Foreword: This story disregards the 6th book. Nothing from that foul finale happened. This is how things should have gone instead.

Earth's Children

Chapter 1

Ayla returned to her dwelling for the evening and set Jonayla down on the floor to play with Wolf. The toddler was nearing two years of age now and she immediately crawled over to the massive carnivore who was her playmate and babysitter, giggling as she cuddled him while he licked her face.

"Ayla?" Jondalar called as he strode into the dwelling some time later while Ayla was preparing their evening meal. Ayla looked up at smiled at her handsome mate, pleased to see him. She hadn't seen him since early that morning after they had shared Pleasures. He had taken Matagan and they had both spent the whole day at Down River, working the stone, as was their shared passion. Ayla herself had been busy too that day.

Her training was finally complete. In spite of the constant pressure from Zelandoni, Ayla had resisted the idea of becoming an Acolyte for many moons. In the end she had lost patience with the huge donier and told her she would not become a full blown Zelandoni. When the First pressed her about it, telling her she would never be able to be a recognised healer if she did not complete her training Ayla had lost her temper for the first time in her life. She had requested that the donier call together a meeting of the full zelandonia at the last Summer Meeting.

Whilst there she had tapped into the powerful force within her that Zelandoi kept trying to tell her was the reason she must join their ranks. Ayla told them all very plainly that their system for zelandonia was foolish and had insisted that a new branch of the Zelandonia be formed, one modelled much more on the Clan way that would allow Ayla to be a recognised Medicine Woman and given a facial tattoo in recognition of the skills she possessed, though she hadn't really wanted the tattoo. She told them that mixing the world of spirits and the world of healing was not necessary for her to practice medicine and so she would not be training in the spirit world.

Ayla had no interest in delving deeper into the spirit world. She had enjoyed learning the counting words and the songs of the Zelandonii people, and she'd delighted at the cave paintings she'd been shown, such as the ones Jonokol was so skilled at bringing to life. She did not however, like dipping into the spirit world. She was content to provide healing to those who needed it, and to offer her opinion on some matters the Zelandonia discussed, but she would not return to the world of the spirits. She preferred being a mother to Jonayla and Wolf, a mate to Jondalar, and a companion to Whinney, Racer and Grey. She was happy to simply be a woman of the Zelandonii. Besides, it was for the best. She had no time for Acolyte training. Not with another baby on the way.

It had taken a long time to convince all of the zelandonia, but after living with the Zelandonii people for many years all had come to the conclusion that Ayla was a skilled and powerful healer. People often came from other caves to see Ayla when something was bothering them, Zelandoni or not. She was renowned for her skills and all who knew her recommended her to loved ones or those suffering ailments, knowing she not only could help them, but that she more than anyone would have the best chance of curing them.

"They finally gave you your tattoo I see," Jondalar commented as he came close and kissed her lips passionately, letting her know how much he'd missed her, tugging her into his arms and allowing her to lean into his solid strength. Ayla drew comfort at the touch and felt some of her annoyance and frustration of the day slip away, content to be in the arms of her mate, knowing without a doubt that she had made the right choice. All she had ever wanted was to find a mate of her own and to be a good woman, to bear the children of his hearth. She still didn't know what she had done to deserve as wonderful a man as Jondalar, but the Great Cave Lion spirit had tested them both and found them to be worthy. That was enough for Ayla.

"Yes," Ayla replied with a sigh, still smarting over the slightly stinging design high on her left cheek close to the corner of her left eye. Jondalar could tell from her tone that she still wasn't pleased about the tattoo even if it did mean that from now on she would be instantly recognisable to all Zelandonii people that she was a skilled healer. She had only conceded to it because she had grown tired of having to argue with people she'd not met before when they needed her help and would not accept it, not believing in her skills.

Ayla had designed the pattern for the tattoo herself. It was a simple design, a small straight line with five smaller triangles branching off it in a way that reminded Jondalar of a very small tree. It signified that she was a healer with full knowledge of the healing processes. The others among the zelandonia who knew of Ayla and who were skilled at healing had also agreed to take the mark, and Jondalar knew that just as she always had been, Ayla was the embodiment of new changes to come for his people, many had begun to think on the idea of designing tattoos for themselves to signify their individual skills. It was important, they said, that not only could they be recognised as being Zelandonia but also that their individual skills within the realm of knowledge doniers possessed be plain to see for all.

