Chapter 21
Oh, Baby
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"Jondalar, look out!"
Jondalar had heard the sound of the stone scraping too and had already started to move. Eyes widened as Jondalar spotted the largest cave lion he had ever seen heading toward the cave. Acting quickly, he grabbed his spear and prepared to defend himself. At the same moment, he watched in horror as Ayla ran towards the lion.
"Stay back!" Thonolan heard Jondalar shout.
"What's going on?" Sela had raced up the ledge when she heard the yelling. Malia was right behind her.
"No, Jondalar!" Ayla jumped into the path of the lion. "Stop!" She signaled to the lion.
Thonolan's jaw slacked open in astonishment as the giant lion checked himself mid-air. Twisting his body to avoid hurting the man, the lion landed near Ayla's feet.
"Baby! Oh, Baby! You came back!"
Sela and Malia were erupted in laughter. "Its...only...baby!" Sela choked out. "Mother, did you see the expression on their faces?"
Malia struggled to breathe, "yes," she said through her laughter. They looked at Thonolan's bewildered expression and grinned at each other.
"Baby?" Thonolan asked skeptically. "That thing is called a Baby?"
"Yes, he's Ayla's adorable little cub." Malia's eyes danced with mischief.
"Adorable? Cub?"
"Poor strong veejia, scared by a little lion!" Sela leaned against the wall for support as she shook with uncontrolled laughter.
"That 'little lion' is snarling at my brother," Thonolan said angrily, "that's the lion that..." his voice trailed off and he looked away quickly.
The women sobered at this news. "Baby? Baby was the lion that killed you?" Malia asked.
Thonolan looked closer at the lion, "yes, it must have been. She 'spoke' to him and it saved Jondalar's life. I don't think there is another lion as huge as he is!"
Malia came toward him, apologetic. "I didn't realize it was Baby, we didn't mean to make you upset."
"I guess I did look rather funny, and so did Jondalar," he conceded, "if it had to be a lion then I'm glad it was Baby. Otherwise..." His thought forgotten, he dropped his jaw again. "Great Donii, she's on that animal!" Thonolan looked in shock as Ayla rode the lion as easily as she rode Whinney.
Sela stifled her giggle. Such a sight had not been seen by anyone other than them. Ayla was wildly beautiful atop the powerful lion. She reveled in the sound as she heard the hnga hnga building up to a bone-shattering roar. Smiling in pleasure, she turned back to the man. "Baby is wonderful."
"Baby is huge!"
Both women smiled fondly, "yes, Ayla took good care of him. No other lion around is as large as he is. We've looked! He is becoming the prominent male in the area. Who knows how large his range will be?" Malia said wistfully.
"How did you get trapped in that blind canyon?" They heard Ayla ask.
Malia beckoned to Sela and Thonolan to follow. They walked down near the river and sat in a comfortable spot. "I though it was time to leave them to their first rites." She raised an eyebrow at Sela who started to protest. "Let them have their privacy." Turning to Thonolan she asked, "so how did you come to be in the canyon? I think it's time we heard your story."
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Sela had become restless. Her mind was abuzz with the story of Jondalar and Thonolan. Though she had known bits and pieced before, the whole journey seemed incredible.
"Indeed, the Mother called them here," she whispered to Whinney. "My little sister will have a great destiny." She scratched Whinney's favorite spots as Racer came to lean on his dam. "You're getting to be big! Ayla makes a good mommy." The subject of her thoughts emerged beaming from the cave. "First rites must have sat well with her. I remember what it was like for me. Whinney, I wonder if...can a spirit and a spirit?"
Whinney nickered a greeting and headed for Ayla. Contentment flooded through Sela when she saw the happiness on Ayla's face. It must have worked! Ayla and Jondalar must have reconciled. Why else would she be that happy?
"I wish I could have a baby. Jondalar's baby. I can't - what would I do after he goes? Goes! Oh, Whinney, Jondalar is going to leave!"
Sela's eyes widened. What went wrong? "Mother! Jondalar! Come quick!"
"What is it, daughter?" Malia said running to where Sela stood.
"She was so happy, glowing actually. I thought everything was just fine. Then she said...Jondalar is going to leave!" She wailed.
"What!" Thonolan barked. "Impossible, he can't be that foolish."
"Oh, but it's true! I heard Ayla say he was leaving." She paused in indecision; "maybe there's a misunderstanding."
"There's only one way to find out for sure." Malia marched up to the cave entrance.
A cool wind urged Ayla back to the cave. She moved the cold roast and built her morning fire. Jondalar was still sleeping.
"Thonolan," Malia said gently, "you must go to him. Only you with your close relationship can get through to his dreams." She urged him forward to the sleeping man.
He looked uncertainty at the woman, "me? But I..."
"Besides Ayla, you're the only one he loves. Your bond is still strong, perhaps stronger in death." She drew him closer and gently took his hands. Reluctantly he followed her lead.
"I thought the bond needed to be with mother and daughter. How can I do this?"
"I've seen the closeness that you two have shared. It is just as strong as a mother-child relationship."
