Next chapter of my fic. I have a lot of ideas for this, so am trying to type them all out before I forget. This chapter was actually the idea that led me to writing this. This is my favorite book series, with Harry Potter a very close second, then LOTR. :P

I'm not sure how many chapters I will get out of this, but I do have at least 6 or 7 ideas. Feel free to chime in if you've every had an idea about something differently happening in this story. Let me know as well if I should do this with the entire series or just the first book.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

What if Ayla...?

There were shocked gasps as the girl's totem was announced. It was too strong, no female ever had the strongest of cats as a totem, it was unusual. Brun spared a glance at Broud, half expecting anger, or or shock at the very least.

Broud stood still however and gazed at the girl, not in anger, but strange curiosity, though he himself had expected to be annoyed at the very least. The girl had far out shadowed him, he who had secured this beautiful cave for his clan, he who had taken his mark without wincing, and yet...he felt not anger, but a strange appreciation as he thought on everything leading up to this moment, and cast a new strange glance at Ayla.

She was...perhaps like a sign from one's totem, no he thought, a sign from his totem.

Broud watched the shocked looks she received from the watching clan, before turning a curious glance to Brun, satisfied to see a look of shock grazing the leader's face as well, seeming to mirror his own.

But a cave lion...Perhaps the good luck she seemed to bring with her steamed from her own totem.

It was several years later now, and like most Broud had slowly become used to Ayla's idiosyncrasies, and had even taken the time to aid in the young girl of the others to learn the signs used by the clan, and stop making the strange sounds she used to make quite frequently. To the Clan, and him those sounds were nonsense, had no meaning, and were not associated with any kind of communication. It only seemed as if she were not brought up well.

It was quite often Creb and Broud seen working with the strange girl, and Brun thought he was taking far too much of an interest in the girl then most men would. Broud had his own mate in Oga, and Ayla was of Creb's hearth, so his to teach the ways of the clan. Brun did not interfere however, Broud had always had a temper, suitable for the woolly rhinoceros who was his totem, and learning to control it was a logical step towards being leader one day.

Ayla, bring water Broud motioned as he spoke with the other men.

Ayla rushed to get water for the man she secretly admired. When she had first learned to speak properly she had thought the son of the leader hated her, and yet he was kinder to her then most of the women, aside from Oga, her first and only close friend in the clan. The man who seemed close to anger quite often helped her to behave within the Clan's hierarchy.

After seeing Broud's interest in the girl, Oga had been confused and worried, but when their relationship came across as nothing more then mild interest, Oga resumed her strange friendship with the outsider. Ayla was often allowed into the man's hearth and she and Oga often ate together, causing Oga to wonder when Ayla came of age if she would be taken as a second women. Oga would not have minded having Ayla as second mate to her mate.

Ayla returned with a birch bark cup and a waterskin, quickly pouring water for the future leader of their clan, carefully keeping her head bowed as she did so, only moving a short distance away to continue her work on a small basket at his grunt of acknowledgment.

Brun had noticed Broud's calm acceptance of the strange girl of the others, so had Creb, but it was Creb who noticed a new bulge in Broud's amulet, and only he who guessed the reason for his continued nearness to the girl. He must have found some sign from his totem, if not for Oga, Creb would have thought the future leader may even take Ayla as a mate, once she became a woman that is, even as ugly as he knew she was going to be. It was still possible Ayla could be second woman to Oga, and the two women got along well, so it was possible.

Broud knew Ayla watched him from where she sat, though the young girl tried to hide her admiration of the older man. Broud really was not interested in so ugly a girl, a girl he knew would one day become an ugly woman, yet it was her devoted admiration he found himself attracted to. Broud had always loved being the center of attention, loved seeing the looks of awe other directed his way after a successful hunt or some other brave effort on his part. Ayla showing such obvious admiration only served to inflate his already inflated ego, and the man found himself showing the girl more attention then he would otherwise.

One late summer day it was announced they would be hunting Mammoth. Broud tried to act the part of a confident hunter, and not show the nervousness he felt, but Ayla sensing this tried to be even more attentive to Broud, at one point Broud even pushing her away. Go help the other women Ayla, he motioned. I am busy planning for the Mammoth hunt.

Mother? Ayla motioned to Iza as she entered Creb's hearth. Do you think I will be selected as one of the women to go with the men for the Mammoth hunt, oh Mother I hope I can go help Broud and the other's.

