Standard Disclaimer: I do not own the Earth's Children series, I am only inspired by it.
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The next five years passed uneventfully for the Zarnadonii. Lion Cave continued to grow, as more children were born. Willomar made a few trading trips with Bologan, but was beginning to feel his years. He thought about stopping his travels, until Folara suggested that he learn to ride the horses. That helped, although even then, he wasn't able to travel as far as quickly as in his younger days. But even so, Bologan valued the old trade master's advice and often sought his counsel before making a trip. Logani, who from a young age showed an interest in trading, also enjoyed speaking with Willomar and hearing the tales of his days as trade master of the Ninth Cave of the Zelandonii. Bologan chose to avoid trading with the Zelandonii, however, fearing to be caught up in the internal strife suffered by them.
Each spring, Una and Narg came to visit and trade with the Lion Cave, at first accompanied by Mog-Ur, who admitted to some curiosity about the Others. But after the first three years, they came as a mated couple. And each fall, Dalzarna and Logani traveled with Echozar, Bologan, and Madenia to visit and trade with Crun's clan. Una and Dalzarna remained close, despite the fact that Una became a woman and was mated in her ninth year while Dalzarna still had the straight build of a child. Dalzarna was pleased to be with her friend when Una gave birth to her first child, a boy called Brun. And Una was thrilled to be visiting Lion Cave when Dalzarna had her First Moon ceremony in preparation for First Rites. With Narg's permission, she asked Lanidar to teach her the chant used during the ceremony so that she could participate. Narg himself slipped away from the cave during the actual ceremony, though. He was uncomfortable enough with the notion that a woman didn't have to keep herself in isolation when her totem battled; he just couldn't bring himself to participate in a ceremony celebrating it. It made him nervous.
Latie led Dalzarna, dressed in her finest clothes and carrying an old doll, to the central hearth area where everyone waited. "She walks in beauty, she walks in the sun," the assembled people chanted as the pair approached, "she walks in the moonlight, with the Mother she is one."
"What bring you here?" Lanidar asked in his capacity as Zarnadoni.
"I bring a girl, to be born into womanhood," Latie replied.
"Girl, has Doni made you ready to accept the joys and burdens of a woman?" Lanidar now questioned Dalzarna directly as Latie stepped back into the crowd.
"Yes, Zarnadoni. The Mother has made me ready," Dalzarna answered steadily.
"And will you show your willingness to leave your childhood behind?"
"I will," she said. She placed the doll carefully into the fire and stepped back. "My childhood is over. I happily accept my womanhood."
"Then be reborn, child to woman, in the Mother's love," said Lanidar as he smeared red ocher paste on her cheeks.
All of the adult women except for Verdegia, Marala, and Bethona lined up behind one another, standing with their legs spread. Lanidar led Dalzarna to the back of the line and gently pushed her to her hands and knees, making her crawl though the tunnel of legs. The three old women helped her to stand when she reached the front of the line. "The woman is born!" they cried as she got to her feet.
Lanidar appeared back at Dalzarna's side. "Doni has given you the Gift of Life. Some say that is Her greatest gift of all. But as with all gifts, it does not come without responsibility. You may not be alone with any man until after your First Rites. Once you have had your First Rites, Doni may choose to bless you. You will be the one responsible for any children you may have. You are the one who will teach them right from wrong. You are the one who must teach them to honor and love Her. In return, you will be honored and loved."
Everyone chanted again as Lanidar and Latie led Dalzarna three times around the hearth and the burning doll. Cheers broke out when they came to a halt and faced everyone. Lanoga, Madenia, and Folara began setting out a small feast, carefully selecting the choicest bits of everything for Dalzarna before serving everyone. Una discreetly slipped to the mouth of the cave and signaled to Narg that it was safe for him to come inside and eat.
Echozar looked proudly at the oldest daughter of his hearth, the child of his spirit. Objectively speaking, she wasn't the prettiest girl of the Zarnadonii. Her Clan heritage gave her somewhat stronger features than most. But she had her natural mother Joplaya's brilliant green eyes and his soft brown hair. And with her sunny personality, she made friends wherever she went. "Looking forward to your First Rites, Dalzarna?" he asked, "Do you have someone in mind?"
