*1 *

             
        "Come, Ky'tulendu, it is time," Roaring Wings told him as he gently shook his shoulder to wake him up.
             "Dammit, Roaring Wings, it can't even be light out yet," the Atanzi protested, taking a quick groggy look up at him then he tried to roll back over and go back to sleep.
             "It isn't, but that is why you must get up to greet Father Sun and to prepare yourself in the ancient ways," the shaman said cheerfully, not backing off in his wake up efforts.
     Ky'tulendu raised himself up off his stomach using his elbows, and opened a blurry eye to look at his friend standing over him wrapped in an old hide robe. "If you were not my friend, I'd throw something at you for being so damned cheerful this early in the morning. What time is it anyway?" He asked flopping back down on his fur covered pillow disgustedly.
     "It is an hour before sunrise. We need to go to the creek , and then to the sweat lodge so we may greet the spirits in the proper way."
     Ky'tulendu groaned not so silently in protest, as he reluctantly sat upright, already missing the warmth in the bed of piled furs. They had been an effective barrier from the chill of the cave's floor. He had slept in his uniform, but still he was cold, and the fire did not seem warm enough from where he sat watching the low flames reminding himself why he was here.
    Roaring Wings, In The Forest, and himself had spent the night in In The Forest's old cave for privacy away from the Atanzi camp. Here without distractions the shaman could instruct him in the ceremonial rituals and duties of his new office as Overchief to the Lay'nee Lay-na-pay, the native peoples on this section of the island off the mainland who were now under his protection. In The Forest was there to learn his part as Underchief to Ky'tulendu in the same ceremony to be held that afternoon.
     In The Forest was already up sitting by the fire with a hot cup of herbal tea trying not to laugh at Ky'tulendu's protestations. Nor at the decided rumpled and bedraggled appearance the leonine faced man wore. Such early hours were normal for the native, but he knew the Asenti was not used to it after such a short amount of sleep. They all had been pushing themselves hard lately.
     It had been a long couple of days trying to get everyone from the old native village, that had been destroyed by the fierce storm of five days ago, settled in at the new native village. This was on top of getting the rest of the shipwrecked Atanzi survivors settled as well. The new native settlement was just a little north of the original Atanzi settlement in the deeper, heavier woods that surrounded the small valley. Then there was the preparing for these important ceremonies. The ex-chief's son wished the council had decided to hold the ceremonies a week later than now, but they did not want the tribe to remain leaderless for such a long period of time. The sooner the leadership of the tribes were formalized the sooner life could get back to normal was their thinking. Still it had made it difficult for the people involved getting everything done on such short notice.
     The time spent overnight alone with the three men in the cave was an abbreviation of the cleansing ceremony that normally would have been performed as a several days fasting ritual. It would have involved praying to the spirits for guidance, fasting, and seeking visions to find the proper signs and symbols to ensure success of the venture. There had not been time to do it that way so the overnight campout had been done instead.
     All of this was a learning experience for Ky'tulendu as the shaman gave him a short course in his people's customs, beliefs, legends, and how important they were to them in everyday life. He instructed him in their language, especially in the speeches he must give to the elders and to the questions he must answer from Roaring Wings during particular points in the ceremony. These were to be given without the aid of the translators since many of the people of both races would not be wearing them, nor would their use be appropriate if he was to be accepted as one of them and not as an alien. The Asenti was prepared as much as he could be on such short notice.
     "Are you awake now, Asenti?" Roaring Wings asked looking at the noticeably exhausted man.
     Ky'tulendu stared back with red-rimmed eyes, and combed the tangles out of his thick red-gold mane of hair as best he could with the fingers on his clawed hand. "I think so. Is there any klass?" he asked.
     "No, just some tea. Forgot to bring some," the shaman apologized, getting pouring some dark steaming liquid into a clay cup and handing it to Ky'tulendu. "Drink this, it will make you feel better."
     He took it gratefully. "I hope so, anything would be an improvement," he said taking a tentative sip.
     "When you finish with that we need to go to the stream and wash, followed by going to the sweat lodge to cleanse the impurities from our bodies. Then you will bathe again, dress then go to where the council and everyone will be waiting," Roaring Wings told both of them.
     Ky'tulendu finished his tea then rose from his bed as did In The Forest and followed the shaman out.
     It was a cool crisp morning already. The sky was lightening in a pale shades of pinks, blues, and lavenders. At this rate the cold time would be on them in no time. Already some of trees were turning color.
     They reached the stream and began disrobing. It was colder than Ky'tulendu would have liked. He shivered in the crisp air. He noted that the temperature didn't seem to bother the two natives, and it made a mental note to get himself into better shape for this world.. Naked, he and In The Forest waded into the deep stream carrying the cleansing sand and herbal soap that Roaring Wings had given them to wash with. While they were occupied, Roaring Wings began his chanting to the rising sun to bless them and what they were about to do.
     Gritting his teeth, Ky'tulendu endured the biting cold of the water and washed all over including his hair. He felt like he must be turning a deep shade of blue, as frozen as he felt. Not since he had been trapped in a ice cave on Jaddhad IV had he been this cold.
     His people were used to more moderate and temperate planets than this one was proving be. The coming cold winter was going to be very hard on his people he feared. Even the high summer temperatures made working outside during the day impossible for many of his people. In time, he hoped that they would adjust, but for now it was proving difficult for to carry on many of their normal duties and jobs. Heat exhaustion and dehydration were becoming serious problems, but they would persevere and find solutions.
     Finally clean, he got out of the water, shivering all the way back to the rocky bank. Roaring Wings was amazed at how pale in color the Atanzi's skin was. The Atanzi was very creamy white colored compared to the reddish bronze of the natives. The Atanzi was not very hairy with only a heavy patterning of fine red-gold hair on his chest, legs, forearms, and private parts. The only other hair was a light dusting of hairs on his lower jaw, and around the muzzle of his mouth, and on the bridge of his nose as well as his thick upswept wings of eyebrows. Ky'tulendu wore his wild, heavy mane like hair long and free. It swept back from his high forehead to fall half-way down his broad back. Compared to the natives, who were virtually hairless, he was shaggy.
     Ky'tulendu clothed or unclothed was an overpowering masculine and powerfully built humanoid, who except for his leonine facial features, fangs, and claws was indistinguishable from a human male in every way. Though there were portions of his anatomy that might give rise to envy from the two humans even it was within normal limits. No tail protruded from the base of the heavily muscled back, or marred the appearance of the smooth tight buttocks that flowed into the powerful long legs.
     The Atanzi was two to three inches taller than the two men who were uncle and nephew. The two humans shared a similar lithe and powerfully built frame. They were not as massive, being more compact and lean, but they were no less powerful than the Atanzi.
     The younger man features were smooth, even, and handsome, but his uncle looked to be a cross between the Atanzi and native features. His face was hairless except for his upswept black brows and lashes, but his scarred face from a wolf's attack, had a slight muzzle and the appearance of a split upper lip over a normal bottom lip like Ky'tulendu's. His nose was more human, though it tended to be flattened on the end. His deepset almost black eyes also slanted somewhat like the Atanzi's blue ones. He had slightly long canine teeth, not full fledged fangs, nor full-fledged claws.
     "Do all you Atanzi get that particular shade of bluish white?" Roaring Wings asked helping him out of the water.
     "Only when we get dragged from our warm beds to go freeze in ice cold water," Ky'tulendu said through chattering teeth as he took the bear robe Roaring Wings offered him.
     In The Forest and Roaring Wings both laughed at him. "We will have to toughen you up this winter I see and get you out in the sun more," Roaring Wings joked.
     "Yes, the Asenti is the color of an old fish belly. He needs more color to be real man," In The Forest joked too as he climbed out of the water and covered himself with a hide robe.
      "Maybe after the the camp gets reorganized I'll get the chance to get a tan and won't look so much like a fish belly. Maybe on one of those hunting trips you keep talking about going on," he suggested.
     "Yes, when we get a chance," the young man agreed, wrapping his robe tighter around his tall frame. "The sun is rising. We must go," he told them as he watched the progress of the rising sun in the cloudless morning sky.
     They walked along the high bank following the shaman to the sweat lodge that had been erected by the cave. Roaring Wings had been out in the early morning hours to start the fire and begin the heating of the stones that would produce the steam inside the lodge. By now all should be ready.
      Lost Owl, Roaring Wings's assistant shaman, looked up from the fire he was tending at the group's approach. He waved and smiled in greeting, his owl feathered headdress russling in the slight wind made him seem a very mysterious figure in the dawn light by the smoky fire. He stood up and came over to greet them.
     "Everything is ready, Roaring Wings," he told his mentor.
     "Good, thank you for tending the fire, and finishing up the preparations. The ritual cleansing in the river has been done, and Ky'tulendu has been instructed in what is to come."
      "So far the signs and omens have been good. The spirits are looking favorably upon us."
      "I agree, the spirits want this merger of the Atanzi with our tribe, and Ky'tulendu as our Overchief, the first in many, many moons. Have the signs for the marriages been good as well?" Roaring Wings asked him privately.
       "That is where it becomes unclear. In the Forest's is very well aspected. It will be a good marriage. Yours is favorable. There will be some problems, though overall you will be happy and fruitful. It is Ky'tulendu's that is poorly aspected. If he were not already mated to White Deer I would advice him not to marry her, despite her status. I saw much unhappiness, even though the union will be fruitful. I also see White Deer causing many problems for our people, and the possibility of war and disaster because of her," Lost Owl told him in a low voice so they would not be overheard by the two waiting men.
       Under his wolf's head mask, Roaring Wings eyebrows raised, and then he frowned. "What else did you see, Lost Owl? How can Ky'tulendu's leadership be good if White Deer is so badly aspected?" he asked.
       "Aspecting him alone the spirits say his leadership will be good and just and we will prosper but when White Deer is aspected alone the readings are very bad. I saw much evil, and chaos surrounding her. Mixing the the two I get very strange readings, though his good aspects did overshadow much of her bad ones. They will have children, and strangely I saw him having children by another. But he has no other children does he, out in the stars somewhere?"
      "No, not that I know about or he knows about. I will tell you privately, he is in love with another, Sun Dancer. He has only seen her, and she does not know of his interest in her. She is his true bond-mate, not White Deer. We found out too late that White Deer lied and is only marrying Ky'tulendu because of the position it will give her. I know this, as does Ky'tulendu and In The Forest. Now you must keep this secret too."
      "I will, Roaring Wings, but as shamans and seeing these signs should we allow this wedding to go forward?"
        "We must, too much would be undone if it did not take place. We can only hope the spirits will guide White Deer and temper her heart and spirit so that she does not make the portents come to pass." Roaring Wings commented, checking the rising sun's position on the horizon. "Come it is time to begin the sun greeting ceremony."
       Walking over to where In The Forest and Ky'tulendu waited Roaring Wings instructed them in what was to happen next.

* 2 *

        "You are very impressive, Asenti," Roaring Wings commented enthusiastically as he put the finishing touches on Ky'tulendu's regalia for the ceremony.
        "I feel strange and awkward, rather than impressive, Roaring Wings. Since you can see what I look like, and I can't. I will just have to take your word for it," Ky'tulendu replied, trying not to betray the nervousness he was feeling the closer it approached for the ceremony to begin.
        Ky'tulendu was impressive in his white buckskin clothes. The native women had done an incredible job in the short time allotted them. His long fringed shirt fell to mid-thigh in points front and back. The square yoke was worked in a yellow, red, and orange starburst pattern in porcupine quill beads against a black background. The design was repeated as alternating colored stars in a wide band that went from the top of his shoulders to end at his wrist bands. The bands on his leggings matched the shirt and his long fringed loincloth echoed the design of the yoke. His newly made moccasins also matched. He wore no belt yet, that would be given to him during the ceremony by Roaring Wings. His wild red hair was confined by his Command ceremonial headband then it was braided in front to hang in two thin braids, secured by white leather thongs, while the long back hung free.
        In The Forest was similarly dressed in golden buckskin except the pattern of a hawk with golden wings outstretched against a black background with stars was the dominant motif on his yoke. Red crosses alternating with blue triangles against the black bands was the decorative design chosen for him.
        Roaring Wings wore his very formal wolf's head headdress, and cape over a black suede leather fringed top, leggings, and moccasins. His loin cloth was composed of wolves' tails hanging front and back, while his medicine pouches hung from a wide red belt around his waist.
        Even though the day was going to be hot, the formality of the ceremonies required the heavier coverings. All those that would be participating in the chief's ceremony, and afterwards the formal wedding ceremonies were to be similarly attired in their barbaric finery. The women would be wearing long decorated hide dresses, with moccasins or knee high boots. They would be wearing a wealth of necklaces, earrings, and heavy bracelets from a variety of materials to show their wealth or status.
        "It is time to go. Are you ready and know the words you have to say?" Roaring Wings asked again as they began walking to the camp.
        "I hope so. I hope that I have the correct punctuations down as well. I do not wish to offend anyone or cause them to die of laughter during a crucial part of the ceremony. I had that happen to me once at a diplomatic luncheon when I was new to Command. It was an experience I never want to repeat again," Ky'tulendu said seriously as he followed the two men down the paved path to the camp.
        "Tell me about it as we walk, Asenti. It sounds interesting," his friend prompted, trying to put the Asenti's mind at ease.
        "Yes, I want to hear this too," In The Forest agreed, "a story is what we need to take our minds off this."
        Ky'tulendu wasn't sure whether this was a good idea, but they both seemed so interested and earnest. "I was only eighteen and just graduated from the academy . . . ." he began as they traveled through the woods.
        "It took several years to live that down," he finished when they reached the outskirts of camp, having had his two listeners in stitches all the way.
        "That was a great story, Asenti," In The Forest said still laughing so hard that tears had rolled down his face.
        "Thank you too, Asenti. We needed that. Do you feel more relaxed now?" Roaring Wings asked, as they viewed the platform stage that had been erected in the middle of the camp.
        "Yes, a little," he said just before he saw the throng of people that waited expectantly for them. Then his nerves returned full force. It had been a while since he had had to go before so many people who would be watching his every move. He gritted his teeth and went forward.
        Roaring Wings did not appear to notice Ky'tulendu's reactions to the huge crowd as he good naturedly motioned him to come on. "Good, then come. It won't be as hard as you believe it will be," the shaman said.
        Ky'tulendu didn't think so, but for good or bad he was committed and this was part of the price he had to pay to be Overchief of both his and the native peoples.
        They walked through the thick crowd of both Atanzi and natives. The natives had come from not only the local village, but from the other two on the island. There were also more than a few representees from some of the mainland populations. The native communication system had been very swift in informing the other villages what was happening at the Wolf Clan's.
        Since there had never been an Overchief and Underchief for any of the tribes within recent memory all that could had come to see this great event take place and also to see the strangers they had heard so much about. Especially the stranger who would be Overchief for the former Thunder Arrow's people. Many of the visitors who were not well informed about the situation were visibly upset when they saw the Atanzi and then when Ky'tulendu appeared were even more so.
        However, Roaring Wings people and the supporters of Ky'tulendu were busily working the crowd trying to make them understand and to create peace and good will between all. These natives along with the regular Atanzi security personal were doing crowd control and making sure no incidents happened before, during, or after the ceremonies to anyone, for any reason.
          Both the natives and the ship's survivors sat or stood under the shade of the great trees that had been left from the building of the camp. Scattered at intervals around the camp were places to get food or drink because of the many children in the crowd and the number of visitors not from the local area. The actual time for the feast to begin would be well after sunset, at least an hour or more away and many peoples had been there since early morning if not before.
        The Atanzi had also built sanitary facilities too, so the woods wouldn't get over used. The natives were very intrigued and impressed with them and were asking how they could get such marvels where they lived. The longer the natives were around the Atanzi and their marvels the more at ease the people became, which eased the problems of crowd control.
         On the large rough wooden platform waited the elders of the Wolf Clan, as well as elders from the Turtle and Owl Clans along with high ranking officials from the allied mainland tribes and just interested bystanders representing far western, nothern and southern tribes.. They sat in a clump all together on one end. On the other sat several of the higher ranking Atanzi officers that headed the new departments here in camp as well as the ones from the ship, the surviving Soarettes,that were well enough to attend as well as B'tunku, O'vettun, and White Deer.
        The center section was kept cleared for the ceremonial rituals that were to take place. Lost Owl was already up there finishing the final preparations with the assistance from other visiting tribal edicine men. Along the appropriate opposite sides, the musicians of both groups had gathered to provide music and entertainment and had been working off and on to amuse the crowd.
        The natives were very interested in the Atanzi instruments and music as well as their frozen music played from their machines. Already some from both groups had been trying to collaborate to blend the sounds and harmonies of both worlds together and already they had achieved some interesting and pleasant results.
        As they passed through the crowd, Ky'tulendu noted that the Dreamers from both races were beginning to find one another. They had not had an opportunity to mingle like this before to find their mates-to-be. They were definitely taking advantage of it now as there were more that a few human and Atanzi couples sitting or standing together.
        However, that was not going over well with the traditionalists of both species who were giving the mixed couples dark looks and staying far apart from the offensive groups. He did note that security both hidden and otherwise was keeping an eye on the situation and suggesting to the newly formed couples that they stay in one area where they could be watched and protected, least if any trouble started. For the most part they took the suggestions and moved to were there were other couples like themselves.
        The time for the ceremony had been set at very late afternoon, almost dusk. He noted by the sky that they were right on time. After this all was through would come the feasting and dancing. On the wind was carried the tantalizing smell of roasting meats and other cooked dishes. The native women had been very busy. He was looking forward to the feast as he had not eaten since noon of the previous day. He hoped he would never have to fast again. He liked to eat too much. and was developing a real liking for the native dishes.
        They reached the edge of the platform and used the makeshift steps on one side to climb up on it. Then Roaring Wings commanded Ky'tulendu and In The Forest to sit on woven mats just slightly before where the council members sat on their side of the long rectangular platform facing some of the crowd. Ky'tulendu glanced behind him and to the left to see where the women sat and smiled reassured at them. Both B'tunku and O'vettun in their native finery were understandably nervous as he was, but White Deer was perfectly calm and seem to be radiantly happy. She smiled at him shyly as befitting a blushing bride meeting her husband should be. Walks In Silence nodded to him assuring him, and Ky'tulendu turned back to watch as Roaring Wings and Lost Owl began.
         They started with a monotone chanting which was reinforced by the native musicians' drums and other musical instruments along with a low counterpoint chorus from the visiting medicine men. Then the music picked up and expanded. With a great flurry of gourd rattles, twinkling bells, and chimes, the two men made flowing gestures to the sky and the four winds throwing out medicinal herbs and offerings to the elements while the assisting shamans in their own finery burned sacred bundles in the small fire pots on the stage. These burning bundles let off aromatic plumes of brightly colored smoke and high reaching dancing sparkles into the air. With long handled sage bundles Roaring Wings and Lost Owl swept the stage, going round and round in tighter and tighter circles while dancing up and down in set patterns to the rhythm of their chants.
        The initial warm-up completed, Roaring Wings began the first ceremony, that of Ky'tulendu's adoption into the tribe, in earnest. His voice rang out, clear and loud above the crowd and the music.
        "Oh, Great Spirit! Oh, Creator of all that lives hear our words and give your blessing upon us this day as we chose our new chiefs to lead us in the days that are to come. Ha'oo, kay'hay-la! Ha'oo, kayhay-la! Kway-hay-yay! Kwee!
        "Kee-shay-la-muh'-ka-ong, Creator of us all, hear our songs and grant us your blessing!
Grandfather Sun, though you are setting and going off into the land of dreams, shine down upon us brightly with your blessings as you travel across Father Sky and touch our Mother Earth, the guardian of the land and the giver of life. Hear my words and bless these two that will guide your chosen people down your paths and keep sacred those treasures that you give to us. Grandmother Moon. rising high in the land of dreams hear my pleas and grant your blessings too, upon us" Roaring Wings cried to the heavens.
        "Ha'oo, kay'hay-la! Ha'oo, kay'ha-la! Kway-hay-yay! Kwee! Hooo!" Roaring Wings and Lost Owl both sang. They continued to chant the chorus over and over while they danced in tight spiraling circles. The feathers and fur of their headdresses, rustling, swishing, bobbing in the air as they swung their arms upwards and back in supplication to the spirits and guardians of their world in time to the sound of the drums and rattles being rhythmically beaten and shaken by their helpers. The music was hypnotic, persuasive, helping set the mood as did the chanting of the two shamans and the echoing chorus from the medicine men, now joined by the elders.
        Motioning for Ky'tulendu to stand before him Roaring Wings began addressing the Atanzi, "Ky'tulendu, great Asenti of the Atanzi, coming from the far away Star-Tribes of the Alliance within the Path of Souls, you have been chosen by the Council of Elders of the Wolf Clan of the Lay-na'-pay people to be Overchief and to guide our peoples on the paths of peace, prosperity and greatness in the days to come. But First, we ask for you to become one of the Lay'nee Lay-na'-pay, to become one of our blood, and of our spirit, and of our heart. Do you accept, Admi Asenti Ky'tulendu ha'fynna Trinox, of the Atanzi and of the Alliance, and wish to become one of the true people?" Roaring Wings asked as he faced him as a medicine man.
        "I do," Ky'tulendu replied solemly in loud voice so all might hear him.
        "Who speaks for this man? Who stands before the Great Spirit, the Creator, the Guardians of the Sacred Circle, and all the spirits of the ancestors, and the people to answer for this one who wishes to be one of us?" Roaring Wings called out across the assembled crowd his arms outspread dramatically, the fringes of his shirt dancing on the slight wind.
        From the Council of the Elders, Walks In Silence dressed all in white with white fur tails dangling from his skirt and headdress rose gracefully to his feet and in a loud, powerful voice spoke, "I do. I will take responsibility for this one who wishes to be of the people and adopt him as my son and heir."
        Ky'tulendu was surprised and overwhelmed. He had not expected this. During the preparation he had undergone in the cave, he had only been told that someone was going to adopt him, but he hadn't been told by who. That the most respected elder in the tribe was willing to make him his son and heir just so the Atanzi could be Overchief, it was a little numbing for him.
        The old white haired man in his very elaborately beaded outfit complete with a full formal headdress of white eagle feathers and trailing beaded headbands had shuffled over to come stand by Ky'tulendu. He had to stretch to reach up and put his hand on his son-to-be's shoulder, so much did the Asenti tower over him. He looked up at the red-haired Atanzi with a grin playing around the corners of his mouth in his ancient wrinkled face, and with a twinkle in his ebony eyes quirked, "Ay-ka-ya'! Surprised you, cat-man, didn't I? My own son has been long dead and buried for many years. I need someone to take care of these old bones, and you look pretty good and strong. Besides, it was my idea that you be made Overchief, if I didn't stand up for you then who would?" he said in a stage whisper that only Ky'tulendu and Roaring Wings could hear.
        "Thank you, Walks In Silence, I will try to be a good son and live up to your expectations," Ky'tulendu replied back in low voice, almost grateful beyond words
        "I'll see to that," the old man shot back. with a low chuckle as he patted Ky'tulendu affectionately on the shoulder he was leaning on.
        "Admi Asenti Ky'tulendu hy'nna Trinox, do you accept Walks In Silence as your adopted father and do you pledge to be a dutiful son, loving, and kind, to provide for him, and help him in any way he may ask?" Roaring Wings asked him.
        "I do," Ky'tulendu replied without any hesitation, and the old man grinned up at him before he turned and faced the crowd watching in stunned silence.
        Roaring Wings was addressing the crowd again, spreading his arms wide as he did so. "Are there any among you that object to this adoption. Let your voices be heard or forever hold your peace," he asked in a loud voice searching the faces of those gathered there, and fervently hoping that there would be none.
        Roaring Wings saw several of Thunder Arrow's former followers start to speak, but they were quickly quieted by his own followers and by those who supported Ky'tulendu. He smiled to himself in smug satisfaction that his men had been so vigilant. He wanted nothing to go wrong with these ceremonies today. Too much depended on them. After giving the crowd a sufficient, dramatic delay to show his willingness to hear objections, he continued spreading his arms wide again to the people.
        "Since there are no objections. I, Roaring Wings, declare this adoption to be valid. Admi Asenti Ky'tulendu hy'nna Trinox, henceforth you will be the son of Walks In Silence, and your new name among the people will be Star Lion. What say you now?"
        "I accept," Ky'tulendu replied solemnly, trying not to show his inner amusement at the name that had been chosen for him.
        "Then by the power of the Council it is done! An'go-oo, Kway-hay-yay! Hooo!" Roaring Wings told them all spreading his arms wide and shaking his medicine rattles over Ky'tulendu, Walks In Silence and the area around them as well as throwing colored powers up into the air and into the blazers where they sparkled and burned fiercely letting of even more brightly colored smoke plumes into the late clear sky.
        Then Roaring Wings indicated that Ky'tulendu should escort Walks In Silence back to his seat. He did lead the shaky legged elder, who placed his hand upon Ky'tulendu's strong arm to steady himself for the short walk back. When they got to Walks In Silence's mat, the old man thanked him with gratitude in his bright jet eyes for his kind gesture. The Atanzi understood him and indicated that they would talk later after all the ceremonies were over. As a dutiful son now, he helped his adopted father to sit down and then he returned to his place before Roaring Wings to await the next ceremony.

