***

Chapter Six

***

Star's Fire walked into his brothers' tent the next morning, looking around.  "Where's Tapa?"

"Looking over the horses.  Why?" Sata asked, looking up from his mending.  "Is there a problem?"

Star's Fire flopped down across from him, giving him a look.  "Even with the book I have no idea what to do with my wife.  Last night he made noises that I'm not familiar with while touching himself.  I'll never get him to make those for me because I have no idea how to do anything with another man."

Sata smiled.  "You've done the same to yourself at least once," he reminded him.

Star's Fire blushed.  "Father caught me and told me it was wrong.  That I was setting a bad example for Tapa and that's why he was acting so much like a girl that year."

"That was how he was growing up," Sata said patiently.  "Father was wrong."  He looked up then shook his head.  "Many men take pleasure for themselves without having to pleasure their wives."  He looked at his younger brother.  "How long ago was that?"

"Right before my manhood hunt.  He said it would make the spirits talk to me and make my mind go wrong, plus it was hurting how Tapa grew into a man."

"He was wrong."

Star's Fire pouted.  "What do I do with my wife, Sata?  I have no idea how to pleasure him."

"That's the fun part of being married, finding out how to touch them so they make happy noises.  As you two touch, you'll learn what he likes.  The same as he will from you.  Did you watch?"

Star's Fire blushed, shaking his head quickly.  "I didn't want to interrupt.  He told Toler that he needed some relief badly."

Sata nodded.  "I don't take Eta as one who waits well on those matters.  It's been nearly a month without."  Star's Fire moaned when Tapa came in.  "Out for another while."

"Why?"  He sat down, looking at his older brother.  "Ah, telling him how to cure his wife from being so bouncy as they call it around here?"  Sata scowled at him so he got up with a sigh and stomped off.  "Let me get dinner then."

"Thank you," Sata called.  He looked at his younger brother.  "It could be much worse.  At least you have touched women.  Haven't you?"

"Of course I have," he said, looking offended.  "Just playing though."

"Then you should touch him like you did them."

"He's not a woman!  I don't know what's different."

"It's the same areas only they're shaped like yours are.  The same things that feel good on you will on him.  Then he'll show you how hard and often he likes to be touched and stroked.  I had to learn what my wife wanted over the first few months because she was complicated and liked different things based on her womanly urges.  At least Eta is uncomplicated that way."

"I still have no idea how to touch a man."

"The same way you do yourself."

"But I don't."

"The way you did before Father became a deer's tail end."

Star's Fire cracked a smile at that.  "I don't think he'd like that comparison."

"Pity."  He shifted, looking his little brother over.  "There's no doubt you can please him if you take a few hours to try.  Though I would learn how to compliment him better.  That's probably why your last one went to another hunter, Star's Fire."

"It is not!" he complained, standing up.  "I don't want him to laugh at me."

"He won't," Sata said, smiling at him.  "It's a good sign you feel that way."

Star's Fire nodded.  "Fine.  How would I start?"

"With a kiss.  Perhaps catching him the next time he pleases himself you should move up next to him and kiss him, ask him to show you how to please him."

"That's very bold."

"I know.  It can still help."  He patted him on the cheek.  "It'll be fine, Star's Fire.  Go back to your mate."

"I told them I needed some advice.  I barely know what to say to him.  He's not the same person when we're not cooped up."

"Of course not.  Right now he's trying to figure out how to deal with you as well.  He's never had a husband.  You've never had a wife.  So please him and it'll be better."

"Yes, Sata."  He went back to his tent, going to figure that out for himself.  He looked at the Shaman, who gave him an odd look.  "I needed advice from my brother."

"Did you get the book?" he asked.

"Yes, but it doesn't tell me what I need to know."

"Only Eta can do that," he pointed out.  Star's Fire nodded, going back into the tent.  He shook his head.  "That poor, confused young hunter.  He'll be fine with time but Eta is going to have a lot of fun teaching him how to please his new wife."  He went to find the woman he traded favors with so she'd do his laundry for him, finding her doing some.  He handed over a shirt.  "I rolled over onto some of the berry juice."

She scowled, swatting at him.  "Next time, don't do that!"

"Yes, dear."  He walked off, letting her handle it.  She had managed to get those stains out before.  Star's Fire came jogging his way.  "What's wrong now?" he asked impatiently.

"Eta's moaning on the skins.  He's fevered."  They went back together, him taking down a few of the hangings to give him better light to look around in.  "I don't know what's wrong."

"I do.  He was bitten."  He looked at his leg.  "Looks like the one that got him as a child.  I'll be right back.  Get me some clean, cool water to wet him down," he ordered when the tent flap opened.  Sata went jogging to do that.  "Star's Fire, I'll need some boiling water to draw out the herbs' abilities."  He ran down there with the pot to draw some from the river.  The shaman ran to his tent then came back to work on the bite.  Sata came back first.  "Find the snake."  He shifted, looking around until he spotted the lump inside a bag.  He poked it and the snake came out angry.  It died when he stomped on it.  "Thank you."  Star's Fire came back with his and put it over the fire.

