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).

10. Part 10

Author's Note

Reminder – this fic is UNFINISHED...so when you get finished with part ten, don't bitch at me that you weren't warned! In fact, you are being warned at both the top AND bottom of each and every part, so...yeah!

Okay. So, as I've already said, my interest has been somewhat renewed. Yay! Mind you, I still have no real plans of adding any more new stuff now that all ten parts are up. I just...don't know if I have it in me. I am reREADING it though, so...that's something, right? I do have a sort of (kind of) outline of what I'd LIKE to happen, but...we'll see.

Anyway, I worked really hard to make sure all the scene breaks are there...but again, I apologize if some are still missing. I'm actually in the process of revamping the entire thing. I'll repost/replace the parts as I get them done. We'll see if it's any different. *sigh*

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

After the Death Curse – Part TEN (of ten)!

NEW CHAPTER

"Are you sure you're ready, Kena?" Doventia asked for at least the fifth time while they were packing. "We could wait another day or two...to make sure you're completely well."

The woman rolled her eyes, then turned to look up at her mate. "Doventia, we've been through this. I'm not sick."

The man frowned. It seemed he'd been doing a lot of that over the last few days—the last fifteen days, to be exact, ever since he'd been told that his mate's first daughter would be given to her cousin's mate's son, a vulgar young man most could not stand. And now, he believed his mate was being unreasonable. She'd been vomiting for several days now. How could she say that she wasn't sick?

"But Zakena, you still don't look well. You're hardly fit to travel."

The woman sighed as she pushed to her feet, then lifted her pack and swung it to her back. She had to take a step backward when her mate reached to take her pack from her. "Doventia, you have enough to worry about. I'll carry my own weight."

"Kena, please. At least let me help."

She shook her head. "I'm fine," she said, her tone exasperated. "This is all normal for a woman who's blessed." Unconsciously she rubbed a stomach that wouldn't be flat much longer. "Mother knows you should understand this by now. I have had four other children."

"Six," he corrected, his voice flat. Her last two pregnancies had not gone well. The first had been full term, but the birthing had lasted so long that the baby hadn't survived and she'd been left almost drained of her own life. And the last child came a moon cycle early and only lived for one day. They'd both been devastated, and he'd prayed his mate would never become blessed again.

Zakena bit her lip. "Yes...six," she whispered. "But this is different," she went on. Turning her back on him, she picked up her hat and pulled it down over her head.

"How is that?"

She shrugged. "I don't know, Doventia. It just feels different." She still wasn't looking at him. "Danya, take Kalina's hand and go outside please," she directed her youngest.

Dutifully, the eight year old did as she was told. Both Doventia and Zakena watched as the children filed out of their old, soon to be abandoned again earthlodge, then the woman looked back at her mate. "I'll be fine."

"How can you say that, Kena? You're not keeping anything down."

She smiled. "I have been blessed before, remember? This is just part of the process."

He didn't respond. Not every woman suffered such bad sickness with pregnancy, but Zakena always did—and it was not a blessing.

"And, I will eventually, keep some food in me," she said as she reached for her gloves and slipped her hands into them. "You know this part lasts longer than a few days, and that it always passes," she went on.

"Not always," he corrected.

She sighed. He was right; her morning sickness often lasted well into her pregnancies, and never ended with the last two. She hated that he was so worried, but she didn't know what to do about it. They needed to get further away from the Khazaria, to have the protection of a camp. And she would need women near when her time came. Staying in Ash Camp's former earthlodge was not an option. Even he must know that.

"Doventia," she said as she grasped his tunic front gently. "If we wait until I give birth, then we're going to be here until well into spring. You know we can't stay here; it's not safe. Not for me and not for our family."

Sighing, he said, "You are right, of course."

"So then we move on. We've been here long enough."

Finally, the man nodded.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

Ivanolia had woken up early, but he'd not moved from his sleeping platform. For once, he was awake before Oda and, propped up on an elbow, he was watching her sleep. Lying naked in the furs beside him, she was sprawled out and clearly still sound asleep. Glancing around the hearth, he noticed that neither Danie nor the children were present—again. And it was obvious to him that they'd not been back since they'd left the evening before. He couldn't help wondering how Danie was going to feel about what he'd done with Oda. Among their own people, sharing pleasures with another was quite common, but this was different. Oda was different. She was Clan and he was worried.

But it was expected and, he suspected, that's why Danie had stayed away that night, so that he and Oda could consummate their joining. Looking back down at her, sleeping so soundly, he had to smile. She hardly ever stopped moving; it was refreshing to see her so relaxed and at peace.

Carefully, so as not to awaken her, he slipped from the furs to pass his morning water. Then, as quietly as possible, he started some water heating to make tea and went to work on a meal.

~oxoxo~

Meanwhile, in Grov and Ayla's hearth, Danie woke up to the sound of Ayla's daughters playing with Ura, the three girls giggling loudly and getting shushed by Ayla.

"It's all right, Ayla," Danie said after yawning and stretching. "It's time I got up too."

Ayla smiled at her friend, but gave a slight nod toward the connecting hearth—Broud's hearth. "You might not mind, but he will."

Danie sent a glance in the direction of the other hearth and scowled. "Why is he so grumpy all the time?" she asked.

"Shhh," Ayla admonished her friend. "Though he can't speak them, he understands most of our words now."

Danie frowned and was about to say something further about the testy Clan man, but halted her words when he appeared out of the darkness.

"Ayla, tea," Broud commanded.

"Yes Broud," Ayla said. She'd been aware that he would awaken soon and already had it steeping. "I have it right here." Quickly, she picked up his cup and started for him.

Broud lowered himself into his usual sitting place and, without a glance at the dark-haired woman across the hearth from him, gestured, "This man would like the insolent female visitor to bring him his tea this morning."

Ayla stopped short, nearly spilling the tea on the seated man. With a glance over at Danie, then down again at the man, she turned and started for the woman instead.

"What?" Danie asked when she handed her the cup.

"Broud wants you to bring him his morning drink."

Danie cast a glance at the man, who now stared over at her, a look daring her to disobey his command.

"Please Danie, just bring him tea," Ayla said, switching to Mamutoi.

Danie stared up at Ayla in disbelief, then started to rise. "Oh all right! Do I have to kneel?"

Ayla smiled slightly, then shook her head. "Broud knows Grov not expect that within hearth, but outside...yes."

Though irked, Danie nodded. "That's smart, Ayla, speaking Mamutoi, so we can talk freely."

Ayla grinned, but stopped immediately when she saw Broud's sour look. He wasn't stupid; he knew the reason for the language change and didn't seem to appreciate it as much as Danie had.

~oxoxo~

"Where is Oga?" Broud asked a short time later. He'd finished his morning meal and didn't like that his mate wasn't there to take care of him.

"Grov took her outside so she could gather with the other women," Ayla said.

Broud nodded, then stood up and walked out of the hearth.

"Such a pleasant man," Danie said sarcastically as soon as he was out of hearing range.

Ayla giggled.

"I don't know how you can even put up with him...after all he's done to you," Danie went on.

Ayla shrugged. "Just like Oda, I have no choice."

Danie frowned. "But that's not true anymore, Ayla. You could leave this place. You have Oak Camp now. Just come home with us in the spring," Danie begged, "and you'll never have to face him again."

Frowning, Ayla shook her head. "It's really not that simple, Danie. It is true that Broud is difficult to live with, but..."

"Difficult!" Danie burst. "He forced himself on you...when you were still just a child."

Ayla gave a clipped nod. "I am well aware of that...just as Oda is aware of what Ivanolia did to her."

Danie bit her lip. She knew what Ayla was doing. She knew Ayla was telling her that some things just could not be helped or changed and that people couldn't run from life. Oda certainly couldn't. Oda didn't have a choice in the direction of her life and, though Ayla did, she wouldn't run away from her past. Broud and the Clan were part of her life and she intended to keep it that way. She might make excursions, travel to see those at Oak Camp and in various other places, but Brun's cave was her home.

"I'm sorry, Ayla. I didn't mean..." Danie's words trailed off.

"Do not be sorry, Danie. I'm not. My life it my life. I didn't like what Broud did to me, but I love my son. I wouldn't trade him for all the herbs in the region, and I couldn't take him away from the Clan. Sure, we'll visit Oak Camp, possibly even winter with them sometime, but this is my home...at least for now." She paused. "Unlike Oda; soon she will not live with the only people she's ever known."

Danie sighed. "I'm sure this is very difficult on Oda."

Ayla nodded. "And on you."

Danie shrugged. "To be honest, it has been," she said with a nod. "But I'm also very proud that Ivan's doing the right thing. He could run from this, avoid the truth, but he's not."

Ayla smiled. "It is nice to see. He has changed very much since I first met him."

They sat silently for a time, then Danie spoke again.

"Do you think Oda will adjust to Oak Camp."

"I don't know. I suppose that will have a lot to do with Oak Camp and whether or not they can accept Oda. I think though, that her adjustment to Ivan is going to be the most difficult. Accepting a person who has hurt you is not easy.

"No, I don't suppose it is." Danie's eyes went over to the dark opening of Broud's hearth, then back to Ayla.

"But it is possible. I should know."

Danie tried to smile.

"It just takes a willingness...and time."

Danie nodded. "That's why wanted to stay here last night," she admitted, "so Ivanolia and Oda could have some time alone together. They both act so...strangely around one another." She shrugged. "I didn't think having an audience was helping, so...here we are." She grinned, then covered her mouth with her hand. "Plus...I couldn't stand staring at those walls another moment; I just had to get out of there." She giggled. "Poor Ivan. Stuck there, bumbling through this. And poor Oda." Danie's eyes went wide. "Oh Mother! what have I done to them."

Ayla smiled. "You've given them a chance. I wouldn't worry too much."

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

It was near dark when the eastern hunting party finally returned to camp, Kazmiria at the front and walking proudly. They'd been gone half a cycle of the moon and were obviously glad to be back, but they hadn't returned alone; they brought surprises, or rather, slaves, bound up and scantly clad, all of them shivering and frightened-looking.

Kazaskia, who'd been lounging at the far end of the encampment, didn't notice them at first. When he did, he stood up and went to the son of his mate.

"What is this?" he asked with a gesture at the four pitiful creatures the younger men had brought in.

"They resisted, so we captured them. Put up quite a fight too. There were six of them."

Kazaskia glanced at the newcomers and frowned, then looked back at Kazmiria. "Keeping them here just makes more mouths to feed; we can't afford that."

"They'll work for their keep...or I'll strip them of their skins," Kazmiria snarled. "Besides, this one," he said as he grabbed a severely beaten man by the hair and shoved him to his knees, "is a gift to Kalina. I don't want my mate to lift a finger."

Kazaskia's gaze dropped to the cowering man and he wondered why he'd not thought of doing such a thing himself. Though, in his case, it wouldn't be so his mate didn't have to work; it would be because Agasha was a lazy cow and never got anything done in the first place.

"I'm afraid we have a problem there," Kazaskia said when his thoughts returned to the son of his mate. "Kalina is gone."

Kazmiria stared. "What's happened to her?"

"Doventia has taken his mate and her children and they've left."

"And you've not gone and brought them back?" Kazmiria snarled.

"We searched, but found nothing."

"ARGH!" Kazmiria screamed. He'd not taken off his pack until then, and now he sent it flying, scattering those who were near enough to be struck by it. Then he turned his rage on the man at his feet. Screaming, he sent his foot into the man's ribcage over and over, then picked up a log and beat him until a sickening crack rent the air and the man no longer moved.

No one had moved during the scene, but now that it was over, several quietly disappeared. But not Kazaskia.

"Feel better?"

"I want her found!" Kazmiria growled.

"I expected that you would. We'll leave tomorrow." Kazaskia looked down at the lifeless body of the foreign man. "What do you want to do with that?"

Kazmiria looked at the body, then at his mother's mate. "We'll leave it right where it is...as a warning to any and ALL who consider defiance," he yelled.

Kazaskia frowned. The stench a rotting body produced was not a pleasant thought, but it would be a good warning to those considering any disloyalty. At least it's not summer, he thought.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

As of yet, there'd not been a formal adoption ceremony for Hetara and her daughter, as there'd been for Danta and Davaria, but Oak Camp hadn't neglected to celebrate the coming of two new members; a known healer and a new young woman were a much welcomed addition. In fact, though no gifts had been given or received, Oak Camp had managed to gather each night to show the woman and her daughter how very pleased they were with the new arrangement.

Hetara, though still not feeling completely comfortable, was adjusting to Oak Camp's daily living, and she liked her hearthmate very much. Though from vastly different backgrounds, the two women found that, where likes and dislikes were concerned, they had much in common and were often found swapping stories and cackling over past happenings that, though not shared personally, helped to bring them together.

And Dakara, who'd not had many friends in their previous camp, because there weren't many girls there, and none her age, and because they just weren't a friendly bunch in her previous camp, suddenly found herself not only the center of attention within a new throng of people, both boys and girls of her age, but also added to the small group of young women who'd been assaulted at the summer meeting. Somehow those three women bonded quite well.

~oxoxo~

Sitting on Davaria's lap, Janika saw Dakara approaching slowly and smiled at her. Dakara carried a plate of food and a drink and smiled back shyly.

"May I sit with you?"

Janika slipped to the bench beside Davaria, then patted the space next to her. "Of course."

Davaria, his attention diverted from his previous conversation, turned and smiled at the young woman. "What do you think of Oak Camp?"

"I...um...it's...different...from Cedar Camp."

On Davaria's other side Danta slapped his arm. "Don't put her on the spot like that," she scolded. Then she too grinned at Dakara. "Tell me about it. An amazing difference, huh?"

Dakara nodded.

"I remember your mother, you know?" Danta said. She took a sip of her drink, then continued. "Last year Sumac Camp sent a runner to Cedar Camp. Many were suffering from spring sickness. Your mother came."

Dakara frowned as she recalled how upset her mother had been when she'd returned and, remembering the cause of it, her eyes filled with tears. "It was your sister and her daughter who died. Oh Mother, I'm so sorry."

Danta shrugged, her eyes full with emotion as well. "Your mother did everything she could, but they were too far gone, I guess. Everyone else survived."

Davaria, who'd turned to listen to Brulenzia talk, now turned back. "Unfortunately."

"Ari!" Danta looked shocked. She had no love for their former camp, but she did not wish them dead.

"Oh come now, Ata," Davaria said angrily. "Tell me you don't wish the Mother had taken Zadneetsia."

Danta frowned, as did Dakara and Janika, but the older of the three shook her head. "If I could trade his life for Dreena and Dätara's, then yes, I'd wish he'd...succumbed to the sickness. But him dying along with them does not bring them back."

Davaria's face reddened with anger and frustration. "It would have kept him from hurting you three," he gestured between them, his arm reaching out and pulling Janika protectively close.

Dakara's eyes dropped to her lap and Danta, embarrassed that she couldn't muster the anger her brother seemed to be looking for, did the same. Janika frowned, then looked at the man she loved and shook her head. "It's not in Danta to hate, Davaria. You can't hold that against her."

"Can't I?"

Janika shook her head. "No, you cannot."

The man scowled. "Tell that to me again come spring!" he snapped, then pushed to his feet and walked away. Everyone watched him go, confused by his sudden anger, then turned their eyes on Janika.

"My moontime is late," she admitted. "Davaria fears that I carry a child of Zadneetsia's spirit."

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER

Kazmiria and several of his men, including his mother's mate, set out at dawn. It didn't take them long to reach the spot where Doventia and his family had camped the first night of their journey west—or at least they believed it was where they'd camped. It took only a short time for them to figure out that it was a trick—that they'd been had. It was Kazmiria who realized this and he was furious.

"Wait! Stop!" he hollered as he halted and turned on his men. "Has anyone seen so much as a footprint since we left their fire?"

Every head shook; they'd not seen a stone overturned or a twig snapped, but they'd feared telling the infuriated man. It was Zadneetsia who finally said something.

"I told you they wouldn't go north," he snarled. "If you'd listened to me, we'd not have gone all this way, in the wrong direction, in this abysmal cold." Zadneetsia shivered. The wind had been blowing since they'd started out and they were chilled to the bone; all he'd wanted to do that morning was stay in his warm furs. "But no...no one listens to me!"

"Shut up!" Kazmiria snapped, turning on his friend. "Let me think." Raising a hand to his aching head, Kazmiria glanced back the way they'd come.

"Where then, Zadneetsia?" Kazmiria asked. "Since you know everything."

"I told you they went south," he said, his frustration evident. "Think about it, Kazmiria. It wouldn't make sense for them to go north. It's late in the cold season, already too cold here."

Kazmiria frowned. "South, huh? Hmm. Do you think they'd go back to Ash Camp."

Zadneetsia shrugged. "My guess is yes...they went there. But they won't stay there," he said with a shake of his head.

Kazmiria continued to frown. "And why's that?"

Zadneetsia rolled his eyes, as if he thought his friend stupid. "They can't winter alone, Kaz. Doventia and Hundaria could never hunt enough before the snows to hold them through the winter. And it's too late in the season to gather a decent store of plants and herbs." Throwing his arms up in frustration, he went on. "It's so cold now that the morning frost isn't melting by early afternoon."

"Then where in the Mother's frozen world would they go?" Kazmiria snarled.

Zadneetsia eyes flashed with hatred, then he grinned evilly. "Where else would they go?" he said, throwing his arms up again. "Who could they possibly turn to who'd take them in? They've gone to Oak Camp," he finished. "I'd wager my life on it."

Kazmiria frowned and glanced back down the trail they'd traveled, then a rumbling rose up in his chest and he screamed out his fury. Picking up a stick he struck the nearest tree and beat it until the stick disintegrated in his hands, then he picked up a stone and threw it as far as he could. Then pacing, he started talking to himself, as if no one else were there.

"Damn them!" he yelled. "Damn him! How dare he take Kalina away from me!"

Turning to his mother's mate, his face red with rage, Kazmiria could hardly control himself. "Why didn't you stop them?" he growled.

