CHAPTER 11: Ava and Family

Ava and Durcan were happy. The two were now living together within Ayla's clan and life was good. They were sharing a new life together and concentrated on pleasing each other. Being together since Kregg had released her, Ava had no regrets in being with her own kind. "Durcan, I miss my little sister and when leaves cover the ground again I know your mother will be bartering with Kregg for her release. I am certain it will be a successful barter because I know, one way or another, your mother will succeed."

Durcan cooked a special evening meal for Ava one winter's day. She had been gone from morning to early dark as she was assisting the Clan women in a weaving project. The meal was freshly roasted rabbit with a spiced rub and garnished with walnuts and sliced beets. When Ava got home, he wanted to surprise her with her favorite dish. A warm fire greeted her, and a pleasing aroma was in the air.

"What's this Durcan? It looks like you have been busy today! Something smells, have you been trying to cook again?" Ava said this with a teasing tone in her voice. Durcan had taught Ava how to use different spices and he would teach her how to identify the various spice plants and rend the spice from them in the coming summer.

"That's not a smell, it's an aroma!" Durcan had protested in the nearly ritual manner the two had developed. Smiling broadly, he put his hands on Ava's hips and drew her close. "If you don't want to have what I cooked I can toss it out and we can have travel cakes instead, but I have one question before you decide about our meal."

"What would that question be Durcan?"

"Ava, would you mate with me?"

"Mate with you and what? What is it you aren't telling me?"

"I love you and I'm asking you to mate with me Ava, I am serious. You are unlike other women in so many wonderful ways and I wouldn't want to lose you because I failed to say, 'I love you,' or because I never asked you to mate with me. Please, Ava, be my mate." Ava was frozen in place, this was taking a few moments to sink in. Durcan knew not to speak until Ava answered.

She began to choke up and in sign repeated what she had told him when they had first met. "Durcan, you are mean and ugly, but ugly in a good-looking kind of way. Yes, I will mate with you, it is my dearest wish."

Remembering what Ava was referring to, Durcan signed, "Ava, I think you look good too and I think you are firm in your resolve." Various bits and pieces of that prior conversation were now signed back and forth along with broad smiles and Ava's tears.

"I hope 'resolve' is a good thing Durcan."

"Ava, I promise it is. This will be a good thing and I will not renege."

"Obviously you are firm in your own resolve Durcan, I just wish the air didn't smell so bad."

"Smell Ava, Smell?... Is that the best you can do?"

"This is the best I can do," Ava had now spoken aloud and gave Durcan a soft kiss; the meal could wait.

The following morning Durcan and Ava shared fresh scrambled ptarmigan eggs loaded with big chunks of diced rabbit and beet cubes. The combination was quite tasty and Ava decided she liked this version of her favorite dish nearly as much as she liked the original version. The fact it was easy to make was a bonus. Holding hands, the two began a walk to Ayla and Jondalar to tell them the news.

During the walk, Durcan came up with a good tease, "Ava, I love you more than you love me." He anticipated Ava would protest his statement and the two could 'argue' over who loves who more.

Ava thought for just a moment and gave a one-word reply, "Probably." Her reply wasn't what Durcan expected and he showed his surprise.

"Probably Ava… PROBABLY?" There was little else Durcan could say, Ava had won the anticipated 'argument' with a single word and a broad smile. Like 'smell, 'probably' also became a pet word.

"Mother, Father, Ava has agreed to mate with me, and we wanted the two of you to be the first to know."

"Ava, you have a good man in Durcan. All you are going to need to do is smooth his rough edges."

"What rough edges! My edges are smooth as a baby's bottom," Durcan protested.

"Ayla, I have already seen a few of his rough edges and I understand what you mean."

"Jondalar was the same way; like father, like son I suppose. I have smoothed almost all of Jondalar's rough edges but Durcan still has quite a few."

"I agree with Durcan," Jondalar voiced. "Besides, it's women who bring out the rough edges in men if we really have some. Durcan, how about you and I go outside and swallow some air and then come back so the women can judge a burping contest?"

"That sounds good to me father. Maybe when we return, they can describe what so-called 'rough edges' they are talking about." Both men knew exactly what Ayla and Ava were talking about and hoped the 'burping contest' would gain them a smile or at least rolling eyes.

As they departed, Durcan and Jondalar spoke loudly about the differences between deer poop and auroch poop. The two men wanted to be certain a few rough edges were showing.

