Chapter 4
They left the valley and headed back to the northeast. Six days later they were in Lion camp. Ayla was surprised when they had first arrived; the shape of the lodge had changed. There was a new entry and when they went inside they saw a large space that Talut said belonged to the horses, and it had room for hay and grain storage. When they walked through the next entrance they found their new hearth next to mammoth hearth. She turned and saw Talut, Nezzie, Tulie, Brazac and the rest smiling at them. Talut said, “Welcome to the Horse hearth Ayla. Welcome home She walked over and put her arms around his neck and hugged him. Trying to hold back the tears she said, Oh thank you Talut, thank you all so very much. Once everyone that hugged her they helped bring in the rest of her belongings. After most of the things were put away she still had a number of items on her sleeping platform. She gave Talut a bison robe that was big enough that it could be used as a cloak worn over the shoulders. Tulie was given the pelt of a snow leopard. Then she gave Wymez some large flint nodules, Ranec some large pieces of ivory, Nezzie a basket of dried fruit and nuts. And Crozie a container of hand cream she had made. There were gifts enough for everyone even the children. When the platform was empty she sat looking at her new hearth. When she looked down Rydag was standing there looking up at her. She picked the boy up and sat him beside her. When he held out his hand she noticed he was holding something. She signed, Is that for me? He signed, Yes, mother Ayla. It was a flute made from a hollow bone of a bird with holes drilled into it. He showed her how to play it and they enjoyed the sounds it made. Nezzie came over and picked up Rydag and told her that they were about to tell stories and wanted them to come too. She picked up Thyron and walked to the communal hearth with the rest of the camp. Torvon was telling about some of the places that he had visited on his journey and said he had met a group of people that were as black as a dark cloudy night. Wymez said that Ranec's mother was like that. A short time later Danug started telling what they had found in Ayla's valley. He said there was enough to build a much larger earth lodge than they had now and there were a large number of fruit and nut trees plus a large variety of berry vines. When he said that Latie stood and stomped her foot and said, Why didn't you tell me about the berries? Danug laughed and said, If I had there wouldn't be any there now. Everyone broke out laughing. He then told them about meeting Baby and what had happened. Talut said, I know you can ride a horse but when I picture you on the back of a large cave lion I can only think of the Mother. Ayla smiled and said, I am not the mother Talut, I raised Baby from the time he was a small cub just starting to walk. If you find an animal that young and raise it as your child it will think of you as its mother. There is no magic, its only love. Danug also told about the number of horses they had seen in the valley and that they could go back sometime and catch some young ones to train. Latie was ready to leave right then. There was talk about the upcoming summer meeting. Ayla was not sure if she wanted to go to a place with so many people. Whinny, Brown and Wolf were used to the people of the camp but when you added five times as many people she just was not sure. She also wondered about people hunting the horses while they were at the meeting. She thought about what she could do so people would not hunt them. She had several hides that she had brought back from the valley and she thought she could make new blankets for them, but something that would standout against their coats. A red one would be good for Whinny with her dun yellow color but Brown was a different problem. She mentioned it to Crozie and the old woman left and returned a short time later with a large piece of white leather and gave it to her for Brown. Looking at it Ayla said, But Crozis it's too beautiful, he will roll around and get it dirty. Crozie replied, If it keeps someone from hunting him it's worth it. I made it for my son and it has never been used it's just gathering dust. Ayla asked Crozie, How do you make the white leather? Crozie said, It has been a family secret passed from mother to daughter for generations. But Fralie didn't want to learn to do it. Looking at the old woman Ayla asked, Crozie, would you teach me how to make the white leather. She looked at the young woman, smiled and said, Yes, if you really want to learn. Oh yes I do, there are a lot of things I would like to learn, sewing, beading making cloths the way you do. Over the next few weeks Crozie taught Ayla everything she needed to know about making the leather white, including saving her water instead of throwing it out. That was the key. Fralie worked with her on beading and sewing but she was having trouble. It was too much trouble to make holes in the leather, then try to feed the sinew through the holes. She was watching Rydag as he made a bone rattle for the smaller children and thought there might be a way to do it. She told Deggie, Nezzie, Crozie, Fralie and Tronie about her idea and got their thoughts. Then she talked to Ranec and Wymez and told them what they needed. Over the next few days Ranec carved the slender ivory points and Wymez made a boring tool that would drill a hole in one end. When the items were completed the two men brought them to the women and Ayla used an awl to punch holes in the leather that she planed to make a new tunic from. Next she put the sinew in warm water to soften then threaded the sinew through the hole in the back of the point. Once it was threaded she made several stitches then handed it to Nezzie, she made several stitches then passed it on to the next person. After all the women had tried it they looked at Ranec and Wymez and announced that the “Thread Puller†was perfect. She asked Ranec if he could create different sizes for different jobs. Maybe a larger thread puller could be made to repair the heavier leather of their tents. Nezzie said that if he could make enough that they could be used for trade because once the women of the camps learned about how easy they were to use they would want several. As it got closer to time to leave Ayla was still having bad feelings about the meeting. Torvon told her not to worry that they could handle whatever came up. They settled in for the night and in the morning while she was nursing Thyron she saw Deegie and Branag coming toward her. Deegie asked, Ayla will you check me to see if I have been blessed? Yes, come with me. replied Ayla. They entered Deegie's sleeping area and pulled the drape closed. When they came out a short time later both women were smiling. Deegie put her arms around Branag and said, I have been blessed. Tulie and Brezac heard that and quickly came to the hearth. Tulie asked, Is