Categories > Books > Harry Potter > Clanluna
Clanluna
Chapter 23: Sungaea Summer Meeting
Harry Potter is owned by JK Rowling
Earth’s Children is owned by Jean Auel
Traveling to the Sungaea Summer Meeting
---Iga (23) - Other, (formerly: Andromedanaea of the Sungaea) 3rd Ranked Woman-Who-Hunts, red-foot, Clanluna (one-who-serves-the-Mother) Groog’s Mate
---Dyondar (Jondolar of the Zelandonii) (19) – Other, flintknapper, Thonolan’s brother (Cave Lion totem)
---Ayla (16) – Other, Clan’s 1st Ranked Medicine Woman, 2nd Weech, 2nd Ranked Woman-Who-Hunts, Zar’s Mate, (Cave Lion totem)
Ajaxerxesirius of the Reindeer Camp of the Sungaea (24) – Andromedanaea’s cousin
Once they’d said goodbye to their mates and children, Ayla and Iga climbed onto the chariot with Dyondar and set off for the Sungaea Summer Meeting.
Chapter 23: Sungaea Summer Meeting
“Ow! Ow! Ow!” said Ajaxerxesirius, as the travois dragged over bump after bump. Being tied down was giving him a very uncomfortable ride.
Iga and Dyondar rode the chariot at a leisurely pace so that Ayla could walk alongside, gathering plants and bring down with her sling the occasional rabbit or bird for a meal. When they stopped for lunch, the women switched places so Iga could gather plants and mushrooms for dinner.
The poles of the teepee had been incorporated into the travois. So when they stopped for the evening. Jondolar helped Iga set up the teepee while Ayla cooked their meal. After they ate, Ayla fed Ajaxerxesirius like a baby. Being tied up all day, he’d soiled himself like a baby too. So Ayla had to clean him up before levitating him into the teepee.
When she entered the teepee, Ayla saw that Iga had already made a fire in the center to warm things up. For fuel, she’d used dried dung that she’d gathered from the steppes while Ayla had been busy with their prisoner. Ayla was not surprised that Iga had laid out all of their sleeping furs together. She’d been bragging about how good Dyondar was at Pleasures since she’d brought him to Groog’s hearth. Ayla levitated Ajaxerxesirius to the opposite side of the fire from them, untied her wrap and crawled into the furs with Iga and Dyondar.
In spite of repeating 1st Rites the night before, Iga was feeling apprehensive about Sharing Pleasures with Dyondar. She realized that the damage done by her estranged cousin would be long in healing. So, this seemed like a good night to have Ayla join them. While she was building the fire, she’d told Dyondar that she wanted Ayla to Share Pleasures with them and that was why all their furs were together. When she came to bed, Ayla didn’t hesitate to crawl into the furs with them and soon the three of them were Sharing Pleasures.
The next morning, they struck camp, tied their paralyzed prisoner to the travois and set off. When they stopped for lunch, Iga announced:
“We are close to where he said the Sungaea Summer Meeting is, so we should change into our clothes. After all, we want to make a good impression on them.”
All three of them were dressed as they had been at Luna’s wedding when they spotted the tents of the Sungaea Summer Meeting a couple of hours later.
“ROAR!”
Ayla’s hat announced their presence and the people with spears came running from the camp looking to defend it from a cave lion. When the Sungaea saw the team of bright purple reindeer pulling a chariot that was pulling a travois, they cautiously moved forward with their spears ready to cast.
Dyondar halted the chariot, stepped down, and approached the people with his hands in the universal sign of greeting.
“I am Jondolar of the 9th Cave of the Zelandonii,” announced Dynodar in the Mamutoi language. “In the name of the Great Mother, Doni, I greet you.”
One of the men stepped forward and clasped Dyondar’s hands.
“I am Achillesamothraceris of the Similodon Camp of the Sungaea,” said a red-haired man in perfect Mamutoi. “In the name of the Great Mother, Gaea, I welcome you to the Summer Meeting of the Sungaea.
“Andromedanaea!” said a red-haired woman, as she rushed up to Iga and hugged her before babbling at her in the Sungaea language. “I thought you were dead! Where have you been? What are these strange animals? How did you get them to pull this thing with you?”
Iga pushed her sister away with tears in her eyes and looked at Jondolar in alarm.