"Get me something to bind the wound with."  They did that, settling in to help him.  This was going to hurt him.  "This will draw out the poison," he told them.  "Give me the warm water."  Star's Fire handed it over, letting him soak the herbs in it for a few seconds before applying it over the bite he had carefully opened further with his hunting knife.  Then he bound it.  "Wash down his face and chest to help his fever come down."  He stood up.  "Let me get the guards to put out more snake traps.  Thankfully Eta has been bitten before."  He went to do that.  "Leader, Eta has a new, still bleeding snake bite."

"Poisonous?"  The shaman nodded.  "Will he be all right?"

"He should be fine but he's fevered.  I applied the herbs to draw out the poison.   Have all the tents checked and let the young bait traps for them."

"I will.  Star's Fire panicking?"

"Indeed, but for a good reason.  His fever's high but it will come down."  Sata came out, looking around.  "Tapa's hunting."

"That's fine."  He whistled loudly.  Maris' head popped up.  "We need more cloth to bind his wound with.  Do you have any?"  She nodded, going inside to get some then bringing it to him.  "Thank you."

"What happened?"

"Snake bite," the shaman said.

"I'll help them."

"They'll have to bathe him to get his fever down," the leader said, stopping her.  "You don't need to see your father naked."

"Good point.  I'll have Mother help where I can't."  She ran down to the river to find the women.  "Father got bitten by a snake seeking warmth."

Her mother looked at her.  "Star's Fire has him well in hand?"

"Sata looked upset.  He needed more cloth for the wound. I gave him ours."

"That's fine.  I'll be up to help in a while.  Go herb gathering.  Fever and poison ones.  The shaman will need more."  She nodded, rushing off to do that.  "Find Tapa if you can.  I saw him heading in that direction," she called after her.

"I'll finish those, you go," one of the elderly women told her.  She nodded, rushing off to help.  "It figures that boy would get into trouble at the end of his marriage month."  The other older women all nodded, finishing up.  The children would be baiting traps for the snakes by now.

***

Maris rushed into the Leader's tent, handing over the herbs to his wife.  "For the shaman at my mother's orders.  There's hunters coming that aren't ours," she panted, looking at the leader.

"I'll send someone to meet them.  Do we know them?"

"They have short hair.  They may be Sata and Star's Fire's people."  She went with the other woman to help with the herbs.  "There's visitors."

Sata looked over from binding the wound.  "Do we know them?  Is it a problem coming?"

"It could be your people.  I don't know."  She moved him to get into the wound.  "That's disgusting."

"Very," Sata agreed.  "It's drawing out the poison but I think it's infecting."

"The shaman will be here soon," Maris' mother assured him.  "Daughter, herbs?"  Some new were warmed in the hot water and handed over. "Make the fever tea for him.  He's still got a good one."  They worked while Sata cleaned himself up and Star's Fire helped, where he could.  He was more fluttering and bouncy, antsy about things.  "Go," she finally ordered.  "Get it out of your system then come back."  He nodded, letting his older brother drag him out of the tent.  "It's clear he likes him at the very least."

"Star's Fire is very good to Father," Maris assured her.  "He simply has no idea what to do with another man.  Much as I don't."  That got a few giggles from the older women.  "I'm sure we'll both learn, hopefully he'll learn before me for Father's sake, but we'll both learn."  Her mother gave her a hug and got to work making her father drink the vile tasting tea.  "He hates that."

"He'd hate being a spirit more," her mother said firmly.

***

Sata walked out with the hunters.  "Father," he greeted, nodding at the other.  "Star's Fire is off pacing.  His mate was bitten this morning by a snake seeking a warm place to rest."  He held his father's horse's head so he could get down.  "Tapa was out hunting."

"We ran into him," he admitted, looking his son over.  "Star's Fire is with his hunter?"

"Pacing by the river.  He's anxious.  Like a man whose wife is in labor."

"Ah," the other elder said, getting down with a wince.  "Star's Fire!" he called.  He came running over.  "Is he all right?"

"The herbs are drawing the poison out but there's a small infection and a fever to deal with," he said quickly, hugging him then his father.  "Eta will be fine, they assure me of it, but it'll be a few days before he's healthy.  It was a young snake."

"We've had two or three of those ourselves," the elder assured him.  "Come, let us talk," he told the leader there.  "We wanted to meet the new son of our tribe."

"We're still talking about which tribe we'll live with," Star's Fire admitted.  "He's one of the lead hunters here."

His father looked at him.  "Yet he likes men?"

