That made two ... Part One

Intellectual conversation around the fires is too scare a commodity not to savor while there is a chance. I like a challenge to the mind, principles and beliefs. The night began with a hunger. I couldn't ladle a bowl of stew fast enough to sate it but by the time I had it full, Fonce emerged from the shadows looking for all the world like he needed it a helluva a lot more than I did. I turned it loose for a better cause. While he ate he stared into the fires with enough intensity I asked what disturbed him so. I could empathize in some ways with his answer. Some things ... he just did not know. They escaped him. Others were more familiar forces that shoved him from his peace. They impacted none the less.

I had a chance to study the lines of his face and the brooding of his eyes for a moment or two then told him, Familiar is a safe place sometimes. Ayguili arrived just in time for him to clip his reply. I've known Fonce long enough to predict a few of his thoughts. Not all of them mind you but a few. The half smirk he shot at me was more than enough.

Rivea made the stew for the first fires that night which meant there would be numerous beneath the breath remarks from any who sampled it. It was hearty enough but caused Ayguili to toss much of his into the fire. "Why do women find this need to take something as simple as meat and make it an affair to contain other things. Meat. That is what a man needs. Meat." I teased him that he could always try saying that ... I just like meat. I knew that in Rivea's case it wasn't going to make any difference. She will add more meat … and more schtuff. Even though the Haruspex tried to shield his water from the rise of spark and ash, he never really seemed to take his gaze from the fire as if the answers he sought were found there. Do the flames speak to you warrior? It was the scarrer that replied, Everything speaks if you listen. Even that blasted stew speaks. It says that we need to hunt. Have a nice haunch of tabuk to roast instead of stew. I had to agree with that.

Fonce had not been here during the last move and it was easy to tell that it was eating at him. He mentioned hearing of the difficulties with a tone that dripped responsibility for them. Now, Ayguili is a man of precision, which is evident. He said it was too soon to long for the southern grounds. Many more moons have to pass before we return. But I addressed Fonce's unasked questions. Truth even if it is painful. It was something he had asked from me. It is part of our friendship. It was a harsher journey than many have seen in a long time, but the upside of it was the foals born of it are swift like the wind and strong of heart. The scarrer seemed to understand now and added that each move is different and each on has its' own tribulations he guessed.

I am in and around many of the clans because of my initial search for one to call my own. I am still accepted among their fires. They are friends, they are family to me. I passed the words of some of the elders year keepers to both men. They have marked a time before when the Tribe faced such trials and they have hope that it will be as it has been before ... an easier move the following season. When the scarrer stated the obvious, “It all remains to be seen.” and allowed his gaze to join Fonce' watching the fires, I knew it was time for a new subject.

Now exactly how do you tell a warrior that he has not only become a father but about to be a grandfather while he was away. Why, gingerly and with a smile of course. Well, Fonce, one of the kaiila you left with me, got to one of my mares. There went that damnable precision Tuchuk men are known for. Which one? I proceeded to tell the tale of the khol black son of Holo and my mare Lithe. I didn’t confide all of it, I left out the part of the dark one's birth. That was a story that would fall only to the ears of its owner. I had never named the creature but called him Tsk so that he would at least have some identity. The tale of the blood red roan would come later as well. Holo had sons? I waited for recognition before I told him, Yes ... two. I almost burst out laughing when Ayguili asked ... What's a Holo? Regardless of how Fonce or I tried to explain that beast, Ayguili couldn't quite grasp the depth of the original sire's ... ummm personality nor why his son being more even tempered was something of note. Fonce put it best. Holo is the ugliest most worthless piece of kaiila flesh he had ever been privileged to be saved by

The men ended up ribbing each other about their masculinity and temperament by comparison which made them both laugh. To say that both men are legendary in both categories is an understatement. I fell as part of the expense but it was all well worth it to see the mood of the men improve to joviality.