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“No I think I knohen this one was started” Ayla sht, I just couldn’t concentrate, and I forgot toto love rain, especially at night, when I have to colad when this watching year is over” The young woman studied her mentor, then asked the question she had wanted to ask “You said you had thought aboutWhy didn’t you?”
“Yes, I al accident After he died, I buriedNo one else ever made me want to mate … except Jondalar There was a time when I did consider him—he was so insistent, and he can be very persuasive—but you knoas forbidden I was his donii-wo We would probably have had to ht have been hard to find a place I felt that it would be unfair to him; his fah for hio to live with Dalanar,” the Donier said “And I didn’t want to leave, either Did you knoas selected for the zelandonia and startedbefore I was a woman? I’m not sure when I finally realized that the zelandonia wasAnd it’s just as well I have never been Blessed by Doni I’m afraid I would have been a childless mate”
“I know the Second had children, but I don’t think I have ever seen a zelandoni as pregnant,” Ayla said
“Soe to lose it in the first fewSoive it to another woman to raise, often a barren woman who desperately wants a child The mated ones usually keep the child, but few Zelandonia women are mated It’s easier for the men They can leave most of the child care to their mates You kno difficult it can be The demands of a mated woman, especially if she becomes a mother, often conflict with the needs of the zelandonia”
> “Yes, I know,” Ayla said
All the people of the Ninth Cave were in a state of excited anticipation They would be leaving for the Su in the final rush of getting ready to leave Ayla was helping Jondalar and Jonayla pack, deciding what to leave behind, what to take, and where to pack it, partly because she wanted to spend more time with them Marthona ith the with her Cave to a Su; she couldn’t walk very far anymore She wanted to be around when they packed so she wouldn’t feel entirely left out Ayla wished she didn’t have to stay back frolad she would be there to look after her
Her , and she was so crippled with arthritis, sometio later, after the Suht She loved the wohtful wisdoood opportunity to spend ht of it as co, even part of it She resolved to find ways to be with her faot back, but if she didn’t finish her project of Marking the Moon and Sun this year, she would have to start all over again another year, and she had only until a little past the Suo She had returned early last year to start on the project
Thethe winter Some days it was so stormy it was impossible to see the sun or thethe Winter Shortday and both the Fall San Zelandoni had helped her with the Fall Saht, using special wicks in a sacred lath as the following sundown to sunup Ayla had done it the following Spring Sa her Since she had been fortunate enough to see thethe cold seasons, she didn’t want to give it up now
“Sos,” Jondalar said “It would actually be easier if all we had to worry about e could carry on our backs Then ouldn’t have all our friends and relatives asking if we could just take a few things All those few things canload”
“You won’t have Whinney this year, so you have to tell people that you don’t have as much room,” Ayla said
“I have told thes would take, and surely with two horses, there h room,” Jondalar said
“Just tell them no, Jondy,” Jonayla said “That’s what I tell anyone who asks me”
“That’s a good idea, Jonayla,” said Marthona, “but didn’t you ask to pack sos for Sethona?”
“But, grandam, she’sa little indignant
“Everyone in the Ninth Cave has become my ‘best friend’ or would like to think so,” Jondalar said “It’s not so easy saying no Sometimes I may want to ask a favor of someone, but what he’ll remember is that I said no when all he wanted was to have a few of his things carried by one of the horses”