Chapter 10
A Distant Fire
"Wake up! Jondalar, for the love on Donii, wake up!"
The man shifted in his sleep and turned over but did not wake up. Thonolan turned frantically to the slumbering woman.
"Ayla, you must wake up, please!" Thonolan then tried to get both their attentions at once.
"What am I doing, they can't even hear me!" He looked over and spotted the sputtering fire. A gust came through the cave and blew out the last embers. "Mother, do something, please!"
A hollow breeze blew eastward outside gaining in intensity as it passed. "It's not their time yet."
Running to the mouth of the cave, he watched the evidence of the wind passing through. It had grown and whisked quickly toward the fire to blow it away from the valley.
"Fire will not harm my place of refuge. You only had to ask," the voice chided
Peace settled upon him, Donii will protect them, he thought to himself. Tired and weary from all the incidents he'd recently endured, he eased himself down against the outer wall of the cave. Though sleep was not necessary, he sought the comfort it could give him.
Ayla woke up with a start. The cave was dark, but she could not make herself go back to sleep. She walked out and unknowingly passed through Thonolan. Standing nearby, she watched the night give way to the day. Curiously, her eyes were drawn to the eastern horizon and she shivered as the blood colored sun made its appearance.
"Must be a prairie fire to the east." Jondalar's voice startled Thonolan out of his sleep.
"Jondalar, Ayla, thank the Donii your up! You wouldn't believe what almost happened to your beautiful valley." He knew they couldn't hear him but he had to voice his thoughts, "and that man just reached out and started it and he said such malicious things about the clan, your clan Ayla. And Creb, he showed me what the clan was like, I was scared out of my wits, but I wouldn't trade that experience for anything. I can't believe I ever made fun of them. Did you really drink the forbidden liquid?"
"Of course she did, her memories told you."
Thonolan pivoted around at the sound of the voice.
"Malia, and Sela! I'm so glad you've come, it's like greeting old friends!" He held his hands out in greeting, a lopsided grin lighting his face.
"I'd hope we left on friendly terms." Malia held her palms up," I greet you Thonolan, servant of the great parent of all."
Sela came forward with a twinkle in her eye and also greeted him.
"What brought you here?" Thonolan asked looking at them curiously.
"Luthio is in good health, and is doing well," Malia answered, "we've come to see Vaelia. I've felt danger crossing her path."
Thonolan nodded, "yes, the fire. This evil veejia came and started the fire from his hands."
Grief passed over Malia's face. "Yes, we know about the fire, but danger still lays ahead."
"Mother, look how well Jondalar is doing! I think he has regained full use of his legs," Sela interjected.
All three turned and they watched the pair walking along the stream. Thonolan thought that she was right and that his brother looked healthier by the day.
"They seem to be adjusting well to each other," Sela added with a mischievous grin.
Comprehension dawned slowly on Thonolan, "wait, Ayla, or Vaelia, she's your daughter, and your sister?" he asked first indicated Malia and then Sela.
"And they said you thought with something other than your head," Malia responded dryly. "Her given name was Vahaelia, but the clan had trouble pronouncing it."
Of course, they looked so much alike, Thonolan thought to himself. Malia had the same long blonde hair with large intelligent gray eyes. She was a fascinatingly beautiful woman, slightly younger than his mother was. Sela also was uncommonly pretty, yet she was just budding on womanhood. Her blue eyes seemed to sparkle humor whenever he looked at her. He wondered briefly if she had experienced first rites.
"Thonolan, you're looking at me like I'm some ripe juicy berries," Sela said unabashedly.
Flushing, he turned his head aside. "Sorry, it's been a long time since..." his eyes clouded as he thought of Jetamio. A gentle hand rested on his shoulder.
"You are chosen on the mother's mission," Malia said softly, there will be many times when the sorrow seems too much, but your rewards will be greater. Your mate would not want you to go home until your mission was finished."
The clan, the spirit journey, the other veejia, and everything to do with adjusting to this new plain of being were taking their toll on him. At the mere gesture of her sympathy, he felt tears well up. "I've had so much sorrow, it's hard to imagine any reward as great."