* 3 *

        "Assembled peoples you have just witnessed Star Lion's adoption into the Lay'nee Lay-na'-pay, now you will witness his ascension to Overchief of the Wolf Clan. Oh Great Spirit, Kit-tan-it-to'wet! Oh Creator, Kee-shay-la-muh'ka-ong! Send your blessings upon this man, now called Star Lion who came from beyond the Seven Dancing Stars to be one of us.
        "Look into his heart, look into his soul, look and see his wisdom and his courage for he has proved that he has these things to our people. See his strength as well as his ability to bend and not break with the wind as a mighty tree does to shelter those from the storm. See you, too, his kindness and compassion for all peoples, not only his friends, but his enemies, too. See, oh Great Spirits, that he is a warrior of great prowess and can defend the weak among us, and does not fight unless he needs to, but he does not shrink from battle either and is strong and courageous in the face danger as a brave warrior should be.
        "He is all that a good chief should be and more, for he comes to us with great knowledge of many strange and wondrous things. Things our people in the far off Beginning knew, but have lost. He will, with his birth people, the Atanzi, share this wondrous magic and knowledge so that our peoples can have better lives and live longer.
        "Hear me, Oh Spirits, that he has vowed too, to learn and to keep our sacred ways of the Circle of Life and Creation, and to respect Mother Earth in the ancient ways of our forefathers and our forefathers before them. Oh Great Mystery, Oh Source of Life and Creation look kindly upon this mortal we have chosen to be your servant and ours In the days to come. Kway-hay-yay! Hooo!" Roaring Wings cried to the heavens, and the four directions.
        "Star Lion, once known as Ky'tulendu, we ask you to be a kind and loving Father to our people, to use your mind and your heart to rule us and to temper your judgments with wisdom, and with courage. We ask you to respect and to walk in the ways of our people and of the ancestors, to respect and embrace their beliefs and accept the guidance of the spirits and guardians of our world. Do you, Star Lion, accept these charges and responsibilities?"
        "I do," he replied solemnly, standing proudly before the shaman and the people, and as he spoke his vows a shaft of sunlight from the rays of the dying sun bathed him in a deep golden light making him an even more impressive figure than before. The people assembled there let out a collective gasp for it was a true omen that showed clearly that the Great Spirit, and the Creator as well as Grandfather Sun looked favorably upon him and had accepted him to lead their people.
        It took a moment for even Roaring Wings to get over his shock at what had happened. He began to look in fearful awe of his friend because if he interpreted the omem correctly then the very Sun favored him above all mortals. The Gods and spirits were blessing this undertaking with very clear signs of their approval of Ky'tulendu as chief. Collecting his wits, he went on, trying to keep his voice steady as he began speaking the next part of the ceremony.
        "Do you also accept In The Forest as your Underchief and will you with him follow the laws of our people and respect the wishes and decisions that the Council of Elders may give you?"
        "I do," Ky'tulendu replied haven't not missed the significance of the ray of sunlight on him either. He, too, was getting unnerved by these natural events but like Roaring Wings was trying not to show it.
        "Then under the sacred laws of our people, as shaman of the Wolf Clan of the Lay'nee Lay-na'pay, as I place this ancient Belt of Chiefs around your waist and tie it, I hearby declare you, Admi Asenti Ky'tulendu ha'fynna Trinox--now Star Lion , to be Overchief of our tribe," he said tying the wide belt of white wolf skin which had been elaborately beaded and decorated in magic symbols with seashells, bits of wood, precious stones, and feathers around Ky'tulendu's waist.
        Stepping back in place he continued. "May Kit-tan-it-to'wet, the Great Spirit, Kee-shay-la-muh'-ka-ong, the Creator, Father Sky, Grandfather Sun, Mother Earth, Grandmother Moon and all the spirits of the ancestors guide you and bless you as well as help you to have to have wisdom, compassion and courage as you perform your duties and serve your new peoples< Roaring Wings finished in a loud voice with a dramatic swept of his hands.
        Then he began repeating the benediction chanting with ritual gestures over and around the new chief. "Kway-hay-yay! Kay'hay-la! Kwee! Hooo!" Roaring Wings repeated over and over many times which was echoed by the visiting shamans and the Council of Elders accompanied by the sound of drums, rattles and other instruments.
        Roaring Wings motioned for Ky'tulendu to be seated in his former seat before the elders and motioned In The Forest forward to be installed as Underchief. With much shaking of his rattles and chanting as he had done before the start of Ky'tulendu's ceremonies the shaman began his nephew's ceremony which was not as long or elaborate as Ky'tulendu's had been.
        "Oh, Great Spirit, Oh Creator of All Life, I call you to bestow your blessings upon this humble warrior that comes before you. He has been chosen to be Underchief of our peoples along with Star Lion whom you have just blessed. Grandfather Sun, Father Sky, Mother Earth, Grandmother Moon, and all the spirits of the ancestors hear too, my plea that you will look favorably upon this warrior and give your blessings. He does honor to the Circle of Life
and keeps your sacred ways. Oh Great Mystery, Creator of Life hear my plea and grant your sacred blessings on him.
         "In The Forest, son of Thunder Arrow and Sees Far, brave and tested warrior of the Wolf Clan of the Lay'nee, Lay-na'-pay, the Council of Elders has chosen you to be Underchief to Star Lion. Do you promise to walk in the ways of our fathers, to use your heart and your mind tempered with judgment, wisdom and courage as you carry out your duties? Do you promise to accept the judgments of the Council of Elders and to uphold the ancient and sacred laws of our people? Do you also accept Star Lion as your Overchief, to work with him, to learn from him the ways of leadership as well as show him the ways and customs of our people, and to accept his judgments even if you two do not agree? Do you accept?" Roaring Wings asked the handsome young warrior solemnly.
        "I do, in all this things," In The Forest replied just as solemnly looking his uncle straight in the eye with an unflinching gaze. The shaman nodded in satisfaction.
        "Then by the laws and wishes of the Council of Elders and our tribe and as shaman of the Wolf Clan, I hearby declare you, In The Forest, to be Underchief of our tribe," he told all those assembled as he stepped forward and tied a similarly decorated chief's belt around the waist of In The Forest, except his was from a black wolf pelt rather than a white one's.
        Then Roaring Wings asked for the blessings from the Creator and the spirits as he had with Ky'tulendu and finished with his own blessings upon his nephew. As he was just finish a red tailed hawk, In The Forest's totem animal flew down from the sunset sky and landed on his shoulder and dropped a piece of clear golden amber into the surprised warrior's hand. The hunting bird nodded regally to the shaman and then took off again into the sky disappearing as quickly as he had appeared. Roaring Wings and In The Forest were both visibly shaken by the experience as were the assembled onlookers. There was no doubt in anyone's mind that In The Forest had been blessed by the Creator and the spirits. The Gods did want all this to pass as his dream visions had foretold and they were making sure that all the people knew their wishes clearly.
        When he had recovered somewhat, he called Ky'tulendu back up to stand beside the young Underchief for the Ceremony of the Pipe and the final binding of their vows.

*4 *

        "Oh Great Spirit, Oh Creator, you have blessed us well this day and shown us strong and powerful signs of your will and your wishes as in regards to the leadership of our people. We come now to honor you by the smoking of the Medicine Pipe of Chiefs. This pipe has been handed down to each generation from the time of the Beginning of our people and was given to us by the Star Spirit that once dwelled as a small Sun above our land. I take it now from its case and offer it to the Four Directions that represent the four quarters of the Circle of Life which binds all life," reverently Roaring Wings unwrapped the soft deerskin package decorated with mystic designs, and held up the ancient pipe for all to see.
        The pipe was carved out of one piece of clear stone that shimmered and pulsated inside and out with rainbow colors of impossible hues in an odd winged lizard shape that resembled nothing on this planet. With wide eyes, Ky'tulendu recognized not only its shape but the stone as well for both were from his native world. He turned quickly and saw that B'tunku and O'vettun had recognized the shape and the material it was made out of too. He turned back just as quickly to what Roaring Wings was saying.
          "The Circle is a sacred symbol for our people. When we pray to the Four Directions we form the circle and it keeps it strong. The Mother Earth is circular and round, and Grandmother Moon travels in a circle across Father Sky. The Sun, a circle of fire, is your cosmic grandfather. And all around us is the universe, the great circle with no beginning and no end. Even the Stars above us are round, they are the Path of Souls. We and all the children of the earth are circular and round. We are created in this way to live in harmony with the Earth and one another. The animals and the birds, and the creatures of all kinds know too the Circle of Life and are a part of it as are the trees and the flowers, the fruits and nuts, the vegetables and grains we eat. The rain, the snow, the wind, and the clear sky are part of the cycle as is the cold, and the hot, the warm and cool for these changes tell us that the cycle goes on," Roaring Wings told the crowd as he held the pipe so all could see and walked in a big circle around the two men.
        "Through the smoke of this Pipe, our words will become one with the air, and will touch all nature," he told them all as he took tobacco from his medicine pouch and filled the pipe. From the sidelines Lost Owl brought him a lit twig to light it with. He then raised the stem to the East.
        "You, the Power of the rising Sun, you are the birth and rebirth of life, the Season of Spring. Let your Power fill these two. Let your light shine into their hearts so they may understand the beauty of Mother Earth and the beauty within all things," Roaring Wings intoned, then he placed the pipe to his lips and smoked it. He handed it next to Ky'tulendu, and he took it carefully and also raised it to the East.
        "Rising Sun you bring the new day. You are the beginning and renewal of all things. From you we learn the warmth of spirit, purity, trust, hope, and the acceptance of others. We learn to love as a child does, a love that does not question and does not know itself. From you too, courage is born and truthfulness begins. Oh Power of the Rising Sun grant me wise leadership, clear speech so other may know my thoughts, and clear seeing of others problems. Help me to be self-reliant, to have hope for the people, and to trust in the visions you give me," Ky'tulendu offered to the sky facing East, then he smoked the pipe and it changed color from clear to yellow as he drew from it. Roaring Wings nodded in satisfaction , then Ky'tulendu passed the pipe to In The Forest.
        "Oh Rising Sun, guardian of the East, we walk new paths, in new ways. Help us to find our footsteps so that we do not stumble. Help us to focus on the present moments, to be alert with all our senses and to give of ourselves fully in whatever task we do. Keep us from false pride that makes us think that one person is more important then another, and keeps us from giving aid to those less fortunate than ourselves. Oh, Power of the Rising Sun help me to be a good and just leader through your gifts," In The Forest spoke raising the stem of the pipe to the East and then smoking it, when he did it glowed yellow-orange. Roaring Wings nodded as In The Forest passed the pipe back to him.
        The shaman then pointed the stem of the Pipe towards the South, and a warm wind appeared as he did and blew over the peoples of the crowd, unnerving many. Roaring Wings felt the wind and was pleased that the spirits were with them so enthusiastically.
        "Oh, Power of the Sun that is high in Father Sky, You are life in its Prime, the Season of Summer. You send your warm winds to carry the seeds and pollen across the land, for they are the symbols of the promise of new life. Oh, Power of the High Sun, warm the red blood flowing through our hearts so that we may feel the beauty of Mother Earth," He said as he offered up the Pipe then smoked it and glowed clear with chasing yellow, orange, and faint red lights up and down its length. He handed it to Ky'tulendu.
        Ky'tulendu pointed the stem to the South and began his part. "Oh, Father Sun high in the Sky, you of Summer, of fullness, of youth, and of physical strength and vigor charge us to prepare for the future. You are the place of the heart, of generosity, of sensitivity to the feelings of others, of loyalty, of noble passions and of love. Grant me, oh, High Summer Sun, the lessons of love, and charge me not to want to possess or control another for it is far to easy to do such things. Help me, too, to be physical well and able to carry on my duties. Let me feel your other gifts of music, gracefulness of movement, and to be able to appreciate the beauty and wonder of all things with all my senses fully alive. Help me , Oh Sun, to be involved in the world, to have idealism, to have compassion, kindness and a sense of social justice, but help me too, to have self discipline and reason where emotions like anger, fear, resentment, and hurt are concerned and grant me the wisdom to express them properly so they will not do harm to myself or others," Ky'tulendu spoke to the sky and smoked the pipe. This time it glowed bright cherry red. He then handed it to In The Forest.
        "Oh, Father Sun that flies high across the Summer sky, I ask you make me like the red willow tree, strong and flexible to be able to survive those things that may seek to destroy me but able to yield and spring back. Help me to keep the ways of the heart clear, let me be generous,
compassionate and kind as well as loyal. Grant me the wisdom and judgment to temper my emotions in the correct paths so that I may serve others and myself fairly and be always a clear-thinking and effective human being with genuine feelings that come from the heart and soul," the young Underchief spoke, pointing the stem of the pipe to South. Then he drew on it and the pipe glowed a deep violet red as he did.
        Roaring Wings nodded solemnly and took the pipe, and turned the stem towards the West, and lightning flashes raced across the clear sky that camefrom a large white cloud that had appeared suddenly, illuminating the three on the platform with their flashes.
        "You whose Power is the setting Sun, you are life in its maturity, your time is Autumn Oh, Setting Sun, you bring the night which reveals the Stars. Do not let the starlight leave from this land for it is the symbol of hope in Man's darkness and ignorance, hate and war. Oh, Power of the setting Sun, send the thunders and rain to cleanse the Earth and make her pure again. Make your Thunderers shake the bones of Man so he may see Mother Earth's beauty," the shaman intoned and drew on the Pipe which had turned back to a clear color with red and violet lights racing through it. He then handed it to Ky'tulendu.
        "The West is the direction from which darkness comes. It is the direction of the unknown, of going within, of dreams, of prayers and of meditation. It is the place of testing, where the will is stretched to its outer limits so that the gift of perseverance may be won. The Thunder Beings live here and We draw Power from the thunder and the lightning. Power to heal, to protect and defend, to see and to know and to manage our power in ways that are in harmony with the Creator. Here we learn to respect our elders and the ways of the past, respect for other's beliefs and their struggles to gain spiritual balance as well develop an awareness of our own struggles. Oh, Power of the setting Sun set me on the path to be a more spiritually aware being so that I may lead my peoples in the ways the Creator wishes," Ky'tulendu spoke sincerely pointing the Pipe westward and when he drew on it changed to a deep pulsating blue color as lightning flashed above them.
        Passing it to In The Forest the young man began his part. "The two teachers of the West are the black bear and the turtle. The bear processes great strength, the source of which lies deep within the person, like the bear who retires to a dark, private place in the face of winter's coldness. The person on the path learns to balance the lesson of passionate loyalty of the South with the deep spiritual insight of the West. This is helped by the Turtle, who not only teaches one to go within, but also grants the gift of persistence to the voyager. The Turtle helps one experience the connection between the human spirit and the rest of the universe and the Creator through the power of prayer, whether it be alone or in a ceremony with others. Oh, Setting Sun help me to keep the ways of the spirit with clear self-knowledge and the vision to be able to see all possibilities and potentialities," In The Forest said to the heavens that were now clearing as he pointed the Pipe to the West and when he smoked it it changed to the black of space with sparkling lights like stars captured within it.
        The Pipe changed to clear again as Roaring Wings took it back and pointed it towards the North. From that direction a cool wind began to blow across those assembled, making those lightly dressed shiver as it hit them. Roaring Wings was very pleased by the natural displays occurring and more than a little awed as they happened on cue. Such had never happened in all the memories, he knew with certainty as he addressed the air.
        "You whose Power is the distant Sun, you are life at its ending and great change, the season of Winter. The snow you send is the white blanket covering this land as it sleeps. It is the symbol of purity in the words we speak and the life we live. Oh, Power of the distant Sun, send your winds to cool the fevered hearts of my fellow men so that they may know the beauty of our world," he spoke and then smoked the pipe which turned clear with white lights, then he turned it over to Ky'tulendu.
        "The North is the place of winter, of white snows like the white hairs of our elders. It is the dawning place of true wisdom where one learns to think, to synthesize, to speculate, to predict, to discriminate, solve problems, to imagine, to analyze, to understand, to calculate, to organize, to criticize, to remember and to interpret hidden meanings. All these gifts I ask of you, the distant Sun, to help me guide my people so that I be a good and just leader. Even though the path I will have to journey on to gain these will be long and difficult, I have no fear, for such challenges will make me stronger and a better person for all. Fill me too, oh Power of the North with the power of the intellect, the ability to complete what is begun, find fulfillment in daily life, be able to learn the lessons of things which end, understand how and when to be detached, be free from fear, from hate, to know love, to seek knowledge and to see how all things fit together whether it be from insight, or intuition. Oh distant Sun, teach me how to live a balanced life, to center, to take the middle way, and to be moderate in all things, with justice to all that I oversee," Ky'tulendu finished then pointed the pipe stem northward and when he smoked it the pipe turned a glowing pure white, as bright as the newly fallen snow on a sunny day.
        It was next In The Forest's turn. "Oh, distant Sun, Power of the North your gifts are symbolized by the great mountain and the sacred lake. The great mountain shows us that the higher we climb its slopes, the steeper and more difficult the way becomes, and yet the higher we go, the more we can see and the stronger we become. From the North we learn completion and fulfillment and the lesson of all things that end. Grant me, oh Great Spirits, the powers of volition, of will, so I might learn to complete what was started as a far away vision, through the gifts of persistence, and certitude and to be able to judge whether the time of completion is at hand.
        "Grant me, too, detachment, for with it one can see the past, the present, and the future for detachment means freedom from hate, jealousy, desire, anger and fear. Give me the ability to know when to let go completely, even of that I love best. When I need to let me be able to put behind all knowledge I have acquired on my journey least it be too heavy a burden to carry of the summit of the great mountain and to the shores of the sacred lake. In this way I can stand apart and be able to view it in a different light. Guide me so that I can learn to see clearly, to find the center, and see all things as they are connected to the whole. The beginnings of detachment are learned in fires of love but the end of detachment is learned in quiet moments on the silent shores of the sacred lake.
        "Let me not, Great Spirits, be so enamored with the gifts of any one direction so that I may not forget the journey and my duties to my peoples. I must be one with all things, all my peoples, and centered within the Circle of Life to be a good and wise leader with my fellow chief. Grant me these things, oh, Power of the distant Sun, oh, Power of the North and so I may serve my people well with the will of the Great Spirit and the Creator," In The Forest told the crowd and the spirits, then he point the Pipe northward and then took it and smoked it and it became a thing of golden light shining like a beacon in the approaching darkness so that it lit up the faces of the three men on stage.
        Roaring Wings took it and held it up for all to see as it changed back to clear again and the cool wind died down. He lifted the Pipe up and began his closing words.
        "I hold the sacred Pipe, reaching my arms up high, showing that you, the lightning from the Thunder Beings are a link between Earth and Sky. Great Mystery, Source of Life, Your presence is in all Creation, for you are the life of Creation. We are but tiny parts of Life in your vast Universe. We are humbled before you, yet we are a part of you. as we are of the Circle of Life. We realize there is much more to be known than all the knowledge that all the wisest elders have ever known, and we are again humbled. The mystery of all endings is found in the birth of new beginnings. There is no ending to the journey of the four directions. The human capacity to develop is infinite. The medicine wheel turns forever. Oh, May the Circle live!"
        Roaring Wings proclaimed to the sky turning around in a circle, stopping at each direction with the Pipe, smoking it. At each point it changed color--yellow, red, blue-violet, and finally white, at the end the pipe began to suddenly sing with unearthly beautiful music as if it had been a flute instead of a pipe while it turned all the colors of the rainbow spilling out into the darkness to make visible the sounds filling the night sky as the first stars appeared. The colors flew out of the pipe and enveloped the three men in dancing patterns like mad fireflies as the music wove into their mind, hearts and souls, blessing them, caressing them, and embracing them with a sense of oneness with all life and Creation. Then the music ended leaving silence and darkness in its wake as the lights died with the last note of the music.
        It was many long moments before anyone could move or react to the incredible thing that had just happened. Roaring Wings was visibly shaken as were all the shamans, the elders as well as Ky'tulendu and In The Forest. Roaring Wings held the Pipe still and looked at it incrediously, almost afraid of it, but it was quiet and had turned back to its clear color, its colored lights all gone as if nothing had ever happened.
        No, what had happened, was not supposed to. It was totally unknown in all the knowledge of the people. Never had the pipe in all the ceremonies to install new chiefs had such a display happened, either the lights or the music. Never had the pipe sang before in all memory. And such music, it was the music of the Gods, of Creation itself. He hoped that one of the Atanzi techs had been recording the ceremony with their machines and had captured it all. He wanted to see and hear it all again so that he might understand the great magic that had just occurred.
        Carefully, almost gingerly he wrapped the pipe back up in its sacred coverings and put it carefully into its carved soapstone outer case and handed it to Lost Owl for safe keeping. Then he told the helping shamans to prepare the area for the next set of ceremonies, those of the formal weddings for himself, Ky'tulendu and In The Forest. While he and the two men took a break.

