Then Cambarre watched through the open flap of their tent as Jonayla, taking an absorbent chamois to dry herself and nothing else, walked down to the water's edge and stepped in, stopping for a moment to hug herself at the coldness of the lake water. She would have felt the same attraction if it had been Jondalar rescuing her from the same fate. Ayla loosened the straps of the pole-drag to free her horse from its weight. So we finally left our new cave and moved farther away from them. It had been done this way for as long as anyone could remember. Even a very young wolf would be intimidating to anyone who wasn't expecting to see one in their midst. Brog, now standing behind his leader, was jarred by a feeling of uneasiness, the same feeling he had experienced when he first had contact with this female Mog-ur. "We were chasing flatheads. Sacred Mountain Julian is a romantic outdoor venue with 360 degree views on 61 acres of lush, unspoiled nature. Ayla had now done it twice. The women began talking about Jonayla's trial mating time. "Where am I? Finishing her tea, she mounted her horse and left them using the gesture of farewell as she returned to her family and the man of the Clan to resume their journey south. She was just beginning to think that they should stop and see if they could find some of the white fungus that grew on the north facing of some of the tall pines. I just wish father and Durcan could be with us. "Cambarre, I think most of the people from the Nineteenth Cave have returned to the Summer Meeting, so now would be a good time to stop at the First Wolf Cave for a short visit before crossing the river," Jonayla said, struggling to hold the excited little body of Star in his sling holder. Cambarre had been watching her body move easily before him, appreciative of her curves and her smooth muscles at work and almost ran into her when she had stopped abruptly. "Creb! She wanted to kill the man who had used a spearthrower on Jondalar but at the same time she had an overwhelming need to get back to him to see how badly he was hurt. All during this time Dula had been watching Ayla. "Would you like to see the boy?". There was a time when I thought I should step aside and let you choose another to take my place. Jondalar came to a skidding halt beside her then grabbed her torn leather tunic to look at her wounded shoulder. Now she knew there was a message that needed to be shared, that people, no matter how different, were all The Earth Mother's children and should be respected and treated with fairness and understanding. If the stallion becomes aggressive, just shout, but don't wave your arms unless he tries to attack you. She urged Summer Child on, with thoughts of friends still filling her mind. he yelled as he hurried to the pole-drag. It makes me feel accepted as one of the family. "Zelandoni of the Third Cave and Zelandoni of the First Cave from the south, meet Madroman, who is apparently now pretending to be the ancient Shaman, Skytalker," Ayla said loudly, mustering as commanding a voice as she could. The man surveyed the group once more. It had been less than three full moons ago that Jonayla had come to her worried that she would never find a man and now here she was, a woman with a mate. Ayla was delighted, "Isn't this just lovely Jondalar? As dawn's light crept over the top of the far hills to shed its pearlescent light over the Zelandonii campsite, Ayla and Jondalar were already packed and ready to go. Within a full moon-cycle of their arrival home, the meat was dried and seasoned and the harvested foods and fodder were stored away. The lion could be on her, tearing her apart before she could even reach down for the Clan spear at her feet. There was no room south of them, between their campsite and the lake, for any other cave so it would be quiet and spacious even with both camps so close together. What was even more surprising, were the cave openings. "I was a stranger to the Zelandonii long ago, but I was adopted as one of you and that was one of the most important moments in my life. I haven't been able to talk to anyone about it, not even Lorala. There was more than one person coming their way. Jondalar turned toward the leader of Old Valley, "Ramacol, do you think you could spare some travel food so we won't have to stop along the way to hunt? That thought made her think again about her daughter's impending children. He had a faraway expression as if he were remembering. "Tormaden said that they were coming back and he would give them Groog if they asked because he didn't know the truth of what was going on and didn't want trouble. Ayla reflected on this as she helped Jondalar to sit up so he could eat some boiled grains mixed with berries. ", "You should ask her how she's doing Cambarre. Then he realized what his small group must look like; their First Zelandoni was naked to the waist and had a bandaged shoulder, her left side was smeared with blood, her leggings soaked in the boy's