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My boots were returned, honestly in great shape. Gifts arrived with it, stacking the small jars in my main healing wagon. I sat with Lourdes for a while, an elder woman who likes to tell me she was there for the birth of the first bosk on this camp. For some reason, I honestly don't doubt it. Her body was finally ready to sleep, though her spirit wasn't. I could just feed from her vibrant persona. I think that is why the Sky keeps her here. She use to watch me when I was younger and my Father would go on long hunts with my brother. She had Great Great, by many over Grandchildren my Age, who I would practice the bola with. That is where I met my Mate, her brother was my best friend. Since my mate has been gone, she still comes to see me once a hand. She was a smart one. She always had some different ache to suggest I look at, and we share a meal and talk for a good ahn. I love to hear stories of when Breanna was young. I love her so much. Her dark eyes, her smile, her long hair that went through my fingers when I worked out her braid. She was so delicate, feminine, but when she angered, nights I would stumble having forgotten I said I would be back by dinner, she wouldn't lash out openly. I would be scared for days. It was almost a hidden enjoyment to see what witty payback of a reminder would be lashed out on me. The worse I think was when she glued Tori's lips together. I was angry, spent the night working oil to release her mouth, but afterwards, even I had to laugh. She was a very cunning woman. There was nothing I could do to really make her truly unhappy, except to say I would be home for a meal, when I wouldn't be. She was understanding of emergencies, even the call of my command. Not of a wager gone to far, or just one more drink. Those were rare and in between, but they happened. We had tried a long time for children. She lost many early, and I was willing to accept a life without a son of my own blood. I told her this. I loved her enough to accept. I wish she had been so willing to accept it also.

I had been so driven back then to see she would have a baby in her hands. I toyed the thought of making one of my girls carry one. It would have been to harsh on her eyes. I could send the girl away to further wagons, no, not a good idea. Love makes a want to do many things. I had even talked this over with Lourdes back in those days. I told her of the rage inside of me, to ride out and rip a child out of some mothers arms in a raid to see a child snuggled against my woman's embrace. I could do it, I really could. She sat me down, with a dose of my own tea.

"Tell me Ongel, before you go and do these things. I will say, your desire to see your woman happy is an honorable one. There is nothing wrong with the desire to do anything for Love. I need to know you understand, what level of love your doing this for. You of all people know, love is not of flesh. I have no doubt at all if a child of fair flesh, eyes like the sky and hair like the sun were to be placed in your arms, you would raise it as if it had been a reflected image of yourself. Its how that child is placed in your arms that truly matter. You seek a child to ease your mates pain. That is not a reason. That is why one is not here. That is why you have not rode back with a bundle wrapped in leather, crying for a mother. When you want a child for yourself, is when this will happen Ongel. Trust the Sky, calm your heart, and embrace the time the sky is allowing you to learn. For once a child comes, you will not stop learning, but you will also become a teacher. "

Those were, very wise words. Ones I live to, to this day. We laughed about my ahn long mating. She teased me that perhaps three will be charm. Maybe in another hundred years. I was still young. The rooster and vulo were running all around the wagons, chasing Seeker when she got to close. The young girl is suppose to come make me a few pens. Hopefully soon, or we will be slipping and falling on eggs all over. I walked her to her wagon, when Tori came running, that I was needed immediately. I bid my Be Well, and ran with Tori who had tears in her eyes. Not sure why fear hit me, it does, wakes my senses up, I let every thought run through my head twice looking for answers before questions were asking. I knew by the time of the day, Tori should have been going to Gal's wagon. Take her tea, a general one for new Mothers. She was doing very well, and of no out of ordinary concern. Ness, what she called the tiny baby, was another matter. She was a small babe, born early. Born a fighter, a tiny scream reminded me of the miracles of the Sky. She was weak, but was doing well over the last 5 hands. Gal would tell me how she can't believe how peaceful Ness was. She slept most the night, rarely cried, always smiling and fed better then her last three children, all boys. The family wagons seemed empty, as Tori just went to tend to the fires, which told me, so much as I walked up the steps. The first thing I saw was weeping slaves by the inner entrance, three girls just there watching their Mistress. Only one spoke and said her Master and the young Master's were out hunting, would return tonight.

I walked over and crouched beside Gal. I was happy the slaves were there. I didn't like going into a wagon with a woman alone. She was laying in furs still, with Ness beside her looking peacefully asleep. I knew it wasn't slumber that kept the child still. I just stayed there, reaching over to put a hand against Ness's small cheek to see if the flesh was cool, to estimate how long the child had been dead. From my touch, I could tell she never woke from her evening slumber. From the looks of Gal, red eyes and wore features, she knew that, and had woken up to see why the child missed a midnight feeding. I asked the girls when the men had left for the hunt, finding out they had left yesterday. I told one to go find Gal's mate's brother and have him bring them back early. The second slave to get Gal's mother. The third to find something warm for the baby to wear. Gal, was out of tears, as she spoke softly of how she was blessed with the hands she was given, and how she would never forget Ness. In her dreams, she kissed her sweet cheeks and say goodbye. I just let her talk until the others arrived. I was proud of Gal, she was a strong woman. Accepting, but it was always a hard thing to feel, experience, and even witness. I stayed until her mother arrived, I left both women to bath and dress the baby, ready it for the small pyre. I left Tori to help, as I would send Tasha there to replace her later this afternoon.

It was a long morning and afternoon. I still had a few others to see before patrol this evening.