Ayla kept moving and at a fast pace on her red sore feet. She was tired but kept going. She had no idea where she was going but she wanted to get away for the second time in her life. She remembered the pain and agony of staying behind the first time. She decided to slow down. She had no idea how to hunt or find food. She just knew there would be somewhere for her to stay and learn some skills. She turned round a corner of a cave or boulder only to see a fluffy baby durk tooth tiger. She saw it's mum dead beside it with a spear stuck in the chest. The spear was a thick but subtle one. The mum had blood dripping at a slow pace, as the animal lay dead. The blood on the fur was starting to dry. The scent of blood scared Ayla because she knew any predator would come looking but could she leave a baby to the same threat as she had been left. The durk tooth tiger called out wanting help, Ayla thought. 'Well if both of us need to be alone we might as well be alone together.' She picked up the baby and cradled it close to her. She untied her cloak she was wearing and wrapped it around the little bundle of fluff. She then started walking again.
Jondalar fed up went to tell him mum he was going to go visit Dalanar. Anxiously she agreed, She hoped he would not go off on a legless chase for Ayla because she was beyond help. She knew he loved her but she knew how heart broken he would be if she turned round and said nope cannot do so. Jondalar promised to be back within a cycle of the moon. Unlikely but ok he could go. Joharran paced up and down till it had gone well into the night. He knew his brother way to well. Going to Dalanar would not be nearly enough. He just hoped Jondalar would not go as far as he did once before. My mate has two children to nurse now and will have to keep them.
Ayla's eyes started to droop warily. The little baby was getting heavy in her arms and was starting to move about. Step after agonising step Ayla went she knew she had to get into a cave or somewhere. She was afraid and wanted comfort. The little durk tooth tiger had started to play with Ayla's hair making it even harder to keep her eyes open. Her whole body shook with exhaustion and over exertion from carrying the cub so long. Unnoticed to the cub and her there was a steady thudding about 2ft behind them. Whinney had followed. She felt strung to the woman. She knew what pain trusting her was and had forgotten all the fun they once had. She also wanted to know where she was going. When Ayla picked up the cub, Whinney looked onwards curiously. Exactly what happened with Baby and Wolf.
Ayla saw a cave not too far away and hurried to it, she was dying for food and so was her young friend. She walked in as the rain started to pour, she walked in far enough so that the rain would not get her but close enough to the entrance so that she could get out quickly if needed. She led down and shook with the cold but she hugged the poor cub to her for warmth and support. Whinney watched as they went in and she stood looking onwards as the rain ran down her body soaking her coat and making her wet. She remembered the time of warmth and having a shelter when it rained with happiness. Whinney was unable to stand the wetness anymore and she walked nervously into the cave and hid in a shadow so hardly anyone would see her.
Jondalar had ridden for a while when he decided to break for the night. He set up his tent outside the edges of a forest he had just ridden thorough. He laid a sheet over Racer and tied him up. Then after eating some dried meat he had brought he thought about Ayla and wondered if she would ever be Ayla – the one he knew and loved so much – again or if she would stay as she is now. He fell asleep dreaming of his Ayla and of how much fun they had had. Marthona had paced and cried since her son had left again to go on a silly search for his loved one who no longer knew him. Everyone in the cave was down and upset, Ayla had been treasured by all, she was an asset and a loved one. No one could believe the person who had just ran off afraid of the animals she tamed was the same lady they knew. All the children were surprised that the lady they all looked up to and enjoyed being around had just left with no goodbye and Jonayla to young to know any better had not stopped crying after feeling all the down moods in the cave.
"THE NEXT DAY"
In the cave people had started to move about and get up. A bow legged female walked out her hearth to go outside to relive herself. She screamed in fright when she saw Ayla curled up asleep with a Dirk tooth tiger cub and she backed off to the far wall and backed into Whinney. She screamed again and fainted. The men of the cave came running as fast as possible but one got there before the others. He was the tallest as he was a mixed. He looked down at Ayla and the cub with a bewildered look and then at the Mare stood with a fiery look, daring anyone to come near. She looked like the mare in his dreams as was the woman and cub, but she had a cave lion. Ayla gasped at the sight of Flatheads and spat out the word before she saw the horse and pounced backwards in fright. She shook and screamed at the horse "How dare you follow me?" Then she collapsed against the wall crying feebly and cuddling her cub. The men of the clan arrived as Ayla called out to the mare. One old man in particular took interest in Ayla and waved off the other men as he walked towards her.
Jondalar packed up and mounted early so he could get to Dalanars before dusk. He rode with thoughts flying through his head of when he first saw Ayla. He smiled at the sight of the shock on her face and then he remembered the first time he rode his stallion. Racer was also thinking of his mum and his sister who he missed dearly. He also was thinking of the valley he was born in and he whickered upset like. "You feel the same do ya boy," Jondalar asked.
The old man walked up to Ayla and grunted. Ayla looked up and stared. She glanced over at the mare that was rearing and kicking out telling the other clan men to back off. A man was aiming a spear at the mare. Ayla could not bear to see the fearless mare killed so she ran and pushed the man off his feet, (Or at least tried too) she called to the mare, "Run you crazy thing." Ayla chased the beast out of the cave. Then she ran back to get her cub. She noticed the old man and something made her stop for a second. While she seemed to be preoccupied the old man signed the other men of the clan to hold her. Ayla felt two pairs of hands wrap around her and she started struggling. The man who was mixed looked in her grey eyes and wondered if she was the one.
'What do you want us to do now?' One of the men asked. The old man answered
'Do not let her leave. Come with me!" He called to the mixed man. Ayla glared at the men and they chatted amongst themselves about her manners.
and held on tight as he technically dragged her back to the centre. They were not allowed to let her go.
The men had let go of her and had formed a circle around her. Some dared to try and get her others just watched in amazement. Ayla stared and refused anyone to touch her. She jumped back as someone came near her. She was scared and also happy in a way to be there. Whinney looked in from where she was hiding and wondered why SHE was not happy. 'She lived with others like it and we met some on our journey.' Ayla had had enough and was getting furious. She grabbed up her cub and stalked off towards a gap between the men, as she was about to go through someone leapt for her