The Land of Painted Caves

Chapter 31

Ayla quickly got up from the rock, put on her clean clothes, gathered up her soiled ones and the drying skin, and whistled to Wolf as she hurried back along the path. As she walked up to the stone front porch of the shelter, she remembered her first swim with Jondalar, and then Marona and her friends offering to give her some new clothes.

Though Ayla had developed varying levels of tolerance toward the other women who were involved in the trick, she never got over her aversion to Marona, and avoided contact with her. The feeling was more than mutual. Marona had never made any effort to reconcile with the woman Jondalar brought home with him from his Journey. She had mated for a second time the same summer that Ayla and Jondalar did, but at the Second Matrimonial, and once again more recently. That mating had apparently not worked out, either; she had moved back to the Ninth Cave to stay with her cousin a year or so before. But for all her matings, she had no children.

Ayla couldn't abide the woman, and didn't know why she should be thinking of her. She shook off thoughts of Marona and concentrated on Jondalar. I'm so glad to finally be going to the Summer Meeting, she thought. I can ride Whinney, and it won't take long at all to get there, no more than a day, if I don't stop along the way.

The Summer Meeting was being held this year about twenty miles to the north along The River, at her favourite place for a Meeting. It was the same location as the first Zelandonii Summer Meeting she had ever gone to, and the one where she and Jondalar were mated. Such meetings usually used up nearly all the resources around the area, but if enough time was allowed to pass, Mother Earth healed the place from the misuse caused by the large concentration of people and it was refreshed enough to host them again.

The young woman burst into her dwelling, full of vigour and enthusiasm, and began sorting through her clothes and possessions. She was humming her usual monotone under her breath when Marthona came in.

'You're suddenly full of excitement,' the older woman said.

'I'm going to the Summer Meeting. I don't have to watch the sky anymore. I'm through with my training. There is no reason I can't go,' Ayla said.

'Are you sure you're strong enough?' There was a note of regret in Marthona's voice.

'You've taken good care of me. I'm feeling fine, and I really want to see Jondalar, and Jonayla.'

'I miss them too, but it's a long way to go alone. I thought you might wait until the next hunter comes to take a turn helping us. Then you could go back with Forason,' Marthona suggested.

'I'm going to ride Whinney. It won't take long. I can probably get there in a day. Two at the most,' Ayla said.

'Yes, you're probably right. I'd forgotten that you would be taking your horse, and Wolf, too,' Marthona said.

Ayla noticed Marthona's disappointment, and suddenly realised how much the woman would like to go, and she was still concerned about her health. 'How are you feeling? I don't want to leave if you are not well.'

'No, don't stay on my behalf,' Marthona said. 'I'm much better. If I had felt this good at the beginning of the season, I might have considered going.'

'Why don't you come with me? You could sit on Whinney's back. It might take a little longer, but only another day or so,' Ayla said.

'No. I like the horse well enough, but I don't want to sit on her back. To be honest, it frightens me a little. You are right, though, you need to go. You need to tell Zelandoni that you were "called". Imagine what a surprise it will be.'

'There's not much summer left anyway. Everyone will be coming back before long,' Ayla said, trying to ease the separation.

'I feel two ways about that,' Marthona said. 'I'm anxious for the Summer Meeting to be over and for the Ninth Cave to come back, but I'm not looking forward to the return of winter. I suppose it's always that way when a person gets old.'

Ayla's next step in preparing to leave was to look for Lorigan and Forason. She knew exactly where to find Jonclotan, with Jeralda. Almost everyone was sitting around the community fireplace, finishing up a meal.

'Ayla, come join us,' Jeralda called. 'Have something to eat. There is plenty left and it's still warm.'

'I think I will. I've been so hungry the last few days,' Ayla said.

'I can understand why,' Jeviva said. 'How do you feel?'

'Much more rested,' Ayla said, then smiled. 'I've decided that I'm going to go to the Summer Meeting soon. I've finished my sky watching, so there is no reason for me to stay, but I thought we ought to go hunting once more before I leave, both for those who are here, and for something to take with me to the Meeting. The animals around the Meeting Camp are likely to be almost gone, and those that haven't been killed are probably avoiding the area.'

'You aren't going to leave before my baby comes, are you?' Jeralda said.

'If you don't have it in the next few days,' Ayla said. 'Though I would like to stay and see that nice healthy baby born. Have you been walking?'

'Yes, I have, but I was so looking forward to you being here to help me.'

'Your mother is here, and several other women who know about babies, not to mention Jonclotan. I don't think you'll have any problems, Jeralda,' Ayla said. Then she looked at the three hunters. 'Would you like to go hunting with me tomorrow morning?'

'I hadn't planned on going for a few more days, but it doesn't matter to me,' Lorigan said. 'I can go tomorrow, especially if you're leaving soon. I have to admit, I've got used to our little hunting pack, including the wolf. I think we work together well.'

'Which way do you want to go?' Jonclotan said.

'We haven't been north for a while,' Forason said.

'I've been avoiding that direction because I don't know how far the hunters from the Summer Meeting are having to range now. I'm sure animals are getting scarce around the Camp by now. That's why I want to bring something with me. I have Zelandoni's pole-drag, I can use it to haul a good-sized carcass with me,' Ayla said.

'Is that safe?' Jeviva said. 'Won't you attract a hunting animal? Maybe you shouldn't go alone.'

Marthona had joined them, but didn't say anything. She didn't think it was anything that would concern Ayla, if she had made up her mind to go.

'Wolf will warn me, and I think between us, we can drive off a four-legged hunter,' Ayla said.

'Even a cave lion?' Jeralda asked. 'Maybe you should wait until the hunters can go with you.'