Kazaskia shook his head. "Kazmiria, they left in the night. I had no reason to suspect they'd do such a thing."

"So then, they looked forward to our joining?" the younger man asked. He knew better; he knew what Kalina's family thought of him.

Kazaskia frowned. "Well...no, not exactly, but..."

"But nothing! You should have known Zakena wouldn't give her daughter up so easily. You should have been more diligent!"

Kazaskia just stared at the infuriated young man.

"This is your fault!"

"Oh calm down, Kazmiria!" Kazaskia snapped. "There are other women out there."

Kazmiria's brow raised. "Oh really? Like...my cousin, or my sister? Do you expect me to take one of them?"

"If you must," Kazaskia said, his voice raised. "It's frowned upon, but it's not completely unheard of."

Kazmiria grimaced. "Argh...I will not mate my sister, and Zarka...she is..." He shuddered. "Not appealing to me."

"Well, I don't know what to tell you then, Kazmiria," Kazaskia snapped. "We don't have any other women, except for Laska, but you've already said you don't want her.

Kazmira glanced over at Igorvia and frowned; the other man's eyes were etched with worry and Kazmiria knew he didn't want to lose the woman though he didn't really love her.

"So you expect me to go without a woman then?" he asked Kazaskia, who only shrugged. "I'm a young man with needs, old man!" he yelled. "Is that what you think I should do?"

"Of course not!" Kazaskia snapped, then began to pace. "If you won't take a woman among us, then we'll send a delegation to another camp."

"What other camp?"

Kazaskia shrugged. "There are others beside the Sungaea. The Mamutoi aren't too far."

Kazmiria reached out and grabbed his mother's mate by the front of his tunic and yelled, "Are you sampling the shogur's ceremonial mushrooms again, Kazaskia? We'd have to pass through Sungaea territory to reach the Mamutoi. Do you think the Mamutoi won't be warned about us before we can get there?"

Kazaskia, only momentarily shocked, recovered quickly and, disentangling himself from Kazmiria, he shoved the younger man backward and to his backside, then stood over him threateningly.

"Don't you dare put your hands on me again, Kazmiria," he snarled through gritted teeth. "You may be the son of my mate, but that will not stop me from teaching you a lesson."

Kazmiria glanced away and Kazaskia moved away from him. "The Rosantia also live nearby, to the northeast, I believe," he said as he stared off in that direction. "We could probably find women with them."

Kazmiria, on his feet again, bit his lip, then nodded. "That is...an option; I will consider it."

Kazaskia's brow raised. "No...I will consider it," he corrected, to point out that he was their leader and that the younger man would go along with whatever was decided, whether he liked it or not.

Kazmiria clenched his jaw, but gave a clipped nod of acquiescence. "But first I will find that thief and make him pay for humiliating me...if that is...acceptable to you," he added mockingly.

Kazaskia nodded. He didn't seem to hear the other man's derision. "Good. You do that. We cannot let them get away with this." Kazaskia paused as he considered fitting punishments. Then he looked back at Kazmiria. "What will you do when you find them?"

Kazmiria shrugged. "I don't know yet. Maybe I will spit him over a fire like a boar," he said, a crazed look in his eyes as he imagined punishing Doventia. "After letting him see me take Kalina, then skin her like a helpless rabbit." His eyes snapped back to Kazaskia and, his eyes glazed over, he grinned manically. "But first I'll have to find them."

Kazaskia nodded. "I will go back to our people and await your return."

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER

"It's over!" Ivanolia said enthusiastically as he walked back into the hearth after meeting in the men's cave for the final mating ritual. The last three days of his isolation had been somewhat more pleasant than those leading up to them, but he was glad it was over and now he was going hunting. Quickly sifting through his belongings, he threw things into his pack, then rummaged through their other packs for his heavy parka.

"Danie!" he burst when he couldn't find it. "Where's my winter parka?"

She rolled her eyes, then got up and got it for him. "It's right here, Ivan. Don't you remember unpacking it that first day?"

"Like I remember anything from that first day," he said as he took his coat and dropped it on the pile of things he wanted to bring. "This whole experience is...well...interesting, to say the least. Do we have any more of those traveling cakes?"

Danie frowned. "You hate those."

Ivanolia shrugged. "I know, but they're good hunting food. You know me, I like easy."

Danie snorted. "Yeah, you make things so easy," she said as she went to where she'd put all their food. "Here."

He smiled, then leaned down and kissed the tip of her nose. "Thanks."

"How long do you think you'll be gone?" she asked as she watched him arranging his things.

"Just a day or so. The men said we don't need meat, but I just have to get out of here."

Danie nodded her understanding. While he'd been confined to their hearth, she'd been able to do anything she wanted—almost anything anyway; he'd put her on strict orders to stay with Ayla at all times, if she wasn't in their hearth, and she'd not argued with him.

"You won't forget what I said, right?"

Danie rolled her eyes. "Ivan, I'm not dumb."

"Well...I'm just worried, Danie," he said.

"Well don't be. I think I know how to take care of myself."

He shook his head. "It's different here, Danie...you have to be careful...really careful."

Folding her arms under her breasts, she sighed. "Yes, I know. I have noticed the differences."

"So you'll do what I said?"

Her feathers still ruffled, she glanced away.

"Danie?"

"Oh, all right!" She looked back at him. "But I don't think there's anything to worry about."

Ivanolia frowned. "You think being forced by one of their men isn't something to worry about?"

Putting her hands on her hips, Danie raised an eyebrow. "Would you listen to yourself! How would that be any different," she said with a laugh of disbelief, "than what you did with Oda?"

Ivanolia continued to frown. If he was honest with himself, he'd admit he was still uncomfortable with sharing pleasures with his second woman, and he certainly wasn't ready to make such a confession to Danie. "It is different," he protested.

"How is that?"

"Oda's my mate," he said after a moment's hesitation.

Danie shook her head. "It's not different, Ivan, because she was forced to mate you. She didn't want to any more than I like being submissive." She shuddered at the thought of doing anyone's bidding. Being told to fetch tea or pick berries or lug wood around or, Mother forbid, kneel so some man could relieve himself, made her want to throw something. But what could she do? It seemed she had no options so she'd have to make do, as would he.

"So...you're fine with this?"

"Are you even listening to me?" she asked. "Of course I'm not fine with this, but I know I have no choice."

"Argh! I really hate this, Danie!" he ground out in frustration.

She shrugged, then smiled as she wrapped her arms around him. "We can handle it."

Ivanolia's arms went about her waist and he pulled her close. "You might be able to."

"I'll just close my eyes and pretend it's you...should one of those beasts make such a demand."

Ivanolia growled and squeezed her against him.

Giggling, Danie squeezed back, then pushed away and looked up at him. "Ivan, you'd not say anything about me sharing another man's furs if we were at home."

He frowned. "Don't be too sure about that."

She laughed, but after watching him, her mirth disappeared. They'd both shared other furs since their mating and neither had complained—it was the way of both their peoples—but clearly he wasn't amused.

"Ivan?"

"Just try to stay away from them," he said. He was slowly pacing now.

"Yes, my mate," she responded, glancing at the ground in deference the way the Clan women always did. "This woman will do whatever her mate tells her to do."

"That's better!" he said with mock seriousness, then laughed when he received a smack to the back of his head.

"I'm certain I'm supposed to beat you or something...for that," Ivanolia joked as he grabbed Danie and started tickling her.

"STOP!" she screamed in between giggles. "Or I'm going to wet myself. Please," she begged.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

Doventia watched Zakena as she empted her stomach into the dirt, as was the norm for each morning, then he handed her a small damp hide with which she first wiped the perspiration from her forehead, then ran it over her mouth. Afterward, he helped her to her feet, but didn't say anything about how she suffered—it would do no use; he wanted her to rest and she refused.

"We're all packed," he said instead.

"Uh-ha," she said with a nod.

"Hundaria and Kalina have everything ready."

"That's good," she said as she turned away to go get her own things. When she couldn't find them, she spun around to face her mate. "Where's my pack?"

"We've got it. You're...sick."

"How many times do I have to tell you that I'm not sick?"

Doventia frowned. "Zakena, you are sick. It might only be from pregnancy, but you're obviously not well and—"

"Doventia..."

He held up a hand. "We're not taking any more chances, Zakena. You will carry nothing!"

"But Doventia, I can't show up at Oak Camp unable to care for myself and my children," she complained. "They'll never agree to take us if I can't contribute."

The man shifted on his feet. "And you think you can contribute if you are completely incapacitated with illness?"

She frowned. "I'm not ill."

"And, do you think they'll want us if your mate works you until you're ready to drop?"

"But I'm the one pushing us to keep moving," she countered.

He shook his head. "But they won't know that, Zakena. All they know about us is that we're from Ash Camp...that we sit around drinking too much and neglecting our duties."

She continued to frown.

"I have spent many, many seasons watching while you did everything. I sat back, consuming a skin of drink nightly, hardly ever going out and bringing back meat, and even being..." He swallowed hard before going on. "Unkind to you...and your children. I have not been a good mate."

"You have never hurt us, Doventia," she protested.

"Not physically, but I've been—"

"And you've hunted," she interrupted. "We have not gone hungry."

His brows raised; he'd often wondered if the babies she'd lost were due to lack of decent food. She'd always been thin, but over the years she seemed to become even more so. "Do you honestly believe that?"

She bit her lip, then nodded. "Of course I do."

"Well, I don't!" he snapped, then began pacing.

She let out a small laugh. "It's because of you that we've left, Doventia," she whispered as she went to her mate. Grabbing him, she wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her head on his chest. She hadn't realized he felt so badly about his contribution, or lack thereof, to their union. Because of the way she was raised, she hadn't really expected much of a mate and so was not all that surprised or disappointed that he didn't put forth more of an effort. He was a good man, she'd always known it was so, but they'd been stuck in the routines of their camp and hadn't known how to get out of it. Then Kalina's well being had been threatened and he'd put his foot down, and she was proud of him.

"Oh Zakena!" he rasped as he clutched at her desperately. "I am so sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry for, Doventia," she said. "It is what it is. We didn't know better. We were trapped there for a time, but we've gotten out. We can now start all over."

He squeezed her. "I hope you're right."

"I am."

They held each other for several moments, then sighed and stepped back.

"We should go, if you want to arrive before the day ends."

Zakena nodded. "I do."

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

"All right all," Tagnolia said as he came into the main gathering hearth. "It's started to snow; time to get the smoke holes covered." He clapped his hands several times, then turned and, without waiting for a response, headed back outside—and most followed.

~oxoxo~

"Would you just back off!" said Janika as she helped Davaria and Danta adjust the cover over their hearth. "I'm fine."

"Yeah, until you fall off the side of the earthlodge and hurt yourself," Davaria said. "There was no reason for you to come up here to help."

"No reason except for the fact that I too reside in the hearth," Janika snapped. "I'm just trying to help, Davaria.

He shook his head. "There's no need to put yourself at risk."

"At risk?"

Davaria nodded. "Yes."

"At risk of what?"

Davaria stopped working. "What if you fall and hurt yourself, you might lose the baby."

"Davaria, I could slip on the ice, fall down and crack my head open. I could trip over my own feet while walking through the dark lodge and break my neck. I could even get bumped by one of the playing children and tumble into the main hearth fire and burn up."

Davaria blanched. "Maybe you shouldn't leave the hearth."

Janika rolled her eyes, then looked at Danta. "What is it with men and thinking women are fragile while they're blessed?"

Danta frowned. "Honestly, I've never experienced men like that. Sumac men are...well...let's just say...unconcerned about pregnancy.

Janika frowned. "You mean your mate didn't take special care of you when you were carrying Danara?"

Danta glanced at her brother, then back at the younger woman. "I've never had a mate, Janika."

"Oh...sorry."

Danta shrugged. "It's all right. I was supposed to mate a man from Poplar Camp...but he was killed. But that was a long time ago."

"Hmm. Well generally, I've noticed that men are just overbearing," Janika said as she slid her dark eyes over the Davaria. "Don't even think of trying to confine me to the hearth."

"I could have Zarina do it," he threatened.

Janika's jaw dropped open. "You wouldn't!"

He shrugged. "After all, they are responsible for you."

SMACK!

"Ouch!" Davaria exclaimed, his eyes swinging to his sister as he rubbed the back of his head. "What in the Mother's name was that for? I thought we didn't hit people."

Danta shrugged. "Don't treat her like a child, Ari," Danta said. "The woman's now carrying a child, she no longer is one. Besides, there's nothing wrong with her doing a little work. There's no danger just yet...not until she big with the baby." Danta then extended a hand to Janika and pulled her to her feet. As they walked away they heard Davaria jump up and scurry after them.

"Hey, look!" he said before getting off the earthlodge. "There are people coming."

Everyone present turned to look, Danta included; she grimaced. "That one in front is Hundaria."

Janika shrugged. "So."

"He's friends with Zadneetsia."

Frowning, the young woman scrutinized the approaching young man and said, "Hmm. Isn't he a bit young to be friends with that beast?"

"All the younger men look up to Zadneetsia and clamor to do his bidding."

Janika shuddered.

Davaria saw Janika's immediate fear and his sister's revulsion. Quickly he helped them off the earthlodge, then made an attempt to steer them inside. Janika was pulled easily, but Danta resisted; she clearly wanted to know what was happening.

"I'm staying if Danta is," Janika protested when she realized the other woman wasn't going inside.

"But Janika," Davaria said as his grip tightened around her waist and he tried to walk her toward the lodge entrance, "you don't want to be here for this."

Disentangling herself from the man she loved, she said, "No, I'm staying out here." Then she went to where the Oak Camp people were crowded and waited for the people to reach them.

Sighing, Davaria followed.

~oxoxo~

"Greetings, Oak Camp," Doventia said. He'd dropped his pack to the lightly dusted ground and stepped around it. He glanced once over his shoulder to see Hundaria standing near his mother and brother and Kalina holding their younger sister, then back at Oak Camp's headman and headwoman, and all of Oak Camp apparently.

Tagnolia stepped forward, his hands extended in the customary gesture of welcome and friendship, but he was definitely uneasy. He recognized the man as one from one of the renegade camps, but didn't know his name or to which camp he belonged. "It's a cold day to be out walking. My name is Tagnolia and this is my sister, Tiflona. What brings you to Oak Camp?" he asked guardedly.

Doventia shifted on his feet. "I am Doventia. We are from Ash Camp...er...well...we were."

"Were?" prompted Tiflona.

The man nodded. "Yes...definitely were...we cannot go back there."

The headwoman frowned. "And so you came here? For what purpose, Doventia? Your camps decided to leave us."

Doventia sighed. "We come to you for assistance."

Tiflona continued to frown. "Assistance? Why would you come to Oak Camp for that? We house no kin of yours."

"No, that is very true, but..." Doventia glanced at his mate, then back at the Oak headwoman. "Tiflona, we couldn't think of anywhere else to go," he said desperately. "We have no one to turn to."

Tiflona looked past the man at his shivering family. "Your woman looks sick."

"Zakena is blessed, but yes, I do think she needs a healer."

"Zakena!" Tiflona exclaimed. She stepped forward and around the Ash Camp man. "You are cousin to Kazara and Kazaskia?"

Zakena nodded, her eyes wide and forehead pinched with fear, but didn't say anything.

"And you are here...at Oak Camp?"

Zakena nodded again.

"Why?"

But before she could respond, a shrill voice squawked from behind the assembled group—it was Travie. "What is going on out here?"

"It seems we have visitors," Tagnolia said sarcastically, his opinion of them obviously as low as his sister's.

"Well, do you plan on keeping them outside in this blasted cold?" she asked.

Tagnolia and Tiflona both frowned, then Tagnolia sighed. "Of course not. Won't you come in for a visit," he said, clearly not willing to extend them anything further.

Doventia nodded at the offer, understanding immediately that the Oak headman was not happy about having them there. Turning, he glanced at Zakena, who looked terrified, then picked up his pack.

~oxoxo~

Dakara, sitting in the main hearth with a few of the girls her age, glanced up as Doventia and his family walked through and frowned when her eyes fell on Hundaria. She'd never had an encounter with the young man, but she knew of his friendship with the man who'd hurt her and she was terrified. Slowly, and with as much casualness as possible, she excused herself, then fled to the healing hearth where she buried herself in her furs.

~oxoxo~

"This is the visitor's hearth," said Zarina as she pushed aside the privacy hide and stepped in. Though confused and slightly worried, she tried to smile. "Seems we're destined to keep it full. First it was occupied by Grov and Ayla's family, then we had visitors from Willow, Spruce and...Cedar." She paused, wondering if these people had anything to do with the destruction of Cedar Camp. "And now you. I'm not sure we've ever had so many visitors," she babbled nervously.

"Cedar?" Doventia questioned.

Zarina shrugged. "It's a long story. I guess their cave was...destroyed."

"Destroyed?"

Zarina nodded. She now had their full attention, but if she'd expected to see a flicker of knowing, she was disappointed; they seemed to have no knowledge of the incident at Cedar Camp. "They've disbanded."

Doventia glanced at Hundaria, who was suddenly engrossed in digging through his pack, then back at Zarina. The woman didn't seem to notice that anything was amiss.

"That's...too bad," he finally said. "And they came here."

"Not all of them. We spent all summer looking for a healer, but were unable to secure one. Now we don't have to worry."

Doventia nodded. "Hetara's good." He flexed his arm and said, "She once set my arm. It's never given me trouble since."

Zarina smiled, then she shivered. "I'll send someone in with some wood; it's fairly cold in here. We've only just covered the smoke holes," she said, pointing at the light dusting of snow in the fire pit. "And no one's been in here in days. But we'll get a fire going in no time."

Zakena tried to speak her appreciation, but only managed a weak nod as she collapsed on one of the sleeping places and closed her eyes.

Zarina frowned. "Is she all right?"

Doventia, who'd dropped to his knees next to the bed platform, ran a hand over Zakena's forehead and nodded. "Just tired, I suspect. It's been a long...seventeen days."

"Seventeen days?" Zarina repeated in confusion. Ash Camp just wasn't that far away.

