Chapter 4
The Mother's Will
Thonolan felt an odd sense of pain coming from someone nearby. He whirled to look around, concern etched on his face. He sensed excitement mixed with longing. Eagerness and then...pain! Thonolan turned and spotted the boy. He quickly made his way toward the boy with Oba following on his heels.
"Ry-dag," she grunted. She reached a sturdy strong arm reached and put a loving hand on his heart. Almost at once, the pain sensations began to fade. The heart normalized and slowed to a more regular pace. The danger over, she sat back on her heels.
"That's amazing! I've seen others touch material things but never the inside before. How did you do that?" Thonolan asked.
She slowly stood up to face him. Her hand that had touched Rydag's heart reached and touched her own. "Here, this is where the power comes from. My strength given for his."
Puzzled he shook his head, "how can you give strength?"
Oba leaned close and to his surprise, stared him in the eyes. Her eyes pierced to the hidden places that he did not willingly share. "How did you feel after you became Clan? You slept," she said answering herself, " as one who had outrun Ursus himself. Yes we tire, but it is temporary. But we can only give so much of our energy to one person."
Thonolan recalled how exhausted he had been and nodded in understanding. A prickling awareness raised the hair on his flesh. "How did you know I felt that way?"
"There you are, come and see Wymez and Danug with their watcher," Brazie interrupted. She had been lifted off Tala's shoulders and had run over to her new favorite man. Tugging on his sleeve, she pulled him toward the descending people.
"Little one let me first get my bearings. I'd like to meet the people that Thonolan watches for." Tala said.
Tarnov approached with eyes lit with excitement. "He's back," he said motioning to where the blonde woman stood with her horses.
Tala gasped as her eyes gazed on the largest Cave Lion she had ever met. His huge hnga hnga echoed through the wind. The lion barely gave her a glance as he concentrated his attentions on the blonde woman.
Ayla caressed the objects in her amulet. "Spirit of the Great Cave Lion, Creb always says a powerful totem was hard to live with. He was right...(TMH p.26)"
"Told you!" Tarnov exclaimed. He enjoyed watching the surprise on Tala's face. "It's her tootem that protects her."
"Totem," Bectie corrected. "Perhaps we should go back and leave them alone," she said looking uncertainly at the other watchers.
Either Tala hadn't heard or she chose to ignore the words. She stood transfixed on the scene playing out before her.
"...This woman would beg the Spirit of the Great Cave Lion to help the man who has been chosen...to know that no matter how difficult it may seem, the testing is necessary (TMH p.27)."
Though Ayla had spoken in the words of Clan, she was understood as if she had been speaking. Giving a giant roar, the lion pivoted suddenly. The group jumped back in surprise. Many were afraid though they tried not to show it. Fixing a questioning gaze on the veejias, the lion trotted over to Jondalar. Facing the tall blonde man, he opened his massive mouth and breathed on him.
Deep in the lodge, Mamut sat in a trance like state. He shuddered, as a warm wind seemed to caress him. A voice seemed to whisper in eerie echoes, "No! Not the mother and child..."
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
"Weave the threads."
Thonolan looked around for the source of the voice. He knew the source, but he wanted to be sure. Looking around, he eyed the people who were gathered around the large hearth telling the stories of their journeys. Some of the veejias were listening while others had wandered off.
"I'm doing what you've asked. What more do you want now?" He whispered.
The breeze swirled around him, bringing him to his feet and prodded him to exit the lodge. Relaxing, Thonolan let the wind take him to where it would go. Up and over, past many tributaries and rivers he flew until they neared the great sea. Recognizing the area, he knew where the wind was taking him. Below, he saw members of the Clan out on a hunt. Brun was leading their scant group of hunters. Nearing the cave, Thonolan looked around for signs of Broud.
Oga was gathering berries with Uba near the cave. Her eyes wandered more often to the woods around them than the bushes in front of her. Ever since Broud had been discharged of his leadership, she had lived in constant fear. Their hearth had become a place of misery. She was often cuffed or beaten even if she had not done anything wrong. Her sons had taken to brooding also. They were also aware that their place in this clan was unsure. Her youngest however had been training with Goov. Perhaps he would be a powerful mog-ur and redeem their status.
