This is the second part of the story, "The Journey of the Watcher." Thonolan continues to follow his brother Jondalar, and is set the task to watch over him and Ayla. Parallels the book, "The Mammoth Hunters" by Jean M. Auel.
I don't own any of the characters; I only steal them for my nefarious writing purposes.
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The Journey of the Watcher Part II; The Weavers
Chapter 1
The Others
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A woman held her arms palm up, "I greet you Thonolan of the Shamudoi, servant of the Mother of all. I am Brazie daughter of the leader of the Aurrochs camp. This is my sister Nalie." She gestured to a young girl staring brazenly up at him. Nalie held her small hands up to the stranger as he turned to her.
Thonolan studied the girls. He was a bit surprised at such stoic greetings for girls so young. Brazie was the elder by perhaps three summers. Her form was one just verging on the blossom of womanhood. He glanced past them when he saw a small movement behind. A third woman ducked her head she seemed to disappear into the background.
Brazie gently took the woman's arm and brought her forward. "And this is Oba, she is Clan." Thonolan stared in surprise as the woman raised her head. She settled her deep brown eyes on him then ducked down quickly. "She's quite shy with strangers."
In that one brief look, Thonolan had taken in her features. She was distinctly and totally clan. Something about her jogged a memory he couldn't quite lay a finger on. Even in the spirit world, she continued to act as a good clan woman, he mused. What was she doing among so many of the Others? The woman came timidly forward then dropped down before his feet. He stared down dumfounded by this new turn of events. Quickly, he reached down and tapped her shoulder.
Oba looked up at the stranger. "This woman would like to thank this man of the Others," she began to motion. "This woman is grateful for you for taking care of the daughter of Creb's hearth. If this woman is worthy of attention, she would make one request." Her arms dropped down nervously.
Thonolan took her arm and pulled her to a standing position. "Oba, you don't need to beg permission from me. I'm not clan."
She furrowed her brow, "yes, Creb made you clan. In the cave of memories you became Onlan." The name came out guttural almost unfamiliar to his ears.
"I am counted as one of the clan?" He gestured excitedly.
She nodded, "all clan veejias have the memory for this. Whatever happens to clan, we know too. Our memories are no longer limited. That is how I saw you and knew you would come. I've been waiting to make this request to you."
"I would be happy to help you if I'm able to." He waited for her to continue.
Suddenly she dropped her hands and scurried behind the girls. Her brown eyes went large with fright as she watched the people.
Puzzled, Thonolan turned to see what had frightened her. Ayla had let out the familiar shrill whistle and waited while Whinney trotted to her. Not only had she shown her power over the horse but then she swiftly leapt atop the mare and galloped off.
A grin spread across Thonolan's face when he realized there was nothing to fear. "The horses are friends, there's nothing to be afraid of."
Oba cautiously craned her neck to see the strange vision. She had some knowledge of the woman and horse friendship, but to see them together was an altogether new experience.
Nalie was less reserved. "How does she do that?" The girl ran toward the people to get a closer view.
Thonolan noted the looks of wonder that Ayla's demonstration had elicited. The noise of people talking at once, interacting among each other was a novelty. How long had it been since he had been among a group of vocal people? Not since the Mamutoi camp that pulled him and his brother out of the quicksand. A pang of remorse shot through him when he remembered how little he had appreciated their companionship.
Ayla and Whinney loped back to the people and came to a stop next to Jondalar. "Ayla of No People," Talut's voice boomed, "...I would like you to visit, and bring the horses. No one will believe us otherwise!" Chuckles arose as Talut's booming laugh washed over them. The people turned and led the way to their home.
"I'm am so excited to have you all here!" Nalie gushed. "Wait until you meet my, er our family." She looked up adoringly at the handsome stranger. Had fate not have cut her life short, she would have been much closer to him in age. Though her body was quite young, her mind had matured during the years since her death. However, some girlish habits had become stunted without the culturing she would have experienced. She was an enigma of unique qualities.
Brazie laughed at her sister. "Nalie, you talk too much. You might scare him away before he gets to the camp." Gesturing to her and Thonolan, she followed the trail back home.
Oba scurried behind them. A worried look settled on her features. There was much she wanted to discuss with this man and hoped he would find her worthy of his attention.
(TMH pp.3-4)
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Thank you all for being patient for the second part of the story. I appreciate each and every review, that lets me know what your thoughts are on this.
ETA: Since there are a few more "watchers" that Thonolan will encounter in this part, here is a list of who they are.
Bectie: Grandmother (Great Mother) to Crozie, and mother in-law to Bruzec
Brazie: daugther of Bruzec, sister to Fralie, Nalie and Tarnov
Bruzec: Leader of the Aurochs camp, mated to Crozie, father to Fralie Brazie, Nalie and Tarnov
Nalie: daughter of Bruzec, sister to Fralie, Brazie and Tarnov
Oba: A clan woman, mother to Rydag
Tala: Daughter of the Leapord Lodge, mate of Wymez, mother of Ranec
Tarnov: son of Bruzec, brother to Fralie Brazie and Nalie
To summarize the "family tree" of the Aurochs camp:
Bectie had children, we only know of one in the books, Crozie.
Crozie was mated to Bruzec and he led the Aurochs camp.
They had children; Fralie, Brazie, Nalie and Tarnov.
Fralie and Crozie were the only ones to survive the destruction of Aurochs camp.
Fralie mated with Frebec and they had a daughter, Bectie.
