Hello all, just wanted to let you know that the first 30 or so pages of this were written by another author named Iona. She allowed me to change the style somewhat, but I left the content and picked up her story where she left off. After that, all mistakes are my own. D

This is a finished story that I will be posting one or two chapters at a time as I go over it for mistakes. It is a long one, probably 400 pages or so, depending on my font lol. Reviews are appreciated, but I am not going to demand them. If you feel like leaving one, I would be gratful, if not, well I hope you enjoy the story anyway.

I make no money from this story, and no copyright infringement is intended. Earth's Children are property of Jean M. Auel. I am only borrowing them for fun. Thanks,

Robbin aka Mommyx3

Bridges

As they walked hand in hand with the horses on either side of them, they watched the people gathering outside of their caves to stare wide-eyed at the scene before them.

The young woman who just a moment before felt such exhilaration at the discovery that this was where her totem meant her to be, now felt nervous tension rise in her once more. She looked to the mate of her heart to find him shiny-eyed with happiness, waving at the people coming to greet them. Thoughts of her own fear receded and her eyes softened at the joy that suffused his face.

"Go to them Jondalar, I can see how happy you are to finally be home," she said quietly.

Looking down into her eyes, he smiled and put his arm around her shoulders.

"My home will always be where you are Ayla. I want to meet my family with you beside me. You see that girl running ahead of the others with blond hair, that's my sister, Folara. Look at what a beautiful woman she has grown into!" he exclaimed, as he stood with her, watching their approach.

"Just a little behind her, the man with the brown wavy hair, that's my brother Joharran. He takes after my mother the most. You see her, my mother Marthona, just behind him with the long brown hair."

Ayla watched intently as they grew closer and suddenly her grip around Jondalar's waist tightened as her nervousness rose again to the fore. She wanted desperately to lose herself in the familiarity of the man she loved.

"Jondalar, what happens if your family will not accept me?" She asked quietly. Jondalar frowned slightly at the question.

"I don't know Ayla. I think they will, but I don't know."

Just at that moment Jondalar's family reached them. His sister, Folara rushed head-long into his arms, almost crushing him. His brother, Joharran, not waiting for them to part, wrapped his arms around them both. Ayla stepped back to allow them to greet each other properly. She felt tears sliding down her cheeks at seeing how much his family loved and had missed him.

She felt her own longing to have a family again and put a hand to her stomach, smiling softly at the thought of the baby growing inside her. I will have one again soon. Jondalar and our baby will be my family.

Ayla musings were interrupted by the approach of Jondalar's mother. Marthona was still a beautiful woman and carried herself with an air of command and self-confidence. Though her dignity was somewhat marred by the copious tears running down her cheeks and the slight reddening of her nose.

"Hey! When do I get to greet my son? I am his mother after all," she said hoarsely.

The three hugging siblings turned at the sound of her voice and laughed. Jondalar at once took his mother into his arms and swung her around, absolutely giddy with happiness at the sight of her. He brought his mother gently back to the ground, kissing her cheek and hugging her fiercely to him.

"Oh, it's so good to be home. I've missed you all so much." Jondalar said, is voice strained at with all the overwhelming emotion.

"Oh, Jondalar, my son, I thought you left us for good. You have no idea how happy I am. It's like you've been given back to us. When you left with Thonolan, I never thought you'd come back. Speaking of Thonolan, where is that wayward brother of yours? Didn't he come back with you?" she asked, looking around again for a glimpse of her other long missed son.

"Yes, Jondalar, I should be angry at you for worrying us so much and for so long. Where's Thonolan?" asked Folara, smiling.

Jondalar broke away from his mother's arms and looked away to the east. The sudden anguish in his eyes told them all the fate of their smiling, loving Thonolan.

"It's a long story," Jondalar whispered.

"Oh, no!" cried Folara and Marthona together.

"Maybe you should tell us what happened along with the rest of your story after you have rested a bit," said Joharran, knowing his brother well even after so many years apart. He would need some time to compose himself to get though what looked to be a very painful story.

Joharran took Folara into his arms and let her cry while Jondalar did the same for Marthona,both knowing that even without the full story their grief was only beginning. After a while, Jondalar pulled away.