You know more then I child, Iza motioned in return. If you are needed you will be asked. You may be the size of a woman, but you are not yet one.

Ayla had been chosen to go, along with Oga and a few other women. Broud had asked for her as well as Zoug and Dorv, all stating the girl was a hard and devoted worker who would not be in their way. Ayla had gone then and upon their successful return the Cave many were surprised at the somber atmosphere at the men's return. The hunt had been successful, the men had killed a Mammoth, and yet why was the atmosphere so desolate?

Then men not bothering to answer u their looks of curiosity simply went into the cave, and Ayla to Creb's hearth, where she was later told by Brun her fate would be decided the next day. Broud was..uneasy. It shocked him the girl would even pick up a sling, let alone she'd been using it all of the previous year, he too knew she had seen him lose his temper in the field, and the effect stung his pride.

Broud too knew the consequences of her using a weapon, it had been ingrained in him since he was a young boy. For the act of saving the son of his mate Ayla would have to die.

Broud was filled with conflicting emotions as he and the rest of the men were summoned by Brun to a meeting in the practice field, far from the cave and out of the women's sight. He was angry Ayla had witnessed his transgressions against another man, more so at the thought of her seeing him scolded like a mere child, yet there was more. When a hunter saved the life of another hunter obligation was carried to return the same in form, if not essence.

Ayla was owed her life.

There was more to the situation however then just debt to Broud, he truly viewed the girl as some gift from his totem. If Ayla were a gift to him from the great Woolly Rhino, why then would she be destined to die.

Broud, the leader motioned breaking him from his thoughts. I asked for a vote about the girl, if she should be allowed to live or to die.

Broud jerked his fist to his chest and awaited his turn, and when Brun asked him he felt a almost knee jerk reaction to vote the girl to death, and yet almost not of his own accord he felt his fist slide across his chest, the other men turning to stare in his direction, and Broud quickly motioned a reply. I am not certain I am fit for this meeting, and yet how can I condemn the girl who saved Brac's life? I owe her a debt, and not just for the life of my son Brun, but more. He could not express his thoughts further on the matter, and for him it was even more difficult to understand as well.

Several other men, Crug and Droog as well, influenced by Broud's decision on the matter jerked their own hands across their chests as well.

Brun knew the decision had always been up to him in the end, but Broud's answer did surprise him. He did not miss the look of anger flit across Broud's face at the thought of Ayla witnessing the scene at the field, and had been certain he would vote for the girl to die. He had in face been certain the son of his mate would vote that way, but something had changed in him, and for this Brun was glad. To Brun, Broud was taking more responsibility for the well being of the clan, putting their needs over his own and he felt his heart swell at the thought of what a fine leader he would make. Perhaps he should announce Broud's leadership after the matter of Ayla had been resolved.

I only wanted your thoughts on the matter the decision has always been mine, but you have given me much to think on Brun motioned as the men stood to leave. The men had voted almost entirely no on the decision to curse Ayla, and now Brun only needed to sort his own thoughts before coming up with a decision.

Ayla stumbled forth at Brun's feet, immediately lowering herself down the the position proper for women seeking audience with a man, and looked up at a tap on her shoulder.

Ayla, though you are of the other's, you are Clan now, and must behave as a woman of the Clan should Brun begin slowly. You have used a weapon, a sling, and a punishment is in order, a punishment that satisfies the wishes of our totems. Ayla, I have spoken with Mogur on this matter...you will come with us to the clan gathering and not speak on this matter, you will also not be allowed to use or even touch a sling until after. Once the clan gathering this summer is over we will speak on the matter of you being allowed to hunt. This is all.

Ayla sat in shocked silence, even after Brun had left, and many hands flew in rapt motion at Brun's decision regarding the girl, but one man did more then that, Broud stared at the girl a long time before returning to his own hearth. No, he changed his mind and left for Brun's instead.

Brun, I wish to speak to you about taking Ayla as second woman to my hearth.

Years after Ayla strained to have Broud's son, the boy being deformed but being allowed to live, and soon after a daughter who she began to train as a medicine woman her own way. She soon forgot about the Other's and lived long within the clan, through many generations and Broud's clan increased in number as they we're joined by another smaller clan, and Durc's promised mate as well. Broud protected and cared for Ayla as he did his first mate, but both succumbed to illness and death long before Ayla came close to dying and shortly before Ayla has found someone, lying injured as she once had...a man of the other's...he had hair the same shade as her's and piercing blue eyes.