#kapros5

Orektós: "So. Orthós."

Orthós: "I'm a little busy with the twins, can we make this quick?"

Orektós: "I've been meaning to train Oûlos here to be a stallion worthy of the chief, give him to Méns, and discuss the possibility of us moving on while he's happy."

Orthós: "And?"

Orektós: "It's a stubborn mule, it won't work. So I've thought up another solution."

Orthós: "..."

Orektós: "You do it."

Orthós: "Do I get the stubborn mule?"

Orektós: "Yes."

Orthós: "Done."

They traveled a long time. Sometimes by boat, sometimes by horse, sometimes making small shelters, sometimes seeking out natural caves. Eventually, however, they found a place where the fish were a lot more abundant. Here, they decided, they might stay for a few weeks, at least.

Idu and her little patchwork-family lead a rather peaceful life, after her rebellious brother Yissharu has abandoned them.

Her son out of her first marriage, Rusa, has grown into a healthy and rather carefree boy despite the circumstances, and her mother Poira spends her days weaving baskets and making pots.

Idu: "This is the last of the fish. We'll try to get more tomorrow, but fishing in these conditions is ... hard."

Orektós: "And how. The shores are half-frozen, the boys and I will catch our death standing by it all day. If the weather doesn't clear up soon ..."

Poira: "It won't. My bones tell me that it won't. Tell that to that stubborn chieftain of yours."

Orektós, sighing: "I'll try, mother. Uhm. Tomorrow. Or the day after. I'll think of something."

Soon after Orektós told his daughter Kheîma that he could sooner fly to the moon than convince their chief of the wisdom of listening to his mother-in-law's bones, their trusty mare Néphe gave birth to a foal they ended up naming Psará.

Orektós decided that this was a good omen, and a good thing, instead of one more hungry maw. This meant that they had a horse to spare. It was time to train Oûlos.