"There's so much I have to tell you, show much I have to show you all. But first, I want you to meet Ayla, the woman of my heart. With Zelandoni's blessing, we will mate at the next summer meeting," Jondalar announced, turning to the quiet woman standing behind him.

Now that they were finally home, he wanted to make it clear who Ayla was and what she meant to him. He knew what was coming, what they did not as yet know, would be hard on them all but he would never allow anyone to make him feel ashamed of loving her again.

Ayla covered her surprise quickly. His unexpected introduction had caught her off guard. He had never been so bold before. She glanced up into is eyes full of love and felt renewed confidence. Smiling, she turned to his family.

The three members of his family all looked upon Ayla with new wonder in their eyes. They all knew what it meant for Jondalar to love so deeply and were instantly curious about the woman who could inspire such devotion.

However, before Jondalar could introduce her properly to his family, several more people came down to greet him and witness the magic they had seen from the safety of the hill, up close. Awe and not a little fear had held them at bay, despite Jondalar's familiar countenance, but once they saw that his family was not harmed in any way, they got up the courage to approach.

It was as if a barrier was breached with the courage of a few, allowing others to follow. Once the adults decided to come closer, the children too dared creep near to see the living horses up close. Soon they began to dare each other into trying to touch them as well. In the space of a few minutes, total confusion and chaos exploded around them. Everyone wanted to ask questions; they wanted to be the first to greet Jondalar and the new stranger; children were running everywhere trying to get closer, in bigger and more impressive acts of bravado.

"Jondalar! You're back and what have you brought back with you?"

"You must tell us what happened during your journey."

"How come the horses are not running away?"

"There's a wolf!"

In the excitement of greeting his family, Jondalar and Ayla had forgotten about the animals; being so used to their company. The people of the Zelandonii had also either forgotten about the wolf in their midst, or had not noticed him in the first place. In the frenzy of it all, a loud gasp was heard as someone noticed his presence. The word "wolf" was all it took for everyone's attention to be directed to the huge predator. Suddenly mothers grabbed children up into their arms; children ran away trembling.

The sudden tension and fear brought about silence more quickly than anything else would have, as people stared the the wolf that sat compliantly at the nervously prancing feet of the horses, staring back with a canine grin. Wolf was well used to the furor he caused now and waited patiently.

Joharran was quick to take advantage of it, thankful because nothing else, shy of shouting, would have made them back away more quickly.

"Jondalar...those animals..." he started but stopped, not knowing what he was going ask. Jondalar smiled at his brother's loss for words.

"Joharran, the animals need a little time to get used to new surroundings and people again. They will not hurt anyone unless Ayla herself is threatened but if everyone would keep away from them for a few days, they won't feel provoked or anxious. They answer mostly to Ayla, so it's up to her what's to be done with them."

"The children..." he started, still clearly anxious about the safety of his cave. This time it was Ayla who spoke.

"Wolf would never hurt a child. He loves children, if anything he will protect them," she said quietly.

The absolute assurance in the strange woman's voice convinced him. He had no idea why he felt so compelled to trust her, but he did.

Joharran nodded in acceptance and repeated Jondalar's and Ayla's words for everyone to hear, making sure his voice was stern enough for people to know how serious this was. Once that was done, Joharran suggested a few places they could set the animals up away from everyone and began shooing people back to their own caves. He turned back to his brother.

"Why don't you two settle the animals somewhere and calm them down. We'll meet you back at the cave. I'm sorry Ayla if you've gotten a bad impression of the Zelandonii. I assure you we're usually more civilized than what we appear just now. I welcome you to our home. Jondalar obviously loves you very much so I'm sure we will also. You can settle down and once you're ready, you can tell us your story. We'll have a feast tomorrow to welcome you both home formally. How does that sound?" Joharran asked. Jondalar and Ayla both nodded in agreement.

"Jondalar, before you go, I just wanted to welcome Ayla to our home too. I hope you like it here Ayla. I feel like we are already family, so I won't bother with the more formal greetings until later when everybody is around," Marthona said.

