances to join hunts. Just enjoy this time of rest. It won't last long," she predicted. "Tell me now...how was Janika when we left her?"

Davaria frowned, then shook his head. "She begged me to bring her along with us...but I couldn't do it."

"Why not? I thought you loved her."

"I do...but Jeeteria doesn't think we are ready."

Danta nodded. "I can understand that," she said. "You two did only just meet. Then between our adoption and things being so touchy for the Sungaea." She shrugged. "Maybe it's best this way."

Davaria frowned. "How can you say that? I love her."

Danta bit her lip. "I know...it's just...well, it happened so quickly. Don't you think?"

"I suppose so."

"I mean, you meet her one evening and then the next day you're sharing pleasures with her and wanting to mate her."

Davaria raised a brow. "I know the order of things, Danta, I was there, remember?"

She blushed. "It's just...so fast."

For a few moments Davaria stared at his sister; she sure was acting strangely. Then he figured it out. She was worried that he'd abandon her like everyone else had—that, as soon as he was settled, his use for her would be gone and that would be that.

"Ata," he said, draping his arm around her slender shoulders and pulling her close. "I'm not going to leave you, do you understand me?"

Tears filled her eyes as she looked at him, then they coursed down her cheeks. "But how can you be so sure?"

He laughed. "Because, you are my twin sister, remember?" he said, wiping at her tears. "We're all we have left."

"But not if you get mated. If you do that you'll make a hearth of your own and I'll have nobody." Again her tears fell. Of all the pain she'd lived through, at least he'd never left her alone in their mother's hearth. She'd always been grateful, but now she might have to face abandonment.

"Oh, Danta," he said, hugging her. "Next year when Janika comes to Oak Camp we'll all live together if you want that."

Danta frowned. What woman would agree to that? To be mated, but not be the first woman of her domain.

"But I suspect that you'll find someone too. And you won't even want me there."

"Yeah...right, because I have sooo many men just jumping to be with me," she said sarcastically. "Maybe I should have accepted Igorvia's proposal. I'd have someone's drunken hands pawing at me all night, but at least I'd never be alone."

Davaria shuddered. "Are you crazy?"

"You're the one who wanted me to be with him," she accused. "Why won't you just accept him?" she mimicked in a voice so like his own that it was scary. "I'm sure he'd give up Laska if you'd go to his bed again."

Davaria grimaced then. "I can't believe I said that."

"Well you did."

"I know that I did, Ata...I just mean...I must have been out of my head when I said that."

She snorted. "You sure were, out of your head with bouza."

He blushed. "I've stopped drinking it...mostly." He almost whispered the last word.

"Mostly!" she burst, scowling at his red face.

"Well, everyone drinks some."

"I don't."

"You did," he corrected her.

Danta took a deep sigh and stood up. "Fine, drink some. I don't care," she snapped, then stomped away.

~oxoxo~

Danie watched Danta walk off, nervous about the woman going off alone. She'd headed for a small outcropping of rocks and Danie worried about her safety, until she saw the woman climb up on top of them and sit down.

"Everything okay, Davaria?" she asked.

"What?" he said as he looked up at her. "Oh yes, everything's just fine."

His tone was sarcastic, but Danie smiled anyway, knowing he didn't intend to snap at her. "Do I need worry about your sister," she asked, allowing her Sungaea to slip a bit now that they were no longer around all the camps who seemed to enjoy finding fault in her. "She seem angry."

Davaria shook his head. "Only at me. No, she'll be fine...especially with Fraylora looking after her," he said, nodding his head at the Bison Hearth woman who'd climbed up to sit beside Danta on the rocks. "She wanted a mother, now she's got one."

Danie glanced over at the two women and smiled. "And a good one too. This will be good for both, I think. My sister tells me that Fraylora's never recovered from losing her oldest daughter, and Danta needs a mother more than anyone I know."

Davaria nodded. "My sister's never really had a mother. Trata always resented her."

Danie had turned to look at him again, a frown on her face. "I really don't understand that. How could she possibly blame her own daughter for existing?"

Davaria shrugged. "I certainly couldn't tell you that," he said. "But she did. Trata blamed everything on Danta, from the most simple things, like a missing camp shoe, to the life's tragedies...like the deaths of our family and friends." He shook his head then. "And...I'm afraid I wasn't so good to her either," he admitted. "I should have stood up for her long before now."

