Ayla rode Whinney far from the cave. She didn't know where she was heading. She didn't care. She had noticed Zelandoni rush to help Racer, and she knew Zelandoni was a competent healer. Ayla just needed to get away. She rode far, tears streaming down her face. Suddenly they just happened to flush a pair of ptarmigan. Without even thinking about it, Ayla whipped her sling from her head and quickly dispensed of the two birds. She climbed off Whinney and tied the feet together. Since it was always nesting season when she caught ptarmigan, she decided to search for their eggs. She found them in minutes and picked some long grass to whip up a quick carrying basket.
Ayla felt nervous around all those people. Everyone knew Jondalar; she was a stranger. They had spent last night catching up and talking about old times. Yet Ayla had nothing to reminisce with them about. She had listened quietly, only answering direct questions. Galomel had commented on how "perfectly" she could speak Zelandoni, although from her peculiar accent he could tell it was not her native language. 'Will I ever learn to speak right?' she lamented. Ayla plucked angrily at the ptarmigan as she thought about the events since her arrival. Marona obviously didn't like her. She reminded Ayla of Attoara. And Frebec. And Broud. Etc. Ayla put the ptarmigan in her basket, followed by the eggs, which she cushioned with the feathers. Then she lay down and looked at the sky. Ptarmigan ALWAYS reminded her of Creb. They had been his favorite dish, you know. He liked them stuffed with their own eggs and various herbs. Ayla decided to search the area for the herbs Creb liked best.
Afterwards she laid back down, still unable to bring herself to head back to the cave. She drifted off to sleep...
Creb was walking in some dark scary place. He tried to talk to her, but it was so dark that she couldn't see what he was saying. She felt scared, alone, and frustrated. She hated not being able to communicate. She was sent back to the time when, as a poor starving 5 yr old, she had been unable to talk. And again as a lonely frightened woman she had been able to tell Jondalar how much he meant to her. And again when Frebec mocked her words. And again when she just KNEW there was something that the Losadunai were trying to tell her. And Again when she had tried to speak directly with the S'Armunai. Tears came to her eyes as she called out for Creb. 'Are you mad at me? Don't leave me!' He was trying to tell her something, but she just couldn't understand him! 'Have I made the right choice?' she called. He only went darker. The earth began to shake...
She woke up screaming! Her eyes opened into a pair of incredibly vivid blue eyes. Jondalar looked down at her, his eyes furrowed with worry. "You should never have run off for so long!" he chastised her. "You don't even know the area! Don't you know how much you frightened me?" He hugged her fiercely. His heart pounded in his throat as he thought about what would happen if he lost HIS Ayla. She gagged.
"Jondalar? You're choking me!" He pulled away and looked lovingly at her beautiful purple face as she gasped for air and felt delicately to see if any ribs were broken. When she was breathing again, he pulled her to him.
Jondalar began fervently kissing her neck. "Oh my Ayla!" he moaned. "What would I ever do without you?" His hands traced her body. As he reached for her firm breast she moaned. Suddenly he couldn't take it anymore! His colossal bulging manhood strived to break free. He quickly took off his clothes and let Ayla do the same. He took a nipple in her mouth for a brief second, and suddenly she was ready.
"Jondalar! Oh Jondalar!" His immense member sought her warm moist depths. He thrust a couple times and they came together in perfect synchrony. It lasted only moments, but he was the best lover anyone had ever known, so it was perfect. They laid entwined for a few moments, then he disengaged himself---much too soon, Ayla thought disappointedly. He looked down at her and finally thought to kiss her.
"Let's head back," Jondalar said, but Ayla wanted to wash up in the frigid glacier water. Afterwards they walked back, his arm happily around her, and she nervously biting her nails as she wondered, 'Will his people accept me?'