Casting an uncertain glance at Malia, he knelt down near his brother's sleeping form. Placing his hand on the sides of Jondalar's head, he pressed his forehead against Jondalar's. Thonolan began by exploring his brother's mind. Searching through the memories and thoughts, he brought himself to his brother's dream.
"No, no! Thonolan! Thonolan!" The cave lion leapt upon him. A woman appeared and turned the lion away. She had the mother's own face, or did the mother's face resemble hers? "Ayla? Ayla? Is it you?"
"Yes, it's I." Ayla answered, looking down at the blonde haired man. She had come back to the cave and had heard Jondalar crying out in his sleep. She slipped under the covers next to the restless man. With tears of loss streaming down her cheeks, she wept herself to sleep.
"She's your Donii woman, Jondalar, look," Thonolan said.
Ayla's shape changed to the ancient Donii he had given to Noria. She became the size of a great mountain and began giving birth. Jondalar's imagination was impressing itself on Thonolan's direction. Vague forms of people were seen through a misty haze. As drew near and the mists cleared, he drew back. Flatheads!
"Yes, they are the mother's creation and not an abomination. Ayla, she was one of them," Thonolan said to his brother's dreaming mind.
Another group of people was birthed. Thonolan furrowed his brow in consternation. He felt that he was not the only one guiding this dream, the Mother had a hand in this also. "You must join with her Jondalar, it's why you were sent so far. It's why WE were sent here."
Jondalar tossed as Ayla sobbed uncontrollably. He couldn't reach her to comfort her. Why was she so far away? The people kept emerging from the Mother, a people wearing beaded shirts.
Thonolan recognized the beadwork from somewhere, but where? What was the Mother telling them both? Jondalar was fighting to get to Ayla. He was swept away by the birth waters, no, the waters of the great Mother River. Thonolan! His mind raced back as a log with a bloody shirt swirled past. Thonolan grieved with his brother, he was no longer in control. The sights and events he knew held a deep meaning that he couldn't' fathom.
Jondalar craned his neck to look back at Ayla standing in the mouth of the cavern. Her sobs echoed in his ears. Then, with resounding thunder, the cavern collapsed in a great rain of rocks. He stood alone, crying.
A chill swept through Thonolan as a cold breeze washed over him. He had been trying to control the dream, to convince his brother to take Ayla with him. But he had lost control. No, the Mother had taken control of the dream. She had shown them both something important. He racked his brain, but he couldn't figure it out. What was it that she wants me to know? Releasing his hold on his brother's head, he stood up. Stumbling across the cave, he went out into the night.
VOH pp.502-506, 523-526
Oh, Baby
xxxxxxxxxxx
"Jondalar, look out!"
Jondalar had heard the sound of the stone scraping too and had already started to move. Eyes widened as Jondalar spotted the largest cave lion he had ever seen heading toward the cave. Acting quickly, he grabbed his spear and prepared to defend himself. At the same moment, he watched in horror as Ayla ran towards the lion.
"Stay back!" Thonolan heard Jondalar shout.
"What's going on?" Sela had raced up the ledge when she heard the yelling. Malia was right behind her.
"No, Jondalar!" Ayla jumped into the path of the lion. "Stop!" She signaled to the lion.
Thonolan's jaw slacked open in astonishment as the giant lion checked himself mid-air. Twisting his body to avoid hurting the man, the lion landed near Ayla's feet.
"Baby! Oh, Baby! You came back!"
Sela and Malia were erupted in laughter. "Its...only...baby!" Sela choked out. "Mother, did you see the expression on their faces?"
Malia struggled to breathe, "yes," she said through her laughter. They looked at Thonolan's bewildered expression and grinned at each other.
"Baby?" Thonolan asked skeptically. "That thing is called a Baby?"
"Yes, he's Ayla's adorable little cub." Malia's eyes danced with mischief.
"Adorable? Cub?"
"Poor strong veejia, scared by a little lion!" Sela leaned against the wall for support as she shook with uncontrolled laughter.
"That 'little lion' is snarling at my brother," Thonolan said angrily, "that's the lion that..." his voice trailed off and he looked away quickly.
The women sobered at this news. "Baby? Baby was the lion that killed you?" Malia asked.
Thonolan looked closer at the lion, "yes, it must have been. She 'spoke' to him and it saved Jondalar's life. I don't think there is another lion as huge as he is!"
Malia came toward him, apologetic. "I didn't realize it was Baby, we didn't mean to make you upset."
"I guess I did look rather funny, and so did Jondalar," he conceded, "if it had to be a lion then I'm glad it was Baby. Otherwise..." His thought forgotten, he dropped his jaw again. "Great Donii, she's on that animal!" Thonolan looked in shock as Ayla rode the lion as easily as she rode Whinney.
Sela stifled her giggle. Such a sight had not been seen by anyone other than them. Ayla was wildly beautiful atop the powerful lion. She reveled in the sound as she heard the hnga hnga building up to a bone-shattering roar. Smiling in pleasure, she turned back to the man. "Baby is wonderful."
"Baby is huge!"
Both women smiled fondly, "yes, Ayla took good care of him. No other lion around is as large as he is. We've looked! He is becoming the prominent male in the area. Who knows how large his range will be?" Malia said wistfully.