"That doesn't matter anymore, Davaria," the woman said. "You can't change the past. What matters now is that you've seen the error of your ways, and that Danta knows she can count on you."

Frowning, Davaria shook his head. "But she doesn't think she can count on me."

"Is that what's upset her?"

With a pained expression, the man nodded. "And I don't blame her. I deserve her doubt. Of all the people at Sumac Camp, I should have been the one to stand up and protest her treatment."

"Maybe."

"There is no maybe about it, Danie," he said, full of self-loathing. "I have failed my sister and wouldn't blame her if she never trusted me again."

Danie looked over at Danta, then back at the man. "Just give her time, Davaria," she said as she reached out and touched his arm. "Danta will soon learn that Oak Camp is nothing like Sumac Camp; you both will. You will both learn to trust in that, and she will learn to trust you again. We all make mistake, you know."

He tried to smile at her, but he had to clench his jaw to keep from tearing up. And she glanced away in an effort to afford him some privacy.

"I like Oak Camp very much," she said. "Of course, I haven't been with them very long, but my sister has. We were both kidnapped."

Davaria frowned. He'd never heard of such a thing.

Danie laughed. "Well, sort of. It was all arranged, of course. With Darvie it was more severe. It took long negotiations to work it out, and even then Vincenzia had to kidnap her to get around a few Mamutoi customs. But there was nothing either of our peoples could have done to keep them apart. My sister would have jumped off a cliff for that man and everyone knew it."

Davaria glanced over at Vincenzia, where he sat with the children, and chuckled.

"My kidnapping was much less formal since it had happened before. My sister was the first, but other Mamutoi women have since been involved in similar matings. I know of a woman named Tholie, who went to live with some people who live quite a distance to the west. I forgot the name of their people though." She shrugged. "My kidnapping was slightly different in that my mother came along too. Which, Darvie was thrilled about. Sometimes I still think they orchestrated my meeting Ivanolia."

"How did you meet him?" Davaria asked curiously.

"He came with Vilognia to last year's summer meeting. They needed to find Vincenzia, to tell him about Ayla...that she had been found."

Davaria nodded. Everyone had heard the story of the lost child of Vincenzia's hearth. Mostly, no one cared, but obviously Oak Camp did.

"Anyway," she went on. "When they came, it was like I saw no one else anymore." She grinned at the memory. "We couldn't even understand each other, but still we wanted to be together. And when it was time for him to leave, he asked me to join with him. Of course, at the time I thought he was perfect. Now...not so much. But he is a good man," she said with a grin. "And I love him."

"So why'd you stay here to wait for Grov and Ayla?" he asked. "I'd have thought you'd rather have gone back to Oak Camp with Ivanolia."

"I stay because Ivan make me. He said he'd feel better if I wait for Ayla." She shrugged. "So that is what I'm doing. That is what we are all doing." She smiled at him again, but he scowled.

"What is wrong?"

"I wanted to go with the others, to hunt."

She nodded. "I used to hunt, but not so much anymore," she said, patting her burgeoning belly. "But I don't mind so much, not hunting and staying here to wait. I needed this break."

~oxoxo~

Grov and Ayla reached the others just as they were finishing their midday meal. Danta, once again sitting on her rock, was the first to see their approach. But it was Vincenzia and Davaria who went to assist them across the small tributary that flowed west and into Big River at the bend. It was small though, barely reaching the horses' underbellies as they crossed, and easily fordable.

Once they'd rejoined the group, and were told most had gone on ahead, it was decided that they'd remain where they were for another night. Getting back to Oak Camp from summer meetings always took just a little longer than the journey out. On the way to a summer meeting everyone was just bursting to get out after being cooped up all winter and excited about seeing longtime friends and relatives. But on the way home they were exhausted, from traveling and visiting and hunting, and their thoughts were on the long winter ahead and what they needed to do to be prepared for it. It was always the same; everyone wanted to be home, but no one seemed able to hurry too much.

Only Davaria objected to the idea of staying there an extra night. He wanted desperately to arrive at Oak Camp, to see his new home and get settled there. But he was outvoted by those who wanted the more leisurely trek.

