11: Preparing

It only takes Eve and Evan a week to prepare for their planned journey. During that week, Eve was asked repeatedly by her parents if she is really up to going camping on her own. Eve has gone camping alone before. This isn't something new, so her father's not overly concerned. Jude has noticed her oldest child has been going to bed early, making extra trips to the lavatory, and sometimes taking a nap after the midday meal.

Evan has also gone camping on his own several times in the past. But this time is different, both of his parents are protesting. They both believe his luxste' will begin any day. They're afraid that if his luxste' starts while he's camping he won't make it home in time to bond with Vor. It's possible that he could survive the first luxste', but less likely he'ld survive a second, and no man survives a third unless he bonds to a woman. He assures his parents that the second his luxste' starts, he will come straight home. But Evan knows that's not going to happen. He won't be returning.

12: Journeying Together

Both Eve and Evan are ready. They are leaving everything they know behind: home, family, and comrades, to be together, to have and raise their child growing within Eve's womb.

Evan's parents have him take the best mare from the squine pen. She's the fastest of the herd.

"[Sorry I am,]" Evan apologizes to his parents just before leaving, "[I know my behavior has been odd and at time inappropriate. I have not meant to embarrass you or make anyone uncomfortable with my peculiarities. This trip will be good for all of us, not just myself. I will be able to focus on what is important to me and will cause no further disorder within the community.]"

His parents feel a bit guilty for riding their oldest and only son so hard about strict conformity to community behavior standards. They like their son, whose kind, thoughtful, generous and intelligent, exactly the way he is. They give Evan a sterile cheek-to-cheek hug. His sister tugs his pant leg. He squats down to her level and Evma gives his neck a squeeze. He pats her back, gives a scratch behind her ears and tells her to be good. Evan mounts the squine mare and plods off in the direction he told his parents he was going to camp.

While Evan doubles back to meet Eve, she is saying good-bye to her family and friends. Eve going off exploring isn't something new, but it's been a while since she's gone for a long walk-about, so there's a little more ado than usual. Jude wants her to allow Dr. Matos to do a full medical scan. Of course, Eve refuses insisting she's fine and her mother's over reacting. Ben reminds his wife their daughter is more than capable of looking after herself. Dr. Matos agrees with Ben and says he has total confidence in Eve's medical decisions, but offers to do the scan if Eve wants just to appease her mother. Eve refuses politely adding that her mother needs to learn to trust her decisions.

Adam has checked to make sure Maw and Girdy are properly strapped to the shoat carts in order to involve himself. Adam asks if maybe he could tag along on her next trip. Eve says sure, knowing she's not returning. It puts a big smile on Adam's face.

Jude makes a statement about how much Eve's taking with her. Her father adding things didn't help. Yet Eve re-explains she's not sure how long she'll be gone, because she'll need the perfect spot to set-up for the observation study she wants to do. She tells her parents she's going to head up stream like she usually does. It's the direction Evan is doubling back from.

Eve hugs and kisses her family good-bye. She hugs Dr. Matos and Mr. Chan, who have been friends as well as mentors. She even gives a hug to Adam and John Phillips, who both wish she hadn't hugged the other. She waves as she walks off into the forest with a heavy knapsack and her 2 shoats, Maw and Girdy, trailing behind her with carts in tow. She has an image album, but it won't stop her from missing her family.

When Eve knows she's fully out of sight of the village, she breaks into a run. The shoats being six-legged have no trouble keeping up. Even with the carts in tow, they could easily out run her. Eve runs all the way to the river where she finds Evan on her side waiting.

"We're together now," he says holding her tightly, "We'll never live apart again."

Just being in his arms makes everything perfect. She knows in her heart they've made the correct decision, the best decision possible for their situation. They'll be together without causing trouble between their two communities.

"[Kar yo so me' keasta,]" Evan whispers in Eve's ear. It means, you make my life complete and earns him a long deep kiss. It's the closest thing the Malyon language has to I love you.

Evan commands the squine to kneel down and it complies. He removes some things from the squine to add to the shoat carts.

"There's more in the carts than planned," notes Evan.

"My father," Eve explains, "He kept adding things. 'Pixie, take this it may come in handy.' I couldn't say anything except, 'Thanks, Daddy.'"

Evan smiles understandingly, "My mother added things also. Let's get that heavy pack off you." He attaches the knapsack to the back of the saddle on the squine. Then he helps Eve onto the extremely large animal and he mounts behind her. Another kiss and Evan gives the command for the squine to arise and walk. The two shoats fall in place right behind it. Wherever Eve goes, they go.

They travel the whole day without stopping until it's completely dark. They each had the morning meal before leaving, and except for snacking on fruit grabbed off trees as they've traveled they haven't had a meal. So after setting up camp for the night, they're ready to eat. Thankfully, nearly every plant that grows on this planet is edible or has an edible part. It doesn't take Eve and Evan long to gather together some things they can throw into a quick stew.

