"The females are helping to build a smoking station in that cavern over there," I say pointing.

"Okay," Bashir says.

He and Melchior carry a stretcher between them that we've loaded with harvested meat and leather. It's been a good hunt. We have enough food here to feed the Tribe for a week or more. Olivia will be happy with the furs we've brought.

Shadows are falling as the suns set and the soft glow of a fire emanates from our new home.

The females will probably have a meal ready but I need to do something first. Olivia will understand.

Turning away, I climb the tight, crumbling path up the cliff opposite ours. It turns back and forth as I make my way until I'm near the top. The cavern I approach has a metal grate attached to the rock wall, courtesy of Padraig. It's made of scavenged metal from the wreck of the human ship. It's less than a day's walk for a Zmaj and our smith brought several pieces back and is excited to continue working with it. I've never seen him so happy. He's talking about trying to make actual lochabers. I haven't wielded a lochaber in years, my fingers itch to grasp the hilt of one once more.

Humming comes from beyond the metal gate. My brother's tune is familiar, but I can't quite place it.

The sound stops and the memories it calls fade back into oblivion.

A metal rod hooks the clasp of the gate which I work open and it screeches as I pull it aside.

The clank of chains resounds heavily in the now silence and stepping into the shadows of the cavern, I brace myself.

Will he attack me today?

Ryuth sits at the back, staring at nothing. He doesn't react to my presence.

"Hello brother," I offer.

Still nothing.

Sighing, I pull out chunks of my recent kill. When I hold them out on my palm his eyes move, the only sign that he knows I'm here. We have to keep him bound so he can't feed himself. Leaning in, moving slow, I raise the meat to his lips.

I've lost count of how many times he's bitten me. It's the way it is. I don't know what the Zzlo did to break him, but I will reach him. I know he's in there, somewhere.

"We had a good hunt," I say, searching his eyes for any hint of recognition.

His stare is blank, empty. He takes the piece of meat when I press it to his lips. I watch him chew while I talk about my hunt. He swallows the last of the meat and I rise, backing my way out. Even though he's chained, he's still dangerous. Fully in the grip of his bijass, I can never let my guard down around him.

As I slide the gate closed, he is watching me. When I turn away, he hums the same tune as when I approached.

Then it hits me, I remember where I heard it before!

Turning, I rush back to the gate, staring in. The moment I'm at the gate he stops humming, staring into space.

"Ryuth?" I ask, hoping beyond hope for him to answer.

Nothing. He remains stock still, eyes fixed on something in the space ahead.

My stomach sinks as I walk away but now I have a glimmer of hope. That tune is one our mother hummed to us when we were children.

Locked inside, somewhere, is my brother and I will find him.

* * *

The main cave is a bustle of activity. The females and a few craftsmen have constructed a smoke pit on the left side. Bashir and Melchior are there helping them load the freshly harvested meat onto the racks. Olivia glances over as I walk in then she runs to me.

"Hi!" she says, throwing her arms around my neck, our lips coming together with rising passion.

"Hi," I respond as soon as she comes up for air.

"I missed you," she says.

We walk back to the others with our arms around each other.

"We're going to need better storage," Olivia says.

One female says something and Olivia answers her. They banter back and forth while I pitch in, helping lay the meat out on the carefully built racks. Olivia stops, cocks her head to one side, then frowns.

"Ragnar," she says, grabbing my attention. "Have the Zmaj tried growing things?"

"Growing what things?" I ask.

"Food stuffs," she says.

"Why would we do that? It grows just fine in the oasis."

Olivia snorts and says something to the females in their language before returning to me.

"You're such a male," she says.

"What else would I be?" I ask, confused by her statement.

She shakes her head. "Never mind. So the answer is no, hmmm."

The females talk amongst themselves. Bashir, Melchior and I exchange glances wondering what they are planning. The other two hunters say nothing and I shrug in response.

"So we have an idea," Olivia says at last.

"Yes?" I ask.

"Well, there's water down where the epis grows, and sandy dirt. Maybe we can find edible plants that will grow down there."

"It's dark," I observe.

"Sure," she says. "But maybe we can work it out. Or maybe we can get it to grow outside the cave. I don't know, isn't it worth a shot?"

"Would it make you happy?" I ask.

"Yes," she smiles, her cheeks flushing a luscious shade of pink.

"Then I'll see it done," I say. "We'll go to the oasis in the morning."

The females converse while we finish loading the meat. When it's almost done Bashir, Melchior and I leave them to finish and go help Arawn with the leather we brought back. It needs scraping, which removes any remnants of flesh before it spoils. It's full dark by the time we're done. My limbs are heavy, I'm exhausted. Olivia and I head to the private cave we claimed.

I pull aside the leather hanging that gives us some sense of privacy, letting her in first. She ducks as she enters, her full ass brushing against my cock. She laughs, glancing over her shoulder with a smile.

"I thought you'd be too tired?"

"I'm never too tired for you," I say, pulling her close.

Her body molds against mine. Kissing my way down her neck and across her shoulder, I caress my way around her hips and across her stomach. She wraps her arms around my neck. Moving as one we make our way to the blankets and I lower her into them.