* 5 *

        The three men left the platform to sit on the back steps where they could get a drink of water and to sit down for a moment and be alone without being overheard. They were all unnerved about the experience, Roaring Wings more than anyone because he knew what should or should not happen during each ceremony of his people. Ky'tulendu and In The Forest had just been overwhelmed by the display, not knowing that the display shouldn't have happened at all. Roaring Wings sat a little apart from the two new chiefs trying to get his nerves calmed down.
        "That was a beautiful ceremony, Roaring Wings," Ky'tulendu told him, trying to break the tension in the air.
        "It was spectacular, Uncle," In The Forest complimented, taking a sip from the water jug.
        "Yes, . . . thank you," the shaman replied distractedly and lapsed back in a silence unlike his usual cheerfulness.
        Ky'tulendu tried another tack to find out what was going on with his friend. "How did you happen to get the uz'telxuza stone carved in the shape of a S'tzzki?" He asked.
        Roaring Wings turned his head quickly and looked up at him sharply, his eyes hard
but curious. "You recognize the shape of the pipe and what it is made of?"
        "Yes, it's made out of a rare mineral found only on the homeplanet, Atanza. The substance is called uz'telxuza. The animal shape of the pipe resembles a S'tzzki, a kind of flying lizard of legend that are now extinct. They are a symbol of good luck and of power. They are supposed to be guardians of luck. My family uses two of them in a circle facing one another as part of their crest. You said the Pipe came from the Gy'tusesson?" Ky'tulendu asked, after explaining what the pipe was and what it had been made out of.
        "Yes, it did at the time of the Beginning, " Roaring Wings said looking at him strangely as he took in the information he had just gotten. "So you know what the Pipe is and what it is made out of?" he questioned.
        "I recognized it immediately and so did B'tunku and O'vettun, and probably every one of my crew. The S'tzzki is a common motif among the peoples of the Alliance, but the uz'telxuza stone--its very rare when an object is made out of it because it doesn't take well to carving because it is very hard and few things can cut it. That pipe would be worth an unbelievable fortune anywhere in the Alliance. Only the very wealthy have uz'telxuza stones and then only set in a piece of jewelry."
        "So you are saying is that even among your people the Pipe is extremely valuable because what it is made out of? "
        "Very much so. But I was not aware that it could sing like that or give off such a light show. I had heard it could change colors according to the mood of the wearer and give off flashes in a darkened room, but not what it did tonight. Must be the effect of the shape of it in one large solid piece," Ky'tulendu replied.
        "Possibly, but it was clear the Gods and spirits were with us or something was helping to have the very winds, the sun, the animals appear when they did. Your people had no hand in arranging any of those things, did they?" Roaring Wings asked suddenly suspicious.
        Ky'tulendu shook his head, "No, not that I know of. If our technology and power supplies were in better shape we could have pulled off some of the effects but not all. There is no way we could have had the sun shine on me when it did, or the bird fly down to In The Forest when it did, nor the lightning or the clouds appear and disappear when they did. I have no explanation for anything that happened on stage," he said truthfully.
        "Nor do I except that the Creator, the Great Spirit and the other Gods and Spirits wanted you and In The Forest to be chiefs and were making their approval very clear to all concerned. After such a display none of the peoples will doubt your right to lead them," the shaman said meaningfully.
        "No, I guess not. So the wedding ceremonies are next?" Ky'tulendu asked, still feeling apprehensive about his marriage to White Deer.
        "Yes, as soon as the shamans are ready, which looks like about now," he said looking uo towards the stage and seeing Lost Owl come towards them.
        "They are ready for you all," the young shaman announced as he drew nearer.
        "Are you ready?" Roaring Wings asked the two men, who nodded with different degrees of emotional response to the question according to how eagerly they wanted this. "Good, we go!"
        The trio with Lost Owl climbed back upon the platform. The attending shamans took them and led them to stand by their respective mates so they were arranged in a rough semicircle in the middle of the stage. The all looked at each other and at their mates with varying subtle displays of nervousness.
        The honors of marrying them was to go to a shaman from the Turtle clan, Whisper In Darkness, an older, white haired man whose totem animal was the Crow. He was known to be a powerful medicine man who was a far seer and of the ancient blood lines which was apparent in his slightly slanted black eyes and upswept brows. He wore a huge crow's head as a head dress mask. The eyes of the mask were of a clear red stone which glittered alively in the torch lights. The head piece flowed in an unbroken line into his cape made of long blue-black feathers which attached to his wrists so that when he spread his arms out he looked as if he had wings. His torso was bare except for a breast plate of alternaing black and red colored porcupine quills against which necklaces of bear claws, bird bones, feathers, and ,jet, rose quartz, and agate beads rattled as he walked. He wore plain fringed black leggings under and his beaded and feather edged black loin cloth with soft, low decorated moccasins on his feet.
        Whisper In Darkness walked regally to the edge of the platform to stand before now getting restless crowd who wanted all this pomp and ceremony over so they could go feast and dance. He silenced them with dark looks and shaking of his medicine rattle. They quieted immediately and all that could be heard was stillness and nightsounds. He nodded in satisfaction. He spread his arms out wide looking like a huge black crow as he shook his rattles ominously in the air.
        "People of the Lay'nee Lay'ne-pay, people of the Atanzi, and respected visitors from the Shawnee, Iroquios, Huron, Creek, Cherokee, Choctaw, and the far Sioux. We are here to witness the marriages of these three couples in the sacred ways by the laws of our people. The marriages are of a new kind of bonding between those of the people and those of the star-people, the Atanzi. The couples that are to be wed are Star Lion, the new Overchief of the Wolf Clan and White Deer, daughter of Thunder Arrow, In The Forest, the new Underchief of the Wolf Clan and O'vettun of the Atanzi, Roaring Wings, Great Shaman of the Wolf Clan and B'tunku, Medicine Woman of the Atanzi. Are there any objections as to why these marriages should not take place?" he asked the crowd, but due to the security forces and watchers in the audience, no objections reached the elder shaman's ears. Though there were plenty among the tradionists.
        "So be it! The marriage vows begin!" he told the crowd with a shake of his rattles and went to stand before the three waiting couples.
        "Here me All! I call upon Kee-shay-la-muh'-ka-ong, the Creator, and Kit-tan-it-to'wet, the Great Spirit, Father Sky, Grandfather Sun, Mother Earth, Grandmother Moon and all the spirits of the ancestors to look kindly upon these marriages and to bless them, so that they may be happy and fruitful. Since the women of star people are not of the tribes and have no one to speak for them and give them away in the exchange of gifts, we ask if they speak for themselves?" he asked B'tunku and O'vettun.
        "I do," replied B'tunku, standing proud in her knee length beaded gray-white dress and knee high moccasins. She wore her silver hair loose confined by her officer's headband with it four bloodstones and two smaller opcate stones. Her shell earrings and necklace were a present from Roaring Wings.
        "I do," replied O'vettun, in a long calf length decorated red-gold fringed dress and low moccasins of the same color, her golden hair braided native style. Her amber, jet, and white quartz earrings and necklace were from In The Forest.
        The shaman nodded in satisfaction, then began with Ky'tulendu and White Deer. Motioning for them to hold hands and come forward so the people could see them.
        "Star Lion, Great Overchief of the Wolf Clan, do you take this maiden, White Deer, as your wife under the laws of our people and promise to be a dutiful husband, to protect her, and to provide for her as long as you both shall live?" he asked.
        "I do," Ky'tulendu replied, and the shaman made gestures and shook his rattles.
        Whisper In Darkness then addressed White Deer. "Do you White Deer, daughter of Thunder Arrow and of Sees Far take Star Lion to be your husband under the laws of our people? And do you promise to be an obedient and dutiful wife, to honor your husband, and care for him as long as you both shall live? he asked.
        "I do," she replied, looking modestly up from beneath her long black lashes as she stood meekly beside Ky'tulendu holding his hand. Her creamy knee length white beaded dress and low moccasins off setting her bronze colored skin and waist length loose blue-black hair which was caught with white feathered hair clips on either side of her heart shaped face. Around her neck she wore a necklace made from Ky'tulendu's ranking stones taken from his spare head bands.
        "By the laws of our people and by the will of the gods, I pronounce you, Star Lion, and you, White Deer, husband and wife. Kway-hay-yay Kweh! Hooo!" Whisper in Darkness said spreading his arms wide and shaking the medicine rattles. "You may now claim your wife, Star Lion," the shaman added with a smile, motioning him with an inclination of his head that he should kiss White Deer who looked up expectantly at him with an up turned face and lips pouted out.
        Ky'tulendu then took her into his arms and kissed her, not as long and as passionately as she would have liked but enough to satisfy the watching crowd. They then broke apart and he led her back to their former place by the others trying to smile radiantly at her and be happy. She was very, very happy, smiling and holding possessively on his arm as they stood together to watch the others get married.
        In The Forest and O'vettun were next, and the shaman smiled kindly at the young man and his blushing bride. It very obvious to everyone how much the young couple loved one another.
        Whisper in Darkness began their ceremony the same as he had with Ky'tulendu's and White Deer's with the shaking of his rattles and with ritualized symbolic gestures over the two.
        "Oh Creator, Oh Greater Spirit, Oh Father Sky, Grandfather Sun, Mother Earth, Grandmother Moon and all the spirits of our ancestors, another couple comes before you to ask for your blessing and to sanctify this marriage. I ask you to look with kindness upon these two, In The Forest, Underchief of the Wolf Clan, son of Thunder Arrow, and O'vettun jahh Y'payla, of the Atanzi who wish to become husband and wife under the laws of our people. May you great ones bless them and make their marriage happy and fruitful. Kwey! Hooo!" he said with a flourish of chanting and rattles.
        "Do you In The Forest, Underchief of the Wolf Clan take O'vettun jahh Y'payla to be your wife as it is written in the laws of our people. To honor her, to protect her, to be a dutiful husband, and to provide for her for as long as you both shall live?"
        "I do," he answered affirmatively with a warm and tender smile at his beloved.
        "Do you O'vettun jahh Y'payla, take In The Forest to be your husband as it is written in the laws of our people. To honor him, obey him, to be a dutiful wife in all things, and walk beside him in good times and in bad?"
        "I do," he replied, her love for her tall warrior plain in her tender voice and smile.
        "Then by the power as shaman, by the Gods and by the laws of the people, I pronounce you, In The Forest, and you, O'vettun to be husband and wife. May the Gods and the Spirits look over you and protect you and bless your love and home well. You may now kiss your bride," he said, but In The Forest needed no further urging as he swept his tiny bride into his large arms and kissed her long and passionately before the assembled peoples. The shaman passed his rattles over them and pronounced, "Kwey! Hooo!" over them symbolizing it was done.
        When the young couple finished their kiss, the walked back to their place absolutely lost in one another, but then they turned their attention back to the shaman as he motioned Roaring Wings and B'tunku forward. They did proudly with much grace and dignity.
        "Finally, oh Great Spirit, oh Creator, Father sky, Grandfather Sun, Mother Earth, Grandmother Moon and all spirits of the ancestors we ask you to bless the union of these two tonight. Roaring Wings, Great Shaman of the Wolf Clan, and B'tunku k'laxxn L'ltro, Medicine Woman of the Atanzi, have come here to ask for your blessings and to look upon them with kindness as they ask to become husband and wife under the laws of our people. May you bless them and make their marriage happy and fruitful. Kway-ha-yay Kwee Hooo!" he said with a great flourish of rattles and chanting over them.
        "Do you Roaring Wings, Great Shaman of the Wolf Clan, take B'tunku klaxxn L'ltro, Medicine Woman of the Atanzi to be your wife under the laws of our people? To be a dutiful husband, to honor her, to protect her, to provide for her always, and to help her walk in the sacred ways?"
        "I do," Roaring Wings said smiling down at her proudly and the elder shaman nodded approvingly.
        "Do you B'tunku klaxxn L'ltro, Medicine Woman of the Atanzi, take Roaring Wings, Great Shaman of the Wolf Clan to be your husband under the laws of our people? To be a dutiful and obedient wife, that does her husband honor, and that walks besides him the sacred ways in good times and in bad for all the days of your lives?"
        "I do," she replied smiling happily back at him.
        "By all the Gods and the Spirits as well as by the laws of our people, I, Whisper In Darkness, shaman of the Turtle Clan, hereby pronounce that Roaring Wings and B'tunku are now husband and wife. May all bless you and sanctify this union. You may now kiss your bride. Hway-hah-yay, Hwey Kwey Kee Hoo! " he said blessing them with his rattles and gestures as Roaring Wings did take B'tunku into his arms with a wolfish grin and kiss her very long and hard before all before releasing her.
        "Now let the feasting begin!" Whisper In Darkness announced in a very loud voice to the crowd who then cheered and began to do, just that.
        The ceremonies were all over, all three couples had been married, Ky'tulendu and In The Forest had been made chiefs, and Ky'tulendu had been adopted by Walks In Silence in all it had been a very long and busy day.

