The Ninth Cave fell into a pattern for the next few days, while the four self-chosen people kept watch. The children played all day, the wolf their constant companion, while the adults spent their time practicing, playing and generally having a good time. It was like the Summer Meeting, only on a much smaller scale. The days passed quickly with no real work to do, one blending into another. They kept up the cave and looked daily for fresh foods. Some of the people practicing with the spear-thrower felt themselves ready to try it out on the local herds and a few gathered together to go out hunting.
Their excitement at their success was contagious and they took a bigger party the next day. It became a habit and soon they were replenishing the caves stores by themselves. So far they had managed to bring in five big animals to help with supplies and spent the remainder of the daylight hours drying meat and curing hides. Echozar didn't want to take away from the fun they were having, but he felt they were leaving the rest even more vulnerable.
He broached the subject that night at the evening meal and was met with startled silence. He got a few sullen responses but most were agreeable to staying within sight of the cave from now on or at least until the hunting party returned. None of them had even thought about Mikolan or the threat he posed. Echozar was uncomfortable with this, but he figured it should be expected. Nobody had seen anything strange, so they had all let down their guard.
Zelandoni had pretty much kept to herself while the hunters had been away, but now she came and sat at the hearth full of people.
"I was wondering if you were ever going to come out of that cave!" Marthona addressed the holy woman. Zelandoni smiled but she had always kept her own council.
She had been meditating, trying to figure out what Ayla had hinted about so strongly to her before she left. She knew the younger woman knew more than she was telling and it bothered her a little. She had spent two days in her little cave, but it had done her little good. Something or someone was blocking her communion with the Mother. She had felt another presence in the little room that was her domain, more than once. The first time it had startled her, but after that she ignored it. She felt a inherent sense of goodness from the presence and decided to let it be.
However, after it had deliberately blocked the vision that had started forming in her mind, she got a little angry. She had tried to communicate with the spirit but got no response, other than a vision of a scared, old flathead. She felt tremendous power coming from this man but all he did was shake his head no, then disappear. Feeling frustrated, she tried again, only to get the same vision. He was blocking her entrance into the spirit world. Not knowing what was going on, she questioned the spirit and got a shocking response.
Sending herself into a deep trance, she finally connected to the powerful spirit once again. She watched as he tried to tell her something but she couldn't understand him. Finally she felt him shift the blockage he had put in her mind just a little. When he did she almost screamed out loud in terror. From the small crack he had allowed in the protective barrier, she felt pure evil flow through her mind and got a quick glimpse of Mikolan in a deep trance back in his cave. She quailed before the hatred she felt, feeling the horror of it in her own soul. She felt a shift again as the old man quickly closed the barrier and looked at her with sympathy in his one liquid brown eye. She woke then and understood the tremendous power of the ancient flathead. He was protecting them, keeping Mikolan from seeing into their cave. She had sent a silent prayer of thanks to the spirit and to the Mother for sending him and quickly left the cave.
Shaking off the memory of the vision, she again focused on the woman in front of her. She saw Marthona looking at her with concern in her eyes but the older woman knew the ways of One Who Serves. Zelandoni gave her a grateful smile; this time it reached her eyes.
"Yes, well, I'm here now and I'm starved, do you have any extra?" she asked, seeing Marthona was already up getting a platter. The older woman handed her the platter and Zelandoni whispered that she would talk to her later. Marthona nodded but wondered what she was afraid to mention in front of the others. She was terrified when she found out.
--
The horses settled into the migrating pattern of the huge grazers easily. Even though she had hunted them before, the sheer size of a full grown mammoth mesmerized Ayla. It was hard to think that a species as weak and small as they were could hunt the behemoths. As they followed the herd, she and Jondalar gave silent signals to each other and the rest of the hunters. They were simple signs, none of the Zelandonii caves had had a lot of time to learn the Clan language fluently, but they conveyed meaning well. The plan was simple, but dangerous. They had come up with it when they had finally spotted the large beasts yesterday.
Jondalar had scouted ahead on Racer, coming back to the group around noon with the news of a small herd heading gradually north. A warm wind from the south had kept the steppes closer to the glacier warmer than normal, so the mammoths were in no hurry to get home. He and Ayla related how the Mamutoi hunted the beasts but there were no blind canyons on the steppes, so they would have to come up with another way. While traveling toward the herd, they looked for a way to hunt them.
When Ayla spotted a large valley, one that reminded her of her valley far to the east, and noticed the sheer drop off on the north side, it gave her an idea. It was dangerous and might not work, but it was all they had. It would take a lot of skill and determination to turn a whole herd around and stampede them in the opposite direction, but she had a few factors in her favor. She had the wind and she had Whinny.
After catching the herd and skirting around them, they set up a line of people with pitchy torches well in front of where they grazed. When Ayla gave the signal, they would set the late summer grass on fire. The wind would blow the flames to the north, well away from where they wanted to go, and Mammoths feared nothing so much as prairie fires. With luck, it would cause the animals to turn and stampede south, back toward the valley they had safely grazed around. With Ayla and Jondalar on the horses and with the help of a few more smoky torches, they could keep them from turning east or west on their way. When they passed a certain point, more of the hunting party would be waiting with more torches to keep them on the right path, straight toward the steep drop-off on the north end of the sunken valley.
