Categories > Books > Harry Potter > Clanluna
Clanluna
Chapter 14: Ekwus’ mates
Harry Potter is owned by JK Rowling
Earth’s Children is owned by Jean Auel
Luna’s Clan List
Deceased members:
Iga – mother of Ebra and Uka
Uba – mother of Creb, Brun and Iza
---Iza (28) – Uba’s mother, adopted mother of Ayla
---Ebra (41) – Brun’s mate, Broud’s mother
---------Broud (21) – former Leader (Wooly Rhinoceros totem)
Dorv
Zoug (43) – second in command to the leader before Brun
Living Members
Creb (37) – former Mog-Ur, 1st Weez-Ur (Roe Deer/Ursus totem), 14th Ranked male Hunter
---Luna (21) – Leader, 1st Weech (Snorkack totem)
-------Zeen – (2) ½ Clan son of Luna (Ursus Totem)
---------Ansalong (10) - Owl
---------Winter Sleeper (1) – Cave Bear
Zar (21) ½ Clan man, 1st Ranked male hunter, Goov’s Acolyte (Cave Bear Totem)
---Ayla (15) – Clan’s 1st Ranked Medicine Woman, 2nd Weech, 2nd Ranked Woman-Who-Hunts, Zar’s Mate, (Cave Lion totem)
--------Durc (4) – Ayla’s ½ Clan son, (Gray Wolf totem)
--------Iza (2) – Ayla’s ¼ Clan daughter (Horse Totem)
---------Ekwus (1) – Centaur, 13th Ranked male hunter
Vorn (14) – 2nd Ranked male hunter
---Uba (9) – Medicine Woman, Vorn’s mate
------Uma (0) - Uba’s daughter
Goov (21) – mog-ur, 10th Ranked male hunter, (Aurochs totem/Ursus totem)
---Ovra (19) – Goov’s mate, (Beaver totem)
------Oogra (0) – Ovra’s daughter
Groog (26) – 1/8 Clan man, 3rd Ranked male hunter (megaceros totem)
---Iga (22) - of the Others, 3rd Ranked Woman-Who-Hunts, red-foot, Clanluna (one-who-serves-the-Mother)
------Griga (0) – Iga’s daughter
Crug (23) – 4th Ranked male hunter (wolf totem)
---Ika (21) – Crug’s mate
------Crik (0) – Ika’s son
---Oga (18) – Crug’s 2nd mate, Broud’s widow (hamster totem)
------Grev (5) – Oga’s 2nd son
------Dorv (0) Oga’s 3rd son
Brog (20) – ½ Clan, 5th Ranked male hunter
---Ena (19) – ½ Clan, 4th Ranked Woman-Who-Hunts
------Eva (8) – ½ Clan daughter of Ena, training to become Woman-Who-Hunts
------Boov (5) – ½ Clan son of Ena
Vorv (18) – ½ Clan, 6th Ranked male hunter
---Uva (16) – ½ Clan mate of Vorv
------Broov (5) – ½ Clan son of Uva (looks full Clan)
------Ugra (4) – ½ Clan daughter of Uva (looks full Others) training to become Woman-Who-Hunts
------Vorva (0) – ½ Clan daughter of Uva
Borg (10) – 7th Ranked male hunter, (Boar totem)
---Ona (10) – Borg’s mate (Owl totem)
------Bona (0) Ona’s daughter
Brun (34) – former leader, 8th Ranked male hunter (Bison totem)
---Aba (36) (ground squirrel totem) Brun’s mate
Brac (9) – Oga’s 1st son, 9th Ranked hunter (Bison totem)
---Igra (7) – Ika’s daughter, Brac’s Mate
Grod (30) – son of the mate of Zoug, 11th Ranked male hunter (Brown Bear totem)
---Uka (26) – Ebra’s sister, Grod’s Mate
Droog (32) – toolmaker, Aga’s mate, 12th Ranked male hunter
---Aga (25) – Droog’s mate
------Groob (7) – Aga’s son, 15th Ranked male Hunter
Chapter 14: Ekwus’ mates
While gathering mushrooms, Clanluna spotted a particularly potent one. The red cap with white spots advertised that this one would be a suitable sacrament for the sacred ceremonies of the Mother. After silently saying the appropriate prayers to placate the Spirit of the Mushroom, Clanluna started forward until she happened to glace at the branch above it. Mistletoe! Luna had warned her that Nargles tended to live in mistletoe and although she had never heard of Nargles until she had been told of them, she dared not head the words of her Goddess. As she paused to try to figure our how she would get the sacred mushroom without risking the Nargles, her hand went down to her sling, hanging on her belt. Pulling it out, Clanluna searched for a few pebbles and walked around until she had just the right angle.
