The Mother defended and would not retreat.

The whirlwind pulled hard, She refused to let go, She fought to a draw with Her dark swirling foe.

She held darkness at bay. But Her son was away.

When She fought the whirlwind and made chaos flee, The light from Her son glowed with vitality.

When the Mother grew tired, the bleak void held sway, And darkness returned at the end of the day.

She felt warmth from Her son. But neither had won.

The Great Mother lived with the pain in Her heart, That She and Her son were forever apart.

She ached for the child that had been denied, So She quickened once more from the life-force inside.

She was not reconciled. To the loss of Her child.

When She was ready, Her waters of birth, Brought back the green life to the cold barren Earth.

And the tears of Her loss, abundantly spilled, Made dew drops that sparkled and rainbows that thrilled.

Birth waters brought green. But Her tears could be seen.

With a thunderous roar Her stones split asunder, And from the great cave that opened deep under, She birthed once again from Her cavernous room, And brought forth the Children of Earth from Her womb.

From the Mother forlorn, more children were born.

Each child was different, some were large and some small, Some could walk and some fly, some could swim and some crawl.

But each form was perfect, each spirit complete, Each one was a model whose shape could repeat.

The Mother was willing. The green earth was filling.

All the birds and the fish and the animals born, Would not leave the Mother, this time, to mourn.

Each kind would live near the place of its birth, And share the expanse of the Great Mother Earth.

Close to Her they would stay. They could not run away.

They all were Her children, they filled Her with pride, But they used up the life-force She carried inside.

She had enough left for a last innovation, A child who'd remember Who made the creation.

A child who'd respect. And learn to protect.

First Woman was born full-grown and alive, And given the Gifts she would need to survive.

Life was the First Gift, and like Mother Earth, She woke to herself knowing life had great worth.

First Woman defined. The first of her kind.

Next was the Gift of Perception, of learning, The desire to know, the Gift of Discerning, First Woman was given the knowledge within, That would help her to live, and pa.s.s on to her kin.

First Woman would know. How to learn, how to grow.

Her life-force near gone, The Mother was spent, To pa.s.s on Life's Spirit had been Her intent.

She caused all of Her children to create life anew, And Woman was blessed to bring forth life, too.

But Woman was lonely. She was the only.

The Mother remembered Her own loneliness, The love of Her friend and his hovering caress.

With the last spark remaining, Her labor began, To share life with Woman, She created First Man.

Again She was giving. One more was living.

To Woman and Man the Mother gave birth, And then for their home, She gave them the Earth, The water, the land, and all Her creation.

To use them with care was their obligation.

It was their home to use. But not to abuse.

For the Children of Earth the Mother provided, The Gifts to survive, and then She decided, To give them the Gift of Pleasure and sharing, That honors the Mother with the joy of their pairing.

The Gifts are well-earned. When honor's returned.

The Mother was pleased with the pair She created, She taught them to love and to care when they mated.

She made them desire to join with each other, The Gift of their Pleasures came from the Mother.

Before She was through. Her children loved too.

Earth's Children were blessed. The Mother could rest.

LIST OF CHARACTERS.