Thonolan followed the life trail that he knew was Broud's and found him woods with two others. Broud, Brac and Grev had left early this morning to hunt by themselves. The former leader did not interact with any members of the clan anymore, except the sons of his hearth. They had been tracking a bison that Broud had wounded. Brac noted the sun was starting its descent and they still hadn't found it. Perhaps it would be wiser to look for other game he thought to himself as he swatted at another fly. Suddenly, Broud stopped and held a hand up.
Crouching low, Brac peered from the thick bramble into the clearing ahead. His heart sunk. The bison was there all right, but another predator had found it first. Wounded and unable to run, the bison had succumbed to the lioness.
Broud motioned to his sons and gripped his spear. Grev hesitated and motioned back.
"We can't take a kill from a lioness! This is not safe, I sense something bad in the air."
Broud scowled at his youngest son of his hearth. He didn't understand Grev's fixation with the spirit world, anymore than he had understood Creb. But Broud was still the man of his hearth and in his heart was still leader. Motioning again, he watched in satisfaction as the boys reluctantly gripped their spears in readiness.
Jumping out into the clearing, Broud gave a yell. The lioness turned in irritation to see what had interrupted her meal. Running toward her was a hairy biped with a pointy stick aimed at her. Eyes narrowing, she gave a loud roar and bunched her muscles beneath her.
Grev had jumped when the lioness had let out her roar. He wanted to turn and run back to the cave, but was ashamed at himself for considering it. He watched as the lioness loped toward Broud with fangs and claws unsheathed.
Brac was less hesitant and jumped into the fray. He stood near Broud and made ready to jab the lioness. The earth seemed to tremble beneath him and echo an unearthly fear. The hnga hnga hnga grew louder in his ears until it erupted in an ear splitting roar. Broud suddenly realized that the lioness had not made the sound. He jerked around and saw the largest cave lion he had ever seen.
"Grev!" Brac shouted and motioned wildly. The mate of the lioness was behind his brother and ready to attack. Another growl from the female made Brac turn back to where the father of his hearth readied himself for the lioness' attack. She left the ground in one quick movement and aimed her claws at the torso of the man.
The Mother's Will
Thonolan felt an odd sense of pain coming from someone nearby. He whirled to look around, concern etched on his face. He sensed excitement mixed with longing. Eagerness and then...pain! Thonolan turned and spotted the boy. He quickly made his way toward the boy with Oba following on his heels.
"Ry-dag," she grunted. She reached a sturdy strong arm reached and put a loving hand on his heart. Almost at once, the pain sensations began to fade. The heart normalized and slowed to a more regular pace. The danger over, she sat back on her heels.
"That's amazing! I've seen others touch material things but never the inside before. How did you do that?" Thonolan asked.
She slowly stood up to face him. Her hand that had touched Rydag's heart reached and touched her own. "Here, this is where the power comes from. My strength given for his."
Puzzled he shook his head, "how can you give strength?"
Oba leaned close and to his surprise, stared him in the eyes. Her eyes pierced to the hidden places that he did not willingly share. "How did you feel after you became Clan? You slept," she said answering herself, " as one who had outrun Ursus himself. Yes we tire, but it is temporary. But we can only give so much of our energy to one person."
Thonolan recalled how exhausted he had been and nodded in understanding. A prickling awareness raised the hair on his flesh. "How did you know I felt that way?"
"There you are, come and see Wymez and Danug with their watcher," Brazie interrupted. She had been lifted off Tala's shoulders and had run over to her new favorite man. Tugging on his sleeve, she pulled him toward the descending people.
"Little one let me first get my bearings. I'd like to meet the people that Thonolan watches for." Tala said.
Tarnov approached with eyes lit with excitement. "He's back," he said motioning to where the blonde woman stood with her horses.
Tala gasped as her eyes gazed on the largest Cave Lion she had ever met. His huge hnga hnga echoed through the wind. The lion barely gave her a glance as he concentrated his attentions on the blonde woman.
Ayla caressed the objects in her amulet. "Spirit of the Great Cave Lion, Creb always says a powerful totem was hard to live with. He was right...(TMH p.26)"
"Told you!" Tarnov exclaimed. He enjoyed watching the surprise on Tala's face. "It's her tootem that protects her."
