After the Death Curse

by Sheri Contrary

What woman could walk away from her child? This is what happens to Ayla when she refuses to leave Broud's Clan at the end of The Clan of the Cave Bear. For the most part, this disregards books 2-6...except for customs of the Others. IN PROGRESS (but I have no intention of finishing...sorry).

5. Part 5

Author's Note

Reminder – this fic is UNFINISHED...so when you get to (and through) part ten, don't bitch at me that you weren't warned! In fact, you are being warned at both the top AND bottom of each and every part, so...yeah!

And again...I apologize for the possible lack of scene divisions. They were there when I uploaded this document, I swear! But this site is weird about NOT including everything I write. However, though I said (in part one) that I wouldn't edit them back in, I have tried...might have missed some though...sorry. So aggravating! *sigh*

And further...sorry about the typographical errors. This was written years ago, when I was new to writing and just didn't know any better. I have, since then, learned A LOT! However, not all the errors are mine, as this site seems to make changes without my knowledge and/or consent. It's WEIRD!

After the Death Curse – Part Five (of ten)

NEW CHAPTER –

A few days went by in similar fashion, with questions turning into storytelling and storytelling leading to more storytelling. More detail was given about Ayla's life with the Clan and the people of Lion Camp were shocked to hear about her life, though all thought that she was lucky to have been found by the Clan and raised as one of them. If she had not been, she would have died for sure.

Nezzie, in particular, was in awe over what the young woman had gone through. She was also more than a little grateful to the people on the peninsula, because now no one at Lion Camp would ever consider them anything but human ever again.

Though Ayla told Nezzie and Talut that she could not heal Rydag permanently, the child was looking better already. The young mixed boy's skin color appeared to look a little healthier and the swelling in the child's face and limbs seemed to go down. But, despite positive appearances, he was still a weak and sickly child, and they would have to watch him closely. There was nothing that could be done about that. He did, however, love his new ability to communicate with his people and he was thrilled to have Durc there to help him. The two boys became fast friends. Ayla was already worrying about the time they would have to leave, but knew there was nothing she could do about it—for Durc was destined to someday lead Brun's Clan.

Ayla, of course, also spent a lot of time with Rydag and reminded him of all he should have known had he been raised by a Clan. In watching the woman work in earnest with the boy, Grov was continually surprised at his mate's depth of knowledge about the Clan. He mostly kept silent when she told Rydag about the people by whom he should have been raised, because he loved listening to his mate speak. Ayla did confer with him on several occasions though, and Grov was a great help, since he was Clan and a man. But again, Ayla was amazing in her mate's eyes.

Everyone could see that the child was happier now and, for some reason, his new ability to communicate made his humanity all the more visible.

~oxoxo~

One morning, Nezzie watched the children talking in the Clan way and sighed. "That must be his way to communicate," she said while cooking everyone a hot meal. She looked at Ayla. "I cannot believe how quickly he has picked it up."

"That is to be expected, Nezzie," Ayla said. "He obviously has the Clan's memories."

"Yes, you have mentioned that before, but I'm not sure I understand," the older woman said. "What are Clan memories?"

"Well, it is like...well, you remember everything that you have ever done, right?" Ayla asked. "I mean, with some exceptions, no one remembers everything."

"Yes," Nezzie said hesitantly.

"The Clan memories are not so different than that, except that they remember what happened to their ancestors too." Ayla smiled, then added. "They remember back to their beginnings."

"Wow!" Nezzie said—then she frowned. "But, if that's the case, then...why didn't Rydag know that his mother's people communicated in such a way."

"Well, as far as I can tell, the Clan is born knowing everything that they need to know, but they have to be reminded of what the already know. So, since there was no one here to remind him, he wouldn't have done it on his own. Besides, you wouldn't have known what he was doing anyway, so it wouldn't have mattered."

"I suppose you are right, Ayla. I wish we had met you sooner, so that he could have learned all of this sooner, but I guess it doesn't matter now." Nezzie looked sad.

Ayla hugged the woman, knowing what she was thinking and wishing she could do something to correct the problem with Rydag's heart, but a congenital heart defect could not be repaired, no matter how good a medicine woman one was.

~oxoxo~

After several more days passed, and the storytelling was winding up, Talut suggested another 'before summer meeting' celebration, to which Nezzie rolled her eyes. "Talut, if you want to drink your bouza, we don't have to have another celebration. Just drink it!"

Talut laughed heartily at his mate's consternation, but insisted that he just wanted to show their visitors a good time. Then, an idea came to the big man and the conversation shifted to hunting. It was not difficult to convince people that they should plan a hunt for the celebration. "Just for one or two animals," he said when Tulie balked. "We don't really need much. I just want fresh meat. And besides, we would have done a little hunting before the summer meeting anyway, to be ready for our return from Amber Camp."

Tulie thought for a moment, then nodded. It would be nice to have something new. The woman looked around for Mamut, since they first had to decide what was out there for the hunting, if anything. "Mamut, would you please search," Tulie asked the old man.

"There is no need. I already have," Mamut said simply. The man had an incredible way of knowing what his people would want, before they even asked.

Though a huge and powerful man, Talut shivered, wondering how those that served the Mother always seemed to know what was going to be requested. "Okay," the headman replied. "What have you found?"

"I have found a valley full of horses, west of here. But it is very far...perhaps five to six days journey from here," Mamut said. "However, due north, about one day's journey, I have found a herd of aurochs. They are just grazing."

Talut looked at Tulie. "What do you think?"

Tulie frowned. "I would rather have horse meat, but they are too far away right now," she said. "Let's go north."

Talut nodded his agreement, then looked back at the old man. "Can you tell us the makeup of the animals, Mamut?" The old man shook his head, making the headman's forehead scrunch up.

"We should send someone ahead, two people, perhaps," Barzec suggested, then he turned to his co-mate. "Darnev, you are the fastest runner...I know that we just got back, but would you be willing to go?"

Tulie's co-mate nodded. "But, I won't be running if I'm taking someone else with me," he said. "Who should go with me?"

Barzec smiled. "I was thinking that one of our visitors might want to go with you. What do you say, Grov?" Over the last few days, Barzec had spent many an evening talking to Grov about the way the Clan hunted versus the way the Mamutoi and Sungaea hunted. Grov had expressed a great deal of interest in all aspects of the topic, so Barzec thought he should be the person Darnev brought with him.

Grov had been listening intently, but was surprised that they'd ask one of their visitors to go with them on the scouting mission. "I'd like to go, but I think Ayla would be most interested in going on this scouting trip as well." He smiled over at his mate—and she back at him. He knew that, though she would not ask, she was dying to go hunting with these people.

"Well, I think you could both come with me," Darnev replied. "Two won't slow me down any more than one."

And so it was planned, the next day, the three of them would start out, with the rest following the day after that.

~oxoxo~

When the sun rose the next day, Darnev, Grov, and Ayla got up, dressed quickly and prepared their packs to leave. While the man talked to some of the people about their scouting trip, Ayla conversed with the women. Ayla turned to Laurana, "Are you sure it's okay to leave these three here?" she said gesturing toward her little ones.

"Of course it is, Ayla," Laurana replied, holding Annaliza. "I need the practice, after all, and it's not like I'll be doing it alone. There's a whole camp of people here to help and Tronie's already promised to nurse Anna if she won't take solid food."

Tronie had come up beside the departing woman and smiled. "Not to worry Ayla," she said with a wave of her hand. "I have always had plenty of milk, because Nuvie is a big eater. Now go and work hard...and don't forget to have some fun too!"

Ayla smiled. She knew her children would be fine. She looked around the main space in the Mamutoi earthlodge and wondered how they had come to feel like family so quickly. Durc was sitting with the children of his age and teaching them more Clan words. They were learning very quickly and that made Ayla happy for Rydag's sake. Ayla smiled again, then frowned when she saw Rydag's small frame sitting next to Durc. He was already nearly as fluent as Durc and she was thrilled for him, but his health problems broke her heart. Ayla looked over at Nezzie. "You will send someone to get me if Rydag needs me?"

"Of course I will Ayla," the older woman said. "He is my son." Ayla smiled again, thinking that it was silly of her to worry so much.

Then Ayla looked around for Ora. Ora and Nuvie were being attended by some of the older girls that liked having live dolls to play with. Ayla turned back to Laurana, who handed her her baby. Ayla placed a kiss on the child's cheek and nuzzled her close, then handed her back. "You be good for cousin Laurana," Ayla said to Annaliza. Annaliza just nodded, then stuck her thumb in her mouth. "And Laurana, I want you to rest. You are far enough along in your pregnancy now that your baby should be fine if you had it now, but let's not overdo it, okay? Make sure you put someone else to work once in a while and not do all the work yourself." Laurana nodded.

"Don't worry Ayla, I will not let her 'overdo it.' She will have plenty of help," Nezzie said.

Then Ayla turned to Danie. "And I do not want to see you on this hunt Danie," Ayla lectured. "You stay here when the hunters leave."

Danie giggled. "Like Ivanolia would let me go on this hunt even if I wanted to," the pregnant woman said with a huge grin.

Ivanolia was standing pretty close and had overheard the conversation. "She won't be going anywhere, Ayla," he said with a smile.

~oxoxo~

After quite a bit of discussion and goodbyes, the three scouters gave final hugs to the people they were leaving behind. Tulie, Barzec, and several others hugged Darnev, while Ayla and Grov hugged their family and friends, then they set out in a northerly direction.

The people of Lion Camp, and all the visitors, stood outside watching them go, waving their hands with the typical come back motion, then went back inside when the travelers were out of sight. Those that were left behind may not be leaving for the hunt on this day, but they had planning to do. The next day would be their day to leave and they had to decide who was going on the hunt and who would be staying behind with the children.

~oxoxo~

Back inside the earthlodge, Talut and Tulie called a meeting to organize who would go on the hunt. Everyone quickly moved around the main cooking hearth, found a seat, and prepared to listen. When the big headman saw that his people were ready, he looked over at his sister, an unspoken thought went between them.

"Okay, let's start with who wants to go on this hunt," Tulie said. Talut's hand was up before anyone else's and Tulie smiled. "Brother, we all know that you are going." The woman paused, as he reluctantly put his hand down. "Who else wants to go?" Tulie looked around at the hands—Barzec, Wymez, Vincenzia, Darvie, Brulenzia, Ivanolia, Tornec, Travec, Dreenie, Tralie, and Deegie, plus Talut and herself, and the three already away scouting—and thought there was no way that just one or two animals would get away from this many people. In fact, she thought, they were likely to kill the at least half of the herd with this lot, if it wasn't too large and they had good luck.

The big headwoman smiled stoically. "Well, okay then, I think we have our hunting party."

Talut was pleased with the amount of people that wanted to go as well, but he looked around and his eyes came to his mate's eldest son, who was standing with Latie and Druwez. He quickly considered the two boys, almost of an age to have their first Red-foot, and immediately made a decision. "And of course Danug and Druwez will go too," he said.

Tulie looked over at the two boys and shrugged her shoulders. "That makes eighteen. That will be more than enough to kill two beasts," she said. Then she looked at the people that would stay. There were many children being left in the care of only seven adults. She turned to Nezzie. "Would you like anyone else to stay behind to look after the children?" the headwoman asked her brother's mate.

Nezzie looked at the children, noticing immediately that Latie was upset at not being invited on the hunt. She knew the feeling, but understood why her mate had not suggested that the girl go as well; she would be needed at the earthlodge. "No Tulie, we will be fine here," she said putting her arm around her daughter and squeezing her shoulder.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

Darnev led Grov and Ayla north through the valley that Lion Camp called Lev Valley, following Lev River, and discussing hunting from the Clan standpoint. The two men were talking freely, but Ayla was only listening. Though she had been hunting for years, she had never been allowed to discuss hunting with the men—and had only actually hunted once with men other than Grov. She thought about the time she had gone out sling hunting with Grov, Dorg and, Daub, and glanced around wondering where Shriek was.

"Very interesting," Darnev was saying. "So Clan women really do not hunt at all?

Grov shook his head. "Well no, well except for Ayla, but then, she is not really Clan."

Ayla's head shot up and she frowned. She was suddenly focused on their conversation. She did not know that her mate did not think of her as Clan. "I am Clan, Grov," she protested. He looked at her and realized that she really thought of herself as part of their Clan, and he blushed, knowing that he had hurt her feelings.

"I am sorry Ayla," he said. "I did not mean..."

She smiled up at him. She knew that he did not mean to hurt her. "That is okay," she said waving a hand to draw the attention away from her red face. She did not like that she had interrupted the men's conversation and embarrassed her mate.

Darnev watched them, and could tell that Ayla's heritage had caused some problems in her past. It made him think of Rydag and how different he had seemed to them at first. The man decided to redirect the conversation. "So Ayla, we have already heard how you became a hunter and I have heard so much about how skilled you are with your sling. Would you care to show me."

Grov smiled at the man gratefully. "That is a wonderful idea," he said, turning and taking his mate's shoulders. "Ayla is the best sling hunter of our Clan." His eyes were glowing.

Ayla blushed at his praise, then looked at Darnev. "Well, okay," she said. "What would you like me to hit?"

Darnev looked around and spied a tree not too far up ahead. "How about that tree?" he said pointing.

Grov gave a guttural laugh. "That's not very far away. She can throw much farther than that, but I guess she can start there." Ayla smiled, knowing that the tree was an easy target and well within her reach, so she dug into a pouch around her waist, retrieved a stone, then loaded up and fired. She aimed not for the tree, but for one of its branches and, as the stone stuck its target, the branch snapped off and dropped to the ground.

Darnev smiled. "Wow! How far can you throw a stone? That was obviously too close."

Ayla looked around. "I could probably hit those rocks that are over there," she said pointing eastward at a rock formation.

"I'd say that is at least four times the distance than the branch you just hit," Darnev said with an impressed tone. "That is amazing."

"Yes, Ayla is amazing with her sling, but distance doesn't really mean anything, if you are not accurate, which she is," Grov went on. "She could probably hit a moving animal at that distance as well.

Just as Grov was saying this, Ayla noticed that a few birds had lifted off from the tree she had struck, and pointed at them as they flew away from them. "I will get two of those birds," she said, as she readied her sling with two stones and let fly. "Thwack, Thwack!" was all that could be heard, and two birds fell to the ground ahead of them.

Darnev's jaw dropped open as the woman darted off to retrieve her kills. The birds had easily doubled the distance from them and the tree in the short time that they had talked about what Ayla should hit next, and the man was impressed. "She is very good," he said to Grov.

"Yes, she is," Grov said proudly. "There is none better." The Clan man paused briefly. "In our Clan anyway."

Darnev grinned. "I'd wager that there is none better anywhere," he said.

When the two men caught up to Ayla, she had already given one of the birds to Shriek, who had mysteriously appeared overhead when the woman arrived at her kill. True to his name, the hawk shrieked loudly, then lifted off and flew out of sight. Ayla smiled as he flew off, then looked at the two men. "I think we have tonight's meal," she said, holding up the remaining bird.

The two men grinned. "Fresh meat!" they said in unison.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

With help from several hands, Nezzie worked hard on a meal for the people. When she was sure that it would be ready soon, she wiped her hands on a small leather hide she had tied around her waist, and looked around for Latie. The girl was not in the cooking hearth, but Nezzie saw Danug and Druwez sitting across the room discussing the coming hunt excitedly. She went to the boys.

"Have you two seen Latie anywhere?" she asked.

The two boys shook their heads. "No mother," Danug said. "Latie didn't want to discuss hunting, so she left the cooking hearth."

Nezzie raised an eyebrow at the two boys, giving them a knowing look, then left the hearth to find her oldest daughter.

~oxoxo~

Nezzie didn't have far to go to find her daughter as Lion Hearth of the first hearth after the cooking hearth. Nezzie stepped into the space that defined her hearth and saw Latie lying on her back on her bed platform with tears streaming down her face. Nezzie approached slowly and sat down beside her. Latie wiped her tears away with the backs of her hands, then looked away from her mother.

"Latie," Nezzie said, touching her daughter's arm. "I know how badly you want to go. I'm sure that Talut will let you go soon, but you know that I will need your help here, since we have so many more children to look after this time."

Latie frowned, heaved a sob, then sat up and hugged her mother. "But why me? Talut only allowed Danug and Druwez to go because they are boys. He did not even consider me. It's not fair."

Nezzie considered her daughter's statement and agreed that it was probably part true. "You are just a little younger than the boys, and no one said that life is fair, Latie," the woman said to her daughter as she held her.

Latie pulled back from her mother's embrace and wiped her tears away again. "Mother, I have shown much skill in hunting small animals around the earthlodge. I am far better than Druwez at catching game. And, Druwez is only a year older than I. I do not think that is a good reason to allow him to go on the hunt and make me stay behind."

Nezzie had to admit that her daughter was right. At eleven years old, Latie had proved to be skillful in many areas and hunting was one area in which she excelled. "You are right, daughter, it is not a good reason, and I am sure Talut has just overlooked you this time. I am sure that he did not mean to. I could definitely use your help here with the children, but I will talk to Talut and Tulie about allowing you to go along."

Latie gave her mother a huge smile and hugged her tightly. "Are you sure, mother? If you really need me here, I will stay, but I want to go hunting so badly."

"No Latie, you are right, you should be allowed to go and we do have plenty of adults to care for the children," Nezzie said, as she stood up to leave. "I will go talk to them right now."

~oxoxo~

When Nezzie got back to the cooking hearth, she saw that Talut, Tulie, Barzec, and Vincenzia were still talking about the hunt, so she decided she would talk to them right away. As she approached them, she had to sidestep Nuvie and Ora who toddled by holding hands, and the woman smiled as the two girls giggled loudly.

Nezzie came up beside her mate, who was booming on about the hunt excitedly. He did not miss a beat when his mate stepped in, but put his arm around her and pulled her close, as he continued to speak. When there was an opening in the conversation, Nezzie interrupted.

"Talut, Tulie," Nezzie said to get their attention. "I would like to make a suggestion, if that is alright."

Tulie looked down at her brother's mate and smiled. The younger woman hadn't gone out on any hunting expeditions in a long time, preferring instead to stay at the lodge and care for Lion Camp's children, but Tulie respected Nezzie's suggestions and opinions greatly, as they were always sensible. "Well, of course it is okay, Nezzie," Tulie said. The four people standing there turned their full attention to the shorter woman and waited.

Nezzie cleared her throat, then launched on. "It has been brought to my attention that Latie would like to be invited on this hunt," she said, then went on before anyone could object. "She may be just a girl, but she is only one year younger than Druwez and, with all due respect to Aurochs Hearth," Nezzie said looking into the eyes of the headwoman and her mate, "Latie is just a little more skilled than your son when it comes to hunting." The headwoman and Barzec both nodded; they agreed completely. "I think she could be an asset to the hunt. And, I think we will have all the help we need around here, with the visitors helping out, and the children on their best behavior," the woman said, finishing up her speech, and looking at each person in turn.

Tulie was nodding. "I do not see any reason why Latie cannot come with us," the headwoman said, looking at her brother, then at her mate. "She is a good hunter, and we could use all the help we can get when it comes time for butchering. I am thinking that this little hunt, is going to be much bigger than we had originally planned."

Barzec was nodding as well. "Yes, I would agree that Latie is a very skilled hunter for her eleven years. I would agree to her coming along."

"Well, I know I am not part of Lion Camp," Vincenzia said, "but we have a couple children of ten years that we allow to come along on hunting trips; they have been very useful."

Talut was unusually silent as he listened to the comments of the people, then he looked over to see Latie standing in the entranceway of the cooking hearth. She was looking over at Danug and Druwez with a wistful expression. He could tell that she had been crying and he felt terrible that he had left her out. She was growing up fast and would probably be a woman very soon. He looked back at the people that had gone silent; waiting for him to speak.

The headman nodded, adding his agreement to the group. "Yes, I also see no reason why Latie cannot go on the hunt." He looked at Nezzie who hugged him happily.

"I will go tell—" Nezzie started to say, but Talut cut her off.

"No, let me go talk to her," Talut interrupted. "I was the one that left her out. I should be the one to make it right." Then the big man excused himself. Nezzie watched her mate go, and was once again thankful that she had fallen for the big gentle man.

~oxoxo~

Latie had come into the cooking hearth shortly after her mother left Lion Hearth and eyed the group her mother was talking to. There seemed to be a lot of discussion, so Latie turned away, looking instead at Danug and Druwez. In turning away, she missed the nodding heads of the adults.

Her brother and cousin, since they were avidly discussing something, had not noticed her return, and she frowned. She wasn't sure if she wanted to go talk to them; they were probably still talking about the hunt and she didn't want to hear about it if she couldn't go herself. She was just about to go sit down with them anyway when Talut appeared at her side.

"Latie?" he said. She had obviously been far off in her own thoughts, for she had not seen the big man approach until he was right there. "Can I talk to you?"

"Yes, Talut," Latie said, trying desperately to hold her composure. "Of course you can talk to me."

Talut took the hand of the first daughter of his mate, and led her around the corner to the long passageway and sat her down on one of the benches. He knelt down in front of her so that he was looking straight into her eyes and he touched a stand of her blonde hair. "Latie, would you like to come on this hunt with us?"

Latie looked into his eyes, then allowed a huge grin to split across her face. "Really?" she asked—and, when he nodded, she threw her arms around his neck and allowed her tears to fall.

The big man hugged Nezzie's daughter back, lifted her up into the air, and as he stood with her in his arms, he let a few of his own tears fall. Yes, this girl would be a woman before he knew it; he had better start treating her like one.

~oxoxo~

When Latie and Talut returned to the cooking hearth, Nezzie saw the change in the girl immediately. She was glowing. Nezzie also noticed that Talut was looking at the girl differently as well, and she smiled; he has finally noticed that she is growing up, she thought with pleasure.

The two of them knew that the girl was not a woman yet and that it could still be a year or two before she became one, but it was good to have your eyes open, she thought, and now they most definitely did.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – "A Gift For Danug, Druwez, and Latie"

There was great excitement among the people at Lion Camp. After it had been determined who would go on the hunt and everyone had eaten, Talut and Tulie began organizing what would be brought on the hunt. It was not a lot, but it still had to be decided upon.

"Now, we are not going to hunt too many animals," Tulie said. "After all, it's almost time to leave for the summer meeting."

"No, no," Talut said. "Just three or four of them."

Tulie smiled at her brother. "Talut, first it was supposed to be one animal, then it turned into two. Now, it's three or four?"

The big man smiled at the woman. "Well, if the herd is there and we can make the kills easily, then it will save us some hunting when the summer meeting is over."

The big headwoman nodded, thinking that her brother was very wise—then another thought came to her. "But what if something breaks into the lodge while we are away? If that happens, then our hard work will be for naught.

"True, but if the kills come easily, then it will not really matter. Besides, we still have some time before we leave and many hands to help with the work. What do you say?"

Tulie nodded. She knew her brother could not pass up a good hunt. And he was right; they had many hands.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

Darnev, Grov, and Ayla traveled until dusk, then stopped for the night. They had only brought a single tent to sleep in, so Ayla went to work on that, while Grov started their fire. Darnev unpacked only the things they would need for that evening, then helped Ayla with the tent.

The set up only took moments for the well-traveled people. Though Grov and Ayla had not been used to travel before their journey to Oak Camp, they had learned quickly—and Darnev was used to it. When the fire was blazing, Ayla made tea for them and Darnev passed out some traveling food to snack on while Ayla cooked the bird she had caught.

"How much further do we have to go?" Ayla asked Darnev after she sat down with her meal, then took a bite of her food.

Darnev looked around. "I noticed aurochs prints this afternoon, so they must have watered here as recently as yesterday," he said. "We probably could have made it to them tonight, but it's really not necessary and it could scare them off if we get so close too soon."

"What is the plan?" Grov asked.

"We usually approach a herd cautiously, taking into account the wind direction, so as not to give chase before we are ready, then we count them when they are in view, and try to figure out which way they are going. Then, we come back to tell the others what we saw and discuss the make up of the herd versus our needs."

"Hmm," Grov said. "That's pretty close to what the Clan would do, except for coming back to tell the others. We don't usually send out scouts, we just go, hunt and come back. We do count them, but not by numbers like you do. The Clan does not have numbers. We just make ourselves aware of bulls, cows, pregnant or not, young ones, old ones, and the amount of meat we need. Then the hunt leader tells everyone what to do."

"That is interesting," Darnev said. "And you said that only the men hunt, right?" Both Grov and Ayla nodded. "That must make it hard to kill a lot of meat at one time. We only have five men at Lion Camp and two boys that are ready to start hunting. We'd have to go out much more often if we only allowed men to hunt."

"Yes, very often," Ayla replied. "Clan men go out at least half the days that the weather is good, but we have...fourteen men in our cave, so maybe that helps us."

"Yes, Ayla, you have many men, but how many women and children do you have?" Darnev asked. "Fourteen men can kill many animals, but they still have to go out often because there are many, many people in your camp."

Ayla frowned, but nodded, understanding what the older man was saying. "Yes, I understand," she said. "We have fifteen women, eighteen children, three babies and one old man. It must be very difficult to have to try to feed that many people."

Grov smiled. He hadn't thought about how many people they had in their cave, but he was impressed that Ayla could count them up so quickly.

"That's a big camp," Darnev said, impressed as well, though not with the quick addition. He was amazed at the number of people that lived together in one camp. "Is that how many people are in other Clan camps."

Grov shook his head. "No, we have an unusually large cave of people. It is good we found such a large cave to live in. We were actually three Clans that joined together after the earthquake Ayla told everyone about during the storytelling. My Clan was traveling east when we happened upon some people from Broud's Clan by accident, and Corg's Clan was traveling north, looking for Broud's Clan, because one of the girls in his Clan will mate with Durc when they grow up."

"So, you have fourteen men hunting for . . . fifty-one people?" Darnev asked questioningly. Both Ayla and Grov nodded. "Wow!" Darnev said. "Now I'm really impressed!"

~oxoxo~

The three scouters continued their discussion about hunting animals, and the ways in which the Clan differed from the Mamutoi. Darnev was gaining a healthy respect for these Clan people that not many Others had the chance to get to know. When it was finally time to turn in, the man couldn't get his mind off the boy that had come to mean so much to Lion Camp. He didn't even think his camp realized how much the boy meant, he was just a part of them now.

Inside the tent, Ayla had arranged everyone's sleeping furs so that she was in the middle of the two men and she and Grov were already snuggled into their furs when the Mamutoi man crawled into the small traveling tent. He could hardly see the other two people as he lay down, because the fire was burning low outside, but he could smell the beautiful young woman next to him and smiled. It will be a tight fit for three big adults in this small tent, Darnev thought, but at least everyone will stay warm.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

It was pretty late by the time the people of Lion Camp finally went to bed. Latie, in particular, could not contain her excitement. In fact, Danug, Druwez, and Latie were giddy with joy over the prospect of actually being allowed to hunt. All three of them had attended hunts before, but they hadn't been allowed to do much more than watch.

Just before Druwez separated off from the other two, as they were readying for bed, Wymez approached the three and handed each of them an expertly made spear. The three youngsters took the gift from the older man, and inspected it. All three spears had expertly made flint tips, but all were different in some way. It was obvious that Ranec had done much of the work as well. The two men had put a lot of effort into each one and the three young people could tell that they had been working on them for some time.

Danug's spear was the largest, as he was a huge young man, just like his mother's mate, and it was dyed a fiery red to match the man's hair, and wrapped with dark brown sinew at one end, to hold the tip in place, and at the other end, as a place to grip the long spear. Wymez had asked Ranec to carve a lion head into the shaft, which the dark, young man had done with the expertise that only he could produce, but Ranec had not only carved the image of a lion's head, but the whole body as well, wrapping the lion's tail down and around the shaft, making it look as if it were moving.

Latie's spear was much shorter than her brothers, but it too had been dyed the color of her hair, a golden blonde color, with deep blonde streaks cascading down the shaft, which she knew had taken some work. Latie held the spear gingerly and touched the finely made flint tipped point carefully; she could tell that it was very sharp and that the slightest pressure would have broken the skin on the end of her finger. The young girl smiled and ran her hand down over the light brown sinew, which held the tip in place, and then examined the image of a lioness that Ranec had carved into her spear. Its tail was not wrapped around the shaft in a spiral, as Danug's was, but instead went back and forth down the spear's length, giving the impression that the lioness was flicking her tail, getting ready to give chase. It was exquisite.

Druwez's spear, though not as long as Danug's, was larger than Latie's. It was a deep dark brown, matching his hair almost perfectly as well, and was wrapped in the same manner as the other two, but with an almost white sinew, that Druwez knew had been costly, since there were not many people that knew how to make leather white, and none which resided at Lion Camp. Druwez turned the spear around to look at Ranec's craving, and saw that the man had put an aurochs on his, to match the hearth in which he lived, and that the animal's head was bent down, horns protruding forward, as if charging, with his tail wrapped around the shaft in the same way that Danug and Latie's lion tails were stretched out, and curled around their spears.

Wymez stood there watching the three young people inspect their new weapons, and then examine the spears of the others. He desperately wished Ranec was here while the gifts were being given, but knew that this was the right time, for these three were going on their first true hunt and this would give them good luck.

"Oh Wymez," Latie gushed, throwing her arms around her mother's brother. "These are wonderful." Tears were coming out of her eyes, as she buried her face in his beard and kissed him happily.

Danug and Druwez smiled at the man, nodding their joy at his gift. "Thank you very much Wymez," Druwez said. "This will bring us luck I am sure."

"Though I think this is too much," Danug said. "Is there something we can give you in return?"

Latie removed her arms from around the man's neck and nodded her agreement. "Yes, what can we do for you, Wymez?"

"Nothing at all," the older man said simply. "We have been working on these for quite some time and now is the right time to give them. After all, every new hunter needs a special spear. I hope these bring you luck."

~oxoxo~

After a little more talk about the spears, and many more thanks and hugs, the three youngsters went off to bed. Nezzie had been aware that her brother had been working on a gift for Danug and Druwez, but she had not known about Latie's. She was extremely pleased to see that their flintknapper had noticed Latie's maturity and had included her in on this special gift.

Talut, on the other hand, had not know about the spears and wanted to look at them closely. He was well aware that his camp had the best flintknapper and the best carver among the Mamutoi, and he was always amazed at the beautiful work these two men created.

At the other end of the earthlodge, Tulie and Barzec were studying Druwez's spear and were both nodding appreciatively and pointing out the many details, which had been carved into the spear. "It is almost too beautiful to use," Barzec commented.

"Yes, almost, but it will be very good luck," Tulie replied.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – "The Hunters Leave Lion Camp"

Before the sun even rose, the scouters were awake and excited about the coming hunt. They knew the actual hunt would not be until at least the next day, but they were energized all the same.

Ayla got up first and dressed warmly, then went out to stoke the fire and make tea. The two men readied themselves more slowly, but eventually got themselves out of the tent. Ayla smiled at them as they came out, handing them each a cup of tea, and hugging her mate lovingly. "So, what do we do this morning, Darnev?" she asked.

The man looked around, getting a feel for the area and wind direction, and looked at the tracks on the ground. There were two directions in which they could go, but it was obvious that the aurochs headed into the northeast valley. "We will head northeast," he said, looking briefly in the direction they would not go. "It doesn't appear that any of the herd went toward the north valley." He looked back at them, and smiled. "It is lucky that there is a northeast wind. The herd will not have smelled us coming yet. Let's hope that we don't alert them to our presence or they will get nervous and might stampede." He looked around again and smiled. "I really love a good hunt."

Grov grinned at the man, then looked at his mate. Her eyes sparkled with pure joy at prospect of finally being allowed to hunt like all the men of the Clan. He could see something in his mate that he had never seen in any other woman before...excitement. Then he frowned, wondering how hard it would be for her to go back to living as a Clan woman. He wondered if she could do it and wondered where that put him when they returned. Life was sure different now.

~oxoxo~

After eating a quick meal, and packing up their meager belongings, Darnev placed some sticks and stones in a purposeful way and the three started off again.

"What was it that you were doing back there with the rocks and branches?" Grov asked.

"Well, our footprints and the aurochs tracks should be more than enough to turn the hunters in the right direction, but it's just for good measure," Darnev said. Grov nodded his understanding and Ayla smiled at the cleverness. "Actually, if you look at these tracks in the daylight," Darnev said pointing, "they are quite fresh. We really cannot go much further."

