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CL121
Clanluna

Chapter 121: When a seer doesn’t listen.

Harry Potter is owned by JK Rowling
Earth’s Children is owned by Jean Auel

After burying the deceased members of her clan with the proper rituals, Iooga gathered traveling provisions and her surviving daughter and headed for the cave of Luna’s Abraxas Clan. She hoped Luna hadn’t already left for the Summer Gathering as she was counting on her Goddess to help her deal with this.


After Đelđuma and Androm had performed the funeral rites for Grević and Knežjka, they packed everything they might need for the Summer Gathering. Since there was no Weez-ur to expedite their travels with a port-key, they would be going by boat. They had made a plan to go down the coast to where the Nott član lives and travel with them up the river to where the Everarđ član was hosting the Summer Gathering. Once they were aboard and Pariža was safely tucked inside Đelđuma’s tunic, leaving her hands free to row while her daughter nursed, Androm pushed off and they began their journey.


The next morning, Mariza joined a hunt with some of the women and gynophinxes. She and Lena both rode Hippogriffs so that could hunt from high in the air. Mariza didn’t offer any guidance to her steed. She just let her carry her where she wanted. After some traveling, Lena spotted a small herd of Mammoths in the distance and signaled those below her. The hunters on the ground consisted of 10 gynosphinxes from various clans and their displacer-beasts, plus 4 women armed with bows from various clans riding on the backs of sphinxes. The displacer-beasts were one of Luna’s more unusual creations. Transfigured from smilodons, the displacer-beasts resembled smilodons, except their fur was dark blue and they each had four tentacles growing from their back. They also appeared to be a few feet away from their actual location. The illusion was so perfect that you couldn’t tell it unless their apparent location overlapped with a solid object. They had been trained to help the sphinxes with hunting.

Now that they had spotted game, the women slid off the backs of the gynosphinxes that had been generous enough to carry them. Some of the sphinxes and displacer-beasts took the long way around to encircle the herd. Others stayed with the women and slowly crept up on the herd.

Mariza saw that they were noticed. The herd was ushering the calves to the center of the group, while the large adults formed an outward facing circle. Finally, the largest male, an old bull mammoth had had enough. He left the herd and charged the women who were on foot trumpeting as he went. All the Sphinxes and displacer-beasts leaped into a counter charge at the herd. Mariza drew back her bowstring and let fly an arrow and the charging Mammoth below her. She missed . . . . apparently learning to hunt from the air would take some practice. Lena tried hexing the mammoth with her wand, but missed too. On the ground, Đučaviča shot her own arrow at the mammoth that was charging straight for her. She hit him in the shoulder, but didn’t even slow him down. Larnura’s arrow didn’t even come close. It was obvious that she was still learning to use a bow. Đalđa’s arrow hit him in the leg. He turned his head in a sweeping motion at the sudden pain, but kept charging. Žoša’s arrow narrowly missed the mammoth’s head.

Mariza pulled another arrow from the quiver on her back, notched it in her bowstring, drew, and released. Another miss. Lena pointed her wand at the mammoth below them and hit it with a yellow beam that seemed to slow the mammoth down, but not stop it. On the ground, Đučavica missed the mammoth’s head with another arrow. Larnura narrowly missed one of the charging sphinxes, but didn’t even come close to hitting the mammoth. Đalđa’s arrow hit him in the head, but didn’t penetrate the skull. Žoša’s arrow hit him in the ear, which he didn’t seem to notice.

The two sphinxes and displacer-beast that had been with the women, had charged in an arc pattern away from the line of fire before reaching the mammoth slightly to the side of front. The mammoth tried to sweep the predators out of the way by shaking his massive head back and forth. His tusks swept through the image of the displacer-beast, before it grabbed the tusk with a tentacle and turned its’ momentum into a swing that ended with her on the mammoth’s back. She dug all four claws into the back of the mammoth, getting a good grip before sinking her long, sabre-like teeth into the back of the mammoth’s neck. When the two sphinxes lunged at the Mammoth and raked their claws against his front legs, he trumpeted in rage as he jerked back, giving the displacer-beast the leverage she need to bite through the spine, paralyzing the mammoth. The sphinxes were raking the mammoth’s belly exposing his entrails when Đučaviča ran up and at point blank range, put an arrow through his eye and deep into his brain finishing the beast.
The remaining sphinxes had attacked the herd, bringing down a calf and were working on its‘ mother when Lena’s spell finished her.