"We also have a long tale to tell. In short, Ash, Dogwood and Sumac have moved to where Hemlock is." His gaze swept the hearth, raking over the ones he loved, then going back to the Oak woman. "They are now calling themselves the Khazaria and no longer resemble anything close to the Sungaea."

Zarina frowned. "Khazaria?"

Doventia nodded. "Kazaskia named us."

"After himself?"

"Yes. It is...not good there. We were actually frightened. That is why we left." He paused. "And I'm worried that they're follow us."

Zarina's breath caught. "I see. Tagnolia and Tiflona should be informed immediately."

The man nodded again. "Of course."

"Zarina?"

The woman turned around to see several boys at the hide door. "Yes?"

"We've brought wood."

"Oh! Good. Come, come!" she said, waving the boys in and pointing. "Gildenozia, put yours in the pit. The rest of you stack the wood there." Zarina watched as the boys did as they were told and quickly leave, then knelt to start their fire.

"I'll do it," Hundaria said.

Zarina nodded, then stood up. She'd intended on using one of Ayla's firestones, which she kept in the pocket of her tunic, but she understood that the young man probably needed to be doing something.

"Well, we're just about to eat," Zarina went on. "You're welcome to join us."

"Thank you," Doventia said, as he worked to remove Zakena's heavy, but snow encrusted, parka.

"Would you like me to send Hetara over?"

"Um. No, I think all she needs is rest...for now."

Zarina nodded. "And hot food, maybe. Please join us."

Doventia glanced up at the headman's mate and smiled. "We will, Zarina. And...thank you."

Smiling back, the woman back out of the visitor's hearth and turned to see all of Oak Camp staring at her.

~oxoxo~

"Well?"

"Well what?" she asked.

"Why are they here?" Hetara hissed.

Zarina sighed. "I don't really know anything, but it's...bad. They've run away and I don't think they can go back." Her eyes were filled with fear and she leaned against the first person who came to her; it was Wäglodia.

"Come Zarina. Sit," he said. Pushing the woman onto a bench, Wäglodia quickly went to get her something to drink while Tagnolia dropped down beside her and gathered her in his arms.

"It'll be all right, Zar," her mate assured.

"I'm not so sure," Doventia said from behind them. He was shaking his head, but the look on his face—his eyes—told them he was terrified. "I'm not so sure," he repeated.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER

Everyone turned to look at the man who, for all intents and purposes, was from Ash Camp. He stood just in front of Hundaria and Kalina, the eldest son and daughter of his hearth, but the other three of their family were not with them. It was obvious they wanted to discuss the situation without the younger ones present, and that Zakena had stayed behind to mind her younger children. Understanding this, Travie stood up and, behaving as she would if she were with the Mamutoi, the people to whom she was born, took up Hetara's hand and walked silently to the visitor's hearth. Once there, she scratched a single time before pushing the curtain aside and stepping in.

"How are you feeling?" she asked the prone woman.

Zakena looked up from her sleeping place, surprised to see the two Oak women standing there. She knew one well and recognized the other as foreign; the former she had once called friend, the latter enemy only because she'd been told that it was so. "I'm tired, but I'm sure I'll feel better once I've had a chance to warm up," she answered coolly. Frightened and truly exhausted, she didn't know if she could afford to trust these two women; experience told her she could not, though she had a glimmer of hope that she could. Why would they be here otherwise?

Hetara frowned down at her, then tentatively stepped forward. "You have dark circles under your eyes, Zakena," she said with just as much coolness.

"That happens when one doesn't get much sleep, Hetara," Zakena said with obvious irritation.

Hetara shook her head. "It is not just that. You are also pale," she said as she sat upon the sleeping platform and leaned in close. "Too pale...and your eyes are yellowish." Reaching out, Oak Camp's new healer put a hand on the prone woman's forehead. "And you're cold...very cold."

"We've just come in out of the snow. What do you expect?" Zakena snapped.

Much to Zakena's discomfiture, Hetara continued to poke and prod. She lifted her eyelids and studied her eyes, then wanted to see inside her mouth—then examined her fingernails; she even lifted her tunic to push at her belly.

Shoving Hetara's hands away, Zakena finally broke. "I'm fine!" she barked. "Tired...but fine!"

"You are weak and tired...and sometimes become dizzy when you rise?"

Zakena frowned, then bit her lip and nodded. She wanted to get up and walk out, but she knew she didn't have the strength; she knew the healer was right.

"You have lost babies in the past," Hetara said matter-of-factly. It was not a question; Hetara knew Zakena's childbearing history well, though she'd never been close enough during her times of need to examine her, and when Zakena nodded, Hetara glanced back at Travie with a worried frown. "She needs to eat better. She needs meat; mammoth, bison, fish, ptarmigan...liver."

Travie nodded. "We have these things," she reassured.

"Have you been vomiting?" Hetara demanded.

Zakena nodded. She opened her mouth to point out that she was blessed, but Hetara didn't seem to be listening.

"I will make a tea," Hetara said, then she turned to Travie. "She is lacking moisture as well." Standing, she absently started ticking off on her fingers the ingredients she wanted for the Ash woman's tea, "...rosehips, blackcurrant... Elderberry?" She shook her head. "No, not elderberry," she whispered, thinking of her favorite wine. "Raspberry!" She nodded. Then she turned to Travie again. "Do we have any ptarmigan eggs?"

"I...I think so. Ayla's ptarmigan dish is a favorite; she left us with many eggs."

Hetara raised a hand to her chest and sighed with relief. "Good."

"Shall I go get my healing container," Travie asked. She knew Hetara hadn't arrived with much, but she had more than enough healing herbs, thanks to Danta and Ayla, and Hetara knew it too; they'd spent many an evening pouring over the contents and discussing healing.

Hetara nodded. "Bring it to the cooking hearth and prepare the hunger tea we discussed. I will bring Zakena out."

Zakena frowned. All she wanted to do was sleep. "Couldn't this wait until tomorrow?" she asked.

Hetara shrugged. "Probably, but I think we shouldn't. You have already gone without enough food." Hetara glanced at Zakena's youngest and noted that they'd clearly been eating better than their mother. Turning back to the woman, she frowned. "I suppose I could bring food and drink to you in here."

Zakena, now sitting, shook her head. "No, I will come." The urge to be near Doventia seemed to give her strength.

Hetara then reached out a hand. "Come. I will help you." With that she slipped her arm behind Zakena's back and lifted her to her feet, then started for the cooking hearth.

On her feet, everything seemed to tilt and whirl. Zakena's first thought was to go back to the nice warm furs, but now she desperately wanted to be with her mate; lately he seemed to make her feel better.

"What is wrong with me?" Zakena whispered as she struggled to walk.

"Nothing we can't fix," Hetara said with a pat on the other woman's arm.

~oxoxo~

Once the tea had been made, and Zakena settled on a bench, Travie gathered Oak Camp's youth and, putting a few of the older children in charge, gave them some of Zarina's sweet cakes and sent them down the hallway. As soon as the children were gone, Zakena's youngest included, all eyes went back to Doventia, Zakena, Hundaria and Kalina. It was time for an explanation; all wanted to know what was going on and why they had come to Oak Camp.

"Come sit," Fraylora said. In her usual motherly fashion, she'd come up and laid a gentle hand on Hundaria's forearm while taking up Kalina's hand and pulling them toward the bench where their mother sat. Not knowing what to do, they nervously allowed themselves to be pulled, sitting on either side of their mother, and then accepting the plates of food that were laid in their laps. "Eat," Fraylora coaxed. Zakena too was given food, but the quantity was less and she was warned to eat it slowly.

Doventia watched them settle in, then he too sat—on a bench across from them. He wanted to sit with his mate, to hold her; she looked so weak and helpless. But any fool could tell he was to be the one to tell their story, and she did not really need him now; Hundaria and Kalina were there beside her.

"Would you like some blackberry wine?" Serana asked.

Doventia looked up at the woman. He didn't know her name, but she was familiar; they all were, after all they'd been of the same people until recently—until his camp rebelled against their long-established customs and broke off to become their own people. He shuddered in disgust and embarrassment over it and hoped they'd be forgiven for their stupidity, though, at this point, he thought it was doubtful.

As he looked into the wine-pouring woman's bright, hazel eyes, he saw a woman who, though appearing to be sweet and gentle, and amazingly beautiful, was also quite strong. This did not surprise him; Oak Camp was filled with strong, capable people. That made him wonder what he'd been thinking in coming here. How could they, his family, fit in in such a place? he wondered. His eyes went to the container of wine and he considered the offer. He wanted almost nothing more than a drink, if for nothing else but to calm his nerves, but he shook his head, thinking it might be better to decline at this time. He knew he'd chosen correctly when the woman nodded and smiled, then backed off. He watched as she went around filling the cups of others, deliberately not offering any to Zakena.

"Water then?" another asked. "It's fresh...right out of the river."

"Or maybe hot tea?" yet another offered.

Doventia frowned, feeling a little overwhelmed; he wasn't used to other people doing for him. Usually, if he wanted something, it was up to him to get it, or to go without. "Um. Uh-ha," he said with a nod. "Tea, I guess." He then watched as the woman filled a cup and handed it to him, then he took a sip and smiled. "Interesting. It tastes...fruity."

Still standing close by, the woman pouring the wine said, "Hetara has raided my raspberry stores again." She threw a look of mock irritation at Oak Camp's new healer, but it was obvious to Doventia that it was all in good fun.

Hetara, still mildly upset about Doventia's family's presence, couldn't help the slight smile that Serana's comment had caused, but stubbornly crossed her arms over her chest and leaned against one of the earthlodge's support beams. The healer was quickly becoming content with her new home, and the people within it, but she feared further change. In her experience, things rarely changed for the better and anything that had the potential of hurting her daughter, of displacing them once again, was something she would fight with the ferociousness of a mother lion protecting her young. But the healer in her wanted to help these people as well; she couldn't help herself, that was what made her a good healer.

"Of course, that means less raspberry wine next season, but..." Serana shrugged. "I don't suppose it matters."

Everyone grinned knowingly. Serana worked on her craft almost daily; Oak Camp was never short on drink—not that they drank all that often, or overly much when they did.

"Oh good," Vilognia piped in, "that means I won't have to make so many containers this season."

Serana shook her head. "Don't you even think about slacking off," she scolded her mate. "I make the wine, you make the storage containers. It's as simple as that."

The man chuckled—everyone did. But when the laughter subsided, all turned back to Doventia; they clearly wanted to hear the man's story.

"So," said Tagnolia, "what brings you to Oak Camp, Doventia? I have to admit that, after what happened at the summer meeting, we're quite surprised to see you." And not all that thrilled, he added silently when he saw Hetara nervous and frightened look. The woman had done her duty by seeing to Zakena, but that didn't mean she liked it.

Doventia blushed and glanced down into his cup of tea, then up at the assembled people, a deep frown etched on his face. "Things haven't gone well since we left the summer meeting," he admitted with a shake of his head. "The leaders have been at each other's throats constantly, arguing over everything." He took a sip of tea and swallowed, then tried to explain. "It was decided shortly after leaving the summer meeting that we'd not stay at our home camps, but move further east...to where Hemlock Camp is. Most people weren't very happy about it; a move like that is...unsettling. But we did understand their reasoning. They wanted to be as far away from the Sungaea as possible and Hemlock is the eastern most camp...and related to some of us," he added, thinking of the brother he'd left among the Khazaria.

The people of Oak Camp nodded their understanding. Though the thought of having to uproot themselves and move somewhere else was nearly inconceivable—most had been in this location their entire lives—they were somewhat relieved to hear the news; it was nice to know that they weren't so near.

"No one wanted to argue with the leaders, so we just went along with it. The young men were sent to our old camps to collect our belongings," he said with a glance at Hundaria, who looked away. "Apparently they were given strict instructions to bring back nothing other than the necessities. Many were quite upset when they returned without certain things; Zakena cried over the loss of her mother's mother's bowls."

Doventia's gaze went back to the group. "I guess it's understandable, that they couldn't carry everything," the older man went on with a shrug, "but it was difficult to lose so many of the things we'd always had.

The Oak people nodded again. One always took for granted that, if they did move, their belongings would go with them.

"And the rest of us continued on to Hemlock. Things were relatively quiet among the group as we traveled...except for the leaders. Along the way they argued over little things. Each seemed to expect the others to do whatever they said. If Ivarsia wanted to stop for the night, Kazaskia was adamant that we continue on for another hundred steps. And if Kazaskia insisted on a direction, Rostavia balked and wanted to go another."

"What about the headwomen?" Travie interrupted.

"Other than Kazara," the man scoffed, "they weren't allowed to say anything."

"Weren't allowed?"

Doventia shook his head. "Rostavia slapped his sister when she attempted to make a suggestion that went against his opinion."

There were gasps around the hearth.

"Rostavia struck Olgara?" Tagnolia questioned, shocked by what he was hearing.

Doventia nodded. He knew hitting wasn't allowed among the Sungaea, but he'd witnessed abuse like this on many occasions, though never between a headman and headwoman.

"And that incident was shortly followed by Ivarsia shouting at Iyena, threatening to do the same if she didn't stay out of it. To be honest," he said with a shake of his head, "I was surprised that Iyena didn't argue further. She's definitely not one to back down easily, but she did. She must have been terrified. It was scary," admitted.

"What about Kazara?" Tiflona wondered aloud.

Doventia snorted. "Well, Kazaskia's not stupid. He saw quickly that alienating someone as strong as Kazara wouldn't help his drive to take over. Personally, I think he discussed it with her before the incidents with Olgara and Iyena. And I think he promised to include her on everything if she supported his fight for control."

"Humph! That sounds like the Kazaskia I know," Hetara quipped. "What a sneaky little fox that man is!"

"Leeseetsa isn't sneaky," Danara interrupted as she ran into the hearth and picked up her little pet.

All the Oak members turned and chuckled at the girl, but Doventia and his family stared in shocked silence.

"Yeah right, Danara," Danta teased her daughter. "And what did we find that little bundle sneaking into last?"

The little girl pouted and hugged her fox pup. "She didn't mean to rip open that basket, Mamma. She was just hungry."

More laughter.

"Um-hmm," Danta said. "And, what is the sweet little thing doing in here now?"

Danara frowned. "Running. She was tired of lying in her basket. Foxes don't like to sit still all the time."

"Hmm...neither do you!" Danta said.

"All right then...what a sneaky hyena that man is," Hetara amended with a smile at Danta's daughter. "Is that better?" she asked the child.

Danara grinned and nodded, and everyone smiled with her.

"Is...is that a fox?" Doventia asked.

Danara nodded again. "Durc gave her to me...for my doption gift," she said proudly as she hugged the fur ball.

"Durc?"

"Ayla's son," someone put in.

"Do you wanna hold her?" Danara asked, holding the furry pup out to the man. "Leeseetsa's very nice."

Doventia considered, then shook his head. He wasn't particularly interested in anything the little flathead had touched and wondered why Oak Camp had allowed the child to keep such an animal, or why they seemed to feel no disgust toward Ayla and her flathead family. The woman had once been Sungaea, but now, with her pack of flatheads, she seemed more animal than human. They'd even brought that meat eating bird with them, and then came the horses. Who had horses? he thought. Horses are food. And now this? Now Oak Camp had a fox. What would be next? Wolves and cave lions?

"You should pet her at least," Danara insisted. "Ayla says she'll like you better once she has your scent."

Doventia frowned at the animal, then glanced at the girl's mother. Danta stood there calmly—patiently waiting for him to introduce himself to her daughter's fox—with a slight smile on her lips, her light brown eyes twinkling. It occurred to him that he'd never seen Trata's youngest daughter smile before, and that, now that she was cleaned up, she was actually very pretty—much more than pretty.

Doventia's gaze then went to Danta's brother, Davaria, who he'd not noticed sitting with the young adults until that very moment; he too looked good—healthy and happy, if still on the thin side, and apparently in love. The woman on his lap was young, and from Spruce Camp if he recalled correctly, and she had her arms wrapped around him lovingly. What Spruce Camp woman would mate a Sumac Camp man? he wondered in confusion. He then looked back at Danta's little girl; he'd never heard a word come out of Danara's mouth before. In fact, he'd only seen her on a handful of occasions. She was a tiny, little thing, but very adorable. She looked like her mother, but not.

Quickly, Doventia scanned the group again, and that's when it struck him. He was at Oak Camp, and these people, Davaria, Danta and Danara included, belonged to the camp that outranked all but three other Sungeaen camps; only Pine, Elm and Beech were above them after this last summer meeting. If nothing else, he'd noticed that upon entering their earthlodge, for all high-ranking camps proudly displayed their position among their people. How can we even hope to join them? he thought with despair as his head drooped and he stared at the dirt.

Then he heard a peal of childish laughter from somewhere deep within Oak Camp's long-established earthlodge and his head came up. He eyes fell immediately on Davaria and the young woman because they were the first in his line of sight from where he stood.

This is Oak Camp, he told himself again. Davaria was a member of Oak Camp now and any woman, Spruce or otherwise, would welcome the attentions of an Oak man, even if that man happened to be formerly of Sumac. And soon, he suspected, Danta would find herself a decent mate as well. It was the elevation of these three that lifted his hope. Slowly, Doventia reached a hand out to pet the fox— nly to yank it back in fear when the little vixen made a hiss-like sound.

"Stop that, Leeseetsa! Don't you snarl at him," Danara scolded, then looked up at Doventia apologetically. "I'm sorry." The man shrugged.

"All right now," Danta said as she lovingly swatted her daughter's bottom and pointed down the center hallway. "Out with you." The child smiled, then turned and bounced back down the hallway.

Everyone sat in silence; they'd been knocked off track and it took a moment to focus. Finally, Doventia nodded, then continued. "Yes...sneaky. Kazaskia's definitely hyena material," he said, remembering what Oak Camp's healer had called the man. "By the time we arrived at Hemlock Camp, he'd all but officially taken over. And Hemlock's heads, being so young and all, fell easily into his trap, preferring to give in rather than rise up against someone like Kazaskia."