"He's very good," Leader assured him.  "That's why he trains our young and goes on the mate hunting team."  He waved a hand.  "Please, my tent is this way.  My wife is helping Eta at the moment so Star's Fire can pace."

"I can make tea," Maris said as she came out.  "They're bathing him so I can't help anyway."  She washed her hands and took the pot to the river for water then came back to heat it.  She looked at Sata.  "Uncle Sata, how else can I help you and Star's Fire?"

"So far it's going to be all right.  The infection will ease as the poison leaves him.  The fever will too."  He gave her a hug.  "Eta will be fine, Maris."  He smiled at his father.  "This is one of the children Eta fathered.  His only daughter yet she's a very good hunter, Father.  Star's Fire, go finish pacing so you can help more."  His brother left to help some more.

"Interesting."  He nodded politely at her.  "Are you soon to be married?"

She laughed.  "Not for years yet.  I can't marry until well after my womanhood ceremony and that's not for years."  She checked the water, finding the herbs they used for tea to add them.  "Should I go raid Father's berry stash, Leader?"

"Please."

"There's some in our tent," Sata told her.  She went to gather them then came back to help them.  "Try these, Father.  He soaks them in a honey solution first and they're very good."  His father nibbled one, nodding some.  "Eta is an excellent cook.  Even Mother would say so."

"I'm sure she would."  He nibbled on another one.

"All the women like Eta's cooking," Leader agreed.  "His aunt taught him well when his mother couldn't cook any longer."  He looked at Maris, nodding for her to go.  She pouted.  He gave her a pointed look so she went to find Tapa.  "She'll find your other son if she can't go help.  She's a very strong girl."

"I saw many men," Sata's father said.

"We don't have many girls born every year.   In ways that's a good thing but in some it's not.  That's why we take mates and let them decide if they want to be together.  Eta is very good at judging who would go together well.  He's made ten successful matches this year alone."  That got a pleased look from the elder.  "He's also one of our senior hunters, plus he takes a good hand with the younger hunters to train them so their fathers don't have to worry about them.  He says it lets their mothers yell at him instead of their fathers when they get minor hurts from stupid mistakes."

"They certainly do," Sata agreed dryly.  "One was last week because her son was scratched."  He nibbled on a berry, handing back the bowl.  Their elder took one, smiling at the taste.  "I watched him and I don't know how he does it."  He nibbled on another and put them closer to them.  Tapa came in damp.  "Stop to bathe?"

"Of course."  He sat down after hugging his father.  "Father.  Elder Sower."

"Tapa.  How was your hunting?"

"I brought down something small before Maris found me.  How is he, Sata?"

"Small fever.  Small infection from the poison.  It's draining well with the herbs.  It should be fine in a few days."  He looked at the leader.  "Will this push back their month farther?"

"Should it?"

"Star's Fire could still use the time to learn how to have a wife."

"We've noticed that he has no idea how to talk to Eta."  He shrugged.  "They'll learn."  He looked at the elders.  "Your Star's Fire is very polite to us.  Even that first day.  He made calm arguments, he took it in stride.  He talked to Eta, getting to know him as a person instead of a wife.  He warned us Sata and Tapa would be coming soon after him.  Sata was very calm about it and has helped a lot when the boys couldn't figure out how to talk to each other."

"I've also given both advice as one who had a wife," Sata admitted.  "It's helping when they have nothing to do but stare at each other.  Star's Fire is too shy to touch his mate yet."

"You agree with this?" his father asked.

Sata nodded.  "I think those two are very alike, Father.  They have the same sort of draw to trouble.  Star's Fire pouts his way out of it, Eta can do the same or find other ways.  They're both very good hunters.  When we had to go steal back a few of this tribe's hunters from the next tribe to the south trying to claim land, Eta planned the raid and carried off the freeing duties, then faced down their leader to belittle him and made him scream like a woman in pain at a simple ankle injury.  Then he told the women there that this tribe would appreciate them more and brought home ten of them.  One with child.  They're in their talking months so we'll see weddings soon."  Their elder burst out laughing.  "Indeed, something Star's Fire could do."

"It was nice that one of them liked his oldest son," Leader told him.  "He was most happy that his son went to his marriage tent willingly and they seem to be happy when I checked on them last.  He's shy but she's good at teasing him until he laughs and tries to kiss her.  Then she pushes him and he laughs more."  Star's Fire came back in looking calmer.  "Is he doing better?"

"The shaman is back looking at the wound and sent me off before I fumed up the tent with worry as he told me."  He sat beside his brothers.  "They say he should be fine and his fever is coming down now."

"Good," Leader agreed.

His father stared at him.  "Do you like him as a wife, Star's Fire?"

"I've never had a male, Father.  I do like him as a person.  I appreciate his skills and how good of a hunter he is.  If I knew how to please a man, I'd be very happy with him as a wife.  Until I do, I have doubts that are being eased by Sata and Eta himself."  The elder nibbled on a berry.  "I do that whenever I know not what to say," he offered with a grin.