Thwap!
Clanluna broke off the mushroom with a stone from her sling.
Thwap!
Thwap!
A couple of more shots knocked the severed toadstool out from beneath the mistletoe. Taking the long way around, Clanluna examined her prize. The stone had shredded it, but she was going to do that anyway, when she prepared it. She put the remains in her basket and resumed her gathering.
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
The three women of the Others were separating grain seeds from the chaff. For the Clan, grains were a spice, not a staple. Luna was the only one who had ever had a slice of leavened breath, and at times like this, she sorely missed it. While they did this, their youngest children were nearby. Zeen had the same brown hair that all of the boys of the Clan had, but he had Luna’s gray eyes. Iza had Zar’s black hair and Ayla’s blue eyes. Clanluna had pulled up her tunic to nurse her daughter, Griga, who had the same red hair and green eyes as her mother.
Luna’s musings were broken off when Ekwus approached.
“Why did you make me?” the centaur asked.
“Your dam had died in a hunt,” signed Luna. “This Leader feared you would die if she didn’t save you. Why do you ask? Are you unhappy with us? Do you need your own hearth? Is it mates? I could mate the next woman to you?”
“Yes, it’s mates,” retorted the centaur angrily. “And no, the next woman would not be suitable. This centaur tried Sharing Pleasures with the Clanluna during his manhood training, it didn’t work very well.”
“But this woman thought you were wonderful!” protested Clanluna. “This woman is grieved that you did not find her satisfactory!”
“You were very kind and understanding,” assured Ekwus. “But this centaur just doesn’t fit with women. This centaur needs a mare for a mate!”
“Very well, this Weech will make some females for you,” signed Luna. “Let us go to that valley nearby, where the horses live. This Weech will make you some mates out of them.
Clanluna, could you watch Zeen and Iza while we’re gone?”
“It shall be done, Great Mother,” replied Clanluna, with a bow.
“Now, you be good while I’m gone,” said Ayla, in English, as she climbed onto Ekwus’ back.
“No!” shouted Iza.
While Ayla rode on the centaur’s back, Luna had pulled her broom out of a fold of her wrap, enlarged it and was flying along side. Presently, they came upon a golden, grass colored, herd of horses. Luna swooped down on them and started transfiguring mares. With her wave of her wand, she was turning their coats snow white and spiral horns were growing out of their foreheads that resembled the horns that the snorkacks had grown over the past year. When the herd’s stallion saw the changed mares, he began driving them away from his heard. When Luna was finished, there were five unicorns fleeing their herd and towards Ekus and Ayla.
“These are the females of your Clan, began Luna, in English. “They’re called Unicorns. Although they look like horses, they’re actually quite magical and as intelligent as you are. Any of their male foals will be centaurs, like you. I would advise you not to drive them out so that you can have more hunters in your clan. Good luck. You’re welcome to visit any time.”
Ayla climbed down off of the centaurs back and walked in front of him.
“Goodbye my son!” sobbed Ayla as she hugged him. “If you need any supplies, don’t hesitate to visit!”
“I will, mama,” replied Ekwus, and he adjusted the straps that held his throwing spears on his back. “I need to go now, my harem, awaits.”
When Ayla let go of him, Luna gave him a brief hug and he tentatively stepped towards the unicorns.
“Ladies, I am Ekwus,” said the Centaur. “I guess I’m the dominate male of this herd for now. But I’m sure will have lots of foals in the future.
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
“Wheeee!!!”