AtDC

Listing

Those left behind to wait at the bend in Big River:

Vincenzia (37)

Ora(3)

Annalisa(1)

Fraylora (36)

Danie (21)

Davaria (19)

Danta (19)

Danara (4)

Jenadoza (18)

Teglodia

Laurana (15)

Bruana

And Grov and Ayla, of course, since it's them that those above wait for.

Those going on ahead to Oak Camp:

Tagnolia (41) – headman

Zarina (39)

Frala (14)

Morina (12)

Tiflona (39) – headwoman

Wäglodia (40)

Tabita (16)

Torina (13)

Talneezia (10)

Tena (7)

Gredenzia (36) – Shogur

Fürlasa (16)

Fräubita (14)

Gildenozia (10)

Darvie (26) – Mamutoi born

Crisana (Crisanie) (8)

Brenevia (Brenev) (5)

Durc (5)

Travie (44)

Serana (41)

Vilognia (41)

Vegodia (12)

Serlona (9)

Donzolnia (22)

Ivanolia (22)

Braydalana (8)

Brulenzia (20)

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER

The next morning came quickly and they moved out. But, before anyone knew it, it was time to stop for a midday meal. They didn't bother with a fire to cook the meal, or for tea, because they wanted to make it a short stop. Instead, the chewed on the dried meat they'd prepared for traveling and drank water. The only thing they did do that took time was unburden the horses, so that they could rest properly.

Ayla, with Danta's assistance, was just putting everything back on them when Davaria came over to tell her Grov needed her. Smiling at them, she excused herself to find out what her mate wanted. When she got there, she saw the problem immediately; Ora had removed her clothing, complaining that she was hot and Grov was trying to put them back on the wiggling child.

Scooping up the struggling little girl, Ayla swung her up into her arms and tickled her.

"Do you want to ride Whinney while we travel?" she asked.

Ora nodded.

"Then you have to have something on your bottom," she said, patting her daughter's backside. "Or it will be rubbed raw."

Ora frowned, then stopped struggling so that Ayla could put her tiny leggings back on. Afterward, the woman lifted the child to the horse, then turned to finish her own work.

Grov shook his head. "You make that look so easy."

"It is easy," Ayla said. "You just have to speak child." She grinned at him.

"Well, that leaves me out, I think. I don't know that language."

Ayla laughed. "What are you talking about? You seemed to be doing just fine before I came along. Or have you forgotten that I haven't always been your mate."

He frowned. "No, I have not forgotten. I guess I did okay before you came along. But...I am much happier now."

She grinned. "I am too," she said. "How are the others faring?" Ayla asked him, nodded at those getting ready to move on again.

He shrugged. "They are doing well, I think. Jenadoza and Laurana look to be tiring a little."

Ayla nodded. "Carrying babies is more difficult that it appears. How about Danie? Having a baby in her belly is not so easy either."

"She isn't complaining."

"How about the others?"

Grov smiled. "Everyone is fine, Ayla. You worry too much."

She nodded, knowing her mate spoke the truth. "I cannot help myself, I guess."

Grov grinned. "That's what makes you such a good medicine woman, my mate," he said, leaning to kiss her.

~oxoxo~~oxoxo~~oxoxo~~oxoxo~

On the evening before the main group of Oak members would arrive home, they sat down to discuss the hunt, where it would take place and who would participate. What they'd gleaned from the summer meeting hunts was so minimal that they needed to start preparing for winter immediately.

"Well, I'm going," Ivanolia said before anyone else could comment. Even though Oak Camp had, through Ayla, been awarded his share of the bison meat from the first summer hunt, he still felt guilty about losing it in the first place and wanted to make up for it.

Tiflona nodded. "Of course, Ivan. We would never leave you out." She smiled at him. She knew what the man was thinking—but first things first. "We must talk about where we're going before we discuss who is going." She looked then at Gredenzia. "Have you had any luck?" she asked their Shogur.

The man nodded. "I have Searched and the signs are good. I believe we will find a herd in our usual hunting valley...but I can't say what kind."

Tiflona nodded. "That is a good place to begin. We have always had good luck there."

Everyone nodded. That valley was the favored place at this time of year.

"Now, who would like to go?"

All the men except her mate and their Shogur raised their hands, as did Darvie, Tabita, Fürlasa, and, of course, herself. Tiflona wasn't surprised that those two men wished to stay behind. Gredenzia rarely hunted, and everyone knew Wäglodia was more suited to the domestic things of their lodge—mostly the cooking.

