Disclaimer: I do not own the characters, names or anything connected to Jean M Auel's Earth's Children series in this story. I'm just having some fun.
Warning:Somethings in this part of the story may offend some readers.
Chapter Six Cronzar
As winter passed Folara's baby was one of three more to come. Folara had named her first child Tionolan, and the strong healthy baby grew quickly. He had his father's bright green eyes, and he had started smiling at everyone, waving his chubby fists in the air.
Jonayla was immensely interested in the new baby. She was far too young to hold the child, but was aloud to hold his hand or touch his face.
She had given him one of her bone bracelets as a present, and it was attached to his ankle. Whenever he kicked his feet the anklet would rattle and both children laughed at this.
Sammi was particularly close to the young family. Her Zelandonii had improved greatly and she was able to express herself more freely.
"He is so adorable," Sammi cooed as she held the infant in her arms.
"Maybe the Mother will give you a child of your own someday" Folara replied taking Tionolan in her arms so she could nurse him.
Sammi didn't reply to that comment. She was still finding it difficult to not shout out that this Mother figure had nothing to do with pregnancies.
She had almost laughed when they told her that they viewed sex as a Gift of Pleasure, and if shared enough a woman may be blessed by Doni.
It was not out of disrespect but it was just an idea so radically different to anything she had ever heard before.
She still had the doni from the first night she had awoken here. It was comforting and she kept it with her most of the time.
Although she knew that there was no Earth Mother who may mysteriously place life inside her, seeing Folara with the child made her want one of her own.
And this time if I was pregnant there would be no male disappointed in me about it. In fact it would be celebrated!
She shook her head; no I'd have to wait until the right time. I may not even be here for much longer…I wonder if I'd leave right now if I knew how to go home.
She looked back down at the baby. She wasn't sure if she would go and that startled her somewhat.
"What's wrong Sammi?" Folara asked her, handing her a bone cup filled with mint and sage tea.
Sammi sighed heavily before taking a sip of the hot tea. "I miss my home"
Folara nodded "I understand, when I was away at the Third Cave with Boladar I missed home a lot even though they were so close"
Sammi shook her head. "You knew you could go back though. I don't know my way home I don't know how to get back," she felt her throat tighten as she talked about her home for the first time.
"Everything is so strange here! I don't know your ways or the ways of your Earth Mother. I miss my family and my friends. I miss everything. I need my life back, I need nacho cheese, repeats of The Simpsons and AFL" Sammi stopped unable to continued, and felt tears slip down her face.
"I don't know what half of those things are but they must be important to you. I wish I could help you find your way home, but I like you and I was hoping you would stay with us. Maybe you're meant to; maybe that's why you're here"
Sammi looked at the young mother and hugged her tightly.
"Thank you Folara…I don't know what I'd do if you weren't my friend"
- - - - -
The season was changing and the bitter cold that held the land frozen was losing its icy grip. Sammi watched the icicles at the edge of the stone overhang start to melt. The melting of the dirty, rotten ice, blackish with soot from the fires of the Cave were the first signs that spring was on its way and Sammi was ecstatic.
Sammi's leg was healing well and she could walk with out crutches or a staff, only a slight limp. She wanted to go outside and run. She wanted to ride one of Ayla's horses but she hadn't worked up the nerve to ask her if she could do it. She spent a lot of time with those horses, brushing their fur and talking to them in English.
She didn't know she was acting like Ayla when she did it, looking after horses was something she had done all her life and it was a comfort to her. Ayla had shown her the teasels she used to brush the horses fur and Sammi had adapted to Ayla's tools of looking after horses than to her flat brushes she had at home.
One day while she was watching the scant snow melting slowly she saw a large band of people making their way toward the Ninth Cave. She got up and limped to Joharran's dwelling which was now where she lived. Since Proleva had died Joharran had been some what distant from his people.
Sammi stayed in his dwelling with Jaradal and a bond had formed between the stranger and the widow and his child. She had managed to get him to start eating again and taking charge of his Cave but he was different. It was as if a bit of Joharran had died with Proleva.
"Joharran," she yelled when she sped into the dwelling "People are coming!"
Joharran looked up and followed the woman to the front of the cave. A large group of nearly fifty people where heading up the slope to the Ninth Cave. Joharran recognized Manvelar, the leader of the Third Cave and Tormaden leader of the Nineteenth Cave.
When the two leaders reached the top of the slope Joharran held his hands out in welcome. Joharran knew that word had gotten out that his mate had passed and that they had a strange new woman among them but he wasn't sure why all these people had congregated at the front of his Cave.