They continued to walk for a while, but Darnev was starting to get nervous. "I really don't want to go any further," he said. "Let's climb up this hill and see what's down in the valley. We can get a better view from up there and we won't disturb the animals."

~oxoxo~

When they reached the top and looked down, the two Clan people gasped at the number of beasts within the valley. "There are so many of them," Ayla whispered at the same time that Grov said, "How can we hunt so many?"

Darnev laughed. "We will not hunt all of them. That is what we have to decide before the others get here. Instead of getting closer, we should sit up here and watch them for a while and pick out ones that look good. Then, after some time, we'll head back down and set up a camp out far enough that a fire will not affect our hunt. Then, when Tulie and Talut get to our camp, they will want to come see the herd, so they can decide how many and which ones we should hunt. By the time they get here, things will be different, so deciding now really won't help."

Darnev looked down at the beasts again. "I can see several pregnant females," he said pointing them out. "They are always good to get, but we don't want to take too many of them or there won't be any young for the next year."

Grov and Ayla sat down next to Darnev and watched the grazing aurochs and shared more stories.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

The people of Lion Camp woke up early as well, but none so early as the three youngsters that were fantasizing about making their first big kill. All three had slept with their new spears, much to the amusement of their mothers.

Tulie was up early too, as were a few others, and went to the cooking hearth to eat before their departure. When everyone was awake and fed, the hunters said their goodbyes, telling the children to mind their elders.

"Danie, are you sure you are okay with me leaving?" Ivanolia asked.

She rolled her eyes and looked over at Laurana. "You'd think I was as pregnant as you are," she said with a giggle. "Ivan, it will be a very long time before our baby is born, so don't worry." She kissed him and gave him a shove.

Ivanolia eyed her suspiciously. "Our baby? How do you know?"

Danie placed a hand on her belly and smiled. "I just do."

He grinned at her, then looked at his sister, who was hugging Brulenzia. "Maybe you should stay here with her, Bru. She might go into labor and you know how to deliver babies." Ivanolia would never get over the loss of his first mate and couldn't understand why everyone was so nonchalant about the birthing of babies.

Brulenzia was about to say something, but Laurana cut him off. "Ivan! I am fine. If you remember correctly, I am not due for almost a mooncycle. I will be fine for a few days."

Ivanolia hugged his sister, then turned to Braydalana. "Make sure you take care of these two women," he instructed her. She rolled her eyes too and looked around for help. When her eyes came to Travie, she gave her a pleading look—causing the woman to come over.

"Ivan, are you going on this hunt or not?" she asked sternly. "These two women are going to be fine, so get going!" Then she pushed past him mumbling under her breath. "After all the trouble that man caused in the last mooncycle, what is his problem?"

Blushing, Ivanolia stepped out of the older woman's path just in time and watched her go. Then he smiled sheepishly and looked at Danie and Laurana. "I'm being silly, aren't I?" Both women—and several other people—nodded. "Okay, okay, I'll try to relax!"

~oxoxo~

Finally, after more than enough conversation, the hunters left. They did not go in any particular order, they just walked next to people they wanted to talk to.

Talut, Tulie, and Vincenzia led the way, setting a rather quick, but steady pace. They wanted to catch up by nightfall if at all possible, so they could discuss the hunt. If they couldn't catch up by night, then the headman wanted to at least be almost there. Either way, they weren't worried; they knew the area very well and knew that there were only two valleys in which the herd could be, that the scouters were already there, and that they'd likely be heading back to meet them just inside whichever course they needed to take. The big headman was getting excited about the coming hunt, and so was everyone else!

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – "More Clan Stories (Grov's Past)"

The traveling hunters went on with purpose in their step and, by afternoon, they had gone a significant distance. Danug, Druwez, and Latie were going from one group of experienced hunters to the next, trying to memorize everything they hadn't been too interested in on previous hunts. The adults answered their endless questions and smiled knowingly when the younger people turned their backs.

"Oh, to be young again," Talut said, with a look of longing.

Tulie glanced at her brother. "Are you feeling old, Talut?" she asked.

He shrugged. "Not really, but look at how much energy they have."

Tulie glanced back at her son, and then at Danug and Latie. They were bouncing around laughing, but all three were clutching their new spears proudly. "Yes, they do seem to be excited," she said. "But, I do not feel old, and you, my brother, have more than enough life in you for all of us."

Talut boomed his pleasure. He knew full well that his sister was right on that one. It would be a long time before he could be classified as old.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

The scouters sat atop the hill, watching over the herd and eating the traveling cakes Nezzie had given them. For them, the day was relaxing, but rather boring to say the least. They broke up the monotony by telling stories about the past. Lion Camp had already been told how Ayla had come to live with Brun's Clan, but Darnev wondered about Grov. How had this barely mixed man come to be?

"Well, I do not know much about my mother's people or her mother's people, but I do know that it was very difficult. My mother died before she could give me enough details to really understand, so most of my information came from other people. I know that we came from farther west than any Clan around here, nowhere near the peninsula like Brun's Clan, and that some of the Clans to the west have lighter hair." Ayla was listening carefully, but her head shot up at talk of lighter haired Clan people.

"I know that my mother looked more Clan than I do, and that she was attacked by the Others just as her mother was many years before that. My mother seemed to think that even her mother had been mixed, but she wasn't positive about that."

"That is awful," Darnev said. "That happens around here too...or so I've heard."

Ayla was nodding her head. "Yes, it happens to the east of Oak Camp too, inside Clan territory." Ayla looked at Grov. "That is what happened to Oda," she said. "Oda was pregnant with Ura right after one of those attacks." Something about this conversation started to bother Ayla as she thought about it. "It was probably a Sungaea man that attacked her," she said with disgust.

As Grov continued his story, Ayla realized that there was a lot she didn't know about her mate and listened intently. "I remember my mother telling me how badly she was treated for looking so different and that sometimes there were things she just could not understand. She said that eventually it got so bad that she and her mate and some others left and went to look for some place else to live. She said that her mother's people had done the same years before and that each group that left didn't seem to learn a lesson; they continued to be intolerant of the newest babies that were born."

Darnev was thinking about Rydag and it made him sad. Nezzie had insisted on keeping the child and no one had been about to tell the headman's mate that she couldn't, but no one had really accepted the boy, not until Ayla had come.

"I'm not really sure when or how it happened, because I was still young, but we left our territory again and I guess we entered Sungaea territory. Most Sungaea don't tolerate the Clan, but there were some people just north of Beran Sea that joined us. We found some caves long a nice river valley and settled there. After that we tried hard to live in harmony. We had full Clan people, mixed people and Others among us and we did not have the rigid rules that so many Clans have. It was just our way. That is how I grew up."

"That is very interesting, Grov. It makes me thankful for the childhood that I had," Darnev said. "Do you know how old you were when your mother died?"

"Yes, I was eight years old," Grov said, then he looked at Ayla. "It happened just after Nora arrived with her family and joined our Clan. My mother just disappeared; we never found her. It was a good thing I had Nora's family...I'm sure that Oza's presence saved me." Ayla put her arms around her mate and held him tight. She wondered why they had never talked about his before; it was obvious that he needed to.

"What else do you remember, Grov," she asked.

"Nothing else about the past beyond that. I remember being treated very well by most people after that final move and that Teg and Oza were very good to me. I remember how well Nora and I got along and how she always said she would not mate anyone, but me. Teg knew that his mate's daughter was stubborn and that she would not bend, so he did his best to make me into someone suitable for her. I have to say that I learned a lot from him." Grov smiled at the memory.

"And then, when Nora became a woman, she was given to me. We continued to live at Teg's hearth, but when Nora finally got pregnant, we made our own hearth. Ora was born when Nora was sixteen and we were happy until the earthquake that killed almost everyone."

Grov stopped there and Ayla did not ask for more. She knew the rest, and didn't want to push him to retell anything else that was painful. She was glad he finally told her about his past, but upset with herself for not asking sooner. Darnev felt as if he was intruding on their private moment, even though it had started with his questions, so he just sat there silently.

~oxoxo~

For some time, the three of them continued to watch the herd, and then, as evening approached, Darnev suggested that they go down and set up camp again.

Grov and Ayla readily agree, mostly because of the boredom they were experiencing, but also because of the cold. Up on top of the hill, there was nothing to block the northerly winds which were gusting as the sun went down.

~oxoxo~

Once back down in the valley, the scouters lit a fire and set up their tent. "Don't we have to worry about the aurochs smelling the fire?" Ayla asked.

"No, the wind will send our scent south and will actually help the hunters find us, if the sight of flames does not bring them here." The man smiled, and looked around. "It's probably too dark to see if anyone is coming," he said, peering out onto the almost dark horizon. "They've probably already stopped somewhere, unless they're following the sight of our fire. That could be possible, but I doubt it."

Ayla and Grov stood up next to Darnev and looked out into the near darkness. "Actually, I see movement out there," Grov said. Ayla and Darnev squinted, but saw nothing. They continued to look out over the dark river valley.

"Maybe we should build up the fire," Ayla suggested. "So they can see better...if it is them."

"It could just be animals, but that's a good idea," Darnev said and picked up a piece of wood to add to the fire.

"I will do this, Darnev," Ayla said. "I want to make more tea anyway. You two should keep watch."

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

The hunters had only stopped once that day and only for a short break to have something to eat. As the sun went beyond the western hills, the headman and headwoman had asked if they wanted to stop. All were weary and everyone was ready to agree, when Latie said she saw a light up ahead.

It was just a teeny tiny light, but now that it was pointed out, everyone could smell the fire smoke. It was extremely far away, but now they had a decision to make. Talut and Tulie looked at each other, knowing immediately what the other wanted to do, then they looked at their people. "Do we stay here and camp for the night, or continue onward until we reach them?" Tulie said, trying to keep her opinion out of her voice, so everyone would be honest.

Characteristic of the Mamutoi, everyone started talking at once, causing Talut to smile, then he boomed for silence. "Well, I guess that didn't work," he said with amusement in his voice. "How about this...everyone that wants to go towards the fire, raise your hand." He was rewarded with sixteen raised hands, including his own. "Okay then, let's keep going."

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

"I see movement now too," Darnev said. "But you really have good eyes Grov. Is that a Clan trait?"

"I don't know actually. My mother had very good vision, but I'm not sure that had anything to do with her being Clan."

Ayla came up between the two men, and handed them each a cup of tea, then patted them both on the back. "You should sit down, they will not get closer any faster with you standing there," she said with a smile, then went back to the warm fire. Grov smiled, looked out into the dark evening once more, then followed her to the fire. Darnev did the same thing.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

Latie was jumping with joy, thrilled that she had been the one to see the fire first. As they got closer, the fire got larger and they could see figures standing there looking out into the nothingness. When finally they were close enough the three young people asked if they could run ahead.

"Nezzie would have my head if she knew, but...go on. Stay together and...be careful; it's dark," the headman yelled as the three ran off.

Tulie and Barzec hid their smiles and shook their heads.

~oxoxo~

Danug, Druwez, and Latie were used to playing together and knew the speed at which the others could run. Danug was a big guy and pretty fast. Probably the fastest, but he would not abandon his family. Druwez was smaller than his big cousin in both height and girth, but he was agile and strove to keep up no matter what. And Latie was smaller than both boys, but her slender sinewy muscles were quite fast for her age. Basically, they were all capable of keeping up with the others and close enough to one another that they would never leave one behind when it was important.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

Darnev, Grov, and Ayla were sitting down by their crackling fire, quietly talking about the hunt, when finally the three youths ran into their midst. They came in so fast that the three scouters had not been aware they were coming. Ayla was surprised that they had not heard them coming, but realized the fire was blazing too loudly to hear a thing outside their inner circle.

"Danug, Druwez, Latie, what are you three doing here?" Darnev asked, obviously surprised that Tulie and Nezzie had let them come.

"Mother and Barzec decided it was time," the boy said to the first man of his hearth. "And Talut invited Danug too...and finally Nezzie convinced Talut to let Latie come too."

"That is good, Latie," Ayla said. "I'm sure there is a lot you can do. Come, let me fix you three some tea." Ayla took Danug's hand, causing the boy to blush. He was glad the darkness hid his red face, but followed the Sungaean woman to the fire.

Grov could not see the boy's face, but he could tell by the boy's posture that he was much closer to manhood than most suspected. Grov smiled at the boy's obvious crush on Ayla.

"How far away is everyone else?" Darnev asked.

"No far at all," Latie said after a sip of her hot tea. "They will arrive any moment."

"Well then, I should make this fire bigger," Ayla said.

"No Ayla, I'll do it this time," Grov said. "You sit down and talk." He liked watching her talk to these people; he was learning so much about her just by doing that. And besides, he was able to carry the wood easier than she could, so it was better to do it this way.

~oxoxo~

Latie had not been wrong, they had only a short time before the hunters arrived. Tulie and Barzec went straight to Darnev and the three of them briefly embraced. Grov stood by watching, extremely interested in the woman with two mates. That was something he had never seen before.

Barzec set up their tent, while Tulie talked to Ayla, and Darnev retrieved his furs from Ayla and Grov's tent and moved them into the headwoman's tent.

~oxoxo~

Everyone moved quickly setting up seven small tents in addition to the one that was already there. Ayla quickly made tea and everyone sat around drinking it.

Though dark, it was not late at all. The hunters were only tired because of their day of travel, but now that they were sitting down with a hot drink, they seemed fine to stay up and talk.

Ayla sat down next to Brulenzia and Ivanolia. "How were Laurana and Danie when you two left?" she asked.

"They were good," Brulenzia said, smiling.

Ivanolia frowned. "Well, I'm not so sure, Ayla. I tried to get Bru to stay behind. Laurana looked pale."

Brulenzia was shaking his head and rolling his eyes. "She did not," he said, looking at the man. "She looked just fine Ayla. Can you tell this man that there is still some time left for Laurana and that most women survive childbirth just fine?"

Ayla glanced at Ivanolia, whose breath sucked in at Brulenzia's words. "It is true Ivanolia. Most likely Laurana and Danie will be just fine. Ivanolia looked away. Ayla turned to see Grov and Deegie approaching and she patted the ground next to her, indicating that the woman should sit next to her. Ayla was very excited to have so many new female friends and just loved to talk to them all.

Deegie sat down and smiled. "I was wondering if you would mind if I slept in your tent tonight? I could sleep in my mother's tent, but it will be crowded...or Danug's tent, but those kids talk too much."

Ayla smiled. "That is fine with me, let me ask Grov though." Ayla looked around. "He was here a moment ago. Oh, Grov!" she called across the fire. He was now talking to Tornec and Travec. When he looked up, Ayla motioned, "Do you mind if Deegie shares our bed?"

"That's fine," he gestured back, then went back to his conversation.

Ivanolia laughed. "I don't believe this," he said. "That man takes the two prettiest women here."

Brulenzia laughed so hard that his tea came out of his nose. "Well, it's not like you could take one of them to your furs...being that Ayla's your cousin and all."

"That's not the point," the young man retorted.

Tornec, Travec, and Grov approached and smiled at the laughing men though they didn't know what was so funny. Ayla and Deegie scoffed at the topic of conversation—them—and moved off to find someone else to talk to.

Ayla was interested in talk of the hunt, so when she saw Talut going over to talk to Darnev and Tulie, Ayla pulled Deegie over to them.

"It's a very big herd, Talut," Darnev was saying. "Many pregnant females. I think we can have anything we want."

Tulie could feel her brother's anticipation. "Talut, remember we're only going to go for three or four of them," she warned. He was about to argue, but realized she was using a tone that said she would not budge.

"I thought you just wanted one or two of them," Ayla said.

Tulie looked at the younger woman. "My brother here, thinks we need more." Ayla smiled. "I tried to tell him that it will be very difficult to carry back the meat from four animals, but he is insistent." Ayla nodded.

~oxoxo~

After a while, Grov came over to tell Ayla he was tired, and that he was going to go to bed. "Do you want me to come with you?" she asked.

"Only if you're tired," he responded, knowing she'd prefer to learn as much for the coming hunt, but obviously needed his okay to not follow him to bed. "If not, then you should stay up."

Ayla thought about it for a moment; she had never stayed up when Grov was going to bed. She always did whatever he did and she was not sure what she should do now, but she knew one thing, she wasn't tired. "You do not mind if I stay up?"

"No Ayla, stay up," he said with a wave of his hand. "I'm more tired than I realized. You should go have some fun."

He started to turn away, but Ayla grabbed his arm and pulled him close, then kissed him tenderly. "Good night my mate. I will see you in the morning." Grov put his arms around her waist and kissed her back passionately, then turned to go.

Ayla watched him go, then went to join Deegie, who was sitting with Brulenzia, Ivanolia, Darvie, Tornec, Travec, and Tralie. "Where is Vincenzia?" Ayla asked when she was sitting next to Darvie and Deegie.

"He is over there with Dreenie," Darvie said, causing Travec and Tralie to smile knowingly. Ayla glanced over at the man that had been her mother's mate. When he noticed his daughter's look, he smiled at her, then came over.

"Good evening everyone," he said as he knelt down between Darvie and Ayla, and planted a kiss on Ayla's cheek. Then, he looked at Darvie. "I am ready for bed Darvie," he said, kissing his mate's neck. "Do you want to join us?"

"Actually no, I still want to talk to everyone," she said. "You go on though." Vincenzia kissed her once again, then headed back over to Dreenie.

Ayla was shaking her head. "I do not understand you Others," she said.

Everyone was now looking directly at her, and she blushed. "What don't you understand, Ayla?" Darvie asked.

"Well, in the Clan, a man would not signal another woman if his mate was available, and a woman wouldn't tell her mate that she doesn't want to go to his furs."

Deegie giggled. "But Ayla, didn't you just tell Grov that you wanted to stay up?"

"Well yes, but I asked if it was okay first. I didn't just decide to stay up," Ayla replied. "If Grov had said come to bed, I would have gone with him."

Deegie frowned, as did Darvie and Tralie. "Are you saying that you would never tell him no, even if you did not want to?" Darvie asked. Darvie was clearly referring to more than sleep.

"I have never told him no; he is my mate," Ayla said, as if that should explain everything. This was a strange forum to be discussing Clan protocol, but it was effective and everyone was now listening and learning.

"So, what if you were not available? Would he ask someone else?" Deegie asked, half joking, but Ayla did not know that.

"In the Clan, men do not ask, they tell. And yes, he has signaled another woman before," Ayla replied. "But Oga is like a second mate, she and Broud live at Grov's hearth with us." Ivanolia grimaced and Ayla gave him a dirty look. "I know you do not like Broud, Ivan. It has taken me many years to be able to tolerate him as well, but he is not so bad anymore. He just does not understand us. Just as Others do not understand Clan."

Deegie looked from Ayla to Ivan and back to Ayla. She knew something else was going on here, but what, she wondered. "So, ahh...Ayla, does Grov know that is not how we do things?"

"Of course, Deegie. We have learned a lot about the Others since we have met you, but sometimes I get confused. I do not understand why Vincenzia is going to bed with Dreenie, when you are available, Darvie...or why he did not ask Travec's permission first, since he is Dreenie's mate," Ayla said with a confused look on her face.

Tornec smiled. "Do you mean to tell me that if I want to take you to my furs, then all I have to do is ask Grov's permission first and it's done?" All the men were smiling, but the women didn't think it was funny.

"Well yes," Ayla began. "But Grov is not here for you to ask right now, so you could just tell me to come to your furs."

Tralie was watching Ayla's face and could not detect even the slightest smile—indicating that she was joking. "You are serious, aren't you?" she asked.

Ayla looked at Tralie. "Yes Tralie. That is the Clan way."

"But what if you do not want to go with the man that...what did you say before...signals you to his furs?" Deegie asked.

"In the Clan, a woman must do what a man asks of her," Ayla said. The women looked incredulous, but Brulenzia and Ivanolia were nodding.

"That is their way," Brulenzia said. "We were there and saw it happen." Ivanolia kept silent. The women scowled at the thought.

"So, what is this signal then?" Travec asked. "Maybe it could come in handy." He gave his mate a suggestive look, which lightened the mood and made everyone laugh.

Ayla made the signal, and blushed. "Women do not make the signal though. It is for the man to decide."

"But what if a woman is interested in a man? Then what?" Tralie asked.

"Then she would sit in a manner that tells the man she is interested. Or she might make him food the way he likes it. There are many ways to tell a man you want him without actually saying it. Clan women are not so obvious, but a Clan man knows."

"Well, I want to suggest something," Tralie said, standing up. "I suggest that we go to bed, we have a long day ahead of us tomorrow." Everyone laughed at the woman, and Ayla was surprised that Darvie got up and followed Travec, and Tornec got up and followed Tralie. She shook her head again, wondering why Travec did not take his own mate to his furs.

The other three that remained sitting, Brulenzia, Ivanolia and Deegie, saw Ayla's confusion and laughed. "Ayla, it's just for fun, to have a change; something different than what you always have. It happens when different camps get together," Deegie said. "And now that everyone else is gone, I think I'll turn in too." Deegie got up. "Goodnight boys!"

Ayla waited for a moment, then got up too. "You Others really confuse me," she said to her cousin and friend. "But I will see you in the morning." Ayla hurried to catch up to Deegie.

"It's not fair, I tell you," came Ivanolia's voice. "Why does Grov get both of you?" Deegie giggled—and then she and Ayla disappeared into Grov's tent.

~oxoxo~

Deegie and Ayla crawled into their furs, one on either side of Grov, and lay there for a moment staring at the semi-transparent tent roof, watching the light from the flames of the fire dance across the ceiling. Both women were on their backs, thinking. Ayla was very curious about the customs of Deegie's people, and those of her own people, the Sungaea. They seemed to be very similar, yet very different from the Clan.

Deegie was also deep in thought, but her mind was with the customs of the Clan. She wondered how Clan women put up with their men—and more importantly, how Ayla had put up with it for so long. Then a thought occurred to her. "Ayla," Deegie whispered.

Ayla had just started to drift off to sleep when she heard Deegie's whisper, but her eyes opened immediately. "Huh?"

"What about a girl's first time? Does a man just signal her then?"

"Yes," Ayla said.

Deegie frowned in the dark. "You mean there is no ceremony; it is not special? A man just opens her without people to watch and make sure he doesn't hurt her too much?

"No Deegie," Ayla replied. "The Clan has no ceremony for that. Is that how the Mamutoi do it?"

"Yes. When a girl becomes a woman, she must have her first rites. That is the ceremony that opens the girl-woman and makes her a woman."

Ayla thought for a moment. "The Clan does not have anything like that. When a Clan girl becomes a woman, she is isolated while she bleeds for the first time. And then, when that is over, she is usually mated to whichever man is available."

"Is that what happened to you? They just picked a mate for you?" Deegie asked disbelievingly.

"No, I was very old by Clan standards when I became a woman, and no one wanted me; I am too big and ugly."

Deegie snorted. "You are not ugly, Ayla," Deegie burst out, forgetting to whisper. Grov groaned and rolled over, turning toward Deegie and draping his arm over her. Deegie stiffened slightly, then relaxed. He was clearly sleeping. "You are not ugly, Ayla," Deegie repeated in a whisper. "You are one of the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. You must have realized that by now."

Ayla smiled. "Thank you Deegie, but to the Clan, I am ugly. Maybe I should say, we are ugly." Ayla paused. "Anyway, I was eleven when Durc was born and fourteen when I met Grov. I was given to him when we found our new cave." She paused again. "But I am very happy with Grov and he is not like most of the other Clan men."

Deegie sighed. "I can see that," she said, as she gazed at the sleeping man, whose face was only inches from hers. Deegie smiled, thinking that the man was a good-looking man despite his background. She wondered what her mother would think about her lying here with a Clan man's arm over her.

Ayla sat up slightly, trying to see Deegie in the dark. "Deegie, your people's ways are just as confusing to me, as our ways are to you, but I assure you that Grov will not do anything that would go against your traditions. He is a good man, and very observant. He can see how the woman are treated here and, if it makes you feel any better, he never treats the Clan women the way that some of the Clan men do." Ayla then lay down again and snuggled up against her mates back. In his sleep, he was aware of her presence and rolled over and cuddled her close.

Deegie thought about what Ayla had said and had to smile. Ayla had experienced things that many people never did in their lives, but she had gained much from those experiences. Deegie could tell that Ayla did not count herself unlucky, but actually the exact opposite.

With those thoughts in her head, the dark-haired Mamutoi woman fell asleep next to the Clan couple.

~oxoxo~

When the sun began to rise, the hunting party started getting up. Vincenzia and Dreenie had been the first two in bed—and therefore were the first two awake. Dreenie dressed quickly, then went to her tent and crawled in bed with her mate. Darvie, who was lying beside Dreenie's mate, smiled at the woman. "Is Vincenzia awake?" she whispered. Dreenie nodded, so Darvie got up, dressed, and left.

By the time Darvie got outside, many people were awake. Talut, Tulie, Barzec, and Vincenzia were with Darnev, discussing the herd again, so Darvie only kissed her mate quietly, then went to their tent to freshen up.

By the fire, Danug, Druwez, and Latie were talking to Ivanolia and Brulenzia about Sungaean hunting spears and were showing the two foreign men their gifts from Wymez and Ranec. "Those are really beautiful," Brulenzia was saying as Tornec and Tralie approached.

"Yes," Tralie said. "Almost too beautiful to use." Tralie looked around. "Are Travec and Dreenie still sleeping?"

"I know Dreenie's awake," Latie said. "I saw her go into your tent, but I haven't seen Travec yet." Tralie smiled gratefully at Latie, then excused herself, giving Tornec's hand a squeeze before she left. She was very fond of her sister's mate and shared pleasures with him often.

Tornec looked around. "Seems almost everyone is up," he said.

"Yeah, almost everyone," Ivanolia said with a smirk. "All except for those in that tent." The man pointed at Grov's tent, but it wasn't necessary, because everyone sitting by the fire was aware that Grov, Ayla, and Deegie were still missing.

"Jealous?" Tornec asked.

"By the Great Earth Mother's underworld, I sure am," Ivanolia retorted, with a smile. "I had to sleep next to this one," he said poking Brulenzia in the ribs and laughing loudly.

The three youngsters blushed, knowing what the adults were talking about. Nothing was hidden from the children of the Mamutoi people, including pleasures. Druwez looked over at Grov's tent, and then over at his mother, whose back was to him at that moment.

~oxoxo~

Grov woke up and looked at the two sleeping women in the dimly lit tent. He seemed to be pinned. Ayla's head was on his left shoulder and she had her hand on his chest, just the way she always did. He smiled at her, wanting to caress her hair—but he couldn't.

Then he looked down at the other woman. Deegie's head was resting on him as well, though more on his right arm than his shoulder, her dark hair was spread across their furs as well. Basically, he could not move without disturbing either woman and he didn't know what to do.

After a few moments, the man's arm began to fall asleep and he shifted slightly, hoping some feeling would return to his arm. It did not. Instead, it only served to make both woman move in closer. Grov did not know what to do.

~oxoxo~

Outside, talk of the hunt was progressing, but Darnev wanted to talk to Grov and Ayla to see if they had seen anything that he had not. He looked around and, seeing that they were missing, he turned to Vincenzia. "It seems the daughter of your hearth is a little sleepy this morning," he said.

Vincenzia looked around. He had been engrossed in conversation and had not noticed. "Hmm, seems that the daughter of your hearth is missing as well," Vincenzia said with a smile. That got Tulie's attention. She then looked around as well and observed that Grov was also not there.

The six adults that had been standing there discussing the hunt turned to look at Grov's tent in unison. Tulie frowned slightly, then shook her head. She was, after all, an adult.

Ivanolia and Brulenzia had heard the leaders' conversation and decided that they should go wake the sleeping people. The two men approached the tent and carefully pulled aside the flap and crawled inside, to see Grov surrounded by the two women.

"I'm telling you," Ivanolia said, "that this is not fair."

Grov's eyes were closed, having fallen back to sleep, but Ivanolia's voice roused him again. "This is not what it looks like," he said.

Brulenzia smiled. "Sure it's not."

"No, really. I woke up this way and I cannot move without waking them." Grov looked worried that someone may get upset with him. He knew full well what the Others thought of the Clan and he did not want to offend.

Ivanolia laughed. "Any other man would have taken full advantage of the situation, but not you." He carefully moved his cousin off of Grov's chest, so that Grov could slide out from under Deegie's head.

"Thank you. That was starting to hurt," Grov said, as he sat up and shook his right arm.

Brulenzia looked at the man and grinned, "Yeah, I can see that it was pure torture."

Grov didn't know why he was feeling strangely about this, but he was embarrassed. "I think my arm has gone numb," he said defensively.

"They're talking about the hunt out there and Darnev wanted to talk to you and Ayla about it," Ivanolia said, changing the subject. Grov nodded, pulling his tunic over his head and his leggings on. The three men then exited the tent and went over to join the discussion. By this time, everyone was present except for the two sleeping women.

~oxoxo~

Grov walked up silently with the other two men, feeling a little self conscious. He received a stern look from the headwoman, but no one commented on their thoughts. Talut smiled at him and Darnev immediately started in.

"How many pregnant females did you see, Grov?" the man asked.

Grov pushed his thoughts away. "I counted seven."

"That is what I counted too," Darnev said, turning to the others. "How many do you think we should hunt?"

"I think Tronie would like some fetus skin," Tornec said, "since she is expecting again. Fetus skin always makes soft baby clothing." Dreenie and Tralie nodded, knowing that they liked soft clothing for babies too.

"So then," Tulie said, "one pregnant female."

"Let's make it two, if we can," Talut went on. "Fetus meat is so tender and Nezzie can make great meals out of it." He could tell that Tulie was about to object, so he went on. "How about two pregnant females and only one of something else?"

The headwoman opened her mouth to oppose her brother's suggestion, but nodded instead. "Alright then, three animals."

~oxoxo~

Inside Grov's tent, the two women started to wake up. Deegie opened her eyes to see Ayla sitting up. "Morning," she said.

Ayla turned around and smiled. "I guess we slept late," she said. They could hear voices outside and knew everyone else was awake and moving around. "I hope it's not too late. I would like to go on the hunt today, so we can get back to the children in the next couple days."

Deegie nodded, noticing that Ayla's breasts were a little swollen from not nursing. "Maybe you shouldn't have come, Ayla."

Ayla looked down at herself and smiled. "Annaliza hardly ever nurses anymore, so I really don't have that much left." Ayla looked up at Deegie and smiled again. "She's a bit young to be weaned, but she doesn't seem to mind, and can always go to another woman if she has to. With Durc, my milk dried up when my mother died. He always had to go to other women." Ayla's eyes misted over a bit, then she shrugged and laughed. "I'll just have to have Grov help me with my little problem."

Deegie giggled. "I can't believe you have three children. We're the same age and I'm not even mated yet."

"Well, I did have Durc very young and Ora's not really my daughter, so I'm not that far ahead of you," Ayla said, then she considered the Others way of finding a mate, and realized Deegie could choose who she wanted to mate. "Is there someone you have your eyes on, Deegie?"

Deegie smiled. "Actually, yes. His name is Branag, but we haven't actually talked about mating yet. I hope I can spend more time with him this summer, so we see how it goes between us."

Ayla smiled at her friend. "Well, I guess we better get ourselves out there or we'll never get to go hunting." Deegie nodded and the two women quickly dressed for the hunt.

~oxoxo~

When the two woman appeared, Deegie couldn't help but notice her mother's penetrating stare. Deegie looked over at Grov and hid a smile—obviously her mother thought something had happened. Deegie looked around at the other people and it appeared as if everyone thought Grov had shared pleasures with the two of them. Deegie thought it was funny.

Ayla went immediately to her mate and put her arms around him. "You should have woken us. We have made everyone wait."

"You two were tired. I thought it best to let you sleep," Grov said, looking over at Deegie, then back at his mate. "We are talking about the hunt. Darnev wants to hike back up the hill to take another look, do you want to go?"

Ayla nodded, "Of course."

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – "And The Drive Begins"

The hike to the top of the hill was made in no time. Nearly half the hunters went, some staying behind to break camp. After the hunt, they would be camping out again, but it would definitely be in the valley so that they wouldn't have to carry the dead carcasses away to gut and skin them. They would not waste their energy carrying parts they would not use.

