* 60 *
                        

         B'tunku and Roaring Wings both found it difficult to fall sleep that night. When sleep did come, it was troubled because of the rift he had caused between them. He was still feeling the effects of the drugs he had drank and smoked to induce his shaman's trance. He closed his eyes and colors and shapes still swirled before his closed eyelids. The spirits were still with him, waiting to continue their discussions with him.
        The ancient gray wolf waited for him on a high hill as his spirit body flew through the night sky of the dreamland. He landed beside his mentor, bowing respectively before him.
        "You were not wise in your handling of your mate-to-be, Roaring Wings," he chided him.
        "Oh Revered One, I knew not what else to do. I could not violate the sacred circle with my earthly lust," he apologized.
        " Are you so sure it would have been a violation and not what was required?' the wolf questioned, his yellow eyes like searchlights.
        "The spirits wanted me to take my woman upon the sacred ground?"
        "That was what was intended when she was asked to come here, not knowing that she was being called by those that watch over you," the spirit replied with a wolfish smile as he regarded the human's incredulous expression.
        "You wanted our mating to take place?"
        "Yes, my poor bewildered shaman. There would have been much power gained for you and her if you had allowed your blood full rein instead of claiming honor. There has not been a bonding of a great and powerful shaman and one such as her for thousands of your seasons, not since the Beginning when you came new to this world," he told the awe-stuck man.
        "Is it too late?"
        "The moment is passing. If you had allowed yourself to go then you and she would be fully charged, as it is," he shrugged meaningfully.
        Roaring Wings looked perplexed. "Then you tell me truly and there is still time? Is there anything else I should know, Ancient One?" he asked knowing that sometimes the wolf spirit could be a trickster.
        "I tell you truth. Your bonding will seal and give you power beyond which you could not dream. You will need this power in what is to come between your peoples. There are many dangers and challenges to you all in the times to come. This only the beginning. Your line is bond to that of chiefs and shamans and it will continue to be so until the world itself is no more. In future days there will be one of your line and of the Atanzi who will be found alone and abandoned and he will lead his people wisely and keep them safe through the dark times that will come. His seed is within you, and within her and will merge with others, but that merging must come together tonight or it will not come to pass in the way it must be," the spirit wolf spoke his voice gravely and deep and the words he spoke were now forever imprinted upon the shaman's soul so that he would not forget and his knowledge would be passed on through time.
        "So be it then, Ancient One. I will do ask the spirits command," he said turning to leave.
        "One warning more, mortal. . . this bonding must be accomplished in both the dream time as well as in the flesh for the full power to infuse you both," he told him, making his meaning clear.
        Roaring wings nodded solemnly. "I understand, it will be done as you have said. Good Bye, Ancient One. Thank you."
        "I do what must be done as messenger between our two worlds. Ride the winds, Roaring Wings, and you will return to your earthly shell. Good Bye, human," he replied and his form sparkled with blue light and coalesced into tiny sparks that flew up into the dreamscape's dark sky and disappeared on its winds.
        Roaring Wings felt himself fly up again and ride the skies and when he blinked he found himself back within his body staring up at the whiteness of the moon that now hung directly overhead. He sat up shakily, using his hand to push himself up from the ground. He still wore his ceremonial clothes, and he could see that his body paint was streaked and dirtied by the colored sands he had spread to outline the quarters of the sacred circle. The cool night wind blew across his body and he shivered, and he noted that his fire had almost burnt itself out. Moving and getting the stiffness out of his joints, he got up and found the wood and added some more to the fire. It blazed up quickly and he soon had it going very hotly again.
        He looked out through the darkness to where he knew B'tunku lay. After his firm refusal earlier would she be willing to listen to him or accept his advances. The moment had been right and he had blown it completely. Could he now recapture the passion and the fire that they had started or was it too late?
        The moves would have to be his. She had made hers and he had rejected her. He was not sure whether she was sleeping or not. His mental probing only brought back traces of pain and deep, deep sadness. Cautiously, he moved towards her, walking out of the bright circle of the firelight and into the darkness beyond. As his eyes adjusted, he looked for her and finally he located her at the end of the plateau by the large boulders that thrust up above the edge.
        She had her back to him so he could not tell if she was sleeping. He came up, making no noise, and then squatted down beside her on her level. He called her name as he reached out and touched her shoulder.
        "B'tunku? B'tunku yuhu, do-hih," he said gently, letting her know he was there, under his hand he could feel her trembling. She had been crying, he realized as he caught her muffled sobs and sniffles.
        "B'tunku, se'he! Nee-'yoo-ta'," he told her, trying to turn her over and feeling very sorry for the pain he had caused.
        "No, Roaring Wings--go away! I don't want you near me. I want to be left alone," she told him through her tears and refused to turn over.
        He may not have known her tongue but he knew by her tone and her resistance to him what she was saying. He was not going take no for an answer. Determinedly, he did turn her over to face him.
        Her tear-swollen eyes were angry, and flashed fire at him. Her body was curled up into a tight ball with her clenched hands up tight to her chest. Neither of these things deterred him, nor did the protests in her own language spilling angrily from her mouth. She did not realize his intent until he had swooped her up in her blanket with his strong arms and began carrying her across the plateau to his fire. She began beating on hi s chest and he looked down at her confused, as well as amused by her actions. She was still protesting loudly when he bent his head suddenly and kissed her fully and deeply on her mouth.
        She was stunned as he released her as suddenly as he had kissed her. She looked up in wonder and awe, no longer verbally protesting. He smiled at her, and his eyes were dancing with a wild, hot fire and gentle amusement at her confusion. He bent his head again to kiss her so that she would now have no doubts as to his intentions. This time when his lips touched hers,--she responded fully as he deepened the kiss. Her hands reached up and touched his scarred face, and brought it closer to her own as she felt him tighten his grip on her body and draw her nearer to him.
        "Kwe!" he breathed as her touch fanned his inner fires. "E-kohan'-ala'pi-ju!" he passionately murmured in her ear as he sought her neck with his lips and buried his head against her neck.
        B'tunku had no idea what he was saying, but his actions were plain as was his rising desire as he carried her the final steps to the fire and deposited her gently within the sacred circle on the ground.
        Roaring Wings continued to kiss her and she was finding it hard to breath, to think . She had to stop him. She had to find out what had changed his mind that seemed to so determined earlier to wait until they were married. "Roaring Wings, stop!" she asked trying to draw away from him. "Why?"
        He looked at her puzzled, and shook his head, trying to understand to why she had asked him to stop. He felt he confusion, and knew then what she was trying to ask. He nodded in understanding. "E'kohan--kwoch?"
        He pointed to the moon, and gestured with his arm taking all of creation in. Then he bowed his head to apologize for his actions earlier. He looked up at her humbly from under his lowered brows, hoping that through the expressions in his eyes she could see what he was trying to say. As he sat on his knees before her he pointed again to the moon and then to her and to himself, then took his hands holding them towards one another, but separate at first , he bent his finger s down except the forefingers which he held up straight from each one then he brought them together to intertwine suggestively and merge as one.
