Ah, some friendly faces. Sef had returned and when he found out how the young woman he considered his neice had been chained, he was not the least amused and told Kaeli he would find out why she was being treated in such a harsh manner. It was common knowledge that those returning to the tribe to prospect had a tough path to walk, but never had either of them seen one chained - especially one that had blood family residing at the 1st fires. Nor had he ever heard of one being threatened with death if they could not come up with a good enough reason..It was shameful. She had already come to the conclusion that a select few prospects were granted more priveleges than others, as well as being under a blanket of protection not given others, and there was nothing anyone could do about it. Kaeli didn't care one way or the other..as far as she was concerned the damage was done and there was no forgetting the slight that been visited on her offspring. That certain people had chosen to act like back-biting sleen when they had the warriors to shield them from the consequences, was no shock to Kaeli either..she had seen it before, and her experiences had always been that their actions would eventually come back to bite them in the ass. All she had to do was watch and wait, it was only a matter of time. If payback was indeed a bitch - Then Kaeli was about to become the queen of bitches....

Up until this day she had always felt there were at least two warriors in the camp that she could trust, that would act with fairness, and that would consider the points of an issue before jumping to a conclusion based on hearsay. Now it seemed, she was down to just one, and the loss of the other was a pain she would bear in silence. That she had done something that disappointed him, had caused her to feel disappointed in herself and she had accepted the punishment given without complaint knowing that she should have been more careful - more aware of the limits that he had imposed, and why he had imposed them. She had accepted her fate even though she had felt at the time, that there was more to his anger than just the deed she had done unintentionally. Something unspoken that she could not put her finger on..At least until tonight. It wasn't so much how he had treated her daughter at the fires...She knew that there would be no warm welcome from the others of the camp..it was to be expected. She knew that they would drill Sorrel, and poke at her and insinuate that she would never have a place among the tribe. She could tolerate that. She could even tolerate him calling her a dweller and a stranger. She had kept her silence for the most part while it was happening. She had only spoken when asked a question directly, and kept her mouth shut even while he had said all the hurtful things that could possibly come to his mind to her daughter. During it all she felt there had to be something more than just disappointment in her failing to remember to stay inside the herds, that fueled the barrage and it wasn't till he brought up the talk she had had at the fire with a certain prospect that the answer revealed itself. It was the prospect. He had come right out and said the woman thought Kaeli didn't like her, and Kaeli couldn't understand what she had done to give the woman that impression. She treated her just like all the other prospects in the camp, giving her no more and no less attention, and acting around her just as she acted around the others. In terms of how Kaeli treated her, she would have thought the woman would have been relieved that Kaeli didn't come at her with a barrage of questions about why she thought she should be allowed at the fires, and what she thought she had to offer the tribe. Kaeli rarely did this, and in the only two conversations she had ever had with the woman, she had offered up varied opinions to be taken for whatever value the woman chose to find in them. Whether she liked or disliked what ideas Kaeli put forth, was to Kaeli , a moot point. If she didn't want to consider them she didn't have to - they were just ideas. Kaeli had gone to the main fire to work, not to teach the woman anything, and she had not gone out of her way to start the conversation in the first place. As far as whether she liked or disliked the woman..well she hadn't given it much thought..She treated the woman just as she treated the other prospects and it came to Kaeli that this might be more the problem than anything she had said in a conversation. She treated her like a prospect. And like she did with the other prospects, she greeted her like one. This explanation came to her like a lightening bolt. It made more sense than anything else Kaeli could come up with as to why the woman thought Kaeli didn't like her. Prospects were normally proud of being granted the chance to earn their place. They didn't mind being what they were, or being called prospect. This one apparently didn't like it. There had been talk, talk that Kaeli had largely ignored. But, taking everything she had heard, and everything that was happening now, she had to believe that it all was connected. Now that she had satisfactorily put things into a perspective she could understand, she let that go to think on what the next couple days were going to bring. The next day was going to bring some answers. If Sorrel was allowed to take her place as a prospect all would end well and Kaeli would go on with her life and just make sure that she kept herself away from the main fires when the woman was there. That was easy enough to do - she had her own fire to sit by and she could still see those people that she wanted to see without even having to go near the central fire. But, if Sorrel ended up dead or collared as a result of the things that were brought out tonight, that had nothing to do with her, Kaeli would not be able to live with herself, or trust the people that were supposed to be her family and this was an unsettling thought at the very least. All in all this day had had only one shining point to it and that was being able to see her daughter for what could very well be the last time. She had lost a friend that she had trusted almost as much as her mate, someone she thought of as a brother, and even if her daughter was allowed to prospect, Kaeli would never have the same trust for the man again and it was a sad thought. He hadn't come to her privately to speak about her talks with the woman, he had already made up his mind and plotted his course. Kaeli knew that it had never occurred to him to question what possibly reason Kaeli would have to dislike the prospect. He had chosen who he wanted to believe and burned a bridge because of it. She wished her mate was here to help her understand all of this, and she was certain that had he been, things would have been handled much differently. The thought that he may never get to meet the daughter he had swore to raise as his own was deeply depressing to Kaeli. When reshaka brought out the twins to nurse Kaeli held them for a while and had her take them back. She was too upset to want to spend any time with them and she didn't want them to pick up on her distress. After she made sure that Sorrel was covered and sleeping, she sat for a long time just looking at the night, then she would get up and pace.