Tagnolia frowned. "But...with so many people, how could they allow something like this to happen?"

"Exactly," Tiflona said in support of her brother. "One man should not be able to influence so many. Even with Kazara's support, and that of Ivarsia and Rostavia, if he really had it, which it seems he did not..." She laughed, her confusion evident. "One or two, or even four, simply cannot overpower the masses."

Doventia shrugged. "I don't know what else to tell you except that they have. Even we were going along with him until..." He stopped and glanced at Kalina. Her eyes were cast down at her empty plate.

"Until what, Doventia?" Tifona prompted.

"Until Kazaskia came to us and said he was giving Kalina to Kazmiria. That was when I decided we could not stay."

Tiflona looked over at the young woman who'd squared her shoulders in defiance, but who also had tears in her eyes, then back at the man of her hearth. "But...but Kalina is a cousin of Kazmiria."

Doventia shrugged, then shook his head. "Kazaskia said it didn't matter, that Kazmiria needed a woman and only Kalina was available." He swallowed. "You have to understand that he was not giving Kalina a choice."

All eyes went to Kalina, but quickly turned away when they saw the tears coursing down her cheeks. Clearly she did not want to mate the man to whom she was supposed to be given and it was obvious she felt guilty about what running had done to her family.

"So you ran?"

Doventia nodded. "In the middle of the night when everyone else was sleeping...like cowards," he said, his face flushing with embarrassment.

"There is no shame in protecting those you love, Doventia," Vincenzia said.

The man shrugged. "In theory."

"If you could go back, would you rather have given Kalina to Kazmiria?" another asked.

Doventia shook his head adamantly. "Of course not!"

"Well then, you did what was necessary," Gredenzia said. "One must always put their loved ones first."

Doventia nodded.

"And now you are here?" Hetara prompted. She still wanted to know more. She could not help the fear that she felt.

"We considered Willow Camp, because they were closest, but I figured that's where they'd think we went." He took a deep breath and swallowed hard, then went on. "We did lay a fake trail in that direction though," he said as if to reassure.

Tiflona frowned. "What are you saying? Do you think they'll come after you?"

"I think they will. Kazaskia's not going to take well to what we did. It opens it up for others to do the same and he can't afford that." The man paused again and watched Oak Camp discussing the matter; they were obviously alarmed. Standing, he interrupted. "We've put you in danger. We'll leave come morning," he said with a gesture for Hundaria and Kalina to get up. They both stood and began helping their mother to her feet.

"No! Wait!" Fraylora burst. She'd settled herself next to Kalina and had been sitting there quietly, watching and listening as everyone talked, but now she was on her feet and clutching Kalina's hand. "You can't leave here...Zakena is ill; she about to drop! And if you continue to run, they'll only follow you. Eventually they will find you and you'll be alone. Wouldn't it be better to have others behind you...to have an entire camp of people ready to support you?"

Hetara bit her lip to avoid commenting, but she didn't need to; Doventia didn't miss the Cedar woman's worry. "We should move on...go to Pine Camp," he said with a nod. "Pine is the highest ranking Sungaean camp. Isn't it their duty to decide what to do with us and the situation?"

Tagnolia frowned. "Maybe, but...is that what you want?"

Doventia shrugged. "I really don't know. Honestly, we came here hoping...hoping we could stay here, but...well...we don't want to put you in any danger."

"But you may have already," Hetara cried, a worried crease in her forehead.

Doventia gave her a pained look. "We'll leave."

Tiflona shook her head. "No. Fraylora's right. It's not safe for you to go," she said. "If you think they're following, then they're probably already on their way here; it's too late to avoid the danger of you coming here. You should stay." Then she looked at Hetara; the woman looked ready to bolt. "I know you're frightened, Hetara, but we can't just let them go off on their own."

"But..." Hetara looked at everyone. Several were nodding and she knew they were right. After all, they'd taken her in and she was grateful. "Well, there is safety in numbers. I suppose we'll be fine."

The headman smiled. "Exactly!"

Relieved, Doventia sighed. "Thank you," he whispered. "We really appreciate this and we'll do anything we can to contribute."

Tagnolia grinned at the man. "Of course you will! But, where to put you." He began to pace.

"The visitor's hearth will be just fine."

"Temporarily," Zarina said. "We'll have to get to work on expanding, I think."

"We'll help," Hundaria said. "I can work."

"Of course you can," Vilognia said.

Tiflona frowned. "Unfortunately it's too late to expand. With the cold and snow the ground is probably frozen solid. We'll have to wait until the spring thaw."

"Well, not to worry, we have plenty of space," Zarina chirped.

Serana grinned. "Now, who needs a refill?"

~oxoxo~

Leeseetsa - Лисица – vixen

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER

Waiting for some sign of occupation, and an order from their leader, Kazmiria's his men sat outside the old Ash Camp earthlodge. Crouched in the snow behind boulders and trees, they'd been there so long their teeth chattered loudly and their bodies shivered violently with bone-chilling cold. They were covered in snow and their faces chafed from exposure, yet Kazmiria made no move to enter. What he was waiting for was anyone's guess, but it was starting to grate on the nerves of some—Zadneetsia in particular.

"Why in the Mother's name are we still sitting out here? They're not here!" Zadneetsia finally growled through teeth clenched to prevent their chattering.

Kazmiria ground his teeth, then clenched his fists to keep from pounding them into the other man's face. "We are here, because you said they'd come here!" he snapped.

"Well, they're clearly not outside!"

"I can see that!"

Zadneetsia scowled. "So, do you think we can go inside sometime before my manhood shrivels up and freezes off!"

Kazmiria smirked. "As I understand it, that part of you is no longer a concern," he taunted without looking at the other man. Then he chuckled at the growl coming from behind him. "Relax, Zadneetsia, you will have your revenge just as soon as we find Doventia."

"Not on the one who's caused me this humiliation!" Zadneetsia snarled. He'd climbed through the snow and now held Kazmiria's parka sleeve. "That flathead-loving woman has probably already left Oak Camp."

Kazmiria shrugged out of Zadneetsia's grasp and nodded. "Perhaps...but there will be others to take it out on. Maybe I will allow you to have Kalina...after I am finished with her."

"As if she will be of any use to me after you've finish with her!" Zadneetsia scoffed knowingly.

Kazmiria shrugged. "The choice is yours. There'll be Danta too...possibly." He frowned and glanced down at the area of other man's manhood. "What will you do with a woman now anyway?"

Blushing slightly, Zadneetsia pursed his lips. "It is not completely unusable," he growled.

"Humph. That's not what I heard."

"Well you heard wrong!" Zadneetsia snapped.

"All right, all right!" said Kazmiria. "Relax! Like I really care what you do."

But Zadneetsia was angry now. "Why don't you ask your sister how well I can use it!" he taunted. "Gave it her just fine!"

Kazmiria stared at him for a moment, then glanced back at the old Ash earthlodge and shrugged. "Better you than me," he said. "Do you know that Kazaskia actually offered me my sister?"

Ignoring the man's question, Zadneetsia said, "That's it? You don't care that I took your sister?"

Kazmiria shrugged. "Why would I care...that little tease has been asking for it!"

~oxoxo~

Kazmiria stepped out of the Ash earthlodge and waved his men forward. At Zadneetsia's annoying insistence, he'd finally gotten up and sneaked inside. All their sitting around outside and spying, however, was completely useless; Doventia and his family were not there. They'd been there, of that Kazmiria was sure, and he was pleased that they knew at least that much—that they were definitely on the right trail. Now he needed to make plans.

"We will leave several men here while the rest raid Oak Camp," he said as he and the men walked into the earthlodge.

Zadneetsia frowned. "Here? Don't you think they'll check here first?"

Kazmiria rolled his eyes. "It's not like we're going to stay here. I just want a warm place to go once I have Kalina."

"I thought you were going to skin her alive," Zadneetsia said sarcastically, his steel gray eyes sparking with pleasure at the prospect of violence.

Kazmiria shook his head. "I've decided that would be a waste, and too easy a punishment for running away from me. I think I'll have some fun with her first...and where better than her own bed?" he said with an evil sneer as he indicated the girl's mother's former hearth.

Zadneetsia glanced into the space and nodded. "And I can take Danta?"

Kazmiria shrugged. "My only goal is Kalina, but if you can get Danta, then by all means. That little minx has caused us enough trouble though...you sure you want her?"

Zadneetsia smiled. "Oh yeah...I think she'll do nicely, permanently tied to my sleeping place. That oughta cow that stubborn female."

Kazmiria chuckled. "They'll never know what hit them!"

~oxoxo~

Again Zadneetsia was frustrated with Kazmiria. They'd traveled to Oak Camp and had been spying on them for six days without making any attempts to grab Kalina, or any others, even though they'd seen both Kalina and Danta outside several times. Zadneetsia was tired and cold and wanted to strangle the other man, but still he sat there in the snow, waiting and watching, but ready to explode. And he was about to when Kazmiria finally turned to him.

"Look!" he pointed. "See there. Another hunting party is going out. I told you the previous one was not the last. And there's Hundaria."

Zadneetsia frowned, but nodded. "Yeah...so...now what?"

Kazmiria nodded. "We wait."

Zadneetsia's face turned red. "More waiting? I'm freezing!"

"Shhhh! Do you want them to hear us?" he hissed in fury. "Let's just wait long enough to see if they follow any kind of pattern. Then we'll move in."

Zadneetsia sighed, but nodded.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

Settling in at Oak Camp went smoother than the former Ash family could possibly have anticipated. They were amazed by how easily and quickly they were accepted, despite the where they'd come from, and found the Oak people cheerful, loving, and extremely sociable. Hardly a moment went by where they weren't congregated in the main gathering hearth or mingling in one of the private hearths. At first it seemed odd to Doventia and his family, because they weren't used to so much interaction. They were accustomed to sleeping half the day, eating only to survive since sustenance was in always short supply, drinking their fermented beverages well into the night, and finally passing out. At Ash Camp the people mostly kept to themselves, except when they were drinking and carrying on, and no one was willing to do anything for anyone else unless it got them something in return. All but a few of their people were lazy, lacked any real skill, and didn't really think beyond the here and now, whereas the Oak Camp people worked hard at everything they did, were skilled in almost every aspect of life, and planned for the future. And because of these things, Oak Camp could also play hard, and enjoy the things their hard work afforded them—and they did.

In the ten days since Doventia had brought his family to Oak Camp, so many activities had gone on that their minds were reeling. They'd watched and learned, and then helped as Oak Camp cooperatively worked together in small groups on things such as lodge repairs, skinning and tanning hides, sewing and beading articles of clothing, preparing and storing foodstuffs, and making and repairing hunting weapons and other household tools and implements. These were all things they already knew how to do, but doing them with others was all new to them. It was almost like being thrust into an entirely new culture without the burden of having to learn a new language—and for that they were thankful, though, at times, it did seem like Oak Camp spoke another language. Sometimes the words and actions of the Oak people confused them; they simply weren't used to such courteous and hospitable behavior. Not that they didn't like it, because they did; it was refreshing. But it was so new and foreign to them that they sometimes found themselves feeling an overwhelming need to retreat and hide.

But always, when that happened, someone came to draw them back out. Oak Camp wasn't much for privacy; they'd learned that much in the short time they'd been there. Not that they really had a complaint about that, it was just different. And in that short time, they'd already had two feasts, the first a welcoming meal for them, the second just because they could. And a third one was planned for when the hunters returned. It seemed to Doventia that Oak Camp used just about every opportunity to celebrate. That part seemed very much like their previous camp, though somehow very different too; three hunts in such a short span of time was completely unheard of from where they'd come, but he could now see why this camp ranked so high among their people; they worked hard to earn their place, both in the competitions at the summer meetings and during the time when they were not gathered with the other camps.

In ten days, three hunting parties had gone out, the third of which was still out but expected to arrive the next day, securing many large animals to get them through the winter. None from Doventia's hearth had participated in the first hunt; Hundaria hadn't been comfortable yet and Doventia refused to leave Zakena's side, though she'd begged him to do so.

On the second hunt, the younger man was still leery; Hundaria, though he desperately wanted to fit in, thought he could not, and therefore would not go. Doventia, on the other hand, after being badgered by some of the men and finally pushed into it by Zakena, had gone, but only somewhat willingly. And Kalina, excited by the prospect of actually contributing, had joined the second hunt as well, making her first kill and making the man of her hearth very proud. Hundaria gave in after that and went along on the third hunt. And now, everyone was feeling and doing well—and that included Zakena, who, with plenty of food, and more importantly the right diet, was thriving. And at peace, which pleased Doventia more than anyone could ever know. At the moment, he wished for nothing.

"I still don't like that you're all stuffed in the visitor's hearth when we occupy two hearths," Vilognia complained. "And with less children."

Doventia glanced at Vilognia's mate. Serana sat at the other end of the cooking hearth, busily crushing berries for another batch of wine and

chatting with the women who were preparing the evening's meal. As he watched, she laughed at something that was said, then picked up a berry and tossed it at Travie, the boisterous Mamutoi woman who, despite being sometimes loud and forward, had quickly become one of his favorite Oak people. Though she always said whatever was running through her mind at any given moment, she was also very quick to defend when it was warranted. And now, cackling as she was pelted with the berry, she wagged her finger at Serana and idly threatened to withhold the woman's portion of the meal. Serana only grinned at the empty threat; no one would refuse another a meal.

Doventia shrugged. "This is more than we are used to, Vilognia." Then after the Ermine Hearth man's skeptical look, he continued. "Really, we are fine where we are."

Vilognia frowned; he felt guilty. Since his sister, Vinoza, and her mate, Teglodia, had disappeared many years before, Oak Camp had kept their hearth empty—at first in hopes that they'd return, but later in honor of the couple they'd all loved and lost. But now, knowing that they were gone and definitely not returning, keeping that hearth unoccupied when there were those in need still living, it seemed wrong to him.

"We could move Serana's wine-making materials to one of the storage areas," he said thoughtfully. "There really is no reason for them to be in the twelfth hearth. It's just kind of been convenient...since it's right next to our hearth."

Shaking his head, Doventia said, "Oh, we would not think of displacing Serana's work. We are just grateful to be here."

Vilognia nodded, glad that the man was accepting and not greedy, but he and Serana, and Vincenzia, had discussed this and all wanted to offer the twelfth hearth to the new Oak family. They'd already cleared it with leadership and had been waiting for a good time to announce it.

"No, we've already discussed this and we've decided that your family should take it. To be honest, we have so many containers of Serana's drink fermenting in there, I don't think we could ever consume it all," he said with a roll of his eyes. "We'll start shifting things around tomorrow."

His eyes burning, Doventia glanced up at the ceiling and blinked a few times. It was not often he felt such emotion and was embarrassed by it, but when he looked back at the other man, Vilognia was looking the other way; obviously he understood.

"We will be honored to accept such a gift," he whispered.

Vilognia smiled. "It's not any larger than the visitor's hearth. In fact, it's smaller...but at least it will be yours."

Doventia smiled as well. "Well, it's not like Zakena's children ever actually stay in the hearth," he said jokingly. Since they'd arrived ten days before, the man could hardly keep track of which hearth his mate's children were in. They were always somewhere else, running and playing—even sleeping elsewhere. And the odd thing was that it all felt right. For the first time, in a long time, they felt safe and content.

~oxoxo~

Lugging their baskets of dirty clothing, Tabita and her younger sister stopped at Red Fox Hearth. It wasn't snowing today but, though sunny, the air was crisp and chilly and the women were bundled to keep warm. Knowing this was likely to be the last time they could wash clothes before the cold season really took over and they could no longer go outside for any extended period of time, they wanted to take advantage of it.

"You two ready?" Tabita said as she entered the hearth. "Everyone else is outside."

Danta and Janika looked up, then nodded as they hoisted their own baskets and followed.

"I still don't think you should be washing Davaria's clothing," Danta said as they walked outside. "You're the one who's having the baby."

Janika smiled. Chores had never been her favorite thing to do, but everything had changed since she'd met Davaria; she actually liked doing things for him, and she was thrilled to be blessed so soon. "Davaria's hunting. It's the least I can do," she said, her dark eyes sparkling with the love she felt for the man. "Besides, it's not like I'm big and can't move yet."

"Humph!" was all Danta could manage.

Janika grinned. "Someday you'll understand, Danta."

"Oh, I understand already, Janika...I just think you're crazy."

"She's crazy in love," Torina a put in with a flutter of her eyes.

Janika giggled. "I am. I really do love him, Danta."

Danta rolled her eyes and sighed. "I just want to know what my brother did to get so lucky."

"Oh...we're both lucky...if you know what I mean," Janika said suggestively.

Danta grimaced. "Believe me, I know...I live in the same hearth, remember? You two are like rabbits! I'm completely rethinking the whole don't want to be alone in the hearth thing. In the spring when we expand the lodge, maybe you two should think about building your own...on the other side of the lodge."

Janika giggled again, as did the rest of the young women. They all knew how much Danta worried about being alone, and about how much she loved her brother; Davaria had promised to never leave her and she'd finally relaxed some. But it was no secret that Davaria and Janika went at it constantly and that Danta sometimes wished they'd relax. They also knew she was only joking around about them leaving Red Fox Hearth; though she complained about their tendency to share pleasures often, they all knew she really didn't mind and was happy to have them there to tease.

"Don't you get tired of him pawing at you all the time?" Danta went on. She'd noticed that the two were hardly ever apart, but also that they were nearly always touching and caressing each other when they were together, no matter where they were. Sometimes it was nauseating.

Janika shook her head. "No, I love it!"

"Humph! Of course you do," Danta said as she shifted her basket to the other hip, then visibly shuddered. "But...eww!"

Everyone laughed again, then stopped when they heard a shout from behind.

"Wait for me."

Everyone turned to see Kalina running to catch up with them and smiled as she neared.

"You changed your mind?" Tabita asked, pleased that their newest member was trying so hard to fit in.

Kalina nodded as she halted, still heaving from her run.