"Joharran we offer you our deepest sorrow at the loss of your mate, she was a good woman" Tormaden said.
Joharran nodded, unable to speak.
"But we have come because our Zelandonii had searched and has found mammoth close to your Cave. We were shocked at the fact the mammoth would come so far west and while the season is warming. Zelandonii says it is a sign from the Mother and if we hunt them successfully, we shall be lucky all year. We were hoping you and your hunters would like to join us in the hunt"
"Of course we will hunt mammoth with you Manvelar. It is a rare treat to find a mammoth in these parts"
"Good we were hoping to hunt them in the next few days. May we stay here until we are ready?"
Joharran allowed them into the Cave. Sammi stood and watched silently. The people filed in after the three leaders who were making their way back to her and Joharran's dwelling. The rest of the group was greeting people they knew and loved, people who had not been seen since the last Summer Meeting.
Sammi hung back feeling uncomfortable. She wanted to be included but this seemed to be a greeting of kin and friends. She didn't know any of these people. She didn't know that the rest of the Zelandonii territory knew she was there. Flint knappers in the late hours of the day had talked amongst each other, on nights that were clear enough to allow them to get to the Cave where everyone worked on their projects.
Many people here were interested in her presence but did not have the nerve to approach the stranger. One man did however. Sammi had noticed him from the start; his eyes were a startling amber, his hair dark and slightly curly. He was of average height but still taller than Sammi, and he moved with confidence.
He wore the same type of clothing as everyone else, made of skins and furs, but the design was slightly different. As he came close to Sammi he smiled at her and held out his hands in a gesture that Sammi had come to know as an extension of friendship. She placed her hands in his, which were warm and large. His thumb caressed the back of her hand.
"I am Cronzar of the Nineteenth Cave of the Zelandonii. In the name of the Great Earth Mother I greet you,"
Sammi flushed and was unsure of herself. She had never been through a formal introduction, however light, and was flustered. She breathed in deeply and smiled back at the man who still held her hands.
"I am pleased to meet you Cronzar of the Nineteenth Cave. I am Sammi…of…." She bit her lip. How could she tell this man where she came from? He smiled at her expectantly.
"I am Sammi, visitor to the Ninth Cave of the Zelandonii. In the name of Doni, I greet you" she hoped that would be acceptable and that she hadn't just offended him or his people somehow.
His smile widened and she relaxed.
"What brings you to the Zelandonii Sammi?" he asked.
"I fell and was hurt. Ayla found me and helped me. These people took me in through the winter. I owe them my life"
She became very aware that her hands were still in his. She felt herself blush and looked down at her feet. He laughed, and placed his had round her waist. They started walking, Sammi leading, toward Joharran's dwelling.
With the arrival visitors from the Third and Ninetieth Caves an unplanned feast began to be prepared. Visitors were rare so early, but not as rare as a mammoth hunt and everyone was eager to celebrate the arrival of their kin, the upcoming hunt and the fast approaching spring.
The night was turning into a festival to Honor the Mother and all of her bountiful Gifts.
- - - - -
The feast was not much. Although the Ninth Cave had had two very successful aurochs and bison hunts in autumn's last days before winter, the feast lacked the first fresh greens of spring. But the gathering took place for more than food. Laughter and talking rang through the cave.
Cups were filled with Marthona's spicy wine, as well as Laramar's barma. The laughter stayed with them all night and soon music and dancing filled the Cave. The children had fallen asleep by this time and were taken to their beds by caring parents, many sleeping together.
Cronzar had stayed by Sammi's side the whole time. They were sitting with Ayla, Jondalar, Folara and Boladar, who was distantly related to Cronzar through his mother's side. When the music began, spirits were high and cups full. Jondalar nuzzled Ayla's neck affectionately and coxed her out to the dancers. Folara and Boladar joined them soon after.
Cronzar and Sammi laughed, watching the couples dance. Sammi felt good and relaxed, partly from the barma and also from the warm arm around her.
"Will you dance with me?" Cronzar asked when Sammi placed her now empty cup next to her. She hiccupped. She was more intoxicated then she thought she would be, the barma was strong, but she was still enjoying herself.
"I do not know the steps…I'm so clumsy I'll fall over"
"I'll teach you the steps and if you fall…I'll catch you"
Sammi smiled and nodded. Although she missed her home she did like the amount of respect women received around here from the men. At first it was a little unnerving to be seen as this awesome gender that could bring forward new life, but as she spent more and more time with these people she grew accustomed to their way of life. They depended on the next generation of children for survival.
