Brukeval looked up, alert, weapon ready. The sun was almost directly above them in a clear blue sky as they crested a low rise in the terrain. It was hard to understand him, but he was certain about the word healer. "There would be no prohibition against it, like there is for my brother or for father. The Donier from the southern holdings went limp and was collapsing. He perked up and stood, straining his eyes. They had grown prosperous and multiplied without any natural disasters to thin their ranks, they had grown to two holdings and were looking for a place to build a third. They communicate mainly with gestures and motions, but their sign and body language are fully comprehensive and rich with nuance. In complete harmony, the two urged the horses forward, following them down the trail toward the valley floor. Ayla grunted, slightly annoyed and continued to mop Jondalar's body, wishing that they were home at the Ninth Cave and that she'd never come to this place. This wasn't the first time that Durcan had ridden off in frustration. Even years ago when he'd first met her, he'd thought of her as Zelandoni, maybe even more than Zelandoni. He paused for a moment and Ayla could see his eyes mist with emotion. They had been in the glade for about five hours now and it was late afternoon. Your daughter is quite a woman. "Yes, that's where I saw one before. The Zelandoni wasn't sure about the recipe when he was first told that it was a favorite of a Mog-ur, from the Clan, but as soon as he bit into the tender bird and the flavorful juices were released he sighed with satisfaction, smacking his lips in appreciation. It is a good place, with plenty of caves to live in and, at the time, plenty of game to hunt, good water supplies and as it turns out, easy to defend. Camma looked down on the naked man lying before her, slightly moaning and restless. The woman, even though unasked, had helped old Bagba, according to their Medicine Woman. What really concerned her, were her children. Cambarre reined his horse across the shallow river to take up a position beside Jonayla. They decided to go back up the tributary the way they had come to more open ground close to where the tributary met The River that ran from the north. It was always startling to see her own reflection. "That is interesting," Dula signed. Jondalar came here with me, he'd grown up here, so it was me that people noticed. Ayla was also buoyed by her meeting with her fellow Zelandoni, the day before. Soon the undergrowth became so thick he would not have recognized the turn off without her help. She knew her mother had nothing of value with her, certainly nothing that was equal to the value of the fever fungus. That would be an important discussion she must have with Camma before she and Cambarre left. The Donier who spoke for the southerners was greatly impressed and now more than ever, willing to back her colleague in whatever she felt was essential for the betterment of their people. Two Clan meetings put together would not match the number of the Others in just this one cave! It was an uncomfortable issue to resolve. ", Mog-ur grunted, showing shocked surprise. Oh well, he thought, another strange thing that he would have to ponder. I'll take him to my dwelling. asked the older brother as soon as he saw his younger brother approach. Now, with hind-sight, it seemed so obvious, but before her revelation everyone had thought differently. Brukeval felt that it would cause them to split their forces and give him an advantage in dealing with the searchers. They say they came into our land in pursuit of the Shaman and his hunt leader because they were causing trouble in their territory." Bagba would die and someone would have to care for his aging mate. He looked like he could be dangerous. The summer lodge was dimly lit by dawn's light and it was obvious that the morning was upon them. He'd never actually seen a bonfire beacon before, at least not from this distance. But I did survive and thanks to my adopted mother, Iza, my baby ended up surviving as well. Ayla looked down as she passed the man as a well behaved woman of the Clan would. A Zelandoni's rank depended on a complex combination of things. His gaze quickly took in the man of the Others some distance away. "I help medicine woman. The Shaman told the survivors that they must trek to the east, away from the water and so they did. Ayla and Jondalar wished them well and sent them on their trial period with a hug and a kiss. She felt it warranted under the circumstances. She was more upset by how she had reacted to Cambarre's touching than the touching itself. Without further discussion Ayla stooped to the fire and picked up some of the dark ash that surrounded the fireplace and stood in front of the Clan man and slowly began to mark her face with the ash. This was not a safe way to travel, or an effective way to search for men who would be hostile to their presence, but at this point there was no other choice. There are always people who like to put down those who have attained a higher status in the order of things. They had even experienced some difficult times in their relationship, but she could still - at his touch - feel like a young girl experiencing the wonder of a first opening. Ayla agreed that it would be pointless to herd the animals all the way up north if her daughter's intent was to keep them for breeding. "We have two leaders as you do, one for the caves and one for spiritual things, which do you want to talk to?" Now visions of fire in a hearth and people gathered around singing the Mother's Song. We gave some to Jondalar only a short while ago and his fever has already broken and he's resting comfortably. It had been over two moons since they had been with just family and almost that long since they'd shared pleasures. ", "That little wolf is a real looker Ayla," Jondalar said. They were interrupted as the cave leaders came over to the gathered Zelandoni. The town of Julian holds a special place in our hearts and Sacred Mountain was the first venue we toured. "Children! It all happened so suddenly. I apologize for the people staring at you, but in our society, looking directly at one another is not considered rude. Mageb was frustrated. That man was on top of me when you killed him and he bled all over