“Wheeeee!!!!”
Zar was outside the cave throwing his mate’s daughter into the air, much to the girl’s delight. Clanluna watched them with a smile as she worked a deer skin that she had recently brought to her hearth. She’d downed it with the first arrow.
She watched as the ¼ Clan girl went up into the air, then, fell back into her mother’s mate’s arms. But then, the last time he’d thrown her into the air, she hadn’t fallen back into Zar’s hands. She just hung there, laughing, suspended in mid-air!
Clanluna dropped her scraper in shock, not believing what she was seeing!
“Iza! You come back down here this instant!” signed Zar.
“No!” laughed Iza, as she continued to float out of reach.
This was magic beyond anything Clanluna could handle! Luna and Ayla were gone with Ekwus. That left Creb. Only the Weez-Ur might be able to rescue the girl.
“Zeen, go get Creb,” signed Clanluna. “Tell him to bring his Weez-Ur stick!”
“This boy do it! This boy do it!” shouted Zeen, as he ran into the cave.
We he returned, he had, not Creb, but his father’s wand. Zeen waved it and a spark came out! Iza fell back into Zar’s hands!
“See! This boy do!” proclaimed Zeen.
Just then, Creb came hobbling out of the cave.
“Zeen! What are you doing with this man’s Weez-Ur stick?” asked his mother’s mate.
“This boy make Iza fall down!” proclaimed the ½ Clan boy with the gray eyes, as he waved the wand again and another spark came out.
“Give that here!” signed the Weez-Ur, as he held out his hand for the wand.
Reluctantly, the boy handed it over and stomped off into to woods.
“You need to take a firmer hand with that boy,” signed Brun. “We don’t want him to end up like Broud!”
“I know,” replied the Weez-Ur, sadly. Like he had with Ayla, Creb tended to spoil his mate’s son.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
It was late afternoon when Ayla and Luna returned to the Cave.
“Did the children behave?” asked Ayla.
“You’ll never guess what Iza did!” signed the Clanluna, excitedly. “Zar was tossing her up in the air and she got stuck in the air! Then Zeen waved Creb’s Wez-Ur stick and she fell back down to Zar!”
“Really!” exclaimed Luna in English. “Where is he now?”
“Over there, just inside the woods,” signed the Clanluna.
“Zeen! Come back!” yelled Ayla.
There was some rustling in the undergrowth and Wintersleeper appeared with Zeen riding on his back!
“Look at me, mother! I’m Ayla!” waved Zeen as he giggled while riding on the Cave Bear’s back.
Everyone who was outside the cave turned and gapped at the sight!
Luna ran forward and pick her son off the Cave Bear’s back to hug him, before scratching behind the bear’s ears.
“Zeen, this woman heard what you did!” signed Luna.
“Is this boy in trouble?” asked her son.
“No, you’re not in trouble, you’re a Weez-Ur!” replied Luna before turning to Ayla. “And Iza is a Weech!”
“Luna, that’s wonderful!” replied Ayla as she scooped up her daughter and hugged her. “Are you happy to find out you’re a Weech?”
“No!” replied Iza.
At Durc watched his mother and the Leader heap praise on their youngest children, jealousy forced a scowl onto his face.
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Ever since last spring, Luna had been mystifying Ayla, with her strange activities involving the Snorkacks. Once it had become apparent which male was the most docile, Luna had gelded all the other males. Then, the requited Ayla into helping her lead them around by a halter. Once they were tamed enough that the children could lead them around, Luna made a harness and started having the Snorkacks lead her around, first two at a time, then she kept adding pairs. By autumn, she had taught the teams to Snorkacks to obey four commands. Mush, Whoa, Gee, and Haw.
Ayla couldn’t figure out, what the purpose of these activities were, or what they had to do with milk.
GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
Although he had become a man, this year, there wasn’t a woman available to be his mate. So he stayed at Droog’s hearth and Clanluna continued to wear the red-feet for him. Often they would make tools together after Sharing Pleasures. The young tool-maker was fascinated by the new techniques for knapping flint that the woman of the Others had brought to the Clan.
