Chapter Five | Island Spirits Welcome page | Chapter Seven

Utel's days were full of family life these days, but she certainly didn't mind it. Young Saazul was learning more day by day, but she was still underfoot at nearly all times. She wanted to help in the garden, she wanted to cook, she wanted to follow Nork when he was leaving for the day - which had to be discouraged, because that wasn't something girls really did, and she was just always busy. Utel disagreed with the gender roles in this tribe, but she wasn't going to try to change things when she was so new to the tribe.

Saazul had finally learned to feed herself, at least. Utel could actually enjoy her own food without little fingers constantly walking across her plate. The chatter was never-ending, however. She had learned to just nod and agree with whatever babble was coming out at that given time.

Nork, on the other hand, had apparently had other things to do and had left camp practically at dawn. Utel assumed he was off fishing for the tribe. If she only knew how wrong she was....

Nork was busy making "friends" with everyone he possibly could. His current target, Nalani, was an easy mark, and equally as easy on the eyes. Nork had decided that, since he enjoyed having two children (even if one didn't live at his fire) and one on the way, maybe he would enjoy even more. So he had set himself on a path towards more progeny.

Nalani certainly didn't mind that he was living with another woman - and it didn't even occur to Nork that she might - so he proceeded with his shameless flirtation easily.

A nearby bush proved to be the closest thing to a private retreat they could find, and Nork certainly wasn't worried about someone seeing.

Nalani wasn't quite as bold, however, and looked around for witnesses before sneaking off towards her home hut. Blithely unconcerned, Nork headed home with a contented whistle, hardly noticing the sun already setting.

Back at home, Utel was struggling. Her labor pains had started mid-day, which was about the time Nork usually got home with the daily catch. But Nork was no-where to be seen... so Utel just continued with her daily chores. The garden needed care, the food pit needed cleaning out, and little Saazul was still getting into everything in sight. By the time Utel finally got Saazul into bed for the night (or, hopefully for the whole night)... she was struggling for breath between the pains. She lit the candles, starting to worry about Nork's absence, and took care of herself the best she could. Before long, a healthy, and very unhappy little boy was born. Saazul, mercifully, managed to get right back to sleep when Utel finally finished cleaning up herself and the baby and quieted him with some milk. She had called him Gnaar, after her father, in the hopes that the youngster would live up to the hero she remembered her father to be.

Nork didn't even notice the new baby when he strode into the dark hut and fell into the bed for a deep, restful sleep. So, he was thoroughly out of sorts when, shortly before dawn, his new son woke everyone up with plaintive wails for his breakfast. Luckily, there was food that was mostly done in the food pit (thanks to Utel's tireless work the day before), and Nork was able to at least get himself a shell full of breakfast, and quiet Saazul with a shell of her own. Wearily, Utel put Gnaar back to sleep after his breakfast, and stumbled out to find her own.

Before she could even form a question about where he had been the night before, Nork had made his excuses and left the camp again.

By the time daylight had blanketed the world, Nork was still on his quest to find another female company of the day. This time, however, he was far closer to home. Utel was too busy inside the hut to notice, but Nork was literally just beyond their plentiful garden chatting with Sasi, who was newly a woman in the tribe.

Nork found it easy to convince her that she could do worse than having a strong youngster at her side courtesy of him, and he looked around for a suitable place to romance her.

The waterfall was just around the corner, and seemed like a good way for him to wash up, anyway, so it was lucky that no-one else was there at the moment. Sasi was inexperienced, but eager to learn, and Nork certainly didn't mind teaching. She headed off to the temple for something or other (he hadn't really paid attention to that part of her conversation), and Nork started back towards home.

On the way, he ran across Nalani, who was heading for the waterfall, herself. She was more than amenable to give one more try at procreating, so Nork turned right around to "wash up" some more.

And so the weeks passed. Nork continued on his quest, and certainly didn't forget to pay attention to Utel, either.

Before too long, there were several pregnant women around town... including Utel. Taking a look around at his "domain", Nork decided it was more than time to expand the hut. Giving the youngsters their own bedroom so they wouldn't as easily wake him up when he needed his rest became a priority.

Saazul was growing rapidly, as children do, and she slowly became more helpful around the camp. She watched curiously as Nork built, and helped with the cooking and gardening, and was especially interested in the catches Nork would bring home from his fishing expeditions.

Gnaar, as well, was growing up, and taking his first wobbly steps. He followed his older sister around whenever Nork wasn't around, but he was definitely a daddy's boy. He wanted to do everything Nork did. Which Nork certainly appreciated. His son was going to grow up strong and able to protect and feed whatever family he would end up having.

Before long, the hut had finished it's metamorphosis, and, proudly, Nork even found another log bench for near the fire to accommodate his growing clan. He had even gotten very used to the Vegetarian feasts Utel always prepared. The only reason he even brought the fish home anymore was to feed that plant monster.

Looking over his new home, and his family, Nork beamed in pride. He glanced at Utel's swelling belly, and hoped for yet another strong son. With a smile, he finished his shell full of food, left it by the fire for Utel to clean, and proudly headed off to fish with the rest of the fishermen. Maybe he could even find another prospective female on the way there?

Chapter Five | Island Spirits Welcome page | Chapter Seven