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Clanluna
Chapter 34: Ranec’s fate
Harry Potter is owned by JK Rowling
Earth’s Children is owned by Jean Auel
Abraxas Clan of the Clanluna List
Deceased members:
Uba – Clan, mother of Creb, Brun and Iza
---Creb (37) – Clan, former Mog-Ur, 1st Weez-Ur (Roe Deer/Ursus totem),
---Iza (28) – Clan, Uba’s mother, adopted mother of Ayla
---Brun (36) – Clan, former leader, (Bison totem)
------Aba (38) Clan, Brun’s 2nd mate (ground squirrel totem)
------Ebra (41) – Clan, Brun’s mate, Broud’s mother
---------Broud (21) – Clan, former Leader, Ebra’s son (Wooly Rhinoceros totem)
----------- Oga (20) – Clan, Crug’s 2nd mate, Broud’s widow (hamster totem)
Dorv - Clan
---Iga – Clan, mother of Ebra and Uka, Dorv’s Mate
------Droog (34) – Clan, toolmaker, Aga’s mate, son of Iga Dorv’s mate
Borg (12) – Clan, Ona’s 1st mate, son of Ika (Boar/Ursus totem)
Zoug (43) – Clan, second in command to the leader before Brun (Ursus totem)
--- Grod (32) – Clan, son of the mate of Zoug, (Brown Bear totem)
Living Members:
Thonlan (17) – Other, Woodworker, Jondolar’s brother, 9th Ranked male Hunter (Cave Lion totem)
---Luna (24) – Other, Leader, 1st Weech, Creb’s widow, Thonlan’s mate, (Snorkack totem)
-------Zeen – (5) ½ Clan, son of Luna, Goov’s Acolyte, 2nd Weez-Ur (Ursus Totem)
-------Mara – (1) Other, Luna’s Daughter, Weech
---------Ansalong (13) - Owl
---------Winter Sleeper (4) – Cave Bear
------------Bop (1) – male Cave Bear
------------Honey Lover (0) female Cave Bear cub
Zar (24) ½ Clan, 1st Ranked male hunter, Goov’s Acolyte, Clanluna’s Acolyte, (Ursus Totem)
---Ayla (18) – Other, Clan’s 1st Ranked Medicine Woman, 2nd Weech, 2nd Ranked Woman-Who-Hunts, Zar’s Mate, (Cave Lion totem)
--------Durc (7) – ½ Clan, Ayla’s son, (Gray Wolf totem)
--------Iza (5) – ¼ Clan, Ayla’s daughter, 3rd Weech, training to become Woman-Who-Hunts
(Unicorn Totem)
--------Mariza (1) Other, Ayla’s daughter, Weech
Vorn (17) – Clan, Uka’s son, 2nd Ranked male hunter
---Uba (12) – Clan, Medicine Woman, Vorn’s mate, Iza’s daughter
------Uma (3) – Clan, Uba’s daughter
------Vuba (1) – ½ Clan, Uba’s daughter
---Uka (29) – Clan, Ebra’s sister, Grod’s widow, Vorn’s Mother
Goov (24) – Clan, mog-ur, 10th Ranked male hunter, (Aurochs totem/Ursus totem)
---Ovra (22) – Clan, Goov’s mate, (Beaver totem)
------Oogra (3) – Clan, Ovra’s daughter
Groog (29) – 1/8 Clan, 3rd Ranked male hunter (megaceros totem)
---Iga (25) - Other, (formerly: Andromedanaea of the Sungaea) 3rd Ranked Woman-Who-Hunts, red-foot, Clanluna (one-who-serves-the-Mother) Groog’s Mate
------Griga (3) – 1/16 Clan, Iga’s daughter
------Wilmar (1) – Other, Iga’s Son
Broog (23) – ½ Clan, 4th Ranked male hunter
---Ena (22) – ½ Clan, 4th Ranked Woman-Who-Hunts
------Boov (8) – ½ Clan son of Ena
------Brena (1) – ½ Clan daughter of Ena
------Ura (7) – ½ Clan, daughter of Oda, future mate of Durc
Vorv (21) – ½ Clan, 5th Ranked male hunter
---Uva (19) – ½ Clan, mate of Vorv
------Broov (8) – ½ Clan son of Uva (looks full Clan)
------Ugra (7) – ½ Clan daughter of Uva (looks full Others) training to become Woman-Who-Hunts
------Vorva (3) – ½ Clan daughter of Uva
------Zoug (1) – ¼ Clan son of Uva
Brac (12) – Clan, Oga’s 1st son, 6th Ranked hunter (Bison totem)
---Igra (10) – Clan, Ika’s daughter, Brac’s Mate
------Broud (1) ½ Clan, Igra’s Daughter.
