Chapter Text
Broud's clan had been traveling for several days after the earthquake that had destroyed their previous home. All of the women were heavily loaded down with all the clan's belongings and it seemed they were getting slower with each passing day. He had also noticed once in a while that some of them were running to the side of the trail to throw up. He called for a stop and ordered Uba to speak to the women to find out what was wrong and to treat them.
He also added, "If they don't stop being so lazy that they can't keep up, I will make them sorry. And that goes for you as well. We have to find a new cave and I can't let them hold us up".
Uba called the women to speak to her while they started preparing the evening meal. She was fairly sure what was wrong, if they had the same symptoms she did.
"Have any of you had your women's curse"? she asked.
Only Ovra had. Ika was still nursing her last child, so she wasn't expecting. And it was known that Aga was already pregnant. Ebra, Uka, and Aba were too old. So it was herself, Ona, and Oga who were newly pregnant. She brewed them a special tea to help them with the nausea and to keep the food down. Ovra and the older women offered to do more of the work so the ones afflicted could rest some more.
Uba went to report this to Broud. She lowered herself to the ground and looked down, waiting patiently for him to tap her shoulder.
She stated, "Besides Aga who is already pregnant, so are Oga, Ona and myself. I have given them a tea to help with the nausea."
Although he was pleased to hear that Oga would soon be giving him another son, he realized that this wasn't the best time.
He gestured impatiently, "Will it make them walk faster? We have to keep moving."
Uba answered, knowing it wasn't what he wanted to hear, "It will not make it easier for them. They need more rest".
Broud cuffed her and shoved her to the ground in frustration and walked away. Vorn rushed over to help her up and was glaring murderously at Broud's retreating back. He opened his mouth to say something. But Brun motioned him to be quiet.
He called out Broud's name and when Broud turned around he said, "Brun would make a suggestion".
"What is it"?, Broud snapped.
Brun said, "Perhaps the older children could take some of the the load off the women and help carry the younger children as well".
Broud answered, "Igra can't carry that much, she's just a child".
Brun sighed and said, "I don't just mean Igra. I mean Brac and Groob as well".
Broud was irate at the idea, "They are not doing women's work. Especially not the son of my mate".
Brun was frustrated and told him, "Can you not see that they are ready to fall over with fatigue from the pace you are setting? You need to slow down. What's more important, that the boys carry a little now or the women get sick and can't go on at all? Ebra has already told me that she and the other older women would do more of the meal time chores. Perhaps you could also leave the older men to guard the women and have the younger men scout the areas we are in for caves". He punctuated his lecture with a hard stare and as usual Broud stood down.