* 6 *

        As soon as Whisper in Darkness announced that the ceremonies were over and the feast could begin the well-wishers began flocking forward with greetings and with gifts for the three couples and the new chiefs. The Atanzis were a little overwhelmed by the show of affection from the natives as their own people held their distance respectfully. But it was the overwhelming number of gifts for them all especially wedding gifts, given because of their respective ranks or offices. By the time they were through with well wishers each couple had amassed a very sizeable pile by each of them. Ky'tulendu's and White Deer's was the largest but In The Forest and Roaring Wings weren't too appreciatively smaller.
        Finally the well-wishers all left and Ky'tulendu just stood there shaking his head as Roaring Wings came up to him, "What is Asenti?" he asked.
        "The generousity of the people. I've never seen anything like it. It's going to take several skimmer loads to carry these to our homes," Ky'tulendu said.
        "Ah. my friend, that is good. The large number shows that the people have accepted you and wish you well. It woud be bad if you had a small number of gifts, especially as Overchief. I see among our gifts ones from the other tribes, some of which are our tradional enimies. They want to make sure you look upon them kindly for already they have heard of your magic machines and your great powers and fear you. As long as they fear you and give you peace offerring we will have peace here. The displays from the Gods tonight didn't hurt either, so when they go back to their tribes your fame will be known all across this land as the tales is spread through all the nations."
        "The other tribes will know about us--just like that?"
        "Yes, news, especially wonderous news travels very quickly throughout all the peoples of this land. By Winter all the people, even the ones in far off places will know of you and what happened in the ceremony tonight. You will become a man of legend and of myth in time." Roaring Wings told him, and the Atanzi looked a little shaken by his sudden fame.
        "I guess, I never thought that I would ever be a celebrity. Legend in my own time, that's going to take some getting used to. In the meantime, I'll see what I can do about getting some people to take these gifts to our homes. I know we are are going on our honeymoons, but let's try to keep in contact, just in case something comes up."
        "A good idea B'tunku and I will take communicators with us and so will In The Forest and O'vettun, Asenti or should I call you Star Lion?"
        "The Star Lion is going to take some getting used to. Just call me what you have been, I'm still me, I think?" Ky'tulendu grinned. "Now that all the ceremony is over I want to eat."
        "I second that, Asenti. Shall we go?" Roaring Wings said smiling too, taking B'tunku's hand and leading her away off the platform with In The Forest and O'vettun holding on to each other around their waists following.
        That left him and White Deer who was waiting expectantly by him. "Are you ready to go, my husband?" she asked pleasantly.
        "Yes, anytime. You have been very quiet, why?" he asked with a raised eyebrow looking her over suspiciously as her helped her get down off the platform.
        "I am just being a good wife, my husband. Who waits until her man is ready to go, and who keeps her tongue when he is talking to others," she replied meekly, throwing him a bit off balance with her compliant attitude.
        "I see," he replied, somehow not buying her discription of her behavior from her in particular, but he let it pass.
        "Since you are still new to our ways, I had our honeymoon wigwam made. It is by the sea a little distance from where your ship is. That way we can be alone without the distractions of your duties," she informed him cheerfully with a bounce in her step.
        Her words penetrated his brain and something inside him rebelled. He pulled up short, suddenly angry. and grabbed her arm tightly making her face him. "You should have asked," he growled.
        "I thought that was what you would wish--for us to be totally alone. It is what newly married couples do!" she protested, suddenly afraid and confused.
        "It's not what I had planned. I am needed here, in camp, not off some place where no one can get in touch with me. There is too much still to do both here, at the new camp and at the village. I can't afford to be off somewhere with you!" he said more angrily than he meant too.
        "But its our honeymoon! It is expected! Don't you want to be with me?" she asked with tears threatening in her eyes. The hurt of his words was shooting through her like a knife.
        "Yes, no, . . . I dunno!" he said truthfully.
        "You don't love me!" she yelled at him, not caring who heard her.
        "White Deer, you're causing a scene!" he said seeing people turn towards them. Not good, he thought.
        "I don't care! You rather have your old duties instead of me! You'd rather have Sun Dancer than me. You probably wished that you had married her instead of me," she yelled, her voice getting louder.
        "Sun Dancer? What has Sun Dancer have to do with any of this?" he asked wondering how she had found out about her and how much she knew.
        "I heard the women talking when I was helping at the new camp. I heard how you rescued her from Marks On Stone and that she is now your slave. I know Sun Dancer, she claims she is one of the Dreamers and you are her dream-mate. I also know that you reacted very strangely when ever she was around--like you were in love with her!" she said triumphly, watching him closely for any reactions.
        She was disappointed though, because he kept his features unreadable and then broke into a laugh. "Sun Dancer means nothing to me. I never even talked with her. I rescued her because Marks In Stone was beating her and I couldn't stand seeing him hit her. I would have done that for anyone. I found out her situation and when Marks In Stone wouldn't sell her we fought and he gave her to me. I couldn't handle her being a slave to me so I set her free. When the school is set up she'll help out there, being her own person, and her work will pay for her food and supplies. And under no circumstances are you to make a servant out of her. She is her own person, not a possession and I will have no one treated as such. Is That understood?" he asked firmly.
        "Yes, my husband, quite understood," she said meekly, dropping into her dutiful wife pose again.
        "As to our honeymoon, I can take off a few days, but no more. The others are expected to be gone at least a week or more. I can't, understood?" he asked, trying make a compromise. Though if he had his way they would be staying there, but for the sake of appearance at least he would go off with her. Maybe some time alone would bring them together even though his heart wasn't in it.
        "Yes, a few days with you is better than none. And maybe after we get there you will change your mind," she said suggestively snuggling up to him, kissing him lightly on the cheek.
        He smiled back at her faintly, but the weariness did not leave his eyes as he bend down and gave her a peck on the cheek. "We'll see," he said and took her hand to lead her to the feast which was already in full swing.
        The native women had outdone themselves with all the different varities of food set on ten separate tables as well as five huge firepits. Deer was the main meat, but there was also bear, possum, rabbit, squirrel, woodchuck, turkey, peasant, grouse, duck, goose, and other game fowls.
There was crab, lobster, shrimps, mussels, clams, eels, turtles, porpoise, shark, seabass, shad, salmon and many others. The vegetable, fruit and nut types were as extensive too. It seemed that almost everything that walked, crawled, swam, or fly was represented as were all the native plants, trees, and roots. There was more than enough to feed everyone that had come, several times over, as well as the keep them well supplied with native drinks both acholic and non-acoholic.
        He led her over to where a place had been reserved for them by In The Forest and O'vettun, Roaring Wings and the Council of Elders and other dignataries both native and Atanzi. He started to seat White Deer but she shook her head no and motioned for him to sit and when he did she leaned low and whispered, "It's my job to serve you, husband, especially with your being Chief. Sit and I will feed you," she commanded, her beautiful feature now lighter and happier.
        He looked at her strangely, then nodded giving her permission to do it. He saw that B'tunku and O'vettun were feeding their new husbands, and saw similar scenes elsewhere. He struggled and decided to give into custom. B'tunku was having a few problems with the local custom, but she wasn't fighting it. Although he could tell that Roaring Wings was teasing her and enjoying every minute of her waiting on him like a dutiful wife. Ky'tulendu could also see that he had learned about B'tunku's hot temper and when to not push her, so that he backed off before he did mkae her truly angry.
        White Deer came back after a short time with two huge plates of food, piled with meats, vegetable dishes and fruits. She sat herself down before him on her knees and began feeding him. He felt a little embarassed about her do so, so after a while he told her to stop and began feeding himself and motioned for her to feed herself. She looked hurt, though she complied. They ate in silence. He wasn't sure whether he had pulled a social blunder or not but his conscience wouldn't allow him to let her keep feeding him as if he were a child.
        The other diners didn't think there was anything amiss and countinued to eat, minding their own business. He did notice that the more he ate the better he felt and his good humor returned.
        Soon the meal was finished and then the real festivities began as he heard the musicians start back up alternating between native and Atanzi rythmns and occassionally a combination of both. Out by a large bonfire there was dancing, both ceremonial and casual. The evening was starting to go well.
        After awhile he was laughing and joking with the people around him at least the ones that wore translators. Learning his new people's language was very high on his personal list of things to do as soon as possible. How could he lead them if he couldn't understand them and the majority couldn't understand him. There was a whole growing lists of what needed to be accomplished. He resented having to waste several days with this so called honeymoon when he should be working. With that thought still in the back of his mind he began to indulge in the native beverages, not realizing their potency.
        He noted that Roaring Wings and In The Forest had taken their mates to the dance area and were showing them some of the dances, which tended to be very uninhibited and sensual he noted from the way some of the couples were dancing. He saw White Deer looking enviously and very wishful at the dancing taking place. She was unconcsiously tapping a rythmn against her thighs in time with the music. He wasn't a dancer. He didn't pretend to be. Though it didn't look as though one had to be for what they were doing by the fire, one just had to be a little semi-cordinated. He should at least make some effort to interact with her, his drink benumbed mind told him.
        "Do you want to dance?" he asked her finally as the bands started up another lively number.
        She looked him with wide eyes, and delighted surprise, then she smiled broadly and nodded as he held out his hand to pull her up. He was a little unsteady on his feet but not too much as they walked the short distance to the dancing area lit by the bonfire and by the torches set on long poles as well as the camp lights. The beat of the music quickly got into in his soul, a very fast paced piece that hit hidden erotic nerves. It was the pulse of the primitive animal in both species, a mating call almost, that caused one's blood to boil.
        She began to dance slowly at first then picked up her pace as she let the music absorb into her soul. He picked up on her movements and began to match her steps and gestures watching her as well as the dancers near them. He was feeling awkward at first but as the music began to intensify he let it flow through him and guide him. White Deer was very impressed as Ky'tulendu moved gracefully through the complicated dance keeping pace with her. She noted that the two Atanzi women were also as graceful as he was.
        Then the music began to change with the native instruments and vocals mixed with Atanzi instruments, and the sensulatity of the dancing increased. affecting everyone, though the two truly bonded ones were affected more. White Deer saw the two couples leave suddenly with an strange intensity to them. Though the music was affecting Ky'tulendu it was not affecting him in the same way, White Deer saw disgustedly even though she was doing her utmost to get his attention turned towards that direction.
        On the edge of the crowd something caught his eye causing him to momentarily slow his pace. She cast a glance that way and saw Sun Dancer dancing with a taller warrior of the Cat Clan from the mainland. She looked back at her husband and saw anger there and the flickering of jealousy as he watched the couple dance. He stopped dancing then and started walking through the dancing couples to SunDancer, his hands clenching and unclenching his fists by his sides. White Deer grabbed his arm, to try and stop him.
        "No, my husband! Don't!" White Deer cried but he did hear her, didn't want to hear her. She just stood there in the middle of the still dancing couples sad and angry, watching him go, then turned and ran through the crowd crying, heading for the native quarters where she still had her clothes and belongings.
        Ky'tulendu had had just enough native alcohol to lose some of his control and good sense. If Roaring Wings or In The Forest had still been there they would have reasoned with and stopped him before he started after Sun Dancer. They weren't, they had left to go off with their mates. The liquor, the music and the sight of her all combined to make him bold and reckless. When Ky'tulendu suddenly materalized before her, Sun Dancer was speechless as was the warrior dancing with her. He knew who he was and also knew from Sun Dancer's conversation with him eariler that she was also property of the new Chief though he had not claimed her in any way. Though by the look on the Atanzi's face that time was right at that moment. The warrior having more sense than the Atanzi who both towered over him and out weighed him, beat a hasty retreat through the crowd.
        Ky'tulendu noted that the surprised woman wore a translator, at least they'd be able to talk now. "Sun Dancer, we need to talk," he said more gruffly then he meant and saw her cringe from the tone in his voice as she quickly bowed her head and clasped her hands together.
        "Yes, Chief Star Lion, whatever you wish," she replied meekly, afraid of being punished by her new master which she did not really know except from a distance.
        "Come, I am not going to hurt you. I just wish to talk to you," he replied more gently now as he took her by the arm and carefully led her away from the crowd that was watching them curiously.
        It took awhile to get through the tightly packed camp grounds. They got many curious stares, and puzzled and sometimes angry reactions from both the Atanzi and native party goers as the whole camp knew it wasn't White Deer he was so possessively walking to the woods.. He knew it was mistake but he took her far from the crowd to the deeper woods near the boarder between the two camps. She went with him willingly too afraid to question, to ask why he had taken her from the dance. Why he wasn't off with White Deer on his honeymoon? Why he had not tried to talk to her before this, or why he had even saved her from her brother-in-law? She had a thousand questions,but none of them did she dare ask. As they walked along the camp paths going further and further from the crowd and the camp she didn't know what to think because he was so stoney silent.
        She studied his profile by the bright moonlight that was bathing the landscape, and knew with utter certainty that he was the one in her dreams. The dreams the others had scoffed at and called her crazy for, until the Atanzis had landed and come to the village. She caught him looking at her too from the corner of his eye when he thought she wasn't looking. Her mind raced throught hundreds of possibilites of why he was with her now of instead of with White Deer with whom he had just wed and was supposed bonded to.
        Finally he stopped, looking at the forest and looking around, trying to make a decision of some kind. They were still in the open, so he took her into the woods off the beaten track and then stopped at a moonlit clearing that had soft moss and grasses to sit on. He motioned her to sit and she did, crosslegged on the ground without hesitation. Then he sat, and just stared, looking her over, not speaking for many long moments. His inspecting made her nervous and she wished he say anything just to break the stillness between them.
        Finally she spoke because she couldn't take his silence. "It's rude to stare," she said at last. "What do you wish to talk about Chief Star Lion?" she asked getting to the point.
        He looked as if he had been slapped as he quickly lowered his eyes, embarassed. "I'm sorry, Sun Dancer, I did not mean to stare," he apolized. "It's just . . . I don't know where to begin or how to say . . . ," he tried to speak and found himself tongue tied around her.
        She sensed his nervousness, and much more. "Let me try then," she volunteered.
        He nodded gratefully as he sat with his arms around his knees regarding her with an unreadable expression.
        "Why did you stop my dancing with Laughing Wolf and have me come here with you?" she asked bluntly sensing she could be that way with him.
        "I . . . I could not stand to see him touch you. I saw you dancing with him and got angry. All I could see was you.," he replied waiting to see how she took his confession.
        His words stunned her, and she was speechless as she looked at him not daring to believe what she was hearing.
        "Why?" she finally asked, not sure if she wanted to know.
        "You are my bond-mate, my true bond mate," he said, with unwavering certainty.
        She gasped and went pale, not believing it was happening.
        "Yes-- you. Not White Deer. She fooled me into believing that she was. She's not. There is no bond between her and me. I feel nothing, only emptiness."
        "And with me?"
        "A pull --a great pull unlike anything I have ever known. I look at you and see the whole world, all that was ever meant to be reflected in your face and eyes and I am lost without you," he confessed more boldly now, feeling like a idiot as well or a love sick teenager.
        "You married White Deer--you should be with her! She is you wife, not me," she stated firmly, feeling extremely uncomfortable now in the situation.
        "I had no choice, I had to marry her. I found out too late that she and I don't have a true bond. She only wanted my power, my position, and used her body and her wiles to get me to believe she and I were mates. I don't love her, and I wish I didn't have to have anything to do with her the more I get to know her," he said truthfully, hanging his head.
        He was confessing his very soul to her, something that he had never done. Nor did he ever think he would have found himself in such a strange and awkward position. He felt like he must be out of his mind to be sitting in the middle of a woods, talking with one woman when he should be with another. There was going to be hell to pay over all of this but at this point in time, he didn't care.
        "Are you sure about the bond you say we have?" she questioned, even though the pull to him was unbearable this close to him.
        "Yes, I have no doubts that it is real. Do you?" he asked looking her straight in the eye and she couldn't look away.
        "No. You are the man I saw in my dreams before your star canoe came. Even this place is familar. I saw us here together like this after your people came, but I put it off to only lonely imaginings."
        "You saw us?' he asked with wonder in his soft gravelly voice.
        "Yes, talking like this but I could not hear the words, only feel the importance of the moment and then feel the happiness afterward. Like sunlight dancing on rippling creek, or the wonder of a rainbow."
        "Yes--, I see it too, and feel it," he said with a sigh, a great weight feeling like it had been lifted off him. Then he grew serious again. "Sun Dancer, do you want this bond? Do you want me? My appearance doesn't frightened you?"
        She regarded him carefully, "Do we really have a choice? If I do have a choice then my answer is still yes. Do I want you? I think so. And I'm not afraid of you, I think you're beautiful. Even without the bond I would think that," she said suddenly shy, and blushing under her bronze skin.
        "So what are we to do about it?" he asked, unsure what they were going to do. He was at least trying to be reasonable and rational about the crazy situation, even though that was the last thing he wanted to be at that moment.
        "I don't know. . . , I'm not sure either. It frightens me, this bond, this pull we have. It's not you, not the idea of being close to you, . . . --it's more that it takes our freedom away and makes one feel forced to mate before one is even ready," she said looking a little frightened.
        "I know. It frightens me too. But I have to ask you if you can walk away from me now that we have met? Can I? I can't even contemplate going back to White Deer, nor do I want to. Even during the marraiage ceremony, I kept wishing it was you beside me, not her," he confessed truthfully, trying not remember the ceremony and his vows to White Deer.
        "I understand. I watched it. It was like a knife when you said I do and the shaman pronoounced you husband and wife. I kept telling myself I was foolish, that I shouldn't feel that way. She was your bond-mate, not I. I fell in love with you all over again the moment I saw you, the first time and knew you were real and not imagination," she told him, looking at her hands, suddenly shy.
        "When was that?" he asked, curious now.
        "When you came in from the storm carrying White Deer, dripping wet from the rain. I wanted to go to you then but you were busy. Then Marks On Stone saw my interest and made me do more work. When you stripped, it took my breath away. Then when you were sitting there eating I wanted to go to you and offer you some food from our fire, but they wouldn't let me. Then later when you left with White Deer I was crushed. I knew you were taking her back to the Atanzi camp so she could get well, still it hurt and I cried myself to sleep," she said.
        "I'm sorry that I caused you pain," he said sincerely.
        "I know. You didn't even know I existed then. Then when you stopped Marks On Stone from hitting me and claimed me my heart leap. Then you went back to camp and I hurt again.
Roaring Wings didn't talk to me, he just kept looking at me strangely while you were gone. Then you came back and we went to the new village where I was given a home of my own. I still see you standing on the landing field watching Roaring Wings take me away, my heart heart so much with each step I took away from you, but I knew you and I weren't to be. Roaring Wings told me so. I did not see you again until tonight, and that was up on stage as the ceremonies began," she said.
        "Roaring Wings said that?" he questioned.
        "Yes, and that I must stay away from you. He told me that I was not going to be your personal servant. I was going to beliving by myself. I would have a home, and my food and other necessities would be provided in exchange for my working at the new school. It was a shock but I accepted it. What else could I do? At least no one would beat me and I could come and go as I pleased when I wasn't working. If nothing else, I am grateful Star Lion for what you have done for me and for my freedom," she said with a smile.
        "No one deserves to be beaten and no one deserves to be a slave. I knew White Deer would find out and I couldn't bear the idea of you having to serve her. And she would have done it and made your life miserable," he said.
        "She still might because of tonight. She will know. She is used to having her own way, making others do her bidding. Now as your wife she has power, and she'll use it. Maybe even against you."
        "Maybe, but I don't know how. But I promise, I will not let her harm you or make your life miserable. No matter what I will protect you and make sure you are taken care of," he said determinely.
        "How? I am not your wife, only your slave under my peoples laws. And as a slave no matter whose I am, I am the lowest of low, especially since I am a widow without children. If I had children then I would have some status but not much. But I have been unable to carry any children. I have lost every one I have tried to carry to term. That is something you should know."
        "Sun Dancer, that doesn't matter. Having children is not why I want you," Ky'tulendu replied seriously.
        "It would have to be. Children are status and that is what you are talking about to protect me. Only by my carrying your child to term will we both gain staus in the eyes of the people, if that is what you want from me," she told him.
        "I dunno, I never thought of children, except in the dreams. If I were to have children, I would want to have them by you, not her. I want no children by White Deer for that will only make her hold on me tighter."
        "Yes, it would. So what are we to do about this bond?" she asked wondering what his next move was going to be.