“Tell her that I can’t speak with words anymore!” signed Iga.
“The Clanluna can no longer speak out loud, her throat was injured long before I met her,” explained Jondolar. “She can still understand you and she talks with her hands. I and Ayla will translate for her.”
“Hey! They’re got Ajaxerxesirius tied to that frame!” exclaimed a blonde-haired man.
“Tell them that we’ve brought Ajaxerxesirius to be judged by the Council of Sisters!” waved Iga.
“The Clanluna says that we have brought Ajaxerxesirius to be judged by the- something of sisters,” explained Jondolar.
“Council,” corrected Ayla, in Zelandonii.
“oh yes, Council of Sisters!” added Jondolar. “In the mean time, I need to tell you that these reindeer are special and are not to be hunted. Could you spread the word?”
“Yes,” replied Achillesamothraceris. “And the Council of Brothers can take custody of Ajaxerxesirius and see that he attends the Council Meeting.”
“That sounds acceptable,” replied Jondolar. “Show us where to set up camp.”
Ayla pulled her wand from behind her ear and released Ajaxerxesirius from the full-body-bind she had placed on him as several men came forward and untied him. A few more roars came out of Ayla’s hat while they were doing this and Ajaxerxesirius and the men fled to the safety of the camp.
Once they were in the designated spot, they set up their teepee with the help of many curious Sungaea. Iga’s sister kept talking nonstop as she helped them. They also unhitched and hobbled the Snorkacks. Finally, they were done and Iga’s sister, Ariadneris of the Reindeer Camp of the Sungaea formally introduced herself along with many other people. Iga had taught Ayla how to introduce herself and she did so to everyone they met.
“So tell what happened ? Where have you been the past few years!?!” asked Iga’s older sister, Ariadneris. Ayla, Jondolar, and Achillesamothraceris were acting as translators for Iga, even though they didn’t understand Ariadneris’ side of the conversation. This made for a very cumbersome conversation, but Iga’s smile and sparkling eyes told them she was glad for a chance to catch up with her original people.
“We had just started Cave Lion Camp in that new cave,” began Iga. “Some of us were afraid to live in a cave so close to flathead country. This woman thinks that the Earthquake was Gaea’s message. It happened early in the morning and we were all in the cave. This woman was the only survivor. At the time, this woman thought that Gaea was judging us for intruding on flathead territory. This woman’s legs were pinned under a rock. The next day, when the Hyenas showed up, this woman had doubts she would live. For two days, this woman had to watch and listen to the Hyenas eat my Mate, my two children, and all the other members of the Camp. This woman kept alive by flailing every time the hyenas came near. But she had become too weak after two days and one of them finally ripped my throat out. What happened next was unbelievable! I was rescued by the Great Mother, herself! She claims that she’s not the Goddess, that she a woman. But I’ve seen too much to believe that. She made the snorkacks and several other fantastic creatures.
This Goddess calls herself, Luna. She’s the Headwoman of a unique people called the Clanluna. She appears to be a woman like us. Her new mate, Thonolan, Ayla, Jondolar, and my mate, Groog are what you would recognize as people. But some of the Clanluna are of mixed spirits. My mate claims to be so, but he doesn’t look it. Ayla’s Mate, Zar, is mixed.
But most of the members of the Clanluna are flatheads. They call themselves Clan. They talk with their hands, like, this woman does. The Clan are people. This woman is sure of it!”
As the two sisters struggled to talk with the aid of three translators, a crowd had gathered of mostly teen-aged boys and young men. They had been drawn by the exotic pair of beautiful women. Seeing Iga in what they could recognize as the vestments of a redfoot, was especially attractive. Not only to boys of the appropriate age, but also to young men who wanted to try to seduce a redtfoot. As Iga’s tale went on, many of the boys and men left, disgusted by the women who Shared Pleasures with flatheads and abominations.
“Iga, why are all these men staring at me?” asked Ayla. She had to sign with one hand because a man was holding her left hand and looking deeply into her eyes.
“They want to Share Pleasures with you,” replied Iga.
“Oh. Now I understand,” waved Ayla as she let the man lead her to his tent.
Iga smiled as she watched her friend leave. Flings were common at Summer Meetings. She’s had more than her share when she was younger. It didn’t occur to her that Ayla didn’t feel that she could refuse an invitation to Share Pleasures. Her Clan culture was so deeply ingrained that Ayla felt she had to Relieve the Needs of any man who asked. Iga teachings about consent didn’t make much sense to her.
