"You are right; I know this. But, you see, it matters but little to me. I love you, too. Making love to you is so moving, so stirring within me, and so beautiful, how could we have let two years come between us, and yet it took me all those long years to find what I had to in order to return home again."
"I know this you say is true," he murmured. "Somehow, together, we will discover how to make our love known and accepted to both our worlds."
"Yes," she answered. "We will find a way. I have an idea about it; although I am not certain you will like it."
"We will talk about it later," he whispered. "For now, let us love one another again."
"Oh yes. Let us make love with one another over and over so I might be persuaded this is real and not another one of my dreams."
He smiled. And, indeed, as she had said, so it came to be.
It wasn't until much later in the day when their passion had been momentarily satisfied that Red Fox was able to leave Poka'aki for a moment, hidden as she was within the strand of many willows. The thought of war parties had resurfaced within him, and he knew he had to go in search of his pet and their ponies. He found them easily.
He petted both ponies, as well as Hunts-with-the-wind, thanking the young wolf for his assistance.
"You love her," said Hunts-with-the-wind in mind-speak. "Any who see you would know this."
"I love her very much.Niitá'p,very much," he answered in mind-speak. "Will you watch the ponies again and warn me if a war party comes into your awareness?"
"I will," answered the wolf, again in mind-speak.
"Follow me, then, into the woods next to the stream. I will hobble both animals so your watching them will be easier."
"It is easy for me even if their front feet are not bound."
Red Fox grinned, reaching down to pet Hunts-with-the-wind's head once more. Before he left the wolf to join Poka'aki, Red Fox whispered, "When you get a little older, my friend, you will understand the passion of loving."
"I understand it now," answered the wolf in mind-speak.
Red Fox chuckled softly. "Áa, I am certain you do." Then, taking the blankets from their ponies' backs, Red Fox crept back toward the willows and to Poka'aki.
Áa, they would do it all again, but perhaps with the aid of these blankets, they would make love more conveniently and as it was more properly done.