“Can we let the rest go?” asked Kasandracles the gynosphinx from Kettleburn clan.

The rest of the herd was allowed to escape. Three mammoths would be enough for now.

Lena and Mariza landed and shrunk them down with their wands so they could take the mammoths back the Summer Gathering whole, to be butchered and dried. Meat drying was a centaur skill, as the unicorns didn’t eat meat. So the sphinxes depended on the humans and centaurs at the Summer Gathering to provide meat that allowed them to go through most of the winter with less hunting than they otherwise would have to do.

Mariza had learned that it was possible to shoot a bow from the back of a hippogriff, but she’d have to practice if she wanted to hunt that way.

That night, Mariza was again afflicted by nightmares that Esathonia was forced to share. In her dreams, Mariza had never become the clanluna of Zorg’s Clan. Instead. She had been Forced to become Zurvgak’s mate. Vezava and Vojkovica, not yet women, were mated to men too. Mariza tried to stop them, but the men held her and made her watch as Vezava was Forced, over and over again. Mariza cried and tried to save her, but the men held her and prevented her from aiding her mate.

Mariza was woken by Vezava shaking her awake, while Đučaviča did the same for Esathonia. Mariza and Esathonia both cried when they saw Vezava and, seeing she was safe, pulled her into hug.

All day, Mariza kept Vezava in her sight, and through Mariza’s eyes, so did Esathonia. Finally, late in the afternoon, Mariza brought Vezava back to the cave to help charge some more stars.


It was dusk by the time Đelđuma and Androm had paddled down to the area of the Đumbleđore član. When they came ashore, they discovered the area was swarming with wolves, hyenas, and other predators. After driving them off, they discovered the reason. Most of the adults of the Đumbleđore član, including Đelđuma’s mother and sisters were dead. The children were all missing . . . It was too late for funeral rites. So they dragged the bodies into the cave and built a big fire to keep away the predators.
The next morning, Đelđuma and Androm performed the funeral rituals for the dead of the Đumbleđore član. Not only were many of the victims family to Đelđuma, They were also close friends and lovers of Androm’s. For years, he had been a member of this clan.
When they were finally done, they sublimated their grief in passion. When they were finally spent, they collapsed into sleep in Đelđuma’s old bed in the cave, where she had slept as a child.


“Vezava, could I speak with you?” asked Larnura.

“Are you asking me to “go hunting”?” asked Vezava.

“Perhaps we could organize a hunt later,” replied Larnura. “But right now, I’d really like to speak with you.”

“What’s wrong?” asked Vezava, finally noticing the serious expression on the face of the former Vanthon, the one-who-Serves-the-Mother for the Vanthonoi.

“I’ve been trying to speak with Mariza for several days, but she just ignores me,” said Larnura.

“Perhaps that has something to do with your attempt at challenging her leadership of our Clan?” pointed out Vezava.

“Yes, I can understand that,” agreed Larnura. “And I know it was wrong of me. But it’s more than that. Living in a clan full of sphinxes has changed me. In the winter, we spend a lot of time talking. And the sphinxes have help me realize . . . that I was wrong . . . WE were wrong . . . all the Vanthonoi back to the beginning were wrong! They’ve really help me understand about myself and the clanlunae and the Mother and Mariza. And I’ve decided . . . I want to once again be One-who-Serves-the-Mother. I want to be a clanmariza, like you!”

Vezava was pensive for a moment as she turned Larnura’s revelation over in her mind. Finally, she spoke:

“It’s probably for the best that you weren’t able to speak about this with Mariza. She’s not comfortable with ME being her clanmariza! ‘Tell you what. I won’t reject you out-of-hand. I’ll give you a chance to convince me. If you can convince me, I’ll speak for you to the clanlunae about admitting you. But it will take a lot to convince me. I need to know that you’ve given up all those foul ideas that the old Vanthon taught us. For example, are you still goading men into Forcing you, or have you learned to Share Pleasures?”

(Vezava had to say ‘Share Pleasures’ in English. The just wasn’t any Vanthonoi word for it.)