Talut had insisted that Danug, Druwez, and Latie make the trip up the hill to observe; he wanted them to have every opportunity possible to learn about what they were going to do and he was giving them every bit of information that he had. Ayla, who had also never hunted with other people, stayed close to the large headman to hear all that he had to say.

"How will we hunt them, Talut?" Ayla asked.

"Darnev tells me that there is a canyon in the valley. I would like to drive the ones we want into the canyon, then kill them there," the headman said.

Latie's eyes opened wide. "But how do we only drive certain ones Talut? They are so big."

Talut smiled. "That is the hard part. Once we get them moving in the right direction, we will use all we have to only turn the selected aurochs."

When they reached the top of the hill, the man and the youngsters knelt down. "See Latie," Talut said to her, though he was speaking to all that were there. "There is the canyon." He was pointing to their east. "We can see it, because we are higher than that area. That is where we want to drive the animals."

Latie, as well as Danug and Druwez, was nodding, but Ayla was wondering how that would help. "Won't they get there and discover there is no out, then turn around and stampede?" she asked.

"They might, Ayla," Tulie said from behind her. The headwoman had come up silently. "But, aurochs are afraid of fire and we will be carrying fire." The woman looked at Grov, who was kneeling next to Ayla. "And how would the Clan hunt a herd of aurochs?" she asked, curious about his people.

"The Clan would not hunt a herd," Grov said. "We would single out one animal, then take turns running it down. Our spears are not made for throwing, but for thrusting instead."

"Hmm. I see, but you are not able to get as much meat that way, are you?"

"No, we must have many more hunts that you do," he said. "Nearly everyday to be ready for winter."

While Grov and Tulie were talking about Clan ways of hunting, Ayla was looking around and thinking about the hunt. "Talut," she said to get his attention. "What if some people walked along the top of this hill and climbed down over there...at the mouth of the canyon. Then, after the chosen aurochs enter, fires could be started up there...before the others arrive. That way the animals would surely stay in. Would that not help?"

Talut studied the area carefully and smiled. "That's a good idea, Ayla. Are you sure you have not hunted before?"

Ayla blushed at the headman's praise. She hadn't thought her idea was that good—she was just trying to help—but she was pleased that he was so happy. Tulie appeared to be thinking it out as well, and her smile told the woman that she liked the idea as well. "We could have several people go up on the northern hill as well," Tulie suggested. "Four here, and four there, and the rest of us can drive. What do you think Talut?"

"Who should go?" he asked.

"I think Barzec, Danug, Grov, and Ayla should take this side, and you, Darnev, Druwez, and Latie should take the other side," she said. "That way there are two experienced hunters on each side, with the four that haven't done this before, and the rest of us can drive."

Talut was nodding his head. "That sounds good. Does anyone else have any ideas?" When no one said anything, the headman smiled. "Okay, we should get going. Who will stay up here with them to know when we are in place?"

"I will do that, Talut," Deegie said.

Tulie looked at her daughter, then at the visitors, thinking that they had gotten really chummy in a very short amount of time, then she smiled. "Well then, I guess that's it," Tulie said. "Let's get back down there, so we can let everyone know the plan and so you four can start making your way up the other side." She paused for a moment. "Deegie, when you see them in position, you'll need to climb back down and we'll begin the drive." Deegie nodded. "I think the eleven of us can handle that, don't you?" Everyone nodded and began their descent. Tulie looked back over her shoulder. "I will send someone up with the materials to make the fires."

~oxoxo~

After the rest of the hunters had gone, Barzec and the others made there way to their lookout place, which was on top of the hill, but down the valley somewhat. Then, they sat down to relax. It was going to take a while for the others to get around to the other side, and he wanted to be rested. Danug was very excited, as was Ayla; Barzec, Grov, and Deegie smiled knowingly. All three remembered their first hunts; they were a very big deal.

While they waited, Deegie and Ayla talked more about the Clan and about what the Mamutoi thought about the Clan—and Deegie finally told Ayla that everyone thought the three of them had shared pleasures the night before. Ayla smiled. "But we just slept, Deegie," Ayla said.

"I know that, but they assume, because we all went into Grov's tent, that...you know." Deegie smiled. The two women looked over at Grov, who was talking with Barzec and Danug, and then the two young women erupted into giggles, causing the men to look up at them.

~oxoxo~

On the other side of the valley, the other four hunters were making their way east and into position. The most difficult part of the trek was the climbing up and down on the hillside, but the traversing across the top was easy; since it was relatively flat. Talut was keeping his eyes on the people on the other side and noted that they looked like tiny dots on the horizon. He sure hoped Deegie could tell when they were ready. He didn't have to worry, because it was quite obvious when they are in place.

~oxoxo~

They were munching on traveling food, when Ayla looked up to see Brulenzia and Ivanolia approaching. "Tulie wanted us to bring the things you will need to make torches.

"Oh thank you Ivan, Bru," Ayla said, before anyone else could even get up. They could see her excitement and it was extremely catchy. Both men smiled at the woman, as they handed the materials to Barzec and Grov.

Ivanolia put his hands on Ayla's shoulders and looked into her eyes. "Vincenzia wanted us to tell you to be careful, Ayla," he said.

Ayla hugged her cousin and smiled. "Tell Vincenzia that his daughter will be fine," she said, then she hugged Brulenzia too. "I will be fine, you two. Now go!" They smiled back at her, then left quickly.

~oxoxo~

Not long after that, Deegie looked up again to see that the other hunters were ready. "They are there," she exclaimed excitedly. "It's time for me to go."

Barzec hugged her and smiled. "Be safe," he called after her retreating back, then turned to his hunters. "Okay, let's move on a little. Can you see where Talut and the others are?" The other three nodded. "That's where we need to be, so we can climb down as they are entering the canyon." Barzec looked at Ayla. "I think this is a very good idea, Ayla." Ayla smiled at him, fervently hoping that she was right, then picked up her weapons; sling, spears, and knife, and followed behind the three men.

~oxoxo~

Down at the bottom of the hill, Deegie skidded to a stop where everyone was waiting. They allowed her to catch her breath, but there was expectancy in the air. "Talut and Darnev are in place. I have sent Barzec and Grov on. It is time to start the drive.

Within moments, they had their torches lit, and were slowly making their way down the narrow valley.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – "The Hunt"

The eleven hunters fanned out into a moving wall, which extended across the narrow river valley, and began their drive. Each carried a medium sized piece of leather to flap at the herd, hopeful that it would create enough fear to get them moving, a hot coal, to make a fire when necessary, and their weapon of choice. Only Ayla and Grov, up on the southern hill, carried a sling with their spear

Tulie and Vincenzia took up the middle positions, one on either side of the smallish river. On the northern side of the river there was Vincenzia, Darvie, Travec, Dreenie, Tralie, Ivanolia, Brulenzia; the bulk of the hunters, and it would be their job to push the main part of the herd into the canyon where the hunting would not take place, and out of the way.

On the southern side of the river, Tulie would lead Wymez, Deegie, and Tornec, and they would be responsible for cutting off the chosen aurochs and driving them into the hunting canyon.

For those on top of the northeastern hill, Talut, Darnev, Druwez and Latie, it was a game of wait, to see what animals were left to drive into the southern canyon, once the herd had made its way safely into the northern canyon. They would not come down off their perch until the separation was made and fires were needed.

For the last group up on the southern hill, Barzec, Grov, Ayla and Danug may have to come down sooner, since their side had fewer drivers, and may need a nudge. However, Tulie was hopeful that that would not be the case, since they only planned on killing three animals. She hoped that the animals would blindly go into the canyon, that the fires could be set to pen them in, and that the hunters from the hill could get in to make the kills easily. That was what they hoped for.

~oxoxo~

As they approached the herd, they could tell that the animals were a little nervous; probably having smelled Talut's party up on the northern hill earlier, then crossing the northern canyon, and then again above them where they lay in wait. Tulie eyed Vincenzia, watching to see where her cousin's mate led his group, then veered accordingly when he made his decision. She was pleased with his choice, when she saw a few young aurochs dart for the northern canyon. One stubborn bull snorted loudly and pawed the ground, but a few flapping hides sent the animal in the right direction. Tulie smiled; all was going well.

When the hunters got to a point where they could not go any further, until more of the animals chose the northern canyon, Tulie stopped her hunters and waited. Ivanolia shot forward first, frightening a small group of females and sending them running, then it was Darvie's turn. She went up against a particularly obstinate bull, requiring the need for help. That is where Brulenzia came in to save the day, brandishing his hide and flicking it madly.

Tulie could see that it was going well on the northern side, so she directed her hunters to further separate the chosen animals. They were already heading for the southern canyon, which pleased the headwoman immensely. From where he stood, Tornec gathered kindling and lit a fire, then moved on. Not too far ahead, Deegie did the same—and Wymez ahead of her. Tulie watched as the three aurochs made their way into the southern canyon and the hunters upon the southeastern hill descended to follow them in. The head woman looked up at the northeaster hill to see Talut's group coming down to join the rest.

By the time Tulie's hunters reached the line, Barzec had taken Grov and Danug into the canyon. Just a ways up the hill, Ayla was waiting for the group to catch up. On the other side, Talut, Druwez, and Latie had gone in, but Darnev was waiting just the same as Ayla was. When all the hunters converged at the canyon opening, their wall began to move in earnest, with Ayla and Darnev taking up the rear.

At the front of the line, the hunters had run the aurochs into the steep wall of the canyon and the three animals were more nervous than ever. The two pregnant females were snorting loudly and trying to move away from the onslaught, but there was nowhere for them to go. Danug took aim and cast his spear, hitting one of them just above the hip area. It was not a fatal blow, but it was an extremely hard thrown spear and quickly debilitating. Grov's spear, thrown only moments after Danug's, hit the female in the midsection, knocking her down where her life's blood began to drain from her. She struggled to get back up, creating panic in the other two, but a third spear, coming from Barzec, went through her eye, and into her brain, ending her life and the life of her unborn calf.

Seeing the downed female caused the young bull to dart away from the scene, but Talut, Druwez, and Latie were waiting for him. Talut's mighty heave, struck the beast in the neck, causing the animal to crash into the ground hard, but it was not over at that point; the beast managed to get up and veered away from the strong headman—and straight at Latie. Seeing the angry aurochs headed her way, Latie's eyes opened wide, as she pulled out her hide, focused on the movement, then flapped at the exact right time, causing the animal to turn left, as she stepped out of its way, and right at Druwez. Druwez did the same thing, sending it back at Latie. By this time, the animal was heaving, from exhaustion and loss of blood, but it was still trying—fighting to survive. It made another pass at Latie. Though she was doing well, the girl was getting just a little tired. Druwez watched carefully, then seeing that Latie was tiring, he threw his spear hard, downing it at her feet. Both Talut and Latie threw just moments later, but it had not been necessary; Druwez's well-aimed spear had ended the animal's life.

The final female went down easily, as Tornec and Deegie reached the cow, she hardly stood a chance; she was cornered and could not move; she hardly tried. Tornec cast first and Deegie's spear came next, one going through the neck, severing an artery, then other going through the middle, killing the fetus instantly.

Tulie looked around, pleased as can be. It had gone so fast; all three were down, and it was over.

~oxoxo~

But what no one seemed to see was that there was trouble in the rear. Darnev and Ayla were each on their own side of the small river, moving toward the hunters, when, for some reason, Ayla looked over at the headwoman's mate. At first she didn't see him, so she looked back farther. That was when the woman paled. Darnev was jogging slowing toward the noise of the kills ahead and did not hear the charging aurochs behind him.

Ayla stopped and screamed at him, but he did not hear her; he did not even seem to see her. Ayla looked around and saw only Tralie and Brulenzia ahead of her, but they were so far away. Ayla summoned all of her breath and let out a whistle that she hoped would catch someone's ear; Brulenzia turned around, but he was still too far away to help her, so she darted for the river.

The other person that heard the whistle was Darnev himself, but he did not know why the woman had whistled, but her sudden movement toward the river caused him to look behind him. As he turned around, then color drained from the man, as a full-grown male aurochs was upon him.

Darnev was, by no means, a small man, but his form was lifted by the charging beast as if it was a child's rag doll, and tossed angrily to the side. The man's weapons dropped to the ground and lay still.

Ayla, who was stumbling out of the river, screamed as she dodged the bull and readied her sling, as it was the only weapon she was truly proficient at. But there was no way to kill a full grown aurochs with a puny stone. It only served to anger the animal and stop his frantic stampede. Behind the woman and her charge, Brulenzia had gotten Tralie's attention, who had turned Travec, and then Tulie. They were on their way.

Ayla slid to a stop, falling hard on the ground beside the unconscious and bloody man, then rolled over and looked up. The aurochs was on his way back. Ayla did not want the man to be trampled as well as gored, so she grabbed his spear and ran toward the hill—the bull followed. By this time, Brulenzia had gotten close enough to throw his spear, which he did, only catching the animal's rump and turning him so that he was no longer looking at Ayla. The woman immediately took her chance and threw her own spear, getting him in the side, which confused him, making him turn again. Now Brulenzia had help—Tralie and Travec were there and Tulie was on her way. Seeing this, Ayla left the scene and headed for the downed man.

When the medicine woman got there, she had a moment of panic; there was blood everywhere—then she went to work.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – "Ayla Goes To Work"

Ayla quickly looked the man over, he was definitely breathing, but he was absolutely covered in blood. She had to find out where it was coming from and if she could do anything about it immediately.

At quick glance, Ayla could tell that Darnev had a broken arm, as it was bent at an unnatural angle, and that he already had a bruise on his face, where he had likely hit the ground, but she was not worried about either injury at the moment; they were both minor in comparison to his other injuries. She was far more concerned about the bleeding.

Taking out her knife, she sliced through Darnev's tunic, and saw a huge gash in his right side. As fast as she could, the medicine woman untied the thong around her waist and pulled her own tunic over her head, then cut it into pieces and applied pressure to the man's gaping wound. Ayla then looked around frantically. Seeing Brulenzia approaching, she waved him over quickly. "We need to stop the bleeding, and we need to keep him warm. Losing blood makes people cold," she explained. Brulenzia nodded. "I need a fire and some water." Brulenzia ran off to get water and Ayla went on, seeing Tralie drop down beside her.

"Tralie, I need you to push right here," she said showing the woman what to do by grabbing the woman's hands and putting them on her tunic, which was holding Darnev's blood inside his body. When Tralie took over for her, Ayla began examining her patient further. The pressure she exerted made Darnev groan, which pleased the woman somewhat. At least he is conscious enough to feel this probing, she thought.

Ayla then picked up her knife and cut through the man's leggings, which exposed another long gash in his upper leg, this time with muscle protruding through the tear.

Travec and Tulie arrived on the scene next and the big stern headwoman fell to the ground beside her mate,with tears in her eyes. Ayla didn't have time to worry about the woman's pain at that moment, but the headwoman was no longer the rock she usually was. Ayla turned to the woman and issued an order. "I need fire, Tulie." The headwoman nodded, wiped her eyes, and got up to do as she was told.

~oxoxo~

Though the killing was finished in the canyon, most of the people were occupied with their butchering and hadn't even realized there had been an accident. Talut was hefting his mighty ax, gutting the animals expertly—he was in his glory—while the rest of Lion Camp did the same. He worked along side Tornec and Deegie, but suddenly realized he hadn't seen Tulie in a while and looked around for his sister; the woman was usually waist deep in the throng.

He looked over Deegie's head toward the exit to the canyon and saw that something else was going on in that direction; there seemed to be another animal down...and something else. What, he thought, still staring. It looked like an injury. Why hadn't he noticed, he thought. The headman dropped his ax mid-swing and dashed off, causing Tornec and Deegie to turn to look as well. They could not tell what had happened, but Dreenie eyes followed the headman. She could see both Travec and Tralie doing...something, then she paled. Quickly scanning the area for her brother, she let out a scream. "NOOOOOO!" and she took off running. Several others turned at her scream.

Deegie looked up and watched the woman run by. Then, realizing the downed person must be Darnev, she too stopped everything and ran.

~oxoxo~

At the scene, Ayla had finished her probing; none of his insides seemed to be punctured, but she could not figure out how she could close so big a wound and stop the bleeding. "He is losing too much blood," she said to Tralie, who was still applying pressure to Darnev's side. Then a thought occurred to her, what if I sew him up, like we do when we make clothing, she thought. Would it work? The woman made a quick decision, it was going to have to work or the man would die for sure.

Ayla jumped up, washed her hands in the water Brulenzia had brought, then grabbed her pack, rummaged through it, and pulled out the sewing awl Jenadoza had made for her the winter before—and the thinnest sinew she had. Then she quickly sat back down beside the injured man and began sewing his skin back together, as if he were a new winter tunic.

Tralie stared at the medicine woman for a moment, then looked up at Tulie, who had the fire going and was standing over her unconscious mate next to Talut, who had just arrived. The headwoman shrugged, then turned at Dreenie's wail and took the woman into her arms. "No, no," Dreenie sobbed. "Not Darnev." The headwoman had to be strong now.

Ayla was still concentrating on her patient's wound, but smiled at it when she finished sewing his side. Pulling the sinew into a small knot, then biting it off cleanly, she indicated to Tralie that she should release pressure from the man's injured leg. Ayla saw that blood immediately pooled and the muscle hung outside of the man's leg unnaturally. Ayla pushed the muscle back in, but realized it would come right back out when she let go of it, because it too was torn. If she could not repair the muscle, the man may never walk again, she thought. She frowned.

"Can't you sew the muscle too," Tralie asked desperately. Hearing the sobs of her co-mate was too painful to listen to.

Ayla cocked her head and looked at the muscle again. "It couldn't hurt, Tralie. I will try." Ayla looked up at Tulie, who was comforting Dreenie and seeing that the woman was about to be smothered by Deegie as well. Ayla flicked her head, indicating to the headwoman that she had incoming, then she went back to her patient. Talut took Dreenie from Tulie—and Tulie turned toward her daughter.

Deegie was much more calm than her aunt—she got that from her mother—but the sight of all the human blood, caused her to have to turn and retch. When she was finished, she took a small drink of water, then forcibly led Dreenie away. At Tornec's appearance, Tulie sent him for Barzec and Druwez. They were still in the canyon butchering and did not know about the accident.

~oxoxo~

Word of Darnev's injury spread quickly from there, but there was work to be done, so all that were not essential were sent away to continue butchering meat. Even Tulie left to help for a time, returning only when Ayla summoned her. "Tulie and Barzec, I have sewn up Darnev's wounds, but that does not mean the bleeding has stopped. I need to set his broken bones." She paused to catch her breath, then continued. "At first I thought it was only his right arm, but his lower leg looks broken too. I might need some help setting the bones."

Brulenzia had not left the woman's side. "I can help with that Ayla," he said. "I have set broken bones before."

Ayla smiled at him with gratitude, as did Barzec and Tulie. "Thank you Ayla," Tulie said. "I do not know what we would have done without you."

"Do not thank me yet, Tulie," Ayla continued. "Darnev is not safe yet. We need to get this set and get him wrapped up. It is already getting cold out and now we're going to have to spend the night in this valley."

The headwoman nodded, then suddenly realized the woman was bare from the waist up and went off to get her something to wear. Ayla gratefully accepted a tunic and the headwoman left to begin preparations to have their camp set up right where they were—and for the meat to be brought closer to them. Barzec went to comfort Deegie and Druwez, leaving Tulie to work on the camp. Talut and Travec went to work on making more fires to keep predators away.

The rest of the people of Lion Camp, worked somberly, wishing the day would end.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – "Into The Night"

By the time the meat had been moved to the makeshift campsite, Ayla, with the help of some others, had constructed a large tent around Darnev by reworking three of the existing tents. The large tent was to have a place for Tulie and Barzec, Deegie, Druwez and Dreenie, Grov and herself, and, of course, an infirmary for their injured man. The other five tents were set up so that there was a large center space, with surrounding fires, to keep predators away from the meat.

When the woman finished, she went directly to Darnev's side, where she was pleased to find Tulie and Barzec sitting, each holding one of their mate's hands. Deegie was sitting there as well, but Deegie's strength was being given to Dreenie, whose head was on her shoulder. Ayla quickly looked Darnev over. He still had not awoken, but his breathing seemed good to her. Then she left the tent again.

Outside, the medicine woman looked around and, spotting Druwez with Danug and Latie, she sighed, glad that he was not being forgotten during the sadness and confusion, then she went to the main fire to make a calming tea for the people inside, as well as anyone else that wanted some. And a sedative for Dreenie. Dreenie was just too distraught and needed rest.

"Ayla, can I help you?" came a voice behind her.

Ayla turned around to see Tralie standing there with tears in her eyes. "Of course Tralie," she said, then explained that Dreenie was not doing well and that she wanted her to sleep.

"You look so tired Ayla, maybe you should lie down too," the woman suggested.

"I will, but I can't yet. There is still some work to do." Ayla paused. "I have made a space for Dreenie inside the tent. I hope you do not mind."

Tralie was shaking her head, and Ayla suddenly noticed that the woman was extremely dirty; having been Ayla's main assistance during the incident, the woman was covered in dried blood and dirt. It was obvious that the woman was also exhausted beyond measure. "Where is Travec?"

"He is still working on cutting the meat into smaller pieces, so that we can dry it at the fires."

Ayla frowned, thinking that they had wanted to bring the meat home to freeze it in their underground area, and that dried meat had not been the plan for so much meat. Ayla then looked around for Grov and, seeing him over talking to Tornec, Ivanolia, and Brulenzia, she called for his attention. "Grov!" The man turned around immediately. "We need to construct a stretcher so that we can start home right away," she gestured across the encampment. "If we don't get this meat back to Lion Camp fast, we will have to dry it and that was not the point of this hunt."

Grov nodded. "We could make several of them, so that the meat can be carried in the same way," he motioned back to her.

She nodded. "Good idea." She started to turn back to Tralie, then faced her mate again. "Can you tell Tornec to come help me with Tralie, please?" Grov gave her a clipped nod, then looked at the three men watching them.

"Tornec, Ayla would like some help with Tralie. Can you help her?"

The man nodded, but he had an astonished look on his face. "I can't believe she said all that with a few hand motions."

Brulenzia chuckled. "She said a lot more than that, but I'm not sure I understood it all. Something about getting the meat back to the earthlodge."

Grov smiled. "Yes, you did learn some of the Clan's signs, didn't you? Ayla wants us to build her something to carry Darnev and the meat back to the earthlodge. She's worried about the meat having to be dried instead of frozen."

"I was wondering about that," Ivanolia said. "This whole hunt is for naught, if the meat has to be dried." Then he glanced toward the large tent. "But I don't suppose anyone cares about the meat right now."

Grov shook his head. "Probably not, but why lose the meat if you do not have to. In the Clan, a foiled hunt, or an injured hunter, could mean the death of others, so Ayla is thinking with her Clan head; she wants to have both, if she can, and she has a great idea. Come, I'll show you what she wants us to do." Tornec left to go join Ayla and Tralie.

~oxoxo~

Back at the fire, Ayla was still waiting for the water to boil for tea when Tornec arrived. "I want you to take Tralie over to the river and have her wash up, then I want her to lie down; she is beat."

Tralie's eyes opened wide. "Ayla, you are far more tired than I. You should do the same. I can wait."

"No, Tralie," Ayla said. "I still have more to do and I can make this tea myself. You go wash and rest. Everyone needs to get some rest or we'll never get out of here. Besides that, I have plenty of people to help me." Tralie nodded and allowed Tornec to lead her away.

Ayla watched them go, then noticed the water was boiling. She quickly made three different types of tea: the first, a gentle calming tea; the second, a stronger tea, to knock out Dreenie, and anyone else that needed it; and the third, a strong painkiller for when Darnev woke up. When she was finished, she stacked the three containers she had brewed, then headed for the tent.

~oxoxo~

Inside the tent, Ayla could see—and hear—that Dreenie's grief had lessened in her absence, so she started with her. "Dreenie, I want you to drink this."

Dreenie looked at her and took the cup and drank the warm liquid down quickly. Ayla smiled. Then she looked at Tulie and handed her a cup of tea. "I do not want to sleep, Ayla," the headwoman said, turning away from the cup." Dreenie opened her eyes; she had been unaware that Ayla had given her a sedative.

"This tea is just to relax you a bit, Tulie. I knew that you would want to stay awake," the medicine woman said. "I have some for Barzec and Deegie too."

The three other people smiled and accepted cups. "Thank you, Ayla," Tulie said.

"Yes, thank you so much, but you should have some too. And rest, of course," Barzec went on.

"No, not yet Barzec. I still need to do a few things around here, and I think you all should wash up before it gets dark. Sleeping all bloody and dirty is not very comfortable." They had forgotten how dirty they were and decided they would do that soon. "I have to go give some of this tea to the others, but I have also made a painkilling tea for Darnev, should he wake up while I'm away. But, can someone come get me if he does awaken?" Three of the people in the tent nodded assent; Dreenie was already nodding off.

~oxoxo~

Back outside again, Ayla went to Druwez, who was sitting dejectedly with a silent Danug and Latie. "Druwez?" the woman said gently. The young man looked up; all three youths did. "I have made you all some tea. It will help you relax." Druwez looked up at her and Ayla noticed that his face was tear streaked, all of their faces were.

"Ayla...will he...will Darnev be okay?" Druwez asked. Latie's eyes filled with tears and spilled over before Ayla could even answer the question.

Ayla knelt down on the ground in front of the three youngsters and put her arms around all three of them. "I have done everything that I can right now and he is not bleeding anymore. We will know more when he wakes up." She purposely said when, and not if, just to stay on the positive side of the situation—then she gave the three of them a strong squeeze and changed the subject. "I want all of you to go clean up in the river before it gets dark, then eat something small and go to bed." They all nodded at her, drank their tea, then ran off to do as they were told.

~oxoxo~

After that, Ayla went around to the rest of the people, giving them tea and suggesting that they get off to bed early. Talut and Vincenzia insisted on staying up to watch over the meat, Travec and Grov said they'd take second watch, Ivanolia and Brulenzia volunteered for third, and the returning Tornec agreed to take the final watch along with Wymez.

~oxoxo~

Ayla was extremely pleased that everyone was working so hard to make things run smoothly and was just standing there staring at the fire when Grov came up to her.

"It is nearly sunset, Ayla," he said. "Everyone has washed up, except you. Come on, I will go with you."

"Let me just look in on Darnev first. It will not take long, I promise." He nodded, and followed her into the tent. Deegie was lying next to her mother, head on the headwoman's lap, but Tulie and Barzec's positions had not changed despite their recent bathing. Druwez was sitting in the corner of the tent, apparently sleeping. Ayla smiled at the close-knit family. "I am going to go wash up, but I will hurry up. I want everyone to drink some more tea," she said, pouring more into their cups, then leaving.

~oxoxo~

At the river, Ayla quickly splashed into the cold river water, soaped up, scrubbed the dried blood and caked dirt off her skin and hair, then dunked down again to rinse off. Grov had already washed and was in a clean tunic and leggings, but held her towel for her when she got out of the cold water—and then held her when she started to cry.

"Ayla, you are exhausted. Let's get you back to the tent so you can rest," he said, lifting her up into his strong arms and carrying her back to the tent in just her towel. She lay her head on his shoulder as he carried her and succumbed to her weariness.

~oxoxo~

The people in the tent looked up when Grov came in carrying Ayla and thought that she had been hurt. "Grov?" Tulie said, getting up. "Is Ayla all right?"

"Yes, she is fine, but she is tired," he whispered. "I'm putting her in bed, but I'm sure she wants you to wake her the moment Darnev wakes up, so please do." The headwoman readily agreed, so Grov turned and took Ayla to her sleeping furs, dressed her in her sleeping tunic, then put her in bed. Ayla never even stirred.

When Grov went back out, Deegie and Druwez had gone to bed and Tulie and Barzec had moved off to their furs to sleep, so Grov went back outside to see where everyone else was. The two woman, as well as Latie and Danug, had gone to bed, so it was only the men that were sitting by the fire. Grov joined them.

"How are Tulie and Barzec doing?" Talut asked.

"Ayla has given them more tea and they are in bed," Grov answered.

Brulenzia frowned. "Is Ayla okay? I saw you carrying her into the tent."

Ivanolia's head shot up. "What is wrong with Ayla?"

"Ayla is fine. She was just so tired that she couldn't stay awake any longer. She washed in the river and I have put her to bed." Grov hid his smile, thinking that it had not been very long since Ivanolia couldn't stand to be near his cousin. He was very thankful the man had changed.

Talut sighed. "Well, you all should go to sleep, so you can get up for your watch." The men all nodded, and went to their tents.

~oxoxo~

Grov slipped into their partitioned off area of the large tent, removed his leggings and got under the furs with his woman. She groaned as he took her into his arms and held her, and squeezed him back in her sleep, then he drifted off, fatigue finally overtaking him.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – "And Through The Night"

Talut and Vincenzia sat together silently for some time sipping their tea, while watching the meat and keeping the fires up. Talut kept glancing at his sister's tent and Vincenzia had to smile.

"This has been a difficult day," he said.

Talut looked up at him. "Yes, particularly for my sister and her mates. It is not how I imagined this hunt. I am feeling rather guilty that I even suggested it."

"You should not feel guilty, Talut," Vincenzia said. "You would have probably planned a hunt before the summer meeting, right?" Talut nodded. "Well then, count yourself lucky that Ayla was here to help. She has learned a lot from her Clan, medicine being one thing, and I have seen none better."

Talut nodded. "I know Ayla said Darnev is not safe yet, but I do believe he would have died if she was not here, so I do count Lion Camp lucky, for she has just saved many of us much grief." He was not willing to think anything but positive thoughts; Darnev would live, he told himself—he has to!

~oxoxo~

After the period of time that was agreed upon, Talut went to wake Travec and Vincenzia went into the big tent to wake Grov. Inside the tent, Vincenzia looked down at Ayla and her mate. They were entwined in each other's arms, sleeping soundly; he hated to wake the man, but knelt down and shook him gently anyway.

Grov's eyes opened and he stared at Vincenzia. He quickly disentangled himself from Ayla, stood up, pulled on his leggings and parka and followed the man outside. He saw that Talut and Travec were standing by the fire talking and that, as they approached, the two men turned to look at them.

"Is Ayla still sleeping?" the headman asked.

Grov nodded. "Did you need to talk to her?"

"Oh no. I was just hoping she was resting," Talut said. "She has done so much for Lion Camp. I wish I could do something to repay her."

Grov smiled. "That is not necessary; it is what she does. Darnev's survival will be payment enough."

Talut thought about the man's statement and wondered why so gifted a healer would not want to be repaid, but he was sure that Grov was right, so he nodded. He would try to think of something anyway—especially if Darnev lived.

~oxoxo~

Travec and Grov started talking right away and a decent friendship developed in the fraction of time they spent together. It made Grov truly feel like part of the group.

"Tornec tells me that you used more of your Clan signs today and he thinks it could be good for us to learn more of them," the man said. "I mean, not just for Rydag's sake, though that is obviously a good reason in itself to learn."

"Yes, it is good on hunts, when it is too loud to hear. And good for talking from across a distance like we used it today," Grov said.

Travec smiled. "And good for saying private things to someone when others are near; like behind a curtain, in the furs."

Grov chuckled. "I have not thought of it that way," he said. "In the Clan, people do not watch other conversations; it is considered rude."

"It is considered rude to listen in on other people's conversations among us too, but sometimes it cannot be helped," Travec replied.

Grov nodded. "I understand. It is easy to avert one's eyes, but you cannot close your ears."

Travec nodded agreement. "All you can do is walk away and leave those speaking alone. Your Clan's hand signs could be most handy."

"But spoken language is good too," Grov went on. "When it is too dark to see, the Clan cannot talk."

"I had not thought about that. This is very...interesting," the Mamutoi man said, then paused for a moment before continueing. "Tornec said you were building something today?" he asked hopefully.

"Yes, Ayla wanted us to make a stretcher to carry Darnev back to Lion Camp. Actually, she wanted us to make several of them, so we can carry the meat back too." Grov looked around at all the meat. "I think we can carry all this meat back. It will be very heavy, but it is possible." Grov looked back at Travec. "I'll show you the stretchers. Come," he said getting up and leading the man to the other side of the camp.

~oxoxo~

Travec inspected the device that Grov showed him and smiled. "This will work," he said excitedly. "I'm sure of it. Have you shown Talut yet? He will be thrilled."