"Ayla, I love Durcan, and I want you to know this."

"Ava, I have known it for a long time. I also know he loves you. You two are a perfect match in that you challenge each other and accept a win or a loss in stride. He teases you and you tease him. You both congratulate each other on successful efforts and console each other on losses. I have seen it and know things are right in the match." Ayla's statement gave comfort to Ava.

"Ayla, I have something that bothers me, but I think I have a solution and would like to hear your thoughts in the matter."

"Ava, please tell me what bothers you and speak also of your solution."

"Ayla, how many people do you know named Ava?"

"Including you, I can recall four people, but why do you ask?"

"If Durcan were to speak about one of them, how would someone know which 'Ava' he was talking about?"

"Ava, he would need to describe the person or speak of where they were from or who their mate or family is, different things would need to be said."

"Ayla, that's why I ask. There is nothing really distinctive in the name 'Ava.' If I had another name, then everyone would know exactly which 'Ava' was being talked about."

"I don't understand. If you had another name you would not be called 'Ava' but instead would be called by some other female name."

"No, I mean I want two distinct names like 'Ava Hunter' or 'Ava Knapper' or 'Ava Tanner.' The second name would be tied to one of my mate's abilities or could even be creative like 'Ava Brown' or 'Ava Waters,' or whatever second name is desired. People would be much better able to identify which 'Ava' is being spoken of and after identifying who the person is by full name, then the second name doesn't need to be mentioned again."

A look of understanding was now showing in Ayla's face. "Ava, I think you have a wonderful idea! Jondalar and I will want to decide what we will want our name to be. I think whatever name he and I decide on should be carried on through the sons although it wouldn't have to be."

"I agree with that, and the female would assume her mate's last name. I could say, 'We are Durcan and Ava Hunter,' and everyone would know exactly which 'Ava' I am."

"Ava, I think once your idea reaches the Zelandonii there will be a race for second names, and I think your idea is highly likely to be accepted and will spread very quickly." Ayla's prediction would prove to be correct.

"Thank you, Ayla... and there is something else I would like to do, but I don't want to confuse or offend you, Durcan, Jondalar, or even Jonayla and Cambarre when I meet them."

"I can't imagine what you could be talking about! Please speak of this something."

"Ayla, I would like to call you 'mother.' My parents are walking the Spirit World and I have no mother or father. I miss saying the words and the love and respect they convey. I know it may seem awkward at the start, but it is something I would like to be able to do."

"Ava, both Jondalar and I would consider it an honor to have you call us mother and father. You may have to explain to Durcan why you do this simply because he is a little bit possessive and because he is a man."

"One of Durcan's rough edges mother?" It felt good to say the word and have a mother again.

"Exactly," Ayla said with a smile. "Have you made any plans as to telling Durc?"

"Not yet mother. Should Durcan tell him in private or should we both tell him?"

"I would suggest both of you tell him. That way he can congratulate both of you together. Go ahead and ask if he minds if you call me mother. He will appreciate the fact you ask his blessing and if he gives you a hard time about it, I will smooth out a rough edge or two myself." Ayla's brief statement forced an involuntary laugh from Ava as tears built up in the young woman's eyes. Ayla gave Ava a hug and the two women enjoyed a brief cry together.

Durc did congratulate the two but could not comprehend how someone who was not his sister could call Ayla 'mother.' Durcan explained it to him; "Durc, just think of Ava as being your honorary sister."

"I can do that because I can conceive of it." Now Durc wanted to tease his brother. "Does this mean my brother wishes to mate my sister? This is wrong." Ava giggled at Durc's tease as Durcan quickly showed mild frustration.

"No Durc, she is your honorary sister. I am going to mate your HONORARY sister."

"That is what I said, my brother wishes to mate my sister. It is still wrong."

"No Durc, you are not understanding what the word 'honorary' means."

Interrupting, Ava whispered into Durcan's ear, "Your brother is teasing you." Durcan was a little embarrassed that Durc had managed to get the better of him. "Durc, I am going to mate our sister whether you like it or not, so get used to it!" Durcan said this in a lighthearted tone of defiance. Ava and Durc jointly broke out in laughter as Durcan held his chin in the air and smiled proudly.

Jondalar didn't have as much exposure to Ava as Durcan and Ayla did. He was present, but Ava's time was taken by Durcan as he had a man's interest in Ava as a mate, and as Ayla had a mother's interest in her son's intended mate. It was understandable Ayla would want to get to know the young woman. Ayla's intuition was uncanny and Jondalar didn't want to hinder her in any way. For his part, he had simply held back.