If every thing went right, the mammoths would stampede right over the edge in their hurry to escape the flames. The last of the hunting party would be waiting in the valley to finish off any that the fifty-foot plunge didn't kill, but well out of the way of falling behemoths. It was risky and she only hoped that Whinney could still keep up, her pregnancy might slow the mare down enough to ruin the plan, but Ayla would not let her hurt herself or her foal. If she couldn't do it, they would have to think of another way.
Everything was ready and everybody was in place. The time to turn the herd had come. Ayla and Jondalar gave the horses subtle signals and Whinny and Racer both started casually grazing their way to the far edges of the herd; Whinney and Ayla to the right, Racer and Jondalar to the left. They did not want to be still behind when the animals turned around. When the horses picked up the pace a little and came ahead of the herd on each side, Ayla gave the signal. The torches were quickly lit, with the help of the firestones, in a line that somewhat arched around the herd, but didn't completely circle them. The hunters that lit the fire would have to run to catch up with everyone else, but if everything went according to plan, it would all be over before they got there.
The smell of smoke in the air turned the peacefully grazing herd into a trumpeting riot of fear. In confusion, the scared beasts tried to charge forward, only to have their way blocked by flames on three sides. Quickly they reversed their positions and headed straight south. Ayla and Jondalar both grabbed a lit torch from the other hunters and raced off after them, hoping to keep them stampeding with the smell of fire still close. Ayla pulled up on one side with Jondalar on the other waving the flames in the faces of any mammoth that looked like it was trying to veer off on either side. The valley was still a little distance ahead, but Whinny was starting to tire. Ayla slowed her pace a bit, trying to give her friend a rest but when a large she mammoth tried to veer off again, Whinny picked up the pace on her own. Ayla waved the torch in the female's face and she quickly re-joined the herd with a burst of speed of her own.
Thankfully, the valley was in sight, only a little ways to go. When the hunters waiting on this end felt the earth start to vibrate, they got their torches ready. If they lit them too soon, they would turn the herd again; the timing had to be perfect. When the first mammoth came trumpeting past, they lit the torches quickly and took off running, staying beside and behind the herd. Ayla and Jondalar dropped back and allowed the others to take their place, turning the horses to go around the valley to the west side where there was a gradual grade the horses could manage easily.
The hunters ran after the herd, afraid they would not be able to keep up but it mattered little. They were so close to the valley and the steep drop, the mammoths would not have time to turn back. By the time the lead mammoth saw the sudden drop it was too late. She tried to pull herself up short but her momentum carried her over the cliff and she plunged to her death, trumpeting her fear and confusion. The loud cry was suddenly cut short but many more took it's place as the rest of the herd followed, only one or two realizing the danger in time to avoid the drop. The hunters let them go, they would have plenty with the ones now on the valley floor.
The sight of mammoths falling out of the sky was something to behold for the hunters waiting in the bottom of the valley. When the last one came over the cliff and fell, Willomar started forward. He approached one female that was in her prime, the fall hadn't taken her life but had broken her back. She laid under the weight of another that had fallen, bellowing in pain. Willomar took his spear and quickly put the suffering beast out of her misery. Ric approached another suffering from three broken legs and ended her pain as well. Both men gave silent thanks to the Mother for the abundance she provided and the luck they had on the hunt.
When the rest of the hunters made it to the valley to join them, the mammoths piled together in death made more than a few shudder and look up the sheer walls of the cliff to the steppes above. Steeling themselves, they went to work, inserting an element of play into the grisly task. Most of the behemoths were accessible, but a few had to be moved to be cleaned. Ayla strapped the horses to the front and a team of men shoved and pushed from behind. The strength of the horses helped to accomplish the task, and it gave the Zelandonii an appreciation for the advantage she had gained by employing them. They borrowed their strength more than once that day, in the onerous chore of gutting and cleaning almost the entire small herd.
By nightfall, most of the work was done and the exhausted hunting party finally sat down to rest. There were lines of meat, cut to uniform strips and hung up to dry in the heat of the many little fires they had built, scattered around the valley floor. Ayla kept her sling busy when the smell of blood drew the many predators from the valley and the steppes. Most had learned to stay well out of her range, but occasionally one or two would brave the hard flung stones for a mouthful of meat. When the tired, happy and hungry hunters sat down, it was to platters full of tender mammoth and a few side dishes that Ayla had prepared from the bounty of the valley. They ate in silence, occasionally volunteering comment on one thing or another, but enjoying their dinner too much to make extensive conversation. When the meal was over and their bellies full, they discussed the lucky hunt. Never had they gotten so many at one time, with no one being hurt.
When someone tried to give Ayla the credit for the successful hunt she deferred, "The S'Armunai hunted horses by chasing them over a cliff. Seeing the valley with the steep drop only made me wonder if it could be done with mammoths; the credit for the hunt goes to all. I couldn't have done this by myself," she said, turning aside their compliments with a touch of embarrassment.
Most kept silent after that, but silently thought that the woman was much more powerful that she would lead them to believe. It didn't take long for the conversation to turn to Mikolan and Ayla again felt the familiar dread creep up her spine. She only half listened to the people gathered around the main fire as they talked about the leader and his plans of attack. It seemed most of them were convinced he wouldn't be back.
"He would never humiliate himself like that again!" Talan said, laughing.