"The mother's imagination is great enough for us all. Come, it's not seemly for such a chosen one to weep so."
Thonolan shook himself out of his reverie and squared his shoulders. "You're right of course. Malia, you are very wise, Luthio was a lucky man"
"He was, wasn't he? The mate he has now," she tapped her head with her forefinger, "I wonder if she's all there." A smile quirked her mouth, "but then, I don't think anyone is quite good enough for him"
"Oh mother, "Sela sighed, "you do too like her. She takes good care of him, you've said so."
Malia made a deep sound in her throat and turned to her daughter, "did you want to come with on Ayla's hunt, or stay with Thonolan?"
"I'd be remiss if I didn't come, even though Thonolan might be a fun diversion." She winked slyly at him, making him wonder if she hadn't broken many hearts already. "He can stay with Jondalar and the little one, while we women hunt," she giggled. Thonolan and Malia joined in her mirth.
They watched as Ayla readied Whinney for their trek attaching the pole drag to the mare's straps. Jondalar was watching her too.
"So that's how I got here! I've been wondering for a long time," Jondalar exclaimed, "I didn't' think you carried me here alone. I thought perhaps some other people found me and left me here with you.
"No...other people...I find...you...other man" Thonolan watched apprehensively as his brother's expression change.
"Did you have to leave him there? Couldn't' you have brought him, too?"
"Don't be such a fool brother!" Thonolan started to march over when Malia put her hand on his arm and shook her head.
"Man dead, Jondalar. You hurt. Much hurt." They watched as she stumbled with her words.
"If only she could speak better, perhaps..." Sela trailed off.
Malia nodded in agreement. "I think if she remembered our language structure, it would help. Misunderstandings between them now can cause a rift that may not be easy to overcome."
"I'm sorry, Ayla. I shouldn't have shouted at you like that, but Thonolan was my brother..." The word was almost a cry.
(VOH pp. 405-406)
Welcome Rubber Duck to the story!
A Distant Fire
"Wake up! Jondalar, for the love on Donii, wake up!"
The man shifted in his sleep and turned over but did not wake up. Thonolan turned frantically to the slumbering woman.
"Ayla, you must wake up, please!" Thonolan then tried to get both their attentions at once.
"What am I doing, they can't even hear me!" He looked over and spotted the sputtering fire. A gust came through the cave and blew out the last embers. "Mother, do something, please!"
A hollow breeze blew eastward outside gaining in intensity as it passed. "It's not their time yet."
Running to the mouth of the cave, he watched the evidence of the wind passing through. It had grown and whisked quickly toward the fire to blow it away from the valley.
"Fire will not harm my place of refuge. You only had to ask," the voice chided
Peace settled upon him, Donii will protect them, he thought to himself. Tired and weary from all the incidents he'd recently endured, he eased himself down against the outer wall of the cave. Though sleep was not necessary, he sought the comfort it could give him.
Ayla woke up with a start. The cave was dark, but she could not make herself go back to sleep. She walked out and unknowingly passed through Thonolan. Standing nearby, she watched the night give way to the day. Curiously, her eyes were drawn to the eastern horizon and she shivered as the blood colored sun made its appearance.
"Must be a prairie fire to the east." Jondalar's voice startled Thonolan out of his sleep.
"Jondalar, Ayla, thank the Donii your up! You wouldn't believe what almost happened to your beautiful valley." He knew they couldn't hear him but he had to voice his thoughts, "and that man just reached out and started it and he said such malicious things about the clan, your clan Ayla. And Creb, he showed me what the clan was like, I was scared out of my wits, but I wouldn't trade that experience for anything. I can't believe I ever made fun of them. Did you really drink the forbidden liquid?"
"Of course she did, her memories told you."
Thonolan pivoted around at the sound of the voice.
"Malia, and Sela! I'm so glad you've come, it's like greeting old friends!" He held his hands out in greeting, a lopsided grin lighting his face.
