Sated with food and drink, Tor fell asleep in front of the bonfire as it was gradually losing its flame, but not its heat. That familiar feeling of the need to relieve himself woke him up to find that he was covered with morning dew just as the sun was trying to climb above the bank across the river.

On either side, as if to protect him, were Shea and Tia asleep. Also, there was Shin helping keep Tia warm. But smelling of wet dog. Tor carefully extracted himself and set off to the river to relieve his bladder and let the current take away the evil smell that would occur if everyone peed in camp. As was his way, Shin quietly followed his master. He, too, relieved himself. But not knowing what Tor knew, used a tuft of grass still clinging to the bank, so heavily trafficked.

Slipping carefully down the muddy bank, Tor engaged in his ritual bathing that was really pleasant this time of the year with the river warming in the sun. That done, he came back into the camp and awoke the two sleepyheads. All around, the others were waking up and beginning to do their morning rituals. Some of the women preparing pots of gruel before others would leave to do gathering, fishing and hunting.

Tor waited with Shea for the elders to emerge from the main lodge, sharing some gruel that Manna brought for them to eat. Tor couldn't help but notice that she was wearing jewelry, had her hair braided nicely, and kept glancing enticingly at him when she served them. Smelling like crushed flowers. Tor introduced the two of them and they greeted each other cordially.

As soon as Manna left, Shea turned to Tor. "I saw the way she looked at you. Was she in your bed?"

Tor was caught. There was no getting around it. "She came to my bed, like so many others, before you. They all wanted babies like me. They had no men. So I gave them what they wanted. I never felt for any of them like I feel for you. I will not touch any of them unless you want me to."

Shea looked up into his eyes and said, "I knew that. I just wanted you to say it." Flashing him a wicked look. "But I might consider it, if you let me do the choosing."

Shea was without any evidence of a child from Tor. And she knew it. She blamed it on the loss of her first child making her infertile. She still bled like other women once every moon. And now, was bleeding at the same time as Tia, comforting her when Tia worried about what it was doing to her. And talking to her about her desire to be with Tor the way Shea was almost every night, listening to them. Wanting some of that pleasure, too.

But Tia was already off tending to Tsen and protecting him from the horde of young men wanting to ride him. Already making eyes with some of them, deciding which ones might be her future husband already at her unfortunately, very experienced, but young, age.

Ald was the first of the elders to arrive and squatted down next to Tor to accept his bowl of gruel and began confiding.

"We elders have decided that instead of joining us in the lodge, you would prefer to have more privacy. We have a small hut on edge of camp that you can use if you like. If not, this is your birth home and more yours than any of us since you sent us here, so we will abide by your wishes."

Without conferring with Shea, Tor responded. "That will be fine. We won't be staying long. From my brief look around camp and beyond, seeing you cultivate wheat and oats and seeing you all so happy and healthy after the way I found you, we won't bother you. We will just stay a short while, and then, I must continue to look for my mother." Finally, looking at Shea for her approval.

"I would ask, though, how many babies you have? Is the clan growing now that you are all together?"

"We have five babies from infants to over two notches. We have already started life trees for them."

"I need to add a couple of notches to mine. That tree was still there last time I looked." Tor chuckled. "Can I see them?"

"Of course. Let's go see them as soon as we finish eating."

When they entered the lodge, Tor took note of the skull of the cave bear over the entrance. It was larger than the one that he had, so his father had killed a mighty boar like the one that so eagerly swam swiftly after them. The transition to the inside from the bright sunlight of morning made it hard to see with the tallow lamps in clamshells the only light in the smoky interior.

But the smell of babies was obvious and that helped guide them to the little ones until their eyes adjusted and they were be able to see better. The elders had all left their beds, but three women had stayed on to nurse and tend to the babies. Two were already running around and soon would go outside to play all day and learn with their eager little eyes and hands. Mud was their friend on their hands and feet and they were used to being picked up by anyone who came by and welcomed it with laughter, bright eyes and smiles. Everyone spoiled them until their busy little fingers could be put to use when weaned.

Tor carefully moved to each one and picked up some to get them closer to the dim light. In every case, he didn't say anything, but just shook his head in the universal, No. He didn't spend a lot of time there, but took one of the little walkers by the hand and escorted him out into the morning sunlight. Soon, the little boy was on his way, exploring his world without fear. Shea took the hand of a little girl and followed.

"I didn't want to talk in front of the others, but I don't see any characteristics of my mother, or me in any of their faces. I do see some of their mothers and some of their fathers, from right here. There isn't the distinct Thal characteristics in any of them. None of my father or his father… nothing."

"But you took several of them into your bed?"

"I did. They were very satisfied, like I know you are, with my performance. I am more a man than most of these boys and you know it."

"We'll keep trying. I know I will never have all of you. When I see the right woman, I will include her in our bed. You must have children, Tor. The Thal clan must have strong leaders like you to continue in this evil, difficult and dangerous world. What are the gods thinking?"

"I don't know. But right now, there are no Thals left here at our home camp except me. Let's take in orphan children, but I will keep trying with you to have our own." No one saw the tears in their eyes as they embraced and wiped them before moving on to greet the elders and others again.

Knowing where they were found, Tor, with Shea led a successful bison hunt that day. The great coats of the bison were some of the warmest against winter and the damp ground. And every part of the animal, even the tail and hooves were useful. The horns used for drinking vessels and carved into other ornaments and tools.

After another great feast from the bounty of the great beast, once again, sated with food and drink, Tor and Shea staggered, holding each other up, to that little hut and crawled in. They were soon fast asleep. Shin had followed and slept across the door that was left open because of how warm the nights had become.

Shin whimpering awakened Shea until she saw Manna give him a piece of meat that quieted him. She climbed over and moved up to Shea's ear whispering. "That little girl I saw you walking with is mine. I'm suckling her." She took Shea’s hand and pressed it to her swollen breast.

I am with a younger man who is her father. But I want a boy. I want a leader like your Tor. Before you knew him. I knew him. I love him as much as you do." She started to cry softly.

"Tor ate too much. But he has digested all of that by now. I think we should wake him up." Shea whispered into Manna's perfumed musky ear.

At his age and good health, Tor had no problem with two women. But as they spent a few suns of early summer helping with the crops, hunting and fishing, and then, every night new women showing up to try to advance the line of this great Thal bear killer, it got to be too much for the both of them. Tor had a good excuse and shared it with the elders over campfire after the next evening meal with a formal speech before storytelling.

"Oh hallowed ones who have survived great turmoil, pestilence and men who would kill only for your possessions and your women and children, I have decided that you are prospering and doing everything to create a great clan of your own. I claim no right to it anymore because you are the ones that are making it happen. It has been four cycles of the seasons since my mother disappeared from this place without a trace.

"I have scoured much of the Rine Valley and all of the south side of the river, finding many of you in need. I have yet to follow the north side and its tributaries to the sea. And have decided to take Shea and Tia with me on that search. To those of you who are Danis, I will search out your people and see if they have survived like you have. I will bring news of Dupree's loss, but Conie's newfound clan. Perhaps, initiate trade.

"I promise you, that if we leave now, we will return when the leaves start to turn and help you secure enough food for the next long cold winter we know will come, the gods will it."

The whole clan rose to its feet and one by one everyone came and hugged the two of them before they were allowed to go off to the little hut one last night. This night, no women came with their stories of need. The couple did not sleep well, planning their trip and anxious to get started.

Copyright 2021 © Ronald W. Hull

6/28/21