Crug (26) – Clan, 7th Ranked male hunter (wolf totem)
---Ika (24) – Clan, Crug’s mate
------Crik (3) – Clan, Ika’s son
------Dorv (3) Clan, Oga’s 3rd son
------Corg (1) ½ Clan, Oga’s 4th Son
Groob (10) – Clan, Aga’s son, toolmaker, 8th Ranked male Hunter
---Eva (11) – ½ Clan daughter of Ena, 5th Ranked Woman-Who-Hunts
---Aga (28) – Clan, Droog’s widow, Groob’s mother
Grev (9) – Clan, Oga’s 2nd son, 11th Ranked male Hunter
---Ona (13) – Clan, Borg’s widow (Owl totem)
------Bona (3) Clan, Ona’s daughter
------Orga (1) ½ Clan, Ona’s daughter
Bellapheron Clan of the Clanluna list
Ekwus (5) – Leader of the Centaur Herd
---Quicksilver- Unicorn – Ekwus’ Mate
------whisper (1) – Unicorn, Quicksilver’s filly
------ Phanthum (0) – Unicorn, Quicksilver’s filly
---Duskie (5)– Unicorn – Ekwus’ Mate
------ Miss Priss (1) – Unicorn, Duskie’s filly
------ Heather (0) – Unicorn, Duskie’s filly
---Sparkle (5)– Unicorn – Ekwus’ Mate
------Bangar (1) - Centaur, Sparkle’s colt
------Litestepper (0) – Unicorn, Sparkle’s Filly
---Silvertip (5) – Unicorn – Ekwus’ Mate
------Brackus (1) – Centaur, Silvertip’s colt
------ Tangle (0) – Centaur, Silvertip’s colt
---Nightwind (5) - Unicorn – Ekwus’ Mate
------Nether Light (1) - Unicorn Nightwind’s filly
------ Star-gazer (0) – Centaur, Nightwind’s colt
Dawn-Breaker (2) – Centaur, Duskie’s colt
---Midnight (2) – Unicorn, Nightwind’s filly, Dawn-breaker’s mate
------Starlight (2) – Unicorn, Silvertip’s filly, Dawn-breaker’s mate
Atturous (2) – Centaur, Sparkle’s colt
------Firelight (2) – Unicorn, Quicksilver’s filly, Atturous’ mate
Autumn had brought another visit from Ody with trade goods from the Sungaea Summer Meeting. The Sungaeae had refused to recognize his joining with Aris, so they had been rejoined at the Summer Meeting. Ody gave them the news that Aris suspected that she had been bless, traded for more Clan furs and firestones, then returned to his mate’s camp.
The Women-Who-Hunt decided that they preferred to hunt separately from the men for large game, though many couples were starting to go on small hunts together. Both the Women-Who-Hunt and the Men had gone on Mammoth hunts after the Clan Gathering. This was fortunate, because the extra meat would be needed as winter came earlier and harsher than usual.
A pandemic of winter flu swept through Luna’s camp of the Clanluna. In spite of the care provided by Ayla, Uba, Iga, Zar and Luna’s use of precious potion ingredients, Several of the older members of the Clanluna succumbed. Brun, Grod, Droog and Aba all walked in the Spirit world now.
Luna began teaching the 3rd year material to Ayla, who wouldn’t get a choice for O.W.L. options. She had to take the ones that Luna had taken. By now, it had become clear that Ayla was more gifted in Herbalogy, and Potions than Luna, and would one day surpass her. While Ayla continued to struggle with Defense, Transfiguration, and Charms. Now, she’d added Care of Magical Creatures, which Ayla also had a talent for. Divination was more difficult for Ayla and Ancient Runes, Ayla didn’t have a knack for at all.
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Ranec of the Lion Camp of the Mamutoi was not having a good year! When the Mamuts decreed at the Summer Gathering that there would be no funeral for Rydag after the mute, ½ Clan boy had died, Ranec realized just how parochial the Mamutoi were and began to wonder if they’d have a funeral for him when he walked with Mut. He’d tried finding comfort in the arms of a young woman, but for some reason, he couldn’t bring himself to Join with her.
And so, Ranec had not returned with the rest of the Lion Camp from the Summer Gathering. Instead, he had decided to make a journey to seek out his mother’s people. They had accepted Wymez, perhaps they would accept him?
He’d thought he could make it far enough south to winter with the Sungaea. But, Mut was not with him, He’d passed completely through their territory without finding any of their Camps. Ranec had also miscalculated about the earliness and severity of winter. Not finding people to winter with, He’d made himself a small, crude tent to sit out the winter storms.
The blizzard had come upon him suddenly, He’d barely managed to get the tent up and in the harsh storm, it kept collapsing on him. He knew he was soon to join Mut. Finally, he just gave up. He lay under the collapsed tent as the wind howled and the snow began to accumulate on top of the fallen tent, burying Ranec.
“Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow!” cried Ranec as a herd of animals trampled him in the Storm.
Then, he really screamed, when it felt like a mammoth stepped on him!
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“What was that?” asked Luna.
“WHAT?” yelled back Eva, over the howling wind.
The two women had decided to take the sleigh out for a winter hunt when a sudden blizzard hit them. In the blinding snow and howling winds they could barely see each other and definitely couldn’t see the lead snorkacks of the team that were pulling the sleigh. Luna trusted that the snorkacks could find their way back to the cave but they’d just hit a rough patch in the snow and run over a large rock buried in the snow, when Luna thought she’d heard a human scream.
“This woman thinks she heard a scream,” waved Luna, in Eva’s face once she’d pulled on the reigns to stop the snorkacks.
“This woman didn’t hear anything,” waved back Eva, in Luna’s face.
“Wait here, this woman is going to go see what we ran over,” signed Luna, as she pulled her wand out of the hood of her parka and lit it.