"No, he was busy butchering and doing other things while we made these things. I did not have a chance."

"Well, he's going to be thrilled when he finds out we won't have to dry all this meat," Travec said, waving his hand at the many haunches of meat around them. "In fact, it's cold enough tonight that we should probably move the meat far enough away from the fires, so that it does not dry."

Grov nodded, and they went to work moving the meat around.

~oxoxo~

As the time neared to wake Ivanolia and Brulenzia, Travec and Grov had done quite a bit of work. Grov went over to their first load and smiled. "It's already starting to freeze," he said astonished.

"Yeah, we're much closer to the glacier right now than you are down near the peninsula. It's still pretty cold at night in the spring here. I'd guess that by morning, it'll all be almost frozen solid." Travec grinned. "I can't wait to see Talut's face when he wakes up to all the meat moved away from the fires. It's going to be funny. Too bad we're likely to miss it, since we'll probably still be sleeping."

Grov gave a guttural laugh, then said he would go wake Ivanolia and Brulenzia.

~oxoxo~

"What in the Mother's world is going on out here?" Ivanolia said when he finally got up and out of his tent.

Brulenzia looked at the smiling men. "What gives?"

"Well, it is Ayla intention that we leave here tomorrow and we decided the headman would prefer frozen meat over dried meat, so we made a bit of a change," Grov said.

Travec was standing beside the Clan man smiling—then he yawned. "Well, I'm going to bed," he said and left. Grov waved, then left too.

~oxoxo~

Grov entered the tent, stopping only briefly next to Darnev. The man's breathing sounded good, but then again, he really knew nothing about healing. He looked over at the sleeping headwoman and her co-mate. They, as least, looked peaceful; Ayla must have put a sedative in their last tea. He smiled. She was a smart woman to trick them with calming tea all evening, then slip something else in there later. He started to go toward his and Ayla's area, but heard something. A groan? Then he realized it was Darnev and went to the man's side.

"Darnev?"

Darnev's eyes opened slowly...and then he blinked several times. "Owwhhhhh," he groaned again. "What happened?"

"You've been gored by an angry aurochs. Ayla spent half the day and into the night working on you. It is good that you are awake."

"I hurt everywhere," the man said. "What are my injuries?"

"Before we talk about that, you need to drink some of Ayla's tea; it will help with the pain." Grov picked up the cold container of liquid, poured some into a cup, then fed it to the man.

"Eewww," Darnev said with a disgusted look. "That stuff tastes awful."

Grov encouraged him to sip some more. "I should go get Ayla now. The tea works fast, so you will likely feel tired again soon."

"But I want..." the man began, but Grov disappeared. "...to know what my injuries are," he finished to the room at large.

~oxoxo~

Grov slipped into his 'hearth' and knelt down next to his mate. "Ayla," he whispered. "Ayla, Darnev is awake."

Ayla's eyes opened and she sat up. "What? He's awake? That's good." She was on her feet and searching for her leggings. "Where are my clothes?" she asked frantically.

Grov steadied her and handed them to her. "Here, let me help you," he said.

"How long has he been awake?"

"Only just. I was coming to bed after my watch and he groaned as I was coming in." He pulled her tunic over her head and kissed her tousled hair. "I gave him some tea for the pain. I hope that's okay."

"Yes, yes, of course." She frowned. "He won't be awake very long then, I made it strong." She slipped on her boots and went to Darnev. Grov followed.

~oxoxo~

"Darnev," Ayla said, sitting down next to him and putting her hand on his forehead.

His eyes opened and slowly focused on her—and tried to smile. "It's bad, huh?"

Ayla wanted to shake her head and let the man know he'd be all right, but her upbringing wouldn't allow her to speak untruths. "Yes, Darnev, it is bad. But I have worked to make it right again."

"Grov said I was gored. I do not even remember."

"Yes, you were. When we came down the hill, an angry aurochs charged you from behind. You didn't see it coming, until it was too late." Ayla leaned down and listened to his heart. "Your heart is strong."

"What are my injuries?" he asked yet again.

"The worst was a gash in your side, which I have sewn closed," she answered.

"Sewn? You sewed the wound closed?" he persisted.

"Yes, the one on your side and the one on your leg. I was able to stop the bleeding, but I do need to look at them. I'd like to do that while you're awake, if that's okay?"

The man attempted to nodded, but moaned with the effort. "Tulie? Barzec?" he asked next.

"They are here. I have given them something to make them sleep, so they will be rested for tomorrow."

Darnev summoned his strength and turned his head. He could just barely see his mates sleeping off to the side. Then he looked back at Ayla. "What else is wrong with me?"

Ayla removed the bandaging she had placed on him and looked at his wound. "You have a bruised face, a broken arm, a broken leg, and then the two severe gashes. I am going to make a poultice to put on this. It is swelling." Ayla then looked at Grov. "Grov, would you mind bringing me more water before you go back to sleep? And my medicine bag...I left it in our hearth." Nodding, Grov went to get her her bag, then ran out to get water.

Ivanolia looked up at his appearance. "Where are you going, Grov?"

"Darnev is awake," he whispered. "Ayla asked for water."

The two men smiled. "That's got to be a good sign," Brulenzia sighed.

When Grov returned, Ayla insisted that he go to bed. "I will be in as soon as he falls asleep again, but you should go now." She wasn't used to ordering her mate around, but when it came to medicine, not even their Clan's leader would argue with her. Grov left immediately.

"Ayla?" a voice from behind her said, and Ayla remembered that she had not given either Deegie or Druwez the sleeping tea.

"Hi Deegie, come talk to Darnev before he falls asleep again," Ayla encouraged, noticing that Druwez was right behind his sister. "Hi Druwez."

"Darnev?" Deegie said questioningly. "How do you feel?"

The man attempted a smile. "Like I've been run over by an aurochs," he said, struggling not to laugh and cause himself more pain.

Deegie giggled, then stopped herself. "That's not funny, Darnev. You have been run over by an aurochs."

"How are your mother and Barzec? And Dreenie? Are they all okay?" he said, raising his uninjured arm out to the daughter and son of his hearth.

Deegie and Druwez both took the man's arm and smiled. "Mother is strong," Druwez said. "But she did cry."

Darnev raised an eyebrow. That meant it was really bad, he thought. Deegie smiled. "Barzec is good, he's been working hard butchering the meat. We got the three aurochs that we intended and the one that came after you."

"Wow, that's a lot..." Darnev's voice was becoming less strong. "a lot...of...of meat." He took a deep breath and Ayla was pleased to see that he did not wince from pain; her medication was taking affect. "Dreenie?" he asked again.

Deegie was glad for the dim light, because she was sure her face would have revealed more than her words. "Dreenie's okay. Ayla knocked her out first. She wouldn't stop crying, Darnev." Deegie was beginning to cry herself and she held the man's hand tighter. She didn't realize he had fallen asleep again.

Ayla waited for a moment, then touched Deegie's shoulder. The woman was quietly sobbing. "It's good, right? I mean, it's good that he woke up and talked to us, right?"

Ayla nodded. "Of course it is, Deegie, but we still have to wait." Ayla put her arm around Deegie and Druwez. "It's best that you go back to sleep. Here, take some more tea." Ayla saw that Deegie was going to resist it, then she changed her mind and drank the tea down. Ayla smiled as Druwez did the same and watched them go back to their hearth, then she went to her bed.

~oxoxo~

Back in her hearth again, she stripped off her tunic and leggings again and crawled into her furs—this time without pulling on her sleeping tunic. She was too tired for that and she didn't need the extra work, should she have to jump up and dress to go see Darnev in the middle of the night again.

Grov had dozed off, but his naked mate next to him woke him up quick and he put his arms around her and held her against his large frame. "How is he?"

"Hmm, talking," she replied, kissing the man softly. He kissed back and started to pull away, but she kissed him again, this time with more urgency. "Will you make the signal, Grov?" she asked, hungrily kissing him again. She did not even think about her words or about the fact that a woman would never ask a man to do that. She was essentially giving him the signal with her words.

Grov was a little shocked that his mate was being so forward, but it only served to inflame his desire for her. She felt his need arise even though he made no signal. He continued to kiss her until she was panting and moaning. "Grov, please...please signal me," she begged.

"No Ayla, I can't do that to you anymore," he said, then seeing her confusion, he went on. "I can't make you relieve my needs anymore. I have lived with the Others and...I see that it's not right that way. I—" he could not continue with her mouth on his.

She pulled back far enough to speak to him. "Then I will do it," she said. "You just have to relieve my needs, Grov. I just cannot take it." As she said what she did, she made the signal to him, then pulled his leggings down and lowered herself onto him. Grov didn't resist; he couldn't and didn't want to. Instead, he put his hands on her hips and arched his back into her, burying himself into her deeply and satisfying them both.

~oxoxo~

When they were finished, Ayla rolled off of him, feeling that somehow it had been perfect. She was a little embarrassed that she had taken control and demanded something no good Clan woman ever would, but she pushed that feeling aside. She was not like any other Clan woman and she knew it.

Grov, on the other hand, wondered why it was that Clan men did not like their women to be so open. He had to admit that he enjoyed Ayla much more completely when she was herself.

"Thank you, Grov," she said. "I really needed you just then."

The man smiled in the darkness. "Well Ayla, you can have me any time...or any way you want me."

~oxoxo~

As the night wore on, Ivanolia and Brulenzia woke up Tornec and Wymez. They had to explain the movement of the meat again, but the new watchers understood. It was going to be an interesting morning, with Talut waking up completely unaware of the change.

AtDC

The Lion Camp Earthlodge

ENTRY area — storage of fuel, implements, outer clothes

FIRST hearth — cooking hearth and space for gathering

SECOND — Lion Hearth

Talut – headman
Nezzie
~ Danug (13)
~ Latie (11)
~ Rugie (6)
~ Rydag (5) - mixed child

THIRD — Fox Hearth

Wymez – Nezzie's older brother
Travie (44) – sharing Wymez's bed, Darvie and Danie's mother
~ Ranec – away until summer meeting

FOURTH — Mammoth Hearth — space for ceremonies, gathering, projects, visitors

Mamut — shaman, Tulie, Talut and Travie's great grandfather (pardon the modern term)

Vistiing adults of the Mammoth Hearth

~ Darvie (26)
~ Vincenzia (37)
~ Laurana (15) – very pregnant
~ Brulenzia (20)
~ Ayla (16)
~ Grov (18)
~ Danie (21) – newly pregnant
~ Ivanolia (22)

Visiting Children of Mammoth Hearth – sleeping on benches in passageway

~ Braydalana (8) - Ivanolia's hearth daughter
~ Crisanie (8) – Darvie's daughter
~ Brenev (5) – Darvie's son
~ Durc (5)
~ Ora (3)
~ Annaliza (1)

FIFTH— Reindeer Hearth

Tronie - pregnant
Tornec
~ Nuvie (2)
~~ Manuv – grandson of one of Mamut's cousins, man of Tornec's hearth

SIXTH— Antelope Hearth

Travec - mated to Dreenie and Tralie
Dreenie – Darnev's sister, Travec's co-mate
Tralie – Tronie's sister, Travec's co-mate
~ Caylie (9) – Dreenie's daughter
~ Corlie (9) – Tralie's daughter
~ Danen (7) – Dreenie's son

SEVENTH— Aurochs Hearth

Tulie — headwoman
Darnev – Tulie's co-mate
Barzec – Tulie's co-mate
~ Tarneg – gone to live at mate's mother's camp, of Darnev's spirit
~ Deegie (16) - of Darnev's spirit
~ Druwez (12) - of Barzec's spirit
~ Brinan (7) - not sure whose spirit created him
~ Tusie (5) - of Barzec's spirit

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – Starting Home

The morning sun was shining brightly in the crisp air when the headman stepped out of his tent. Looking toward the sun, he squinted his eyes, then immediately went around the corner to pass his water—without even looking at their camp very closely. Tornec and Wymez saw him go and decided to disappear.

~oxoxo~

In the big tent, Tulie and Barzec had awoken as well and were sitting with their sleeping mate, talking quietly. Though low, their voices finally reached the sleeping medicine woman. Quickly, she rolled out of bed and dressed, then slipped into the main tent space. "How is he this morning," Ayla asked.

"He is still sleeping," Tulie said with a frown.

"Oh! I am sorry, Tulie. I did not tell you. Darnev woke up late last night. Well actually, very early this morning," Ayla said. "He asked about everyone and wanted to know what happened, but he was in pain, so I gave him a strong painkiller to put him back to sleep."

The couple took a deep breath and smiled—though it was strained. "I would ask why you did not wake us, but my whirling head tells me we were not...wakeable."

Ayla blushed deeply. "I am sorry about that Tulie, Barzec, but I thought it was best that everyone slept. I—"

"WHAT IN THE GREAT EARTH MOTHER'S WORLD IS GOING ON OUT HERE?" the huge headman thundered from outside.

Everyone looked at the tent opening, then Ayla looked back at them. "I need to go talk to Talut. I have made a change with the meat and he is likely very confused. I will be back." Ayla hurried away.

~oxoxo~

When Ayla got outside, the headman was pacing in front of the first meat pile and several others were coming out of their tents. "Talut?" Ayla said, gingerly touching his arm.

"Ayla," he said. "What is going on here? This meat is going to spoil."

"No, Talut. It was very cold outside last night, as I am sure you already know, so the meat is already frozen. And, we are going to leave today, so we do not need to dry all this meat. We will get it back to Lion Camp," she said.

Talut ran one hand through his flaming red hair, scratched his thick beard, then looked at the blonde woman. "Leave? How can we leave today? Darnev is not fit to travel."

"No, he is not, but we have made stretchers, so that he and the meat can be carried. I think you will be pleased," she said. Then seeing that he was still upset, she went on. "I hope you will not be angry with me, Talut. I think this is the best way to get Darnev back to Lion Camp and still save the meat."

"We can save all the meat?" the man said hopefully. "Will you show me how this will work?" he asked.

Ayla let out her breath; she had not been aware that she was holding it. "Of course I will, Talut." Then seeing Grov standing there, she motioned him over. "Look Talut," she went on when Grov had placed a stretcher on the ground in front of her. "It goes like this." She straightening it out, then lay down upon it. Grov then went to the end of it and grabbed the poles that extended from the end and indicated that Talut should do the same at the other end. When the man was in place, they lifted it up, with Ayla lying down on it.

Talut grinned. "This is great!" he said. It was almost a yell. "TULIE! BARZEC! You must come out here." He looked at Ayla again. "Are they awake?" Ayla nodded. "And the meat, we can make these for the meat as well?"

"We already have," Grov stated simply. "They're all ready."

When Tulie and Barzec appeared, Talut and Grov were still holding Ayla up on the stretcher. "Look, we can carry Darnev home. We can leave today." Tulie and Barzec smiled, then quietly went back inside.

~oxoxo~

While some of the people of the camp worked to pile the stretchers with all that could feasibly be carried, and others filled packs to be worn on their backs, Ayla hovered over her patient, waiting for him to wake up again.

"Shouldn't he be awake by now?" Dreenie whined.

"He will wake up soon, Dreenie," Ayla said to the woman, though she said it for the benefit of all. "I can tell that he is stirring. It will not be much longer." Tulie and Barzec had just come back with plates of food, and Deegie and Druwez were sitting there dejectedly.

"I will need to give him some more tea, which will put him back to sleep, but that will be best, because transferring him to the stretcher will most probably be painful. I'd rather him be..."

"Ohhhhh," the man moaned, causing the entire room to come to attention. Dreenie made it to her brother first.

"Darnev?" she said.

He opened his eyes and focused on his younger sister. "Dreenie, you look...awful," he said and the woman laughed softly; it was the first sign that she was going to be okay.

"Oh Darnev, how do you feel?" she asked him.

"I feel like I've been..." he started.

But Deegie and Druwez finished for him, "...run over by an aurochs." They giggled and Dreenie gasped.

"But, Darnev, you have been run over by an aurochs," his sister replied.

Ayla watched the people and it was obvious to her that they all loved each other very much. Tulie and Barzec were sitting on one side of their mate, while the other three knelt on the other side. Ayla cleared her throat. "I am glad to see you awake again, Darnev," she said. "I would like to change the poultice I put on last night and check the swelling in your arm and leg. I also need to give you more medicine."

The man frowned. "But I do not want to sleep," he protested.

"I know, but we are going to start back to camp today and we need to move you to a stretcher so you can be carried."

"A what?" he asked.

Barzec smiled. "Grov has made a device that will make it possible to carry you back. And the meat as well."

Darnev nodded and Ayla helped the man with another cup of the her medication. Then she turned to Dreenie, Deegie, and Druwez. "I think we need to start breaking camp." Dreenie wanted to stay with her brother, but nodded acquiescence and left with the other two.

"Tulie, Barzec, I would like to move Darnev to the stretcher as soon as he falls asleep," Ayla glanced at the man; he was already drifting.

Tulie looked down at Darnev and nodded. "Thank you again, Ayla. We are so grateful."

Ayla smiled. "Well, I cannot be positive yet, but it looks good."

"It sure does," Talut said from the entrance. "Most of the meat fits on five stretchers, which the men will carry and what doesn't fit there has been put into backframes for the women to carry. And Darnev's stretcher is ready to be loaded now too."

Ayla looked at Darnev and nodded. "He is unconscious again, so let's get started. Put the stretcher down there," she said pointing to the spot immediately next to the sleeping man. Once that was done, she put another fur on it to make it comfortable, then continued. "Okay, Tulie and Barzec take that end of the ground covering, and Talut, you and I will take this end. On the count of three, we will move him over," she prompted. "One...two...three." They quickly lifted and shifted. The man groaned loudly, but he was now in place and everyone relaxed.

Tulie sighed and Barzec put his arm around her. Ayla smiled at them. "If we can get back to Lion Camp in two or three days, he will be able to rest more comfortably, but this is going to be tough work for all of us." They were all aware of that fact.

~oxoxo~

When the sun was high in the sky, the people were ready to go. The meat had been stacked, the tents had been taken down, the fires had been put out, Darnev had been strapped to his stretcher, and everyone was ready to go. The people looked around one last time, then picked up their burdens and began the trek home.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – "An Uneventful Evening"

The heavily loaded hunting party made it slightly past the place where they had camped the night before the hunt, but the people were exhausted, so stopped their trek before the sun was even on the horizon.

Ayla dropped her backframe, ordered Darnev put down, and had the tent constructed around him. Everyone else did his or her work silently and finally collapsed by the central fire when all was finished. Talut had fires set up around their perimeter to protect the meat from predators, but kept the meat far enough away so that it stayed frozen.

It was a quiet evening for the tired crew, but they all ate heartily, even Darnev, who was given a warm aurochs stew, and then more of Ayla's painkilling tea.

When the man was sleeping soundly again, Ayla again stripped off his bandaging, felt around his wounds, just to reassure herself that his insides were where they should be, and then cleaned them again and bandaged him back up. She noticed that the bruising had gotten worse, but she had expected that, since bruises sometimes take time to appear.

After looking at his stitched wounds, she wanted to look at his broken bones. Her bark casts seemed a little tight, indicating that he was still swelling, so she loosened them, and went on to the man's badly bruised face.

His face looked even more awful than it had that morning, because the bruising had deepen from a blue color to almost purplish-black, and the cuts he had sustained from impacting the ground so hard, were now scabbed over, adding more darkness to his now distorted look. However, his ability to speak had not been affected, as his jaw was not broken, and that pleased Ayla greatly. She was pretty sure that he would recover, but she was not ready to tell everyone yet; she wanted to be certain first.

~oxoxo~

The next day started off early, with the same breaking down of the tents and packing up of supplies as before. Talut had managed to spend some time with Darnev that morning and he was happy to see that his sister's mate, despite the whole ordeal, still had a sense of humor. And the man's attitude was sure good for the spirits of everyone else; especially his sister Dreenie, who had to be forced to leave his side.

Talut looked around at all the meat that had been saved and smiled over at the woman that had made it all possible. She is very inventive, he thought as he considered what she had managed to accomplish. And, her stretchers made it so they didn't even have to repack the meat during the trek back; it was so convenient. He grinned to no one in particular, but Ayla looked up just as he did and grinned back.

"What makes you so happy, Talut?" she asked, coming up to the happy man.

"It is you. You have made this man very happy," he said.

"Me?" she said in a shocked manner. "What I have done is not extraordinary."

"You do not think saving a man's life and an entire hunt is extraordinary?" he asked.

She smiled. "I have done all that I can for Darnev and I hope that he recovers, but he is not saved yet, Talut. And as for the hunt...well, it is Grov's people that came up with the stretcher, so you can be happy with the Clan too."

Talut nodded. "I am, Ayla. I am very happy with you and your mate."

~oxoxo~

It was not long after Talut and Ayla's talk that the people started out again. It was now day two of the hike home.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – "Homeward Bound – Day Two"

Sometime before midday, the exhausted travelers were still walking at a decent pace. Talut had suggested that some of the meat be left behind, so it was. It was just too much for them to carry. He didn't want to kill the hunting party with the load.

Tulie, on the other hand, didn't want to lose what her mate had given his blood for. She reluctantly agreed to discard some meat, but didn't want to lose too much. There was no arguing with the headwoman. As a result, each pair carrying the meat, relieved themselves of just two medium sized pieces of meat, with the exception of Grov and the headman, as they were quite capable of going on the way they were. As they walked away from what they were leaving behind, scavengers were already upon it. The meat would not be wasted!

~oxoxo~

"I think we can make it back to the earthlodge by tomorrow evening," Talut was saying to Vincenzia. "If we can keep up this pace, that is."

"Yeah, this way of carrying the meat makes it somewhat less awkward," Vincenzia agreed. "My entire body is going to be sore for a moon though."

Talut laughed. "Won't we all."

"No one will be as sore as Darnev," Ayla commented, glancing back at the man, and sighing. "I think it may be time to stop for a rest; he seems to be waking up and I will need to redress his wounds."

Talut looked back at the unconscious man, then at his exhausted sister. "Yes, time to rest," he said. "Let's take a break!" he called to everyone else.

Ayla shrugged off her pack of meat and put down the rest of things she was carrying, then turned toward Tulie and Barzec. "I will need a fire to make him a warm tea," she said. "I have some that is cold, but it would be better warm." Barzec nodded and went to gather some wood.

Tulie smiled at the young healer. "Ayla," she said awkwardly. "I would like to thank you for saving Darnev. I am sure he would not have survived if you had not been here."

"Oh Tulie, there is no need to thank me," Ayla said. "This is what I do." Ayla paused. "I did not want to say, until I was sure, but I think Darnev will survive. He is a very strong man and has a strong will to live." Ayla glanced over at the injured man and Tulie followed her eyes. "However, I do not want you to get your hopes up just yet. The injury is still very bad and infection could still set in. But again, he looks good, and seems to be fully aware when he is awake and that is very good." Tulie smiled widely, then pulled the blonde woman into her arms. The smile was a completely uncharacteristic of the hulking woman and the hug that followed...well, that caught the medicine woman totally off guard. It pleased Ayla to know that the strong woman had more feelings than she normally displayed.

"Why is our headwoman so happy," Dreenie asked curiously, coming over to find out why their stoic headwoman seemed so pleased.

"Ayla believes Darnev will recover," Tulie repeated.

Dreenie broke into sobs and flung her arms around the medicine woman as well. "Oh thank you, Ayla. This is wonderful news!" she burst.

Ayla hugged her back, then pulled back somewhat. "I am very hopeful for Darnev, but Dreenie we still have to see," she said, holding the woman at arms length. "I am concerned about his leg. It is badly torn apart and I am afraid he may not walk normally again."

Tulie frowned. "But he will walk again?"

"Well, I have done stitches before, but never on a leg and never on such a severe injury. It appears that I put everything back where it belongs and the wound is stitched up cleanly. But we won't know for sure until it has healed and he tries to walk, Tulie." Ayla thought for a moment, then continued on. "I stitched up a little Clan girl's arm at our cave and she seems to have full use, but a leg could be different. We will have to wait and see."

Tulie nodded and smiled. "It does not matter, Ayla. He is alive and that is all that matters."

~oxoxo~

Soon, Barzec had a fire going and everyone was sitting around eating the last of Nezzie's traveling cakes, trying to catch his or her breath before they had to move on. Ayla had examined Darnev again and was amazed that he found humor in the whole situation. Deegie let her know that Darnev had always been the one to find the positive points of everything.

With Deegie's help, Ayla finished bandaging the man's wounds, gave him some more tea, and went to sit by the fire to eat. She did not have long before Talut called everyone to rise and head out.

~oxoxo~

With the fire put out behind them, the group moved on. For what seemed like forever, they followed Lev River in a generally southwestern direction, which had pretty much melted at this point, making them want to get back to the earthlodge even more quickly.

As Talut led his people, he worried that if the river of ice had melted, then they may not have much time for the meat. The headman looked up at the dreary sky, and smiled somewhat. The only thing that may save their kills was the cloud cover, which was keeping direct sunlight off of it.

Ayla followed the man's line of thought and broke in. "It will be okay, Talut. You will make it back in time. The meat will not spoil. And Darnev will survive."

The man looked at her and saw something different in her...something he had not seen before—something prophetic. He wished Mamut was there, so the old man could hear and see what was in this woman. He did not realize that it was not the woman talking at all.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

What Talut did not see was that Mamut was there with them, speaking through Ayla. With the goring of Darnev, the old Mamut had fallen into a spirit trace. No one at the lodge seemed to be bothered by it, as it was quite usual for the old man to sit meditating for long periods of time. The people just helped him to his hearth, where they let him be.

Mamut had been pulled into the young medicine woman's mind, and was watching over his people through her. It was a strange occurrence, he thought, and different than he had ever experienced before. He had not done this with an untrained Mamut, but he was very curious about it.

He also did not want to interfere with her thoughts, thinking that he may frighten her, but as she spoke to the headman, he realized that it was she who had summoned him there—not just wanting his support, but needing it. He suddenly became conscious that she would be very powerful someday—if only she were trained.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

Ayla suddenly shook her head. She did not know why she had said those things to the headman and shivered even though she was not even cold. Talut saw the expression on her face and looked around at the people. "I think it is time to stop for the night," he said. "Everyone needs some rest!" No one argued with the man, they just unloaded themselves and went to work setting up camp.

With the help of Talut, Tulie, Barzec, and Grov, Ayla made Darnev comfortable again, then went to help the women with a meal. Since Nezzie's traveling cakes were gone, they decided to cook some of the aurochs meat, which was a welcome change for the travelers.

After everyone had eaten, most fell into their furs completely worn out. Now that Dreenie was hopeful that her brother would recover, she retreated to her mates' tent and was welcomed back with open arms.

Druwez did the same, which pleased Danug and Latie; they had missed their cousin's company. The three youngsters were three of the people that chose to stay awake by the fire talking. They knew they'd be tired the next day, but they did not care.

Seeing that the other two people in her tent space had moved to other tents, Deegie realized that Tornec would be in need of a tent, now that Dreenie was going back to Travec and Tralie. Deegie figured she could share that tent with him and invited him to share her space.

So, as the everyone went off to bed, the younger woman lay next to the sleeping man of Reindeer hearth, thinking about the preceding days' events, finally falling asleep with hopeful thoughts in her mind.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – "Homeward Bound – Day Three"

The next morning began the same as the last, with everyone rising early, breaking up camp, and setting out. Darnev spent more time conscious on the third day, which pleased Ayla and his wounds actually seemed to be healing nicely. It would be a good long time before the man's breaks and gashes healed enough for him to move around adequately, and the scars would probably never heal completely, but Ayla was becoming more and more sure that he was going to survive. There was even a happy air to the traveling people. They had made four kills and everyone was now safe.

The only thing that marred their joy was the bright sun that lit up the morning and the heat that was brought with it. Spring was definitely over. Talut trudged along, carrying his shared load, wondering if they would make it back before the meat spoiled. It was still frozen, which was a good thing, but he worried all the same.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

Back at the earthlodge, the people were working on various projects. In hopes that the hunters would return in the next day or so, Nezzie, Manuv, and Travie were straightening up the lodge, which had seriously become a disaster since there were fourteen children running around at all times, playing games and roughhousing, and not enough adults to clean up after them.

Mamut, who had barely come out of the Mammoth hearth since Ayla had drawn his spirit to her, was now sitting in the cooking hearth, talking to some of the children about the Clan's signs. With Durc and Ora's help, Rydag had become amazingly proficient in Ayla's absence, making Mamut wonder if the Clan would even know he had been raised by the Others. The old man was extremely impressed by Rydag's ability and the boy was thinking along the same line about the old man. Mamut was remembering more and more of the signs as they talked; he had forgotten how well he had known them all those years ago.

Laurana and Danie were sitting down with Tronie making baby clothes. Braydalana had given her aunt and her mother each an outfit that she had made on her journey with Ivanolia. Both women were thrilled, but the gifts made them want to get started on more.

"Ohhhhh," Laurana groaned, as she made the last stitch of the baby gown she was working on.

Tronie and Danie looked up from the work. "Are you okay, Laurana?" Danie asked, involuntarily bringing her hand to her still flat, yet impregnated middle.

Laurana didn't say anything and Tronie eyed her, looking for signs that it was the young woman's time. When Laurana relaxed she smiled. "Was that the first one?" she asked.

Laurana nodded. "I've been having pains at night, but none like that one. Is it time?"

"I don't think so, but we'll have to see. At first the pains are pretty far apart, but when they're closer together, you'll know it's time."

Danie was frowning. "How much did it hurt?" She was just a little fearful about what she'd go through in another seven mooncycles.

Laurana shrugged. "It hurt a little, but it was more uncomfortable than anything else."

"It does get much more intense, but uncomfortable is a good word for it, Laurana," Tronie said with a smile. "I think you're going to do just fine. How much longer do you have anyway?"

"Less than a cycle of the moon now," she said. "I am so excited to see our baby."

Tronie cocked her head at the woman's words. "What do you mean, 'our baby,' Laurana?" she asked.

"Well, Ayla believes that it is a man that starts a baby growing inside a woman when they share pleasures, so it is Brulenzia's baby just as much as it is my baby."

Tronie frowned. "That is very interesting. I have never heard anything like that before." She rubbed her swollen belly and thought about Tornec.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

The hunters stopped for a meal when the sun was high above them and Ayla went to check on Darnev. The man had been awake all morning, but was now experiencing some pain, so Ayla fed him her painkilling tea, which caused him to slowly drift into a peaceful slumber.

At the fire with everyone else, Ayla settled down next to Grov, who put an arm around her shoulder. "How are you doing, Ayla?" he asked.

"I am fine...tired, but fine," she responded. "And I am missing the children."

Grov looked at his mate's dirt streaked face and smiled at her. "I do too," he said and hugged her. Then, noticing that she winced when he touched her, he pulled back. "What is wrong, Ayla?"

She blushed, then touched her breasts. "I know you have helped me," she gestured so no one else would know what she was saying, then she smiled and continued, "but it's been five days and I really need to nurse Annaliza." She paused for a moment, then touched her own face and went on verbally. "And I feel so dirty."

"We are all dirty, Ayla," Grov said. "You could wet a piece of leather and wipe yourself down. Would that help your second problem?"

Ayla nodded, then she looked around. "Actually, I think I'm going to go wash a bit in the river," she said, then she kissed the man's forehead and got up.

Seeing where Ayla was headed caused several other women to follow. At the river's edge, Ayla stripped down and dove in. The water was cold, but refreshing and it made the woman feel good again.

"Oh, it's so cold, Ayla," Dreenie said, standing at the water's edge. "How can you just dive right in?"

Ayla had quickly washed herself and was out of the river, pushing the water off of herself and shaking her head by the time the other woman had taken off their clothing. "Yes, it is cold, but it feels so good." She shivered as a slight breeze licked her naked body, but the sun was drying her fast. Ayla stood there, waiting for the women to jump in and wash, then they headed back to the group when everyone was done.

When they reached the men, the men decided it was a good idea and went to do the same—all except Darnev of course, who was sleeping...and couldn't have gone to the river even if he had wanted to.

By the time the men returned, the women had dressed and were again ready to travel. Everyone was feeling a sense of renewal and all wanted to get home. They knew the area quite well and all were aware that they would make it home before evening.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

Mamut had spent the morning with some of the children, but now he was meditating while he waited for a good time to talk to the headman's mate. From his usual spot in the cooking hearth, he opened his eyes and looked across the hearth to see what Nezzie was busy with. The old man smiled as he looked at the rotund woman that always managed to take care of the entire camp. It seems that she is always busy, he thought, but that is understandable, considering how many children there are to keep track of right now. He finally decided he would have to interrupt her work.

