Note: The story is unfinished, due to a hard drive crash

Life was not always easy on the Northern steppes of ancient Eur-Asia. Thoughts of the long, cold winter to come loomed always near in the minds of the people who dug their homes from the very earth from which they'd sprung...and to which they would all someday return. Summertime was all the sweeter because of its brevity, a welcome friend to the people who were equipped with no other protection from certain extinction than their sheer intellect and drive for survival. Summer was a time for gathering the bounty provided by Mother Earth. Grains and other vegetables were gathered and dried for winter use. The animals that were hunted served a much larger purpose than simply food. Through them was provided an entire way of life..hides for warmth through clothing and blankets, bones for tools and cooking implements, sinew for thread and bladder for storage containers.

The people were appreciative for the gift of life, and nothing was ever put to waste. In return, they respected the very beasts they hunted, and to show their admiration, they venerated them in legend and song. Such a people were the Mamutoi, named for the huge Woolly Mammoth that roamed the barren steppes in abundance during the Ice Age. For a time, their lives intertwined with the great beasts..but only for a season. Unlike the mammoth, the people could adapt to many changes, and would be walking the earth long after the last mammoth turned to dust.

The summer was now coming to an end. The mammoth hunt had been successful for Musk-Ox Camp (known as Reed Camp in the summer months). Musk-Ox Camp was headed under the co-leadership of Daveg and his sister, Tragee, as was the custom among the Mamutoi.

Daveg was a soft-spoken man who had lived for about 30 summers. When he was a child, some of his age-mates teased him, mistaking his quiet reserve for weakness. However, underneath his placid demeanor was the wisdom of the ages. Once he had spent time training at the Mammoth Hearth, after hearing the mother speak to him in a vivid dream. Under the tutelage of the Mamuti, the spiritual leadership of the Mamutoi, he grew much in both knowledge and maturity, but for reasons known only to himself, left their ranks before completing his training and returned to the lodge of his birth. He was a gifted man, favored by Mut, the mother of them all. He was gifted in the art of discernment...he could look at a person and somehow, could see through the veil of flesh into the spirit within, able to ascertain what manner of person one was, what one's particular strengths and weaknesses might be. This had proven valuable after he assumed leadership with Targee upon their mother's decision to step down after the death of her co-leader, Daveg and Targee's uncle, Krenec.

Tragee was the opposite of Daveg in demeanor. A gregarious, friendly woman several years younger than her brother, Tragee was a bubbling stream in comparison to Daveg, a still pool. Several years younger than he, she was a bit more impetuous in nature, but possessed a great ability for communication as well as compassion, a great asset as leader of a group of people with many different opinions, problems, and needs.

Reed Camp was in the process of packing their bounty in readiness to leave early the following morning. Every member of the camp, including children, would carry a haversack full of meat and skins. Rencavec, Tragee's mate, was fashioning a travois from two birch poles he'd brought from home and an auroch's hide. His burly strength would come in handy on the two-day's journey back to the lodge.

He stopped for a moment to help Avarie, Tragee's daughter, with her own miniature version of the travois. She was having difficulty boring a hole in the auroch's hide that would be attached to the poles. Some mammoth sinew would be used to thread through the holes of the hide and lash around the poles. The look of determination on the small girl's face pleased the mate of her mother immensely. This girl will never give up, he thought, pleased at seeing a good bit of himself reflected in her face. Most assuredly, Avarie was a child of his spirit. Both of them had hair as black as night, with eyes an unusually deep shade of blue. But more importantly, both man and girl possessed a strong sense of independence and determination.

Rencavec had always been widely sought out at Summer Meetings and at various Festivals to honor Mut. Women were captivated by his handsome face, and in awe of his strength. Also, there was the intrigue of his aloofness. He never allowed himself to fall in love with any particular woman, though he certainly loved the sharing of pleasures, because he didn't want to be tied down as a man of his own hearth, with children to look after. He valued his un-mated status until Targee took him totally by surprise at one summer meeting four years ago.

Rencavec had always liked Daveg. The two were about the same age, and had spent much time together at summer meetings growing up. Rencavec took it upon himself to be the smaller boy's protector when several boys thought it would be fun to pick on him. Daveg, in turn, taught Rencavec that there are different ways to be strong by his patience and refusal to stoop to name-calling in retaliation for the taunts of others. The two would often be found together, practicing with their spears, or watching the carvers work. As they grew older, however, their paths diverged. Rencavec became an expert hunter, and spent most of his time at the meetings teaching others his techniques.

Daveg's interest turned towards the spirit world. He often could be seen standing alone in the fields, arms outstretched and head cocked to one side, as if listening for something, or someone. He also liked to visit the Mamut of Lion Camp. The shaman had just been named Head of the Mamuti, and was renowned as a caller among his people.

That summer meeting four years ago, Daveg and Rencavec had begun to renew their old friendship. By this time, Daveg had left the mamuti after a private conversation with Mamut, and began to cultivate other interests, namely flint knapping. Wymez, another member of Lion Camp distantly related to Daveg, had recently returned from his long journey to southern lands, bringing with him a variety of new techniques for working the flint, as well as bringing with him a small boy, whose skin was a deep brown color never before seen. Rencavec liked to watch the man work the stone, too. He shaped his points with the skill and loving-care of a true artist.