She stepped towards Ayla and opening her arms, hugged her warmly. Ayla could feel the tears burn her eyes again and tried to blink them back so they wouldn't fall. She had never been so deeply touched, she almost felt like this was her family too. She had been so nervous that Jondalar's mother wouldn't like her and now hoped that her past wouldn't destroy the good start in their relationship. Ayla had no idea what to say, not that she could have spoken through the lump in her throat, so she said nothing.

"I would like to welcome you to our home also, Ayla. I always knew that Jondalar would mate a beautiful exotic woman someday. I think we are near the same age so it will be like having a sister," said Folara, also hugging Ayla.

"Thank you." Ayla said finally, too overcome with emotion to manage more. She watched them walk away with their arms around each other and turned to the task of taking care of the animals.

Once they took their belongings off of the travois, Jondalar took Ayla with him to show her where the horses could be kept temporarily. It was to the south and away from the caves but near enough that they could keep an eye on them.

"Ayla, we can keep the horses here for a while and then maybe Joharran will allow us to build something more permanent for them later." he said, but when he noticed she didn't answer he stopped what he was doing and pulled her into his arms.

"Ayla I know this is all new again but I'm sure my family will love you no matter your relationship with the Clan. It may take them some time to get used to but soon, my family will be yours too."

"Jondalar, I feel so much for your family already, I hope you are right. I don't want to disappoint them when I reveal my past to them. It worries me now more than ever, telling them my story. It would hurt very much if they turned away from me now."

"I don't think they will Ayla, but if they do, we have each other. That's all that matters. We can return to the Lanzadonii or anywhere. There are many people who love you."

They walked silently, each absorbed in their own thoughts. Once they got the horses settled, they allowed them to roam free. With Wolf loping besides them they walked back toward the caves. Before they took more than a few steps, Jondalar stopped and took Ayla into his arms.

"Ayla, I just wanted to tell you how happy I am. I love you so much. I've never wanted anything so badly in my life as I did to come home and bring you with me. Now we're here and my heart feels like it's going to burst with joy. Now you say that you will bring a baby to my hearth as well. I hope what you say about the baby being of essence is true, but it doesn't really matter. All I know is that I love you and we will be starting a family together." Jondalar said quietly but firmly.

He looked Ayla in the eyes with wetness shimmering in his. Tears were once again rolling down Ayla's cheeks and she felt like she had done nothing but cry since they arrived, but that was alright because they were all tears of happiness and love. She reached up a gentle hand and with her thumb caressing his cheek, wiped away his own tears. He did the same for her.

"Jondalar, my totem wanted us to be together. Wherever you were, wherever I was, we would have found each other eventually. It was only distance separating us. My totem also meant for me to find your people, this is where the Cave Lion led me, where his spirit will be happy. This is where I was meant to be, with you always. Love is not the right word for how I feel, it's much more than that. Jondalar, no matter the problems we will have, promise me we will always share it together?" Ayla said

"I promise Ayla. Together always, forever," replied Jondalar.

Slowly, watching her eyes, he brought his mouth to hers and gently kissed her. It was a tender moment and even Wolf sensed it. With his head slightly tilted, he quieted down to watch them.

When they were close to the caves once more, they found several people milling around hoping to catch sight of the two of them and hear their story. One man with black hair and brown eyes was approaching them. He was almost as tall and as handsome as Jondalar.

"Oh I would never have expected him to be here. I wonder what he's doing here. That's Ricolan, Ayla, but people just call him Ric. He's Lanzadonii and a flint-knapper also; Dalanar taught him. I met him while I was over there learning flint-knapping." Jondalar explained to Ayla. They both waited for Ricolan to reach them.

"Ric, I'm surprised you're here. No wonder I didn't see you with the Lanzadonii when we were there." Jondalar said to him. Unconsciously, he tightened his arms around Ayla's waist.

"I think I'm the one who should be surprised. You've been gone for five years, and now suddenly you show up. As usual, a beautiful Zelandoni is beside you and of course, you forgot to introduce her to me." He smiled, winking at Ayla.

"I thought I would introduce her to everybody at once, but Ayla I would like you to meet an old friend of mine, Ricolan of the Lanzadonii. Ric, meet Ayla of the Mamutoi."