Getting up slowly, old Mamut crossed the space that separated them, and tapped the woman on the shoulder. "Nezzie," he said, "I need to talk to you."

Nezzie looked up at the old man, as did Travie, since she was standing there too. Both women knew right away that something was wrong. "Mamut?" they said in unison, both with a creased brow.

"One of the hunters has been injured. It is not Talut or Wymez or any of your children," he said quickly, seeing the fear on the two women's faces.

"Who is it?" Nezzie asked at the same time that Travie asked, "How bad is it?"

"It is Darnev and it was very bad." The old man paused for a moment, then went on. "I have made a connection with Ayla and it seems that she is an extremely good healer; we believe Darnev will survive."

Both women frowned. Darnev was a much-loved member of Lion Camp, as well as the headwoman's co-mate. "Well then, we are lucky that Ayla was there," Travie said. "I have heard a lot about her healing skills."

"Do you think we should tell Brinan and Tusie what has happened?" Nezzie asked.

"I will talk to them," Mamut said. "They should be prepared. In fact, I think I'll sit all the children down and explain as much as I know. I really don't know too much. It was Ayla that called me to her, but she did not give me all the details. She only wanted my support. I'm not even sure that she knew she was calling me. I will have to talk to her when she returns."

"And when will that be?" Nezzie asked.

Mamut closed his eyes and thought for a moment, accessing the vision that he had had. He looked around the area, noting familiar landmarks, then opened his eyes again. "They should arrive before nightfall."

Nezzie took a deep breath. "That is good. I will start a meal now. That will be one less thing to think about tonight."

"Yes, and I will go talk to Manuv, Tronie, Danie, and Laurana before I talk to Brinan and Tusie," Travie said. "Maybe we should have some of the older children keep watch outside. What do you think?"

"We can have Caylie, Corlie, Crisanie, and Braydalana go out there. Let's send Danen and Brinan out to join them a little later," Mamut added. "Would you mind asking Tronie, Danie, and Laurana sit outside with them as well?"

Travie shook her head. "I'm sure they'd love to get outside. And they can work on baby clothes out there too." The three people started to disperse, then Travie stopped. "What about the hunt, Mamut? Do you have any idea how the hunt went?"

"They are heavily burdened," the old man said with a grim smile.

~oxoxo~

Once everyone had been told about the hunter's situation, they all got busy again. Tronie, Danie, and Laurana took the eldest children outside, where they put a hide on the ground to continue their work. The children immediately began playing games to pass time while they waited. Brinan seemed a little uptight, but he got into their game anyway, which eased his nerves somewhat.

Inside the lodge, Nezzie and Travie worked on the evening meal, while Mamut sat with Rugie, Tusie, and Brenev, learning more hand signs from Durc and Rydag. Manuv entertained the last group of children, the babies; Nuvie, Ora, and Annaliza.

~oxoxo~oxoxo~oxoxo~

After their swim the hunters were able to pick up some speed and had made good time in the afternoon. As they approached the area they called home, they got a new burst of speed and pushed even harder.

Finally, they rounded the bend to see several children playing outside. They were home!

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – "The Hunters Return"

"They're back!" Brinan shouted, running toward the returning hunters. Danie helped Laurana up, and Tronie quickly slipped into the lodge to inform the others that the hunters had returned. It was not long before everyone was assembled outside to welcome them back.

Nezzie, Travie, and Manuv took the packs off five of the six female hunters and hustled them into the lodge. Tronie stood holding Annaliza, who squealed at the sight of her mother. Despite her heavy load, Ayla reached for her daughter and held her close. Annaliza put her head on her mother's shoulder and popped her thumb in her mouth. Tronie tried to take the young woman's pack, but Ayla wanted to get Darnev inside quickly and make him comfortable, so she didn't relinquish her burden.

Tulie and Barzec entered the earthlodge immediately after Ayla and followed the woman through the entry area and into the cooking hearth. "Where do you usually keep injured people?" Ayla asked unsure of where to put the man. In the Clan's cave, he would have been brought to the medicine hearth, but that was a relatively new addition, and she didn't know what the Others did in cases like this one.

"The Mammoth Hearth," Tulie replied, then she frowned. "But we do not have a healer there."

"Tulie," Mamut cut in. Ayla had not seen the old man standing there, but focused on him. "We do have a healer there. Ayla is our healer right now."

The headwoman smiled weakly. "Yes, she is. I am not thinking." Barzec gave his mate a reassuring look. He wanted to take her into his arms, but they were still carrying the stretcher that held their co-mate.

Mamut smiled at the woman and placed a hand on her arm. "Perhaps it would be best if Darnev was put in Aurochs Hearth. Ayla is quite capable of going there to see her patient, don't you think?"

Barzec smiled widely and looked at Ayla. "Would you mind, Ayla?" he asked.

Ayla shook her head. "Of course I do not mind going to Aurochs hearth to check on Darnev. I will come with you to help make him comfortable, but he will probably sleep for some time." Tulie and Barzec smiled at her appreciatively and headed for their hearth at the end of the lodge.

Once in the hearth, it was decided that Darnev would be given his own bed platform until he had healed enough to join his co-mates in their regular sleeping place. Ayla thought that it would be best for him to be undisturbed during his recovery and everyone agreed with her.

Brinan and Tusie had followed them back to the hearth as well, and were standing in the opening of the hearth, wondering what they should do. No one seemed to notice them standing there. But, when Ayla turned around she saw tears in little Tusie's eyes, she went over to the little girl and knelt down in front of her, standing Annaliza on the ground between her legs.

"Tusie," Ayla began. "Darnev has been seriously injured, but I think he is going to be fine."

Tusie looked at the woman, who was the mother of Durc, her new playmate, and wiped away her tears with the back of her hand. "Do you really think so?" she asked.

"I do," Ayla replied with a smile. "I really do." Annaliza noticed that Tusie was crying, and hugged her new friend, then reached up to her mother again.

Ayla finally decided that the headwoman and her mate needed to be alone with their children, so she left the hearth. On her way out she passed Deegie and Druwez in the passageway and smiled at them. They were on their way to be with their mother.

~oxoxo~

Ayla headed for the cooking hearth. She really wanted to nurse her daughter, since the pressure was now almost unbearable, but she wanted to see everyone first. As she walked through the passageway, she noticed that many people were bringing the meat into rooms on the other side of the passageway; rooms she had not noticed before.

"Mamma," Ora said, as Ayla walked into the cooking hearth. "I thought you were not coming back."

Ayla suddenly felt terrible that she had left her children for so long. It really had only been six days, but with everything that had happened, it felt longer. Ayla put Annaliza down so she could gather her older two children into her arms. Durc hugged his mother and smiled at her. "We have taught Rydag to talk in the Clan way, Mama," he said. "You wouldn't even know he grew up here."

"Really?" Ayla said, still holding her children tightly. "I cannot wait to see all that you've taught him, Durc. I will have to come talk to you children later though, because I am very tired."

Annaliza was stuck in the middle of the big hug and was struggling to free herself from their grip. "Too tight," she said.

Once Ora was released from Ayla arms, she had to put in her two pebbles as well. "I helped teach Rydag too, Mamma," Ora gestured.

Ayla smiled and kissed Grov's daughter—her daughter. "I bet you were a big help, Ora." Ora gave the woman a big grin.

"Mamma, hungry," Annaliza gestured. Ayla nodded, then picked the baby up again. Three-year-old Ora reached up to Ayla when the woman stood, so Ayla picked her up too.

"You do not look any less burdened right now, than you did when you got back from the hunt," a voice said from behind the young mother of three. Ayla turned around to see Laurana standing behind her, with Brulenzia, Ivanolia, and Danie right next to her.

Ayla laughed. "No, I suppose not," she said with a smile. "But these two are permanent fixtures and they are no burden." Then Ayla focused on her younger cousin. "Laurana, how long has it been?" she asked.

"How long has what been?" Ivanolia and Brulenzia asked in unison.

Laurana smiled at them, then looked at Ayla. "Not too long, but they are still sporadic."

"I need to take care of these two, but I would like to look at you afterward, if you do not mind."

"No, that is fine. Take your time," Laurana said. "I am okay."

Ivanolia's arm had been around Danie's waist, but now he was standing at his sister's side. "What is going on Laurana? What is sporadic?" he asked worriedly.

Brulenzia had the same confused look on his face, but suddenly comprehension dawned on him and he smiled. "Is it time Laurana?" he asked.

"Time for what?" Ivanolia pressed. "What is going on?" It was obvious the man concerned.

Ayla looked at her cousin and smiled at his naiveté. "Laurana is close to her time, Ivan. Soon, your little sister will have her baby."

"Oh," the man said, suddenly draining of color. He did not like the idea of her giving birth. There was nothing he could do about it and he knew it. That was part of the problem, he knew he could not save her if something went wrong and he was desperately worried.

Ayla smiled at him again. "Don't worry, Ivan," Ayla said. "I will look her over carefully, after I feed these two, but you should relax. Having babies isn't that dangerous. Women do it every day." She squeezed the man's arm, then headed for the Mammoth hearth.

~oxoxo~

At Mammoth hearth, Ayla put her girls down on the bed platform, so that she could take off her pack. She was glad to be back at the earthlodge. Sleeping in a tent could get old and she had been doing a lot of that lately. Ayla moved a few things around in her space, then pulled her tunic over her head and crawled up onto the bed. Both girls waited patiently while she made herself comfortable. Then, when she finally offered a breast to each daughter, they settled in contentedly.

It wasn't an easy job, feeding both of them at the same time. They were both getting so big. Ora didn't really need to nurse anymore, but Ayla didn't mind whenever the child felt the need for closeness. With all the changes they had experienced as of late, she knew Ora needed some reassurance.

In fact, the last mooncycle had been filled with new people, new places, and new experiences. That, in itself, was a little unsettling for Ayla, let alone her children. As her daughters suckled, Ayla thought about all they had done in the last cycle of the moon. They had left the only people she had known as family to go visit her true people. Despite the fact that they were going back to the Clan at the end of the summer, it had been a difficult and scary adventure.

Then, the joy of their arrival at Oak Camp had been marred by Ivanolia's attitude—and then their quick departure to Lion Camp. Ayla had been excited to be going to meet Lion Camp's Clan boy, Rydag, but the continued travel made life exhausting and the meeting of so many new people was overwhelming.

First there were the people of Oak Camp to get to know in only one day. For the most part, that had gone well, with the exception of Ivanolia's prejudice. But now that he had finally warmed up to her, she was no longer uncomfortable with the man, which made that part of this whole journey less tiring.

Then they met the people of Beech Camp, where they had to deal with more closed minded people, but that had actually gone okay too. There really had only been one hearth that had a problem with the Clan, and not even everyone within the hearth had the same feelings. There had been others that didn't talk to her, but Ayla still had hope that they just needed time.

Then, they came across some members of Pine Camp, which seemed initially suspicious, but more open. Part of that was the fact that Gredenzia, Oak Camp's Shogur, was related to Pine Camp's second in command, Zackodia. The other part of it was that there were only a few people there to have to convince. Ayla decided that for the most part, people were good, if only a little misguided.

It had been explained to her that it would be a long haul; that trying to convince people to change their beliefs was extremely difficult. Ayla knew that from her experience with the Clan. The Clan had even more problems with change. She hoped the Sungaea people would be more open to new ideas and new people. The whole thought of trouble seriously frightened her, but she was willing to try, for the sake of the Clan and the Others.

And finally, they had arrived at Lion Camp, where there was not one member that seemed disturbed by her son and mate. That was mostly because they had Rydag living among them, but they were probably the most accepting people she had ever met. She was definitely happy among them, but that may be because they had spent more time with them than any other camp.

Ayla's thoughts were running wild as her daughters suckled, but slowly, all three of them drifted off to sleep.

~oxoxo~

When the work of storing all the meat was finished, Nezzie sent Latie around to tell everyone that the evening meal would be ready shortly. Latie was glad to be home, and skipped off to inform the people.

When she came to Talut, the man boomed. "Great! I have been wondering when we'd be eating."

Latie rolled her eyes and hugged the man of her hearth. "You are always hungry, Talut." Then she looked at Grov, who was standing next to the headman. "Do you want to tell Ayla or should I find her?"

"I will do it, Latie," he said. "She went to Mammoth hearth to feed Annaliza, but she should be done by now." Latie smiled at the man, and he turned to go.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – "The Evening Meal"

The four young people finished up what they were doing in Mammoth hearth and headed to the cooking hearth. The smell of roasting meat was enough to get most people ready for a meal, but Nezzie's roasts made one's mouth water, especially those who had been consuming traveling food for so long.

By the time Ayla arrived most people were settling themselves down, waiting for the headman's mate to tell them to get their plates. Darnev had been brought in and was made comfortable. The man had insisted on a position that was somewhat upright, making it easier for him to see everyone. His position made Ayla worry when she first entered the area, but after checking him over and making sure he had not torn a stitch, or anything else, she decided that it would be okay. Tulie and Barzec were sitting with their mate, along with Talut, Dreenie, Vincenzia, and Darvie.

After Ayla was satisfied that the injured man was okay, she looked for Grov. He was with Wymez and Travec, and they seemed to be talking about the Other's ways of flint knapping. It was a subject that Grov was very interested in, though he rarely had someone as proficient as these two men to discuss it with.

Ayla then looked around for her son and, finding him with the other children his age, smiled. Durc just happened to look up when she looked at him, and smiled back. "Are you okay, Mama?" he gestured across the cooking hearth.

Ayla nodded to her son, grateful that he was so caring and glad that he had not turned out like Broud—the way Broud had been, she thought. Her mind briefly thought about the man that had started her son growing in her, then wondered if men should be called some other name by their children, like women were called mother.

"Yes, my son," she signed back. "I am good. Are you having fun?" Durc nodded emphatically. Ayla was so glad that her son was fitting in; that they all were. She was still nervous about their acceptance among the Sungaea, but this was a good start. "Good. I am going to go help Rydag's mother with the evening meal. I will be back." Ayla gave her son one last look, then turned to go help Nezzie.

~oxoxo~

"Nezzie," Ayla said, as she walked up to the rotund woman. "Is there anything I can do?" Travie was cutting the last of the meat and Nezzie was just finishing with something that Ayla did not recognize.

"Latie!" Nezzie said, swatting at her daughter's hand. "Wait to be called to the meal. Danug! Druwez! Out!" Nezzie watched Latie pout and tried to look angry, but she was so happy that they were home from the hunt and safe. The three youngsters smiled, then walk out of the area.

Nezzie turned toward Ayla. "Of course Ayla. We are going to bring the food over to that bench," she said pointing. "You can help Travie with that and I will go let everyone know that the feast is on." She smiled and handed Ayla a bowl.

Nezzie dipped her hands in to a bowl of water that was sitting near her cooking pipes, then dried her hands and went to get the people.

~oxoxo~

The woman stood in the space just behind where everyone was gathered. Conversation was running wild and the noise level was pretty high. Several children were running around, playing games. Nuvie was in her mother's arms crying; she was tried. Laurana was talking to Tronie and Tralie, but was holding her belly, trying to finish her sentence without letting her brother know she was having a contraction. Nezzie looked at Ivanolia and could tell that he wasn't fooled; she saw the man elbow Brulenzia and they watched her carefully, then went back to their conversation when Laurana's face returned to normal. Nezzie smiled, then cleared her throat. "Ah-ah-hum! Is there anyone here that would like to eat?"

Silence descended upon the hearth, as people jumped up, all except Darnev of course. Ayla had just set down the last bowl and looked up to see everyone watching her. She wondered what they were looking at and went to join the mass of people waiting for the food.

It soon became apparent that everyone was waiting for something, but she didn't know what, and they were quite amused by her lack of understanding. Then it struck her...they expected her to go first, just like at Oak Camp. She wondered why she was first again, since there were several other female visitors; Travie, Darvie, Danie, and Laurana. Ayla shrugged her shoulders and picked up her plate.

Everyone waited for their visitors to fill their plates, then they all dug in, in no particular order. Talut heaped food on his plate, then went to get his skin of bouza and went around pouring it generously.

"Ooo-hoo," Travec said with a smile. "Talut's pouring full cups of his drink. We better watch out!"

Ayla frowned at the cup of strong liquid, then drank it down. Grov watched her, knowing she didn't really like it, then drank his own as he ate.

Danie giggled. "Well, at least we have your secret tea for tomorrow morning," she said.

"Well, I'm not drinking any bouza," Laurana said. Then she leaned into Ayla and Danie and whispered, "These labor pains are uncomfortable enough without having a headache too."

"That is smart, Laurana," Ayla said. "There is no need to make it harder on yourself. And your contractions are getting closer together, so it could be tomorrow. Do they seem regular yet?"

Laurana shook her head. "No, they just come every once in a while." She looked over at her brother and Brulenzia, who had gotten up to get more food. "But it's getting harder to hide them."

Ayla smiled. "Well, don't try to hide them from me, okay? I need to know when you need me."

"I won't, Ayla," Laurana promised.

"I don't think anyone could hide anything from Ayla anyway," Danie said. "You're always aware of who's doing what."

"Yes, and so are others," Ayla said nodding toward Ivanolia and Brulenzia. "Don't think you're fooling them; they're keeping a close eye on you."

Laurana looked over at the two men, saw them glance over at her, then say something to each other before going to sit with some others. Danie smiled, thinking that it was great that Laurana was loved so much.

~oxoxo~

As the meal ended, people started asking about the hunt. Everyone was curious about how Darnev had been injured so badly and how the man had survived such an onslaught. They had all heard tidbits of the hunt and of the aurochs that had tossed the man like a doll, but even the ones that had been on the hunt did not know all the details, since not many had seen the incident, and no one had had time to really tell the tale while they were traveling.

"Well, let's start from the beginning," Nezzie said, knowing what most really wanted to hear. "We'll get to everything else soon enough," she went on. "Some of us don't even know how or when you all met up."

"Okay, Nezzie," Talut said. "You got it. Who wants to start?" The big headman looked around, his eyes resting on Latie, whose hand was raised. "Latie?"

"I saw their fire before anyone else did," she said. "It was getting dark and the light from the fire was so tiny, but we decided to keep going until we caught up." The girl was still thrilled that she had been allowed to go on the hunt; she had finally experienced what it would be like to be a woman.

"Yes, we were very surprised when Danug, Druwez, and Latie ran into our camp," Ayla interjected.

Latie smiled. "I think Darnev was more surprised than anyone," she said.

"You are right Latie," the injured man said from his stationary position between Tulie and Barzec. "I was surprised that your mothers let you three come along. Not that it wasn't time," he went on. "I just mean that I didn't expect it."

Latie nodded. "Anyway, we had a good night," she said. "We all ate and drank by the fire, then went to bed so we'd be rested for the hunt."

The story was momentarily interrupted when Ora came stumbling in with Annaliza in her arms. The two blonde, sleepy-eyed girls went to their mother. "We're hungry, Mamma," Ora said. Ayla got up to get some food for her three-year old, then settled her down in between herself and Laurana, and put the one-year old to her breast. Annaliza nursed some, but became interested in her sister's plate of food, and stopped to eat that instead. "Sorry," Ayla said.

"No, no," Nezzie said. "They need to eat too."

"So, in the morning, we discussed what animals had been seen, and we made our preliminary decisions as to which ones we'd go after," Tulie said.

"And after that," Talut went on. "We climbed up the hill to get a better view of the canyon." As Ayla listened she was continually amazed at how much everyone talked at Lion Camp. She had to keep turning from one person to the next to see who was putting in his or her part. This was so different from the Clan, where basically only one person would retell a story, or reinact it. This was also pretty different from Oak Camp, though she didn't have much experience with them to know that for sure. The Sungaea were open as well, but not so much as the Mamutoi.

"What happened next, Talut?" Durc asked expectantly. He was extremely interested in the hunt that had taken his mother away for a while.

Talut smiled at Ayla's son, then looked over at Rydag. Rydag's face had the same expression on it that Durc's had, making Talut suddenly realize that the child had always been speaking to them; they just had not understood his language. The man was suddenly filled with emotion for the boy that was Nezzie's youngest son.

"Well Durc, it was your mother that came up with the idea to come down into the canyon from on top of the hill. We usually box herds into canyons, so they have no way to get out, but this made it faster since we didn't have to worry about them turning around and stampeding back out." The headman smiled. "She suggested that some hunters stay up on the hill to wait, and then climb down to light fires after the herd went through, but before the rest of the hunters arrived."

"It was a brilliant plan!" Tulie said. Ayla blushed at the headwoman's praise and smiled, knowing that the woman did not praise often. "Barzec, Danug, Grov, and Ayla took that canyon hill, and Talut, Darnev, Druwez, and Latie hiked around to the other side."

"Then what, then what?" Brinan asked excitedly. He was tired of all the little details, and wanted to hear about how Darnev had been hurt. He didn't really care about the rest, just as many other seven year olds wouldn't.

Tulie smiled at her youngest son and shifted her eyes to Ayla. "I guess Ayla will have to tell us about that part," she said. "None of us really saw it."

Ayla sat stunned for a moment. She hadn't realized that she would be expected to tell some of the story. She was no less nervous about telling this story as she had been when they first arrived and she had to tell about parts of her life. The whole 'center of attention' thing made her a little uncomfortable, but she swallowed and proceeded to tell everyone what happened.

"Well, everyone had gone into the canyon and Darnev and I were the last to come down our hills. At first I could not find him, but then I looked back farther and I saw the charging aurochs. He hadn't heard it coming because of all the noise from the hunt, but when I whistled and he turned around, there wasn't time for him to move." Ayla looked over at the man, who now looked a little pale and smiled at him weakly. "Are you okay, Darnev?" she asked.

"Yes, I am fine," he reassured her. "I am just reliving that moment with all of you." The man smiled.

Ayla nodded, then looked back at everyone. "After it got to Darnev, I tried to keep the aurochs away with my sling, but I thank Ursus that Brulenzia, Tralie, and Travec were there to help down that beast."

Ayla continued on with the story, including an explanation about how the Clan honored Ursus, the Great Cave Bear, just as they honored Sumata, the Great Earth Mother. As she went on, she worried that she was giving too many details to the people about the bloody scene, but they seemed to want to hear them. She finally decided that Lion Camp had tough stomachs and that Darnev was very brave to listen to the gruesome tale about his goring.

"It was hysterical," Tornec said. "When we saw Talut come out of the tent, we hid, but no one could miss our thundering headman's response to all the meat being moved away from the fire." Tornec cleared his throat and in his best Talut-booming voice, he continued, "WHAT IN THE GREAT EARTH MOTHER'S WORLD IS GOING ON OUT HERE?"

The camp of people laughed at Tornec's most accurate portrayal of their headman. Even Tulie laughed, which made Darnev start up as well. Ayla watched the man wince as he sucked in his breath for more laughter, then he held it so as not to hurt himself further. "Ayla," he said quietly when he had finally stopped laughing. "I think it's time for me to return to the hearth." Ayla nodded and smiled, but immediately directed Talut and Grov to get the man back to his bed.

This was everyone's chance to get up and stretch. Most stayed in the cooking hearth, but Ayla wanted to make sure Darnev was settled in properly, so she picked up a container of hot tea, put in her painkilling ingredients, then went down the long earthlodge corridor to Aurochs hearth. Tusie followed the woman, still unsure that Darnev was going to be all right.

Once there, Ayla poured the man a cup full, fluffed up his bedding, then sat down next to him for one last look. Darnev hardly needed her tea to fall asleep, he was exhausted just from the day's travel and the evening's get together. By the time she was ready to leave the hearth, he was nearly asleep.

Tulie walked Ayla back out into the passageway and the two women paused briefly. "Is he really all right, Ayla," the headwoman asked.

Ayla nodded. "He will be fine, Tulie. He lost a lot of blood, but the body seems to be able to make more of it. Darnev is a very lucky man. It is good that we were there to help him. Had someone noticed him even moments after we did, he would not have survived."

"Well then, it is you that we have to thank then, because you are the one that saw the aurochs coming and you are the healer that took care of him," Tulie said.

"No Tulie, I cannot take full credit for saving Darnev. Everyone helped. I could not have done it without the water that was brought to me, the fire that was started for me, the assistance when stopping the bleeding and bandaging him. And I did not come up with the idea for the stretcher; that was something invented by a member of my Clan. I could not have built the shelter that you all built or carried him back. It was definitely a cooperative effort."

Tulie smiled, thinking that there was a lot more to this woman than what one could see on the outside. She truly did not believe that she should have all the credit. "Yes Ayla, you are right, but I will always remember what you have done for Aurochs Hearth." Tulie leaned over and gave her a stiff hug, then went back to her hearth.

Ayla watched her go, thinking that she was pretty tired herself. The nap she had taken earlier had helped to get her through the evening meal, but exhaustion combined with Talut's bouza took everything out of her. She decided she would return to the cooking hearth, but only long enough to clean up and excuse herself.

~oxoxo~

After cleaning up, Ayla stood quietly, waiting for Grov to finish his conversation. He and some of the men seemed rather involved in another conversation about flint knapping and she did not want to interrupt. When he finally noticed that she was just standing there waiting patiently, he waved her over.

"I think that I am going to sleep, if you do not mind," she asked. "I am so tired."

Grov hugged her. "Of course I do not mind, Ayla. I'm tired too, but I'm going to stay up and talk to Wymez, Travec, and Danug about the Others' way of knapping flint. It is very interesting and I would like to take the knowledge back to the Clan with us. Most of them probably won't use it, but I'd like to learn anyway."

Ayla smiled at him. "That sounds like a good idea. This woman would like to learn too, if it is okay for woman to learn this skill too."

"Ayla, Others women are allowed to do anything they want to. You do not have to ask around here. Just do what you want," he said. "Do you want to come learn some of it now?"

The woman smiled. She really did want to go, but she was so tired. "Maybe tomorrow, I really am tired. But thank you. Do you mind keeping Ora up with you? She's not really tired yet, since she slept for so long."

"That's fine. She can just play with the other children. I will tell her not to wake you though," he said. He was going to tell her not to thank him, but decided against it; Clan ways were just too ingrained in her head. He kissed her softly, and she left for Mammoth hearth, taking Annaliza with her.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – "Into the Night"

Once within the confines of Mammoth hearth, Ayla changed Annaliza and tucked her into the empty bed platform. The child unsuccessfully protested going to bed, but was already looking droopy by the time her mother had finished getting her ready. Ayla smiled down at her daughter, then went over to her own bed to change her clothes.

Ayla tried to be as silent as possible, since Ivanolia and Danie's curtain was already closed, but conversation was inevitable when Brulenzia and Laurana entered the hearth. He was supporting her and she looked as though she had just had a labor pain.

"Ayla," he whispered with a worried expression on his handsome face.

Pulling her tunic back down over her head, Ayla turned around and went to the woman immediately. "How are you, Laurana?" the medicine woman asked.

Laurana smiled. "I am fine," she answered. "Bru is more worried than I've ever seen him, but I'm thinking that it won't be too much longer." She smiled, but only for a second, because her face instantly transformed into a frown of pain. She leaned against her man and took several deep breaths.

"Ayla?" Brulenzia said when his woman's pain had passed. He was suddenly even more worried about this than he thought he would be.

"Brulenzia, you know this is normal," Ayla whispered. "Don't worry, she is doing fine." Ayla patted his arm and helped him lead Laurana to their bed platform. While the woman got comfortable, Ayla began heating up the tea that she had been sipping herself. As it warmed, Ayla added some willow bark, a mild painkiller, and raspberry leaf, which was especially relaxing during labor. When it was finished, she poured the young woman a cup full and handed it over.

After settling Laurana down with her tea, Ayla noticed that Brulenzia had no intention of leaving Laurana to do this alone. Ayla decided she would allow the man to examine his laboring promised, if it was all right with her and if he wished to do so. But now that the time had come, he didn't want to.

"No," he said backing away slightly and shaking his head. "I will leave that to you, Ayla."

Ayla smiled and went about the exam. "You are right, Laurana, it will not be much longer. You are about this open," she said, holding up three fingers close together. "That is just about half way. By morning at least." Laurana smiled up at Brulenzia, then gritted her teeth as another contraction rippled across her abdomen.

~oxoxo~

For quite some time, the three of them sat there talking quietly in between contractions. They had not woken anyone yet, which surprised them. After all the worrying Ivanolia had been doing, they figured he would have been awake at the first groan, since he was only two beds over, but he wasn't. Ayla decided that that was good, and they continued to keep the noise down. Laurana was doing very well for someone so young.

The only other person to come into the hearth was Durc, but that was only to say good night to his mother, then he went to join Brenev on their sleeping platform in the passageway. Ayla watched him go, then looked over at Vincenzia and Darvie's bed. They must still be talking in the cooking hearth, she thought.

~oxoxo~

After what seemed like forever to Laurana, Ayla finally told her she could start pushing. Ayla arranged a birthing blanket beneath the woman and prepared to help her into a squatting position with the next contraction. As her next pain began, so did her pushing.

Ayla held the young woman's hand and watched her face through the next few pains, then eased her back down and checked her again. "You are almost there, Laurana," Ayla said with a smile. "It should not be too much longer."

"Ayla," Laurana gasped, grabbing the medicine woman's hand again. "I am so tired." A single tear slid down her cheek. "I can't do this," she said desperately.

Ayla let go of her hand and touched her face. "Laurana, I know this is hard. I have done this twice, but you are doing very well. You can do this," she encouraged. "You have to." Ayla looked at Brulenzia. He looked nervous too.

"Laurana," he said. "Your baby is almost here. You can do it!" He was no longer whispering.

"Our...baby," she winced, eyes closed, as another one came on. When it was over, they eased her back again and she opened her eyes. "Ivan? What are you doing here?"

Ayla moved aside so that Ivanolia could take up his sister hand. "Are you okay, Laur?"

Instant tears began to fall, flooding both her cheeks. "I'm scared."

Ivanolia looked at Ayla and suddenly relaxed. He knew his sister was in good hands. He smiled at the healer, then at his sister. "You're doing great!" he said. As he spoke to her, her grip tightened on his hand, so he and Brulenzia pulled her into a squat again. "PUSH Laurana!" he commanded.

Ayla reached out to touch her as she pushed, then smiled. "Laurana, I can feel its head. Just a few more pushes and you'll have your baby."

Laurana relaxed as the pain subsided and nodded her head. It was not long before the next one came and she began pushing again. Danie sat on the edge of her bed, watching anxiously. She was more than a little nervous about her own time, which was quite a ways off. She watched Ivanolia and Brulenzia assist Ayla, and smiled. She definitely wanted Ayla to help her too. Then it suddenly occurred to her...Ayla would probably be back with the Clan when it was her time. She frowned. She didn't like that at all. She wondered if she could convince Ivanolia to travel to the Clan for her delivery, so that Ayla could help her too. Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a flurry of activity in front of her.

"I have its head, Laurana," Ayla said excitedly. "One more push and it will come out." Laurana took a deep breath and pushed again, easing her new baby onto the birthing blanket. Ayla picked it up and wiped it clean. "You have a daughter, Laurana," Ayla said, handing the tiny girl to her mother.

Laurana smiled down at her baby and then up at Brulenzia. "Look Bru, she has your dark hair. Brulenzia leaned over and kissed the woman's forehead and looked at the baby. She did indeed have his hair.

Ivanolia backed off a bit, sitting next to Danie on their bed, trying to give his sister and Brulenzia some space. He took a deep breath and continued to watch the scene. He put his arm around his woman and rested his head on her shoulder.

Ayla tied off the infant's umbilical cord and helped deliver the afterbirth, then cleaned Laurana off as best she could. Finally, she packed her with some absorbent padding and covered her up.

"I am going to go wash up and make some more tea," Ayla announced, then got up to go. She was heading toward the cooking hearth, when Ivanolia grabbed her from behind, swung her around, and pulled her into his arms.

"Thank you, Ayla," he said into her hair. Ayla didn't know what to say, since he was still holding her tightly. She was caught completely off guard.

"Well, something has made this man happy," Grov said, coming up behind them. He had an old expression on his face.

Ivanolia instantly let go of Ayla and looked at his cousin's mate with a big grin. "Laurana has just had her baby and they are both safe."