Ava wanted to get to know Jondalar better because a son generally emulates his father, and she was very impressed with Durcan. "Jondalar, you and I have not had much time together, would you go for a walk with me?" He jumped at the opportunity. The two walked to a nearby glade with colorful leaves on the ground and still more colored leaves in the trees.

"Jondalar, I want to know more about you. I know Durcan very well and I have been talking with Ayla about many things, but you and I have not really spoken very much. Tell me more about yourself and I can tell you more about myself. Please ask me any questions you may have in mind." Ava had a specific question she wanted Jondalar to ask.

"I would like that Ava. I don't think Ayla has told you how she and I met, has she?"

"No, she hasn't told me. I know some of her Clan past and that it was you who brought her to your Zelandonii people, but I don't know much more other than her becoming a Medicine Woman and later becoming First Zelandoni."

"Let's sit together and I will tell you a story you won't believe, but I swear every word I say will be unembellished truth." Ava knew she would hear truth; it seems to run in the family. "Thonolan, my younger brother, went on a journey some many years ago and I went with him. We were young and went in search of where Big River begins. We came across just a few different tribes on the trek, but we never did reach the beginning of Big River. Our trek was not wasted as the sights we had seen and our experiences were pleasures. We began the journey back to the Zelandonii and six months had passed as we traveled back south and then southwest. We were entering lands much like we are in now. Fall came upon us and my brother was leading the way when a buck deer came into view.

He was accurate with his throwing spear, and the animal was soon downed but a problem arose when a lioness laid claim to Thonolan's kill. The lion began dragging the deer to her cave. Thonolan was headstrong and insisted he wanted to follow the predator to her cave, wait until she left it, then retrieve his spear and a deer hindquarter as well. I argued strongly against his plan but to no avail and I reluctantly followed him. As Thonolan and I followed the lioness, we soon stumbled upon the female lion's mate. My brother was dead the moment the angry lion jumped on him and broke his neck. We had entered lion territory and the animal attacked in an instinctive manner as any creature would do to protect his lion pride and his domain.

"I was nearby, and the male lion caught a glimpse of me. He left my brother and attacked me as well, but I don't remember anything beyond that point. Ayla told me she saw what was happening and commanded the lion to stop killing me, then she began treating me for the injuries the lion inflicted. She was able to sew my body back together and bring me back to life. Later Ayla showed me the pole drag she used to get my body to her cave and the horse she used to pull the pole drag. 'Whinny,' was what she had named her pet horse. Later I learned the lion that attacked me had been given the name 'Baby' and that at one time he was Ayla's pet lion just like Blackie is Durcan's pet wolf." Ava's jaw dropped at hearing Ayla had a pet lion.

After Ayla became a woman, Durc came about after Leader Brun moved out of leadership. Broud was Brun's son and had managed to get elected as leader. He turned out to be a hostile leader and eventually ordered Mog-ur Goov to place a Death Curse on Ayla and she was thus forced to abandon Durc and the Clan she grew up in.

"She managed to find a cave and had been there for three years when Baby attacked Thonolan and then me. A lush valley below her cave had presented game and fruits of the land for her needs and her self-taught skill in using a sling and a throwing spear were what allowed her to survive. Facing south, the cave protected her from the winter winds of the North. This location was not chosen by accident, Ayla had purposely searched for small caves facing south and this was done just so she would benefit from a lack of cold winds from the North. Ayla had limited ability in speaking a language because she had a very limited vocabulary. The Clan who raised her only had signing to communicate, and much of the language she spoke as a child had been forgotten over the summers. I taught her to speak again by teaching her words and meanings just so I could talk with her and find out about her. The following spring, I took her to Lion Camp and after wintering there I brought her the rest of the way to my Zelandonii homeland and we mated.

She couldn't recall meeting or even seeing a man of the Others other than her father. That memory, along with the memory of her mother, had faded greatly by then. Her parents had died in an earthquake when the earth split open and simply swallowed them. Ayla was only four or five summers old when this happened. Understand, Ayla has a connection to The Great Earth Mother that goes far beyond anyone else and comes close to what her adopted father, Creb, had with Ursus. She explored the Spirit World with him and sees things from a viewpoint no one else has. I could say more but it would take a lifetime to tell it all." A pause in speaking met with silence from Ava, she felt Jondalar had more to say.