"They're very good for that."  He nibbled on another one.  "You had one girl you were interested in, correct?"  Star's Fire blushed but nodded.  "It's much the same only you need fat or oil."

"I told him to let his wife teach him, as every couple must learn how to please each other," Sata said.  "It's the fun part of the first year of marriage."

The elder nodded.  "I remember that time fondly as well."  Sata's Father gave him an odd look.  "Did you not?"

"I knew how to please my wife already.  As I'm sure my sons did before I heard that."

Star's Fire shrugged.  "I know how to please a normal wife.  Eta is a bouncy, special wife."  His father scowled.  He glared back.  Sower coughed.  His father calmed himself so Star's Fire did.  "How is Mother?"

"Good but she wanted to come," the elder said.  "The snows are looking bad this year so we thought to come meet him now instead of in the spring when you can get through the pass again."

"Will you be able to get home?" Sata asked.

"We'll have to take the more dangerous way through the upper pass but we can," his father assured him.  "You will be coming?"

"I don't want to be Lead Hunter, Father.  I'm not ready yet.  I'm too young and still have much to learn."

The elder nodded.  "As we thought you'd say, Sata.  We decided on Hogar's eldest son.  He decided to move to our camp to tend his father's needs.  He's an older hunter but has much experience teaching the young hunters and leading war bands."

"He taught me much," Tapa agreed.  "As much as Sata did."

Sata nodded.  "He taught all of us what stealth was."

Star's Fire nodded.  "He kept me from being too ready many times," he agreed.

Leader smiled.  "Were you bouncy too?"

"Yes," he moaned, shaking his head.

"And loud," Sata added, patting his brother on the back.  "Very loud."  Tapa laughed.  "The same as this one was and I was at that age."

The shaman came in.  "Sower, well met again."  He clasped his hand.  "And you as well, Tera."  He clasped his hand then sat down next to Star's Fire.  "His wound is healing.  The infection is draining well, Star's Fire.  Give it a few more days and he'll be cranky, wanting to do things he can't do for another seven-day."

"Thank you."

"We'd miss Eta and his stuffing."  He looked at Leader, who was shaking his head.  "I would."

"You'd miss him for other reasons, as would we all," he said patiently.

"I still want to learn how to cook from him," Sata admitted.  "Before I poison myself again."  His father snorted, shaking his head.

"He did," Tapa agreed.  Star's Fire nodded.  "Twice now."

"He could easily have another wife."

"I haven't met one yet that draws me, Father," Sata told him.  "When I do, I'll talk to her until she relents and offers for me.  Or I'll do as Eta's people do and steal her then talk to her for the next month until she loves me."  He smiled at Star's Fire, who blushed again.  "Though I will be stocking things to do during it so we're not stuck with nothing to do.  That way I don't have to try to make his berries and poison us both when we need things to talk about."

"I had no idea how to talk to him.  It was a new experience."

"You still need to learn how to compliment him better.  He blushes nicely when you do."

"I do like that."  He smiled.  "You're the one who inherited Mother's sweet tongue."

"True, but I have showed you some."  He patted his brother again.  "Now all we need to do is to find Tapa a mate."  His father shook his head.  "He's of age.  He's older than I was when I was married."

Sower nodded.  "He is.  There's not many who have expressed interest in him at either camp."

"Then maybe Eta can find him one," Sata decided.  "He seems able to find good mates."

"Only one of the new ones has no present mate with her," Leader agreed.  "She's interested in one who's out hunting.  She had seen him before but he's scared so he's off hunting her dinner.  Once he gets back she'll pin him down then."

"That's fine," Sata agreed.  "It's good when a woman knows her mind about which hunter she wants as hers."

"Then she'd do most of the talking," Star's Fire agreed happily.  "No awkward silences for berry nibbling."  He ate one, making Sower smile.

"He speaks like an elder at times but doesn't have Mother's gift of praise," Tapa told them.  "Mother would probably like Eta."

"I think she would," Sata agreed.  "If I wasn't sure Star's Fire wanted him, I'd offer for him."

Star's Fire glared at him.  "Only if you want us to come to fighting."

"I said if you didn't want him," he reminded him.  Star's Fire backed down at his look.  "I would not poach your hunt, brother," he said more quietly.

"Thank you."  He nibbled another berry, holding them out to his father.  "Want another?"

"Please."  He nibbled on it.  "He does this very well."

"Eta is unusual but most who know him like him.  Except the second father of one of his children, whose mind is clouded by fermented honey and berry juice," the shaman told him.

"Thankfully he no longer thinks that I'd be good with my niece," Sata said dryly, nibbling on his own berry, giving Tapa one too.  "Though it was nice to hit him whenever he suggested it."