"How did you get trapped in that blind canyon?" They heard Ayla ask.
Malia beckoned to Sela and Thonolan to follow. They walked down near the river and sat in a comfortable spot. "I though it was time to leave them to their first rites." She raised an eyebrow at Sela who started to protest. "Let them have their privacy." Turning to Thonolan she asked, "so how did you come to be in the canyon? I think it's time we heard your story."
xxxxxxxxxx
Sela had become restless. Her mind was abuzz with the story of Jondalar and Thonolan. Though she had known bits and pieced before, the whole journey seemed incredible.
"Indeed, the Mother called them here," she whispered to Whinney. "My little sister will have a great destiny." She scratched Whinney's favorite spots as Racer came to lean on his dam. "You're getting to be big! Ayla makes a good mommy." The subject of her thoughts emerged beaming from the cave. "First rites must have sat well with her. I remember what it was like for me. Whinney, I wonder if...can a spirit and a spirit?"
Whinney nickered a greeting and headed for Ayla. Contentment flooded through Sela when she saw the happiness on Ayla's face. It must have worked! Ayla and Jondalar must have reconciled. Why else would she be that happy?
"I wish I could have a baby. Jondalar's baby. I can't - what would I do after he goes? Goes! Oh, Whinney, Jondalar is going to leave!"
Sela's eyes widened. What went wrong? "Mother! Jondalar! Come quick!"
"What is it, daughter?" Malia said running to where Sela stood.
"She was so happy, glowing actually. I thought everything was just fine. Then she said...Jondalar is going to leave!" She wailed.
"What!" Thonolan barked. "Impossible, he can't be that foolish."
"Oh, but it's true! I heard Ayla say he was leaving." She paused in indecision; "maybe there's a misunderstanding."
"There's only one way to find out for sure." Malia marched up to the cave entrance.
A cool wind urged Ayla back to the cave. She moved the cold roast and built her morning fire. Jondalar was still sleeping.
"Thonolan," Malia said gently, "you must go to him. Only you with your close relationship can get through to his dreams." She urged him forward to the sleeping man.
He looked uncertainty at the woman, "me? But I..."
"Besides Ayla, you're the only one he loves. Your bond is still strong, perhaps stronger in death." She drew him closer and gently took his hands. Reluctantly he followed her lead.
"I thought the bond needed to be with mother and daughter. How can I do this?"
"I've seen the closeness that you two have shared. It is just as strong as a mother-child relationship."
Casting an uncertain glance at Malia, he knelt down near his brother's sleeping form. Placing his hand on the sides of Jondalar's head, he pressed his forehead against Jondalar's. Thonolan began by exploring his brother's mind. Searching through the memories and thoughts, he brought himself to his brother's dream.
"No, no! Thonolan! Thonolan!" The cave lion leapt upon him. A woman appeared and turned the lion away. She had the mother's own face, or did the mother's face resemble hers? "Ayla? Ayla? Is it you?"
"Yes, it's I." Ayla answered, looking down at the blonde haired man. She had come back to the cave and had heard Jondalar crying out in his sleep. She slipped under the covers next to the restless man. With tears of loss streaming down her cheeks, she wept herself to sleep.
"She's your Donii woman, Jondalar, look," Thonolan said.
Ayla's shape changed to the ancient Donii he had given to Noria. She became the size of a great mountain and began giving birth. Jondalar's imagination was impressing itself on Thonolan's direction. Vague forms of people were seen through a misty haze. As drew near and the mists cleared, he drew back. Flatheads!
"Yes, they are the mother's creation and not an abomination. Ayla, she was one of them," Thonolan said to his brother's dreaming mind.
Another group of people was birthed. Thonolan furrowed his brow in consternation. He felt that he was not the only one guiding this dream, the Mother had a hand in this also. "You must join with her Jondalar, it's why you were sent so far. It's why WE were sent here."
Jondalar tossed as Ayla sobbed uncontrollably. He couldn't reach her to comfort her. Why was she so far away? The people kept emerging from the Mother, a people wearing beaded shirts.
Thonolan recognized the beadwork from somewhere, but where? What was the Mother telling them both? Jondalar was fighting to get to Ayla. He was swept away by the birth waters, no, the waters of the great Mother River. Thonolan! His mind raced back as a log with a bloody shirt swirled past. Thonolan grieved with his brother, he was no longer in control. The sights and events he knew held a deep meaning that he couldn't' fathom.
Jondalar craned his neck to look back at Ayla standing in the mouth of the cavern. Her sobs echoed in his ears. Then, with resounding thunder, the cavern collapsed in a great rain of rocks. He stood alone, crying.
A chill swept through Thonolan as a cold breeze washed over him. He had been trying to control the dream, to convince his brother to take Ayla with him. But he had lost control. No, the Mother had taken control of the dream. She had shown them both something important. He racked his brain, but he couldn't figure it out. What was it that she wants me to know? Releasing his hold on his brother's head, he stood up. Stumbling across the cave, he went out into the night.
VOH pp.502-506, 523-526