Chapter 24
The Others
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Ayla and Jondalar traveled aimlessly for days, enjoying the company of each other. Thonolan followed them but was becoming curious about the people to the west. The closer they traveled in that direction, the more sensations filtered to him. Not the simple everyday feelings, but deep and strong. Perhaps it was similar to the low bellow of the mammoth that was below the decibel of human range. To him as a spirit, he could sense these emotions more keenly.
The morning was cool and a fine layer of snow covered the ground. Winter would be coming soon. Thonolan knew that they would not be spending the winter in the valley, but when would they meet the others? He felt troubled at the thought of being with so many people at once. Would his task be more difficult?
Thunk! Thunk! Sounded In quick succession. Ayla brought down a jerboa that had been unlucky enough to jump within her range with her sling. The creature was quickly prepared and spitted for their morning meal.
"I'm sad to be going back," Ayla said.
Thonolan's mind wandered. Something was bothering him, something nagging at the back of his mind. Jondalar and Ayla got up to gather more wood for their meal and he followed them. As they rounded a bend, Thonolan's head snapped up.
"Heyoo!" A voice called.
His eyes were not on the humans who stood looking at his brother and Ayla. Thonolan was staring in fascination as he saw the ones who stared back at him. One female looked down demurely when she realized she was staring.
Ayla was feeling confused yet excited about meeting these new people, for here was more of the Others that Iza had told her to find. She clung closely to Jondalar who supported her with a strong arm.
"It's all right, Ayla. They're Mamutoi. Did I ever tell you they call themselves the mammoth hunters? They think we are Mamutoi too."
"Those people, Jondalar, they are smiling, they are smiling at me," she said in wonderment.
Thonolan echoed her sentiments. He stared in awe at the odd group of veejias coming forward. They held their arms open in greeting to him.
(VOH p.544)
END PART 1
The Others
--------------
Ayla and Jondalar traveled aimlessly for days, enjoying the company of each other. Thonolan followed them but was becoming curious about the people to the west. The closer they traveled in that direction, the more sensations filtered to him. Not the simple everyday feelings, but deep and strong. Perhaps it was similar to the low bellow of the mammoth that was below the decibel of human range. To him as a spirit, he could sense these emotions more keenly.
The morning was cool and a fine layer of snow covered the ground. Winter would be coming soon. Thonolan knew that they would not be spending the winter in the valley, but when would they meet the others? He felt troubled at the thought of being with so many people at once. Would his task be more difficult?
Thunk! Thunk! Sounded In quick succession. Ayla brought down a jerboa that had been unlucky enough to jump within her range with her sling. The creature was quickly prepared and spitted for their morning meal.
"I'm sad to be going back," Ayla said.
Thonolan's mind wandered. Something was bothering him, something nagging at the back of his mind. Jondalar and Ayla got up to gather more wood for their meal and he followed them. As they rounded a bend, Thonolan's head snapped up.
"Heyoo!" A voice called.
His eyes were not on the humans who stood looking at his brother and Ayla. Thonolan was staring in fascination as he saw the ones who stared back at him. One female looked down demurely when she realized she was staring.
Ayla was feeling confused yet excited about meeting these new people, for here was more of the Others that Iza had told her to find. She clung closely to Jondalar who supported her with a strong arm.
"It's all right, Ayla. They're Mamutoi. Did I ever tell you they call themselves the mammoth hunters? They think we are Mamutoi too."
"Those people, Jondalar, they are smiling, they are smiling at me," she said in wonderment.
Thonolan echoed her sentiments. He stared in awe at the odd group of veejias coming forward. They held their arms open in greeting to him.
(VOH p.544)
END PART 1