"No way! Did you see his face when he fell down the slope?" Voctovan answered and the group broke up into gales of laughter.
Ayla shared a sober look with Willomar and Jondalar, but kept quite. She rose to go check on the meat again, though it was being watched carefully by some of the other members of the party. She walked a little distance from the rest of the people, finding a tree to sit against. She sat for a while letting her mind wander, but it never went far from the problem of Mikolan. She was scared. There was no telling when he would come again but she thought it would be soon. It made sense that he would attack when everyone had let their guard down and she worried about being so far from the cave. She started when she heard a branch crack behind her and turned to see who was coming. She saw Ric step out of the darkness with Folara on his arm. Neither saw her and she let them have their moment of privacy. After they had passed she started back, only run in to Dalanar.
"I was wondering where you went," he said, giving her a warm smile.
"I just went for a walk, I wanted to be alone for a while," she said, smiling in return, though her eyes still held a touch of worry.
"I've noticed that about you, you like to have time by yourself a lot, don't you?" he asked, a little puzzled.
"I spent many years alone in my valley and I dreamed of the day when I would be with people again. I would have thought I had enough of being alone then, but every once in while it helps me clear my head to go off by myself. It gives me time to think," she said, trying to explain.
He nodded his understanding. "You shouldn't worry so much Ayla, it can't be good for the baby." She looked at him, her eyes wide. How had he known? He gave her a gentle smile.
"I know you were out here worrying about Mikolan. Whatever happens, happens. There is nothing you can do about it and it's not your fault. That man has given Echozar no end of trouble since he came to live with my cave. He has to be stopped and if this is the only way, the so be it. We put ourselves in the Mother's hands and so far, I think she is pleased with us." he paused a moment then really looked at her, "Look, it took my son traveling for five years to find a woman he could love the way he loves you. He would never let anything hurt you or your baby and neither would I. You are good for him, I have never seen him so happy."
She shook her head, he didn't understand. "I'm not worried about myself, or my baby. I know Jondalar would never let Mikolan hurt me but look at those people over there Dalanar," she said, indicating the group still gathered by the fire, laughing. "They think it's over. They don't understand that's what he wants them to think. He will be back and the next time, it won't be so easy."
"I know, and I wish I could stay to help, but we have to get back before the snows start and our cave is quite a few days travel from the Ninth Cave. When he comes, and I know he will, I can only hope that you have some warning," he said, and again she felt cold dread touch her heart.
"Come on, let's not talk about this. We can do nothing to change it. Let's get back to the fire, the nights are starting to get cold. Besides, Jondalar is looking for you," he said, taking her arm and leading her back towards the son of his hearth.
--
They stayed a few days more to let the meat dry completely and to process the many huge hides. Each cave would get at least one of the mammoth furs and the fat and bones would be divided as well, along with the meat. It took a while to load all the meat into the pack frames and onto the travois the horses would haul but very little had to be left behind. The going would be slower on the way back but the weather seemed to be holding and as they progressed slowly southward, it seemed to get warmer. The hunters were in good spirits, despite the long days and Ayla tried to join in the friendly chatter but she could not dispel a growing sense of urgency. They needed to get home, fast.
The man watched the activities of the cave from his spot well hidden in the trees. They had become complacent, they went about their daily business totally unconcerned. Good. He would have laughed if it wouldn't have given him away, but he quickly sobered when the man stepped out of the cave again. His eyes narrowed in hatred, as the gaze of the mixed man passed over him, unseeing. He will pay, he thought to himself. He backed away with the silent stealth of a hunter. That was after all what he was. He walked back to his camp deep in the woods resigned to wait a little longer, tomorrow would be soon enough.
Ayla tossed and turned in her furs. Try as she might, sleep just would not come. The anxiety she felt had only increased while they traveled back towards the cave, but nobody would listen to her. They were convinced Mikolan was no longer a threat. They were still a good three or four days travel from the cave, camped near a small stream. Everybody had turned in early and were all fast asleep by now, everybody except her. She had dozed lightly at first, the past few nights of sleeplessness finally catching up with her but her dreams had been wrought with terrifying images. She couldn't remember anything clearly, just vague impressions imposed on her unconscious mind. It was enough to keep her awake.
She turned over once again, to see Jondalar lying next to her. He was on his back with one arm flung off to the side, his blond hair lay tousled on the furs and his mouth was slightly open, taking in the deep, even breaths of sound sleep. She didn't want to disturb him, but it was impossible to get comfortable. The deep-seated fear she felt was almost a physical pain, refusing to allow her rest. She got up quietly and made her way through the many sleeping forms to the remains of the evening fire. Building the fire back up only took a moment and she started some water to boil. Maybe if she made a cup of tea, it would relax her enough to finally go back to sleep.
Sitting in silence while the tea steeped, she let her mind roam. It went quickly back to the disjointed images of her earlier dreams. Try as she might, she could not find a pattern, but it gave her chills just thinking about them. She thought that maybe the meditation techniques Zelandoni had taught her would help her clear the images in her mind and let her see the fear. She poured herself a cup of the steaming brew, sipping the comforting heat slowly. She had mixed a few other herbs in with the fragrant leaves hoping to help herself relax, and she felt the effects quickly. As the soothing heat pervaded her mind, she closed her eyes and focused on the blackness behind her lids.
