Copyright applies, Excerpt from CHAPTER FIFTEEN: MOTHERS' MILK
The two she wolves led the way. The tribes gawked as the gray hunters descended the rock ramp into the human camp. Prancing on the cave ledge, they sniffed until they came to the lactating Mate. There, they raised their heads up to her presenting the two cubs, until she took them. She had by now lost all fear of the grays. She thought somehow the wolves were trying to compensate her for the loss of her baby. They all know. They not only knew, they were ferocious participants in the events surrounding the cave lion, hyenas, and Mate's buried infant. Their blood drenched coats washed clean when they crossed the river with the cubs, but Mate felt certain two of her saviors stood before her.
   "Thank you, brother or sister wolves." Mate took the scimitars to her heart. Their blind nuzzling rapidly turned to sucking. She snatched them backwards and cried, "Help me, somebody. They are digging into me with their paws." She sat down with Hug and everybody else, trying to wrestle the paws into quickly made leather booties. "Somebody throw that lion's head into the river." Bull put the now awake wolf down and obliged Mate by throwing the scooped out head over the wall from the lake beach. The guard atop the west wall was obviously amused as the flying head whirled by him and then plopped into the river. 
   "Can I hold one?" Spear asked, noticing the smiles on the women. Although Spear looked exactly like his brother Vision, the women of the tribes had little desire for the obsessed hunter. Oh, they all loved him in a brotherly way, but he had not yet come round to hunting women. Spear's problems with women stemmed from his insatiable curiosity about the struggle between hunters and hunted. He was Mada's star student from the age of five and as he became a boy-man, he went off for a moon at a time to learn and purify his techniques. He never had or made the time to play his brother's games. Then, being given the responsibility of chief hunter after Mada died, he felt the burden. Nearly always, he took up flank duty as they made their way out of Tanua. Easy on the eyes, the equally most handsome male of the tribe purchased a comfortable relationship with any woman, no matter what he said. "Please let me have one. -- So they will know my scent."
   Mate read his face and gave him one of the twins. He sat down caressing the cub and kissed his forehead. On presenting the cub's legs for booties he noticed the women assessing him. "All right, all right, I am overwhelmed. But these two will be trouble later." Spear shared sensitivity for human emotions with his brother, however undeveloped. The Tanuans wore all their thoughts on their faces. Nothing needed to be hidden by an innocent and straightforward people.
   Love asked, "Can I have one?" 
   "Here, cuddle now, run later." He handed the four-earths old girl the cat. Love struggled with the squirmy, needy little ball of energy. Soon everybody in the camp surrounded Love and Mate. 
   "We killed their mother," said Tool. 
   "I do not know what atonement to give yet," said Hug. "Does someone have lavender powder, just a little?"
   Mate's shadow sister, Spirit was already sprinkling a little water on her punctured arm. The booties stayed on. 
   "Give him back, please," said Mate. 
   "I can feed him," said Love. 
   "Not until you are big. Earth Mother does not give milk unless you are a woman." 
   "I am not a boy." She attempted to nurse the baby. Mate gently removed the baby while Spirit hugged the other. 
   "While you are waiting to grow up, I will feed them," said Mate.
   Bull said, "Is human milk all right for cats?" 
   "Yes, it is," said Mate. The cats began to suckle. Laughing proudly, she said, "As you can see." She separated her breasts by pulling apart the cubs for a better view of their joy. "In Tanua, I found an orphan lioness once and had to nurse her, along with Lily for two weeks. Then we found a large pride, and we put the cat down." 
   "I was there," said First. "About two, two hands of hunters backed off and we waited from a distance to see what would happen." 
   "And what happened?" asked Bull. 
   "One of the lionesses came over, picked up the cub, and brought her back. Mate insisted we go back. Five suns later we did. We found the cub playing with a male and looking stronger." 
   "I loved the little lioness." Mate smiled up at First. 
   "My mate has spirit reflections of Earth Mother. That is why I love you." He smiled back at the lovely woman who suffered so much the day before. He was obviously happy to see her return to her impish and passionate self.
   Spear asked, "But does milk really help baby cats?" Spear was always making his way back into conversations. Mate found it easy to sense his intent. His thoughts swirled about a possible long term problem with milk, feeling unsure the Earth Mother created humans and cats to share anything but death. 
   "My milk would help an elephant. Want to try some?" Mate felt the strength of his unspoken argument and with the wisdom of any mother knew the truth of the Earth Mother's design through her own feelings. Anyway, it would not be forever. 
   "Nooo, I -- I do not drink milk anymore. I do not like its taste." First laughed with Mate. He knew what was about to happen to his dear friend. His bawdy mate was rousing again. 
   "My milk is sweeter than honey. Are you sure you do not want some?" 
   "Yes, I mean no, ah." He knelt and sat down beside her with a hopeful glance. "Maybe a taste." 
   "Not with your finger, do like baby."
   Spear looked at First, who was smiling, with a tear dribbling down his cheek. 
   "You can try some; she will not attack you when you are vulnerable." In a fit of imaginative humor shared by those around, First stated for the entertainment of the crowd what his odd friend might be thinking. 
   "Just a little, babies have needs," said Mate.
   Spear leaned over, cocked his head, pulled in a little and backed up. "This is warm, but sweet, not like honey. I do not like it much." He lied and as always and with anybody, the lie was all over his face along with some milk. He took one more drag and the cat bopped him, causing his head to jerk back. "That was all right. Ah, thank you." 
   "You are welcome." 
   "I need a woman, for my own -- soon." He patted the cat on the head. Something inside Spear had awakened and it wasn't thoughts of his deceased mother.