Eva turned and watched the light of Luna’s wand fade into the haze. When she couldn’t see it anymore she became fearful. What if her Leader got lost in the blizzard? Eva was currently lost in the blizzard! She could die out here in this storm with no cave to protect her! She pulled the fur blanket on her legs around her for comfort as the blinding snow howled on.
As Luna made her way through the blinding snow, she used the ruts the sleigh’s runners had made to retrace her path. She couldn’t see them, but she could feel them with her feet. When she thought she might have seen a dark shape on the ground, the knelt to discover a bloody patch of snow that was lumpy. She swished and flicked her wand to levitate whatever was buried under the snow and a hide slid off a man shaped figure. From a foot away, she could see that his chest was caved in. So she put him in a full body bind and continued to levitate him as she tried to return the way she’d come.
Unfortunately, the drifting snow was quickly erasing the sleigh ruts and her footprints. Luna realized that she’d lost the trail completely, when she imagined a dark shape ahead and made for it, hoping it was the sleigh and not an animal.
Eva was relieved when she saw Luna return. They made room to put the man at their feet and Luna cast a warming charm to keep him from getting hypothermia or frostbite.
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When Luna and Eva had returned to the Cave in the middle of the blizzard, levitating an injured man, Uba rushed to Ayla’s hearth to help. Once Luna had deposited the man at Zar’s hearth, Luna when back into the storm to unhitch the team, leaving the Medicine Women to care for the strange man whose face was even darker than Zar’s. After they’d cut his parka, tunic and leggings off the man, Uba realized that it was hopeless.
“We can’t save him,” signed Uba mournfully, as she saw how badly his chest was caved in. “He’s too badly injured! This Medicine Woman doesn’t even know why he’s still alive!”
Ayla nodded her agreement.
“How is he?” asked Luna, in English as she stamped the snow off her feet and shed her parka.
“We can’t save him,” replied Uba.
“Why not?” asked Luna.
“Look at his chest,” pointed out Ayla. “Too many of his ribs are broken to heal, if you didn’t have him in a full body bind, he wouldn’t even be able to breathe!”
“All we have to do is vanish his ribs and give him a dose of skelo-grow potion to re-grow them. Then, he’ll be fine,” said Luna, as she stepped over to Thonlan’s hearth and started rooting through her trunk for her potion making supplies. “Here I’ll show you how to make it. Uh-oh!”
“What’s wrong?” asked Uba.
“I don’t have all the ingredients,” replied Luna.
“What are you lacking, perhaps we could make substitutes,” signed Ayla.
“I’ve got everything except powered crocodile tooth and coca leaves,” said Luna.
“Well if you tell me their properties, perhaps we could make substitutes?” offered Ayla.
In the end, Ayla was able to find a root in her stores that would have similar properties as coca leaves for the potion and Iga had a mushroom that they were able to grind up and substitute for crocodile tooth. But the potion had used up the last of Luna’s stores. The few ingredients she had left were not enough to make any potion she could think of. From now on, Luna could offer no more practical demonstrations of potion making.
Ranec had a painful night after Luna vanished his rib cage and the potion grew him a new one.
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The next morning, Ranec awoke in a strange cave. He’d had a strange dream about a group of women, including a doe flathead! He realized that he was naked under the softest mammoth fur blanket he’d ever felt. He opened his eyes to a warm cup of tea in front of him. Further away were a blonde woman with her back to him, dishing out food to a man and two children. There was also a cradle that he supposed, contained a baby.
“Thank you,” said Renec, in mammutoi, as he sat up and held up his cup of tea. He winced from a pain in his chest and looked down to see that someone had sewn stitches on it, like he was an old tunic that needed mending!”
The family turned at the sound of his voice and Ranec was horrified! The woman had the same blonde hair and blue eyes that were commonplace amongst the Mammutoi. The little girl had the same eyes and hair that was as dark black as Ranec’s, though her’s was less curly. But the other two were abominations of mixed spirits! The man had the same black hair as the girl and dark brown eyes like Ranec’s. His skin was almost as dark tan as Ranec’s too. The boy had brown hair and eyes like Rydag’s!
Once he’d gotten over his initial shock, Ranec’s expression softened into a smile.
“You speak Mamutoi?” asked Ayla.
“Yes, I am Ranec of the Lion Camp of the Mammutoi,” said Ranec, as he began naming all his ties and held out his hands in greeting.
Ayla waited for him to finish before clasping his hands and naming her ties.
“I am Ayla, Weech and 1st Ranked Medicine Woman of the Abraxas Clan of the Clanluna, born to the Sungaea, adopted by the Clan of the Cave Bear, amongst whom she was the also the 1st Ranked Medicine Woman, mated to Zar, Mother of Durc, Iza, Mariza and Ekwus, and 2nd Ranked Woman-Who-Hunts,” replied Ayla in the manner that Thonlan had taught her to name ties in Mammutoi, before releasing his hands and pushing him back. “And as the 1st Ranked Medicine Woman, I am ordering you to lay back down and rest! You nearly died!”
Ranec winced in pain as he lay back down. The mixed man came forward, clasped his hands, briefly, and started waving them.
“This man is Zar, 1st Ranked Male Hunter of the Abrax Clan of the Clanluna,” began signing Zar, as he started naming his ties and Ayla translated.