Targee would come to watch sometimes, as well. She enjoyed her big brother's company, and her good-natured joking could often bring a smile to the normally reserved man's face. Rencavec remembered Targee as being the tag-along little sister. The last time he had seen Targee, she was hardly more than a girl. She had become quite a woman since the last Meeting, and Rencavec was captivated by her open smile and friendly nature. He had developed a bit of an ego over the years, due to the constant attention from other women, and he was shocked and intrigued that Targee wasn't more "in awe" of him like the others were. She treated him like a big brother…and never hesitated to put him gently in his place if he needed a dash of humility. He found himself thinking of her in his furs at night, wondering what it would be like to run his fingers through her thick, lustrous hair, and down the length of her curvaceous, tanned body.

Rencavec's thoughts turned towards the Festival, and he decided to seek Tragee out. ******************************

The culmination of the summer meeting was the Festival to honor Mut. The festival was a time of great celebration. The people were not only worshipping the Mother, but they were celebrating the ties that bound them all together as a people, as well as creating new ties through the sharing of the Mother's gift of Pleasure. There was no concept of fatherhood among the Mamutoi. Sex was a beautiful act between a man and a woman, and should be engaged in often in order to honor the One who had given them the gift of enjoying such pleasure to begin with. They did not associate the sex act as being the direct cause of pregnancy, rather they believed that the Mother would choose to bless a woman with child if she honored Her through Pleasures. That is why a new woman who had not yet been opened in a Womanhood Ceremony could not have a baby, since she had not yet honored the Mother. A baby was a mixture of the spirits of man and woman, this was undeniable, but it was the Mother who did the mixing. Most Mamutoi were fairly monogomous with their mates, and usually children would have the characteristics of the mother's mate, but not always. At times, men and women might engage in Pleasures with someone other than their mate, especially at the Festivals to honor Mut. Sometimes a woman who had been mated for many years with no children might find herself blessed after the Summer Meeting. Sometimes girls who just celebrated their womanhood ceremony would find themselves blessed, also…and were looked upon with much favor as a potential mate.

The mamuti were preparing for the various rituals, the musicians were practicing for the dance. Bouza, the strong, fermented drink of the Mamutoi, had been prepared and would flow liberally at the Festival. Inhibitions would be cast aside like a garment, and man, woman, and child alike would sing and make merry into the night. Once sleepy children were tucked in bed, songs and stories would contain more suggestive innuendo. Glances would be exchanged among men and women, and one by one, they would pair off and slip into the darkness, making their way to various furs to participate in the most ancient dance of life.

The night of the Festival had come. Rencavec watched Tragee from across the hearth, laughing and joking with some of her friends. He found himself staring in awe at the way her auburn hair gleamed in the firelight. Throughout the course of the evening, he would cast surreptitious glances her way when she wasn't looking and his desire would increase. He watched her dancing with Charec, a man from Willow Camp, and knew from the longing expression on Charec's face that he would have to act quickly before his chance was gone. Chareg presently excused himself to go to the designated area set aside for relieving the bladder, and Rencavec made his way over to Tragee, politely extricating himself from a nubile young woman from his own camp who had latched herself to his arm.

"I was wondering when you would come, Ren." Tragee said with a laugh.

"Really, Tragee?" he replied, pleased at her words.

"Yes," she brushed her hair away from her face and sat down, gesturing for him to sit beside her. "You've been staring at me all night, and I was beginning to think you'd lost the nerve."

Rencavec was embarrassed that he hadn't been as subtle in his actions as he'd thought. He covered his embarrassment by acting perturbed .

"Lost my nerve, is it? How could I possibly lose my nerve to approach a mere slip of a girl who is barely past her Womanhood?"

Tragee was oblivious to the insult. She laughed and actually reached out boldly and pointed to his groin, noticing the bulge of arousal already there. "If I'm just a girl not worth your notice, then why does your body say otherwise?"

"I…uh…need to relieve myself…uh…" came his rather weak reply. "I never knew you as a man to mince words, Ren.," Tragee reached out and held his hand. Rencavec found himself pulling her close to him. "Let's not waste any more time," she said, eyes deep pools of longing, "the Meeting is almost over…you'll be going home to your Lodge, and I will be returning to mine."

"Tragee, come to my furs, please."

"Take me there, Ren."

He willingly obliged, and the two spent the night exploring each other fully, probing, learning the other's most sensitive places. Tragee took him to realms of pleasure he had never experienced before. Later, in the afterglow, when they lay together in the furs, Rencavec smiled at his new love and propped himself up on one arm.

"Woman, how do you know to pleasure me so well?"

"I asked your old Redfoot!" she responded with a laugh.

Though young men had no formal manhood ceremony, a Redfoot was a woman dedicated to teach young men the Ways of Honoring the Mother. A woman would dye her feet red, and for the duration of the Summer Meeting would be available to any young man needing instruction in givng and receiving pleasure..

"My REDFOOT?" he exclaimed, laughing. "So you planned this all along, too, didn't you?"

