"You want to do what?" Latie gasped, dropping the packboard she was loading in preparation for the Summer Meeting.

"I said, I want to make a Journey," Zarina repeated. At fifteen, the youngest of Latie's children was the only one still unmated. "I'm bored around here. I don't want a mate. I want to travel, see other places. After all, Mother, you did."

Latie sighed. She couldn't deny that she herself had made a long Journey when she herself was just slightly older than her daughter. "Did you plan to go alone, or are you going to see if anyone else wants to go with you?" she asked.

An outraged and surprised shriek from Horse Hearth interrupted before Zarina could answer, and the young woman grinned. "Willora wants to go as well. Sounds like she just told her mother."

Latie sighed again. "Now I know how Mother felt when Danug and I left," she commented. "You're restless, just like I was before I met Jerekal and then Echozar. Maybe you're not meant to stay here any more than I was meant to stay with the Mamutoi. All right, you have my blessing for your Journey, but I want you to come to the Summer Meeting with us and depart from there. You know perfectly well that travel is safer with more people… and you and Willora might not be the only ones with an urge to explore."

Zarina hugged Latie tightly. "Thank you, Mother!"

"Don't thank me yet, young lady," Latie chuckled. "You still have to tell Jerekal that you want to leave."

At Horse Hearth, Willora was not having quite such an easy time of it. "You can't go!" her mother sobbed. "You're just a baby! Danug, you tell her," Folara appealed to her mate.

Danug ran a hand through his still-flaming hair, looking uncomfortable. "I can't," he said. "If she wants to go, who are we to stop her? Your daughter is a woman, after all."

"But… but… Willora, you're my little girl! I can't just let you go like that…" Folara's protests were weakening.

Willora chuckled. "Mother, I may be your youngest, but I'm hardly a 'little' girl. And it's not like I'll be going alone, either… Zarina is going with me."

Danug chuckled as well, for Willora was obviously of his spirit. She was the biggest and tallest woman that most of the Zarnadonii had ever seen. "Has Zarina told Latie yet that you plan to make this Journey?"

"She's supposed to be talking to her mother now," Willora said.

"All right, then," Danug said. "Folara, you and I will speak with Latie tonight. And Willora, you and Zarina should be there as well."

"Yes, Danug," the young woman said.

Horse Hearth invited Lion Hearth to share a meal that evening. The two young women made a point of volunteering to clean everyone's dishes while the older couples relaxed with tea. Finally, Danug spoke.

"Has Zarina spoken with you, Latie?" he asked his sister.

"Yes," Latie replied simply.

"And what did you tell her?" Folara asked.

"I told her that I wanted her to come to the Summer Meeting with us before leaving. Other young people may also be thinking about making a Journey. If so, they would be wise to travel together," Latie said.

"You're willing to just let her go like that?" Folara was incredulous.

Latie exchanged a look with Jerekal, and he took her hand. "I feel like I have to be," she explained. "Zarina is very precious to me… she's not only my youngest, she's of Echozar's spirit, Doni keep him. But she's a lot like me as well. Mother didn't try to stop Danug and I from leaving when we felt the need to leave. How can I do less for my daughter?"

Folara nodded slowly, eyes glistening. "And Willora and Zarina are cousins. You're right, Mother didn't try to keep me with the Ninth Cave when I joined with Danug. I suppose I have to let Willora live her own life…" She paused, and then took a deep breath. "Willora, you're willing to come to the Summer Meeting before you leave?"

"Yes, Mother," the young woman said, trying not to sound too excited.

"Then… I have no more objections to your Journey," Folara said.

"Oh, thank you, Mother!" Willona hugged Folara in gratitude, causing a chuckle when she lifted the older woman right off her feet.