“Wait! How is he saying all that?” asked Ranec.
“He is talking with his hands,” replied Ayla. “Clan people, the ones you call flatheads, are not able to talk with only sounds, they use their hands. Most mixed people can learn to talk with sounds like the Others, people like you and me. But a few, like my mate, can’t say all the sounds of the Other’s talk. So I speak sounds for him.”
Renec was thunderstruck! Had Rydag been trying to talk with his hands all those years and nobody had recognized it? The mixed child that was deemed too stupid to talk could have talked if only they’d know how to interpret his signs?
“Why you so dark?” asked Durc, in Mammutoi.
“My mother’s mate took a journey, far to the south, where he met my mother,” explained Ranec. “She was much darker than me.”
“’dat like Zar!” said Iza, in Mammutoi, “He mother came from south too!”
When Renec looked around the cave, he realized that these weren’t the only mixed members of this Camp and some of them were even pure Flathead! Still, he knew it would impolite to make a big deal out of it. This seemed to be normal for these people.
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Ranec was amazed at how fast he recovered over the next few days. He met all the members of the Clan as he recovered. He was not surprised that Iga acted like he stunk, when he found out she used to be Sungaea. The Mammutoi and the Sungaea tended to demonize each other. But he was surprised she only communicated by signs.
On the evening after Ayla and Uba finally pronounced him well, the children gathered in the center of the cave and began drumming. He’d known something special was going to happen all day. When the drumming began, he thought it did sound a little similar to the rhythms the Mammutoi used for Mother Festivals.
Still, he was surprised when the adults gathered around the central fire and only drank a sip of bitter tea before the dancing began. Where was the Booza? The dance steps seemed very different from the Mammutoi Mother Festival dances. Still when a Clan woman pulled him out to dance, he accepted her invitation. He, like everyone else, changed partners many times as the dance when on. Then, Ranec began to notice a low pitched hum and a glow coming from the floor of the cave. As the sensation intensified, he felt himself being pulled from the dance by a Clan woman. What was her name again? Ona?
He’d already picked up a few Clan signs. One, in particular, stuck in his memory. He tried it out to see if it was true.
It Was! Ona, knelt, and presented to him!
They’d only given him a Clan-style wrap to wear. Ranec untied it and knelt behind her. He ran his hand in circle on her leather covered back before untying her wrap. Leaning over her, he kissed the back of Ona’s neck as he reached around to fondle her chest. When he was ready and brushed his tip against her gates, Ona pushed back onto him, taking him in. Ranec reached around her between her folds to make sure that the Pleasures they Shared were mutual. Although she didn’t moan, he could tell when she was peaking and that pushed him over the edge too. When he’d spent himself, he leaned on her back so he could hold her close until he’d softened up and fallen out of her.
Then her pushed her down and rolled her over so he could kiss her mouth. Although Grev never kissed her while Relieving his Needs, Borg had been known to, occasionally, so Ona knew how to respond properly. But Borg hadn’t been this good at kissing!
As the mushroom tea enhanced her senses, Ayla began wondering what Thonlan did to make Luna moan so loudly during Pleasures. After she’d pulled him back to his hearth, he made her moan that loudly!
Grev was not happy that he’d been picked by Aga. He’s wanted to Relieve his Needs with someone closer to his own age. Ona was bad enough! The tea had helped him function for her, but once he got started, he had trouble Relieving his own Needs. So he kept trying, much to Aga’s delight.
Brac had a similar experience with Uka.
As Luna reached her climax beneath Zar, she began having visions of Mara and Mariza, several years older, riding on the backs of unicorns. Mariza had Ayla’s blonde hair and Dyondar’s piercing blue eyes, while Mara had Thonlan’s shade of blue eyes and auburn hair that was darker than her dirty blonde, but lighter than Thonlan’s brown.
Ika left with Goov, Ovra with Crug, Ena with Vorv, Uva with Broog, Igra with Groog, Uba with Vorn. (There was no rule that a woman couldn’t Share Pleasures with her own mate) So, Eva followed their example and took Groob back to their hearth.
Iga was left dancing alone. And since as Clanluna, she had to finish the bowl, she’d gotten a bigger dose of the tea than anyone else. She lost herself to the mushroom and found herself wandering over to Zar’s hearth where she helped her acolyte worship her Goddess by Relieving Luna’s Needs until they all collapsed from exhaustion!
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The next morning, Ona awoke with the new Man of the Other’s Spooning her. If she had been capable, she would have smiled with contentment. Instead, she slipped out of his arms without waking him and prepared a breakfast for him and the others at Zar’s Hearth where Ranec had been staying. Ranec, Luna, Zar and Iga awoke around the same time as the children had and as they wandered back from where they had drummed until they fallen asleep, Ona dished out a stew for everybody.
Once their bellies were full, Ona started sneaking glances at Luna.
Finally Luna caught on.
“What is it?” asked Luna.
“Does the Leader remember when she told this woman that she could choose her own mate?” signed Ona.
“Yes, you chose Grev because he was the only single man,” signed Luna.
“Is it too late for this woman to change her mind?” asked Ona.
“No. If you are unhappy at Grev’s hearth, you may move to another,” signed Luna.
“Then this woman chooses him!” signed Ona, as she pointed a Ranec.