        From his pack he brought out a long fringed shirt of white deerskin that matched his own and held it out to her. She took it with a look of puzzlement as he demonstrated that he wanted her to take off her clothes and put it on. She nodded in agreement, somehow understanding that he was going to marry her this night, there under the stars and moon in a ceremony of his devising.
        She got up and then went back out into the darkness to change. He let her as he filled his cooking pots again with water and began brewing special teas for both of them. He folded up the strange blanket to a square small enough for both of them to knell comfortably on and sit in the center of the sacred medicine circle.
        He began to chant as he took more colored powers from his pouches and began repairing the damage to its lines and colors. He wanted all the magics to be intact and in place this night of nights.
        B'tunku returned out of the darkness in his shirt. It fell to mid-thigh on her, while its long fringe dangled below her knees and danced playfully upon the wind as did her long unbound hair.
        The sight of her dressed like that took his breath away as she looked like the Moon-goddess herself all silver and white in the moonlight with her pale skin and hair.
        "Ay-ka-ya'-hu!" he exclaimed breathlessly, his mouth almost hanging open and his eyes filled with the wanting of her.
        She saw his look and understood. She waited outside the circle expectantly, waiting to see what would happen next. She was nervous but oddly open to all possibilities this night. He rose from where he crouched by the fire finishing fixing their teas. He rose gracefully with the small clay cups in his hands coming towards her with them, his eyes full of passion's fires fixed on hers, chanting low in his gravely voice which sent shivers up and down her spine. He held a cup out to her and she took it carefully, watching him, then he motioned for her to drink it slowly as he chanted more loudly and made gestures and signs up above her head and around her body. He walked around her facing each of the four directions and offering praise and asking for the blessing of the spirits. He faced her again and meaningfully drank his own as he looked deeply into her silver eyes. He chanted again this time to the moon, spreading his arms above his head in sublimation and then moved closer to her, chanting more, slowly lowering his hands until they encircled but did not quite touch her body. Roaring Wings finally took her hand and they carefully crossed the lines of the circle as he chanted still, then he indicated that he wanted her to kneel on the blanket and she did looking up at him as he made gestures above her head, then he sank to his knees to kneel before her on the blanket.
        From the ground beside them on a piece of soft skin he picked up a black stone bladed knife and chanted again holding it high in the air as he did so to bless it. Then he took his left hand and cut open his palm. B'tunku was horrified and quickly grew afraid as he grabbed her hand and slashed it open. Roaring Wings could feel her fright but there was no help for it because this part must be done as he held her arm tightly and made her look into his midnight eyes as he chanted again and pressed their blood soaked palms firmly together.
        He picked up a necklace of amber beads, bear and wolf's teeth, mixed with turquoise stones and placed it over her head. He handed her a necklace of jet black beads and indicated he wanted her to put it over his head which she did. She was still leaned forward when he bent towards her and kissed her sealing this part of the ceremony.
        She closed her eyes and leaned into his kiss and felt him place his hands upon her shoulders, pulling her closer to him. She melted into him, unresisting of his advances and his mounting passion as he kissed her lips, the planes of her face, and explored her neck and ears, nipping her gently with his own long canine teeth. He felt his hands roving over her shoulders and down her back, probing, caressing her soft curves. The silkiness of the deerskin increasing the sensations flooding her. Then she felt his hands on her bare thigh traveling upward and under the hem of shirt. They rose tantalizingly upward touching the flesh of her hips, her waist and finally to stroke her breasts, lovingly and reverently. She was lost in a maelstrom of overpowering sensations as he ran his hands over them, her nipples hardening painfully under his touch. Fire was in her belly and her soul, and one hand traveled downward to explore her hidden recesses that he had passed by so quickly before. B'tunku leaned weakly against him as he aroused her to hotter and hotter fires, fires she had never experienced before from any male be it Atanzi or human.
        He took one of her small hands and laid it upon his chest, tell her it was all right to touch him that he needed her touch as much as she needed his. Slowly, timidly, she did begin to explore his bare chest, feeling him shiver and breath heavily under her touch, boldly she explored further and further, delighting at his reactions to her.
        Carefully, he began to take off her shirt, exposing her warm flesh to the cool night air, but she didn't care, didn't notice, she only wanted him to go on doing what he had been doing. Then he took her in his arms and lowered them both to the ground so that he was laying above her. Then he undid the string at his waist, releasing his loincloth and tossed it from him, now there was nothing between them but their love.
        She looked up at him, a little fearful because of her past experiences, but the look of love in his eyes reassured her that he wanted to be gentle and caring this first time together. He bent his head down and kissed her feeling her arms wrap around his neck pulling him closer still. He was trying to keep it slow and easy but B'tunku roused such feelings in him, he found it hard not to take her then and there.
        He didn't, because he was more concerned with her enjoyment and freedom from her fears than in building her fires and making her fully ready for him. She was quickly getting past those fears and lost to whatever he wanted to do with her. She touched him finally in those places, that none but his wife long-dead had touched. It had been too many long and lonely years since he had felt a woman's touch upon his parts and it was almost painful in its hardness within the delicate grasp of her hand.
        Finally, he could bear it no longer and he moved to enter her. Her eyes opened and fear crossed her features. He smiled reassuringly and bent to kiss her and she slowly relaxed as he kissed her and murmured reassurances in her ear as he probed deeper into her moistness, finally entering her. Gently, he went forward, holding his own passion back feeling her relax and trust him. Carefully, he began to move forward and within in, stirring her hidden fires until she had no resistance to his assault. He moved with one final hard thrust and he was in her completely and fully hearing them both let out a loud gasp of pain and pleasure as the merged completely. If he had had any doubts about their compatibility he had none now.
        In his mind, she was there too, with him as they were together in their bodies. Never had he felt so close to another being, nor had she as they felt their love and passion spiral upwards higher and higher. He felt too. the spirits gather, joining somehow in their love adding their energies to their love-making. With his spirit eyes he could see B'tunku and himself surrounded with blue light that was increasing in intensity to a blinding pure white one as they rode their waves higher and higher to a point beyond pleasure, beyond pain and of such joy that light exploded in their heads, hearts and souls of such unbridled love and being they were mesmerized by all the sensations flooding them as them came together in a fiery burst. He felt all their pent up energy infuse them at their climax with magical energy as well as join inside of her to create a new life out of both of their essences. The spirits were pleased as he relaxed and lay limply on her, he could feel their approval and their joy at his giving of energy to their world as well as to his own.
        After a time he could move and he did to raise himself to look at her. He noted that were surrounded still with a faint blue glow that was rapidly dying away, that pleased him that they joined had been so magically this first time. She opened her eyes to look wondering up at him.
        "Roaring Wings, what happened?" B'tunku asked her voice still shaky from her experiences.
        He looked at her in shock--he could hear her--understand her speech! It wasn't possible! "B'tunku, can you hear me? Hear my words as if we wore the translators?" he asked before he answered her question.