“Tell them, they needn’t waste their time courting me,” Iga signed to Jondolar. “This woman is only redfooting for one boy and he’s a Clan boy back at the Clanluna. The only man I’ll be Sharing Pleasures with is Jondolar.”
Once the translation was understood, the crowd of suitors thinned out considerably.
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
The next morning, when Iga awoke, Ayla had already set a warm cup of tea each next to her, Jondolar and even the man whose tent she’d slept in the night before. There was also a breakfast waiting for them. After eating, Iga went out to empty her bladder. When she returned, Ayla was back from her bath getting dressed in the wedding clothes she’d borrowed from Luna. This morning would be Ajaxerxesirius’ trial before the Council of the Sisters and they needed to make a good impression. Jondolar joined her at the stream for a bath and they allowed themselves to get distracted by a quick session of mutual Need Relieving. Once they were done, and had walked back to the teepee; Iga applied a fresh coat of ochre to her feet and put on the rose-print skirt. She knew that she would make an impression as none of the Sungaea had ever seen cloth, much less patterned fabric. Ayla put on the tan skirt and crème colored blouse, her areolas and nipples showing through the translucent blouse. Her Lion-head hat with her wand tucked in the brim completely the costume.
“ROAR!” said the hat.
Jondolar had only had a single tunic and leggings that Iga had made for him and she hadn’t had a chance to decorate it.
Iga led the trio to the large tent in the center of the camp. A large and growing crowd followed them as they walked. When they arrived, there were ten elderly women sitting in a line at the far side of the tent. Iga recognized them as the Headwomen of the Camps of the Sungaea. Iga saw that the female Sungaeae were sitting behind them as their female acolytes and redfeet were directing the crowd of women who were filling the tent. A red foot came up to them and introduced her self. Iga didn’t recognize her.
“I am Alchmenegia of the Megaceros Camp of the Sungaea,” said the woman in Mamutoi as she clasped hands with Jondolar. She had the same red hair and green eyes as Iga and like her, was dressed only is a skirt and red ochre. “I will be helping you to translate.”
“I am Jondolar of the 9th Cave of Zelandonii,” he replied as he tried to tear his eyes from her breasts. “And this is Ayla, 1st ranked Medicine Woman of the Clanluna, and Clanluna, she-who-serves-the-Mother for the Clanluna.”
Tradition held that only women were allowed to attend a meeting of the Council of Sisters. An exception had been made for Jondolar and Ajaxerxesirius. But many men had gathered outside the tent to listen in.
“This Meeting of the Council of Sisters is called to order!” proclaimed the headwoman in the center. “Andromedanaea, what business do you have for the sisters?”
Iga started with the tale of where she had been and what she had done, the same one she had told her sister the night before. Just as last night, the story was interrupted by the outraged shouts of various women when they learned that she had been living amongst flatheads. Finally, she got to the accusation:
“Several day ago, a group of women of the Clanluna were gathering plants when Ajaxerxesirius, Agememnonarsysphus, Atlasiriusyla, Atumenenlaus, and two boys this woman didn’t recognize. Attacked us and Forced us to Share Pleasures! Ajaxerxesirius Forced himself on me!”
Although neither Jondolar not Ayla could come up with a pronunciation for the signs Iga had used to indicate the men she had recognized. She had been able to make it clear that she recognized her attackers.
“An accusation has been made that you not only Forced a woman, but that you forced someone who is both a redfoot and who-her-serves-the-Mother for her people what say you, Ajaxerxesirius?”
“I freely admit my crime,” replied Ajaxerxesirius. “However, none of the others of us forced women. These so-called women she was with were nothing more that a pack of flatheads! They didn’t put up any kind of fight and as for Andromedanaea, She was in a bush with only her rear sticking out. I thought she was a flathead.”
“While forcing Pleasures with a flathead is not considered as great a crime amongst the Sungaea as forcing a Sungaea woman, it is still taboo to Share Pleasures with a flathead. This woman thinks you should revise your taboos for in her years of living amongst the Clan, she has learned that the Clan are people too. That fact that Ajaxerxesirius mistook me for a flathead should make no difference. By his own admission, he has Forced a woman, a redfoot, One-who-Serves-the-Mother. This woman calls for Death for him and his accomplices!”