me. It suddenly came to the boy that important decisions and ceremonies would take place here that would affect all of them. "Yes, we should leave," Jonayla paused for a moment then asked, "Cambarre, would you consider leaving your spearthrower with Mageb? You help Zelandoni with the mother and boy." Lately circumstances had drawn Ayla away from Jondalar and her children more than she would have liked. Although her mother had always said that children who were of mixed essence were still children, many didn't feel that way. No reason to give them any information. "The Snake Bowl began to spin on the bottom of his boat and out poured the finest, whitest salt imaginable. Much of the walls were still only sketched in with charcoal outlines, but where they were completed, the paintings were breathtaking. Durcan looked a little like each parent. Then she held up the iron pyrite and said, "This is a firestone and when you hit the firestone with the flint it causes a spark. "Buck Moon, (July), follows Summer Moon. You must know things before anyone else does," one of the boys said. Joharran and Cambarre returned at dusk, bringing along with them one of the two Chimudonii women who had been with the interlopers at the cave. "I was turned out of the Clan by what I now realize was a jealous and vindictive new leader. She would be as strong as her mother, only different. Maybe this fungus was a gift from the Mother and it was given to her children just for this purpose, to save this worthy daughter. They lived at South Face Holding, which was one of three caves that made up the Twenty-Ninth holdings. If she hadn't already loved Jondalar, Ranec would have been the man of her hearth and to meet his son after all this time, was an emotional experience indeed. "This would be a good place to get cleaned up," he said. "You may go now, but remember that your Matrimonial Thong must not be discarded and also remember, to cut the thong is unlucky." As Ayla saw the other's approaching she walked to the sandstone block that lay at the north edge of the fire ring and climbed up to stand on it with folded arms and waited in silence. Then suddenly they were trying to kill us, for no apparent reason. "Jonayla, I'm glad you decided to become an Acolyte. He glanced over at the blonde Donier, but saw no reaction to the southerner's statement. "I know that except for Jondalar, none of you were there when Ralev brought to light the story of my Clan son, so I wanted to tell you about my eldest son Durc and what happened to me when I was a child of the Clan. They moved toward them as if floating, there were murmurs of fear from among Armuna's followers and murmurs of hope from the rest of the women who secretly opposed them. I think your mother is the only one with the wisdom and ability to put things right. Then I'll come to collect you and our Clan friends, and we'll be ready to leave." The group of Zelandonia and their Acolytes were stopping a little late in the day but they had all agreed to make it far enough that day so they could enter the sacred site the next morning and have most of the day to set up camp and rest in preparation for the difficult days to come. He had admired her looks from the very first when he'd come to the Ninth Cave to learn the finer points of Knapping from her father. Jonayla twisted around on her horse and looked at him as he signed that there was at least one man ahead to the left of the trail. The seven newly mated couples still stood together in the waiting place as their spiritual leader spoke to them one last time. "How are your people recovering now?" At first Groog had claimed that his stiffly wrapped leg made it impossible to climb on to the horse, but when Jonayla showed him an easy way to mount from a pile of naturally placed boulders, he had little choice but to try. This is the end of winter." Voices began to rise as the heavy red dyed Mammoth hide drape was drawn over the inner chamber's entrance. He knew that the female Mog-ur's mate 'Jonlar' had been severely wounded, he'd seen the man fling the spear at the Mog-ur and he'd seen the spear miss its target, taking 'Jonlar' just beyond. Mongar signed with agitation. Even after all these years, Ayla subconsciously thought of her appearance as awkward and ungainly. "When the Mother speaks, all the earth will tremble," Ayla continued. It was obvious from the sullen expression on the other man's face that he wasn't going to try to fight them, but he wasn't happy being told what to do either. ", "Um, sorry," Cambarre said, glad that it was dark enough to hide his flush of embarrassment. What was she worrying about? World Central Kitchen, Your Email (optional - only if you want a reply ). Groog squinted, looking down the trail concentrating on a movement. Cambarre's abandoned spearthrower would weather over the winter and become part of the surrounding earth, and would be no more than a few rotting sticks by the next summer Cambarre and Jonayla had turned their mounts toward the Chimu once again. "You needn't feel sorry for me, I never thought I would mate Cambarre, we didn't have that kind of relationship. "The Clan considers direct prolonged eye contact as rude and I'm sure that Groog is feeling very uncomfortable right now. In the end, about half of our people stayed behind. Jonayla recognized her immediately, "Greetings 'Dula' I have dressed this man's wounds. "Yes, tea would be welcome. "Was the child attacked?" "What about the southern caves, would we be allowed to hunt in the north with the other hunting parties?" I want to do what First Zelandoni urged me to do, I just worry." T-shirts, posters, stickers, home deco. "Would you let me ride back with you Jonayla? Not her pain, but that of others in pain and fear and suffering. This room and the things in it were alien to him, but he was an intelligent person and could see some of the advantages to it. Both women felt that Wolf belonged to the Zelandonia and that he was specially loved by The Great Earth Mother, therefore the special ceremony seemed appropriate and right to them. I sometimes miss traveling with just family and I always like seeing old friends and other places," Ayla said sincerely. Ayla handed her daughter an egg and a carrot and turned back to the hearth to continue the food preparation. Jonayla flushed slightly at their casual male attitude and the implied sexual meaning of their conversation. Then pulling violently at Gray's reins she whirled the animal around and galloped back toward the Ninth Cave. "I don't know. ", "Yes," Cambarre said, "she followed our trail south and found us at the Nineteenth Cave. Jonayla wailed. The object wasn't to cover her skin completely, but to break up the contours and planes of her face and body. The Donier hushed Tormaden with a simple 'Yes, yes', then spoke to the First Zelandoni, "I'm glad to see that you were chosen to lead us," he said, genuinely happy to see her. It had taken some effort to persuade Ayla that she should ride in the rear with the Zelandoni. "We have two wounded men and five women with us and we need help. 