"I don't think Ayla has told you yet of how she became First Zelandoni. Jonayla was there at the time and her view of what happened was the same as the other people at The Sacred Mountain. She can recount what happened better than anyone and I will leave it to her to share that story with you."

"Jondalar, as you know, yesterday Durcan asked me to mate with him and I willingly accepted. Like you, he tells the truth. I wish to learn more of what he likes and doesn't like, and I have told him that he is ugly in a good-looking kind of way."

"Ugly in a good-looking kind of way? There must be a story behind that statement, would you tell me the story?" Jondalar had been doing most of the talking so far and Ava's odd statement had intrigued him just as she hoped it would. He had asked the question she wanted to hear.

"It is a story of a time in my life I will always cherish and remember, and it is a story I would be pleased to tell." Jondalar had asked the anticipated question and Ava now began to recount the entire story of her release from Kregg's Clan. The end of her story was when Durcan and she reached the hunt base camp and were introduced to Bandoman and Sky. Ava had held nothing back as she recounted the story and told of her feelings and thoughts in her interactions with Durcan.

The question yielded an answer that told Jondalar much about Ava's character. 'I like this young woman and I can see why Durcan is wanting to mate with her. Her red hair, green eyes, and good looks are certainly pleasing to the eye, but what is much more important is her intelligence and independent nature. That would be what intrigues Durcan.' Jondalar's thoughts showed he knew his son well.

"Jondalar, my parents have gone to the Spirit World. I have asked Ayla if I could call her 'mother' and she said it would be an honor if I did. She also told me you would be honored if I called you 'father.' She was speaking for you, but I want to ask you directly; may I call you 'father?' Would you feel honored?"

"After spending this time with you, I can see the honesty and character you show matches that which runs in our family, and to hear you call me father would warm my heart. May I call you my daughter?"

Ava's eyes quickly filled with tears. "Yes, father, please call me your daughter. Know that I will always try to honor you and mother." The two hugged each other as father consoled daughter. She now had someone she could call Mother and Father and it felt right.

"My daughter, let's get back and find your mother." Hand in hand, father and daughter walked back to camp as they continued to share thoughts and an occasional hand squeeze.

Mid-fall came and Durc wanted to hunt with just Jondalar and Durcan. Traveling as a group, the three men were enjoying the outdoors together and getting to know one another better. Marka, Sonja, Ayla, and Ava were following the men from a distance without the men knowing it. Sonja was a twelve summer Clan woman and was Uba's second helper and trainee.

It was the first hunt together for the three men and set up a bond of respect among them. The first kill was by Durcan when he downed a buck and the three men were standing over the buck and about to gut the animal.

"Stop where you are!"

A well-tanned hunter stepped from the edge of the forest and pointed to the downed deer. "This animal is ours. We have been tracking him since sunrise. We drove him into the open and were taking aim when you brought him down."

"Who are you?" Durc demanded.

"I am of the Markaii Tribe and named 'Kalkee.' Who are you?"

"I am 'Durc,' second leader of The Clan of the Cave Bear. We had no knowledge of your efforts in tracking and downing the buck." Durc looked at Durcan and could see a barely perceptible affirmative nod. "We will yield the kill you as we can get others. Come, take the deer and we three hunters will stand back." Durcan pulled his spear from the dead animal's chest and all three men then stepped back.

Now six more hunters came from the woods and walked right past the kill to quickly surround Durc, Jondalar, and Durcan. Durc had his throwing spear but was quickly disarmed when one of the seven raiders came from behind and knocked it from his hand. Jondalar and Durcan had spearthrowers in hand but they were useless at close range and the raiders already had spears poised." We will take our deer and whatever foods you have with you. Our people are starving, and we cannot allow our children to starve." A howl rang out as Kalkee, with belt knife in hand, used surprise to grab Durcan in a chokehold; the howl wasn't from Durcan.

Blackie had seen Durcan being grabbed and was instantly running to attack Kalkee. "Blackie, stop!" Jondalar's verbal command and hand sign stopped Blackie just ten paces from the raider's position. Hunched down for an attack and growling a firm warning, Blackie was making herself known; Kalkee was frozen in place. "Good Blackie, good wolf," Jondalar said as he walked over to pet the growling predator.

Durcan now spoke in a calm and factual manner, "Kalkee, I suggest you drop the knife you have at my throat and release me. My wolf hunter won't wait much longer before she attacks."

