"Is that wolf smiling?" Solandia asked. "It looks to me as though he is. He seems to be so pleased with himself that he's smiling."

"I think he is, too," Ayla said. "I have often thought he could smile."

"It's not only for ceremony, Ayla," Losaduna was saying. "We often use the hot waters just to soak. If you want to take Jondalar in just to relax, we have no objections. The Sacred Waters of the Mother are like Her other Gifts to Her children. They are meant to be used and enjoyed, and appreciated. Just as this tea you made should be appreciated," he added, holding up the cup.

Nearly the whole Cave, those that had not gone hunting, were sitting around a fireplace in the open central area of the cave. Most meals were very unstructured, except for special occasions. The people sometimes ate separately, in family groups, and sometimes with others. This time, those who had stayed at the cave had stopped for a midday meal and eaten together, largely because they were all interested in the visitors. The meal consisted of a hearty meat soup of lean, dried deer, made rich with the addition of some mammoth fat, which made it filling and satisfying enough. They were finishing off with tea that Ayla had made, and all had remarked on how good it was.

"When they come back, maybe we will use the pool. I think he'd enjoy a hot soak, and I'd like to share it with him," Ayla said.

"You'd better warn her, Losaduna," a woman said, with a knowing smile. She had been introduced as Laduni's mate.

"Warn me of what, Laronia?" Ayla said.

"Sometimes you have to choose between the Mother's Gifts."

"What do you mean?"

"She means the Sacred Waters can be too relaxing," Solandia said.

"I still don't understand," Ayla said, frowning. She knew everyone was talking about the subject, and there was an element of humor involved.

"If you take Jondalar for a hot soak, it will relax the strength right out of his manhood," Verdegia said, more direct than the others, "and it may take a couple of hours before it can stand up again. So don't expect too much of him, after a soak. Not right away. Some men won't soak in the Mother's Sacred Waters for that reason. They are afraid their manhood will drain out in the Sacred Waters and never come back."

"Can that happen?" Ayla asked, looking at Losaduna.

"Not that I've ever seen, or heard about," the man said. "If anything, the opposite seems to be true. A man is more eager, after a while, but I think that's because he's relaxed and feels good."

"I did feel wonderful after the hot soak, and I slept very well, but I think there was more than water to it," Ayla said. "Perhaps the tea?"

The man smiled. "That was an important ritual. There is always more to a ceremony."

"Well, I'm ready to go back to the Sacred Waters, but I think I'll wait for Jondalar. Do you think the hunters will be back soon?"

"I'm sure they will," Laronia said. "Laduni knows there are things to do before the Mother Festival tomorrow. I don't think they would have gone today, except that he wanted to see how Jondalar's long-range hunting weapon works. What does he call it?"

"A spear-thrower, and it works very well," Ayla said, "but like anything, it takes practice. We've had lots of practice on this Journey."

"Do you use his spear-thrower?" Madenia asked.

"I have my own," Ayla said. "I've always liked to hunt."

"Why didn't you go with them today?" the girl asked.

"Because I wanted to learn how to make that cleansing material. And I have some clothes I want to clean and mend," Ayla said, getting up and heading toward the ceremonial tent. Then she stopped. "I have something I'd like to show everyone, too," she said. "Has anyone ever seen a thread-puller?" She saw puzzled looks and shaking heads. "If you wait here a moment, I'll get mine and show you."

Ayla returned from the dwelling space with her sewing kit and some clothing she wanted to repair. With everyone crowded around to see yet another amazing thing brought by the travelers, she took a small cylinder out of her kit – it had come from the lightweight, hollow leg of a bird – and shook two ivory needles out of it. She handed one to Solandia.

The woman examined the highly polished miniature shaft closely. It was brought to a sharp point at one end, somewhat like an awl. The other end was a bit thicker and, surprisingly, had a very small hole that went all the way through. She thought about it, and suddenly got an inkling of what it was for. "Did you say this was a thread-puller?" she said, handing it to Laronia.

"Yes. I'll show you how I use it," Ayla said, separating a thin piece of sinew from a fibrous thicker strand. She wet the end and smoothed it to a point, then waited for it to dry. The thread of tendon hardened slightly and held its shape. She threaded it through the hole at the back end of the tiny ivory shaft, then put it aside for the moment. Next she picked up a small flint tool with a sharp point and used it to poke holes near the edges of a garment whose stitches along a side seam had pulled out, a few of them tearing through the leather in the process. The new holes were back slightly from the previous ones.

Once she had made the holes for a new seam, Ayla settled down to demonstrate the new implement. She put the point of the ivory needle through the holes in the leather and, grasping the small shaft, pulled the thread through, ending with a flourish.

"Oooh!" The people seated nearby, especially the women, breathed out a collective sigh. "Look at that!" "She didn't have to pick the thread out, she pulled it right through." "Can I try that?"

Ayla passed the garment around and let them experiment, explaining and showing, and telling them how the idea had come to her, and how everyone at Lion Camp had helped her to develop and make it.

"This is a very well-made awl," Solandia commented, examining it closely.

"Wymez, of the Lion Camp, made it. He also made the borer that was used to make the hole that the thread goes through," Ayla said.

"That would be a very difficult tool to make," Losaduna said.

"Jondalar says Wymez is the only flint knapper he's ever met who is as good as Dalanar, and, possibly, a little better."

"That's high praise from him," Losaduna said. "Everyone acknowledges Dalanar as the master stoneworker. His skill is known even on this side of the glacier, among the Losadunai."

"But Wymez is also a master."

They all turned in surprise at the sound of the voice that had just spoken, and saw Jondalar, Laduni, and several others coming into the cave, bringing with them an ibex they had killed.

"You had luck!" Verdegia said. "And if no one minds, I'd like to have the skin. I've been wanting some ibex wool to make bedding for Madenia's Matrimonial." She wanted to get her bid in before anyone else.

"Mother!" Madenia said, embarrassed. "How can you talk about a Matrimonial?"

"Madenia must have First Rites before any Matrimonial can be considered," Losaduna said.

"As far as I'm concerned, she can have the hide," Laronia said, "whatever she wants to use it for." She knew there was a touch of avarice in Verdegia's request. They didn't often hunt the elusive wild goat, and its wool was rare and therefore valuable, particularly in late winter after a whole season of growing thick and dense, but before the shedding of spring gave it a tattered look.

"I don't care either. Verdegia can have it," Solandia said. "Fresh ibex meat will be a welcome change no matter who gets the hide, and especially nice for the Mother Festival."

Several others acquiesced, and no one objected. Verdegia smiled and tried not to look smug. By laying claim first, she had secured the valuable hide, just as she had hoped.

"Fresh ibex will be good with the dried onion I brought, and I have blueberries, too."