She saw a flash of bright sunlight before she heard the scream. She looked around her and saw the entrance to the cave, she tried to move, but her feet would not budge. She watched as the loved ones left behind in the cave ran around her on all sides, screaming and crying in terror. She saw a man lying on the ground, unmoving. She tried to go to him, but again her legs would not move. She felt helpless, as she watched Marthona trying to revive the man on the ground. A child ran in front of her, she saw his grimy, tear streaked face as he ran toward a group of other children standing in a huddle of fear. She heard a low menacing growl and saw Wolf standing guard in front of the children. A man with a fur over his head was trying to get to the kids, but Wolf would not allow him to get any closer. The man waved a lit torch in the face of the angry animal; Wolf snapped at the flames, but refused to leave his post.She looked to the mouth of the cave as another man stepped out, a satisfied smile on his face. Her eyes narrowed, it was Mikolan. He turned toward her and to her shock, saw her standing there. He laughed an evil laugh.
She looked around at the chaos around her, feeling more helpless than she had ever been.
"You're too late! You can't help your animal friend now," he said, still laughing as he pointed to the large rock above the mouth of the cave.
She looked up, and felt the blood drain from her face. No! It wasn't true! She felt a scream rise in her throat.
"Echozarrrr!"
"Ayla! Ayla, wake up!" She opened her eyes to a crowd of people looking down at her. Jondalar's eyes were full of concern, but it was nothing compared to the outright fear she saw in Dalanar's. He had heard her scream Echozar's name. Jondalar helped her sit up. She looked around her and saw she was still in front of the fire, but she had collapsed on the ground . She tried to open her mouth to speak, but all she heard was the chattering of her teeth.
"Someone bring her a fur, she's freezing!" Dalanar barked out orders.
"Back up, give her some space to breathe." He hunched in front of her as someone wrapped a warm fur around her shoulders.
"Can you tell me what you saw?" He watched her shudder and saw the fear in her eyes. She opened he mouth to speak again and only a squeak came out. She shook her head, letting her eyes fall to her hands in her lap.
"It's alright, take your time. Can you tell if it was a dream or a vision?" He asked gently.
"I.. I...I'm not sure. It was so real!" she said, finally able to find her voice. She shuddered again and looked into the older man's eyes.
"It was Mikolan! He attacked the cave while we were gone! There was screaming and some people were hurt. I couldn't move, I couldn't help them! He came out of the cave and saw me. Then he said...Oh Mother! Echozar!" She could not say more through the lump in her throat but her eyes squeezed out hot tears.
Jondalar handed her a cup of the now tepid tea she had made earlier. She accepted it gratefully, looking around at the concerned faces surrounding her. She tried to smile, but it was a watery ghost of her normal brightness. She had to say something, she was scaring them.
"I'm alright, really. Thank you. It was just a bad dream, I'll be fine, really, " she said, doing a little better with her second attempt at a smile. She saw the crowd start to disperse, but there was still a somber pall over the hunters. Jondalar helped her stand and he, Dalanar and Willomar escorted her back to her furs.
The three men were more than concerned. They had a little more experience with Ayla and her dreams, more than once she had been proven right. After settling her comfortably in her furs, they conversed quietly amongst themselves.
"I don't know if it was just a bad dream or a vision, but that woman is really scared," Willomar said, his eyes shifting back to the blond woman sitting quietly on her furs, seeming lost in her own world.
"I know, that's what worries me. I know Ayla, she doesn't scare easily. If she is frightened, there is good reason, but how do we convince the others that we need to hurry?" Jondalar ventured, his concern for the woman he loved showing in his expressive blue eyes.
Dalanar had sat quietly, not wanting to believe this could be more than a dream but if it was real, what had happened to Echozar? Though she tried to deny it, he knew the exotic, beautiful woman the son of his hearth had brought home with him was more powerful than she would admit. It was that certainty that made his heart pound with fear for the stranger he had taken in and grown to love like one of his own. He felt an ache grow in his heart for the big, gentle mixed man. He sent a silent prayer to the Mother. Please let Echozar be alright.
"We may not have to. Look around Jondalar. These people know Ayla too, not as well as you, but enough to know not to doubt her word and now their scared. It won't take much convincing to get them moving," he said, already moving away to talk to Ric and Folara. The young couple stood together, not sure what to do next but you could read the relief in their faces when they hurried to break camp. Jondalar and Willomar also moved through the hunters giving quiet instructions to make ready to leave as quickly as possible.
The hunters set a much faster pace than the one they had been using. You could see the urgency in their eyes as they traveled as quickly as possible with the heavy loads they carried. Ayla felt a tremendous relief at the quickened pace, she hadn't meant to scare them with her nightmare, but it seemed to inspire them to move faster and for that she was grateful. They traveled until the last of the daylight left the sky, then made camp quickly and went to bed right after dinner. There was no cheerful chatter that night, everybody laying awake in their furs. It was a long time before sleep found them but the rising sun saw them up and moving across the plains. One thought went through Ayla's mind like a mantra.
I hope it's not too late, it can't be too late. Too late, too late...