it true? Deegie said, Yes, mother its true. Everyone was happy about the thought of another new baby in the lodge. And the women were talking about making clothing for it. Ayla thought she would make some soft carrying blankets like the ones she had made for Thyron. But there was plenty of time for that the baby was not due until the early winter. She and Torvon started packing the things they wanted to take to the summer meeting. She took a break and walked outside and saw Rydag sitting alone and looking sad. When she asked what was wrong he said, I don't want to go. She asked, Where? He replied, The summer meeting. She asked, Why? He said, Because they only stare at me and call me names. She turned and saw Nezzie and asked her if it was true. She replied, Yes, it's true and it gets worse every year. Ayla said, That is cruel. Nezzie said, Yes it is and its worse when the adults start. Ayla picked the child up and held him wishing that there was something she could do for the boy. But all she or anyone at camp could do was to show him that they loved him. They were outside loading things in the pack baskets when Talut came and asked if Mamut could ride one of the horses. Torvon said he could ride Brown and Ayla said, And Rydag can ride on Whinny. She turned to where he was sitting and got a big smile. Torvon led Brown over to a rock and helped Mamut climb on to it then throw his leg over the horses back. Ayla picked Rydag up and placed him on Whinny's back. Thyron was inside Ayla's tunic nursing as they started north toward Wolf camp and Wolf was ranging ahead checking everything out. The trip would take them almost two weeks to get to the meeting. When they stopped in the evening Ayla, Deegie and Latie would go exploring. Ayla was looking for medicines while Deegie and Latie were looking at everything else. On one such trip Latie found a berry patch and was eating them as fast as she could pick them. Ayla and Deegie were picking a few flowers at the time so they didn't notice until they looked over at her as she walked up to them. Deegie said, I see you found some berries. Oh no! replied Latie. Deegie wiped her hand across Latie's face then asked, Then what is this? Latie blushed and Deegie and Ayla started laughing. A few days later they arrived at the summer meeting and Ayla was surprised at the number of tents that were set up. When they started in the people started gathering around them. Talut called a halt and told the people to stand back because they were upsetting the horses. Then they noticed Wolf as he stepped from behind Ayla and then they did back well away. He looked around at everyone and said, The horses are trained and they answer to our new healer as does the wolf. Do not make a move that would be considered as threatening and there won't be any problems. He decided to set up camp where they were near the stream that would give the horses a place to graze in the field on the other side also. Once the tent was set up Talut, Nezzie, Tulie, Mamut and Ayla were about to go see the co-leaders of Wolf camp when they heard a disturbance outside. When they walked out some people were shouting at Rydag and calling him an abomination. Ayla walked out and confronted the leader that was sounding off the most. Why are you doing this, the boy is not hurting anyone and was just sitting here. Chaleg said, That's not a boy that is an animal. And he needs to be taken out and dealt with. Ayla replied, Can't you tell by his look that he knows what you are saying. Chaleg said , You're camp needs to leave and take that abomination with you. Mamut walked forward and asked, Did the Mother not create every living thing? The people nodded and then he said, This is what we are taught to believe. So the mother created the flatheads and this boy. So he cannot be an abomination. Chaleg said, I don't believe it. Frebec stepped forward and asked, Chaleg are you calling Mamut a liar? Because this boy can talk and we talk to him all the time. Chaleg asked, Frebec why have you turned against your camp? What camp is that, the one that turned me out or the one that took me in? Lion camp is my camp. replied Frebec. And if you continue to bother the boy or the horses he may send the wolf after you. Frebec signed to Rydag to give the play attack signal to the wolf. When the boy signed Wolf jumped out in a threatening stance growling deeply. After Chaleg left a man and woman approached. Valez and Marlie co-leaders asked, Was the wolf attacking or not. Ayla stepped forward and said, No the signal he was given was a game that he and the children play in camp. Merlie asked, Can you be sure he would not attack. No replied Ayla, He is still a pup so he can be unpredictable. Merlie replied, I'm glad you answered that way otherwise I would not believe you. I am sure that we will hear about this at the Sisters meeting when Chaleg recovers. But being here and seeing it I can make the decision to close the problem Mamut stepped forward and said, Merlie this is Ayla our new healer. Merlie replied, A healer and a caller too, that is a combination. Ayla noticed that she older woman was having trouble breathing and getting tired and softly asked Talut to bring a log over for her to sit on. When he sat it down in front of her she asked how he knew she was feeling tired and dizzy. Talut said, Ayla told me. Mamut smiled and said, I told you she is a healer. Later Mamut took her to the Mamutii lodge to introduce her to Lomie the Mamut and healer of Wolf camp. While there she showed her how to use the firestones. Later after leaving there they ran into Deegie and she introduced them to some people with her. The older woman was Tholie and her mate was Markeno, Next to her was a young couple Jetamio and her mate Thonolan, next to him was his brother Jondalar and his mate Serenio. Ayla felt a tingle in her lower area as she looked into the vivid blue eyes of the tall blond stranger. About that time Danug came running up and told her that Rydag was having trouble breathing. She took off running toward the camp. Ayla ran into the tent and saw Nezzie holding Rydag. She sat down and started examining the child. His arms and legs were puffy and Ayla was sure that he was retaining fluids. She told Tulie to get a cup of water and asked Nezzie if he had taken his medicine this morning. When she said yes Ayla told her, Rydag is retaining fluids. If we can't get them out of his body he will drown in his own fluids. When Tulie handed her the cup she added a powder to it and allowed it to dissolve. Then putting the cup to his lips asked him to drink it all down. She told everyone in the tent that, We will have to keep a very close eye on Rydag for the next two to three days until the fluid is gone and I will give him this medicine each morning. Then his heart should beat stronger again. And Ayla stayed in the tent with the boy for those two days only leaving when Nezzie was there to watch him.