"Totem," Bectie corrected. "Perhaps we should go back and leave them alone," she said looking uncertainly at the other watchers.
Either Tala hadn't heard or she chose to ignore the words. She stood transfixed on the scene playing out before her.
"...This woman would beg the Spirit of the Great Cave Lion to help the man who has been chosen...to know that no matter how difficult it may seem, the testing is necessary (TMH p.27)."
Though Ayla had spoken in the words of Clan, she was understood as if she had been speaking. Giving a giant roar, the lion pivoted suddenly. The group jumped back in surprise. Many were afraid though they tried not to show it. Fixing a questioning gaze on the veejias, the lion trotted over to Jondalar. Facing the tall blonde man, he opened his massive mouth and breathed on him.
Deep in the lodge, Mamut sat in a trance like state. He shuddered, as a warm wind seemed to caress him. A voice seemed to whisper in eerie echoes, "No! Not the mother and child..."
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
"Weave the threads."
Thonolan looked around for the source of the voice. He knew the source, but he wanted to be sure. Looking around, he eyed the people who were gathered around the large hearth telling the stories of their journeys. Some of the veejias were listening while others had wandered off.
"I'm doing what you've asked. What more do you want now?" He whispered.
The breeze swirled around him, bringing him to his feet and prodded him to exit the lodge. Relaxing, Thonolan let the wind take him to where it would go. Up and over, past many tributaries and rivers he flew until they neared the great sea. Recognizing the area, he knew where the wind was taking him. Below, he saw members of the Clan out on a hunt. Brun was leading their scant group of hunters. Nearing the cave, Thonolan looked around for signs of Broud.
Oga was gathering berries with Uba near the cave. Her eyes wandered more often to the woods around them than the bushes in front of her. Ever since Broud had been discharged of his leadership, she had lived in constant fear. Their hearth had become a place of misery. She was often cuffed or beaten even if she had not done anything wrong. Her sons had taken to brooding also. They were also aware that their place in this clan was unsure. Her youngest however had been training with Goov. Perhaps he would be a powerful mog-ur and redeem their status.
Thonolan followed the life trail that he knew was Broud's and found him woods with two others. Broud, Brac and Grev had left early this morning to hunt by themselves. The former leader did not interact with any members of the clan anymore, except the sons of his hearth. They had been tracking a bison that Broud had wounded. Brac noted the sun was starting its descent and they still hadn't found it. Perhaps it would be wiser to look for other game he thought to himself as he swatted at another fly. Suddenly, Broud stopped and held a hand up.
Crouching low, Brac peered from the thick bramble into the clearing ahead. His heart sunk. The bison was there all right, but another predator had found it first. Wounded and unable to run, the bison had succumbed to the lioness.
Broud motioned to his sons and gripped his spear. Grev hesitated and motioned back.
"We can't take a kill from a lioness! This is not safe, I sense something bad in the air."
Broud scowled at his youngest son of his hearth. He didn't understand Grev's fixation with the spirit world, anymore than he had understood Creb. But Broud was still the man of his hearth and in his heart was still leader. Motioning again, he watched in satisfaction as the boys reluctantly gripped their spears in readiness.
Jumping out into the clearing, Broud gave a yell. The lioness turned in irritation to see what had interrupted her meal. Running toward her was a hairy biped with a pointy stick aimed at her. Eyes narrowing, she gave a loud roar and bunched her muscles beneath her.
Grev had jumped when the lioness had let out her roar. He wanted to turn and run back to the cave, but was ashamed at himself for considering it. He watched as the lioness loped toward Broud with fangs and claws unsheathed.
Brac was less hesitant and jumped into the fray. He stood near Broud and made ready to jab the lioness. The earth seemed to tremble beneath him and echo an unearthly fear. The hnga hnga hnga grew louder in his ears until it erupted in an ear splitting roar. Broud suddenly realized that the lioness had not made the sound. He jerked around and saw the largest cave lion he had ever seen.
"Grev!" Brac shouted and motioned wildly. The mate of the lioness was behind his brother and ready to attack. Another growl from the female made Brac turn back to where the father of his hearth readied himself for the lioness' attack. She left the ground in one quick movement and aimed her claws at the torso of the man.