Ricolan held out both hands, palms up, in the greeting of openness and friendship. Ayla took them both into her hands.

"In the name of the Doni, I welcome and greet you Ayla of the Mamutoi", Ricolan said.

"I greet you Ricolan of the Lanzadonii," Ayla replied.

"Actually, it's Ric of the Zelandonii now that I've mated and live here, but it doesn't matter. Jondalar, you are a very lucky man to have such a beautiful Zelandoni mate," he said with a sly grin.

"I'm not a Zelandoni," Ayla replied before Jondalar could speak.

"Oh, well then it's even more amazing how you control those animals. And it seems Jondalar that she's passed the talent over to you also." replied Ric smiling even wider.

"Actually, we were hoping to mate at the next summer meeting and yes, I too think Ayla has a gift with animals, but she says differently. I'm glad you live here Ric, but who've you mated?" asked Jondalar.

Before he could answer, Folara came up to them and with a mock stern voice scolded, "Well, as usual Ric, you can't wait for others. You just have to be one of the first to meet new people, especially, I might add, a beautiful woman."

She shot a vicious glare at Ric, but it was destroyed when he took her into his arms and said with a wounded look, "Oh, Lari, how could you say such things about me? My heart belongs only to you. You are the most beautiful woman I know, everyone else is plain compared to you." Turning to Ayla he whispered out of the corner of his mouth, "No offense Ayla." All Ayla could do was grin at his antics.

Continuing he said, "I don't see anyone else when you are around, all I think about is you. Your hair is the softest and shiniest of all treasures. Your lips are as perfect as rose buds ."

Laughing, Folara said, "Oh, that's enough you sweet talker you. So you've all met my Ric have you? Ayla don't believe a word he says, he's all talk. Jondalar I think you already know Ric."

All Jondalar could do was nod with his mouth hanging open. It took quite an effort for him to pull himself back together enough to reply, "So you two are mated. When did you two meet?"

"And why are you surprised big brother? We met two years ago at the summer meeting. Dalanar introduced us," replied Folara.

"Oh, well, congratulations then," said Jondalar. Not knowing what else to say he shut his mouth, still a little shocked that his baby sister was a mated woman.

"Come then Jondalar and Ayla, we've set up a temporary hearth for you. We've brought in your packs and things. If anything is inadequate in any way, just tell one of us. You two must be tired from your travels. I'll bring over something for you to eat and you can relax. And my big oaf of a mate can entertain you while we all settle down to hear your story," said Folara. She began to walk away, only to turn back quickly.

"Ow. Why did you pinch me?" she asked, rubbing her backside, still grinning at her mate.

"That was for calling me an oaf my vicious flower," replied Ric lovingly.

"Well, an insult and a compliment in one. What can I say?" Folara sassed and with that she walked away.

Ayla, still smiling at the couples easy banter, took the time now to look more closely at the cave. It was very large and a few feet from the cave mouth, it turned slightly to the east. Then it turned again to the west. The result was that the effect of the large open area was doubled. The short walkway also provided protection from the wind. What surprised her the most and made her stop were the pictures on the walls in the walkway.

Most were of hunts, but some she could tell were of special ceremonies. It was spectacularly done and it was as if she was living the stories in the pictures as they were told. Slowly, she reached out a hand to touch the walls, only letting her fingers graze the paintings so as not to destroy them.

"Oh my, I've never seen anything so wonderful before. Who did this, Jondalar?" Ayla asked in awe.

"It's not just one person Ayla, many people contribute to it. Whoever has the talent. When I was last here, Larsolan was the expert at painting, he was very good. He painted the large hunt scene you're looking at," replied Jondalar.

"Yes, that's right Ayla. In fact Larsolan will be very pleased to hear you like his efforts," said Ric.

"Yes I am, I'm very glad to know that a beautiful woman appreciates my work. I'm glad you're back Jondalar. Perhaps I will paint something about your adventures on the walls as well," came a voice from behind them.

"Oh, Larsolan, come and meet Ayla of the Mamutoi. Ayla, this is Larsolan, the great painter of the Zelandonii. She and Jondalar are hoping to mate next summer," said Ric.

"Let's not be formal eh? I greet you Ayla and I welcome you back Jondalar," Larsolan said in reply.