One of the raiders on the outside edge of the raider group shouted, "Tell your wolf to back away or I will throw my spear into the beast's gut." Ganry was the raider shouting.

Ayla, Sonja, Marka, Ava and Sky had just caught up to Durc's hunting group of three, and seeing a spear raised, Sky immediately went into action and attacked the raider holding the spear. Sky was biting the man's throwing arm and then his legs. He continued his vicious attack even after the raider dropped his spear. "Sky, STOP!" Ayla commanded. She then gave a second command; "Come Sky."

Now bloodied, Ganry, the threatening raider, drew his belt knife then lunged at Marka, she was the nearest stranger to him; he wanted to get a second hostage. This was a bad move on Ganry's part. Sky instantly hunkered down and began a second but slower approach toward the bloodied raider.

Blackie saw Sky getting ready to attack Ganry a second time and not being allowed to attack Kalkee, she joined with Sky and matched Sky's moves step for step. The pair approached the raider from his front. "Sky stop, Blackie stop... Now stay!" Ayla looked directly into the attacker's eyes. "It would be best if you drop your hunting knife and slowly back away."

"Not now that I have one of your women in my hands," was Ganry's reply.

At this point, Kalkee, the leader of the ragged group of raiders, dropped the knife he had on Durcan, released him, and then shouted loudly, "Ganry, let the woman go!"

Durcan now walked five steps then squatted down to pet both hunkered and growling wolves. "Hurt the man but try not to kill this one like you two did the last time." What Durcan said was a lie and he knew it, but under the circumstances, he felt no remorse in speaking as he had. It gave him a mental advantage over the attacker. Ganry shivered at Durcan's statement and apparent control of the two wolves.

Durcan now stood beside the two wolves and spoke with authority, "It's your decision Ganry. Do you want to still be breathing a finger of time from now? If so, you must let the woman go and can then slowly back away; do so and no further harm will come to you. Doing this is the only way you can save your life because no one can speak quickly enough to stop their attack once I release the wolves."

"Why should I trust what you say? You will likely attack even if I release the woman and step back."

Hearing Ganry's statement, Durcan twisted his body and spoke loudly. "Everyone back away. This 'Ganry' is not like the other 'Ganry' we know..." No man named 'Ganry' was known by anyone in Durcan's group. He just wanted to give his group the opportunity to get further away.

This was Durc's homeland and he felt a special need to take charge. Weaponless, Durc voiced a warning all could hear, "Raider, I will order my Clan's hunters to come after you and your companions if you don't do as my brother says. You are doing wrong here, and I will not stand for it."

Durc had spoken with strength in his voice and his warning was deadly serious. Durcan now commanded, "Step forward Blackie, step forward Sky," Both wolves walked two paces towards Ganry. "STOP!" The eyes of both predators were staring at the raider. Ganry saw the wolves unblinking stares and heard the deep unrelenting growls. It was two predator wolves against one raider now, and because of Blackie and Sky, Durcan knew he had a strong advantage. Seeing everyone backing away was disconcerting to Ganry; this was Durcan's intent.

Durcan continued, "Those with me can command wolves at will just as I do. We are armed with deadly spearthrowers and seldom miss. We can come in force at night, encircle your camp and burn your people out using instant fire. "The pack of wolves we will bring with us should remove any further concern as they feast. Ganry, you must never attack anyone again because we will likely hear if you do and your people's days left in this world may be counted on the fingers of two hands." These were threatening words spoken in a voice of strength and certainty.

"You have no such thing as 'instant fire,' such does not exist except for the Mother's lightning, and the fact you claim to have such ability shows me your weakness."

"I can prove the instant fire," Ayla interjected as she stepped forward. When Ayla heard Durcan say, 'instant fire,' she took the cue and quickly pulled firestones from her carry pouch. Mother and son were working together as an impromptu team.

Durcan took control again, "You, woman, quickly kindle a small fire." He had spoken and signed to Sonja, a twelve summer Clan youth and Uba's second trainee. Sonja came forward and quickly gathered leaves and twigs and added some dried moss from her carry pouch. She stepped back after the small fire was kindled as she didn't know what else may be wanted of her since she was only told to kindle a small fire.

Ayla now walked to the freshly kindled fire and then knelt down and struck her firestones together with a glancing blow. Eight sparks flew from Ayla's hand and into the moss. She was under pressure at the moment and wanted to be certain one solid strike of her firestones would start the needed fire. Waving a hand in front of the moss, the air movement created a flame that began to consume the leaves and then the twigs in the process.

