By Susan
The sun was bright and hot. Beads of sweat would reappear as soon as Avalia wiped them away. The task must be finished though. The basket she was weaving was to carry items for travelling. She was almost finished and all that would be left to do would be to gather their things before they began their journey. Several families were getting prepared to travel to another region to start their own cave. The cave they had lived at was getting larger, with a head count of about 52 people it was decided it was time to split and expand their horizons. Avalia didn’t mind, in fact she was ready for a change. The cave had been lived in for some time and it seemed that with so many people the land around was beginning to show its wear. The vegetation while still providing for the cave was becoming less abundant and even the animals were moving further away. It seemed every time they hunted now the hunting party had to travel further away to find the larger animals required to feed the number of people in the cave.
Avalia finished the basket and surveyed her work. It was sturdy and the technique she had used was slightly modified after practicing on several others until she had gotten the shape just like she wanted it. This was the fifth basket she had made and she was quite pleased with the result. It was shaped flat on one side and rounded on the opposite side so that it might be carried more comfortably on the back of the individual as they traveled. She gathered her things, pushing her golden hair away from her face. She glanced toward the small stream near the cave and decided she would wash the sweat off her body and her hair before their journey began. She wasn’t sure when she would get another opportunity and she definitely liked to be clean.
As Avalia finished pounding the soaproot, producing a foam, she spread it through her hair and washed away the dirt and grime. Once she finished rinsing and put her outer garment back on she turned to go back to the cave and saw her mate Midijen heading toward her. He smiled at her and said, "I see you’ve decided to refresh yourself before our journey." Avalia smiled back at him and replied, "Yes, I wasn’t sure when I would get another chance." Midijen looked at her somberly and said, "Avalia, are you sure you want to leave the cave and make this journey? We’re not sure where we will end up or how long it will take us to get there."
"Midijen, I’ve always told you that where ever you are I want to be. I know you’ve been talking about going on this adventure to start a new cave and a new life. I want to do this also. I am truly ready for a change, and I know the danger of traveling, especially with young ones in tow, but still, my love, I am looking forward to it. In fact I’m even excited about it." Avalia reached her hand up and put it on his shoulder. He smiled at her and said, "I know we are taking a risk, but Avalia, I am ready for a change." He leaned toward her and brushed her cheek with his lips. She hugged him and knew why she loved this man. He had been her mate for 8 summers now and he had always been kind and considerate of her. She knew in her heart she would do anything for him and follow him anywhere. Their bodies separated and Midijen looked into her face, "The children are also excited and ready, although I’m not sure they really know what they are getting into." They both turned and headed back to the cave to gather their things. Avalia’s damp hair was already beginning to dry in the heat and in her mind she was already packing.
The trek away from their former home was already 11 sunrises behind them and the journeyers were hot and grimy. The parting from their home cave had been tearful and each of them knew they would miss their former cave mates, but it was agreed by all that those leaving would only benefit the entire group. The area that they were traveling was mostly flat. There were occasional trees and once in a while they startled a rabbit or birds from their homes. Avalia, Midijen, and their two children were trudging up a small hill when one of the other travelers ahead shouted, "A stream to the west!" Everyone quickened his or her pace. Although they were carrying water skins, the liquid inside had become warm and stale. A fresh drink and possibly a dip were encouraging everyone to step livelier.
The group consisted of 5 men, 6 women and 8 children. Each of the travelers had left the cave for various reasons, but mostly for the adventure or the change. Most of the adult travelers were young and hearty, with the exception of Lornaldi. He was the oldest of the group by about 9 summers. The youngest of the children was a baby carried by a young woman who had lost her mate in a hunt recently. Her baby had seen only 3 full moons. The young woman, named Barti, had begged to join them. She felt she couldn’t
stay in the cave any longer with so many reminders of her mate. Since he had been killed hunting prior to the birth of the baby she felt she needed a new environment. Falco, who was not yet mated, had been leading the way and he was the one who had spotted the stream. As the group reached the stream, Falco suggested that they would camp here for the rest of the day. The others agreed that a day of rest was needed and all sighed collectively as they unloaded the baskets from their backs. The children all began playing near the water’s edge as the men started talking about hunting for fresh meat. The women quickly unloaded what was needed for the quick rest and began making a fire to prepare for whatever game the men hunted. It was a peaceful, quiet time as the group worked together and the younger children’s squeals of delight made the woman smile often.
