The Land of Painted Caves - Jean M. Auel [57]
Jondalar was not the only one whose attention was piqued. He glanced around and noticed that everyone was watching Ayla, and saw Willamar shudder. The Trade Master loved to travel great distances, but didn’t much care for small, cramped spaces. He could make himself go into a cave if it was necessary, especially if it wasn’t too small, but he preferred the open outdoors.
“I need someone to watch Jonayla, and feed her, if she needs it,” Ayla explained. “I’ll make sure she nurses before I leave, but I’m not sure how long it will take. I would take her with me, but I’m told one must crawl in like a snake, and I don’t think I could do that with Jonayla. I think Zelandoni is pleased that I was asked.”
Proleva thought for a moment. She was always busy at Summer Meetings, the Ninth was a large and important Cave, and she had many things planned for that day. She didn’t know if she had time to take care of another baby besides her own, but she hated to refuse. “I’d be glad to feed her, Ayla, but I have promised to meet with some people today and I don’t think I will be able to take care of her.”
“I have an idea,” Marthona said. Everyone turned to look at the former leader. “Perhaps we can find someone to go with Proleva to watch both Jonayla and Sethona while she is busy, and bring the babies to her when they need feeding.”
Marthona looked hard at Folara, then surreptitiously poked her, wanting her to volunteer. The girl understood the message, and had thought about it even before, but wasn’t sure if she wanted to spend a whole day taking care of the babies. On the other hand, she did love them both dearly, and it might be interesting to see what Proleva was going to be talking about at her meetings.
“I’ll watch them,” she said, then in a moment of inspiration added, “if Wolf will help me.” That would bring her a lot of attention.
Ayla paused to think. She wasn’t entirely sure if Wolf would obey the young woman in the middle of the Meeting area in the midst of so many strangers, though he would probably love to be around the little girls.
Adult wolves, aunts and uncles, were devoted to their young, and happily took turns watching them while the rest of the pack hunted, but a pack could not raise more than one litter. They had to hunt not only for themselves, but for several growing and hungry young wolves. To supplement nursing and to help wean the litter, the hunters brought back meat they had chewed and swallowed, regurgitating the partially digested food, making it easier for the pups to eat. It was the job of the alpha female to make sure no other females of the pack mated when they came into season, often interrupting her own mating to drive males away from them, so that her litter would be the one that was born and raised.
Wolf bestowed his normal wolfish adoration on the human babies of his pack. Ayla had observed and studied wolves when she was young, which was why she understood Wolf so well. As long as no one threatened the little ones, it was unlikely he would cause any trouble, and who would threaten them in the middle of a Summer Meeting?
“All right, Folara,” Ayla said. “Wolf can help you watch the babies, but Jondalar, will you check on Wolf and Folara once in a while? I think he will mind her, but he may get too protective of the little ones, and not want to let anyone near them. He always does what you say when I’m not around.”
“I was going to stay close to our camp and knap some tools this morning,” he said. “I still owe special ones to some people for helping me build our dwelling at the Ninth Cave. There is a knapping area at the edge of the Meeting Camp, and it is paved with stones so it won’t be muddy. I can work there and go to see how Folara and Wolf are doing occasionally. I did promise to meet with some people in the afternoon. After the lion hunt, many more are interested in the spear-thrower.” His forehead wrinkled in a familiar frown as he thought about it. “But maybe we can meet where I can keep an eye on them.”
“I hope we’ll be back by afternoon, but I don’t know