“I Share Pleasures with men at the Summer Gathering now,” replied Larnura. “I was unable to get anyone to Force me. They even made me go through 1st Rites again.”

“What about in the Winter?” asked Vezava. “Who do you Share with then?”

Larnura blushed profusely and looked at the ground.

“You don’t Pleasure yourself, do you?” asked Vezava. “Surely by now you’ve been told that the clanlunae disapprove of self-Pleasure because, it’s selfish.”

“No . . . no . . . I don’t do that . . .” said Larnura, still blushing, and looking at the ground, avoiding Vezava’s eyes.

“Then what- . . . you don’t? . . . . Really? . . . . With- . . . “

“Look Winter is very long . . . and most of the androsphinxes don’t have mates . . . and I’ve discovered that if I kneel like a flat- like a Clan woman, that he can- . . .Can we change the subject.”

“It’s all right,” assured Vezava. “From what I’ve heard, you’re not the only person who Shares with ani- um- . . . with four legged people. The clanlunae don’t actually have a rule against it. In fact, I’ve met a woman here who is mated to a centaur.”

“Želže, yes, I know her,” added Larnura.

“And in one of the clans of our Gathering, there is a woman who mated a unicorn,” said Vezava.

“A Unicorn? How is that even possible?” asked Larnura.

“She never had 1st Rites,” explained Vezava. “Instead, Mariza was her redfoot”


It was another day’s journey by boat before Đelđuma and Androm reached the cave of the Nott član. They lived in a place where a very calm, still river flowed into the sea. But no one came out to greet them when they arrived. When they looked in the cave, they wished they hadn’t. A piece of a hand lay at the mouth of the cave. Further exploration revealed that the predators had already been here. They found a lot of parts of people. But none of them were intact enough to be identified. Đelđuma and Androm hastily performed funery rites, before returning to the boat. Neither of them felt comfortable sleeping here.

“Oh Androm! What if everybody is dead? What if we are the last of the Clanluna?” sobbed Đelđuma.

“If there’s no one else, then WE’LL be the Clanluna,” replied Androm. “Hopefully, if there are any other survivors, they’ll be at the Summer Gathering.”


They were late! Ceban wondered if they would start the Summer Gathering without his Clan. After all, last year, they hadn’t even attended. Finally, he got them all gathered together, and holding the portkey.

“Many (tri), two, one . . .”

The world spun for a moment.

When they stopped spinning, they found themselves surrounded by predators of every kind. Wolves, badgers, hyenas, wolverines, even a cave lion. There was some kind of feeding frenzy going on at the Everarđ cave.

Instantly Maeba and the Weez-urs drew their wands, while Dyondar loaded a spear in his spear-thrower. Maeba and the Weez-urs started silently casting hexes, while Dyondar threw spears at the predators to help drive them off. Once they had succeeded, they almost wished they hadn’t. . . . There were partially eaten pieces of people all over the place. By now the scavengers had disturbed the area so much that there was no evidence to show that there were any missing people. It looked like all of the members of the Everarđ član had been killed.

Ceban and Maeba performed the funeral rites for the Everarđ član, then Maeba and the four men who knew how to apparate, left separately to spread word to the other clans. Everywhere they found a similar scene. It appeared that they might be the last Clan of the Clanluna. . . .


“Where have you been?” asked Mariza.

“With Larnura, she’s been-“ started Vezava.
“LARNURA!?! After what she tried to do?” yelled Mariza.

“Great Mother, She’s trying to reform, she wants to change from the way we were brought up,” protested Vezava. “I’m trying to help her.”

“How? By Sharing Pleasures with her?” demanded Mariza.

“Are you jealous?” asked Vezava, with shock. “You’ve never been jealous of who I Share with before.”

“I’m not jealous! . . . . Look, of course you can Share with whoever you want,” explained Mariza. “I fact, I LIKE seeing you Share with other women . . . . it gives me Needs. . . . But Larnura is different She-“

Suddenly, Vezava was staring at her strangely. And Mariza was aware that there was a gap in her memory. She must have momentarily blacked out.

“What?” asked Mariza.

“How did you do that?” asked Vezava.

“Do what?” asked Mariza.

“Your voice changed. It got all strange and seemed to be coming from everywhere at once. And you were saying the strangest things . . .” replied Vezava.