Ayla stepped forward and almost fell on her knees at the sight of Larsolan. Instant tears welled up. It was like looking at Creb. She wanted to rush up to him and crush him in a bone-crunching hug. Larsolan was shorter than she was and had his left arm bent in front of him. He had big, but wrinkled brown eyes that almost looked into your very heart. One of the eyes was much smaller than the other due to some kind of scar at the corner. His white hair was sprayed out in all directions, giving him an unkempt appearance. At the moment he was looking at Ayla with a kind expression and a big smile on his face. Trembling, she went forward to greet him.

"Larsolan of the Zelandonii, I greet you," Ayla said shakily. Jondalar and Ric were looking at her, wondering about her strange reaction to the rather eccentric painter.

"Well, why don't we go into the common hearth and we can all settle down. You two must be very tired," said Ric, breaking the spell of the moment.

Together they walked into the large open area. Again, Ayla was in awe. It was a very large area with two other walkways: one in front of her and another on the left. Since there were no divided areas in this space she could only assume that there was another large space where the families slept. On the walls of this open area were more paintings. Most were of families, gatherings, and ceremonies. Ayla's eyes almost popped out at the sight of such beauty.

"This is all so beautiful!" Ayla said quietly. Her eyes were wide, trying to take it all in at once.

"I'm glad you like it." Was all Larsolan said in reply.

"Did you paint all this?" asked Ayla.

"Most of it, but Andry, and some others painted some also."

"I've almost forgotten how beautiful this cave is," said Jondalar.

"Ah, Jondalar, Ayla, you've come at last. And I see you've met up with Larsolan and Ric. Come we've brought you something to eat. You two must be very hungry and tired," said Marthona as she came in from another doorway on the left with a platter in one hand, waving them over with the other.

With her were Zelandoni, Marona, and Folara. At the sight of Marona, Jondalar's stomach tightened. Looking at her, he could see she was as beautiful as ever, but there was no expression on her face. When Marona looked up at Jondalar, their eyes met, and after a moment she smiled tightly.

Jondalar nervously smiled back. He didn't know what to make of the exchange. Then he looked over at Zelandoni. She was slightly older than what he remembered but the beauty was still there. She gave him a warm smile and he smiled back in kind. Ayla had glanced up to where Jondalar was looking when she felt him tense. She wondered who the two women were, thinking that the older woman must be Zolena.

She saw the rest of Jondalar's family approach them and knew the formal introductions were going to be made.

"Joharran, Leader of the Ninth Cave of the Zelandonii, I want you to meet Ayla of the Lion Camp of the Mamutoi, Chosen by the Cave Lion, Protected by the Cave Bear, and Daughter of the Mammoth Hearth."

Ayla raised both of her hands, palms up, in the formal greeting of openness and friendship. "I greet you, Joharran, leader of the Ninth cave of the Zelandonii."

Joharran took both of her hands in his.

"In the name of Doni, the Great Earth Mother, you are welcome, Ayla of the Lion Camp of the Mamutoi, Chosen by the Cave Lion, Protected by the Cave Bear, and Daughter of the Mammoth hearth," Joharran said.

"I thank you for your welcome," Ayla said in reply. At that moment, as if he wanted to be introduced as well, Wolf yipped. Ayla looked down and said, "I would like to introduce you to Wolf, it seems he wants to be your friend also."

Showing no fear, he looked at Ayla and raised his eyebrows. Taking his hand, she brought it to Wolf's nose and said, "Wolf, meet Joharran, Leader of the Ninth Cave of the Zelandonii." With that said, Wolf got up and sniffed around Joharran's legs, wagging his tail in the process. Joharran patiently waited for Wolf to be done and looked around with a smile on his face. Many in the crowd giggled nervously.

"Wolf, that's enough, come back here," said Ayla. To Joharran she said, "He will not harm you now because he knows you are a friend. Would you like to pet him?"

Joharran slowly got down on his knee so as to not to surprise Wolf, and stretched out a hand to touch Wolf's fur. To his delight, it was very soft and the new experience pleased him.