Ayla knew she was looking for a reason for her to stay so she'd be there to help her deliver her baby. 'Don't you remember when we hunted a pride of cave lions who tried to settle too close to the Third Cave? It was too dangerous to allow that. Every child or elder would have been considered prey, we had to make them go. When we killed the lion and a couple of the lionesses, the rest of them left.'

'Yes, but that was a whole hunting party. You are just one person,' Jeralda said.

'No, Wolf will be with me, and Whinney. Lions like to go after something they know is weak. I think the scent of all of us together would confuse them, and I'll keep my spear-thrower close by. Besides, if I leave early in the morning, I should be able to get there before nightfall,' Ayla said, then added to the hunters, 'Tomorrow, let's plan to go southwest.'

Marthona stayed back a ways listening to the conversation. She would make a good leader, the former leader of the Ninth Cave said to herself. She takes charge without even thinking about it, it just comes naturally. I think she's going to be a strong Zelandoni.

The hunters returned the next day hauling two large red deer with sizable racks. Ayla thought about going to get Whinney to help drag them back, but the other hunters didn't even think about it. They field-dressed the animals, emptied the stomachs, cleaned the intestines, and threw away the bowels, but saved the rest of the internal organs, then grabbed the antlers and started pulling them. They were used to getting their kills back home by themselves.

Two days later, Ayla was ready to leave. She packed everything on Zelandoni's large pole-drag, including the deer wrapped in a woven grass mat that Marthona had helped her make, and intended to leave the following morning, planning to reach the Summer Meeting campsite by nightfall, without having to push Whinney too hard. But there was a delay, not exactly unexpected. Jeralda started labour in the middle of the night. Ayla was rather glad. She had been overseeing her pregnancy all summer, and didn't really want to leave her now that she was getting close. But she hadn't been entirely sure when the woman would deliver, a few days, or a whole moon.

This time, luck was with Jeralda. She gave birth to a girl before midday. Her mate and her mother were as happy and excited as she was. After a meal, when the woman was resting comfortably, Ayla began to get restless. Everything was ready to go; besides, while letting the meat age a bit often added to its flavour, if too much time passed, it could get a little too high, at least to her taste. It wouldn't take much to pack up and leave; she could go now. But if she did, she would probably have to spend one night out along the way. She decided to leave anyway.

After farewells and last-minute instructions to Jeviva, Jeralda, and Marthona, Ayla started out. She enjoyed riding alone on Whinney, with Wolf loping beside them, and both the animals seemed to enjoy it as well. The weather was quite warm, but the riding blanket on Whinney's back added some comfort, and absorbed some of the sweat of woman and horse. She wore a short tunic and her loincloth skirt, similar to the one she had worn when she and Jondalar had travelled through the summer heat, and she was reminded of their Journey, but it made her miss him all the more.

Her body, which had thickened slightly from the lack of excercise during the past few years, had been thinned down by her ordeal in the cave. Her breasts, which had filled out when she was heavy with milk while nursing Jonayla, and again with early pregnancy, had gone back to normal size, and her muscle tone was still good. She had always been firm and well-shaped, and though she could count twenty-six years now, she thought, she looked very much the same as she had when she could count only seventeen years.

She rode until sunset, then stopped and made camp beside The River. Sleeping alone in her small tent made her think about Jondalar again. She crawled into her furs and closed her eyes, and kept seeing visions of the tall man with the thrilling blue eyes, wishing he were there to wrap his arms around her, wishing she could feel his mouth on hers. She rolled over, closed her eyes, and tried again to go to sleep. She kept tossing and turning but could not get to sleep. Wolf was beside her and started whining.

'Am I keeping you awake, too, Wolf?' Ayla said.

He sat up and poked his nose out of the opening under the closure, a growl deep in his throat. He squirmed his way under the flap that was loosely tied across the triangular-shaped front of the small tent, his growl becoming more menacing.

'Wolf! Where are you going? Wolf?'

She quickly untied the closure and started out, then turned back and reached for her spear-thrower and a couple of spears. The moon was waning, but there was still enough light to see reflected shapes. She saw the pole-drag, then noticed that Whinney was moving away from it. Even in the limited moonglow, she could tell from the way the mare moved that she was nervous. Wolf was crouching low, moving in the general direction of the pole-drag, but slightly behind it. Then, for an instant, she glimpsed a shape, a round head with two ears sticking up ending in tufts.

It's a lynx!

She'd had memories of the large cat with mottled whitish-yellow fur, short stubby tail, and tufted ears. And long legs that could run fast. It was her first encounter with a lynx that had encouraged her to teach herself to cast two stones in rapid succession with her sling, so she wouldn't be left weaponless after one hurl. She checked to make sure that she had more than one spear as she mounted one on her spear-thrower, ready to throw.

Then she saw his silhouette slinking toward the pole-drag.

'Aaaiiiii!' she screamed, running toward the cat. 'Get out of there! That's not yours! Go away! Get out of here!'

The startled lynx leaped straight up in the air, then sped away. Wolf took off after it, but after a few moments, Ayla whistled. He slowed down, then stopped, and when she whistled again, finally turned around and headed back.

Ayla had brought along a little kindling. She used it to stir up the coals of the fire she had made earlier to heat some water for tea to drink with the travelling cake that she ate before going to bed. The coals had died, so she got her fire-making kit and started a new one. Once she had the kindling lit, she used a piece as a torch to search around for more fuel. She was on an open plain with The River running through it. There were a few trees near The River, but only green wood was available; dried grass was, though, and a few desiccated animal droppings, probably from a bison or an aurochs, she thought. It was enough to keep the small fire going for a while. She laid out her sleeping roll next to the fire and crawled into it with Wolf beside her. Whinney stayed close to Ayla and the fire as well.