blood, and she was holding a Clan spear covered with dried blood. He couldn't be sure, but he knew as dusk fell that if it was a bonfire beacon on the other side of the valley, he would be able to see the flame as the sky grew darker. "Call me Durc, everyone does," he said. This would give them time to prepare. Seeing that he'd hit his target, he scrambled away before Willamar could give him a half-hearted swat for the teasing he'd just received. It was late afternoon when they ate, and the food was delicious. It was almost a subconscious thing for him to constantly sharpen his aim and to keep his skill at its peak. She develops the abilities of lighting fire quickly and befriending with animals. If you met her you would see what I see and hear what I hear, I am sure of it. I try to get them right.''. As they moved deeper into the forest it soon became obvious that they would have to dismount and lead the horses. As they reached the sitting man before them, Ayla called out in a quiet voice. Even though Blandar knew traveling in groups would be safer and that lions shy away from larger groups, he hadn't wanted to wait until others were ready to leave and that decision had cost him his life. The herd was upwind of the five riders so no human scent had reached them. 'The Snake Bowl is not for trade. That dirty beast had always given him the evil eye. "I just hope we don't have a need for it before we get back to the Summer Meeting," he said, still worried even as he held out both the spearthrower and his quiver full of deadly spears for Jonayla to take. Brog suggested that he should be the one to bring up the plan, but he also advised that Mongar had been offended by Ayla's daughter when she and her man had been brought in earlier. The group had traveled through the rough terrain, meeting up with each other on the far side of the broken ground only to discover their Zelandoni hadn't made it through. I hadn't known they were there until our people began to have run-ins with them. It's too bad we can't do it that way every year, but I suppose it's too much to expect people not to hunt when it takes their fancy or if they need to fill their larders at Summer Meeting." Being this close to the blonde Zelandoni, he thought she might really be speaking as the Mother's voice on earth. ", The Donier of the Nineteenth Cave hurried into the light. "Cambarre, no! Artibon couldn't think of anything to say to his new friend. Jonayla followed but couldn't stop from commenting. Cambarre watched his beautiful mate's sweetly curved hips swayed as she walked to the water's edge. She is an amazing woman who thinks of herself as ordinary, or at least did before the Mother began to speak through her. Your next life awaits you.". She'd heard from Brog that she was considered a Mog-ur among her own people but she hadn't quite understood. In the back of her mind, she wanted to leave something physical behind, something beautiful that would outlast her. Joharran hadn't waited for the trek north before dispatching hunters, including his son Jaradal to the north to mark out their campsite for them and the Lanzadonii so they wouldn't lose the site to another cave. This year everyone from the Nineteenth Cave was at the Summer Meeting. I am strong and I will recover," Ayla said quietly. "I'm grateful daughter; we didn't need any interruption this afternoon. Look at me! There were murmurs of agreement, everyone knew about Brukeval's feelings. Chapter 12 He signed, ignoring Ayla, "What do you expect us to do for these Others who have caused us nothing but suffering? They would leave the Summer Meeting a few days to journey north and cross over the boundary river and into the conflict area to ascertain exactly what was happening. She would have to be very careful and keep her eyes and ears alert for another person. "Zelandoni, are we to understand that you gave birth to a Clan child?" But now big things were happening. We could kill some of those for them. Fill the water bags at the stream," he instructed his son. ", Jonayla looked at the Donier of the Third Cave questioningly. Will you trust me? He laughed, making both Jondalar and Ayla smile. Willamar, knowing when to retreat, smiled at her fondly and nodded, walking over to a fallen tree to sit and watch the preparations. She looked at Jondalar with her eyes now focused. Cambarre, for his part was drinking in the shifting expressions that played across his beautiful mate's face. For a moment she wasn't sure where she was. She missed the intimacy and the quiet moments they shared together, lying in their furs talking quietly while stroking each other in a leisurely unhurried way. He tensed with anxiety that she knew Clan ways, but still expressed a bold male presence that was so unsettling that deep down inside he felt a foreboding that could almost be defined as fear. Jonayla slowly led the colt out and handed the lead rope to Camma. I have complete confidence in you, I know you'll come up with a