Chapter 34: Ranec’s fate
Harry Potter is owned by JK Rowling
Earth’s Children is owned by Jean Auel
Abraxas Clan of the Clanluna List
Deceased members:
Uba – Clan, mother of Creb, Brun and Iza
---Creb (37) – Clan, former Mog-Ur, 1st Weez-Ur (Roe Deer/Ursus totem),
---Iza (28) – Clan, Uba’s mother, adopted mother of Ayla
---Brun (36) – Clan, former leader, (Bison totem)
------Aba (38) Clan, Brun’s 2nd mate (ground squirrel totem)
------Ebra (41) – Clan, Brun’s mate, Broud’s mother
---------Broud (21) – Clan, former Leader, Ebra’s son (Wooly Rhinoceros totem)
----------- Oga (20) – Clan, Crug’s 2nd mate, Broud’s widow (hamster totem)
Dorv - Clan
---Iga – Clan, mother of Ebra and Uka, Dorv’s Mate
------Droog (34) – Clan, toolmaker, Aga’s mate, son of Iga Dorv’s mate
Borg (12) – Clan, Ona’s 1st mate, son of Ika (Boar/Ursus totem)
Zoug (43) – Clan, second in command to the leader before Brun (Ursus totem)
--- Grod (32) – Clan, son of the mate of Zoug, (Brown Bear totem)
Living Members:
Thonlan (17) – Other, Woodworker, Jondolar’s brother, 9th Ranked male Hunter (Cave Lion totem)
---Luna (24) – Other, Leader, 1st Weech, Creb’s widow, Thonlan’s mate, (Snorkack totem)
-------Zeen – (5) ½ Clan, son of Luna, Goov’s Acolyte, 2nd Weez-Ur (Ursus Totem)
-------Mara – (1) Other, Luna’s Daughter, Weech
---------Ansalong (13) - Owl
---------Winter Sleeper (4) – Cave Bear
------------Bop (1) – male Cave Bear
------------Honey Lover (0) female Cave Bear cub
Zar (24) ½ Clan, 1st Ranked male hunter, Goov’s Acolyte, Clanluna’s Acolyte, (Ursus Totem)
---Ayla (18) – Other, Clan’s 1st Ranked Medicine Woman, 2nd Weech, 2nd Ranked Woman-Who-Hunts, Zar’s Mate, (Cave Lion totem)
--------Durc (7) – ½ Clan, Ayla’s son, (Gray Wolf totem)
--------Iza (5) – ¼ Clan, Ayla’s daughter, 3rd Weech, training to become Woman-Who-Hunts
(Unicorn Totem)
--------Mariza (1) Other, Ayla’s daughter, Weech
Vorn (17) – Clan, Uka’s son, 2nd Ranked male hunter
---Uba (12) – Clan, Medicine Woman, Vorn’s mate, Iza’s daughter
------Uma (3) – Clan, Uba’s daughter
------Vuba (1) – ½ Clan, Uba’s daughter
---Uka (29) – Clan, Ebra’s sister, Grod’s widow, Vorn’s Mother
Goov (24) – Clan, mog-ur, 10th Ranked male hunter, (Aurochs totem/Ursus totem)
---Ovra (22) – Clan, Goov’s mate, (Beaver totem)
------Oogra (3) – Clan, Ovra’s daughter
Groog (29) – 1/8 Clan, 3rd Ranked male hunter (megaceros totem)
---Iga (25) - Other, (formerly: Andromedanaea of the Sungaea) 3rd Ranked Woman-Who-Hunts, red-foot, Clanluna (one-who-serves-the-Mother) Groog’s Mate
------Griga (3) – 1/16 Clan, Iga’s daughter
------Wilmar (1) – Other, Iga’s Son
Broog (23) – ½ Clan, 4th Ranked male hunter
---Ena (22) – ½ Clan, 4th Ranked Woman-Who-Hunts
------Boov (8) – ½ Clan son of Ena
------Brena (1) – ½ Clan daughter of Ena
------Ura (7) – ½ Clan, daughter of Oda, future mate of Durc
Vorv (21) – ½ Clan, 5th Ranked male hunter
---Uva (19) – ½ Clan, mate of Vorv
------Broov (8) – ½ Clan son of Uva (looks full Clan)
------Ugra (7) – ½ Clan daughter of Uva (looks full Others) training to become Woman-Who-Hunts
------Vorva (3) – ½ Clan daughter of Uva
------Zoug (1) – ¼ Clan son of Uva
Brac (12) – Clan, Oga’s 1st son, 6th Ranked hunter (Bison totem)
---Igra (10) – Clan, Ika’s daughter, Brac’s Mate
------Broud (1) ½ Clan, Igra’s Daughter.