A young boy ran in.  "Leader, we found the snake nest.  It's near the horses.  Can the shaman come check them?"

"I can," the shaman agreed, getting up to follow him out.  "How did you find it?"

"It's warm in there to keep them warm and nothing to stop them from snuggling in except a hoof."  He showed him.  "With the grass stored there, they're bedding in it."

He got down to look, nodding.  "Very good catch, young one.  Some day you'll be the hunter Eta is."

He smiled.  "Can they steal me a mate like Star's Fire then?"

"Of course we will.  Go get Toler or one of the senior hunters.  They can withstand a bite better than one your age."  He ran to do that.  Toler came in with a smoking stick.  "Good idea."  They smoked the snakes until they came out so they could catch them easier.  "He wanted you to steal him a mate like Star's Fire some day when I told him he'd be a hunter like Eta."

"He will be," he agreed happily.  "My nephew is very good at finding things, Shaman."  He carefully moved the grass, finding a few more that they plucked up to put into the bag.  They moved around everything else in there then let the horses rest again, going to find any others in the traps.  "Did they go after Eta because of the cooking he does?"

"No.  His tent is very warm right now.  He has it lined and skins on the ground.  I almost didn't need a shirt in there."  That got a smile.  "We need to make sure he wasn't baking."  Toler went to do that while the shaman killed the snakes and got to work preserving the parts he needed.

***

Sata came in later that afternoon with Star's Fire.  "Elder."  She smiled up at him.  "How is he?"

"Doing better, Sata."  Star's Fire sat down by Eta's head, stroking over his forehead then taking the damp cloth to wipe him down.  "He'll be fine, Star's Fire."

"Our father isn't happy," Sata said quietly.  "He wanted Star's Fire to make an alignment marriage with another tribe and have children."

"He can have children here," she reminded him.  "As Eta did."  She stood up.  "Some people you can't make happy no matter what they do and say."  She left, going to talk to her husband.  "Will we have problems?"

"Their elders like it.  His father is much like his youngest son."

"He needs a mother's hand correcting him?" she teased with a smile.

He smirked back.  "The older version of that.  He's too old for that."  He pulled her down.  "How is he?"

"Better.  The infection is nearly out of the wound.  His fever is down very low at the moment.  He'll be fine."  She stroked his cheek then went to fix them dinner.

He settled in to watch her.  His wife did some wonderful things with food.

***

Star's Fire looked up that night, finding his father coming in.  "He's asleep but you probably won't wake him, Father."  He pointed.  "Sit, please."  He sat down, staring at Eta.  "They don't cut their hair after their manhood hunt."  He went back to his combing and rebraiding job.  It would help keep him cooler and he would appreciate it.  Plus it gave Star's Fire something to do with his hands before he went insane.

"I've noticed that."  He looked at his son then around.  "This is well decorated."

"He sews very well, Father.  His mother had her fingers bend crookedly so she had to teach him how to handle things for her."

"I've seen elder women with that problem."  He looked at his son's wife then at his son.  "This is not what I would have chosen for you, son."

"I don't care, Father.  I do respect and love Eta.  I respected him for a long time before I realized I loved him.  I still have not much of an idea of what to do with him but I do love him."

"You could be married to a nice girl from the next village to our north.  It would do the clan good."

Star's Fire sighed, shaking his had.  "They don't like us."

"They've had problems this year and came looking for an alignment marriage.  It would help the new clan a lot to have it among them."

Sata walked in, catching his brother's eye to silently tell him to keep calm.  "Father, I doubt he could father children that wouldn't get them mad at us.   They'd pout like him and they wanted a good hunter."  He sat down.  "Sower suggested me instead of him for that since I'm the better hunter in the family."  He looked at his brother.  "Not that the one they want to marry off isn't nearly Maris' age.  He called her cute and barely a woman."

Star's Fire shuddered.  "I would never touch one that young.  It would hurt her and she'd die from the future children."

"As mine did," Sata agreed.  He looked at his father.  "If Tapa's complaining nature was fixed, perhaps he'd be a better candidate.  He's nearly her age.  He wants to rejoin the clan.  He does decent hunting and she'd calm him down even if she did hit him repeatedly with a pot when he got mouthy."  His father glared.  "It's the truth. He's one of the ones with a hot temper but it'll calm him down.  If she's healthy it'd be a long lasting marriage with many children.  Star's Fire had relations with the woman he nearly had and she never had children so it's a clear sign he might have problems with that.  Tapa's possibly sired one already with one of the girls in their tribe.  He looks a lot like him.  He's the better choice."

"His mother and I agree Star's Fire is the better choice, Sata."

"Then Mother would've come with you," Star's Fire said dryly.  "We're due to be married in a seven-day, Father."

"You cannot have children with him."

