So it has finally come to be. The Ubar has deemed the bride price sufficient, and Jai officially claimed her as his mate. She is so happy to finally be able to call him her mate. No better is there in the camp, in her eyes. So now it is time to begin to make a family, to fill the wagons, and return the gift the Skies saw fit to give. Now she has a mate, a new son, and soon a new daughter. They will start their own circle of wagons, and hopefully there will be many new sons, daughters, and grandchildren to bless them. This night, when I went to find my furs, they had been moved into Jai's wagon. I was not bothered by this, it was right and I needn't worry about the elders gossiping. When I slipped into his wagon, he was waiting-that glint I see often when we are together, in his eyes. This time, he un-laced my vest, and helped me out of my breeches. Then he held the furs for me to take my place beside him, and everything fell into place, like we were meant to be.

One truly never knows everything about a mate until that point where they consumate their joining. It is at that point when both are naked of clothes and any of the other things they hide behind, that they truly get to know the person they will spend their life with. As in all claimings, there is no chance to sample the wares the other has to offer before hand, and a woman can only hope that the mate who claims her will be the kind of warrior that will give as much as he receives. In this the Skies gave Kaeli a gift. She could not have asked for more. When they finally met, skin to skin, with nothing between them save the heat of their two bodies, he took his time, caressing her body, finding those spots that he knew would take her to the brink, teasing and playing them like an instrument,bringing her to the edge and back. She let her hands roam over his muscular body, memorizing every bit, letting her fingers dance over his most sensitive of spots, flitting here, caressing there, finding those spots that would bring his blood to a boil. When neither could hold out any longer, and the fires inside them needed quenching, they came together. Her eagerness to have him, matched by his eagerness to take her. They were perfectly suited, they fit together like a hand in a glove, and when they reached their peak..they found it together......

I was out riding Ghost when I was approached by outrides who told me I must return to camp immediatly. The scouting party had seen signs of Turians and all women were to remain in camp until further orders. It always amazed me that those people who lived behind wall, ever lost their fear long enough to come out, but she could wonder such things later..now I turned must return home. For a while I helped pass out the jerky and flat bread to the warriors, scouts, herders and outriders, and then I helped build the fires needed to cook the meals. It wasn't hard to tell that the warriors are excited over the prospect of a good battle, and they milled around like bosk with no direction. They had pulled out their best weapons and many sat in a circle sharpening them. Like most women of the camp, the idea of battle always brings mixed blessings. On the one hand, there is the pride of knowing your man is a warrior and is not afraid to fight to show it, and on the other hand is a fear that he may be injured or be brought back dead. Battles that take place away from the camp are particularly hard, since us women are not allowed to ride with the Warriors and must remain behind waiting. The wait is so hard so I try to keep myself busy. It could be ahns before any in camp would know how their men fared. Of course I worry about Jai, Teng, and even Old Sef. In a way I am thankful my son has not earned his scar yet..just a little more time I will have to be his mother. After what seems like days, warriors start to trickle in from the battle, each has a bit of news for us, and for the most part, it is good. The Turians are unprepared for the fierceness of the Tuchuk Warriors, and most of the blood being spilled on the field of battle is their own. While I wait more news, I help tend those with wounds. Skies there are so many. Lances, arrows, axes, and just about anything that can be used in battle has left its mark on the Warriors. I even pulled a broken tine from a pitchfork from the leg of one man. Silk, Falon and I are up to our elbows in injured, but thankfully there seem to be no fatal wounds, and the warriors are proud, the scars from these wounds will end up being stories told at the fires, and each will have a story to spin. As the time passes and fewer warriors are returning, I am beginning to worry. Where are Jai and Teng? I don't get much time to dwell on that. The drums sound again, and before I can even wash the blood from one warrior off my hands, Ba'tar, Jai, Teng, Sef, and Ayguili all come in. Its a good thing that blood doesn't bother me, because Ba'tar, Jai and Sef are all bleeding profusely and their woulds are serious. I don't have any idea how long it takes me to tend them all, but I know that when I finished I was exhausted. I know I will be busy keeping my eye on all of them for a while, but I am happy to know they all came home alive, and from the sounds of it, many Turians did not.

The tribe is on the move..many wagons strung in a line, stretching as far as the eye can see. On either side of the long string of wagons are massive herds of shaggy bosk. Jai says the bosk are more shaggy than he has ever remembered, so that must mean the cold is going to set in hard. When the Wagons are stopped for a break, everyone is given time to stretch their legs, eat, and enjoy the company of the rest of the tribe and I try to spend this time with my family. Yes, I feel wonderful being able to at last say the word family. Even though I have two children, in my own growing years I never had family. I never knew my father, although I have been told he was a warrior a daughter could be proud of. I never knew my mother, and even though some say she was Kataii, there are others that say she wasn't and that if I look at myself I can find the truth in it. The old woman that raised me said I was not her granddaughter, she says the healers proved it beyond a doubt when they found the body of ther daughter-the woman some said gave birth to me. I hated that bitter old woman, but I tend to believe her. I stuck out like a white bosk in a herd of black when I was growing up, and I cannot imagine a grandmother would treat a granddaughter the way that woman treated me. Still, all those that might know the truth are gone, and I haven't the time to spend, trying to did up the truth. Truth be, its not as important anymore as it once was. I don't need to prove who I am, I know who I am. And I have family. I would die for any of them without hesitation.

Cana, my sister, with her heart on her sleeve, and a softness in her eyes. A deceptively strong woman, who is a calming influence when I want to be anything but calm. I am so proud of her and the way she is taking her new position. Hers is not an easy path, and I know this from experience, but she handles it well. The Skies granted me the honor of guiding her newest son into this world, and I will forever be in their debt.