Danta smiled. "You didn't have to run, Kalina. We would have waited."

Everyone nodded.

Kalina shrugged. "Well...I know," she said breathlessly. "But I was just...a little frightened," she admitted. "I don't know the area that well yet and...well..." She let her voice trail off as she glanced back in the direction of the earthlodge, which was no longer visible. They'd rounded a bend to head toward the southern portion of the river; it wasn't the closest place to their lodge, but it was the spot most likely to still be unfrozen.

Laurana nodded. "That's understandable. Jenadoza's always telling us not to go out alone. It's smart really. It's just hard to imagine anything going wrong. We're only washing clothes."

Janika shrugged. "It's best to be safe. With a group like this," she said, raising her hand to indicate their group of nine, "we're bound to be."

Kalina smiled, hoping it was so, then looked up at the sun. It was nearly at its zenith and she knew that, as it started to drop the other way, the temperature would drop quickly as well. "It's fairly cold."

Fräubita nodded. "We'll just wash, then bring everything back to dry inside by the fire."

Kalina nodded, glad that they'd only be out for a short time—but that's not how it happened.

~oxoxo~

"There are nine of them," Kurvlodia said once he'd joined his older brother deep in the trees.

Kazmiria frowned, but asked, "And Kalina is with them?"

Kurvlodia nodded. "And Danta," he said to Zadneetsia.

Zadneetsia smiled at first, then frowned. "Nine though? We can't take nine of them; we left too many behind at Ash Camp."

"They are washing clothes at the river," Kurvlodia told them. "Maybe some of them will go back before the others."

Kazmiria frowned. "Yes, but...it might be Kalina...or Danta," he added with a look at Zadneetsia, "who goes back earlier." He shook his head. "We can't risk it."

"Well, we're only four. We can't take nine women...not silently," Zadneetsia put in.

Kazmiria shrugged. "The Khazaria need women. We'll try to take as many as possible." He paused. "But we can't leave any to run back to alert Oak Camp."

Igorvia, who sat with them, but hadn't said anything, frowned. "And what do you want us to do with those we can't take?"

Kazmiria sneered. "What do you think I want you to do? Either they come with us or...they die."

Igorvia did his best to hide his shock; he didn't much like Oak Camp, but he'd never taken a human life and didn't think he could. He was going to say so when Kurvlodia spoke again.

"That blonde one who looks like Ayla is there," he said with a grin at Zadneetsia. "The younger one. You sure you want Danta."

Zadneetsia appeared to contemplate it, then grinned. "Some men have two women, maybe I'll take them both."

"You can't have two of them," Kurvlodia snapped. "There are seventeen of us who need women."

Growling, Zadneetsia stood and took Kurvlodia by the tunic. "I will take as many of them as I want!"

Standing, Kazmiria separated the two men and, glaring at them both, said, "Just don't let any of them get away."

The men nodded and started to move out, to circle around the women and move in. When they were in position and Kazmiria was ready to put his plan in motion, they hit a snag.

~oxoxo~

"LAURANA!"

All the women turned; Frala was running up the path toward them. Hearing her name, Laurana jumped up and went to her friend.

"Is everything all right?"

Frala nodded. "Bruana is awake and Brulenzia says she wants her mother."

Laurana rolled her eyes.

"He insisted."

"What about Jenadoza?"

Frala shrugged. "Bruana doesn't seem to be hungry. She just wants you."

Sighing, Laurana tossed her clothes back in the basket, waved at the rest and went with Frala.

~oxoxo~

Kazmiria watched as the young blonde left with her friend, then signaled Igorvia to follow them, to make sure they left the area completely and that no one else would interrupt them. When Igorvia reappeared on the other side of the women and gave an all-clear signal in return, Kazmiria stood up and entered the clearing—all four men did.

"What a nice day for washing," he said, his eyes on the sky as he strolled toward the women. "Isn't it?"

Still on their knees, the women looked up in stunned surprise. Then they were shocked further when they realized the man was not alone. They'd not expected to see anyone out here, let alone these four, and knew they were in trouble.

Slowly rising to her feet, Danta was the first to react. Reaching out, she grasped a shaking Dakara and pushed her behind and to Janika and Fräubita, then stood up as tall and defiantly as she could.

"What do you want?" she asked as she watched Tabita stand and do the same with the two youngest. She didn't miss that both Torina and Morina looked terrified.

"Oh, I don't know...pay back, maybe!" Zadneetsia sneered as he lunged for Danta and, grasping her by the hair, yanked her up against him. Her knee came up immediately, to hit him where it hurts, just like Ayla had done when this same man attacked her, but he'd known it was coming and avoided it. Instead she took the flat of his hand across her cheek and crumpled to the ground as Zadneetsia stood over her laughing.

"Nice try," he snarled.

Dazed and confused, Danta tried to focus. Her eyes went to Tabita, who was slowly backing away, then to the man who was inching toward her. "Tabita!" she warned and lifted her hand to point, but couldn't say anything else as Zadneetsia grasped her and pulled her roughly to her feet and hit her again. Crashing to the ground again, her head swimming, she reached to touch her face to find it bleeding. "Run," she whispered, then swallowed and belted it out. "RUN!"

"Scatter!" Tabita shouted as she too bolted—only to be stopped by one of the men. "Go! Run!" she screamed at her sister. She was thankful, if only momentarily, to see Torina turn and flee, and then she was knocked out.

~oxoxo~

After dropping Tabita's unconscious form to the ground, Kazmiria turned to see Janika on Zadneetsia's back, screaming obscenities while she pummeled him with all her might. He quickly noticed that Kurvlodia had subdued one of the women and that another was cowering at his feet, blubbering and begging. He recognized that one; it was Dakara.

Then a howl rent the air as Zadneetsia finally ripped Janika from his back and tossed her as far as he could; she'd raked her fingernails across his face, leaving four deep bleeding gashes, and causing the man to go into a rage. Kazmiria watched for a moment as Zadneetsia advanced on the dark-haired woman and almost laughed as she rolled away from him, jumped to her feet and raised her fists—like she could do anything to save herself.

Then Kazmiria remembered the two who'd fled.

"Wait! Stop!" he hollered. Everyone froze. "Igorvia, you go after the two who ran off...and remember what I said. No one gets away." With that he tossed a spear through the air.

Catching the spear, Igorvia frowned, but nodded, then turned and took off running.

Kazmiria then took a deep breath and noticed Kalina standing there, her eyes wide with horror.

"There she is," he said with a grin as he approached her. "My lovely mate-to-be."

Kalina frowned. "Please, Kazmiria, let us go," she whined as he stroked her cheek.

"Now, why would I do that?" he asked, pressing himself up against her. "You've been promised to me...then you up and leave? How do you think that makes me feel?"

Kalina shuddered. The feel of the man was revolting. "You can't take me for a mate, I'm your cousin."

Kazmiria waved a hand dismissively. "Distant cousin," he corrected. "And it doesn't matter anymore because I have no intention of mating you now."

Kalina frowned. "Then let us go," she begged. "We'll go back and pretend we never ran into you."

Kazmiria laughed. "Tempting, but...I think not," he said with a shake of his head. Releasing her, the man took a step back and looked at the other women. Four were out cold, two now had a length of rope binding their wrists, and, at that moment, Igorvia returned dragging the two who thought they'd gotten away. Grinning evilly, Kazmiria was very pleased.

"Besides, you couldn't very well not explain this!" he growled as he abruptly turned and struck Kalina so hard she later couldn't remember hitting the ground.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER

"All right now...where was I?" Kazmiria glanced at the two youngest Oak girls; they clung to one another, both sniffling tearfully. "Oh right! I want these two tied up and bound to those two," he said as he turned and pointed at Janika and Dakara. Then he frowned and approached Dakara. "What are you doing with Oak Camp women?"

Cowering, Dakara opened her mouth to reply, but only managed a squeak. Instead, it was Janika who spoke.

"She's with us because you stinking hyena filth ransacked, then destroyed Cedar Camp's cave," she snarled, her black eyes flashing with fury.

Kazmiria blinked in surprise; women rarely had the courage to stand up to him. Then he eyed the dark-haired woman curiously. This one he recognized, but couldn't place her exactly and wondered if Oak Camp had visitors. This might be trouble, he thought. "And who are you?"

"That wildcat," Zadneetsia answered instead, spittle flying through gritted teeth as he held a piece of dirty, blood-covered leather to the score marks the woman had gouged into his cheek, "is the little vixen who spreads her legs for Davaria."

"And had them forced open by you! You...you greasy boar!" Janika spat with disgust.

Zadneetsia growled and balled his fists.

Kazmiria chuckled at the woman's spirit. "Hmm. Davaria, huh?"

Unable to do anything else, Zadneetsia silently nodded, his long, curly, black hair falling over his eyes as he glared at the woman. He was practically foaming at the mouth.

"How'd you like being stepped on by Ayla's horse?" Janika taunted, a smirk on her face. She knew she was being stupid; goading a crazy man definitely wasn't the smartest thing she'd ever done, but she couldn't seem to help herself. "Ayla tells us it might not ever work again," she went on with a hopeful glance down at the man's groin. "Too bad...since women just love you so much."

Zadneetsia immediately stopped blotting his cheek and, so fast that the woman didn't know what hit her, he grabbed Janika by the throat and lifted her off her feet. "Just give me a reason to snap your neck, little girl," he growled.

Kazmiria watched as Janika's eyes bulged and her face turned red and then purple as she struggled to breathe, her fingers clawing at the hands around her neck and her legs kicking, obviously hoping to find a target. Then, when it looked like Zadneetsia might actually kill the woman, he cleared his throat. "Zadneetsia," he warned. "That is...not helping. We want living, breathing women to bring back with us."

With a scowl, Zadneetsia released Janika and watched as she fell to the ground, holding her throat and gasping for air. "You better watch yourself! And you will see how well it works," he sneered, then grasped himself for emphasis. "All of you will!" he roared.

Still grasping her neck and swallowing several times, the woman glared up at him. "Hyena!" she rasped painfully, her voice barely above a whisper, then picked up a handful of dirt and threw it at him.

That only made Zadneetsia growl again and, once again, start after her, but he halted at Kazmiria's chuckle.

"What's so Mother damned funny?" he asked furiously.

"You are," Kazmiria said, his laughter fading. "I'm not sure I should give you this one." He pointed down at Janika. "You don't even know how to handle her."

Zadneetsia's face reddened with embarrassment; he was sick to death of Kazmiria mocking him. "I don't, huh?"

Kazmiria shook his head.

"You are the one who stopped me from silencing her," Zadneetsia accused.

Kazmiria shrugged. "You are wasting time, Zadneetsia. Beating this one," he said, poking a thumb in Janika's direction, "is a waste of time...right now anyway."

Zadneetsia frowned in confusion. "I don't understand."

Kazmiria shook his head. "Of course you don't," he said as he crossed the space to where Janika still sat holding her throat and glowering up at the men. Then deliberately, he extended a hand out to the woman, presumably to help her up—but she refused, which he'd assumed she would. And that's when the man turned and backhanded Dakara, who still stood several steps away. Watching as the force of his blow threw the young woman to her back, leaving her sprawled in the dirt, he turned on Janika.

"Defy us again and I will take it out on them," he growled.

Janika stared at him for a moment, then moved the short distance the ropes around her wrists allowed to stand in front of Dakara. "And I'll do whatever I have to to take care of Oak women," she said, leaving her meaning for them to decide what she meant.

Kazmiria smiled at her grit. "Figures Davaria would take up with a skinny little thing like you. Though, I must say, you seem to have more fire than he does. Might have to have this one for myself," he said as he eyed her almost appreciatively. His eyes went to Zadneetsia, who only scowled. "Now come, we must hurry," Kazmiria barked. "We have wasted enough time!"

~oxoxo~

The unconscious women were tied up securely, then bound together by even lengths of twine, then roughly awakened and forced to stand and follow the men. They started out in an easterly direction, traveling at a speed so fast that the women were hard pressed to keep up. But keep up they did, for Kazmiria had threatened to punish them severely if they could not. All were terrified, but Danta and Janika, knowing this could not end well for them if they did nothing, were already mentally planning an escape—or looking for opportunities at least.

After what seemed like half the day, because they were being pushed far beyond their comfort levels, they were commanded to stop. Danta and Janika glanced up at the sun, then at each other; both were aware of the distance they'd traveled and that not as much time had passed as they'd thought. Both eyed the others; the Oak women looked weary, and hungry and thirsty—but their captors didn't look much better.

"Could we at least have some water?" Danta asked.

Kazmiria seemed to consider, then he nodded at Igorvia. Igorvia immediately stood, crossed the distance between himself and Danta, and handed her the bladder of fresh water he held. Not being able to help herself, Danta glared up at him, then snatched the bag and went first to Morina and Torina, then to Dakara, then to the others and finally ending with herself. After she'd drunk her fill, she slapped it into Igorvia hand and turned her back on him.

Shortly after that, they were forced back into their trek.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

By the time the people of Oak Camp realized eight of their women were missing, it was nearly dark. With nearly half the camp gone hunting and the rest busily working on household projects and caring for the children, and Laurana being sighted inside the lodge when most believed she'd gone out with the women to wash clothing, no one considered the time of day until it was too late. By torchlight, they made one perfunctory search of the area but, seeing no signs of the women, or signs left by them, they were forced to return to the earthlodge.

"What do you mean you found nothing?" Zarina asked the four men who returned without the young women.

Vilognia and Vincenzia exchanged a worried frown, then shrugged. "We couldn't see anything, Zarina, not sign of them. It's too dark out there. We'll have to search tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" she said, a hand going to her mouth as tears filled her eyes. "But it's cold out there."

Brulenzia went to his mother and embraced her. "We have to hope they've sought shelter, mother," he said encouragingly, though something told him there was cause for worry. They were smart women—all Oak women were—but something wasn't right. They'd gone to the place at the river where the women always did the washing, but found nothing—no women, no baskets of clothing, not even any footprints. It was as if they'd never been there, or simply vanished.

Sighing heavily, Serana sought comfort in her mate's arms. None of her children were missing, but she felt pain for the other women and, though not someone who usually worried about things, she too had a bad feeling about this. How did eight women just disappear? And why hadn't they noticed their absence earlier? She, like the rest, was very upset.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

Well past nightfall, and long after it was obviously too dark to travel safely, Kazmiria finally called a halt. He'd decided that the women didn't have to be tied together anymore, but he still wanted their wrists bound; they'd be less tempted to run that way. The younger women were ordered to sit, where they huddled under a flimsy skin and tried to keep warm by sharing their body heat, and Kazmiria had shoved a pack at Danta and told her to fix them a meal, then turned on Janika and Tabita with orders to get a fire going.

Janika held up her tied hands and said, "Can't very well do anything like this."

Kazmiria eyed her, then nodded at his brother. While Kurvlodia loosened the knots and finally removed the twine, Kazmiria watched. "I want no trouble from you," he warned.

Oh, I wouldn't dream of it, Janika thought sarcastically, but clenched her teeth to keep from spouting off. She rubbed her wrists; they were raw and very sore, and likely to start bleeding if they were bound again the next day. Animals!

After Janika, Kurvlodia went to Danta and then Tabita, since they couldn't very well work all tied up.

"I'm going to take a look around," Kazmiria said after poking around some of the bushes. He'd taken a slightly different route than the one in which they'd come and he wanted to scout the way ahead so that, in the morning, they could move more quickly and with knowledge of the area.

Zadneetsia shrugged and rolled his eyes. As if he can see anything out there, he thought to himself as he watched the other man make himself a torch and walk off. Fool! Maybe he'll fall and break his neck and I won't have to deal with him anymore. Sighing, he closed his eyes and rolled his head from side to side; his neck was stiff and his back ached from so much walking and he was already dreading the coming of morning, and another day of walking. His eyes went to the women. The fire was lit and, in his opinion, blazed far higher than was necessary. Raising a brow, he smirked at them.

"You're stupid if you think that fire will allow them to find you," he said nonchalantly as he found himself a boulder to lean up against, then dropped his pack and sat upon it to avoid the cold ground. Then pulling his parka tight around him, he breathed heat into his cold hands and squirmed in an attempt to get comfortable.

Janika and Tabita looked at one another and frowned, but didn't say anything.

"When is that damned food going to be ready, Danta?" Zadneetsia snapped some time later.

"It'll be ready when it's ready," she said dryly without even a glance in his direction.

Zadneetsia picked up a small pebble and threw it at her. It dinged her in the back of the head, but did no real damage—except for adding insult to injury.

"Ouch!" Turning, Danta stood and glared at her tormenter. "Was that really necessary?" she asked. "You've taken us from our home and smacked us around, and now you're throwing rocks at us? I can only imagine what you have planned next," she said, a shudder going through her at the thought of having to endure his attentions again. "Aren't you being cruel enough?"

Zadneetsia stared at her for a moment, then looked over at the others. He ignored the men. He knew Igorvia wouldn't be pleased that he'd hurt Danta; the man was in love with the bad luck woman, though he'd not admit it. And Kurvlodia was smirking with delight over the pain that had been inflicted on Danta. Kurvlodia was rarely cruel himself, but he seemed to enjoy watching others be cruel.

"You there," Zadneetsia called out, indicating one of the youngest. "Come here."

Torina looked up sharply—fearfully. Then glancing at her older sister, she struggled herself to her feet and, biting her lip, took small, slow steps in the man's direction. She was nearly at his feet when Tabita stepped in front of her.

"What do you want with my sister?" she questioned.

Zadneetsia looked up at her and grinned. "What do you think I want with her?"

Tabita blanched. She could feel Torina trembling in terror behind her and tried to think of a way out of this. "She's just a girl," she whispered, her eyes filling with tears. "Please."

Zadneetsia continued to smile, but on his face—and knowing of what he was capable—it wasn't appealing at all.

"I won't hurt her."

Tabita frowned. "It always hurts, at least some, the first time."

Zadneetsia started to get up. This was turning out to be more fun than he'd thought it would be. At first he'd just wanted to scare them, but now his manhood was stirring. "I'll be gentle."