When the weather turned cold, Ayla, Clanluna, Ena and Uva pulled out the Other’s style clothes that they had made for their mates and children. With this many member of her Clan dressing this way, Luna felt free to transfigure some hides into tunics, leggings, boots and parkas. But Creb refused to wear them. Change came hard for him.
As Winter came, Luna began teaching Ayla and Zar out of her books in something that resembled the Hogwarts curriculum, slightly. She’d decided that History in this era was prophecy and by the time it came true, it would be forgotten. So that was dropped as a subject. Without her telescope and books, she was only able to teach a little Astronomy. That left: Charms, Transfiguration, Herbalogy, Defense and Potions.
Herbalogy was a real eye opener for Ayla. The idea of deliberately planting and growing things was foreign to her. It made her wonder if Luna was doing something similar with the Snorkacks. Many of the plants in the book did not exist in this era. So, Luna made up for it by teaching her about some of the plants that weren’t in the book, the ones she’d read about in the Quibbler.
Luna was constrained in teaching potions because she didn’t want to use up valuable ingredients for teaching purposes. Too many of them were irreplaceable. So Luna tried teaching potions without the labs, using only the textbooks. Like Herbalogy, Ayla had a knack for Potions and she resolved to one day discover substitutes that weren’t in the book so that she could make her own potions.
Zar, being a muggle, was only able to learn Herbalogy and Potions. And While he wasn’t as good at it as his mate, he was fascinated by the subject.
None of the other members of the Clan were good enough as reading and math yet to take lessons with Ayla and Zar. Creb in particular found this frustrating. He had a gift for Charms and could do some silent Charms that were years beyond Ayla’s ability, there were other that he just couldn’t manage. With great difficult he could grasp ideograms. But Luna only had a chapter each on Hieroglyphics and ancient Chinese in her Runes textbooks. Alphabetic writing was too abstract for the aged man of the Clan to understand.
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
One morning, Luna awoke with a feeling of dread. She reached over to cuddle her mate and felt coldness.
“Creb? CREB! CREB! NO! NO! NO! YOU CAN”T BE DEAD!” wailed Luna.
Chapter 14: Ekwus’ mates
Harry Potter is owned by JK Rowling
Earth’s Children is owned by Jean Auel
Luna’s Clan List
Deceased members:
Iga – mother of Ebra and Uka
Uba – mother of Creb, Brun and Iza
---Iza (28) – Uba’s mother, adopted mother of Ayla
---Ebra (41) – Brun’s mate, Broud’s mother
---------Broud (21) – former Leader (Wooly Rhinoceros totem)
Dorv
Zoug (43) – second in command to the leader before Brun
Living Members
Creb (37) – former Mog-Ur, 1st Weez-Ur (Roe Deer/Ursus totem), 14th Ranked male Hunter
---Luna (21) – Leader, 1st Weech (Snorkack totem)
-------Zeen – (2) ½ Clan son of Luna (Ursus Totem)
---------Ansalong (10) - Owl
---------Winter Sleeper (1) – Cave Bear
Zar (21) ½ Clan man, 1st Ranked male hunter, Goov’s Acolyte (Cave Bear Totem)
---Ayla (15) – Clan’s 1st Ranked Medicine Woman, 2nd Weech, 2nd Ranked Woman-Who-Hunts, Zar’s Mate, (Cave Lion totem)
--------Durc (4) – Ayla’s ½ Clan son, (Gray Wolf totem)
--------Iza (2) – Ayla’s ¼ Clan daughter (Horse Totem)
---------Ekwus (1) – Centaur, 13th Ranked male hunter
Vorn (14) – 2nd Ranked male hunter
---Uba (9) – Medicine Woman, Vorn’s mate
------Uma (0) - Uba’s daughter
Goov (21) – mog-ur, 10th Ranked male hunter, (Aurochs totem/Ursus totem)
---Ovra (19) – Goov’s mate, (Beaver totem)
------Oogra (0) – Ovra’s daughter
Groog (26) – 1/8 Clan man, 3rd Ranked male hunter (megaceros totem)