"So?  He had four very good children with the women of the tribe and they've assured me I can do the same when I'm ready.  Two have already come to me to offer when I get ready to have a screaming babe who will want me to teach them things."  He leaned down to kiss him, getting a light moan back.  "Sleep more, Eta.  It's all right."  He looked at his father again.  "These are the same people who nearly killed me for going onto their lands by accident when I was young?"  His father nodded.  "Then they would not like me.  Even when they saw us on friendly terms for trade last winter they didn't want to acknowledge that you brought me.  They made it very clear they don't like me."

"I forgot about that," Sata said.  "If I remember right, didn't their shaman ask their spirits to take you with a plague during that trading session?"  Star's Fire nodded.  "Huh."  He looked at his father, who glared.  "Not my doing, it was his."

"They are willing to accept him as a token of peace."

"That's nice but I'm about to be married.  Even if he is sick at the moment, he'll be fine within a few days."  Maris came in with bowls of food.  "You didn't have to."

"Yes I did or else Father would never get better and you'd be sick beside him from Sata's cooking."  She put down bowls, handing their father the spare one.  "Elder Sower is eating with Leader tonight."  She looked at her father.  "He could use wiped down."

"I will once we're alone," Star's Fire assured her, getting a smile back.  "Thank you, daughter."

"Welcome, second father."  She skipped off to tell her mother that.

"She has truly learned well at her parent's hearths," Sata told their father.  "The one who taught Eta to cook is doing very good with her."

"Then she'll be a productive wife when she's older.  That is not the point."

"It is the point," Star's Fire said.  "Eta is my mate and my choice, Father."

"We do not live this way."

"You mean like our former lead hunter's father?" Sata asked.  "Or our elders a few years back who got together after their wives died of a fever?"  He dug into his food.  "Hmm, bit too much of that spicy one."  He ate another bite, making sure he got some roots.  "Better with the roots."

"I'll keep that in mind."  He nibbled a bit, nodding.  "She was feeling fiery tonight.  The boys must be picking on her again."

Their father stood up.  "You are to be married to make the alliance, son.  I do not care what you want."

"Father, I'm not going back," Star's Fire told him calmly.  "My place is here.  Eta is a senior hunter, he has the higher position so I'm staying with him instead of bringing him back."  His father stomped off.  "That did not go well but thank you for trying to help, Sata."

"I like you two together.  Even if you can't figure out what to do with a man.  Wake him and make him eat.  It can help with his fever then we can bathe him later."  Star's Fire nodded, doing that and feeding his mate before eating his own dinner.  Then Eta went to sleep curled up on his pillows.  Sata went back to his own tent, finding his youngest brother missing.  He groaned.  "Tapa?" he called.  He came in carrying some water.  "Tea?"

"Cleaning."  He sat down to clean himself once the water was warm.  "How is he?"

"Sleeping off the fever and the poison.   He'll be fine soon."

"Good.  Father?"

"Acting like a girl right before her ceremony."  Tapa scowled.  "You know he does.  Does that not seem strange to you?  They won't even talk to him if he's present and they want him?"

"As a peace offering it is a good one."

"Not really.   Star's Fire isn't a great hunter.  He's not a good choice if they want children since he hasn't proven he can have one.  Sower said she's nearly Maris' age.  Just past her ceremonies."  Tapa grimaced at that.  "Who did you have that son with?"

"One of the hunter's wives asked me to grant her a night." He gave him a smug look.  "She said her husband had no need for her body anymore."

"Uh-huh.  Does he know that?"

"I would assume so."

"Uh-huh."  He mentally sighed.  "What is Sower's opinion on this marriage?"

"He didn't speak to me of it."

Sata got up and went to find him, sitting next to him in Leader's tent.  "What is your opinion on this marriage?"

"It's not a good plan for Star's Fire.  She's too young to be more than pledged.  They don't like him and I have not heard this token of peace your father speaks of."  Sata nodded at that.  "I don't doubt he suggested one of you three."

"Of course he did.  He wants to lead some day," he agreed quietly, glancing around.  He looked at his elder.  "Tapa's son came from another hunter's wife?"

"We heard.  He had an injury that meant he could not have more.  She backed up his claim that she came to him, not him going to her to shame her family.  They don't say anything about it."  Sata nodded.  "You think like an elder."

"I'm still too young and have too much to learn."  That got a smile and a nod.  "My father is not being reasonable."

"No, he's not."

"He said mother agreed?"

"Not that I've heard.  She's still fretting that Eta won't feed her boy."

"He does better than she does in most things," he pointed out.  Sower nodded and laughed.  "You'll tell her?"

"If only to make her quit fretting at me," he agreed.  "Are you coming home?"

Sata considered it.  Then shook his head.  "No.  I can do much good here.  I'm accepted here and they could use another good hunter.  Tapa should go."

"Tapa will be," he promised.  "Anything else of note?"

