Chapter 15
For Luck
~~~~~~~~~~
"Your brother is foolish," a voice whispered.
Thonolan was startled out of his musings at the sound of the Mother's voice. "I know that," he said, "what did he do now?"
"Mend the threads," the voice whispered. The wind whisked around him then faded away.
Thonolan reluctantly got up and headed back toward the valley. As he neared, he heard the faint sound of heart wrenching sobs. Drawn to the sound, he found himself near a stream.
"Iza and Creb are not animals!" Ayla cried out her anguish, a solitary figure by the stream.
Thonolan was surprised at the vehemence of Ayla's thoughts. What had Jondalar said to her? Oh no, he didn't, Thonlan thought to himself. Jondalar couldn't have shunned her because of the Clan! And yet there was a nagging voice at the back of Thonolan's mind that he might have done the same if the mother hadn't intervened. Perhaps he'd need to show Jondalar that the Clan were of the Mother too.
Jondalar was lying in misery on his bed, calling himself every kind of idiot imaginable. He was unaware of his brother watching him. Thonolan relaxed slightly, maybe he wouldn't have to show his brother how wrong he was.
Yet there was something wrong, Thonolan thought as he gazed intently at Jondalar. Breaking into his brother's thoughts, his eyes widened, Jondalar was planning on leaving. The Mother was right, Jondalar was being foolish. And then delving further into his brother's mind, Thonolan finally understood his brother's problem.
Jondalar is in love, Thonolan thought to himself with a chuckle, my big brother has fallen head over heels in love! He laughed aloud in relief. Some birds took flight at the odd sound of Thonolan's uncontrollable laughter. His brother had yearned so long for a woman perfect for him and here she was. Though she wasn't exactly what Jondalar had expected. Thonolan watched as his brother buried himself deep in the furs.
"Why did Thonolan have to die? Why didn't that lion kill me instead?" Jondalar said. Tears fell heedlessly down his face. "Thonolan wouldn't have done anything so stupid."
Thonolan nodded mutely and quickly sobered at the words.
"I wish I knew where that canyon was, Little Brother, I wish a Zelondonii could have helped you find your way to the next world. I hate to think your bones were left for the scavengers to scatter."
"Don't worry about me, I'm doing alright," Thonolan said, "it's you I'm worried about, you and your stubbornness." He grinned wryly, "but I think the most enjoyable thing will be watching you fall in love."
A wild whirl swept through the valley echoed by a giant hnga hnga. Thonolan watched entranced as the spirit of the great cave lion made its way over to Ayla who was far from Jondalar. She was clutching her amulet, praying silently.
"Cave Lion, I've been alone so long, put luck in my amulet."
(VOH p.432-433, 435)
~~~~~~~~~~ * ~~~~~~~~~~ * ~~~~~~~~~~~
Sorry this one didn't arrive right away after your review, RD. It's an odd week and I don't have as much computer time. I hope to have a chapter up each day but there's always RL that intrudes.
For Luck
~~~~~~~~~~
"Your brother is foolish," a voice whispered.
Thonolan was startled out of his musings at the sound of the Mother's voice. "I know that," he said, "what did he do now?"
"Mend the threads," the voice whispered. The wind whisked around him then faded away.
Thonolan reluctantly got up and headed back toward the valley. As he neared, he heard the faint sound of heart wrenching sobs. Drawn to the sound, he found himself near a stream.
"Iza and Creb are not animals!" Ayla cried out her anguish, a solitary figure by the stream.
Thonolan was surprised at the vehemence of Ayla's thoughts. What had Jondalar said to her? Oh no, he didn't, Thonlan thought to himself. Jondalar couldn't have shunned her because of the Clan! And yet there was a nagging voice at the back of Thonolan's mind that he might have done the same if the mother hadn't intervened. Perhaps he'd need to show Jondalar that the Clan were of the Mother too.
Jondalar was lying in misery on his bed, calling himself every kind of idiot imaginable. He was unaware of his brother watching him. Thonolan relaxed slightly, maybe he wouldn't have to show his brother how wrong he was.
Yet there was something wrong, Thonolan thought as he gazed intently at Jondalar. Breaking into his brother's thoughts, his eyes widened, Jondalar was planning on leaving. The Mother was right, Jondalar was being foolish. And then delving further into his brother's mind, Thonolan finally understood his brother's problem.
Jondalar is in love, Thonolan thought to himself with a chuckle, my big brother has fallen head over heels in love! He laughed aloud in relief. Some birds took flight at the odd sound of Thonolan's uncontrollable laughter. His brother had yearned so long for a woman perfect for him and here she was. Though she wasn't exactly what Jondalar had expected. Thonolan watched as his brother buried himself deep in the furs.
"Why did Thonolan have to die? Why didn't that lion kill me instead?" Jondalar said. Tears fell heedlessly down his face. "Thonolan wouldn't have done anything so stupid."
Thonolan nodded mutely and quickly sobered at the words.
"I wish I knew where that canyon was, Little Brother, I wish a Zelondonii could have helped you find your way to the next world. I hate to think your bones were left for the scavengers to scatter."
"Don't worry about me, I'm doing alright," Thonolan said, "it's you I'm worried about, you and your stubbornness." He grinned wryly, "but I think the most enjoyable thing will be watching you fall in love."
A wild whirl swept through the valley echoed by a giant hnga hnga. Thonolan watched entranced as the spirit of the great cave lion made its way over to Ayla who was far from Jondalar. She was clutching her amulet, praying silently.
"Cave Lion, I've been alone so long, put luck in my amulet."
(VOH p.432-433, 435)
~~~~~~~~~~ * ~~~~~~~~~~ * ~~~~~~~~~~~
Sorry this one didn't arrive right away after your review, RD. It's an odd week and I don't have as much computer time. I hope to have a chapter up each day but there's always RL that intrudes.