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“I have a totele” He sat up a little straighten “My le picked rabbed me and held on I still show the scars The zelandoni told her that the Golden Eagle spirit recognized me as one of his own kind Notthe Zelandonii, but if you have one, it is thought to be lucky”

“Well, you were lucky enough to get away,” Joharran said

“I guess I was lucky enough to get away from the cave lion that marked me,” Ayla said, “and so was Jondalar I think his totem is the Cave Lion, too What do you think, Zelandoni?”

Ayla had been telling Jondalar that the Cave Lion spirit had chosen him ever since she could talk to him, but he had always avoided any comment about it It seemed that individual totems weren’t as important to his people as they were to the Clan, but it was important to her She didn’t want to take any chances

The Clan believed that a er than a wo male totem had upset Iza so In spite of her powerful toteinning in pregnancy, during his birth and, many believed, afterward They were sure he was unlucky—that his mother had no mate, no man to raise him properly, confirmed it The difficulties and misfortune were blamed on the fact that she was a woain, she wanted no problems for this child that Jondalar had started, not for her or the baby Though she had learned a great deal about the Mother, she had not forgotten Clan teachings, and if Jondalar’s totem was a Cave Lion like hers, then, she was sure, it would be strong enough for her to have a healthy baby, ould have a normal life

Soht Zelandoni’s attention She looked closely at the young woman She wants Jondalar to have a Cave Lion totem, the woman realized, it is very ireater significance to these Clan people who raised her It probably is true that the Cave Lion is his totem now, and it won’t hurt hiotten back at all!

“I believe you’re right, Ayla,” the donier said “Jondalar can claim the Cave Lion as his totem, and claim the luck He was very lucky you were there when he needed you”

“I told you, Jondalar!” Ayla said, looking relieved

Why does she or this Clan put so much importance on the Spirit of the Cave Lion? Or the Cave Bear? Zelandoni wondered All the spirits are important, those of ani, but it is the Great Mother who gave birth to them all Who are these people? This Clan?

“You did say you lived alone in a valley, didn’t you? Where was this Clan that raised you, Ayla?” the donier asked

“Yes, I’d like to know, too Didn’t Jondalar introduce you as Ayla of the Mamutoi?” Joharran said

“You said you didn’t know the Mother, but you greeted us with a welcome froive Doni,” Folara added

Ayla looked fro a touch of panic There was a hint of a grin on his face, as though he was rather enjoying the way Ayla’s truthful answers baffled everyone He squeezed her hand again, but didn’t say anything He was interested in how she would respond She relaxed a bit

“My clan lived at the south end of the land that extended far into Beran Sea Iza told me just before she died that I should look for my own people She said they lived north, on the mainland, but when I finally did look for them, I couldn’t find anyone The summer was half over before I found the valley, and I was afraid that the cold season would coood place, protected from winds, a small river, lots of plants and animals, even a small cave I decided to stay for the winter, and ended up staying for three years, with only Whinney and Baby for co at the man

“I found hi; it was near the end of suh to travel We decided to ht in a different place, going farther froone before Then we met Talut, the headman of the Lion Camp, and he invited us to visit We stayed with the of the next summer, and while I was there, they adopted me They wanted Jondalar to stay, too, and beco to return”