"Mother taught me and Daveg that it is essential to plan before you act."

"Crisie is a wise woman, then."

"Indeed she is," she replied, drawing him to her in a warm embrace. "And she makes irresistible daughters, too!"

Rencavec turned to the task at hand, and reached into the folds of his tunic, producing a stone burin made by Daveg and handed it to Avarie.

"Here you go, little one." He offered the burin to the tiny girl, still hard at work on her little piece of auroch's hide with an old, discarded tool.

She solemnly looked up from her task, and accepted it gratefully. "This tool is very nice…better than mine, even." She turned it around, scrutinizing every facet of the piece in a very adult-like fashion. "Thank you, Rencavec."

"You are welcome, Avarie."

The two continued working in companionable silence as the sun dipped lower and lower on the horizon. Tragee, big with her second child, was making some traveling cakes from some flour, berries, and a bit of dried mammoth meat for the trip home. In order to make the best time possible, food was cooked in advance, so that no time would be wasted in stopping for great lengths of time during the day. She stopped her own work to watch her mate and daughter. Avarie is so mature for her three years, she thought. She will be a big help when the baby comes. Idly, she patted her burgeoning belly, feeling the infant stir within. I can't wait to hold him in my arms. Daveg was sure that the babe was going to be a boy, thereby ensuring the continuing long line of headwomen and headmen from Musk-Ox camp. If she had no more children, Tragee would have to adopt a boy in order to continue the line, since Daveg's mate Aranie had thus far remained childless after six years .

It would not have been the first time a Mamutoi had done so, but out of a measure of pride, most would rather not have to resort to the adoption process. Adoption was a transaction second only in expense to the bride price, the customary payment given to a girl's mother by a man before joining . Tragee smiled when she remembered the extraordinary price her mother set before Rencavec. They had been given an impromtu Promising ceremony out of respect for Crisie's status before leaving the Summer Meeting. To his credit, Rencavec did not blink an eye when Crisie stated her bride price at 10 aurochs hides, 30 rabbit skins, and a large bowl of salt-- very precious to a people so far from the ocean. Tragee was a quality woman, and Crisie knew she was worth the high price.

Rencavec knew she was worth more than that…and he spent the remainder of summer on into the long winter's separation hunting for the required items, trading for salt with his mother's mate's sister and several other people. When the two were reunited at the next Meeting, Rencavec laid TWICE the required price at the feet of a very surprised Crisie and her mate Darnec, who was equally overwhelmed and extremely pleased. Tragee also had a surprise for her beloved…a beautiful baby girl to bring to his hearth. Rencavec held her like she was a delicate clay bowl…marveling at this little beauty that Mut had seen fit to bless his beloved with. All his old thoughts of not being tied down as a man of his own hearth instantly washed away in a flood, never to return again.

Rencavec, noticing Avarie beginning to fall asleep where she sat, gently picked the child up and carried her to her furs, the burin still clutched in her hand. He laid her down gently, slowly removing the burin from her grasp and laid it next to her bed inside a basket. She might hurt herself with this in her sleep, he thought. After covering the child with a soft elk skin blanket, he walked over to where Tragee was working and gave her and her belly a big kiss.

"Woman of mine," he said in a teasing voice, "I believe you're getting fat!"

Tragee picked up a couple of berries and retaliated by squishing them on her mate's face.

"Oh, so now you're trying to turn me into a Mamut, eh?" He joked, referring to the chevron tatoos that marked the face of a man or a woman who had completed their training and had been initiated into the Mamuti. "Your mother's mate isn't good enough for you, is he?"

"Darnec is just fine, thank you very much!" she responded with a smile "even if he does sometimes forget the words to the 'Song of Mut'"!

Darnec was spiritual leader of the lodge. As Mamut, he intervened on behalf of his people in supplication to Mut. He asked for her protection in traveling and hunting, as well as for good luck in the hunt. He presided at birth rituals, prayed for those who were sick, officiated at burials…the most recent being at the death of his old friend Krenec, Crisie's brother and co-leader, several years ago. After his death, Crisie decided it was time to step down and turn the leadership over to Daveg and Tragee. She had seen to it that they were both properly brought up, and able to handle the responsibility. For a time, she had been concerned about Daveg. He showed more of an interest in the spiritual side of life, which could be expected because of how similar he was in some ways to Darnec. Crisie tried to discourage her son from taking that path, however, because she knew that it would be a very great burden to shoulder the responsibility of both spiritual and practical leadership. She even had considered adopting someone from another lodge to be a brother to Tragee, since she had no other children, who could be headman alongside her daughter. Daveg, for a season, spent more time away from the lodge visiting with different mamuts than he did at home. Crisie was sure he would join their ranks, and she had resigned herself to that fact. After all, who was she to argue with Mut, if the call on her son's life was so strong. Shortly after his mating to Aranie, the daughter of the mamut of Elk Camp, he surprised many people by leaving the Mamuti and turning his whole attention back to his lodge. He was happy with his gentle, lovely mate even though they had no children. She was a welcome addition to the lodge, being a skilled healer well-versed in medicinal knowledge.

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