She dozed a little during the night, but the least sound roused her. Without bothering to build up the fire, she was on her way again shortly after first light, stopping only long enough for the horse, the wolf, and herself to get a drink from The River. She ate another travelling cake along the way, and sighted the smoke of cooking fires from the Camp before noon. Ayla waved to a few friends as she rode along The River, pulling the pole-drag behind, heading first toward the place upstream where the Ninth Cave had camped before.

She went straight to the glen surrounded by trees. The simple wooden corral made her smile. The horses nickered greetings at first scent. Wolf raced ahead to rub noses with Racer, who had been his friend since his puppy days, and Grey, whom he had watched over from the time she was born. He felt nearly as protective toward her as he did toward Jonayla.

Except for the horses, the camp seemed to be deserted. Wolf began sniffing around a familiar tent, and when she brought in her sleeping roll, she saw Wolf near Jonayla's sleeping furs. He looked at her, whining with anxious need.

'Do you want to go find her, Wolf? Go ahead, Wolf, find Jonayla,' she said, giving him the signal that he was free to go. He raced out of the tent, sniffed the ground to pick up her particular scent among all the others, then ran off, smelling the ground now and then. People had seen Ayla arriving, and before she could unpack the meat, relatives and friends came to greet her. Joharran was the first, Proleva close behind.

'Ayla! You finally made it,' Joharran said, rushing toward her and giving her a big hug. 'How's Mother? You have no idea how much she is missed. Both of you, in fact.'

Proleva was next to embrace her. 'Yes, how is Marthona?' she asked, giving Ayla time to answer.

'Better, I think. When I was leaving, she said if she had felt as good when everyone left, she might have come,' Ayla said.

'How's Jeralda?' Proleva asked next.

Ayla smiled. 'She had a girl, yesterday. The baby seems perfectly healthy — I don't think she was early. They both seem fine. Jeviva and Jonclotan are very happy.'

'It looks like you brought something,' Joharran said, motioning toward the travois.

'Lorigan, Forason, Jonclotan, and I did a little hunting,' Ayla said. 'We came upon a herd of red deer in Grass Valley, and got two stags. I left one there. It will hold them for a while. I brought the other one with me. I thought some fresh meat might be welcome about now. I know animals get a little scarce around here about this time. We had some before I left. They're good, already building up fat for winter.'

Several more of the Ninth Cave arrived, and some others as well. Joharran and a couple of them started to unload the pole-drag.

Matagan, Jondalar's first apprentice, ran with a limp, but ran nonetheless, and greeted her enthusiastically. 'People have been asking when you were coming. Zelandoni kept saying it could be anytime. But no one was expecting you in the middle of the day,' Matagan said. 'Jondalar was sure that you wouldn't get here until evening or later. He said when you decided to come, you'd probably ride your horse and make the trip in one day.'

'He was right. At least that's what I planned to do, but Jeralda went into labour in the middle of the night, and had her baby in the morning. I was too restless to wait, so I left in the afternoon and camped out last night,' Ayla explained. Then, looking around, she asked, 'Where is Jondalar? And Jonayla?'

Joharran and Proleva glanced at each other, then quickly looked away. 'Jonayla is with the other girls her age,' Proleva said. 'The zelandonia had some things for them to do. They're going to take part in a special celebration Those Who Serve have planned.'

'I'm not sure where Jondalar is,' Joharran said, his brow knotted with the frown that was so like his brother's. He glanced up behind Ayla, and smiled. 'But there is someone here who has been wanting to see you.'

Ayla turned around and looked in the direction that Joharran had glanced. She saw a giant of a man with wild red hair and a bushy red beard. Her eyes opened wide.

'Talut? Talut, is it you?' she cried, rushing toward the burly man.

'No, Ayla. Not Talut. I am Danug, but Talut told me to give you a big hug for him, too,' the young man said as he swept her up in a big, friendly embrace. She felt, not crushed — Danug had learned long ago to be careful of his overpowering strength — but enveloped, overwhelmed, almost smothered by the sheer size of the man. He was taller, by some measure, than Jondalar's six feet, six inches. His shoulders were nearly as broad as those of two ordinary men and his arms were the size of most men's thighs. She couldn't fully wrap her arms around his massive chest, and though his waist was slender enough in proportion, his muscular thighs and calves were huge.

Ayla had known only one other to match Danug's size: Talut, the man to whom Danug's mother was mated, the headman of the Lion Camp of the Mamutoi. And, if anything, the young man was bigger.

'I told you I was going to come and visit you someday,' he said, when he put her down. 'How are you, Ayla?'

'Oh, Danug,' she said, tears filling her eyes. 'I'm so glad to see you. How long have you been here? How did you get here? How did you get so big? I think you're bigger than Talut!' She easily slipped into speaking Mamutoi, but though her words were understood, it didn't make her questions follow any logical order.

'I think he is, too, but I'd never dare say that to Talut.'

Ayla turned at the sound of the voice, and saw another young man. He seemed to be a stranger, but as she looked closer, she began to see similarities to others she had known. He resembled Barzec, though he was larger than the short, sturdy man who was mated to Tulie, the big headwoman of the Lion Camp. She was Talut's sister, and almost matched him in size. The young man bore a certain resemblance to both of them.

'Druwez?' Ayla said. 'Are you Druwez?'

'It's hard to mistake the big galoot,' the young man said, smiling at Danug, 'But I didn't know if you would recognise me.'