"Have mother visit?"

"I can do that.  She'll be pleased to travel for that reason."  He patted him on the knee.  "Go rest.  I foresee the next few days being active with arguments."

"My father whines like a girl before her ceremonies when he doesn't get his way," he agreed quietly, cracking the elder up.  "Thank you."  He got up and went back to his tent.  "Father said you're going home with him?"

"We are."

"You are."  Tapa glared.  "It's good here.  Good hunting, nice people, no Father making plans."  He sat down.  "Sower agreed I still had much to learn before I could or should be an elder.  If I go back, I'll be made into one long before I'm ready because so many of us are young and full of temper.  If and when I become an elder, I want to be a thoughtful one that helps my clan.  I can't do that yet."

"Mother will wail like Mountain Spirits do."

"Mother will not wail.  She knows.  I sent word back to her with the first one who came for messages that I liked it here."  He looked at his little brother.  "Have a safe trip?  Keep messages coming?"

"Of course.  Are you sure?"

"Quite.  Someone needs to pick a good hunter for Maris to mate with."  Tapa snorted, shaking his head as he packed things.  Sata laid down, getting comfortable.  "It's nice, the snows here don't make my knees and feet ache like ours do all winter long.  Even if it is just as cold."

"I'll send your things down with someone."

"Thank you.  Tell mother he feeds us well."

"Of course.  Maybe I'll bring some of the berries for her."  That got a smile and a nod.  He packed some of those as well and laid down to sleep.  Sata had no idea that he'd be here alone in the morning.

***

Tapa snuck off to meet with his father.  "Sata's asleep.  I slipped that syrup onto his lips so he's safely out for a few hours."

His father nodded.  "Then we only have to make sure that one has a better husband than your brother."

"I've seen a few hunters watching the camp," Tapa told him.  "Single or double pairs.  I told the guards here and they said they were scouting for mates."  His father gave him a pleased look.  "We can talk with them."

"We can.  Are they close by?"  Tapa nodded, pointing off to the west.  "Let us talk to them and it will be solved.  Finding him a substitute husband is equally honorable since my son is not like that."  He followed his younger son out to find those hunters, startling them.  Which made them weak in his mind but that was something they could use when he became leader and their clan needed to expand.  "Well met."  He sat down across from one.  "You are hunting what sort of mates?"

"Two sorts.  We have need of both husbands and wives for a few of our young hunters."

"We have not seen you here before.  Are you of this tribe?" the other asked.

"No.  My son was the one they took to mate with Eta.  Unfortunately my son does not like men that way so there's a problem with that mating.  I was going to offer to find him a better mate so we could have our son back."

"Eta would not keep him if he did not desire him back," the second hunter said.  "We have talked with Eta over hunting matters in the past.  He is very honorable."

"Right now he's very sick," Tapa told him.  "A snake got him and my just older brother has no idea what to do with it.  Their shaman is good but my brother has a pledged mate waiting on him since he doesn't like men.  He feels he must stay until he's better since he has no one else to care for him."

"I can see how that is a problem.  What of the young girl that visits him?"

"His daughter Maris.  She's a few years from her womanhood celebration.  Though, I'm not sure she's suitable since she hunts so well," Tera said with a grimace.  "Our women do not do such things," he said at their odd looks.  "Unless their children are starving that is their husband's or family's job."

"I've heard some of the northern groups were like that," the first one said, looking at his elder.  Eta would be a prize husband for one of theirs. They had been looking at his sons as one of them.  Their people would be most pleased with them.  He got a simple nod.  "We may have one who would like Eta, but that could get them quite mad with us since he is a senior hunter."

"He's looking to be a wife now," Tapa said, holding in his sneer.  "That means he'll not be hunting as often while taking care of his husband."

"Besides, he seems to have a favorite berry that seems to come from your areas anyway," Tera said more smoothly.  "That would let him do all the cooking he wanted with them."

"It would," the first agreed.  "We will talk of it."

"We need to leave tomorrow because the snows are coming to the mountains heavy this year," Tapa told them.  "If we don't leave tomorrow, we can't get back to our camp until spring and the alliance marriage with Star's Fire will break down."

"We understand.  Let us do that tonight then," the first one said.  His elder gave him a look but he was young and uncautious.  If Eta didn't like it, he'd take out that hunter.  They had heard what happened when one touched one of Eta's sons without his permission.  "Prosperous hunts."

"You as well," Tera agreed, clasping their hands and leaving with his son.  He looked at Tapa.  "Sata will be well suited here.  When he has seen sense he can come back to take his rightful spot.  Perhaps he'll bring a few more wives with him for you and the others, son."  Tapa nodded at that.  They went to gather their things.  The other hunters gathered Eta and a few others once Tapa had used the syrup on Star's Fire.  Then they rode off with his bumbling, annoying son and his true heir.

