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Jondalar put the new stones in his pouch, looked around once more, then looked up at the woain
“Ayla! What are you wearing?”
“Don’t you like it?”
“I like it! Where did you get it?”
“Iyours I copied yours to fit ht be so only a man should wear And I didn’t kno to bead a shirt Is it all right?”
“I think so I don’t recall that the woer, ht be different This is Ma I lost mine e reached the end of the Great Mother River It looks wonderful on you, Ayla, and I think you’ll like it better When it gets cold, you’ll notice hoarm it is, and comfortable”
“I’lad you like it I wanted to dress … your way”
“My way … I wonder if I knohat my way is any more Look at us! A man and a woman and two horses! One of the It feels strange to be starting on a Journey so unencu except spears—and a spear thrower! And my pouch full of firestones I think we’d be quite a surprise if anyone were to see us But I’m more surprised at myself I aed me, woman, and I love you for it”
“I, too, aed, Jondalar I love you”
“Well, which way do we go?”
Ayla felt a disquieting sense of loss as they walked the length of the valley, followed by the mare and her colt When she reached the turn at the far end, she looked back
“Jondalar! Look! Horses have come back to the valley I haven’t seen horses here since I first caht Whinney’s dalad to see them back I always did think this was their valley”
“Is it the same herd?”
“I don’t know The stallion was yellow, like Whinney I don’t see the stallion, only the leadtime”
Whinney had seen the horses, too, and she gave a loud neigh The greeting was returned, and Racer’s ears turned toward them with interest Then the mare followed the woman, and her colt trotted behind
Ayla followed the river south and crossed when she saw the steep slope on the other side She stopped at the top, and both she and Jondalar mounted Whinney The woman found her landher, more broken and folded, with rocky canyons and steep slopes leading to flat rises When they neared an opening between jagged rock walls, Ayla disround It held no fresh spoor She led the way into a blind canyon, then climbed up on a rock that had split from the wall As she walked to a rockslide at the back, Jondalar followed her
“This is the place, Jondalar,” she said, and, withdrawing a pouch froave it to him
He knew the place “What is this?” he asked, holding up the s
“Red earth, Jondalar For his grave”
He nodded, unable to speak He felt the pressure of tears and made no effort to check them He poured the red ochre into his hand and broadcast it on the rocks and gravel, then spread a second handful Ayla waited while he stared at the rocky slope et eyes, and, when he turned to go, she rave
They rode for some time before Jondalar spoke “He was a favorite of the Mother She wanted him back”
They went a little farther, and then he asked, “What was that gesture you made?”
“I was asking the Great Cave Bear to protect him on his journey, to wish him luck It means ‘ith Ursus’ ”
“Ayla, I didn’t appreciate it when you toldhi the Clan totems to help him I think that, because of you, he will find his way in the spirit world”