Ganry couldn't believe his eyes. The same was true of Kalkee and the rest of his raiders. 'This is real! The instant fire is a real thing.' Kalkee and Ganry were sharing the same thoughts.

Durcan was now fully in control. "I will count to three and then command our wolves to attack. One ..."

"Hunter, there is no need to count further." As he backed away, Ganry dropped his knife and released Marka. The other five men still with knives and throwing spears did as their Hunt Leader did and dropped their weapons. Jondalar called to the wolves and they responded by ending the growls, backing away, and wagging their tails. The entire event was fully unreal to the raiders. One moment the wolves were deadly predators and a single call from any one of these people caused them to change into friendly creatures wanting human attention.

Durc signed to Marka and spoke the signing aloud as he signed, "Marka, tend to Ganry's wounds so he won't die from his injuries." He knew Uba had been training Marka for six summers now and was certain she could handle Ganry's wounds. Marka began to treat Ganry's wounds and Jondalar killed the 'proof fire' as it was no longer needed.

Durc then signed to his mother and Ayla signed back. He then turned and spoke so all of the Markaii men could hear. "I will order the women of my Clan to cook extra food so you and your men may eat with us. Come, pick up your weapons and follow us, my Clan is near." Durc was the group's leader since Jondalar, Ayla, and Durcan were outsiders to the area.

"We will honor your wishes and we offer our regrets for the actions we have taken." Kalkee was sincere in his apology.

While walking back to his Clan, Durc spoke with his mother, "Mother, why did you, Sonja, Ava, and Marka follow behind us, and where are Bandoman and Jaradal?"

"It was an opportunity to allow you men more time hunting together. We wanted to drag the first kill back to camp for you because doing so would allow you more time to hunt together. I didn't anticipate any danger, so I didn't tell Jaradal and Bandoman I was going out."

Kalkee had seen Durcan use a spearthrower to down a somewhat distant buck as they were walking. No matter what the reason was, his hunters and himself were once again armed and still not being threatened.

Reaching Durc's Clan, Kalkee and his raiders were in total surprise and wonder. 'Our attack was turned back on us, yet these people would render aid to our injured hunter, forgive us for the attack and then allow us to keep our weapons? Kalkee was an intelligent man and knew these actions were unheard of, knowing this, he was in deep thought.

Durc now approached Ayla and signed, "Mother, what would you think if I..." Signing between the two went back and forth quickly as Durc signed a few questions and Ayla signed replies and a few questions of her own.

Durc soon turned to speak to the raid leader. "Kalkee, as I said before, my name is Durc and I am Second Leader of my people. Do you have women and children in your camp?"

"We have eleven women and five children and there are two older boys and three more men in total," Kalkee replied. He would not normally reveal his group's strength but based on what had just occurred he felt no threat by the question.

"My people had always been peaceful under our old leaders, but a man named 'Muckee' is our tribe's leader now and he wants a larger territory and more people to rule. Those in the families with me refused to attack peaceful hunters from the Northwest and this is why we are voluntary outcasts from our own people. Muckee lies and will say what he thinks you want to hear, then he will stab you as you sleep."

A momentary pause ensued and Ganry interjected, "Or he will have someone else do it for him." Ganry's statement was grim and was both figurative and literal.

Durc spoke again but in a softer tone. "Being outcasts, you have no people. I now suggest that you do not leave our lands, but instead gather your small tribe and consider sheltering with my Clan through the coming winter. We are 'The Clan of the Cave Bear,' and some within our Clan are of mixed spirits like me. We can offer your people food and shelter through the winter as it does not appear you have the independent ability to survive a winter and certainly not if it is a harsh one. What you see here is simply Others and Clan together. Understand, I cannot offer you a people to claim because you are not of the Clan. My Clan does have Others like you living with us and there are reasons why. We have more than eighty people in our caves and have weapons that guarantee our survival through the winter even with the addition of your people."

Ayla now turned to Kalkee and asked, "How quickly could the remainder of your people get here if your men left now to bring them?"

"Leaving now, they could be back by early dark. We have little to pack so there would be only a short delay in bringing them here," Kalkee answered.

