-8-

So much luck from one omen seemed, well, impossible. Not that she minded being wrong in this case. First they had found the traveler, probably a son of Eld, walking along the old mountain trail, and he had given her family his strength. Then they had been blessed with the birth of a third child of true stock, far more then needed to continue the family. It was always a hard choice when a pure one was born as to what should be done with them, for there is much power in the freshly birthed, oh yes, but sometimes having a spare child was good since one of the older ones might be killed or take sick. If there were no children, who would continue the family? We must continue the family, that much they remembered, had been told so by the great waters in the sky. It was one of the few things they had held on to from before the world had moved on. “Go forth ye and make more of your like, being fruitful and increasing in numbers until ye be unto us a great multitude spanning the length and breadth of the earth.” So said the great waters in the sky. But there was also power in the blood, was there not, blood given for the family? With three there was no question as to what was to be done.

And finally as she had been stalking the gap this morning, looking for some earth root to spice tomorrow’s festivities, what had she seen? Another traveler! And she’d seen him of all places near the temple of the old ones!

She had been told the stories by the Old Mother before her about the people who would appear at the temple of the old people like a gift from the great waters themselves, but she had never seen it happen. As if the water from beneath the ground was not gift from the gods enough! Truly, she and her family must done something to please them with so much good fortune. Her lips were wet even now with the thought of him, for he had looked very well built, and strong. No more of the green ones from under the mountain for a week! Maybe longer if they were careful.

She walked along, dirt crunching beneath her feet, and the son of Eld’s pack swayed gently at her hip, full of earth root. All of this from one crow. The old people had not known the potency of the crow, but she would not forget, and neither would the Young Mother under her care if she had anything to do with it. She began to hum an old tune that Old Mother had taught her as she made her way home. Tonight her family would go and fetch the man and he would add his strength to theirs.