        "Yes, I can ! But how?" she replied shocked as well at being able to understand him.
        "Magic! The magic of our joining. We broke all the barriers between worlds when we came together in all ways. We are no longer separate beings but one," he said at last trying to find a logical explanation for what had happened.
        "Is it possible? I don't believe in magic--there has to be a logical, scientific explanation for this," she replied not going to listen to anything that was prefaced by the word "magic".
        "Then what is this if it not magic, my silver one? Science can't explain all the mysteries and this is one. It's also one I'm very happy to accept and experience. All barriers are gone, all! For now and forever," he said laughing with joy, feeling and looking suddenly younger than he had in many years, as he felt their combined energy still flow through him and make him feel alive in ways he never had before.
        She looked at him as if he were crazy, but she could not explain what had happened during their love making any more than he could. And what they had experienced was something beyond simple lovemaking that she knew without a doubt. Was this unique to them or did it happen every time an Atanzi and a human bonded? The experience was unlike anything she knew of or had read about. Did he comprehend how strange it was. He was taking it awfully calmly or was he, she wondered?
        "What now?" she asked him, regarding him speculatively.
        "In the morning we will start our journey back to camp. There is much we both will have to do in the next couple of days. We need to see what has happened between Ky'tulendu and White Deer. I would be interested in comparing notes and see if they can now communicate as we do, provided that they have joined by now," he said suggestively.
        "I would be greatly surprised if they hadn't," she replied.
        "As I would be. My niece was very determined to make love to your Asenti whether or not they felt the bonding pull or not. When he stripped in the village square, she decided right then and there she would have him in her bed," Roaring Wings said grimly, not liking that predatory attitude in his niece.
        B'tunku's eyebrows raised a little in alarm. "She would make him believe that they were bonded just to get him into bed? Why?" she asked, not sure she wanted to know.
        "Because he is the Asenti, and a very exotic looking male, as well as it would make her father furious as it did do. She 's a dangerous one, that White Deer. Innocent looking on the outside but even more treacherous than her father because she uses her charms to get what she wants instead of brute force."
        B'tunku got mad then. "If you knew all this why did you push them together at the clinic?" she asked furious with him.
        He shook his head. "I believed they had/have a true bond as we do and O'vettun and In The Forest have. I knew what staying apart was doing to me so I believed White Deer when she begged me to find a way to get Ky'tulendu alone with her to complete their bond. If I have done wrong we will find out when we return to camp, worrying about it now will serve one now," he told her apologizing.
        "If they have gotten together then we will see what comes of it. Bonding has a way of changing people," she said seriously, looking up at him in a new light.
        "Yes, it does," he agreed with a smile. "Very much, and I see you are no longer afraid."
        "No, I'm not. Will it always be as wonderful each time?" she asked.
        "I don't know. Do you want to find out?" he asked moving suggestively within her.
        "Maybe," she laughed and moved in reply. "Make that a definite, yes," she added as she brought his head down and began to kiss him.

 
* 61 *

        They made love most of the night. For both of them it was like a dam had burst, unleashing all the pent up passions that lonely years had walled up in them. They were both as youths, not as the mature adults they were. Their next times were not quite as glorious as the first had been, though they were close, very close to touching those high peaks so that their love making left them both sated and satisfied. Their mental and psychic blending improved too, approaching near a point where they did not need words because they could hear each other in their minds.
        Finally, in the wee hours of the morning they slept, wrapped in each others arms, covered by the bearskin throw he had wrapped his pack in. The sun was well up when they were awaken by the bugling sounds made by a bird flying low overhead. Roaring Wings was the first to open his eyes and calculate how long the sun had been up. It was well past the time when he had planned to start their return journey. On the other hand, feeling B'tunku's reality snuggled close to him, the matter of returning to camp didn't seem to be that pressing. He sighed happily to himself. He was content as he had not been in many years. He turned and kissed her forehead and she sighed in her sleep and moved even closer to him, her hands playing across his broad chest sending shivers through him. As much as he would have liked another rematch, they could not. They needed to get up and going.
        He bend over her and whispered in her ear, "B'tunku, wake up. It's time to get up, my silver one."
        She moaned in protest, not wanting to be disturbed. "No, not yet. Let me sleep," she begged sleepily, snuggling even closer.
        He sighed, and smiled tracing the line of her ear with his long clawed finger. "I wish I could my love, but I cannot we must get dressed and be on our way before long."
        Her eyes fluttered open, and she woke with a start looking at him then up to the clear blue sky overhead and then down where her hand lay across his bare, paint streaked chest. "Then it wasn't a dream. It was real?" she asked wide eyed and fully awake now.
        He looked a little confused, though he excepted her reactions gracefully. "Yes, it was very real. We were married in the Ceremony of the Heart and then we joined in all ways with the blessings of the spirits. Or rather we joined several times during the night," he said carefully, until he understood her reaction.
        "Yes, my body can feel that," she said finding herself stiff and sore in many places not usually sore. "We were married?" she questioned.
        He nodded. "There was no one but myself to perform the rituals. If you like we will get remarried in a another ceremony. I do not know what your people use to formalize their ties, but under the laws of my people we are legally bond to one another. You are now my wife and I am your husband," he said seriously waiting to see what she would say.
        Her silence stretched for many long moments. "I am your wife?"
        "Yes, B'tunku, you are. It could not be any other way for us. We are life-bonded in all ways now. Our bonding cycle has begun and can't be broken. Then there is the simple fact that I love you. I fell in love with you in the dreams, and then more deeply when we met and really talked that first time. From the first, I could have you no other way than as my wife," he said hoping his words could convey how deeply he did care for her.
        "God, this is all happening so fast. I wanted time to think, but this bonding pull wouldn't let me. We are so different Roaring Wings, yet there are times when we are so alike. It frightens me. We come from two completely different worlds. Yours is primitive, savage, ignorant in many ways. You believe in spirits, magic, and things I cannot even begin to understand. While I . . . ," she started to say.
        "Your science and your machines, and knowledge from a hundred, hundred worlds unknown and undreamed by this poor earth-bound man that has never traveled further than the end of this great island we live on. Yes, I know what is in your head, your fears, your ways of looking at the world. I understand, B'tunku, I do. What you must understand is that you are in my world now, and to survive you must learn my ways as I will learn yours to understand what your people have to offer. Between us we will bridge these gaps you find so frightening," he said seriously, not chiding her for her prejudges.
        "Are you sure we will be able to bridge these gaps?" she asked, not sure in her heart if it were truly possible.
        "Yes. We are bridging them already with our bonding as well those others that bond as well. You and I will be the keepers of knowledge for our peoples. We must keep open minds, and not be afraid of the truth. We will have no secrets between us," he told her his gaze steady as his emphasized that point.
        "No, we won't," she agreed, knowing that secrets would not now be possible between them. "I do have a question?"
        "Which is?" he asked begging her to go on.
        "In what way am I to be wife--your people's or mine? And if your people's, how am I to act?" she questioned curiously.
         "You start by helping me up and packing our things after you dress me," he said seriously.
