It was a good thing that we walked slowly, talking, all the way back to Lion Camp. Chac needed time to get acquainted and settle down. By the time we came in sight of the camp, he knew everyone's scent well and I think he understood somehow that this place was our "den".
"I hope we're not going hungry tonight because you found me instead of something edible," I said jokingly to Danug.
He laughed heartily. "No, we're hardly out of food. In fact, I tried to argue Myrec out of it but he insisted that there was something out this way."
"Yeah, and if I'd known what it was, I'd have stayed in bed until a better dream came along." Myrec grinned at me. He had a wide mouth that had once been too apt with foul language. What a difference a few years had made in him too. I smiled back and punched him lightly on the arm.
Talut roared out a welcome at the first sight of us. Most of the Camp were outside, and smoke rose from a large fire over which several large pieces of meat roasted. I could smell it almost as soon as I saw it. No, we weren't going to starve.
"Hola, Talut," I called. "What's the feast all about?" I unslung my pack as I approached, and Danug snatched it from me.
"You, 'animal-man'," Talut replied, laughing as we embraced. "After Myrec dragged off the 'hunting party', Sharnev insisted that we prepare a feast. Now we know why." He grinned and shook his head in wonder at Chac, who circled cautiously before sniffing Talut's boots.
"Talut, be careful," Nezzie said. "Don't step on the wolf." She shrugged when everyone laughed. Then she gave me one of those wonderful motherly hugs. "We are so glad you're back, Frebec. And with a wolf puppy. I'll see if there's a nice meaty bone for him." She took off without another word.
I saw Tronie then, holding the baby, with Bectie clinging to her tunic. The little girl's eyes were wide, no doubt amazed at seeing me all shaggy and unkempt and accompanied by Chac. But when I held out my arms to her she cried "Papa!"--calling me by the pet name many children use for the man of their hearth--and came running to me. I scooped her up in my arms.
"Oh, my little Bectie-baby." It felt so wonderful to hold her. I had to put her down then and introduce her to Chac. "Be careful, now--he doesn't mean to hurt, but he has sharp little teeth. If he holds your hand in his mouth, don't pull away quickly. He likes to be scratched behind the ears--like this, see?"
She was delighted with him, of course. I looked around for the boys, finally spotting them hanging far back by the main lodge.
"Frebec, don't think they don't care," Tronie said, noticing the direction of my gaze and, I'm sure, my expression. "They missed you very much; but they... well, I think you do understand." Her eyes were full of sympathy.
I understood all too well. Of course they resented my abandonment of them in our time of grief. I would have felt the same. But I had been in such a terrible state then... I sighed deeply.
"Give them a little time," Tronie said, patting my arm. "Now, tell me how good Crozec looks." She grinned as she jiggled the cooing infant to make him smile. I had no difficulty showing a proper appreciation of his progress.
Naturally, I felt some of the pangs of loss as the familiar people and place revived recent memories, but the joyful celebration made it impossible to dwell on sorrow. I took my pack inside and came out with clean clothes so I could wash up in the river. Chac had a hard time deciding whether to stay with me or to continue investigating all the new scents and the fascinating human cubs who wanted to play with him. All of the children who were old enough to remember Ayla's Wolf were thrilled at having another animal to play with. I let him have his way; he was certainly not going to come to harm with so many friends to watch out for him.
After I had bathed thoroughly and dressed, I went to to visit the grave. The cairn had grown even larger since I last saw it--a fine tribute to Frailie. She had been loved by more than this one unfavored man. I stood a long time in silence, alone with my thoughts again. Alone until Chac tracked me down, anyway.
He snuffled and whimpered around my legs, pawing at my feet to get my attention. "All right, Chac," I said, bending to pet him. "You're having an exciting day, aren't you?" He bounced happily and licked my hands and face. Then he looked behind me and yipped. I straightened up to look around. Crisavec stood a short distance away. A frown darkened the handsome young face that promised to attract young women in the not-so-distant future. Chac trotted over to him.
"Hullo, Cris," I said. "It's good to see you."
He shrugged. "I s'pose." His lips twitched.
"I see you've gotten acquainted with Chac."
"Yeah. I..." Crisavec chewed on his lower lip. His right hand scratched away at Chac's head as the pup stretched up, putting his paws on Crisavec's thigh. "He led me here."
I looked into his eyes. The pain and longing there clutched at my heart. "Cris... I'm sorry. I--I just couldn't... I could hardly live with myself for a while... I... I'm sorry." What can you say? My eyes filled with tears so that I hardly saw him rush toward me. He wept too, face against my chest as we embraced. Suddenly Tasher was there too, and all three of us were a tangle of arms and tears. Chac danced around whining and pawing at us.
We walked together under the stars that evening, the four of us. Crisavec told me about his hunting experiences with young men of the other Camps at the Summer Meeting. Tasher babbled non-stop about just about everything when Chac wasn't keeping him distracted. At the top of the rise behind the Camp, we stopped and gazed silently at the sky.
"Which hearth is Mama's," Tasher asked in a subdued voice.
"I don't know, Tash... but she knows where we are." I had one arm around each boy, and I pulled them close. Chac snuggled against my legs. Over us arched the great black bowl of night, so full of tiny fires.