'You have changed,' Ayla said, hugging him, 'but I can see your mother, and Barzec, in you. How are they? And how's Nezzie, and Deegie, and everyone,' she asked, including both in her glance. 'I can't tell you how much I've missed everyone.'

'They miss you, too,' Danug said. 'But we have someone else with us who's been looking forward to meeting you.'

A tall young man with a shy smile and curly brown hair was standing back a bit. He came forward at the prompting of the two young Mamutoi. Ayla knew she had never met him before, yet there was something strangely familiar about him — she just couldn't put her finger on it.

'Ayla of the Mamutoi … Zelandonii now, I guess, meet Aldanor of the S'Armunai,' Danug said.

'S'Armunai!' Ayla said. Suddenly she realised what was so familiar about him. His clothing, especially his shirt. It was cut and decorated in the unique style of those people she and Jondalar had involuntarily visited on their Journey. Memories came rushing back. They were the people who had captured Jondalar, or rather, Attaroa's Camp of S'Armunai had. Ayla with Wolf and the horses had tracked them and found him. But that had not been the first time she had seen a shirt made in that style. Ranec, the Mamutoi man she almost mated, had one that he had traded carvings for.

Ayla suddenly realised they were staring at each other. She collected herself, stepped toward the young man with both hands held out in greeting. 'In the name of Doni, the Great Earth Mother, also known as Muna, you are welcome here, Aldanor of the S'Armunai,' she said.

'In the name of Muna, I thank you, Ayla.' He smiled a shy grin. 'You may be Mamutoi or Zelandonii, but did you know that among the S'Armunai you are known as "S'Ayla, Mother of the Wolf Star, sent to destroy Attaroa, the Evil One"? There are so many stories about you, I didn't believe you were a real person. I thought you were a Legend. When Danug and Druwez stopped at our camp and said they were making a Journey to visit you, I asked if I could go along. Now I can't believe I'm actually meeting you!'

Ayla smiled and shook her head. 'I don't know about stories or legends,' she said. 'People often believe what they want to believe.' He seems like a nice young man, she thought.

'I have something for you, Ayla,' Danug said. 'If you'll come inside, I'll give it to you.' She followed Danug into a smallish hide-covered structure, apparently their travelling-tent, and watched as he rummaged through a pack. Finally he pulled out a small object carefully wrapped and tied with a cord. 'Ranec told me to give this to you personally.'

Ayla unwrapped the small package. Her eyes opened wide and she gasped with surprise as she held the object in her hand. It was a horse carved out of mammoth ivory, small enough to fit in her hand, but so exquisitely carved, it almost looked alive. Its head was thrust forward as though straining into the wind. The stand-up mane and shaggy coat were carved with a pattern of lines that suggested the rough texture of the horse's hide without hiding the stocky conformation of the small steppe horse. A shade of yellow ochre, the colour of dry standing hay, had been rubbed onto the animal, matching the familiar colour of one horse she knew, and a blackish colour shaded the lower legs and the length of the spine.

'Oh, Danug. She's just beautiful. It's Whinney, isn't it?' Ayla smiled, but her eyes glistened with tears.

'Yes, of course. He started carving this horse right after you left.'

'I think the hardest thing I ever did in my life was to tell Ranec that I was leaving to go with Jondalar. How is he, Danug?'

'He's fine, Ayla. He mated Tricie later that summer. You know, the woman who had the baby that probably came from his spirit? She has three children now. She's feisty, but she's good for him. She'll start raving about something, and he just smiles. He says he loves her spirit. She can't really resist his smile, and she really does love him. I don't think he will ever get over you completely, though. It caused a bit of trouble between them at first.'

Ayla frowned. 'What kind of trouble?'

'Well, he lets her have her way in almost everything, and I think in the beginning, she thought he was weak because he gave in so easily. She started pushing him, seeing how far she could go. Then she began demanding things, wanted him to get her this or that. He seemed to make a game out of it. No matter how outrageous, he would somehow manage to get whatever she asked for, and present it with one of those smiles of his. You know.'

'Yes, I know,' Ayla said, smiling through wet eyes as she remembered. 'So pleased with himself, as though he had just won a competition, and was all full of his own cleverness.'

'Then she started changing everything around,' Danug continued. 'His work space, his tools, all the special things he collected and arranged. He just let her. I think he was just seeing what she would do. But I happened to be in the lodge the day she decided to move this horse. I've never seen him so angry. He didn't raise his voice or anything — he just told her to put it back. She was surprised. I don't think she really believed him. He'd always given in to her. He told her again to put it back, and when she didn't, he grabbed her wrist, pretty hard, and took it from her. He told her never to touch that horse again. He said if she did, he would break the mating bond and pay the price. He said he loved her, but there was one piece of him she could never have. If she couldn't accept that she could leave.

'Tricie ran out of the lodge crying, but Ranec just put the horse back, then sat down and started carving. When she finally came back in, it was night. I couldn't help but overhear — their hearth is right next to ours — and well, I suppose I wanted to hear. She told him she wanted to stay with him. She said she loved him, had always loved him, and wanted to stay with him even if he did still love you. She promised never to touch the horse again. She didn't either. I think it gave her respect for him, and made her realise how she really felt about him. He's happy, Ayla. I don't think he'll ever forget you, but he's happy.'

'I'll never forget him, either. I still think about him sometimes. If it hadn't been for Jondalar, I could have been happy with him. I did love him, I just loved Jondalar more. Tell me about Tricie's children,' she said.

'That blending of spirits has produced an interesting mixture,' Danug said. 'The oldest is a boy — you saw him didn't you? Tricie brought him to that Summer Meeting.'