        "Dress you?" she questioned with a raised eyebrow. Not sure whether or not to take him seriously, she smiled at his joke.
        "Yes, my wife, you dress me," he replied solemnly, his expression and his mind unreadable.
        To be on the safe side she brought it, and she struggled to her feet, throwing the bear skin back disgustedly as she stood up and began searching for his discarded loincloth and belt. He watched her trying not to betray his amusement, as well as not respond to the sight of her naked body that moved so tantalizing in front of him causing reactions he'd rather not have at this moment. She located both items finally widely distant from one another on the ground and brought them back waiting expectantly before him.
        "Give me your hand. I can't pull you up or dress you if you're down there," she said impatiently.
        He obeyed her and held up his hand and felt her surprising strength as she did pull him up to where he again towered over her. She also noted his other rising too as she made to put on his belt and loincloth. He stopped her by grabbing her hand. She looked up surprised and saw his grin.
        "Halt, my wife, I only wanted to see if you would do it. You do not have to dress me, really. And that is my cloth for special occasions. I will get my not so formal one if you are so determined to dress me any way," he said with a laugh releasing her hand.
        "All this to see if I would do it?" she asked incredulously, anger flashing behind the silver eyes.
        He nodded, not so sure of himself now and of his joke. Then she laughed, and tension between them broke.
        "All this to see if I would really dress you," she said laughing hard now. "You're terrible," she said, laughing harder now.
        "Yes, I am," he admitted, "you're not angry?
          "Not now. And you should see yourself, you're a mess," she said grinning.
        " Yes, and you wear my paint very interestingly," he commented with a grin, looking where his body paints had worn and rubbed off in interesting patterns on her pale skin.
        "I hope we can take a bath or at least wash off before we get back to camp?"
        He nodded as he walked over to his packs and got out his old loin cloth for traveling and put his ceremonial one away. "Yes, there are several places. First though we must finish dressing and pack," he told her as he started gathering up his scattered belonging.
        "Here, I believe this is yours. Thank you for the loan of it last night," she said handing him his shirt which had been her bridal dress and kissing him on the cheek.
        He nodded solemnly back as he watched her walk away to where she had left her clothes. Then he turned and continued his packing. A little while later she returned, fully dressed and ready to go after she secured her blanket that had been lying on the ground into her pack. He too, was ready, and they walked to the edge and began their climb down the side of the cliff.
    It was easier going down that going up she discovered. They made it down the steep sides without any mishaps. At the bottom of the cliff they filled their water containers. No words were exchanged then or when they continued on their way. The happiness and the joy they felt between them made words unnecessary as they began retracing their steps through the forest.
        By a deep running stream he called a halt and began taking off his pack.
        "You wanted to bathe?" he asked, wondering why she was looking at him dumbly.
        "Here? The water must be freezing," she complained.
        "Not after you get in. See how the sun shines down, the water is very warm on the top. There are no snakes or other creatures to harm us here," he told her, easing the worries he saw in her mind.
        Reluctantly, she took off her pack and set it down on the grassy ground. She stripped off her uniform while her new husband watched fascinated by all the fastenings and layers she had to remove to get down to her bare skin.
        "We work on getting you simpler clothes. No wonder I could not touch you last night when you came to me. You bury your skin so deeply from the light," he said as he grunted in satisfaction as her body stood unadorned before him.
        "It's called a uniform, thank you. On the ship it was very comfortable and practical," she replied indignitly, tossing her hair.
        "There yes, here no. I notice it gets snagged and torn too easily and your skin underneath will get hurt too because its not tough enough to take sticks and other things rubbing against it," he said coming over to her to lead her to the water. "Can you swim?" he asked.
        "A little."
        "Good," he said as he jumped in dragging her in with him.
        They landed with a large splash in the middle of the creek. B'tunku sank deeply before she recovered from her shock of hitting the cold water and remembered to swim. She surfaced sputtering and splashing wildly until Roaring Wings swam up beside her and grabbed her up by the waist, thereby holding her up until she regained her balance and composure.
        "You didn't warn me and it is-- cold!" she protested.
        "You will adjust. Just relax and enjoy I will hold you up," he said into her ear as he felt he finally relax and lean back against his chest.
        He paddled them over to where she could stand on her own on the smooth rocky bottom. She smiled gratefully at him as she turned around.
        "Now we wash you," she said, taking her hand and rubbing the paint that still remained off from his chest and arms. Then reaching lower through the water she worked on his belly, and upper legs that she could reach. The cool water could not quite keep his responses to her touches in check, she noted. Roaring Wings had closed his eyes, and was trying to maintain control, but it was hard, very hard.
        "Stop!" he told her finally, his voice deeper then usual. "Let me wash you," he volunteered moving nearer to her.
        She stood there patiently as he began rubbing off the paint that had been transferred to her, working his hands lower and lower down her body, lingering momentarily on different portions that he came to. When he reached the juncture between her thighs, and began to rub gently the portions there she was lost and she reached her arms around his neck pulling him even closer to her as she felt him increase his touches in more intimate ways.
        He bent his head down and kissed her and she opened to him fully. There in the middle of the sun dappled creek they made love, lost completely in one another as they renewed the ties of their bond, strengthening it more. He held her tightly as they reached their release, and held her close in the aftermath of its shuttering climax so that she would not fall.
        When he felt her stirring he loosened his grip and let her go. Her eyes beheld his with love and deep contentment. "I think that we are clean," she stated simply, a smile around the corners of her mouth. "But your face and forehead could use some more washing," she teasingly commented looking up at him.
        "Then wash it, wife. You do such a good job," he smiled back as she did as he bid.
 

* 62 *

     It was mid-morning before they made it back to camp. She started walking off in the direction of her office when she felt a hand on her arm--Roaring Wings. He was looking at her questioningly.
     "Where are you off to?" he asked her persistently, trying to get her to go with him.
     She shook her head, "I have work to catch up on and patients to see."
     He caught her drift and dropped his arm. "Yes, I forgot. Do you want me to be with you when you check on Ky'tulendu and White Deer?
        "Yes, I want to get your impressions of the situation."
        "I was hoping you would. By the way, where do I get a new translator? It's all very good that you and I understand one another but it's not going help with the others of your people."
     "True. You'll have to go to supply to get one," she told him and then she pointed him to the supply building, "Go there and ask the person on duty to give you one. Tell them MS B'tunku said so," she smiled.
        "All right. I will meet you back over at the infirmary after I've dropped off my things and cleaned up a little more," he told her, with a smile.
        "I have a few things to drop off over at my quarters too, so I'll meet you there. Good bye for now," she said kissing him on the cheek.
     He nodded courteously to her, and without a backward glance he went off to the building she had pointed out. She watched him go with a lightness in her heart. She let out a deep sigh she starting walking in the opposite direction to her building.
     She went to her room first to get rid of her pack and change her clothes. A shower was what she needed after all the rock climbing and the trek through the forest as well as the dunk in the creek. She stripped and took her shower ignoring the blinking light and strident beep-beep-beep of the commcon. After she got dressed she would deal with business--not before, she decided.