--
The big man scanned the trees again, certain there was something wrong. His eyes had the acuity of his Clan heritage, but try as he might he could see nothing out of place. He could feel someone watching him, feel the hatred in the gaze and searched in vain for a sign of his presence. He had an overwhelming urge to scream at the people below to run, run and hide, but he kept silent. There was no reason to scare them unnecessarily and even he could not see any signs of danger. He thought he saw a slinking movement off to his left, but by the time he shifted his eyes in that direction it was gone. He decided to go down and have a closer look at the woods across the clearing. He got up to move and felt a searing pain in his back. His knees buckled and he collapsed, feeling a darkness overtaking his mind. The last sounds he heard before succumbing to the enveloping blackness was a woman's scream and the low menacing growl of a wolf...
--
The tired, anxious hunters quickened their pace when the land around them took on the familiar feel of home. Even the horses, exhausted from the heavy loads they carried, quickened their steps when their natural instincts told them home was near. Ayla wanted to drop everything and run the rest of the way, but she kept herself in check. Her anxiety had only grown stronger the closer they got to the cave and it was all she could do not to let her panic take over. When they finally rounded the curve that led to the entrance to the cave she could stand it no longer and, letting her back frame fall to the ground, she ran, pulling her medicine bag from her waist thong as she went.
She ran through the mouth of the cave and stopped long enough to let her eyes adjust to the dim interior. When she could see clearly again, she nearly collapsed at the sight before her. Everyone in the cave looked up at her anguished cry and she started toward the man lying on the furs at the central hearth on trembling legs. Her worst fears had been confirmed. She was too late.
Marthona saw the healer walk in and the relief in her eyes was tremendous. She got up and walked toward the woman, sending silent prayer's of thanks to the Mother on her way. When she got closer, she saw the anguish and guilt on the younger woman's face and heard her soft cries.
"I'm too late... Oh Doni! I'm too late!" Ayla said, tears streaming down her face as she tried to force her legs to move. Marthona looked back at the central hearth a little puzzled at the woman's words and saw what Ayla had seen. Her eyes widened as comprehension dawned.
"No, Ayla! Not yet, Echozar still lives, but he needs you. Come quickly child, he won't last much longer without your help."
Ayla looked at her through a pain filled haze and suddenly her words sank in. He is still alive! It was all she needed, she ran to the hearth barking orders as she went.
"Marthona, get all the large skins you can and get as much water boiling as possible, now, hurry! Larsolan, I need as many clean, unused skins as you can find. Jerika, the other hunters should be close, I need someone to go get Jondalar. Tell him to come quickly, I need his help," she said, bending down next to the injured man. If she hadn't been so focused on keeping him alive, she would have been sickened by the thick shaft of the spear sticking half way out of his back. His shirt had been cut away, and she looked at Zelandoni hovering near by.
"How long has he been like this?" She asked the other woman and noticed her pale, drawn face.
"Since yesterday afternoon. We found him above the cave, on the rocks." The woman answered, then broke down in tears.
"I'm so sorry Ayla! I tried to help him, but I have never seen this kind of injury before, I didn't know what to do! I have prayed to the Mother and begged her to allow you to return before she took him and it seems she has answered my prayers. I have called all the protective spirits I know to look over him until you could get here, but I just don't know enough about medicine."
"You knew enough, he still lives. I only hope I'm not too late to help him. Where is Joplaya?" She asked. suddenly realizing the woman who was intended to mate this man was absent.
"I had to give her a strong sedative, she would not leave his side and she was frantic. She is resting at Marthona's hearth." Zelandoni explained. Ayla nodded, continuing her examination.
The man was laying on his stomach, a spear shaft sticking from his lower back a few inches to the left of his spine. She noticed again the size of the shaft; it was thin like one they used for the spear-thrower but the length was off. She realized it had to have gone all the way through the front. She looked at Zelandoni,"What happened to the rest of the spear? It had to have gone through him, but he lays on his stomach." She saw Zelandoni close her eyes, but she nodded. With a shudder she recounted what had happened.
"Joplaya found him after Mikolan's men finally left. She hadn't seen him during the attack and went to look for him. I heard her scream and went to see what had happened. He was laying on his side with the spear poking out both sides. I had some of the men carry him into the cave, thank Doni he was unconscious. I cut his shirt off, thinking that I would need to remove the spear, but I didn't want to pull the tip out of him, I was afraid it would do even more damage." Ayla nodded at this and Zelandoni continued,
"I didn't know what to do, I couldn't see pushing the rest of the shaft through him, but I had to treat the wounds. I had Joplaya find me the sharpest blade she could. I had to cut off the front of the spear. He had wakened some by then and I gave him some willow bark to kill the pain, but it was still too much, he passed out. I was glad he did too. I had to saw the spear in half, and it caused the wound to bleed again. After that, I was afraid to take it out, for fear he would lose too much blood, so I put a poultice on the front wound and left the spear where it was, but at least I could turn him on his stomach. I used the plants you told me fight the evil spirits of infection on both the front and the back wound around the shaft and it seems to have worked, until now. The wounds were red and hot when he woke earlier and he has a high fever. I tried the poultices again, but it hasn't worked like before. I have kept him drugged with datura, to ease his pain, but other than that..." She stopped, not able to finish the sentence. Ayla could read guilt in the holy woman's face.
"You did fine." Ayla told her, her eyes gentle. "He would not be alive if not for you. Now we have to get the spear out of him, I need Jondalar for that." Just as she said his name he hurried into the hearth, a little out of breath. He looked at the spear shaft and visibly blanched. He steeled himself and looked at Ayla.
