This night ...

I will remember

Its ears perked up as if they lifted the beast's head with them but it was long before the lonesome tone filled the air. One song then another joined in like a choir ... a choir of sleens howling. Ebet loosed the clip on Malign's chain setting him free for the hunt. Duran did his sleen as well. The animals were off in a wash of shadows with Ebet falling behind as he followed. Duran merely grinned and muttered .. 'they'll come home wagging their tails behind them', then turned up his bota for another swig.

It wasn't the far away cries of the sleen packs that brought me to the main fires ... it was the absence of sound at my own ... the quiet. I'd gotten so used to hearing the yaps and growls of the creatures so that without them everything felt hollow. I was pleased to see a few already there and soon the two singers joined. With a gathering like that what better way to spend the eve than music? The drum I'd fashioned from a dried gourd and stretched hide now rested in an arrogant Tuchuk's lap, the kaiila handler took up her flute and the Ubara stood to sing. It was all so truly moving it brought tears to my eyes.

Slowly the crowd began to dwindle away then I turned to speak to one of the warriors before heading to my small circle of wagons. One day, I would like to hear how he felt of the skies. However politely quiet the evening had been, the anger was clearly visible now. No man wishes to hear of other men and there wasn't any real argument that I could offer. That didn't mean my own temper didn't find a few. They just weren't real arguments. He would know when I was serious. Neither of us were listening but the best way to shut a woman up is to kiss her ... isn't it? I still did not leave well enough alone. Alright then. I can say that I spoke up this time then had to stand there watching as he walked away ... standing there dazed, hurt, confused and trying to quell both the anger and the frustration. If this was dancing, we sure were stepping all over each others feet.

I'm not sure how long it was before Barkh came and shook my arm. One of Holo's sons was ready to enter this world and the mare was in trouble. While I broke the silvery white veil away from the new foal, Rusty and three others had to rock the mother to get her back up on her feet. Her weakened condition worried me but at least both she and the babe had survived.

The sky though cold and crisp had been dry, but on the inside it just kept raining. I'd seen the day from the rise of the central fire until it rose again the next, from the training of a very special colt to the birth of a new foal ... This night ... I will remember.