#mehn

Are you okay? Do you want to keep riding?

Are you okay? You looked sad earlier

- There you are! Fhi was slightly annoyed. I’ve been looking for you all day; I thought we were going to collect wild strawberries?

- I’m sorry! I totally forgot! I left early in the morning ... eh... to go fishing.

- Really? Where is the fish?

- Eh... I didn’t get any...

- Don’t mock me around. I know where you have been!

- You do?

- You’ve been taking naps in some cave, haven’t you? 

- Sweetie, why are you so upset? You know, you are very special to me. You are my shining diamond, you know that!

- I’m sorry, I’ve been so emotional lately. Getting agitated for the smallest thing.

- Don’t worry, my diamond, I like you just the way you are. Let’s play a little before we go to sleep, I know you want to, don’t you?

- I ... I don’t know ...

- Come here, my diamond. Let me cover you with kisses...

- You are a very playful guy, aren’t you Huh? Mehn had a knowing smile on his lips.

- Hehe, yeah, I like to play. That’s true.

- Are you only playing with girls, or would you play with me as well?

- I never thought about it...

- You are a big, fat liar! I know you’ve thought about it many, many times. Now come, let me show you something in the bushes here!

- I really like your... eh.. hair...

- But of course you do!!

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Y'all did not just leave me with that cliffhanger

As it turned out, Fhi did have a baby in her womb.

So did Ka’he.

And also ‘kny. It was a baby boom in Oasis springs!

- I really don’t understand what’s going on, Oyw said shaking his head. Why are all the women going around with big bellies? Is it contagious?

- It could be, Pah said, but remember Momo has a flat belly. Relatively speaking. And she has been the same places as ‘kny and the others, so I don’t understand why she didn’t get it...

- Maybe because she has two kids already and the others only one? Mehn wondered.

- Yeah that could be, Pah nodded.

- Don’t get me wrong, Oyw said, I love kids! Boui is so fun to spend time with, and she is such a quick learner.

- A very clever girl, the others agreed.

- I’m kind of looking forward to have a kid in the camp, Mehn said.

- Absolutely! It’s a lot of fun. But now we have Boui, and we’ll have two more, and they are all going to eat.

- Like this zebra-fish! If we are many people to share it, nobody will get full!

- Come on Oyw! Huh teased him. You won’t be full no matter what. I’m sure you could eat a mammoth alone.

- I probably could! Oyw laughed.

At the camp Boui came running as soon as she heard Oyw.

- Sweetheart! Come give daddy a big kiss! Look what I got for you! Zebra-fish! Now we are going to have a huge meal and be good and full!

- Leblafish!

- Yes! Zebra-fish!

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- Mammoth hunt? Mehn gave it a second of thought. I’m all for it!

- I don’t know, Fhi was doubtful. First of all it is dangerous. I’ve heard of so many brave hunters being killed trying. Second, we don’t have any experience, and third; what are we going to do with all that meat? Feed the wolves?

- Yeah, no way we will be able to eat it ourselves, Huh was also skeptical. It seems like a big risk to take, for a few days of full stomachs. What do you think Ka’he?

- I’m not sure I have a strong opinion about it, but, it seems rather risky. But if you want to go I will go with you.

- Let’s hear ‘kny’s opinion, Oyw said. ‘kny? Where is she?

- I think she went into the bushes, Fhi said.

- Again?! ‘KNY!! Are you okay?

- Wait, I will go look for her...

- Are you okay sweetie?

- Yes, I’m okay. Or actually I feel kind of strange. My stomach is uneasy and swollen and I have to go in the bushes all the time. Maybe I’m sick. I really hope I’m not sick ...

- Hey girl, you are not sick! You are growing a baby!

- What?

- You have a baby inside you and when it has matured like the apple it will come out.

- But, but... How did that happen?

- Ha! Fhi laughed. If I knew the answer of that question I would have unlimited witchcraft. Nobody knows!

- Do you think it’s something with the water in your pond?

- It could be! But Ka’he and I don’t have a baby inside, so I don’t know.

- It’s a mystery. ‘kny said pensively.

- It certainly is, Fhi nodded.

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- Ka’he, we have something to tell you. ‘kny and I have decided to be together!

- Oh.

- You might have noticed that we have shared the hut for some time.

- Yes, I did notice that.

- You are not happy for us?

- I am happy for you, but I guess you want me to leave now. So that means I am alone again. Just give me a day or two to make some preparations.

- What? No, no, no! We don’t want you to leave! Unless you want to of course?

- Not at all! I like doing stuff with you guys! I am so relieved now... Oh I almost forgot to tell you, I have met some more people living here in this valley.

- Remember I told you about the girl I met in the woods, Fhi? Yesterday I met her again, and I was complaining about the heat, and she invited me to her camp, and guess what - they have their own pond! They invited us to come and have a swim whenever we want.

- They??

- Yes, she lives with two guys, Huh and Mehn, very nice people all of them! They share work and things, much the same way we do.

- Five, six, seven, eight ... Oyw counted.

- Eight what? The girls were confused.

- Eight persons! We are three, your friends are three, plus Momo and Pah. I think maybe we are enough to go mammoth hunting! Can you imagine!

- Mammoth?!! They are so big and dangerous.

- I’m not afraid! I’m not afraid of anything!

- Except Rhinos, ‘kny reminded him. And Hippos.

- All right. But I’m not afraid of Mammoth!!

- Of course not. The girls looked at each other in silent understanding.

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