Falon..My sister Healer. She is a fiesty one. A force of nature. I can see in her all the qualities of mother and aunt. Those she calls family are very fortunate, for she is a woman who loves strong, and defends to the end. Her praise means so much to me, and when she gives it, I know I have done well. One of these days I may have wrestle her over who gets to hold Cana's son since she won't give him up when its my turn....bet she hogs the furs too..

Tarra...If I could have chosen my own mother, she would have been the one I chose. Strong and wise, with a heart as big as Lar Torvis. When she throws sage on the fires, I see things. She is not one who gives out smiles and praise easily so when she gave both to me, I was honored and proud. I hope that I can grow to be half as good woman as she is.

Silks..Skies, never laugh when she slips in mud..I am still ridding myself of that itching powder. I think somehow that itching powder is her way of welcoming me to the family, and for that I am honored. This woman has so many facets, some are easy to see, some are not. I was gifted to see a side of her the other day, out on the plains. Her and Tarra, playing with words, joking and acting like sisters. Now I know where the Warrior Kam got his gray hairs.
Some have told me, that this Silk is the one that used to be all the time, and if thats true, I hope it stays. If I had to decribe her I would say fire and ice, with Lar Torvis added in. Her hair is flame red, and when I see fire in her eyes, it matches her hair. I have decided it is best to stay on this sisters good side..I have a feeling there would be far worse on her bad side than itching powder. I love this woman, and was honored to be invited to her pink wagon. Skies that wagon would be a good beacon should any lose their way. Falon is so lucky to have an aunt like Silk. That she would even consider me worthy enough to give a gift to, amazes me. Maybe if I am lucky, Falon will let me share and call this woman my aunt. I would have liked to have one like her when I was growing up..she is precious.

Aponi..Poni Bells...she is working so hard to make tribe, and I can see now that her heart is in the right place. Once she is granted status in the tribe, we will finally get to pierce her nose...it should have been done long before now, and I feel her mother was remiss in not following custom to do it. What mother doesn't see to her daughters rights of passage. As soon as my daughter Sky gets here we will do hers. I think Poni Bells will make Teng a good mate. She dotes on him, and together they will bring many fine children to the tribe. She is a good woman.

My warrior Jai..I am so lucky. What woman could ever think she could do better? He is my heart, and I hope he feels it. I think he deserves better than me, so I should consider myself lucky. Little by little he opens himself up for me, and I am starting to fully understand how women have hurt him. I don't know why they have done this and I can only promise him I am not like that. I never dishonored my first mate, and I will not dishonor Jai. I hope the Skies grant us many good years together, and many children to our wagons. He is my heart....

Teng..I hope my son grows to be as good a son and warrior as this one is. Jai did well with him, and he will make Aponi a wonderful mate. I am proud of this young warrior and will be honored if he calls me mother.

::She can hear the wagon master calling to all that it is time to start moving again, so she rolls up her scroll and puts it back in its little cubby hole. She will write some more later after they stop. For now she is happy to have gotten at least some of her thoughts down.

It is good to be Tuchuk...

How does one express her gratitude to so many who have placed their trust in her hands?

It took a while for her to pay attention to the message the drum-beaters were sending...Maybe it was more the looks of the people that she passed. Or the whispers of the elders as she entered the wagons to tend them. She really couldn't say. She just knew that one moment she was tending to the needs of the tribe, and the next she was listening, awestruck as the news of her new position among the people was being spread faster than wildfire on the plains. While she wanted to run from the wagon and ride the plains as fast as her gray could move, she controlled that urge and finished her work.

There would be time later for her to celebrate in her own way. For now the needs of the camp came before some silly expression of happiness...

The time has come, the move is at hand and the healer is relieved to see the wagons start their long journey to their new camp. The bosk are on the move and watching the herd as it stretches out along both sides of the wagon line, is impressive.
Despite the many turns her life has taken, the healer remains a woman of heart. She doesn't hold with the bitterness some freewomen possess and every day is a gift to her.
The first night at the make-shift camp, everyone seems tired but content. She herself is tired from riding the wagon seat all day, but nothing can stop her smile when she sees Jai and her relief is palpable when she sees the scars on the Iron Master and his son, healing nicely, but she keeps those thoughts to herself for she knows better than to try to mother either warrior.
Hearing the praises from the healer Falon, make her smile with pride, though she doesn't do her job for praise, only because these are the people she loves, and anything she can do for them, she does willingly.
She is content just being close to the Iron Warrior, and somehow deep inside she senses some reservations on his side, but her instincts tell her that in time, those feelings will fade as he comes to trust that she has no intentions of behaving as others have in his past.
She sometimes can be caught looking at the Warrior, wondering what thoughts move through his mind, but she doesn't ask..he has a right to his thoughts and she has no right to trespass in them. She herself sees a fine Warrior, one any woman would be proud to call her own, and a man that will be a fine father to the two children who have never had one to call theirs. Her son had always envied his companions for having a father in their wagon, and word had come back to her that he was hopeful that she would make tribe so he could finally settle among the people he rightfully belonged with. Her daughter was more thoughtful in her last message that reached the healer. All she wanted was for her mother to find some peace and a place to finally set roots. The young girl had decided long ago that her mother needed a new mate and up till now the healer had resisted. But time changes things and she is the first to admit the wisdom of her children. The healer looked forward to having her children back with her, and felt that finally she could feel that they would be protected. She looked forward to being a healer amongst the tribe, and most of all, she looked forward to providing a warm, loving home for her family.