“The council must deliberate, We will call you back when we have made our decision,” announced the Headwoman of the Onanger camp.
As people were filing out of the big tent, the man Ayla had spent the night with Grasped her hand and pulled her towards a middle-aged woman. The man had Blonde hair and Blue eyes the exact same shade as Ayla’s.
“Mother, I want you to meet Ayla, she doesn’t know our language yet but I hope that by the end of the Summer Meeting I’ll be able to persuade her to Join with me.”
When the woman turned to look at her son, she gasped! As did, Ayla. It was like looking at an older version of her self! The woman’s hair had gone white with age but the blue of her eyes, the shape of her nose, the build of her body, all looked like Ayla!
“Adonaialexisis!” gasped the woman. “No sorry, you can’t be her. She’d be my age by now. You must be her daughter Ailalexisis. Do you understand me? Odyseusarpedon, find some one who can translate.”
He ran over to Iga, who was listening to her sister and took her hand to drag her over to Ayla.
“Can you translate for us?” asked Odyseusarpedon’s mother.
“Tell her that this woman can understand her but this woman can not speak her words,” signed Iga.
“Clanluna hear you words, no speak Sungaea. Ayla Speak,” said Ayla in her rough Mamutoi.
“I’m sorry I don’t speak Mamutoi,” replied the woman. “Odyseusarpedon, I told you to find someone who can translate! My name is Claitemestralexasisis of the Megaceros Camp. You look just like my twin sister, Adonaialexisis, did when she disappeared years ago. She had a daughter named Ailalexisis who would be about your age and I wondered if you might be her?”
“Iga, do you really think she might be my Mother’s sister?” signed Ayla, once Iga had translated for her.
“It’s possible,” admitted Iga. “You never did find out who your first people were, after all.”
Once Jondolar and Alchmenegia had joined them to help translate, they became more and more convinced that Ayla was Ailalexisis. After several hours of unwieldly translations, the council called them back into the tent.
“We have made our decision,” announced the Headwoman of the Onanger camp. “Ajaxerxesirius, you can your compatriots, for breaking the taboo against Sharing Pleasures with a flathead are sentenced to the loss of Pleasures. Until the next summer meeting it will be taboo for ANY woman to Share Pleasures with you. We will also be speaking to the Council of Brothers and recommending that the men taboo you too.
Andromadanaea, you too have, by you own admission, broken the taboo against Sharing Pleasures with a flathead. Since you have adopted these Clanluna as your people, you should depart to them and stay.
The Council has spoken!”
Iga was heartbroken! She was exiled from the people of her birth! She dropped her hands in shock and didn’t bother translating it.
“ROAR!” roared Ayla’s hat. As the Sungaea took a step back away from her.
“What’s going on?” demanded Jondolar.
After Alchmenegia had translated for Jondolar, he wrapped his arms around Iga and hugged her as the silent sobs shock her body and the tears ran down her cheeks.
Ayla’s reaction was different. Pulling her wand out of her hat, she stormed over to the Headwomen.
“No bad Clan! Clan no animals! Iga no bad! Wingardium Leviosa!” yelled Ayla in Mamutoi as she levitated the Headwoman who had pronounced sentence.
Breaking free of Jondolar, Iga ran forward into Ayla’s view.
“Ayla put her down!” signed Iga. “These aren’t my people anymore, but they haven’t really been my people for years. This woman is Iga, One-who-Serves-the-Mother for the Clanluna. That is enough. This woman was just shocked.
As the took down the teepee, Iga’s sister, Ariadneris and Ayla’s cousin, Odyseusarpedon helped.
“Andromedanaea, I want to go with you to meet your new people, we’ve spent too many years apart,” said Ariadneris.
“I too, would like to journey with you,” added Odyseusarpedon. “Now that I know you are a cousin, Ayla, I may not be able to join with you, but as your closest male relative, I feel it is my responsibility to check out your claims that these flatheads are people. I have a duty to ensure your safety.”
“Well, what do you think?” asked Iga after she had translated for Ayla and Jondolar. “We women comprise half of the council Luna appointed to rule during her seclusion. Do you think we can invite them to stay?”
“Yes. This woman thinks that they should be allowed to stay with us and teach their words so that next time we meet the Sungaea, we will be able to communicate with them,” signed Ayla.
