For the glorious light of Her son to survive.

She continued the fight. To bring back the light.

And Her luminous friend was prepared to contest,

The thief who held captive the child of Her breast.

Together they fought for the son She adored.

Their efforts succeeded, his light was restored.

His energy burned. His brilliance returned.

But the bleak frigid dark craved his bright glowing heat.

The Mother defended and would not retreat.

The whirlwind pulled hard, She refused to let go,

She fought to a draw with Her dark swirling foe.

She held darkness at bay. But Her son was away.

When She fought the whirlwind and made chaos flee,

The light from Her son glowed with vitality.

When the Mother grew tired, the bleak void held sway,

And darkness returned at the end of the day.

She felt warmth from Her son. But neither had won.

The Great Mother lived with the pain in Her heart,

That She and Her son were forever apart.

She ached for the child that had been denied,

So She quickened once more from the life-force inside.

She was not reconciled. To the loss of Her child.

When She was ready, Her waters of birth,

Brought back the green life to the cold barren Earth.

And the tears of Her loss, abundantly spilled,

Made dew drops that sparkled and rainbows that thrilled.

Birth waters brought green. But Her tears could be seen.

With a thunderous roar Her stones split asunder,

And from the great cave that opened deep under,

She birthed once again from Her cavernous room,

And brought forth the Children of Earth from Her womb.

From the Mother forlorn, more children were born.

Each child was different, some were large and some small,

Some could walk and some fly, some could swim and some crawl.

But each form was perfect, each spirit complete,

Each one was a model whose shape could repeat.

The Mother was willing. The green earth was filling.

All the birds and the fish and the animals born,

Would not leave the Mother, this time, to mourn.

Each kind would live near the place of its birth,

And share the expanse of the Great Mother Earth.

Close to Her they would stay. They could not run away.

They all were Her children, they filled Her with pride,

But they used up the life-force She carried inside.

She had enough left for a last innovation,

A child who'd remember Who made the creation

A child who'd respect. And learn to protect.

First Woman was born full-grown and alive,

And given the Gifts she would need to survive.

Life was the First Gift, and like Mother Earth,

She woke to herself knowing life had great worth.

First Woman defined. The first of her kind.

Next was the Gift of Perception, of learning,

The desire to know, the Gift of Discerning,

First Woman was given the knowledge within,

That would help her to live, and pass on to her kin.

First Woman would know. How to learn, how to grow.

Her life-force near gone, The Mother was spent,

To pass on Life's Spirit had been Her intent.

She caused all of Her children to create life anew,

And Woman was blessed to bring forth life, too.

But Woman was lonely. She was the only.

The Mother remembered Her own loneliness,

The love of Her friend and his hovering caress.

With the last spark remaining, Her labor began,

To share life with Woman, She created First Man.

Again She was giving. One more was living.

To Woman and Man the Mother gave birth,

And then for their home, She gave them the Earth,

The water, the land, and all Her creation.

To use them with care was their obligation.

It was their home to use. But not to abuse.

For the Children of Earth the Mother provided,

The Gifts to survive, and then She decided,

To give them the Gift of Pleasure and sharing,

That honors the Mother with the joy of their pairing.

The Gifts are well-earned. When honor's returned.

The Mother was pleased with the pair She created,

She taught them to love and to care when they mated.

She made them desire to join with each other,

The Gift of their Pleasures came from the Mother.

Before She was through. Her children loved too.

Earth's Children were blessed. The Mother could rest.

LIST OF CHARACTERS

Ayla-of the Ninth Cave of the Zelandonii, formerly Ayla of the Lion Camp of the Mamutoi, Daughter of the Mammoth Hearth, Chosen by the Spirit of the Cave Lion, Protected by the Cave Bear, Friend of the horses, Whinney and Racer, and the four-legged hunter, Wolf

Jondalar-of the Ninth Cave of the Zelandonii, Ayla's intended, son of former leader, brother of leader, called Jondй by his sister Folara

Zelandoni (Zolena)-Current Zelandoni, former lover of Jondalar

Thonolan/d-Jondalar's younger brother, killed on Journey

Folara-Jondalar's younger sister

Marthona-Jondalar's mother, former leader, also mother of Joharran, Folara

Willamar-Marthona's mate, Trade Master, Traveler

Tivonan-Willamar's apprentice trader

Joconan/d-Marthona's first mate, dead, man of Joharran's hearth

Joharran-Jondalar's older brother, leader of Ninth Cave

Proleva-Joharran's mate

Jaradal-Proleva's son, Joharran's hearth child

Levela-Proleva's younger sister, Jondecam's mate

Jondecam-Levela's mate, nephew of Kimeran and son of Zelandoni of the Second Cave

Velima-mother of Proleva and Levela

Solaban-Hunter, adviser, and friend of Joharran

Ramara-Solaban's mate

Robenan-Ramara's son

Rushemar-Hunter, adviser, and friend of Joharran

Salova-Rushemar's mate

Marsola-Salova's daughter

Marona-Jondalar's former girlfriend

Wylopa-Marona's cousin

Portula-Marona's friend

Lorava-Portula's younger sister

Ramila-Folara's friend

Galeya-Folara's friend

Charezal-New member of Ninth Cave, stranger to Jondalar

Shevonar/d-Man who dies while hunting

Relona-Shevonar's mate

Ranokol-Shevonar's brother

Brukeval-Jondalar's distant cousin (part Clan)

Madroman-Formerly called Ladroman, acolyte of Fifth Cave

Laramar-Man who makes barma

Tremeda-Laramar's mate

Bologan-son of Tremeda, eldest, twelve

Lanoga-daughter of Tremeda, ten

Lorala-daughter of Tremeda, about six months

Stelona-Older woman who nurses Lorala

Thefona-Third Cave's best lookout, best vision

Thevola-Maker of rawhide panels

Lanidar-Boy of the Nineteenth Cave with deformed right arm, twelve

Mardena-Lanidar's mother

Denoda-Mardena's mother

Janida-Peridal's mate

Peridal-Janida's mate

Matagan-Young man who was gored by a woolly rhinoceros

Tishona-Marsheval's mate

Marsheval-Tishona's mate

Palidar-Tivonan's friend

Whinney-Ayla's horse, dun-yellow mare, Przwalski horse

Racer-Jondalar's horse, bay (brown) stallion, Cherski horse (rare)

Wolf-Ayla's wolf

LEADERS

Manvelar-Leader of Third Cave, Two Rivers Rock

Morizan-Son of Manvelar's mate, son of his hearth

Kareja-Leader of Eleventh Cave, River Place

Dorova-Kareja's mother

Brameval-Leader of Fourteenth Cave, Little Valley

Kimeran-Leader of Second Cave of the Zelandonii, Elder Hearth, brother of Zelandoni of the Second Cave, uncle of Jondecam

Denanna-Leader of the three holdings of the Twenty-ninth Cave, Three Rocks, and specifically of the South Holding, Reflection Rock

Tormaden-Leader of the Nineteenth Cave of the Zelandonii

ZELANDONIA

Zelandoni-of the Eleventh Cave, River Place, homosexual man