way to make the others see what's needed and I'm not just saying that because you're my mother, I'm saying it because I know it's the truth.". Was that smoke he saw? Which cave and where it is we don't know. Learn from them, let them help you to be a stronger person. I've never known her to lie, not once in all the time I've known her. ", "Sweetheart, you know that Wolf is just too old to make a journey of several days, it would be very hard on him. He is a man who has always kept the traditions of the Clan. I wonder why the Mother made an animal with such unusual coloring. Jonayla sighed. He seemed to have grown up during their time apart. He tried to help by fetching water and firewood but could tell that even if he hadn't been there, those things would have been accomplished without a word needing to be spoken. "Yes, it looks safe," Jonayla said and without another word stepped into the pool and sank down submerging herself completely under the water. The Other's female Mog-ur had never asked for the firestone back and she still possessed it. The two women walked away from the fire and talked privately beside the lake. That evening when camp was made and everyone had eaten their fill, Ayla decided to encourage the silent Groog to tell his story of how he had come to be captured by Brukeval and his men. "But your mother is the First Zelandoni. They always think about pleasures.". Jonayla came in right after her mother, "What have you got mother?" In the morning, Ayla and her daughter quietly chanted The Great Earth Mother's Prayer as they put Wolf's ashes into a carry basket to take back with them. That spineless fool had been a liability more than once. I told him I thought you were better than alright and that he might be embarrassed if he did go to investigate.". Jonayla pushed aside the hide drape and stepped into the main room of her family's dwelling. That night for some reason he was suspicious of her. Cambarre had just accepted a bone platter from her, heaped with aromatic smells that made his mouth water, when suddenly a loud grunt and drumming of hooves came from across the brook. Jonayla was already calculating what she would need to prepare for that journey and looking forward to showing off her little one to the friends she would not have seen over the winter. "No, you're right, let's start west. ", "No, you won't wait until morning and you will leave the things you were preparing to steal," Ayla gestured to a pile of belongings obviously pilfered from the cave. "The Land of Painted Caves ," the sixth and supposedly final book of her multimillion-selling series, comes out in March. Her revenge was thwarted when the man mixed with his companions and the group scattered into the woods. It was Jonayla! The other books in the series were all set in the here and now and I felt I shouldn't break away from that format. The sacred place his people maintained was situated at the highest point in the eastern hills of Old Valley and was recognized by all the Zelandonii people as the Mother's Sacred Mountain. This was the area that the Others never came into because they were afraid of the Clan, at least that was what Mageb told Durg. Things escalated from there, turning her people into fighters, hunting the flatheads and ignoring the elder's words of caution. I saw his spirit monster disguise and it scared me greatly, so I have nothing but respect for Camma. Jean M Auel is a noteworthy author from the United States who has written a number of novels in the Literature & Fiction genre. Foregoing the planned meal that night, Jondalar and Ayla, their children and immediate family, including Folara, her mate Aldanor, Joharran and Proleva and Lanidar and Lanoga and Lorala too, rode out of camp to the lake's edge to be alone and to discuss what had happened. He wanted to protect me as the earth moved," her voice broke with emotion. The hunters weren't sure why they did, but they were certainly grateful. No one would have been able to stop the huge cat before she had been sent on her way to the Spirit World. "Good morning Jonayla, daughter of my heart." The assembled men nodded and there was no dissension. Newly mated couples left immediately after the ceremony was over. "Jondalar, I think you will be up and around in a few days, so I will leave you in Dula's care for the moment and attend this meeting. I know there will be many Zelandonii willing to help. travels throughout. They made camp that night in the vicinity of Reflection Rock, less than half a day south of Old Valley. It was late afternoon before Jonayla was able to convince her mother it was time to stop. As yet, those who lived north of the river had no horses of their own and they were intimidated at seeing them up so close. That would be something!" Ayla was wearing leggings with her loincloth and untied the legging covering her left leg and pushed it down to expose the four parallel lines carved into her thigh from her encounter with a Cave Lion at a