Crug (26) – Clan, 7th Ranked male hunter (wolf totem)
---Ika (24) – Clan, Crug’s mate
------Crik (3) – Clan, Ika’s son
------Dorv (3) Clan, Oga’s 3rd son
------Corg (1) ½ Clan, Oga’s 4th Son
Groob (10) – Clan, Aga’s son, toolmaker, 8th Ranked male Hunter
---Eva (11) – ½ Clan daughter of Ena, 5th Ranked Woman-Who-Hunts
---Aga (28) – Clan, Droog’s widow, Groob’s mother
Grev (9) – Clan, Oga’s 2nd son, 11th Ranked male Hunter
---Ona (13) – Clan, Borg’s widow (Owl totem)
------Bona (3) Clan, Ona’s daughter
------Orga (1) ½ Clan, Ona’s daughter
Bellapheron Clan of the Clanluna list
Ekwus (5) – Leader of the Centaur Herd
---Quicksilver- Unicorn – Ekwus’ Mate
------whisper (1) – Unicorn, Quicksilver’s filly
------ Phanthum (0) – Unicorn, Quicksilver’s filly
---Duskie (5)– Unicorn – Ekwus’ Mate
------ Miss Priss (1) – Unicorn, Duskie’s filly
------ Heather (0) – Unicorn, Duskie’s filly
---Sparkle (5)– Unicorn – Ekwus’ Mate
------Bangar (1) - Centaur, Sparkle’s colt
------Litestepper (0) – Unicorn, Sparkle’s Filly
---Silvertip (5) – Unicorn – Ekwus’ Mate
------Brackus (1) – Centaur, Silvertip’s colt
------ Tangle (0) – Centaur, Silvertip’s colt
---Nightwind (5) - Unicorn – Ekwus’ Mate
------Nether Light (1) - Unicorn Nightwind’s filly
------ Star-gazer (0) – Centaur, Nightwind’s colt
Dawn-Breaker (2) – Centaur, Duskie’s colt
---Midnight (2) – Unicorn, Nightwind’s filly, Dawn-breaker’s mate
------Starlight (2) – Unicorn, Silvertip’s filly, Dawn-breaker’s mate
Atturous (2) – Centaur, Sparkle’s colt
------Firelight (2) – Unicorn, Quicksilver’s filly, Atturous’ mate
Autumn had brought another visit from Ody with trade goods from the Sungaea Summer Meeting. The Sungaeae had refused to recognize his joining with Aris, so they had been rejoined at the Summer Meeting. Ody gave them the news that Aris suspected that she had been bless, traded for more Clan furs and firestones, then returned to his mate’s camp.
The Women-Who-Hunt decided that they preferred to hunt separately from the men for large game, though many couples were starting to go on small hunts together. Both the Women-Who-Hunt and the Men had gone on Mammoth hunts after the Clan Gathering. This was fortunate, because the extra meat would be needed as winter came earlier and harsher than usual.
A pandemic of winter flu swept through Luna’s camp of the Clanluna. In spite of the care provided by Ayla, Uba, Iga, Zar and Luna’s use of precious potion ingredients, Several of the older members of the Clanluna succumbed. Brun, Grod, Droog and Aba all walked in the Spirit world now.
Luna began teaching the 3rd year material to Ayla, who wouldn’t get a choice for O.W.L. options. She had to take the ones that Luna had taken. By now, it had become clear that Ayla was more gifted in Herbalogy, and Potions than Luna, and would one day surpass her. While Ayla continued to struggle with Defense, Transfiguration, and Charms. Now, she’d added Care of Magical Creatures, which Ayla also had a talent for. Divination was more difficult for Ayla and Ancient Runes, Ayla didn’t have a knack for at all.
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Ranec of the Lion Camp of the Mamutoi was not having a good year! When the Mamuts decreed at the Summer Gathering that there would be no funeral for Rydag after the mute, ½ Clan boy had died, Ranec realized just how parochial the Mamutoi were and began to wonder if they’d have a funeral for him when he walked with Mut. He’d tried finding comfort in the arms of a young woman, but for some reason, he couldn’t bring himself to Join with her.
And so, Ranec had not returned with the rest of the Lion Camp from the Summer Gathering. Instead, he had decided to make a journey to seek out his mother’s people. They had accepted Wymez, perhaps they would accept him?
He’d thought he could make it far enough south to winter with the Sungaea. But, Mut was not with him, He’d passed completely through their territory without finding any of their Camps. Ranec had also miscalculated about the earliness and severity of winter. Not finding people to winter with, He’d made himself a small, crude tent to sit out the winter storms.
The blizzard had come upon him suddenly, He’d barely managed to get the tent up and in the harsh storm, it kept collapsing on him. He knew he was soon to join Mut. Finally, he just gave up. He lay under the collapsed tent as the wind howled and the snow began to accumulate on top of the fallen tent, burying Ranec.
“Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow!” cried Ranec as a herd of animals trampled him in the Storm.
Then, he really screamed, when it felt like a mammoth stepped on him!
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“What was that?” asked Luna.
“WHAT?” yelled back Eva, over the howling wind.
The two women had decided to take the sleigh out for a winter hunt when a sudden blizzard hit them. In the blinding snow and howling winds they could barely see each other and definitely couldn’t see the lead snorkacks of the team that were pulling the sleigh. Luna trusted that the snorkacks could find their way back to the cave but they’d just hit a rough patch in the snow and run over a large rock buried in the snow, when Luna thought she’d heard a human scream.
“This woman thinks she heard a scream,” waved Luna, in Eva’s face once she’d pulled on the reigns to stop the snorkacks.
“This woman didn’t hear anything,” waved back Eva, in Luna’s face.
“Wait here, this woman is going to go see what we ran over,” signed Luna, as she pulled her wand out of the hood of her parka and lit it.