Ayla-of the Ninth Cave of the Zelandonii, formerly Ayla of the Lion Camp of the Mamutoi, Daughter of the Mammoth Hearth, Chosen by the Spirit of the Cave Lion, Protected by the Cave Bear, Friend of the horses, Whinney and Racer, and the four-legged hunter, Wolf Jondalar-of the Ninth Cave of the Zelandonii, Ayla's intended, son of former leader, brother of leader; called Jonde by his sister Folara Zelandoni (Zolena)-Current Zelandoni, former lover of Jondalar Thonolan/d-Jondalar's younger brother, killed on Journey Folara-Jondalar's younger sister Marthona-Jondalar's mother, former leader, also mother of Joharran, Folara Willamar-Marthona's mate, Trade Master, Traveler Tivonan-Willamar's apprentice trader Joconan/d-Marthona's first mate, dead, man of Joharran's hearth Joharran-Jondalar's older brother, leader of Ninth Cave Proleva-Joharran's mate Jaradal-Proleva's son, Joharran's hearth child Levela-Proleva's younger sister, Jondecam's mate Jondecam-Levela's mate, nephew of Kimeran and son of Zelandoni of the Second Cave Velima-mother of Proleva and Levela Solaban-Hunter, adviser, and friend of Joharran Ramara-Solaban's mate Robenan-Ramara's son Rushemar-Hunter, adviser, and friend of Joharran Salova-Rushemar's mate Marsola-Salova's daughter Marona-Jondalar's former girlfriend Wylopa-Marona's cousin Portula-Marona's friend Lorava-Portula's younger sister Ramila-Folara's friend Galeya-Folara's friend Charezal-New member of Ninth Cave, stranger to Jondalar Shevonar/d-Man who dies while hunting Relqna-Shevonar's mate Ranokol-Shevonar's brother Brukeval-Jondalar's distant cousin (part Clan) Madroman-Formerly called Ladroman, acolyte of Fifth Cave Laramar-Man who makes barma Tremeda-Laramar's mate Bologan-son of Tremeda, eldest, twelve Lanoga-daughter of Tremeda, ten Lorala-daughter of Tremeda, about six months Stelona-Older woman who nurses Lorala Thefona-Third Cave's best lookout, best vision Thevola-Maker of rawhide panels Lanidar-Boy of the Nineteenth Cave with deformed right arm, twelve Mardena-Lanidar's mother Denoda-Mardena's mother Janida-Peridal's mate Peridal-Janida's mate Matagan-Young man who was gored by a woolly rhinoceros Tishona-Marsheval's mate Marsheval-Tishona's mate Palidar-Tivonan's friend Whinney-Ayla's horse, dun-yellow mare, Przwalski horse Racer-Jondalar's horse, bay (brown) stallion, Cherski horse (rare) Wolf-Ayla's wolf LEADERS.

Manvelar-Leader of Third Cave, Two Rivers Rock Morizan-Son of Manvelar's mate, son of his hearth Kareja-Leader of Eleventh Cave, River Place Dorova-Kareja's mother Brameval-Leader of Fourteenth Cave, Little Valley Kimeran-Leader of Second Cave of the Zelandonii, Elder Hearth, brother of Zelandoni of the Second Cave, uncle of Jondecam Denanna-Leader of the three holdings of the Twenty-ninth Cave, Three Rocks, and specifically of the South Holding, Reflection Rock Tormaden-Leader of the Nineteenth Cave of the Zelandonii ZELANDONIA.

Zelandoni-of the Eleventh Cave, River Place, h.o.m.os.e.xual man Marolan-man who is the Eleventh's friend and mate Zelandoni-of the Third Cave, Two Rivers Rock, older man Zelandoni-of the Fourteenth Cave, Little Valley, middle-aged woman Zelandoni-of the Second Cave, Elder Hearth, older sister of Kimeran, mother of Jondecam Zelandoni-of the Seventh Cave, Horsehead Rock, white-haired grandfather of Zelandoni Second, and Kimeran Zelandoni-of the Nineteenth Cave, white-haired older woman Zelandoni-of the Fifth Cave, Old Valley, middle-aged man Zelandoni-of the Twenty-ninth Cave, Three Rocks, and mediator between the three a.s.sistant zelandonia and three leaders of the three separate locations of the Twenty-ninth Cave a.s.sistant Zelandoni of the Twenty-ninth Cave, Zelandoni of Reflection Rock (South Holding), middle-aged man a.s.sistant Zelandoni of the Twenty-ninth Cave, Zelandoni of South Face (North Holding), young man a.s.sistant Zelandoni of the Twenty-ninth Cave. Zelandoni of Summer Camp (West Holding), middle-aged woman First Acolyte of the Second Cave (almost Zelandoni), young woman Jonokol-First Acolyte of the Ninth Cave, artist, young man Mikolan-Second Acolyte of the Fourteenth Cave, very young man Mejera-Acolyte of the Third Cave (formerly Fourteenth Cave), very young woman Madroman-Acolyte of the Fifth Cave (formerly Ladroman of the Ninth Cave), young man FIRST CAVE OF THE LANZADONII (DALANAR'S CAVE) Dalanar-Man of Jondalar's hearth, Marthona's former mate, founder of the Lanzadonii Jerika-Dalanar's mate, co-founder of Lanzadonii Ahnlay/d-Jerika's mother, died Hochaman-Man of Jerika's hearth-Great Traveler Joplaya-Jerika's daughter, daughter of Dalanar's hearth Echozar-Joplaya's half-Clan mate Andovan/d-Man who helped raise Echozar Yoma/d-Echozar's mother, Clan woman

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The Land of Painted Caves

Available spring 2011 from Crown Publishers

1.