Cronzar led her toward the dancers and placed a hand round her waist the other in her hand. He showed her the basic steps and soon they were making their own variations of it. She was very conscious of the closeness between them, and the warmth in her tummy from the alcohol.
She laughed loudly, passing Ayla and Jondalar with a smile. She spun and she felt her hair spill out in the air. Her leg was still paining her and when she couldn't dance anymore they returned to where they had been sitting, alone now next to a warm fire. People were still dancing and singing and they had become quite unnoticed by the rest of the Cave.
- - - - -
He handed her a cup of cold mint tea. She smiled grateful it was not the barma. She wasn't sure if she could handle another cup of that. He took the cup from her and drank some, then held it to Sammi's lips so she could drain the rest. He put the cup down and pushed a lose hair from her face. She bit her lip.
"I have been to many Mother Festivals in my life but I've not enjoyed one quite as much as this"
She looked at him and felt her nerves bubble to the surface again. She knew what a Mother Festival was and she wasn't to keen on the idea. She had known many men and women, but many of the people she had been with had only been there for the pleasurable company she allowed. It had made her lose some trust in people and she was still scared of being used.
His eyes were staring into hers and she looked away, with great effort.
"I'm sorry…I didn't mean to offend you," Cronzar said. He loosened his grip on her hand, but she didn't move it away.
"You did not offend me…"
She felt his fingers trace up her arm, a soft tickling touch that cause her to shiver slightly. His fingers ran up her neck and across a blushing cheek. They traced her eyebrows, her nose then her slightly parted lips.
She held herself still. She had never been touched like that, so tenderly. She felt as tough no one had laid a hand on her before and this was the first time.
Cronzar's thoughts ran along the same line. She acts like she's never been touched, he smiled to him self. He lent forward and his lips lightly brushed her own. It was like and electric current running through her veins. Her body lost all meaning and all she could feel was the soft brush of his lips on her own. When he pulled back she gasped and he smiled at her and held out his hand.
She did not hesitate and placed hers in his. He helped her up and she lead him back to Joharran's dwelling. Jaradal was sleeping at another hearth and Joharran was already in the depths of sleep. She led Cronzar into her sleeping place.
A small fire had been lit in the middle of the room for her and she silently thanked Joharran in her mind.
She still found it difficult to make fire and had resorted to her Zippo lighter a few times when she was alone. She didn't want to have to try and make a fire with this handsome man in her midst.
She sat on her sleeping fur and Cronzar, still standing placed another feather light kiss on her lips. He sank down beside her and his light touch moved to her forehead, cheeks then her neck. She shivered, but not from the cold and felt a yearning between her legs.
How long has it been since I lay with a man or woman? But can I trust him? How do I know he won't be like the other men I've known? These thoughts stayed in her mind as she felt his tongue trace the curve of her neck. She looked at him and kissed him harder than he had before.
She felt the laces of her blouse being pulled out of the holes slowly, teasingly until it hung open. He pushed the shirt off her shoulders and dropped it on the ground near him. His shirt came off swiftly after that.
His hands explored the newly bared area and she gasped as his fingertips ran over an erect nipple. She felt his other hand, with the same light touch trace the fullness of her left breast.
She felt a hand run up the curve of her back; the other brushed away the hair that had fallen onto her face. She closed her eyes at the soft touch and reluctantly pushed his hand away, but held it in hers.
"I'm sorry" she said and looked down at her lap "This is all so fast and unexpected"
She sighed. Cronzar frowned. From the moment he had saw Sammi he wanted her. She was stunning, she moved with the grace and confidence of youth. Her eyes were a gorgeous mix between blue and green with flecks of gold through it.
Her brown and blonde hair that framed her oval face was wavy and soft to touch. He wanted her now, even as she said no. Well he could not accept no. He felt a spark within her, and himself, when he touched her, and he did not want that spark to go out.
"I will wait if you're not ready now" Cronzar said.
Her head snapped up. She had expected him to leave as soon as she said she wouldn't sleep with him, how ever tempting that was. The last thing she had expected was him to say he'd wait.
He had only met her this day. The shock in her face was so funny Cronzar had to laugh. He kissed her gently, which she allowed.
He gently removed the rest of her clothing, and then his and he lay next to her, covering their bodies with furs. He held her and she rested her head on his shoulder.
She felt him kiss her forehead softly. She smiled to herself, feeling completely safe and wonderfully beautiful in his arms.
"Good night Sammi" he whispered. They fell asleep in each others arms, each soothed and comforted by the other's presence.
- - - - -