Body Ayla combed Tholiza's hair with a teasel as the girl busied herself with the wooden animals Ranec had given her. At first Ayla was hesitant to accept such a splendid and rare gift when she had nothing to give him in return, but Ranec insisted nothing was owed. Besides, he told her it gave him a chance to practice his skill.

"Ow!"

"Shh, it's all right." Ayla softened her strokes to get through the tangles. Once her hair was combed Ayla decided to braid it like she used to wear in the valley. It would keep Tholiza's hair out of her eyes, and tangles wouldn't be as much of a problem.

She was almost finished when Madenia sat down beside her. "Oh Ayla that's so pretty! Where did you learn to do that?" She reached out and fingered one of the long braids gently.

"I used to wear my hair like that when I lived alone in the valley. It was always getting in my way."

"It is practical. I wonder why no one ever thought of it before?" Madenia eyed Ayla's hair, noting the sling holding it out of her eyes. "Why don't you wear it like that now?"

Ayla shrugged. "Jondalar likes it when I wear my hair down."

"But it's your hair."

"I know. But I like to please him. It is little."

Madenia shook her head in wonder. She and Jondalar really were suited for each other, and she wondered briefly if she'd ever find someone to love like that.

Dalanar chose that moment to come out of the woods, a big smile on his face. "We're almost home! If we hurry we might be able to make it to the cave by nightfall."

"That's great!" Madenia exclaimed, excited that she'd be meeting other people. Her first real journey was almost over.

Dalanar looked around. "Where's Jondalar?"

"He and Ranec left earlier to go fishing. Ranec said he'd spied some large fish where the water backs up into itself."

"I hope they aren't gone too long." he frowned. If he could, he'd pack up this instant and run the rest of the way home. He missed Jerika so much and couldn't wait to see her. She'd be shocked!

Tholiza, being released from her mother, stood and practically ran over to Dalanar. "Da!"

The blond man let out a belly laugh as he picked the child up and gave her a kiss. "Dal-lan-nar" he pronounced slowly, but she had already found the necklace he was wearing of more interest than the word game.

He easily hoisted her to his shoulders and winked at Madenia and Ayla. "I think I'll go for a walk down by the river."

Ayla smiled as she watched Tholiza grab a fistful of hair and hold onto it like Whinney's mane as the two disappeared out of sight.

"I can't wait to get there!" Madenia "I wonder what their summer meetings are like?"

Ayla couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm, though her own stomach was turning flip flops. What would it be like for her?

"Could you watch Wymic for me?" Ayla stood and picked up a gathering basket. "I saw some herbs I'd like to collect before we go. They don't need much time to dry and I haven't seen them for awhile."

Madenia picked up Wymic who'd been laying on a fur quietly and cuddled him. "Of course I will. You don't have to ask me that."

Ayla whistled for Wolf and after a moment he appeared from the woods. Eagerly, he watched as she started to leave camp and bounded after her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Hellloooo!" Dalanar called as he cupped his hands over his mouth. The wisps of smoke coming from the cave let them know the Lanzadonii hadn't left for the summer meeting yet. Madenia beamed at Ranec, excited that she had completed her first journey-a long one at that. The exhilaration she felt was mimicked in everyone else.

The group was practically running the last of the distance as the sun quickly set behind them. Wolf, excited with the familiar territory and the smell of others, tried to run ahead continuously. It was Ayla's whistles that kept him in check.

A long figure came out of the cave and grasped her chest. It only took a moment for her to start running towards them. Dalanar dropped his pack and ran full speed until he was crushing Jerika to him. giving them some much needed privacy, Jondalar halted the horses and busied himself with "checking" the travois.

After a few moments, Dalanar and Jerika walked back to them. "Jondalar!" Jerika cried as he bent to give her a hug. "We were so worried about you!" She started to cry with the relief of having her mate safely home and seeing him and Ayla again. Jerika hugged Ayla next who also had tears in her eyes before Dalanar put a comforting arm around her.

Noticing the strangers for the first time, Jerika wiped her eyes and tried to regain her composure. Jondalar stepped forward then.

"Jerika of the Lanzadoni, mate of Dalanar-leader of the Lanzadoni, this is Ranec, master carver of the Mamutoi."

Jerika held out her hands as she stared at his coloring. She'd never seen anyone so dark! "I greet you Ranec in the name of the Great Earth Mother."

"Thank you for your welcome."

"The Mamutoi? Didn't Jondalar and Ayla stay with the Mamutoi years ago?" she asked.

Ranec nodded. "That is how we all met."

Dalanar laughed. "I'm sure we all have many stories to tell! Let's save them for later so everyone can hear them!"