The band of travelers walked along the path between the clear sparkling water of Gra.s.s River and the black-streaked white limestone cliff, following the trail that paralleled the right bank. They went single file around the bend where the stone wall jutted out closer to the water's edge. Ahead a smaller path split off at an angle toward the crossing place, where the flowing water spread out and became shallower, bubbling around exposed rocks.

Before they reached the fork in the trail, a young woman near the front suddenly stopped, her eyes opening wide as she stood perfectly still, staring ahead. She pointed with her chin, not wanting to move. "Look! Over there!" she said in a hissing whisper of fear. "Lions!"

Joharran, the leader, lifted his arm, signaling the band to a halt. Just beyond the place where the trail diverged, they now saw pale-tawny cave lions moving around in the gra.s.s. The gra.s.s was such effective camouflage, however, that they might not have noticed them until they were much closer, if it hadn't been for the sharp eyes of Thefona. The young woman from the Third Cave had exceptionally good vision, and though she was quite young, she was noted for her ability to see far and well. Her innate talent had been recognized early and they had begun training her when she was a small girl; she was their best lookout.

Near the back of the group, walking in front of three horses, Ayla and Jondalar looked up to see what was causing the delay. "I wonder why we've stopped," Jondalar said, a familiar frown of worry wrinkling his forehead.

Ayla observed the leader and the people around him closely, and instinctively moved her hand to shield the warm bundle that she carried in the soft leather blanket tied to her chest. Jonayla had recently nursed and was sleeping, but moved slightly at her mother's touch. Ayla had an uncanny ability to interpret meaning from body language, learned young when she lived with the Clan. She knew Joharran was alarmed and Thefona was frightened.

Ayla, too, had extraordinarily sharp vision. She could also pick up sounds above the range of normal hearing and feel the deep tones of those that were below. Her sense of smell and taste were also keen, but she had never compared herself with anyone, and didn't realize how extraordinary her perceptions were. She was born with heightened acuity in all her senses, which no doubt contributed to her survival after losing her parents and everything she knew at five years. Her only training had come from herself. She had developed her natural abilities during the years she studied animals, chiefly carnivores, when she was teaching herself to hunt.

In the stillness, she discerned the faint but familiar rumblings of lions, detected their distinctive scent on a slight breeze, and noticed that several people in front of the group were gazing ahead. When she looked, she saw something move. Suddenly the cats hidden by the gra.s.s seemed to jump into clear focus. She could make out two young and three or four adult cave lions. As she started moving forward, she reached with one hand for her spear-thrower, fastened to a carrying loop on her belt, and with the other for a spear from the holder hanging on her back.

"Where are you going?" Jondalar asked.

She stopped. "There are lions up ahead just beyond the split in the trail," she said under her breath.

Jondalar turned to look, and noticed movement that he interpreted as lions now that he knew what to look for. He reached for his weapons as well. "You should stay here with Jonayla. I'll go."

Ayla glanced down at her sleeping baby, then looked up at him. "You're good with the spear-thrower, Jondalar, but there are at least two cubs and three grown lions, probably more. If the lions think the cubs are in danger and decide to attack, you'll need help, someone to back you up, and you know I'm better than anyone, except you."

His brow furrowed again as he paused to think, looking at her. Then he nodded. "All right...but stay behind me." He detected movement out of the corner of his eye and glanced back. "What about the horses?"

"They know lions are near. Look at them," Ayla said.

Jondalar looked. All three horses, including the new young filly, were staring ahead, obviously aware of the huge felines. Jondalar frowned again. "Will they be all right? Especially little Gray?"

"They know to stay out of the way of those lions, but I don't see Wolf," Ayla said. "I'd better whistle for him."

"You don't have to," Jondalar said, pointing in a different direction. "He must sense something, too. Look at him coming."

Ayla turned and saw a wolf racing toward her. The canine was a magnificent animal, larger than most, but an injury from a fight with other wolves that left him with a bent ear gave him a rakish look. She made the special signal that she used when they hunted together. He knew it meant to stay near and pay close attention to her. They ducked around people as they hurried toward the front, trying not to cause any undo commotion, and to remain as inconspicuous as possible.

"I'm glad you're here," Joharran said softly when he saw his brother and Ayla with the wolf quietly appear with their spear-throwers in hand.

"Do you know how many there are?" Ayla asked.

