Chapter 7
It was getting late into the fall and the two camps had hunted and gathered in the valley and on the steppes. It was decided that four families would stay the winter in the valley to keep watch on the horse herd. The colts and fillies would be taken back to Lion camp and kept near the horse hearth with Brown and Whinny. The camps would go back in the spring to see how many new colts and fillies they would have to work with. Latie, Byron Tornec and Tronie and their children had decided to stay in the valley this winter and two couples from Aurochs camp. The lodge had now been expanded to hold the four families. The two camps said their goodbyes to those staying and headed home. When they made camp that first night they talked about building a large earth lodge that would hold an entire camp. Talut said that both camps together totaled seventeen families and they would need two for both camps. He said that they should only hunt there once or twice a year maybe in the spring and fall so as not to deplete the game. Most of the game they got this fall had come from hunts on the steppes. They might in the future need to range farther west or maybe south looking for game. The next morning they were on the trail again and reached Lion camp five days later Aurochs camp stayed overnight then headed for home. When winter set in the camp was kept inside the first few weeks. Later the snow tapered off and became lighter and it was easier to hunt and run trap lines. Ayla was learning how to do beadwork and Wymez had made more of the thread pullers so each woman in camp had several of different sizes. Also a woodworker at Aurochs camp had developed a loom that they could weave thin cords to make colorful fabrics to make lighter/cooler summer tunics and leggings. Leather and fur was good during the winter to block off the cold winds but was too hot in the summer. Lion camp had three such looms and the women were turning out many blocks of fabric that could be cut and turned into the clothing items they needed. Ayla turned out a summer dress that dropped to just below the knees. It laced in front from the waist to the just above the breasts and showed off a young woman's cleavage and was belted at the waistline, and the younger women loved it, and some of them thought that they would make good trade items at the summer meeting. So the wood workers at each camp started making the looms in two different sizes. Ayla and the women of the camp decided that they could trade the looms and teach those that traded for one how to use it to make clothing. The winter dragged on and Ayla wondered how the four families in the valley were doing. She thought that when winter started to break that she would ask Talut about her family going to the valley to check on the others since they had no healer. When she talked to him she said that since the summer meeting this year would be held at Elk camp on the Beran Sea that they could come by and pick those up that were going to the meeting.. Ayla wondered if she should go look for the clan and bring Durc back with her. He would be nine summers this year, almost a man. She told herself not to be foolish, he would think of her as an evil spirit. She needed to get it out of her head, it wouldn't be good for either of them. She would maybe just stay in the valley this summer instead of going to the meeting. It would be too tempting to get that close and maybe see him and not be able to speak to him. When winter ended she, Torvon, Thyron and Reanna set out for the valley. Talut said that the rest of the camp would follow in a day or two. They spent the next five days on the steppes and on the sixth they found a young bull bison being chased by hyenas, Ayla used her sling and chased the animals away while Torvon used his spear thrower to bring down the bison, they skinned and gutted the animal then Torvon made a pole drag and they hitched it to Whinny and took the animal with them . When they arrived at the valley the next day they found everyone at the lodge was fine and the families made quick work of storing the meat and hide. The next morning after feeding Reanna and Thyron she decided to go hunting on the steppes, she told Torvon and the others that she would be back in time for the next feeding. She rode up and turned to the west, she had seldom gone that way before and thought she would see what was in that direction. She rode for a long time without seeing anything. Just as she was getting ready to turn back she heard a scream coming from the south. She turned Whinny in that direction and galloped toward the sound. She heard it again and slowed. It was coming from a small canyon to the left of where she was. Getting off Whinny she grabbed her spear thrower and spears she told Wolf to stay with Whinny and walked into the canyon. As she entered she saw some clan members standing against the wall to the left and then heard another scream from the right. When she turned she saw a small child backed into a corner and the back side of a large cave lion in front of her. It looked like Baby but just in case it wasn't she loaded a spear then called out, Baby The big cat turned and she saw the scar on his nose. Speaking and signing she said, Baby come away and leave the child alone. Come here Baby, now. The big cat got up turned and started walking toward her. She heard something behind her and turning saw Brun standing in front of the others. When Baby was beside her she signed for him to sit. She walked to the child and picked her up and brought her to Brun. Handing the child to him she signed, Brun, I am not a spirit. My totem refused to let me die. Brun signed, Broud's curse was broken years ago when the bones were crushed in the earthquake. She asked, How is Uba and Durc? He replied, They are both fine, Broud did not do well and was killed when one of his hunts did not go as planned. Vorn is now leader. We have been out looking for a new cave and I stayed with the women and children while Vorn took the hunters and went after some deer. She heard her name and looked past Brun and saw Uba standing with two small children she walked to her and signed, Uba, I am so happy to see my sister. Uba signed, I am glad to see you