"I miss Durc most of all, I wish I could see him, speak to him, hold him in my arms. "Medicine Woman Dula has found a special medicine that puts out a fever almost like water thrown on a fire. he wondered. The man surveyed the group once more. Don't dose me even if I become sicker. 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. And Uba is Medicine Woman, they are BOTH alive!" Like people, wolf pups would likely each be of their own nature. Our hunters retreated and returned here to let me know.". She felt excitement but couldn't decide if it was the horse or Willamar's arm causing it. "That reminds me, I'm sorry I didn't tell you this earlier, but I have been so busy getting settled in the storyteller's lodge that I almost forgot. She left her own bed to kneel beside his and inspect his wound. I think they were satisfied with our past spiritual leader, but I also think they would be happy to have someone from their area as First Zelandoni for a change. A wolf discovered it, a wolf that was first among his kind. Most of the adults had seen what a help Wolf had been to their First Zelandoni and Jondalar when they went hunting. What she had planned was the right thing for her and Jondalar and when he was well again she would broach the subject with him. He was bare-chested, tanned and well-muscled and his light blond hair moved as if alive or from a breeze that wasn't apparent. He had been beaten severely and was unconscious. "Yes, of course, I'm sorry Ramacol. "Would you please raise the north side panel to let more light in?" They had heard this story before, or one like it and it was a favorite theme. All I know is that I'm happy my eldest son is still alive and he seems to be accepted as a leader. He'd taken down an adult Elk with his spearthrower and had gutted and dressed it before lashing it to the poles. I don't mean that I resented a woman's place, but I didn't feel an equal for some reason. "You can count on me for as long as I'm able. "Over the past winter season we have lost three more hunters and two of our women to these killers. There were dozens of them and most of them had been shaped by man, square openings, in some cases. After she'd had time to recover her composure Jonayla said, "Cambarre will be surprised; we hadn't planned on a mating and didn't have anything special other than our best tunics. Father named Durcan after Durc, mother's Clan son. He even confirmed it at the end. There would never be another man to fill Jondalar's space in my life," Ayla said, wondering why she was telling this woman her innermost feelings. "I'm nine summers First Zelandoni," the girl replied seriously. As far as the Zelandonia are concerned, we're happy with your leadership and we support you.". Of course he knew instinctively that she was, she had the curves and the stance of a female, but her words were spoken as if a hunter spoke them. He would certainly give her something to remember today; he had a lot of pent up energy that he needed to work off and Marilla would be the recipient.' Jonayla wondered who had done that and where it had been hanging so no one had seen it. Won't that alarm the Clan men more than even the horses would? I stumbled across this in a google search. "You will not be bothered by rude eyes in this dwelling. This cave was considered one of the entrances into Mother Earth, but even more importantly, it was where important matters of the Spirit World were dealt with by their spiritual leaders. Her hands had been tied to stakes driven into the ground and her tunic and leggings had been removed so that all she was left with was a loincloth and her attacker was working to remove that. 'Good idea.' She also knew that now that she had touched it Mog-ur couldn't take it back even if he wanted to. Once I understood that, I was hooked like a fish.". Ayla flinched as if woken from a sound sleep. "Yes, I know the place," she replied. They were talking to each other animatedly and gave the impression of two children enjoying an adventure. Madroman whined when he saw who had come. In those moments it also became apparent to him that he probably should have brought up the subject of her Clan son in a more private place. As the animal tumbled over her, knocking her backward, Ayla felt a white-hot slice along her left shoulder as the claws of one massive paw raked across it, tearing her leather tunic and digging into her flesh. Father and Son rode on, occasionally looking down at the newly formed lake, but never letting their urgent mission leave their thoughts. ", Ayla looked up at the worried leader of the Nineteenth Cave and realized that he was in a difficult position, caught between two warring factions. Groog, being trained to become a Mog-ur, knew about that moment in the Clan memories and knew that of a Mog-ur named Creb, who was known for his superior abilities to reach into the Spirit World. Jondalar opened his eyes, looking up at her