     She took her shower and felt considerably better. After throwing on her robe B'tunku punched the button on answering the annoying thing. "B'tunku, here. What is it Control?" she asked, not really looking at the screen as she finished drying her hair.
     "Ky'tulendu here. Where in all the space-time have you been, B'tunku?" he asked angrily.
     "You didn't get my message?" she snapped back still drying.
     "One of the sentries said you told him that you were going after Roaring Wings and not to follow. That's it. Where were you? Your communicator not working?" he asked persistently.
     "I'm not sure. My translator wasn't. Need to run a systems check on all the equipment. The power cells may be fading faster than we estimated," she shot back.
     "Great! That's all we need. I'll have someone look into it, but you still haven't answered my question--where were you?" he asked wanting answers.
     "With Roaring Wings, we came back together. He's somewhere around camp."
     "I see," he said noncommittally, giving her an opening to go on if she wanted.
     "And what is that supposed to mean?" she asked spinning around to face the screen, "What happened or didn't happen is between us. However, if you must know, we did bond," she said more snappish than she meant to.
     "You don't have to take off my head, Doctor," he yelled, involuntarily backing away from the screen.
     "Sorry, Asenti. I apologize. It's been a rather long night and day already. He had gone to that high ridge past the forest and had made camp up on top of it when I found him. Then we had to come back. I'm not used to hiking so much and haven't gotten that much sleep," she explained.
     Yes, she was justifiably tired. He tried to smooth things over. "Apology accepted. So you two bonded. I thought he might hold out until you two went through some sort of ceremony despite the pull of the bond."
     "He was going to, then he changed his mind. He performed something that he called the Ceremony of Love and told me that we were married," she explained.
      "I thought your translators stopped working?" he questioned.
      "They did. After we bonded we could understand each other just as if we were still wearing them. He's getting us new ones from supply, because this ability to understand won't extend to other people. So how are you and White Deer?" she asked changing the subject. She quickly noted that he was wearing only a robe and he was still in his personal quarters.
     He coughed, trying to hide his discomfort at talking about this. "Fully recovered as far as anyone can tell. Between the medicine and other . . . treatments she is perfectly healthy now," he told slipping a little.
     "What other treatments, Asenti? I ordered nothing, but the medications I prescribed," she questioned, puzzled by what he could be talking about.
     "She had ideas of her own," he said somewhat embarrassed, a slight reddish flush creeping across his features.
     She caught on. "You didn't--did you?" she said open-mouthed.
     "She came to me. I could not . . . resist her," he admitted, his eyes not meeting hers.
     She nodded slowly, trying not to condemn him for his actions in view of the pull of the mating bond. "So you have begun the bonding with White Deer?" she asked to confirm the situation.
     "Yes," he replied, feeling a little helpless and vulnerable because of the situation he found himself in with White Deer.
     "Are you going to continue to work or are you going to require privacy?" she asked.
     He looked away for a moment thinking. His face was tense, lined with worry. He hated being trapped liked this. It was like being locked in a biological straight jacket. He had never been held down or restrained by anyone, not even Command. He made a quick decision and answered her.
     "I plan on working, B'tunku. There is too much to do here. Then there is the native's situation. Their village is going to unusable for a while. We have to bring them here until the damage can be repaired and they can go home."
     "All right, I'll accept your recommendations. When do you want to start the evacuation?"
     "Today, using all available air and land crafts. I estimate that there are approximately a hundred to a hundred-fifty natives to be moved."
     "There's going to be a housing problem, Asenti. We don't have that many units to put them all up in. We have been building for our existing population with some reasonable expansion. We don't have the necessary food supplies to support them either," she argued.
     "I realize all that, B'tunku. I have authorized the construction of at least six units, or more if necessary. Which will be modified to the native's specifications."
     "Modified to the native's specifications?" she questioned sharply. "Who did the design specs?"
     "Sees Far, and some of the others at the native quarters. They were most helpful in spelling out what they needed and wanted to see done or not done. These units will also be on the edge of the camp within the borders of the forest. That was they only way they would accept transfer to our camp on a permanent to semi-permanent basis."
     "They don't like our housing units?"
     "No, not really. Our homes are not natural enough for them. They say that they cannot communicate with their spirits or their Creator, nor can they fix proper meals or do what they need to do to prepare for the coming cold times. They did, however, like our running water, and the light that burns without flame, and they hope that these things can be added to their homes," he said with a laugh.
     "All right, we'll let them have their own units away from camp. I'll be interested in seeing how the design modifications work out," she said agreeing with his proposal. "So you are going to the native village?"
     "Yes, within the hour as soon as I find Roaring Wings and some other people. I've already sent the land vehicles on their way. They should arrive about the same time as I plan for the flyers to arrive."
     She nodded agreeing with his plan. "What are you going to do if they don't want to come?" she asked, seriously. "This is going to be a big move for them."
     He shifted uncomfortably in his chair under her intense probing. He was all too aware of all the complications that were arising in moving the natives from their ruined village and putting them near the almost completed Atanzi camp. They hadn't even gotten used to the Atanzi existing and living on their lands let alone the idea of living next to them. Moving from their ideal, sacred lands to another home site was going to difficult for them as well. He was keenly aware of how much resistance he was going to be up against and how much he was going to have to mentally fight with the different groups towards change of any kind.
        "I realize that. I will not force anyone to come if they do not want to. I can't see them wanting to stay where they are at with their village flooded out. The only place they have to stay is that cave. That is why I need Roaring Wings to talk with the elders. I am also going to ask In The Forest and O'vettun to come. We are going to need their help too."
     "They're bonding remember, and supposedly officially disappeared?" she questioned, folding her arms and crooked an eyebrow at him.
     "Well, it appears that all of us are too, but we're still working. With Thunder Arrow gone In the Forest is his most likely successor. We need him. We need them both and they no longer have to hide out. That is why I am going to talk to them personally and why the flyers are going later," he explained.
     "All right, go. Just keep me informed," she requested, relaxing a little.
     "I will, and until I return you have the command seat such as it is," he said with a smile, saluting her.
     "Thanks Ky'tulendu, B'tunku out," she said punching off.
     Ky'tulendu blanked the screen on his end, and turned to White Deer who was sitting on his bed watching him wrapped in only a sheet. Her face wore both puzzlement and a slight frown.
     "What is wrong, White Deer?" he asked, coming over to where she sat, his robe gaping open as he walked.
     "I listened to your conversation with the Doctor. I heard no mention of me. Am I going with you or staying here, my husband?" she asked, her dark eyes regarding him seriously.
     "Whatever you want to do. Right now I am going to go find your brother, and after that I am going to your village and ask your people if they would like to come here."
     She looked up at him with some pain in her eyes, "You do not wish to stay her with me, and make love still? Do I displease you?"
     He shook his head, his hair loose and wild. "No, you do not displease me, little one. I just have duties I must see to. We will make love later, not now because I have to get dressed. If you want to go with me you need to get dressed too, " he told her starting to walk away.
