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Chapter 8

Spirit Journey

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Thonolan felt as if his veeja was being grafted into a community of people that formed one mind. The mind branched out and became one unit, one body that set feet on solid ground. The strong heavy body walked across and surveyed the earth given to his care. Another taller more upright being walked beside and gradually curved its path away. Thonolan walked one path, and yet both at the same time. Something inside him cried out as the distance between the two increased.

The joining of the mog-ur minds slowly began to separate from him, except for one; Creb. They traveled north and circled the familiar valley. Creb focused on the woman as she swam with sure strokes in the river. He spotted Jondalar near the mouth of the cave. Thonolan was pleased to see that his brother would regain his full health.

Swiftly, they changed directions and headed south toward the great sea. The panorama beneath him blurred then re-focused as they slowed near an odd looking cave. Instead of circling, they entered the mouth and headed toward the large hearth.

This cave was made by men, made with bones and hides! He realized with a start.

"Mamut!"

Creb's voice echoed through his consciousness. Thonolan looked down and saw an old man with a chevron tattoo on his cheek sitting by a fire. He saw the man's head snapped up and look straight at them.

"Creb," the man whispered in awe.

As quickly as they entered they left, a sound of drumming thrummed in his ears. The terrain beneath passed more quickly. Thonolan was not aware that he was now the guide and Creb the follower.

Westward...faster...they swept along the Great Mother River until it was but a thread below. Briefly he viewed his birthplace yet they kept moving. Farther up and further on and Creb kept pace, unlimited by his mortal brain. People grew as grass on the plains, building living boxes. Giant birds thundered across the sky as the whole panorama of the human world sped its pace. The noise, the lights and the speed were too much for his mind to conceive.

"Nooooo!"

Frantically, he rushed back, farther and lower until he saw himself lying awkwardly on the floor of the cave. He was shoved from behind into his veeja, at once feeling heavy and confined. His eyes opened and in his terror, he jumped up on long straight legs. If any mog-urs were near, he far outdistanced them. He raced across the steppes as if he could escape the strange visions he had witnessed.

"Weave them together," the voice echoed from behind.