"Nine," she said, counting the hands. "That is good. We will leave before dawn."

~oxoxo~

By noon the following day, Oak Camp's earthlodge came into view for those traveling there. It had been a long time since they'd seen their home—almost an entire summer. But they had arrived and were eager to be home.

But first, to make sure it was safe, Gredenzia and Wäglodia entered while everyone else waited outside. This was always a nervous time for the people; no one knew what they'd find. Sometimes they came home to nothing, no problems at all, but that was not often the case. Usually there was at least some sort of damage, from minor problems such as a few missing or broken items and animal droppings, to utter destruction and devastating loss of food stores and personal belongings. And sometimes, the critters who'd committed the crimes against them were still there, creeping about and ready to attack as they entered. For the most part, Oak Camp had been lucky, but one could never be too sure as to what would be found upon returning from such a long time away. They were always cautious and that is why they had survived for so long.

"It's clear," their Shogur called out from the main entranceway after the two men had done a thorough search of their home. "It's needs a cleaning, but it's safe."

Relieved, the others entered, discarding their traveling gear in the entry hearth, then going back out to remove fire-hole coverings. Afterward, they went to their own personal hearths to unpack and clean up. They were home and their home was no longer empty.

~oxoxo~

"All right," Travie said with a clap of her hands. "We need to make this hearth ready for Davaria, Danta, and Danara."

It had been discussed by Vincenzia, Darvie, and herself, that their new members should have the hearth closest to the other young adults, and that Snow Leopard hearth, theirs, would move across the hall to the empty hearth. The move was done quickly; it was little hassle with so many helping hands.

"You really should move into the healer's hearth, Travie," Zarina said as she carried a bundle of the older woman's belongings. "You really are our healer now...since we weren't able to convince anyone to come back with us."

Travie frowned. "As I said before, I only have rudimentary knowledge."

Zarina shrugged. "That is better than nothing. You should take the hearth."

"Yes, Travie," Wäglodia said. He come up beside Zarina but, taking the bundles from the woman, started down the hallway. "We've discussed it. We think you're a wonderful healer."

"Besides," Serana interjected, "don't you think Vincenzia and Darvie should have their own hearth again?"

Travie frowned. "I have often wondered about that. They tell me I am no bother, but it is hard to have others under foot."

"Well then, it's settled," Zarina said happily.

"But what about Tagnolia and Tiflona? We should discuss it with them. They are the leaders."

"Nonsense!" burst Serana. "They have been talking about making changes for a long time."

Zarina and Wäglodia nodded. "That is true," they said in unison.

Travie sighed. "Well then...if you're sure."

"We are!" they all said.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

"But when will we get there?" Danara asked for probably the tenth time. She wanted desperately to see her new home, to know that they really did have a home to go to.

"We be there soon," Ora said, as if she knew. She'd been there once and thought she knew it all.

Ayla rolled her eyes, then glanced at Vincenzia, hoping he'd tell give Danara something more than just soon. After all, children rarely understood such ambiguous terms.

"Ora is right, Danara," he said. "We should be there before the sun reaches there." He pointed at the sky and the little girl looked up.

"Really?"

He nodded, then smiled as they kept on, because Danara checked the placement of the sun often.

~oxoxo~

"See there?" Vincenzia asked suddenly. It hadn't been too long, but long enough that the child was growing impatient again. She squinted, then nodded. "That is it, Oak Camp. We are home!"

Squealing, Danara clapped her hands excitedly. The act caused her mother to smile. She too was excited—but nervous as well. Yes, they were home, but what did that mean? And it looks huge, this Oak Camp, Danta thought. She couldn't remember ever seeing such a large earthlodge in her life.

As they approached, Danta realized her brother had the same nervous energy; he'd moved closer to her and had slipped his hand into hers without knowing it. Squeezing it, she smiled at him, and willed them both to relax.

"Your horses should be all right out here, Ayla," Vincenzia said, gesturing about. "What do you think?"

She nodded. "I think so, yes," she said as she lifted her daughters and then Danara off Whinney's back.

The man of her hearth nodded, then hurried toward the lodge. "Hallo, he called out as he entered. "We're here!" He dropped his main pack in the entry, then walked into the main communal hearth.