and nodded. "We will speak more about the trouble in the north when we arrive at the Summer Meeting," Ayla explained in Clan hand signs. Suddenly three stones hit the fire almost simultaneously causing sparks to fly and making the men jump to their feet in surprise. The people of the Clan will not hurt you so long as you don't try to escape. Chapter 37 Apparently it is rare and hard to find. "No, I must return and hear what adventures my sister has had. "There was something else she mentioned," he paused for a moment, thinking. He shouldn't leave Brukeval behind, but what choice did he have? The rest of us trekked inland to these hills, eight moon cycles from the sea. While she was still examining the baby wolf, Jonayla hurried back with a steaming bowl of hot water. By the morning of the new day, everyone had heard the story of how their First Zelandoni had killed a hunting cave lion all by herself with nothing but a Clan spear. But to know someone who called him a friend and who had known him, that was quite something. "You're right of course," Ayla said. We don't know if we're going to leave or not. I don't know what they will do. "Greetings Cambarre!" They had easily fallen into the division of tasks. They think I wanted to be a pleasure woman for the men of the Shaman, that I enjoyed it. Just finished this "unofficial" story extension and am wondering on other's thoughts. He didn't even look at her; he just shoved her to one side roughly. So the older brother went to his brother's hut. Soon the Elk steaks were spitted over the flame and Jonayla was stirring an accompanying vegetable mix in a steamy broth made from the meat juices. Ayla leaned over and kissed his sweat-soaked brow and whispered in his ear for the thousandth time, "I won't let you die Jondalar, you'll pull through. "It would also apply to gathering grains and plants in the south. ", "I told you I'm not positive, it could just be that with everything that's happened, the traveling and excitement, I might just not be experiencing my normal flow.". "But your medicine might not work on my people. 'They might be new to horses, but they knew how to hide themselves and that might be enough to make this work,' Jonayla thought. He leads others! The leather was of the finest quality, a rich, earthy, golden yellow hue that almost matched the color of her hair. The next morning dawned cloudless, but with a hint of summer's end in the air. That is the point of my story; don't let bad experiences depress or change you like the boiling water changed the carrot and the egg. Let's take a walk. I will not stop until these Hyenas have been stopped!". "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. "Will you respect him, care for him and teach your children to respect him as befits your mate as their father and provider? she signed. Joharran, nodded and without saying a word, turned his horse to face the path then gave a nod to Cambarre. And then later, after his death, she was forced out of the Clan by a brutal leader who hated her. The conversation moved back to the Clan hunt and Cambarre was asked to describe it for the men. "Then that is how it shall be. During the thanksgiving ceremony and feast the new mothers sat in a place of honor as the people of the cave came over to them to complement them and their new babies. Even small children use counting words. The Chimu woman was becoming more used to riding, but being so high above the ground and the feeling of such power between her legs was still daunting. "I consider you my sisters and brothers, all," she said earnestly. If you met her you would see what I see and hear what I hear, I am sure of it. Are there any young men that you have interest in?" Ayla smiled and replied, "It was an accident, like many things. I have everything I need to care for him, if you will just get out of my way." She quickly began to pour the now warm wash of healing herbs into and around the wound to clear away the blood and dirt. "But the reason I stopped in this morning to see you is, well to apologize to you. Ayla had bowed her head and closed her eyes as the Fifth Cave's Zelandoni spoke. I hadn't known they were there until our people began to have run-ins with them. She told her favorite story. Facing the low-cut entrance portal, were two other portals cut into the back wall between two vertical supports. He hesitated a moment then continued, "I will need my hunting spear in case I run into the bad men, then I can leave.". This was not lost on Ayla, even if the rest of her family didn't realize the significance of it. It looked very ancient; a shiver of nervous fear went through his body. Cambarre and Willamar became close friends, sharing their worries and pride at their women's pregnancies. Madroman and the others were ahead of him by a few hundred paces, he tarried behind to see how many Zelandonii were following. Two different kinds of humans. We had to have