All of the veejias I've made up from the story, they are not in the books. Many are referred to in story, but none are named.
I don't own any of the characters; I only steal them for my nefarious writing purposes.
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The Journey of the Watcher Part II; The Weavers
Chapter 1
The Others
------------
A woman held her arms palm up, "I greet you Thonolan of the Shamudoi, servant of the Mother of all. I am Brazie daughter of the leader of the Aurrochs camp. This is my sister Nalie." She gestured to a young girl staring brazenly up at him. Nalie held her small hands up to the stranger as he turned to her.
Thonolan studied the girls. He was a bit surprised at such stoic greetings for girls so young. Brazie was the elder by perhaps three summers. Her form was one just verging on the blossom of womanhood. He glanced past them when he saw a small movement behind. A third woman ducked her head she seemed to disappear into the background.
Brazie gently took the woman's arm and brought her forward. "And this is Oba, she is Clan." Thonolan stared in surprise as the woman raised her head. She settled her deep brown eyes on him then ducked down quickly. "She's quite shy with strangers."
In that one brief look, Thonolan had taken in her features. She was distinctly and totally clan. Something about her jogged a memory he couldn't quite lay a finger on. Even in the spirit world, she continued to act as a good clan woman, he mused. What was she doing among so many of the Others? The woman came timidly forward then dropped down before his feet. He stared down dumfounded by this new turn of events. Quickly, he reached down and tapped her shoulder.
Oba looked up at the stranger. "This woman would like to thank this man of the Others," she began to motion. "This woman is grateful for you for taking care of the daughter of Creb's hearth. If this woman is worthy of attention, she would make one request." Her arms dropped down nervously.
Thonolan took her arm and pulled her to a standing position. "Oba, you don't need to beg permission from me. I'm not clan."
She furrowed her brow, "yes, Creb made you clan. In the cave of memories you became Onlan." The name came out guttural almost unfamiliar to his ears.
"I am counted as one of the clan?" He gestured excitedly.
She nodded, "all clan veejias have the memory for this. Whatever happens to clan, we know too. Our memories are no longer limited. That is how I saw you and knew you would come. I've been waiting to make this request to you."
"I would be happy to help you if I'm able to." He waited for her to continue.
Suddenly she dropped her hands and scurried behind the girls. Her brown eyes went large with fright as she watched the people.
Puzzled, Thonolan turned to see what had frightened her. Ayla had let out the familiar shrill whistle and waited while Whinney trotted to her. Not only had she shown her power over the horse but then she swiftly leapt atop the mare and galloped off.
A grin spread across Thonolan's face when he realized there was nothing to fear. "The horses are friends, there's nothing to be afraid of."
Oba cautiously craned her neck to see the strange vision. She had some knowledge of the woman and horse friendship, but to see them together was an altogether new experience.
Nalie was less reserved. "How does she do that?" The girl ran toward the people to get a closer view.
Thonolan noted the looks of wonder that Ayla's demonstration had elicited. The noise of people talking at once, interacting among each other was a novelty. How long had it been since he had been among a group of vocal people? Not since the Mamutoi camp that pulled him and his brother out of the quicksand. A pang of remorse shot through him when he remembered how little he had appreciated their companionship.
Ayla and Whinney loped back to the people and came to a stop next to Jondalar. "Ayla of No People," Talut's voice boomed, "...I would like you to visit, and bring the horses. No one will believe us otherwise!" Chuckles arose as Talut's booming laugh washed over them. The people turned and led the way to their home.
"I'm am so excited to have you all here!" Nalie gushed. "Wait until you meet my, er our family." She looked up adoringly at the handsome stranger. Had fate not have cut her life short, she would have been much closer to him in age. Though her body was quite young, her mind had matured during the years since her death. However, some girlish habits had become stunted without the culturing she would have experienced. She was an enigma of unique qualities.
Brazie laughed at her sister. "Nalie, you talk too much. You might scare him away before he gets to the camp." Gesturing to her and Thonolan, she followed the trail back home.
Oba scurried behind them. A worried look settled on her features. There was much she wanted to discuss with this man and hoped he would find her worthy of his attention.
(TMH pp.3-4)
--------------------
Thank you all for being patient for the second part of the story. I appreciate each and every review, that lets me know what your thoughts are on this.
ETA: Since there are a few more "watchers" that Thonolan will encounter in this part, here is a list of who they are.
Bectie: Grandmother (Great Mother) to Crozie, and mother in-law to Bruzec
Brazie: daugther of Bruzec, sister to Fralie, Nalie and Tarnov
Bruzec: Leader of the Aurochs camp, mated to Crozie, father to Fralie Brazie, Nalie and Tarnov
Nalie: daughter of Bruzec, sister to Fralie, Brazie and Tarnov
Oba: A clan woman, mother to Rydag
Tala: Daughter of the Leapord Lodge, mate of Wymez, mother of Ranec
Tarnov: son of Bruzec, brother to Fralie Brazie and Nalie
To summarize the "family tree" of the Aurochs camp:
Bectie had children, we only know of one in the books, Crozie.
Crozie was mated to Bruzec and he led the Aurochs camp.
They had children; Fralie, Brazie, Nalie and Tarnov.
Fralie and Crozie were the only ones to survive the destruction of Aurochs camp.
Fralie mated with Frebec and they had a daughter, Bectie.
All of the veejias I've made up from the story, they are not in the books. Many are referred to in story, but none are named.