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The night was long, and never ending. There was nothing that stopped me from working, knowing that the little girl that had found a cling to my side, Natalia, would watch over Mezoo well.It had been a while since I have seen the leather worker, Noya. There was a certain air about her, I enjoyed. I was not ignorant of her past, perhaps it played a part of it, I found her, a symbol of a woman who breathed tribe. It was a breath of fresh air to speak with her a bit. It wasn't until I crossed Tarra's path, and her wounds where, enough to make me feel a tear of guilt from having not checked on her earlier. I had her soak in the water of the stream. I could only smile, and see her be very brave as I cut away the leather that was fused to her legs. There was only soaking to try to ease the grasp of burned flesh. The last time we really had talked was the night we shared a meal. It was a great night. Not just of wager pay backs, but one of talking, laughing, and the thrill. I wondered what she surrounded her mind with when I felt the tense of muscle fight against my fingers as I checked her legs after working the leathers and boots off. A passing thought made me wonder if that herlit chick survived. I rubbed the raw of her skin with salve and wrapped her legs. Something about a woman makes me just want to care for her when she can't. Something about a woman allowing you to care for her. It was rare, very rare. I don't see this as a flaw in a woman, for that is the way our women were. Strong. One has to savor when its allowed. I do. Its like a gift worth a dozen bosk in trade. To gather a woman in your arms, and she gives just that ehn, of her. Of being a woman, fragile, needing to be cared for. To press a cheek against your chest, to carry her to her furs, and be able to smile, and see one in return, even between fires and loss. The smile was...Mine.

I think as men we all search for something, in someone, no matter the age, experiences in life, the roll of days, but just a little something, that belongs to just us. That is what we all just want. That is what we find in our mates. If it be the birth of a child, or finding love. If it be someone who makes you feel like if your arms can't embrace her at night, it will never be complete. It was what I was searching for. I had dreams, I had reality, now to find where they meet, is what I was willing to wait another hundred seasons for. It was a soothing thought, to find again what I once had. The fact that I knew the feeling, is what makes it burn so much. To taste it again. Like healing, like killing, like loving, to feed into the different lust of life, it was all one in the needs of a man.

It was almost the peak of morning by the time I got to my wagon. My personal wagon was filled with people, the healing wagon also, but I found a spot against the entrance to just sit and lean my head back, to get an ahn or two, and be there to be able to listen for any that needed help, that might arrive.

I had just fallen into this deep sleep, letting my mind find some peace. Not sure what pulled me out first, the sound of voices, or the feel of something clamping down hard on my hair. It could have been me being attacked, cause when I opened my eyes, there was nothing but huge browns staring at me, and I jolted to my feet taking grasp of it, like it was a sleen going for my face.

"What the fuck?"

Came out before I could stop it. The girls were laughing as a scream that cut the air sharper then a new quiva told me exactly what I had a hold of. Tasha ran up to help wedge little fingers out of my hair as I was just trying to hand the child to anyone. Tori was gasping for air, so she was no help at all, and it would be Natalia that would come and take the child scolding me for the use for such words to young ears. Was she serious? I just sat back down to try to collect my thoughts. Figure out just what was going on. Before I could get one question out, or get up to slap one of my girls quiet as the laughing was starting to bother me, all I heard...was Natalia..going on and on.

"Your girl Tasha, said she was to find my family, well, seeing that our parents are still missing I was able to find Niyati, who is my sister. Now that you two have met, and you have scared her, she will not be happy all day. Thank you for that. We have much too much work to be doing for you to be acting in such a fashion. We are thankful for you offering to care for us until my Parents are found, but you really need to work on your manners. But I am willing to help. Now, could you get one of these lazy girls to find us some milk, cause Niyati is hungry. I could use some food too. Healers need their strength up. I would recommend you wash up, you like horrible."

Not sure what else she said, I just started to zone her out as I looked at the big eyed baby. She was maybe one, but damn she was loud. I was hoping her head would grow into those eyes soon. Then she might be what I would call..pretty. Children at my wagons? I cut a look to Tasha as if to say, she better find these girls parents fast. Now Natalia, I could handle, she could walk, and was useful to me. She really had the drive to be a great healer one day, but that little big eyed one..still was screaming.

Shit where was some black wine?

Hope Takara was ready, she would be on baby duty until I find out what I was doing. Right now, it was time to check on people and ride out to see if there was anything left to save. It did take a cuffing to get Tori's head on right, but soon enough we were out.