"Uhh, I'm looking forward to First Rites, yes," she replied with a blush, avoiding the second part of his question as people within earshot chuckled.
Dalzarna wasn't the only one. Lion Cave would be gaining several women at the Zarnadonii Summer Meeting this year. Lorala, Findala, Sharona, and Thorina all became physically mature over the winter. Dalzarna, at eleven years, was the youngest of the womanhood group, but she accepted the teasing from the others about her "impatience" with good grace. The five young women spent most of the feast in a giggling group, quietly discussing the men that they were considering inviting to their First Rites.
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Thorina, Sharona, Findala, Dalzarna and Lorala were out gathering cattail roots, with Bethona to watch over them. As was usual, they were discussing possible candidates for their First Rites. Because every tribe had a taboo against the participants in First Rites sharing Pleasures with each other for a year afterward, and because the Zarnadonii tribe was so small, the tradition developed that only mated men could be invited to share in a girl's First Rites. That way, the new women and any unmated men were free to enjoy each other's company and possibly consider joining.
The tradition had started when Drusilla of the Ptarmigan Hearth of Beaver Cave became ready for First Rites. She… and everyone else… realized that there were only two unmated men in all of the Zarnadonii at the time. And one of them was her brother, so he could not be considered. So she chose a mated man to share in her First Rites, eliminating the need to avoid the only unmated man for the next year. And as it turned out, he and Drusilla were Promised by the end of the Summer Meeting, and she was blessed by the time of the Matrimonial the following summer. More people had joined the Zarnadonii since then, but the tradition remained.
Sharona actually liked the tradition. She reasoned that a mated man would certainly have the experience to make First Rites pleasurable. She just hoped that no one else wanted her choice of men. The five girls of Lion Cave made up the largest womanhood group that the Zarnadonii had at one time. She thought about the girls of the other two caves as well as Lion Cave. She thought that next year's group would likely be as big, maybe even bigger. But that group wouldn't likely be all from one cave.
Lorala broke into Sharona's musings. "Have you decided who you want yet?" she asked.
Sharona giggled, "I'll tell you if you tell me who you picked first."
Lorala pouted and giggled, "No fair, I asked first! You tell me and then I'll tell you."
"Oh, all right," Sharona glanced around and lowered her voice. "I want Danug."
Lorala's eyes grew wide, "But aren't you scared because he's so big? What if he hurts you?"
"He doesn't seem to hurt Folara, and she's not much bigger than I am. I heard her call him her 'gentle giant' one time. Besides, I like his hair color," Sharona giggled.
Lorala giggled too. "Well, I'm picking Echozar."
"Echozar!" Now Sharona was the astonished one. "Any special reason?"
"Not really. He's just nice. Besides, Thorina wants Jerekal. It didn't seem fair to leave Echozar out in the cold," Lorala said with a grin. "Although I feel for Latie, stuck alone at camp with five children."
Both girls burst into giggles at that. Sharona wiped her eyes and said, "Yes, I can see where Latie must get a little overwhelmed sometimes. Although, it could be worse. At least the twins and Talunar are old enough to be helpful now. So, Thorina wants Jerekal, hmm? Do you know who Findala and Dalzarna plan to pick?"
"You could just ask us," Dalzarna's voice came from behind them. "I want Bologan myself."
"And I'm still deciding between Lanidar and Sulaman," Findala said.
Thorina decided to join the conversation, "You need to decide soon, Finda, we leave for the Summer Meeting in three days."
"I know, I know. I just wish I dared ask their mates outright what they're like in the furs," Findala sighed, causing a fresh outbreak of giggles from the others. "What?" she asked. "That would be the easiest way to decide."
"I suppose," Sharona giggled. "But I can just imagine the look on Allegra's face if you asked! And you know what, Lanoga would probably answer you!"
Lorala leered at Sharona. "Hey, I live at Lanidar's hearth, remember? He is mated to my sister. And if the sounds I hear from their sleeping space are any indication, he'd be a good choice."
"Yes, well, I wouldn't know," retorted Sharona. "He's my brother, remember? So his skill in the furs is not something I've ever been especially curious about."
"I never said I was especially curious either," Lorala said. "Just that I can't always shut my ears."
"Well, maybe I will pick Lanidar then, if he's that good," Findala said.