'Yes, I saw him. He was very fair. Is he still so fair?'

'His skin is the whitest I've ever seen, except where it's covered with freckles. Tricie has red hair and she's fair, but not as much as him. His eyes are pale blue, and he has fuzzy orangey-red hair. He can't stand the sun, he just burns, and if it's really bright, it hurts his eyes, but except for his colour, he looks just like Ranec. It's strange to see them together, Ranec's brown skin next to Ra's white, but the same face. He's got Ranec's sense of humour, only more. Already, he can make anyone laugh, and he loves to travel. If he doesn't turn out to be a travelling Storyteller, I'll be surprised. He can't wait until he's old enough to go off on his own. He wanted to come with us on our Journey. If he'd been a little older, I would have taken him. He'd have been good company.

'Tricie's little girl is a beauty. Her skin is dark, but not brown like Ranec's. Her hair is black as night, but her curls are softer. She has black eyes. Serious eyes. She's a quiet, delicate little thing, but I swear that there's not a man who sees her that isn't entranced by her. She'll have no trouble finding a mate.

'The baby is as dark as Ranec, and though it's hard to tell yet, I think his features are going to be more like Tricie's.'

'It seems as though Tricie is a good addition to the Lion Camp, Danug. I wish I could see her children. I have a little girl, too,' Ayla said, and suddenly remembered that she could have been having another one soon, were it not for her 'call' to the deep cave. I would like to tell him that it is more than a blending of spirits that makes children, she thought.

'I know. I've met Jonayla. She looks just like you, except she has Jondalar's eyes. I wish I could take her back with me and let her meet everyone. Nezzie would love her. I've already fallen in love with her, just like I fell in love with you when I was a boy,' Danug said with a delighted laugh.

Ayla looked so surprised, he laughed harder, and she could hear Talut's big, booming laughter coming from Danug. 'In love with me?'

'I'm not surprised you didn't notice. Between Ranec and Jondalar, you had enough to think about, but I couldn't stop thinking about you. I dreamt about you. In fact, I still love you, Ayla. How would you like to come back to the Lion Camp with me?' There was a broad smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye, but something more, too. A hint of wistful longing, a wish that he knew would never be fulfilled.

She looked away for a moment, then changed the subject. 'Tell me about the rest. How are Nezzie and Talut, Latie and Rugie?'

'Mother's fine. Getting older, that's all. Talut is losing his hair, and he hates it. Latie is mated, has a girl, and still talks about horses. Rugie is looking for a mate, or rather, the young men are looking at her. She's had her First Rites; Tusie did too, at the same time. Oh, and Deegie has two sons. She told me to give you her love. You never got to know her brother, Tarneg, did you? His mate has three little ones. You know they built another earthlodge nearby; Deegie and Tarneg are headwoman and headman. Tulie is pleased that she can see her grandchildren nearly every day. And she has taken another mate. Barzec says she's too much woman for only one man.'

'Do I know him?' Ayla asked.

Danug smiled. 'In fact, you do. It's Wymez.'

'Wymez! You mean the man of Ranec's hearth, the flint-knapper that Jondalar admires so much?' Ayla asked.

'Yes, that Wymez. He surprised us all, even Tulie, I think. And Mamut has gone to the next world. We have a new one, but it's hard to get used to having someone else at the Third Hearth.'

'I'm sorry to hear that. I loved that old man. I've been training to be One Who Serves The Mother, but he's the one who started it. My training is almost over,' Ayla said. She didn't want to say too much until she talked to Zelandoni.

'That's what Jondalar said. I always thought you would Serve The Mother. Mamut would never have adopted you if he didn't think so. There was a time when the Lion Camp thought you might be their Mamut, after the old man left this world. Ayla, you may be Zelandonii here, but you are still Mamutoi, still numbered among the Lion Camp.'

'It makes me happy to hear that. No matter what names or ties I may acquire, in my heart I will always be Ayla of the Mamutoi,' she said.

'You certainly did acquire some names and leave a trail of stories behind you on your Journey,' Danug said. 'Not just from the S'Armunai. I even heard about you from people who never met you. You were everything from a skilled healer and controller of surprising spiritual forces to the incarnation of the Great Earth Mother herself, a living muta — I guess here it's donii — come to help Her people. And Jondalar was her fair-haired and handsome mate — as they say here, "Her pale shining lover." Even Wolf was an incarnation, of the Wolf Star. The stories about him range from avenging beast to lovable creature who tended babies. The horses, too. They were animals of wonder that the Great Horse Spirit allowed to be controlled by you. There was one story — from Aldanor's people — that claimed the horses could fly, and carried you and Jondalar back to your homes in the next world. I was beginning to wonder if all the stories could be about the same people, but after talking to Jondalar, I think you both had some interesting adventures.'

'I think people like to enlarge stories to make them seem more interesting,' Ayla said. 'And who's to prove them wrong once the people the stories are about are gone? We just travelled back here to Jondalar's home. You no doubt have had your share of adventures.'

'But we didn't travel with a pair of magical horses and a wolf.'

'Danug, you know there is nothing magical about those animals. You watched Jondalar train Racer, and you were there when I brought Wolf to the lodge as a tiny puppy. He's just a wolf that got used to people because he grew up with them.'

'Which reminds me, where is that animal? I wonder if he'll still remember me,' Danug said.

'As soon as we got here, he ran off to look for Jonayla,' Ayla said. 'Apparently, she is with her age-mates doing something for the zelandonia. But I still haven't seen Jondalar. Did he say anything about going hunting?'