Mariza sighed.

“That was a prophesy,” explained Mariza.

“A what?” asked Vezava.

“Sometimes, when a seer is being particularly thick, and not listening to their inner eye, a voice from beyond will take control of them and force them to speak of the future,” explained Mariza. “I’ve been having nightmares almost every night now. I guess I should have done some divinatory readings about them. . . . So what did I say?”

“You said: Two little girls, childhood best friends, Forced to walk separate paths. One walks in darkness, inflicting her pain on all to can catch. The other ran away. And kept running until she was willing to sacrifice her body to save the innocence of two girls. Now the darkness of the Forced girl is destroying the people. And only her friend can stop her. The girl who ran away is the only one who can stop the Dark Lady.” Recited Vezava. “What do you think it means?”

“Well, I’ll need to do some divinatory readings to be sure,” explained Mariza. “But Clearly-“

Just then, a whirlwind appeared out of nowhere. When it stopped spinning, the two women found themselves facing the members of the Ravenclaw Clan.

“Are the other clans well?” signed Ceban.

“What?” asked Mariza.

“The clans at this Summer Gathering. Are they all here? Are they well?” signed Maeba.

“Of course they are! Why?” asked Vezava.

“Something has happened to the other clans,” signed Ceban. “All of them walk with the spirits!”





Mariza (34) - Other, (Golden blonde hair, sky-blue eyes) Leader, Ayla’s daughter, Weech, Soul Bond to Esathonia, mated to Esathonia, Zurbgranaza, Đučaviča, Vezava, and Đebotiča. clanluna, redfoot, N: Cr,H,R,Div, Care prodigy (Stork totem)
---Zelana H (5) – Other, Mariza’s daughter, Weech
---Donia H (5) – Other, Mariza’s daughter, Weech
---Haratuma (2) – Other, Mariza’s daughter, Weech
--Esathonia (25) – Other, former Zelandoni the lessor of the 5th Cave of the Zelandonii, Daughter of Magora, born to the Hearth of Ladekan, Mother of Krebala, Sister of Farosan, Soul-Bond to Mariza, Mariza’s Mate
------Krebala (7) – ½ Clan, Esathonia’s daughter
------H (4) - 1/4 Clan, Esathonia’s son, Weez-ur
------H (1) - Other, Esathonia’s daughter
---Zurbgranaza (32) – 1/32 Clan daughter of Zurbgrana, medicine woman, widow of Zuragavab, Mariza's 2nd mate
------Marizurba (14) – 1/64 Clan daughter of Zurbgranaza
------Marizanaza (11) – 1/32 Clan daughter of Zurbgranaza
------Halmarča (8) – 1/32 Clan daughter of Zurbgranaza
------H (4) - 1/2 Clan - Zurbgranazaga’s son
-----H (1) – 1/64 Clan daughter of Zurbgranaza
------Marbgra (13) – 1/16 Clan daughter of Zubgrana
---Đučaviča Đ (34) – Other, Krstulović’s daughter, članluna, Širtić’s widow, Mariza’s 3rd mate, Zuradan’s 3rd mate (Hare totem)
------Marčič (11) – Other, Đučaviča’s son.
------Hrgoviča (8) – Other, Đučaviča’s daughter
------H (4) - Other, Đučaviča’s son.
-----H (1) – ¼ Clan, Đučaviča’s son, Weez-ur
Zuradan (32) – 1/16 Clan son of Zurvgakaza
---Vezava (28) – Other, daughter of Larnva of the Vanthonoi, abducted by Zorg's Clan, redfoot, clanmariza, Zuradan's mate, Mariza's 4th mate (Wolf totem)
------Marizava (13) - 1/16 Clan daughter of Vezava
------Mariva (10) – 1/32 Clan daughter of Vezava
------Huravan (7) – ¼ Clan, Vezava's son, Weez-ur
------H (4) - Other, Vezava’s Daughter
------H (1) – 1/32 Clan daughter of Vezava

---Žoša Đbg (21) – Other, daughter of Želže, Tangle’s 3rd mate
---Larnura Vgk (34) – daughter of Larnuira, Vanthon (one-who-serves-the-Mother), widow of Telton and Vojkur's 2nd widow