"Oh, you are here," Serana said, reaching up to hug her mate's brother. "I thought I heard voices out there. I'm so glad you got back early. We wondered how long you'd be. Zarina was getting worried...did every thing go okay?"

Vincenzia nodded. "Yes, Grov and Ayla reached us without incident and we left the morning after you did."

Serana nodded, then frowned. "Where is everyone?"

"Outside unloading the horses."

"Oh, well we've got everything all set up in here, but let's go out and help."

~oxoxo~

The horses quickly unloaded, everyone came inside, including Oak Camp's anxious new members. For a few moments, everyone just stood around talking, those that had arrived the day before wanted to hear about Grov and Ayla's short, but separate trek beside Big River. It was quickly told, as there was nothing too interesting to tell, then the couple excused themselves and went to the visitor's hearth, which somehow seemed wrong to Danta. As she was led through the main gathering place and down the long wide hallway to what was now going to be called Red Fox hearth, with Davaria holding Danara just behind her, all she could think about was Ayla and her family in the visitor's hearth. Why should they be given a hearth the moment they arrived, when Ayla, who'd been born to Oak Camp, slept in the visitor's hearth?

"It is finished, right?" Fraylora asked to no one in particular as they walked.

Travie scowled. "Of course! We would not let you return with new members without being ready."

Fraylora chuckled at the tone of voice the woman eight years her senior used; it sounded harsh to those who didn't know her well, but Oak Camp had had a year to get used to her, and her usual Mamutoi forwardness.

"Mother!" Danie said, from behind when she noticed Danta stiffen. Obviously the young woman was nervous; she thought her mother should take that into consideration. "It was just a question."

Suddenly seeming to see the newcomer's nervousness, she realized her mistake and sighed; she did not want to frighten the poor woman. "Of course it is," she said, turning to look at Fraylora and going on. "We moved the entrance to the side passage, so they will be closer to the other young adults...that was Danie's idea," she informed them, then went on. "And I just finished moving things around...and their beds are all made. Go on...take a look."

Fraylora smiled, then took Danta's hand. "Come."

Danta glanced back at Davaria and tried to smile, then followed Fraylora. She stopped suddenly however, when she got to the doorway of their new hearth; there was a fox skull hanging over it.

"Oh! You did find it," Danie said with excitement when she figured out why Danta had stopped. "I wondered if you would, with the mess I left in Snow Leopard hearth."

"Well, I probably would not have, had we not been moving out of this hearth," Travie complained. "But I stumbled upon it while packing. You really did leave a mess," her mother accused.

Danie blushed. "I'm sorry. I sort of left in a hurry."

Travie rolled her eyes, but didn't say anything disparaging, as her daughter's mate's mother was standing right there. "We moved you back in with Ivan...that is what you wanted, right?" Overall, she had nothing against her daughter's mate, but she loathed his practical jokes the winter before and hoped this winter they would not see a repeat performance. Then she remembered that her daughter and Ivanolia wouldn't even be present during the winter, that she wouldn't even get to see her grandchild until the cold season had ended, and wondered which was worse, the man's jokes or her daughter's absence.

Danie grinned and nodded. "Of course!" And then to Danta she said, "I hope you don't mind getting your adoption gift from me early. When Ayla told me your hearth would be the Red Fox, I asked mother to pull this out." She touched the fox skull lovingly and then smiled at Danta. "It's actually the skull of an artic fox, but I thought it would work. This," she said, "was my first kill."

Danta grinned and hugged Danie. "Thank you. It's perfect."

Danie smiled. "Well, you get settled...I need to go lie down. This one was very active last night and I didn't sleep well," she said with a pat to her belly as she walked away.

~oxoxo~

Inside the hearth, Danta and Davaria looked around with amazement. It was bare, but for three beds, but it was clean, and it was more spacious than they'd ever dreamed it could be; they were used to sharing nearly half the space with their mother, who'd always managed to take up most of the area.

Both were silent, their emotions getting the better of them. Danta's eyes filled and overflowed while Davaria struggled to hold his back. Danara, on the other hand, was not so quiet.

"This is our space?" she asked as she peeked around her mother at the other woman.

"Ah-huh," Fraylora said with a nod. "All yours."

Running her hand over the furs of one of the beds, then walking further into the hearth and over to the other two sleeping places, she crouched down and looked under one of them. Turning, she smiled. "I have my own sleeping place?"