Chapter 23: Sungaea Summer Meeting
Harry Potter is owned by JK Rowling
Earth’s Children is owned by Jean Auel
Traveling to the Sungaea Summer Meeting
---Iga (23) - Other, (formerly: Andromedanaea of the Sungaea) 3rd Ranked Woman-Who-Hunts, red-foot, Clanluna (one-who-serves-the-Mother) Groog’s Mate
---Dyondar (Jondolar of the Zelandonii) (19) – Other, flintknapper, Thonolan’s brother (Cave Lion totem)
---Ayla (16) – Other, Clan’s 1st Ranked Medicine Woman, 2nd Weech, 2nd Ranked Woman-Who-Hunts, Zar’s Mate, (Cave Lion totem)
Ajaxerxesirius of the Reindeer Camp of the Sungaea (24) – Andromedanaea’s cousin
Once they’d said goodbye to their mates and children, Ayla and Iga climbed onto the chariot with Dyondar and set off for the Sungaea Summer Meeting.
Chapter 23: Sungaea Summer Meeting
“Ow! Ow! Ow!” said Ajaxerxesirius, as the travois dragged over bump after bump. Being tied down was giving him a very uncomfortable ride.
Iga and Dyondar rode the chariot at a leisurely pace so that Ayla could walk alongside, gathering plants and bring down with her sling the occasional rabbit or bird for a meal. When they stopped for lunch, the women switched places so Iga could gather plants and mushrooms for dinner.
The poles of the teepee had been incorporated into the travois. So when they stopped for the evening. Jondolar helped Iga set up the teepee while Ayla cooked their meal. After they ate, Ayla fed Ajaxerxesirius like a baby. Being tied up all day, he’d soiled himself like a baby too. So Ayla had to clean him up before levitating him into the teepee.
When she entered the teepee, Ayla saw that Iga had already made a fire in the center to warm things up. For fuel, she’d used dried dung that she’d gathered from the steppes while Ayla had been busy with their prisoner. Ayla was not surprised that Iga had laid out all of their sleeping furs together. She’d been bragging about how good Dyondar was at Pleasures since she’d brought him to Groog’s hearth. Ayla levitated Ajaxerxesirius to the opposite side of the fire from them, untied her wrap and crawled into the furs with Iga and Dyondar.
In spite of repeating 1st Rites the night before, Iga was feeling apprehensive about Sharing Pleasures with Dyondar. She realized that the damage done by her estranged cousin would be long in healing. So, this seemed like a good night to have Ayla join them. While she was building the fire, she’d told Dyondar that she wanted Ayla to Share Pleasures with them and that was why all their furs were together. When she came to bed, Ayla didn’t hesitate to crawl into the furs with them and soon the three of them were Sharing Pleasures.
The next morning, they struck camp, tied their paralyzed prisoner to the travois and set off. When they stopped for lunch, Iga announced:
“We are close to where he said the Sungaea Summer Meeting is, so we should change into our clothes. After all, we want to make a good impression on them.”
All three of them were dressed as they had been at Luna’s wedding when they spotted the tents of the Sungaea Summer Meeting a couple of hours later.
“ROAR!”
Ayla’s hat announced their presence and the people with spears came running from the camp looking to defend it from a cave lion. When the Sungaea saw the team of bright purple reindeer pulling a chariot that was pulling a travois, they cautiously moved forward with their spears ready to cast.
Dyondar halted the chariot, stepped down, and approached the people with his hands in the universal sign of greeting.
“I am Jondolar of the 9th Cave of the Zelandonii,” announced Dynodar in the Mamutoi language. “In the name of the Great Mother, Doni, I greet you.”
One of the men stepped forward and clasped Dyondar’s hands.
“I am Achillesamothraceris of the Similodon Camp of the Sungaea,” said a red-haired man in perfect Mamutoi. “In the name of the Great Mother, Gaea, I welcome you to the Summer Meeting of the Sungaea.
“Andromedanaea!” said a red-haired woman, as she rushed up to Iga and hugged her before babbling at her in the Sungaea language. “I thought you were dead! Where have you been? What are these strange animals? How did you get them to pull this thing with you?”
Iga pushed her sister away with tears in her eyes and looked at Jondolar in alarm.
“Tell her that I can’t speak with words anymore!” signed Iga.