So many things have changed in the last moon that it is almost hard for the healer to keep up. The move...Unlike that move to north camp, which was frought with dangers, the move to south started with good omens and the move itself went without many hitches. The twins seemed to enjoy the move..some days riding in their cradle boards, strung on either side of their mothers saddle, other days in the wagon, and occasionally even carried in arm by their mother and the slave reshaka. Both had grown so much and they were learning their world so quickly. They competed constantly, battled frequently, and make truce rarely. Her daughter at first was the victim...being much smaller, more delicate and a female. But, as the hands moved past, Sheku developed her own cunning side and soon it was the brother Kus who was crawling for cover, trying to fend off her attacks, and watching helplessly as she took his favorite possessions, his food and just about anything else she wished, when his defenses failed to work. Through these times, Kaeli looked on but did not interfere unless it was to prevent physical harm to her children. She knew that she had to stay neutral, that the children had to work it out between themselves. Like all life, it was survival of the fittest, and Kus had to learn to use more than his superior size to win a war against his sister. Secretly, Kaeli was proud that her daughter possessed the ability to stand up for herself, but openly she maintained a balance that allowed for no favortism. Since arriving at the new camp, her mate had been very busy. Time together had become almost nonexistant. At first it had been setting up the forge so that they could make the parts to fix all the damaged wagons. Then it was making the parts and fixing the wagons. Now it was scouting forays that lasted for sometimes over a hand. She knew he had duties to the tribe so she was patient and did not get angry or petulent over the long absences. She kept a vigil, watching the trails leading into the camp, listening for the sound of the drums that would signal the patrols return, waiting....waiting to feel his weight on their sleeping platform as he slipped in beside her. She was no stranger to this kind of waiting and had been through it before. This time it was harder, but her patience grew stronger and she poured all her energies into her children and work. With so much to do, she could work till she was exhausted and barely able to climb under the furs. When Ba'tar left after putting Ayguili in charge, changes sprouted like new shoots of grass and this gave her something else to think about while she worked. Many of the changes were the kind that should have already been, and some were just a downright surprise and she wished her mate was here to talk to about them. So much she missed him, every night she rode to the highest spot she could find to watch for him, and every moment of her waking day, she silently prayed to the skies for his safe return. Without him the stars seemed to shine less bright and she lost interest in much that went on around her. She ate only because she had to, and only enough to keep her belly from growling in protest. She threw herself into work and rearing the twins, and was seen less often at the main fires. He was her Sky and until he returned she would keep watch....

Who could have asked for a better mate than the one she was so fortunate to have. She asked herself that every time she looked at the two beautiful children he had given her. Their son milk-named Kus, who would someday follow in his fathers steps as a warrior and hopefully an iron master, and their daughter Sheku, who she already sensed, would be the daughter her father wanted so badly to be proud of. She had never imagined she could be so content, and she had Jai to thank for that transformation. He was her Sky, and she wanted nothing more than to make him happy. When each of their children made their way into the world, she was relieved to have his strong hands were there to catch them, and when he announced them to the Sky it had brought tears to her eyes. She had sensed for many moons, changes in the man she had mated - good changes that seemed to lift a heavy burden from his soul. She was not conceited enough to believe that she had anything to do with them, but she knew something very profound had occurred to bring her mate the peace he so needed. Truth be told, he had given her back herself, that part of her that seemed to have died many years ago. Now she looked forward to each day, waking early sometimes to watch him as he slept. She had known during the last part of her pregnancy that she carried more than one child. She hadn't known that they would arrive one boy, and one girl though, and was as surprised as her mate when they came that way. As she held her daughter for the first time, she was given a vision of what the future held for her, and she was content. This daughter would be her fathers daughter, listening to his advice and taking heed of all the wisdom he gave her. With both parents to guide her, she would some day become a very strong woman of the people. Their son would someday be a fine warrior, proud of his origins, his family and his people. This she was sure of. These things went through her mind as she watched Jai with their newest children. He was patient, and gentle, and she could see that his love for them was absolute. Their time at their own fires with their twins, and Teng and Aponi and little FesTus were the brightest times of her day.
Of all the family wagon circles in the camp, she felt that theirs was the happiest. When the warriors returned from their day of work, they were welcomed with open arms, both Kaeli and Aponi waiting and watching until they heard the familiar steps of both, and greeting them with unrestrained love. After they were settled on their furs, the children were brought out for them to play with while the women brought them food and drink. There was harmony within their wagons, and everyone could see it. Even their slaves were happy, neither feeling any animosity from their mistresses, both made to feel that they contributed in a great way to the smooth running of their camp, and to the watching of the new children. Kaeli thanked the generosity of her mate for making sure they had help, and she was doubly grateful that he was took more than just a casual interest in his children. He was truly skilled when it came to his newest, having a talent for calming them and it made her smile to watch him as he played with them. He was everything she had ever dreamed of, and far far more than she had ever expected to be blessed with.

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.