"What can I do?" He asked, having a feeling he already knew the answer.
"I will need you to help me remove the shaft, but first I need my medicine rack, there are some things I need to have ready when the spear is removed." He nodded and left the hearth heading for their own. Marthona came in then, carrying a heavy skin of boiling hot water.
"I have three more boiling at other hearths, let me know when you need more," she said, and Ayla flashed her a grateful smile before focusing again on her patient. Taking a large bowl she dipped out some water and added dried marigold from her medicine bag. After adding a few more hot stones to bring it back to a boil, she put it aside, she would need it to wash out the wound. She though for a minute and got out the bag with iris roots to help rid his body of infection, dipping out another small amount of water she added the dried roots and she set it aside as well, she would add some hollyhock and wormwood to make a poultice when Jondalar brought the rest of her medicines. She also started some more datura, removing the spear would be painful at best, she wanted him sound asleep. Near the bowls she set her small bag of dried alfalfa leaves crushed to a powder, they would help the blood to clot after she cleaned the wound.
Jondalar returned with her rack of dried roots and herbs and she selected the few she though she would need that she didn't carry with her. After adding the hollyhock and wormwood to the iris roots, she crushed them in to a thick paste, ready to lay directly over his wounds when she needed it. She pulled a small tube from her medicine bag. It was a hollow leg bone of a bird and she used it now to hold a small thread-puller. It was her own addition to the healing herbs she had always carried with her, after last time of not being able to find it she wanted it readily at hand. She found a dried stick of sinew and pounded it into the thin threads she would need, setting them aside to soften in yet another bowl of hot water. She looked around and took a deep breath. She had everything she needed, now it was time. Closing her eyes, she sent a silent plea to the cave lion and the Great Mother for help and moved to the injured man's side.
"Jondalar, first I need you to help me roll him over on to his side, gently. I need to have something under him to absorb the blood after I pull the spear out," she said, and the big blond man moved to Echozar's other side. She grabbed a soft, absorbent skin from the pile that Larsolan had set there for her. She nodded and together she and Jondalar carefully rolled Echozar to his side. He moaned in his sleep and Ayla looked to Zelandoni.
"When was the last time you gave him the datura?" She asked, not wanting to overdose the man.
"Not long before you got here, it should be well in effect by now," the holy woman answered. Ayla nodded, it would have to do, she couldn't give him more this soon. She only hoped it was strong enough to keep him asleep while she worked. She looked at the wound on the front side and noticed the shaft was not poking through now. She had to know how far inside it was and reached her finger inside the wound to feel for the end of the shaft. It was right below the surface, stopping most of the blood from seeping out. She placed the skin over the wound and they lowered him back onto his stomach. She would have to work fast if she didn't want him to lose too much blood.
"Alright, now I need you to hold him Jondalar, don't let him move. If he jerks, he could puncture an organ with the end of the shaft. I don't know what kind of damage it has already done inside and I don't want to make it worse. Put as much pressure on him as you can, even in his sleep this will be extremely painful," she told him, letting him know with her eyes how serious this was. He gulped audibly, then nodded. Placing one hand on Echozar's shoulder and the other on his hip, he bore down with as much strength as he dared. He looked at Ayla and nodded his readiness, then closed his eyes.
Ayla put both hands around the shaft close to the skin. Getting a good grip, she took another deep breath and yanked hard, pulling the shaft straight up and out. Echozar screamed in his drug-induced sleep, then quieted once again. Immediately blood poured from the wound, and Ayla moved quickly to her bowls. She grabbed the marigold infusion and another skin, and quickly washed the wound thoroughly. Sprinkling the dried alfalfa root directly into the wound, she watched the blood start to clot immediately. She inspected the wound looking for signs of internal damage.
She saw torn muscle and a tiny tear on the outer layer of his large intestines, luckily it had not punctured all the way though but miraculously that was all, at least on this side. She got the thread-puller and the sinew and stitched the tear in his intestines as best she could, then added few more to repair the muscle. There was, however, no skin to stitch together on the outside, just a large hole. She sprinkled more alfalfa root into the wound then applied the poultice directly over the gaping hole. Laying a skin over his back, she then turned him over, being sure to keep the poultice in place as he rolled.
A large pool of blood had formed under the man and she felt fear shoot through her. She had to work faster. She noticed Zelandoni sitting , hands resting on her knees, eyes closed, chanting. She sent a fleeting prayer of gratitude for her help and returned to the problem at hand. Again she washed the wound thoroughly and sprinkled the blood clotting root liberally in to the wound. She inspected again for internal damage, expecting to find more, but again she saw nothing. Somehow, the spear point had slid between the intestines, causing only the one small tear. Shaking her head in wonder, she performed the same ministrations to this side, and repaired the muscle. On this side at least, she could stitch the wound closed, then she covered it with the warm poultice. Wrapping the hide she had laid under him tightly around his abdomen, she sat back, shaking.
Looking up, she saw Jondalar, Marthona, and Zelandoni watching her. She was tired, but hopeful. Looking back down at the sleeping man, she could only marvel at his luck. It could have been much worse. He groaned lightly in his sleep then was quite. She looked back to the people gathered around and dared a small smile.