The same process of formal introduction was repeated several times. Ayla got to meet Zelandoni, but she didn't get to meet the other woman who had smiled at Jondalar earlier. She made a note to herself to ask Jondalar later. Looking at Zelandoni, she could see that there was warmth in the look she gave Jondalar, but it was only the love of an old and comfortable friendship.

Ayla was excited to have a colleague in her midst; someone who she could talk to about medicine. Once the formal introductions were made, they all took a place around the large hearth.

As they were all settling down in the middle of the open hearth, more people were coming in carrying food and drinks. They were rushed to get all the food for so many people, and obviously there wasn't enough for them all, but that was not why they all came.

They all came for the stories that were sure to be long and exciting. Once the food was passed around, an expectant hush developed among the crowd. Ayla looked up and was surprised to see that so many people could fit into this space. It was large enough to fit at least thirty people comfortably.

"So Jondalar, maybe now you can entertain us with all your adventures. I'm sure we can't wait to hear it all," said Joharran. At once, everyone leaned forward slightly to hear the story better.

"But of course you and Ayla must be tired. We have not given you much time to relax. Since we are having a feast to welcome you home tomorrow, why don't we delay it until then? It may even be more appropriate to have it then. After all, what's one more day?" said Joharran, with a twinkle in his eyes.

At that announcement, there were several grumbles, groans and voices saying:

"No! No!"

"Of course they aren't tired, it's still early in the day."

"We haven't seen him for five years and you want us to wait some more?!"

To halt any more complaints floating around the room, Jondalar loudly announced that it would be perfectly alright to tell everyone about their journey now. Several people nodded once they heard Jondalar's words. Several comments were made about how sensible Jondalar always was.

Once the crowd was settled down once more, Jondalar prepared to tell his part of the story, the light banter of a few moments ago gone and his face already speaking of incredible grief.

"As you all remember, the journey was Thonolan's to begin with. I planned to go with him only to the Losadunai, but then I decided to continue the journey with him all the way to the end of the Great Mother River. We crossed a glacier, the source of the River and followed it to the end. You have no idea how long she is and how very unpredictable."

"We followed it going east at first, and then it went south, splitting into many channels. I never thought that we would make it all the way to the end. Thonolan loved discovering new places, and new people. He loved the risks involved and I not knowing why at the time, followed him. We met so many new people on the way."

"The first group of people we met was the Hadumai. They live further east from the S'Armunai, close to another huge river. The leader was Haduma, she was still living after five generations. They said that her touch was magic. Seeing how many generations she has lived, I believe it."

"We had traveled a very long distance by this time and thought that we were nearing the end, but we were wrong. We only reach the Sister River and she's as big as the Great Mother River, but even more turbulent. We knew that we had to cross her so we decided to build a raft. It was here that Thonolan was gored by a huge woolly rhinoceros."

At this last statement, several people gasped. Jondalar could see Marthona shaking her head and crying. Several others who knew Thonolan and loved him also had tears in their eyes. He continued the story.

"We had met the rhinoceros earlier, but we were lucky enough to get away at the time. The second time we met it, Thonolan was lucky to even survive. When I reached him he was still alive, but I'm no Zelandoni. I didn't know what to do; I was helpless. Thonolan knew as well as I that if somebody didn't come to help him, he would surely have died. Thonolan had given up hope and though I didn't tell him so, so did I. It was at this time that the Sharamudoi found us. I was overjoyed. Their healer saved Thonolan and with the Sharamudoi, Thonolan found love." Jondalar turned to Marthona and smiled, the air of sadness tempered slightly with memories of happier times.

"Her name was Jetamio. She had the most beautiful smile I've ever seen. I think Thonolan woke up to her smile and fell instantly in love. Jetamio loved him just as much. They eventually mated and I think it was the happiest and greatest moment of his life."

"When I first met the Sharamudoi, they were traveling on a boat. At first I thought it was some kind of huge water bird. The Sharamudoi are actually made up of two people, the Shamudoi, the land-living half and the Ramudoi, the water-living half. They taught us how they built the huge sturdy boats. Thonolan had decided to live with them, so I stayed as well. However, when Jetamio died in childbirth two years later, her son with her, Thonolan lost his will to live as well."