"I'd hope we left on friendly terms." Malia held her palms up," I greet you Thonolan, servant of the great parent of all."
Sela came forward with a twinkle in her eye and also greeted him.
"What brought you here?" Thonolan asked looking at them curiously.
"Luthio is in good health, and is doing well," Malia answered, "we've come to see Vaelia. I've felt danger crossing her path."
Thonolan nodded, "yes, the fire. This evil veejia came and started the fire from his hands."
Grief passed over Malia's face. "Yes, we know about the fire, but danger still lays ahead."
"Mother, look how well Jondalar is doing! I think he has regained full use of his legs," Sela interjected.
All three turned and they watched the pair walking along the stream. Thonolan thought that she was right and that his brother looked healthier by the day.
"They seem to be adjusting well to each other," Sela added with a mischievous grin.
Comprehension dawned slowly on Thonolan, "wait, Ayla, or Vaelia, she's your daughter, and your sister?" he asked first indicated Malia and then Sela.
"And they said you thought with something other than your head," Malia responded dryly. "Her given name was Vahaelia, but the clan had trouble pronouncing it."
Of course, they looked so much alike, Thonolan thought to himself. Malia had the same long blonde hair with large intelligent gray eyes. She was a fascinatingly beautiful woman, slightly younger than his mother was. Sela also was uncommonly pretty, yet she was just budding on womanhood. Her blue eyes seemed to sparkle humor whenever he looked at her. He wondered briefly if she had experienced first rites.
"Thonolan, you're looking at me like I'm some ripe juicy berries," Sela said unabashedly.
Flushing, he turned his head aside. "Sorry, it's been a long time since..." his eyes clouded as he thought of Jetamio. A gentle hand rested on his shoulder.
"You are chosen on the mother's mission," Malia said softly, there will be many times when the sorrow seems too much, but your rewards will be greater. Your mate would not want you to go home until your mission was finished."
The clan, the spirit journey, the other veejia, and everything to do with adjusting to this new plain of being were taking their toll on him. At the mere gesture of her sympathy, he felt tears well up. "I've had so much sorrow, it's hard to imagine any reward as great."
"The mother's imagination is great enough for us all. Come, it's not seemly for such a chosen one to weep so."
Thonolan shook himself out of his reverie and squared his shoulders. "You're right of course. Malia, you are very wise, Luthio was a lucky man"
"He was, wasn't he? The mate he has now," she tapped her head with her forefinger, "I wonder if she's all there." A smile quirked her mouth, "but then, I don't think anyone is quite good enough for him"
"Oh mother, "Sela sighed, "you do too like her. She takes good care of him, you've said so."
Malia made a deep sound in her throat and turned to her daughter, "did you want to come with on Ayla's hunt, or stay with Thonolan?"
"I'd be remiss if I didn't come, even though Thonolan might be a fun diversion." She winked slyly at him, making him wonder if she hadn't broken many hearts already. "He can stay with Jondalar and the little one, while we women hunt," she giggled. Thonolan and Malia joined in her mirth.
They watched as Ayla readied Whinney for their trek attaching the pole drag to the mare's straps. Jondalar was watching her too.
"So that's how I got here! I've been wondering for a long time," Jondalar exclaimed, "I didn't' think you carried me here alone. I thought perhaps some other people found me and left me here with you.
"No...other people...I find...you...other man" Thonolan watched apprehensively as his brother's expression change.
"Did you have to leave him there? Couldn't' you have brought him, too?"
"Don't be such a fool brother!" Thonolan started to march over when Malia put her hand on his arm and shook her head.
"Man dead, Jondalar. You hurt. Much hurt." They watched as she stumbled with her words.
"If only she could speak better, perhaps..." Sela trailed off.
Malia nodded in agreement. "I think if she remembered our language structure, it would help. Misunderstandings between them now can cause a rift that may not be easy to overcome."
"I'm sorry, Ayla. I shouldn't have shouted at you like that, but Thonolan was my brother..." The word was almost a cry.
(VOH pp. 405-406)
Welcome Rubber Duck to the story!