"He's a very lucky man. I expected that spear to have torn him up inside, but it didn't. Somehow, it managed to go between his intestines, only putting a small tear in them and it tore some muscle. If we caught the infection in time and I can keep him from losing anymore blood, I think he will live," she told them and saw a glimmer of tears in Marthona's eyes. The older woman left to tell the rest of the cave how he was doing.
Jondalar came to her side, and helped her to stand. Until she did, she had no idea how tired she was. When she tried to stand on her own, her knees buckled. Jondalar grabbed her in time to keep her from falling, then helped her over to a bed of furs to sit more comfortably. Zelandoni brought her a cup of tea, and she smiled up at the woman. The holy woman had tears streaming down her face and Ayla's concern for her mounted. "I really do think he will make it Zelandoni, I wouldn't say so other wise. He was very lucky," she said, trying to offer the older woman some comfort. Zelandoni just shook her head.
"I only wish the others had been so lucky," she said quietly. Ayla stared at her.
"What others?" Jondalar said, cold fear gripping his heart. Zelandoni's head snapped up quickly and her mouth dropped open.
"Oh Doni! You don't know, do you?" She asked, and a new freshet of tears started down her face.
"Echozar was not Mikolan's only victim, we lost three others to his attack," she stated sadly.
"The man, Larek, from the seventh cave, and another, Wyain from the twelfth," she said, then stopped.
"Who was the third?" Ayla asked, her muscles tensing, fighting the truth she could see in the holy woman's eyes. Zelandoni looked at her.
"I'm so sorry Ayla, he gave his life to protect them...," she said, unable to cause this woman any more pain. Jondalar looked at the older woman and suddenly a flash of the dream Ayla had told them about went through his mind. His forehead knotted in pain and he looked down at the woman he loved as understanding bloomed in his mind. No...
Ayla felt a great rending sadness fill her heart, she shook her head, tears filling her eyes. She looked to Jondalar, pleading with her eyes for him to tell her it wasn't true. He knelt beside her, taking her in her arms. She shook with uncontrollable sobs.
"No! No, please not Wolf..."
--
Latie hugged Roshario fiercely, she was going to miss her so much. The older woman had tears in her eyes when they finally released each other.
"You take care of yourselves. You will always have a home here, if you ever decide to return," Roshario said when she turned to give Durc a farewell hug as well.
The young man embraced her tightly, his Clan eyes dry though he too felt the pain of leaving. He was going to miss these kind, loving people almost as much as he already missed his Clan and the Mamutoi. They had stayed with them for half the moon's cycle and already they felt like family. It had taken Dolando a little longer to warm up to him, but he seemed to have gotten past his initial reserve.
Durc could see the man's inner struggle to accept him and it had been a battle hard fought and won. The young man got the distinct feeling it had something to do with his Clan background and the fact that he was mixed. After Durc's rather shocking announcement that he was Ayla's son, the leader of the Shamudoi half of the Sharamudoi had engaged in a bitter inner struggle with his lifelong beliefs. Getting to know the young man who claimed to be the son of the woman who had come into his life and encouraged a new way of thinking, had caused the seeds of doubt she had planted to grow into full-fledged new belief. He had started trading talks with the Clan based on her novel way of thinking, but her son convinced him of their humanity.
Now, standing on the platform above the river, saying their goodbyes, Dolando came to realize how much he had come to care for the unusual young man and his mate. He would never think of the Clan as animals again, not even to himself. He watched the tearful goodbye between the couple and his mate, the rest of the two halves of the Sharamudoi standing witness as well, and knew he would never see them again. He would miss them both.
"Thank you so much for allowing us to stay with you," Durc said, then turned to Dolando. "I know my being here was not easy for you at first," Durc said to him and saw the man's shocked expression. Dolando felt his face turn red. He had not known that his struggle was so apparent.
"But," Durc continued, "I want to thank you for accepting me anyway. I have spent the last few moons learning a whole new way of life and it was not always easy. It can not be any easier to be faced with a truth different from a lifetime of beliefs. I am aware of the pre-conceived notions concerning people such as I but you looked past those ideas and got to know who I was as a person, for that I will never forget you and always be grateful."
Dolando stared at Durc for a moment and the rest of the cave held their breaths. Such inner turmoil was not usually discussed in public. Even Latie did not know what to expect from such a forthright statement and the Mamutoi were much more forward than these people. It had been a heartfelt statement from Durc, but such openness was not always well received. She breathed a sigh of relief when the older man grabbed him in a tight embrace. She smiled at the discomfort such displays of emotion between men always caused Durc; it worked both ways.
"I should be the one thanking you. In my heart I knew your mother was right, but you forced me to see it in a way I had never understood. You are no less human than I am and I wonder why it is so hard for everyone to accept the fact that different doesn't mean other than. You saved my trades with the Clan by smoothing over serious misunderstandings and even helped to set up the guidelines at the second meeting. It is I who should be grateful, and I am. You will always be welcome at our cave, should you ever decide to travel back this way," Dolando said, releasing him. Durc, still a little uncomfortable with such open displays of affection, smiled anyway.
He was getting used to the strange ways of the Others, sometimes finding himself more comfortable among the Others than he had ever been with the Clan. The smiles he at first found so threatening, now came to his face almost as naturally as they did Latie's. The closeness between these people still made him a tad uneasy but the Clan had been close too, just in a different way. It was not so hard to become accustomed to it. He would love to be able to stay and learn more about this fascinating cave and their co-families, like how they make the huge water-birds and how they hunt the big sturgeon, but he felt a pressing need to go. Yesterday morning, he had awoken with an overwhelming need to leave and quickly. There was trouble with his mother.