Just as Ayla was now recognised for her tattoo as a healer, the doniers had begun designing other markings to signify those who delved into the spirit world and all the many other branches of donier training. Jondalar was pleased his mate had fought so hard against the pressures from his people and from the First to become an Acolyte. He knew that the training was gruelling and difficult and he had dreaded the idea of seeing his mate so infrequently during her training. He preferred to have her home in their dwelling with their daughter and Wolf. Preferred being able to share pleasures with her every night and again every morning before they began the day.

"Don't look so put out by it," Jondalar chuckled at her mildly annoyed expression, "You designed it, after all and it looks rather nice. I had feared it would be bigger than that and that it would take up much more room on your face. But you still look just as beautiful to me Ayla, and now everyone you meet will know at a glance that you are a Medicine Woman. No more having to argue with people before you can heal those in need."

"I'm trying not to," Ayla replied, "But I find the whole thing impossibly tedious. Why does it matter so much to your people that I have to have a tattoo on my face before they'll believe I can heal them? I wish sometimes that the Zelandonii were more like the Clan. There I only had to walk at the front of the group whilst travelling. Everyone else just knew."

Jondalar smiled at her.

"I know you don't like it Ayla. But now at least you will be able to heal others without them interfering."

"I suppose you're right. You're people are not trusting enough Jondalar," Ayla told him.

"They are your people now too Ayla," Jondalar reminded her, still smiling even as she cuddled close to him again for a moment, pressing her lips to the side of his neck before pulling away and fixing him some of his favourite mint tea.

"Are they?" she asked him as she brought him a cup of tea, "Because I think my people would be much kinder than the Zelandonii people. My people would be accepting of the idea that the Clan are people, not just dumb animals that look like bears. My people would believe a woman when she says she is a Medicine Woman and can help them without needing a silly tattoo on her face first."

"They are still resisting the idea of accepting the Clan as people and considering trading missions with them then?" Jondalar asked her sympathetically as he sat down with his tea before scooping up the blonde toddler that came barrelling towards him on wobbly legs, "Hello my sweet daughter."

Jonayla giggled with delight, making Ayla smile temporarily as the little girl wiggled her way onto her father's lap, snuggling into his chest. She almost immediately stuck her thumb into her mouth and closed her eyes, preferring to fall asleep against Jondalar or Ayla more than she liked sleeping anywhere else.

"It makes me angry sometimes Jondalar," Ayla told him, "Most are willing to accept the idea and open to it. There are just a few who are resisting but they are particularly vocal and rude. I'm sorry for being so grumpy about it."

"It's ok Ayla. They have been irritating me too. Joharran is considering that we should dispense with the idea of discussing it further and just begin acting on the idea. Willamar is talking of getting together a trading group in the hopes of making contact."

Ayla smiled as she looked around at her little family.

"I wold like that, perhaps sometime in the spring. They will all be holed up in their caves out of the snow and they would not take kindly to a group of noisy Others turning up at their cave. Where is Matagan?" she asked after Jondalar's apprentice and the young man who shared their dwelling.

"He's sharing the evening meal with Torala. They seem to be getting very close. I wonder if they will join at the Summer mating ceremony at the next Meeting," Jondalar grinned, thinking fondly of his apprentice who seemed so taken with the dark-haired beauty of Torala. She was a young woman who had come from the Twenty-First Cave, far to the north. They had met at last year's Summer Meeting and she had requested of Joharran that she be allowed to join the Ninth Cave to learn more about basket weaving from Proleva.

"Perhaps. They are both young still and enjoying each other's company," Ayla smiled at Jondalar as she came over and took his hand, sitting beside him at the table in their dwelling, "Jondalar?"

"What is it Ayla?" Jondalar asked, frowning worriedly when he saw the way Ayla looked uncertain about something.

