The Plains of Passage (Earth's Children 4)

"But they can't stay there all the time. They have to get food, and they can be trailed and followed. A good tracker could trail them easier than he could an animal, but we need all the Caves to cooperate. Then it wouldn't take long to find them."

"What will you do with them after you find them?" This time it was Ayla who asked the question.

"I think that once all those young ruffians are separated, it wouldn't take long to break their ties to each other. Each Cave can handle one or two of their own in their own way. I doubt if most of them really want to live outside the Losadunai, and not be a part of a Cave. They will want mates, someday, and not many women would choose to live the way they do."

"I think you are right," Jondalar said.

"I'm very sorry to hear about this young woman," Ayla said. "What was her name? Madenia?" Her expression showed how troubled she was.

"I am, too," Jondalar added. "I wish we could stay and help, but if we don't cross the glacier soon, we may have to stay until next winter."

"It may already be too late to make it across this winter," Laduni said.

"Too late?" Jondalar said. "But it's cold, winter. Everything is frozen solid. All the crevasses should be filled with snow."

"Yes. It is winter now, but this late in the season, you never know. You could still make it, but if the foehn winds come early—and they could—then all the snow will melt fast. The glacier can be treacherous during the first spring melt, and under the circumstances, I don't think it's safe to go around through the flathead country to the north. They are not too friendly these days. Charoli's band has antagonized them. Even animals have some feeling of protection for their females and will fight to protect their own."

"They are not animals," Ayla said, springing to their defense. "They are people, just a different kind of people."

Laduni held his tongue; he did not want to offend a visitor and a guest. With her closeness to animals, she might think of all animals as people. If a wolf protects her, and she treats it like a human, is it any wonder that she thinks of flatheads as people, too? he thought. I know they can be clever, but they are not human.

Several people had gathered around while they were talking. One of them, a small, thin, rather rumpled middle-aged man with a shy smile, spoke up. "Don't you think you should let them get settled, Laduni?"

"I'm beginning to wonder if you are going to keep them here talking all day," the woman standing beside him added

. She was a plump woman, just a shade shorter than the man, with a friendly face.

"I'm sorry, you are right, of course. Let me introduce you," Laduni said. He looked at Ayla first, then turned toward the man. "Losaduna, the One Who Serves the Mother for Hot Well Cave of the Losadunai, this is Ayla of the Lion Camp of the Mamutoi, Chosen of the Lion, Protected by the Great Bear, and Daughter of the Mammoth Hearth."

"The Mammoth Hearth! Then you are One Who Serves the Mother, too," the man said with a surprised smile, before he even greeted her.

"No, I am a Daughter of the Mammoth Hearth. Mamut was training me, but I have never been initiated," Ayla explained.

"But born to it! You must be chosen of the Mother, too, along with all the rest," the man said, obviously delighted.

"Losaduna, you have not greeted her yet," the plump woman chided.

The man looked befuddled for a moment. "Oh, I guess not. Always these formalities. In the name of Duna, the Great Earth Mother, may I welcome you, Ayla of the Mamutoi, Chosen by the Lion Camp, and Daughter of the Mammoth Hearth."

The woman beside him sighed and shook her head. "He got it mixed up, but if it was some little-known ceremony, or legend about the Mother, he wouldn't forget a bit of it," she said.

Ayla couldn't help smiling. She had never met One Who Served the Mother who seemed more unlikely to function in that capacity. Those she had met before were each self-possessed, easily recognized individuals, with a powerful presence, not at all like this absentminded, diffident man, unmindful of his appearance, with a pleasant, rather shy demeanor. But the woman seemed to know where his strengths were, and Laduni showed no lack of respect. Losaduna was obviously more than he seemed.

"That's all right," Ayla said to the woman. "He didn't really get it wrong." She was, after all, chosen by the Lion Camp, too; adopted, not born to them, Ayla thought. Then she addressed the man, who had taken both her hands and was still holding them. "I greet the One Who Serves the Great Mother of All, and thank you for your welcome, Losaduna."

He smiled at Ayla's use of another of the names of the Duna, as Laduni began to speak. "Solandia of the Losadunai, born to the Hill River Cave, Mate of the Losaduna, this is Ayla of the Lion Camp of the Mamutoi, Chosen of the Lion, Protected by the Great Bear, and Daughter of the Mammoth Hearth."

"I greet you, Ayla of the Mamutoi, and invite you to our lodgings," Solandia said. The full titles and affiliations had been said enough times. She didn't think they needed to be repeated again.

"Thank you, Solandia," she said.

Laduni then looked at Jondalar. "Losaduna, One Who Serves the Mother for the Hot Well Cave of the Losadunai, this is Jondalar, Master Flint Knapper of the Ninth Cave of the Zelandonii, son of Marthona, former leader of the Ninth Cave, brother of Joharran, leader of the Ninth Cave, born to the Hearth of Dalanar, leader and founder of the Lanzadonii."

Ayla had never heard all of Jondalar's titles and ties before, and she was surprised. Though she didn't fully understand the significance, it sounded impressive. After Jondalar repeated the litany and was formally introduced, they were finally led to the large living and ceremonial space allocated to Losaduna.

Wolf, who had been sitting quietly close to Ayla's leg, gave a little yip when they reached the entrance to the dwelling space. He had seen a child inside, but his reaction frightened Solandia. She ran in and snatched the baby up off the floor. "I have four children; I don't know if that wolf should be in here," she said, fear raising the pitch of her voice. "Micheri can't even walk. How can I be sure he won't go after my little boy?"

"Wolf will not harm the little one," Ayla said. "He grew up with children and loves them. He is more gentle with them than with adults. He wasn't going after the baby, he was just so happy to see him."