He had awakened Latie and explained the feeling that there was a problem and they had to hurry. She was disappointed, but she understood the need to reach the Zelandonii as soon a s possible. She had been awakened in the night by her mate's thrashing in his sleep and knew at the onset of the dream, that they would be leaving soon. She had stopped questioning Durc's dreams. Even if he didn't remember them, he always came away from them with a sense of urgency and so far, he had never been wrong. It was a little scary, but when she considered who his mother was, she realized she should have expected it.
Latie looked over to her mate, then glanced around at the people who stood around them, wishing them well. It was a painful reminder of when they left home. She loved Durc with all of her heart and she would follow him wherever he lead, but it saddened her to leave her new found friends so soon. She smiled at Tholie and Shamio, who peeked from behind her mother's leg every now and again to smile shyly at her. The five-year-old girl had visited with them often during their stay and her sudden shyness was endearing. She bent down and gave the girl a tight squeeze then stood and embraced her mother.
"I'm going to miss you the most, I think. If you ever so back to visit the Mamutoi, tell my family I love them for me will you?" She said, wiping a tear from her cheek.
"I will, and when you see Ayla and Jondalar, say hello for me. It's so good to have met you and to have met Ayla's son," Tholie answered, shooting a glance in Durc's direction. "He is going to be just as special as his mother, I can tell."
"Yes, I think so too," Latie said, as she felt a well-muscled arm wrap around her waist. She turned and smiled into her mate's eyes.
"Are you about ready?" he asked. She nodded, but he could see the tears in her eyes. They moved to mount the horses and heard a muffled shout. Durc turned back and saw Darvalo moving through the crowd, a large back frame over his shoulder.
"Durc! Wait for me!" he shouted again, hauling the heavy load the rest of the way onto his back. He settled the pack onto his shoulders just as he reached the younger man.
"If you'll have me, I would like to come with you," he said, hearing a small gasp come from the assembled group. " I have already discussed it with Roshario and Dolando and they gave me their blessing, but only if you would allow it."
Durc stood staring at the man, trying to decide if he was ready for all that the journey would entail. He felt a strange sensation form in the pit of his stomach and a familiar heat in the center of his chest and looked at the young man with new interest. He shook his head, if it was what they wanted, who was he to say no?
"It is a long and dangerous journey and I can't promise you a happy outcome, but if you would join us, I would be grateful," he said, and turned to help Latie onto Lightning's back.
Darvalo let out a breath he hadn't known he had been holding. Durc had taken so long to answer, he was sure he was going to say no. He turned away from the couple to say his goodbyes to the people of his cave. He left a message with Roshario to pass on to his mother the next time she visited and hugged his friends and family good bye. He was sad to leave them, but the excitement of the journey would not allow is spirits to be low for long. His natural, youthful exuberance came to the fore and he returned to join the young travelers quickly.
Durc mounted Midnight and signaled that he was ready. With a few last waves and encouraging words the travelers started down the path around the cliff and into the trees. Durc was relieved that they were on their way. He really liked the Sharamudoi and would miss them, but they had already stayed too long. He had kept the reasons for their abrupt departure mainly to himself. He could not get past the feeling that something was not right with his mother. He had awakened the other morning with such a feeling of anguish and fear that he, for a moment, could not catch his own breath. Trying to explain something like that was a little difficult, so he had kept quiet. Now, finally moving again, he felt a heavy pressure lift from his chest and could finally, for the first time in days, take a deep breath.
The threesome traveled well into the evening, only making camp when they came to a clearing in the trees. Durc was finding, after only one day, that the addition of another companion had benefits and drawbacks. While Durc was glad they had another strong arm for hunting, he was frustrated when he realized how little distance they had covered that day. By adding a traveler on foot, they had lost a lot of the speed given them by the horses. He shrugged, there was nothing to be done about it now, the spirits had made their decision.
After setting up a quick camp, they all headed out in different directions in search of tonight's dinner. Latie searched the ground for fresh vegetables and greens, while keeping an eye out for tracks that would lead to meat. She collected wild carrots, wild onions, a few groundnuts and some fresh clover for greens. She bent over to grab another handful of the clover when she noticed what looked like a fresh print in dirt. When she looked closer, her eyes opened wide and she started back to the camp at a dead run. She heard the scream long before she reached the clearing. Durc, too, heard the scream just as he let loose his spear. He was aiming at a roe deer hiding between the trees. The deer also heard the scream and tried to leap away, but the spear had already found its mark. Durc turned to run as well, but he was closer than Latie had been and they both reached the camp at the same time.
It only took a second to assess the situation and Durc leaped into action. He shouted a curt command and stood directly in front of the terrified young man. Darvalo's eyes opened even wider when he saw this and then he squeezed them shut quickly. He did not want to see his own death or the death of his new friend. When he realized that he was not dead and everything had fallen silent, he opened his eyes once again. The sight before him rendered speechless. He tried to speak, but the only sound he made was a high pitched squeal. Latie laughed and Durc turned to look at the young man. He saw the lingering terror and absolute shock and tried to hide his own smile.
"I'm so sorry, we should have warned you. Darvalo, meet Baby."