Jerika looked longingly at her mate. "No one is here. They all left for the summer meeting a few days ago."

"What?" Dalanar looked more than a little surprised as he looked towards the cave. "Why didn't you go with them?"

Jerika shook her head as her eyes watered up again. "Hochamen. He was too weak to walk to the meeting and no one could carry him. A few volunteered, Echozar included, but he refused. He said he didn't want to be a burden."

"So you stayed with him, alone?" Jondalar asked, feeling pity for the older man he got to know so well in his youth.

Jerika nodded and Dalanar hugged her tightly. When she pulled back, she realized she hadn't been introduced to the young woman standing quietly by the horses.

"You are pretty young to be making such a long journey." Jerika remarked.

Madenia stepped forward as Jondalar made the introductions again.

Losandunai? I haven't visited them in years! Tell me, do you know Solandia?"

Madenia smiled brightly. "Yes! She's from my cave. How do you know her?"

Jerika laughed. "She and I became close when I went on a few trading missions in my younger days."

Ayla smiled at the friendly exchanges being offered, but she was tired and she knew the horses needed to be unloaded from their travois's and given a rest.

"Ranec, will you help me unhitch Whinney and Racer? It's starting to get late."

"Of course."

"I'll help too. That way it won't take as long." Jondalar added.

"We'll all help!" Dalanar boomed causing laughter to the relieved travelers. It would be nice to sleep in a real cave tonight, instead of the traveling tents.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

No sooner had the weary travelers been given sleeping platforms in the cave, they had a cup of tea and retired for the evening. The next morning all woke feeling as if they'd slept for a moon. Ayla stretched and placed Wynic to her breast as she fed the small fire for tea. She could tell it was still early, though light was streaming in the smoke hole.

Glancing about, she noticed Hochamen's curtain was still drawn. She had wanted to check on the aging man last evening, but he had already been asleep by the time they arrived. She hoped he wasn't in ill health, only too weak to walk, but he was up in years and she knew the ailments of the old better than almost any of the Zelandonii healers. Ayla added more water to the fire to make a soothing poultice for him, just in case.

Dalanar and Jerika were still sleeping too, or from the sounds, engaging in other endeavors. She smiled at the thought and looked over her shoulder back at Jondalar. He was bare and the furs were strewn haphazardly across his midriff. his hair hung loose and a piece fell across his cheek. He looked so peaceful and relaxed in his sleep, she had half a mind to just crawl back under the furs with him.

The curtain across the walkway opened and Madenia looked around sleepily. She smiled when she saw Ayla and quietly made her way over.

"I have to relieve myself" The younger woman whispered. "Where do they go?"

"There are baskets at the back of the cave," Ayla motioned speaking just as quietly, "but if you want to go outside, go behind the cave, up the hill. You'll see an area off to the right. The stream isn't too far from their either, you can see it from the top of the hill."

Madenia smiled her gratitude. "I would love to wash. I think I'll go to the stream."

Jondalar stirred and Madenia left quickly, hoping they hadn't been too loud.