some sort of distraction because there were just too many of them for me to take on alone," Cambarre said, looking at Jonayla's blood spattered body. Would you do that for me? Minnows flashed and darted in shoals as trout swam among smooth submerged rocks. They seemed to have become close very quickly. I guess I was tired, I didn't mean to sleep so late. Feeling an inner excitement, Brog signaled Dula to follow him and walked away from the mouth of the cave toward the woman who led the Others. She looked up at Tormaden and noted his look of reluctance. The sound she made sounded so real and he was shocked to see that several birds fluttered down from the surrounding trees to rest on her hand as she looked at them, still whistling as if she too were a bird and they could understand what she said in bird song. We all three survived a terrible fate and we will always have that in common. "Thank you Jaradal," Durcan said. 'The Woman Who Hunts' was in Mog-ur lore and known only to Mog-urs. The summer was coming to an end and within a full moon phase they would begin to see dustings of snow in the mountains. Since then I have used the fungus to good effect on similar wounds.". "I would be honored to share your dwelling. That way the smell of death would be disguised enough that no lingering spirit of the dead man would seek them out as something familiar and to follow. He knew her power, he had seen it with his own eyes. the girl asked. Andes mountains and into the deepest places of the self. Soon it was time for the people of the Ninth Cave to leave for the north. Now, with you under my control, I will be able to demand some things before traveling east or north or whatever direction my heart takes me," he sneered. "I know," said the old man. What more did he have to do? The eagles were only thirty arrow lengths from the ground with Ayla almost directly beneath them when they broke apart again. Ayla looked around her and not seeing the person she sought, asked out loud, "Where is the Zelandoni who is first among the southern holdings? "When you wake up in the morning, breathe deeply of the morning and the freedom of your youth, before you have the responsibilities that come with age, and enjoy the next days as a rare gift. All they wanted was to be close to the First Zelandoni who had the Sky Wolf. Jonayla had to satisfy herself with the fact that her charge would probably never be a horse person, but at least they wouldn't have to drag him on a pole-drag all the way to the north. As he walked back into the cave, he signed to Mog-ur that he should deal with the female of the Others as he wished. How far do you think you will need to travel to get back to your cave?". We stopped there and in many other places on our way here. Camma understood what she meant and said no more. They'll kill me when you've gone, I know they will! If you want to hear the storytellers then come on, we're here and there's the storyteller," Artibon said, as he ducked under the traditional low entrance to the Storyteller's lodge. The trip back was arduous. She was even more certain now that it wasn't the name her parents had given her, but she felt it was a name that belonged to her, one that she would always cherish. It was now that Jondalar suggested they make camp for the night. Eyzinah, Blandar's mate, had been taken to her Cave's summer camp by a Donier and instructed to rest. He's always been very helpful about my writing. The totem sign of The Cave Lion. She thought about her companions, they would come through the other side of this rough terrain and wonder where she was. They were interrupted as the cave leaders came over to the gathered Zelandoni. So much so, that although she could hold him in a sling carrier while riding, it was impossible to do anything on foot with his wiggly little body squirming for freedom. "How does Joplaya fare? kracine posts on 5/31/2012 3:00:37 AM I just finished The Sacred Mountain, and I thought it was an impressive effort. She would have to be very careful and keep her eyes and ears alert for another person. "After that," he continued, "the two of us headed back into the south and just got to enjoy the rest of our time alone together. My name is Latinar," then he gestured to the man next to him, "and this is Tarmidar," then looking around his friend he pointed to the woman with them, "and this is Lamiae. Even with the problems the small animals caused, many people were thinking of getting their own. ", Ayla was uncomfortable with high praise she felt wasn't warranted, so she changed the subject, "How are you doing today Robinar?". Once he'd done what he could for Jonayla, he'd gone to work with the others to butcher the dead animals. her mother asked quietly. "Yes, probably. she asked. "You only have to talk to Groog," she nodded to the man of the Clan who was engaged in a silent conversation with Durcan at the edge of the encampment, "to know that they