Eva turned and watched the light of Luna’s wand fade into the haze. When she couldn’t see it anymore she became fearful. What if her Leader got lost in the blizzard? Eva was currently lost in the blizzard! She could die out here in this storm with no cave to protect her! She pulled the fur blanket on her legs around her for comfort as the blinding snow howled on.
As Luna made her way through the blinding snow, she used the ruts the sleigh’s runners had made to retrace her path. She couldn’t see them, but she could feel them with her feet. When she thought she might have seen a dark shape on the ground, the knelt to discover a bloody patch of snow that was lumpy. She swished and flicked her wand to levitate whatever was buried under the snow and a hide slid off a man shaped figure. From a foot away, she could see that his chest was caved in. So she put him in a full body bind and continued to levitate him as she tried to return the way she’d come.
Unfortunately, the drifting snow was quickly erasing the sleigh ruts and her footprints. Luna realized that she’d lost the trail completely, when she imagined a dark shape ahead and made for it, hoping it was the sleigh and not an animal.
Eva was relieved when she saw Luna return. They made room to put the man at their feet and Luna cast a warming charm to keep him from getting hypothermia or frostbite.
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When Luna and Eva had returned to the Cave in the middle of the blizzard, levitating an injured man, Uba rushed to Ayla’s hearth to help. Once Luna had deposited the man at Zar’s hearth, Luna when back into the storm to unhitch the team, leaving the Medicine Women to care for the strange man whose face was even darker than Zar’s. After they’d cut his parka, tunic and leggings off the man, Uba realized that it was hopeless.
“We can’t save him,” signed Uba mournfully, as she saw how badly his chest was caved in. “He’s too badly injured! This Medicine Woman doesn’t even know why he’s still alive!”
Ayla nodded her agreement.
“How is he?” asked Luna, in English as she stamped the snow off her feet and shed her parka.
“We can’t save him,” replied Uba.
“Why not?” asked Luna.
“Look at his chest,” pointed out Ayla. “Too many of his ribs are broken to heal, if you didn’t have him in a full body bind, he wouldn’t even be able to breathe!”
“All we have to do is vanish his ribs and give him a dose of skelo-grow potion to re-grow them. Then, he’ll be fine,” said Luna, as she stepped over to Thonlan’s hearth and started rooting through her trunk for her potion making supplies. “Here I’ll show you how to make it. Uh-oh!”
“What’s wrong?” asked Uba.
“I don’t have all the ingredients,” replied Luna.
“What are you lacking, perhaps we could make substitutes,” signed Ayla.
“I’ve got everything except powered crocodile tooth and coca leaves,” said Luna.
“Well if you tell me their properties, perhaps we could make substitutes?” offered Ayla.
In the end, Ayla was able to find a root in her stores that would have similar properties as coca leaves for the potion and Iga had a mushroom that they were able to grind up and substitute for crocodile tooth. But the potion had used up the last of Luna’s stores. The few ingredients she had left were not enough to make any potion she could think of. From now on, Luna could offer no more practical demonstrations of potion making.
Ranec had a painful night after Luna vanished his rib cage and the potion grew him a new one.
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The next morning, Ranec awoke in a strange cave. He’d had a strange dream about a group of women, including a doe flathead! He realized that he was naked under the softest mammoth fur blanket he’d ever felt. He opened his eyes to a warm cup of tea in front of him. Further away were a blonde woman with her back to him, dishing out food to a man and two children. There was also a cradle that he supposed, contained a baby.
“Thank you,” said Renec, in mammutoi, as he sat up and held up his cup of tea. He winced from a pain in his chest and looked down to see that someone had sewn stitches on it, like he was an old tunic that needed mending!”
The family turned at the sound of his voice and Ranec was horrified! The woman had the same blonde hair and blue eyes that were commonplace amongst the Mammutoi. The little girl had the same eyes and hair that was as dark black as Ranec’s, though her’s was less curly. But the other two were abominations of mixed spirits! The man had the same black hair as the girl and dark brown eyes like Ranec’s. His skin was almost as dark tan as Ranec’s too. The boy had brown hair and eyes like Rydag’s!
Once he’d gotten over his initial shock, Ranec’s expression softened into a smile.
“You speak Mamutoi?” asked Ayla.
“Yes, I am Ranec of the Lion Camp of the Mammutoi,” said Ranec, as he began naming all his ties and held out his hands in greeting.
Ayla waited for him to finish before clasping his hands and naming her ties.
“I am Ayla, Weech and 1st Ranked Medicine Woman of the Abraxas Clan of the Clanluna, born to the Sungaea, adopted by the Clan of the Cave Bear, amongst whom she was the also the 1st Ranked Medicine Woman, mated to Zar, Mother of Durc, Iza, Mariza and Ekwus, and 2nd Ranked Woman-Who-Hunts,” replied Ayla in the manner that Thonlan had taught her to name ties in Mammutoi, before releasing his hands and pushing him back. “And as the 1st Ranked Medicine Woman, I am ordering you to lay back down and rest! You nearly died!”
Ranec winced in pain as he lay back down. The mixed man came forward, clasped his hands, briefly, and started waving them.
“This man is Zar, 1st Ranked Male Hunter of the Abrax Clan of the Clanluna,” began signing Zar, as he started naming his ties and Ayla translated.