---Iga (22) - of the Others, 3rd Ranked Woman-Who-Hunts, red-foot, Clanluna (one-who-serves-the-Mother)
------Griga (0) – Iga’s daughter
Crug (23) – 4th Ranked male hunter (wolf totem)
---Ika (21) – Crug’s mate
------Crik (0) – Ika’s son
---Oga (18) – Crug’s 2nd mate, Broud’s widow (hamster totem)
------Grev (5) – Oga’s 2nd son
------Dorv (0) Oga’s 3rd son
Brog (20) – ½ Clan, 5th Ranked male hunter
---Ena (19) – ½ Clan, 4th Ranked Woman-Who-Hunts
------Eva (8) – ½ Clan daughter of Ena, training to become Woman-Who-Hunts
------Boov (5) – ½ Clan son of Ena
Vorv (18) – ½ Clan, 6th Ranked male hunter
---Uva (16) – ½ Clan mate of Vorv
------Broov (5) – ½ Clan son of Uva (looks full Clan)
------Ugra (4) – ½ Clan daughter of Uva (looks full Others) training to become Woman-Who-Hunts
------Vorva (0) – ½ Clan daughter of Uva
Borg (10) – 7th Ranked male hunter, (Boar totem)
---Ona (10) – Borg’s mate (Owl totem)
------Bona (0) Ona’s daughter
Brun (34) – former leader, 8th Ranked male hunter (Bison totem)
---Aba (36) (ground squirrel totem) Brun’s mate
Brac (9) – Oga’s 1st son, 9th Ranked hunter (Bison totem)
---Igra (7) – Ika’s daughter, Brac’s Mate
Grod (30) – son of the mate of Zoug, 11th Ranked male hunter (Brown Bear totem)
---Uka (26) – Ebra’s sister, Grod’s Mate
Droog (32) – toolmaker, Aga’s mate, 12th Ranked male hunter
---Aga (25) – Droog’s mate
------Groob (7) – Aga’s son, 15th Ranked male Hunter
Chapter 14: Ekwus’ mates
While gathering mushrooms, Clanluna spotted a particularly potent one. The red cap with white spots advertised that this one would be a suitable sacrament for the sacred ceremonies of the Mother. After silently saying the appropriate prayers to placate the Spirit of the Mushroom, Clanluna started forward until she happened to glace at the branch above it. Mistletoe! Luna had warned her that Nargles tended to live in mistletoe and although she had never heard of Nargles until she had been told of them, she dared not head the words of her Goddess. As she paused to try to figure our how she would get the sacred mushroom without risking the Nargles, her hand went down to her sling, hanging on her belt. Pulling it out, Clanluna searched for a few pebbles and walked around until she had just the right angle.
Thwap!
Clanluna broke off the mushroom with a stone from her sling.
Thwap!
Thwap!
A couple of more shots knocked the severed toadstool out from beneath the mistletoe. Taking the long way around, Clanluna examined her prize. The stone had shredded it, but she was going to do that anyway, when she prepared it. She put the remains in her basket and resumed her gathering.
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
The three women of the Others were separating grain seeds from the chaff. For the Clan, grains were a spice, not a staple. Luna was the only one who had ever had a slice of leavened breath, and at times like this, she sorely missed it. While they did this, their youngest children were nearby. Zeen had the same brown hair that all of the boys of the Clan had, but he had Luna’s gray eyes. Iza had Zar’s black hair and Ayla’s blue eyes. Clanluna had pulled up her tunic to nurse her daughter, Griga, who had the same red hair and green eyes as her mother.
Luna’s musings were broken off when Ekwus approached.
“Why did you make me?” the centaur asked.
“Your dam had died in a hunt,” signed Luna. “This Leader feared you would die if she didn’t save you. Why do you ask? Are you unhappy with us? Do you need your own hearth? Is it mates? I could mate the next woman to you?”
“Yes, it’s mates,” retorted the centaur angrily. “And no, the next woman would not be suitable. This centaur tried Sharing Pleasures with the Clanluna during his manhood training, it didn’t work very well.”
“But this woman thought you were wonderful!” protested Clanluna. “This woman is grieved that you did not find her satisfactory!”