* 7 *

        Ky'tulendu felt very strange about this, shy, uncomfortable, nervous, embarrassed, and more as a thousand more emotions raced through his soul and his mind. Having this bonding urge was a kin to wanted to rape her he felt. And that was the last thing he wanted to her or to anyone. He looked at her and he knew he didn't want to ever hurt her or cause her pain.
        His eyes were sad, compassionate for her, for her even wanting to mate with him. How could she ever want this alien being, this cat-man, all furred and with claws and fangs, not human as she was? Her feelings for him were different, he sensed, from White Deer's. He knew White Deer saw him as an animal, something not really human, but he had power, he was a challenge, and her dark side, even if he did repulse her liked the idea of him being an animal, especially in bed. With Sun Dancer he did not sense any of these things. The two were like day and night. And he could read her, even now without ever having touched her.
        She was like warm sunshine, flowers, all that was beautiful and good. She was not a great beauty like White Deer, but her quiet, inner beauty made her so. She kept her mud brown deer skin dress plain without beadwork or decorations on it, and wore no decorations either in her hair, or elsewhere, no jewelry, no beads, no feathers, nothing to call attention to herself. That was her, the way she wanted to be, simple and not showy. Her figure was perfect as far he was concerned or as much as he could see of it, beneath the shapeless, loosely tied dress.
        She was also at least five or more years older than White Deer too, who was too much of a child for him by about ten to fifteen years. Sun Dancer was at least mature, and had seen life and lived it somewhat more. Even if by all accounts her life had been really hard and difficult. Though after tonight, it may have been made more so by his unthinking, impusive actions.
        He was sitting there pulling up the thick summer grass by his feet nervously with one hand as his mind fought battles within himself. He didn't hear her until she aked her question again.
        "Star Lion, what are we going to do?" she asked trying not to press him as she felt his growing unease.
        He looked up startled. Her question finally penetrated his foggy mind but he still was far from being able to give her an answer. "I really don't know. What do you want to do--really do?" he asked, not wanting to make a decision.
        She blushed, "That's unfair to make me be the one to make such an important decision. Realistically, I know we can't resist this pull. For a while we could, but not for any length of time. You know that and I know it. I heard the Doctor talking about it at the new camp calling it a bonding cycle. That once its begun it can't be stopped until its run its course and is completed in some mysterious way. She also said that the mated pair can't stay away from one another without serious consequences. Star Lion, I can't let it begin. It would do too much harm to your position here as the new Chief, especially with White Deer so upset, I know her and her tantrums. It will best if you do not see me again. I will go away, maybe to one of the other villages to let things cool between us. It is the only way," she said, her heart heavy with her decision.
        "No! There has to be another way. I could marry you!" he protested, not willing to let her go and just walk out of his life.
         Part of that was the bonding effecting him but deep down he seemed to sense that this was the woman he could fall in love with and stay with. It was happening too damn fast, again. Why couldn't he have breathing space to get to know her. He ferevently wished that he had had time to really get to know White Deer before they had made love. Maybe he would not be sitting here in such agony, wondering what to do about Sun Dancer. His mood was getting darker and darker because he felt so hopeless and helpless. So depressed was he that he barely heard Sun Dancer's response to his offer of marriage.
        "No, I cannot marry you, not yet, my Chief. Not so soon after you have just married White Deer. It would create too much of a scandal. If you had married me with White Deer, there would have been a few raised eyebrows but nothing more. Until a decent interval has passed you cannot take another wife. For the moment I can be no more than a concubine, if you choose to make me one," she said even more sadly.
        "I will not let you go," he said firmly, alarmed that she could even think of going away.
        "You must, my chief, it is the only way--for us," she cried, trying to make him see reason.
        "No, Sun Dancer! No! I will not let you go--ever. What we shared. . . ."
        "Were only dreams, my lord. Only dreams. Not reality. We have no reality on this plane, in this world, or within this time and space," she told him with a bitter tinge to her voice.
        She looked at him sitting cross legged in the grass, his great shaggy head hung downward in defeat. He looked so pitiful, so vulnerable, like some great child that needed comforting, and was unable to cope with the world. She wanted to go to him, hold him, but she willed herself not to because touching him would only increase not decrease their problems.
        He shook his head slowly, "no, I will not accept that. We make our own realities," he said getting up suddenly and crossing the short distance between them to kneel before her.
        She looked up at him apprehensively, as he touched her hands folded in her lap. His touch was like fire coursing through her, and he was similarly affected. He took her small hand and held it up, looking at it. Then he kissed the palm of it, watching her closed eyed reaction and feeling her fire within him.
        "Sun Dancer, you can't deny you felt that. Like fire going through your veins," he asked watching her closely, feeling the heat of her and her nervousness.
        "No, . . . I can't. I wish I could," she gasped, finding even breathing difficult. Her eyes fluttered open, her gold seeking his blue, catching him, holding him suspended with what he saw in their depths. He leaned in towards her, his unique lips seeking hers. "No, Ky'tulendu, no! We mustn't--shouldn't do this--White Deer!" she tried to protest as he drew nearer, the tingling of his touch almost unbearable.
        "White Deer be damned--I want you," he growled coming closer, his mouth almost touching hers, feeling his warm breath before he claimed her with a slow gentle kiss before he deepened it.
        Liquid fire exploded through both of them as he felt her respond to him and their bond hummed to life, intensifying the experience. It was hard to tell who was more lost in the experience him or her as they rained kisses on each others face and necks only stopping because their clothes were in the way. Even that ceased to be a problem as he pulled his shirt off over his head savagely with a curse, and threw it. across the clearing Her dress quickly vanished too, thrown aside as if it had never been.
        He gathered her into his strong arms and lowered her gently to the soft mossy ground feeling her wrap her arms around his neck as he resumed his kissing of her using his lips tongue and teeth as he worked down her neck, shoulder and on to her breasts. She was fire, beyond fire, as his gentle hands touched and caressed every inch of her. Not even her dead husband at his best had ever made her feel so alive, so wanted, so everything she bubbled in her mind. And hearing her thoughts , Ky'tulendu chuckled and redoubled his efforts until she was gasping for breath from the sweet torture of it as his hands and lips dipped lower and lower exploring every secret part of her.
        He drank her essence, wanting to know the taste of her. His tongue and lips doing unimaginable things to her as she climbed higher and higher, spiraling up, feeling him ride with her in her mind and soul, riding the crest of the wave and beyond until she reached the peak and exploded in a million minute shards of light, sound and sensation so unbelievable sharp, sweet and intense, that there were no words, just being.
        She just lay there suspended, wasted beyond words for the beauty of what she had experienced, unable to move, not wanting to move feeling him somehow intertwined with her. Finally she opened her eyes to see him sitting next to her, watching, waiting. The moonlight bathing him in its silver glow, like a creature of spirit, not real.
        "Are you alright?" he asked in a worried tone, afraid that he had gone too far.
        "Yes," she said a little weakly, giving him a smile of reassurance as well as touching his hair covered forearm near her. "I feel--I can't describe it. Like all the things most beautiful and wonderful had flowed through me and taken me with them to a magical place. And you were there too, with me when it was happening--I don't understand--like we were one."
        "Yes, I know--we were--I was with you," he said his eyes strangely glowing as he looked at her with love and gentle understanding.
        "Star Lion, love me more," she asked, her voice wistful and soft as she entreated him with her arms opened wide to receive him.
        He needed no further encouragement as he stripped off his leggings, loin cloth and moccasins and went into her arms laying carefully on top of her feeling her small hands run up and down the muscles of his broad back. Her kisses and her touch fanned his fires even hotter, for she had the experience that White Deer had lacked. Finally when he could wait no longer, he entered her, carefully, gently at first, feeling her surround and mold herself to him increasing his sensations. With her he took it slow, savoring every moment, feeling her ride with him. One voice, one song, one melody, played a thousand and one different and exciting ways, their bodies and souls the instruments, their hearts the conductor. They were their dreams, and their dreams were them as they rose ever upward with their love, flying, soaring together to that place that is beyond pain. beyond pleasure, where completeness lies.
        Ky'tulendu roared as he felt himself come. Like a miniature sun they burst together at that highest point, merging into one, no longer alone, separate, but forever together, the part that could never be parted even unto death would endure. And the Gods looked upon them in their union in this place and were pleased and doubly blessed them with the creation of life within her. Like gentle snowflakes falling they spiraled back down from that golden plateau.
        It was several minutes before they could move as they lay there intertwined in each other's arm complete, sated, and satisfied beyond any thing ever dreamed possible. The after glow lingering on, warming them, surrounding them with their love, and the blessing of all creation upon their mating. Their bonding was total and real.
        Ky'tulendu lifted a lazy eyelid open and looked at her, love and wonder in his very gaze, marveling how different this mating was than the one with White Deer. That had been sex pure and simple. This was something much, much more and beyond all known limits. He was with Sun Dancer in all ways, even now in the after glow he could feel her like the touch of soft fingers caressing his mind, like wind, floating still on clouds of joy and happiness.
        Carefully he moved, lifting his heavier body off her and then felt her arms go around his holding him as he tried to leave. He looked at her in surprise an eyebrow lifted in question.
        "You do not want me to move?" he questioned with a smile, halting to see what she wanted.
        "No," she smiled back teasing him. "I don't want it to end, to be over."
        "Nor do I, my love," he said bending down and giving her a quick kiss her on her nose.
"Never, do I want our loving to be over," he said sincerely. "And this won't be the last, this is just the beginning for us, for our love is here in this world, on this plane." he said gently reminding her of her earlier words.
        "I wish that could be so, my beautiful one," she said a touch of sadness crossing her love swollen features. "I fear the world will not let us have another night such as this. White Deer won't let it be," she told him truthfully, knowing full well that the former chief's daughter would inact some kind of nasty revenge--if not on her husband than on her. Sun Dancer had no doubts on that score.
        Ky'tulendu frowned, and looked down at her, knowing that Sun Dancer spoke the truth. White Deer, if she hadn't already done something to stir the entire camp up was going to be a terror to deal with on many levels. Her pride would not let this situation pass quietly.
        "I won't let her keep me from you," he told her with steely determination in his voice. You and I--we belong together, for always until the end of time. We will be one--together. You are my true bond-mate. We just proved that. We are one in our hearts, minds and souls, as we were in our bodies. I can feel you with me, feel your joys and your pains. I know what you are thinking. There are no barriers between us, nor can there ever be, you know that too?" he asked, serious now.
        "Yes--there are no barriers, your fears, your joys are mine, will always be mine no matter where you are. It's a strange feeling being this close to someone--that connected," she said, suddenly thoughtful and just a little afraid at being this close to anyone. She had wondered how such a thing could be and how it might feel but the reality was far scarier in a lot of ways than what she had inticipated.
        He caught her thoughts and agreed with them for he was a scared as she at being this close, this intimate with any one. It was something he had never allowed. On this he had no choice--it just was and he had to accept it.
        "Yes, but there is wonder and magic in it," he told her trying to ease her fears as well as his own. "And I am beginning to believe in magic. For how else could one explain all this. Forces more powerful than ourselves brought us together, and I feel they will watch over us to keep us together and watch over our child," he smiled.
        "Child?" she asked suddenly almost throwing him off her chest.
        "Yes, a child. The one we just created. I can feel it, feel its life pulsating inside you, connected to us both," he told her, smiling despite her look of disbelief. "Here feel," he commanded, taking her hand and placing it on her stomach.
        "There is something there!" her voice full of awe as she felt the sparkle of life, with and through him. "Oh Gods, what am I going to do?" she asked suddenly afraid, and her fear ripped through him like a knife.
        "Sun Dancer, what is it? Why are you afraid and upset?" he asked just get bits and parts of answers as her mind raced faster than he could catch.
        "No, you don't know, don't understand. Your still too new to the laws of our people and what happens to unmarried women if they show up pregnant with no man to claim them," she said, her voice tense and frightened. She was scared to the core of her being and Ky'tulendu despartely wanted to understand what the problem was.
        "No, I don't know. What does happen?" he asked feeling her fear and himself getting very confused.
        "It means banishment, exile for one, usually during the hardest part of the winter so that both mother and child perish in the snows," she said, moving from him as if she we burnt.
        "That's barbaric, I won't allow it! Especially not to you. I will let no one do that to you or our child. We will get married, at least your people allow the taking of multiple wives," he said firmly trying to calm her.
        "The people will not understand. your marrying me because I have no status."
        "That's their problem. I only want to keep you and our child safe. Never forget that I love you. I know that, and you do too. We met in a dream, loved and fell in love there, but feeling you, knowing you, is not a dream, nor is the love we share. Our love is real, never doubt it," he said, turning her face towards his with his hand and kissing her tenderly on the lips.
        "No, I don't, not ever," she replied, "but if I am pregnant and we don't know that for sure then we do have a very serious problem. It won't be noticeable for a while but when it is then I hope you will be able to control what happens. If not then there is a chance that all you have suceeded in will be lost, not only the repect of the people, but much much more," she said seeing the future possibilities.
        "Ky'tulendu, I must go home and so must you. Grandmother Moon is almost set. It's very late," she told him looking up at the star sprinkled sky.
        "No, not yet," he pleaded, not ready to let her go. He wanted this night to go on and on with no end.
        "Yes, I must and you must. You must go back to White Deer and patch things up. If you don't there will be no peace, no chance for any happiness for us.," she told him firmly, getting up to try and find her scattered clothing as well as his.
        "I don't want to," he argued, hoping to persuade her too to stay with him. "Sun Dancer, I don't want to leave you and I don't want to spend the night with White Deer or even go on this so called honeymoon of hers. After this I don't think I can look at her, let alone touch her. Can you understand that?" he asked angrily, not at her but at the hand fate had dealt him.
        "You have to. I want you to. If you don't seal your marriage with White Deer your position as chief will be undermined. We are going to have enough problems. You can't afford to lose all you've gained over me. You can't allow our feelings for one another to get in the way of what is needed to be done for all concerned. You have just vowed to be chief of all the people, you have to be that chief. One whom the people's confidence is unshakable in. If you don't have it, then you won't be able to lead them. And they need you as much as your
own people do. You must be strong and use your wisdom and not let our bonding pull keep you from carrying out your duties," she told him, not mincing words.
        "Sun Dancer, I know you are right, but its going to be damn difficult sleeping with her when I want only you in my arms. Is this what you truly want?" he asked, searching her face for clues to how she really felt because she had closed herself off.
        She shook her head, "No, but it is what must be done for you, for me, for the people. They come first, not you or me," she said.
        If only White Deer could feel the same way, he thought to himself as he heard his mate talk, willing to sacrifice everything so that the people would be taken care of. She was a true chief's wife. He didn't want to agree with her, but he had to. He was no private citizen able to do what he pleased. No more than when he had been Asenti of the ship. Duty came first, personal affairs last.
        "Alright, you win. Duty before us--but I will not quit seeing you, make no mistake about that.," he told her.
        "Ky'tulendu, people will talk," she protested, worried for his sake, not for her own.
        "Let them. Then it will come as no surprise when I do marry you before your belly gets too huge."
        "You're impossible!" she said getting up.
        "No, just in love for the first time in my life. Totally and utterly in love--with you," he said, watching her gather up her widely scattered garments watching the play of waning light on her figure.
        "Are you so sure you want to go so soon?" he asked in a husky voice feeling his hardening reaction to her figure moving tantalizing before his eyes.
        "Huh? Why do you say that?" she asked straightening up, looking at him just lying there not making a move for his clothes.
        "Come here and I will show you," he invited.
        "Ready so soon again, my chief?"
        "For you, anytime, my sun that dances in my heart," he said, his voice between a purr and velvet gravel as he held his arms out to her and she came into them easily and willingly to let him make love to her one more glorious time that night.

* 8 *

         Ky'tulendu and Sun Dancer held hands as they walked to the edge of the new camp. She wouldn't let him come any closer. The sky was beginning to lighten in the East and the early risers among the birds were beginning to sing to the pink tinged sky. The misty ground fog clung around their ankles, swirling and disappearing into the cool morning air with each step they took. They were still feeling the afterglow of their love making, a happiness and contentment, so complete, so satisfying that it made everything feel right with the world.
        Ky'tulendu was in love for the first time in his life, really in love, and not afraid of it as he had been, for now he welcomed their love and embraced it fully. Sun Dancer was everything he had ever wanted, had ever wished for. She was a miracle that could walk in the sunlight beside him, and he whom could hold close in the darkness of the night. She understood him, knew him. Their connection was now complete on every level of being. In all things she was life and breath to him, more so now that she carried their child.
        They stood there in the shelter of the huge oak tree with him leaning his back up against it and holding her to him. He was smiling happily at her both with his bright blue eyes and with the corners of his mouth. He could feel the warm wind ruffling the edges of his red-gold hair that was all now unbound as was hers. He felt as wild, untamed, and free as the land that stretched around him. A child unleased, that is how she made him feel and he loved her all the more for it.
        On her side, Ky'tulendu was still unreal to her. This man from the stars, who was so wonderfully different looking, beautiful, with his noble cat like features, who loved her so completely and so totally. It was if the Gods had come to earth to bless her like in the tales of old, except this was real, very real as she felt the solid reality of his arms around her waist and the hardness of his body pressed against her.
        "I have to go, Ky'tulendu. You know I do before everyone is up and about," she said, not wanting to go but knowing she had to.
        "Unfortunately," he grimly acknowledged. "If there was only some way . . . ," he started to suggest.
        With a finger to his lips she hushed his protest and looked up at him seriously. "We both know there's not. You must go back to your camp and I to mine. You have to face White Deer and straighten out things between you and her. I just hope there are no other problems," she told him seriously.
        "I know," he said with a deep sigh releasing her relucantly, and she stepped out of the circle of his arms. "It won't be long. I'll make sure of that."
        "Please, Ky'tulendu we must do as we agreed to. You have too much at stake, as do all our peoples. Think not of me but of them," she asked him, finding it difficult to leave him.
        "Sun Dancer, what you ask is difficult after tonight."
        He looked at her, and already the bonding pulls were tearing him apart, but he saw her steely determination, her resolution to do what must be done regardless of the personal distress it would cost both of them. He admired her courage and hope he could show the same.
        "But not impossible, my love. Be well," she said leaving quickly before either of them changed their minds.
        Within moments she had disappeared around the bend and the edge of the trees on the now well worn path to the new native camp. He let out a deep sigh, unwilling to move, looking at the spot where she had disappeared. Vain hopes were dashed when she didn't reappear.
        Finally, he looked away knowing that she wasn't coming back and stared up into the morning sky looking at pinks and golds against the lightening shades of blues. Birds flew by overhead singing, but now he didn't hear their songs, their music had gone when she had. Intense loneliness settled in his soul until he felt her, felt their connection, and her reassurances through their bond that all was alright, and that he was loved, very loved by her. That made all things right, and he was able to leave and start his return trip to his own camp.
        A half an hour later he was walking up the steps to his quarters. There were a few people stirring, mostly some of the native visitors and a few of the Atanzi personnel that were now on duty. Most people were still in bed, sleeping and recuperating from last night. Sleep was something he definitely needed, he thought to himself as he began yawning and trudged his weary way up the stairs to his room.
        He opened the door, expecting White Deer to be in it. She wasn't, and he breathed a sigh of relief. Nor was she anywhere else in the room, so far so good. He wasn't up to listening to her berate him for going off with Sun Dancer and not going off on the honeymoon she had planned. Right now he wanted to be left alone and to sleep--just sleep, and hopefully no one would realize he was still in camp and disturb him. To insure that he checked to see if there were any messages on hold. There were but he wasn't going to take them and alert Control of his presence. He turned the volume down to off and set the screen so it wouldn't be able to pick him up if anyone looked in. He even threw a shirt over the screen of the console to make sure of that.
        He stripped off his finery that now had grass, dirt, and other stains upon its creamy white surface. That distressed him that he had gotten the white surface so stained and hoped it could be cleaned somehow. He was pleased that none of the elaborate beadwork and decorations were messed up. Someone had done a beautiful job, he hoped he could find out who and thank them. He doubted if it had been White Deer because she didn't have the patience, nor had she had the time. He hung the top up careful in his closet while across the back of the chair he laid his leggings and loin cloth went on top of the chair seat. When he awoke he would see if anyone knew how to clean these clothes properly. They were too nice not to be worn again.
        Nude, he walked to the shower debating on whether to take one now or later,. Later, he decided, sleep first, after he used the other facilities. He drew all the curtain shutting out the increasing brightness, then he crawled into bed and slept the sleep of the dead.
        It was late afternoon when he awoke, his stomach reminding him that it had been a while since he had eaten. He put the klass on and took a long hot shower washing the leaves, moss and twigs out of his doubly tangled hair. He noted he had bug bites in odd and unusual places as as he examined his body. A little first aid quickly cleared up the bite and scratches.
        Ky'tulendu then padded back to his bed drying his wet hair and getting his cup of klass, sipping it as he walked trying to wake up and decide what he was going to do next. It didn't look as though he was going to have the luxury of making that decision. The commcon light started blinking, signaling an incoming call. He debated for a moment, then decided to answer it.
        He grabbed his robe and donned it, then swept the shirt off the comm unit before he turned it on.
        "Ky'tulendu here, what's up Control," he asked flipping the on switch and settling down in his chair.
        On screen was Tanz Comd K'leesr in communications, an older female who was in charge of the department. She looked halfway surprised to see him, but she recovered quickly. "Asenti, you're in. I wasn't sure. There's several people looking for you--your wife, White Deer, the Doctor, Roaring Wings, Sees Far, and several members of the Council. I'm not sure what happened last night, it's none of my business, but the lines have been busy since last night with people looking for you," she informed him.
        "I thought there might be," he replied dryly, bracing himself. "Which of them seem to be the most urgent sounding--besides White Deer?" he asked.
        "Roaring Wings and MS B'tunku."
        "Alright put them on, after I get another cup of klass. A moment, please," he told her getting up quickly and getting another cup. If they were calling him them things were more serious than he thought. He returned and sat down again. "Go ahead," he told her.
        The screen opened on B'tunku's quarters, so they hadn't left for their honeymoon yet. B'tunku answered with Roaring Wings sitting on the bed in the background. She was not happy at all, her brows were knit in a deep angry frown and her silver eyes were blazing as she looked at him calmly sitting sipping his klass.
        "You were looking for me, Doctor?" he asked casually.
        "Damn right I was. Where the hell have you been Ky'tulendu? White Deer's had this whole camp in an uproar after you took off that woman Sun Dancer during the dance. No one saw either one of you after that until early this morning when Sun Dancer was seen going to her house at the other camp. Evidently no one saw you go back to quarters and don't tell me that you were there all night. It was checked," she said angrily glaring at him.
        "Doctor, I do not have to explain my actions to you or anyone," he replied still calm, but the inner anger he felt was blazing from his eyes.
        "Yes, you do, dammit! We've questioned Sun Dancer but she wouldn't say anything except that you took a walk and talked, afterwards you took her back to the new village and then you left. She wouldn't tell us what you two discussed, but I know she's hiding something," B'tunku told him.
        "Leave her alone!" he warned. "I don't want her bothered by anyone--at all! IS THAT CLEAR?" he growled loudly, angry that they had been questioning her and caused her embarrassment in front of her people. "And what she is hiding is none of you business--IS THAT ALSO CLEAR, DOCTOR? It's private-- between her and me," he practically snarled, exposing his fangs making her flinch back.
        "Quite clear, Asenti," she said quickly and backing back from the screen as if he could come out of the screen after her.
        He calmed down after he saw she had gotten his point. "Good, I'm glad we have that settled. Now, Doctor, besides the obvious, what is White Deer's problem? And, no, I haven't called her yet, I thought it better to check in with you," he told her, a little more calmer now that he had made his feelings known.
        "Alright, Asenti, since you walked out on her last night she's been crying all night and day, ranting, raving, and saying she's going to kill Sun Dancer when she can find her. You don't want to know what she wants to do to you," she told him.
        "I can guess," he commented, the lines on his face getting taunt. "Go on," he prompted.
        "So far she has kept everyone in camp up, --us, --the Council, --her mother, --anyone who would listen. Surprisingly, she's not threatening to divorce you, but I wouldn't blame her. How could you do that to that girl? She loves you and you seem to be going out of your way to hurt her. If you didn't care for her, why did you marry her?" she asked him, desperation in her voice as she tried to understand his strange behavior.
        "No, she won't divorce me. She has what she wants--power, position, respect. She doesn't love me anymore than I love her, its a show, a big show for everyone. She faked me out. She made me believe she was my bond-mate when she wasn't. Sun Dancer is my true bond-mate but I didn't find out until after White Deer had seduced me."
        "Seduced you?" she asked incrediously, laughing.
        "Yes, B'tunku, she seduced me and no, it's not funny. She did seduce me, not the other way around. She used her body and the knowledge of the dreams she got from listening to Sun Dancer to convince me she was my bond mate so that we would make love and I would then have to marry her to protect her honor. She sees me as no more a man than her father did. I repel her except in bed because making love to me appeals to her baser instincts of which she has plenty. I married her because I had no choice, not because I really wanted to."
        "He speaks the truth, Silver One. He and I talked about it before the wedding, but I convinced him to go through with it because the people and the Council were expecting it and it would make his position very bad if he didn't marry White Deer. I also knew about him and Sun Dancer. It was plain even to me that they are mates, true mates. I knew White Deer was up to something, but initially I believed her just as everyone did that she was Ky'tulendu's mate. I did not tell you I knew what was going on because the Asenti told me about the situation in confidence," Roaring Wings told his wife who looked at him open mouthed.
        Glaring furiously, she turned back to Ky'tulendu who sat back in his chair drinking his klass. "Damn,-- both of you! And here I was believing the girl. Alright, I know the situation--but you, Asenti, didn't have to pull the stupid blunder of going off with Sun Dancer when you were supposed to be going on your honeymoon with White Deer. You could have been a little more discreet about it," she complained bitterly to him, letting him know how much he had slipped up.
        He nodded embarrassed at the well aimed criticism. "I know. I couldn't control it. I had had too much to drink at the feast, that combined with the music and the dancing didn't help. I saw her dancing with someone and I just lost it. All I could see was her, . . . ., " he said, coughing nervously to cover up his embarrassment. "All I meant to do was talk to her about this being a slave to me and get that straightened out. "
        "Then you've bonded with her?" B'tunku questioned point blank..
        He cringed under her steady gaze. He nodded slowly seeing no way he could get out of not telling her, especially since it would be very obivous that they were mated. "Yes, and she's pregnant now--by me," he admitted, watching the shock creep across her features.
        "You're sure? How do you know?" she queried, puzzled by his surety.
        "Because I can feel the new life in her. It wasn't there until I put it in. I can feel it and I can feel her, here, now, with me, inside of me. This kind of mental bonding didn't happen except the first time with White Deer. After the initial loving making was over I never felt her again no matter how intense the lovemaking, nor can we talk except with communicators. As I notice you can do all the time with Roaring Wings, am I correct?" he asked.
        "You are correct, Asenti. Roaring Wings is only wearing one so he can understand you. So you are saying you can't really 'hear' or 'feel' White Deer?"
        He shook his head. "No. It's just like before we made love, actually its less because then I could pick up somethings, stray strong emotions, feelings from her when I concentrated--now there is nothing at all. On the other side, Sun Dancer is with me, part of me. I have no doubts about our connection," he said with absolute surety.
        "I'll run a scanner on her within the next couple of days and verify this pregnancy. In the meantime you are going to have to go talk to White Deer before she starts up some kind of trouble or war with the natives. I'm sorry, Ky'tulendu you are going to have to do this--as soon as possible," she told him bluntly, the look in her eyes showing that she meant business and meant for him to do it immediately if not sooner.
        "Don't remind me. I will. Where is she by the way? I was surprised to see that she wasn't laying in my bed waiting for me," he asked.
        "Over in the native quarters with her mother. Roaring Wings gave her a sleeping potion though that ought to be wearing off pretty soon, so I'd go over there anyway as soon as you can."
        "I will after I get dressed. I don't think wandering over in my robe would make a good impression," he said with a grim grin.
        "No, " she agreed. "We'll be here until evening then we are going on a camping trip to a place Roaring Wings wants to show me. I got the command structure of the camps set up so if you still want to go off with White Deer you can," she told him.
        "I might have to just to calm her down and keep her from starting any more trouble. I really hate to say this, we're really going to have to watch her, B'tunku. She's going to be a dangerous one. Right now there's not too much she can do, but in the future, I will have to sit on her so she doesn't try to be like her father and want to conqueror all the tribes in range of us.," he said having premonitions.
        "Time will only tell if you are right, Ky'tulendu. I'm going to sign off. Call me after you talk to White Deer if its not too late. I want to know how things went," she requested.
        "I will, or at least I'll try to according to what does happen," he said, and then signed off as she did.
        He sat back in his chair with the last dregs of his klass, reflecting on the conversation and trying to figure out what he was going to say to her. Finally he just swallowed the remains of it and got up and began getting dressed.

