over."

"Stranger, Stena has been hit," Balo said almost in tears.

As he looked at his daughter she turned her side toward them. Down the length of her side was a long red streak, still bleeding.

"I turned, but not fast enough," she said. Her voice was labored.

"Lie down," he told his daughter and she did. He looked at her side. The wound ran down her side like his wound had, but there was only one. It was not deep. He saw blood, but little else and it was not bleeding badly. Near her left rear hindquarter the streak ended and he saw it. A small black stone was under the skin. He remembered what the bear had told him when he had been hit in much the same way. The stone had to come out. The bear had taken them out with his claws, and it almost killed him. He had no claws, but he did have something almost as good, but he shuttered at the thought of what he was going to have to do.

He got down on his knees and looked his daughter in the face.

"Stena, there is a Man stone still in you. That stone has to come out or you will sicken and die. It is like when the bear saved me after I had been hit. I think I can take the stone out with my antler, but it is going to hurt worse than being hit. It will hurt you worse than anything you have ever felt. Can you understand this?"

"You take out the stone or I die," she gasped still breathing hard.

"Yes, and while I am doing this, no matter how much I hurt you, you must try and stay still.

She nodded and he looked at him. He used his short point on top of his forehead. He tilted his head and placed his antler next to the black object. As he touched her skin she tensed up and let out a yell.

"You must be still," he said. Now prepare yourself.

He looked up at Claris who was already shedding tears. He looked at Balo who was already crying. He own eyes were misty, but he could not stop He put his right center point next to the stone and when he was sure he was in the right position he lunged in penetrating her side and then brought his head up quickly to lift it out,

"AAAHHHOOOOOO, Stena screamed, and her legs stiffed and then she went completely limp. For a moment he thought he had killed her, but she started to breathe again. He looked down and although the wound was bleeding, he saw no stone.

"It is out," he told her. "It cannot hurt you anylonger. Now you must rest and recover your strength." He then rubbed her face with his nose. "I am so sorry. I did not want to hurt you like that."

"Pa-pa," she said weakly like a little fawn.

He put his head next to hers." Yes, my daughter."

She licked his face. "Thank you, Pa-pa," she said and seemed to fall asleep in front of them.

He turned his head away and sobbed uncontrollably for a while not wanting the others to see. He was brought back by Balo asking," Have you seen my mother?"

He blinked several time. There were still things he must do.

"No I have not seen you mother. I am going to go back toward the cave and look. I want you all to stay here."

Claris came over to him to block his way. "Not until after dark," she said. "I cannot lose you too," she said her eyes still full of tears. She was right; the other had to look out for themselves for now."