"Paddy your eyes. They are black."
He moaned into my neck. "I know." He picked me up and carried me to our bed.
We stayed in our room for the rest of the night. Paddy's mating cycle had started extremely early like thirty years too early.
Shaun was at our door the next morning knocking. Paddy wrapped a blanket around him and went to answer the door.
"Good morning Son." Shaun said happily then silence. "I will keep Quinn busy."
"Thank you Father." Paddy said with a husky voice. He came back to bed laughing. He started kissing me right away.
"I never have seen my Father look so surprised."
"I do not think I have ever seen you answer the door in a blanket." He laughed.
"I think that was what surprised him." We were still in our room days later.
"I need to feed." I whispered.
"Me too." He kissed my belly.
His eyes were back to their normal brilliant blue. We went for a swim. We followed the passage to the river. It was close to dawn when we emerged from the river.
We glanced back to our shoreline.
"The Algonquin are still here." He said.
"I thought they would be long gone by now."
"Me too."
We stayed long enough on our little island to watch the sunrise. We returned to our quarters to dress and eat.
Shaun was coming out of his quarters as we were walking up the corridor. He smiled.
"Welcome back." He kissed my cheek and patted Paddy on the back.
"Why are the Algonquin still here?" Paddy asked.
"The Council invited them to stay for a while."
"How long is awhile?"
"Until spring."
"They are spending the winter with us."
"It looks like it. The Chief suggested that they stay close to help us through the winter."
"Really?"
Shaun nodded. "The Council did not feel right letting them stay out in the cold when they would be perfectly fine here."
"And for other reasons too." I said. Shaun nodded.
"Do we have enough food for the winter with them here?"
"We should be. They have brought their supplies and the Chief has sent a group of braves to bring the rest of his tribe here with the rest of the winter stores."
Quinn came walking up to us.
"Mom. Dad. You are back." He smiled.
"Yes Son." Paddy nodded.
"Did Grandpa tell you Leia and her tribe are staying for the winter?"
"Yes he did." He was so excited. He could not stand still.
We walked into the main chamber. There were no tepees.
"Where are the tepees?" I asked.
"Oh! The Council is letting them use the extra chambers down the West corridor."
"Father, I have to make arrangements with the Council to check for emergency escapes." Paddy told him.
"Yes we should do that before everyone is settled in."
"Have you two fed yet?" We shook our heads.
"Go and feed. I will talk to the Council."
"I will go with you Grandpa." Shaun nodded.
We left by the North corridor.