* 9 *

        With grim determination Ky'tulendu walked to the native quarters to see White Deer. He got many curious and sometime hostile stares as he passed both natives and his own people picking up the trash strewn grounds from the party of the previous night. It was clear by their expressions and reactions towards him that White Deer had been busy letting everyone know what he had done as B'tunku had warned him over the commcon. He sure there wasn't a person in any of the camps that didn't know that he had walked out on his new bride last night and had spent the night with another woman, and not any woman, his slave in particular. It was going to take a long time to live this one down, if he could and keep his reputation intact.
        Arriving finally at his destination, he saw a group of ten warriors sitting and standing on the board stone steps. They all looked up angrily at his approach and all of them got up suddenly, with one group of six leaving and heading off across the camp while the other four entered the building. Neither group had been too happy to see him and if he hadn't been their newly elected chief he was sure they would have tried to kill him then and there despite the stunner he wore pomlently on his uniform belt.
        Mentally bracing himself he opened the outer door and walked in. None of the warriors he had seen outside were waiting for him inside, but he knew for certain he was being carefully watched. He kept his hand on his stunner just in case it was an ambush but no one tried to jump him as he walked up the stairs to Sees Far's quarters.
        Standing in front of the door, he hesitated, wondering what he was going to say. He had been wrestling with that question since last night and he was no closer to an answer thean he had been. Apologies were definitely in order. Some were real and justified, but some apologies he knew he was going to be making were going to be downright lies but he had to say them to keep the peace, no matter what it cost him personally.
        Raising his arm finally, he knocked loudly on the wooden door. At first there was no response then it opened and Sees Far opened it and regarded him with angry loathing on her normally pleasant face. His new mother-in-law was justifibly mad. He had not expected anything different from her or her daughter whom he could see sitting up red eyed in bed wrapped in a sheet. She took one quick look at him in disgust and turned away with a hauty sniff.
This was not going to be easy, already the tension in the small room was rising to critical levels. Someone needed to say something quickly and defuse this, he decided and looked like it needed to be him.
        He tried to walk in but Sees Far barred his way, looking up at him menacining, daring him to go past her. He tried anyway and pushed past her. If looks could kill he would have been dead. To be on the safe side he stayed by the door and Sees Far moved over to where her daughter sat in the bed ignoring him.
        "I came to apologize," he said in a humble voice trying to sound sincere. White Deer had jumped at the sound of his voice in the now still room but her eyes remained fixed on the wall in front of her, pertending she hadn't heard him.
        "You have much to apologize for cat-man," sneered Sees Far, not even trying to be poliet.
        "I know that Sees Far. I beg both you and your daughter's forgiveness. I had too much to drink last night. Your fruit wines are very potent. I did not know what I was doing last night," he lied and hoped they would believe him.
        "Maybe you didn't or maybe you did, Asenti? Wine has been known to make quiet warriors turn into wild men. Still that doesn't excuse what you did to my daughter, nor does it excuse you going off alone with that slave woman. Everyone is in a uproar about that, Asenti. If you were going to reject my daughter at least you should have had the decency to do in private and not in front of the entire camp as well as the visitors. We have all lost much face over this, more than you can even know. I know you are new to our ways and customs, but surely your people have similar customs," she said getting to the heart of the matter.
         "Yes, we do. I was not thinking at all last night, I beg your forgiveness. How bad is the damage to the image of the Overchief among your people?" he asked pointedly, leaving the personal alone for the moment to focus on the political ramifications of his actions, which was something she would understand having been the wife of a chief for many years.
        "It will be repairable if you go humbly to the Council and talk to them and to the honored guests from the other tribes. What happened during the ceremonies, especially the ceremony of the Pipe has left a deep and lasting impression on all of them. Either you are blessed by the spirits in a way no chief before you has been blessed or it was magic of some kind. Many are not sure, but they stand in awe of you and will now be afraid to attack you on any level. Plus many of the visitors have observed your people's magics and are amazed by how quickly this camp and the other one has been built. But they are not pleased how you treated your new wife and are very confused and angry over that," she told him crossing her meaty arms across her chest to emphasis her point.
        "So what would you have me do besides talk to the Council and the visitors?" he asked, wanting her feedback.
        "It is not me you have to deal with, Asenti, but White Deer. I have talked with her as well and told her she was very stupid making a scene and letting the entire camp know of her shame. Chief's wives must maintain their dignity at all times. They are reflections of their husbands and must not do anything to harm their husband's image. They especially should not tell the world of their personal troubles with the chief like some spoiled child, but should shoulder any shame and keep it to themselves," she said very pointedly staring at her daughter who was biting her lip and turning a deeper shade of red.
        Ky'tulendu had not expected that from his new mother-in-law, but to her the office of the chief came first and anything personal was second. She had very definite ideas as to what a chief's wife had to do and must do. He had no doubts she had been lecturing her headstrong daughter on her duties and her failure to cope with the situation with dignity from White Deer's reactions to her mother's words.
        The older grey haired woman turned her attention back to Ky'tulendu and fixed him with
with a steely look. "But the chief also does not cause his wife public embarassment, nor leave her alone on their honeymoon night. That is unforgettable! I will make it clear to you, Asenti, that I do not approve of these marriages between your people and mine. They are rather hard to stomach for all my people, but we have agreed to do so in the hopes of peace and good will between our peoples. I know you are a man, like any other man. I have seen that with my own eyes and heard from my daughter as well. If you two had not mated before this marriage I would have it annulled, despite the consequences, however, you have mated with her so that she cannot be married off to another because of the possibility of a child. I know from my son that children are possible between you and my people, and already I fear for these offspring for they will be between worlds, halfbreeds. It will be very hard for them, I fear<" she said truthfully.
        Ky'tulendu nodded in agreement. He already understood that the offspring of these mating between the dreamers were going to have problems growing up. He wasn't even sure whether they were going to be born viable and survive. There was much that they all didn't know about this bonding with these humans and how these pregnancies were going to affect both the Atanzi and the human females. There just hadn't been enough time to do proper science and medical studies and projections. Everything was happening too fast.
        "My daughter has informed me that she is already pregnant by you, so we can not annull this marriage. Is this true, Asenti?" Sees Far asked, looking at him disgustedly.
        Ky'tulendu was rather taken aback with that news. As far as he knew, White Deer was not pregnant. He had not felt the stirring of life in her as he had in Sun Dancer, nor did he feel anything at a distance as he could with with Sun Dancer. It might be possible White Deer was pregnant by him, but he did not think so.
        It was obvious that White Deer was lying to her mother, but why? He looked at the girl on the bed who staring at him defiantly. Her mother had her back to her so she could not see her face but he could. She was daring him to deny it. She was going to stick this marriage out no matter what and the best way to insure it was to say she was pregnant.
        Her mother was patiently waiting for an answer and finally he gave her one. "I really don't know, Sees Far. This is the first I have heard of it," he said truthfully.
        "White Deer says you have machines that can tell you instantly if one is pregnant and she said the female doctor told she was."
        "That is true we can know quickly whether one is pregnant or not. I will have to check with B'tunku," he replied cautiously and saw the look of alarm on White Deer's face. That was definitelythe last thing she wanted.
        "Don't you believe me, my husband?" she asked quickly breaking her self-imposed silence. "A woman knows these things and I know I am carrying your child," and she dared him to deny it.
        She had turned so she faced him as she sat on the bed the crisp white sheet still wrapped around her, he supposed, nude body. There was icy determination in her dark eyes, and her jaw was grimly set. He could feel her true coldness from here, as well as her contempt for him. At that point in time he'd rather be dealing with Rumnulska than with her--at least they were more direct and honest in their feelings than she was. And he was now married to this? He shivered involuntarily realizing what he had gotten himself into.
        "If that is so, then I am very happy, White Deer," he lied with a straight face, trying to sound cheerful and happy about it. He did not want to make a big scene in front of his mother-in-law who had finally calmed down.
        "I am glad, my husband. We will have many fine children, many strong warriors. I was made for children," she said seriously, patting her ample hips.
        Children were power and status among her people, so she was determined to have as many children as she could. She might not be able to control him but she was defintely going to control their children as well as control this new tribe.
        "I see that my daughter is now speaking to you, Asenti. It is time I left and let you two talk alone. I will be outside with the others superrvising the evening meal. Will you be coming down later to eat?" she inquired.
        "Yes, we will be down later. White Deer and I have much to talk about," he said meanfully, looking from the mother to the daughter who was not so sure now that she wanted to be alone with her new husband.
        "I will see you later then," Sees Far said in farewell and walked past him and went out the door, closing it as she left.
        He had been staring at White Deer the entire time and she was getting more and more uncomfortable and nervous under his disapproving gaze. She skirmed under her thin sheet, hoping he would go away and she would not have to talk to him. The silence dragged heavy in the small room broken only by te sound of wind blown branches scraping against the window panes.
        Finally, she could take it no more and broke the silence between them. "So now what, my husband?" she asked wrapping her arms around her knees as she shifted position.
        "You lied to your mother," he stated flately.
        She shrugged. "I had to, otherwise she would have taken me before the Council and had our marriage anulled. I could not allow that no matter how mad I might be with you over leaving me last night."
        "This marriage, it means that much to you?" he questioned crossing over to the desk and pulling out the chair to sit on. He wanted to keep physical distance between the two of them for this discussion.
        "Yes, and it should to you too. I am the daughter of the chief . . . ."
        "Former chief," he reminded her.
        "Whom you killed," she shot back. " You killed my father. I should hate you for that but he was planning to marry me off to someone on the mainland and I did not want that--not after I saw you."
        "You saw what my people could do. I've already caught on to that. The only thing you are interested in is power and control by whatever means you can accomplish that," he stated and saw her flinch.
        "You misjudge me, my husband," she said, hoping to deter him.
        "I don't think so, White Deer. I know you don't love me, and your only interests in me are for sex and power. You see me as your father saw me--an animal, and not as a man. And you are not pregnant. I would know that if you were," he said firmly and saw her frown at that.
        "I could be. You can't know whether I am or not because it's too soon."
        "I would know, that's part of the bonding to know such things and we aren't bond-mates. You tricked me into believing we were. We have no bond, no connection, no nothing," he stated, daring her to deny it and she couldn't.
        "Yes, I tricked you but we are married and we will stay married and you will give me children--many children."
        "Did it ever occur to you that maybe I can't get you pregnant?"
        She turned to face him in shock. Fear was etched clearly on her face. "What do you mean?" she asked in a quavering voice.
        "I mean that it may be that only true bonded couples can mate and get pregnant. Normal non-bonded Atanzis and humans may be able mate but they can't get pregnant, not without help.
I haven't checked with B'tunku or with sciences yet but I suspect this may be the case," he said with a slight smile, knowing she wouldn't like this news.
        "Then you lie because I am pregant!"
        "Not by me, you're not. Tell me what you did after I left you last night? Who did you sleep with because you were angry with me?" he asked casually, carefully watching her startled reaction which confirmed his suspicions.
        "I . . . did . . . no such thing," she denied, red faced and angry.
        "Are you sure? If you are pregnant, the DNA analyze from the sensor scans will show whether the child is human or mixed with Atanzi. If you slept with someone else I can handle it but I will not have you fostering off some other man's child as mine--is that clear?" he asked deadly serious.
        "That is quite clear, my husband," she replied meekly.
        "Good. Should I have B'tunku check you out or would you rather tell me the truth now?"
        "No, I do not wish to see your doctor yet. Yes, I did sleep with someone else. A great chief from one of the Iroquois tribes. He saw me run off and he he followed me. He found me and comforted me. I had not planned to let it go so far, but I was so angry at you and I was also a little drunk. It just happened. I think his name was Wind Walker. He brought me here and then I tried to find you and told everyone what had happened between us," she confessed.
        "That is the part I am not happy about. You have done us all great damage. Did you understand what you're mother said? I did. It's going to take a lot of work to smooth things over. Neither one of us acted correctly last night and I for one want to forget it happened and start fresh," he said hoping she wasn't going to bring up the subject of his indiscression.
        "Last night didn't happen?" she asked seeing where he was going with this.
        "It didn't happen and we put on a happy face for the rest of the world so things will calm down."
        "I will agree to that on two conditions," she said looking at him.
        "Okay. What are they?" he asked suspicious now.
        "First you make me pregnant, even if it takes your science to do it. And second, you get rid of Sun Dancer. You sell or give her away to someone or the mainland or I will. You will never see her again. That you must promise or there will to much trouble between us," she promised, seeing her victory in sight.
        He did not say anything. He just looked disgustedly at her, weighing her demands. Logically, he should accept her terms, but emotionally he couldn't. Not after last night and making love to Sun Dancer who now did carry his child. He ran a sharp clawed hand through his already tousled hair as he thought through this delemina. It would be so easy to say yes, but he couldn't.
        "If you are so determined to get pregnant, then so be it. I will check with sciences and medical and see what needs to be done. As to Sun Dancer--no, I will not send her away. Not now, not ever. In fact I plan to make her my second wife," he said determinely, knowing full well what White deer's reaction was going to be.
        "You will make a slave the wife of an Overchief?" she exploded. "NO, it will not be allowed!" she stormed, almost coming off the bed.
        "By whom?" he asked quietly.
        "By the people--that is whom. They will not accept a slave as your wife--nor will I!"
        "She was only made a slave so that I could get her away from Marks On Stone. And I have granted her her freedom so she is no longer a slave but a free woman,' he carefully explained, not seeing her anger disapate.
        "It does not work that way among my people. There are no lone women. All women belong to someone whether it is their families or their husbands. She has no one since you took her from her brother-in-law."
        My world is different. The women are free to chose what they want to do with their lives.
There are no family groups, nor where there very many married couples when our ship crashed. Most of my people are unmarried, and are free to chose whether or not they want to be with someone or not. And the women all have jobs, duties and that is what is going to be happening with Sun Dancer. She is going to be working either at the new school or somewhere around the camp so she can take care of herself and her own needs and not be dependent on anyone else. She will even have her own quarter s and not have to share with anyone,' he told her seeing her angry frown at his plans for Sun Dancer.
        "That will be very convenient for you, my husband. Her own private lodge so you and her will not be distrubed. No! I will not allow it. She must be sent away and now! Very far away to the far west where she will never be seen again," White Deer demanded.
        "No!" he said firmly. "She stays and don't even think of having her disappear or harmed in anyway or I will annull our marriage myself! Is that clear!" he said in a deadily tone of voice.
        "You wouldn't dare!"
        "Wouldn't I?" he questioned, raising an eyebrow, daring her back. "Do you want to try me. Let me make this clear--The only reason I am not already annulling this marriage is political--it would do both our peoples serious harm if we dissolved this marriage. You want the power that your position as being the Overchief's wife brings and I want to maintain the peace. So we understand one another,' he said pointedly.
        "Yes, we do," she replied, inwardly sething. "But I will not have you seeing Sun Dancer."
        "You will not have that much to say about it. In fact I will probably move her from the new village to here so no harm can accidently befall her."
        "You would have her here, in this camp?" she asked incrediously.
        "Yes, for her protection."
        "You mated with her didn't you?" she asked understanding.
        "Yes."
        "You are bonded to her?"
        "Yes. It is a true bond, not a false one. She and I are linked just like your brother is linked to O'vettun and Roaring Wings is linked to B'tunku. It is like she was here with me and not several lssns away."
        "Isn't it painful to be apart from her if you are linked? Why aren't you with her now?" she asked sarcastically.
        He sighed at her venom. "Because I needed to resolve this situation with you and I can't afford the time to be with her."
        "Don't let me stop you, my husband. If you want to go to her then do so. I will find someone else to go on our honeymoon with."
        "We will do this honeymoon, White Deer."
        "Oh? I did not think you wanted me, husband? Is this politics, too?"
        "What it is is of no importance, but that we go on it is. Get dressed so that we can go."
        "Dressed? What if I do not wish to get dressed and go with you. What if I wish to stay here in bed instead?"
        "You don't have a choice. Your mother is expecting us."
        "Not now. Later after we have made up," she said meaningfully.
        He looked at her incrediously, and just shook his head, knowing full well what she meant and what she wanted him to do. The woman was unbelieveable. After all their conversation, she still wanted to have sex with him? He wasn't quite sure what to do now.
        She took advantage of his confusion and slipped out of bed letting the sheet slide slowly off her nude body. She walked towards him slowly like dancer letting her hips swing slowly back and forth and offerring her large, full breasts to him in her hands as she came over to where he sat on the chair still stunned at her behavior. It was like his dream he had, her coming to him like this, that was why he was confused. She shouldn't be effecting him but she was.
        His face was on a level with her breasts and she moved closer offerring herself to him. Her woman's scent was suddenly intoxicating as she rubbed her hard nipples slowly across his cheek to his mouth. Involuntarily his hands reached up and grapped her breasts while his mouth latched on to the nearest rosy nipple and suckled it shooting fire through both of them. She moaned in pleasure as he sucked and kneaded her breasts, his tongue flickering from one to the other of the rosy nobs. Her legs were beginning to feel like jelly as he stoked all her her body now, letting his hands trail down her back and sides and making her stand between his wide open legs.
        He had decided to give in to White Deer despite of the bonding pull to Dun Dancer. If this would get her to leave him alone for a while then he would use her tactics against her. She wanted sex--he'd give her sex.
        Ky'tulendu continued sucking and licking on White Deer's breasts while his hands traveled lower and lower on her hips and then one hand stroked downward from her belly and while the other trailed across her lush bottom sending shivers through her body and more pleasure sighs from her lips. She held on to his shoulders for support because she didn't trust her legs to support her. The hand in front dipped even lower and parted her unresisting legs. She was already hot and moist and eager for him. He teased her, moving his hands in lazy patterns through her wettness, driving her up the wall. She jerked and twitched against his hand, wanting him to get rid of her itch but he only made her itch more as he now held her bottom firmly in his large hand and was directing her movements as his fingers played in her secret places.
        Her body was all on fire as he kept working her passions up her higher and higher. His mouth worked finally downward down her torso to her dripping sex. She shivered in anticipation as he drew nearer. His hot breath and lapping tongue on her skin was sweet agony and she moaned loudly, exclaiming mindlessly in her own language. Then he dipped his head lower and raised her to him while his fingers entered her and stroked the fires inside. She felt the first touch of his tongue on her tormented flesh and she exploded. He drank her essene in greedy gulps, his tongue racing and tormenting through all her hidden crevages while his clenching fingers impaled her and worked her into an even greater fever pitch of sensually and debachy. She was weak and limp against him, unable to do more than barely moan when he finally released her.
        He stood up and then picking her unprotesting form in his arms he carried her to the bed and laid her on it. She looked up weakly at him from under leaden eyelids, wondering what he was going to do next. He quickly stripped out of his uniform, and it fell in a pile by the bed. Then he stood by head and she looked up at him confused, not truly understanding what he wanted.
        "Now it your turn, wife," he growled, his hardness and interest apparent.
        She looked up at him shocked, but she understood what he wanted and she reached up and took his manhood, bringing him closer to the bed using her hands which she rubbed slowly up and down its rock hardness.
        "Not, not with you hands," he demanded, trying to maintain his control.
        Her eyes grew round but she complied with his wishes and wrapped her lips around his hardness, letting her tongue and teeth make love to him. It was his turn to goan as her teeth and tongue and the tight softness of her mouth made his passion rise. He felt her small hands on his balls and inner thighs and that only increased his agony. For someone who had supposedly been a virgin up until a not a week ago, she knew what she was doing, like an expert as she kept bringing him closer and closer to brink and then backing off. She was tormenting him as much as he had tormented her. And she was enjoying it. He could tell as he looked down at her bobbing head as she smiled and her body squirmed in twined pleasure to his.
 He had one hand on the headboard to steady himself while the other was wrapped into her sweat soaked hair as he held her to him as she took all his considerable lenght into her mouth. Finally he came in a blinding flash, almost gagging her but she held on and drank every bit of him, running her tongue over every part of him to get ever drop. He collaspsed on the bed next to her exhausted and spent.
        She half sat up curled on her side facing him, a smile on her love swollen lips as she ran her red tongue across them and regarded him. "Was that acceptable, husband?" she asked with a smirk in her voice.
        He nodded weakly, "yes, very . . . acceptable."
        "Would you like for me to do it again, my lord?" she asked sweetly, running a finger down through his sweat soaked chest hairs to his belly.
        "No, I think that will be enough," he said and meant it. He damn near couldn't move after that and he was far from recovered enough for another go around.
        "Did I wear you out?" she asked innocently.
        "Yes," he replied and looked over at her gloating face. "But no more. We need to get dressed. It's almost sunset and your mother is expecting us," he told her, and sat up despite his protesting body.
        "Do you think anyone is seriously expecting us to come down to eat. Newly married couples are expected to stay off by themselves for a while to seal their marriage," she gently argued, reaching over to run her small hand across and chest. She was not ready to call it quits and go face the world even if he was.
        "But we are not the average couple. I am now resposible for not only my people but yours as well and there are things I must attend to before I can allow myself the luxury of going off somewhere. I think we've already had this discussion before, have we not?" he asked, getting up and looking for his clothes.
        "Yes, and you agreed to go off with me alone. Are you going back on your word now, my husband?"
        "For, the moment. I need to see what is happening in the camps before I can go anywhere," he replied putting on his pants.
        "Then when you see the no one needs you, then you will go?" she asked watching him from the rumpled bed, not making a move to get dressed yet.
        "Yes, then I can go," he grudingly agreed as he put his tunic top on and then bent down to put on his boots.
        She shrugged in defeat. "Then I will get dressed and go with you as I do not wish to stay here alone," she added with a toss of her heavy hair as she got up and walked across the room where her clothes were piled on the dresser.
        It took her considerably less time to get dressed than it had him as all she did was slip on a long loose deerskin dress and her mocassacns. She ran a cedar comb through her long hair and she was finished. "I am ready to go,' she announced.
        He opened the door and let her go out before him, then they went doorstairs to see how Sees Far had smoothed things over them and how much damage control they were going to have to do.