Everyone was giggling when Bethona called them to head back to the cave with their cattail roots. The next two days were spent in making traveling food and packing for the Summer Meeting. On the third day, they set out for the chosen camp location.
Once everyone arrived at the Summer Meeting, the five girls who were to become women were given their own tent off to one side of the camp. Danila, Zarnadoni of the Beaver Cave, was in charge of their seclusion and the lessons they would learn while they were kept apart. Danila reassured them that there was nothing to fear in their First Rites; that while there might be some slight pain and bleeding, that wasn't always the case. She also told them how they might tell if they were blessed, as Doni could choose to give them a child once their First Rites were completed.
The girls, under Danila's supervision, set up partitions within the tent, that each couple would have a semblance of privacy on the night of the ceremony. There would, of course, be watchers, to make sure that no man was unduly rough and that each girl indeed was opened, but they would be discreetly hidden behind screens. Two days before the ceremony, the girls fasted all day, then Danila gave them a dream-enhancing tea and drummed as they fell asleep. They were instructed to pay close attention to their dreams, and in the morning, each girl would decorate her space with symbols and items of personal significance.
Lorala dreamed of the woman she knew as her mother, the late Zelandoni of the Ninth Cave. Her mother's spirit didn't try to communicate in words, but Lorala felt that Zelandoni was happy that she was becoming a woman. And that Zelandoni was happy that Lorala herself was happy with her life. Zelandoni pointed, and Lorala turned to look. She saw herself and Dalzarna, each holding a baby, while a man with his features in shadow bargained with Narg as Una interpreted. Lorala turned back to her mother with a questioning look, but Zelandoni laid a finger to her lips and began to fade from sight. When she vanished completely, Lorala saw two golden eagle feathers where she had been standing. The feathers were arranged in a V, with one of the branches touching a lion's paw print, the other touching an otter's print.
Dalzarna dreamed of animals. An otter pup and a lion cub played happily together while their mothers watched. Nearby, a golden eagle chatted with a family of bears. When she awoke, she lay quietly for a time thinking about her dream. She wasn't sure what it meant, and wished she could speak of it to someone, but Danila had told them that the dreams that night would be personal messages from Doni, and were not to be discussed. She quietly got up and used the night basket, then helped herself to a cup of tea and some food that Danila's acolyte Willona had ready. Once she had eaten, she took a few feather brushes and some paint back to her space and began decorating her walls with eagles, lions, and otters. She didn't notice that Lorala was using the same motifs.
Danila noticed, but since none of the girls had spoken to each other that morning, she didn't say anything. After all, Doni could very well have used the same symbols to communicate with both girls. She walked around the tent, noting the designs going up on all of the walls. Sharona painted water symbols and bulls on her walls. Thorina used the paw prints of some kind of cat and squares. Findala also had bulls, but with some sort of plump birds and circles as well. Danila had to hide a grin at some of the artistic renderings, as the girls were definitely not all talented in drawing. But these drawings were a record of private communication with Doni. Accurate rendering was not as important. Not like the ceremonial cave paintings, which called upon the Spirit Creatures for ceremonies.
By dusk, all the girls were finished decorating their spaces. They ate their evening meal quietly, not in the mood for the giggles and chatter that had marked most meals until now. The eminent change from child to woman had them all in an introspective mood. Come morning, they would begin a day of purification rituals, which would culminate in First Rites.
Nervousness had the girls taking refuge in giggles again in the morning when they began their purification rituals. Since the purification started with bathing, they got into a few splashing matches, but Danila wisely allowed them to release their tensions with silliness. They settled down once the bathing was over, and helped each other to dress and fix their hair attractively. Then they went to their spaces. Each girl's mother (sister, in Lorala's case) came in and gave her daughter a donii of her own, along with her personal blessing and the words, "May you know only joy." Then the mothers departed again, leaving the girls to await their chosen partners.
The men selected for the ceremony had also spent the day in purification rituals. Jerekal had been chosen before, and Danug had taken part in First Rites at the Mamutoi Summer Meeting the year before he made his Journey west, but it was the first time that Bologan, Lanidar and Echozar had been chosen. Lanidar covered his nerves by joking about how convenient it was that he was taking part in First Rites, as he had to conduct the purification rituals anyway. As the sun set, Lanidar led the way into the womanhood tent. Each girl was standing in the doorway of her space, softly silhouetted by the lamp burning before the donii by her bed. Each girl reached out a hand to her chosen partner, drawing him into her private space.