“Wait! How is he saying all that?” asked Ranec.
“He is talking with his hands,” replied Ayla. “Clan people, the ones you call flatheads, are not able to talk with only sounds, they use their hands. Most mixed people can learn to talk with sounds like the Others, people like you and me. But a few, like my mate, can’t say all the sounds of the Other’s talk. So I speak sounds for him.”
Renec was thunderstruck! Had Rydag been trying to talk with his hands all those years and nobody had recognized it? The mixed child that was deemed too stupid to talk could have talked if only they’d know how to interpret his signs?
“Why you so dark?” asked Durc, in Mammutoi.
“My mother’s mate took a journey, far to the south, where he met my mother,” explained Ranec. “She was much darker than me.”
“’dat like Zar!” said Iza, in Mammutoi, “He mother came from south too!”
When Renec looked around the cave, he realized that these weren’t the only mixed members of this Camp and some of them were even pure Flathead! Still, he knew it would impolite to make a big deal out of it. This seemed to be normal for these people.
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Ranec was amazed at how fast he recovered over the next few days. He met all the members of the Clan as he recovered. He was not surprised that Iga acted like he stunk, when he found out she used to be Sungaea. The Mammutoi and the Sungaea tended to demonize each other. But he was surprised she only communicated by signs.
On the evening after Ayla and Uba finally pronounced him well, the children gathered in the center of the cave and began drumming. He’d known something special was going to happen all day. When the drumming began, he thought it did sound a little similar to the rhythms the Mammutoi used for Mother Festivals.
Still, he was surprised when the adults gathered around the central fire and only drank a sip of bitter tea before the dancing began. Where was the Booza? The dance steps seemed very different from the Mammutoi Mother Festival dances. Still when a Clan woman pulled him out to dance, he accepted her invitation. He, like everyone else, changed partners many times as the dance when on. Then, Ranec began to notice a low pitched hum and a glow coming from the floor of the cave. As the sensation intensified, he felt himself being pulled from the dance by a Clan woman. What was her name again? Ona?
He’d already picked up a few Clan signs. One, in particular, stuck in his memory. He tried it out to see if it was true.
It Was! Ona, knelt, and presented to him!
They’d only given him a Clan-style wrap to wear. Ranec untied it and knelt behind her. He ran his hand in circle on her leather covered back before untying her wrap. Leaning over her, he kissed the back of Ona’s neck as he reached around to fondle her chest. When he was ready and brushed his tip against her gates, Ona pushed back onto him, taking him in. Ranec reached around her between her folds to make sure that the Pleasures they Shared were mutual. Although she didn’t moan, he could tell when she was peaking and that pushed him over the edge too. When he’d spent himself, he leaned on her back so he could hold her close until he’d softened up and fallen out of her.
Then her pushed her down and rolled her over so he could kiss her mouth. Although Grev never kissed her while Relieving his Needs, Borg had been known to, occasionally, so Ona knew how to respond properly. But Borg hadn’t been this good at kissing!
As the mushroom tea enhanced her senses, Ayla began wondering what Thonlan did to make Luna moan so loudly during Pleasures. After she’d pulled him back to his hearth, he made her moan that loudly!
Grev was not happy that he’d been picked by Aga. He’s wanted to Relieve his Needs with someone closer to his own age. Ona was bad enough! The tea had helped him function for her, but once he got started, he had trouble Relieving his own Needs. So he kept trying, much to Aga’s delight.
Brac had a similar experience with Uka.
As Luna reached her climax beneath Zar, she began having visions of Mara and Mariza, several years older, riding on the backs of unicorns. Mariza had Ayla’s blonde hair and Dyondar’s piercing blue eyes, while Mara had Thonlan’s shade of blue eyes and auburn hair that was darker than her dirty blonde, but lighter than Thonlan’s brown.
Ika left with Goov, Ovra with Crug, Ena with Vorv, Uva with Broog, Igra with Groog, Uba with Vorn. (There was no rule that a woman couldn’t Share Pleasures with her own mate) So, Eva followed their example and took Groob back to their hearth.
Iga was left dancing alone. And since as Clanluna, she had to finish the bowl, she’d gotten a bigger dose of the tea than anyone else. She lost herself to the mushroom and found herself wandering over to Zar’s hearth where she helped her acolyte worship her Goddess by Relieving Luna’s Needs until they all collapsed from exhaustion!
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The next morning, Ona awoke with the new Man of the Other’s Spooning her. If she had been capable, she would have smiled with contentment. Instead, she slipped out of his arms without waking him and prepared a breakfast for him and the others at Zar’s Hearth where Ranec had been staying. Ranec, Luna, Zar and Iga awoke around the same time as the children had and as they wandered back from where they had drummed until they fallen asleep, Ona dished out a stew for everybody.
Once their bellies were full, Ona started sneaking glances at Luna.
Finally Luna caught on.
“What is it?” asked Luna.
“Does the Leader remember when she told this woman that she could choose her own mate?” signed Ona.
“Yes, you chose Grev because he was the only single man,” signed Luna.
“Is it too late for this woman to change her mind?” asked Ona.
“No. If you are unhappy at Grev’s hearth, you may move to another,” signed Luna.
“Then this woman chooses him!” signed Ona, as she pointed a Ranec.
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