“You were very kind and understanding,” assured Ekwus. “But this centaur just doesn’t fit with women. This centaur needs a mare for a mate!”
“Very well, this Weech will make some females for you,” signed Luna. “Let us go to that valley nearby, where the horses live. This Weech will make you some mates out of them.
Clanluna, could you watch Zeen and Iza while we’re gone?”
“It shall be done, Great Mother,” replied Clanluna, with a bow.
“Now, you be good while I’m gone,” said Ayla, in English, as she climbed onto Ekwus’ back.
“No!” shouted Iza.
While Ayla rode on the centaur’s back, Luna had pulled her broom out of a fold of her wrap, enlarged it and was flying along side. Presently, they came upon a golden, grass colored, herd of horses. Luna swooped down on them and started transfiguring mares. With her wave of her wand, she was turning their coats snow white and spiral horns were growing out of their foreheads that resembled the horns that the snorkacks had grown over the past year. When the herd’s stallion saw the changed mares, he began driving them away from his heard. When Luna was finished, there were five unicorns fleeing their herd and towards Ekus and Ayla.
“These are the females of your Clan, began Luna, in English. “They’re called Unicorns. Although they look like horses, they’re actually quite magical and as intelligent as you are. Any of their male foals will be centaurs, like you. I would advise you not to drive them out so that you can have more hunters in your clan. Good luck. You’re welcome to visit any time.”
Ayla climbed down off of the centaurs back and walked in front of him.
“Goodbye my son!” sobbed Ayla as she hugged him. “If you need any supplies, don’t hesitate to visit!”
“I will, mama,” replied Ekwus, and he adjusted the straps that held his throwing spears on his back. “I need to go now, my harem, awaits.”
When Ayla let go of him, Luna gave him a brief hug and he tentatively stepped towards the unicorns.
“Ladies, I am Ekwus,” said the Centaur. “I guess I’m the dominate male of this herd for now. But I’m sure will have lots of foals in the future.
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
“Wheeee!!!”
“Wheeeee!!!!”
Zar was outside the cave throwing his mate’s daughter into the air, much to the girl’s delight. Clanluna watched them with a smile as she worked a deer skin that she had recently brought to her hearth. She’d downed it with the first arrow.
She watched as the ¼ Clan girl went up into the air, then, fell back into her mother’s mate’s arms. But then, the last time he’d thrown her into the air, she hadn’t fallen back into Zar’s hands. She just hung there, laughing, suspended in mid-air!
Clanluna dropped her scraper in shock, not believing what she was seeing!
“Iza! You come back down here this instant!” signed Zar.
“No!” laughed Iza, as she continued to float out of reach.
This was magic beyond anything Clanluna could handle! Luna and Ayla were gone with Ekwus. That left Creb. Only the Weez-Ur might be able to rescue the girl.
“Zeen, go get Creb,” signed Clanluna. “Tell him to bring his Weez-Ur stick!”
“This boy do it! This boy do it!” shouted Zeen, as he ran into the cave.
We he returned, he had, not Creb, but his father’s wand. Zeen waved it and a spark came out! Iza fell back into Zar’s hands!
“See! This boy do!” proclaimed Zeen.
Just then, Creb came hobbling out of the cave.
“Zeen! What are you doing with this man’s Weez-Ur stick?” asked his mother’s mate.
“This boy make Iza fall down!” proclaimed the ½ Clan boy with the gray eyes, as he waved the wand again and another spark came out.
“Give that here!” signed the Weez-Ur, as he held out his hand for the wand.
Reluctantly, the boy handed it over and stomped off into to woods.
“You need to take a firmer hand with that boy,” signed Brun. “We don’t want him to end up like Broud!”
“I know,” replied the Weez-Ur, sadly. Like he had with Ayla, Creb tended to spoil his mate’s son.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
It was late afternoon when Ayla and Luna returned to the Cave.
“Did the children behave?” asked Ayla.
“You’ll never guess what Iza did!” signed the Clanluna, excitedly. “Zar was tossing her up in the air and she got stuck in the air! Then Zeen waved Creb’s Wez-Ur stick and she fell back down to Zar!”