     She grabbed his robe and held on. "Please, my husband, don't go, stay here and make love with me," she begged with a touch of desperation in her voice.
     He took her hands loose and held them in his own for a moment, then shook his head as he released her. "No, White Deer, I must go. We will make love later," he told her firmly, confused and little irritated at her insistence.
     "No, now!" She demanded, coming up off the bed to stand before him, seductively offering him her naked body while she ran her fingers up and down his furred chest.
     He shook his head in disbelief, ignoring her. "Later. I have to get dressed now!" he told her emphatically, moving away and going to his closet.
     She stamped her bare feet in anger while her long black hair swirled about her, "You don't want White Deer, Asenti of the Atanzi, do you?"
     "Not right at this moment, I don't," he said truthfully putting on his pants.
     "Then you are a liar! You tell White Deer that you will stay with her, and now you want to go off--with duties. Duties are more important than White Deer. You use White Deer, make her your woman but not your wife!" she yelled angrily at him, her hands balled up into fists at her sides.
     He looked up at her disgustedly as he put on his boots, and threw on his heavier tunic top. She was acting like a spoiled brat and he didn't need this right now. She was rapidly going from the girl of his dreams to the clinging kh'hest of his nightmares. The gentle girl that he had spent hours in unbelievable lovemaking had turned into a shrill, demanding, nagging woman whom he didn't recognize. He finished his dressing and just stood looking at her uncertain what to do or say.
     "White Deer, I never meant to use you. You came to me. Because of the bond I gave in and made love to you. I will marry you, that I promise, but after I finish what I need to do. Our peoples come before our own desires. You as daughter of a chief should know that better than anyone. I'm giving you a choice to either go with me or stay here," he offered one last time.
      Her eyes flashed angrily fire as she glared at him. Her tactics were not working. She was hurt, angry, frustrated, and bitter that he thought of others before he thought of her. He was the last person she wanted to have around if he did not want her and didn't want to do what she wanted. At that moment she hated him, and unfortunately with their newly opened bond her could feel that hate.
     "I will stay. You do not want me with you or else you would stay and not go," she pouted, not moving from where she stood.
     "I will be back later," he told her choosing not to argue anymore. He grabbed his field pack from by the door, putting it on. He looked at her standing there in the middle of the floor one last time raking her with sad, disappointed eyes, then he turned the knob of the door and walked out.
     He heard the sound of objects hitting the closed door and breaking against it as well as her cursing and yelling in her native language. He just shook his head and kept walking down the corridor and down the stairs away from her as fast as he could go.

        
 * 63*

     Since it was already late into the evening Ky'tulendu decided that it would be better to start moving every one that wanted to be relocated in the morning. The vehicles were equipped to move at night, but it would be better on the people if they did not, especially considering the number of children. He did need a head count so he could tell the Control how many natives they could expect and get some things ready ahead of time.
      B'tunku was already having new housing units constructed with the assistance of Sees Far and the others still at the camp. With luck at least three units would be ready by tomorrow for some of the families.
     Ky'tulendu was thinking he should sit down and have a council meeting of his own to sort out all the details of the move as well as how the assimilation of the two groups was going to be accomplished. He was just about to step outside the cave and call B'tunku when Roaring Wings and In the Forest came up to him. His communicator was already in his hand, but he had not turned it on.
     "Greetings, Asenti." Roaring Wings said catching up to him.
     "And to you Roaring Wings, what is up?" he asked standing in the entrance, waiting to know what they had to say.
     "I thought you would be interested in knowing how many are coming and how many wish to stay."
     He nodded, "Yes, I need that information so I can tell B'tunku so that she can make preparations for the new arrivals."
     "Twenty families have expressed an interest in coming. That translates to forty-five adults and fifty-three children from infants up to late teens. There are another thirteen unmarried adults who wish to come too. Remaining here will be fifteen families and twenty-one unmarried adults," Roaring Wings reported. "It was about what I expected, and who I expected to stay and go," he commented discovering that the tribe was almost equally divided on the issue.
     "Thanks, those numbers will help. Is there anything else?" he asked looking back and forth between In The Forest and Roaring Wings.
     "Your being made Overchief has not met overwhelming acceptance by some. This is mainly among those that were influenced by Thunder Arrow and his men. It may or may not be a serious problem. The more vocal troublemakers are going to Swimming Otter's village, but a few will be staying here."
     "How dangerous could this be?" Ky'tulendu asked, wanting the shaman's real opinions of the situation.
     "I would watch my back for awhile, Asenti, until they are gone. You are familiar with them already. As far as we know all the stunners were retrieved from the guards and from the cave. Since you said no one know how many were stolen from the armory we don't know if they are all accounted for," Roaring Wings said grimly looking off into the gathering darkness.
     Then the shaman continued. "Four warriors are still missing. They were with Thunder Arrow when he left your camp with the stunners and kidnapped White Deer along with a stealing one of the skimmers."
     "The missing skimmer has not been found yet. I am assuming that the flood washed it downstream. With all that has been happening I have not sent anyone to look for it," Ky'tulendu replied thoughtfully following Roaring Wings thoughts. In all the turbulent events of the past days he had forgotten all about the missing skimmer as had everyone else. Though if they have stolen it and flew it here that also could mean that it could have been flown elsewhere away from the storm.
     "I would have some one look for it, immediately. Either it was washed away or else Thunder Arrow's four men have it and possibly some of your weapons as well. They will not know that Thunder arrow is dead yet, unless they are in contact with someone here or have one of your communicators and can pick up transmissions. The four men who are missing were very loyal to Thunder Arrow, so please be careful until we can discover their whereabouts," he cautioned, putting his hand respectfully on Ky'tulendu's arm.
     "Anything else. I should know about?" the Atanzi asked nervously.
     "The people will be expecting a big ceremony when you become Overchief. I would suggest that you combine this with a wedding ceremony to formalize your union with White Deer. This way the people will be more accepting of your new office."
     "Yes, I have considered this already. I will marry White Deer if she is still willing. After today . . . ," he shrugged his shoulders and left the rest of it unspoken.
     "If you were not needed here, I would suggest you're going back to her tonight to smooth things over. When I suggested to her that bonding with you would help her get well I did not anticipate her acting like a . . . ."
     "Bitch?" Ky'tulendu finished for him.
     The shaman nodded with a smile, "Yes, I apologize. I did not know she would react so violently to your wanting to serve our peoples. I had forgotten about her temper and her possessiveness which the bonding process has now heightened."
     "Nor did I. Funny I feel the pull less than I did. I understood it would worsen once I began bonding with her," Ky'tulendu questioned. It was something that had been puzzling him off and on all day.
     Roaring Wings and In The Forest looked at him strangely, with deep frowns. Finally In The Forest spoke up. "You don't feel closer to her? You don't feel like you have to be with her?"
     "No, I don't. I did a little before we mated. Not now. I feel no different than if she had been an ordinary female. Sorry," he admitted honestly, shifting from foot to foot.