* 9 *

        "You weren't very nice to the Asenti," Roaring Wings commented from the bed. He laid back against the padded headboard and piled pillows and waited for her to turn from the screen of the commcon and face him.
        She turned and regarded him with a bit of resentment that he could lay back and relax and she couldn't. She didn't dare. She was tired and just a little more than fustrated with the day's stresses and it showed. There was a touch of anger in her voice as she snapped back, "I wasn't trying to be nice. He was an ass last night and I let him know it. You haven't been dealing with all the calls trying to locate him or the ones calling to let him know how displeased your people are with him. In one fell stroke he has almost destroyed his credibility and respect. Overchief or not he's got a lot of people throughly angry and doubting that the spirits did chose such an immoral man for their chief. They are now beginning to think that everything that happened was faked and done with the Atanzi magic they had heard so much about. Even I am almost convinced of it," she said.
        Roaring Wings shook his head and his dark eyes regarded her seriously. "What happened during the ceremonies was not faked. That much I'm sure of. I felt the presence of the spirits and guardians and even the Ky'tulendu was shaken by what had happened and could not explain it rationally. The signs Grey Owl and I got before the ceremonies all showed that the spirits approved of his becoming Overchief and he would be a great chief, but his marraiage to White Deer would be a disaster," he told her feeling her skeptism through their bond.
        "You know I don't believe in your spirits and signs. Why do you try to convince me of them?" she asked not unbending from her position on methaphysical matters.
        "Because the spirits do exist and they guide us all even those that do not believe in them," he said meaningfully with an uplifted eyebrow. "I may not be able to prove their existance through your science but they are as real as you or me. They just exist on another unseen plane. One day B'tunku, you will feel and see them in your heart and soul and then you will understand. I am patient. You and I have much to learn from each other., a lifetime full," he smiled, his long canine teeth showing.
        "I just hope we can bridge all these gaps you seem to have no problem with," she sounded doubtful as she looked at her new husband still lying in bed unconcerned about what she percieved as a large possibilly unsurmountable problem. " I hope Ky'tulendu makes peace with White Deer soon and can take over. I need a long break," she added as she got up and stretched.
        "Yes, you do and you need to eat. You have been at work since before dawn. Have you eaten anything today?" he asked.
        "No," she admitted. "The only thing I've had has been lots of cups of klass. I haven't dared to go get any food because of all the calls coming in and the problems that needed immediate attention. In The Forest and O'vettun went back to their cave for a few days and there was no else I wanted to pile this problem on."
        "Yes, I can understand that, but you could have woke me up. I could have handled some of the tribal leaders when they called," he told her, recrimination in his eyes as he leaned towards her and started getting out of bed.
        She watched him get up and he went to the bathroom. She called after him. "I know. I thought about it but you were sleeping so peacefully. And I thought I could handle it." The sound of flushing almost drowning out her words.
        He came back and stood by the bed looking down at her. He saw with some distress how worn out she was. He would have to take things in hand but carefully. She was still used to doing it all and wasn't able to let go very well and let others do for her. He chose his words carefully. "You did, but you need a break. You can't keep going on like this without eating. It's time to get someone else to handle things while we go and get some food and see the true mood of the camp this day," he said looking for his loin cloth and mocassins.
        "I suppose I can get Control to hold all the calls and route them back to Ky'tulendu," she said in defeat as she became aware of her stomach growling in protest.
        "Good, now you are thinking. Find your boots and we go," he told her as he put his medicine bag around his neckand ran his fingers through his long tangled hair.
        She bent down and retrieved them from under her desk where she had kicked them off last night. After she put them on she found her brush in the bathroom and brushed out her tangled hair and tied her ranking headband on then straightened her uniform.
        "You look beautiful, my silver one," Roaring Wings complimented as he waited patiently by the door.
        She glared. She hated compliements, but she gritted her teeth and smiled at him. "I'm ready. Let's go," she added taking his arm and they went downstairs.
         It was still late afternoon when they emerged from her quarters and entered the grounds of the camp. The cleanup crews had been busy but the signs of camp wide partying from last night were still apparent. She inwardly groaned at the mess, not that the grounds had been looking that good with all the construction that had been going on. Though she had hoped that the grounds would have looked better by now. At least they hadn't begun all the replanting of grass and shrubs yet, so all those new plants were saved. She made a mental note to get someone on that project soon.
        Some of tents they had set up for the visitors were coming down, she noted in passing. While some where still very much occuppied. The still occuppied ones were mainly the mainland visitors who wished to stay and talk with the new Overchief personally before they returned to their own lands. From the personnel she had had overseeing to their needs she knew that the visitors had been doing tours of both camps and seeing all that they could of the Atanzi magics. She was hoping that when they went back that their reports would reflect the Atanzi's strength and invincible weapons so that they wouldn't have to fear attack from any the tribes she had heard one. She made another mental note to have a through survey done of the tribes within two hundred lssns of their new home, so that had an idea of numbers and abilities.
        B'tunku had also made sure that the personnel watching over the visitors noted their reactions to the Atanzi and especially to the dreamer couples, and any unusual questions. She wanted to get an idea of what the mainlanders thought of them and the alliance they had forged with the natives. She also wanted to know who had been Thunder Arrow supporters and how they were reacting to his death.
         Then there was the matter of Ky'tulendu marrying White Deer. Through the grapevine of native gossip she had learned that Thunder Arrow had promised his daughter to one of the more important Iroquois warchiefs and he was not taking the news of Thunder Arrow's death and White Deer's marriage too well. A rumour that had reached her ears was that White Deer had found this warchief last night and had spent the nightwith him in his tent. So far she hadn't been able to verify it but this could cause future promblems if this was so. Since she knew Ky'tulendu would not be able to get White Deer pregnant except by extra medical help now, the possiblity of her getting pregnant by this warchief could be a serious problem if they had indeed slept together. Already B'tunku was fearing the consequences of Ky'tulendu being with Sun Dancer. If he had gotten her pregnant and White Deer and the rest of the camps found out . . . . A solution to that problem was going to have to be found fast, she thought determinely.
        "You are awlful silent, my wife," Roaring Wings said looking at her concerned.
        She had forgotten about him as she thought over all the camps problems. "I'm sorry, I was lost in thoughts," she apologized, gripping his arm in reassurrance. "There's so much to do, and not enough trained people to do it all," she sighed.
        "It will all work out. My people are trying to help but they are unsure what needs to be done, except for the simple things like hunting and cooking. When things calm down and the visitors all return then we will really start the schools in earnest and learn each others ways and share our knowledge. Only in that way can we begin to be one people, not two separate ones that fear one another," he said carefully observing the people in the camp and trying to judge their mood.
        "You think my people fear yours?" she asked, not having thought along those lines before.
        "Yes, observe with both your eyes and your heart. Neither of our peoples knows that much about the other. They are both cautious when they have dealings. They try to avoid each other because of their inner fears. And they do fear each other or maybe it is because they are more afraid of offending the other than anything else. It is like a man and a woman with children from previous marriages getting married and the children trying to find their places within that new family. They will resent their parent getting married to someone else and they will resent their new brothers and sisters but if the parents are strong and treat all the children equally then evenually a new family will be created where all are loved equally," he said.
        She smiled at his anology. "So you see the situation of our peoples like that? "
        Roaring Wings nodded. "It is as close as I can come. We are all children of the new Overchief and we all must find our places and be equal under the eyes of our parents. Only by being equal will no one resent another's status or position."
        "That's a good idea in theory," she told him truthfully, "but our biggest problems are differences in basic culture and in language. Let's face it my people have a lot larger world view than yours do. My crew came from over fifty different star systems not to mention planets. They are used to being part of a huge Alliance of planets and flying through the stars and using technology that your people call magic. My people are going to have to downscale their world views, while yours are going to up theirs. It's going to be very hard on both sides. Even you only have the barest inkling of what I am talking about," she said trying not to sound like she was putting him down.
        "Yes, I am very aware of how ignorant and primitive we are to you. But we can learn. We can bridge these vast gulfs of knowledge that you fear we can't. Even if we can't our children will. All we ask is to given the chance to learn. Then there is the matter of your people learning to survive in my world. They are beginning to see that it is not as easy as it looks. We must work on language first and then culture. There are too few translators to go around, so that miscommunication between our peoples is a very large problem. We have to find common grounds so that each can be understood. We have our bond to help us but not that many will be so blessed. And when one is not understood then there is fear or worse," he said truthfully.
         B'tunku bowed her head in agreement. Roaring Wings was right. They were at a very critical point in the relationships between the two peoples. Fear was keeping a lot of things in check, but that was not the solution that was the problem. Trust needed to be built on both sides and not just among the leaders, but among the general population.
        They heard a commotion behind them and quickly turned. Their worst fears were being realized as a mohawked warrior from one of the visiting tribes had knockled down an Atanzi security man and had taken his stunner and was threatening him with it. The burly young Atanzi didn't dare move as the warrior whopped and carried on in triumph which was drawing the attention of everyone. A large crowd of natives was beginning to gather and B'tunku couldn't tell whose side they were on.
        Roaring Wings drew near and yelled at the warrior who stopped his pancing and stared at him narrowing his eyes at the shaman with an Atanzi female.
        "I see you like the animals, shaman. I remember you, Roaring Wings, you were one of the ones that got married last night. Like White Deer who married the new Overchief of your tribe," he sneered. Then he thumbled his muscluar pained chest. " I am Strong Tree, Wind Walker's brother. White Deer was promised to him by Thunder Arrow. We come here and find that she is given in tribute to the new cat man chief. It is an insult which my people will avenge. But that will not be difficult, these cat men are women," he said with a leering sneer at the security guard at his feet.
        "The Atanzi is under orders not to harm you," Roaring Wings said calmly," let him go and give him back his weapon."
        "No, I won it by right of combat. It is mine!" the warrior said determinely, daring him.
        "You don't even know how to use it. Give it back before someone gets hurt."
        "I do know. I watch. I watch very carefully when we are showed the Atanzi magics. Watch!" he shouted and spun around and quickly aimed at one of the large Oak trees nearby.
        He pressed the firing button and nothing happened. He looked panicked as he tried again and again to get it to work with no success. Distracted he did not notice the guard beneath on the ground move suddenly and grab his leg. Before the warrior could react he was thrown to the ground with the Atanzi now straddling his chest. The guard pinned the warrior down while his strong clawed hands removed the stunner from the other's grip and resheathed it in his utility belt. Then he got up and hauled the unprotesting warrior to his feet and awaited orders from his superiors.
        "What do you suggest we do with him Roaring Wings?" B'tunku asked, remembering that they did not have any security cells or a holding area for prisioners. Then they were the political implications of this if they kept the young hothead prisioner.
        "We take him back to his brother's with the instructions that he is to go back immediately to the mainland. I am sure his people will deal with him. He has brought much shame upon his people who were guests here and they will not be happy with him as I know Wind Walker still wishes to speak to the Overchief before he returns to his lands," Roaring Wings said as he looked the young warrior over and sneered at him with contempt for his bad manners.
        On this she bowed to her husband and his knowledge of tribal customs. Personally, she would have had the warrior put in a holding cell for a couple of days to cool his heels. "As you wish, my husband," she said and saw the warrior cringe at her endearment to her mate. She noted the reaction and filed it away as she was the reactions of the gathered crowd. She saw approval for the way the guard had handled the situation but not about the root cause of the situation--Atanzi and native realtionships.
        She remembered the T'wasill's prelimianary report on the peoples of this world. All the races of this world were bigotted and prejudcal to all but their small family groups. How this world had survived until now given the degree of suspicion and distrust they had towards one another and especially strangers, she could only wonder. What she had heard of the tribal histories so far about the bloody-on-going battles between the tribes, just distressed her more. In some ways these humans were more like Runmulsa than she liked to admit. That they had crashed near a receptive and friendly group that was in somehow linked biologically to them was a miracle. She didn't think if they had come down on the mainland they would have survived or been accepted by these people.
        "Come, wife, we will escort this one to his brother," Roaring Wings told her as he grabbed Strong Tree's arm and began walking him to his brother's tent across the camp by the landing field. B'tunku fell in behind them and followed as the crowd parted and let them pass. After awhile the crowd drifted apart to head for the community tables where dinner was beginning to be served.
        "My brother will not forget this insult to our people, shaman," Strong Tree was sneering as Roaring Wings dragged him along. The older man did not pretent to notice the just barely out of teens warrior which infuriated the young man more. "Do you not hear me, cat lover? Our warriors will come and kill all your men and take your women and child as slaves. Then we will take your cat people and use their hides for clothes," he ranted as he worked himself up.
        Roaring Wings let his long claw like finger nails dig painfully in the man's arm as he tighted his iron grip. But he kept his expression stoney and offerred no comment to the man's ravings. B'tunku was appalled by the venomous words pouring out the man's mouth, but she too, kept quiet, though she did glare in disgust at him. It was getting harder and harder for her not to hate this one, but she controlled it and kept cool and calm.
        They arrived at Wind Walker's tent none too soon for B'tunku's comfort. In front of the entrance stood two tall Mohawked warriors holding painted hide sheilds and long, sharp, flint tipped spears. On their broad muscular arms were beaten copper armbands. They wore coils of copper, bone, and stone beaded necklaces around their necks that draped down across their painted chests. The ends of their high standing hair were dyed bright red and yellow and black which matched their body paint done in spirals and dots. Through their noses and their ears were bright red bone plugs. The warrior's dark eyes regarded them contempously as Roaring Wings came near but they held their position like unmoving statues.
        "I am, Roaring Wings, shaman to the Wolf clan of the Lay'nee Lay-na-pay and the Atanzi. I am here to see Wind Walker. I bring this cub back to him and ask that he be sent home for he tries to cause trouble in this camp which is under the peace truce to all that stay here," he told them addressing them in their own language which B'tunku's translator heard.
        "You will release Strong Tree and be gone, shaman. You have no business here," one of the warrior's sneered.
        "No, not until I see Wind Walker and deliver this troublemaking cub to him personally," he rplied taking a firm stand in fron of the tent.
        "He is not here. He has gone to the feast," the other one said. " He will not return for sometime."
        "Then I will wait until he does return. I am in no hurry," he replied and knew that they were lying about Wind Walker being gone otherwise they would not be here guarding an empty tent.
        The two warrior looked at one another and shrugged. They bent over to each other in whispered conversation. Finally they straightened and one went into the tent. A moment later Wind Walker himself emerged looking around very displeased, trying to make sense of the situation.
        "You have come to see me and to bring my brother home?" The warrior asked. His hair was also in a guady red and blue Mohawk. He wore even more copper and beaded necklaces and arms bands than his warriors. Around his middle he wore a white wide beaded belt worked in blocks of dots and wavy lines. His long fringed loincloth was elaboarted decorated porchpine quills in abstract floral patterns. He was at leat five to ten years younger then Roaring Wings but here was a man born to command as he looked them all over especially B'tunku, but she couldn't tell by his cool apprasel whether he liked or disliked her.
        Roaring Wings inclined his head slightly in reply to Wind Walker's question. "He tried to take one of the Atanzi firesticks but the warrior who owned it took it back. He did this in front of many people. Neither he nor the warrior was hurt but there is much bad feeling there and this is a camp of peace. I request that he be sent home as soon as possible so there will be no further trouble."
        Wind Walker looked his younger brother inhis eyes, not pleased by his behavior. "You did this thing? You tried to steal an Atanzi firestick for your own?" he questioned.
        "I did!" he replied proudly. "It would have brought our people much honor and power."
        "Then you are a fool, Strong Tree. You only bring shame down upon our tribe and on our family with you stupidity. There is no honor or power in using their magics over the our own. A true warrior would not use such a weapon because it is too easy to hide behind its power. Only by hand to hand and counting coups can a warrior gain honor and power You will be sent home is disgrace, not because the shaman wishes it, but because I wish it. Is that clear?" he asked his eyes boring into his brother's with such menace that the young man steped back in fear for his life.
        "Yes, brother," he answered, and then hung his head down in shame. But inwardly he was burning in hatred for the shaman and these cat-man stranger as well as resenting his brother for bowing to them.
        Wind Walker turned back to Roaring Wings, trying to hide his mixed feelings about the situation. "My brother will be sent home tonight, shaman. You have my word on that . And I apologize for his behavior. At least no one was hurt," he said in apology.
        "Yes, we were glad that no trouble will come of this."
        "Good. Do you know when I may see Overchief Star Lion? I have some things I wish to discuss with him and I need to leave soon. There are pressing problems in my land that I need to attend to,' he asked Roaring Wings and ignoring B'tunku as he made his formal request.
        Roaring Wings looked over at his wife who was trying very hard not to say anything as it was apparent that the chief didn't know she was in charge of the camp in Ky'tulendu's absence.
"Maybe we can help you. My wife, B'tunku, is in command of this camp while Star Lion is absent. At the present time he is with his bride, White Deer, and left orders not to be distrubed. My wife has the power to act in his name, so she can listen to your request and act on it as he would," Roaring Wings said carefully.
        The warrior looked shocked that a woman was in charge of the camp and not a man, and a cat woman on top of it. He had heard that the Atanzi had strange ways of doing things and shared tasks equally but this was the first conformation he had had. "No, it is of a personal nature. I must speak to Star Lion face to face. You do not know when he will be available?" he again asked.
        "No," B'tunku replied, speaking up for the first time and standing her ground. "He had problems he needed to resolve from last night, which you are no doubts aware of," she added letting him know she knew about his part in last night's almost disaster.
        He narrowed his eyes as he caught her meaning. "Then tell Star Lion, it is not over. White Deer was promised to me, and he stoled her. She still wants me and I want her. Her doesn't want her. He proved it by going off with his slave Sun Dancer. It is an insult to both her people and to mine. I want him to release her from her marriage vows so that she can be free to marry me. If he does not, then there will be trouble between us," he said, his eyes flashing fire as he spoke.
        "We will relay the message," she said stiffly, not liking this turn of events. She had hoped all of this mess would be settled with Ky'tulendu hopefully working things out with White Deer, but they had not figured Wind Walker's feelings or desires into the matter. This was an added complication in an already complicated problem. They did not need a war started over White Deer again. Tsst! That girl was trouble. "We will be going back to the camp. If you need to reach us our lodge is in that large building over there," she said pointing to her building across the grounds. "Good evening, Wind Walker," she added and he nodded in acknowledgement. Then she and Roaring Wings turned and left and went to go find food finally.
        Wind Walker stared after them thoughtfully until they were lost in the crowds and then he went back into his tent to make plans.

* 10 *

        It was almost sunset and torches had been lit around the perimeter of the open outdoor dining area near the center of the camp and the native quarters. It had a pour stone floor and a roof had been added overhead for shade during the day with lights strung for evening as well as a low level forefield to keep insects out but not people of any species.
        Sitting at one of the outdoor tables, Ky'tulendu and White Deer ate in silence. He did not feel like being waited on tonight and and told her to get her own plate and to eat. She was a little upset about that as that was not the way things were done but he explained that was the way his people did it. She gave in. Around them other mixed couples sat as well. He had picked this group to eat with over purely native or Atanzi diners as he just wanted to eat and not stand out. Though now being the Overchief it was hard to be anonymous.
        Sees Far had been disappointed that they had not eaten with her and her people, but he did make sure that they took generous heaping of what the natives had cooked. White Deer's mother could see that they had worked things out and her daughter was in a better mood even if her son-in-law wasn't really, but he was putting on a good face. The native's reactions to their being together was good. Many people looked relieved and pleased, while others wore mixed expressions. There were a few hostile faces but those were few and the pepole tended to look away and go back to their eating.
        Ky'tulendu noted that were a growing number of mixed couples with native male to Atanzi female being the predominant type. He would almost expected it to be the other way around. Though the most starting was the number of mainlander females paired with Atanzi males.
        "I notice that there are women from other tribes among us. I did not think other tribes would have Dreamers," he commented to White Deer who then looked up and saw what he was talking about.
        She studied them for a moment before she replied, "They are of our blood. Either taken in battle or in trade. Can you not see they are Lay'nee Lay-na-pay under their different clothes?"
she asked, like it should be readily apparent to him.
        "No, I can not tell. I do not have your eyes or knowledge of your people," he told her truthfully trying to distinquish tribal characteristics among this almost homogenic group.
        She hmphed to herself and shook her head. What a leader if he could not tell one tribe from another.
        "I've only been here for a couple of your weeks. I am still learning," he apologized and went back to his food. He felt like he had not eaten for days.
        "I forget, my husband, that you are new to this world and do not know the ways of the people.

