Chapter 21: Of Reunion & Night Thoughts

As we rode, I maneuvered my mount close to Treeya's so she could hear me, "Treeya," I admitted, "You were as brave as any man I have ever hunted with. I honestly do not understand how you managed to stay on top of that jumping and twisting mount of yours yet were still able to get off all clean shots with both your spear and arrows. You are amazing my little flower, amazing."

"I didn't know what I was doing," Treeya said modestly. "I saw the cave bear coming for me, then when the bear went after you, I just tried to keep him from killing you. I only did what you taught me to do Dac."

"No," I countered, "I didn't teach you how to stand up to a cave bear. I didn't teach you how to use your weapons sitting atop a frightened horse. I didn't teach you to put your life in danger to save another. I didn't teach..."

She cut my words off by interjecting, "But you did teach me Dac. You taught me everything I am and everything I will be. You didn't hesitate for even the briefest second when the cave bear went after me. I know you could have thrown your spear, but instead you elected to stab with it making sure the bear went for you and not for me. See Dac, you teach us without even knowing you are doing so."

I decided to drop it and changed the subject by asking, "How's Dugut doing?"

"About the same," Treeya responded.

"Just as long as he doesn't get any worse is all we can ask for." I responded while silently asking the Earth Mother to take pity on one of her finer four legged creatures.

We rode the rest of that day and throughout the night relying on the horses more acute night sight after it became dark.

The sun had been up for about an hour when Treeya and I finally crested the hill overlooking Martreen's winter camp. The camp was already lively with activity, with some people cleaning up after the morning meal, others tanning hides, and still others stacking firewood. The camp itself looked much as I remembered it with the exception that it was obvious that now everyone, men, women and children alike ate together around the large fire ring.

As we urged our mounts down the slope and came in sight of the clan, the reaction by the general population was as I had expected. Their eyes were wide in astonishment, I presume, not only because we were on horseback, but as well from the fact that we came in the company of a wolf.

Most stepped back, some ran, others fell to the ground, the single exception was Iega, he smiled broadly, waved a welcome, then briskly came forward, "Welcome Dac. Some hunters came by a few months ago and spoke of men sitting on horses' backs that run with wolves. Most of our people assumed it was just night thoughts but Martreen told us they must have seen you Dac. I now see she was right."

I guess because Iega wasn't eaten alive or destroyed immediately the rest of the clan members, one by one followed him until they were all gathered around me. As they congregated who could tell what any of their individual thoughts were. As I gazed on their faces, I saw expressions of reverence, affection, warmth, and even perhaps, a few that reflected apprehension.

Offering a polite bow of my head, I said, "Good morning," greeting softly to those that had gathered around me. That changed everything, suddenly the shouts that broke from their throats would have drowned the voice of the Earth Mother herself. I had never guessed how much they thought of me. As they clustered around, almost fighting for the chance to welcome me, I saw again my vision of future clan life.

I nodded again then turning my attention to Iega I said, "Yes Iega, Martreen was right about the hunters. But I'll have to explain later, right now I have urgent need of Martreen, please go get her for me right away." I conveyed with all seriousness to him.

Iega must have read the concern on my face because he turned to the crowd and said, "All right. That's enough. Dac has important business to discuss with Martreen. Go back to what you were doing. Dac will speak to you later. Go on now! Hurry up!"

The crowd slowly dispersed, some waving to me, then without any farther hesitation Iega turned and ran to a nearby traveling hut urgently calling to someone inside.

A moment later my heart skipped a beat as I dropped off the back of my mare and saw Martreen running confidently toward me. She was dressed in her leather pants and shirt, which hugged the soft curves of her figure as she moved. Her long, black hair was brushed smartly back behind her ears, and her full lips curved to a lovingly, devoted smile as she leaped into my arms and kissed my cheek. As she was about to kiss my lips, I leaned back, "As much as I've missed and want you right now my love," I said softly as I placed the tip of my finger on her lips, "I have a friend that has need of you even more than I." I looked toward Dugut.

Following my eyes, she first saw Treeya and she smiled warmly, but after noticing the concerned expression on Treeya's face she in due course noticed Dugut, "The wolf has need of me?" She asked curiously.

"Not just any wolf," I responded, "I owe my life to that wolf, he is one of our family Martreen."

I didn't have to explain any farther. Martreen immediately turned and hurried toward the injured animal. Nugut took a place by her side and Martreen must have noticed him for the first time, because after looking down she momentarily hesitated, then looked back at me before proceeding.

I stepped up behind Martreen looking over her shoulder as she carefully unwrapped the cloth then detached the grass padding. Looking up at Treeya, Martreen, using a healer's voice of authority told her, "He's lost a lot of blood and I think he's gone into shock. It's a good thing you kept him covered, otherwise he'd be dead right now." Then offering Treeya a confident smile, her voice becoming less professional, more vulnerable she said, "Treeya, I promise you I will do everything in my power to help our four legged family member."

"I have no doubt of that Martreen. Thank you." Treeya replied in a subdued voice.

Martreen nodded, "Now, let's get him inside as quickly as possible."

With Treeya's assistance I slid Dugut into my arms then I followed Martreen inside her hut. Once inside Martreen quickly fashioned a makeshift bed of furs and I gently laid the wolf on top of them.

Nugut had followed us inside, but Treeya had remained outside minding the horses. "I'll be right back," I told Martreen as I gently turned her face to me so I could gave her a delicate kiss on the lips, "Thank you my love."

She smiled, nodded, and then returned to her patient.

"Nugut, this is Martreen, she won't hurt Dugut. Threat her just like you do Treeya and me. She's a friend and one of us. Okay?" I spoke to Nugut as if he could understand me while petting him on the top of his head. Then I stepped outside looking for Treeya. She had collected my mount and the travois mare and stood nervously holding the steering straps. I walked over and after giving her a reassuring hug I said, "Go inside. I'll see to the horses."

Treeya smiled weakly, hugged me back, then after handing me the leather horse steering straps she quickly made her way toward Martreen's hut.

I called Iega over to me. He had remained patiently waiting outside Martreen's hut. "See these straps," I asked him holding the steering straps up after he had joined me, "Do you have anything similar to these around here? They don't need to be this long."

"Hmm... maybe," he thoughtfully responded, "I'll be right back."

"If you find anything, I'll need three of them." I called after him.

He turned and acknowledged my request with a nod.

Several minuets later Iega returned with three leather straps about twice as wide as the steering straps and perhaps half their length, "Will these be all right?" He asked handing me the straps.

I looked them over, "Yes, perfect. Thank you."

"They were being used to support a meat drying rack. The woman was about to stick me with her spear until I told her they were for you. Then she couldn't get them down fast enough. You know, you're quite the hero around here Dac. You're only half a notch below that of the Earth Mother herself." Iega remarked frankly.

I ignored the compliment and led the horses down to a reasonably flat area, which offered some sparse, yet still available grazing grass'. The area was only a short distance away from the place Sheel had lit the secret fire with her homemade arrow the night I had returned with Iega.

Using the straps Iega had supplied, I kneeled down then cross-tied the front legs of each horse just like Treeya had taught me, then I removed their steering straps and seating furs. The horses took to grazing immediately.

"By the way, I haven't seen Resran around. Where is he?" I asked standing up.

"If I hadn't seen it for myself... I wouldn't have... Its just so... But, I did see them on the back of these animals. I'm sure of it. Right?" Iega said with veneration in his voice, then my question must have sunk in because he quickly added, "Ah... sorry... Resran, Oh yeah, he was killed two moon makings ago while out on a hunt. Six of our clansmen died that day."