Ayla settled Wynic into his sling and mixed the herbs she needed for the poultice. She had also decided to make him a tea to help relieve any aches he may be having. When she began to hear sounds from behind his curtain, Ayla picked up her things and headed over.

~~~~~~~~~~~

"I don't believe you!"

"I saw it with my own eyes!"

Ayla eyed the mouth of the cave, not seeing Dalanar and Jerika, yet everyone knew exactly where they were.

"It isn't easy to convince someone you love that someone you trust could do such a thing" Ranec sighed as he sat down beside Ayla, Wynic in his arms.

"It can cause much heartache." Ayla frowning as she continued to pound the starchy roots in her wooden bowl with a sharp rock. Her hand was protected with a piece of leather.

"They've been at it all morning." he added as he snuck a piece of peeled apple from Ayla's other bowl, barely managing to pull his hand back before she whacked it.

He laughed as she tried to give him a stern look, failing miserably. She laughed along with him then. "That's for the roast and you know it."

"Can I help it if you're the best cook around?" Ranec tried to smooth over.

"I'm glad someone's in a good mood." Jondalar strode up to them, Madenia with him looking quite pleased with herself. She was holding two rabbits, and Wolf was jumping around her, trying to get to them as she held them up for Ayla to see.

"We can make these tonight also. I got both with my spear thrower!" Madenia beamed, pleased with herself. She had hunted for a few years now, but mostly with snares, rarely with spears. Jondalar had been teaching her how to use the spear thrower, and this was the first time she'd been successful with it.

"It was like they were just waiting for us to come along."

"That's wonderful Madenia" Ranec complimented her, causing a slight blush to stain her cheeks.

"They'll be perfect with dinner. Thank you." Ayla added.

Madenia's smile faded when she heard the yelling from the cave. "Why do they yell like that?" It made her nervous to be around such hard feelings. No one in her cave would behave like that, especially the leader and his mate. She was also a little frightened for Jerika. The woman was so small and Dalanar loomed over her.

Jondalar placed a comforting hand on Madenia's shoulder. "They don't always, but there are times they don't see eye to eye. Everyone knows no real harm comes from their arguments, and ..... well, let's say when they 'make up' it's more than worth it!"

Both Ranec and Jondalar laughed heartily at the innuendo while Ayla smiled knowingly. Madenia's cheeks were really red now, but she was smiling shyly.

"Where's Tholiza?" Jondalar asked as his eyes scanned the nearby area. He spotted her not too far from where they were and Wolf was already herding her back towards them.

He shook his head. "I think I'll go to the river to bathe, and take Tholiza." he announced.

Ayla smiled warmly at him, and he felt a stirring in his nether regions. Holding out his hand, she took it and he pulled her to him, kissing her deeply.

"Yes, a bath seems like a very good idea." Ayla throatily agreed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dalanar walked beside Whinney, glancing back at Hochamen sitting with Jerika every once in awhile. It hadn't been too difficult to convince the aging man to ride to the summer meeting, especially after Dalanar broke the news about Kanolar. They had a responsibility to their people, and to the Zelandonii. The only way they could get to the bottom of any of this would be to reach the meeting and let everyone know what had happened.

The mosquitos and biting flies were everywhere it seemed, and even though Ayla had made a wash for them and the horses, it didn't help once the sun beat down on them and they started to sweat. Dalanar almost wished for the cold of winter to relieve his misery.

Off in the distance they could hear the rumble of thunder and he squinted up at the sky, welcoming the relief that threatened. Funny though, it didn't feel like a rainstorm. More than likely it would be another dry storm. They'd had alot of those lately according to Jerika. Enough to be of concern to all the Zelandonii. Apparently the larger herds had traveled farther than usual, making hunting more precocious.

As if reading his mind, Jondalar spoke. "The ground is so dry the cracks run deep."

"Mmm" Dalanar nodded.

"I haven't seen any game since two days ago, and that was only a few scraggly deer. Maybe I should have went after them after all."

Dalanar frowned as Jondalar glanced at the sky. The wind was picking up which gave some relief from the annoying pests. "We should try and make it for those trees. It can't be more than a few hours. If I remember, there's a small waterhole to the east of them. We can fill our skins there and maybe find something to eat."

"Don't bother." Jerika whispered sadly. Both men turned to look at her. "The runner that came thru before the camp left camped there. That was about a moon ago. He said the water was almost gone. It hasn't rained since then."

"Then all we have is the water with us until we come to a river." Jondalar concluded.

Ranec, knowing something important was being discussed, strode forward. "What's wrong?"

"The water hole we normally use is gone. It's been a dry season."

The group knew their very existence depended on the bounty from the Earth. It was a delicate balance that was never taken for granted, lest the Great Earth Mother withdrawal her blessings. The gravity of the situation wasn't taken lightly.

Racer caught up with his Dam and hung his head low. He was tired. They all were. Ayla and Madenia were not too far behind collecting what they could of the vegetation around them.

When Ayla noticed the group had stopped, she motioned to Madenia and they joined the small band. It only took her a moment to realize that something was wrong with the mood of the travelers. Perhaps they could all use a break. "Jondalar, Whinney and Racer could use a rest."

"Ayla, this may not be the best place to stop if this turns out to be a dry storm."

"I know. But it wouldn't be for long."

Ranec cleared his throat. "I have to agree with Jondalar on this one. We should wait until we reach those trees."

Ayla shielded her eyes with her hand as she peered at the trees in the distance. With all the different terrain they've traveled thru these past few years, she was beginning to hate the dry plains the most.

"At least let me give Whinney and Racer some water."

Jondalar stepped closer to her and spoke softly. "Ayla, we don't know where we'll be able to fill our water skins up again. We need to save the water."

Ayla looked struck as she studied Jondalar's face. She knew their water situation was tense, but Whinney, Racer and Wolf were all part of their family. They deserved their portion of the water also. She pulled herself up to her full height as she made up her mind. "I'll use mine."

Sighing, Jondalar watched as Ayla dug out a bowl and filled it with water from her own skin. He strode over to Racer and took his water skin from the pack basket, adding some of his water to hers. She gave him a smile of gratitude and their eyes locked as the love they shared danced between them.

After the horses, Wolf, and Tholiza had water, the group started towards the trees again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~