“Really!” exclaimed Luna in English. “Where is he now?”
“Over there, just inside the woods,” signed the Clanluna.
“Zeen! Come back!” yelled Ayla.
There was some rustling in the undergrowth and Wintersleeper appeared with Zeen riding on his back!
“Look at me, mother! I’m Ayla!” waved Zeen as he giggled while riding on the Cave Bear’s back.
Everyone who was outside the cave turned and gapped at the sight!
Luna ran forward and pick her son off the Cave Bear’s back to hug him, before scratching behind the bear’s ears.
“Zeen, this woman heard what you did!” signed Luna.
“Is this boy in trouble?” asked her son.
“No, you’re not in trouble, you’re a Weez-Ur!” replied Luna before turning to Ayla. “And Iza is a Weech!”
“Luna, that’s wonderful!” replied Ayla as she scooped up her daughter and hugged her. “Are you happy to find out you’re a Weech?”
“No!” replied Iza.
At Durc watched his mother and the Leader heap praise on their youngest children, jealousy forced a scowl onto his face.
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Ever since last spring, Luna had been mystifying Ayla, with her strange activities involving the Snorkacks. Once it had become apparent which male was the most docile, Luna had gelded all the other males. Then, the requited Ayla into helping her lead them around by a halter. Once they were tamed enough that the children could lead them around, Luna made a harness and started having the Snorkacks lead her around, first two at a time, then she kept adding pairs. By autumn, she had taught the teams to Snorkacks to obey four commands. Mush, Whoa, Gee, and Haw.
Ayla couldn’t figure out, what the purpose of these activities were, or what they had to do with milk.
GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
Although he had become a man, this year, there wasn’t a woman available to be his mate. So he stayed at Droog’s hearth and Clanluna continued to wear the red-feet for him. Often they would make tools together after Sharing Pleasures. The young tool-maker was fascinated by the new techniques for knapping flint that the woman of the Others had brought to the Clan.
When the weather turned cold, Ayla, Clanluna, Ena and Uva pulled out the Other’s style clothes that they had made for their mates and children. With this many member of her Clan dressing this way, Luna felt free to transfigure some hides into tunics, leggings, boots and parkas. But Creb refused to wear them. Change came hard for him.
As Winter came, Luna began teaching Ayla and Zar out of her books in something that resembled the Hogwarts curriculum, slightly. She’d decided that History in this era was prophecy and by the time it came true, it would be forgotten. So that was dropped as a subject. Without her telescope and books, she was only able to teach a little Astronomy. That left: Charms, Transfiguration, Herbalogy, Defense and Potions.
Herbalogy was a real eye opener for Ayla. The idea of deliberately planting and growing things was foreign to her. It made her wonder if Luna was doing something similar with the Snorkacks. Many of the plants in the book did not exist in this era. So, Luna made up for it by teaching her about some of the plants that weren’t in the book, the ones she’d read about in the Quibbler.
Luna was constrained in teaching potions because she didn’t want to use up valuable ingredients for teaching purposes. Too many of them were irreplaceable. So Luna tried teaching potions without the labs, using only the textbooks. Like Herbalogy, Ayla had a knack for Potions and she resolved to one day discover substitutes that weren’t in the book so that she could make her own potions.
Zar, being a muggle, was only able to learn Herbalogy and Potions. And While he wasn’t as good at it as his mate, he was fascinated by the subject.
None of the other members of the Clan were good enough as reading and math yet to take lessons with Ayla and Zar. Creb in particular found this frustrating. He had a gift for Charms and could do some silent Charms that were years beyond Ayla’s ability, there were other that he just couldn’t manage. With great difficult he could grasp ideograms. But Luna only had a chapter each on Hieroglyphics and ancient Chinese in her Runes textbooks. Alphabetic writing was too abstract for the aged man of the Clan to understand.
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One morning, Luna awoke with a feeling of dread. She reached over to cuddle her mate and felt coldness.
“Creb? CREB! CREB! NO! NO! NO! YOU CAN”T BE DEAD!” wailed Luna.
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