"He couldn't stay to live with the Sharamudoi knowing he'd always be reminded of Jetamio. He refused to journey back home to the Zelandonii. I guess he wanted Doni to take him; he wanted to return to Jetamio. He decided to continue on with his plan to go all the way to the end of the Great Mother River. Thonolan became reckless; not caring if he died."

"Once, he fell into quicksand but luckily enough Brecie, leader of the Willow Camp of the Mamutoi, found and helped us. We continued on our journey. One day not much later, we were hunting a stag and Thonolan killed it with his spear, but unfortunately a cave lioness was going after the same buck. When she took the deer away, Thonolan became indignant. He claimed that he killed it so it was his and was adamant about getting it back. He was completely unreasonable, so stricken with grief. I tried to tell him it was futile... He decided to go after the lioness." He stopped for a moment, knowing the next part would be the hardest to tell.

Finally he continued quietly. "He followed her to a blind canyon, and I followed him. We watched and waited, and after a while, we saw the cave lioness leave. Thonolan decided to go in after his spear and some of the meat. He had thought she was a loner, a single lioness on her own. What we didn't know was that in that cave was the biggest cave lion anyone had ever seen. He killed Thonolan instantly."

By the end of his story, his voice had become more and more quiet and hoarse. People had to strain forward to hear him properly. He bowed his head and let the tears fall into his hands. It hurt more it seemed, when he told it to his people. He didn't want to see the pity and concern in other people's eyes, or the sadness in his family's.

Finally he added, "Luckily for me, it was that particular lion. Ayla managed to stop him before he killed me too. She saved my life."

During the entire recounting, Ayla was only half listening to Jondalar. She had heard it many times and each time, he told it well. His audience was captivated with his storytelling and the food was long forgotten. She could see their excitement and the emotions flitting across their faces; hear their voices of encouragement and gasps of shock. They were hearing about the people they knew and grew up with, it was much more personal.

One thing that she hadn't noticed before was that Jondalar rarely talked about himself. It was as if he was merely an onlooker and took little part during the travels. She decided to ask Jondalar about it later.

She took the time to look around her at the cave and study the various people as inconspicuously as possible. She looked across at Zelandoni and saw silent tears sliding down her face, she was seemingly not even aware that she was crying.

Marthona and Joharran took comfort from each other. Marthona looked to have aged many years in a few short moments; the grief was one of deep sorrow and anguish. She always expected to lose Thonolan permanently to his travels, had prepared for it, but not to death.

Ayla looked over at Folara and saw her crying on Ric's shoulders. Across the other side of the room towards the back she glanced across at the woman who had smiled at Jondalar earlier. Her face was lined with sorrow, but it was obvious she was determined to not cry.

Ayla could see the effort it took her. She wondered why she kept her emotions so bottled up when everyone else around her was crying. At that instant, their eyes met and in those seconds Ayla saw anger, regret, sadness, and hurt in those eyes and in her body language.

Ayla tried to smile to let her know she was a friend but by that time the woman had looked away. The woman saddened her; obviously something traumatic had happened. Perhaps she kept her emotions so tightly controlled because she had no one to turn to.

She was so engrossed in looking around at various people that she didn't realize that she herself was the object of study. By the end of the story, the audience felt overwhelming sadness but also awe. They looked upon Ayla as someone who possessed great magic. At once they were even more excited and anxious to hear Ayla's story.

"How could she possibly stop a cave lion from attacking when it had already decided to?"

"That's impossible!"

"You must be mistaken Jondalar." These were the comments she heard throughout the crowd.

"No, she saved my life by stopping that cave lion from killing me and then by healing me. This is her tale to tell. I would ask Ayla to continue from here," said Jondalar. He looked over at her and she nodded in return.

She had thought about this for a long time. It was extremely important not only for her but for Jondalar that the Zelandonii accept her. She knew that he would never be happy living anywhere but here, and neither would she. This was where she was meant to be. Not only that but it was important to Ayla to have his family accept her. She didn't want to be the reason his family turned away from him yet again.

She looked to Jondalar and he gave her a smile of encouragement. She must be as convincing as possible for Jondalar's, the baby's, and her own sake. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and steeled herself to tell the story of her life, one more time.