Losaduna decided it was best to keep their departure quiet since the idea of Madenia leaving with them was vehemently objected. Though there were plenty of voices speaking out, none could match the volume or sharpness as Verdegia. As long as she was alive, there would be no way a daughter of hers would follow around people who drew evil to them.
Losaduna, as well as Laduni and Solandia, as leaders of the cave had all agreed that Madenia was a grown woman and needed to make her own decisions. It would also perhaps give her the fresh start she was looking for. It was well known that as long as she was with the Losandunai she would never be accepted fully. Charoli had taken something that she couldn't regain.
Madenia quietly made her way through the cave, a fairly good sized pack over her shoulder.
"I'll take that for you," Laduni whispered and smiled down at the young woman. Madenia smiled up at him, tears held in check. Losaduna came forward and placed his arm around her shoulder pulling her to him. After giving her a heartfelt hug, he studied her face.
"You're sure about your decision?"
Madenia nodded. "I finally feel alive again. I can't explain it, but I knoweverything will be fine now."
Losaduna nodded and smiled. As a spirit leader of the cave, he had to make sure that all the members of the cave understood, and thought through, important decisions. Over the past two days he'd spoken with Madenia extensively making sure she'd thought everything through.
Jondalar turned to go when he saw Filonia come up to him. He smiled at the woman who was responsible for bringing a piece of Thonolin's spirit to this world. Thonolia was with her, and the little girl, well, not so little any longer, he thought, was clinging to her mother's side.
"I'm going to miss you Jondalar. I wish we could go with you so Marthona could see Thonolia. I'm sure that would make her feel better."
"I know. When I told her that a piece of his spirit was still on this world, she couldn't have been happier. Perhaps one day you can come on a trading expedition and introduce them." Jondalar then stooped down beside the fair haired child. "Or maybe when you're old enough you'll want to make that journey on your own." The girl moved forward and hugged the man tightly before her mother picked her up and carried her back to the visitors hearth.
Lanalia approached him next and smiled coyly. She had been really taken by him when he'd first visited with his brother, and more than one part of her wished that he would have stayed and mated with her. She never did end up mating and after years of hoping, gave up on the Mother blessing her.
She thought of the conversation Ayla had with her before, and thought perhaps she'd give it a try. After all, Ayla did possess many different gifts and was indeed a chosen of Duna. One morning they had waken earlier than most of the cave, and they shared a cup of tea together. Lanalia prepared her tea as she always did, rose hips, golden thread, and mint. Somehow their conversation turned to children and Lanalia had confided in Ayla that she always wanted children, but the Mother never blessed her. Ayla then said something strange. She told her to stop drinking her normal tea, and share pleasures as often as possible. Lanalia knew that those who honored the Mother were more likely to be blessed, but the tea? That was something she hadn't heard before. Ayla had given her a pouch with a different blend, and told her how to prepare it. She still didn't believe Ayla when she said it wasn't too late for her to be blessed, and told her to not use golden thread. Ayla was so confident that she'd be blessed Lanalia decided to try it. Yesterday was the first morning that she hadn't drank her tea. Pulling herself back to the present.
"Again you're leaving." She stated and Jondalar leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.
"It seems so." He quietly whispered.
She hugged him tightly and then walked quickly back to her hearth. She had already said her good-byes to the others, and it would do none of them any good for her to start crying.
Ayla looked around at the closed hearths and sighed. She didn't want to leave this way. She had really come to love these people and the last thing she wanted was to sneak out in the middle of the night. She felt that leaving this way gave ammunition to those who had spoken against them. She would truly miss a lot of the friends they'd made here, and hoped that one day they could return to visit.
It was time she, no they, returned home now. If she had listened to the spirits to begin with, then perhaps the last two years of traveling without a cave of their own would never have happened.
Though Ayla was worried about her baby, and giving birth without shelter, she knew that they had to go. Her spirit guides were waiting for her at the 9th cave of the Zelandonii, and she, Ayla of the Lion Camp of the Mamutoi, Chosen by the Cave Lion, Protected by the Cave Bear, and Daughter of the Mammoth hearth, would not let them down again.
CONTINUED IN "DANCE WITH THE WIND"