Janika snorted and Dakara cringed. The thought of Zadneetsia being gentle would have been funny, if he wasn't such a rotten carcass of a beast.

Please, please don't do this," Tabita begged as she took a step backward, which pushed her sister another step back as well. "She hasn't had her first rites yet."

Zadneetsia grinned and continued his advance. "Well...looks like she's going to have them tonight."

"But there's no watcher," Tabita said frantically.

Zadneetsia glanced around, then leered at her. "Seems we have plenty of watchers," he replied. Then taking another step, he took Tabita by the arm and easily maneuvered her away, then gave her a shove. She quickly responded by righting herself before she could fall, then jumped between her sister and the man intent on forcing himself on her.

"Take me instead," she begged.

The man froze. He'd been preparing to hit her, if necessary, just to shut her up, but her proposition intrigued him. Eventually he planned to take all of them, save Kalina if he couldn't get her prior to whatever Kazmiria had planned for her. But the woman's plea, an attempt to save her sister, caused him to have a moment of indecision.

"You would trade places with your sister?"

Tabita swallowed, then nodded. She didn't want to, of course, but she would if... "If you promise not to touch her...or Morina," she added.

Zadneetsia glanced over at the other girl. She looked nearly identical to the one standing behind Tabita and just as terrified. Something about their fear deeply aroused him; he wanted to rip off their garments and have his way with them both. But when his gaze went back to the young woman pleading with him to take her instead, that arousal seemed to magnify significantly. Feeling his manhood fill with need, he groaned and shifted on his feet. He knew that, thanks to Ayla and her damned horse, he thought angrily, he'd likely have difficulty mounting either of the fresh, untried girls—and that, with his condition, it would most probably be painful for him as well. Cocking his head to the side, he chewed on his lip and looked the older one over. She was quite beautiful; all the Oak women seemed to be.

"And you will not fight me?"

Blue eyes wide with fear, Tabita shook her head.

"And...I wouldn't have to be gentle...with you?" he asked curiously.

Tabita frowned. She'd been a woman for some time now and had, on occasion, gone to the furs with men. But no man had ever been anything other than kind and considerate with her. She was certain this one would not be and it frightened her. Plus, he was a large man in general, tall and powerfully built, and she'd heard about the rest of him. Shuddering with fear, she shook her head again; she would endure whatever she had to to protect Torina and Morina. "If you promise not to hurt them," she reiterated.

Zadneetsia glanced at the girls again and seemed to be weighing his options. Tabita knew that he could do anything he wanted and that, even if he gave her his promise, he'd likely break it; she wasn't stupid enough to trust anything that came out of Zadneetsia's mouth. But she was thinking about now and would have to worry about later later. Right now she could save her sister from this man and that's all that mattered.

Finally, he shrugged. "Fine then. Take off your leggings!"

Tabita frowned, then glanced around. The women looked embarrassed, but the men were watching, Igorvia frowning slightly and Kurvlodia with extreme interest. "Now?"

The man nodded. "Of course now. Can't you see that I'm ready?" he asked as he opened his parka to reveal his desire, now so obviously full and pushing at his worn and thinning leggings.

Tabita let her eyes drift down, then blushed and brought them to the man's face before nodding. She wasn't used to feeling embarrassment over something so natural, but he made the act seem so dirty. "But it's cold."

Zadneetsia shrugged. "So."

"Couldn't we...wait until later?" she whispered.

Shaking his head, he grinned and started untying the thong which held his own leggings on. "Take. Off. Your. Leggings," he repeated through gritted teeth.

Tabita bit her lip, but moved trembling fingers to her waist tie. Her eyes had filled with tears, blurring her vision, and her cold fingers were making her task all the more difficult.

"Here, let me help you," Zadneetsia finally said as he reached out and grabbed her by the waist.

Tabita couldn't help the scream that escaped her lips as the man roughly seized her, ripped the tie open, then divested her of her leggings. Once they were at her ankles, he only had to give her a push and she lay sprawled on her back in the dirt.

Reaching down, Zadneetsia pulled the offending garment from her, then went back to removing his own.

Tabita could only stare as he exposed himself to her. His manhood, bent at an unnatural angle, was clearly usable enough perform—and larger than she'd thought possible. Suddenly, her fear got the better of her. Rolling over, she tried to push herself to her feet, to run away—where to, she didn't know, but she knew she couldn't do what she'd promised to do.

But he was there, grasping her by the hair and yanking her back. Forcefully, he turned her so that she faced him, and growled loudly when she closed her eyes.

"LOOK AT ME!" he roared furiously and shook her until she opened her eyes. "You said you wouldn't fight me if I left your sister alone," he snarled. Then suddenly, before she knew what he was doing, he ripped her tunic from her body and smacked her across the face hard. She crumpled instantly, her dark hair fanning over her face.

Tabita pushed her hair out of her eyes, then made another attempt to flee. But he was on her so fast that she knew she was doomed. She fought him as he crawled on top of her, but his strength and size made her attempts ridiculously futile. When finally he entered her, she was sobbing, but she'd ceased her struggle—until he howled and suddenly extracted himself. Staring up at him in confusion, she only had a moment before he slapped her again, then pushed back and yanked his leggings back on. Holding her throbbing cheek, Tabita blinked a few times and tried to focus on her surroundings; she was quite dizzy from the blow, but relieved that the man was no longer inside her.

"GET DRESSED!" he bellowed, not wanting to look at her anymore.

Tabita scrambled to her clothing. Her tunic was badly torn, but she pulled it on anyway, then did the same with her leggings. She didn't know what had happened and glanced at her friends in hopes of gaining some knowledge. The ones she could see all had tears in their eyes, and Fräubita was holding Torina and Morina, shielding them both from the scene. Dakara had also turned away, burying her face in Kalina's tunic, but Tabita could hear her sobbing. Danta looked both embarrassed and furious, but could do nothing with Kurvlodia standing so near to her. And the look on Janika's face was a mixture of both disgust and delight; she loathed the man for how malicious he was, but found satisfaction that he could not perform fully. It was the way Janika's lips quirked up that made Tabita realize what had happened. Zadneetsia had found no pleasure in taking her. In fact, it had caused him pain. She wasn't quite ready to smile at the realization though, because she still feared the man. Just because he couldn't force her without causing himself pain, didn't mean he wouldn't find other ways to hurt her—to hurt them. But Janika, even though she'd already been hurt by the man several times, didn't seem to have a healthy amount of fear for him. And suddenly, finished with his pacing, he caught her look and glared over at her.

"What are you smirking at?" he snarled.

Janika knew better than to answer, so she just stood there. But she didn't look away and that clearly infuriated him. Growling, he crossed the distance to the former Spruce Camp woman and struck her. Stumbling back, Janika fought to remain standing, but cringed when he came after her again.

"What in the Mother's world is going on here? Kazmiria shouted.

Everyone froze, including Zadneetsia, and for some reason Janika felt relief. That is, until the man glowered over at her.

"Are you causing trouble again?" Kazmiria asked incredulously.

Janika shook her head.

"Sure looks that way."

"Well, I'm not!" she snapped. "I'm being punished for...smiling."

Kazmiria frowned. "Explain."

Janika swallowed, then said, "This...delightful man decided to have his way with...one of us. And I found some kind of perverse pleasure in his inability to do so."

Kazmiria glanced at Zadneetsia, who'd looked away, then chuckled. Zadneetsia's head immediately snapped in his direction, but he didn't dare say anything.

"Works just fine, huh?"

Zadneetsia balled his fists at his side, but again didn't say anything.

Still smiling his amusement over Zadneetsia's problem, Kazmiria walked over to Janika and grabbed her by the chin.

"You're going to have a nasty bruise from this one."

Janika twisted out of his grasp and glared up at him, but again didn't comment. He chuckled again, then pointed at one of the girls. "Bring that one to me."

Kurvlodia, who was standing nearest the one indicated, reached out and grabbed her, then hauled her over to his brother. Torina stood there trembling, terrified to so much as breath.

"Now Janika," Kazmiria said. He'd turned and was now caressing Torina's cheek. "Why is it so difficult for you to obey?"

Janika folded her arms over her chest and pursed her lips. She knew he was going to punish Torina because of her smart mouth and felt awful.

"ANSWER ME!" he yelled as he slipped his hand into Torina's brownish-red hair and yanked hard. Torina cried out in pain, her green eyes filling with terror as tears coursed down her cheeks.

"I wasn't trying to defy him," Janika said, her dark eyes also filling. "I wasn't. It's not my fault that he's so...inadequate."

Kazmiria heard a grumbling behind him and knew his friend was seething. Nodding, he slowly loosened his grip on Torina's hair and shrugged. "Nevertheless," he said as he bent down to be at Janika's level, "I told you the consequences for your poor behavior." With that he abruptly straightened, then turned and hit Torina.

"I want these women tied up again, hands and feet for the night," he bellowed. Then turning on Zadneetsia, he went on. "You will take first watch." With that he went to one of the packs, pulled out a small traveling tent, erected it and crawled inside.

~oxoxo~

Tabita had been allowed to sleep with her sisters, Morina fell asleep quite quickly, but Torina lay sobbing in Tabita's arms for some time. Dakara was secured to Fräubita as was Kalina to Janika, and Danta was shoved at Igorvia.

"I'm sure you can figure out what to do with this one," Zadneetsia sneered as he stomped over to a boulder to try to get comfortable.

Igorvia glanced at Danta and smiled. "Guess it's just you and me tonight."

Danta crossed her arms over her breasts and looked away from the man.

With a sigh, he grabbed her by the arm and pulled her toward his small tent. She didn't resist, but she didn't cooperate either.

"Get inside!" he ordered loudly.

Danta bit her lip to keep it from trembling, but did as she was told. She knew it wouldn't kill her to spend a night with Igorvia. After all, she'd spent many a night in his furs, and he was fairly skilled; she knew he wouldn't hurt her. But the thought of being forced sickened her and by the time she lay down, she had tears running down her face.

Igorvia crawled inside after her and, inching up beside her, he reached out and caressed her face. Feeling the wetness, he frowned.

"Why are you crying?" he whispered. When she didn't answer, he fell back onto his furs and sighed. For a moment he just lay there, then he pushed up onto an elbow and leaned over her. Putting his mouth so close that when he spoke she could feel his breath on her cheek, he stroked her face again.

"I'm not going to hurt you, Danta," he said quietly. "But you have to...pretend that I am."

Danta frowned and looked at him. It was dark in the tent, but her eyes had adjusted. "What?"

"They have to think I'm forcing you, but I promise not to hurt you."

For a moment she stared at him, then slowly she nodded. And that's when he leaned in and kissed her, then crawled on top of her. She let out a cry, one she hoped sounded like she was struggling, then her eyes widened as he covered her mouth with his hand and told her to scream and fight until he released her. Again she did as she was told and, despite the chill outside, was sweating by the time he removed his hand and rolled to his back. For some time they lay side by side, breathing hard, then he rolled to his side so he could face her.

"That wasn't so bad, was it?" he whispered.

Danta glanced at him. "You have to help us, Igor," she said, then turned so that she too was on her side facing him. "Between Zadneetsia and Kazmiria we're all going to suffer what Tabita suffered today. You know that it's true. How could you be a part of this?"

Igorvia turned away from her. "I can't help you, Danta. They'll kill me."

"Kill you?"

He nodded. "They've killed before," he admitted.

Horrified, she stared at him. "People?"

He nodded again.

"All the more reason to help us. Please," she begged.

"Go to sleep, Danta," he said, then quickly rolled so that his back was facing her.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER

As the sun rose, the men had the women up and moving again. Battered and bruised, they gave little resistance; there was no incident. Tied together again, they were marched along the trail Kazmiria had chosen, and would not see rest until the sun was at its zenith.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

"I don't understand this," Laurana said with a frown. "How can there be no sign of them being here yesterday?" Immediately upon waking, she'd dressed and went with the others to the place where the women had been the day before. They'd expected to find something, but even in daylight there was nothing.

"Are you sure this is the exact place you were yesterday?" Brulenzia asked.

Laurana looked at him and sighed. "Of course I'm sure! We always wash here," she said, gesticulating her impatience with silly questions.

Vincenzia frowned and looked around. "But it looks like no one's been here in ages. Let's spread out and see if further away we can find anything."

Nodding, everyone started moving around, fanning their search out in an ever-widening circle and investigating every little inch of the area. But still nothing.

"How can this be?" Doventia said in anguish. "They didn't just sprout wings and fly away."

"I don't want to alarm anyone, but—" Brulenzia paused.

"But what?" several said in unison.

"I can't help but think they've been taken against their will."

Serana frowned at her daughter's mate. "Why would you think that?"

Brulenzia shrugged and spread his arms to gesture about the area. "Unless they just simply vanished, someone's gone to a lot of trouble to hide that they were ever here."

"Could they not have decided to go on a little hunt," Darvie asked. She knew it was a preposterous idea, but couldn't help asking it.

"Six women and two girls?" Vincenzia said, brows raised. "I doubt it."

"So...someone was here and...took them?" Jenadoza put in. "Who would do such a thing?"

Doventia had been just standing there, a frown of worry etched into his brow. Now he was staring at everyone, feeling guilty. "Can you not guess?" he whispered, then began to pace. "We should not have come here. This is our fault."

Everyone glanced from one to another. It was true that, if what they suspected was true—that the women and girls had been taken by the banned camps—then the coming of Doventia and his family were the cause of it. But they would not blame him, could not put the blame solely on the man; he'd just been trying to better the lives of those he loved. No, they believed that all were to blame—and not just Oak Camp. This trouble had been brewing for quite some time. They had seen it. All the Sungaea had. But nothing had been done to fix the problem. The camps that had been banned should have been helped long before they'd gotten so bad.

But now that was beside the point. Now they had to focus on their missing women and girls, and what could be done to retrieve them.

"No, Doventia," Serana said. She'd gone to him and, taking hold of his forearm, forced him to turn and look at her. He had tears in his eyes. "Something should have been done about them before something like this could happen. We are all to blame. Our people, as a whole, should have put a stop to the suffering of the people in those camps by aiding them. But we did nothing. We saw that things were bad and we did nothing. This is not your fault," Serana said with a shake of her head. "You must see this."

Doventia took a deep breath, then nodded. "I guess I do, but...what do we do now?"

"We search until we find them," Vilognia said from across the small area they'd been scouring. "But first we need to send someone out to find the hunters; they should be advised of—"

"No need," came a voice. "We are back."

Everyone turned to see that the hunters had indeed returned.

"What are you doing here?" Vincenzia asked. "We did not expect you until at least evening."

"Gredenzia had a dream," Tagnolia explained. "He said we were needed at home, so we stopped everything and returned. He is at the lodge resting," he went on. "You know how the dreams sometimes exhaust him. But we should continue our search."

Everyone nodded.

"Let's expand," the headman said. "Then meet back here when the sun is high."

Everyone nodded again.

"And let's stay in groups, people" Tiflona added. "We still don't know for sure that they were taken, but we shouldn't take any chances."

Tagnolia looked at his sister and nodded. "I agree. No less than three to a group."

They continued to talk things out for another few moments, then dispersed into groups.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

Trudging ahead of his group, Kazmiria tried to keep his mind open as he took in the layout of the land, which was changing before his eyes; it had started snowing again and he was worried about getting them back to Ash Camp's old lodge before the soft dusting became a storm. They simply weren't moving as quickly as he had hoped.

Glancing back over his shoulder, and seeing the shivering women helping each other as they fought to keep up, he questioned whether taking so many of them had been prudent. Yes, they needed women—desperately—but controlling so many at one time was proving more difficult than he'd imagined. Despite his threats, Janika was constantly defying the men. Tabita, who by all accounts should be utterly terrified after her experience with Zadneetsia, seemed all the more determined to protect the others. And Danta, whom he thought might finally be cowed after being forced to spend the night with Igorvia, also seemed as insolent as ever. And the three youngest—who were really just girls—were constantly dragging their feet and sniveling. It was driving him crazy! Something would have to be done.

Then a thought formed. They really had no use for girls. It might just be best to rid themselves of the girls and move on without them. Six would be far easier to control than eight, and they could always raid again later and get more women—perhaps even Oak Camp again, but if not, then someone else. It didn't really matter as long as they found women. With that in his head, he grinned to himself.

~oxoxo~

Stopping for a rest, the women huddled together while their captors rested separately—just far enough away so that their low voices would not be overheard. Terrified and freezing, they watched the men; they seemed to be arguing. But about what, they could not decipher. Then Zadneetsia, glaring furiously, stood up and stomped off down the trail.

"Come on, now," Kazmiria snapped at the women once the remaining men had circled around them. "Time to move on."

Groaning, the women wearily got to their feet. But just before they were about to start walking again, Danta stopped them.

"Do you think we could have some water?" she said. She'd been trying to catch snowflakes on her tongue to appease her thirst, but actual water would quench it better.

Kazmiria stopped, appeared to think it over, then nodded.

Danta watched the man and thought he'd send Igorvia back to give them the water—that had been the usual routine—but was shocked when he himself started to pull out his own water bag, then come up to her.

"You're not getting away, Danta," he sneered. "So don't even think about trying." Then he leaned in so that his lips grazed her earlobe and whispered, "And if you try, I will kill you."

Danta, her eyes widening as the man spoke, sucked in her breath. "W-why are you doing this?" she whispered when her voice came back to her. "We have done nothing to you."

Kazmiria smiled, his hazel eyes glinting evilly as he looked down at her. "Because I can. Oak Camp has taken too much from us, so we are taking back." Then, nonchalantly, he added, "And because we need women. Too few female babies have been born in the last few generations. Yes." Kazmiria nodded to himself. "Oak Camp has far more than their fair share."

"That's not true," Danta whispered. "And my brother and I were not even wanted."

Kazmiria chuckled, then wove a hand into her hair as the other went around her waist and pulled her close. "Oh, I don't know about that, Danta," he said, his hot breath hitting her cold face as he spoke. When she shuddered, he only gripped her tighter. "I find you very acceptable. Too bad I didn't snatch you up before you could run off like you did." He then glanced over the woman's shoulder and had to laugh again. "And I think someone else likes you too."

