a/n: Again this is for the third book - The Mammoth Hunters. Slight spoilers once again (278-79), so READ . . . .

The Fallout

She felt warmth where Ranec touched the cool skin of her arm, and she was entirely aware of his body pressing against her. His dark eyes, glistening and deep, were filled with a deep yearning that stirred an unbidden response from the core of her womanness. She trembled slightly, and felt her face flush before she looked down, though she couldn't seem to pull away.

Alya glanced at Jondalar, confirming what she had expected to see. He was angry. His fists were clenched at his sides and his temples throbbed. She looked away quickly. She understood his anger, a little more now, realizing it was an expression of his fear - fear of loss, fear of rejection - but she a touch of irritation at his reaction, nonetheless. Jondalar didn't trust her and she felt a pain in her heart because of it.

She couldn't help it that she had slipped, and Ayla was grateful that Ranec had been there to catch her. She flushed again, remembering how she was responding to his lingering touch. She couldn't help that either; it seemed natural to her to respond to the closeness of Ranec.

Ayla felt hurt that Jondalar would doubt her like that, doubt the love she had for him - the way he doubted her very being and every action she took. Ayla had never once doubt Jondalar, not even when he looked at other women from the Lion Camp - or when he sent his heated blue gave at Deegie. Even though Deegie was to be mated with Branag later in the season, it never stopped the looks that they gave each other. Ayla wasn't ignorant enough to even try to hide that fact that she knew the looks meant that they want to share furs and make Pleasure with each other.

She felt the pain in her heart a little more as she finally admitted to herself the truth that she had been trying to avoid. Jondalar had never said anything on the matter, but it wasn't his words that Ayla cared for, it was his facial expressions, the movement of his body, tension in his muscles. She didn't need words to see the truth.

Ayla turned from Jondalar, making her decsion; she wasn't going to wait for Jondalar to end when she had the chance to do it first. It broke her heart; Jondalar had been a very important part of everything. But maybe it wasn't meant to be. Maybe her totem had led her to Baby, who in turn led her Jondalar, who then led her Ranec. She knew that the dark-skinned had been special the second she saw.

She turned in Ranec's arms and stared into his dark, almost black eyes. The reached deep inside of her, deeper than Jondalar's could have ever gone, and she knew that her conclusion had been right - This was what her totem had led her to. She felt her body flush with heat as Ranec pulled her flush against him. She couldn't seem to tear her eyes away and the next thing she knew, his full lips were against hers.

note: . . . . and REVIEW - I never did like Jondalar.