“The Clanluna can no longer speak out loud, her throat was injured long before I met her,” explained Jondolar. “She can still understand you and she talks with her hands. I and Ayla will translate for her.”
“Hey! They’re got Ajaxerxesirius tied to that frame!” exclaimed a blonde-haired man.
“Tell them that we’ve brought Ajaxerxesirius to be judged by the Council of Sisters!” waved Iga.
“The Clanluna says that we have brought Ajaxerxesirius to be judged by the- something of sisters,” explained Jondolar.
“Council,” corrected Ayla, in Zelandonii.
“oh yes, Council of Sisters!” added Jondolar. “In the mean time, I need to tell you that these reindeer are special and are not to be hunted. Could you spread the word?”
“Yes,” replied Achillesamothraceris. “And the Council of Brothers can take custody of Ajaxerxesirius and see that he attends the Council Meeting.”
“That sounds acceptable,” replied Jondolar. “Show us where to set up camp.”
Ayla pulled her wand from behind her ear and released Ajaxerxesirius from the full-body-bind she had placed on him as several men came forward and untied him. A few more roars came out of Ayla’s hat while they were doing this and Ajaxerxesirius and the men fled to the safety of the camp.
Once they were in the designated spot, they set up their teepee with the help of many curious Sungaea. Iga’s sister kept talking nonstop as she helped them. They also unhitched and hobbled the Snorkacks. Finally, they were done and Iga’s sister, Ariadneris of the Reindeer Camp of the Sungaea formally introduced herself along with many other people. Iga had taught Ayla how to introduce herself and she did so to everyone they met.
“So tell what happened ? Where have you been the past few years!?!” asked Iga’s older sister, Ariadneris. Ayla, Jondolar, and Achillesamothraceris were acting as translators for Iga, even though they didn’t understand Ariadneris’ side of the conversation. This made for a very cumbersome conversation, but Iga’s smile and sparkling eyes told them she was glad for a chance to catch up with her original people.
“We had just started Cave Lion Camp in that new cave,” began Iga. “Some of us were afraid to live in a cave so close to flathead country. This woman thinks that the Earthquake was Gaea’s message. It happened early in the morning and we were all in the cave. This woman was the only survivor. At the time, this woman thought that Gaea was judging us for intruding on flathead territory. This woman’s legs were pinned under a rock. The next day, when the Hyenas showed up, this woman had doubts she would live. For two days, this woman had to watch and listen to the Hyenas eat my Mate, my two children, and all the other members of the Camp. This woman kept alive by flailing every time the hyenas came near. But she had become too weak after two days and one of them finally ripped my throat out. What happened next was unbelievable! I was rescued by the Great Mother, herself! She claims that she’s not the Goddess, that she a woman. But I’ve seen too much to believe that. She made the snorkacks and several other fantastic creatures.
This Goddess calls herself, Luna. She’s the Headwoman of a unique people called the Clanluna. She appears to be a woman like us. Her new mate, Thonolan, Ayla, Jondolar, and my mate, Groog are what you would recognize as people. But some of the Clanluna are of mixed spirits. My mate claims to be so, but he doesn’t look it. Ayla’s Mate, Zar, is mixed.
But most of the members of the Clanluna are flatheads. They call themselves Clan. They talk with their hands, like, this woman does. The Clan are people. This woman is sure of it!”
As the two sisters struggled to talk with the aid of three translators, a crowd had gathered of mostly teen-aged boys and young men. They had been drawn by the exotic pair of beautiful women. Seeing Iga in what they could recognize as the vestments of a redfoot, was especially attractive. Not only to boys of the appropriate age, but also to young men who wanted to try to seduce a redtfoot. As Iga’s tale went on, many of the boys and men left, disgusted by the women who Shared Pleasures with flatheads and abominations.
“Iga, why are all these men staring at me?” asked Ayla. She had to sign with one hand because a man was holding her left hand and looking deeply into her eyes.
“They want to Share Pleasures with you,” replied Iga.
“Oh. Now I understand,” waved Ayla as she let the man lead her to his tent.
Iga smiled as she watched her friend leave. Flings were common at Summer Meetings. She’s had more than her share when she was younger. It didn’t occur to her that Ayla didn’t feel that she could refuse an invitation to Share Pleasures. Her Clan culture was so deeply ingrained that Ayla felt she had to Relieve the Needs of any man who asked. Iga teachings about consent didn’t make much sense to her.