'Not to me,' Danug said, 'but the three of us haven't been around here that much. We're strangers, from far away, but introduced by Jondalar as your kin, so we have been welcomed as kin. Everyone wants to hear our stories and ask questions about our people. We've all been asked to participate in First Rites. Even me, as big as I am, though I was questioned about my experience with such young women, and I think I was tested by one or two "donii-women".' The huge young man grinned with delight. 'Jondalar translated for us in the beginning, but we've been learning Zelandonii, and can get by fairly well now on our own. People have been wonderful to us, but they keep wanting to give us things, and you know how hard it is to carry much when you're on a Journey. In fact, I did bring something that you left behind. I gave it to Jondalar. Do you remember the piece of ivory Talut gave you when you left? The one that showed landmarks to help to get started out right on your Journey?'

'Yes. We had to leave it behind to make room.'

'Laduni gave it to me to give back to you.'

'That must have made Jondalar happy. It was one thing he wanted to keep as a reminder of his stay with the Lion Camp.'

'I understand that. The S'Armunai gave me something that I will definitely keep. I'll show you.' Danug took out a figure of a mammoth made out of a very hard but strange kind of material. 'I don't know what kind of stone it is. Aldanor says they make it, but I don't know whether to believe him.'

'They do make that stone. They start with muddy clay, then shape it, and burn it in a very hot fire in a special enclosed space, like an oven built in the earth, until it turns to stone. I watched the S'Armuna of Three Sisters Camp do it. She is the one who discovered how to make that stone.' Ayla paused, and her eyes took on a far-away look, as though she were looking inside at a memory. 'She was not an evil person, but Attaroa did turn her the wrong way for a while. The S'Armunai are an interesting people.'

'Jondalar told me what happened to both of you there. But Aldanor is from a different Camp. We stopped overnight at Three Sisters. I thought it was strange that there were so many women, but they were very hospitable. After I talked to Jondalar, I realised that I might not have made it this far if you hadn't passed that way first. I shudder to think about it,' Danug said.

The leather entrance cover was moved aside. Danug and Ayla looked up and saw Dalanar looking in. 'If I'd known you wanted to keep her to yourself, I might have thought again before taking you along with us to this Summer Meeting, young man,' Dalanar said sternly, then smiled. 'Can't say that I blame you. I know you haven't seen her in a long time, but there are many other people who want to talk to this young woman.'

'Dalanar!' Ayla said, getting up and going outside the small tent to hug him. He'd aged, but he still looked so much like Jondalar, she felt a warm glow at the sight of him. 'Did Danug and the other two come with you? How did they find you?'

'By accident — or it was meant to be — depending on who you ask. Some of us were out hunting. There's a river valley nearby that attracts a lot of passing herds. They saw us and indicated that they wanted to join in the hunt. We were more than happy to have three healthy young men help out. I had already been thinking that if we made some really successful hunts, enough to put some meat down for next winter and take some with us, we might go to the Zelandonii Meeting this year.

'Their help made a difference. We counted six bison kills. It wasn't until later that evening that this young man started asking about you and Jondalar, and how to find the Zelandonii,' Dalanar said, indicating the huge red-haired man just emerging from the tent.

'Language was a bit of a problem. The only thing Danug could say was "Jondalar of the Ninth Cave of the Zelandonii." I tried to tell him Jondalar was the son of my hearth, but didn't have much luck,' the older man continued. 'Then Echozar returned from the flint mine, and Danug started talking to him in signs. He was surprised to find out Echozar could talk, but not nearly as surprised as Echozar was to see Danug and Druwez talk to him in signs. When Echozar asked where they learned it, he told us about his brother, a boy he said his mother adopted, who died. He said you were the one who taught everyone the hand signs so he could talk and be understood, Ayla.

'That's how we managed to communicate at first. Danug and Druwez talked to Echozar in signs, and he translated. I made up my mind then and told Danug we were going to the Zelandonii Summer Meeting and would take them with us. The next day Willamar and his party happened to arrive. It's amazing how good he is at communicating with people even if he doesn't know the language.'

'Is Willamar here, too?' Ayla asked.

'Yes, I'm here.'

Ayla spun around and smiled with delight to see the old Trade Master. They hugged with warmth and affection. 'Did you come with the Lanzadonii, too?'

'No, we didn't arrive with them,' Willamar said. 'We still had a few other stops to make to finish out the round. We got here a few days ago. I was just getting ready to leave for the Ninth Cave.'

'We actually came a little early this year,' Dalanar said. 'I knew where the Ninth would probably set up camp, so we're close by.'

'I happened to be one of the people who saw the Ninth Cave coming,' Danug said. 'When I saw the horses from a distance, I knew it had to be your people, Ayla. I was really disappointed when you were not with them, though I was glad to see Jondalar. At least he could speak Mamutoi. I recognised Jonayla as your daughter right away, especially when I saw her sitting on the back of that grey horse. If you hadn't come, I was going to go back with the Ninth Cave and surprise you, but you surprised us instead,' Danug said.

'You are a surprise, Danug, a welcome one. And you can still come and visit the Ninth Cave, you know,' Ayla said, then turned to Dalanar. 'I am glad you decided to come with the Lanzadonii. Is Jerika with you? Marthona will be so disappointed not to see all of you.'

'I was sorry to hear she wasn't coming. Jerika was looking forward to seeing her, too. It's amazing what good friends they've turned out to be. How is Marthona?'

'Not entirely well,' Ayla said, shaking her head. 'She complains about her aching joints, but it's more than that. She has pain in her chest and trouble breathing when she exerts herself too much. I always did plan to come to the Meeting as soon as I could, but I hated to leave her. She did seem much better when I left, though.'

'Do you really think she's better?' Willamar asked. His eyes had become serious.