also. Ayla asked, Where is Durc. Uba said, He is helping Vorn with the hunt. Ura is over there. pointing to the young woman of mixed spirits standing to her right. Just then she heard Baby starting to grunt. Turning she walked over and jumped onto the back of the big cat and they started out of the canyon. The clan watched with mouths open as she and the big cat played for a while then signing in the clan language she told the cat to leave. When Baby was gone she whistled and Whinny and Wolf came running to her side. When she turned she saw the frightened looks of the clan members. Looking a Brun she signed, Do you remember when I was little I would bring injured animals to the cave for Iza to cure? He signed Yes I remember. She stepped between the horse and the wolf and signed, These are some of the ones I have cured over the years, the horse I saved from hyenas when she was little and I killed the wolfs mother by accident and I had to raise him. The Lion was the same; he was kicked in the head by a deer and was almost dead when I found him. I still have to try to save as many animals I can when I find them injured. I don't think Ursus wants us to kill anything we don't need for food, clothing, shelter or that endangers us. As she was telling Brun this she noticed a deer walk into the canyon. Before the deer could turn and run Ayla had thrown her spear and the animal dropped in its tracks. Several of the women came over to help her and before too long it had been skinned and butchered. Ayla turned to the children and signed for them to start a fire. She watched as they gathered the dry grass, kindling, and wood, then one started to pull out the old bow and rod. She walked over and signed, “I have an easier way. She motioned the others over and signed, This is not magic, this is a tool that Ursus has given for the people to use. Saying that she struck the two stones together and a spark jumped onto the dried grass and when she blew on it a flame appeared. She told them that anyone could learn to use it and they would not have to worry about a hot coal getting wet. After the fire was going they set up a couple of spits with deer roasts on them and let them cook. She noticed that Wolf had taken a shine to the little girl but she would not get close to him. She asked the girl what her name was and she had replied Oma. She told Oma that Wolf loved to play with children and that he would not hurt anyone. She asked her to come over then called to Wolf. Oma backed up close to her when Wolf trotted over. Ayla took Oma's hand and placed it on the wolf's head and told her to lightly scratch him behind the ears. Before long Wolf was laying on his back and Oma was rubbing his belly. It was not long before the other children were running and playing with Wolf. When another child got too close to a snake Wolf grabbed it by the wrap it was wearing and pulled it away. Ayla took her sling and caught the snake in the head with a rock. After removing the snake she went to the child and picking her up thanked Wolf in clan signed. The big animal looked like he was sitting there smiling at her with his tongue hanging out the left side of his mouth so proud of himself. Brun slgned, Does grey wolf understand clan sign? She replied, Yes Brun, I raised him as I would a child. He understands spoken words and clan signs. A short while later she heard her name being called and knew it was Torvon looking for her. She called out to him and when he rode into the canyon she signed that he should come and meet the clan that had raised her. He walked over and signed a hunters greeting to Brun and told him that he had lived with a clan near the great southern sea to the southwest. He and Brun talked for a long time about many things. Then Brun asked, Are you and Ayla mated? he replied, Yes, and she has brought two children to my hearth. She is also thought of as a great healer by my people. Brun signed, Then the daughter of my sibbling has done well since leaving the clan. Torvon replied, Yes, but she has missed her first born son every day since she left. She has mourned the loss on many nights. Just then they heard someone coming and Wolf alerted to the noise. Ayla called him to her as the hunters entered the canyon. Vorn was the first and when he noticed Torvon and kept his spear at the ready. Torvon signed the hunters greeting and walked forward. Brun signed, This is Ayla's mate. When he heard the name he turned to the fire and saw her standing there with the wolf beside her. Looking back Vorn called, Durc. When the youth came forward Brun signed, This woman is your mother, she has come a long way to see and speak to you. Looking at her he said, Mama. As she started running toward him the tears started. She hugged then stood back looking at him and signed, You are no longer my baby but a man, a hunter and your mother is very proud of you. They talked for a few minutes then Uba said the meal was ready. After the meal Ayla walked away from the others with Durc and sat down on a log, Durc one side and Wolf on the other and they talked about their lives. She told him that he had a small brother and sister back in the valley where her people were and about her life in the valley after she had left their clan. He looked at her as she scratched Wolf behind his ears. He signed, It's hard to believe that you can sit there and play with the wolf. She signed, I raised him from a baby just a few weeks old. He thinks of me as his mother. He and I even hunt together. Durc I didn't want to leave you behind when I left but Broud had cursed me with death and I wasn't sure if I would survive. There has not been a day that I have not thought of you. Our summer meeting is being held at a camp on the northwest coast of the Beran Sea this summer. I had even thought about going east to look for you. Durc replied, I knew all about that mama, Broud was killed a few weeks later and Brun told me what happened. And that the curse was broken. We have left the traditional clan area and we are looking for a new home. Ayla and Durc walked back to the others and she asked Brun, Durc says you are looking for a new home. Brun signed, “Yes, we have been for a while. Ayla said, There is a valley east of here