She traveled north for a long time, looking for people like herself. "Iza said they lived in this area. But what would she know, she's never been here!"

Frustration and hunger ate at her while the endless wind and loess assaulted her senses. Suddenly, a figure on horseback came galloping toward her. Startled at the strange apparition, she hid behind a rock.

"I'm Danug Waterwalker, here to rescue you princess Ayla!" The man jumped down and gestured for her to come with him.

"Who says I need rescuing?" Ayla demanded of the tall good looking man.

"The Flatheads are conspiring to take over the Pleistocene era. And you're a prime target. Let's go before they get their light sabers and come after us!"

"Life Savers? Why should we be afraid of candy?"

"LIGHT SABERS!" he shouted in impatience.

Thinking that this man may need a healer for his head, she reluctantly went with him, bundling the cub in a fold of her cloak. A few miles away, they stopped the horse and Danug let out a long whistle. Suddenly, a happy yelping errupted as a very large wolf emerged from cover. Ayla's eyes widened when she saw another man follow the Wolf.

"Ayla, meet Jon Solo," Danug stated. The man winked slyly at her giving her a roguish impression that set her heart fluttering. He quickly mounted his own horse and they set off toward the east.

While admiring Jon's handsome shoulders and wild hair, she noticed him stiffen suddenly. Glancing at Danug , she noticed he was tense also. Wolf's ears were pricked up and listening.

"Flathead bogies on our tail," Jon said flatly.

"I saw them." Quickly, Danug pulled out a large ugly tube like thing. From somewhere else he produced a root; a potato, to be exact.

The flatheads rushed on them suddenly; grunting and voicing strange war like sounds. Danug and Jon were ready. Quickly loading their launchers, they fired.

Thunk! Thunk! The potatoes flew and hit the first man in the chest. He gasped hard and fell to his knees, out of commission for awhile. In retaliation, large rocks were thrown at them.

"Great, you give them vegetables and they give you rocks!" Ayla retorted angrily. "Some rescue. Follow me, cowboys!" Her hand was already emerging from a fold and came out swinging.

Thunk! Thunk! This time small stones hit the flatheads in a more effective manner. Having had enough of rocks and vegetables battering them, the men stopped their pursuit as the odd trio galloped away.

When they were at a safe distance, Danug grinned at her. "That was great! We showed them."

"It was too easy," Ayla mused. "They let us get away."

"Too easy?" Jon exclaimed, rubbing a huge bruise on his forehead. "That wasn't easy, sister. Besides, why would the let us get away?"

Triumphantly Ayla revealed her lion bundle and turned him belly up to them. "Because this baby has the recipe for their sacred root juice tattooed to his belly. They don't want any of the Others to use it."

"Great," Jon muttered. "We're protecting Sacred Root Beer."