"More than I thought," Thefona said, trying to seem calm and not let her fear show. "When I first saw them, I thought there were maybe three or four, but they are moving around in the gra.s.s, and now I think there may be ten or more. It's a big pride."

"And they are feeling confident," Joharran said.

"How do you know that?" Thefona asked.

"They're ignoring us."

Jondalar knew his mate was very familiar with the huge felines. "Ayla knows cave lions," he said, "Perhaps we should ask her what she thinks." Joharran nodded in her direction, asking the question silently.

"Joharran is right. They know we're here. And they know how many they are and how many we are," Ayla said, then added, "they may see us as something like a herd of horses or aurochs and think they may be able to single out a weak one. I think they are new to this region."

"What makes you think so?" Joharran said. He was always surprised at Ayla's wealth of knowledge of four-legged hunters, but for some reason it was also at times like this that he noticed her unusual accent more.

"They don't know us, that's why they're so confident," Ayla continued. "If they were a resident pride that lived around people and had been chased or hunted a few times, I don't think they would be so unconcerned."

"Well, maybe we should give them something to be concerned about," Jondalar said.

Joharran's brow wrinkled in a way that was so much like his taller though younger brother's, it made Ayla want to smile, but it usually showed at a time when smiling would be inappropriate. "Perhaps it would be wiser just to avoid them," the dark-haired leader said.

"I don't think so," Ayla said, bowing her head and looking down. It was still difficult for her to disagree with a man in public, especially a leader. Though she knew it was perfectly acceptable among the Zelandonii-after all, some leaders were women, including, at one time, Joharran's and Jondalar's mother-such behavior from a woman would not have been tolerated in the Clan, the ones who raised her.

"Why not?" Joharran asked, his frown turning into a scowl.

"Those lions are resting too close to the home of the Third Cave," Ayla said quietly. "There will always be lions around, but if they are comfortable here, they might think of it as a place to return when they want to rest, and would see any people who come near as prey, especially children or elders. They could be a danger to the people who live at Two Rivers Rock, and the other nearby Caves, including the Ninth."

Joharran took a deep breath, then looked at his fair-haired brother. "Your mate is right, and you as well, Jondalar. Perhaps now is the time to let those lions know they are not welcome to settle down so close to our homes."

"This would be a good time to use spear-throwers so we can hunt from a safer distance. Several hunters here have been practicing," Jondalar said. It was for just this sort of thing that he had wanted to come home and show everyone the weapon he had developed. "We may not even have to kill one, just injure a couple to teach them to stay away."

"Jondalar," Ayla said, softly. Now she was getting ready to differ with him, or at least to make a point that he should consider. She looked down again, then raised her eyes and looked directly at him. She wasn't afraid to speak her mind to him, but she wanted to be respectful. "It's true that a spear-thrower is a very good weapon. With it, a spear can be thrown from a much greater distance than one thrown by hand, and that makes it safer. But safer is not safe. A wounded animal is unpredictable. And one with the strength and speed of a cave lion, hurt and wild with pain, could do anything. If you decide to use these weapons against those lions, they should not be used to injure, but to kill."

"She's right, Jondalar," Joharran said.

Jondalar frowned at his brother, then grinned sheepishly. "Yes she is, but, as dangerous as they are, I always hate to kill a cave lion if I don't have to. They are so beautiful, so lithe and graceful in the way they move. Cave lions don't have much to be afraid of. Their strength gives them confidence." He glanced at Ayla with a glint of pride and love. "I always thought Ayla's Cave Lion totem was right for her." Discomfited by showing his strong inner feelings for her, a hint of a flush colored his cheeks. "But I do think this is a time when spear-throwers could be very useful."

Joharran noticed that most of the travelers had crowded closer. "How many are with us that can use one?" he asked his brother.

"Well, there's you, and me, and Ayla, of course," Jondalar said, looking at the group. "Rushemar has been practicing a lot and is getting pretty good. Solaban's been busy making some ivory handles for tools for some of us and hasn't been working at it as much, but he's got the basics."

"I've tried a spear-thrower a few times, Joharran. I don't have one of my own, and I'm not very good at it," Thefona said, "but I can throw a spear without one."

"Thank you, Thefona, for reminding me," Joharran said. "Nearly everyone can handle a spear without a spear-thrower, including women. We shouldn't forget that." Then he directed his comments to the group at large. "We need to let those lions know that this is not a good place for them. Whoever wants to go after them, using a spear by hand or with the thrower, come over here."