“Tell them, they needn’t waste their time courting me,” Iga signed to Jondolar. “This woman is only redfooting for one boy and he’s a Clan boy back at the Clanluna. The only man I’ll be Sharing Pleasures with is Jondolar.”
Once the translation was understood, the crowd of suitors thinned out considerably.
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
The next morning, when Iga awoke, Ayla had already set a warm cup of tea each next to her, Jondolar and even the man whose tent she’d slept in the night before. There was also a breakfast waiting for them. After eating, Iga went out to empty her bladder. When she returned, Ayla was back from her bath getting dressed in the wedding clothes she’d borrowed from Luna. This morning would be Ajaxerxesirius’ trial before the Council of the Sisters and they needed to make a good impression. Jondolar joined her at the stream for a bath and they allowed themselves to get distracted by a quick session of mutual Need Relieving. Once they were done, and had walked back to the teepee; Iga applied a fresh coat of ochre to her feet and put on the rose-print skirt. She knew that she would make an impression as none of the Sungaea had ever seen cloth, much less patterned fabric. Ayla put on the tan skirt and crème colored blouse, her areolas and nipples showing through the translucent blouse. Her Lion-head hat with her wand tucked in the brim completely the costume.
“ROAR!” said the hat.
Jondolar had only had a single tunic and leggings that Iga had made for him and she hadn’t had a chance to decorate it.
Iga led the trio to the large tent in the center of the camp. A large and growing crowd followed them as they walked. When they arrived, there were ten elderly women sitting in a line at the far side of the tent. Iga recognized them as the Headwomen of the Camps of the Sungaea. Iga saw that the female Sungaeae were sitting behind them as their female acolytes and redfeet were directing the crowd of women who were filling the tent. A red foot came up to them and introduced her self. Iga didn’t recognize her.
“I am Alchmenegia of the Megaceros Camp of the Sungaea,” said the woman in Mamutoi as she clasped hands with Jondolar. She had the same red hair and green eyes as Iga and like her, was dressed only is a skirt and red ochre. “I will be helping you to translate.”
“I am Jondolar of the 9th Cave of Zelandonii,” he replied as he tried to tear his eyes from her breasts. “And this is Ayla, 1st ranked Medicine Woman of the Clanluna, and Clanluna, she-who-serves-the-Mother for the Clanluna.”
Tradition held that only women were allowed to attend a meeting of the Council of Sisters. An exception had been made for Jondolar and Ajaxerxesirius. But many men had gathered outside the tent to listen in.
“This Meeting of the Council of Sisters is called to order!” proclaimed the headwoman in the center. “Andromedanaea, what business do you have for the sisters?”
Iga started with the tale of where she had been and what she had done, the same one she had told her sister the night before. Just as last night, the story was interrupted by the outraged shouts of various women when they learned that she had been living amongst flatheads. Finally, she got to the accusation:
“Several day ago, a group of women of the Clanluna were gathering plants when Ajaxerxesirius, Agememnonarsysphus, Atlasiriusyla, Atumenenlaus, and two boys this woman didn’t recognize. Attacked us and Forced us to Share Pleasures! Ajaxerxesirius Forced himself on me!”
Although neither Jondolar not Ayla could come up with a pronunciation for the signs Iga had used to indicate the men she had recognized. She had been able to make it clear that she recognized her attackers.
“An accusation has been made that you not only Forced a woman, but that you forced someone who is both a redfoot and who-her-serves-the-Mother for her people what say you, Ajaxerxesirius?”
“I freely admit my crime,” replied Ajaxerxesirius. “However, none of the others of us forced women. These so-called women she was with were nothing more that a pack of flatheads! They didn’t put up any kind of fight and as for Andromedanaea, She was in a bush with only her rear sticking out. I thought she was a flathead.”
“While forcing Pleasures with a flathead is not considered as great a crime amongst the Sungaea as forcing a Sungaea woman, it is still taboo to Share Pleasures with a flathead. This woman thinks you should revise your taboos for in her years of living amongst the Clan, she has learned that the Clan are people too. That fact that Ajaxerxesirius mistook me for a flathead should make no difference. By his own admission, he has Forced a woman, a redfoot, One-who-Serves-the-Mother. This woman calls for Death for him and his accomplices!”
