Morning light slowly filtered in through the smokeholes, dimly illumimating the interior of the solidly built earthlodge. The still air was disturbed only by snoring sounds, their varied pitches and rhythms creating a spontaneous minimalist symphony. It was as cold as the tips of the Mother's boobs in midwinter -- every fire and lamp had burned out.

As soon as one person awoke, there was a chain reaction, as whoever-it-was's moans of pain roused others. Soon a chorus of "Oooohhhh, my head", punctuated by a few retching sounds, filled the lodge. Ayla felt a need to make tea that was far stronger than her urge to pee. Clutching a fur around her, she shuffled past Jondalar's inert body, making straight for the nearest hearth. Ayla noted in passing that Wolf and Mouser were sprawled on top of Jon, keeping him warm enough, though he had not managed to cover himself when he crashed.

Several others had preceded her, and were frantically rubbing sticks. "Scuse me, pardon me," Ayla mumbled as she nudged her way to the nearest heap of tinder. She fumbled for flint and firestone in the pouch that was still belted over her tunic (her pants were somehow missing). After a few whacks -- each one making her feel as if some giant were using her head for a firestone -- she got off a good spark. A few puffs of air later, the astonished Tonkatoi were sitting back watching her feed tiny bits of kindling to her fire. Awed murmurs were heard between groans. "Gotta make tea, gotta make tea," she muttered, unheeding.

There was very little conversation -- unless you could count inarticulate moans -- until a very large pot of morning-after tea had been brewed and consumed. Fuzzie had already gotten out a basket of her own herbal blend, very similar to Ayla's, so the famous otterskin was not devastated.

Jondalar gradually became conscious of a headache that hurt from furrow to toes. It hurt to move, so it was a good thing that he couldn't. A heavy, warm body had him pinned down. He moaned. A large, wet tongue licked his face. "Ooohhh, owwwww, not now, Ayla," he mumbled. "Aowwww, my head." The tongue and the warm body left. He managed to roll over and prop himself up on one elbow, despite the blinding agony. Someone put a cup of hot tea in his hand.

Breakfast, made possible by the pain-relieving tea, was more of the savory seed and nut mixture that Fuzzie had used to stuff the 'possums. She always made extra because it was so handy for warm-ups. Also, the catnip in it -- thank Mouser for that discovery -- was soothing to booza-ravaged stomachs. Being mated to a creative person often requires an equal amount of creativity.

There had been a lot of Honoring going on last night, Jondalar thought to himself as he nibbled at his food, but he couldn't recall having done any of it. He looked at Ayla, who was talking animatedly with Tonka... there was something about the way his eyes twinkled at her... nah, she wouldn't... no, he remembered the good-morning kisses... he almost shook his head, but it still jangled. At least it didn't hurt to furrow his forehead any more.

Skuzzie and Wormie were the last to get up. They were not in need of the tea (which was all gone by then anyway), but together they cleaned out the porridge pot standing up. "Has anyone seen Dollie?" Wormie asked. There was a chorus of vague "Uh-uh"s, "nah"s, shrugs, and cautious head-shakes. "Ah, she'll turn up," Skuzzie said.

"Yeah, always does," Wormie replied, stifling a yawn. The rotund pair waddled off again, apparently to take a nap. They were walking funnier than usual. Jondalar squinted at their departing behinds. Coming or going, those two somehow made him think of the clustered berries that his mother, Marthona, often used to make wine. Awfully big berries, these were...

Yummie glanced around. All the other children were up and about; she was certain she had seen everyone but Dollie... "Thonie?" she said to her daughter, who was sitting by Wolf, with Mouser on her lap. "Have you seen Dollie anywhere yet today?"

Thonie looked up with eyes innocently wide. "Uh-uhhh," she replied, shaking her little head. Then she hugged Wolf, burying her face in his ruff. She had seen Dollie, but it wasn't light yet then, so it wasn't today, was it? An' Dollie shou'nt a been going outside when it was dark, huh? That Dollie was so mean to Mouser an' Wuffie... she even bit Ayla, an' that nice Jon'lar.

Mouser busied himself with laundry, carefully ignoring everyone.

----------------------------

Mactruc and Fuzzie sat down by Ayla. She expressed her gratitude for their generous hospitality. "I'm so glad you dropped in, dear," Fuzzie replied, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. "We don't get very many visitors here, it's so far off the main rivers. You must take some extra food with you. No, no, you really must,: she insisted, shaking a finger at Ayla. "You have given us firestones, amused us with wonderful stories, and --" she paused to give Mactruc a fond poke in the ribs, "a good excuse to party." She nodded firmly and gave Ayla a broad, warm smile.