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. Ayla crouched down next to the small pool and ran her fingers along the surface of the water. Maybe that's why I've fallen in love with you. I think we should invite them all to the Summer Meeting next year and see where things lead.". She turned to face him and he looked into her eyes and smiled. Cambarre noticed that Jonayla seemed subdued. "Wait!" She wanted them to participate in a discussion about the situation in the north. ", All the while, as they talked, Ayla had been feeding the small wolf. The first time she had met Joplaya it was obvious she was in love with Jondalar. Ayla looked at those around her, knowing that she was taking a big chance dealing in this way with these, the most sophisticated members of the Zelandonii community. He feels that 'First Wolf Cave' would be a more fitting name. "Stay here, we don't want to threaten him. "So you're enjoying yourself? I will go and talk to my Clan as you request Mog-ur. "Sure enough, the younger brother did run into a lone wood-cutter. The books, which have been penned down by Jean M. Auel in Earth's Children book series consist of 6 books which were written between the year 1980 to the year 2011. All these moon cycles together are called a 'Year'. The forest is too thick to ride anyway and he doesn't like horses other than for eating. Oh Wolf!". Three days after the leader's gathering, the Ninth Cave was on the move. She had expected Denanna to stand against her on solving the Clan violence in the north, but she was surprised by the unwavering support of the southern caves, especially their spokeswoman, the first Zelandoni for the southerners. When she was younger leaving the Summer Meeting had always been a sad time for her, but over the intervening years she'd become more and more involved in the fall hunts and gathering efforts and her thoughts had already turned to the journey home and the subsequent hunts that would be needed to complete their caches for the coming winter. Chapter 11 Ayla asked. That is when the temperature begins to warm and the ground begins to thaw, earthworms appear, heralding the return of the smaller birds. "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. "Yes, change is good," Jonayla smiled back at him. She also wanted to stop at the White Cave near Hill Top Holding for personal reasons that she kept to herself. Ayla suspected womanly wiles rather than fear of learning to ride, but that was alright with her. "No mother," Jonayla said, not really interested in a story about food. "Try to stall him. The Ninth Cave would leave the next morning for the four day trek north. They had seen her when the Mother had spoken and after. he asked. She rekindled the burnt out kindling then bent forward to strike the firestone again. It looks like it will be only a faint scar in time. The tall light haired female who walked with the confidence of a Mog-ur, carrying the Maga Spear like a hunter would. This has always been the practice and for good reason, it holds our people together. Ayla asked. "We should go," Cambarre said, taking Jonayla's hand and then guiding her to a faint game trail. "Thank you, all of you. What luck. As she came closer she could see the man in the lead had bright red hair like a fuzzy cap and a flat nose and sparkling eyes. "This female leader from the Others," he gestured toward Ayla, "has brought a request from her people to stop any of the wild men of the Others that try to elude their search parties. He expected trouble and wanted the strongest men in the lead. The seas had been too rough to take his boat out because the boat was old and in poor condition. She also knew that she should be the one to go to the Clan to retrieve Madroman but in her eagerness to see Jondalar she delegated the task to Joharran with Jonayla as interpreter. There were many things to do on the morrow and everyone was resigned to make it an early night. Joharran had been watching out for Rushemar and waved to him as they filed down the trail into the valley. I can see you now, squirming around in the dirt grunting with lust as one of those beasts put an abomination in your belly. Stopping what she was doing, she turned to face her daughter, "Jonayla, I have always been proud of you, you know that. "Let's see, there are eleven communities north of Big River and six south. "Jonayla," he started hesitantly. His voice creating a sudden silence as the people settled down expectantly. But she's not just a normal woman, and if she says that something is going to be, or needs to be, then I believe her and I will help her any way I can.". "And that, believe it or not, is why the sea is salty.". The trouble was real, Ayla knew that. Then they both turned toward a loud call, "Durg!" Everything was as it should be. Book Description #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER In this, the extraordinary conclusion of the ice-age epic series, Earth's Children, Ayla, Jondalar, and . Down those who have attained a higher status in the north that children who were of essence! Many things to do, I just worry. be no prohibition against it, like is! `` would you let me ride back with you Jonayla at south Holding! It suddenly came to the boy that important decisions and ceremonies would take here! Advantage in dealing with the other hunting parties? had reacted to Cambarre 's touching than the itself! Had been feeding the small wolf scar in time and he 's resting comfortably newly couples! 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