Fraylora smiled back at her, as did the child's mother and uncle.

"At Sumac Camp I never slept alone," she said with a slight frown on her face.

Fraylora shrugged. "Well, I'm sure your mother will share her bed with you, if you want her to."

Danara looked at her mother for confirmation. When she got it she shrugged. "I can sleep alone; I'm a big girl."

"Of course you are," Fraylora said. Then to Danta and Davaria she said, "You two get settled and I'll have the others bring in all your belongings."

"I can help with that," Davaria protested. He was used to having to depend on only himself.

Fraylora shook her head. "Just rest, Davaria," she said. "Let someone take care of you for a change. You too, Danta. Sit down and take a breather."

With a sigh, both Danta and Davaria nodded, then watched the other woman leave. They had to admit that they were tired, and not just physically. The whole ordeal of the summer meeting had them emotionally exhausted as well. Dropping their packs and plopping down on the beds, they closed their eyes.

It was good to have a new home, and a hearth with a name—Red Fox hearth. It had a nice ring to it, and it was a place of their own, not to be shared with their mean and vindictive mother. Both sensed, as they drifted off to sleep, that it was a place their protective spirits would be happy.

~oxoxo~

"That's the last of it," Vincenzia said as he and Gredenzia arrived back at the cooking hearth.

"You didn't wake them, did you?" Fraylora asked worriedly. On her last trip to Red Fox hearth, she'd covered the three sleeping people, then told everyone not to disturb them.

Vincenzia shook his head. "No, they're sleeping like babies."

"Humph!" Laurana burst. "I wish my baby would sleep."

Jenadoza laughed. "It'll get better."

"I sure hope so."

"So, should we wake them when the evening meal is ready?" Zarina asked. She and Wäglodia had been cooking since everyone arrived; the meal would be ready soon, but she didn't know what to do about their newcomers.

Fraylora frowned, then shook her head. "No, let's let them sleep. They need rest more than food, I think."

Everyone nodded their agreement.

~oxoxo~

It was the middle of the night when Danta came awake. At first, she didn't remember where she was and sat up in a panic. The space she was in was nearly dark, only a low fire burned nearby, making it hard to see. Then her eyes adjusted and she remembered—they were at Oak Camp.

Looking around, she saw that both her daughter and Davaria slept soundly, each in their own beds. Smiling, she pushed her furs off and stood up; she desperately needed to relieve herself. Glancing down at the night basket, she grimaced. She didn't want to use it, but was forced to because she did not know the area yet and therefore could not go wandering off alone at night. Afterward, she covered the basket, making sure the lid was secure, then put a piece of wood on the fire. It wasn't cold, but she wanted a little more light. After a short time of staring at the fire, she realized she was sleepy again. She turned first to get into her bed, then changed her mind and went to Davaria's. It had always been a habit of theirs when they were younger, to go to each other when they were upset or frightened about something, but this was the first time she'd gone to him when she felt content.

"What are you doing, Ata?" he mumbled, half asleep.

"I...I just didn't want to be alone." He was on his back and she, curled up on her side, leaned her forehead on his shoulder and gripped his forearm in her hands.

"Are you okay?" he asked, opening his eyes and blinking a few times.

"Ah-huh."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes...I just... That bed is so big and..."

"Empty?" he finished for her with a grin.

She nodded. "I'm sorry I woke you."

"That's okay, but now I think I'm hungry."

"Me too. But I don't want to go wandering around looking for food."

Davaria sighed. "Neither do I," he said.

For quite a while they lay there in silence, then Danta sighed and started to get up. "I suppose I should go back now."

"No! I want you to stay," he admitted, grabbing her hand before she could move away from him. "I guess...I feel lonely too."

Danta lay back down, this time on her back beside him. Holding hands, they stared at the ceiling until they both fell asleep again. By morning there was a third body in the bed.

AtDC

End of Part EIGHT!

Post Script

As stated at the top of this page (part six)—and every other part—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 "in progress" story...which has very little hope of ever being completed. Continue at your own risk!

Okay. Seems it usually takes me about two hours to do the transfer of each part (copy/paste, copy/paste, copy/paste, copy/paste, copy/paste...and so on), so it might be a while before I transfer parts nine and ten. I promise that I'll eventually get it all moved over—I do NOT, however, promise to finish the story.

Thanks for reading and for your patience!