Danta glanced back and saw Igorvia, fists clenched and glaring at them, and couldn't help the hatred she felt well up for the man for watching this without doing a thing to help. Then her eyes went to the other women—and girls—then back at Kazmiria. "Please, let the girls go at least," she pleaded. "They're not yet ready to give you what you want."

Kazmiria's eyes went to Torina and Morina. The two stood there, huddled together, shivering fearfully. Then he smiled again. "And you are, Danta?"

Danta swallowed hard. "I am no stranger to what goes on in the furs." She was trying to be brave, to show the others that they'd get through this ordeal, but the thought of having this man's hands on her—his manhood inside her—was so revolting that she would have thrown up in his face—had there been any food in her stomach to bring up. But as it was, she could not, and it was probably better; she was sure he'd not take well to having the contents of her stomach spilled on him.

Kazmiria narrowed his eyes. "I will not let you go, Danta."

Danta swallowed again. "I know that. Right now I'm worried about our girls. Hurting girls can't possibly give you pleasure." She searched his face, hoping to find some part of him that would bend. For a moment, she saw nothing, just a blankness, like there was a void—no emotion—within him. Then he spoke.

"I will consider your request."

"They're good girls," she persisted. "They'll be able to find their way home."

Kazmiria ground his teeth.

"Please," she begged.

"I said I would consider it!" he growled, then shoved her away from him.

Falling to the ground hard, the wind knocked from her chest, Danta gasped for breath, then slowly rolled to her side, coughing. Then, pushing first to her hands and knees, then slowly to her feet, she briefly locked eyes with the other women. Embarrassed that her efforts had gained them nothing, she blushed and looked away.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

Eventually the groups came back together, not once, but twice, and were forced to cross the small, freezing river that lay just east of their territory. They'd hoped to have found something on their side of it, but hadn't and were near panic now. On the other side, and extremely well-concealed in the brush, they finally found their women's laundry baskets—most of the clothing missing, what was left ruined beyond repair—and, beyond that, they found the signs that they'd been searching for—footprints, and too many of them.

"Stay back," Brulenzia said, his hand raised to ward off the others. He wanted to inspect the scene carefully before compromising it with more feet. Kneeling, he looked at the ground around him. "They were all here," he said, "but only briefly." Standing, he looked around. "And four of these prints do not belong to them."

"So, it is as we feared?" Tiflona questioned. "They have been taken?"

Brulenzia nodded. "But four men."

"One guess as to who," Doventia said with dismay. "What will we do?"

Tagnolia's brow raised. "We will follow, of course...and take back what is ours." He glanced up at the sky and frowned. "But we'll have to wait until tomorrow; it's far too dark to go anywhere tonight."

Most nodded, but some grumbled.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

Again it was well after darkness had fallen when Kazmiria finally stopped them for the night. Again the girls and younger women were tied up while Danta, Tabita, and Janika were instructed to build a fire and cook a meal. And the men, of course, did nothing to contribute.

"Igorvia, go out and scout around a bit," said Kazmiria just as Igorvia started to settle himself down on a fur.

Igorvia frowned, but stood up to do what he was told. He sent a glance at Danta, who'd looked up worriedly at him, then turned his back on her and walked away.

The fire blazing, not quite as large as the night before, but still quite big—it was obvious that no one was close enough to see any kind of fire—Danta was instructed to tie up Janika and warned to make it tight enough to hold her, then she was told to get to her cooking duties, and Tabita was ordered to help her. The two women worked in silence, making a meal out of the meager supplies the men had brought with them, and feeling thankful they were near the fire—but guilty that the others were not.

Shortly before the meal was ready, Tabita served tea to the men, first to Zadneetsia and Kurvlodia, and then to Kazmiria. The first two men had leered at her, making rude comments about what they were going to do to her, Kurvlodia taunting Zadneetsia for his inability the night before and Zadneetsia cursing the other man and making wagers that he'd show them all later. Kazmiria, on the other hand, only looked Tabita over.

When Danta announced that the meal was almost ready, Kazmiria stood up, told the women to prepare plates, then disappeared into the darkness, presumably to find Igorvia. Once he was out of sight, the silence of the area seemed deafening. The two remaining men were handed their food, and the women were told that they could eat; Danta was told to fix one plate for them to share. And Tabita, she was instructed to sit with the men.

Shuddering with fear, Tabita sat down as far away from Zadneetsia as possible, her eyes not leaving him as she lowered herself to the ground. But she cringed when she felt something on her; it was Kurvlodia's hand on her thigh. Glancing down at it, then up at the man, she instantly started to cry.

"No. Please," she pleaded. But the man only sneered at her.

"Did you think we were finished with you?" the man asked. He ran his hand up her leg, then back down. "And I don't want any fighting from you, or I'll have Zadneetsia hold you down."

Tabita's eyes went to Zadneetsia, who grinned maliciously, then back to Kurvlodia. His eyes, the exact color of this brothers, were almost glowing in the fire light, giving off an unearthly look as he moved quickly, almost cat-like, to draw her onto his lap. Tabita gave one weak protest, then dissolved into tears and lay there limply as he mauled her.

"What in the Mother's name is going on here?"

Everyone turned to see a furious Kazmiria standing just inside the ring of fire light.

"Do I need to keep an eye on you two like you are children?" he demanded.

A look passed between Zadneetsia and Kurvlodia, but they didn't respond. And the only sound to be heard was Tabita, quietly sobbing.

"Bring her to me."

Kurvlodia again glanced at Zadneetsia, but when his brother barked at him again, he stood, which dumped the woman off his lap, then yanked her to her feet and dragged her over to Kazmiria. The brothers glared at one another in silence—a silence which was broken by Tabita's now hysterical sobs, until finally Kurvlodia turned and stomped away. Kicking his empty food dish, he disappeared into the darkness.

"Come. Sit down," Kazmiria commanded gently. Slowly, he reached out and took Tabita's hand, but came up empty when she jerked her hand from his.

"Sit," he repeated. He extended a hand and pointed at his furs.

Tabita's gaze went to them, her eyes filling with tears again. "No. Please," she begged with a shake of her head.

Kazmiria's eyes narrowed, then he shrugged and sat down himself. "Suit yourself. Just thought you might be hungry."

Tabita watched him, a frown bunching up her forehead. Looking over at the other women, and their shared plate of food that was almost gone, then back at the man with his heaping plate, she slowly lowered herself beside him and waited.

"Open up," he said.

Tabita had just been staring off into space when she heard his voice, but focused almost immediately to see that he was holding out a bite of meat.

"Come on. Open up," he repeated. And this time she obeyed.

~oxoxo~

As the night came to a close, Kazmiria ordered the women tied up, this time Danta with them, but he took Tabita to his tent. Fearfully, but with no resistance, she went with him, expecting that he was going to abuse her body like Zadneetsia had done the night before, only this time it would be in private and, for the simple fact that no one would see her humiliation, she was glad.

Resigning herself, she crawled into the small tent and lay there waiting in the warm furs. She had just started to drift off when the tent flap opened and the man crawled in beside her. Stiffening, she willed herself not to cry, but failed miserably; tears streamed down her face and into her hair.

"Shhh...don't cry," the man said as he caressed her face, removing the wetness from it. "As long as you behave, I promise not to hurt you." Leaning in, Kazmiria brought his face right up to hers, then lightly brushed his lips against hers. When she didn't respond, he feathered kisses over her wet cheeks, then mopped up her tears with his tongue before returning to her mouth. Nibbling a bit, he caressed her face again, but still received nothing in return from her.

"Come on, Tabita," he said. "Didn't I promise not to hurt you if you behaved properly?"

She gave a barely discernible nod, then whispered, "Yes," in a quaky voice.

"Then respond so that I know you're doing all that you can to cooperate." With that he bent down and took her mouth again. At first she did nothing, but as he continued to move over her mouth, his lips gently pinching hers between his, his tongue seeking entrance, she began to give in. Soon she found her mouth wide open, his tongue buried deep inside it—and his hand moving over more than just her face.

"That a girl," he panted as he slowly untied her legging and slipped a hand inside. Finding her center, he began to work. She fought the sensations for a while, but soon she was panting along side him, her hips moving with every pull of his fingers. "See now. Look how well you can behave for me."

She groaned.

Continuing until she was writhing beneath him, he kept her just at the edge of bliss, tormenting her with pleasure until he thought it just might kill him to not be inside her.

"Are you a good girl, Tabi?"

She groaned again, then nodded mindlessly.

"Can I have what I want now?" he asked her, his fingers sliding up inside of her.

She shuddered slightly at his invasion, then without hesitation, she nodded again.

"Say it. Tell me I can have you, so that I know it's all right."

Tabita shivered as he continued to work her body. As cold as it was outside, she was dripping with perspiration. "You. Can. Have. Me," she breathed out in puffs.

Smiling in the darkness of his tent, Kazmiria immediately removed her leggings, then lowered his own, spread her legs and plunged into her. Her response to this was more satisfying than he could have imagined, her womanhood clenching him tightly, yet giving enough so that she did not feel pain. She was a new woman and opened, and hadn't yet been used up by many men, and therefore more pleasurable to mount than any woman he'd had lately. And she clearly enjoyed a roll in the furs, which some women did not; all she'd needed was a little push.

"Wrap your legs around my waist, Tabi," he commanded as he pumped in and out of her. When she complied, he said, "Good girl." Then, reaching down between their bodies, he stroked her again. "Now I want you to finish because I'm about done." With that, she shuddered and he immediately followed, emptying himself inside her.

"See, that didn't hurt a bit, did it?" he said softly as he rolled off of her, then pulled up his leggings. When she reached to put hers back on as well, he stopped her, saying he might want her again before the night was through. And to prevent any kind of protest that might be coming, he snaked his arm under her body, pulled her to his chest and captured her lips with his.

"Don't argue with me, Tab. I don't like it," he said with a touch of harshness before giving her a squeeze. "I won't put up with that from my woman, and you are mine now. Right?"

Against his chest, she nodded.

"Good. Now, we have a long trek ahead of us tomorrow, so get to sleep."

Her head in the crook of Kazmiria's right shoulder and her small hand on the man's large chest, Tabita listened to his breathing until she was certain he slept—then she let her tears fall. Feeling shame for what she had let him do to her, for not fighting him at all, and for actually enjoying it, she cried herself to sleep—only to be woken up by him several times during the night and forced to succumb.

By morning, the nightmare of it all seemed a bit hazy. Her body felt used and abused, yet she couldn't remember ever feeling so good before either. She tingled everywhere, from the top of her head to the tips of her fingers and toes, and her insides were humming, like someone had forced rapture into every part of her—and someone had. Her kidnapper had done this to her, and she didn't hate it. And when he left her so that she could dress herself, she couldn't seem to remember why she had wanted to leave. The thought of him being out of her sight was almost distressing—until he told her that she would not have to be. Instead of tying her to the rest of the women, he bound her to him instead, telling her that it was for her protection, that there were things out there and he wanted to keep her safe from them. And nodding her understanding, she followed just a short distance behind the man, hurrying to keep up and to keep her footing. But one thing was certain, Tabita did not look back.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

"First, we should decide who's going and who is not," Tiflona said.

There were loud voices from around the cooking hearth; almost everyone wanted to go.

Tiflona shook her head. "That is not possible. Some have to stay behind."

Tagnolia nodded, adding his agreement to his sister's comments. "Tiflona is right. There are others to protect...children...and mates," he emphasized. Putting an arm around his mate, he pulled her in, then frowned. "And we can't leave the lodge unmanned. After what they did to Cedar Camp's cave, we can't be sure it's not their intention to draw us out, then circle back once we've gone and destroy our home."

Doventia frowned at this. "But then those we leave will be in danger," he said with almost hysteria. His eyes had gone to his frail mate; Zakena was sitting on a bench, staring sightlessly into the fire as she rocked her youngest child in her arms and crooned tunelessly. "We can't just leave them."

"And they can't come with us, Doventia," Vincenzia put in. "I know you're upset, but be rational. Most have to stay here with the children."

Vilognia nodded. "And we'll be able to move faster without so many to keep track of."

Brulenzia glanced at the group, then at his young mate who'd only been saved because she'd come back early to care for her crying daughter. "I would like to stay to protect those who are left behind."

Donzolnia nodded. "As would I, unless you think I'm needed."

Tagnolia nodded. "Of course that is all right; those who remain here are just as important as those who go. We'll need able-bodied people on both ends. Who else would like to stay?"

Knowing she wouldn't be good at fighting, if it came to that, Zarina raised a hand, and Wäglodia's immediately followed; with Tagnolia and Tiflona going, someone had to stay behind to comfort Zarina, and protect her, and that was generally his job if the woman's mate was gone.

Then Fraylora lifted her hand, followed quickly by both Travie and Hetara; the two older women, though not really much older than some of the others, weren't as capable of long treks and would only slow them down.

"And Kena, of course," Doventia added. Though his mate had not said she was staying, she was in no mental or physical state to go with them. A quick look at Hundaria told him the oldest son of his mate would not stay behind, so he didn't bother to ask him to.

Tiflona glanced around and nodded. "All right, that's ten staying and ten going. As long as we get to them before they reach their home that should be enough."

Tagnolia nodded. "I agree. Now, let's get some sleep. We start out at dawn."

General nods of agreement went around the hearth, then everyone dispersed to his or her own hearth for the evening. Whether or not they would get any sleep was something they did not know.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER

After crossing a small frozen river, the raiders stopped their party for a brief rest; it was around midday and everyone was exhausted—more so the men than the women, because their lazy lifestyle caused them to be quite sedentary and, frankly, they were out of shape. Though Danta understood this, and was adding it to her growing knowledge of her former people—knowledge she also realized she should already have—she was completely confounded by Tabita's behavior; the woman seemed like a different person—the strong young woman she had recently come to know was all but gone, and Danta was very worried. She'd been trying to catch Tabita's eye all morning, but, for some reason, Tabita wouldn't look back at the women—at all. Danta knew that Kazmiria had taken her—they'd all heard what had transpired inside his tent—and she couldn't understand how Tabita could stand to walk beside the beast. Instead of loathing him, as anyone in her situation should have, the woman kept her eyes trained only on him, and she completely ignored the women.

"What in the Mother's name is going on here?" Janika hissed under her breath when Danta finally sat down beside her.

Danta shrugged. She'd checked on the others. Torina and Morina were beyond terrified now and desperately needed their older sister's reassurance, and Danta thanked the Mother, though with regret, that Fräubita was with them since she knew Torina and Morina better than anyone else. But they weren't getting it—the reassurance—because Tabita seemed to be in another place. And Dakara and Kalina, two from the formerly closely related camps, had attached themselves to each other; it was amazing what less than three days of forced close proximity did to people.

"Maybe this is the only way she can cope with this," Danta said. "I mean, you heard what he did to her." Her eyes going to Zadneetsia and her mind on what he'd done to her at the summer meeting, she shuddered with revulsion.

Janika followed Danta's gaze and knew what the other woman was thinking—it wasn't difficult since they shared similar experiences with evil man—but she was more than repulsed by the man who'd forced them—and probably many others. Janika wanted him dead and would carry it out herself if she had to. In the days since the summer meeting she'd awakened many times, having dreamt of actually carrying it out, only to discover that it had just been a dream. She had been successful at hiding it from Davaria, so far, but didn't know how long she would be able to since she often woke up soaking wet.

But instead of commenting on this insane desire to kill Zadneetsia like the animal he was, she raised a brow and tried to focus on their current situation. "Yeah, I did, and it sounded like she enjoyed every moment of it."

Danta frowned. "Are you saying she liked what he did to her?"

Janika shrugged. "I don't know. You heard what went on. What do you think?"

"I think I don't like this." Glancing first at the other women, Danta's eyes went back to Tabita. The other woman sat there, on her knees with her feet tucked under her bottom, next to Kazmiria and watching him intently. When the man stood, she stayed put because he motioned that she should, but her eyes followed him. Kazmiria looked down at her briefly, then across the space and right at Danta. When their eyes met, Danta slowly rose; she could tell that he would come to her, and was ready with her request. Once again, she had to ask for water—and once again, Kazmiria brought her his own personal water bag.

After drinking her fill and handing the water bag to Janika, Danta said, "Have you considered my request?" She was referring to the one she'd made the day before about them releasing Torina and Morina.

Kazmiria turned his head toward the younger dark-haired woman who was moving to give the others water. "Make sure each of the women gets enough to drink; we're not stopping again until the sun goes down," he said, his voice full of venom.

Janika scowled, but she bit back her sarcastic retort; it would have only gotten someone punished and she didn't want that. Plus, she hoped the man would see reason and let the girls go. Turning, she walked to the others.

"I'm still thinking on it," Kazmiria answered Danta once Janika was out of hearing range.

Danta frowned. Torina and Morina were decent hikers, but the further they traveled away from their home, the harder it would be for the two girls to return safely on their own. And this was mostly unknown terrain—Oak Camp rarely went any distance east if they could help it, because, for the most part, that was Clan territory, or close to it, and also because the only Sungaea camps east were the ones that no one wanted to visit.

"When do you think you might reach a decision?" she pressed—then frowned as the man ground his teeth together. The sound almost made her cringe.

"I suggest you worry about yourself, Danta!" the man snapped.

Danta bit her lip and started to reply, then gasped when Kazmiria grabbed the front of her tunic with both of his hands and gave her a violent shake.

"I know you're planning something," he snarled through clenched teeth, his nose bumping hers and spittle spraying on her.

Danta shook her head. "No, I'm not, Kazmiria," she denied. "I promise. I just want you to let Torina and Morina go; they're just girls. Please let them go."

"You can forget about escaping," the man growled, ignoring her pleas. "I won't allow it!" he yelled. Then, giving her another vicious shake, he released her, then pulled back his hand and struck her hard across the cheek.