     "Asenti, then something is wrong. You shouldn't have been able to stay away from her tonight. Even now the call to O'vettun is pulling on me to an almost unbearable degree."
     "And I am having difficulty not being close to B'tunku or to hearing her voice. Even she does not know the extent of my feelings for her. I could not wait any longer," the shaman confessed. "But you feel nothing?" he asked in amazement looking over his friend and seeing no signs of strain from the bonding.
     "Not a thing," he admitted. "Could she and I be mistaken about our bond? I was so sure she was the girl in my dreams. You two have found love, fusion, unfortunately, for me it is not there. I feel as empty as I did before," Ky'tulendu told them, his voice sad and apologetic because these were White Deer's kinsmen.
     "Roaring Wings patted his arm, "You feel what you feel, Asenti. I do not understand this failure to bond with my niece. This should not be happening if it is a true bond."
     "I know. I wonder if what White Deer feels is the bonding pull or not. If she is not my true mate, then who is?" he asked them both but neither could give him an answer--no one could.

            * * *
            
     In the cavern leaning against the far wall a pair of dark eyes watched the trio, especially one of the trio in particular. The dark eyes belonged to a woman who had lost her husband in a hunting accident. Her name was Sun Dancer.
     She was taller than most of the women of her village, long legged, full breasted and yet slim of body with a still trim waist after three late miscarriages. Her face was a long oval, with high sculpted cheekbones, a long narrow nose, with a generous full mouth that was usually lit with a bright smile. Her light golden brown, almond shaped eyes, under black lashes and arched eyebrows were sparkling with laughter most of the time, even under the worst circumstances. Her long blue-black hair was tightly braided into one long braid falling to the middle of her back. Her bronzed skin was lighter than others and contrasted sharply against the plain, fringed dark brown knee length dress she wore loosely belted.
     She was living with her brother-in-law and his wife after the loss of her husband. She had no else. She had been adopted as child when she was found wandering near the village all alone. No one knew where she came from or who her parents had been. She had grown up as the daughter of an older couple, who had both died five years before, shortly after her marriage to an older warrior, Yellow Dog.
     It had been a loveless marriage and when he died she was not overly grief stricken. Her brother-in-law, Marks On Stone, kept trying to find her a another husband, trying to foster her off as a second wife to one of the older warriors. Stubbornly, she would have none of them. Nor would she accept his overtures for her to be his second wife. The last time he had tried to creep into her bed she had blackened his eye and had made walking extremely painful for him. He had not tried since and sheer hatred had started to develop between the two of them.
        She kept telling him she would marry again so he would be free of responsibility for her. She had waited throughout the long years, but her man had not appeared yet. Except now he had appeared and she knew it was him with absolute certainty, and was standing talking earnestly with the shaman and the old chief's son.
     She had not seen the tall, powerfully built, red-haired Atanzi until now. The other times he had been to the village she had been helping her sister-in-law with her children or busy with other chores. She had heard descriptions of him, but thought her family and friends were teasing her because she had made the mistake of telling her sister-in-law about her strange dreams of all tall red haired warrior with cat-like features that traveled through the stars in a wondrous flying boat.
        Her sister-in-law, Beaver Woman had laughed and told all her friends about it, so that everyone in the village knew and then they had all called her crazy. Sun Dancer never told anyone about them again. When Sun Dancer saw him framed in the doorway of the entrance chamber her heart stopped. It was as if someone had hit her. He was exactly like her dreams and visions, even his voice was the same. She could not believe that he was real. She fell in love with the man from the stars all over again and stared at him with worshipful eyes from where she sat tending the family's small cooking fire.
     She sat as if frozen for many long minutes just watching him with the shaman and In The Forest. Beaver Woman finally saw her staring and then saw at who. She crackled loudly as she remembered Sun Dancer's strange dreams. The cruel minded woman began telling her that the new Overchief was promised to White Deer, and that she would never get a chance to meet the cat-man because they would be staying here and were not going to the new village. Besides, why would he want a used up thing like Sun Dancer when he could have White Deer who was ten years younger and had never been touched?
     Sun Dancer flushed brightly and excused herself to hurriedly get up to run away from Beaver Woman's taunts and insults. She saw Walks In Silence having dinner and went to ask the elder if she could be allowed to go to the new village.
     Unfortunately, Marks On Stone saw her and tried to drag her back to his campsite before she had a chance to ask. Normally she did not fight or cause any displays in public, but this time she was furious and upset. She dragged her heels and began biting and hitting him as he tried to get her to go with him. Their fight drew the attention of the entire cave, including that of the trio by the door.
     Ky'tulendu's heart skipped a couple beats as he saw her across the crowded room and for one brief instant their eyes locked and he was hopelessly lost. "Who is that woman?" he asked in a strange strangled voice.
     "Her?" Roaring Wings questioned surprised at his interest. His dark eyebrows lifted and then frowned. "That's Sun Dancer. She's Marks On Stone's sister-in-law. I don't understand what the problem is. She's normally pretty quiet." Roaring Wings said missing the quaver in Ky'tulendu's voice.
     "Sister-in-law? You mean she's married?" he asked despairingly as he continued to watch her be dragged across the room by the huge bear like man. His heart felt constricted as someone was tightening bands around his chest. The blue eyes were blazing with fires of smoldering suppressed rage as he stood there helplessly and watched.
     "Not any more. She's a widow. Her husband was killed by a bear a year ago. Marks On Stone has been trying to get her married off but no one has been interested nor has she. Why the interest?" he asked wondering why he was so curious. Then he saw the Asenti's face and it became clear, almost too clear.
     Ky'tulendu noticed his scrutiny. He recovered, masking his features to a neutral face of indifference. "I just wondered why her husband wasn't taking her side. Why is no one interfering?"
     "People usually don't in domestic squabbles. In her case she has to obey him because she lives under his roof. With her husband gone that's the only family she has unless he finds her a husband or sells her." the shaman explained.
     "SELLS HER?" Ky'tulendu asked incredulously, "You mean he can sell her like she was some object?" the thought repelling him.
     "Yes, he has that right. Also anyone can buy her and she becomes their slave or servant. It doesn't happen too often in our tribe, although it is practiced extensively on the mainland up and down the coast."
     "Ky'tulendu was having a hard time restraining himself as he saw the man raise his arm to strike the woman. He had to do something and fast. "Quickly, Roaring Wings, how do I go about buying her or getting her out of that situation? He's going to hit her!" Ky'tulendu said as hot furious rage rose up in him. He was finding it harder and harder to stand there and just watch.
     "Asenti, no! You must not interfere!" he warned, not liking what he was seeing in his friend. "You have White Deer. Leave this one be!"
     "I can't Roaring Wings! I'll buy her then set her free, so she won't have to answer to anyone--least not that brute over there! What will it take presents, gifts--what?" he asked hurriedly.
     "I don't know. Contain yourself, Asenti. You must be like warrior now, one of the people and not show what you feel even for an instant. What do you have to trade?"
     "What I have in my field pack, everything, but my weapons, communicator and scanner."