Grov smiled. "That is great news," he said. Then he looked at Ayla and realized she needed to sit down. "Are you okay, Ayla?"

"Yes, I am just dirty and tired. I was going to go clean up and make tea."

Grov noticed that she had blood on her clothes and momentarily felt like he should not be there. Then he remembered that the Others had no such restrictions about men being near the women that gave birth. He relaxed. "Well," he said. "I will go with you."

Ivanolia felt somewhat silly for swinging Ayla around, but he was just too happy. With a huge smile, he returned to Mammoth hearth.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – "Laurana's New Little Girl"

In the cooking hearth Ayla washed her hands, and then picked up a piece of leather, wet it and started wiping down her face.

"Here, let me do that, Ayla. You can't see what you're doing," Grov said, taking the cloth and wiping her face gently. "I didn't even realize you were still awake. We were so intent on our flint knapping that we never heard a thing." He paused for a moment. Her eyes were closed as he wiped her face and she was so beautiful—even dirty. When he was finished he went on. "Look what I made," he said, holding out the beautiful flint spear point that he had spent all night on.

Ayla looked at it carefully, but didn't reach out to take it. She smiled. "That is wonderful, Grov." He was holding it out for her to take, but she still didn't.

"Take it Ayla. I want you to feel it."

Gingerly, as if she thought it would bite her, she reached out her hand and took the small spear tip. It was hard and smooth, but warm. Grov's touch had warmed it. She smiled up at her mate. "This is beautiful, Grov. So smooth. You made this tonight?"

He nodded, then blushed. "Well actually, I started several of them, but I kept breaking them." He frowned. "This is the only one that I finally finished.

Ayla saw his embarrassment. "Are you going to make a spear like Wymez made for Danug, Druwez, and Latie?" she asked, trying to steer the conversation away from his failure. She did not see his attempts at making the Others' spear points as failures, but she knew that he did.

"I would like to, but Wymez says that he only made the points. I guess the son of his hearth carved the spear shafts."

"Ranec," Ayla said. "His name is Ranec."

"Yes, that's what he said," Grov said with a nod. "I wish he was here, so I could learn."

"What do you think of your mate's spear point?" Vincenzia said from behind them. "Isn't it perfect?"

Ayla turned around and smiled up at the man of her hearth. "It is. I have seen none better," she said, still holding onto the shaped flint.

"Grov says you are interested in learning this too. Maybe we can work on more of them after we get some sleep."

Ayla looked at her mate. Did he really not mind if she made hunting weapons? His expression told her everything; he did not mind at all. In fact, he was always telling her to do whatever she wanted. "Yes, I would like that, but I need some sleep. Did you hear that Laurana has had her baby?"

Vincenzia shook his head. "No, I did not. Vilognia and Serlona will be thrilled when we get to the summer meeting." The man turned around. "Darvie!" he called out to the woman who was still across the cooking hearth cleaning up the flint chips so no one would cut their feet. She came over quickly. "Laurana had her baby," he said, then he looked back at Ayla. "Is it a boy or a girl?"

"She had a girl," Ayla answered.

"How is she doing?" Darvie asked. "And how is Ivanolia doing?" She giggled.

"Laurana is good. I left her with Brulenzia. They were just sitting there staring at the baby." Ayla smiled. "And Ivanolia was amazing. I would never have believed he could be so supportive, but he was invaluable. In fact, I would not have thought any man capable of helping a woman have a baby until Brulenzia helped me. Those two men encouraged her all the way. It was great!"

Darvie smiled. "I have learned that that is much more common among the Sungaea," she said grinning at her mate. "I had never actually seen a man attend the birth of his mate's child while living among the Mamutoi, except occasionally when the man was the camp's healer. But even then, usually another healer is sent for. It can be bad if something goes wrong and there isn't someone else there. We know that all too well from our experience with Nemlora. Oak Camp didn't even have one healer then." She paused, a far away look in her eyes. "Anyway, you can imagine the shock I got when I was delivering Crisanie and Vincenzia wanted to be there to help." She grinned up at her mate and he at her. "But, I was ready for it when it came time for Brenev."

"You certainly were," he commented.

"Well, I thought it odd when Brulenzia wanted to examine Ayla during Annaliza's birth," Grov said, remembering the real reason why it had bothered him. "And the men of the Clan were downright put off by a man doing a woman's job, but I can see that it helps many women to have their mates there," Grov said.

Ayla giggled. "Do you remember when Goov had to help Ovra?" she asked her mate. He nodded. Ayla turned back to Vincenzia and Darvie still laughing. "I felt so bad for the man. Ovra went into labor in the middle of the night and he did not have time to get help. They delivered her son, then he came to get me. He was covered in blood and he could hardly tell us what had happen. It turned out that his mate had a second baby when I got to the hearth. I'm afraid Goov was traumatized, but it's a good thing it was him and not some other man," Ayla finished.

"Why?" Darvie asked.

"Because Goov is our Mog-ur, like your Mamut," Ayla said. "He was probably the only man that could have handled it...aside from Grov...and maybe Vorg, when he grows up. I think being mixed makes them more able to accept change."

"Oh," Darvie said, nodding her head. "Well, let's go see the new mother and baby." Vincenzia nodded and they started for Mammoth hearth.

~oxoxo~

When they got there Mamut was sitting on his bed platform holding Annaliza. Ivanolia was sitting on Grov and Ayla's bed talking to Brulenzia and Danie was sitting next to the nursing new mother. Darvie went and sat down with the two women and started cooing to the new baby.

Ayla went to Mamut. "I am sorry, Mamut. I did not mean for you to have to hold her." Ayla felt bad for making the old man have to work.

"It was not a problem Ayla. I like babies and she was a very good girl." He handed the child to her mother. "And besides, Danie offered to take her, so do not feel bad." Ayla sighed her relief and smiled at the old man.

"Oh Vincenzia," Darvie said. "Come look at her. She is so cute." Vincenzia had just taken Annaliza from her mother's arms, but he went to sit on the bed to see the new baby. Annaliza was very interested.

"Baby, Mamma," she said. "Tiny baby."

"Yes, Anna, she is very tiny. She is a new baby. Just like Teglodia. Do you remember Teglodia?" Annaliza shook her head, and stared with wide eyes at the newest member of Oak Camp.

"So, what will you call her, Laurana?" Danie asked. Ayla had been wondering that too, but didn't know if she should ask. She was glad that someone else had asked for her.

Laurana looked over at Brulenzia, who had looked up at the mention of the child's name. "I have decided to call her Bruana," she said. "That way I can bring in both Brulenzia's name and my own. What do you think?" she asked looking directly at the man she loved.

"I think it is perfect," he replied.

~oxoxo~

They spent a little more time talking, but soon everyone was yawning. It was nearly morning and many would soon be waking up. Old Mamut had melted into the background a while back, but he was watching the young people as they rejoiced the new life.

Ivanolia placed a kiss on the forehead of his sister and her daughter. "She is beautiful, Laur." He touched the baby's dark brown hair and smiled at how dark it was. They could not tell what eye color the child would have yet, but Ivanolia was sure it would be some shade of blue. He gave them one last smile, then he climbed back under his own furs with his mate.

Vincenzia and Darvie quietly retreated, but not before the man hugged and kissed Laurana. "Your mother and my brother will be so happy for you," he said. Then he turned toward Ayla and Grov, and put one arm around each of them. "Good night you two," he said lovingly. Then he followed Darvie to their sleeping place and disappeared behind the curtain.

Grov watched him go with a strange smile on his face. Ayla wondered what her mate was thinking as the man changed his clothes and slid into bed, but she did not ask. Once Grov was in bed, he lay there patiently, waiting for Ayla to nurse Annaliza and put her back down. The child wanted to stay up again and Ayla knew she'd be up early, but Ayla needed some rest right now, so she didn't give in to the child's pleas.

Then Ayla finally crawled in beside her mate and closed their drape. Behind their curtain, he pulled her close and kissed her deeply. "I am so proud of you Ayla," he said. "You were always a good woman of the Clan and you are a good Others woman too. Any camp would be lucky to count you among them."

Ayla smiled in the darkness. "I was not always a good Clan woman, Grov. I was often defiant when I was younger."

"That does not matter," he said. "You had a lot to deal with then and it was not all your fault. You know that."

"You are right," she agreed, then she remembered his strange smile. "What were grinning about earlier?"

It was his turn to smile into the darkness. "I was so nervous about going to meet the people you were born to." He lowered his voice. "After meeting Ivanolia I did not think that they would like me. It was hard at first and I am sure that there will still be trouble at the summer meeting, but it means everything that Vincenzia accepts me as your mate. And I now know that, for the most part, people are good."

Ayla knew that it took a lot for any man of the Clan to admit something akin to fear, even an Others man would have trouble with that, she thought. Ayla rolled over and kissed him. "I know that it has been hard on you, Grov. It has been hard on me too, but this woman thanks you for being willing to do this for me; for putting what I want over what makes you uncomfortable. I will never forget what a wonderful mate you are. Thank you."

Though he was exhausted and so was she, Grov slipped his hand under her sleeping tunic and fondled her breast. Ayla responded with like passion and reached for her mate's manhood. They had not had much time for pleasures during the last few days and it felt good to have their desires met at last.

~oxoxo~

The last two of Mammoth hearth to go to sleep, didn't do so for a while. Brulenzia and Laurana sat up staring at the new little life that had been given to them by the Great Earth Mother. They counted her fingers, they counted her toes. Brulenzia ran his large finger down the child's tiny little nose and watched her involuntary response of wiggling her head to rid herself of what was tickling her. The man smiled. Laurana stroked her daughter's hair, and wrapped a ringlet of darkness around her finger, then leaned down to smell the child's baby scent. They were very content.

As they finally drifted off to sleep, the sun was already rising outside. They were completely unaware that they had been up all night. Their joy had gotten them through the night. Though they knew they would have some tired days ahead, it did not matter, they would not be following the sun's schedule for a while.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – "Midday"

It was near midday when Laurana woke up to the whimpers of her new baby. The new family had slept all nestled together and the baby had felt as though she was still inside her mother's womb—that is, until she felt the emptiness within her stomach. That was when the child woke up and decided to let her mother know she needed to be fed.

Laurana opened her eyes and brought her child to her breast. Bruana fussed only for a moment, then found her mother's nipple and suckled. Laurana gazed at the child as if she could not believe her baby was finally in her arms. "She's beautiful, Laurana," Brulenzia whispered. Laurana looked up at him as he leaned to kiss her.

~oxoxo~

Ayla awoke to Ora and Annaliza pulling their curtain aside and crawling up onto the bed platform. "Mamma, we're hungry," they said in unison.

Ayla smiled at her daughters. "Shhhhh, Laurana had her baby and they are sleeping," she said in a hushed voice.

"She is so small," Annaliza said to Ora. "I saw her last night."

"Yes, she is very small," Ayla agreed.

Ora pouted. "That's not fair. I want to see her too." Her voice was shrill.

"Ora, you will have to wait. And you need to be quiet," Ayla said. "They are not awake yet. Let's get you dressed."

"But I want to see her now, Mamma. And I don't want to get dressed yet." Ora was speaking quieter, but she still wasn't whispering and she had her arms folded over her chest in protest. Ayla couldn't help but smile at the girl. She picked her up and kissed her cheek.

Grov opened his eyes. "When they wake up Ora. Right now you need to be quiet," he said calmly. "And you should not talk back to your mother," he gestured. Ora continued to pout as Ayla dressed her, but she didn't say anything else. Annaliza didn't want to get dressed either, but she also didn't want to be scolded by Grov, so she did as she was told.

"I guess I will go get these girls some food," Ayla signed, then leaned over to kiss Grov. Grov was still lying sleepily in their bed, but he sat up to kiss her back. "Then I better go check on Darnev. Do you want me to bring you some food?"

"No, I'll be up soon. I'll have some tea when I get up." Grov was quiet, but he spoke out loud. "Is anyone else in here up?"

Ayla glanced around Mammoth hearth. "Vincenzia and Darvie are gone," she said. "And Ivanolia and Danie too, but Laurana and Brulenzia are still in bed. I'm not sure about Mamut."

"We are still here," Laurana said quietly from behind their curtain. Brulenzia pulled it open to reveal that they were indeed still in bed. "I was so tired."

Grov pulled his curtain open on the side and smiled at them. "I am sorry if the girls woke you, Laurana."

"They did not wake us. We were already awake. Bruana woke us just a bit ago."

Ora began struggling to get down and Annaliza had already made her way over to the bed that contained the new little one. Brulenzia grabbed the one year old and hoisted her up so that she was sitting in his lap, just next to Bruana. Ayla finally smiled. "I guess food will have to wait for a while," she said as she set Ora down on the end of their bed, then went around to see the baby for herself.

Ora frowned. "She has black hair," she said, eyeing the child strangely.

Laurana laughed. "That's because Brulenzia has very dark hair, Ora. She is his daughter too."

Ora looked skeptical. "Brulenz is the baby's mother too?" she asked, obviously confused.

Laurana smiled. "Well no, but Bruana is just a much a part of him as she is of me. Right Ayla?"

Ayla nodded, which seemed to quell Ora's questions. Then, Ora reached out and touched the baby's cheek, causing her to turn her head toward the older child. "Can I hold her?"

Laurana smiled. "Sure you can. Come sit next to Annaliza, and I will put her in your lap." Ora did as she was instructed and once settled down, Laurana put Bruana in her lap. Bruana lay there quietly for a moment, then decided she wasn't comfortable anymore and began to cry.

"Why is she crying? I didn't hurt her, did I?" Ora asked.

"No, you did not hurt her, but she wants her mother," Grov said. "You were just like that when you were a baby."

Ora smiled. "I was?" Grov nodded.

Ayla smiled at her daughter. "Okay girls, let's go get something to eat," Ayla started to say, but she was interrupted by several children that were coming in to see the new baby. Crisanie and Braydalana were the leaders, but Caylie, Corlie, Tusie and Rugie were with them too.

"Just a quick look girls," Laurana said with a smile. "But, maybe it's time for me to get up and show everyone our new baby." Laurana looked at Brulenzia and he grinned at her.

"I better check you over first," Ayla said. Then turning to the new arrivals she continued on. "Just a quick look girls, then you'll have to wait like everyone else."

Crisanie and Braydalana held each other's hand as they came forward to see their new little cousin. "Oooo, look at her Bray," Crisanie squealed. "She looks just like Teglodia."

Braydalana smiled and touched the baby's tiny hand. "Look at all that hair. And it's so dark."

"She does have a lot of hair, doesn't she?" Laurana said, looking down at her daughter. "More than I've ever seen on a new baby. But then, look at the man of her hearth." She smiled up at Brulenzia, then touched his long dark hair. Everyone grinned.

The other four girls were standing around smiling at the baby, but couldn't really get too close because there were just too many people in the small space. "Okay girls," Ayla said. "Time to let Laurana get herself out of bed. Would you take Ora and Annaliza to the cooking hearth?" As she spoke, Ayla picked up Ora and handed her to Braydalana, then she reached for Annaliza and gave her to Crisanie. "We will all go to the cooking hearth shortly." The girls looked disappointed, but they did as they were told.

Once the girls had cleared out, Grov and Brulenzia dressed and left too so that Ayla could examine Laurana and the baby. "Everything seems good, Laurana," Ayla said. "I'll wait for you while you get dressed."

Laurana put Bruana down and pulled her sleeping tunic over her head, then wiggled into a pair of clean pre-pregnancy leggings. "These didn't used to be so tight."

Ayla smiled. "They won't be for long," she said patting her own once-again-flat tummy.

Laurana looked at her sleeping daughter and nodded. "Ayla, I cannot wait for Jenadoza to see her," she exclaimed excitedly. "Will we be leaving for the summer meeting soon?"

Ayla frowned. "I think so. I know everyone is looking forward to going. I am too, but I'm a little nervous...about...well, you know. And, I don't want to leave Darnev too soon."

"It's been five days since Darnev's injury. Is he really going to be okay?"

Ayla nodded. "Yes, he will be fine, just as long as his wounds don't get infected, and they are looking good. I will check him again today and every day that we are still here." Ayla paused. She looked upset.

"Don't worry, Ayla, Oak Camp will all be there to back you up," Laurana said, changing the subject. "And don't forget we have most of Beech Camp on our side, and probably Pine Camp too," Laurana said reassuringly, then she smiled. "Besides, if we can turn that stubborn brother of mine, then we should be fine." She picked up her tunic and put it on.

Ayla smiled back at her cousin. "I suppose so. How many camps are there anyway?"

Laurana frowned. "Hmm, let me think. Twelve or thirteen."

"That's a lot." Ayla looked worried. "Are you sure we can convince them?"

"Well, I'm not sure, but there will be others that will back us up too. Not just the ones we already know about. Elm Camp is close to Pine Camp, so they should be supportive. Same thing with Hill Camp and Banyan Camp. They both have relatives at Beech Camp, and they live nearest Clan territory."

"Couldn't their locations close to the Clan actually make them hate us more?"

"That's possible too," Laurana said sadly. "But most people hate out of fear. Once they meet you and your family, they'll come around. I just know it." Laurana sure sounded positive.

"You are right my dear," came a voice behind the two women. It was Mamut. He had been sitting inside his space, curtain closed, meditating. "Many people hate out of fear, but I have a feeling you will get through this." The old man paused. "Though, don't get me wrong Ayla; it will be a difficult path."

"Mamut, are you saying that people will accept us, in the end?" Ayla asked.

The man didn't answer her question, but cocked his head instead. "We will talk later, Ayla. I have seen many visions that involve you." He was looking deep into her eyes. "Right now, everyone is waiting for the three of you," he said, shifting his eyes to Laurana as he waved his hand at them. "Go introduce Bruana to Lion Camp," he finished.

Laurana smiled and picked up her baby. Ayla eyed the old man suspiciously, but walked out with her cousin anyway. Mamut followed them.

What is that old man thinking, Ayla wondered silently. What kind of visions had Lion Camp's mamut been having? And what did they have to do with her?

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – "Another Exam for Darnev"

Lion Camp was busy with their usual pre-summer meeting routine. Many people were getting his or her pack together for the journey to Amber Camp. They still didn't know when they would be leaving; they were waiting for Darnev's clear from Ayla. She had already guaranteed his survival, but she wanted to give him just a few more days of recovery before she left with her Oak Camp family to attend their own meeting, not to mention before he was out traveling again.

Ayla on the other hand, was torn between wanting to stay with her patient and wanting to move on to the Sungaean summer meeting. True, Darnev would be fine—and she could even send a runner to check on him if she really wanted to—but she was starting to wonder if there was more to her worry than just her patient. She did want to be reintroduced to her mother's people, but her fear about their possible lack of acceptance of her family and herself, marred whatever joy an introduction could bring. Whichever way she looked at it, it could go badly, and she didn't want that.

~oxoxo~

When Ayla and Laurana appeared, the new mother was instantly surrounded by well wishers. Ayla hovered over her cousin for only moment, then stood off to the side talking to Deegie while all the women cooed at Bruana and congratulated Laurana.

"So, how is Darnev this morning, Deegie?" Ayla asked. "I am going to go see him as soon as I have eaten."

"He seemed good to me, but it is hard to tell with him, because he is so happy all the time." Deegie smiled. "Mother is so serious, so I think it's good for her that he's not."

"Yes, I agree" Ayla said, glancing over at the big headwoman. The woman was fixing a plate of food that Ayla presumed was for Darnev. "Tulie is a very serious woman, but I think it is good for her that he can find humor in something so frightful. It is good for both of them." Ayla smiled at the headwoman's daughter. "I also think that Darnev's attitude has helped him to heal faster. It is still going to be a while and he may never have full use of his leg, but he will be fine in the end."

"It would have been awful to have lost him," Deegie said sadly. "That would have been really serious, but we were lucky that you were here, Ayla." She smiled appreciatively at her new friend. "Mother would have been a different person if Darnev had died. I know she would still have Barzec, but he is more serious, like her. Let's go get something to eat, so you can go check on him."

Ayla smiled and followed Deegie over to the morning meal that Nezzie, Travie, and Dreenie had made. "I can understand that, Deegie. The Clan is very serious too. They do not laugh or smile and there is no joking with them." Ayla glanced over at her mate. "Grov has brought much happiness to my life that was not there before. I do not know what I would do if I lost him." Ayla paused again and Deegie waited, knowing the young woman had more to say about the Clan. She liked learning about them and about what Ayla's life had been like before she had been found by her family. "Don't get me wrong though, the Clan does have humor. They are just much more subtle about it."

"They really don't smile or laugh?" Deegie asked, with a frown. "Laughter brings so much joy. I do not know what life would be like without laughing and smiling."

Ayla was shaking her head. "No, they don't, and they did not like it when I smiled." Ayla had a far off look in her eyes. She was obviously thinking back to a time long ago, but she didn't continue on with her thoughts.

Then, when she was ready, she looked up at Deegie again. "To them, the expression that we call a smile, which is done when we are happy about something, is the same expression that they give when they are angry or nervous. That is the only time that the Clan will bare their teeth."

"That must have been very difficult for you, Ayla," Deegie said, piling food onto her plate. "Smiling comes so natural to us. Even new babies smile shortly after they are born."

"Yes, it was difficult. I used to have to try and stop myself from smiling. Many times I forgot and made some of them angry. They just didn't understand." Ayla shook her head. "They still don't understand, but they have learned that it is just my way. I wonder what the next Clan gathering will be like. Our Clan is much different than it was for the last gathering. We have many new people, some not very Clan-like. It could be very hard for us."

"When is the next gathering," Deegie asked.

"They are every seven years. The last one happened the summer after I had Durc. So, the next one will be the summer after next." Ayla smiled. "We caused quite a stir then, but that was nothing compared to what we will do the next time."

Deegie frowned. "Why?"

"The other Clans did not like that Brun brought me, one of the Others, to the Clan gathering. Some of them did not even want us to stay, and they didn't want to believe that I was a medicine woman of Iza's line, let alone a medicine woman at all," Ayla said, then took a bite of her morning meal. Then seeing Deegie's confusion she went on. "Iza was the woman who raised me as her own, like Nezzie is to Rydag. She was the Clan's first ranked medicine woman, but she was too old and sick to go to the meeting that year, so I took her place. I think Brun was nervous that they weren't going to let us stay. I was nervous, but a man would never show it. They did let us stay, so it was not a problem, but it was quite a trial. I was...eleven then and Durc was a new baby. When they saw my son, they wondered why a child so deformed had been allowed to live. The Clan does not think well of mixed children either, Deegie."

Deegie had not really understood that last part until that moment. Her people had shunned Nezzie for keeping and raising Rydag. They had considered him an abomination of mixed spirits, but being a woman of high status, as well as being mated to Lion Camp's Talut, Nezzie had proudly put her nose up at the stigma she had had to endure. She was a strong woman. However, the name-calling and more had affected Rydag far worse. Nezzie had just ignored the stupidity of the ignorant, but Rydag had had to listen to comments about his own lack of humanity for as long as he had been alive. Many didn't think he understood what they said, but now Lion Camp knew that he did; that he always had. It was embarrassing to know that she, the daughter of a headwoman, had never done anything to stop the prejudice.

Now, knowing that the Clan felt relatively the same way about these mixed people, she was even more sad. People had commented on many occasions that they should just find some flatheads to take the boy, but now Deegie knew that that option would not have been better for Rydag than staying with them. Basically, there was no place for people like her young cousin.

"How is your Clan different now," she finally asked, then scooped the last bite of her meal into her mouth.

"Well, leadership was passed on to Broud about two years ago," she replied. "But he was not a good leader and we lost our cave in an earthquake, so we had to move. Then, we found Grov's people or maybe I should say they found us. They lost their cave in that same quake and only ten of them survived. Ora's mother was one that died, so Grov was all alone caring for her. That, in itself, was very different for the Clan. Clan men never raise children alone."

"That must have been strange for your Clan to see," Deegie said smiling.

"Yes, it was. We actually weren't with the rest of our Clan when they came upon us, but Brun allowed them to come back with us. He knew Broud wouldn't like it, but also that he would have no choice but to accept them; they were Clan and that is the Clan way." Ayla took a deep breath as she recounted the events that changed her Clan.

"Then, when we finally got back to the rest of the Clan, we found that there were nine others there too. My son had been promised to a girl named Ura at the previous Clan gathering and her people had journeyed to find us. The earthquake had been far reaching and they lost many too. So then, our cave of...twenty-five, became forty-four, all in a matter of days. And we were caveless. It was a very scary and unsure time."

"I bet it was," Deegie said. "What happened next?"

"Well first, Brun took leadership back from Broud, since he was so terrible," Ayla said with a smile, then she grimaced. "He had just beaten his mate and Brun had had it. Then we found a huge cave and Brun gave me to Grov. And since then we have added many children to the cave; seven new babies in two years. That is a lot for the Clan. So now we have...fifty-one people; one man that appears to be mostly Others, Grov, one woman that is Others, me, two children that appear to be Others, Ora and Annaliza, and three children that are obviously mixed...or deformed as most Clan people think. It will be a difficult gathering for our Clan. I am not sure if we will still be ranked first when it is over."

"That will be hard, but why go with them, Ayla?" Deegie asked her. "I mean, you've found your family now. Why not just stay with them?"

Ayla frowned. "Yes, you are right, I have found my birth people, but I have family with the Clan too. The daughter of the woman who raised me is like my sister. I would not like to miss the growing up of her sons or other children she may bear later. There are many that I am close to there, including the leader's mate. Ebra has always treated me well; she has even been like a mother in the last few years. And Durc is going to be their leader someday. I may have been born Sungaean, but I am also Clan." Deegie nodded. She knew that if she suddenly found out she belonged to some other people, she would always belong to Lion Camp of the Mamutoi.

Deegie and Ayla continued to talk for a little longer. Deegie learned a great deal about Ayla and her Clan, and her opinion of her new friend went up even more. Ayla was truly an amazing woman.

Finally, they finished up and cleaned their plates. Then both young women headed for the passageway to go check on Darnev. As they walked by, Ayla patted Laurana's arm and smiled. Then, she glanced over at Grov. He was, once again, sitting with the people that were working flint. She smiled at him, signaled where she was going, then left the hearth with Deegie.

~oxoxo~

As the two women approached Aurochs Hearth they could hear a minor argument in the works. "I am not going to just lie around all day doing nothing," came Darnev's voice.

"We are not asking you to do nothing Darnev," Barzec said. They could hear the frustration in the man's voice. "We just want you to rest so that you will recover."

"I cannot just stay in bed and wait to get better. You know me better than that," Darnev argued.

Ayla and Deegie looked at each other, then back down the passageway; Tulie was coming. Ayla nodded toward the hearth and the two women entered. "Good morning," Ayla said, trying to sound cheerful. Darnev was sitting completely upright, which caused the medicine woman some concern, but he didn't appear to be in any pain. "How are you both today?" she asked.

"I am feeling great," Darnev said at the same time that Barzec said, "Shouldn't he be lying down?"

Ayla looked from one man to the other and then up at Tulie as she stepped through the hearth entrance. The headwoman saw immediately that there was a problem. She looked at her co-mates, then put down Darnev's tray of food. "What is going on in here and why are you sitting up, Darnev?" she asked.

Barzec raised his brow and folded his arms across his chest. "Darnev is refusing to relax."

Darnev smiled at the man who was pouting like a child. "Tulie," he said gently. "You know that I cannot just sit around waiting to get better. That is just not me."

The big headwoman looked at her injured mate and then at her other mate. "No Darnev," she began. "We know that it is not like you to just sit around, but you gave us quite a scare." She sat down next to him on the bed and took his hand. "We are so happy that Ayla saved your life, but we don't want to jeopardize your health. Can't you understand that?"

Still holding onto Tulie's hand, the man looked deep into the woman's eyes, then looked over at Barzec. He still had his arms folded, but he was watching them intently. Darnev sighed. He knew that these two people loved him like no one else did, and now he felt bad for worrying them. "I am sorry," he said, holding out his free hand to his co-mate.

A look of relief crossed Barzec's face, then he came forward and took Darnev's hand. "We are not trying to punish you, Darnev."

Darnev smiled at them. "I know you are not, but this is so hard."

Tulie reached out with her free hand and took Barzec's hand from across the bed to form a triangle. "We are lucky that you are still with us," Tulie said. "I do not understand why we have been given this second chance, but I thank Mut that we have." Tulie looked up at Ayla, who was standing with Deegie, watching silently. "We were lucky that Ayla was there, that she is still here to help us."

Ayla smiled, knowing that that was her cue to come forward. "I am glad to be here to help out where I can," Ayla said. "Now, if you would not mind, I would like to examine this man that refuses to rest." Everyone in Aurochs Hearth grinned, but Darnev laughed heartily.

Tulie and Barzec stood up and backed away. "By all means," Tulie said. "We will clear out so that you can examine Darnev in peace." She and Barzec smiled, then left the hearth. Deegie smiled at the injured man of her hearth, then followed her mother out.

Darnev watched them go, then turned to Ayla. "Please tell me that I can move around a little. It is getting difficult to sit still."

Ayla smiled at him. "Well Darnev, tell me, how much pain are you in?" she asked.

"I am fine," he replied, causing Ayla to shake her head.

"Darnev, you have to tell me the truth," she scolded. "I come from people that are incapable of telling untruths, so I can see when you say things that are not true."

Darnev sighed. "Okay, it hurt when I sat up, but the pain has subsided and I feel fine right now."

Ayla eyed him suspiciously, then nodded. "That's better," the medicine woman said with a smile. "Now, let me look you over, so I can see for myself that you feel fine."

Darnev held his arms up. "Do your worst."

Ayla then proceeded to take off the man's bandages and clean his wounds. This time he didn't even wince as she applied pressure. She started with the more serious wounds on his leg and torso, but removal of those bandages only showed injuries that were healing perfectly. She then rewrapped both wounds and moved on.

Ayla looked at his head wound next, and was more than thrilled to see that it was healing very nicely as well. "Your head is healing well. I don't think you need this anymore," she said, deciding that the bandaging on his head did not need to be replaced. She left it off and went on to his face.

Grasping his face gently in her hands, she turned the man's head from left to right, and smiled. His once angry purple bruises, which had turned blue and then a reddish color just a day ago, had now faded to that sickening yellow color that showed up just before they disappeared all together. She smiled again. "How does your face feel?

"The swelling has been annoying, but now that it has gone down, I feel nothing," he answered.

"That is good," Ayla said, then the experienced medicine woman removed his arm cast, which had loosened up naturally as the swelling in the man's arm went down, and replaced it with a new one. Finally, she moved on to his leg. The cast still looked good, so she only adjusted its wrapping. She was extremely pleased with all that she saw. "I think that you are healing with remarkable speed, Darnev."

"That is very good to hear, though I must admit that I already knew that," he said with a huge grin. "I mean, I'm not a healer or anything, but I could just tell that I was going to be fine. And I will tell you this now...I will be walking on this leg again," he said, patting his injury. "This will not stop me."

Ayla smiled at him. "Why do I believe you, Darnev?" she questioned with a smile.

Darnev shrugged his shoulders, then looked at her seriously. "Now tell me, is there any real reason that would force me to remain in bed? I cannot stand this!"

Ayla looked at him closely. "No Darnev, you do not have to stay in bed, but you still have to be careful. This is not over and you could still damage yourself on the inside if you do not watch what you do. I will tell Tulie and Barzec that it is okay to sit up and even to move around the hearth, but you must request help from them or others." Ayla paused for a moment, then continued. "I am ordering you not to do anything by yourself. It is not good for you and it worries your co-mates." The man nodded.

"Thank the Mother!" came Barzec's voice from behind them. He and Tulie were standing there listening. "And tell him we'll have to restrain him if he doesn't listen to a healer's orders."

Ayla grinned at the man and excused herself. Tulie was giving Darnev a stern look, but raised a thankful brow at Ayla as she passed by. Ayla could tell that the headwoman was pleased and that Darnev and Barzec were as well.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – "Ayla and Mamut's Chat"

After leaving Aurochs Hearth, Ayla and Deegie headed back to the cooking hearth. "I think you handled them very well, Ayla," Deegie said.

Ayla smiled. "Darnev is a fighter. He has a will like no other, I am sure."

"That's what mother always says," Deegie replied. "But he can be careless sometimes. Barzec is much more careful."