Sprawled on her back in the snow, pain exploding in her head, Danta blinked several times, then rolled to her side as if she expected another blow to fall—but none did. In this position she was facing Tabita, but Tabita wasn't looking at her. Instead, she had her face buried in her hands and her back to the scene. Her head now throbbing, Danta looked up at her abuser and frowned.

"They'll come for us, you know," she threatened. "I'm not planning anything because they will come for us!" she yelled. "And you will be sorry!" Now, the pain radiating throughout her head, she was sobbing.

Kazmiria stared down at the crying woman—discoloration from his blow already appearing. He'd hit her harder than he'd realized, but unfortunately it hadn't cowed her—not at all. He'd thought keeping the younger ones there might keep the others in line—give him some sort of leverage—but it hadn't done anything at all, except possibly slow them down.

Glancing at Tabita, where she sat huddled and shaking with fear—and wanting to gain her trust, if that was at all possible, so that she'd willingly stay with him no matter what happened in the end—Kazmiria went to her.

"Come with me!" he commanded once he stood over her.

For a moment Tabita didn't move. Then she twisted around and slowly got to her feet. Standing there in front of him, her arms crossed protectively over her front, she kept her head down, her eyes on the ground. For several moments he watched her, then he reached out and put a finger on her chin and slowly raised her head so that her face was turned up toward his. This caused her to close her eyes.

"Open your eyes, Tabi." He'd started off in an angry tone, but ended it with more of a gravelly whisper through his clenched teeth. And she obeyed. "I won't hurt you, if you behave. Do you understand?"

Tabita nodded weakly, tears squeezing from the corners of her blue eyes. Kazmiria scowled at this, but she didn't seem to see it. And then he reached out and wiped her tears away, bringing them to her attention.

"I'm s-sorry," she whimpered, more tears spouting.

"Shhhh." He swept his thumbs over her eyes again, then pulled her shaking body into his arms and looked over at the other women with a triumphant look in his eyes as Tabita curled her frightened body against his. "Don't cry," he said to Tabita as he lightly—calculatedly—stroked her long dark hair. Turning her, so that she wouldn't see the women's shocked looks, he said, "Let's walk." Then he slowly led her away.

~oxoxo~

"Tell me," said Kazmiria once he'd gotten Tabita away from the others and settled on the fur he'd brought with them. "If I sent your sisters back to Oak Camp, would you stay with me?"

Tabita blinked, then frowned. She was obviously both shocked and confused by his question. "Stay?"

Kazmiria nodded, then held out a piece of traveling food. But when Tabita gingerly reached out to take the meat, the man pulled his hand back slightly and watched the woman's brows pinch together. Her eyes stayed on the meat for a moment, then went questioningly to his. When he had her full attention, he smiled, then put the bit to her mouth and tapped it on her quivering lips. She hesitated a moment, then slowly opened her mouth and took his offering.

"I can be good to you, Tabi...if you let me," he said. "I don't want to fight with you."

"You don't?"

"Of course not. The Khazaria need good women...I need a good woman. And you happen to be one."

Tabita frowned. "But I'm not Khazarian." She'd always been proud to be Sungaean, proud to be the daughter of the headwoman of Oak Camp. Being anything else had never occurred to her.

"But you could be," he pressed with his most convincing tone. Pushing a strand of damp hair from her forehead, Kazmiria reached for a fur and wrapped it around the shivering woman.

"You would let Torina and Morina go home?"

Knowing he had her, Kazmiria's hazel eyes twinkled wickedly, but she didn't see it as he bobbed his head, snow falling from his black curly hair as he did so. "If you stay with me willingly."

Tabita frowned, obviously not sure she could trust him though she prayed she could so that she could save her sister and cousin. Searching his face, but not seeing anything that said he was lying, she gave the tiniest of nods, then whispered, "I will stay willingly if you send them back to their mothers."

Kazmiria's face lit up, then he pulled hers toward his for a kiss. For a moment she resisted, then realizing there was no out for her if she wanted Torina and Morina to get back to Oak Camp safely, she gave in.

~oxoxo~

Coming back into the clearing where they'd stopped for their short rest, Kazmiria handed Tabita his flint knife and told her to cut the bindings of Torina and Morina and say goodbye. Nervously, Tabita walked by the other Oak Camp women without looking at them, then slipped the knife between the ropes and released the two girls. For a moment, she stared at them, then swallowed a sob and pulled them both into a tight embrace.

"He is letting you both go home," she finally whispered. "Isn't that great?" She tried to smile.

Morina frowned, her lower lip beginning to quiver. "By ourselves? We can't go back alone," she sobbed frantically.

"Shhhh," Tabita shushed gently. "Sure you can." Holding Morina as she shook with sobs, Tabita crooned soothingly. "It took a lot to get him to agree, so you have to take this chance and be brave." Her eyes went to Danta's bruised face, so that she didn't have to think about what she was doing so that these two—her sisters—could leave. It was a fair sacrifice, in her opinion, but thinking about it terrified her, so she tried not to.

"But what about you?" Torina asked. "Come with us. Please."

Tabita shook her head. "That's not an option. But tell Mother that I am fine." She smiled again, trying to convince them that she would indeed be fine. "Can you do that for me?"

Torina frowned, but nodded reluctantly, then glanced around at those watching before falling into her sister's arms in tears.

"Go on now, before he changes his mind," Tabita whispered so that only Torina and Morina could hear her. "Go home."

The goodbyes were short. The girls were allowed to hug each of the women, but that was pretty much all. Danta hurriedly went to the bundles the men had been forcing them to carry—bundles containing Oak Camp belongings—and pulled out two large long-sleeve tunics. Pulling them over each of the girls' heads, she gave them one last hug and tried to smile.

"You'll be fine. Go!"

~oxoxo~

The girls had been gone for some time, bringing the captive number down to six, which was much more manageable than eight, but Kazmiria still wasn't happy. Something was bothering him about letting the girls go, but he couldn't seem to put his finger on what. Then he decided the situation had to be rectified—the freed girls were a liability he couldn't have.

Glancing at his brother and Zadneetsia, he instructed them to keep moving the women forward while he stopped. "And keep your hands off this one," he ordered when he saw the obvious fear in Tabita's eyes.

Zadneetsia scowled, but Kurvlodia nodded, and Kazmiria went back to Igorvia; the two stopped and waited for the others to move on.

"You need to go back and get rid of those girls," Kazmiria said once they were finally alone.

Igorvia frowned. "You've already gotten rid of them, Kaz. They're on their way home. Gone."

Kazmiria shook his head. "No! They're not gone. I want them dead!"

"Dead?"

Kazmiria nodded. "We should never have let them go."

"We can't kill them. They're just girls."

"Oh yes we can," Kazmiria growled, his eyes glazing over, a look of insanity within them. "And they're more than girls; they're witnesses. They can tell Oak Camp what we did, where we are, what our plans are. We haven't exactly kept these things to ourselves."

Igorvia snorted. "They don't know all of that. I doubt they'll even find their way back to Oak Camp," he said. He'd been thinking about that and thought it almost cruel to have just let them go. "They're not a danger to us."

Kazmiria's face turned red with fury and he grabbed Igorvia by the shirt front. "They won't find their way back because you're going to take care of it. I want them disposed of! And I want it done now!" He paused, then sneered. "Or something bad might happen to your precious Danta."

Igorvia looked at Kazmiria's hands—they were bunched up his tunic—then struggled himself free. "Fine! I'll do it. But you better not touch a hair on Danta's head."

Kazmiria smirked. "Oh, I don't intend to touch that one, now that I have one of my own."

Igorvia gave his friend a look of disgust, then turned, grabbed his spear, and stomped off the way that they'd come.

"And don't forget to get my knife back for me," Kazmiria called after him.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

"What are we going to do?" Morina whined as she clutched Torina's hand fearfully.

Torina glanced around, then squeezed Morina's hand. "Don't worry. I'm sure they'll come for us; we just have to be patient."

"But we're lost."

"No, we're not," Torina said with a shake of her head. "Don't you recognize those trees?"

Morina looked at the trees and frowned. "I...I think so. But—"

"Come on. Let's keep moving." Torina tugged at Morina's hand and the girls started moving again. "We need to get as far away from them as possible...just in case they change their minds, like Tabita said."

Morina nodded. "Don't you think Tabita was acting strangely? It seemed like she wanted to stay with those animals."

Torina frowned, but kept pulling Morina forward. "I don't know. I guess she was. I—" Suddenly she stopped walking and looked around.

"What? What is it?" Morina asked.

"Did you hear that?"

Morina clutched at Torina as she glanced around. She saw nothing. "N-no."

Both stood there silently; perfectly still.

"There! There it is again," Torina whispered. Reaching into her waist thong for the knife Tabita had given her, she pulled it out and gripped it.

Morina glanced around. "An animal?"

"I don't think so."

"Maybe we should hide."

After a moment, Torina nodded, then started pulling Morina again. They'd been heading in a generally westward direction, but were now going north.

Morina followed blindly as they hurried along. After several moments of weaving in and out of trees, they came to a large outcropping of boulders. Approaching carefully, Torina looked around, used her foot to kick around the dusting of snow that had been falling, then picked up a stick.

"Look, there's a small opening there." She pointed. "I'll go see if anything's inside."

"Wait!" Morina said. "What if there's a sleeping animal inside.

Torina shrugged, then held up the knife. "It's a small hole, maybe it'll be a small animal."

Morina frowned. "Smaller than us?"

Torina rolled her eyes. "It's either that or what's out there."

Still frowning, Morina finally nodded, then picked up a stick of her own. "All right, I'm ready."

Torina approached slowly, then poked her stick into the hole. At first she found nothing, then the stick hit something hard. After several more pokes, she decided they had nothing to fear.

"It's empty. It's hardly more than a depression, but I think we'll fit."

Morina let out her breath, then smiled. "Thank the Mother."

"Come on, let's get inside."

~oxoxo~

So angry with Kazmiria, Igorvia was stomping through the snow, mumbling to himself as he went. Using his spear as a staff, to check the ground in front of him, he still almost missed that the girls had changed course. Cursing himself for getting sidetracked, he froze, then began to examine their tracks. He was thankful the falling snow had ceased, for the moment, but confused by their change; the abrupt change of direction didn't make sense. It only took moments to realize they'd turned north, and he wondered if they were lost. Then he realized they must have heard him coming, and had to admit that he'd not been very surreptitious about following them. This made him angry with himself; he couldn't even follow a couple of girls and carry out Kazmiria's orders without his mind wandering.

No matter, he thought as he too turned north. It took him almost no time at all to come across the boulders where the girls' tracks ended, and he smiled at the their feeble attempt to hide their whereabouts—they'd covered an opening between the boulders with brush, but failed to realize that everything else was covered in snow; their hiding place was obvious.

"You might as well come out," he called out to them. "I know you're in there."

Then he waited. For a few moments he thought he might have been mistaken; there was no sound coming from behind the pile of brush and he saw no moment. Then the brush did move and the two frightened girls peeked their brown-ish red heads out, their green eyes wide with surprise. Looking at each other, they pulled themselves back into their dark hole.

"Go away!" one of them screamed—Igorvia could not be sure which. Frowning, he looked the area over, then back at the darkness the voice had come from.

"That hole can't be large enough to keep me from dragging you two out," he threatened.

It was silent for only a short time, then he heard rustling around inside, and finally the girls stumbled out, the slightly smaller one behind the other, and both picked up and brandished long spear-like sticks that he'd failed to notice lying on the ground.

"Get away from us!" bigger one snapped.

Igorvia eyed them and tried not to laugh when the one in front pulled out Kazmiria's knife—the other held a sharpened stick that he was sure they'd made themselves while hiding. It was rudimentary, but it would still work.

He didn't think it would take much to overpower these two little girls though. After all, he was a grown man and they were...girls—and he already had experience retrieving these two, he'd had to do it that first day. Granted, they hadn't had weapons, but he was still confident he could disarm them.

But he had no interest in overpowering them. He was supposed to kill them, like they were animals, but when he looked at them all he could see were two frightened little rabbits.

"I won't hurt you," he said. After taking one step backward, in hopes that it would help them to believe him—it didn't—he put down his spear and held up his hands to show that he carried no other weapons.

"Go away!" the smaller one screamed—Igorvia was certain it was the same one who'd said it before.

"I'm not going anywhere," he said with a shake of his head.

Both girls frowned. "Why are you here?"

Igorvia shifted on his feet. "I was sent back to—"

"No, no, no," Morina whined as she shook her head. "I'm not going back." Her eyes filled with tears. "I'm not!" she said indignantly.

Igorvia sighed. "Well actually—"

"Just tell them you couldn't find us," Torina said, then took a step backward when the man took one forward. "Stay back!"

Igorvia eyed the knife; she held it at the ready, as did the other one with her pointed stick. "I said, I won't hurt—Oh, Mother!" Igorvia bellowed, then glanced at his arm to see his tunic sleeve slashed, the opening covered in blood. "You cut me!"

Torina's green eyes widened. "Oh! I'm sorry." Behind her, Morina was whimpering, and both were backing up. They were terrified, especially when the man began to advance on them.

"You cut me!" he repeated.

Torina squared her shoulders. She knew she couldn't defend herself against a grown man, but she intended to give it her best effort. "Well, you're trying to take us back, and we don't want to go," she said, holding her knife up again.

Igorvia stared at her for a moment, then frowned and slowly moved around the girls—both of them holding their weapons up and turning so that he was always in front of them—to seat himself on a snow-covered fallen log. "Actually, I was supposed to come back and..." Igorvia groaned as he sat down. "...kill you." Glancing up at the girls, he shook his head. "But don't worry, I could never do that."

Torina and Morina had taken several steps backward again. "You couldn't?" they said in unison.

Igorvia shook his head, then, feeling dizzy, put his head in his hands.

Torina frowned. "Let me see your cut."

Moving slowly, Igorvia rolled up his sleeve, but when Torina moved to look at it, Morina grabbed her and pulled her back.

"Don't get close to him! He might just be pretending he's injured," the younger girl whispered.

"It looks deep," Torina whispered back, feeling guilty that she'd hurt the man who'd so far done nothing to any of them. Even Danta had said he'd not touched her in his tent that first night. "He's clearly badly hurt, Morina."

"I don't care. If he's with them," Morina hissed with a nod in the direction they'd come, "then he's bad." She glanced at the man sitting on the rock, now slumped over a bit. "As far as I'm concerned, we should let him bleed to death."

Torina frowned. She eyed Igorvia, then looked back at Morina. "That's just cruel. We don't even let animals suffer like that."

"So!"

Torina rolled her eyes. "So we're not going to be as bad as them," she said.

"I want nothing to do with helping him!" Morina said with a pout.

Torina nodded her understanding. "You sit over there then, I have to at least look at it."

Morina scowled, but didn't move to sit down. Instead, she gripped her pointed stick and advanced a step behind Torina. When Torina knelt down in front of the man and began examining his wound, Morina hovered over her.

"Oh, it does look bad," said the younger girl as she dropped to her knees.

Torina eyed the man. "If I bandage this, will you leave us alone?"

Igorvia opened his eyes and frowned. "I've already told you that I wouldn't hurt you, haven't I?"

Morina snorted. "Yes, but you're so trustworthy, aren't you?"

Igorvia chuckled; he couldn't help himself. "I will leave you alone." He took a deep breath as the girl started to work on his arm, clenching his teeth as her ministrations caused him pain. He watched as she pulled out a small bag from under her tunic, then frowned when she pulled out a tiny sharp object that looked to be made of ivory.

"What's that?"

"Ayla calls it a threadpuller," Torina said as she plucked several hairs from her own head and fed them through a miniscule hole in the tiny pointy thing.

"And...what are you going to do with it?" the man asked with a frown.

Torina tried not to smile as she held up her ready threadpuller, but couldn't help the amusement in her eyes. "I'm going to sew up that nasty cut...like someone would sew leather together."

Igorvia's frown deepened. "Isn't that going to hurt?"

Torina shrugged. "I imagine so." She paused and looked at the cut she'd given him. "It doesn't look like I cut through muscle, so it should be relatively easy."

"For you," Igorvia said in near panic. He'd pulled his arm back and scowled at the girls, but knew he'd have to let them help him. "Ayla does this?"

Torina nodded. "She's an amazing healer. You wouldn't believe the things her Clan has taught her that she's passed on to Oak Camp."

The man snorted in disbelief, but slowly extended his arm. The girl made short—painful—work of the procedure, but, after the initial pain of having something sharp poked in and out of his skin—several times—he looked down at the job she'd done and harrumphed. He wanted to complain, to say something critical about what she'd done, but found that he could not. Then he watched as she used Kazmiria's knife to cut a strip of leather off the blanket Danta had given them. Carefully, she wrapped his injured arm, pulling it a bit tighter than he thought necessary, then she backed away from him.

"Can we go now?" she asked.

Igorvia eyed the girls. It was clear that they didn't think he'd let them leave and that they were ready to run. "One more thing. I'm supposed to bring Kaz's knife back to him. I probably should do that so he thinks you're dead."

Torina frowned at the thought of being without the knife, but nodded and tossed it in the snow at the man's feet as she and Morina backed away.

Grabbing the knife, Igorvia gripped it, then reached for his own and quickly stabbed it into the log he'd been sitting on. "Here," he said, "take mine." Then using his spear to get to his feet, he turned away from them. Taking a few steps, he glanced over his shoulder, then leaned his spear against the nearest tree and walked off.

Worried he'd come back, the girls stared after him for a short time. Then they scooped up his knife and spear and hurried on their way.

AtDC

End of Part TEN!

Post Script

Okay. So that's basically it...all she wrote. I mean...all I wrote for this...a VERY long time ago. This last chapter (not part ten...I mean the last "NEW CHAPTER" you see) was originally posted March 2, 2010, so...yeah, just over five YEARS back. *sigh*

I have to admit that I might possibly be interested in adding to this, but...I will NOT make any promises.

Again...thanks for reading and for your patience in my uploading of it. Leave me some comments so I know what you all think. Thanks!

~Sheri