* 11*

        Ovettum wiped the sweat and dirt out of her eyes as she pause for a minute in her search through the rumble of what had once been In The Forest's home in the old village. She looked over to see her husband lift a section of wall off a buried pile of something in the mudcovered building and frown. He was doing a lot of that recently. through their bond she could feel his emotional turmoil and anger as he shifted through the debris.
        The work they were doing was very depressing for all involved. It had been over a week since the village had been destroyed by a fierce storm that had blown in from the sea.
Few buildings had survived intact and everything was covered in thick gooey mud and debris that they had to go through to see what was salvageable.
        It was slow back breaking work made more so without the aid of any Atanzi machines or tools. The Council of Elders had insisted that all repair and rebuilding be done in the old ways and were sticking by it. Even their water for washing off things had to be hauled from the creek in animal bladders, and dumped bladder by bladder which necessitated upteemp trips to and from the still muddy creek. The only victory O'vettun had won was to convince the Council to allow all the drinking water to be boiled before eating or washing and to throughly cook all meats and other foods until they had gotten the village cleaned up and safe for habitation.
        For the time being the remaining villagers, the ones who had not moved to the Atanzi settlement, were living in the caves above the creek until the buildings could be repaired and new ones built. Already the warriors had been going into the high forest surrounding the village to cut new trees and saplings. They were utilized many of the storm downed trees that littered the banks and fields surrounding the creek which almost had gone back down to its pre-flood size. But so much had been damaged and lost that they were going to need much more wood than could be salvaged from the flood.
        At one point the Council had asked if the people wanted to move the village a little upstream, and closer to the forest, but the people had voted no to the idea. They wanted their village to remain where he had always been within easy reach of the caves above the creek. If they were the guardians of the caves then they should stay by the caves they argued. So the villagers were determined to rebuild on the foundations of the new even if that necessitated further trips for wood and other building materials.
        Most of the drowned animal carcasses had been found and stripped for their hides. Their bodies had been burned to keep down contamination from possible diseases. Already the women had been working on preparing and tanning these new hides. They were going to need many hides to replace what had been swept away in the floodwaters for clothing, bedclothes, and for interior insulation in the new buildings.
        Of their carefully tended crops, nothing remained except a scattered patches of deep root vegetables. that had managed to survive the sweeping waters. All their above ground plants were gone. Most the fruit and nut trees had been stripped bare by the rains and winds as had all the berry bushes.
        Buried in the deep mud they would occassion find storage containers and cooking utentsils, but invariably their contents were ruined, though some ground corn had beem found, some nutmeats and some dried fruits and meats. But almost all personal items were destroyed or beyond repairing.
        In The Forest told her this was not the first time they had had to rebuild the village from scratch but it had never happened in his lifetime nor in his parent's. As the new Underchief he must set an example to his people and had gone in personally to help look through the rumble and help where ever he was needed.
        Living so primatively was still a shock to O"vettun. What she wouldn't give for anti-grav units, diggers and a few cleaning and maintaince units to get this part of the work over and done with so the more important part of rebuilding could be quickly underway. The Council had insisted that no Atanzi magic be used here, though some of the elders were beginning to doubt the wisdom of that decision as the tiring cleaning work stretched on. All had seen how fast the Atanzi had created their new village and how fast the new native village on the outskirts was taking shape. At the rate the small group of remaining villagers were going it would be several moons before their village was half way rebuilt and the cold time would be on them with no time to restock their food supplies. It beginning to be obvious some compromises were going to have to be made.
        In The Forest came over to were O'vettun was working. The young warrior had stripped down to just a loincloth and mocassins in the high summer heat pouring down on them. Ovettun was wearing a thin deerskin dress and boots and was definitely not as cool as her mate as the sweat poured down her face and body. Her biggest problem beside the heat was sunburn, for the hot sun had been blistering her pale skin. She had been using sunblockers but she was still burning. Having been in controlled environments for years she was not used to such harsh weather conditions. For his sake she bore the pain and heat as best she could.
        "You should take a break and rest, my love," In The Forest told her concerned.
         He was looking at his wife very worriedly. Her face was very red, and not just from the sun. If she kept up the hard pace she had set for herself she would soon have a heat stroke or worse.
        She paused for a moment as she tugged at a piece of ruined matting and looked up at him. She had to shade her eyes from the intense sun to see him. She shook her head, her tight braids moving in time with her head. "No, we've got to get this done. The sooner the better. I just wish the Council wasn't so subborn," she said trying not to sound like she was complaining
        "I know. Though I have heard from Grey Owl that they are starting to unbend and reconsider their hasty decision to allow no magic here. When they said no magics they were still thinking in terms of what a full village of people could do, not how few were going to be here after the village split up. We don't have the manpower to repair this village before the first snows and they know it and they are scared."
        "So they might reconsider?" she asked, hopeful.
        He shrugged, "maybe. It's hard to say. If it was me, I'd borrow one of your earthmovers and just take down all the buildings and scrape the area clean and then start rebuilding from scrath. We are doing that already, but with our pitiful tools . . .," he just shook his head in frustration watching some older children pick up trash and push it down the street with large homemade shovels and brooms. "They've been doing that for days," he commented. "They've made a little progress but there's just so much. It's heartbreaking."
        O'vettun agreed. From where they stood above the street they could see the small piles of accumilated trash which was nothing compared to the bigger piles of trash the forces of nature had made. They heard footsteps coming up behind them and they turned. It was Grey Owl, his feathered headdress bobbling the wind as he walked.
        "Greetings, Underchief and O'vettun, the Council has sent me to get you. They've finally reached a decision after deliberating all night. They want you to ask Star Lion for help so the village can get rebuilt before the first snow," he said with a grin, happy that the elders had come to their senses.
        "That is good news, Grey Owl," In The Forest said slapping the other man on his back happily.
        O'vettun, who wasn't wearing her translator had only caught part of what Grey Owl had said. She was learning the native language but she had a long way to go. From what she could gather the news had something to do wth the Council, and Ky'tulendu. "What is going on?" she asked hoping that through the bond she could understand In The Forest.
        "We get to ask for Atanzi magics," he repiled with a large grin as he pictured the huge machines and tools working.
        She smiled and thought to herself it was about time.
        In The Forest took her hand and led her carefully through the building and then helped her get down to the ground. Grey Owl followed and the trio soon made their way across the village and up the hillside to the caves. Inside they passed by mothers with small children, some of the eldery that could not help in the clean up and the few that gotten sick from the storm and the coldness of the cave itself. Though those were improving due to Roaring Wings' and B'tunku's interventions with Atanzi medicines disgused to look like native ones. Seeing the sick ones being nursed by their families, O'vettun was reminded how much of a tightrope they all walked now. Under anyother circumstances when confronting a primative society like this the Atanzi would have kept themselves aloff from the natives and kept their show of technology down to very low levels and not interfered in the native's society on any level including medical. Now they were linked with these natives for good or bad and both populations were effecting one another and trying to blend together--if that was even possible.
        She was doing her best to try and blend in by dressing like the native woman, but she was too idependent to act like the other women, though she was trying to learn by observation. Luckily, In The Forest accepted her just the way she was and had no problem with her not knowing how do the most simple and basic chores. Everything she knew had to be downscaled and relearned in simplier terms.
        Then there was the privacy factor or rather the lack of privacy. They were always under observation as it was very difficult to block off each family's campsite from view and to erect partitions in the huge main cave. The native's had some modesty about their bodies but not as much as O'vettun was used to. Sanatation was becoming a big problem as the cave was more and more used. Even herbal incenses weren't helping to countact the smells of unwashed bodies, old food, and human waste. As it was it was getting harder and harder for O'vettun to walk through the chamber to get to the smaller cave where the Council members stayed.
        The guards at the door let the trio pass. Security was still tight out of fear of Thunder Arrow's followers staging a rebellion and still having Atanzi weapons stashed. The skimmer with four natives was still missing and excrusions as far as the mainland coast had not turned it up on any of the sensors. It had literally vanished, which in view of the shortage of available flying craft was a loss they really couldn't afford. And with all the work going on at the camps Ky'tulendu couldn't afford to send another skimmer out to look for the missing one at this point in time. It would just have to wait until later.
        Grey Owl entered the Council chamber first, then In The Forest and finally O'vettun. The elders were sitting roughly where they had left them sitting the last time they had been in there two days ago. Walk's In Silence noticed them come in and motioned them to sit on the thick mats and rugs before the council seats lining the walls of the white quartz covered cave. The old man clapped his hands together loudly to get everyone's attention and when he saw he had he spoke to In The Forest.
        "Underchief In The Forest you have been called here to use your "communicators'", he said in a gravelly voice tripping over the foriegn word comunicator, " and to call Overchief Star Lion and ask him for help in rebuilding our village. It is clear watching the people work that it will be many long moons before our people can return to our homes. Already there is growing unrest among them and many are beginning to wish that they had gone with the others to the new village so that they may live like men instead of animals. In their hearts they do not really wish this. They just wish for their homes back and that is not coming as quickly as they want. To make peace we have decided to let the Atanzi machines help us clear out the debris left from the flood and to help us cut wood and gather building materials to build our village in the old ways using traditional methods. Though I have been told the new village of the people looks like our old one and the Atanzis used metal things to hold the logs and saplings together instead of ropes and bindings. The buildings have clear windows that open and close yet keep insects and other pests out. I have heard they have running water from outside that they can turn off and on. There are large moving fans above the firepits to draw out smoke and to circulate the air and torchless lights. I would like to see these things to know if they are true and see if the Council cannot bend a little and let our people have better lives," he said with much dignity.
        Walks and Silence and many on the Council had not seen all the Atanzi wonders when they had gone to the camp for the ceremonies. They had insisted on staying in the tents erected for the visiting dignitaries and had not gone on any of the informal tours that had been given. It had all been too overwhelming for them for what they had seen and first thing in the morning after the ceremonies the Council and most of the old villagers had come back here as fast as they could. They were now beginning to regret that as they began the task of rebuilding the village with half the number of people they had had and almost no tools.
        "So you wish me to contact Overchief Star Lion and ask him to let the Council visit the villages so you may see what we may need as far as equipment and building materials?" In The Forest asked cautiously.
        The old man nodded, "yes , that is what I wish. A tour would let us see what these machines can do and how they can be used. How soon can that be arranged?" he asked, trying not to sound too eager.
        "Probably today, if you wish. It just takes a short time for a skimmer to come here. It's whenever you want to leave after I contact Star Lion."
        The old man humphed to himself and sat back on his pile of furs and robes. "Go and call Star Lion. We will await his answer," Walks In Silence said and dismissed him with a wave of his hand.
        In The Forest got up, and bowed respectfully at the elders and motioned O'vettum and Grey owl to get up and go with them. The trio left the chamber and when they were past the sentries O'vettun finally spoke.
        "What was that all about?" she asked not being able to curb her curiousity any longer.
        Her husband grinned back at her. "A victory of sorts. Walks In Silence wishes us to contact the Asenti and arrange a tour of the Atanzi camp and the village for the Council. It seems they didn't get a chance to see the Atanzi magics and evidently the people have been pressurring them to rebuild the village faster and for some of the more useful things like running water and windows. They wish to see these things for themselves and maybe work out a compromise so that we don't lose all the people to the new village," he said thoughtfully.
        "I see," she said following her husband's thoughts. It was going to be a real fine line they walked as to how much technology was too much or not enough. How much technology should they let the natives get dependent on and how much should her people learn from the natives and use native not manufactured materials? At this point in time the Atanzi could do almost anything. They had the power and energy cells to work any device but within two years of this world's time half those cells would be used up or gone. The Atanzi themselves had to find alternative, more primitative ways to make energy sources to run their machines or nothing would work by the end of five years on this planet.
        "I thought they wanted to remain traditionalists and not use any technology?" she questioned.
        "I think Walks In Silence still does but he also wants to make day to day living easier for our people. Like having comfortable lodges that are warm in the winter and cool in the summer, that keep insects out, and clean safe water that is easy to get and use. He believes there are compromises that can be made so the traditional methods of doing things aren't lost, just modified," he explained to her.
        They stopped outside the entrance of the cave where he could use his communicator. The particular rock formations and minerals of the rocky outcroppings blocked all long range communication and sensor devices from both outside and from inside. The Atanzi filed that information away as the caves might be the only place they could hide from the Rumnulsa if they returned.
        Before he called he put his translator on so he could understand and be understood. "Control, this is In The Forest. Can you connect me with the Asenti?" he requested, waiting for them to acknowledge him.
        "The Asenti is not available. He is on a leave of absence. Can anyone else help you?" the female voice asked.
        "Who is in charge?"
        "MS B'tunku, sir. Do you want me to connect you?"
        "Yes," he said patiently. He was getting the hang of using the communicators and the problems of reaching who he needed. The almost instantous communications did beat the normal ways of getting messages by runners.
        "B'tunku here, can I help you?" his new Aunt answered, not knowing who was on the other end. Control had not relayed that information.
        "Hyah, B'tunku, it's In The Forest. Walks In Silence and several of the other Council member want to take a tour of the camps and want to ask for help in rebuilding the village. They are finally conceding that doing it the old way is not working with as few people that we have left here. They are also getting pressured into making improvements in the lodges like windows, running water and a few other things. They want to see these things for themselves so they can decide what to do. It seems they didn't get a chance during the ceremonies," he told her carefully.
        "I see," she said sounding a little surprised at the requests. "How soon do they want to do this tour?"
        "As soon as it can be arranged. When they get there they will talk to you about borrowing some of the eath moving machines and builders. The people have been trying to clear the area of all the flood debris but it is getting beyond them and they want to move out of the cave and back to their lodges soon so they can concentrate on getting ready for winter."
        "Yes, I can understand that. So Walks In Silence is willing to compromise?" she asked.
        "It seems so. How soon could you send a skimmer?" he asked.
        "Probably in twenty five units. I'll send the biggest we have available."
        "Good, there will be at least five to seven of the Council going and probably O'vettun and myself. Where is the Asenti?" he asked.
        "White Deer managed to drag him off for that honeymoon of hers. They are supposed to be camping down by the ocean near the ship. He said he wanted to investigate the damage personally so he could tell the salvage crews what was left."
        "I bet my sister's thrilled over that. Have you heard anything from him?"
        "No, but they are supposed to get back sometime tomorrow. The new Overchief's loge is supposed to be ready by then."
        "Overchief's lodge?" he inquired curiously, having never heard of that before.
        "White Deer's idea," B'tunku said grudingly. "But Ky'tulendu agreed on it because his quarters in the command building were too small to do camp and native business. It's mainly a big lodge, built in native fashion with a large formal reception area for visitors with a traditional smoke pit and benchs. He also adding tables, a commcon, maps, a library, and whatever else might be needed for formal and informal discussions and planning sessions. In the back are the modern private living quarters with expansions for future children, and or guests. Roaring Wings has been supervising the construction, basing it on the Council lodge at the old village with lots of modifications," she said proudly. "Later he's going to see about having a proper shaman's lodge built for us," she said with a lot less enthusasim in her voice.
        "It sounds interesting. How is everything else going at the camps?" he asked wanting to know if there were any problems.
        "No, I've got teams of natives and Atanzis working together to study the area and to catalog and find uses for the plant, animal, and minerals. And I've got other groups looking through the archives to find simplier solutions to our basic survival and energy needs. Their have been a few problems in communications and understanding each others customs and traditions but I think things can be worked out."
        "What did K'tunlendu do about Sun Dancer?" he asked cautiously.
        "Nothing. I moved her from the village and put her to work at the school to teach native customs and survival skills to some of our people there and she in turn is learning Atanzi customs and language. So far it's working out," B'tunku replied, pleased with the solution.
        In The Forest decided not to question further and to save what questions he had for when they met face to face. "I'll go inform the Council that the shuttle is coming soon and we'll meet it by the creek. Give my regards to my Uncle. In The Forest out." he said cutting off the transmission.
        He turned to Grey Owl who was waiting patiently to hear what had been decided since he wore no translator. "Grey Owl, a shuttle will be arriving in a little white. I told B'tunku that we would met it by the creek. Tell the Council to get ready and to decide who is going as well as inform them that they will probably be staying over night," In The Forest told the young shaman, who nodded in agreement and left to deliever the message.
        After Grey Owl left O'vettun looked at him a little puzzled. Without her translator she had only understood part of what he said and what B'tunku had said. She reached into her pocket and put the translator on. "So what is going on?" she asked.
        "The shuttle is coming, and no problem with the tour. The Asenti is off with White Deer and will be back tomorrow. "
        "I heard you ask about Sun Dancer, why?"
        "To see what had happened to her. Evidently, B'tunku decided to move her out of the native village and into camp so she could be protected. The people will not forgive her so easily for being with the Asenti when he should have been with White Deer. Then she has no status, no place in the village. It would be very hard on her there. It will not be easy for her when the Asenti returns because of White Deer. I know she will make trouble."
        "No doubt. But if she stays out of sight then maybe it will all blow over."
        "We can hope, but I do not think so. I still see much trouble on the horizon with my sister," he said his eyes focused on something only he could see.
        O'vettun shivered. She was getting used to his prophecies, but they still unnerved her. In this he was more like his uncle than his father in his abilty to see the future and to know things. She had very little talents in that area except for their bond and the way they could communicate without words.
        "What do you see?" she asked, worredly.
        "War with the mainlanders. The Iroquois or the Shawnee, I can't tell, but my sister allied with them to attack all of us, Atanzi and the people. I see the ground red with blood, energy beams killing people, and burning buildings in the dark of winter and from above comes destruction as well. Whether this is a true vision or not I do not know. Only time will prove it one way or the other," he said, a little shook from what he had seen.
        "Let us hope this doesn't come to pass," she said, touching his upper arm to both comfort and to reassure him. "My people want no war with anyone, nor do they wish to conqueror anyone. We were even hestitant in allying ourselves with your people and were going to keep contact down to a minium."
        "I don't believe that has happened. Your people need us as much as we need you. And I do not regret our peoples getting together especially finding you," he said, turning to her and wrapping her in his arms as they looked out over the remains of the old village trying to visualize what was goingto be rebuilt there.
        "Nor do I regret you finding me," she smiled up at him and kissed him on his chin as she snugged closer in his arms.
        He smiled back at her kissed her soundly on her lips and then released her. "Come my wife we need to get our things ready as well and see to how the Council is doing," he told her and they went back into the cave and began to prepare.

End 1/1 Sorry, this is as far as I've gotten--Eventually, I'll write more on this. Right now I'm working on Forever Knight Virtual Fourth Season Stories, designing my web pages for this site and for my commerial one PhoeniX Stitchery as well as designing cross stitch patterns for this site and for PhoeniX Stitchery as well as the Stitchery magazine.

                                                        * 10 *

        A gentle breeze was coming in from the ocean ruffling his long loose hair as Ky'tulendu stood on one of the high sand dunes and looked over the vast expanse of blue green water. The sky was clear bright blue except for a sprinkling of white clouds on the northern horizon. Far in the distance to the east he could see some sort of marine life playing in the further waves. Huge beasts by their size in relation to the flocks of birds that flew over the creatures heads. A symbolic relationship of some kind, he thought as he watched. Closer to the shore he saw more birds, at least five different types, flying, diving or walking along the shores finding food among the rocks.
         The more he saw of this new world the more he liked. He had not been comfortable on very many worlds, this one he was. This felt like home in a way Atanza never had. The white sandy beach stretched as far as he could see in either direction with huge boulders near the tidemark and then the beginnings of the forest further back from the water. The only thing marring the view was the sight of one of the engine units thrusting out of the water about a mile off shore. Already the local wildlife was using it as a perch and battles were being fought over it.
         The second unit was no where to be seen. He had already followed the trail his ship had cut through the landscape and the unit was not with that wreckage. He guessed it was lost somewhere in the deeper depths which meant it was beyond his people's abilities to now salvage it. The remaining unit could be salvaged and then its compontents stripped for use elsewhere. But there was no way his ship could ever be patched or fixed for space. They were marooned here for life. For even if the Runmulsa found them they would be more likely to kill them or make them prisioners then let them return to Atanzi or Alliance space.
         It did bother him that no follow up patrols had been sent after them. Control had reported all clear as far as they could scan. If the Runmulsa were still up there why hadn't they bothered to check on them? It was not like them. They only things he could think of was that they had been recalled back to their base in this area, decided that all hands had been lost in reentry and the crash, or they were waiting for further instructions. The Runmulsa not doing anything was making him nervous as he waited for some kind of response.
        In the meantime, the only thing he could do was prepare his people and the natives now allied with him for the possibly of the reptiles return and attack on their villages. One of things he had left orders for was the buillding of warning sirens for all the camps so that when the invaders came they could be warned and make for safety. He also had a team checking out and exploring the caves by the camp to see how far they went down and how many people and how much equiptment they could hold in case of attack. One of his priorities was the stocking of the caves with emergency rations, clothing and tools.
        They had managed to get one of the large forefield generators to work but it only offerred partial coverage of the main camp. A crew was still working on the two other ones they had found relatively intact.
        He did not realize until now, how much the loss of most of the engineering personnel was affecting their survival on this world. So many of their tools and equiptment were needed to be repaired or recreated. Unfortunately, they just didn't have the people to do the jobs. They were finding people with basic technical skills that could be retrained, but that was going to take awhile. So much of what they were doing now was creating what they needed from scratch. He was grateful that his people were adaptable and creative and some of the engineering manuals had survived. But were they going to be able to keep the equiptment going and solve their energy problems as well? He didn't know.
        He heard White Deer approaching from behind him. Inwardily he cringed, wondering what she wanted. He had only agreed to this honeymoon of hers to keep peace and so he could inspect the wreckage of the ship. That he had done a considerable amount of time doing. Anything to be away from her, and to stay out of bed. He was almost afraid of going to bed anymore as all she wanted was sex. Enough was enough, he had other things to do but she didn't see it that way. Then she was trying to pressure him into going to medical when they got back so she could get pregnant. He wasn't really that keen on her having a child by him.
        The more he got to to know her the less he liked. She was cold, shallow, vain. and puffed up with her own self-mportance. He wasn't even sure she was able to really love anyone. Power and position was what mattered to her, not people. They were only objects to be manuplated. He had known too many like her in his years of service. He only dealt with them when he absolutely had to as they left a bad taste in his mouth. If he wasn't now married to her he would have happily dumped her. He was stuck and she knew and was using it to her advantage. Gods, she made him sick.
        "Why are you out here all alone, my husband?" she asked as she came up next to him and attempted to put her arm through his.
        "I am still looking to see what fell off the ship and where so I can tell the cleanup crews," he answered truthfully. "I've reconned most of this area and there is a lot that needs to be salvaged before it get too ruined by the weather."
        "Why don't you let your people do this. Why does it have to be you?" she asked with a pout.
        "Because it's my job too, to oversee all this and to know what needs to be done. Didn't your father do such things?" he asked.
        She shrugged," I guess he did. I never paid attention. Mainly he would tell my mother then she's tell someone else and so on until whatever it was got done."
        "Sounds like the same thing. It starts with someone seeing a problem and then telling someone to fix it if they can't do it themselves.