'She said if she had felt as good earlier, when the Ninth Cave left, she might have come, but I don't think she could walk the whole way.'

'Someone could have carried her,' Dalanar said. 'I carried Hochaman on my shoulders all the way to the Great Waters of the West, twice, before he died.' Dalanar turned to Danug. 'Hochaman was the mate of Jerika's mother. They travelled all the way from the Endless Seas of the East. His tears mingled with the salt of the Great Waters of the West, but they were tears of joy. It was his greatest wish to go as far as the land went, farther than anyone ever did. I've never heard of anyone who travelled farther.'

'We remembered that story, Dalanar, and wanted to carry her,' Ayla said, 'but she didn't want to ride on Jondalar's shoulders. I think she felt it would be too undignified. She didn't want to ride on Whinney, either. I asked her, but she didn't want to do that either. She likes the horses, but the idea of riding one always did scare her.' Ayla noticed the travois, the simple construction of poles and cross-mats, now unloaded on the ground. 'I wonder … do you think she would mind riding on the pole-drag, Willamar?'

'For that matter, a few people could take turns carrying her on a litter,' Dalanar volunteered. 'With four people, one on each corner, it would be easy. She's not heavy.'

'And she could sit up; she wouldn't have to look backward. I'm tempted to tell Jondalar to go back and get her, but I haven't seen him yet. Has he been with you, Dalanar?' Ayla asked.

'No, I haven't seen him all day. He could be anywhere. You know how it is at a meeting like this,' Dalanar said. 'I haven't even seen Bokovan all day.'

'Bokovan? Are Joplaya and Echozar here? I thought Echozar said he'd never came back after the big fuss that was made over his joining with Joplaya,' Ayla said.

'It took a lot of persuading. Jerika and I thought he should come for Bokovan's sake. He's going to need to find a mate someday, too, and there aren't enough Lanzadonii yet. All the youngsters are raised like siblings, and you know how it is when children grow up together. They don't usually think of each other as potential mates. I told Echozar that it was only a few people who objected, but he wasn't convinced. It wasn't until this big Mamutoi and his cousin and friend came that he decided to go. They helped most of all.'

'What did they do?'

'That's just it. They didn't do anything. You know how people always seem to feel uncomfortable around Echozar when they first meet him — you never did, but you were an exception,' Dalanar said. 'I think that's why he's always had a special fondness for you. Danug didn't either, just started talking to him in signs. The young S'Armunai didn't seem terribly bothered by Echozar either. Apparently they don't think of the ones of mixed spirits with as much antagonism as some of the Zelandonii.'

'I think that's true,' Ayla said. 'Mixtures seem more common among them, and more accepted, though not entirely, especially when the look of the Clan is as strong as it is in Echozar. He might have some problem even there.'

'Not with Aldanor. All three of those young men accepted him as easily as anyone else. They didn't make him an exception, or make special efforts to be nice to him. They just treated him like any other young man. It made Echozar realise, I think, that not everyone would hate him, or object to him. He could make friends, and so could Bokovan. In fact, that young couple that mated the same time you did, Jondecam and Levela? They have all but adopted Bokovan. He's over there all the time, playing with their youngsters, and all the rest of the children that always seem to be running around their camp. I wonder sometimes how they put up with having so many children there all the time,' Dalanar said.

'Levela has no end of patience,' Ayla said. 'I think she loves it.' She turned to Danug. 'You will go with us back to the Ninth Cave, won't you? We haven't even started catching up on what everyone in the Lion Camp is doing.'

'We were rather hoping to winter with you. I'd like to go all the way to the Great Waters of the West before I return. Besides, I don't think there is any way we're going to get Aldanor away from here before spring, and maybe not then,' Danug said, smiling at his friend.

Ayla looked at him questioningly. 'Why not?'

'When you see him around Jondalar's sister, you'll know.'

'Folara?'

'Yes, Folara. He is absolutely smitten with her. Completely, totally, out of his mind over her, and I think the feeling may be mutual. At least she certainly doesn't seem to mind spending time with him. A lot of time with him.' Though Danug had spoken Mamutoi, he was grinning. His language was similar, and he had learned quite a bit of Mamutoi on their Journey, and her name was the same word in any language. Ayla saw Aldanor's face flush. She raised her eyebrows and then smiled.

The tall, graceful young woman that Folara had become easily commanded attention everywhere she went. She had her mother's natural elegance and Willamar's easy charm, and as Jondalar had always predicted she would be, Folara was beautiful. Her beauty was not quite the consummate manifestation of perfection that Jondalar had been in his youth — and for the most part, still was. Her mouth was a little too generous, her eyes were spaced a bit too wide, her light brown hair was a touch too fine, but the minor imperfections only made her more approachable and appealing.

Folara had had no lack of suitors, but none had quite excited her fancy, or fulfilled her unexpressed expectations. Her lack of interest in choosing a mate was driving her mother to distraction; she wanted to see a grandchild from her own daughter. After spending so much time with the woman, she had grown to understand her better, and knew that Folara's regard for the young S'Armunai would be of great consequence to Marthona. The biggest question was would Aldanor decide to stay with the Zelandonii, or would Folara go with him back to the S'Armunai? Marthona needs to be here, Ayla thought.

'Willamar, have you noticed Folara's interest in this young S'Armunai?' Ayla asked, smiling at the self-consciously blushing visitor.

'Now that you mention it, I guess they have spent a lot of time together since I've been here.'

'You know Marthona, Willamar. You know she would want to be here if Folara is getting serious about a young man, especially one who may want her to go with him back to his home. I'm sure she would come here if she could.'

