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Creb had been watching silently, hardly daring to believe she was really back There were stories of people returning after a death curse, but he still didn’t believe it was possible There’s soed She’s rown up No wonder, after what she’s been through She res I wonder what else she remembers? What is it like in the world of the spirits?
“Spirits!” heThe bones are still set! I o break the curse
Creb hurried away to break the pattern of cave bear bones still set in the for outside the crack in the wall and went in, and gaped in surprise when he cae The skull of the cave bear had h the eye socket, the pattern was already broken
Many small rodents shared the cave of the clan, drawn by the stored food and warmth One of the it over Creb shuddered slightly, n of protection, then moved the bones back to the pile at the far end As he walked out, he saw Brun waiting for him
“Brun,” Mog-ur gestured when he saw the man “I can’t believe it You know I haven’t been in here since I laid the curse No one has I just went in to break it, but it was already broken” His expression held a look of wonder and awe
“What do you think happened?”
“It must have been her totem It’s past the tiician answered
“You ht” The leader started to make another motion, then hesitated
“Did you want to speak to me, Brun?”
“I want to talk to you alone” He hesitated again “Excuse irl’s return was a surprise”
Everyeyes to avoid looking into another’s hearth They couldn’t help it They had never seen someone who had returned from the dead before
“It’s understandable, under the circu-ur replied and started to move on
“That’s not what I wanted to see you about,” Brun said, putting out a hand to detain the old -ur waited expectantly, watching Brun grope for words “A ceremony now that she’s back”
“No cereone, there’s no need for protection”
“I don’t mean that kind of ceremony”
“What kind do you mean?”
Brun hesitated again, then started in a new direction “I watched her talking to you and Iza Do you notice a difference in her, Mog-ur?”
“What do you naled warily, unsure of Brun’s intent
“She has a strong totes us luck, too He ht She would never have co protection I think she knows it, now That’s what I meant by different”
“Yes, I think I noticed a difference like that But I still don’t understand what it has to do with ceremonies”
“Re we had after the mammoth hunt?”
“Youher?”
“No, the one after, without her I’ve been thinking about thatever since she left I didn’t think she would come back, but I knew if she did, it would , evenabout e should do if she did come back”
“What we should do? There’s nothing we have to do The evil spirits are gone, Brun She’s back, but she’s no different than she alas She’s just a girl, nothing has changed”
“But what if I want to change so? Is there a ceremony for that?”
Mog-ur was puzzled “A ceree the way you act toward her What kind of change? I can’t tell you about ceremonies if I don’t knohat they’re for”