"I can see that he is and that he is very concerned about Darnev's health," Ayla said. "He is a good mate; all three of them are."

Deegie smiled. "Yes, the three of them work well together. Not many people can stay mated for so long like they have. I am not sure I could deal with two mates." She paused. "But then, I don't even have one mate yet, so what do I know?" She laughed.

"I'm sure you know plenty, Deegie," Ayla said. "You know yourself pretty well, right?"

Deegie nodded. "I think so, yes."

"Well then, if you think you could not have more than one mate, then you should not do it." When they came to Mammoth Hearth, Ayla stopped and looked at her newest friend. "Deegie, what is it like to have two men of your hearth?"

Deegie shrugged. "It is normal to me. It is all that I have ever known. It works for mother. Why?"

"Well, I have not ever heard of a woman having two mates before. In the Clan only a man can have two mates and even that does not happen often...usually only when there is a woman that has no mate. The Clan believes that if an unmated woman has a baby, then the baby will be unlucky, so every woman is given to a man when she becomes woman. If there are no unmated men available, then one of the mated men will have to take her."

"Is that how you came to be given to Grov?" Deegie asked.

"Well, sort of," Ayla said with a frown. "But, from the moment that I met him, I liked him. And he liked me. I think Brun was happy to give me to someone that I liked and who liked me in return. He would never say so, but I'm almost certain of it," Ayla said with a smile. She looked dreamy for a bit, then focused on Deegie. "When I was pregnant with Durc, no one wanted me. And when he was born, they really didn't want me. I didn't really care then, but I am happy to have Grov now. I did not know I could be so happy."

As they passed by Mammoth hearth Ayla looked inside to see Mamut sitting alone on his bed platform again. He opened his eyes and saw the two women pass. Something about the man's look made Ayla want to go talk to him.

"Deegie, I think I am going to go talk to Mamut. Do you mind?" Ayla asked.

"No, that's fine," she replied. "I want to go see Laurana's new baby again anyway." Ayla watched Deegie head for the cooking hearth, then she entered Mammoth hearth. Old Mamut had his eyes closed again and Ayla stood there watching him. She knew that he knew she was there, so she just waited patiently.

"I was wondering when you would come see me," the old man said with his eyes still closed.

Ayla smiled and went to sit on the bed platform next to his. "Hello Mamut," she said.

The man shifted his body and looked at the young woman. "How is Darnev today?"

"He is doing very well. I suspect that he will not be needing his casts for too long." She looked at Lion Camp's Mamut and wondered why she felt so drawn to him. She sat silently, waiting for him to continue.

"And Laurana?" he asked.

"She is good too," Ayla replied. "She will have some tired days and nights, but the baby is healthy and Laurana came through the delivery quite well." Ayla waited. It felt like a long wait.

"You will be leaving us soon," Mamut stated. It was not really a question.

Ayla eyed him strangely. "Yes, as soon as we can. I think Darnev is safe now and everyone wants to get to the Sungaea summer meeting. I'm sure you will be leaving soon too."

Mamut was nodding. "Yes, yes, we too need to leave. How long before it is safe to travel with Darnev?"

"I think you could leave anytime," she replied. "Darnev is such a fighter and he is ready to go, but it will be up to strong men, or women, to carry him there on a stretcher. Speaking of which, Mamut, you could be carried there the same way. There is no need to walk if you do not have to and it's rather comfortable."

The old man grinned. "Hmm, I suppose that is a good idea." Mamut sat quietly for a moment. "How is Rydag doing?"

Ayla frowned. "He is not good, Mamut," Ayla answered with honesty typical of the Clan. "His medicine keeps him relatively comfortable and lessens the swelling, but it is not a long term fix. It worries me greatly to leave him."

"Well Ayla, staying here won't really help him...you already said that you'll have to go back to the Clan to ask the other medicine woman to search her memories for something that will work better than what you have given him."

"Yes, Mamut," Ayla said with a worried frown. "But it will be nearly a year before I can return. That's what worries me so much. Anything could happen in that amount of time and I don't even have much of the medicine I have been giving him to leave with Nezzie." Ayla was sounding desperate. "I wish Uba were here."

Mamut got up to sit next to Ayla. "Ayla, your Clan's medicine is very strong and powerful. Remember that I spent time with your Clan a very long time ago and I know first hand that you have learned from the best. I have to believe that what you have done for Rydag will hold him until at least next summer. And if it doesn't, then it was meant to be. The Mother can call us back to her at any time. By next summer, I could be the one that's returned to her." The old man had put an arm around the young Clan medicine woman and was smiling at her.

Ayla smiled back. "You are right, Mamut, but don't go returning to Ursus...I mean, the Mother, just yet. I have not had nearly enough conversations with you." Mamut grinned at her and, although Creb had never smiled at her, something in this old man's eyes reminded her of the man of her hearth.

"You are right about that, but I believe there's something else we need to talk about." The old mamut paused, eyeing her shrewdly. "I had a vision about you, Ayla...in a valley several days journey from here."

Ayla watched him, waiting for more, but he seemed to be waiting for her. "And?"

"Ayla, haven't you had this vision too?" Mamut asked.

She frowned. "What do you mean, Mamut? I have had no vision."

"Yes, you have, Ayla. Think hard," Mamut said. "I felt you there while I experienced it. I know you had it too."

Ayla's frown deepened and she closed her eyes trying to bring back the vision that Mamut said she had been a part of. After making a connection with the old man during her return trip from the aurochs hunt, she all but forgot about it. Now she searched her memories. For some time, she sat there holding Mamut's hand, trying to retrieve his vision. Then finally, she opened her eyes. They were not just open, they were as wide as can be.

"Mamut, I was sitting on a horse."

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – "The Chat Continues"

"Yes, Ayla," Mamut said with a nod. "That is what I saw too."

"But...how, Mamut?" Ayla was completely taken aback. "People do not ride horses. We hunt them."

The old man smiled. "No, Ayla, they don't, but apparently you are going to. Close your eyes," he said. "What else do you see?" He wanted to see how much she could recall.

Ayla did as she was instructed. For a while she saw nothing else, not even the image of herself on the horse. Then the vision returned. Mamut knew she was seeing more when she smiled broadly.

"It's a dun yellow horse, and she...it's a female, Mamut...and she's whinnying loudly. I think she's pregnant too. Yes, Mamut, my horse is pregnant. And there are other horses there...many others...some dark, but most of them are light. There's a slightly lighter horse right next to us. I think she is the yellow one's sister. And oh! Grov's sitting on her. How could I not see that before?" Ayla burst, opening her eyes. Mamut smiled back at her. Ayla closed her eyes again. "Oh Mamut," Ayla exclaimed suddenly, this time not opening her eyes. "Grov almost doesn't look like himself; he doesn't have any hair on his face. He almost looks like a boy." Ayla was getting excited with what she was seeing and was waving her arms around wildly. Mamut, on the other hand, was trembling at the immediate power that he could see in the young woman. He wished she were staying longer so that they could work together.

As Ayla viewed hers and Mamut's vision, the old man continued to watch her carefully. He was becoming more and more pleased with her ability to quickly access her repressed vision. "And there are some men there too...men I don't know. They're sort of off in the distance. One is tall and blond. The other is shorter than the blond man, but not short. That man has brownish hair. We're trying to get closer to them, but they're backing away. They look frightened of us," Ayla said with a frown, opening her eyes. "Mamut, why are they so scared?"

"If you saw people on horses, what would you think, Ayla?" Mamut asked her.

Ayla thought about what she was saying and she suddenly realized that she had been seeing everything from outside of herself, as if she were a third person among them. "Mamut, I would think that the people on the horses, that Grov and I, were connected to the horses; some sort of horse-person. Or I might think that we were spirits."

"Yes, Ayla. I think most people would think something like that too. Can you understand their fear now?"

Ayla nodded. "Oh yes, I would be terrified," she said, shivering. Then she smiled again. "Mamut, when is this going to happen? Or better yet, when will we find these horses; horses that we can ride?"

"I can't tell you that, Ayla," Mamut said. "I do not recognize anything in the vision except you and Grov. I have not been to that particular valley. Well, not for many years anyway, so I don't even recognize the lay of the land. But, both you and Grov look perfectly at ease on top of those horses. And the horses do too, for that matter, so I would say that you've had them for a while."

"Yes, I have to agree with that Mamut, but—"

"Mamma?" Ora said, coming into Mammoth Hearth. Ayla and Mamut turned to look at the child, both of them smiling.

Ayla got down off the bed platform. "Well hello there, Ora," she said, picking up her daughter and swinging her around. "What are you doing?"

The three-year-old smiled and giggled, then put her arms around Ayla's neck when the swinging came to an end. "I'm looking for you, Mamma. Grov's working on spear points. Do you want to too?"

Ayla's smile widened. "Did Grov send you to find me?" Ora nodded and Ayla looked back at Mamut.

"We are finished, Ayla. I just wanted to make sure you would remember our vision. There is something very important about you finding those horses. I hope that you will make a point of going to that valley sometime this summer, if only to check."

Ayla nodded. "Yes, Mamut, I will go there if Grov will allow it. And...thank you for helping me to remember."

"No Ayla, thank you for coming here. You have given me much to think about and I suspect that when we see you next summer, we will have even more to talk about. And don't worry," Mamut said with a smile. "Grov will let you go...we have already seen that he lets you go. You wouldn't be atop a horse in the vision if he didn't, right?"

Ayla leaned over and gave the old man an impulsive hug. "I did not think of it that way, Mamut. You are right!" she said, then she exited with her daughter.

Mamut watched her go, but stayed behind to think more about the vision. The young woman had given him a few more details than he had seen and he wanted to see if he could see them too. She is truly powerful, he thought.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – "Unfocused"

Ayla left Mammoth hearth with Ora, but could not get her mind off the horses. Though she went to the cooking hearth and sat in on the flint knapping, she wasn't really paying attention. She was reliving the vision over and over again in her head and didn't even have to close her eyes to see it this time.

Staring at the small nodule of flint that Grov had placed in her hand, she was instantly pulled onto the mare again and was racing across the valley. She could feel the horses muscles bunch as she rode along and she looked to her side to see Grov on the lighter horse just steps behind her. Ayla suddenly realized that Grov's mare was pregnant too and she smiled. In her vision, the man smiled back at her—and Ayla's eyes were suddenly drawn to his child-like face.

As the horses slowed and then stopped, the couple slid off of their backs, landing lightly on the ground. Ayla watched as she reached up to caress Grov's bare face. She could feel the sensation in her hand as she sat there. Her hand tingled. Ayla continued to watch. She could see the two of them speaking to one another, but she could not hear them. That frustrated her.

"What do you think, Ayla?" came a voice. She hadn't been listening and shook her head.

"Wh-what?" she said.

"What do you think?" Vincenzia asked again.

Ayla blushed, feeling bad for not paying attention. Here they were, allowing her to work the flint with them and she was daydreaming. "I am sorry, Vincenzia. My mind was somewhere else. What did you want to know?" She looked guiltily at Grov, thinking that she wasn't being a very good mate. He immediately took up her hand and squeezed it firmly to reassure her.

"I can see that. It's okay, Ayla. We were just saying that we should probably leave tomorrow or the day after at the latest. What do you think?" he repeated.

"Yes, I think so," she said with an odd grin. "Darnev is healing well and...Rydag should be fine with the medicine that I am leaving for Nezzie to give to him. I would like to gather more of the plant that I use for his medicine, but I can only do that if I find some. If I do, then I want to either bring it to her at the Mamutoi summer meeting or...drop if off here on our way back to Oak Camp. There is also somewhere else that I would like to go this summer." She was looking at Grov with an odd expression. Then she added, "If we have some time this summer."

Just by her tone, he could tell that it was important to her, so he nodded. He was extremely curious about where she wanted to go, and he knew that she would tell him if he asked, but he chose not to. Vincenzia sat silently watching the exchange between his daughter and her mate. He too wondered what this was about, but he also did not ask.

Ayla smiled at Grov and handed him back the piece of flint. "Maybe you can teach me how to do this later," she said. "I really need to go feed Annaliza, and I would like to go check on Laurana again. I think she's gone back to Mammoth hearth." Grov nodded again, then leaned over to kiss her. As his lips brushed hers, she reached up to touch his bearded face and she couldn't help but smile again.

~oxoxo~

As Ayla left the flint knappers, they watched her go. "What was that all about?" Danug asked. He did not really expect anyone to answer his question, but they all shrugged in answer.

"I guess someone," Travec said, "will have to find out." He smiled at Grov.

"OH!" Darvie suddenly said, thinking that maybe Ayla had a secret. She was now the only woman there and all the men turned to look at her.

"What?" Grov asked, feeling slightly concerned now that everyone was making a big deal out of his mates inattention.

"Well...I'm not sure if I should say anything," Darvie said to the small group. But when she saw Grov's slight concern become worry, she went on. "Well all right...I was thinking that maybe...well, it may not be so, since Annaliza is still so young and Ayla is still nursing her, but maybe Ayla is pregnant again," Darvie said. "I mean, I sometimes felt dreamy when I was pregnant."

Grov looked across the cooking hearth at his mate. She was taking Annaliza out of Braydalana's arms. Did she appear to be thickening, he asked himself. Then he shook his head. He didn't think so, but he would keep an eye on her nonetheless.

~oxoxo~

Ayla walked with Annaliza through the cooking hearth and into the long passageway that led back to the Mammoth hearth. As she rounded the corner, she came face to face with Ivanolia, Brulenzia, and Tornec—and stopped dead in her tracks, letting out a little scream and stepping back.

Ivanolia immediately grabbed her arm, as it looked like she might drop Annaliza, and steadied her. Tornec reached for Annaliza, while Brulenzia took her other arm. "Ayla? Are you okay?"

Ayla continued to stare at the three of them, then reached up to stroke Brulenzia's face. "What happened to your face, Brulenzia? What happen to all of your faces?" she asked looking at all of them closely.

The men looked at each other and grinned. "We shaved the hair off. It is getting too hot to have all that hair on our faces. Haven't you seen a man with a shaved face before?"

Ayla shook her head. "Well no, not really." She cocked her head and leaned closer to Brulenzia to inspect him carefully. Then she looked at Tornec's face—and finally at Ivanolia too. She tentatively reached her hand up to touch her cousin's face, then became self-conscious and started to pull her hand back.

Ivanolia smiled at her, then taking her hand, he gently placed it on his face so that she could feel his skin. Ayla touch his smooth skin and grinned widely. "You look like boys, not men," she said.

The three men laughed. "You really haven't seen a man who has shaved his face before," Ivanolia stated.

"No, Clan men do not shave the hair off their faces, but I have had...well, a dream...a dream where Grov's face had not hair. But...I did not know why he had removed the hair...or how," she said.

"Well, we weren't going to shave just yet, but we were complaining about the heat and Mamut suggested that we shave. It sounded like a good idea."

Ayla suddenly grabbed both Brulenzia and Ivanolia's hands and started walking toward the cooking hearth again. "Grov has got to see this," she said. The two men allowed themselves to be pulled along, smiling all the way.

When they arrived at the space where the people were working, the workers looked up. Grov too looked up at them and frowned when he saw Ayla and the men. He too was confused by what he saw, but only momentarily. The two men that he had spent so much time with now looked so different. His first reaction was the same as Ayla had been; that they looked like children, but he suddenly remembered another man of the Others that had shaved his face every summer. "I had forgotten that the Others did that to themselves in the summer," Grov stated, then he stood up and smiled at Ayla.

"You have seen this before?" she asked him.

"Yes, I have shaved my face before too. Teglodia showed me how to do it. It is nice when it's so hot, but I have not done it since the summer before the earthquake. Not many men in our Clan did it, and some people didn't like it when we did. I figured it would be the same with Brun's Clan, since I didn't see his men do it either."

Brulenzia looked sad at the mention of the man of Evenora's hearth, then he smiled, thinking about Donzolnia and Jenadoza and the baby boy that was named after that man. He suddenly wished he could see his brother and his family.

"Would you like to see me shave my face, Ayla?" Grov asked her.

Ayla had still been holding the other men's hands, but she dropped them to reach up and touch her mate's bearded face again. Then she stood on tiptoe and brushed her cheek against his. When she was finished, she looked into his deep set blue eyes, and nodded. "I think so, yes."

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – "The Things A Man Does"

Grov waited while Ayla rubbed his face, first with her hands and then with her own face. She was like a child that had discovered something new. He had always liked that about her; it made him want to do things as unClan like as this.

"I think that I will need to make a sharp blade that will shave this close first," he said.

"You can use one of mine," Ivanolia offered. "I have several of them."

Grov smiled gratefully at his mate's cousin and took Ayla's hand in his. "Thank you, Ivanolia. It would have taken me a while to make a sharp blade."

"No problem," Ivanolia said. "What is family for?"

Grov raised his eyebrows at the man that was four years his senior and stared. Family? Ivanolia had just said that they were family. Was this the same man that had caused so much trouble only a short time ago? The man that had almost given up his mate, because he refused to accept the Clan?

Ivanolia could see what the man was thinking and put an arm around his shoulder. Grov stiffened for only a second, but he was getting used to all the physical contact that seemed to be part of the Others' way. "Yes, Grov, even a stubborn man like myself can change his beliefs. I would be a fool to think badly of anyone my dear cousin was mated to," he said, then looked down at Ayla. "Or his people, for that matter. If Ayla loves you, then so do I."

Grov smiled. Had he not spent his whole life holding back tears, he would not have been capable of doing so now. Even in the relaxed Clan where he had lived all his days, it had not been acceptable to cry. So now, when it was okay to shed tears of happiness, he stoically forced himself to just smile his gratitude—but he was unbelievably touched. When his mother had died, he was taken under Teg's wing and treated like family, but this somehow seemed different.

Ayla, on the other hand, who had born the brunt of harsh criticism for her weak eyes, and had often been the focus of Iza's concern because of them, could not hold her tears back. She reached for Ivanolia and heaved a sob of joy. At that moment, she truly felt like she belonged with the Sungaea. Grov let go of her so that she could hug her cousin properly and Ivanolia accepted his beautiful cousin's embrace.

"Mamma?" Annaliza said. "You okay?"

Ayla suddenly remembered that she had been going back to the Mammoth hearth to feed her daughter and pulled herself out of Ivanolia's arms. "Oh! I am sorry, Anna," she said, taking the one year old out of Tornec's arms. "Mama is just fine." Ayla smiled so that her daughter would know she was. "Sometimes I cry when I am happy; happy tears," she explained. Then, she turned to Tornec. "Thank you, Tornec, for helping me while I was in shock," she said, tears still shining in her eyes. She flashed him her most beautiful smile.

"It was not a problem, Ayla," he replied.

"Well," Grov said. "I guess we better go back to Mammoth hearth, if we are going to get this hair off of my face." The man scratched his full beard, realizing that it was feeling itchy.

"I'm hungry, Mamma," Annaliza stated, having no idea what they were talking about.

"Well, let's go feed you then," Ayla replied—and they headed back to the Mammoth hearth.

~oxoxo~

Within Mammoth hearth, Danie and Laurana were sitting on their bed platforms, curtains open, talking about the Sungaean summer meeting. Danie had only spent a very short time at the last Sungaean summer meeting, so she was very curious. Laurana was nursing Bruana while they talked.

"At least you were adopted last summer, so you won't have to deal with that this year," Laurana said. "You will be able to just have fun and not be the focus of everyone's attention."

"That will be nice," Danie replied. "It was hard having everyone's eyes on me constantly."

"Well, I'm not saying that you won't get attention," Laurana grinned. "A beautiful, foreign woman always gets lots of attention, not that we have many of those. And, now that you're pregnant...well, we all know what that means."

Danie grinned. "I don't suppose Ivanolia is going to let me just go do anything I want though."

"Probably not. I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't let you out of his sight," Laurana said with a laugh. "After all, you are his mate and blessed by Sumata."

Danie unconsciously touched her belly and giggled. "I guess our people aren't so different, Laurana. A newly mated Mamutoi man would not have been so different than Ivan." She paused. "It amazes me that having a different language can create such a barrier between our peoples."

Knowing about the raiding that went back and forth between the Mamutoi and the Sungaea, Laurana nodded. Then, slightly changing the subject, Laurana went on. "And speaking of which, your Sungaea is nearly perfect now."

"I would have to say the same about your Mamutoi."

"Well, I have to admit that I have been working on it for a long time. Every since Darvie came to Oak Camp...what, almost ten years ago? Wow! I was only five when she came. That is why I speak Mamutoi so well, Danie. I think it is much easier to learn a second language as a child."

Danie smiled. "Unless you're Ayla," she came back. "She is amazing! Didn't you tell me that she learned to speak Sungaea in only days?"

"That's what Jenadoza and Braydalana told me. Bray said that Ayla was speaking Sungaean before Jenadoza even woke up. Not perfectly, of course, but she could communicate."

"And now look at her," Danie said. "Now she speaks Mamutoi too."

"Mamutoi, Sungaea, and Clan," Laurana went on. "And I think she knows more than one Clan language too. We'll have to ask her sometime. Ayla will be happy to tell us."

"Tell you what?" Ayla asked, appearing at the entrance to Mammoth hearth.

Danie and Laurana looked up. "We were just talking about how well we are learning each other's languages and Danie pointed out that you in particular have learned Sungaea and Mamutoi very quickly," Laurana answered.

"And Laurana tells me that you know two different Clan languages," Danie said.

"Well, actually three," Ayla replied. "When Grov's Clan joined our Clan, we did not really know the same signs for many things. We had to learn each others signs, but we had the ancient signs to use until we did learn."

"Five languages then. That's really amazing, Ayla. I don't know anyone that can do that. It's been so difficult for me to just learn Sungaean." Danie frowned with irritation.

Ayla sat down on her own bed platform and settled down to nurse Annaliza. "Well Danie, you sound fine to me, but I understand what you mean."

Danie had a look of frustration. "It has taken a year and I am still not perfect." Then she looked up at the ceiling of the earthlodge. "Thank Mut that you all speak Mamutoi better than I speak Sungaean."

Ivanolia sat down next to his mate and hugged her. "I think you speak Sungaean just fine," he said.

"Look at you, with your shaved face," Danie said, taking his face into her hands and kissing him. "You just say that because you have to," she teased. Ivanolia laughed, as did everyone else.

"Actually, that is why we have come back to Mammoth hearth. Grov is going to shave off his beard and he needs a blade." Ivanolia picked up his pack and started rummaging through it. "Here it is," he said, handing it to Grov. "You can have that one."

Grov accepted the knife. "Thank you, Ivanolia. I'm going to go get some water," he said.

"Grov, if you wait, I'll get it for you," Ayla offered, starting to get up.

Grov put his hand on her shoulder to prevent her from getting up. "No, no, you take care of Annaliza. I have to cut this off short before I can shave it. I'll go do that outside and then come back to let you see what it looks like short. Then, you can watch while I shave it, okay?"

Ayla nodded. She was a little disappointed, but she knew she needed to feed her daughter. Grov knew his mate enough to know she wanted to watch all of the process, but he also knew that she would not protest. He leaned over, kissed her on the top of the head, then picked up a leather towel and left the hearth.

"What was that all about?" Danie asked.

Ivanolia and Brulenzia smiled. "Ayla has not ever seen a man that has shaved his face. You should have seen her face when she saw Ivan, Tornec, and I in the passageway," Brulenzia replied, looking at Ayla.

"Really?" Laurana asked. Ayla shook her head. "Clan men don't do that?"

Ayla shook her head again. "No, not ever. I wonder what they will think when they see Grov."

"They will never know unless he continues to shave it off," Ivanolia said. "It will grow back quickly."

"How quickly?" Ayla asked.

"Well, it is different for every man. Mine does not grow very fast. Neither does Brulenzia's, but it could be just days, depending on the man."

"Oh." Ayla could hardly contain her curiosity and wished Grov had waited for her. "I wonder how long it will take for Grov's to grow back."

They could all see that she was just dying to be outside with her mate and they all smiled.

"Patience, Ayla," came the voice of the old man across the hearth. "Soon it will feel normal for your mate to shave his face."

Ayla looked up at Mamut. She had the feeling he was telling her something. But what, she didn't know. She smiled at him.

~oxoxo~

On his way out, Durc had asked where he was going. The man had had to stop and tell the boy what he was going to do, causing interest to arise in the child. "Shave? What does shave mean?"

Grov thought for a moment. "I'm going to cut off my beard, close to the skin."

"But why?" Durc asked.

"Because your mother wants to see it that way."

"Can I watch you do it?"

Grov smiled at his mate's son—the boy that had become the son of his hearth and obviously idolized him—and nodded. "I have to cut it short first. I'm going outside to do that, then I'll go back to Mammoth hearth to shave. Your mother wants to watch too."

Grov took the boy's hand and they headed out. He decided to go down to the river to wash his face first. Durc settled himself down on a rock to watch. Grov used soap root to make a lather, then scrubbed his face and beard clean, and sat down next to Durc.

Durc had always noticed that Grov treated Ayla just a little differently than the other men had treated her. Not that the other men were so terrible to her. The truth was that the men weren't really very nice to any of the women. Even as a young child, Durc could see that. And Broud; he had never liked how the son of the leader's mate was towards his mother. He had been hateful in years past. Durc was quite aware that Grov's presence had changed that too. That was why the boy liked the man so much. That, and the fact that Grov treated him as though he was a valued member of their Clan.

"Grov, why do you let Mama tell you what to do?" Durc asked.

Grov frowned. "Do I do that?" he asked. He didn't think that he did. He thought that what he wanted in a mate was just different than what the rest of the Clan men wanted and he knew his mate wasn't really Clan—and therefore needed something different as well.

"Well, you don't tell her what to do?"

"I suppose not," the man replied. "I do not like to tell her what to do. I know that your mother is capable of doing anything and I know she doesn't like to be told what to do."

"But why do you care what she wants?" Durc asked.

Grov had to think about it for a moment. "I want to make you mother happy, Durc," he replied.

Durc frowned. "But why? The other men don't care if their women are happy or not. Why do you want Mama to be happy?"

Grov smiled at Ayla's young son. The boy was just as inquisitive as his mother was and he didn't even know it. "If I make your mother happy, then I am much more happy too. Besides, I don't like to get mad at her for being herself."

"But she gets into a lot of trouble for not listening to the men."

"She did, but she is older now and knows when to keep to herself." Grov smiled. "Well, mostly." Durc smiled too. "But here, with the Others, the women can do everything that the men do and they are not expected to wait for a man to tell them what they can and cannot do. And they certainly don't keep their mouths shut. Do you understand?" Grov asked, as he took his beard into his hand, and used the sharp knife to cut off a large hunk of hair.

Durc nodded, then watched the man work for a time. "Grov?"

Grov had cut off much of his beard, but stopped and looked at the boy. "What is it?"

"I want to treat Ura like you treat Mama. I don't like it when men are mean to her just because she is different. Norv and Nouz are especially mean to her, but even some of the good men are not always nice to her," Durc said.

"I have noticed that, Durc," Grov replied. "If you are good to her, then she will be happy with you and...I think they will all change over time. I know it takes the Clan a very long time to change, but they can do it. They will have to. From what I hear, no one liked your mother when she was first found, but almost everyone does now. That is proof that they can change."

Durc smiled at the man and watched him finish his task. At only five years old, the boy was far more mature than a boy of the Others and he knew that Grov was right.

"Okay," Grov said. "I think this will do for now. What do you think?"

Durc gave him an odd look, then reached up to touch the short hairs. "I think it looks strange. You don't look the same. Are you done?"

Grov gave a guttural laugh and shook his head. "When I'm done, my face will look like yours. Let's go in. You can look at Ivanolia, Brulenzia, and Tornec. They just shaved their faces." Grov picked up his knife and leather towel and took up Durc's hand again.

~oxoxo~

Back inside the earthlodge, Grov and Durc came across Nezzie first. She was cooking, just like she always was. "Nezzie, have you seen Tornec? I wanted to show Durc what a shaved face looks like."

"Oh yes, he is just there," she said with a smile and pointed in the direction of the man they wanted. "And I see that you are doing the same thing."

"Yes, Ayla wanted to see what I'd look like." Nezzie smiled that him, and he headed for Tornec.

Tronie and Tralie were standing with Tornec and all turned around at the same time. "Oh, Grov," Tronie said. "That looks great. I just love it when Tornec shaves all that hair off." She looked at her mate and smiled.

"Thank you, Tronie. I just wanted to show Durc Tornec's face before I do it too," Grov said.

Durc narrowed his eyes. "You don't look like a man anymore," he said.

Everyone laughed. "That's what your mother said."

"Okay, let's go get this finished," Grov said, and they left the cooking hearth.

~oxoxo~

In the passageway, Grov as accosted by Ora and Annaliza, who were just coming out of Mammoth hearth and were on their way to find him. The one year old had just finished nursing and was being dragged by her older sister.

"Grov, Mamma said you were outside cutting off your face."

"Beard, Ora. I was cutting my beard short," he corrected her. "Now I'm going to go show Mama. Do you want to come?"

Ora poked her little fingers into the short hairs on his face, then shook her head. "No, we're going to play."

Grov smiled at her. "Well, move along then," he replied and continued to the hearth.

~oxoxo~

When he entered the hearth, Ayla jumped up to inspect him. She smiled. "It is very short," she said. "But looks good." She handed him a bowl of water. "I have gotten you some water. Ivanolia said you need it." Grov accepted the bowl and smiled at her.

"And you might need some soap root," Brulenzia said. "I'm sure you know that it can hurt to shave without some sort of lather."

Ayla frowned. "This hurts? I don't want you to get hurt, Grov."

"No, Ayla, he said it can hurt. I will be careful," Grov said, trying to reassure her. "Actually, do you have any of that special tallow that you make for Ebra? I think that would make it easier."

"Yes, I do," Ayla answered, and started digging through her pack for the small container of scented tallow. Grov took it from her and sat down to shave. The man began by running the blade along his face slowly and with the grain. Ayla was amazed that with one swipe so much hair came off. She knew the knife was sharp, but she did not realize that this could be done to people, as well as animal hides. She watched him find the next place to shave by touch, then make another long, slow swipe. On the third stroke, a spot of blood appeared and trickled down his neck.

"Oh!" Ayla exclaimed. "You're bleeding." She went for her medicine bag immediately.

"Ayla, I'm fine," Grov said. "Just let me finish, then I'll let you work your magic on me." She stopped in her tracks and returned to her seat beside him. As he continued, she watched him closely, noticing that he cut himself a couple more times before finishing. She frowned each time, wanting to heal him, but she waited as he had told her to do. When he was done, he splashed water on his face, dried it with the towel and put more of her tallow on himself. Then he looked at her. "What do you think?"

Ayla couldn't resist. She reached for his face to feel the smoothness of his cheek, then, rubbing against the grain, an incipient roughness; scratchy... She ran her finger along his jaw... He definitely had a chin like she did, she thought. She wouldn't have known that had he not shaved off his beard. "I think you look the same, but different. Younger, but...not as young as a boy." She continued to touch his face with her fingers, then pulled his face to hers and rubbed her cheek on his. When she released him she was smiling. "I think I like it."

Grov smiled widely. He thought that she would like it and he was glad that he had not been disappointed.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – "Another Night of Talut's Bouza"

For the rest of the day, Ayla's thoughts went from Grov's face to her vision to something else. She still had not told Grov about the vision and wasn't sure she wanted to just yet. Her thoughts about her vision brought something else to the forefront of her mind; Shriek. She had not seen him in quite a long time and she was worried about him. She made several trips outside throughout the rest of the day, but he was nowhere to be seen. Maybe he had found birds like him; a family of his own. Maybe he isn't coming back, she thought. That thought made her sad, so she forced herself to think about the horses.

That evening, while they were eating, Talut brought out his bouza again. He was intent on making them stay at least one more day and knew that, if they drank heartily that night, then no one would be in a mood to travel the next day. Everyone grinned up at the hulk of a man as they readily accepted more of his drink, knowing full well what his intent was.

By the time the night was in full swing, Lion Camp had brought out all of their musical instruments and everyone was dancing and singing. Ayla was still a little self conscious about her dancing, but she allowed herself to be led around by some of the men, as did Grov by the women. After several Mamutoi songs and dances, Darvie suggested a Sungaean dance, knowing that there were a few that should be learning the Sungaean ways before the summer meeting. Laurana handed Bruana to Tralie and showed the musicians the different variations in the music, and then Braydalana and Crisanie sang the sweet tune.

