The Mamutoi were a close-knit people. Almost everyone could count at least one relative or friend in every Camp. But now the fabric of their lives threatened to be torn apart, and many people, including Talut, were very distressed. The Councils convened, but ended up wrangling over the dispute. This was an unprecedented situation, and they didn't have the means or the strategies to resolve it.
The bright afternoon sun did little to dispel the somber mood of the encampment. Walking Whinney up the path toward Cattail Camp, Ayla noticed the place where red-ochre earth had been dug out of the ground, and it reminded her of her visit to the Music Lodge. Though they were still practicing, and still planning a big celebration after the mammoth hunt, there wasn't the same sense of expectation and excitement about it. Even the happiness Deegie had felt about her Matrimonial, and Latie about her elevation to the status of woman, was dampened by the differences that threatened to disrupt the entire Summer Meeting.
Ayla talked about leaving, but Nezzie told her it would not solve anything. She had not caused the problem. Her presence had only brought into the open a deep and basic difference between the two factions. Nezzie said the problem had been brewing ever since she took in Rydag. Many people still disapproved of him being allowed to live with them.
Ayla worried about Rydag. He seldom smiled and she noticed an absence of his gentle humor. He had no appetite, and she didn't think he was sleeping well. He seemed to enjoy listening to her talk about her life with the Clan, but he seldom joined in on conversations.
She settled Whinney into the lean-to, and saw Jondalar on the broad, grassy meadow below riding toward the river crossing on Racer. He seemed different lately. Not quite so distant, but saddened.
On the spur of the moment, Ayla decided to go to the clearing at the center of the encampment and see what activities were going on. The Wolf Camp insisted that since they were hosting the Meeting, they could not take sides, but she believed they favored the Lion Camp's position. She was not going to hide. She was not an "abomination," the Clan were people, and so were Rydag and her son. She wanted to do something, show herself. Maybe visit the Mammoth Hearth, or the Music Lodge, or talk to Latie.
She set out with determined steps, nodding to those who acknowledged her, ignoring those who did not, and when she neared the Music Lodge, she saw Deegie coming out.
"Ayla! You are just the person I want to see. Are you going any place special?"
"I just decided to get away from Lion Camp."
"Good! I was going to visit Tricie, and see her baby. I've been wanting to visit, but she's been gone every time I've tried. Kylie just told me she's there now. Do you want to come with me?"
"Yes."
They walked toward the headwoman's lodge. "We came to pay a visit, Tricie," Deegie explained at the entrance, "and to see your baby."
"Come in," Tricie said. "I just put him down, but I don't think he's asleep yet."
Ayla stayed back while Deegie picked him up and held him, cooing and talking to him. "Don't you want to see him, Ayla?" Tricie finally said. It was almost a challenge.
"I do want to see him."
She took the baby from Deegie's arms and studied him carefully. His skin was so white it was nearly translucent, and his eyes such a pale blue they had almost no color at all. His hair was a bright orangey-red, but it had all the texture and tight, springy curl of Ranec's. Most distinctive, his face was an infant version of Ranec's face, Ayla knew without doubt that Ralev was Ranec's baby. Ranec had started him as surely as Broud had started Durc growing inside her. She couldn't help but wonder, when she joined with him, would she have a baby like this someday?
Ayla talked to the infant in her arms. He looked up at her with interest, as though he was fascinated, then he smiled and cooed a soft little delighted laugh. Ayla hugged him to her, closed her eyes and felt the softness of his cheek against hers, and felt her heart melt.
"Isn't he beautiful, Ayla?" Deegie said.
"Yes, isn't he beautiful?" Tricie asked, her tone sharper.
Ayla looked at the young mother. "No, he's not beautiful." Deegie gaped at her with surprise. "No one could ever say he is beautiful, but he is the most… lovable baby I have ever seen. Not a woman in the world could resist him. He doesn't have to be beautiful. There is something special about him, Tricie. I think you are very lucky to have him."
The mother's smile softened. "I think I am, too, Ayla. And I agree, he is not beautiful, but he is good, and so lovable."
Suddenly there was a commotion outside, shouting and wailing. The three young women hurried to the entranceway.
"O Great Mother! My daughter! Someone help her!" a woman wailed.
"What's wrong? Where is she?" Deegie asked.
"A lion! A lion has her! Down in the meadow. Someone help her, please!" Several men with spears were already running toward the path.
"A lion? No, it can't be!" Ayla said, as she started running after the men.
"Ayla! Where are you going?" Deegie called after her, trying to catch up.
"To get the girl," Ayla called back.
She raced toward the path. A crowd of people was standing near the top of it watching the men with spears running down the path. Beyond them, in plain sight on the grassy floodplain across the river, was a massive cave lion, with a shaggy reddish mane, circling a tall young girl, who was too petrified to move. Ayla looked down, studied the animal closely to make sure, then ran into Lion Camp. Wolf jumped up on her.
"Rydag!" she called. "Come and get Wolf! I've got to get that girl." When Rydag came out of the tent, she commanded the wolf, "Stay!" in her firmest tone, then told the boy not to let him go. Only then did she whistle for Whinney.
She jumped on the mare's back, and raced down the path. The men with spears were already crossing the river when she guided Whinney around them. As soon as she reached firm ground on the other side, she urged Whinney into a gallop, and headed straight for the lion and the girl. The people watching from the top of the path looked on with wonder and amazement.
"What does she think she can do?" someone said, angrily. "She doesn't even have a spear. The girl seems unharmed so far, but rushing at the lion with a horse might incite him. If that child is harmed, it will be her fault."
Jondalar overheard the comment, as well as several other people from the Lion Camp, who turned to him questioningly. He just watched Ayla, swallowing the misgivings that rose in his throat. He couldn't be sure, but she must have been, or she would never have gone down there with Whinney.
As Ayla and Whinney neared, the huge cave lion stopped and faced her. There was a scar on his nose, a familiar scar. She remembered when he got it.
"Whinney, it's Baby! It really is Baby!" she cried, as she brought the horse to a stop and slid off.
She ran toward the lion, not even considering that he might not remember her. This was her Baby. She was his mother. She had raised him from a small cub, taken care of him, hunted with him.
It was just that fearlessness that he remembered. He started toward her, as the girl watched with fear. The next thing Ayla knew, the lion had tripped her, to knock her down, and she had her arms around his big shaggy neck, hugging him full-length, while he wrapped his forelegs around her in the closest thing to an embrace he could accomplish.
"Oh, Baby, you came back. How did you ever find me?" she cried, wiping her tears of joy in his rough mane.