***

Sata was nudged awake, moaning because his head hurt.  "I know I did not drink fermented juice," he complained as he sat up.

"No, I think there's a problem other than drinking fermented juice," the youngest son of Eta said quietly.  "Here, I brought water when they said you wouldn't wake."  Sata looked at him but took it to drink, gulping it.  "Your brothers and father are gone.  The guards caught them carrying Star's Fire off but they couldn't stop them," he said at the intense stare he was being subjected to.  "My father is also missing.  Maris is throwing a fit loud enough to call the spirits onto your family and the ones who stole Father."

"Where is he?"

"We can track the ones who took Father.  All of us are going.  Are you going with us to take him back?"

"I am.  That is wrong on many levels."  He stood up.  "Why would I not wake?"

He held up a small bottle.  "We found it by Star's Fire's pillows."

Sata sniffed it.  "It's what Mother and our shaman use to knock someone out who is ill."  He threw it.  "Let me pack and we'll go.  Make sure Maris has a horse to ride and the proper things packed."

"Of course she does.  She was doing that before I could wake you."  He smiled.  "We did learn many things from Father, even the two of us who can't cook and sew."  He stood up and walked out.  "When you're ready, we'll go."

Sata go dressed and packed what he needed to, heading out to his horse.  He found Leader out there.  "Who has him?"

"The guards think the tribe to the south of the ones who took our hunters do.  We're not fully sure but we know he's close by.  The shaman said so."  That got a nod.  "Then what will you do?" he asked gently.

"If Eta wants him back, I will help him go steal my brother back.  What my father and brother did was wrong.  Star's Fire admitted he wanted him as a wife even if he still doesn't know what to do with one."

"Take the children.  That way Maris doesn't ask most of the other young hunters to help."

"I planned on it.  That way my Mother could meet her and find her a good mate for the future," he said dryly.  He swung up and rode off.  The children met him at the edge of the camp.  "Maris, your temper is making you loud.  It will tell them we're coming.  Keep yourself calm so you can think reasonably and hunt that way."

"Yes, Uncle."

"Good.  Then if your father wants my brother back, we can go steal him."  They smirked and followed him out.  The middle son rode ahead to track them.  They knew all the local horses and their campsite would give them a good idea which tribe it was.

***

Eta woke up, feeling nasty and his head hurt.  He sat up holding his head, looking at the man across from him.  "Who're you?"

"You're to be my wife," he said proudly.

"No I'm not.  I'm all but mated with my own husband.  Where is he?"

"You were alone in your tent."

"No I wasn't.  If I was, he was only out to gather things for my snake bite.  He would not leave me that way."

"We've been treating it.  It healed well, Eta."  He smiled.  "Come, I can please you much."  Eta found his knife and stabbed him in the stomach, making him scream.   "How dare you!"

Eta got up, limping a bit, shaking his head as he walked out of the tent.  "I have a husband," he told the women watching him.  They wailed.  "There are many young hunters in my tribe who would like him.  I can recommend six or seven right off the top of my head.  Get one who is unmated."  He glared at the leader, who shrank back.  "Send him to us, we'll fix him up with one once his stomach heals.  My snakebite is making me ill tempered."  Toler rode into camp, helping him up behind him.  "Let's go.  I want my husband."

"His father has him," he said as he rode off.  "Send him to us next moon, elders.  We have eight who could use a good hunter of their own."  That got a nod and he rode off.  "Star's Fire isn't at the camp, Eta.  He wasn't the day you were taken."

"Why?"

"We think his father sent someone to talk to that tribe to take you so he could have Star's Fire for the marriage he wanted him to have."

"Star's Fire said something about it being a bad choice.  I only heard bits and pieces while I slept."

"His father wants to be a leader and whines like a wolf in heat when he doesn't get his way.  Tapa helped we think.  Sata is still furious and getting ready to ride that way.  He only waited for you when my hunting team found them hunting you and made them go back to camp.  That way they wouldn't cause a problem by taking out that whole tribe.  Do you want him?"

"Yes.  Hurry up."  Toler laughed, riding harder back to camp.  Once there he slid down and went to put on more clothes, coming out with his hunting pack.  "Sata, we go now?"

"It's nearly dark."

"So?  I know these plains by touch and scent.  We go now."  That got a nod and they headed out together.  His daughter and sons caught up to them.  "You're too young, Maris."

"He stole a member of the family.  It is only right for family to get him back.  As Sata and Tapa came to do."  Sata nodded at that, smiling some.  "Besides, you would never hit the girl they're trying to make him marry.  I can and will."  Sata burst out laughing, reaching over to touch her hair.  "Thank you, Uncle.  How many days of riding?"

"Four to six, depending on if the pass is cleared."

"Good."  They kept going until they were too tired, then put up a tent to nap for a few hours before going on.
 

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