Several men and two women left the encampment to hunt, while the others watched the children and began gathering from the vegetation nearby. Avalia had left Barti to watch her children, as she was one of the women who had left on the hunt. Once the hunters had moved away from the temporary encampment they noticed rabbits, hamsters and birds nearby. Avalia commented to Midijen that the area was already looking promising for finding game. As though her comment had been heard a small deer crossed the stream ahead. The hunters froze as the deer bound across the stream and stopped near a grassy knoll. Falco already had his spear ready and moved with quite steady steps. Midijen and the Lornaldi also began moving around making sure to stay downwind from the animal. Avalia circled a little higher and before the startled deer could bound away Falco and Lornaldi had thrown their spears. Falco’s had hit the deer in the throat and Lornaldi’s had caught the deer in the front foreleg. The frightened deer only struggled for a moment before the fatal wound to the neck took his life. The hunters were grateful for the easy hunt. The supplies of travelling cakes and small game they had been picking off the land were fine, but a haunch of deer meat would taste good, too. The deer was tied to poles and carried dangling upside down as the group placed the parallel bars over their shoulders and headed back to their temporary camp.
The ones left behind had already set everything up for the hunter’s return and were quite pleased when they returned with the small deer. As the deer was cleaned and choice portions readied for cooking the women also put grains and seasonings in a skin pot to add some of the meat to for a rich broth that they would have in the morning before they began travelling again. The small group worked well together and soon everyone was gathered around the fire eating the roasted venison.
Lornaldi was the groups chosen leader and once everyone had finished eating he called for his or her attention. "We have traveled many moons and so far the land is promising in providing us meat. I think if everyone agrees we will continue on in the morning following the course of this stream."
"I think that is agreeable," Midijen replied. "We will probably find the cave that our old shamud told us about very soon."
Falco stood up and faced the group, "I agree. I would like to go ahead and suggest that I be made hunt leader."
No one objected since Falco was strong and capable and had already proved himself a brave hunter before they had left their former cave. Falco was sometimes a little impulsive and daring, but it was these qualities that also made him the best choice. The other men conceded that Falco could take the position. Ranigi, who was only a few years younger, admired Falco and he was pleased for his mentor.
Lornalidi faced the group again as Falco sat down, "We have an important journey ahead of us. It is not only the journey of travel, but also of starting on our cave and in doing so many decisions will have to be made. I am grateful we have such fine hunters among us. I am also grateful that we have Avalia with her healing skills." Avalia looked down, her mother had trained her, and although she was not fully initiated she felt able to handle any situations that might arise. Her mother had died before she had finished training Avalia and much of what Availa knew now she had learned by experimentation using the knowledge she had. Lornaldi continued, "We have been fortunate so far in our travels. We had a successful hunt today and we’ve had no injuries. We will rise early tomorrow and continue on as we search for the cave." Several in the group nodded their ascent to Lornaldi’s announcement. "Now, I think we should rest and prepare for several more days of journey."
The group went to their own tents. Availa put her two children down and placed a fur-skinned cover over them. She stroked Raylia’s hair and the child looked up at her sleepily. "Mother, she asked, are we almost to our new home?"
"Yes, child we are closer than we were."
"Mother, will the new cave be bigger than our old one?"
"I’m not sure Raylia, but it will be wonderful. We will have many successful hunts there and we will grow and prosper. Your father is next in line to be leader of our new cave."
