She watched the kaiila carry its rider from the camp accompanied by guards. She was too far from the camp for them to notice her watching, which was as she wanted it. She didn't want any to see the emotions that swept over her face as she watched, and she certainly did not want the woman riding away to know just how sad she was to see her go. Having never known family till now, she was very protective of one she was now a part of, and seeing one of her family leaving cut into her very deeply. She knew with all certainty that they would see each other again, but it did not change the feeling of loss she felt now. When they had finally ridden out of sight, she turned Ghost and moved off in a different direction. The day had dawned as any, but with a new change for the healer. When she went to dress, her breeches which were snug by design, were so much so that she had to finally put on one of the many beautiful dresses made for her by her daughter, Aponi. The dress was cut so that she could still ride without the garment sliding up, and it fit nicely, conforming to her newly changing figure. After slipping into the dress, she ran her hands over her belly, feeling the changes and smiling. No more flat belly, now it was rounding out noticeably. She knew what to expect being with child, and the changes would not be so gradual in a woman her size. Her mate seemed not to mind these changes, in fact many times she had awakened to find his hand curled protectively over her belly and this made her happy. He seemed excited to know he would soon be a father again, and thankfully he was not the kind to restrict her movements or activities too much. She herself was at the pinnicle of happiness. She wanted this child so much. She did not have the same fears now that she had with her other two, and this child she would not hide or push away, afraid that getting too close would somehow cause their deaths. No, this child would not be left without a father, and she would not be left alone to raise it. It was not that she hadn't loved her other two..to the contrary, she loved them like life itself. That was why she had made the decisions she had when they were young, to protect them from what she could only call the black cloud that seemed to follow her like a shadow. As unreasonable at it sounded, she had spent most her life under the illusion that she was somehow tainted by this cloud. Both parents dead, then her mate dying had caused this feeling, and when she was left with the two small infants, she placed them away from her to keep the same fate from happening to them. So, this new life growing within her, was a new start. She no longer felt that the cloud followed her. She was so proud of Jai, and her happiness at having his child was more than she could express.

She is as happy as any one person can be. She adores her mate and when he returned from retrieving the child Patch, she was relieved. She did not rest until he was back, and the night that he returned was the first night she slept since he had departed on his mission. If worrying about one's mate was considered a weakness, then she was guilty of that, but she would never apologize for such a thing. It was her devotion to him that fueled it, and she would not have it any other way. He was her sky, and she was not afraid to show it. Their times alone in their wagon were a source of great pleasure to both. He was a master at cultivating that side of her that was uninhibited, and she adored him more for setting that side of her free, and not minding the direction that it took. Their wagon was the only place she was free of all the constraints that were imposed on a freewoman in the tribe, and it was here that she allowed herself to give in to those heated stirrings that she had every time she set eyes upon him, or he looked at her in that certain way. She couldn't be sure, but she sensed changes in him.. that the wounds he had born for so long grew fainter in his heart, and he had begun to trust. Maybe it was knowing that he was her sky, and all she wanted. She didn't know. What ever the reason, she wanted to make sure it continued, and he remained happy....

There is something on the air. She isn't quite sure what it is, but she can feel it. Lately she has not been able to tolerate the smell of food and she has a reasonably good idea of what the problem is. Being a healer, she waits a while, till it is the right time to test, and finally does a test, and it only confirms what she already suspected. She is with child. Jai was quick to figure it out and she didn't need to even say anything. All he had to do was see how she reacted to the smell of food and he was grinning. They were closer than most as it was, but this new facet brought them even closer, and life was perfect. When she woke up that morn, and found Jai's side of the furs empty, she didn't know what to think. It was not long before she found the note in which he explained where he had to go, and why. She understood his position and why he had to be gone, so she moved through the days of his absense, keeping an eye out beyond the herds, waiting and watching. She prayed to the Skies to bring him back safely, so that they could both be there when the new life they created decided to make its way out.