“The council must deliberate, We will call you back when we have made our decision,” announced the Headwoman of the Onanger camp.
As people were filing out of the big tent, the man Ayla had spent the night with Grasped her hand and pulled her towards a middle-aged woman. The man had Blonde hair and Blue eyes the exact same shade as Ayla’s.
“Mother, I want you to meet Ayla, she doesn’t know our language yet but I hope that by the end of the Summer Meeting I’ll be able to persuade her to Join with me.”
When the woman turned to look at her son, she gasped! As did, Ayla. It was like looking at an older version of her self! The woman’s hair had gone white with age but the blue of her eyes, the shape of her nose, the build of her body, all looked like Ayla!
“Adonaialexisis!” gasped the woman. “No sorry, you can’t be her. She’d be my age by now. You must be her daughter Ailalexisis. Do you understand me? Odyseusarpedon, find some one who can translate.”
He ran over to Iga, who was listening to her sister and took her hand to drag her over to Ayla.
“Can you translate for us?” asked Odyseusarpedon’s mother.
“Tell her that this woman can understand her but this woman can not speak her words,” signed Iga.
“Clanluna hear you words, no speak Sungaea. Ayla Speak,” said Ayla in her rough Mamutoi.
“I’m sorry I don’t speak Mamutoi,” replied the woman. “Odyseusarpedon, I told you to find someone who can translate! My name is Claitemestralexasisis of the Megaceros Camp. You look just like my twin sister, Adonaialexisis, did when she disappeared years ago. She had a daughter named Ailalexisis who would be about your age and I wondered if you might be her?”
“Iga, do you really think she might be my Mother’s sister?” signed Ayla, once Iga had translated for her.
“It’s possible,” admitted Iga. “You never did find out who your first people were, after all.”
Once Jondolar and Alchmenegia had joined them to help translate, they became more and more convinced that Ayla was Ailalexisis. After several hours of unwieldly translations, the council called them back into the tent.
“We have made our decision,” announced the Headwoman of the Onanger camp. “Ajaxerxesirius, you can your compatriots, for breaking the taboo against Sharing Pleasures with a flathead are sentenced to the loss of Pleasures. Until the next summer meeting it will be taboo for ANY woman to Share Pleasures with you. We will also be speaking to the Council of Brothers and recommending that the men taboo you too.
Andromadanaea, you too have, by you own admission, broken the taboo against Sharing Pleasures with a flathead. Since you have adopted these Clanluna as your people, you should depart to them and stay.
The Council has spoken!”
Iga was heartbroken! She was exiled from the people of her birth! She dropped her hands in shock and didn’t bother translating it.
“ROAR!” roared Ayla’s hat. As the Sungaea took a step back away from her.
“What’s going on?” demanded Jondolar.
After Alchmenegia had translated for Jondolar, he wrapped his arms around Iga and hugged her as the silent sobs shock her body and the tears ran down her cheeks.
Ayla’s reaction was different. Pulling her wand out of her hat, she stormed over to the Headwomen.
“No bad Clan! Clan no animals! Iga no bad! Wingardium Leviosa!” yelled Ayla in Mamutoi as she levitated the Headwoman who had pronounced sentence.
Breaking free of Jondolar, Iga ran forward into Ayla’s view.
“Ayla put her down!” signed Iga. “These aren’t my people anymore, but they haven’t really been my people for years. This woman is Iga, One-who-Serves-the-Mother for the Clanluna. That is enough. This woman was just shocked.
As the took down the teepee, Iga’s sister, Ariadneris and Ayla’s cousin, Odyseusarpedon helped.
“Andromedanaea, I want to go with you to meet your new people, we’ve spent too many years apart,” said Ariadneris.
“I too, would like to journey with you,” added Odyseusarpedon. “Now that I know you are a cousin, Ayla, I may not be able to join with you, but as your closest male relative, I feel it is my responsibility to check out your claims that these flatheads are people. I have a duty to ensure your safety.”
“Well, what do you think?” asked Iga after she had translated for Ayla and Jondolar. “We women comprise half of the council Luna appointed to rule during her seclusion. Do you think we can invite them to stay?”
“Yes. This woman thinks that they should be allowed to stay with us and teach their words so that next time we meet the Sungaea, we will be able to communicate with them,” signed Ayla.
Sign up to rate and review this story