"I wish we could stay a little longer," Ayla said. "But Jondalar says we need to travel as fast as we can. And Tonka told me that the Root will wear off soon, and we won't be able to speak together. But I am so glad to have met you." She looked up at Mactruc. "You remind me so much of my dear friends, the Mamutoi of Lion Camp. Ummm... Mactruc, do you mind if I ask a, erm, somewhat personal question?"

"No, ask away," he rumbled pleasantly.

"Ah, like the Mamutoi, you have the custom of dual leadership, a brother and sister being headpersons. But, um, your sister, Skuzzie, is so unlike you, and -- um, well, she doesn't seem to..." Ayla trailed off, feeling rather embarrassed.

Mactruc rolled his eyes and nodded. "Yes, Ayla, you have observed quite accurately... I will tell you how it comes to be so. When Mum's first mate died -- stomped on by a mammoth -- she was terribly depressed. I was just a little bugger then." He chuckled, a little sadly. "If you can imagine that. Well, Mum was kind of at loose ends, not knowing what to do with herself, and took to hitting the booza-skin pretty hard on feast-days." He shook his head, his great brow deeply furrowed below the mop of orange hair. "She didn't want to tie the knot with anyone else, but she did honor the Mother... though only after a skin or two. Didn't care much with whom by then. There was this short, ugly chap, Skuzbag, who hauled her off to his furs a lot." Mactruc sighed. "Eventually, I had a little sister. Still do," He snorted a sort of laugh. "She pretty much does what she wants, and nobody pays much attention to her. The real boss around here is my warm Fuzzie", he said, giving Fuzzie a squeeze and a pat on the butt.

"Oh, Mac, you big sweetcake, you," Fuzzie said, blushing and squeezing him back.

Ayla nodded, thoughtfully. She was learning more every day about the psychology of her own people, the Others. They certainly were very unlike the Clan in many ways. No Clan woman would get away with the kind of cr*p Skuzzie did.

----------------------------

Skinnie sauntered sullenly through the lodge on her way to somewhere. "Oh, Skinnie," Yummie said, "Have you seen Dollie anywhere?"

"Why ask me?"

"Well, you are her aunt!"

"S'not my fault!" Skinnie darted a manhood-withering glance at Jondalar. Then she covered an uncharacteristic grin by planting a big kiss on Wolf's head. She gave Thonie a fond tickle and slunk away.

----------------------------

After a light noon meal, Ayla and Jondalar packed and prepared to leave. Jondalar noticed that, although the horses had rested for a whole day and night, Racer seemed tired. He asked Ayla if she thought he might be getting sick. She looked the horse over just to be sure. "I think he's all right, Jondalar. Skuzzie and Wormie were playing some kind of game with him yesterday... I guess he got less rest than Whinney."

"Oh, well, as long as he had fun," Jondalar said, giving Racer a fond whack. Racer snorted and nodded, then half-closed his eyes again.

All of Possum Camp -- except the dozing female orbs Skuzzie and Wormie --turned out to bid them farewell with much hugging and cheek-rubbing. Yummie held up Thonie, who said "Bye, Ayla. Bye, Jon'lar," and grinned in a way that brought a painful lump to Jondalar's throat. It reminded him so much... if only she could be of Thonolan's spirit... but of course it was impossible; they had never been here. His brow furrowed.

"Wolf," Ayla called, "we're ready to go!" She whistled. Wolf came trotting up, with Mouser riding on his back. Mouser hopped down, rubbed against Ayla's legs, and then backed up to Jondalar's. His tail shook and a pungent aroma arose from a damp spot on Jondalar's leggings. Wolf grinned, stepped over, and raised a leg, adding his own signature.

"Ayla," Jondalar said, through clenched teeth, "we have to tralk about this animal..."

But Ayla was hugging Tonka good-bye and didn't hear.

----------------------------

They paused at the top of the ridge to look back and wave one last time. The people of Possum Camp waved back. Then they rode on.

When they made camp that evening, Wolf had lagged behind, and Ayla was a little concerned. But she knew he had been fed well, so he was probably just a little logy and didn't want to move too fast. He'd catch up... she yawned... soooo sleepy... Jondalar was already (yaaawwn) making those cute little snores... wonder if he'd remember to holler about Wolf in the morning (yawwwwn)... guess there'd be no pleas---

----------------------------

A tear glistened in Tonka's eye as he watched the departing couple and their animal friends disappear over the hill. He turned and walked slowly to the lodge and entered it. In the quiet, dim interior, he paused, remembering... everything. Then he went to his own hearth and sat down on a mat, his back against the wall. He closed his eyes.

Possum Camp slowly faded, as if into a mist.

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