The Shelters of Stone (Earth's Children 5)

While out of the dark swirling void chaos crept.

With tempting inducements the darkness beguiled.

Deceived by the whirlwind, chaos captured Her child.”

“The dark took Her son. The young brilliant one.”

Just as Broud had taken her son. Zelandoni told the story so well, Ayla found herself feeling anxious for both the Mother and Her son. She was leaning forward, not wanting to miss a word.

“And Her luminous friend was prepared to contest,

the thief who held captive the child of Her breast.

Together they fought for the son She adored.

Their efforts succeeded, his light was restored.”

“His energy burned. His brilliance returned.”

Ayla let out a deep breath and looked around. She wasn’t alone in being caught up in the story. Everyone’s rapt attention was focused on the large woman.

“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.”

Tears were running down Ayla’s face, and she felt a sudden clenching ache for her own son that she had been forced to leave behind with the Clan, and a deep empathie sorrow for the Mother.

“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.”

Ayla was sure she would never again be able to think, of morning dew or rainbows the way she had before. From this time on, they would always remind her of the Mother’s tears.

“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.”

The next part was not so sad, but it was interesting. It explained how things were now, and why.

“They all were Her children, they filled Her with pride,