“They grow so fast. Na’el wants to go on his first hunt. And he’s just learned how to walk!” Ma’ki commented while fiddling with a piece of wood, to make another toy.
“Ma’ki, Na’el is a strong boy,” Ay’len laughed. “And he is about the same age as you were when you went on your first hunt. He learned to walk a long time ago. You should let him come with you. After all, he has his own wolf to help him hunt just like you have Na’ra.”
Ma’ki murmured something under his breath, but Ay’len punched him suddenly in the shoulder playfully. The hunter jumped to his feet and pushed the healer on his back, straddling him fast.

The hunter stopped all of a sudden and grabbed his neck, yelping. He turned to see his son, a sling in his hand.
“Get off my Ay’len,” the kid released a war cry and suddenly jumped on his father’s back. Both adults burst into laughter.
“He is as protective as you are,” Ay’len commented, trying to push away the two, so he could get up to his feet.
“I will take that sling away from you, Na’el,” Ma’ki laughed and tried to grab Na’el from his back. But the boy sprinted so fast, that his father missed him. “You’ll see when you get home,” he promised, but Na’el turned towards him from a safe distance and shouted back.
“Ay’len has all the children on his side. We can fight you!”
“Na’el!” Ay’len warned in a stern voice. “Respect your father!”

“Yes, Ay’len,” the boy quickly cast down his eyes, making Ma’ki laugh.
“One word from you, and he’s like a puppy,” the hunter turned with a smile towards Ay’len.
“You spoil him too much, he must learn respect,” the healer chided him.
“He will, in due time. Let him be a child some more,” Ma’ki embraced him and kissed his forehead. “Can you believe, Ay’len? This is our tribe now,” he gestured around, to the white huts. “Good thing we have your family to help us.”

“And yours,” Ay’len added.
“Taking care of so many children is not easy.”
“Are you complaining about being the father of more than one child? Some of them are already grown-ups,” the healer questioned him, looking at his husband through his long eyelashes.
“Well, you wanted to raise them all, so who am I to say otherwise?”
“Good answer,” Ay’len embraced his beloved, rewarding him with a kiss.
“You always have your way, Ay’len. But I don’t mind. Because it is all I’ve ever wanted,” the hunter kissed him back.
An eagle’s cry was heard, and the healer looked up to the skies. “Thank you, Pala’ka,” he whispered while holding the love of his life into his arms.