But, when he made a move to remove her dress, she brushed his hands away and said, "There is a boy sleeping in the corner of our hut, and this is a very small lodge. We cannot do this while he is here with us."
"Why?" Strikes Fast asked.
"Because he could awaken and see us."
Strikes Fast shrugged and signed, "A lodge is a good place to come to learn about the love between a man and a woman. It is not bad to know a man and his woman deeply love each other. All life yearns for the love of its own kind. It is true, when in camp, a man and his wife usually wait until the children are asleep before they make love, but where else is there a place for a man to show his wife his devotion? Come, we will place a blanket over ourselves and be as silent as the swift hawk in flight."
She looked away from him and said, "I cannot. It is different where I am from."
He breathed in deeply. "And yet, I hunger for you." He signed his words and then sighed. "Let us go out of the lodge, then, and stroll about our tiny camp. Would you like to slide with me down the slope?"
"I…"
"There is a full moon this night. It will be easy to see, and we will slide together so you don't get too wet."
"I—"
"It will help to cool my passion, also."
"It will?"
He nodded.
"But, we shouldn't leave Rising Bear alone."
"He will not be alone. We will be only a little distance away from our lodge. If he awakens, we will hear him."
"I…I… All right. I had fun before when Rising Bear and I were sliding, and your races looked to be so much fun."
He grinned at her.