very young age. There had been reports of deaths on both sides. We only did what they asked. He sometimes thought it might have been better if the boy's parents had taken him with them. Mongar looked at his Mog-ur who nodded encouragement. They wear clothes and what animal uses fire to cook their food? Jonayla had taken the lead as she was the most familiar with the area. Hidden near the summit, facing away from the valley below, was a cave. Ayla looked at the place that her daughter had indicated but didn't really recognize anything. "What is Brukeval doing here? She had done what she could for the Clan, for the people who had rescued her as a child, for the people of Iza and Creb. I could have had Ayla sitting by the hearth in her dwelling, in extreme old age, telling her story to the young people gathered around her. Ayla was looking around at the campsite and noticed their tent had been set up and their travel gear had been arranged the way she liked it. Also during the wintertime there were birth and death ceremonies to preside over. "Let's take this trail; we'll gain real distance if we move fast. "Yes, tea would be welcome. "Cambarre, what are you going to wear at the ceremony tonight?" From time to time the young people would direct their horses to an outcropping of rock or copse of trees to investigate. I thought to try a concoction of Aconite, Marigold and Wild Hops, mixed with Black Birch Bark. It had all been such a blur to her - the Mother speaking so vividly through her. The only real question I have about this change in meeting places is about hunting. Both the child and the blonde Zelandoni turned at the summons. I am grateful." That's when Skytalker made Brukeval appear, he called him his hunt leader. Ayla and Jondalar could see the sense in that and didn't try to change his mind about coming with them. "Rubio, please take me to the Zelandoni Stone. It was a gift from the Mother, at least that was what everyone was saying and Ayla felt they were right. Jonayla laughed and stood on her toes to kiss him. She really did love him and didn't want him to feel hurt. He perked up and stood, straining his eyes. "He and Blackie are trailing around after Durc. He was facing Ayla, but his eyes weren't really focused on anything or anyone. She knelt close, placing her lips to his ear and whispered, "I love you Jondalar and I promise that I will heal you, but this is going to hurt. The three spent some time touring the complex of rooms and nooks. Then the blonde Donier looked up and surveyed the other children and in their turn, took each child's hands in greeting and recited their names and kinship-ties without making a mistake. Jonayla also decided to let Star down to run beside them for part of the way to see how he would do. "May I sit with you, or are you talking about something private?" He managed to make himself understood and walked quickly past the Clan leader - who was still staring at Star in total astonishment. "Yes, there is an abundance of grains, seeds and berries, so much in fact that much of it goes un-gathered every year," the southerner who was first among her Zelandoni replied. "Is the Zelandoni of First Wolf Cave here this morning? In fact, once you've made the decoction, you might also make a relaxing tea. I was just becoming a woman then, my blood had begun to flow. "I support you First Zelandoni, as I believe do my fellow Zelandoni from the south." Who better to lead us? As they communicated, Jonayla realized that there were similarities in their two separate societies; the Clan cared about their young as much as her people did. Then Jonayla was walking toward the man. I haven't let him run free before, he might not be old enough to show you what you want to see." Thank you," the child replied with bright eyes and a smile to match. As they rode into the clearing Jondalar hailed a tall muscular man, "Greetings friend, it looks as if the Zelandonia gathering is over. ", Just then Dula stepped from behind Trivodan and signed to Ayla that she would finish the infusion and give it to Jondalar. Zelandoni!" The group set out again for the Summer Meeting; their ranks swollen by two more souls and two bodies, one man and one beast. Just the feeling of togetherness made her glow. All my friends are here. Ayla looked up and signed, "This woman would ask the man of the Clan how he feels? Word had gotten out that the S'Armunai mistreated travelers and would even detain and rob them of their belongings or trade goods. Groog says there is someone ahead to the left! If I had it to do over again I would have just tried to relocate our Third Place back toward the west. The Mother, who you call Ursus, will have frightened the bad spirits away. Jonayla could see the worry in the Clan man's face and she felt a momentary sympathy for him, but then the thought came to her that if he hadn't been here, she wouldn't have to be sitting here with him right now.
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