Avalia smiled at her inquisitive child. Raylia had been born almost 5 summers ago and she looked like her mother. Her shiny golden hair fell just past her shoulders and had a slight wave in it. Her gray-blue eyes were like her mother’s, yet she had her father’s smile. Avalia reached over and patted her sleeping son. He was 2 years younger than Raylia and looked more like his father. Tonja’s chubby hands were pulled up to his chin and his dark hair lay against his cheek. Avalia leaned over and kissed his cheek. Her children, she thought, her heart. Avalia’s love for them knew no bounds. Both had brought great joy and happiness to her life and to Midijen’s. Their union was already a happy one, both were deeply in love and the addition of Raylia and Tonja had added to that happiness. Midijen entered the tent and they both lay down with their sleeping children.
Just before morning broke Raylia woke up. She looked at her sleeping parents and her brother. She got up quietly and slipped out the tent opening. The five tents were set up on a small grassy knoll. Raylia slipped down the embankment and headed for the stream. She loved the water and it’s coolness on her skin. Back at their other cave Raylia had always enjoyed the river outlet near them. She had learned to swim this past Spring and now she looked forward to the opportunity to get in this babbling brook. As she reached the water’s edge she stepped in up to her knees. The current was gentle and the water was shallow. She turned and looked back toward the tents, which were several yards away and up the little hill. She could only see a part of the top of them. It seemed no one else was up yet, which was fine with her. Raylia was a happy child, loved by her parents, and caught up in her own youthfulness. She skipped several stones over the water. A fish caught her attention and she began following it slowly as it undulated under the water and darted under a rock. Raylia stepped forward and the sandy bottom seemed to shift under her feet. It almost felt as though she dropped, but yet she was still standing. She saw the fish shoot out and dart forward. The rock the fish had been under began pitching forward in the water. At first Raylia wasn’t sure what was happening, but then she looked and saw the water become choppy and then she heard a sickening crack, almost like thunder. Raylia hated thunder it scared her. She looked up at the sky, but it was clear and very blue. She turned to run to her mother, but the ground rose up before her. She looked toward the tent where her parents and her brother slept and they were moving up. "Mother!" she screamed. "Mother!" The tents heaved upward and dropped suddenly below the slope of the hill. She felt the ground continue to shake and vibrate causing her to fall in the water.
Raylia reached the pebbly shore and fell forward on her knees. The small stones dug into her skin, but in her panic she didn’t feel them. As she lay flat on her face the ground stopped shaking. She looked up and the little stream was no longer choppy, but again running smoothly along its course. She got up and ran toward the little hill, but she saw nothing but chaos. There were no tents! Trees were uprooted and the ground was broken up. Raylia stood and wondered for a moment if this was a dream. She shouted again, "Mother! Mother!" but no one answered her call. Just as she felt a sob welling up in her chest the ground began shaking again. She was so very frightened and she began running back toward the stream. She didn’t go into the stream, but along it. She fell and knocked the wind out of herself. She lay there for a moment panting and whimpering. She was very frightened, but she got up quickly and began running again before the ground opened back up. Her feet flew across the pebbly beach and over rocks. She tripped and fell several more times, but she got up each time and continued running as fast as her legs could carry her.
Her mind was racing in a thousand different directions. What had happened to her family? Why had the ground shook so and what had happened to the tents and their occupants? Inside her mind she kept whimpering, "Mother", but she knew the golden haired woman she loved had just disappeared. Raylia continued running blindly as branches hit her arms and legs. Her chest was hurting and her breath was ragged. She felt as though her heart would burst. Suddenly she stepped on an upturned root and fell forward hitting her head on a small rock. Her eyes closed and she blacked out. It was a sweet relief to lose consciousness, to escape this terrible nightmare she was in. As she lay on the ground with her destiny uncertain another group of travelers were heading nearer to her. Although it would be several days before they found her, her life would never be the same. Raylia’s conscious mind was closing the doors on her life before the terrible earthquake that robbed her of her mother, and her unconscious mind would allow her to open doors that she had never even dreamed of.
**For the rest of the story read Clan of the Cave Bears by Jean Auel**