A small few quakes had hit the cave but nothing was ruined. Everyone was calm except Jondalar. He had seen Ayla go off riding. He knew she hated quakes. As he paced the entrance he looked up to hoof beats. Only Grey and Racer? Hollering to Joharran he pelted to the far off horses. He knew something had happened. Whistling for Wolf he mounted the stallion.
"Joharran I need to find Ayla, are you coming?" held out his hand.
"I am not likely to let you go alone now, am I?" Taking Jondalar's hand he leapt upon Racers back behind his little brother. After calling Wolf to heel he nudged the trusting stallion into a charge to where, well they were about to find out. Whence in gallop he dropped all signals. The young stallion was startled then remembered his mother and flew across the vast fields to the forest where his mum was in trouble.
Before they got to the alcove they saw the fire. 'No' Jondalar thought. Joharran thought quickly,
"We need to stop the fire!" He yelled over the cackling and crackling of the furiously burning flames dancing high with stealth-ness.
"So go back on Racer." Was his only comment before the ever-loyal Wolf caught sent of his beloved mistress and pelted off. After his brother was out of site still skirting the alcove he turned and Racer gave it his all and went home again.
Wolf led
Jondalar to the far opening or the alcove. They waded across the
small river to get to the entrance when Jondalar heard a weak cry in
the distance. Wolf knew it was his best friend Jonayla and scampered
off. Thankfully the fire had turned tail. Ducking, jumping, and
running till they saw a super sorry sight. Whinney sprawled on the
floor, hind legs which have smoke or visible heat coming off them.
Not far from that Jonayla was shaking her mother trying to wake her.
Ayla would not wake up though. Jondalar walked over to Whinney but as
soon as she heard his feet she squealed and kicked around trying to
get up. As soon as she did stand she fell again with an agonising
whinny. Jondalar turned and walked over to Ayla. He sat down and
cuddled Jonayla who had crawled over. 'So this is what happens when
they go out riding in a storm' he thought.
As Racer stopped
outside the ninth cave people poured out. With a terrified expression
her told them everything. At once everyone gathered things to help
and Joharran went back to where he left his brother. From there he
quickly found the trail. As soon as he came across the agonising
sight he look at his brothers tearful face. As Jondalar look at his
brother to shake his head Ayla moaned ever so slightly. Joy shot
across their faces.
"Jondalar? Jondalar what are we going to do with Whinney? It will be unfair to keep her alive. Do you want me to…?" He got cut off.
"No, Whinney is what may be needed to help Ayla pull through. You know how unset she will be if she could not say goodbye. Whinney is like her oldest daughter. She and Whinney helped each other in the valley. You may not know it but when Whinney came back with Racer in her stomach, Ayla had been following the herd and had was in the first stages of hypothermia, Whinney saved her by taking her to the cave quickly. And in doing so saved Ayla." Joharran was shocked beyond belief.
As a crowd of footsteps readapted the thunder came close Joharran went to greet his cave. As soon as they had seen what had happened they were shocked. Zelandoni was starting towards Ayla when Whinney swished her tail. Walking over that way she could see the pain and fear shine like the sun in her once peaceful brown eyes. Surprised she soothed her and saw to the worst of burns. Yelling orders she got Racer in to the travois so Whinney could be taken home. After she was sure Whinney was fine she turned to Ayla. Ayla had bad concussion and was knocked unconscious by the fall. Checking Ayla over carefully Zelandoni was very surprised to find that Ayla was unharmed. Just to be sure Zelandoni refused to have Ayla moved from where she fell till she woke up.
After what seemed ages Ayla moved slightly and screamed her beloved horse's name. She sat bolt up and looked around for her Whinney but tear started to steam down her pain-covered face. Jondalar was quick to sooth her as his heart aced immensely when he saw his mate this. Ayla had not noticed Zelandoni till now and when she did the people around her were scared at the burning anger in her eyes.
"You! It is your fault! If it were not for you being all high and mighty making decisions without others Whinney and me would not be in this mess. You…You…You hyena! Filthy rubbish!" People backed away. 'Was this the calm and helping Ayla they knew or not' Most people could not think of an answer. Wolf having sensed Ayla's anger quickly jumped to protect her. Wolf knew Zelandoni but he would always ignore that to protect his mum. His teeth bared and top lip curled back made him scarier then he put in a full throaty and menacing growl for a warning. Everyone now knew why he or she should not tangle with Wolf and Ayla. Ayla looked towards Jondalar who carried Jonayla. She held out her arms for her child not even bothering about Wolf. Zelandoni gave Jondalar a knock out tea so they could get Ayla home with no more a-do. She also gave Wolf a calming drink just for safety.
'My daughter listen to me. Zelandoni is not to blame, I am. I did it so everyone can see that you are something special. May they see who you are for real? Most want to kill Whinney because they think it is unfair, I know it is but she must live like this was meant to happen. I have healed her physical injuries but you have to heal her mental injuries. There is something only you to can do together because you are no linger a partnership as you once were. But to do it you must remember and there is only one way you can go back and see what happened and to see the reality once again. But you must be able to see the accident in Whinney's eyes before hand. Goodbye and do not forget. Please do not forget.'