As I do, I see Lila emerging from her hut with her little one strapped to her chest. I sign at her in greeting. Hello. Is she sleeping?
Yes, Lila signs back. Sleeping.
Rollan? I spell out his name with my fingers, and then continue signing. Lila has her hearing back, but old habits die hard, and we all still sign around her sometimes. It's good when there's a sleepy baby involved, too. You need help to get ready?
My son is with his father, Lila signs. She looks tired, but she smiles. Her hand goes to Lola's tiny head and she strokes the baby's hair. I'm ready. You?
I am good. I indicate we should walk together.
Where is Esther? she asks me, and when her baby stirs, she sighs and opens her tunic, settling her against her breast. "So much for signing. Is your littlest with your mate?"
I smile, because at this angle, Lola is all blue skin and dark hair, and for a striking moment, she looks just like my tiny Esther. My twins were born blonde, so it's startling to me to see a baby with a cap of black hair at my breast, even though most of the kits here are dark haired. "She was being fussy so Dagesh took her for a walk. It puts her to sleep right away."
"How are the girls adjusting to being big sisters?" Her steps slow as she walks, but I don't mind. I'm not in a hurry.
"Most of the time, they love it. They want to treat Esther like a doll, and I have to watch to make sure they're careful with her. How does Rollan like his new sister?"
Her expression turns wry. "He's a little jealous, but it's getting better. He's not as much of a fan of sharing Mommy and Daddy as we thought. Rokan is trying to spend extra time with him while I have the baby."
We chat a little more, and the sound of drums grows stronger the closer we get to the longhouse. I can hear talking inside, and even though I'm not much of a party girl, I'm filled with anticipation. It's a night of just getting together and talking, of eating good food and sitting around the campfire and chatting for hours. One of the elders will start up a game of story spinning, and all the children will be drawn in and kept occupied, so the adults can relax. Someone will break out the sah-sah, someone will bring out body paints, and everyone will go to bed many, many hours later having had a wonderful time.
The heavy leather flap that covers the door to the longhouse is pulled back, and Rokan grins at his mate. "I have saved you a seat." He nods at me. "Your mate is near the fire."
I thank him and head in, waving a quick goodbye to Lila. I'm sure we'll be talking a lot in the next while, since we both have very young babies right now. Josie does, too, and I make a mental note to go spend time with her when I have a bit more energy. She can commiserate on having three young ones, as well. Many of the women have a second child at this point, but three is a special kind of exhaustion that only a mom can understand. I scan the crowded longhouse. Drayan has a drum between his knees, pounding on it. Little Kae is at his side, with a child-sized drum, and tries to keep the beat with him. Someone's already making out under the furs in one corner of the lodge, and I'm not entirely surprised to see it's Hassen and Maddie. A quick glance shows their son Masan is with his cousin Rollan, both of them playing with Masan's pet dirtbeak. I'm not thrilled to see the bird here, but Maddie has assured me before that it hasn't picked up the habits of the wild ones and Masan is diligent about keeping it clean.
I can't pick on the kid for having a bird, though. Kate sits with her mate Harrec, and their rapidly growing snowcat is draped over both their laps, snoozing. They chat with Summer and Warrek, and Summer is excitedly talking, her hands moving in the air, even as she's ensconced in her quiet mate's lap. Nearby, Holvek's little dvisti colt is wearing a little tunic that Megan made for it, and Holvek seems to be trying to teach it a trick while Aehako and Cashol look on.
By the fire, Kira is helping Stacy, who loves to handle the cooking for the feasts. I smell hot not-potato cakes and my mouth waters. Kemli and Megan are nearby, the latter seated and rubbing her belly while Kemli stirs what smells like tea. Esha's making little cakes of something on hot stones—probably hraku-seed treats.