Bologan faced Dalzarna with a smile. He knew she had to be more nervous than he was. After all, he was there to teach her about Pleasures, not the other way around. He was determined to make it good for her, though. The half-formed thought flitted through his mind, that if he could give this girl Pleasures as he made her a woman, it would finally erase his worry that he might turn out to be like Laramar after all. But he pushed all thought aside as he tipped Dalzarna's face up and gave her a gentle kiss. Her lips softened under his as he lifted her up and laid her down on her bed. He joined her there and began to kiss her again. There was no rush, he thought, they had the whole night. He'd make sure she wasn't afraid at all. And she wasn't.
Echozar still couldn't believe that he had been chosen. He thought that Lorala looked beautiful, with her chestnut hair and gray eyes so like her sister's. He was amazed that she wanted him. She smiled at him and offered him a cup. He sipped the wine cautiously, not wanting to become intoxicated. He gently caressed her cheek and brushed back a stray lock of hair. She kissed the palm of his hand as he stroked her hair, then looked frightened by her own boldness. He smiled and kissed her, moving from her mouth to her earlobe. She gasped softly as he drew her down onto the bed. Lorala felt desire rising up within her, fueled by Echozar's obvious admiration. She responded to his every kiss and caress, instinctively knowing that he would be gentle with her. And he was.
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The Summer Meeting was in full swing. Jerekal, Torolan, and Corridan were discussing the possibilities for a fourth Cave. Crane Cave was the only one with any unclaimed hearths, and there were only two at that, as there was a couple about to be mated who had already claimed the third. With five new women plus a few other unmated people of both genders, it was unlikely that those hearths would be open beyond the next Summer Meeting. But Jerekal was determined that no Cave should have more than twelve family hearths. Any larger, he felt, made it far too easy for people to grow lazy and stop contributing. The three men decided to scout for caves in the area before returning to their homes for the fall. Torolan located a good one just upstream of the delta where the river met the Great Waters. There would be good hunting and fishing in the area, and like Lion Cave, this cave contained a freshwater spring in the back.
When Jerekal spoke of the plans to expand, Peridal exchanged a glance with Janida and volunteered to move to the new cave. Lorimar and Nogala, Parnelor and Morgana, and Sulaman and Allegra all chose to leave Lion Cave for the new cave. A few families from Crane Cave and a few from Beaver Cave also volunteered to move. The families of the new cave almost unanimously chose Peridal as their leader. In fact, the only dissenting vote was Peridal himself. He accepted the position and promptly organized a party of builders to put up the basic shelters that the people of Magpie Cave would need. Jerekal was relieved that people were willing to move to the new cave. Now all four caves had three or four hearths available. Even if all of the unmated people mated and established hearths next Summer Meeting, there would still be a couple of hearths free.
Jerekal joined Latie and Echozar at their camp after the meeting. He absently accepted a cup of tea, and sat staring into the fire.
"What's wrong?" Latie asked.
"Oh… I'm just worried about when we'll have to form a fifth cave," Jerekal replied. "You know I want the Zarnadonii caves to stay small, to help avoid problems with people such as Laramar and Tremeda. You know, the woman who gave birth to Bologan and Lanoga, and her mate… you both know the story. But with the children growing up, we're running out of hearths. And I can only see it getting worse for a while."
"So, maybe you should rethink the size of the caves," Echozar said.
Latie nodded. "I know that the stories Danug and I tell of the Mamutoi are part of why you want to keep the Zarnadonii caves small. But really, to us, the Zarnadonii caves are huge. Lion Cave has more than double the family hearths of Lion Camp. Why not make it three times as many? The only other solution, as you already said, is to start thinking about a fifth cave now."
Jerekal sighed. "I have thought about adding more hearths," he said. "But I really don't want to. If anything, I'd prefer fewer hearths per cave. I just have this feeling that something will go horribly wrong if I let the caves grow any bigger than they are now."
"Well, if that is the case, know that I'm behind your choice," Echozar said. He grinned. "I have a wonderful life here, a beautiful mate, a true friend as a co-mate, and six children at the hearth besides. I'd sure hate to have something go horribly wrong."