     Roaring Wings considered and shrugged. "You can try. Be warned thought that Marks On Stone was one of the warriors on Thunder Arrow's side and has decided to stay here. He may not be interested in anything you have to offer," he told him truthfully.
     "I have to try!" Ky'tulendu said determinedly, his fist clenching and unclenching involuntarily as he saw the brutish warrior strike the helpless woman with a ringing head blow.
     "I see that, my friend. I wish it weren't so. Marks On Stone is going beyond what the tribe will allow now by hitting her like that. We will be able to interfere. Come," he told him, leading the way.
     Roaring Wings and Ky'tulendu threaded their way across the cave leaving In The Forest to stare after them confused by their verbal exchange and Ky'tulendu's behavior. He decided to seek O'vettun out.

                                                * * *

     Ky'tulendu watched helplessly as Marks On Stone struck Sun Dancer repeatedly with the back of his hand. Unaware of what he was doing the Atanzi growled a warning low in his throat and flexed his clawed hands. Roaring Wings shot him a warning look, and told him to control it.
     "Marks On Stone, that is enough! This is not your lodge. Do not carry on as if it were. You shame us all by your display!" Roaring Wings said in a loud voice getting his attention. As shaman he had the perfect right to interfere in quarrels such as this if they disrupted the peace of the village.
     "Shaman, this woman will shame me more! She went to Walks In Silence to ask him to let her go to cat-people's village. She went behind my back--she defied me! She will go where I tell her to go as long as she is under my protection.!" the older man with hard craggy features yelled back.
     "No! You will not strike her again. The council told everyone that they could chose where they wanted to live. She is free to chose." Roaring Wings said firmly, reminded him of the law.
     "Sun Dancer is not. Under my roof, my word is law--not the council's or chief''s! What does the cat-man do here?" he asked noticing Ky'tulendu for the first time and very much displeased with his close proximity.
     "He came to see if he could help. Your handling of Sun Dancer upset him."
     "Tell him not to look," the man spat close by the Atanzi, showing him his contempt of the alien.
     "He does not like to see a woman mistreated. He asks if you would be interested in selling her."
     Marks On Stone laughed and continued laughing for several minutes. "You are funny, shaman. Me sell a valuable woman like Sun dancer to a cat-man. What for?" he asked deadly serious, seeing Ky'tulendu's barely controlled rage as well as the looks he was giving Sun Dancer.
     "That is my concern, Marks On Stone," Ky'tulendu spoke up in his own language momentarily forgetting that the native didn't wear a translator. Then keeping his voice steady and finding inner reserves of calm he didn't know he possessed, he turned to Roaring Wings. "Roaring Wings, ask him what he wants for her?"
     Roaring Wings did, and the brutish native sneered back at them, laughing at them. "Tell the cat-man that he has nothing I would want. Also tell the cat-man to go away. I am not interested in any offer he wants to make," Marks On Stone shouted at him and turned his back on them.
        Ky'tulendu didn't need a translator to know what had been said it was perfectly clear. Before Roaring Wings or him could form a rebuttal. Marks On Stone had grabbed Sun Dancer by the wrist and had started to drag her back to his campsite while she lay limply on the floor semiconscious from the blows that had been delivered to her head.
     Ky'tulendu exploded, and let loose a deafening animal roar of anger and leaped the distance separating him from the native. He grabbed the man's wrist and snapped it. He was full of snaring fury now, terrifying the native as well as everyone else with his lips drawn back exposing his deadly long white fangs. He raised his free clawed hand as if to strike the man in his chest when Roaring Wings shouted and he froze realizing what he had almost done.
     The killing rage left him as suddenly as it had come leaving him weak and shaken. He released the man's wrist as if it were a burning coal and backed away, breathing heavy and still glaring.
     Marks On Stone held his broken wrist looking at him with hate filled eyes, holding back the tears of pain that threatened to spring from his eyes. "Damn you cat-man! You've broken my arm. You want her so bad--take her! I don't want her at my fire! Go, get her and you out of my sight!" he spat turning around and walked away from them. When he reached his fire he began throwing her belongings in their direction with a vengeance.
     The people nearby moved quickly away from the flying objects that were pelting them as well. Sun Dancer got up shakily and began gathering her few belongings from the ground and from the people handing them to her. Then she stood meekly with a bowed head before both Roaring Wings and Ky'tulendu, awaiting their orders.
     "What do you wish of me, honored ones?" she asked them keeping her eyes lowered, her voice barely above a whisper.
     "To come with us. Asenti Ky'tulendu will tell you what he wishes of you. You now belong to him," Roaring Wings told her in their language since she wore no translator.
     She looked up at the tall Atanzi from under her lowered eyelashes, daring not to look at him directly. Secretly, she was thrilled beyond her wildest hopes that he had gotten her away from her hated brother-in-law and that she now belonged to him. She did not cared if she was servant, slave, or what to him. She belonged to him and that was all that mattered.
     Ky'tulendu was pleased as well. This was not the way he had envisioned things going. He was furious and upset at himself for losing his temper that way. He had never, done that before. He had come close to seriously hurting someone before, though not to the extent he had tonight. And all over a woman, this woman, whom he had to have despite the risk to all his hard earned peace and good will. Had he done right or had he done wrong? Only time would tell.
     The only thing he was sure of was that he had won her. And she was at least safe from harm. Beyond that he wasn't sure what was going to happen. His mind, heart, body, and soul were awhirl with conflicting feelings and emotions over this woman and White Deer. He just didn't know what to do about her now that he had her.
     This was the girl of his dreams. He was sure of that now. Looking her over at closer range he was shocked to find that she and White Deer uncannily physically resembled one another in many ways. No wonder he had been confused and had gotten fixated on the chief's daughter. The bonding pull to this one was almost uncontrollable being this close to her after his blood had been stirred fighting for her.
     He only knew that he had to distance himself before he lost all vestiges of what control was left to him. Quickly, he made a decision. "Roaring Wings will you see to her. I need to go camp and give B'tunku my report. I will join you later tonight or in the morning," he said marveling at his own self control as he tried talking normally.
        As you wish, Asenti," he inclined his head slightly, but his eyes were narrowed slightly critically evaluating the Atanzi's state of mind, then he added. "Will you be all right to fly back to camp in the dark?" the shaman asked concerned.
     "Yes. I'll be fine. I just need to get away for a short time. I think you understand why."
     "I do. We will talk, my friend, after you return. A long talk about many things," the shaman said meaningfully, looking him over carefully and not liking what he saw.
     "We will. You should also tell In The Forest what has happened. I'm not sure whether I can or not. I will also see White Deer tonight. The talk with her is long overdue," Ky'tulendu said, then he turned on his heels and walked rapidly away before Roaring Wings could say another thing.
     Two pairs of eyes followed, one critical, and the other sad and confused as to why the object of her dreams had suddenly gone away. Sun Dancer fell in behind Roaring Wings when he motioned her to follow and she went with him not knowing where else to go.

End Part 9/10