I've been away too long and there are some things I have to attend to. It's just that we need to make them happen, we need to remember what is really important. ", "Yes, I wondered that too," Ayla agreed. I know there are people who don't like the idea of having flat Clan people around here." Everybody knew that there were troubles in the north and that conflict was on the rise. "Joharran sent one of our hunters back to the Nineteenth Cave to bring men, food and supplies to First Place. "She was a golden woman, at least the part of Her that favored humans. Someone among them would ask a question and Jonayla would sign to Groog what was said. Not knowing how the meeting would go, Ayla didn't want to be drawn into casual conversation with anyone; she didn't want her feeling of calm clarity to be diluted. The tall blonde Donier asked, as she stood to greet the morning. He even felt a little like smiling sometimes when the woman Ayla would say something that he understood from his life as a member of the Clan, things that only a Clan person would understand. That is when the temperature begins to warm and the ground begins to thaw, earthworms appear, heralding the return of the smaller birds. After the song concluded, there was utter silence and then one by one the people left the clearing. Will you come? Rubio, Jamicon and the other children watched them grow smaller as the distance between them lengthened. They looked so happy. Most of the adults had seen what a help Wolf had been to their First Zelandoni and Jondalar when they went hunting. As he reached the edge of a clearing, Cambarre stopped and listened again. After using the portion of wash that was needed she indicated that Jonayla take the rest for Matagan. I have been speaking to Jondalar about Brukeval and I want you all to understand how I feel about him and why I'm here. In the end, about half of our people stayed behind. As dawn's light reflected through the hide of their tent opening, the young couple woke, refreshed. I just want to say again that I didn't really mind it coming out. I have meditated deeply and the Mother has spoken to me. Still running, Mageb passed the grazing herd, barely disturbing their tranquility. Durcan had been trained by his parents to always be aware of his surroundings and to be prepared for anything. They both had purified themselves, one because she was to be mated and the other because she would perform the ceremonies. I think it will work for this man." Ayla had bowed her head and closed her eyes as the Fifth Cave's Zelandoni spoke. Brukeval estimated in his head how many followers he still had. Isn't there someplace I can go, someplace I can stay? She had a feeling, a disquieting, disorienting feeling that somehow seemed vaguely familiar. Durcan and his friends were caught up in the fate of these people. Ayla felt foolish, how could she have led her people into such a bad area? He perked up and stood, straining his eyes. offered Havoe, pulling out two handfuls of the best looking flint nodules the poor man had ever seen and a basket of fresh cakes. We would also have to make a surround and the horses would be gone before we could do that. Willamar, please take the lion directly to the Ninth Cave's lodge. "Yes it is," Jondalar replied, reaching out for his mate's shoulders and turning her toward him. A heat was building up inside her that was exciting, yet at the same time comfortable. I have always been different and have always had to stand up for myself. There was deafening silence for a moment, Ralev looked at Jondalar. I love you Jonayla. She had found that now, after the last time she used the Sacred Clan root, she could enter the Spirit World by drinking a mild absinthe tea. Silence descended. Willamar just hoped that all was well with the boy's family and that they would soon return. "These are Mog-ur marks Jondalar and I think it's the only way to make him believe that I'm a leader, even if I am only a female. "That's when one of the Clan men, obviously a man of mixed spirits" Ralev licked his lips nervously and looked around at the gathered people. He couldn't remain silent any longer. "The First Zelandoni requested that I answer any questions about us that you might have. To speak for The Great Earth Mother was one thing, but to tell everyone present that the Mother would speak for all to hear was something only heard of in legends. She had blue eyes, blonde hair and a high intelligence quotient. He remained silent for a time, then added, "If you'll forgive me and give me another chance, I would like to earn your respect and maybe your affection?" She took advantage of those feelings and would meet the stronger younger women in the forest to practice with spear and sling and to talk about a day when the men would be punished. They both had their blonde hair held from their faces by a leather throng around the forehead and they both shone with confidence as if it were second nature to them to lead others. ", Jonayla looked at the Donier of the Third Cave questioningly. After quite some time, the boy becoming a bit restive from standing there silently watching the Donier, Ayla looked up into the sky, then down at the pillar. Ayla knew the violence would only worsen if they did nothing. Seeing her daughter dressed for a Matrimonial Ceremony like this made Ayla feel nostalgic. Ayla hugged her son, proud of him and telling him so. It was her turn to make Jondalar's heart beat faster. ", "Jonayla and Durcan, will you two begin to set up camp? It was done using very thin strips of boiled sinew. They had been at First Place for ten days. Her daughter also was a lucky woman to have a handsome young man so much in love with her. Ayla was situated to the far left of her fellow travelers and before she could warn the others that it would be a good idea to regroup and travel single-file, she found there was a small but steep ravine between her and Matagan, who was closest to her right. ", "Why don't you sit here while I prepare our food," Jonayla said. I wanted to personally request your