but there is only a small cave there. We build our dwellings into the side of a hill and they are similar to caves in a way. At this time we have a small earth lodge there so our people can keep watch on the horses that we have there. There is room in that valley for the clan if you wanted to live there. Brun signed, And how would your people feel about us living there? Ayla replied, I don't think they would mind but you could ask them yourself. Brun replied, Your people speak with sounds how would they ask the clan? Ayla said, They also speak with clan sign, my mate and I taught them the clan signs. Come back with us and talk to our leaders. One of them is the hunter that Iza's grandmother Uba set his broken arm. Brun said, It is hard to believe that he still lives, Creb and I were still boys when that hunter came. Iza was not even born then. I will come back with you to see him. Ayla convinced Brun to bring the clan back with them. She told him that there was the small cave where she had lived when she first left the clan that the women and children could use. It wasn't very big but the women and children would be safe there. After they had stopped and left the clan at the cave Ayla brought Brun, Vorn and Goov to the earth lodge to wait for Mamut. As they arrived Ayla saw Talut and Tarneg were standing out beside the communal tent talking. Ayla asked if Mamut was around. Talut said he was inside. Ayla walked in and came out a few minutes later. Mamut looked at the clan man and signed, Brun, is that you, we have both changed.†Brun replied, I did not think that you would still be living it was so long ago. Mamut said, I didn't know why the Mother had let me stay so long either until Ayla came to us. The two men sat by the fire signing for a long time. Later Mamut asked Talut and Tarneg to join them. Again the men signed to each other and Mamut sometimes had to tell them what Brun was signing. They were able to reach an agreement. Mamut, Talut, Tarneg, Brun and Ayla were in the earth lodge looking around. Ayla was telling Brun that the clan could live in a lodge similar to this but larger. While the men were discussing details Ayla and Durc walked to her cave at the other end of the valley. The women and children were out on the beach when they arrived. She showed him how she had lived for the four years after she had been forced to leave. She started a fire in the hearth and brewed some tea for them, later they sat on the ledge outside the cave and watched the children playing by the stream with Wolf. She said that every year there were new things left on the beach below, many firestones, flint, mammoth ivory, bone and large pieces of wood. She looked at her son and wished that she could have been there to watch him grow into a hunter. She remembered a second spear thrower that Torvon had made and put back just in case he broke the first, it was still in the cave. She asked if he would like to learn the new weapon, he replied he would like to try. He and Ayla took the three hand held spears, the spear thrower and extra short spears and went to the practice field that she and Torvon had made. He didn't know anything about throwing a spear so he would have to learn from the beginning. She took three of her old throwing spears and started him on those. They spent the afternoon learning the hand held throwing spear and after she made some adjustments to his throwing style he started hitting the target. Ayla had him throw a spear as far as he could and as he did Talut and Brun came walking up. She noticed the two older men but continued her demonstration. Picking up her spear thrower and a spear she stepped up to the line and cast her spear as far as she could. When she turned around Durc and Brun were looking at her as if she were someone else. She explained that the device that held the spear gave it greater force. She had Durc take the the thrower and set a spear in the channel then throw it. His spear went farther than hers had. Looking at him she said, With your strength and practice you could make two or three kills by yourself on a hunt. Ayla picked up her spear thrower and three spears and made three casts as fast as she could, all three hit the target. Talut had a big smile on his face while Durc and Brun were staring in wonder. Looking at Durc Brun signed, See why she was called Woman who hunts.†Talut signed, She and her mate taught us how to use this new weapon, Durc will be like his mother and be a great hunter with this weapon. Ayla looked at Brun and asked, Will Vorn allow Durc to use this weapon? Brun replied, If your mate gives it to him and shows him how to use it then yes I think he will. Talut started to ask why when Ayla said, They consider it bad luck if a woman handles a weapon and a man will not touch it. The next day Torvon took Durc, Brun and Vorn to the practice field and made a show of teaching Durc how to use the throwing spear and the spear thrower. Durc hit the target twice on the two throws with the throwing spear. Next they started with the spear thrower and when Durc tried that he hit the target three times. Vorn could not believe what he saw. Torvon turned and signed, A lone hunter can bring down two or three animals when he masters this weapon. Turning to Durc Torvon said, If Vorn will allow I will give it to you as your new hunting weapon. All I ask is the processed hide of the first animal you kill. Durc looked at Vorn who nodded. After the demonstration Brun and Vorn asked to look at the throwing spears. They tried to bring the spears back to throw but could not do it. Torvon asked, May I show you something that might work for you. Both men nodded and Torvon showed them how to cast it sidearm. After a couple of throws he walked them through a throw. When they reached a certain point he stopped and said, This is where you release the spear. The spear traveled a great distance but was not high enough to make it into the target. He showed them how to angle the throw upward and after a while they started getting hits not every time but more often than not. Brun and Vorn signed that they liked the new weapon. He made them the same deal and said that if they wanted he would teach them how to make them as well.