Hunger satisfied, Eve needs to move. Spending most of the day on a squine has left her stiff and a bit sore. Evan watches her. With the firelight dancing upon her, to Evan she is the most beautiful woman in the universe.

"[What is the name of these movements you are doing,]" he asks after watching for a short time.

"Tai chi, I use it to warm up before I do katas. They come from an ancient form of self-defense called martial arts."

"Defense," says Evan thoughtfully, "as in protecting oneself against an attacker." But he has difficulty imagining his petite Eve effectively defending herself.

"Exactly," she replies gliding from tai chi to a karate kata.

"This looks like [crichow]," standing to stretch his own muscles.

"[Crichow]," Eve pauses curious and itching to learn something new.

After an hour sharing different moves, Evan is impressed with Eve's skill. Eve can tell Evan hasn't taken his defense lessons seriously. He has skills, but they need work. She deliberately held back. So, she's considering that he may have been holding back also. She thinks he may be afraid she may over exert herself. She yawns suddenly, causing her to realize it's late and she's tired.

But Evan has decided to give Eve a complete medical scan before they retire for the night. He gets out his medical scanner. Unlike Eve's scanner, his is a one-piece hand held device: scanner, view screen with readouts and touch pad. Eve lies back on her elbow and Evan pushes away her shirt to reveal her still flat smooth stomach. He's completely awed by what's taking place inside her. She stretches out on the blanket while he goes over the scan.

This is the first night they're unencumbered by the knowledge they would have to leave each other the next day.

Satisfied with the scan, Evan stretches out next to Eve. It starts as a gaze. Then there's a caress and a kiss, hands touching and feeling. Then their bodies are connected. Deep low purring from Evan's chest fills Eve's ears. Her own moans sound disembodied to her. Evan has made it a priority to please her every time they come together. Her clitoris has become one of his favorite ways to stimulate her.

Then he's holding her, his life-mate, in his arms and she's sound asleep. He strokes her hair and kisses her forehead. In Malyon, he says a prayer to the Maker of All Things, thanking the Maker for bringing him together with this woman, making them life-mates and for the precious gift of life growing within her. He snuggles down into the covers, careful not to lose Eve from his arms nor wake her. Shortly after, he's asleep himself.

Evan awakens with the dawning sun. Eve is still tucked snugly in his arms with her hair disheveled about her face. He pushes her hair aside and kisses her cheek. She opens her eyes and smiles as she touches his cheek.

"[For a moment]," she says, "[I was afraid I might be dreaming.]"

"[No]," Evan responds, "[together we are.]"

"[Is it time to get up already]," Eve still tired.

"[You sleep a little longer. Gather us some things for the first meal I will.]"

Eve reawakens to a wonderful smell. Evan has a small wildfowl roasting over the campfire. Eve's not truly a meat eater, but she's not a picky eater either.

"[Smells good]," pushing a mass of dark wavy hair out of her face.

"[While I ensured the meal would be palatable]," Evan explains, "[Great care I took to assure it would meet most of your nutritional and caloric needs for the day.]"

"Mmm, yummy," says Eve smiling amused and Evan smiles back.

Eve puts on her underwear and a shirt. She starts to walk away from the river into the woods.

"Eve," Evan calls after her.

"[I need to relieve myself of bodily waste.]"

"[I noticed evidence of a large animal in the area. Take a weapon.]"

Eve grabs her sonic phaser from her knapsack and trots off into the forest. It doesn't take her long to find what she's looking for, a specific bush. She cataloged this bush on one of her first camping trips. She dubbed it the TP bush, because the broad beige leaves have an absorbent quality and the plant itself thrives on excrement. There are times when Eve is positive someone deliberately made this planet user friendly. One could survive without doing any hunting. A little foraging and you have a meal.

After relieving herself, Eve washes her hands in the river and rejoins Evan. The air is still chilly, so she raps herself in a blanket and sits near the fire. Evan hands her a plate covered with food and sits next to her with his own plate of food.

"[Determined you are to ensure I do not starve to death]," Eve looking at the plate overflowing with food. It has half the roasted fowl on it, boiled greens (but they're not green on this planet), 3 kinds of fruits, nuts and 2 things she doesn't recognize. She picks up the first item, a round slice with green and orange flecks. She takes a tiny hesitant bite.

"Cheese," she says surprised.

"[Glate]," giving the Malyon name, "[my mother makes it. And ipa this is, my father makes it. We usually eat the glate folded in the ipa.]" He takes a big bite.

Eve takes a cautious bite of the ipa. She smiles. It's a type of flat bread. She folds it around the glate and takes a bite. Good, but it's missing something for her. She pulls a couple of strips of meat from the roasted fowl and places them in the folded ipa with the glate. Evan gives her a strange look.

"Sandwich," she says and takes a bite. She nods her head in approval. Then she holds her sandwich up for Evan. "Just try it. It's all going to the same place."

He takes a reluctant bite. And as he chews, he nods his own approval.