Danie, who was very good at the Mamutoi dances, suddenly felt unable to continue, but with her sister's encouragement and Ivanolia's leading hand, she learned the steps to her new people's dances. Knowing that Grov and Ayla would be feeling similar to Danie, Laurana went to assist Grov and Brulenzia went to Ayla. The steps were not difficult, so it didn't take long to get everyone going. The few present members of Oak Camp had no trouble quickly teaching Lion Camp their dances. Even the smallest children were up learning and having a grand time.

As it got late, people began to go off to bed. As usual, the children just did what they wanted. Being a little older than the rest of the children, Danug, Druwez, and Latie spent time watching the happenings around them. They watched the children play their childish games—games they no longer thought fit for themselves—and they wished to be older. They watched the men and women sing and dance—and flirt with each other and wondered what that would be like.

As the night went on, they switched back and forth between the two people's music and the people took turns dancing. At one point, Ayla put her hand on Brulenzia's chest and smiled. "I have to get a drink." He immediately took her hand and led her to where several were standing around drinking.

"Ayla, you really look good out there. You really learned the steps quickly," Deegie said.

"Thank you, Deegie. These dances are fun, but they are quite different than the women's dances in the Clan," Ayla said, then smiled as she felt arms slide around her waist. She leaned sideways and looked up over her shoulder to see Grov's clean shaven face smiling at her. "Hello," she said to him. "I have hardly seen you all evening." She turned to face him. "I thought that maybe I wouldn't see you for the rest of this evening," she gestured descreetely, so that no one would know what she said to her mate, implying that she thought he might signal some other woman—in the way of the Others of course.

He grinned at her and said, "That is not going to happen. Not tonight, anyway." Ayla smiled at him. She really wouldn't have minded, but she was glad that he wanted her, especially since she was looking forward to kissing his new, bare face. They turned back to the other young people to see that the conversation had moved along without them.

"Well, I'm going to bed," Laurana said. She had just retrieved Bruana from the person that had been holding the child and leaned her head on Brulenzia's arm. "Are you coming or are you staying up?" she asked him.

Brulenzia, who had often taken many women to his bed in years past, as recent as the last summer meeting, turned to look at the woman he would mate that summer—only a short time from now, he thought suddenly. "I am coming with you, Laur." He was having fun flirting with Deegie and Ayla, but he was quite content to go back to the hearth with Laurana, even knowing that she really couldn't do anything so soon after having a baby. He kissed the top of her blonde head and put his arm around her as they left.

Ivanolia watched his friend leave with his sister and shook his head. "That man is not the same man that I knew a year ago," he said. "His brother is going to be thoroughly surprised."

Danie raised her brow. "How do you mean?" she asked.

"I can't remember seeing him with the same girl twice. He was quite a heartbreaker," the man said. "That is why I was so concerned about him being with my sister."

"Maybe he's grown up," she said. "Unlike some people I know." She elbowed him in the ribs.

"What do you mean? Are you saying that I don't act like a man?" he asked with mock surprise.

Danie shook her head and giggled. "Well, all those pranks you two pulled over the winter weren't very manly." She folded her arms across her chest, trying to look annoyed, but the smirk on her face belied the look.

Ivanolia put his arms around her and lifted her up off the ground. "Let's go to bed too," he said, and carried her away. Everyone left standing there watched them go, then the group dispersed to do the same.

~oxoxo~

Back at the Mammoth hearth, most were asleep when Grov and Ayla returned. They spent some time with their children, getting them settled. Ora was the only one that didn't like Grov's shaven face and Ayla had had to spend time explaining to her that it would grow back. Ora cried a bit and hiccupped herself to sleep. Annaliza, on the other hand, didn't really care. She was too young to care, and she had been quite comfortable with Ivanolia, Brulenzia, and Tornec's new faces. Plus, she was just a little less dramatic than her sister. Durc too, did not care. He had watched the whole process and was rather pleased that Grov would do such a thing for his mother. Right then and there, Durc promised himself, and though she didn't know it yet, Ura too, that he would do things like that for her as well.

Durc climbed onto the bed platform with his two sisters and smiled. "I like it, Grov," he said. "I hope that you will shave it off again when it comes back." Grov smiled down at Ayla's son and ruffed his hair. Then followed Ayla to bed.

Grov quickly dressed for bed and lay back waiting for and watching his mate. Despite being tired, Ayla was taking her time. Mostly because the bouza had gone to her head and she felt rather tipsy. It wasn't so bad that the room was spinning, but it was making it difficult to change. Grov watched as she clumsily slid out of her leggings, then laughed when she had to grab onto the bed, giggling at her unsure footing. "Do need some help?" he asked her.

She giggled again, feeling giddy from the drink. "I'm going to have a horrible headache tomorrow, aren't I?" she asked, crawling up beside him, folding her legs under herself and sitting on her feet.

He smiled as he got up to close their curtain, then looked at her. "And probably a stomach ache too."

She pouted. "That's not really what I wanted to hear," she said.

"But luckily you are the one that knows how to make the morning after tea," he replied as he helped her pull her tunic over her head. He stared at her beauty for a moment, then leaned over to kiss her.

Ayla smiled. "Well, I feel fine right now. Really fine, in fact. Except for the fact that I see two of you." She grabbed his bare jaw and giggled, a little too loudly. Grov leaned in to kiss her again, trying to keep her quiet. Ayla kissed him back, then pushed him back down. He allowed himself to be pushed, but pulled her with him so that she was on top of him.

Ayla was enjoying the smoothness of his face on hers and had to keep pulling back to look at him. It felt so different; a nice change.

~oxoxo~

It didn't seem like much time had passed when Ayla heard someone scratching on the curtain. When Ayla opened her eyes, she could see that there was some light coming in from outside the hearth. She groaned quietly and looked over at Grov. He was sound asleep. The person scratched again.

"Ayla," came a whisper—It was Danie.

Ayla sat up and peeked out of hers and Grov's space. "Hello, Danie."

"Good morning," Danie said. "Oh, you don't look so good."

"I don't feel so good either," Ayla replied. "Why do we drink so much of something that doesn't taste that good, so that we can feel like this in the morning."

Danie giggled. "Well, because it makes us feel good while were drinking it," she answered. "I didn't drink any though. This one," she said patting her belly, "makes me feel bad enough as it is some mornings, so I didn't want to make it worse. I made some of your tea. Do you want some?"

Ayla grinned and reached for the cup. "Oh thank you, Danie, and I think that is a good idea; not drinking bouza while pregnant, I mean," Ayla responded. "If I were pregnant, then I wouldn't drink any of it either.

"So you're not pregnant then," Grov asked from behind her.

Ayla turned around to look at her mate. "No, I do not think so. It is too soon for me to be pregnant again. Why, did you think I was?"

"Well, Darvie thought you might be because you were looking a little...what did she say...oh, I think it was dreamy. I was worried about you being so unfocused while we were flint knapping and that is what she came up with."

Ayla smiled. "No, I have an entirely different reason for looking dreamy, but I would like to talk to you about that at another time, if you do not mind." He shrugged. "But I am not pregnant."

Grov looked a little disappointed, but smiled. Then he looked at Danie. "Is everyone else awake?"

"No, only some people," she replied. "Some children are up, but none of Ayla's, and Nezzie is busy cooking again. My mother and sister are helping her, and I was until I left to bring you people some tea. And Laurana's out there too, nursing Bruana. And I think Tulie's awake. I saw her earlier, but she got some tea and went back to Aurochs hearth.

Ayla pulled her hair back into a thong and got up to get dressed. "I better go check on Laurana and Darnev and then help the women cook. I feel bad that I haven't helped very much."

Danie waved her hand at Ayla. "Don't worry about helping, Ayla. Nezzie always asks for help when she needs it, and besides, guests aren't supposed to work." Danie smiled. "I, on the other hand, better get back to help my mother. We may be Sungaean now, but I don't think I qualify as a guest since I'm related to Talut through my mother." Danie handed Grov a cup of tea, set down a bone platter containing four more cups, one for Mamut, Vinceniza, Ivanolia, and Brulenzia, then she waved goodbye and left the hearth.

"Oh Grov," Ayla whined, getting out of bed and throwing clothes on. "I feel like an awful woman, lying here sleeping while others are working."

Grov rolled his eyes. "Ayla, this is not the Clan and you are not expected to jump every time something is going on. Just relax. It won't always be this way."

"I know this is not the Clan, Grov, but I can't stop doing what is expected of me or I might forget when we get back."

"I hardly believe that that is true, do you?" he asked her.

Ayla smiled. "Well, no...I guess not, but I'm going to go help anyway."

Grov grinned at her. "I'll be out there soon. I'm going to pack some of our things up, so we'll be ready to leave tomorrow."

"You don't have to do that. I still need to wash our clothes before we pack them. They've gotten pretty filthy. I don't want to arrive at the summer meeting all travel stained, do you?"

He frowned. "I guess not. Okay, I'll wait to pack." Ayla smiled, then rushed out of the hearth to go help the women.

~oxoxo~

As the morning wore on, people came into the cooking hearth looking for a morning meal, and were greeted by Oak Camp's newest healer and her morning after tea. Nezzie was thrilled to have Ayla's assistance, and put her to work immediately, telling her to fill any cup that needed filling. Ayla didn't feel like she was doing anything, but noticed that her help allowed Danie to spend time cutting up vegetables.

"So Laurana, how are you feeling?" Ayla asked her cousin.

"I feel good. I am very excited about seeing my sister and mother. This summer meeting is going to be so fun," she said.

Ayla smiled, hoping that Laurana was right. "You have a lot to show everyone," Ayla said looking at Bruana.

"I am nervous too," the young woman admitted. "It's not every summer that a girl gets mated."

"No, you are right," Ayla agreed. "I remember when Grov and I were mated. I could hardly believe that I was a mated woman."

"You know, you and Grov could redo your matrimonial at the summer meeting. Then we could be mated at the same time," Laurana said.

Ayla frowned. "I do not know, Laurana. I'm not sure how Grov would feel about that, after all, he is Clan. And, what will everyone say when they find out that he's Clan. With Durc there, it's not like we could hide it, even if you couldn't tell that there was some Clan in his blood."

Laurana looked sad. "I'm sorry, Ayla. I guess I just want to share this with you, but you're right, it might not work. We'll have to see, maybe it will."

Ayla was hopeful that Laurana was right, but her experience told her that the summer meeting was going to be hard on her family.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – "Getting Ready"

After everyone was up and had eaten their morning meal, Ayla went to check on Darnev. He was, of course, doing wonderfully, and his bruises had nearly vanished. After proclaiming him almost entirely fit, aside from the healing broken bones, the man pulled her into his arms and kissed her. Ayla was so surprised by his actions that she stammered the last of her instructions for him, but realizing that she really wasn't saying anything, she quickly packed up her medicine bag and stumbled out of Aurochs hearth. Darnev found her behavior very funny and laughed heartily, as did Tulie and Barzec. Deegie had come in just in time to see what the man of her hearth had done and knew Ayla enough to know she was confused, so followed her out.

"Ayla," Deegie said, grabbing her friend's arm. "Are you okay?"

"I am fine," Ayla said. "I just did not know what to say." Then she giggled. "I bet I looked real silly running out of there like that."

"That's okay, Darnev does things like that, but I know that he dearly loves you. I'm sure he always will after what you have done for him. We will all love you forever, and not just because of what you did for Darnev."

"Oh, Deegie," Ayla said. "I am going to miss you so much."

Deegie put her arms around her new friend and smiled. "We haven't even known each other very long, but I feel like we've been friends for our whole lives."

"I feel the same way. It's like we have always lived in the same earthlodge," Ayla said, nodding her head.

"I wish you could be at the summer meeting with me when I find out if Branag really likes me," Deegie went on.

"Oh, me too, Deegie, but I will see you next summer, right?" Ayla asked. "I mean, Grov said we could come back up here. He's supposed to be training Durc to lead our Clan, but there's no reason why he can't work on that all fall and winter and the first part of the spring, right?"

Deegie nodded.

"And, next year we'll probably go to the Mamutoi summer meeting, since that's what Vincenzia and Darvie like to do every other year."

"I know," Deegie said. "It's just that a year is so long."

"I wish that you could come visit me at the Clan's cave," Ayla said. "Wouldn't Brun be surprised to see more of my friends and family appear?" She giggled at the mental image that gave her. "I don't suppose there's anyone that could bring you all the way down there though."

"Probably not," Deegie said, shaking her head. Then brightening slightly, she continued. "Except maybe Darnev." She smiled. "So, where were you off to in such a hurry, if not just running from the man of my hearth?"

"Oh, I really have to wash our clothing. I only have three outfits...well, four including the one you said I could have, but I would like them to all be clean. And Grov's and the children's as well. We don't own any other outfits, so I don't want them all stained."

"I have clothing to wash too," Deegie said. "You go get yours and I'll get mine, then I'll show you where I like to do my washing, okay?" Ayla nodded and they went their separate ways.

~oxoxo~

Back at Mammoth hearth, Ayla gathered up the clothing she wanted to wash and pushed it into her pack, making it easier to carry. Then, as she was leaving, Laurana and Danie walked in. "Where are you going?" they asked in unison.

"Deegie and I are going to wash clothes. I think at the river. Do you want to come with us?" Ayla asked.

"Yes, that's a good idea," Danie said. "Everything is dirty."

"I'm not sure," Laurana said with uncertainty. "Do you think it's okay to bring Bruana out there?"

"Well, she's going to be outside while we travel to the summer meeting and the weather is beautiful, so I don't see a problem taking her outside now," Ayla said. "I'm more concerned about you resting before we travel. I don't mind helping with your clothes, but you should rest."

"Yeah, Laurana," Danie agreed. "But let me wash your clothes; Ayla already has more than enough to wash."

Laurana smiled. "Are you sure?" Laurana asked, feeling guilty.

"Sure I'm sure," Danie replied. "Like Ivan said, what is family for?"

"Great then, pack up. Here comes Deegie," Ayla said.

~oxoxo~

As it turned out many women liked the young women's idea and most packed up to go out to wash, work, relax or play. The children made a day out of it, running up and down the length of the area outside the earthlodge and playing all kinds of games. It was good to see them running around after a winter of being cooped up inside the earthlodge.

Braydalana, Crisanie, Caylie, and Corlie spread out a hide and were making bracelets to give to one another. Braydalana and Crisanie were making theirs in the Sungaean way and Caylie and Corlie were making theirs in the Mamutoi way. When they were finished, they planned to exchange them. The four girls promised that every summer they make new ones and exchange them, until they were grown up.

Tronie had joined Laurana on the riverbank to help watch the little ones. Sometimes they could be quite a handful. Annaliza and Nuvie behaved nicely by staying on women's hide. Ora was the only one who kept wanting to run off, but one stern gesture from Grov had her sitting down silently, arms folded. Laurana shook her head, desperately trying to remember her cousin, Evenora, whom everyone said was identical to her daughter, Ora, in every way.

Nezzie and Travie said they'd prepare lunch when the time came and bring it out, but since most everyone was out, they decided to do the same. Nezzie watched the children play with the visitors and was especially observant of Rydag and how well he seemed to be getting along. Ayla's medicine truly seemed to be miracle cure, even though Ayla had said that it wasn't. The woman watched how well Durc and Rydag got along and was thankful that Ayla had brought her son, proving to any among them that didn't believe, that the boy was human. Nezzie desperately wished that Ayla and her family could stay with them, but knew that the young woman's place was with her people. The older woman's hope was that Ayla would come back the next summer with news of a better treatment for her Clan son. Nezzie sighed and went to join Laurana and Tronie.

~oxoxo~

When it was nearly time to eat, Nezzie and Travie went inside to throw something together. They decided on something light, as Talut wanted to feast again that night. Nezzie warned him about not bringing out his bouza again, and he came back with, "I know, Nezzie," then he secretly pulled out a bladder of it, thinking that everyone could at least have one drink. Nezzie had to smile at her gigantic man and shook her head as she noticed him pull it out. She too wanted them to stay, but knew it was impossible.

By the time lunch was brought out, everyone's clothing was drying on large rocks, and they were ready to eat. The children acted as though they had not eaten in days and crowded the food, making the mothers laugh. After the meal, everyone went back to what they were doing, though a few disappeared inside.

As evening approached, many were tired from the day of fresh air. The four youngest children, Ora, Nuvie, Annaliza, and Bruana, had fallen asleep, much to the happiness of the watching women. When the time came for everyone to go in, the women needed some assistance with the sleeping children. Brulenzia went to help Laurana with Bruana, Durc carried Annaliza in, Tornec carried Nuvie, and Grov came for Ora.

Everyone decided to rest for a while before their last evening meal together. The visitors rested for a bit, then spent time packing. When the packing was done, the four visiting men of Mammoth hearth dragged everything to the entrance area.

Laurana sat nursing her new baby, while Danie and Darvie lay together on Danie's bed, and Ayla on hers. The four women talked. "I am so excited to show Bruana to everyone," Laurana exclaimed. "And I can't wait to see how much Teglodia has grown since we left Oak Camp."

"It's sure going to be an interesting summer meeting," Darvie said. "I sure hope there won't be any trouble." Everyone was silent for a bit.

"But you have your matrimonial to look forward to, Laurana," Danie finally said.

"Yes, I am very happy about that," Laurana said with a smile. "This will sure be a different summer for Brulenzia." She paused for a moment, thinking about the way he used to occupy his time.

"Surely you're not worried about that," Darvie asked, sitting up and looking at the young woman.

Laurana frowned slightly. "Well, no, I don't think I'm worried about it," the new mother replied. "But you've seen him at the summer meetings. You know what he does."

Danie and Ayla didn't have any idea what the other two were talking about, since neither had been part of Oak Camp until after the last summer meeting. Danie had been to the last one, but only the end of it and she hadn't really known anyone yet.

"What does Laurana have to be worried about?" Ayla asked. Danie looked curious too.

"Let's just say that Brulenzia didn't want for the company of women," Darvie said in answer. Ayla was still confused. Then, remembering the charming man that had led her around the night before, she got an inkling of what Darvie must mean. Was Laurana really worried about something like that, she wondered.

"I have to admit that I have had some worry that he will grow bored of me and the idea that I was a good winter distraction has crossed my mind on occasion," the new mother said.

Then suddenly..."How can you say that?" came Brulenzia's voice from the entrance to Mammoth hearth. There was hurt in his voice and Laurana could see it in his eyes. She immediately felt terrible about her thoughts.

"I...I'm sorry, Bru," she said, shaking her head. He started to turn away to leave the hearth, but found himself face to face with Ivanolia and Grov. Ivanolia had been worried about this...or rather, that his friend would do exactly what Laurana was worried about. He hadn't considered that his friend would be able to resist all those women. For Ivanolia, it was yet to be seen. They still weren't at the summer meeting; that would be the test. But Brulenzia sure looked hurt that Laurana didn't trust him.

Grov, on the other hand, didn't really know what was going on. He could tell it had something to do with sharing pleasures, but the whole idea of sharing mates so often seemed so foreign to him. True, he had taken Oga, but only when Ayla was not available and Ayla never seemed to mind; she even encouraged it. To Grov, there was something going on here that just didn't make much sense to him; a contradiction of sorts. Their whole openness with pleasures seemed to be contradicted with an underlying jealousy at certain times. He didn't understand. It made him think of Broud, who had been insanely upset with him using Oga, when Broud himself hadn't really been mated to her anymore.

When Ivanolia and Grov didn't move out of his way, Brulenzia knew he was going to have to talk about his past. He had feared that it was coming, but thought that it would have to be talked about during the summer meeting. He looked at Ivanolia and turned around. Laurana was standing just behind him waiting.

Brulenzia looked down at her and saw tears in her eyes. He could tell that she had been worried and didn't know why he had not seen it before. "I'm sorry," she began, but he put a finger over her lips to hush her.

"No, Laurana, let me talk. I know I've told you that I love you, but I am sorry for not making it clear to you that you are what I want...forever. All those years of searching for that someone to find that she lived at my camp the whole time just makes me crazy, but I am happy with you and your daughter—"

"Our daughter," Laurana interrupted.

"Our daughter," he corrected. "You are not a distraction and I will not tire of you, okay?" She nodded and he leaned to kiss away her tears. When he was done, she wrapped her arms around his neck and they held each other tenderly.

"Okay!" Ivanolia said, clapping his hands. "Now that that is settled, let's all go to the cooking hearth."

Darvie rolled her eyes. "Do you ever think of anything but food?"

"I can remember a winter where he thought of nothing but tormenting the rest of the earthlodge with his very unfunny jokes," Danie replied.

"Hmm, me too," Laurana said, turning toward her older brother with a look of irritation. "I guess I'll take the hungry Ivan over that other one." She laughed and ducked behind Brulenzia as Ivanolia moved to grab her. Glad that Laurana was no longer feeling unsure, Brulenzia picked up his sleeping daughter and followed his soon-to-be mate, who was now slung over her brother's shoulder, out of the hearth.

~oxoxo~

When they got to the cooking hearth, it was obvious that Nezzie had outdone herself—again. There was every food imaginable, making everyone wonder how she had pulled it off. She had even cleaned up the entire area and swept the floor. Ayla looked around, feeling as though she had been gone for at least a day. How could one woman do some much? And when, Ayla asked herself. She had been outside nearly as long as everyone else, yet the cooking hearth had been transformed.

The meal was wonderful, with quiet conversation, no one even mentioning Oak Camp's impending departure. Much to Nezzie's frustration, Talut did pass around his bouza, but he kept it to just one bladder so that everyone could enjoy the evening and not suffer the next day.

The night came to a close rather quickly, with all in bed early. Most were looking forward to traveling again. Even Lion Camp would be leaving for their summer meeting shortly after Oak Camp left. Talut had decided on three more days for them, so they had some work to do before they could go, but they too were looking forward to the summer and all that each summer brought.

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – "One Last Morning Meal With Lion Camp"

Ayla woke up to see Grov standing next to their bed platform, bare-chested, but holding his tunic. She reached out to touch him and noticed that everyone's curtains were already open. Grov smiled down at her and pulled his tunic over his head. "We're leaving after we eat, but Talut wants us in the cooking hearth as soon as we're ready."

Ayla rubbed her eyes sleepily, but nodded and threw the leather blanket off of her so she could get up. Then, in ran Annaliza with Ora chasing her. "Mamma," Annaliza screamed. "Ora hit me." She was crying.

Grov immediately descended upon Ora, grabbing her by the arm and taking her out of the hearth. Ayla was left to deal with Annaliza. "What happened, Anna?" Ayla asked, not understanding why her daughters would strike each other.

"She took my doll...I took it back, then she hit me," Annaliza replied with a hiccup. Ayla held her as she cried, and when she calmed down Ayla looked into her sad blue eyes.

"Anna, next time she, or anyone else, takes something of yours, you need to come ask me or Grov to help you get it back. There will be no hitting. Do you understand?" She nodded and hiccupped again.

~oxoxo~

Outside the hearth, Grov was kneeling down in front of the little girl and gesturing angrily at her. She was cowering beneath his anger and tears were sliding down her cheeks. "That will not happen again, Ora!" he finished, then picked her up and carried her back to the Mammoth hearth.

Ayla had put Annaliza down on the spare sleeping place and she was still red eyed and teary when Grov returned with Ora, who looked nearly identical. He set her down next to her sister and turned to see what else needed to be done.

"I think we are finished here," Ivanolia said, looking around.

"I still need to get dressed," Ayla said, seeing that only she and Laurana weren't ready to go. "We can meet you out there." The others nodded and left.

While Laurana fed the baby, Ayla got dressed. She chose to dress slowly, because she wanted to give the girls some time to calm down, but she purposely kept her back to them, wanting them to know she wasn't very happy with their behavior. That was part of the way of the Clan; to ignore children that misbehaved.

When she was finished, she sat down across from Laurana, who was just closing up her tunic. Laurana made a gesture with her head, wanting Ayla to look at her daughters. When Ayla turned around, she saw that the girls had their arms around each other, and they were crying quietly. Ayla smiled and sighed.

"I have never actually seen children hit each other. It is not acceptable in the Clan, and it worries me about taking them back there," Ayla said.

"Well, no one is allowed to hit among the Sungaea," Laurana said. "And are severely punished if they do. It is good that you stopped it right away." Laurana paused. "Are only children stopped from hitting in the Clan?"

Ayla blushed. "Mostly, yes. A man is allowed to cuff a woman if she is lazy or disobedient, but most Clan women don't give reason for that to happen."

Laurana eyed Ayla, then asked what was on her mind. "Have you been cuffed, Ayla?

Ayla's pink face turned red. "Yes."

"Grov has hit you?" Laurana said in a whisper.

Ayla shook her head. "No, not Grov. There is a man there that used to hate me, and when I was young I gave him reasons to hit me."

"There is no good reason for a man to hit a woman, Ayla." Laurana said angrily. She was horrified.

"It is different in the Clan, Laurana," Ayla said gently. "And don't worry," she said taking her cousin's hand. "He has not hit me since Grov came, the leader has forbidden him to. Surprisingly, he has even been decent to me. Don't worry."

Laurana frowned, but tried to push the thought of someone hurting Ayla to the back of her mind. "Okay," she said. "Are you ready?" Ayla nodded and they gathered the children and left Mammoth hearth.

~oxoxo~

Out with the others, Talut called everyone's attention with his booming voice as soon as the two women appeared and everyone settled down knowing the headman wanted to talk. Ayla noticed that Darnev was sitting on one of the benches, looking rather comfortable and not at all in pain. Barzec was sitting next to him—hovering, just in case. Ayla smiled over at them.

"This has been quite a visit," he began. "One that we will not forget, I am sure." Everyone applauded. Ayla noticed, as she had before, that these people were seldom quiet. "Three of you are family by birth," he went on, looking from Travie to Darvie to Danie. "But you are all family in our hearts. Nezzie has, once again, made us a fine morning meal, but several of us have things we would like to give to a few of you."

Nezzie came forward, carrying four bundles of varying sizes. "This is just some food, that will help make your trip easier," she said, handing each couple a bundle of the appropriate size according to their family's size.

Darvie opened hers and smiled at the wide variety of traveling foods that Lion Camp had given to them. "Oh thank you, Nezzie," Darvie exclaimed. "These will definitely come in handy on the way." Everyone nodded and the woman received a hug of gratitude from each man and woman of Oak Camp, including Grov and Ayla.

Tronie got up next and went to Danie and Laurana. "No new baby should be without new outfits," she said, handing each woman two tiny outfits each, which she had been working on in secret. "I know you still have some time left, Danie, but now you can make less when the time comes." Each woman hugged her, and held up the outfits for everyone to see.

Dreenie and Deegie stood up and handed Ayla a wrapped package. Ayla was greatly surprised and wished she had thought to have something for them. Untying the sinew that held the package closed, Ayla's breath caught in her throat. The hide, from which the outfit had been made, had been stripped clean of all hairs and lightened to its lightest natural color; a very pale yellowish white. Then, someone had used a dye, made from the tiny blue flowers that grew on the prairies in the spring, making a color that was the palest blue-green that Ayla had ever seen. And finally, the tunic was decorated with little shells, which had been gleaned from the river.

"Oh, this is so beautiful. I cannot accept this," she said, trying to hand it back to Dreenie. "This must have taken forever to make. And how did you know my size?"

Dreenie smiled and held her hands up, refusing to accept the gift back. "Ayla, for what you have given us, there is nothing that we would not do for you," she said, and kissed Ayla on the cheek. Everyone was nodding their heads. Ayla felt tears spring to her eyes, and they burned as she tried to hold them back.

"And besides, I could not just give you one of my old outfits, Ayla," Deegie said. "When Dreenie suggested that we make you a new one, I thought it was a wonderful idea. All the women had a hand in it and we used me to make it to fit you." Ayla's blush of pleasure turned an even deeper shade as she fell into Deegie's arms.

Tulie and Tralie stood up next, and walked over to Grov. The man was shocked to see them standing there. Tulie handed him a similar looking package and waited for him to open it. Inside, there was a handsome, yet modestly decorated outfit, befitting a man of his stature. The headwoman was not known as a woman to sew things for people, so she had given one of her largest and best pieces of leather to Tralie, who expertly made the part Clan man something he could be proud of. "I hope you will accept this. We wanted to let you how grateful we are that you brought Ayla to see us." Then, not waiting for him to accept or decline, both women leaned in and gave the man a hug. Grov was rendered speechless.

"Okay then, let's eat!" Talut boomed again. "These people need to be on their way."

AtDC

NEW CHAPTER – "They Depart"

The sun was at its highest point in the sky when the group of Oak Camp people finally got themselves outside and loaded up, but the goodbyes were still coming. Ayla was standing with Nezzie, giving one last set of instructions about Rydag's medicine, and then had to drop her pack to kneel down and hug the boy. Then she had to hug each of the children, including Danug, Druwez, and Latie, who were standing back a bit, so didn't pick it up again for a while.

When she came to Tulie and Barzec, she saw that they were supporting Darnev, and she smiled. "No one's going to keep you down, are they?" she asked him. He shook his head and laughed. Then, with spontaneity quite unlike herself, Ayla stood on tiptoe and kissed him, hoping to elicit the same shock in him that he had given her. When she stepped back, she saw that she had accomplished her goal; the man was speechless. Tulie and Barzec, however, were not. They were both laughing so hard that their sides hurt. Almost everyone was.

"Well, that's a first," Barzec said. "No one every surprises this one."

Ayla smiled smugly, then trying to be serious, she looked at Tulie. "Check his stitches before you leave for your summer meeting. Try to pull one out. You'll have to cut the knot, and yank pretty hard. The sinew has probably attached itself to the skin so it will bleed some...and hurt. If it bleeds a lot, give it another three or so days, but get them out as soon as possible and have someone check his broken arm and leg at your meeting." Tulie nodded, and gave the young woman a hug, as did Barzec and Darnev.

All around her, everyone was saying goodbye and Ayla went through several more before she got to Mamut. The old man gave her a firm hug, so firm that Ayla could hardly believe that it came from someone so old. "I hope you will not forget our vision," he said to her.

"Oh no, Mamut," she replied. "I have thought of not much else."

"Have you had time to try to find out when exactly you should go looking for them?" he asked.

Ayla frowned. "Yes, Mamut, but I didn't understand what I saw. It seemed so strange to me. I think I am supposed to leave for the valley on a day where black clouds cover the sky. But how can I do that in summer, Mamut? There will be no storms like that, will there?"

The old man smiled. "I guess you will have to wait and see. I'm sure you will know if and when the time comes, but I am pleased that you went searching for more. I hope you will continue to do that."

"I will, Mamut," she said. "I promise."

The old man kissed her forehead. "I look forward to next summer, and to seeing you again."

Ayla smiled into the man's tattooed, craggy old face, seeing the other old man that she had loved dearly. "Until next time," she said.

"Safe journey," he replied and started to turn away. Then, he looked back at her. "It will be a day within a night and a night within a day," he said, and then walked away. Ayla frowned at his back, having no idea what he meant. Was he still talking about when she would have to leave to find the horses in that valley? After thinking hard, she decided that he was, but what he said made no more sense to her than her vision of storm clouds blacking out the sky in the dead of summer. Ayla knew that there could be summer storms, but nothing like what she had envisioned.

Travie, who had been close enough to hear the last thing Mamut had said, shook her head and smiled at the confused woman. "I sometimes wonder about those that serve the Mother. Do you think that they even know what they're saying?" the older woman asked. Ayla shrugged her shoulders and pulled on her pack. She noticed that Grov had taken a lot out of hers to carry himself and she smiled. That was one huge difference between him and the Clan men; they'd never do what was considered women's work. Ayla looked at her mate, who was talking to Vincenzia, then scooped up Annaliza and went to join them.

End of Part FIVE!

(yay for half transferred)

Post Script

As stated at the top of this page, there are TEN parts to this. However, part ten is unfinished...and I hardly ever update it anymore. Sorry! I repeat...you are reading an "in progress" story...which has very little hope of ever being completed. Continue at your own risk!

Okay. It took me over two hours to transfer part five from the site where I originally posted it to this site (copy/paste, copy/paste, copy/paste, copy/paste, copy/paste...and so on), so it might be a while before I transfer parts six through ten. I promise that I'll eventually get it all moved over—I do NOT, however, promise to finish the story.

Thanks for reading and for your patience!