The Plains of Passage - Jean M. Auel [166]
“Here are some chamois skins to dry yourselves with,” Tholie said, approaching the pool. She had several of the soft yellow hides in her arms.
Ayla hadn’t seen her come. The Mamutoi woman had tried to stay as far away from the wolf as possible, circling around and approaching from the open end of the site. A little girl of three or four, who had been walking behind, clung to her mother’s leg and stared at the strangers with big eyes and a thumb in her mouth.
“I left a snack for you inside,” Tholie said, putting the toweling skins down. Jondalar and Ayla had been given a bed inside the dwelling that she and Markeno used when they were on land. It was the same shelter that Thonolan and Jetamio had shared with them, and Jondalar had a few bad moments when they first entered, remembering the tragedy that had caused his brother to leave, and ultimately to die.
“But don’t spoil your appetite,” Tholie added. “We are having a big feast tonight, in honor of Jondalar’s return.” She did not add that it was also in honor of Ayla for helping Roshario. The woman was still sleeping, and no one wanted to tempt fate by saying it out loud before it was known that she would wake up, and would recover.
“Thank you, Tholie. For everything,” Jondalar said. Then he smiled at the little girl. She put her head down and hung back behind her mother even more, but she continued to stare at Jondalar. “It looks like the last of the red from the burn on Shamio’s face has faded. I don’t see even a hint of it.”
Tholie picked the girl up, giving Jondalar a chance to see her better. “If you look very closely, you can see where the burn was, but it’s hardly noticeable. I’m grateful, the Mother was kind to her.”
“She is beautiful child,” Ayla said, smiling at them and looking at the little girl with genuine longing. “You are so lucky. Someday I would like to have a daughter like her.” Ayla started walking out of the pool. It was refreshing, but almost too cool to stay in for very long. “Did you say her name was Shamio?”
“Yes, and I do feel lucky to have her,” the young mother said, putting the child down. Tholie couldn’t resist the compliment to her offspring, and she smiled warmly at the tall, beautiful woman, who was not, however, what she claimed to be. Tholie had resolved to treat her with reserve and caution until she learned more.
Ayla picked up a skin and began drying herself. “This is so soft, and nice to dry with,” she said, then stretched it around herself and tucked an end in at the waist. She picked up another to dry her hair, then wrapped it around her head. She had noticed Shamio watching the wolf, clinging to her mother but obviously curious. Wolf was interested in her, too, all but squirming with anticipation, but staying where he was told. She signaled the animal to her side, then got down on one knee and put her arm around him.
“Would Shamio like to meet Wolf?” Ayla asked the girl. When she nodded, Ayla glanced up at her mother for approval. Tholie looked apprehensively at the huge animal with the sharp teeth. “He won’t hurt her, Tholie. Wolf loves children. He grew up with the children of Lion Camp.”
Shamio had already let go of her mother and taken a tentative step toward them, fascinated by the creature that had been looking at her with equal fascination. The child watched him with unsmiling, solemn eyes, while the wolf whined with eagerness. Finally she took another step forward and reached for him with two hands. Tholie gasped, but the sound was drowned out by Shamio’s giggles when Wolf licked her face. She pushed his eager muzzle away, grabbed a handful of fur, then lost her balance and fell over him. The wolf waited patiently for the girl to get up, then licked her face again, to another string of delighted giggles.
“C’mon, Wuffie,” the girl said, grabbing him by the fur of his neck and pulling to make him come with her, already claiming him as her very own living toy.
Wolf looked at Ayla, and yipped a short puppy bark. She hadn’t yet signaled his release. “You can go with Shamio, Wolf,