attendance Denanna and yours too Zelandoni," she nodded with respect to the old man. The Land of Painted Caves: Earth's Children, Book Six by Auel, Jean M. $4.11. He had always been a favorite of The Great Earth Mother and if She wanted to take him away from her, there was nothing she could do about it. Ayla was determined to be more on her guard in the future. Having completed the ritual, she indicated the food on the many tables and finished by saying, "Come everyone, feast in honor of our departed brother.". Then after a moment looking back at the blonde holy woman, she commanded one of the men to lead them to the guest hearth. It was a perfect little round pond with a small sandy spot big enough for two at the far side. There has never been a day that I haven't thought of him in some way and worried about him. As it turned out, Durcan had convinced them - first with his fists and then when he reminded them that his mother was the one to bring horses and firestones to the Zelandonii. He was hopelessly in love with her and happy the two of them would build a life together. She couldn't contain herself, she stepped up to him and hugged him and he hugged her back, then they pressed their lips together in a long passionate kiss. The images and thoughts that crashed in and out of her mind were making her physically ill, but now she didn't want to let go of the First Zelandoni's hands, she no longer cared about herself, or her ambitions. ", Ayla looked into the eyes of the man sitting next to her, "Why are you supporting me?" "I'm beginning to think The Earth Mother and the Cave Bear spirit are one and the same. Just as he realized that they might actually be the man and woman their leader had ordered them to seek out, the woman stopped and stared directly at him. She wasn't sure why she felt this. "The Shaman will not see you if you do not come now!" He thought he would die then, but here he was in the midst of the Others, being cared for by a Medicine Woman of their kind, one who knew how to speak and seemed to know Clan ways. It was like nothing Jonayla had ever experienced before, nothing like her times with Lorala. The word Jonayla had spoken had no meaning in his language. The Clan Mog-ur then looked for a long time at the hunter's mark on her throat, then finally signed, "And the totem mark?". The younger woman, who looked so much like her mother, had nodded her acceptance of some command. He was sure they would have the most beautiful and talented children anyone had ever seen. The two were both frozen in the moment, neither wishing to say more. His eyes were sunken into their sockets and she could see that he had lost a great deal of flesh from his frame. Those who had placed the body in the burial pit began to shovel in the mounds of dirt that were piled around it. We are in search of the Zelandoni of the Ninth Cave. Jondalar would you come with me?". Durcan reined his pony around and heeled it into a gallop toward the trees with Jonayla following closely behind him. Brukeval had not figured that into his plans. Her body was tense and her head ached but she remained in her bedroll. Rubio realized that during the entire time, not one of the others with this Zelandoni had uttered a word or, it seemed, had made a noise of any kind. They just drive them out to fend for themselves. More would have gladly come, but I felt there might be a problem feeding more. It was obvious to Ayla that Groog was not convinced by what Jondalar had told him. Jonayla and I performed a spirit ceremony and spread Wolf's ashes in a protective circle on the pebbles surrounding the ashes of our First Zelandoni who had just journeyed to the Spirit World." The Zelandonia had risen and partaken in a brief morning meal and were ready to return to the Summer Meeting long before the sun would become visible over the mountain's peak. Both Jonayla and Durcan said in unison. A huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders to know he's alive and well.". Groog did believe her. Her daughter would also be interested in developing trade for her growing herd of horses. "I will get Zelandoni. The Clan would never make a woman their leader; it would be completely foreign to them. Then the Zelandoni of the Fifth stood, "I agree, Camma is a good looker." What was it that she wanted to accomplish with the coming meeting? As the final poignant notes of Jonayla's pure yet appropriately mournful voice died away, Ayla spoke. I want to paint the relief, but haven't found the right moment to do it. The Clan of the Cave Bear and its sequels are prehistoric fiction about Ayla, a Cro-Magnon orphan with light-colored hair and eyes who grows up among Neanderthals with dark hair and eyes, but wants to find others who look like her. All three pups settled down and slept through the night, exhausted from their traumatic experience and the energy expended throughout the day. Dipping her fingers into the water she sprinkled some on to the prostrate Donier's face until her eyes fluttered open. Tell me, what do you know of Creb?" The rock cliff had sheared off the eastern wall of the valley and now lay across the river blocking it completely. When she was with any other man she felt perfectly normal and in control. The young man looked at Jondalar and said, "I am a very happy man. ", "Yes, I would like that. ''I said, kind of quietly, 'I'm now writing six books,''' Auel says, with a laugh, on the phone from their home in Oregon. "I'm certain of it. They'll kill me when you've gone, I know they will! The outward calm lasted only until the First Zelandoni's ashes were placed within the sacred circle of power, from where past Zelandoni leaders had entered the Spirit World before her. She earnestly hoped that she could. No one else heard him and then he was dead and no one will ever hear him again. They had succeeded in capturing the whole herd except for the Stallion and they were jubilant. She has the power to do this. The next morning, everyone knew Jonayla was with child. 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