Ayla nodded to Durc and he returned the nod and then ordered Sonja to have the cooks roast enough meat for an additional twenty-six people. Ayla spoke again, "Eat with us as Durc has offered, then go to your people. Take cooked meat with you as I suspect your people are hungry. Come directly back and we will have a second meal and shelter ready." Both meals would be welcome gifts to the Markaii. The two deer killed today were already gutted and ready for butchering.

Ayla knew feeding an additional twenty-six people would not be a problem because Jondalar had killed two bucks just yesterday. He had gutted his two large bucks immediately after he killed them and had already butchered them for roasting. In this rich land, getting fresh meat daily was not much of a problem even in winter, but only because of the spearthrower weapon. It was early fall and downing enough game to accommodate the additional Markaii people through the winter would not be a problem. The meat would be dried, stored in permafrost pits, and used as needed.

"Ayla, I am proud of our son. He managed the wolves to his advantage and was firm and controlled in his confrontation with Ganry. Durcan's words and actions likely saved Marka's life." Ayla's eyes were beginning to tear up; both of her sons were leaders.

"Jondalar, the authority in their signing and voice, the way each of them reacted to the threats, the strength in Durc's voice when he confronted Ganry and the band of raiders, the way Durcan ordered Sonja to get wood and brush for a fire and the thought processes represented by Durc's offer to help the homeless people are all things that signify a leader." Both men had shown remarkable strength, resourcefulness, and compassion in a time of peril. Looking at Ayla, Jondalar knew what she was thinking.

He took his teary-eyed mate's hand as the two walked away. "They are both your sons Ayla, and they show it. Did you expect less?"

Twenty-six people under Kregg's leadership reached the Clan of the Cave Bear by early dark. Kalkee and Ganry had remained with Durc and did not return to the Markaii nomad campsite with their fellow hunters. Marka had said it would be best if Ganry didn't travel for a few weeks as his injuries would take a good amount of time to heal, Kalkee stayed as a companion.

"Marka, please forgive me for taking you hostage. I was struggling to save my people and using force seemed to be the only thing I could do at the time."

"Ganry, I don't know what I would do if I had children needing food to survive. As desperation set in, I might have resorted to force as you and your hunters did. Realizing this, I must forgive your actions. I do this without reservation and wish only the best for your people."

Ayla had been right. The men, women, and children of the Markaii nomads all showed signs of malnourishment. A meal and shelter had been prepared for the Markaii families. The older Markaii youth and the Markaii adults understood what the Clan was offering was not just food and shelter, they were offering every Markaii man, woman, and child the opportunity to continue living. This gesture of kindness would not be forgotten.

Upon arriving at The Clan of the Cave Bear, Durc's people were told what the raiders had done. The people understood what desperation can drive a person to do and as winter passed, the Markaii women made friends among Durc's Clan, the men did the same.

With Ayla, Durcan, Ava, Bandoman, Jaradal, Ura, and Durc acting as translators, communication between the two peoples was not much of a problem. Reebrun and A-laa did the translations for the children. Jondalar kept busy hunting game and avoided acting as a translator as he was limited in the art of signing.

The Clan and Markaii children quickly blended into the fabric of childhood as they played and learned each other's games The Clan children taught the Markaii children how to play 'cone toss.' The game was simply trying to toss a pinecone into a basket hanging from a low limb and a point was scored for each cone that went into the basket. The Markaii children taught the Clan children a game they called 'Stag' because only one person at a time was 'it.' Those in the Clan had trouble in speaking the 's' sound and voiced the name sound as 'tag.'

'Hide and seek' was another game the Markaii children taught the Clan children how to play. This proved to be a favorite for all the children, and a number of adults as well.

This was an easier time for Ayla, her Clan, and the Markaii nomads. She was reunited with Durc and had met Ura, Durc's mate. Just as wonderful, perhaps even more so, she met and played with Reebrun and A-laa, two grandchildren she had been totally unaware of.

Ayla took a moment to reflect, 'I have family with Jondalar, Durc and Ura have given me grandchildren, Cambarre and Jonayla have already given birth to Marthona and may have more children in the future and I feel certain Durcan and Ava will be giving me grandchildren as well.' "Great Earth Mother, I give thanks for Your blessings and especially for giving me family." Ayla was alone at the moment and had felt a need to speak her thanks aloud.

Prayer was important to Ayla as it was a personal matter and something she had done with her birth parents as a child. She had very little memory of it but learned of Ursus while raised within the Clan of the Cave Bear and later learned of the Great Earth Mother when she found Jondalar and the Zelandonii.