"There's something I've been meaning to tell you," she began softly. Looking down at her tea-cup and then at their blonde daughter who had cuddled up against Jondalar's chest.

"What is it?" Jondalar asked, feeling a sense of dread at the tone in her voice. Ayla didn't respond right away, instead she reached over and took Jonayla from him. Safe in her father's arms the little girl had fallen asleep. Ayla carried her over to her sleeping platform depositing her with a soft kiss to her daughter's cheek before turning back to her mate.

"Ayla, you're making me worry. What is it? What's wrong?" Jondalar said, feeling his heart start to race. What if she told him something terrible, like that she didn't want to be his mate anymore?

"No don't get up," she cautioned him as he made to stand, "You might need to be sitting down for this."

"Oh Doni!" Jondalar breathed, panicking now.

"Are you happy here with us Jondalar?" Ayla asked him softly.

"Of course I am!" Jondalar exclaimed, "I've never been happier than I have since I found you Ayla. I thought I'd never find a woman to love. Especially one willing to travel so far and leave so many friends behind. Are you not happy with me?"

"Oh Jondalar of course I am," Ayla told him, smiling her love at him and earning herself a smile in return, "I just wanted to make sure you were happy; that you still love Jonayla and me; that you are happy living here with us."

"Why wouldn't I be?" Jondalar asked her, a tiny frown wrinkling his brow, "What is it that you need to tell me?"

Ayla, who had been looking down at her lap while she asked him, looked up slowly. Jondalar felt his heart constrict painfully in his chest until that wonderful smile of hers bloomed upon her beautiful face. It lit up her whole face, shining from within and catching his breath in his chest. She was so beautiful. Jondalar didn't know why the Mother has granted him this wonderful woman, but he hoped he would always be with her.

"Jondalar… I'm pregnant again," Ayla told him in a whisper, smiling at him hopefully.

Stunned, Jondalar stared at her for several minutes.

"You're pregnant again?" he whispered slowly, "We're going to have another baby born to my hearth?"

Ayla nodded, happy tears leaking from her eyes.

"Are you sure?" Jondalar whispered, looked elated.

"This is the third moon in a row that my moon time has not flowed…. That is usually a good sign, and I've started feeling nauseas some mornings lately."

"Have you told anyone else yet?" Jondalar asked excitedly. Ayla shook her head.

"I wanted you to be the first to know, and to make sure that I really am pregnant first."

"Can we tell people now?" he asked, practically vibrating with happiness in his seat.

"Are you happy Jondalar?" Ayla asked him, "I know you were thinking that it would be fun to visit with Dalanar after the Summer Meeting this year now that Jonayla is old enough."

"Happy?" Jondalar exclaimed, "Woman I'm the happiest man alive!"

Ayla cried some more when Jondalar pulled her to her feet, crushing her in a tight hug as he kissed her lips passionately.

"Am I interrupting?" Folara's voiced asked from the door.

Jondalar and Ayla broke apart, Jondalar smiling like a fool.

"Not at all. Ayla's just given me some good news," Jondalar said, stepping around behind Ayla and cuddling her back against him.

"About you finishing your training and being given your tattoo? It's wonderful Ayla," Folara said, smiling at them and inviting herself in.

"Well that too," Jondalar grinned at his little sister knowingly before he began to rub circles against Ayla's flat stomach indicatively.

"What is it?" Folara asked, a smiled beginning to form as she hoped he meant what she thought he meant.

"I'm pregnant again," Ayla told her with a bright smile, "I've just told Jondalar."

"Oh Ayla that's wonderful!" Folara said, rushing over to hug her, "Congratulations! Oh I just knew that one day my brother would come back and have a hearth overflowing with children."

"Overflowing?" Jondalar laughed, "So far we only have Jonayla."

"And Wolf. But that will change. Ayla is going to have lots of babies and since you both love each other so much they will all be to your hearth. Oh I'm going to be an Aunt again. This is wonderful! Come on, let's go and tell Mother and Willamar and the others. I'll get Jonayla. Come on hurry!" Folara insisted, scooping up the sleeping girl as Wolf bounded about excitedly. Ayla laughed.