'You're right, Ayla, but is she strong enough?'

'You said something about carrying her on a litter, Dalanar. How long do you think it would take for a few strong young men to run back to the Ninth Cave and bring her here?'

'No more than a few days for good runners, maybe twice that to bring her back, and however long it would take her to prepare. Do you really think she's well enough?' Dalanar said.

'Would Jerika be well enough if it was Joplaya?' Ayla asked.

Dalanar nodded with understanding.

'Marthona seemed much better when I left, and if she doesn't have to exert herself, I think she would be as well here, where there are so many people to help her, as she is at the Ninth Cave. She likes the horses, to watch them or pat them, and I think under the circumstances, she'd even ride the pole-drag to get here, but I believe she'd be more comfortable sitting up on a litter and able to talk to people along the way. I'd ask Jondalar, but he doesn't seem to be around anywhere. Could you and Dalanar, and maybe Joharran, arrange it, Willamar?'

'I think we could do that, Ayla. You're probably right. Folara's mother needs to be here if she is getting serious about mating, especially to a foreigner.'

'Mother! Mother! You came! You finally came,' a young voice called out. It was an interruption Ayla was delighted to hear. She turned and smiled, and her eyes lit up as she held out her arms to the young girl running toward her, with the wolf happily loping beside her. Her daughter fairly flew into her arms.

'I missed you so much,' Ayla said, hugging her close; then she pulled back to look at her and hugged her again. 'I can't believe how much you have grown, Jonayla!' she said when she put her down.

Zelandoni had followed the child back, at a slower pace, but smiled warmly at Ayla as she approached. After they had embraced in greeting she asked, 'You finished your watching?'

'Yes, and glad of it, but it was exciting to see the sun stop and turn back, and mark it myself. The only problem was not having anyone there to share it with who really understood. I kept thinking of you,' Ayla said.

Zelandoni observed the young woman closely. There was a different air about her; Ayla had changed. The woman tried to find it. Ayla has lost weight — has she been sick? She should be starting to show, but her waistline is thinner and her breasts are smaller. O, Doni, she thought. She isn't pregnant anymore! She must have miscarried.

But there was something else, a new assurance in her manner, an acceptance of the tragedy, a self-confident poise. She knew who she was — and who she was, was Zelandoni! She has been 'called'! She must have lost the baby then.

'We're going to have to talk, aren't we, Ayla,' Zelandoni Who Was First said, stressing her name. She could be called Ayla, but she wasn't Ayla anymore.

'Yes,' the young woman said. She didn't have to say more. She knew that the One Who Was First Among Those Who Served The Mother understood.

'We should do it soon.'

'Yes, we should.'

'And, Ayla, I am sorry. I know you wanted the baby,' she said quietly. Before Ayla could respond, more people crowded around.

Nearly all her close friends and kin came to the camp to greet her. Everyone seemed to be there except Jondalar, and no one seemed to know where he was. Usually when a person was leaving the Meeting camp to go off by themselves or with just one or two others, someone was told where they were going. Ayla might have begun to worry, but no one else seemed to. Most people stayed to have a meal or a snack. They recounted events that had taken place, talked about people, who was getting mated, who'd had another child or was expecting one, who had decided to sever the knot, or take a second mate — friendly gossip.

In the afternoon, people started wandering off to other activities. Ayla arranged her sleeping roll and the rest of the belongings that she had brought with her. She was glad she had taken the horses to the meadow in the woods earlier, and the corral that had been fenced for the horses, not so much to keep them in as to keep people out. Horses in a meadow were fair game under normal circumstances. Though everyone knew about the horses the Ninth Cave brought with them, just to leave no doubt that these were in fact those special horses, the area was conspicuously fenced. Jondalar and Jonayla often took them to the grassy steppes, to ride, or just to let them graze, but whenever they were not in the enclosure, she knew someone was with them.

Jonayla left with Zelandoni and Wolf to go back to the area of the zelandonia to finish working out the details of the special evening that was planned. Ayla decided to give Whinney a good grooming after the hot, dusty ride, and went to the horse meadow with soft pieces of leather and teasel brushes. She brushed Racer and Grey a bit, too, just to give them a scratching and some attention.

She looked at the small stream that flowed along the edge of the grassy glen before emptying into The River, and remembered the last time the Meeting was in this location. There was a swimming hole some distance upstream, she recalled. Not many people knew about it because it was far enough away from the Meeting camp to make it inconvenient for general use. She hadn't known her adopted people as well then, and she and Jondalar used to go there when they wanted to get away from the crowds and spend some time alone together.

A swim would feel good right now, she thought, and the river is muddy from so much use. She started walking upstream toward the bend in the small stream that cut a deeper hole near the outside edge and left a grassy strand with a beach of small pebbles on the inside curve. She smiled thinking about Jondalar and what they used to do beside that stream. She'd been thinking about him so much, thinking about how he could make her feel. She felt herself warming to his imagined touch, and even noticed a wetness between her legs. Wouldn't it be fun to try to make another baby, she thought?

As she approached the swimming hole, she heard splashing, and then voices, and almost turned back. Sounds like someone else has found this place, she thought. I'd hate to disturb another couple looking for a place to be alone. But it might not be a couple. It might just be some people going for a swim. As she approached, she heard a woman's voice, and then a man's. She couldn't make out the words, but something about that voice bothered her.

She moved as silently as she ever had when stalking an animal with her sling. She heard more talking, then a deep laugh of sheer abandon. She knew that laugh, though she hadn't heard it much recently, and it was rare enough in any case. Then she heard the woman's voice, and recognised it. She had a peculiar sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach as she looked through the bushes that skirted the small beach.