Jerekal laughed in spite of himself. "And how much longer do you think there will be six at the hearth? Dalzarna is a woman now, after all, she might just decide to mate and move to another cave."
"Doni forbid!" Echozar gasped, hands melodramatically clasped against his chest. Then he grinned. "Well, not quite forbid. I certainly hope that she finds a good man that cares for her the way we care for Latie. But I also hope that she's one that chooses to stay with Lion Cave after she mates!"
The three chuckled as the conversation moved on to lighter subjects.
The Summer Meeting ended and fall came. Bologan had arranged for a trading trip to the northern tribes, so Logani and Willomar, along with Dalzarna made the annual trading trip to Crun's clan. Una and Dalzarna spent most of the time telling of everything that had happened since the spring. It was a Clan Gathering year, and Narg had won the honor of being first chosen for the Cave Bear ceremony. Crun's clan was now first as well. Narg had been wounded by the bear, but survived with a slight limp and a deformity in his left leg. He could now claim Ursus as his personal totem in addition to the Musk-Ox. Additionally, Una was pregnant again. She confided to Dalzarna that she was hoping for another son, because Narg promised that she could choose the name for the next boy she had.
Dalzarna knew that it was unusual for a Clan woman to be allowed to suggest a name for a child; that was her mate's prerogative. She smiled. "What will you name him, if it is a boy?"
"Zar," Una replied. "For the man of your hearth."
Dalzarna was pleased and astonished. "Oh, I hope you have a boy as well! He will be so pleased that you would honor him so!"
"It is a small thing," Una said. "But it is the best way I can show how grateful I am for all that he did to help me learn. Without his help… and yours… I would not know how to speak like the Others, and I would not have such a high-status mate." She leaned forward and lowered her voice a bit. "Even if I have a girl, I will ask Narg to allow me to suggest a name. I will suggest Zarna if he permits it. For you."
Dalzarna had to wipe away tears as she hugged her friend.
Lorala was glad when the trade expeditions returned. She and Dalzarna had become close while in seclusion together. Additionally, Findala and Sharona seemed to be too busy flirting with Trelunar of the Bison Hearth to bother with anyone else. And Thorina, a talented carver, was spending the winter with Beaver Cave to learn some new methods. Once Dalzarna was back, the two young women spent much of the time working together, gathering food, as well as plants for dyeing and perfuming. Lorala had taken over most of the soapmaking as Lanoga's other responsibilities increased. Now she set herself up a work space near Dalzarna's loom, where they could talk while they worked at their own specialized tasks. Both Lorala and Dalzarna were recognized as experts in what they did. Folara readily admitted that Dalzarna's talent at weaving far outstripped her own. And while several people could make soft soap, Lanoga was the only other person among the Zarnadonii who could scent the soap and make it into cakes.
Winter set in, with the usual flurry of hunts just after the first hard freeze. This year, two separate Winter Festivals were held; one between Lion Cave and Beaver Cave, the other between Magpie Cave and Crane Cave. Rebeka of the Squirrel Hearth had her First Moon ceremony at the Winter Festival, as did Jessina of the Trout Hearth of Beaver Cave. Thorina announced her Promise to Valeron of the Ptarmigan Hearth of Crane Cave. And Findala and Sharona announced their co-Promise to Trelunar. Dalzarna and Lorala were happy for their friends, but wondered if they would find someone compatible. Neither of them had been especially impressed by the young men they had met at the last Summer Meeting.
Life settled into a quiet routine after the Winter Festival. Lorala asked for Dalzarna's help with an experiment with her soap. She wanted to make it look pretty as well as smell nice. Dalzarna knew what plants made good dyes, but they also had to find ones that would color the soap but not whatever the soap was being used on. After some trial and error, they hit upon a method that worked and turned the soap a nice cheerful yellow. Lorala looked forward to the higher value the colorful soap cakes would have once the weather broke and trading started again.
As spring arrived, people grew restless. There wasn't yet much to gather, but Lorala and Dalzarna occasionally went out on forays just to get out of the cave for a while. They were up on top of the cliff digging clover roots when they were startled by an unfamiliar voice calling out, "Heyyoo!"
They turned to see a sturdy-looking bearded figure, hooded against the early spring chill, striding toward them from the northeast.