are intelligent people. The old man looked around the hearth at his equals and saw by their faces they felt as he did and nodding, he sat down. "You can enjoy the Summer Meeting and have your meals at the Ninth's camp. It was sobering to realize these men were so brave and could take such pain with only a grimace. Looking around the open area in front of the cave she asked her companion, "Zelandoni, did you communicate to everyone that we might stay through the night? She stopped, now almost parallel with the Chimu man and waited to hear his reply. Ayla nodded, asking Jondalar to encourage him to continue. I was thinking of calling him Sky, since he fell out of the sky, I thought that would be an appropriate name for him. "I think I hurt him more for my acceptance of him than I would have if I'd rejected him like all the other women in his life. As they stood there the southerner began to see images in her mind, images that she'd never even imagined before. It is our obligation to do our best to choose the right individual. "Y-yes Zelandoni, it just startled me," Rubio said, embarrassed, not knowing that all the children standing behind him had jumped too, as surprised as he had been. But watching them work on the unconscious man, wrapping his injuries and cleaning his wounds, it was obvious that he was like them in many ways and so they were beginning to see him as a human being; a strange looking human being to be sure, but human all the same. "Brukeval!" I can't help it. Suddenly she realized that HE was the reason she hadn't wanted to leave and that was the reason for her outburst at the family meeting the night before. These screens were blocking his view, but also blocking out those Others who had been so rude. Ayla fell asleep to the comforting sounds of Clan life, the small sounds of people settling in for the night, a child's plaintive cry, the rustle of sleeping furs as others found their places for the night. "I'm grateful daughter; we didn't need any interruption this afternoon. More recently I happened upon Clan of the Cave Bear. "I heard a rumor that you and your family might leave us and I wanted to tell you that I don't want you to go, I don't want to lose you. She smiled at her daughter, to soften her words. "If you think less of me because of what I went through when I was a child, then that is your right. You see one thing on the surface, but there is more than meets the eye below the depths. That's when some of the people decided they would follow Skytalker. Though, once she made the first move he worked hard to interest her, and now, they were mated and he was a happy man. I've always worried about him. Let's not worry about anything right now, let's go look at Wolf's cave. They could both jog all day if necessary, while at a full-out run they would tire out in an hour or two. The Clan people would not feel fulfilled, they can't understand the concept. You look tired.". Many remarked on Cambarre and Jonayla's outfits, wanting to know who made them. He told Jonayla about his hearth family and his cave. The Clan was full of people who were different from Ayla in all aspects. Ayla swayed atop Summer Child. I need to speak to a responsible leader of the Others.". Ayla wanted to give him a strong relaxing tea, but there was no time, not yet. But then she realized that if the Mother wanted her wolf, she couldn't resist Her. I don't even see how I can convince the others that I should be their leader. At first Ayla hadn't been sure that leaving him behind was such a good idea. She was happy to just follow Crazy Eyes instead of backtracking his previous approach. "Thank you Zelandoni, the food you have prepared looks very tasty, we're all grateful to you for taking charge of setting up the campsite. Ayla continued earnestly, "I would enjoy hearing all of your tales and I'm sure Jondalar would too, as well as everyone else at the Ninth Cave. "Look there," he said pointing at a weathered post with an lan mark on it. Oh Wolf!". Everybody knew that there were troubles in the north and that conflict was on the rise. Jondalar smiled, "I first met Ayla - that was her name before she became Zelandoni - after I had been attacked by her pet cave lion and severely mauled. Almost from the very beginning of her illness she had tried to convince the younger Donier that the important issue at hand, wasn't her health, but that Ayla should be ready for the challenges that would face the people after she was gone. Jonayla looked at her friend and made the face that Groog now knew was a sign of friendship for the Others. The first time she had met Joplaya it was obvious she was in love with Jondalar. Please try to answer any questions he might have about us. 5. Her eyes followed where he was pointing. 'She feels the same,' Ayla thought. Then she looked around at the people staring at them and then at those following. 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