was not insensible, for it would neither be proper nor auspicious for Azak to be rendered unconscious for the final, culminating stage of The Process. Azak moaned slightly as the Knife entered his body, a moan of lust, not pain, and smiled, and his Manly Organ twitched and grew as the Knife made its presence known in Azak’s vitals – all good and proper, and expected Signs.

Ugurk drew the Knife somewhat out of the gash he had made in Azak’s abdomen, and moved its sharp edge through Azak’s taut, muscular flesh, just so far and no further, just deep enough and not so deep as to risk the precious cargo waiting to be withdrawn from Azak’s strong body. Azak’s blood ran red and healthy down onto Al-Tar, as it should, and spilled to the floor of The Cave, as it should. It was a rich, full flow, but not excessive, and after a small pool had collected on the floor of The Cave, Asram placed a stone basin at the foot of Al-Tar that caught the rest. Our People sighed in appreciation of the Shaman Ugurk and his skill, and his communion with The Power.

After drawing the Knife a short distance through Azak’s supple, healthy flesh, Ugurk withdrew the Knife and brandished it before Our People, slowly turning in a circle to all sides of The Cave so that all could see that The Ceremony was proceeding both properly and that, with the bright red blood glowing like fire on the black blade of the Knife, was proceeding auspiciously. Ugurk placed the Knife on Al-tar, directly under the firm buttocks of the hunter Azak, with the point of the Knife pressing close to his anus.

Ugurk placed the fingers of both hands into the newly-created opening in Azak’s healthy hunter’s body, and, working down and in until his hands were inside Azak up to Ugurk’s wrists, slowly and patiently widened the opening, as The Power guided him. The Power allowed Ugurk to see what he had expected, what was sought after – the head of the tiny figure nestled in the sac at the top of Azak’s bowel, waiting to be drawn out of Azak’s body. The tiny figure had been growing inside Azak for six Full Moons after Azak’s coupling with the hunter Ygrim, and it was now Time for a new hunter to emerge, and be added to the numbers of Our People.

Ugurk reached below and behind the tiny figure, and drew it forth from Azak’s body. Taking up the Knife again, he cut the tube of Azak’s flesh that connected him to the new creature, and held the tiny creature high, again turning slowly in a full circle, displaying him to all of Our People as he had the Knife.

Azak cried out “Yeeeeesss” in a strong voice, and raised both of his strong arms in triumph, a good Sign. Our People, as one voice, roared their thanks to The Power and their approbation of the great Shaman, Ugurk. The roaring of Our People brought the infant hunter’s voice into the din, as he too expressed his thanks to The Power for giving him life – a good Sign, for the mark of a strong hunter is that he approves of his own birth and life.

Ugurk took a strip of soft, supple deerskin, which he had treated beforehand with a special ointment, and tied it around the short strip of Azak’s tube of flesh that remained attached to the infant hunter’s