Arawan turned from the kiln and looked across to a window, catching movement there. She quickly looked away from it and rather abruptly ran all the other girls out of the potter's shed. She was oddly smiling while shooing them off for the noon rest then went to the bench where Enonai was working. "You've been at that all morning. Time to rest it, hm?" There was a gleam in the old woman's eye when Enonai looked up at her.

She shook her head. "I had this pattern in mind and I wanted to get the outline of it done. Not much longer." She looked down again at the pitcher before her. She used a very fine brush to continue working on the piece.

"Very well, then." Arawan trundled toward the door. Trundling was exactly how she moved. She was rather curled from lifting pots in and out of the fire for so many years. "Don't tarry too long. It's too hot in here today." She fanned herself and paused a moment with a smile that Enonai didn't see, then the master potter left the shed.

Enonai was concentrating very hard on the design yet she had to keep brushing at her cheek. The air was not stirring at all and she saw no flies or such but something kept tickling at her. Absently, her free hand continued to swat at the annoyance until she finally lay her brush down and looked for the insect or whatever the pest was.

She jumped when she saw some little thing hovering near her shoulder. In rising and trying to get away, she knocked over her work stool and whirled to see where the odd creature went. At this same moment, she heard a voice. "Frightened, Catkins?" At last she focused on the odd creature which turned out to be one of many soft furry pods on a willow branch. Her eyes traced quickly along it to eventually find the grinning face... of Akonha.

Her embrace around his neck nearly dropped them both to the dirt floor of the potter's shed. He chuckled deeply as she likely alarmed the camp, yelling his name in surprise. His arms wrapped around to whirl her while they peppered each other with kisses. When he gently set her on her feet again, he leaned back to smile warmly, taking in her bright smile and sparkling eyes.

Both were speechless, searching each other's faces with so many questions it was impossible to decide what to ask first. Akonha brought the tip of the willow branch up and drew one of the soft paws along her cheek. This sparked Enonai to break the silence, remembering his words. "Catkins? Kai!" She grinned and shook her head. "I owe him a beating now. I know it must have been Kai who told you to call me that."

Akonha chuckled again and leaned to kiss her cheek. "Yes, one can learn much about his mate by listening to her brother."

Enonai now became a little self-conscious about the two of them so tightly embraced, even alone in the potter's shed. She withdrew from his arms and took the willow branch, letting her fingers feel the soft pods. "Well, father said when I was born he thought I was as soft as willow catkins." She looked back up to Akonha with a smirk. "Kai said he really meant that I just looked fuzzy." She playfully tapped at Akonha's shoulder with the branch.

He could not stand to be even this far from her. His hand slipped around her waist and to the small of her back. His other hand curled around the side of her neck until his fingers found the braid. Locking her eyes with his own, he had to ask, "What news in my absence, Enonai?"

She blushed but with a broadening smile. "You have returned and there is no need to cut my braid and bury it. Yet, it can be as though it never was." She felt him relax as he leaned to her, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

"Then, if you have not changed your mind..." He closed his eyes as her arms went around him. "I will see your father right away. With his permission and your consent... before the moon sets on morning... I would make you a wife, my Enonai."

Enonai whispered in reply, "And you a husband, Akonha."

They exchanged a warm smile then again Enonai felt the ache within her as their lips met and mouths expressed the desire and love between them. Akonha too felt stirrings but both were brought abruptly from the deep kiss as a loud commotion began outside in the center of the camp. Enonai broke from the kiss first and turned her head to look toward the door then back with concern to Akonha. He grinned then began to chuckle. "That would likely be Kai spreading news of the party's return. He and I volunteered to scout ahead."

They then left the potter's shed to join the celebration. No longer were Enonai and Akonha so concerned about being seen close together. There was too much distraction for any to notice. Besides, Arawan had apparently left the shed and gone straight to Amonee to have a chat about the woman's daughter. At least, it appeared to Enonai that her mother's grin was a little too knowing. Still, neither of them spoke of it. It was for Akonha and father to discuss.

The wild abandon celebrating the party's return was further fueled by news that the Flats had not intended to cause as much mayhem as originally feared. They agreed to pull back on their campaigns against the pale villagers as much as possible, seeing the wisdom of waiting until after the winter move. After all, the People were better skilled, even under winter's test. It might not change the relationship between the Coats and the People at all, but at least there would be no retribution for asking such a favor.

As the women gradually filtered away to prepare feasting for the camp, most of the men went to council on plans for the upcoming winter move. They still suspected that even though the People of the Flats seemed cooperative, a well organized move to the valley as soon as possible might be wise. They would be ready to move out at the first of the rains.

( Continued Page 9 or back)